I have a passage I’ve been working on the past couple days that has been quite challenging for me. I believe I have something pretty close, but would like feedback. This passage is from the Adele Simonetti critical edition of the text. The text is Expositio in Librum Judith by the Blessed Rabanus Maurus.
Et propter hoc dicitur quod mittentes Israhelitae circumquaque «praeoccupaverint omnes vertices montium», quia sanctae ecclesiae auctoritas praepositorum suorum commonet strenuitatem, quatenus probes viros ac virtutum studiis celsos, omni intentione et nisu tam precibus quam etiam exortatione, confortare et servare studeant inlaesos; ut si alicubi hostis per simplicium incuriam in castra ecclesiae inrumpere temptaverit, per istorum fortitudinem ac robur fidei ocius repellatur.
I have pulled the quoted portion directly from the Douay-Rheims translation of Judith. The entire passage (Judith 4:1-4) is quoted in the text a few paragraphs earlier. Note that some manuscripts say ‘praeoccupaverunt’ instead of ‘praeoccupaverint’, including the Clementine Vulgate. My translation follows.
And because of this it is said that the Israelites, sending out in all directions, “seized upon all the tops of the mountains,” because the author of the Holy Church impresses the zeal of those who should be his leaders upon good and noble men having an eagerness for mighty works, so that in every intention and effort they might strive to strengthen and protect the unharmed, as much in prayers as in exhortation; so that wherever the enemy may have tried to invade the camps of the Church through the carelessness of simple folk, he may be more quickly repelled through the strength and the solid trunk of faith of these men.
I had difficulty figuring out what was going on with commonet. I eventually concluded that it had a double accusative. I concluded that praepositorum is a gerundive modifying suorum. robur is literally a very strong type of oak tree. I wonder if I ought to follow that a bit more literally or if this approach is acceptable.
I came to the realization early this morning that praepositorum is not a gerundive, but a perfect passive participle. My updated translation follows.
And because of this it is said that the Israelites, sending out in all directions, “seized upon all the tops of the mountains,” because the author of the Holy Church impresses the zeal of those he has placed in command upon good and noble men, having an eagerness for mighty works, so that in every intention and effort they might strive to strengthen and protect the unharmed, as much in prayers as in exhortation; so that wherever the enemy may have tried to invade the camps of the Church through the carelessness of simple folk, he may be more quickly repelled through the strength and the solid trunk of faith of these men.
I don’t see any double accusative. commonet something like “issue a reminder of,” i.e. “urges” strenuitas on its leaders? The Church wants Her leaders to be strenuous in doing their utmost (quatenus … studeant) to …. Aren’t the probos viros ac virtutum studiis celsos, the morally upright men, the object of the infinitives? They’re the ones the church leaders should concentrate on strengthening and keeping unharmed (inlaesos predicative), i.e. firm in the faith?, so that they can better protect the Church from her enemies.
Small details: sanctae ecclesiae auctoritas not “the author of the Holy Church” but “the authority of the H.C.”; it’s just the good bishop’s periphrasis for “the Church.”
robur fidei just “strength of faith” (and fortitudo “fortitude”)
Hope this helps. It’s not the sort of thing I usually read.
auctoritas does not mean author. Use your dictionary.
The central part:
in order that they (praepositi) be zealous to strengthen and protect unharmed good men and lofty for desires of virtues, with every intention and effort as much through prayers as also in exhortation,
Find better translations for robur. Castra is plural in Latin, not in English. Again, use your dictionary.
Thank you mwh and bedwere. Both of your answers were very useful.
L&S suggest referring to admoneo for guidance on construction with respect to commoneo. It is suggested that in some cases admoneo can take a double accusative, so that’s where I got the idea. But looking at this in the light of your comments, it does make more sense for it to simply take strenuitatem, urging this “of its leaders,” or perhaps more literally, “of its men placed in command” by way of the genitive.
Robur is literally a very hard type of oak. I was trying to maintain some modicum of the flavor of that while conveying the tropological sense. My attempt apparently went over like a lead balloon! I’ve toned it down. I do note, in my defense, that Whitaker’s Words provides “tough core.”
I do note that the Douay-Rheims translates “operatio virtutum” as “working of miracles,” but I think “of virtues” is a much more conservative choice in this context and chose to move to it from “for mighty works.” See 1 Cor. 12:10.
My revised version follows.
And because of this it is said that the Israelites, sending out in all directions, “seized upon all the tops of the mountains,” because the authority of the Holy Church urges zeal upon its leaders, so that in every intention and effort, as much through prayers as also by exhortation, they might strive to strengthen and protect unharmed good men, elevated to desires for the virtues; so that wherever the enemy may have tried to invade the camp of the Church through the carelessness of simple folk, he may be more quickly repelled through the fortitude and the firmness of faith of these men.