Istud quae non est...

[pmda]

Below is a line from Martial and I offer two alternative translations.

Could anyone guide me as to which is closest - mine is the first one?

Istud quae nōn est, dīcere, Bassa, solet!

1. That which is said, Bassa, is usually not true!

2. Those that are not, Bassa, usually say it!

I'm following the grammar closely 'Istud' is Neuter nominative so it should refer to a thing but, of course, this is poetry so there's a wider range of possible translations.....

[flamendialis]

dicis formosam,dicis te, Bassa, puellam
Istud , quae nōn est, dīcere, Bassa, solet!

you say you are beautiful girl , you call you so Bassa
this (that she is beautiful) used to say Bassa, is not true


this is my try

[adrianus]

"You say you're a beautiful girl, Bassa, you say you are.
She [/one] who isn't typically says that, Bassa"

[pmda]

Thanks to you both... I think what threw me was 'istud' neuter...but of course impersonal 'one' would be neuter wouldn't it?

[Alatius]

but of course impersonal 'one' would be neuter wouldn't it?

No, never; humans are never neuter in Latin, as far as I know. The "she/one who" of Adriani translation is contained in "quae". If you want, you can think of it as an "ea" which is understood:
[Ea], quae non est [formosa], solet istud dicere.
"Istud" refers to the previous utterance ("Formosa sum").

[pmda]

Alatius...thanks...now it makes sense.

[Sceptra Tenens]

No, never; humans are never neuter in Latin, as far as I know.

There is mancipium for "slave" (or more directly, something which is purchased, and "slave" by extension), but that's the only exception that I know of.

[adrianus]

Metonymically, "chattle", "partner/spouse", "Mellissa Tarentina, a very lovely bit of fruit", "partner", "guest", "sweetheart", "object of desire", "hunting party", "darling", "convicts", "house servants", "casualties", "bodyguard", "sweetheart", "prostitute", "slaves", "sweetheart". [I only looked at the second declension.]

Third declination: "head/leader", "sweetheart"

Per metonumiam, ut "mancipium", ut "conjugium / conubium", ut "noveratis Melissam Tarentinam, pulcherrimum bacciballum" (Satyricon Petroni), ut "consortium", ut "convivium", ut "corculum", ut "cupitum", ut "cynegiolum", ut "deliciolum seu delicium", "ergastula", "famulitium", "fortuita", "satellitium", "savium", "scortum", "servitium", "suavium" [Solam secundam declinationem examinavi.]

Tertia declinatio: "caput", "mel"

[Alatius]

Hah, I knew I was going to regret that. What if I said that people are never refered to with a neuter pronoun (which was what I had in mind)? Sure, you can probably dig out an example of that as well, but not unless the person is deliberately dehumanized, I would think.

[adrianus]

"Mane Daintry ut venissem
Corculum quod reliquissem
Avide quaerens per musaeum
Desponsatam esse eam
Intellexi; qua audita
'Vale, dixi, Proselyta'"

Et "eam" et "quod"