Hi all.
I’m doing a translation of a popular story.
I’m making headway, but my Latin is limited.
Maybe we could do this collectively.
I’ll post the story in bits along with the latin I have, although the Latin is not perfect.
Look forward to your collective input.
Here we go:
Prince Llywelyn loved hunting with his faithful dog Gelert.
Princeps Lugubelenus venari amabat, cum cane fedele suo Gelert.
In fact, he was the best hunter in all of Wales.
Vero, is in omnia Cambria venator optimus erat.
There was only one thing more important to the prince than his hunting dog and that was his little son.
Erat principi solum una res carior quam cane venatico suo: et ille erat filiolus suus.
He resembled his father even though he was just a baby.
Is patro suo assidebat, quamquam solum infans erat.
One fine morning, Llywelyn decided he would go hunting with his friends.
Una mane bella, Llywelyn decernet ire venatum cum amicis suis.
But he left Gelert at home that day in order to keep an eye on his son.
Sed hic dies Gelertum domi relinquet ut filium suum caveat (cureat / custodiret) .
He knew that Gelert was an especially good watchdog, so he could enjoy an exciting day of hunting without having to worry at all.
Sciebat que Gelert erat bonus cane da guardia, ita is potebat frui die excitante venati sine indigere sollicitari nequaquam.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Hi all.
salve!
Well, I don’t have time to analyze all of these sentences. I think you’ve made a good start, kembreg, but there are some problems we need to iron out. Perhaps others will join in with their suggestions?
Prince Llywelyn loved hunting with his faithful dog Gelert.
Princeps Lugubelenus venari amabat, cum cane fedele suo Gelert.
-fideli, from fidelis, -e - but I’d pick fido (from fidus-a-um).
-Also, consider placing the cum phrase just after venari so that it’s joined with the verb it’s modifying.
In fact, he was the best hunter in all of Wales.
Vero, is in omnia Cambria venator optimus erat.
-I’m not sure if vero really carries the force you want here. Perhaps venator enim in omni…
-in omni Cambria - from omnis, -e, a 3rd declension adjective
-omit is - it’s unnecessary here. remember that, in Latin, pronouns are used not nearly as often as they are in Latin, especially in the nominative case - not being necessary for clear syntax
There was only one thing more important to the prince than his hunting dog and that was his little son.
Erat principi solum una res carior quam cane venatico suo: et ille erat filiolus suus.
-consider una res sola - in other words, use the adjectival solus-a-um to convey this idea - solum is used adverbially, to limit the verb (e.g. solum ambulo: numquam curro)
-…quam canis venaticus - when comparing things with quam, keep them in the same case. There is an implied erat here: “there was only one thing dearer to the prince than his hunting dog [was dear]” - so of course it would be nominative - also, you can omit suus since there can be no doubts of whose dog it is
-et ille erat is a literal translation from English, but there’s not much Latinity in it. how about scilicet filiolus suus? (namely, his son). But you definitely don’t need ille here
Well, these are just some of my thoughts. For anyone else: feel free to criticize my suggestions and improve them. No doubt, I’ve missed the mark. Point it out!
Best,
David