Salvete, omnes!
I publish here my list of (crude) Latin verses, appended with their corresponding English translations and images in print, wherever possible. If I have made any errors—quite likely, by my own estimation—please, let me know. Regardless, I hope they afford not only reflection, but also mirth and joy!
I. Epigramma de Aedificio Keefe (Epigram on Keefe Center)
In Keefe introis, luminum mirarisque colores.
Sunt quidem dimidia pars discipulorum; Flavi albique.
“You come into Keefe, and wonder at the color of the lights.
Why, they’re half the student body: Yellow, and white!”
II. Stropha Valentina (Valentine Strophe)
Olivia, conata es me monere de equo illo resque suas.
Ego, in gaudio meo, gestiens ausus non advertisse tibi.
Ruerunt per moenia Valentini.
Quisque stetere pro parte sua praedarum.
Me oportebat te audire, Olivia.
Olivia, you had tried to warn me of the horse and its contents.
I, in my maudlin exuberance, dared not to pay heed.
They burst upon the walls of the Valentine.
They each stood in queue for their share of its plunder.
I should have listened to you, Olivia.
III. Epigramma de Schola Catulliana (Epigram on the Catullus Course)
Est schola ad Latinam discendam,
Ad litteras Catulli legendas,
Dicunt. Sed cum “Salvete!” dico,
Verba mea cadunt auribus surdis!
“It is a class for learning Latin,
For reading the writings of Catullus,
They say. But when I utter ‘Salvete’¹
My words fall on deaf ears!”
¹”Salvete!” meaning “Hello [all]!”
IV. Epigramma de Doctrina Linguae Latinae (Epigram on the Instruction of Latin)
Quando linguam Latinam tractatis,
Amici, sicut corpus mortuum dissecandum,
Estne magnum mirum, rogo, quod
Tam parvus numerus est discipulorum?
When you treat the Latin language,
My friends, as if it were a corpse for dissection,
Is it a great wonder, I ask, that
So few are the number of its students?
V. Epigramma de Collegio Hantoniensi (Epigram on Hampshire College)
Sigilium Collegii Hantoniensis gerit
Haec verba, “Non satis scire.”
Ita, recte dicis; necesse est
Etiam pecuniam habere.
“The seal of Hampshire College bears
These words: ‘It is not enough to know.’
Indeed, right you say; it is also necessary
To have money.”
VI. Epigramma de Catullum Studendo (Epigram on Studying Catullus)
Linguam Latinam complexus cum amore saevo,
Linguam Latinam disco cum Catullo putrido.
“Embrac’d I the Latin tongue with a savage love,
Learn I the Latin tongue with rotten Catullus.”
VII. Epigramma de Visu Amicae (Epigram on the Sight of a Friend)
Egrediens faciem tuam, Bella, beatam vidi
Cum quodam verno vespere subito redisti
Sicut Caesar illam frigidam Pompeii
Dum Nilo calido secutus advenit.
“While leaving, Bella, I saw your happy face
When you had suddenly returned some spring evening,
Like Caesar saw cold that of Pompey’s
While in the hot Nile, he found it in chase.”
