Sage Rieth
Furman University
Apuleius, Metamorphosis 1.1
Sage Rieth /
- Created on 2018-09-07 18:05:12
- Modified on 2018-10-28 22:56:58
- Translated by A.S. Kline
- Aligned by Sage Rieth
Latin
English
At ego tibi sermone isto Milesio varias fabulas conseram auresque tuas benivolas lepido susurro permulceam , modo si papyrum Aegyptiam argutia Nilotici calami inscriptam non spreveris inspicere , figuras fortunasque hominum in alias imagines conversas et in se rursum mutuo nexu refectas , ut mireris . Exordior . Quis ille ? Paucis accipe . Hymettos Attica et Isthmos Ephyraea et Taenaros Spartiaca , glebae felices aeternum libris felicioribus conditae , mea vetus prosapia est : ibi linguam Attidem primis pueritiae stipendiis merui . Mox in urbe Latia advena studiorum , Quiritium indigenam sermonem aerumnabili labore , nullo magistro praeeunte , aggressus excolui . En ecce praefamur veniam , si quid exotici ac forensis sermonis rudis locutor offendero . Iam haec equidem ipsa vocis immutatio desultoriae scientiae stilo quem accessimus respondet . Fabulam Graecanicam incipimus : lector intende ; laetaberis .
Now
!
I’d
like
to
string
together
various
tales
in
the
Milesian
style
,
and
charm
your
kindly
ear
with
seductive
murmurs
,
so
long
as
you’re
ready
to
be
amazed
at
human
forms
and
fortunes
changed
radically
and
then
restored
in
turn
in
mutual
exchange
,
and
don’t
object
to
reading
Egyptian
papyri
,
inscribed
by
a
sly
reed
from
the
Nile
.
I’ll
begin
.
Who
am
I
?
I’ll
tell
you
briefly
.
Hymettus
near
Athens
;
the
Isthmus
of
Corinth
;
and
Spartan
Mount
Taenarus
,
happy
soil
more
happily
buried
forever
in
other
books
,
that’s
my
lineage
.
There
as
a
lad
I
served
in
my
first
campaigns
with
the
Greek
tongue
.
Later
,
in
Rome
,
freshly
come
to
Latin
studies
I
assumed
and
cultivated
the
native
language
,
without
a
teacher
,
and
with
a
heap
of
pains
.
So
there
!
I
beg
your
indulgence
in
advance
if
as
a
crude
performer
in
the
exotic
speech
of
the
Forum
I
offend
.
And
in
truth
the
very
fact
of
a
change
of
voice
will
answer
like
a
circus
rider’s
skill
when
needed
.
We’re
about
to
embark
on
a
Greek
tale
.
Reader
,
attend
:
and
find
delight
.
Apuleius, Metamorphosis 4.28
Sage Rieth /
- Created on 2018-09-24 17:46:31
- Modified on 2018-10-28 23:11:28
- Translated by A.S. Kline
- Aligned by Sage Rieth
Latin
English
Erant in quadam civitate rex et regina : hi tres numero filias forma conspicuas habuere , sed maiores quidem natu , quamvis gratissima specie , idonee tamen celebrari posse laudibus humanis credebantur . at vero puellae iunioris tam praecipua , tam praeclara pulchritudo nec exprimi ac ne sufficienter quidem laudari sermonis humani penuria poterat . Multi denique civium et advenae copiosi , quos eximii spectaculi rumor studiosa celebritate congregabat , inaccessae formositatis admiratione stupidi et admoventes oribus suis dexteram priore digito in erectum pollicem residente ut ipsam prorsus deam Venerem venerabantur religiosis adorationibus . Iamque proximas civitates et attiguas regiones fama pervaserat deam , quam caerulum profundum pelagi peperit et ros spumantium fluctuum educavit , iam numinis sui passim tributa venia in mediis conversari populi coetibus , vel certe rursum novo caelestium stillarum germine non maria , sed terras Venerem aliam , virginali flore praeditam , pullulasse .
In
a
certain
city
there
lived
a
king
and
queen
,
who
had
three
daughters
of
surpassing
beauty
.
Though
the
elder
two
were
extremely
pleasing
,
still
it
was
thought
they
were
only
worthy
of
mortal
praise
;
but
the
youngest
girl’s
looks
were
so
delightful
,
so
dazzling
,
no
human
speech
in
its
poverty
could
celebrate
them
,
or
even
rise
to
adequate
description
.
Crowds
of
eager
citizens
,
and
visitors
alike
,
drawn
by
tales
of
this
peerless
vision
,
stood
dumbfounded
,
marvelling
at
her
exceptional
loveliness
,
pressing
thumb
and
forefinger
together
and
touching
them
to
their
lips
,
and
bowing
their
heads
towards
her
in
pious
prayer
as
if
she
were
truly
the
goddess
Venus
.
Soon
the
news
spread
through
neighbouring
cities
,
and
the
lands
beyond
its
borders
,
that
the
goddess
herself
,
born
from
the
blue
depths
of
the
sea
,
emerging
in
spray
from
the
foaming
waves
,
was
now
gracing
the
earth
in
various
places
,
appearing
in
many
a
mortal
gathering
or
,
if
not
that
,
then
earth
not
ocean
had
given
rise
to
a
new
creation
,
a
new
celestial
emanation
,
another
Venus
,
and
as
yet
a
virgin
flower
.
Apuleius, Metamorphosis 4.29
Sage Rieth /
- Created on 2018-09-28 19:15:26
- Modified on 2018-10-29 16:48:02
- Translated by A.S. Kline
- Aligned by Sage Rieth
Latin
English
Sic immensum procedit in dies opinio , sic insulas iam proxumas et terrae plusculum provinciasque plurimas fama porrecta pervagatur : iam multi mortalium longis itineribus atque altissimis maris meatibus ad saeculi specimen gloriosum confluebant : Paphon nemo , Cnidon nemo ac ne ipsa quidem Cythera ad conspectum deae Veneris navigabant . Sacra differuntur , templa deformantur , pulvinaria proteruntur , caerimoniae negleguntur ; incoronata simulacra et arae viduae frigido cinere foedatae . Puellae supplicatur , et in humanis vultibus deae tantae numina placantur , et in matutino progressu virginis victimis et epulis Veneris absentis nomen propitiatur , iamque per plateas commeantem populi frequentes floribus sertis et solutis apprecantur . Haec honorum caelestium ad puellae mortalis : cultum immodica translatio verae Veneris vehementer incendit animos , et impatiens indignationis capite quassanti fremens altius , sic secum disserit
So
daily
more
and
more
increased
this
opinion
,
and
now
was
her
flying
fame
dispersed
into
the
next
islands
and
well
nigh
into
every
part
and
province
of
the
whole
world
.
Whereupon
innumerable
strangers
resorted
from
far
countries
,
adventuring
themselves
by
long
journeys
on
land
and
by
great
travels
on
water
,
to
behold
this
wonder
of
the
age
.
By
occasion
whereof
such
a
contempt
grew
towards
the
goddess
Venus
,
that
no
person
travelled
unto
the
town
Paphos
nor
unto
Cnidos
,
no
nor
to
the
isle
Cythera
to
worship
her
.
Her
liturgies
were
left
out
,
her
temples
defaced
,
her
couches
contemned
,
her
ceremonies
neglected
,
and
her
bare
altars
unswept
and
foul
with
the
ashes
of
old
burnt
sacrifice
.
For
why
,
every
person
honoured
and
worshipped
this
maiden
instead
of
Venus
,
calling
upon
the
divinity
of
that
great
goddess
in
a
human
form
,
and
in
the
morning
at
her
first
coming
abroad
,
offered
unto
her
oblations
,
provided
banquets
,
called
her
by
the
name
of
Venus
which
was
not
Venus
indeed
,
and
in
her
honour
,
as
she
walked
in
the
streets
,
presented
flowers
and
garlands
in
most
reverent
fashion
.
This
sudden
change
and
alteration
of
celestial
honour
unto
the
worship
of
a
mortal
maiden
did
greatly
inflame
and
kindle
the
mind
of
very
Venus
,
who
(
unable
to
temper
her
head
in
raging
sort
)
reasoned
with
herself
in
this
manner
Apuleius, Metamorphosis 4.30
Sage Rieth /
- Created on 2018-10-10 15:25:51
- Modified on 2018-10-29 22:15:13
- Translated by A.S. Kline
- Aligned by Sage Rieth
Latin
English
' En rerum naturae prisca parens , en elementorum origo initialis , en orbis totius alma Venus , quae cum mortali puella partiario maiestatis honore tractor et nomen meum caelo conditum terrenis sordibus profanatur ! Nimirum communi numinis piamento vicariae venerationis incertum sustinebo , et imaginem meam circumferet puella moritura . Frustra me pastor ille , cuius iustitiam fidemque magnus comprobavit Iupiter , ob eximiam speciem tantis praetulit deabus . Sed non adeo gaudens ista , quaecumque est , meos honores usurpaverit : iam faxo eam huius etiam ipsius illicitae formositatis paeniteat ' . Et vocat confestim puerum suum pinnatum illum et satis temerarium , qui malis suis moribus contempta disciplina publica , flammis et sagittis armatus per alienas domos nocte discurrens et omnium matrimonia corrumpens impune committit tanta flagitia , et nihil prorsus boni facit .
'
Behold
I
,
the
original
of
nature
,
the
first
beginning
of
all
the
elements
,
behold
I
,
the
Lady
Venus
of
all
the
world
,
am
now
joined
with
a
mortal
maiden
as
a
partaker
of
my
honour
;
my
name
,
registered
in
the
city
of
heaven
,
is
profaned
and
made
vile
by
terrene
absurdities
.
If
I
shall
suffer
any
mortal
creature
to
present
my
majesty
in
earth
,
and
must
be
content
with
sharing
the
godhead
and
receiving
worship
through
other
,
or
that
any
girl
that
one
day
is
to
die
shall
bear
about
a
false
surmised
shape
of
my
person
,
then
in
vain
did
Paris
that
shepherd
(
in
whose
just
judgement
and
confidence
the
great
Jupiter
had
affiance
)
prefer
me
above
the
other
great
goddesses
for
the
excellency
of
my
beauty
:
but
she
,
whatsoever
she
be
,
shall
not
for
nought
have
usurped
mine
honour
,
but
she
shall
shortly
repent
her
of
her
unlawful
loveliness
'
.
Then
by
and
by
she
called
her
winged
son
Cupid
,
rash
enough
and
hardy
,
who
by
his
evil
manners
,
contemning
all
public
justice
and
law
,
armed
with
fire
and
arrows
,
running
up
and
down
in
the
nights
from
house
to
house
,
and
corrupting
the
lawful
marriages
of
every
person
,
doth
nothing
(
and
yet
he
is
not
punished
)
but
that
which
is
evil
.
Metamorphosis Project 1
Sage Rieth /
- Created on 2018-10-11 18:58:51
- Modified on 2018-10-15 03:48:02
- Translated by B. Earl and H.E. Butler
- Aligned by Sage Rieth
Latin
English
English
[ 2 ] Thessaliam - nam et illic originis maternae nostrae fundamenta a Plutarcho illo inclito ac mox Sexto philosopho nepote eius prodita gloriam nobis faciunt - eam Thessaliam ex negotio petebam . Postquam ardua montium ac lubrica vallium et roscida cespitum et glebosa camporum emersi , in equo indigena peralbo vehens iam eo quoque admodum fesso , ut ipse etiam fatigationem sedentariam incessus vegetatione discuterem in pedes desilio , equi sudorem frontem curiose exfrico , auris remulceo , frenos detraho , in gradum lenem sensim proveho , quoad lassitudinis incommodum alvi solitum ac naturale praesidium eliquaret . Ac dum is ientaculum ambulatorium prata quae praeterit ore in latus detorto pronus adfectat , duobus comitum qui forte paululum processerant tertium me facio . Ac dum ausculto quid sermonibus agitarent , alter exserto cachinno : " Parce " inquit " in verba ista haec tam absurda tamque immania mentiendo . " Isto accepto sititor alioquin novitatis : " Immo vero " inquam " impertite sermonem non quidem curiosum sed qui velim scire vel cuncta vel certe plurima ; simul iugi quod insurgimus aspritudinem fabularum lepida iucunditas levigabit . "
[ 3 ] At ille qui coeperat : " Ne " inquit " istud mendacium tam verum est quam siqui velit dicere magico susurramine amnes agiles reverti , mare pigrum conligari , ventos inanimes exspirare , solem inhiberi , lunam despumari , stellas evelli , diem tolli , noctem teneri . " Tunc ego in verba fidentior : " Heus tu " inquam " qui sermonem ieceras priorem , ne pigeat te vel taedeat reliqua pertexere " , et ad alium : " Tu vero crassis auribus et obstinato corde respuis quae forsitan vere perhibeantur . Minus hercule calles pravissimis opinionibus ea putari mendacia quae vel auditu nova vel visu rudia vel certe supra captum cogitationis ardua videantur ; quae si paulo accuratius exploraris , non modo compertu evidentia verum etiam factu facilia senties .
[ 4 ] Ego denique vespera , dum polentae caseatae modico secus offulam grandiorem in convivas aemulus contruncare gestio , mollitie cibi glutinosi faucibus inhaerentis et meacula spiritus distinentis minimo minus interii . Et tamen Athenis proxime et ante Poecilen porticum isto gemino obtutu circulatorem aspexi equestrem spatham praeacutam mucrone infesto devorasse , ac mox eundem , invitamento exiguae stipis venatoriam lanceam , qua parte minatur exitium , in ima viscera condidisse . Et ecce pone lanceae ferrum , qua bacillum inversi teli ad occipitium per ingluviem subit , puer in mollitiem decorus insurgit inque flexibus tortuosis enervam et exossam saltationem explicat cum omnium qui aderamus admiratione : diceres dei medici baculo , quod ramis semiamputatis nodosum gerit , serpentem generosum lubricis amplexibus inhaerere . Sed iam cedo tu sodes , qui coeperas , fabulam remetire . Ego tibi solus haec pro isto credam , et quod ingressui primum fuerit stabulum prandio participabo . Haec tibi merces posita est . "
[ 3 ] At ille qui coeperat : " Ne " inquit " istud mendacium tam verum est quam siqui velit dicere magico susurramine amnes agiles reverti , mare pigrum conligari , ventos inanimes exspirare , solem inhiberi , lunam despumari , stellas evelli , diem tolli , noctem teneri . " Tunc ego in verba fidentior : " Heus tu " inquam " qui sermonem ieceras priorem , ne pigeat te vel taedeat reliqua pertexere " , et ad alium : " Tu vero crassis auribus et obstinato corde respuis quae forsitan vere perhibeantur . Minus hercule calles pravissimis opinionibus ea putari mendacia quae vel auditu nova vel visu rudia vel certe supra captum cogitationis ardua videantur ; quae si paulo accuratius exploraris , non modo compertu evidentia verum etiam factu facilia senties .
[ 4 ] Ego denique vespera , dum polentae caseatae modico secus offulam grandiorem in convivas aemulus contruncare gestio , mollitie cibi glutinosi faucibus inhaerentis et meacula spiritus distinentis minimo minus interii . Et tamen Athenis proxime et ante Poecilen porticum isto gemino obtutu circulatorem aspexi equestrem spatham praeacutam mucrone infesto devorasse , ac mox eundem , invitamento exiguae stipis venatoriam lanceam , qua parte minatur exitium , in ima viscera condidisse . Et ecce pone lanceae ferrum , qua bacillum inversi teli ad occipitium per ingluviem subit , puer in mollitiem decorus insurgit inque flexibus tortuosis enervam et exossam saltationem explicat cum omnium qui aderamus admiratione : diceres dei medici baculo , quod ramis semiamputatis nodosum gerit , serpentem generosum lubricis amplexibus inhaerere . Sed iam cedo tu sodes , qui coeperas , fabulam remetire . Ego tibi solus haec pro isto credam , et quod ingressui primum fuerit stabulum prandio participabo . Haec tibi merces posita est . "
1 . 2
I was going to Thessaly-my mother is from Thessaly , by the way , and she ' s descended
from Plutarch , you know , the famous biographer , and not to mention his grandson , the philosopher Sextus of Chaeronea , and they made our family famous-anyways , I was on my way to Thessaly for a business trip . I surpassed the heights of the mountains , the crumbling paths of the valleys , the dewy parts of the pastures , and the clumpy furrows of the fields , riding on my native , pure-white horse . We were both exhausted , my horse and I , he from the journey and me from sitting ; so , now that we had passed through the thick vegetation , I jumped down to shake off my weariness . I carefully wiped my horse ' s sweaty forehead , stroked his ears , took off his bridle , and slowly led him at a gentle pace , until nature could restore his weary troubles and his empty belly , as it usually did . Meanwhile , he found his breakfast while we walked , leaning toward the fields we passed with his mouth turned to the side . By chance , we found ourselves walking a little ways near two companions , and I joined their little group . I listened to the conversation they were having , and one of the men , erupting with a deep guffaw , said , " That ' s enough already , what you ' re telling me is absurd , nothing but enormous lies . " Since I ' m always thirsting for such a tale-or really , for any peculiarity-I said , " Oh , come now , tell me your story . It ' s not that I ' m prying , but I ' m just the kind of guy who wants to know everything , or at least as much as I can . Not to mention , a delightful anecdote will ease our difficult climb up this big hill we ' re coming to . "
1 . 3
But the man who spoke first said , " If you told me that a whispered spell could make the swiftest rivers flow backwards , turn the sea into something too lazy to swell , force the winds to breathe out their last breath , stop the sun right in its tracks , wipe the shine off of the moon , pluck out the stars from the sky , kidnap the day , and stretch out the night-if you told me all that , I ' d believe it exactly as much as I believe those lies of yours . " More confident than before , I spoke up again . " Hey , you , " I said , pointing to the one who had already begun his story . " Don ' t get fed up or bored , finish it for me . " To the doubter , I said , " As for you , your ears are filled with mud . It ' s with a stubborn heart that you reject what very well could be true . By Hercules , you ' re not that bright to have these depraved opinions , thinking everything is a lie , even if the things sound strange to your ears , look like a heap of codswallop , or seem too lofty to grasp . If you would just look a little more carefully , you would see for yourself that not only are such things easy to find , they are even easy to do . "
1 . 4
I continued , " In fact , just last night , I was eating dinner with some co-banqueters , my gastronomic rivals . I was eager to gobble up a sort-of-largish chunk of cheesy porridge , and when the soft and sticky food stuck to my jaws and throat , I couldn ' t breathe-I nearly died . But this is nothing compared to what I saw swallowed on my recent trip to Athens . I was visiting the Poecilen colonnade , you know , outside the famous picture gallery in the market where Zeno liked to meet . I saw with my own two eyes a traveling performer swallow a very sharp broadsword , the kind cavalry would carry , tip-first ! Then , spurred onward by a small coin , the very same man swallowed a hunting spear by the end which threatened to be his ruin , burying it deep in his belly . And , right there in front of me , on top of the lance ' s hilt , where the handle of the upside-down weapon rose up through his mouth and out the back of his head , a boy ( who was quite the little princess ) climbed up and , twisting and turning , began to dance , contorting like he had no bones . Everyone there was dumbstruck . You would have said he was the noble serpent that winds itself in a slippery embrace around the staff borne by the medicine god , knotted with many half-pruned twigs . But now , if you don ' t mind , " I finished , nodding to the one who needed to finish his tale , " get on with it . Recount your story , and I alone will believe you , even if that man won ' t . And at the first tavern we come to , I ' ll buy you dinner . That ' ll be the return on your investment . "
I was going to Thessaly-my mother is from Thessaly , by the way , and she ' s descended
from Plutarch , you know , the famous biographer , and not to mention his grandson , the philosopher Sextus of Chaeronea , and they made our family famous-anyways , I was on my way to Thessaly for a business trip . I surpassed the heights of the mountains , the crumbling paths of the valleys , the dewy parts of the pastures , and the clumpy furrows of the fields , riding on my native , pure-white horse . We were both exhausted , my horse and I , he from the journey and me from sitting ; so , now that we had passed through the thick vegetation , I jumped down to shake off my weariness . I carefully wiped my horse ' s sweaty forehead , stroked his ears , took off his bridle , and slowly led him at a gentle pace , until nature could restore his weary troubles and his empty belly , as it usually did . Meanwhile , he found his breakfast while we walked , leaning toward the fields we passed with his mouth turned to the side . By chance , we found ourselves walking a little ways near two companions , and I joined their little group . I listened to the conversation they were having , and one of the men , erupting with a deep guffaw , said , " That ' s enough already , what you ' re telling me is absurd , nothing but enormous lies . " Since I ' m always thirsting for such a tale-or really , for any peculiarity-I said , " Oh , come now , tell me your story . It ' s not that I ' m prying , but I ' m just the kind of guy who wants to know everything , or at least as much as I can . Not to mention , a delightful anecdote will ease our difficult climb up this big hill we ' re coming to . "
1 . 3
But the man who spoke first said , " If you told me that a whispered spell could make the swiftest rivers flow backwards , turn the sea into something too lazy to swell , force the winds to breathe out their last breath , stop the sun right in its tracks , wipe the shine off of the moon , pluck out the stars from the sky , kidnap the day , and stretch out the night-if you told me all that , I ' d believe it exactly as much as I believe those lies of yours . " More confident than before , I spoke up again . " Hey , you , " I said , pointing to the one who had already begun his story . " Don ' t get fed up or bored , finish it for me . " To the doubter , I said , " As for you , your ears are filled with mud . It ' s with a stubborn heart that you reject what very well could be true . By Hercules , you ' re not that bright to have these depraved opinions , thinking everything is a lie , even if the things sound strange to your ears , look like a heap of codswallop , or seem too lofty to grasp . If you would just look a little more carefully , you would see for yourself that not only are such things easy to find , they are even easy to do . "
1 . 4
I continued , " In fact , just last night , I was eating dinner with some co-banqueters , my gastronomic rivals . I was eager to gobble up a sort-of-largish chunk of cheesy porridge , and when the soft and sticky food stuck to my jaws and throat , I couldn ' t breathe-I nearly died . But this is nothing compared to what I saw swallowed on my recent trip to Athens . I was visiting the Poecilen colonnade , you know , outside the famous picture gallery in the market where Zeno liked to meet . I saw with my own two eyes a traveling performer swallow a very sharp broadsword , the kind cavalry would carry , tip-first ! Then , spurred onward by a small coin , the very same man swallowed a hunting spear by the end which threatened to be his ruin , burying it deep in his belly . And , right there in front of me , on top of the lance ' s hilt , where the handle of the upside-down weapon rose up through his mouth and out the back of his head , a boy ( who was quite the little princess ) climbed up and , twisting and turning , began to dance , contorting like he had no bones . Everyone there was dumbstruck . You would have said he was the noble serpent that winds itself in a slippery embrace around the staff borne by the medicine god , knotted with many half-pruned twigs . But now , if you don ' t mind , " I finished , nodding to the one who needed to finish his tale , " get on with it . Recount your story , and I alone will believe you , even if that man won ' t . And at the first tavern we come to , I ' ll buy you dinner . That ' ll be the return on your investment . "
1 . 2
I was going to Thessaly , -for my mother ' s family is sprung from that country and I am proud to say can count among its members the famous Plutarch and later his nephew , the philosopher Sextus . Well then , I was going to Thessaly on business . I had passed and left behind me steep mountain passes and slippery valley paths , dewy greensward and rich loam of plough lands , and the Thessalian horse that carried me , a beast of spotless whiteness , was exceeding weary . I too was tired of long sitting in the saddle and longed to dispel my fatigue by a brisk walk . So I leapt to the ground , carefully wiped away the sweat from my horse ' s fore- head , stroked his ears , loosened the reins , and gradually urged him to a gentle walk , until such time as nature should bring its wonted relief and remove the burden of his weariness . With head stooped to earth he broke his fast as he walked and with sidelong sweep of his mouth browsed on the fields through which he passed , while I rejoined my two comrades who had forged somewhat ahead of us . As I listened to hear of what they might be talking , one of them laughed loud and said , ' Nay ! spare us such monstrous and absurd fabrications ! ' I am always athirst for novelties , and when I heard this , I cried , ' Come now , you must admit me to your conversation . It is no mere curiosity that prompts me to make such a request , but the desire to make my knowledge complete , or at any rate as complete as may be . Besides , the charm and wit of your stories will smoothe away the difficulties of this hill we ' re climbing . '
1 . 3
Then he who had first spoken said to the other , ' Call it a lie if you will , but in good truth it is no more a lie than it would be to say that magic chants have power to make rushing rivers flow backwards , to bind the sea in sluggish calm , put breath in lifeless bodies , stay the sun in his course , draw foam from the moon , tear the stars from their places , banish the day and hold fast the darkness of night . ' This encouraged me to press my suit , and I said to him , ' Please finish the story you had begun ; do not grudge it me . There ' s no cause for reluctance . ' Then turning to the other , ' As for you , ' said I , ' you , with your dull ears and obstinate scepticism , are rejecting what may perhaps turn out to be true after all . Good heavens ! you don ' t seem to realize that it ' s mere perversity makes men think that things must needs be false because they seem strange to the hearing or new to the eyes , or at any rate far removed beyond the range of imagination . If you will only look into them a little more carefully , it ' s likely enough that you will find them not only obvious to the understanding but even easy to perform . Take an example
1 . 4
One 4 evening in the attempt to keep pace with my companions at table I hurried a little too much . I attempted to gulp down a rather large mouthful of pearl-barley flavoured with cheese and came within a hair ' s-breadth of death ; for the food , being soft and sticky , became lodged in my throat and obstructed the channels of my breath . And yet , only the other day , at Athens in front of the Painted Porch with these two eyes of mine I saw a mountebank on horseback swallow a sharp sword point foremost , and again , for the offer of a few pence , thrust a hunting-spear , its death-dealing point downwards , right into his very vitals ! And , look you , above the lance-head , where the shaft of the inverted lance rose from his open jaws toward his crown , there stood up a pretty girlish-looking boy who danced so nimbly with many a tortuous bending of his body that he seemed to have neither bone nor muscle . All we who stood by marvelled . You might have likened him to some splendid snake twining with slippery coils about the staff that the god of healing bears , all rough with knots where the twigs have been lopped away . But now come , I beg you , begin once more the story you had set forth to tell . If our friend here won ' t believe it , I will , and at the first inn we come to you shall lunch with me . That shall be your payment for the story . You have my word for it . '
I was going to Thessaly , -for my mother ' s family is sprung from that country and I am proud to say can count among its members the famous Plutarch and later his nephew , the philosopher Sextus . Well then , I was going to Thessaly on business . I had passed and left behind me steep mountain passes and slippery valley paths , dewy greensward and rich loam of plough lands , and the Thessalian horse that carried me , a beast of spotless whiteness , was exceeding weary . I too was tired of long sitting in the saddle and longed to dispel my fatigue by a brisk walk . So I leapt to the ground , carefully wiped away the sweat from my horse ' s fore- head , stroked his ears , loosened the reins , and gradually urged him to a gentle walk , until such time as nature should bring its wonted relief and remove the burden of his weariness . With head stooped to earth he broke his fast as he walked and with sidelong sweep of his mouth browsed on the fields through which he passed , while I rejoined my two comrades who had forged somewhat ahead of us . As I listened to hear of what they might be talking , one of them laughed loud and said , ' Nay ! spare us such monstrous and absurd fabrications ! ' I am always athirst for novelties , and when I heard this , I cried , ' Come now , you must admit me to your conversation . It is no mere curiosity that prompts me to make such a request , but the desire to make my knowledge complete , or at any rate as complete as may be . Besides , the charm and wit of your stories will smoothe away the difficulties of this hill we ' re climbing . '
1 . 3
Then he who had first spoken said to the other , ' Call it a lie if you will , but in good truth it is no more a lie than it would be to say that magic chants have power to make rushing rivers flow backwards , to bind the sea in sluggish calm , put breath in lifeless bodies , stay the sun in his course , draw foam from the moon , tear the stars from their places , banish the day and hold fast the darkness of night . ' This encouraged me to press my suit , and I said to him , ' Please finish the story you had begun ; do not grudge it me . There ' s no cause for reluctance . ' Then turning to the other , ' As for you , ' said I , ' you , with your dull ears and obstinate scepticism , are rejecting what may perhaps turn out to be true after all . Good heavens ! you don ' t seem to realize that it ' s mere perversity makes men think that things must needs be false because they seem strange to the hearing or new to the eyes , or at any rate far removed beyond the range of imagination . If you will only look into them a little more carefully , it ' s likely enough that you will find them not only obvious to the understanding but even easy to perform . Take an example
1 . 4
One 4 evening in the attempt to keep pace with my companions at table I hurried a little too much . I attempted to gulp down a rather large mouthful of pearl-barley flavoured with cheese and came within a hair ' s-breadth of death ; for the food , being soft and sticky , became lodged in my throat and obstructed the channels of my breath . And yet , only the other day , at Athens in front of the Painted Porch with these two eyes of mine I saw a mountebank on horseback swallow a sharp sword point foremost , and again , for the offer of a few pence , thrust a hunting-spear , its death-dealing point downwards , right into his very vitals ! And , look you , above the lance-head , where the shaft of the inverted lance rose from his open jaws toward his crown , there stood up a pretty girlish-looking boy who danced so nimbly with many a tortuous bending of his body that he seemed to have neither bone nor muscle . All we who stood by marvelled . You might have likened him to some splendid snake twining with slippery coils about the staff that the god of healing bears , all rough with knots where the twigs have been lopped away . But now come , I beg you , begin once more the story you had set forth to tell . If our friend here won ' t believe it , I will , and at the first inn we come to you shall lunch with me . That shall be your payment for the story . You have my word for it . '
Apuleius, Metamorphosis 4.32
Sage Rieth /
- Created on 2018-10-29 22:17:29
- Modified on 2018-11-12 18:05:50
- Translated by A.S. Kline
- Aligned by Sage Rieth
Latin
English
Interea Psyche cum sua sibi perspicua pulchritudine nullum decoris sui fructum percipit . Spectatur ab omnibus , laudatur ab omnibus , nec quisquam , non rex , non regius , nec de plebe saltem cupiens eius nuptiarum petitor accedit : mirantur quidem divinam speciem , sed ut simulacrum fabre politum mirantur omnes . Olim duae maiores sorores , quarum temperatam formositatem nulli diffamarant populi , procis regibus desponsae iam beatas nuptias adeptae sed Psyche virgo vidua domi residens deflet desertam suam solitudinem , aegra corporis , animi saucia , et quamvis gentibus totis complacitam odit in se suam formositatem . Sic infortunatissimae filiae miserrimus pater , suspectatis caelestibus odiis et irae superum metuens , dei Milesii vetustissimum percontatur oraculum et a tanto numine precibus et victimis ingratae virgini petit nuptias et maritum . Sed Apollo , quamquam Graecus et Ionicus , propter Milesiae conditorem sic Latina sorte respondit :
Psyche
,
for
all
her
conspicuous
beauty
,
reaped
no
profit
from
her
charms
.
Gazed
at
by
all
,
praised
by
all
,
no
one
,
neither
prince
nor
commoner
,
wishing
to
marry
her
,
sought
her
hand
.
They
admired
her
divine
beauty
of
course
,
but
as
we
admire
a
perfectly
finished
statue
.
Her
two
elder
sisters
,
whose
plainer
looks
had
never
been
trumpeted
through
the
world
,
were
soon
engaged
to
royal
suitors
and
so
made
excellent
marriages
,
but
Psyche
was
left
at
home
,
a
virgin
,
single
,
weeping
in
lonely
solitude
,
ill
in
body
and
sore
at
heart
,
hating
that
beauty
of
form
the
world
found
so
pleasing
.
So
the
wretched
girl’s
unhappy
father
,
suspecting
divine
hostility
,
fearing
the
gods’
anger
,
consulted
the
ancient
Miletian
oracle
of
Apollo
at
Didyma
.
With
prayer
and
sacrifice
he
asked
the
mighty
god
for
a
man
to
marry
the
unfortunate
girl
.
Apollo
,
though
Greek
and
Ionian
too
,
favoured
the
author
of
this
Miletian
tale
with
a
reply
in
Latin
:
Apuleius, Metamorphosis 4.33
Sage Rieth /
- Created on 2018-11-12 18:08:09
- Modified on 2018-11-15 21:06:35
- Translated by A.S. Kline
- Aligned by Sage Rieth
Latin
English
urn:cts:latinLit:phi1212.phi002.perseus-lat1:4.33
Montis in excelsi scopulo , rex , siste puellam
Ornatam mundo funerei thalami : Nec speres generum mortali stirpe creatum ,
Sed saevum atque ferum vipereumque malum , Quod pinnis volitans super aethera cuncta fatigat
Flammaque et ferro singula debilitat ; Quod tremit ipse Iovis , quo numina terrificantur ,
Fluminaque horrescunt et Stygiae tenebrae .
Rex , olim beatus , affatu sanctae vaticinationis accepto pigens tristisque retro domum pergit suaeque coniugi praecepta sortis enodat infaustae . Maeretur , fletur , lamentatur diebus plusculis : sed dirae sortis iam urget taeter effectus , iam feralium nuptiarum miserrimae virgini choragium struitur , iam taedae lumen atrae fuliginis cinere marcescit , et sonus tibiae zygiae mutatur in querulum Lydii modum , cantusque laetus hymenaei lugubri finitur ululatu , et puella nuptura deterget lacrimas ipso suo flammeo . Sic affectae domus triste fatum cuncta etiam civitas congemebat , luctuque publico confestim congruens edicitur iustitium .
Ornatam mundo funerei thalami : Nec speres generum mortali stirpe creatum ,
Sed saevum atque ferum vipereumque malum , Quod pinnis volitans super aethera cuncta fatigat
Flammaque et ferro singula debilitat ; Quod tremit ipse Iovis , quo numina terrificantur ,
Fluminaque horrescunt et Stygiae tenebrae .
Rex , olim beatus , affatu sanctae vaticinationis accepto pigens tristisque retro domum pergit suaeque coniugi praecepta sortis enodat infaustae . Maeretur , fletur , lamentatur diebus plusculis : sed dirae sortis iam urget taeter effectus , iam feralium nuptiarum miserrimae virgini choragium struitur , iam taedae lumen atrae fuliginis cinere marcescit , et sonus tibiae zygiae mutatur in querulum Lydii modum , cantusque laetus hymenaei lugubri finitur ululatu , et puella nuptura deterget lacrimas ipso suo flammeo . Sic affectae domus triste fatum cuncta etiam civitas congemebat , luctuque publico confestim congruens edicitur iustitium .
"
High
on
a
mountain
crag
,
decked
in
her
finery
,
Lead your daughter , king , to her fatal marriage .
And hope for no child of hers born of a mortal ,
But a cruel and savage , serpent-like winged evil ,
Flying through the heavens , and threatening all ,
Menacing ever soul on earth with fire and sword ,
Till Jove himself trembles , the gods are terrified ,
And rivers quake and the Stygian shades beside . "
The king , blessed till now , on hearing this utterance of sacred prophecy went slowly home in sadness and told his wife the oracle’s dark saying . They moaned , they wept , they wailed for many a day . But the dire and fatal hour soon approached . The scene was set for the poor girl’s dark wedding . The flames of the wedding torches grew dim with black smoky ash ; the tune of hymen’s flute sounded in plaintive Lydian mode , and the marriage-hymn’s cheerful song fell to a mournful wail . The bride-to-be wiped tears away with her flame-red bridal veil ; the whole city grieved at the cruel fate that had struck the afflicted house and public business was interrupted as a fitting show of mourning .
Lead your daughter , king , to her fatal marriage .
And hope for no child of hers born of a mortal ,
But a cruel and savage , serpent-like winged evil ,
Flying through the heavens , and threatening all ,
Menacing ever soul on earth with fire and sword ,
Till Jove himself trembles , the gods are terrified ,
And rivers quake and the Stygian shades beside . "
The king , blessed till now , on hearing this utterance of sacred prophecy went slowly home in sadness and told his wife the oracle’s dark saying . They moaned , they wept , they wailed for many a day . But the dire and fatal hour soon approached . The scene was set for the poor girl’s dark wedding . The flames of the wedding torches grew dim with black smoky ash ; the tune of hymen’s flute sounded in plaintive Lydian mode , and the marriage-hymn’s cheerful song fell to a mournful wail . The bride-to-be wiped tears away with her flame-red bridal veil ; the whole city grieved at the cruel fate that had struck the afflicted house and public business was interrupted as a fitting show of mourning .
Metamorphosis Project 2
Sage Rieth /
- Created on 2018-11-25 03:08:10
- Modified on 2018-11-25 03:30:00
- Translated by A.S. Kline
- Aligned by Sage Rieth
Latin
English
.
Haec Aristomenes . At ille comes eius , qui statim initio obstinata incredulitate sermonem eius respuebat : " Nihil " inquit " hac fabula fabulosius , nihil isto mendacio absurdius " , et ad me conversus : " Tu autem " inquit " vir ut habitus et habitudo demonstrat ornatus accedis huic fabulae ? " " Ego vero " inquam " nihil impossibile arbitror , sed utcumque fata decreverint ita cuncta mortalibus provenire : nam et mihi et tibi et cunctis hominibus multa usu venire mira et paene infecta , quae tamen ignaro relata fidem perdant . Sed ego huic et credo hercules et gratas gratias memini , quod lepidae fabulae festivitate nos avocavit , asperam denique ac prolixam viam sine labore ac taedio evasi . Quod beneficium etiam illum vectorem meum credo laetari , sine fatigatione sui me usque ad istam civitatis portam non dorso illius sed meis auribus pervecto . "
Haec Aristomenes . At ille comes eius , qui statim initio obstinata incredulitate sermonem eius respuebat : " Nihil " inquit " hac fabula fabulosius , nihil isto mendacio absurdius " , et ad me conversus : " Tu autem " inquit " vir ut habitus et habitudo demonstrat ornatus accedis huic fabulae ? " " Ego vero " inquam " nihil impossibile arbitror , sed utcumque fata decreverint ita cuncta mortalibus provenire : nam et mihi et tibi et cunctis hominibus multa usu venire mira et paene infecta , quae tamen ignaro relata fidem perdant . Sed ego huic et credo hercules et gratas gratias memini , quod lepidae fabulae festivitate nos avocavit , asperam denique ac prolixam viam sine labore ac taedio evasi . Quod beneficium etiam illum vectorem meum credo laetari , sine fatigatione sui me usque ad istam civitatis portam non dorso illius sed meis auribus pervecto . "
So
Aristomenes’
story
ended
.
But
his
friend
,
who
had
obstinately
refused to believe a word from the very start , said : ‘There was never a
taller tale , never a more absurd mendacity . ’ And he turned to me : ‘You’re a
cultured chap , as your clothes and manner show , can you credit a fable like
that ? ’ I replied : ‘I judge that nothing’s impossible , and whatever the fates
decide is what happens to mortal men . Now I and you and everyone
experience many a strange and almost incredible event that is unbelievable
when told to someone who wasn’t there . And as for Aristomenes , not only
do I believe him , but by Hercules I thank him greatly for amusing us with
his charming and delightful tale . I forgot about the pain of travel , and
wasn’t bored on that last rough stretch of road . And I think the horse is
happy too since , without him tiring , I’ve been carried all the way to the city
gate here , not by his back but my ears ! ’
refused to believe a word from the very start , said : ‘There was never a
taller tale , never a more absurd mendacity . ’ And he turned to me : ‘You’re a
cultured chap , as your clothes and manner show , can you credit a fable like
that ? ’ I replied : ‘I judge that nothing’s impossible , and whatever the fates
decide is what happens to mortal men . Now I and you and everyone
experience many a strange and almost incredible event that is unbelievable
when told to someone who wasn’t there . And as for Aristomenes , not only
do I believe him , but by Hercules I thank him greatly for amusing us with
his charming and delightful tale . I forgot about the pain of travel , and
wasn’t bored on that last rough stretch of road . And I think the horse is
happy too since , without him tiring , I’ve been carried all the way to the city
gate here , not by his back but my ears ! ’
Apuleius Metamorphoses 4.35
Sage Rieth /
- Created on 2018-12-03 17:40:30
- Modified on 2018-12-06 01:42:09
- Translated by A.S. Kline
- Aligned by Sage Rieth
Latin
English
urn:cts:latinLit:phi1212.phi002.perseus-lat1:4.35
qui totius orbis exitio natus est ? Sic profata virgo conticuit ingressuque iam valido pompae populi prosequentis sese miscuit . Itur ad constitutum scopulum montis ardui , cuius in summo cacumine statutam puellam cuncti deserunt , taedasque nuptiales , quibus praeluxerant , ibidem lacrimis suis extinctas relinquentes deiectis capitibus domuitionem parant , et miseri quidem parentes eius tanta clade defessi clausae domus abstrusi tenebris perpetuae nocti sesededidere . Psychen autem paventem ac trepidam et in ipso scopuli vertice deflentem mitis aura molliter spirantis Zephyri , vibratis hinc inde laciniis et reflato sinu , sensim levatam suo tranquillo spiritui vehens paulatim per devexa rupis excelsae , vallis subditae florentis caespitis gremio leniter delapsam reclinat .
With
this
,
the
girl
fell
silent
,
and
went
steadfastly
on
,
accompanied
by
the
throng
of
citizens
around
her
.
They
came
to
the
steep
mountain
crag
decreed
,
and
placed
the
girl
,
as
commanded
,
on
its
very
top
,
then
deserted
her
,
one
and
all
.
They
left
behind
the
bridal
torches
,
lighted
on
the
way
,
and
now
extinguished
by
their
tears
,
and
heads
bent
low
began
their
journey
home
,
where
her
unhappy
parents
,
exhausted
by
this
dreadful
blow
,
shut
themselves
in
the
darkness
of
their
room
,
and
resigned
themselves
to
endless
night
.
Meanwhile
Psyche
,
on
the
topmost
summit
,
frightened
,
trembling
,
and
in
tears
,
was
lifted
by
a
gentle
breeze
,
a
softly
whispering
Zephyr
,
stirring
her
dress
around
her
and
causing
it
to
billow
,
its
tranquil
breath
carrying
her
slowly
down
the
high
cliff
slopes
to
the
valley
below
,
where
it
laid
her
tenderly
on
a
bed
of
flowering
turf
.