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Translation - Latin-English - Ovidiu

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Category Literature

This translation request is "Meaning only".
Title
Ovidiu
Text
Submitted by laura_fierascu
Source language: Latin

Sed trahit invitam nova vis; aliudque cupido

Mens aliud suadet. Video meliora, proboque

Deteriora sequor. Quid in hospite regia virgo,

Ureris? Et thalamos alieni concipis orbis?
Remarks about the translation
Incerc sa inteleg sensul pentru o prezentare despre cultura organizationala si cum oamenii desi stiu ce ar trebui sa faca, fac tot ceea ce nu trebuie. Am tot gasit citatul asta de fiecare data cand era vorba despre asta.

Multumesc!

Title
Ovid
Translation
English

Translated by Martijn
Target language: English

But a new force drags me unwillingly; and my desire [advises] the one thing, my mind advises the other. I see the better ones and approve of them, I follow the worse. Why have you fallen in love with a stranger, royal virgin, and do you imagine a wedding in a foreign world?
Remarks about the translation
Ureris = 'are you ignited due to' I've translated it metaforically as 'have you fallen in love with'

Thalamos = 'wedding beds' which I translated as 'a wedding' (metonymical)
Validated by lilian canale - 24 May 2009 18:52





Last messages

Author
Message

23 May 2009 13:14

Aneta B.
Number of messages: 4487
I'm not sure the beginning is right:'But a new force drags me involuntarily". I'd rather translate 'I'm attracted by a new power to life'...

23 May 2009 16:44

Efylove
Number of messages: 1015
I don't see "involuntarily" in Latin: it should be "a new force drags me to life" (in vitam).

23 May 2009 23:12

Martijn
Number of messages: 210
Oh I'm sorry. Right now I am studying this text for my Final Exam in Latin this Monday. The version in my book and study material (which I believe is the original text by Ovid) says 'invitam' in stead of 'in vitam'. 'Invitam' agreeing with a left out 'me (latin)' (= Medea, who is saying this to herself), meaning involuntarily, unwillingly.

The original text can also be read online in the Latin Library, Ovid, Metamorphoses, Liber VII, verse 19-22

So you could either translate the requested version, or correct the request to the original meaning (not that Latin used spaces :P). I don't know what's best.

I hope I could help,
Martijn

23 May 2009 23:16

lilian canale
Number of messages: 14972
Oh...in that case I think we should correct the request and keep your first version (with "involuntarily" ), Martijn.

What do you girls think?

CC: Aneta B. Efylove

24 May 2009 00:24

Aneta B.
Number of messages: 4487
Well, "Invite" = unwilingly. "invitam" is the same?

24 May 2009 00:30

Martijn
Number of messages: 210
Invitam is the female accusative singular form of the adjective invitus, a, um. 'Invite' would be an adverb, but 'invitam' agrees with 'me [trahit]' which is left out. In this part of the story princess Medea falls in love with the hero Iason, who is coming with his Argonautae to conquer the 'Phrixea vellera'. The king owns this golden skin and gives Iason three (rather impossible) tasks to complete: taming fire breathing bulls, defeating warriors born from the earth from the teeth of the dragon Cadmus once slew, and getting past the never sleeping dragon that guards the treasure. So as you can imagine, Medea shouldn't care about Iason, but she is attracted to this stranger and decides to help him.

In these sentences she acknowledges it is love and desire that confuses her and these are in conflict with her better judgement, duty and shame. She is in love and can't help thinking about treason, so this 'new force' [love] is dragging her 'unwillingly/involuntarily'

Maybe this little summary helps you understand =]


24 May 2009 00:44

Aneta B.
Number of messages: 4487
Maybe: New force drags her unapproachable [woman]? What do you thing?

24 May 2009 08:58

Efylove
Number of messages: 1015
I think we should change the original text with the translation: "A new force drags her unwillingly". I think it works!


24 May 2009 14:33

lilian canale
Number of messages: 14972
Martijn?

24 May 2009 14:46

Martijn
Number of messages: 210
Oh yes, of course I agree with my original translation involuntarily/unwillingly. The latter sounds best I think

24 May 2009 15:49

Martijn
Number of messages: 210
Lilian,

You've made a little mistake editing. It should be 'drags me' in stead of 'drags her' in the first line.

24 May 2009 16:15

lilian canale
Number of messages: 14972
"drags her" was in Efylove's post

Fixed now.

24 May 2009 16:17

Martijn
Number of messages: 210
Ah I see

Thank you