Part 1

Mount Hope Classics Vol. II. Mons Spes et novellæ aliæ

Ex Anglica narratione variorum auctorum Latine interpretatus est Arcadius Avellanus

Prostat apud E. Parmalee Prentice, 37 WALL STREET, New York City, N. Y.

Copyright By E. Parmalee Prentice 1918

Latin Press Printing Co., 336 West Girard Ave., Philadelphia, Pa.

For permission to publish the Latin version of Mr. Robert Louis Stevenson’s story “The Sire de Malétroit’s Door,” I take pleasure in expressing my thanks to Messrs. Charles Scribner’s Sons.

E. Parmalee Prentice.

37 Wall Street, New York City, N. Y.

Introduction.

To prepare for college in Latin, commonly means by a four or five years’ study of rules and forms to work through an amount of Latin text about equivalent to a hundred pages of Harper’s Monthly. The subject thus pursued is not very alluring. Even pupils who can recite rules distinguishing between the use of cum with the subjunctive to describe the time of the main verb by its circumstances and the use of cum with the indicative to define the time by denoting a coexistent state of things, will too often find the distinction losing somewhat of such vividness as it may have had, when told that cum regularly takes the indicative if the principal action is expressed in the form of a temporal clause. So with other rules. They are not hard in themselves, but their multiplicity and variety as they grow in number during a course of several years, and their abstract statement, make the study something like a problem in chess. The results of all this instruction, so far as knowledge of Latin is concerned, we can perhaps understand if we try to imagine what would be the English achievements of a French or German boy who in lessons of five hours or so a week during parts of four or five years had worked out the grammatical constructions of some short English book. To many persons the whole scheme seems wrong, and the results accomplished seem an inadequate return for the outlay of time and labour.

Those who so think, believe that the remedy is easy. Latin is taught as no modern language is taught — one might almost say as no language is taught, for by the method followed the ancient languages have become mnemonic tasks and grammatical problems, the literature being lost in a species of anagram whose significance is slowly determined by prescribed formulas. The remedy would be to teach Latin as a language. By this it is not meant that anything should be subtracted from the course of instruction now given. Rules and forms must be learned, and it is no disadvantage that in so doing the student learns also to concentrate his attention and to work upon a given task. It is, however, a disadvantage with little reading, to dwell upon logical niceties and abstract statements, when familiar use would illuminate the whole field. Therein is the secret of language learning — familiar use. There is no other way, and Latin is no exception to the rule. This, moreover, is the easy way, the method by which in the same time and with no greater efforts much greater results can be achieved. Suppose, for example, the element of pleasure were introduced into the study, and texts were given to the pupil which he could read out of class, easily and with enjoyment, — stories or novels, such as are given to beginners in any modern language, — would not the process of learning rules, forms and uses of words be simplified at every point? Suppose that by a little practice of this sort, without using the dictionary, and without stopping over difficult passages, a student could learn to follow the action of stories, told in Latin, such as would appeal to the interest of the young and could be read for a double enjoyment — the enjoyment of the story and of unexpected success — and suppose that by much reading in this way Latin could be so far learned that the lessons in class would deal with forms and constructions already somewhat familiar, — would it not be possible thus to substitute a certain degree of success for the failure which now so often marks Latin studies?

But it will be objected, that Roman literature has no such stories as are needed for this method of instruction. This is true. Petronius and Apuleius come nearest to what would be needed, but on account of the subject-matter, of difficulties in the text and other objections they are not adapted to the purpose described. What is needed for the plan proposed is a modern translation of modern stories.

At this point of course we part company with all to whom Latin means the style of a few selected authors or nothing. None who would keep from students the so-called eighth book of Cæsar’s Commentaries lest our modern beginners be corrupted by Hirtius’ expressions, can be expected to approve of modern translations.

On the other hand, all who would be willing, were it possible, to spend a month in ancient Rome — as a modern student of French would go to France — there to learn by the daily speech of all, whether ignorant or learned, even from strangers in Rome, to learn also from books and papers, of whatever literary value, the use of the language as a tool, these persons will be prepared to accept modern work judged only by the skill with which it has been done. To such persons, these stories translated into Latin by Dr. Arcadius Avellanus are offered.

The translations show a wonderful intimacy with the spirit of the Latin language and an admirable grasp of its vocabulary, its synonyms and forms of expression. No doubt had these stories been published at Rome in classical times, the translator would have inclined to say with Apuleius, himself a foreign learner of the language —

Et ecce præfamur veniam, si quid

Exotici atque forensis sermonis rudis

Locutor offendero.

To modern readers no apology is required. Such translations as those now presented could come only out of long familiarity with the Latin tradition and from wide and studious reading of Latin authors, and if in some constructions, forms or spellings a certain degree of indifference is manifested toward modifications which recent investigations would make in long-accepted texts, this unwillingness to change old ways is itself but one aspect of the long experience which has so admirably qualified the translator for the task he has assumed.

To many persons these matters will be of minor consequence. The important fact is that many of those who can read these stories will find after the first few pages that they are beginning to read with pleasure, and will discover that in this way a foundation can be laid for such a knowledge of the Latin language as will enable them not merely to work through a classical text, but actually to read an oration of Cicero or a book of Cæsar with some knowledge of the writer’s meaning and style.

This volume is privately printed, but while the edition holds out, copies may be purchased at the address given below. It is intended to print other stories in this manner, the number of copies depending upon the demand for the present volume.

E. Parmalee Prentice.

37 Wall Street,

New York City

Mons Spes.

Avum meum non novisse mihi semper dolori fuit. Habemus quidem effigiem eius, iam vitá ipsius ad finem vergente pictam, quæ vultum eius exhibet rasum, aspectum severiorem, ore tenacis propositi indice, fronte ampla, lineamentis fortitudinem referentibus — quæ quidem mihi vera eius imago videtur, siquidem litteræ scriptaque avi mei perinde imago sunt, nec ego vultum, quem effigies exhibet indignum eo viro iudico, quem sua scripta produnt. Ipse quidem filius sacrorum ministri fuit, sed iam ab adolescentia studio negotii navicularii ducebatur, ex cuius exercitatione subsidia vitæ satis fructuosa comparavit. Ego tamen suspicor eum sibi persuasum habuisse se ex vita mercatoria haud eas animi delitias carpsisse quas cursum vitæ sibi laturum speraverat, quandoquidem haud facilem planumque videbatur filiis viam sternere, qua hi sua vestigia ingrederentur, quin potius nutu ac suggestu animos eorum ad amplectendas professiones quaslibet flectere nitebatur. Nihil sibi iucundius visum esset quam si filii professionem sui patris secuti essent, seseque sacrorum ministerio addixissent; et quotiescunque recolo mecum summam illius in hos auctoritatem, magnopere miror cur hi id non fecerint. Uterque filius collegium frequentavit, ac per annos quatuor, ratione illorum temporum vitam scholasticam duxit, quæ vix aliud quam sui ad sacrorum ministerium adaptatio videri poterat; neuter tamen collegio absoluto ita prodivit veluti cui theologia tantopere, quam scientiae naturales cordi esset. Meus pater collegium anno millesimo septingentesimo quinquagesimo octavo absolvit, frater autem eius maior natu biennio ante.

Sub idem fere tempus quo patruus meus collegium reliquit, iuvenis quidam vir e Scotia, Doctor Philippus Home, Colcestriæ, in Connecticut, ubi avus meus tum vivebat, sedes fixit, qui quidem eventus magnas pro nobis sequelas secum tulit, quod apud nos famam diffudit mirifici scientiæ medicæ in Scientiarum Universitate Edenburgica progressús, præsertim prælectionum Doctoris Vilhelmi Cullen, quæ relata animos duorum iuvenum desiderio Edenburgum proficiscendi, studioque medicinæ sub Doctore Cullen sese applicandi miro modo succenderunt.

Huic honorificæ ambitioni iuvenum avus meus facile adstipulabatur. Pro iis temporibus avus meus satis peregrinatus erat, nec fuit Angliæ ignarus, iam et Edenburgum viserat. Consilium non temere captum est — ad rem deliberandam satis otii suppetebat — nihilo tamen secius exitus rei fuit patrui mei anno post absolutum collegium Edenburgum profectio, quem et pater meus anno proximo secutus est, proinde Neo Eboraco solvit mense Iulio anni millesimi septingentesimi duodesexagesimi.

Hoc tempore factum est ut avus ad patrem meum litteras daret consilia ei impertiens, quæ litteræ in nostra familia hodiedum magna pollent auctoritate, quæque indolem incolarum Novæ Angliæ luculenter produnt, et ut eædem a seris posteris in pretio habeantur iure merentur. Quam vim, ex mente avi, monita in formanda sui filii indole exercere valuerint, iam scire nequimus: sed quo zelo, quantoque animi diligentis affectu monita impertire conatus sit, quæ vel iuventutis temeritatem regere ac moderari possent, e solemnitate gravitateque sententiarum suarum fit manifesta.

Colcestriæ, 7° Iulii, 1758.

Gardiner,

Dilecte mi Fili!

In eo iam res est ut tecta paterna etiam tuam patriam, gratiá \ exterorum, peregrinæque terræ, primum relicturus sis. \ Perpende, velim, prærogativas quibus frueris ordinarias haud \ esse, quin magna sui abnegatione tuorum esse præstinatas, nec \ proinde dimidia emolumenta aut manca, partialiaque \ melioramenta abs te vicissim exspectari. Tu, fraterque tuus, \ peregri haud exiguo sumptu sustinendi alendique estis, et hos \ sumptus dispendio pecuniæ non hereditariæ sed meritæ \ tolerandos esse.

Sumptibus his, quoad iidem necessarii ad tua studia provehenda, \ quin et æqua tua oblectamenta, videantur, libentissime \ occurretur; verumtamen quum intellectús morumque emendatio \ atque augmentum non sint commoditates, utpote quæ arduo tantum \ labore comparentur, reperies has in obversa ratione esse cum \ ipsis sumptibus.

Rerum status circum te prorsus novus erit: tum incentiva ad \ otiandum et licentiam, tum etiam ad te scientiis, moribus ac \ virtutibus augendum et amplificandum. Arenam liber ac solutus \ ingrederis; prohinc fructus quos relaturus es testimonium tuæ \ fortitudinis ac virtutis animi, conscientiæ atque iudicii tui \ perhibebunt. Haud paucis sensuum illecebris obiicieris. Illa \ ipsa instituta, quæ plus quam quidquam aliud tuam patriam \ commendarunt, ex magna parte negligi quin et derideri atque \ condemnari experieris. Quum continentem Europæ viseris \ comperies Diem Domini potius lautitiis agi quam Eius servitiis \ sacrari, qui horas diei illius Suas esse appellat. Multa \ reperies talia iniqua quæ ex iisdem fontibus manant, quamvis \ nominibus novis donata. At fili mi, noli errare: Deus non \ irridetur, quæ enim seminaveris hæc et metes. Leges Eius nemo \ impunis violat. Omniscius et omnipræsens Deus Ipse est, fuit \ Ipse Deus patrum tuorum per generationes ultra quas nulla \ hominum memoria in contrarium se protendit. Ille Ipse Deus est \ qui fuit heri, qui est hodie, qui futurus est in sæcula, nec \ sine Eius provida cura vivere potes. Implora igitur hanc ab \ Eo, et impetratam humiliter agnoscas. Ab Eo hanc implorare \ viro indignum prorsus nunquam erit, usquedum indignum fuerit \ Eius favorem accipere.

Profana ac vulgaria haud raro audies — ubi enim non audis? Testis \ eris ebrietatum, videbis aleatores, at, mi fili, cave ne in \ suas vias incideris. Pedes talium in mortem descendunt, atque \ gressus ad inferos penetrant. Quum peccatores te lactaverint, \ ne acquiescas eis, sed audi disciplinam patris tui, et ne \ dimittas legem matris tuæ.

Persuadere tibi conabuntur hæc ordinaria esse vitæ oblectamenta, \ moresque societatis politæ. Num vero hi melius sapiunt, aut \ vero minus quam tui parentes sua quærunt? Num ex tua re fore \ arbitraris pretio fiduciæ parentum consilia eorum amplecti, an \ et illi te recipient in æterna tabernacula? Mihi crede, semitæ \ longo usu tritæ, solæ sunt tutæ atque tales, in quibus solis \ requiem animæ tuæ invenies.

Sermone, obsecro, profano et impuro uti noli, atque etiam \ societatem eo utentium vitare memento, nam ingenuum perinde \ atque Christianum nemo se sine cordis puritate atque \ mansuetudine præstiterit, nec prohinc tibi quisquam \ venerabilis videri debet qui neutra se præditum ipse fateatur.

Nec fraudem, nec ullam speciosam causam tibi prætexeris. Hæc enim \ non modo iniqua verum etiam turpia ac spernenda sunt. Quin \ enitere ut in omnibus quæ dicas te candidum, veracem, ingenuum \ et apertum, atque in omnibus quæ feceris simplicem te præstes. \ Simplicitas morum est diadema, si probitati propositi \ innitatur, certaque felicitas successus vitæ atque honor.

E sociis itineris aliisque eos tantum inter notos amicosque \ annumerabis quos iudicium mensque tua recti conscia \ commendaverint; affabilem cunctis te præstabis, at in \ seligendis amicis esto parcus. Haud parum emolumenti e nexu \ sociali derivari solet, nec commercium bonorum posthabere \ cuiquam saluti esse potest.

Unus vestrum, sive tu, sive frater, litteras domum quaque \ septimana reddet. Nos, vicissim, singulis litteris vobis \ respondebimus. Litteræ sive ad te, sive ad eum inscribentur, \ ambos enim vos respicient, hinc alterutri licebit eas aperire, \ iisque respondere. In nostra familia arcana nulla habemus, nec \ habere volumus.

Observatio totius vitæ, iam haud breviusculæ, parentum tuorum \ sententiam confirmavit felicitatem a vita utiliter occupata \ nunquam esse seiunctam, neque honestatem atque industriam, si \ integritati morum atque parsimoniæ innitantur, separabiles \ esse. Verosimile existimes, Deo propitio, sat commodum te \ heredium subiturum, perinde atque indolem principiis modo \ memoratis insistentem. Hic ipse status multa abs te exiget, ut \ a tuis exigebat parentibus — da operam nequid tuæ fidei \ commissum detrimentum acceperit.

Ex nostra parte præsentibus Harwood sumptibus sustinendis nihil \ obstat, atque cursum quem ipse sequebatur uterque vestrum \ prosequi poterit, dummodo vos otii opportunitatisque vestræ \ solertissimum capturi sitis usum. Exhibebis has litteras \ fratri Harwood, ut eæ et ipsi et tibi documento sint, et ambo \ scietis amoris, spei precumque nostrarum vos æquam partem \ sortiri, ut ubicunque sitis, sub umbra commoremini \ Omnipotentis.

Tuus, dilecte mi fili,

sum cum omni affectione paterna,

Gardiner H. Hardee.”

Patruus meus Edenburgi tres annos impendit, gradumque doctoratus e medicina meruit, quo impetrato Colcestriæ consedit, uxorem duxit, ibique in avitis sedibus post mortem avi mei atque aviæ permansit.

Pater meus studia sua anno millesimo septingentesimo sexagesimo primo tanta laude absolvit ut munus instructoris in Universitate Scientiarum ei delatum esset, quod et accepit, eo, ut mihi verosimile paret, haud parum cordis affectu adductus, — qua quidem in re quia litteræ paternæ nullam ei viam ostenderant, relictus est temeritati iuventutis duci — annoque secuto uxorem duxit. Ego quarto Februarii anni millesimi septingentesimi sexagesimi quarti natus sum, nomenque patris — Gardiner Hardee — sortitus sum.

Patri meo nunquam fuit in animo vitam totam peregri degere, quod ipse non modo natus in America verum, fere dixerim, naturá et genere, Yankee erat. Attamen Fortunæ obsides dederat; sua enim cum omnibus Scientiarum Universitatis Edenburgicæ sociis coniunctio genialis erat, ipsa autem schola medica optimis in Europa annumerabatur scholis. Sic itaque rerum cursus vergebat, nec ipse de remigrando in Americam secum consilia volvebat, donec querelæ inter colonias matremque ingravescerent, quæstioque fidelitatis atque officii civium in medium prolata esset. Interea temporis patruus meus Colcestriæ satis firmas sedes fixerat, pater vero consultissimum putabat alicubi inter communitates novas, quæ iam passim prosperare cœperant, sedes figere.

Hoc itaque consilio in Americam remigraturus, vere anni millesimi septingentesimi septuagesimi quinti solvit, pollicitus se primum quam nos commodo tecto excipere posset, me matremque accersurum. Sub eadem tempora haud pauci incolarum Connecticut quæstu novarum sedium ducti, in regiones, quæ modo Vermont appellantur, commigrare cœperunt, atque autumno anni, quo pater a nobis discesserat, nuntiavit nobis futurum ut Septemtriones versus migraret. Mox post per litteras nos docuit se locum reperisse putare paullo ad Meridiem a Williamstown, in Comitatu Berkshire, in Civitate Massachusetts, suis sedibus idoneum, seque ad radicem Montis Ærumnæ, secundum viam ad Hancock, sive Iericho, ut tum vocabatur, a Meridiana Williamstown ducentem, præstinavisse. Sibi in animo esse aiebat ibidem sine mora domum commodam cum horreo ac stabulis condere, et ad uxorem prolemque excipiendas secuturo anno se paratum futurum.

Seiuncti ut tunc eramus, tempora ea tamen cunctis nobis perquam erant felicia. Litteræ patris spei atque fiduciæ plenæ erant. Williamstown, regioque in circuitu tota, colonis undique eo confluentibus frequens fieri cœpit, qui omnes ex optima Novæ Angliæ stirpe oriundi erant, unde haud modica erat exspectatio, quandoquidem in pago Williamstown schola publica gratuita erat condenda, unde pater autumabat lapsu temporis occasiones propitias orituras, e quibus haud parva commoda in accolas loci redundarent. Post aliquantum temporis pater nos per litteras certiores fecit se in ædificandis domo horreisque tantum profecisse ut et iam adiutorem sibi Abner Cutler uxoremque eius Saram Cutler mercede conduxisset, qui iam etiam in domum patris commigrassent, ut domum prædiumque patris administrarent.

Pulchritudinem loci circumque regionis pater in singulis suis litteris memoravit. “Est hic collis editus, quem necessario video nec tamen transpicere queo,” scripsit pater in quibusdam litteris suis, “qui mihi ceu quotidianus labor imminet. Non hic collis est qui primus lucem excipit matutinam, sed alius ad Aquilonem tumulus, in adversa ripa fluvii. Collis celsus obtegit solem dum tumulus eum opperitur, hinc tumulum Spem appello.” Quid id innueret, ut mater, ego quoque intellexi, licet ipsa hoc nesciebat, sicque dehinc quoties ipsa litteras patris mihi prælegerat, hunc memorari ab eo exspectare consuevi. “Vitam dego Spem inter et Ærumnam,” pater alias scripsit, “sed sic ædificare conor ut ærumnam in perpetuum pone omnes nos collocem, spes autem omni mane mihi ob oculos versetur. Iam id prope esse mihi videtur.”

Difficultates interim colonias inter et matrem in dies magis invalescebant. Mense Ianuario anni millesimi septingentesimi septuagesimi sexti Nea Hannonia decretum sanxit, quod libertati vindicatæ æquipollebat. Mense Iulio secuto fœderatæ coloniæ exemplum secutæ sunt, quum pater per litteras matrem appellavit ut veníret, meque secum ferret, sed litteræ ad nos, nisi mense Augusto, non pervenerunt, quum mater in Franciam transfretavit, atque illinc, ex Havre, undevigesimo Septembris, navi Harvest Queen, oppidi New Bedford, Neo Eboracum versus solvimus,

Mater mea eo itinere absumpta est. Si in longos eos dies quos cum ea in stega exigere consuevi respicio, ipsa mihi suum statum longe antea perspexisse videtur quam quisquam eam ægrotare suspicatus esset. Una eam sollicitudo tenebat, felicitas patris mei, et quí ego eidem prodesse possem. “Amor,” ipsa me quondam monebat, “aquæ est similis — deorsum fluit, a parente ad prolem. Cupio ut Patrem qui in cœlo est, diligas, amor enim iste qui Eum assequitur, ad parentes, qui in terris sunt, assurget.”

“Ego et tu,” aiebat quodam die, “soli sumus pares qui novas sedes ita ædificemus ut spes quoque mane oculis patris obversetur. Pater cum animo loquitur, quia nostra eget opera. Existimasne te usque eo dum intelligas posse id meminisse?”

Quodam mane mater e lecto non surrexit. Medicus in navi nullus fuit; ego vero matri nulla ope nisi ab ipsa nacta prodesse poteram. Ipsa se parum curabat. “Patre tantum tuo,” inquibat, “indigeo — ipse meus medicus est — nullo egeo alio.” Vectores amicissimi fuerunt. Una præsertim, quædam hera Butler e Stockbridge, in curanda matre indefessa erat, mater autem, ex quo audiverat Stockbridge a montibus patris, viaque Hancock, non multum abesse, heram Butler continuo circa se habere cupiebat. Quæque in dies circa ægram evenerunt, optimo quem novi medico alias narravi. Cum eodem heram Butler adivi quippe quæ de ægritudine matris multo plura explicare valebat, quam puer intelligere posset, unde et beneficio cognoscendi sententiam medici afficiebar, cognovisse, nullum nempe medicum plus ei prodesse potuisse quam cura atque nutricatio illi profuerunt. Hoc non exiguum mihi fuit beneficium, maius tamen existimo quod e verbis matris, paullo ante diem supremum percepi. “Fili mi,” aiebat “amor non est instar aquæ, aqua enim sursumversum non fluit.” Sic itaque mater mortem oppetivit, et in mari sepulta est.

Navis Harvest Queen aquas Americanas circa finem Octobris assecuta est, quum inibi a navarcho cuiusdam navigii, quem noster navarchus per signa allocutus erat, nova quædam gravioris momenti percepimus. Retulit is haud procul a Neo Eboraco acriter pugnatum fuisse, ubi et amplius pugnatum iri exspectabatur. Prohinc navarcho nostro satius videbatur portum Neo Londinensem petere, ubi itaque primo Novembris, anni millesimi septingentesimi septuagesimi sexti solus, puer duodenarius, primum littora Novi Orbis pedibus attrectavi.