Cucumis - Free online translation service
. .



Translation - Latin-English - Segesta

Current statusTranslation
This text is available in the following languages: LatinEnglishPolish

Category Literature - Culture

This translation request is "Meaning only".
Title
Segesta
Text
Submitted by Aneta B.
Source language: Latin

Segesta est oppidum pervetus in Sicilia, iudices, quo ab Aenea fugiente a Troia atque in haec loca veniente conditum esse demonstrant. Itaque Segestiani non solum perpetua societate atque amicitia, verum etiam cognatione se cum populo Romano coniunctos esse arbitrantur. Hoc quondam oppidum, cum illa civitas cum Poenis suo nomine ac sua sponte bellaret, a Karthaginiensibus vi captum atque deletum omniaque, quae ornamento urbi esse possent, ad Karthaginem sunt ex illo deportata.
Remarks about the translation
Proszę o przetłumaczenie tego tekstu. Potrzebuję wiernego, roboczego tłumaczenia.

Title
Segesta
Translation
English

Translated by WlmShk
Target language: English

Segesta is a very ancient town in Sicily, O judges, which its inhabitants assert was founded by Aeneas when he was flying from Troy and coming to this country. And accordingly the Segestans think that they are connected with the Roman people, not only by a perpetual alliance and friendship, but even by some relationship. This town, as the state of the Segestans was at war with the Carthaginians on its own account and of its own accord, was formerly stormed and destroyed by the Carthaginians; and everything which could be any ornament to the city was transported from thence to Carthage.
Remarks about the translation
http://www.uah.edu/society/texts/latin/classical/cicero/inverrems4.html#cthreethree
Validated by lilian canale - 8 July 2009 23:26





Last messages

Author
Message

1 July 2009 16:04

Aneta B.
Number of messages: 4487
"which its inhabitants assert" --> there is a lack of this information in the Latin text. It's only speculation of English translator.

"cum Poenis" was translated "with the Carthaginians", but literally should be "with Phoenitians".

It's a pity, George, that you didn't translate it yourself and in a literal way. I asked for litteral translation.

Anyway, thank you for a link to the English translation. It helped me a little.

1 July 2009 17:52

WlmShk
Number of messages: 89
I am sorry it only helped you a little.
I am not very good at Latin, it is true.
It is true I have found the source already translated.
I have checked it before posting, and it seemed OK.

This is my tool for Latin, and in here it is said:
Poenis (lat)= the Carthaginians (as of Phoenician origin) (eng)
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=Poenis&la=la

What do you think, is it a good translation, or not?

1 July 2009 17:03

Aneta B.
Number of messages: 4487
Yes, it's very good, but not literal
This kind of translations are making by experts of antique culture who know better historical context, so they have rights to adding their own words translating Latin texts. Do you know what I mean?
Yes, you right. Carthaginians were people of Phoenician origin, of course. I don't deny that they were. But the point is that Latin author used phrase 'cum Poenis' not 'cum Karthaginiensibus' in this part of the text, so I expected rather literal translation of it --> 'with Phoenicians'

That's ok. I understand your good intentions and thanks for them.

1 July 2009 17:39

WlmShk
Number of messages: 89
I understand your point of view, you are dissapointed. Is it possible to undo translation and allow other who is cleverer to help you with it?

1 July 2009 17:57

Aneta B.
Number of messages: 4487
I don't know, Jurek ("Jurek" is Polish diminutive form of "Jerzy"/"George" name). Maybe it is possible...

1 July 2009 17:59

lilian canale
Number of messages: 14972
Hi guys,

I'm afraid we don't have many reliable translators of Latin who could post a better version of this text. There's no use in rejecting it. Let's try to improve it to the point of being acceptable, OK?

1 July 2009 18:01

lilian canale
Number of messages: 14972
Latin experts, could you help us here?

CC: Efylove chronotribe

1 July 2009 18:17

Aneta B.
Number of messages: 4487
Yes, I thought the same, Lilly. But I don't want George to lose his points.

1 July 2009 18:26

WlmShk
Number of messages: 89
Thank you for your kindness Aneta .
Don't worry about points. I don't have any translation to do right now.
I only wanted to help you with translation. I am sorry if it was not what you needed.

2 July 2009 19:58

Efylove
Number of messages: 1015
"Segesta is a very ancient town in Sicily,judges, which people assert was founded by Aeneas when he was flying from Troy and coming to this country."

- "demonstrant" is some kind of impersonal construction: "they/people say" = "it is said"
- "iudices" is a vocative

About the "cum Poenis", in my opinion, it is better to translate "with Chartaginians". Poeni/Karthaginienses are both used for the inhabitants of Karthago; but, if you translate "with Phoenicians", you create an ambiguity with the Phoenicians of the East.
But, you know, I'm not for too literal translations.

2 July 2009 20:11

Aneta B.
Number of messages: 4487
Thank you, Efylove. Yes I can agree with you about the Carthaginians, but what about a rest of the text. Could you make an literal translation all of it? I would be grateful.

8 July 2009 22:09

lilian canale
Number of messages: 14972
Hi guys,

Can we finally decide about this translation?

What is the final version you all suggest?

CC: Efylove

8 July 2009 22:37

Aneta B.
Number of messages: 4487
Lilly, I don't need literal translation of the text anymore.
So, I think you can accept it.