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Fri 5 Aug, 2005 07:29 am
I'm reading a very old history book from the days when academic historians breezily assumed that their readers ought all to be able to read Latin. The author quotes a source thus:
"..quod in hostium vinculis summo labore collegerat, litteratus modice, sed magis tamen naturali mentis vivacitate, scripturam nitebatur apprehendere."
It's about a Crusader taken prisoner by Saracens, and I know it's about him occupying his time by studying, but can anyone translate it for me precisely?
Looks like all the Latin scholars here are on their summer holidays!
...quod in hostium vinculis summo labore collegerat,
...which he gathered by great effort while in the fetters of the enemy
litteratus modice,
somewhat learned
sed magis tamen naturali mentis vivacitate,
but rather more by a natural mental vigor,
scripturam nitebatur apprehendere
he endeavored to understand scripture
I was off on my summer holidays myself when your answer came through! Thank you very much for that.
You're welcome, Sir Syntinen!
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