Ξ Saturday, 29 Mar 2008 at 12:34 | → Comments Off | ∇ Normal |
southward, a couple days later than expected, but that’s how it goes I suppose. missing Nicole, missing my warm bed back home. it’s been nice being up here but it seems like it’s been a battle to get back down. but downward I go tonight, back on the bus by which I came. but I’ll be back around noon tomorrow, so that’s better than nothing. I was going to rent a car, but apparently the border may be snowed in, so that’s probably not going to work. the ticket is purchased in any case. (more…)
Ξ Thursday, 20 Mar 2008 at 00:20 | → Comments Off | ∇ Normal |
subruere est arces et stantia moenia virtus:
quamlibet ignavi praecipitata premunt.
non sum ego quod fueram. quid inanem proteris umbram?
quid cinerem saxis bustaque nostra petis?
Hector erat tunc cum bello certabat; at idem
vinctus ad Haemonios non erat Hector equos.
me quoque, quem noras olim, non esse memento:
ex illo superant haec simulacra viro.
quid simulacra, ferox, dictis incessis amaris?
parce, precor, Manes sollicitare meos.
To tear down citadels and standing walls is courage:
Men sluggish to any extent press upon what has fallen headlong.
I am not what I had been. Why do you crush my empty shade?
Why do you come with rocks after our ashes and our funeral pyres?
Hector used to exist then when he was fighting in war; but likewise
After he was chained to the Haemonian horses, he was not Hector.
Remember that I also, whom you had known before, do not exist:
These shades remain from that man.
Why [attack?] my shades, fierce one, with incessant and bitter words?
Beg off, I pray, stirring up my shade.
- Ovid, Tristia 3.11.23-32
fucking brilliant. we read this poem in class today, and I was blown away by many of those lines, the first in particular. it just sounded so great — an infinitive as subject linked to another noun. It’s rare in actual Latin. And the quod two lines down — I am not the thing that I had been. Notice that it’s not a qui, “who,” but “what” — he was previously a thing, but now he is a person once again. We discussed this somewhat in class today, and noted that Cicero says nearly the opposite in his letters — that he was once an august person, and eventually is reduced to the status of thing (quid enim sum, he cries, “what indeed am I?” rather than quis enim sum, “who indeed am I?”, in one of the letters, the location of which I can’t remember). (more…)
Ξ Tuesday, 18 Mar 2008 at 00:41 | → Comments Off | ∇ Normal |
what a long day. I stumbled out of my dream state around 08.30 or so this morning, and had a leisurely morning before I headed over to campus around noon. it was actually a somewhat un-stressful Monday morning around here, which was a pleasant surprise. I put in a good five hours or so on Pithos stuff today, which felt rewarding, but I was neglecting my other duties at the same time (namely, Pompeii and thesis)… but that’ll come together. (more…)
Ξ Monday, 17 Mar 2008 at 01:46 | → Comments Off | ∇ Normal |
I’m going to sleep. worrying about the outside world and school will resume once again once I wake up. I’m well, and I can say that tonight was the first time I’ve ever eaten a significant amount of a salad. I was quite pleased with myself. goodnight everyone. I shall see you all in the morning.
Ξ Saturday, 15 Mar 2008 at 02:40 | → Comments Off | ∇ Normal |
it’s the kindly time right now, and dark as can be, as far as I can see through my meagre window. i’m a bit out of it, but still here. I’ve not been up to all that much today. I went to campus to get my paycheck, with which I was quite pleased, and hung out at the pub for a bit with Nicole and the classics crew in general. I think Pithos is coming together, and I’m going to put some more finishing touches on Joan’s paper tomorrow, and maybe knock another paper or two out of the way while I’m at it. we’re aiming to publish it by the first lecture of the series, 02 April, and thus we need to get a move on. but it’ll work out. I’m just delighted to be a part of the process this time, no less “desktop publisher,” and it’s actually been quite fun. (more…)
Ξ Friday, 14 Mar 2008 at 01:23 | → Comments Off | ∇ Normal |
indeed. I’m looking forward to going to sleep tonight. I certainly treasure it, as I’ve said a number of times before. especially when I’m sick, because then it’s really at its sweetest. in any case, it’s been a rambling sort of day, full of paperwork and other such inanities, but good overall. I went to McDonalds with “the crew” at work, of course, and then popped into Borders with Dan to check for books or movies to buy, since I had a 25% off coupon. I ended up buying Sophocles I Loeb (I have vol. 2), and tried to find the new Dark Tower to no avail; I’ll have to go to the comics shop on Castro soon for it. Otherwise I just listened to a lot of drivel from “that bald Manc twat Pilkers,” as Gervais would say. (more…)
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