bit confused about meaning...

Here you can discuss all things Latin. Use this board to ask questions about grammar, discuss learning strategies, get help with a difficult passage of Latin, and more.
Post Reply
pmda
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 1341
Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 5:15 am

bit confused about meaning...

Post by pmda »

In Orberg LLPSI Cap XXXII: Medus reminds the ship's captain that he has recently said that he (the captain) prefers death to living as a slave: 'Iamne oblitus es quid modo dixeris? Dixisti enim 'te mortem servituti praeferre.'

The captain then says: 'Haud scio an ego ita dixerim, sed profecto libertas mihi vita carior est. [certainly freedom is dearer to me than life'.

Then he says: Nihil libertati praefero. 'I would not rather freedom' ??

Doesn't this just contradict the previous sentence..?

Grochojad
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 55
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 3:13 am
Location: Vratislavia

Re: bit confused about meaning...

Post by Grochojad »

The last sentence actually means "To liberty I prefer nothing".

adrianus
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 3270
Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 9:45 pm

Re: bit confused about meaning...

Post by adrianus »

Nihil libertati praefero = "I prefer nothing to/place nothing before liberty" quod non contradicit enuntiationem antecedentem
I'm writing in Latin hoping for correction, and not because I'm confident in how I express myself. Latinè scribo ut ab omnibus corrigar, non quod confidenter me exprimam.

pmda
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 1341
Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 5:15 am

Re: bit confused about meaning...

Post by pmda »

Adrianus

Gratias tibi ago.

Paul

Post Reply