Chapter XXXIII.3 tells the famous anecdote about Gaius Mucius Scaevola and Lars Porsenna.
I’m thinking about the best way to translate a particular sentence into English.
Rex vero, fortissimum iuvenis animum miratus, cum eum
amoveri ab ara iussisset, “Abi!” inquit, “tu, qui tam audacem
te ostendis! Utinam pro mea patria ista virtus staret! Nunc
iure belli liberum te hinc dimitto.”
I understand that Porsenna wishes that such courage would be used in the service of
his own country, but what would be a proper way to translate staret into English?
OLD gives over 20 different meanings.
How about this?
“I wish that courage would serve my country!”
Serve would be ok but it loses the sense of standing firm, being immovable etc. Utinam could also be “would that” so “would that this courage stood firm for my country.”
Livy actually wrote:
" Iuberem macte virtute esse, si pro mea patria ista virtus staret; nunc iure belli liberum te intactum inviolatumque hinc dimitto"
I have looked in the new translation of Valerie M. Warrior 2006 Hackett and she writes:
"I would invoke success upon your courage, if that courage were in the service of my country. "
So service was at least the choice of one fine modern translator.
“Would that this courage stood firm for my country.” I like the sound of that. Much better than my version. Thanks!