Hi, I am trying to translate the quote from St Augustine, ‘ama et fac quod vis’ into classical Greek (in English this could be rendered as ‘love and do what you will’). Can someone help me translate this? I am having trouble figuring out the correct word for ‘do’ and for ‘will’. Thanks in advance.
Composition is certainly not my strong point but here is my attempt.
[size=150]ἀγαπήσατε καὶ ποιήσατε ἃ θέλετε[/size]
Because Augustine wrote during the koine period I used [size=150]αγαπᾶω[/size].
I am curious, the verb is not in the present imperative form. Why is that? and what would it be in the classical greek, with agapw? Thanks.
Also, since Augustine used the singular imperative form, I would need that form, not the plural imperative. Thanks.
I dont understand Bert’s use of aorist imperative, yet composition is not my strong point either 
I’d propose, using present imperative ἀγάπα καὶ ποίει ἃ βούλει
I find that the use of [size=134]ἐθέλω[/size] sounds too much like modern greek in this circumstance… in any case, the use of this verb in ancient greek seems to be mainly in poetic context…
You’ll have to excuse the faults in my attempt. I merely tried to get it started because nobody had replied yet.
It is interesting though.
I am curious, the verb is not in the present imperative form. Why is that?
After doing some reading on it I’ve come to the conclusion that the present is likely more appropriate. I don’t know Latin but judging by your Englsih translation this is meant as a general command (or urging) and not just meant for a specific instance so present is better.
and what would it be in the classical greek, with agapw?
What I meant by my comment is; It seems to me that [size=150]ἀγαπάω[/size] was not a real common word. Not rare, but not as common as [size=150]φιλέω[/size] was in Greek before the Koine time. I could have used file/w just as well.
Also, since Augustine used the singular imperative form, I would need that form, not the plural imperative.
Like I said; I can’t read Latin so I had to go by your translation into English.
That’s why I did not know that Augustine used a sg. verb.
I find that the use of e)qe/lw sounds too much like modern greek in this circumstance… in any case, the use of this verb in ancient greek seems to be mainly in poetic context…
I don’t know modern Greek either (I am pleading ignorance 
)but to me it sure does not seem out of the ordinary here. I quess the deciding factor would have to be the Latin.
Does the Latin mean; do what you like, whatever it is that seems right to you. or is it more like; do what you have planned to do.
After all that, I am pretty well were Cedric is at. [size=150]ἀγάπα καὶ ποίει ἃ θέλε[/size] or [size=150]βούλει[/size]
I enjoy these short little composition exercises. I am not at the level that we find in the composition board.
I’m sorry if u think i was criticising ur attempt, i’m myself too bad at translating into latin or greek to dare to do so 
I just pointed out things which seemed odd to me.
I agree with u on the use of [size=134]ἀγαπάω[/size], i had a doubt too and checked my dictionnary and it seems that it’s the best choice possible, [size=134]φιλέω[/size] seems completely out of the topic in this sentence.
I don’t know modern Greek either (I am pleading ignorance >
I know [size=134]ἐθέλω[/size] is used too, but it immediately reminded me of Modern Greek ([size=134]θέλω[/size] completely got over [size=134]βούλομαι[/size]). Yet the examples given in my dictionnary (Bailly) are mostly taken from Euripides, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Plato, LXX, Herodotus… It doesnt mean that those authors are “forbiden” in composition, but we are taught in France to use words used in Xenophon, Plato, Lysias, Isocrates rather than words used by poets or not “classical” authors (like LXX, Herodotus, Homer…). Then [size=134]ἐθέλω[/size] is perfectly possible but my use of composition stupidly prevents me from using it
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As I understand it, in Christian writings, the three Greek words for ‘love’ took on specialized meanings: [size=150]ἀγαπάω[/size] was God’s love, [size=150]φιλέω[/size] is brotherly love (i.e. men’s love for each other), and [size=150]ἐράω[/size] was sexual desire. I can’t tell you how hard and fast these rules were, but since this is a Christian sense, I think they might apply. So, depending on context, it might be [size=150]ἀγαπάω[/size] or [size=150]φιλέω[/size], but I would go with [size=150]φιλέω[/size].
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The difference between aorist and present in the imperative is one of aspect, not of tense. The aorist would mean “do (as a specific, concrete action)”, and the present would mean “do (as a general practice)”. Again, I think it depends on the context, but I would probably go with the present, if this is general advice.
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I would make the relative clause indefinite. Greek is much more likely to use an indefinite clause when the sense is indefinite, to the point where sometimes the indefiniteness is lost in the English translation. Here the sense is certainly indefinite; the definite [size=150]ποιήσατε ἃ θέλετε[/size] would seem to me to have the sense “do that thing you wanted to do (that you mentioned before)”, while the indefinite would mean “do whatever you want to do”.
Thus, I produce the translation:
[size=150]φίλει καὶ ποίει ἅτιν’ ἄν ἐθέληις.[/size]
ama et fac = “love and do” (present singular imperative)
(id) quod = “what, (that) which” (neuter relative pronoun, omitted antecedent)
vis = “you wish” (second person singular present active indicative; he meant “will” as in “desire”)
as much as I love zeugma, I think I’ll just be slinking back into the relative safety of the Latin board now…
it might be a)gapa/w or file/w, but I would go with file/w.
If we may look at other writers of those times, and I have in mind some words of Jesus translated by the Evangelists into Greek, “agapaw” fits better here then “filew”. I think St. Augustine had this passage from a Gospel in mind (“Love your fellow man …”) and tried to paraphrase it.
Oh no, no offence taken at all.
I you use a knife to sharpen another knife, both knives get sharper (if you get my drift.)
Well, I appreciate you guys actually thinking this out for me and responding. I actually do speak and write Modern Greek, and in Modern Greek this phrase is probably best translated as: Αγάπα καί κάνε ότι θέλεις. Part of my problem with the Classical greek translation is that there is like 2 or 3 verbs that can be translated as ‘do’. My graps of classical greek verbs is not quite strong enough. Same with the relative pronouns etc. Thanks again ευχαριστώ!
Αγάπα και πράττε ως βούλεσαι
As some of you may know, there is only one word that translates as ‘do’ in modern Greek (κάνω). My skills are currently in modern Greek and I am still learning classical. Could anyone explain the difference between the various words that translate as ‘do’ in classical Greek (ποιείν, πραττείν, etc)? I still have not found a grammar that illustrates this clearly. Thanks
Ioustinos Sideras
Ιουστίνος Σιδεράς
Πορδή τό πάν