Aullus Gellius

rfcompte · Post by **rfcompte** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 6:05 am

Can you help me with a translation?

Increscunt animi, virescit volnere virtus

Some people have told me that the word usage is weird! Can anybody elaborate on that?

R.

Skylax · Post by **Skylax** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:42 am

Here Gellius (18, 11, 4) quotes a line from the old poet Furius Bibaculus. The complete quotation is Increscvnt animi, virescit volnere virtus. Gellius disagrees with someone who said that virescit "increases" was a reprehensible neologism.

"Spirit increases, courage grows because of the wound." (Probably about a wounded, hence still more aggressive, warrior)

Brinestorm · Post by **Brinestorm** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:41 pm

I'm sorry to wander off-topic, but I must ask: is this the same Gellius whom Catullus derides in Poem 80 of his Carmina?

Turpissimus · Post by **Turpissimus** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 12:58 am

No. This guy was born a few centuries afterwards.

rfcompte · Post by **rfcompte** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 6:25 am

Yes, the complete quotation is

Increscunt animi, virescit volnere virtus

(sorry about that: lapsus calami)

Why courage instead of virtue (virtus)?

R.

benissimus · Post by **benissimus** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 6:38 am

The words which we use to translate a given Latin word are not strict. English words simply do not match up perfectly with most Latin words in their meanings, so we must search for the words which we feel are most appropriate to translate the Latin word. virtus is literally "the quality of being a (true) man" (vir "man" + -tus, -tutis, an abstract noun ending). Now there are many different qualities associated with being a good man, which is why we may translate virtus as bravery, courage, manliness, virtue, honor, chivalry, vigor, fortitude, etc. Virtue is simply the English derivative, so it may seem the most obvious choice, though it is not any more appropriate than the rest.

rfcompte · Post by **rfcompte** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 6:38 am

The first word has some trouble staying in place...

INCRESCUNT ANIMI, VIRESCIT VOLNERE VIRTUS

R.

rfcompte · Post by **rfcompte** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 6:41 am

INCRESCUNT

benissimus · Post by **benissimus** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 6:42 am

rfcompte wrote:The first word has some trouble staying in place...

ANIMI, VIRESCIT VOLNERE VIRTUS

R.

Sorry about that, the language filters are a little strict with some words having that ending, e.g. dicvnt, crescvnt, noscvnt

rfcompte · Post by **rfcompte** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 6:43 am

I WRITE AND IT JUST DOESN'T SHOW UP!!!!!

INCRESCUNT
INCRESCUNT
INCRESCUNT!!!!!

R.

benissimus · Post by **benissimus** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 7:04 am

There is a swear word in the ending of the word, using v for u should correct the problem.

Dingbats · Post by **Dingbats** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 5:07 pm

Lol, what a good filter!

Phylax · Post by **Phylax** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 1:09 pm

"Spirit increases, courage grows because of the wound."

There is a slightly similar sentiment in the Battle of Maldon:

Hige sceal the heardra, | heorte the cenre,
mod sceal the mare, | the ure mægen lytladh.

="Thought must be the harder, heart be the keener,
Mind must be the greater, while our strength lessens."