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Re: OT: Totally OT: Satyricon

From:Rik Roots <rikroots@...>
Date:Monday, November 5, 2001, 22:57
> On Monday 05 November 2001 20:33, Boudewijn Rempt wrote: > > > The most famous part, Trimalchio's Dinner, > > is not the only bit worth reading. > > But it's hilarious, and great fun to read with a bunch of intelligent > sixteen-year-olds (as our Latin teacher did). We had an informal > competition in class to translate as coarsely as possible while still > being faithful to the text. > > Irina >
The only time I seriously considered learning latin (as in going to classes rather than trying to work it out from a textbook) was after reading an English translation of the Satyricon. The thought of such a formal, public school establishment sort of language being able to be so descriptively dirty just blew my stereotypes apart. Pity only portions of the book survive. It must have been a wonderful romp across the Roman Empire. Is it right that the author was under arrest when he wrote the book, and was executed soon after it was finished? Rik -- http://www.kalieda.org/poems/ Pop in for a browse, when you have a moment to spare...