Present active periphrastic

Latin Learning Latin
1

I did not think this usage existed in Latin I cannot think of any other way to translate this line

rabie fera carens dum breve tempus animus est.
Catullus 63.57

“while for a short time my mind is lacking wild madness.”

Is this an actual construction, or in some way is carens translated as a participle?

2

This might possibly be translated as “in the short time while there is a mind lacking (carens =qui caret) wild insanity,” in which case est is equivalent to “there is” (and not to the “is” in “is lacking”).

What do you think?

There is a present active periphrastic in the Vulgate. I remember being surprised and (I confess) scandalized when I first fouund it. But it’s very common. Possibly this was a feature in the Greek that Jerome chose to imitate. Possibly this was a feature in vulgar Latin that had become standard by the 5th century. If this is the case, Catullus might have felt the liberty to use it (though I personally doubt it).

Without context, it’s hard to say.

Regards,

David

3

Your translation does seem more accurate, but it does not seem like something someone would say about themselves. Let me provide more context:

“cupit ipsa pupula ad te sibi derigere aciem,
rabie fera carens dum breve tempus animus est.”

This is a quote by Attis talking about himselt after he has castrated himself. So, translating the first line then inserting your translation would yield this: " my pupil itself desires to direct its line of sight to you for itself, while there is a mind lacking lacking wild insanity,"

This translation seems to impersonal, so, to make it personal, wouldn’t you have to translate it “while my mind is lacking…”?

4

I just found a note in E.T Merrill’s commentary that states that “carens est” in this line is equivalent to caret. I’ve never seen this usage before.

5

Meanwhile, the Latin grammars continue to reiterate the rule that the present participle NEVER is found with a form of sum.

Which is useful as a rule of thumb, but not as a rule of law.

-David

PS - I’d be interested to see how many editors interpret the sentence the way I did, to avoid the sinister* grammatical implications of carens est = caret.

*slightly exaggerated