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Mon 4 Oct, 2004 06:43 am
Hi there, I need this translated into latin (they are lyrics for a musical project I am working on, and would love to use Latin in the song - its so beautiful)
The lyrics are:
"We are the thorn in our nemesis spine"
I know they sound negative, but in the context of the song it is not (its about rising up from the ashes, breaking chains etc - basically it tells the journey of the human soul and marks the progress of mankind etc - its a prog-rock piece.)
Many thanks, I look forward to a reply!!
Trev
Assuming you mean, "We are the thorn in our nemesis' spine," this is just about impossible to translate literally into Latin, as the Latin equivalents for "thorn" and "spine" are the same word (spina, which gives English spine). "We are the thorn in our nemesis' SIDE" would be literally "spina sumus in latere inimici (nostri = "ours" is optional), with inimici, "of (our) enemy" instead of Nemesis, which in Latin can only be the literal Greek goddess. The nearest equivalent I know of that is actually found in Latin literature is Plautus' "stimulus ego sum tibi" = "(literally) "I am a goad to you;" applying this phrase to translate your lyric would give: "Stimulus sumus inimico (nostro)," but the Latin stimulus, while meaning "sting, pain, torment," can also have its modern (English) sense, which might not be what you want. I'll let you know if I can find anything better.
curviquercus wrote:Assuming you mean, "We are the thorn in our nemesis' spine," this is just about impossible to translate literally into Latin, as the Latin equivalents for "thorn" and "spine" are the same word (spina, which gives English spine). "We are the thorn in our nemesis' SIDE" would be literally "spina sumus in latere inimici (nostri = "ours" is optional), with inimici, "of (our) enemy" instead of Nemesis, which in Latin can only be the literal Greek goddess. The nearest equivalent I know of that is actually found in Latin literature is Plautus' "stimulus ego sum tibi" = "(literally) "I am a goad to you;" applying this phrase to translate your lyric would give: "Stimulus sumus inimico (nostro)," but the Latin stimulus, while meaning "sting, pain, torment," can also have its modern (English) sense, which might not be what you want. I'll let you know if I can find anything better.
Hi there
thank you so much for your kind reply, what you have given me is absoloutely perfect!! Thanks!!!!!
Take care, see ya around
Trev
curviquercus : That was one of the most informative posts I've ever read on this forum. Thanks for joining us.
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