Hello Alan, Tony and all : I propose this new version, hope more convincing, without taking in consideration any grammatical mistake (... too easy !): "Hora Fugit Rapide Letumquando Invadit Inermus" I consider Letumq. the abbreviation of Letumquando. In fact "-que" seems too short to be abbreviated. "Quando" is a temporal conjunction requiring the present and meaning "when, soon or later". Moreover I agree that an understood "me" is odd, but we can likely suppose "you" , more general and referred to all dial watchers. The translation would be : "Time runs away fast [and] when death arrives[you are]defenceless" Just a residual doubt about "quando" attached at the end of a word: I've not found any example im my dictionary.
Alberto Nicelli Italy (45*28'N ; 7*52'E) -----Messaggio originale----- Da: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Inviato: giovedì 14 gennaio 1999 13.09 A: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [email protected] Oggetto: Re: Latin Inscription At 10,31 +0100 01/14/99, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Dear Tony : > the word "Letumq." is an abbreviation of "Letumque", > where "Letum" means "death" ("lethal" comes from this word) > and "que" is nothing but the conjunction "and" . > Inermus is referred to "me" . > The verb Invado means also "to catch someone by surprise" > Therefore in my opinion the translation is : > "Time runs away fast and death catches[me,being]defenceless" > > Best regards > > Alberto Nicelli > Italy ( 45* 28' N ; 7* 52' E) I think Alberto is overlooking the fact that the adjective 'inermus' is in the nominative case and so *as the inscription stands* cannot modify an understood 'me' construed as direct object of 'invadit' in Hora Fugit Rapide Letumque invadit inermus. The problem is that the inscription is syntactically a bit of a mess. The question is whether one should read (a) Hora Fugit Rapide Letumque invadit inermum which can mean 1. Fast flies the hour and peaceful death enters 2. Fast flies the hour and enters peaceful death or (b) Hora Fugit Rapide Letusque invadit inermus 3. Fast flies the hour and peaceful death enters The difference between 1 and 3 lies in taking Letum (neuter) or Letus (masculine)---both attested in classical Latin---as subject of 'invadit'. The difference between 2 and 1,3 lies in taking 'Letum' as an accusative object of 'invadit' rather than as a neuter subject. As for 'inermus', it derives from 'in + arma' and literally means 'without arms'. So 'defenceless' is possible as is 'peaceful'. I am not overwhelmed with my 'enters'. Perhaps we should follow Alberto's lead and try 'takes us by surprise' or 'catches us' in this context (at least in 1 and 3). By the way, I am not so sure about Alberto's 'catches *me*': it seems a little odd to me for the sundial to be announcing its demise alone. Best to all, Alan Alan C. Bowen IRCPS 3 Nelson Ridge Road Princeton, NJ 08540-7423 Tel./FAX (609) 466-2098 Internet: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
