Friday, February 17, 2012

De Virginitate et Coniugio

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 8.27. I like the way that Owen plays with the metaphorical and literal senses of a narrow way or a wide way. The way of virginity is a narrow way metaphorically - and that is why there are so few people who embark upon it: there's not room for more!

De Virginitate et Coniugio
Virginitas angusta via est. Via latior autem
Coniugis. Hinc plures ingrediuntur eam.


OF VIRGINITY AND WEDLOCK
Virginity’s a narrow way; a broad
Is Wedlock: Hence most People ride this road.


The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. There are only two words in this poem that are not on the DCC list:

angustus -a -um - narrow, critical, difficult
virginitas, virginitātis f. - maidenhood, virginity

autem: moreover, but, however
coniunx coniugis m./f.: spouse, husband, wife
hīc: here; hinc: from here
īngredior -gredī -gressus sum: step in, enter
is ea id: he, she, it
lātus -a -um: broad, wide
plūs plūris n.: a greater amount or number, more
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
via -ae f.: way, street