Iúpiter ex alto periúria ridet amántum:
An quia periúrus Iúpiter ipse fuit?
Here is how the poem works:
Iúpiter. This is the Latin name for the god Jupiter, the ruler of the gods of Mount Olympus (whom the Greeks called Zeus). The form is nominative, which means Jupiter will be the subject of the sentence.
ex alto. The Latin word ex is a preposition, meaning out of (as in the English word exit), and alto is the ablative form of the adjective altus, meaning high, tall , lofty (as in the English word altitude). Put them together and you have a prepositional phrase: ex alto, from on high. That is a logical place for Jupiter to be, of course!
periúria. This is from the Latin noun periúrium, meaning a false oath (compare the English word perjury). The form is accusative plural, so it provides us with the object of the verb.
ridet. This is from the Latin verb ridere, to laugh or scoff at (compare the English word ridiculous). So, we know how a complete statement with subject, object, and verb: Iúpiter periúria ridet, Jupiter laughs at false oaths.
amántum. This is from the Latin noun amans, meaning someone who loves, a lover (compare the English word amorous). The form is genitive plural: amántum, of the lovers. It is thus not false oaths in general, but the false oaths of lovers, periúria amántum (you know, the "I will love you forever," "I could never love anyone else," "I will always be faithful" type of oath…) that make Jupiter laugh.
So, that gives us the first line, which comes directly from Ovid's Ars Amatoria: Jupiter, from on high, Iúpiter ex alto, laughs at the false oaths sworn by lovers, periúria ridet amántum.
An quia. The word an in Latin is a particle that indicates we are dealing with a question, while the word quia means because: An quia, Could it be because…? Perhaps because…?
periúrus. This is a Latin adjective, meaning someone who makes false oaths, someone who commits perjury. The form is masculine singular, waiting for its noun.
Iúpiter ipse. Here we have Jupiter again, this time with the intensifying Latin ipse, meaning Jupiter himself, Iúpiter ipse.
fuit? This is from the Latin verb esse, meaning to be (compare the English word essential); fuit is the past-tense form: he was. This gives us the complete question: An quia, Perhaps because Jupiter himself, Iúpiter ipse, was someone who swore false oaths, periúrus fuit? (Note how nicely the predicate, periúrus…fuit, wraps around the subject, Iúpiter ipse).
Jupiter, of course, was notorious for his amorous activity, which included the seduction of many goddesses, nymphs, as well as mortal women (including married women too!) - love affairs in which he was willing to do, or say, anything to get what he wanted. For an overview, check out the Loves of Zeus page at Theoi.com. The inventory of Zeus' amatory exploits even carries on to a second page, and to a third page! So, our poet suggests, Jupiter, as an expert at the art of love himself, would no doubt be amused by the similar antics of mere mortal lovers. They might swear some false oaths, but Jupiter is the heavenly expert!
Iúpiter ex alto periúria ridet amántum:
An quia periúrus Iúpiter ipse fuit?
For an illustration, here is Jupiter engaged in one of his notorious affairs, when, disguised as a bull, he abducts the lovely Phoenician princess named Europa (painting by Jean Cousin below). You can find all the English essays in the English stream at the blog, and the next poem is again about Jupiter and his love life: Ob Amorem.
