Irridens cuspide figo

Latin Learning Latin
1

Hello everyone. It seems the following sentences are inscribed in Louis XV’s desk in Versailles. I’ve been trying to translate them, but the exercise has proved to be a task that’s beyond my capacity. Could anyone help? Here it is:

“Non nisi grandia canto. Irridens cuspide figo.
Brevi complector singula cantu, pastorum carmina ludo.”

I really appreciate if I could get some help. :slight_smile:

Thanks in advance.

2

Before a moderator tells you, be aware that the rules of the board ask everyone needing translation help to provide their own attempt with the request.

What specifically do you need help with? How well do you undestand it so far?

3

I got the first sentence, “I sing nothing else, except great (things)”. What I need help with is, what does it all mean? :slight_smile: In other words, I need a translation for it.

I’m guessing this is a difficult one, though.

4

The individual lines seem make some kind of sense, but put together this sounds truly surrealistic. An attempt:

"Non nisi grandia canto.
I sing of nothing but great things

Irridens cuspide figo.
Laughing, I pierce [him/her/it] with a lance.

Brevi complector singula cantu,

In short songs I sum up each and every thing,

pastorum carmina ludo."
(and) play the songs of the shepherds.

Does anybody here have a better answer to this puzzle?

5

Actually, they are, indeed, individual lines, and not, let’s say, strings of a common text.

Thanks a lot for the initiative, ohammer. You were of (really) great help. :slight_smile:

May the gods bless you. ;-D

6

Problem solved:

The reason why these sentences make such a surrealistic jumble, is that they do not belong together, as in a poem. Some more detective work shows that they come from Cesare Ripa’s 1593 work on symbolism in art, Iconologia, a massively influential and widely translated book that gives “recipes” for how to depict various moods and literary genres according to 16/17th century taste and conventions. Part of this symbolic language was the possibility of including written mottoes in the paintings. The four line belong to as many different iconographic genres:

“irridens cupide figo” has erotic overtones and illustrates paintings of satyrs
“pastorum carmina ludo” goes with pastoral scenes
“brevi complector singula cano” goes with pictures of Apollo and other “lyrical” themes
“non nisi grandia canto” goes with paintings of heroic themes

7

I see someone’s been doing their homework. :wink:

I tried to look for those sentences on the Net, but googling them returned me mostly pages in (what I think is) Dutch. Though maybe they were in Danish. Either way, I guess it wouldn’t be hard for you to get (at least) the gist of what they said, since you’re from Denmark. :slight_smile:

Once again, thank you so much. You’ve been incredibly kind! I don’t know how I can repay you, but if you ever need help with Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French or Modern Greek… drop me a line. :slight_smile:

8

Help with Italian? At your service.

Είσαι Ελληνης̣;

9

Indeed - the Google hits are from a 17th c. Dutch translation of Ripa’s book. That led to finding the rest of the information on these phrases.

My pleasure, Kennedy, if I need help with (Modern) Greek I’ll be sure to get in touch :slight_smile:

10

" Έλληνας " would be the correct form. :smiley: (“ελληνἰδα” for a female)

No, I’m not, I’m Brazilian, but I live in Athens, Greece. I go to Archaeology school at the University of Athens, been living here for a few years now, but my mother tongue is Portuguese. :slight_smile:



Indeed - the Google hits are from a 17th c. Dutch translation of Ripa’s book. That led to finding the rest of the information on these phrases.

Thanks a lot again! :slight_smile:


My pleasure, Kennedy, if I need help with (Modern) Greek I’ll be sure to get in touch.

Then it will be my pleasure to help. :slight_smile: