Re: Off-topic Latin request.

[Steve Kudlak <chromexa@xxxxxxxx>]

Adams Douglas wrote:

> Sorry to send this to the list, I forgot who is good with Latin.
>
> Are the starting words below a proper translation, and what's the best way
> of translating the whole thing? I have a gift planned for the friend who
> sent me this.
>
> You can reply privately to this part, so as not to clutter the list
> further.
>
> Forwarded message:
> > if you ever see a shirt that begins
> > "Catapultum Habeo" but translates
> > 'I have a catapult. Give me all the gold or I will hurl a rock at your head'
> > I want it! I lost mine, and its absense is felt sorely here. ;)
> >
>
> ObVoynich: Is there any significance to the _absence_ of different objects
> in the VMS pictures? I was thinking first of siege engines and then simple
> things like carts, draft animals, and other objects one might expect in the
> few scenes which seem to depict a landscape in the background? I've seen
> other medieval engravings which feature an object, person or plant, but
> there's often detail in the background landscape as I describe.
>
> -Adams
>
> --
> ====================================================
> Adams Douglas, San Diego, CA   Adams@xxxxxxxxxxx
> http://Adams.Douglas.net/
> PGP Public Keys: http://Adams.Douglas.net/pgpkey.txt
> UTM:11S0487200 3623500 MGRS-2:11SMS872235 (100-meter)
>
>                "Geography is only physics slowed down
>                 with a few trees stuck on it."
>                                    ---Terry Pratchett

I sort of read it as "I have a catapult..." The first is correct. I don't remember
my Latin Orthography so I can't tell you about that. Nor have I a Latin dictionary
to make sure "catapult" belongs in the third declension (neuter) and isn't female
or male!  Latin does that. I am pretty sure that "I have" is correct as habere (to
have) is an -ere verb. It has been ages since I did anything significant in Latin
and I have never had to make presentations in Latin!!!

You bring up an interesting questions, which to me seem to have answers in the
negative. We can be pretty sure that it isn't a military manual. The lack of
military looking things in it might hint it wasn't a general work. Military things
have been important to humans for a long time, there lack is interesting. But
herbals and astrological works don't usually have such unless general. Mars after
all is god of War and is important astrologically.

Have Fun,
Sends Steve