Destination Moon

Composition and Communication Composition Board
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This is actually the comic adaptation of the 1950 movie, which I enjoyed too.

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In this day of wondrous science, we have jet planes that exceed the speed of fleet sound itself!

Hodiē, scientiam mīrantēs, habēmus āeronāvēs, quæ sonum superant!

Σήμερον, θαυμάζοντες τὴν ἐπιστήμην, ἔχομεν ᾱ̓εροσκάφη μὲν τὸν ἦχον ὑπερβάλλοντα.

We have rockets that pierce the sky for hundreds of miles!

Radiōs autem igniferōs, quī per cælum īnfīnīta mīllia trānseunt!

Πῡραύλους δὲ διερχομένους διὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ μῡρία στάδια.
And we have atomic energy at our fingertips, a giant of power!

Vim autem nucleārem nōbīs subjectam, excellentissimam potestātem!

Τὴν δὲ πῡρηνικὴν ἐνέργειαν ἡμῖν ὑποτεταγμένην, δύναμιν κρατίστην οὖσαν.

But what is in store for mankind tomorrow?

Quid vērō hominibus crās fīet?

Τί δὴ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις αὔριον γενήσεται;

Will he soon soar away from Earth into the limitless reaches of outer space?

Sūrsumne mox ā Terrā in īnfīnītum spatium ināne ferentur?

Ἆρ’ αὐτίκ’ ἀνοισθήσονται ἀπὸ τῆς Γῆς εἰς τὸ ἄπειρον κενὸν διάστημα;

Four courageous men attempt to answer this thrilling question as they blaze an interplanetary travel, rocketing into the unknown with… Destination Moon!

Quattuor virī fortēs ad hujusmodī quæstiōnem rēspondēre cōnantur, quī viam inter planētās signant, radiō in incognitum vehuntur, in Lūnam nāvigant.

Τέσσαρες δ’ ἄνδρες ἀγαθοὶ πειρῶνται ἀποκρῑ́νασθαι πρὸς τοιοῦτο ἐρώτημα, σημειῶντες μὲν ὀδὸν διὰ τῶν πλανήτων, πορευόμενοι δ’ ἐπὶ πῡραύλου εἰς τὸ ἄγνωστον, πλέοντες δ’ εἰς τὴν Σελήνην.

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Somewhere in a barren western desert..

A detour?
In dēsertō alicubi occidentis āridō.

Circumīmus?

Ἐν ἐρήμῳ που τῶν δυσμῶν ξηρᾷ τινι.

Περιερχόμεθα;

Warning! Closed Area. All traffic prohibited! By order of the United States Army

CAVĒ
CAMPUM CLAUSUM,
OMNIBUS INVIUM.
EXERCITŪS C.F. JUSSŪ.

εὐλαβοῦ
πεδίου κλειστοῦ καὶ
πᾶσιν ἀδιαπορεύτου.
κελεύσει τοῦ η.π. στρατοῦ.

Yes, Sir! The army is trying out a new rocket experiment in this area tonight! Sorry, but you can’t go in!

Etiam, domne! Exercitus enim experīmentum novī radiī hāc noctū in campō agit! Doleō quod tibi inīre nōn licet.

Ναί, κῡ́ριε. Ὁ γὰρ στρατὸς καθ’ ἑσπέραν ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ λαμβάνει πεῖραν καινοῦ πῡραύλου. Ἀλγῶ ὅτ’ οὐκ ἔξεστί σοι εἰσιέναι.

Within the forbidden area all is ready!

Firing time in two minutes! Stand by!

In campō interdictō omnia parāta sunt!

Mittitur in duo minūta! Astāte!

Ἐν τῷ ἀπηγορευμένῳ πεδίῳ πάντα παρεσκεύασται.

Ἀφίεται εἰς δύο λεπτά. Παράστητε.

We’re safe in this concrete observation post even if the rocket explodes!But let’s hope our space satellite rocket succeeds in reaching an altitude of twelve thousand miles above earth!

Tūtī sumus in speculā cæmenticiā hāc, etiamsi radius ignifer displōdātur. Perveniat autem radius noster cum satellite artificiōsō ad altitūdinem centum mīlium stadiōrum super Terram!

Ἀσφαλεῖς ἐσμεν ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ σκῡρώδει σκοπῇ, εἰ καὶ ὁ πῡ́ραυλος ἐκραγείη. Ἀφῑ́κοιτο δ’ ὁ πῡ́ραυλος ἡμῶν ἔχων δορυφόρον τεχνητὸν εἰς ὕψος δέκα μῡρίων σταδίων ὑπὲρ τῆς Γῆς.

Inside the blockhouse, all is tense as the zero moment approaches!

Αnimīs omnium intrā turrim intentīs, appropinquat discrīmen!

Πάντων ἐν τῷ πύργῳ τὸν νοῦν προσεχόντων, ἐπέρχεται ἡ ἀκμή.

One minute to go! 59 seconds, 58, 57!

Ūnum minūtum usque ad missiōnem! LIX secunda, LVIII, LVII!

Ἓν λεπτὸν μέχρι ἀφέσεως. νθ’ δευτερόλεπτα, νη’, νζ’.

Two men are most anxious of all, Prof Charles Cargraves, eminent scientist, and General Thayer, retired Army officer!

Duo autem maximē omnium sollicitantur, professor Carolus Gæsoscrobis, dē nātūrā rērum perītus, et præfectus mīlitiæ ēmeritus Depstor.

Δύο δὲ μάλιστα ἁπάντων ἀνιᾶσθον, καθηγητὴς Κάρολος Γαισόταφρος, ὁ ἐπιστήμων περὶ φύσεως, καὶ ἀποστράτηγος τοῦ στρατοῦ Δέψης.

You designed and built the rocket, professor Cargraves! You’re the foremost living rocket expert! I’m glad I had you to help me!

Tū quidem, ō professor Gæsoscrobis, radium ā tē dēscrīptum fabricātus es, dē hīs rēbus perītissimus. Ego autem quod mē adjūvistī gaudeō.

Σὺ μέν, ὦ καθηγητὰ Γαισόταφρε, διαγράψας κατεσκευάσω τὸν πῡ́ραυλον, ἐμπειρότατος περὶ τούτων ὤν. Ἔγω δὲ χαίρω σοι συλλαβόντι μοι.


42 seconds, 41, 40, 39!

XLII secunda, XLI, XL, XXXIX!

μβ’ δευτερόλεπτα, μα’, μ’, λθ’.


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But you conceived the original ideal, general Thayer! For years you told the army brass hats that a rocket satellite could be sent up to circle earth!

Sed tū animō prīmus rem concēpistī, præfecte Depstor! Quī diū aliīs mīlitiæ præfectīs dīcēbās satellitem artificiosum posse sūrsum missum Terram circuīre.

Ἀλλὰ σὺ πρῶτος τὴν ἔννοιαν ἔλαβες, στρατηγὲ Δέψη. Καὶ γὰρ πολὺν χρόνον τοῖς ἄλλοις στρατηγοῖς ἔλεγες ὅτι δορυφόρος τεχνητὸς ἀναπεμφθεὶς κύκλῳ περιίοι ἂν τὴν Γῆν.

They not only ignored you but retired you! We’ll prove you were right!

Istī quidem nōn sōlum tē contempsērunt sed dīmīsērunt. Nōs autem tē vēra dīxisse ostendēmus.

Οὗτοι μὲν οὐ μόνον κατεφρόνησαν σοῦ ἀλλὰ κατέλῡσαν σέ. Ἡμεῖς δὲ δείξομέν σε ἀληθῆ εἰπόντα.

24 seconds, 23, 22, 21, 20!

XXIV secunda, XXIII, XXII, XI, XX!

κδ’ δευτερόλεπτα, κγ’, κβ’, καʹ, κ’.

But there is one other man vitally concerned in the thrilling project, Joe Sweeny of Brooklyn, USA!


Est autem et alius quī in hujusmodī cōnsiliō versātur, Jōsēphus Suāvis Brūclīnēnsis ē Cīvitātibus Fœderātīs Americæ.


Ἔστι δὲ καὶ ἄλλος τις διατρῑ́βων ἐν τοιαύτῃ τῇ γνώμῃ, Ἰώσηπος Ἡδὺς Βρουκλῑναῖος ἐκ τῶν Ἠνωμένων Πολῑτειῶν Ἀμερικῆς.

I’m the guy that pulls the switch and makes the rocket go! Boy, wait till they hear of this back in Brooklyn! I’ll be as famous as the Dodgers!

Ego sum vectiārius quī radium igniferum dīmittit. Hercule, cum hoc audīverint vīcīnī in Brūclīnō, habēbō nōmen quantum āthlētārum!

Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ μοχλευτὴς ὁ ἀφιεὶς τὸν πῡ́ραυλον. Νὴ Δία, ὅταν τοῦτο ἀκούσωσιν οἱ ἐν Βρουκλῑ́νῃ γείτονες, ἕξω τοὔνομα ὅσον τῶν ἁθλητῶν.

11, 10, 8, 8, 7

XI. X, IX, VIII, VII,

ια’, ι’, θ’, η’, ζ’,

Slow seconds drag to the final climax!

Lentē trahitur ad discrīmen tempus.

Βραδέως ἕλκεται ὁ χρόνος πρὸς τὴν ἀκμήν.

4, 3, 2, fire!

IV, III, II, missus!

δ’, γ’, β’, ἀφείσθω.

Right on the nose!

Ē carceribus!

Ἀπὸ τῆς ἀφετηρίας.

There she goes!

Ecce, abit!

Ἰδού, ἀπέρχεται.

But suddenly…

The rocket exploded!

Later…

Subitō autem…

Radius displōsus est!

Posteā…

Ἐξαίφνης δέ…

Ὁ πῡ́ραυλος ἐξερράγη.

Ὕστερον…

We failed, professor, failed!

But we’ll try again, general!

Rem male gessimus, ō professor!

Iterum autem tentēmus, ō præfecte!

Ἐπρᾱ́ξαμεν κακῶς, ὦ καθηγητά.

Ἀναπειρησόμεθα δ’, ὦ στρατηγέ.

Will we? Where will we get the money and backing, professor? I won’t be able to wheedle another appropriation out of congress, not after this failure!

Itane? Unde nōbīs opēs, ō professor? Nōn enim poterō blandiendō aliam ā Congressū pecūniam parere, præsertim cum ista rēs male ēvēnerit!

Ἄληθες; Πόθεν ἡμῖν ἡ βοήθεια, ὦ καθηγητά; Οὐ γὰρ οἷός τ’ ἔσομαι κολακεύων περιποιήσασθαι ἄλλα ἀπὸ τοῦ Συνεδρίου χρήματα, μάλιστα δ’ ἐπεὶ τοῦτο τὸ πρᾶγμα κακῶς ἀπέβη.

Private industry will back us! You work that angle while I design a better rocket! We’re not licked yet!

Officīnārum possessōrēs nōbīs opitulentur. Tū igitur cūrā hoc. Ego autem præstantiōrem dēscrībam radium. Nōndum enim superātī sumus.

Οἱ ἐργαστηρίων κτήτορες βοηθήσουσιν ἡμῖν. Σὺ μὲν οὖν τούτου ἐπιμελοῦ. Ἐγὼ δὲ κρείσσω διαγράψω πῡ́ραυλον. Οὔπω γὰρ ἡσσήμεθα.


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Hi bedwere! Quick notes on the first few lines of Greek:

ἔννοιαν τῶν κατ’ ἀρχὴν ἔλαβες: πρῶτος τοιαύτην τὴν ἔννοιαν ἔλαβες?

δορυφόρος τεχνικός: not at all clear to me—perhaps some neologism with eg ἀεροπόρος, -πέτης, μηχανικός, or similar? (aha…now I see MGk πύραυλος below; why not here?)

πολὺν γὰρ χρόνον is fine, but Greek might like a negative in this context (οὐκ ὀλίγον χρόνον), partly capturing the exclamation (or else eg καὶ γὰρ instead just γάρ)

εἶπες: ἔλεγες (ἢ διισχυρίζου)?

περιίοι: κύκλῳ π. clearer

κατεφρόνησαν (note missing accent) σε: σοῦ much more regular (and emphatic seems more fitting than enclitic); κατεφρόνουν?

κατέλυσαν: don’t think it would mean that. “Retired you” is very English; I’d depart from the original here and try for something more Greek. Eg ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀναισχύντως ἠνάγκασαν [σε] τὴν τάξιν λιπεῖν ἥνπερ ἐτάχθης ἐν τούτῳ τῷ πολέμῳ?

κγ’, κβ’, κ’.: +καʹ

By the way, thank you for your Aesop recordings! I’ve been listening to them in the car with pleasure.

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Thank you for your corrections and kind words, phalakros!

I used δορυφόρος τεχνητός because, from a scientific point of view, is more accurate instead of πύραυλος. We speak of artificial satellites in orbit rather than rockets. Similarly, I’m using nuclear rather than atomic energy.

Hdt. 6.43 has τῶν ἄλλων καταλελυμένων στρατηγῶν . Your suggestion is very good, but I’m limited in space.

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I love what you’re doing with the comics, and as a lifelong Heinlein fan, I get a kick out of seeing this old chestnut in Greek! Another lowbrow-ization of Heinlein from that era was Tom Corbett, Space Cadet. I’m not old enough to have watched it on TV as kid, but it seems to have been extremely popular. Whereas Destination Moon took elements from Heinlein’s first juvenile novel, Rocket Ship Galileo, Tom Corbett took from his second one, Space Cadet. It was with Space Cadet that Heinlein seemed to find his stride with the juveniles.

Of modern media adaptations of Heinlein, IMO the only good one has been Predestination. I suppose there will never be a film of his best-known work, Stranger in a Strange Land – even six decades later, I’m sure it would offend too many people.

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Thank you, Ben!

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How d’you like that? Their rocket just went blooye in front of their eyes, but they’re cooking up another one already! Those two guys just don’t know when the pitcher has struck ‘em out!

Cui bonō? Nam radius ignifer eōrum ante oculōs eōrum modo dīruptus est, ipsī autem alium jam concoquunt! Profectō nōn intellegunt istī duo luctātōrēs sē ter abjectōs esse.

Τίνι δι’ ὠφελείας; Ὁ μὲν γὰρ πῡ́ραυλος αὐτῶν πρὸ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῶν ἄρτι διερράγη, αὐτοὶ δ’ ἄλλον ἤδη συσκευάζονται. Οὐ δὴ μανθάνουσιν οὗτοι οἱ δύο παλαισταὶ ὅτι τρὶς πεπτώκᾱσιν.

..and our next rocket will be aimed for the Moon!

Right, professor! That’s our goal, the Moon!

…et in Lūnam īnsequēns radius ignifer noster intendētur!

Certē, professor! Lūna enim mēta nostra!

…καὶ εἰς τὴν Σελήνην ὁ ἑπόμενος πῡ́ραυλος ἡμῶν ἐνταθήσεται.

Ἀκρῑβῶς, καθηγετά. Ἡ γὰρ Σελήνη ὁ σκοπὸς ἡμῶν.

The Moon? Omigosh! They’ve gone stark, raving, mad! They want to send a rocket to the moon no less! What crazy dreamers!

Lūna? Herculēs! Istī īnsāniunt ac furunt! Nihilōminus in Lūnam mittere radium igniferum volunt! Ō vānī in somniīs suīs!

Ἡ Σελήνη; Νὴ Δία. Οὗτοι μαίνονται καὶ παραφρονοῦσιν. Μηδὲν ἧττον εἰς τὴν Σελήνην πῡ́ραυλον πέμψαι θέλουσιν. Ὦ μάταιοι ἐν τοῖς ὕπνοις αὐτῶν.

But the dream comes true as General Thayer does his part, visiting Jim Barnes, a young industrialist!

Somnium autem ēvenit, dum præfectus mīlitiæ Depstor sua perficit, vīsendō Jācōbum Puerum, juvenem officīnārum possessōrem.

Ὁ δ’ ὕπνος ἐξέρχεται, ὡς ὁ στρατηγὸς Δέψης τὰ ἑαυτοῦ διαπράσσει ἐπισκοπῶν Ἰᾱ́κωβον Παῖδα, νέον ἐργαστηρίων κτήτορά τινα.

I tell you, Barnes, you’ve got to help us! Somebody has to reach the Moon first and it had better be America ! I’m an army man! I know! Need I say more?

Ō Puer, dīcō tibi nōs adjuvandōs! Necesse enim aliquem prīmum in Lūnam pervenīre, melius autem Amerīcānum! Quod, cum mīles sim, sciō! Quid tibi amplius dīcam?

Ὦ Παῖς λέγω σοι ὅτι χρή σε βοηθεῖν ἡμῖν. Ἀνάγκη μὲν γάρ τινα πρῶτον εἰς τὴν Σελήνην ἀφικέσθαι, ἄμεινον δ’ Ἀμερῑκᾱνόν. Τοῦτο γάρ, στρατιώτης ὤν, οἶδα. Τί πλέον εἴπω σοι;

But…!

This is for the future of America itself, in peace or war!

Sed…

Hæc sunt prō ipsā Americā, cum in pāce tum etiam in bellō.

Ἀλλά…

Ταῦτά ἐστιν ὑπὲρ αὐτῆς τῆς Ἀμερικῆς, καὶ ἐν εἰρήνῃ καὶ ἐν πολέμῳ.

Well, if you put it that way, how can I refuse? You win!

Ēsto, sī est ita, ut dīcis, quid negābō? Vincis!

Εἴη, εἰ οὕτως ἔχει, ὡς λέγεις, τί ἀρνήσομαι; Νῑκᾷς.

And I’ll round up a dozen more backers for you! Now I’m excited myself

Et colligam tibi aliōs duodecim adjūtōrēs! Nunc enim ipse studeō!

Καὶ συλλέξομαί σοι ἄλλους δώδεκα βοηθούς. Νῦν γὰρ αὐτὸς σπουδάζω.
Good! Call them to a meeting in a week, to see the model of professor Cargraves’ spaceship.

Bellē! Eōs in conventum octāvō diē vōcā, ad videndum exemplar astronāvis professōris Gæsoscrobis.

Καλῶς. Αὐτοὺς δ’ εἰς σύνοδον ὀγδοαίους κάλει, βλέπειν παράδειγμα τοῦ διαστημοπλοίου τοῦ καθηγητοῦ Γαισοτάφρου.

Meanwhile at the home of the scientist…

You worked all night again, dear!

It’s done! Emily, it’s done!
Intereā autem in domō perītī…

Per noctem opus fēcistī, cāre!

Factum’st, Æmilia, factum’st!

Ἐν δὲ τῷ μεταξὺ ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ τοῦ ἐπιστήμονος…

Διὰ νυκτὸς ἠργάσω, φίλε.

Πέπρᾱκται, Αἰμιλία, πέπρᾱκται.


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That ship will carry a crew to the Moon!

But you aren’t going yourself, are you dear? You might not come back alive!

Illa navis in Lūnam nautās vehet!

Numquid ipse ibīs, mī marīte? Nam fortasse salvus nōn redierīs!

Ἐκείνη ἡ ναῦς διάξει ναύτας εἰς τὴν Σελήνην.

Μήτι αὐτὸς εἶ, φίλτατε; Τάχα γὰρ ἂν σῶς οὐκ ἐπανέλθοις.

I’d like to go! Yes, it would be the greatest adventure any man ever had in all history!

Eam! Etenim hoc sit perīculum maximum quod quis umquam adīret!

Ἔλθοιμι ἄν. Καὶ γὰρ οὗτος εἴη ἂν ὁ μέγιστος κίνδῡνος ὃν τίς ποτε ἀναρρῖψαι.

Leaving Earth and soaring to our sister world in space! It would be glorious, Emily!

Excēdere ē Terrā et ferrī in spatiō ad orbem germānum nostrum! Magnæ glōriæ sit, Æmilia!

Ἀποχωρεῖν ἐκ τῆς Γῆς καὶ φέρεσθαι ἐν τῷ διαστήματι πρὸς τὴν ἀδελφὴν αὐτῆς. Λαμπρὸν ἔργον εἴη ἄν, Αἰμιλία.

But, of course, I won’t leave you and our boys, Emily! I’ll have a crew trained to use the ship after I build it!

Sed scīlicet tē līberōsque nōn relinquam, Æmilia! Īnstruam autem nāvem ūnā cum nautīs.

Ἀλλὰ δῆλον ὅτι οὐ μὴ καταλείψω σέ τε καὶ τὰ τέκνα, Αἰμιλία. Κατασκευάσομαι δὲ τὴν ναῦν αὐτοῖς τοῖς ναύταις.

Thank Heaven!

Gee, dad! Will that ship really reach the Moon? May I go along, huh?

Deō grātiās!

Hercle, pater, an nāvis illa in Lūnam perveniet? Licetne mihi comitārī?

Χάρις τῷ Θεῷ.

Νὴ Δία, πάτερ, ἦ ἐκείνη ἡ ναῦς ἀφίξεται εἰς τὴν Σελήνην; Ἆρ’ ἔξεστί μοι συνακολουθεῖν;

I’m afraid not, Tony! It’s going to take four of the bravest and most courageous men in the world!

Heu, nōn licet tibi, Antōnī! Nam opus erunt nōbīs quattuor virī omnium fortissimī atque optimī!

Φεῦ, οὐκ ἔξεστί σοι, Ἀντώνιε. Δεήσει γὰρ ἡμῖν τεσσάρων ἀνδρῶν τῶν ὄντων ἀρίστων τε καὶ γενναιοτάτων.

But the actual Moon ship isn’t even built yet! I’ve got to go to that meeting of big industrialists, rounded up by General Thayer and Jim Barnes, and convince them to build the ship! Wish me luck!

Ipsa autem nāvis nōndum ædificāta est! Dēbeō enim convenīre magnōs officīnārum possessōrēs ā præfectō Depstōre ac Jācōbō Puerō collēctōs atque persuādēre eīs ædificāre nāvem! Hoc optā!

Αὐτὴ δ’ ἡ ναῦς οὔπω ἐναυπηγήθη. Ὀφείλω γάρ, συνελθὼν τοῖς μεγάλοις ἐργαστηρίων κτήτορσιν ὑπὸ στρατηγοῦ Δέψου καὶ Ἰᾱκώβου Παιδὸς συνειλεγμένοις, πεῖσαι αὐτοὺς ναυπηγῆσαι τὴν ναῦν. Εὔχου τοῦτο.

At the meeting…

Gentlemen! This is the space ship we will build! I believe that it will carry four men to the Moon and back!

In conciliō…

Ō virī, astronāvem hanc fabricābimur! Persuāsum enim mihi habeō eam quāttuor in Lūnam ductōs virōs subductūram esse.

Ἐν τῇ συνόδῳ…

Ὦνδρες, τόδε τὸ διαστημαπλοῖον κατασκευασόμεθα. Πέπεσμαι γὰρ αὐτὸ κατάξειν τέσσαρας ἄνδρας εἰς τὴν Σελήνην ἀναχθέντας.

But just why do you want to go to the Moon anyway?


Cūr enim in Lūnam quidem vīs īre?

Τί γὰρ εἰς τὴν Σελήνην γε βούλῃ ἐλθεῖν;


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Why? Why did Columbus discover America? Why did brave men fight their way to the North Pole?

Cūr? Cūr Columbus Americam invēnit? Cūr virī fortēs iter in polum arcticum cum labōre fēcērunt?

Τί; Τί Κολόμβος ἐξεῦρε τὴν Ἀμερικήν; Τί ἄνδρες ἀγαθοὶ σὺν πόνῳ ἐπορεύθησαν ἐπὶ τὸν βόρειον πόλον;

It’s pioneering adventure! It’s the whole history of mankind through the ages, exploring the unknown! That’s why!

Quia præcursōrēs perīclitantur! Quia per omnia sæcula hominēs incognitum explōrant! Hæc enim ratiō!

Ὅτι οἱ πρόδρομοι κινδῡνεύουσιν. Ὅτι διὰ πάντων τῶν αἰώνων οἱ ἄνθρωποι κατασκοποῦσι τὸ ἄγνωστον. Αὕτη γὰρ ἡ αἰτία.

All right, but will your ship reach the Moon? How can a rocket ship travel two hundred forty thousand miles through empty space? It seems impossible.

Estō, sed pervenietne nāvis tua in Lūnam? Ut potest radius ignifer iter vīciēs centēnōrum mīllium stadiōrum per spatium ināne facere? Nam vidētur fierī nōn posse.

Εἶεν, ἀλλ’ ἆρ’ ἀφίξεται ἡ ναῦς σου εἰς τὴν Σελήνην; Πῶς πῡ́ραυλος πορευθείη ἂν διᾱκοσιάκις μῡ́ρια στάδια διὰ τοῦ κενοῦ διαστήματος; Ἀδύνατον γὰρ δοκεῖ εἶναι.

Watch! I have a specially prepared movie using that cartoon character Woody Woodpecker! Okay, start the projector!

Spectāte! Ecce parāta ad hoc pellicula cum illā persōnā pictā Pīcō Pīcumnō! Bene, accende prōjectōrium!

Θεᾶσθε. Ἰδού, ταινία πρὸς τοῦτο ἑτοίμη ἔχουσα ἐκεῖνο τὸ πρόσωπον ἐζωγραφημένον Δρῦν Δρυοκολάπτην. Εὖ, ἅψον τὸν προβολέα.

When Woody Woodpecker fires a shotgun, the strong recoil of the explosion knocks him backwards! That’s the basic principle of all rockets!

Cum Pīcus Pīcumnus tēlum mīserit, magna dīruptiō eum repellit. Hoc est enim prīncipium radiōrum omnium igniferōrum!

Ὅταν Δρῦς Δρυοκολάπτης βέλος ἀφῇ, ἡ μεγάλη ἔκρηξις ἀνακρούει αὐτόν. Αὕτη γὰρ ἡ ἀρχὴ πάντων τῶν πῡραύλων.

This is exaggerated, of course, but Woody now experiments and finds that through recoil he can soar into the air! And that, gentlemen, is how all jet planes fly!

Hoc quidem in majus dictum’st, Pīcus autem experiendō cognōscit sē vī repulsūs sūrsum in āerem ferrī! Etenim, ō virī, sīc omnēs āere impulsæ nāvēs volant!

Τοῦτο μὲν καθ’ ὑπερβολὴν εἴρηται. Ὁ δὲ Δρῦς πειρᾱσάμενος γιγνώσκει ὅτι διὰ τῆς ἀνακρούσεως εἰς τὸν ᾱ̓έρα ἀναφέρεται. Καὶ γὰρ, ὦνδρες, οὕτω πάντα τὰ ᾱ̓εριωθούμενα σκάφη πέτεται.

So now Woody is going to rocket to the Moon, using the recoil principle to leave earth!

Nunc autem Pīcus in Lūnam radiō igniferō vehitur, ūtēns prīncipiō repulsiōnis ut ē Terrā excēdat!

Νῡνὶ δὲ Δρῦς πορεύεται ἐπὶ πῡραύλου εἰς τὴν Σελήνην, χρώμενος τῇ ἀρχῇ ἀνακρούσεως ἀποχωρῆσαι ἐκ τῆς Γῆς.

Woody finds that he must use powerful rocket forces to break away from Earth’s gravitation, which is like a tremendous magnet!

Pīcus cognōscit sibi magnīs radiī vīribus ūtendum esse ut ē Terræ gravitāte sē exuat, quæ immānis magnētis similis est.

Δρῦς γιγνώσκει ὅτι δεῖ αὐτὸν χρῆσθαι μεγάλαις πῡραύλου δυνάμεσιν ἵνα τὴν τῆς Γῆς βαρύτητα ἐκδῡ́ηται, ὁμοίᾱν μαγνήτιδί τινι δεινῇ οὖσαν.

But notice! Once Woody wins free of Earth’s pull, he can then shut off his rockets and coast all the rest of the way to the Moon in free fall!

Sed ecce: cum Pīcus exsolūtus Terræ trahentis sit, tum potest, radiō igniferō exstīnctō, reliquum in Lūnam iter līberē cādēns prætervehī.

Ἀλλ’ ἰδού· ὅταν Δρῦς ἀπολῡθῇ τῆς Γῆς ἑλκούσης, τότε οἷός τ̓ ἐστί, σβέσᾱς τὸν πῡ́ραυλον, ἐλευθέρως πίπτων παραπλεῖν τὴν λοιπὴν εἰς τὴν Σελήνην ὁδόν.

He goes over two hundred thousand miles, gentlemen, without using one bit of fuel!

Itaque percurrit sēdecies centēna mīllia stadiōrum, ō virī, nec ūllā ad combūrendum māteriā ūtēns!

Ὤστε διατρέχει ἑκκαιδεκάκις μῡ́ρια στάδια, ὦνδρες, οὐδὲ χρώμενος οὐδεμίᾳ καυσίμῳ ῡ̔́λῃ.


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So that’s why it is easily possible to reach the Moon! All you need is a powerful enough fuel to escape earth’s gravity!

Proptereā facile’st pervenīre in Lūnam. Tantum enim opus est māteriā ad combūrendum sufficiente effugere gravitātem Terræ!

Διὸ ῥᾴδιόν ἐστιν ἀφικέσθαι εἰς τὴν Σελήνην. Μόνον γὰρ δεῖ καυσίμου ῡ̔́λης ἱκανῆς ἀποφυγεῖν τὴν τῆς Γῆς βαρύτητα.

But have you that fuel professor?

Atomic Energy Reaction Engine

Habēsne tamen tālem māteriam, ō professor?

māchina vī nucleārī impulsa

Ἆρά γε ἔχεις τοιαύτην τὴν ῡ̔́λην, ὦ καθηγετά;

μηχανὴ πῡρηνικῇ ἐνεργείᾳ ὠθουμένη

Yes. I have! This atomic energy reaction engine will do it, using atomic fuel! Atomic power was first used in war! But with our moon rocket, gentlemen, we will also prove that atomic power can be used in peace! Doesn’t that alone make this project infinitely worthwhile?


Habeō! Hæc enim māchina vī nucleārī impulsa ūtēnsque māteriā nucleārī valēbit. In bellō quidem potestās nucleāris prīmum jūvāvit. Et in pāce autem, ō virī, per radium igniferum probābimus potestātem nucleārem jūtūram esse! Nōnne haec ūna rēs facit cōnsilium ipsum dignissimum?

Ἔχω. Ἥδε γὰρ ἡ μηχανὴ πῡρηνικῇ ἐνεργείᾳ ὠθουμένη καὶ χρωμένη πῡρηνικῇ ῡ̔́λῃ εὖ πρᾱ́ξει. Ἐν πολέμῳ μὲν ἡ πῡρηνικὴ δύναμις πρῶτον ὠφέλησεν. Καὶ ἐν εἰρήνῃ δ’, ὦνδρες, διὰ τοῦ πῡραύλου δείξομεν τὴν πῡρηνικὴν δύναμιν ὠφελήσειν. Οὐ τοῦτο μόνον ποιεῖ τὴν γνώμην αὐτὴν ἀξιωτάτην;

Yes, you win, professor!

Thank you, gentlemen. Then we will begin work on the space ship immediately!

Prorsus: vincis, ō professor!

Grātiās agō vōbīs, ō virī. Quamobrem cōnfestim manūs astronāvī admovēbimus!

Πάνυ γε· νῑκᾷς, ὦ καθηγετά.

Χάριν ἔχω ῡ̔μῖν, ὦνδρες. Διὸ εὐθὺς ἐπιχειρήσομεν τῷ διαστημοπλοίῳ.

Magnificent speech, professor! We’ll build the rocket and train the crew!

For the first trip to the moon!

Ōrātiō admīrābilis, ō professor! Īnstruēmus igitur radium igniferum ūna cum nautīs.

Ad prīmam in Lūnam nāvigātiōnem!

Λόγος θαυμαστός, ὦ καθηγετά. Κατασκευάσομεν οὖν τὸν πῡ́ραυλον αὐτοῖς τοῖς ναύταις.

Πρὸς τὸν πρῶτον εἰς τὴν Σελήνην πλοῦν.

Time passes and finally, one day…

The spaceship is all finished! It’s being checked and loaded with supplies!

Tempus præterit, dēnique autem…

Perfecta’st astronāvis! Quæ probātur et commeātu onerātur!

Ὁ μὲν χρόνος προβαίνει, τέλος δέ…

Ἀποτετέλεσται τὸ διαστημοπλοῖον, τὸ δοκιμαζόμενον καὶ τῶν ἐπιτηδείων γεμιζόμενον.


Take-off is less than a month away!


Vix mēnsis ūnus est usque ad ēvectiōnem!

Μόλις εἳς μείς ἐστι μέχρι τῆς ἀπογειώσεως.


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Professor Cargrave! You look worried! What’s the matter?

Ō professor Gæsoscrobis, vidēris mihi conturbārī! Quid agitur?

Ὦ καθηγητὰ Γαισόταφρε, δοκεῖς μοι ταράσσεσθαι. Τί τὸ πρᾶγμα;

Bad news, I’m afraid! This letter just came from Washington D.C.!

Heu, nūntius trīstis! Nam Epistula hæc modo Vasingtoniā D.C. pervēnit.

Φεῦ, ἀγγελίᾱ κακή. Ἥδε γὰρ ἡ ἐπιστολὴ ἄρτι ἦλθεν ἀπὸ Οὐασίνγκτου, Π.Κ.

The commission of rocket experimentation has just denied our request to shoot off this rocket! Since it uses atomic fuel, they’re afraid of a big atomic explosion if it fails!

Dēlēctī ad radiōs igniferōs experiendōs modo vetuērunt radium hunc ā nōbīs ēmittī! Cum hic māteriā nucleārī utātur, illī timent nē magna nucleāris dīruptiō fīat, si res male ēveniat!

Οἱ ἐπιτετραμμένοι τὸ τῶν πῡραύλων πειρᾶσθαι ἄρτι ἀνένευσαν ἡμῖν τοῦτον τὸν πῡ́ραυλον ἀφήσειν. Ἐπεὶ οὗτος πῡρηνικῇ ῡ̔́λῃ χρῆται, ἐκεῖνοι φοβοῦνται μὴ μεγάλη πῡρηνικὴ ἔκρηξις γένηται, εἰ τὸ πρᾶγμα κακῶς ἀποβαίη.

Then we’re stopped cold!

Ergo repressī sumus!

Οὐκοῦν καταπεπαύμεθα.

Wait! Why not send it off now, before they can really stop us? There’s no actual law saying we can’t go! We could leave at dawn seventeen hours from now.

Manēte! Cūr nunc eum nōn ēmittimus, ante quam vērō nōs reprimant? Nūlla enim lēx obstat quōminus eāmus! Abeāmus prīmā lūce in septemdecim hōrās posthāc!

Μένετε. Τί νῦν οὐκ ἀφήκαμεν αὐτόν, πρὶν ἂν δὴ ἡμᾶς παύσωσιν; Οὐδεὶς γὰρ νόμος κωλύει ἡμᾶς ἰέναι. Ἀπίοιμεν ἂν ἅμα τῇ ἡμέρᾳ εἰς ἑπτακαίδεκα ὥρας ὕστερον.

It’s crazy, Barnes! We have no trained crew ready.

Furis, ō Puer! Quia dēsunt nōbīs nautæ parātī!

Μαίνει, ὦ Παῖς. Ὅτι ἀπολειπόμεθα ναυτῶν ἑτοίμων.

What’s wrong with us? The general and I can handle the controls! you can run the engine, professor! And Jim Sweeney is our expert communications man!

Cujus egēmus nōs? Nam ego præfectusque cursum dīrigāmus, tū autem, ō professor, māchinā ūtāris. Jōsēphus Suāvis autem nōbīs tēlecommūnicātiōnis perītus!

Τίνος δεόμεθα ἡμεῖς; Ἐγὼ μὲν γὰρ καὶ ὁ στρατηγὸς κυβερνῷμεν ἄν, σὺ δέ, ὦ καθηγητά, χρῷο ἂν τῇ μηχανῇ. Ὁ δ’ Ἰώσηπος Ἡδὺς ἡμῖν τηλεκοινωνίας ἔμπειρος.

I’m willing!

Mihi placet!

Ἀρέσκει μοι.

So am I! They won’t stop us, after we’ve come this far!

Great! We’ll take off at dawn for the Moon!

Mihi quoque! Nōn repriment nōs adhūc prōgressōs!

Euge! Ergō prīmā lūce ēvehēmur nāvigantēs in Lūnam!

Κᾱ̓μοί. Οὐ μὴ παύσουσιν ἠμᾶς εἰς τοῦτο ἀφιγμένους.

Εὖγε. Ἅμα οὖν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἀπόγειοι πλευσόμεθα εἰς τὴν Σελήνην.

I’d better inform Joe Sweeney of the news…

Hi, General! What’s up? You look as excited as a collision!

Melius est Jōsēphum Suāvem dē hīs rēbus certiōrem fierī…

Avē, ō præfecte! Quid agis? Vidēris tam commōtus quam afflīctus!

Ἄμεινόν ἐστιν Ἰώσηπον Ἡδὺν πυθέσθαι ταῦτα…

Χαῖρε, ὦ στρατηγέ. Τί πράττεις; Φαίνῃ οὕτω κεκῑνημένος ὡς τεθλῑμμένος.

Joe, we’re taking off at dawn! Change of plans! And we picked you as the fourth man to go to the moon!

Jōsēphe, mūtātō cōnsiliō, prīmā lūce ēvehēmur! Tēque ēlēgimus quārtum ut in Lūnam eāmus!

Ἰώσηπε, μεταβουλεύσαντες ἅμα τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἀπόγειοι ἐσόμεθα. Καὶ σὲ εἱλόμεθα τέταρτον ἰέναι εἰς τὴν Σελήνην.

Oh, is that all? So I’m going to the Moon!

Tantumne est? Ībō igitur in Lūnam!

Ἆρα μόνον τοῦτο; Εἶμι οὖν εἰς τὴν Σελήνην.

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To the Moon? Did I hear you say you picked me to go to the Moon with you? Let me outta here! Help! I’m not going to the Moon! Think I’m crazy or something?

In Lūnam? Numquid ē tē audīvī mē ēlēctum esse ut in Lūnam vōs sequerer? Dīmitte mē! Subvenīte! In Lūnam nōn ībō! Quid? Furere mē putās?

Εἰς τὴν Σελήνην; Ἆρα μὴ ἀπὸ σοῦ ἤκουσα αἱρεθῆναι ἀκολουθεῖν ῡ̔μῖν εἰς τὴν Σελήνην; Ἀπόλῡσόν με. Βοηθεῖτε. Οὐκ εἶμι εἰς τὴν Σελήνην. Τί δέ; Δοκῶ σοι μαίνεσθαι;

Easy, Joe! Listen! Do you believe this ship will get to the Moon?

Quiēsce, Jōsēphe! Audī! Num crēdis nāvem istam in Lūnam perventūram esse?

Ἡσύχαζε, Ἰώσηπε. Ἄκουε. Μὴ πιστεύεις τοῦτο τὸ πλοῖον εἰς τὴν Σελήνην ἀφίξεσθαι;

Of course not! I’ve been telling you guys for the past month that no engine is gonna lift this big baby one inch off the ground!

Minimē vērō! Nam jam diū vōbīs negō ūllam māchinam onus grande istud pæne dē terrā sublātūram esse!

Οὐ δῆτα. Πολὺν γὰρ ἤδη χρόνον ῡ̔μῖν οὔ φημι οὐδεμίαν μηχανὴν σχεδὸν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ᾱ̓ρεῖν τὸ μέγα φορτίον τοῦτο.

All right, then! What have you got to lose? If the ship won’t budge you’re safe! You can laugh at us then, see?

Estō! Quid habēs quod āmittās? Sī nāvis immōbilis mānserit, tūtus es! Itaque nōs dērīdeās. Quidnī?

Εἶεν. Τί ἔχεις ὅ τι ἀπολέσεις; Ἐὰν τὸ πλοῖον ἀτρεμήσῃ, ἀσφαλῶς ἔχεις. Καταγελῴης οὖν ἂν ἠμῶν. Πῶς γὰρ οὔ;

Yeah, that’s right! I know the ship won’t move, so I’ll join your crew just for laughs! The take-off will be a fizzle! Haw! Haw!
Rēctē dīcis! Sciēns nāvem sē nōn mōtūram esse, nauta vestrum fīam dērīsum! Nōn enim ēvehētur sed efflābitur!

Ὀρθῶς λέγεις. Εἰδὼς τὸ πλοῖον μὴ κῑνηθησόμενον, ναύτης ῡ̔μῶν γενήσομαι τοῦ καταγελᾶν. Οὐ γὰρ ἀπόγειον ἔσται ἀλλ’ ἀφῡ́σητον.

It’s agreed then that you’ll come along!

Ergō concessum est tē secūtūrum esse.

Ἄρα ὡμολόγηται σέ γε ἀκολουθήσειν.

Holy smoke! I’m part of the crew! Something tells me General Thayer pulled a slick one on me, like selling me the Brooklyn bridge! Well, I’ve got to go through with it now!

Hercle! Ūnus ē nautīs sum! Vidētur mihi præfectum mīlitiæ Depstorem dolīs mē cēpisse, quasi fūmum vēndidisset! Estō, nunc hoc mihi pertexendum est!

Νὴ Δία. Εἷς τῶν ναυτῶν εἰμι. Δοκεῖ μοι ὁ στρατηγὸς Δέψης ἀπατῆσαί με, ὥσπερ καπνοῦ σκιᾱ̀ν πωλήσας. Εἶεν, νῦν δεῖ με τοῦτο διαφέρειν..

Meanwhile, as a busy night wears away in preparation, Professor Cargraves has his own troubles!

Intereā dum aliī noctem in apparandō cōnsūmunt, professor Gæsoscrobis sua negōtia habet.

Ἐν δὲ τῷ μεταξύ, οἱ μὲν κατατρίβουσι τὴν νύκτα παρασκευαζόμενοι, ὁ δὲ καθηγητὴς Γαισόταφρος ἔχει τὰ ἑαυτοῦ πρᾱ́γματα.

But, Emily, I have to go! This is bigger than you or me or anything!

At enim, Æmilia, mihi eundum est! Major rēs est quam mea vel tua vel cujusquam!

Ἀλλὰ γάρ, Αἰμιλία, ἰτέον ἐμοί. Μεῖζόν ἐστι πρᾶγμα ἢ τοὐμὸν ἢ τὸ σὸν ἢ τό τινος ἄλλου.

All right, dear! Of course I won’t stop you! But please come back!

Please come back!

Estō, mī marīte! Tē nē retinēbō quidem, obsecrō autem ut redeās!

Obsecrō ut redeās!

Εἶεν, φίλτατε. Σὲ οὐ καθέξω μέν, ἀντιβολῶ δ’ ἐπανελθεῖν.

Ἀντιβολῶ σ’ ἐπανελθεῖν.


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The crucial hour approaches and four brave men are ready!

Tempus statūtum prope est, quattuor autem virī fortēs parātī sunt!

Ὁ μὲν καιρὸς ἐγγύς ἐστι, τέσσαρες δ’ ἄνδρες ἀγαθοὶ παρεσκευασμένοι εἰσίν.

Ship’s all checked and loaded! Dawn in five minutes! Up into the hatch!

Suddenly…

Nāvis probāta et onerāta’st! In quīnque minūta lūcēbit! Sūrsum in cellam!

Subitō…

Τὸ πλοῖον δεδοκιμασμένον γέμει. Εἰς ε’ λεπτὰ ἡμέρα γενήσεται. Ἄνω εἰς τὸν θάλαμον.

Ἐξαίφνης…

Wait! Stop! We got wind of this! An injunction has been issued to forbid you to take off! Stop!

A court injunction!

Manēte! Cōnsistite! Audīvimus hoc! Ēdictum exiit ut prohibēret vōs ā Terrā ēnāvi
gāre. Cōnsistite!

Ēdictum magistrātūs!

Μένετε. Ἐπίσχετε. Ἐπυθόμεθα τοῦτο. Πρόσταγμα ἐξελήλυθεν κωλῡ́ειν ῡ̔μᾶς ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἐκπλεῦσαι. Ἐπίσχετε.

Πρόσταγμα τοῦ ἄρχοντος.


But nothing will stop us now! Before that bailiff can reach us and officially serve his injection we can get in the ship! Elevator aloft! Hurry!

Nunc autem nihil nōs prohibēbit! Ante quam appāritor ad nōs pervēnerit et ēdictum in pūblicum prōposuerit, in nāvem inībimus! Sūrsum scānsōrium! Festīnāte!

Νῦν δ’ οὐδὲν κωλῡ́σει ἡμᾶς. Πρὶν ἂν ὁ κλητὴρ πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἀφίκηται καὶ τὸ πρόσταγμα προείπῃ, εἰς τὸ πλοῖον εἴσιμεν. Ἄνω τὸ ἀκροβατικόν. Σπεύδετε.

Stop!

Clear away, on your life! The rockets will blast out in one minute!

Soon in the ship..

Cōnsistite!

Abī prō vītā tuā! Radius ignifer in ūnum minūtum ēmittitur!

Cōnfestim in nāve…

Ἐπίσχετε.

Ἄπιθι ὑπὲρ τῆς ψῡχῆς σου. Ὁ πῡ́ραυλος ἐκτοξευθήσεται εἰς ἓν λεπτόν.

Εὐθὺς ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ…

Everybody settled in his compression couch? Thirty seconds to go!

Power station?

Power station ready for firing!

Jacentne omnēs in pulvīnāribus suīs? Trīgintā secunda ad missiōnem!

Generātor?

Generātor parātus ad accendendum!

Ἆρα κεῖνται πάντες ἐν ταῖς ἑαυτῶν κλῑ́ναις; Τριᾱ́κοντα δευτερόλεπτα μέχρι ἀφέσεως.

Γεννήτρια;

Γεννήτρια ἑτοίμη ἅπτειν.

Co-pilot?

Instruments set! Automatic pilot ready for take-off!

Co-gubernātor?

Īnstrūmenta ōrdināta! Auto-gubernātor parātus ad ēnāvigandum!

Συγ-κυβερνήτης;

Ὄργανα τεταγμένα. Αὐτοκυβερνήτης ἕτοιμος ἐκπλεῖν.

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Communications?


Everything’s just dandy, sir!


Ā tēlecommūnicātiōne?


Omnia bellē sē habent, domine!


Ὁ ἐπὶ τηλεκοινωνίας;


Πάντα κομψῶς ἔχει, κῡ́ριε.


Hey, what am I worrying about? I know this big pile of junk isn’t going to leave earth at all! Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come along! This is all a big laugh… Heh-heh, heh!


Hem, quā dē rē sollicitus sum? Sciō enim hujuscemodī acervum numquam ē Terrā excessūrum! Sīn minus, secūtus nōn essem! Omnia vērō ista rīdicula. Ha! ha! ha!


Ἔᾱ, περὶ τίνος φροντίζω; Οἶδα γὰρ ὅτι τοιοῦτος ὁ σωρὸς οὐκ ἀποχωρήσεται ἐκ τῆς Γῆς οὐδέν τι. Εἰ δὲ μή, οὐκ ἂν ἠκολούθησα. Πάντα δὴ ταῦτα γέλοια. Ἅ, ἅ, ἅ.


Starting switch ready! Ten seconds to go… 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 2, 2, … here we go!


Missοr parātus! X secunda reliqua, IX, VIII, VII, VI, V, IV, III, II, proficīscimur!


Ἀφέτης ἕτοιμος. ι’ δευτερόλεπτα λοιπά, θ’, η’, ζ’, ϛ’, ε’, δ’, γ’, β’, πορευόμεθα.

With an earth-shaking roar, the mighty atomic rockets burst forth with thunderous power, and four men are on their way into space. Their destination .. the Moon!


Fragōre terram concutiente, potēns radius nucleāris magnō cum tonitrū ērumpit, quattuor autem virī in spatium proficīscuntur, quōrum nāvigātiō in Lūnam!


Πατάγου τὴν γῆν σείοντος, ὁ μὲν ἰσχῡρὸς πῡρηνικὸς πῡ́ραυλος μέγα βροντῶν ἐξορμᾷ, τέσσαρες δ’ ἄνδρες πορεύονται εἰς τὸ διάστημα, ὧνπερ ὁ πλοῦς εἰς τὴν Σελήνην.


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Gasp! We’re all under terrific strain due to the enormous acceleration! We each weigh about eleven hundred pounds! Everybody -gasp! - holding up okay?

Ā! Nōs omnēs ācerrimē tendimur propter immānem accelerātiōnem! Nam ūnusquisque nostrum mīlle quīngentī fere lībrās pendit! Sustinētisne - ā! - omnēs?

Ἆ. Ἡμεῖς πάντες σφόδρα τεινόμεθα διὰ τὴν ὑπερμεγέθη ἐπιτάχυνσιν. Ἕκαστος γὰρ ἡμῶν βάρος ἔχει ὡς χῑλίας πεντακοσίας λίτρας. Ἆρ’ ἀνέχεσθε - ἆ - πάντες;

All right here! But it feels like the middle of a hurricane! Gasp!

Καλῶς ἔχω ἔγωγε. Πάσχω δ’ ὡς ἂν ἐν θυέλλῃ μέσῃ ὤν. Ἆ.

Valeō saltem ego! Patior autem quasi in mediā procellā essem! Ā!

This pressure will last only three minutes and fifty seconds! We can stand it that long! I’m fine! How about you, Sweeney?

Sōla tria minūta et quīnquāgintā secunda premēmur! Tamdiū possumus sustinēre! Rēctē mē habeō. Ut valēs tū, ō Suāvis?

Πιεσόμεθα μόνα τρία λεπτὰ καὶ πεντήκοντα δευτερόλεπτα. Τοσοῦτον δυνάμεθα ἀνέχεσθαι. Εὖ ἔχω. Πῶς ἔχεις σύ, ὦ Ἡδύ;

Oof! Just like home in bed - Haw! But what’s going on, fellas? I’ll turn on the aft view television screen!

Vah! Quasi domī in lectō. Heu mihi! Sed quid fit, ō sodālēs? Quadrum ē puppī tēle-vīsificum accendam.

Φεῦ. Ὥσπερ ἐν τῇ οἴκοι κλῑ́νῃ. Οἴμοι. Ἀλλὰ τί γίγνεται, ὦταῖροι; Ἀνάψω τὴν ἐκ τῆς πρύμνης τηλε-ορᾱτικὸν ὀθόνην.

New York! Way below us!

Omigosh! Don’t tell me this ship is actually working Don’t tell me we’re actually leaving earth? It’s sabotage! Yipes!
Novum Eborācum infrā nōs!

Novum Eborācum infrā nōs!

Mehercle! Numquid nāvis ista mūnere suō bene fungitur? Numquid ergō ē Terrā excēdimus? Dolus malus est! Papæ!

Νέον Ἐβόρᾱκον ὑφ’ ἡμᾶς.

Νὴ τὸν Ἡρακλέᾱ. Μή τι αὕτη ἡ ναῦς εὖ ἐπιτελεῖ τοὔργον αὑτῆς; Μῶν ἀποχωροῦμεν ἐκ τῆς Γῆς; Δόλος πονηρός ἐστι. Παπαῖ.

We’ve just broken all altitude records for previous rockets! We’re five hundred miles high, leaving earth’s atmosphere!

Mox excelsissimī sumus omnium priōrum radiōrum! Quattuor enim mīllia stadiōrum altī sumus, atmosphæram Terræ relinquentēs!

Ἤδη ὑψηλότατοί ἐσμεν πάντων τῶν πρόσθεν πῡραύλων. Ἔχομεν γὰρ τὸ ὕψος τέσσαρα χῑ́λια στάδια, καταλείποντες τὴν ἀτμόσφαιραν τῆς Γῆς.


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Hey! The Sun and the stars both shining together in the daytime! My eyes have gone bad!
Hem! Et Sōl et stellæ simul diē lūcentes! Oculī meī dēfecērunt !

Ἔᾱ. Καὶ ὁ ἥλιος καὶ οἱ ἀστέρες ἅμα τῆς ἡμέρας λάμποντες. Οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου ἐξέλιπον.

No, Sweeney! It’s simply that down on earth, the atmosphere scatters and diffuses sunlight, and the glare hides the stars, which are always there! But up here, in open space, the Sun’s glare doesn’t dim the stars!
Minimē, ō Suāvis! Sed sōlum quod terrā quidem atmosphæra lūcem Solīs dispergit atque diffundit, splendōre stēllās, quæ semper illīc sunt, occultante! Hīc autem in spatiō apertō splendor stēllās nōn obscūrat!

Οὐδαμῶς, ὦ Ἡδύ. Ἀλλὰ μόνον ὅτι κατὰ γῆν μὲν ἡ ἀτμόσφαιρα σκεδάννῡσί τε καὶ διαχεῖ τὸ τοῦ Ἡλίου φῶς, τῆς αὐγῆς τοὺς ἀστέρας τοὺς ἀεὶ ἐκεῖ ὄντας κρυπτούσης. Ἐνθάδε δ’ ἐν τῷ καθαρῷ διαστήματι ἡ αὐγὴ οὐκ ἀμαυροῖ τοὺς ἀστέρας.

And look at the Sun itself, with its glorious corona and halo! Earth’s atmosphere also hides that, except during total eclipses! Here in space you see it all the time!
Etenim Sōlem ipsum spectā cum præclarā coronā! Quam et occultat atmosphæra Terræ, præterquam si dēfectiō perficiātur! Hīc autem in spatiō eam semper vidēs!

Καὶ γὰρ θεοῦ τὸν Ἥλιον αὐτὸν ἔχοντα τὸ λαμπρὸν στέμμα. Ὅπερ δὲ καὶ κρύπτει ἡ ἀτμόσφαιρα τῆς Γῆς, πλὴν ἐὰν ὅλως ἐκλείπῃ. Ἐνθάδε δὲ ἐν τῷ διαστήματι ἀεὶ ὁρᾷς αὐτό.

Three minutes and fifty seconds since take-off! Acceleration over! The rockets are cutting off now! G
Τria minūta et quīnquāgintā secunda ab ēvectiōne. Fīnis accelerātiōnis. Nunc autem radius extinguitur.

Τρία λεπτὰ καὶ πεντήκοντα δευτερόλεπτα ἀπὸ ἀπογειώσεως. Τέλος τῆς ἐπιταχύνσεως. Νῦν δ’ ὁ πῡ́ραυλος σβέννῡται.

We can unstrap ourselves now!The take-off strain is over!

What a relief! Now we can move around again!

Nunc solvī possumus! Ēvectī nōn amplius tendimur!

Quam suāve! Nunc possumus iterum ambulāre!

Νűν ἔξεστιν ἡμῖν λῡθῆναι. Ἀπόγειοι γεγονότες οὐκ ἔτι τεινόμεθα.

Ὡς ἡδύ. Νῦν ἔξεστιν ἡμῖν πάλιν περιπατεῖν.

Wait Joe! Take it easy!

Why I’m going to get up and…

Help! What’s wrong? I’m floating like a feather!

Manē, Jōsēphe! Quiēsce!

Quārē? Surrēctūrus enim…

Succurrite! Quid negōtiī? Pendeō ut plūma!

Μεῖνον, Ἰώσηπε. Ἡσύχαζε.

Διὰ τί; Ἀναστησόμενος γάρ…

Βοηθεῖτε. Τί τὸ πρᾶγμα; Αἰωροῦμαι ὡς πτίλον.


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Will you guys please stop giving me the horse laugh and explain what this is all about? Why am I floating?
Dēsinite, quæsō, sodālēs, rīsū cachinnābilī atque explānāte quid hīc agātur! Quārē pendeō?

Παύετε, δέομαι ῡ̔μῶν, ὦταῖροι, καγχαζόντες καὶ ἐξηγεῖσθε ὅ τι πρᾱ́ττεται. Διὰ τί αἰωροῦμαι;

Ha! Ha!

Can’t help laughing! Haw! Haw!

Ha! Ha!

Nequeō rīsum continēre! Ha! Ha!

Ἅ, ἅ.

Οὐ δύναμαι τὸν γέλωτα κατέχειν. Ἅ, ἅ.

Because we’re in free fall, Joe! We’re falling through space at the same rate of speed the ship is! It’s like when an elevator suddenly drops: you feel weightless! And we’re so far from Earth’s gravitation that it no longer grips us!
Quia in līberō cāsū sumus, ō Jōsēphe! Nam cadimus per spatium eōdem vēlōcitātis numerō ac nāvis! Sicut ubi cella scānsōria subitō cadit, sentīs tē pondere carēre. Ita autem distāmus ā gravitāte Terræ ut ipsa nōn amplius nōs retineat!

Ὅτι ἐν ἐλευθέρᾳ πτώσει ἐσμέν, ὦ Ἰώσηπε. Πίπτομεν γὰρ διὰ τοῦ διαστήματος τῷ αὐτῷ ταχυτῆτος ῥυθμῷ καὶ τὸ πλοῖον. Ὡς ὅτε ἀνελκυστὴρ ἐξαίφνης πίπτει, αἰσθάνει ἀβαρὴς ὤν. Οὕτω δ’ ἀπέχομεν τῆς βαρύτητος τῆς Γῆς ὥστε αὐτὴ οὐκέτι κατέχει ἡμᾶς.

Here! Grab my hand! I’ll have to pull you down!

Like a runaway balloon!

Thanks! I’m going to hold on tight after this!

Ecce, arripe manum! Dētrahendus mihi es!

Ut follis āerius fugitīvus!

Grātiās tibi agō! Abhinc mē tenēbō artē!

Ἰδού, ἅρπασον τὴν χεῖρα. Χρῆ με κατασπᾶν σε.

Ὡς ᾱ̓ερόστατον ἀποπεφευγός.

Χάριν ἔχω σοι. Ἐντεῦθεν συνέξω ἐμαυτόν.

You won’t have to, Joe! Put on these magnetic shoes! They’ll hold you to the steel floor by magnetism!

Nōn opus est tibi, Jōsēphe, sed calce calceāmenta hæc magnētica quæ tē pavīmentō chalybe factō tenēbunt!

Οὐδὲν ἔργον ἐστί σοι, Ἰώσηπε, αλλ’ ὑπόδησαι τάδε τὰ μαγνητικὰ ὑποδήματα ἃ συνέξει σε τῷ χαλυβδικῳ δαπέδῳ.

And not only to the floor, Joe! Take my hand! Let’s take a stroll up the wall and ceiling.!

Huh? You must be joking!

Neque sōlum pavīmentō, Jōsēphe! Cēde manum! Ambulēmus in adversum mūrum tēctumque!

Quid? Jocō dīcis!

Οὐδὲ μόνον τῷ δαπέδῳ, Ἰώσηπε. Ἄνεχέ μοι τὴν χεῖρα. Περιπατήσομεν ἀνὰ τό τε τεῖχος καὶ τὴν ὀροφήν.

Τί; Σὺ παίζεις.

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Holy mackerel, it works!

Yes, Joe. You see, there is no gravity holding us here! There is no “up” or “down” anymore!

Hercule, succēdit hoc!

Sānē, Jōsēphe! Nōn enim est gravitās quæ teneat nōs hīc. Neque amplius sūrsum neque deorsum!

Νὴ Δία, συμβαίνει τοῦτο.

Ναί, Ιώσηπε. Οὐ γὰρ ἔστι βαρύτης συνέχουσα ἡμᾶς ἐνταῦθα. Οὔτε ἔτι τὸ ἄνω οὔτε τὸ κάτω.

In fact, let’s have a stroll across the ceiling, too!

Now I’ve seen everything! Just call me the human fly!

Etenim inambulēmus trāns tēctum!

Omnia vīdī! Modo mē muscam hūmānam appellāte!

Καὶ γὰρ ἐμπεριπατῶμεν πέρα τῆς ὀροφῆς.

Πάντα ἑώρακα. Ἄρτι δ’ ὀνομάζετέ με τὴν ἀνθρωπίνην μυῖαν.

Hey! Is that Earth?

Yes, we’re over two thousand miles from it now, on our way to the Moon!

Hem, estne illa Terra?

Profectō! Sumus enim nunc amplius quīndecim mīllia stadiōrum ab eā, in Lūnam nāvigantēs.

Ἔᾱ, ἆρ’ ἡ Γῆ ἐκείνη;

Μάλα γε. Ἐσμὲν γὰρ νῦν ὑπὲρ τὰ μῡ́ρια καὶ πεντακισχῑ́λια στάδια ἀπ’ αὐτῆς, πλέοντες εἰς τὴν Σελήνην.

For the first time, Joe Sweeney realizes the full implication of what has occurred in the past few minutes!

Nunc prīmum Jōsēphus Suāvis cognōscit quid novissima facta dēmōnstrent.

Νῦν πρῶτον Ἰώσηπος Ἡδὺς γιγνώσκει ὅ τι τὰ νεωστὶ γενόμενα ἀποδείκνῡσιν.

You mean this blasted ship can really go to the Moon? But I don’t want to go! Thanks for the ride, but let me out!
Num dīcitis hanc nāvem scelestam in Lūnam nāvigāre posse? Verum nōn ībō ego! Benignē mē vēxistis, sed ēmittite mē!

Μὴ λέγετε ὅτι αὕτη ἡ εὐώνυμος ναῦς δύναται εἰς τὴν Σελήνην πλεῖν; Ἀλλ’ οὐκ εἶμι ἐγώ. Ἐπαινῶ μὲν ῡ̔μᾶς τοῦ με ὀχηθῆναι, ἀλλ’ ἐκπέμψατέ με.

Don’t be a fool, Joe! You have to finish the trip now!

And just think, Joe! You’ll be a hero!

Νē ad ineptiās abeās, Jōsēphe! Nunc necesse tibi viam perficere!

Cōnsīderā, Jōsēphe, hominēs tē virum fortissimum æstimatūrōs esse!

Μὴ λήρους ληρήσῃς, Ἰώσηπε. Νῦν γὰρ ἀνάγκη σοι καθανύσαι τὴν ὁδόν.

Καὶ κατάμαθε, Ἰώσηπε, ὅτι ἀνὴρ ἄριστος κριθήσῃ.

Who asked to be a hero? And I had a date tonight with a cute girl, too! Will she be sore when she hears I ditched her just to go to the old Moon!

Quis vult fortissimus æstimārī? Oportēbat autem mē obvium bellæ pūpæ esse. Quæ vērō dolēbit quandō audīverit mē eam relīquisse tamquam in Lūnam vetulam itūrum.

Τίς βούλεται ἄριστος κρῑ́νεσθαι; Ἔδει δέ με καὶ συναντῆσαι κορασίῳ κομψῷ. Ἡ δὴ λῡπήσῃ ὅταν ἀκούσῃ ὅτι κατέλιπον αὐτὴν μόνον ὡς ἰὼν εἰς Σελήνην τὴν γραῦν.


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Buck up, Joe! You’ll be a hero to all girls when you return! Right now, how about getting at your post at the aft-view television screen?

Bonō animō sīs, Jōsēphe! Cum redieris, fortissimus omnibus puellīs eris! Nunc autem, quīn statiōnem tuam ad quadrum ē puppī tēle-vīsificum īnīs?

Θάρσει, Ἴωσηπε. Ὅταν ἐπανέλθῃς ἄριστος ἔσῃ πᾱ́σαις ταῖς κόραις. Νῦν δέ, τί οὐκ εἰσέρχῃ τὴν στάσιν σου ἐπὶ τῇ ἐκ τῆς πρύμνης τηλε-ορᾱτικὸν ὀθόνῃ;

Okay, professor!

Let’s take a good look at earth from a distance of five thousand miles!

Faciam, professor!

Terram per quadrāgintā mīllia stadiōrum cōnsīderēmus!

Ποιήσω, καθηγητά.

Διασκοπῶμεν τὴν Γῆν διὰ τεσσάρων μῡρίων σταδίων.

Glorious! We can see all of America, from one end to the other! All the mountains and lakes and rivers!

Quam pulchrum! Tōtam enim Americam, ab ōrā ad ōram cernimus! Omnēs montēs et lacūs et flūmina!

Ὡς καλόν. Βλέπομεν γὰρ ὅλην τὴν Ἀμερικὴν ἐξ ἐσχάτων ἐς ἔσχατα. Πάντα τὰ ὄρη καὶ τὰς λίμνας καὶ τοὺς ποταμούς.

Even the big cities! There’s Los Angeles, and Chicago, and New York! Magnificent!

Et magnās urbēs! Ecce Angelōpolin et Sicāgum et Novum Eborācum! Mīrābile vīsū!

Καὶ τὰς μεγάλας πόλεις. Ἰδοὺ Ἀγγελώπολιν, Σικᾶγόν τε Νέον Ἐβόρᾱκόν τε. Θαῦμα ἰδέσθαι.

Hey, I can even see Brooklyn! Which reminds me- I wonder what the score is in today’s game with the Chicago Cubs?
Hem, et Brūclīnum videō! Quod me commonet dē hodiernō lūdō cum Sicāgoēnsibus Catulīs quanta faciant!

Ἔᾱ, καὶ Βρουκλῑ́νην ὁρῶ. Ὅπερ ὑπομιμνήσκει με τοῦ σήμερον ἀγῶνος μετὰ τῶν Σικᾶγαίων Κυνιδίων ὁπόσα ποιοῦσιν.