colloquium leidense

[ingrid70]

Hi all,

I was reading the colloquium Leidense from the bibliotheca Augustana. In Nicholas Oster's book 'Ad Infinitum, a Biography of Latin', the phrase 'densa te' is translated with 'pay attention'. I was thinking more of: 'move over'. Any thoughts?

Ingrid

[adrianus]

I agree. "Pull in/squeeze up/squash up/tighten up"
Tibi convenio.

[ptolemyauletes]

Perhaps if you think of a person's thoughts wandering around, the teacher is remonstrating him to bring his thoughts together, in one place, thus the verb denso, to bring together, to make thick.

[adrianus]

3. Primum saluto magistrum, qui me resalutavit. ave magister. avete condiscipuli. discipuli. condiscipuli, locum mihi date meum. scamnum. scamellum. sella. densa te.
4. Illuc accedite. meus locus est. ego occupavi. sedi. sedeo. disco. discis. edisco. ediscis. iam teneo meam lectionem. meus. mea. meum. mihi. noster. nostra. nostrum. nobis. tuum. tuus. tibi. vos. nos. vestrum. vobis dico. iam possum. potui. reddere. reddo. reddidi.

When you read the piece, you see the master hasn't enough room (to get through to his place).
Colloquio lecto, vides ut sat spatium magistro caret. Transducere vel inter ire ad locum suum non potest.

[ingrid70]

Thank you, both.

I thought it was the boy trying to find a place to sit, but it amounts to the same thing: it's more logical to consider densa te as a request to make some room, than to pay attention.

I like these texts, though, in a few words, you see a boy struggle with his wax tablet to write his letters.

Ingrid

[adrianus]

I thought it was the boy trying to find a place to sit, but it amounts to the same thing

You're right. That's more in keeping. Maybe to someone beside him.
Rectè dicis. Aptius est. Fortassè puer aliquem ad latus suum compellat.

I like these texts, though, in a few words, you see a boy struggle with his wax tablet to write his letters.

Yes, they're really good. I didn't know of them. Good reference.
Iterum, perbona haec colloquia. Nova mihi sunt. Tibi gratiam habeo de nexu.