PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST
by Robert Kern Curtis
Page references are to the Penguin Books edition reprinted in 1977. (The original edition was published in 1916.)
page 5
Et ignotas animum dimittit in artes.
--Ovid,
(The reference in the eariler editions, apparently incorrect, was
Metamorphoses, VIII, 18.)
(He spoke) and turned his mind to unknown arts. [tr. Gilbert
Highet]
(This said) to uncouth arts he bent the force of all his wits.
[tr. Arthur Golding]
Note: The student should read lines 183 to 235 of Ovid's
Metamorphoses, Book VIII. See Appendix A.
page 47
mare the sea, salt water
The noun is a 3rd declension, neuter, i-stem, which any decent
Latin student should be able to decline without difficulty after a
month or two of Latin, as it is taught in the traditional (paradigm
memorizing) manner.
pages 55, 70, 108
A. M. D. G. Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam.
For the greater glory of God.
This is a universal Jesuit motto. It implies the goal of
choosing the better of two goods.
page 71
L. D. S. Laus Deus Semper.
Praise God always.
page 94
Tempora mutantur nos et mutamur in illis.
Tempora mutantur et nos mutamur in illis.
The times are changed and we are changed in them.
page 105
Quasi cedrus exaltata sum in Libanon et quasi cupressus in monte
Sion. Quasi palma exaltata sum in Gades et quasi plantatio rosae Jericho.
Quasi uliva speciosa in campis et quasi planatus exaltata sum juxta
aquam in plateis. Sicut cinnamomum et balsamum aromatizans odorem dedi
et quasi myrrha electa dedi suavitatem odoris.
I am exalted as the cedar in Lebanon and as the cyprus on Mount Sion.
I am exalted as the palm tree in Cadiz and as the rose in
Jericho. I am exalted as a beautiful olive tree in the plains and
as a plane-tree by the water in the streets. I gave forth
a sweet fragrance like cinnamon and aromatic balm. I yielded a sweet
smell like choicest myrrh.
Note: verb tenses are all perfect in Latin. This is from
Matins of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is the
third Lesson: Ecclus. 24, 17-20. It is followed directly by the Te
Deum.
page 128
poena damni the punishment of the damned
page 146
--Corpus Domini nostri.
--The Body of Our Lord.
--In vitam eternam. Amen.
--In life eternal. Amen.
The prayer which was in use at that time was said for each
communicant:
Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi custodiat animam tuam
in vitam eternam. Amen.
May the body of our Lord Jesus Christ bring your soul into
everlasting life. Amen.
page 152
Inter ubera mea commorabitur.
He will linger between my breasts.
Note: commorabitur is a deponent verb (passive in
form, but active in meaning).
page 177
Synopsis Philosophiae Scholasticae ad mentem divi Thomae
Synopsis of Scholastic Philosophy according to the mind of Divine
Thomas.
page 179
India mittit ebur India sends ivory
page 179
Contrahit orator variant in carmine vates.
The speaker gathers together, the poet disperses in song.
The speaker unifies, the poet diversifies in song.
page 179
in tanto discrimine
page 179
implere ollam denariorum
to fill the jar with denarii
to contaminate the jar with money
pages 186 and 207
Pulcra sunt quae visa placent.
Those things are beautiful which please the sight.
Beauty is that which pleases the senses.
page 186
Bonum est in quod tendit appetitus.
Good is that to which an appetite tends.
page 186
Similiter atque senis baculus
Like the walking stick of an old person
Note: The reference is to Saint Ignatius' rules of obedience.
See Appendix B.
page 190
Per aspera ad astra.
Through difficulties to the stars.
page 194
Ego habeo. I have.
Quod? What?
Per pax universalis. For universal peace.
Note: it seems that it should be "Per pacem universalem."
page 195
Credo ut vos sanguinarius mendax estis, said Cranly, facies
vostra monstrat ut vos in damno malo humore estis.
I believe that you are a bloody liar, said
Cranly, because your countenance shows that you are in a damn bad
humor.
Note: vos estis should be tu es; facies vostra
should be facies tua; ut vos . . . estis should be ut tu
. . . es, if Cranly is speaking only to Stephen. Cranly's Latin
does not seem to be too good.
page 195
Quis est in malo humore, said Stephen, ego aut vos?
Who is in a foul humor, said Stephen, I or you?
Note: vos should be tu.
page 198
Pax super totum sanguinarium globum.
Peace over the whole bloody globe.
page 198
Nos ad manum ballum jocabimus.
We shall play handball.
page 200
super spottum on the spot
page 210
Pange lingua gloriosi
Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle
See Appendix C.
page 210
Vexilla Rgis The flags of the King
Impleta sunt quae concinit
David fideli carmine
Dicendo nationibus
Regnavit a ligno Deus.
Those things are now accomplished
which faithful David sang saying
in song that God would rule the
nations from a tree.
See Appendix D.
page 212
Ad pulcritudinem tria requiruntur integritas, consonantia, claritas.
For beauty, three things are required: integrity, consonance, and
clarity.
page 216
Ego credo ut vita pauperum est simpliciter atrox, simpliciter
sanguinarius atrox, in Liverpoolio.
I believe that the life of the poor is simply terrible, simply
bloody terrible, in Liverpool.
Note: atrox, atrocis = terrible, fearful, cruel, horrible
page 230
Pernobilis et pervetusta familia
A very famous and very old family
page 230
paulo post futurum
about to be a little later
page 235
ipso facto
by the very fact by that fact
page 244
--Mulier cantat The woman sings
page 244
Et tu cum Jesu Galilaeo eras.
And you were with Jesus in Galilee.
And you were with Jesus the Galilean.
The declension is as follows:
CASE SINGULAR PLURAL
nominative mare maria
genitive maris marium
dative mari maribus
accusative mare maria
ablative mari (or mare) maribus