As you might guess, I’m on a bit of a Disney-in-classical-languages kick lately, mostly in Latin. Here’s a classic from The Lion King. As always, questions, suggestions, critiques, and/or corrections are welcome! My goal was to take as few liberties as possible with the meaning while also maintaining the syllable count per line (for singability) and rhyme scheme).
Erō rēx tam fortissimus.
Fugant inimīcī!
Sed bestiārum rēgem tam calvum
Quam tē numquam vīdī.
Erō rēx inlustrissimus
Ut nūllus ant’ erat.
Dēspiciēns, maximē fremam,
Ut quisque mē audiat.
Adhūc fremendō nōn mē excitās.
Nōn possum satis mox fiērī rēx!
(Magnē prōficiendum est tibi, dominule, sī crēdis…)
Nēmō dīcet, “Fac hoc,”
(Cum illud dīxī…)
Vel dīcet, “Illūc ī,”
(Volēbam dīcere…)
Vel quidpiam vetābit,
(Id quod nōn scīs….)
Vel iubēbit, “Parē!”
(Nunc parē!)
Cursitābō tōtum diem!
(Prohibēbitur certē.)
Faciam omnia ut volō!
Sermōnem probum iam crēdō nōbīs conferendum.
Rēgibus leve’st aviculōrum consilium.
Sī regnum hoc regētur sīc,
Particeps haud erō!
Ē servitiō et ex Africā,
Nōn diū hīc manēbō.
Hic puer valdē ferox audaxque fit.
Nōn possum satis mox fiērī rēx.
Spectāte dextrorsum,
Etiam sinistrorsum.
Quōque cursū, erō
Omnium centrum!
Nunc canat quaeque fera maximē!
Audiātur carmen tam lātissimē!
Gaudēbimus cum rēge optimē!
Nōn possum satis mox fiērī rēx!
Nōn possum satis mox fiērī rēx!
Nōn possum satis mox fiērī rēx!