Hello all,
For the rather informal Latin course I am currently taking at my university, I am required to translate a substantial (~200 words) passage from English into Latin. I have completed a tentative translation, but I would be delighted for some of the illustrious members of this forum to critique my effort. However, I realize that this passage’s length may not encourage a casual effort. Whatever feedback I receive will be welcome. If you do intend to help, please keep in mind that my project is due this next Monday, March 7.
Thanks in advance,
David Carruth
The English original and the Latin translation alternate by paragraph
The Artist
Artifex
Written by Oscar Wilde
Scriptus a Oscar Wilde
One evening there came into his soul the desire to fashion an image of The Pleasure that abideth for a Moment. And he went forth into the world to look for bronze. For he could only think in bronze.
Uno vespere desiderium imaginis formandae Voluptatis quae manet Breviter in animum eius venit. Et in mundum foras iit ut aerem quaerat. Modo enim per aerem poterat cogitare.
But all the bronze of the whole world had disappeared, nor anywhere in the whole world was there any bronze to be found, save only the bronze of the image of The Sorrow that endureth for Ever.
Omne autem aes mundi totius disparuerat, et aes non poterat inveniri ubique in mundo toto praeter aerem imaginis Doloris qui permanet Aeternum.
Now this image he had himself, and with his own hands, fashioned, and had set it on the tomb of the one thing he had loved in life. On the tomb of the dead thing he had most loved had he set this image of his own fashioning, that it might serve as a sign of the love of man that dieth not, and a symbol of the sorrow of man that endureth for ever. And in the whole world there was no other bronze save the bronze of this image.
Ipse autem hanc imaginem formaverat manibus suis et eam ponuerat super sepulcrum unius rei quam in vita amaverat. Super sepulcrum rei mortuae quam valde amaverat hanc imaginem quam ipse formaverat ponuerat ut imago sit signum amoris hominis qui non moritur et simulacrum doloris qui permanet aeternum. Et non erat in mundo toto ullum aes praeter aerem huius imaginis.
And he took the image he had fashioned, and set it in a great furnace, and gave it to the fire.
Et imaginem quam formaverat accepit et eam ponuit in furnacem magnam et igni eam dedit.
And out of the bronze of the image of The Sorrow that endureth for Ever he fashioned an image of The Pleasure that abideth for a Moment.
Et ex aere imaginis Doloris qui permanet Aeternum formavit imaginem Voluptatis quae manet Breviter.[/i]