Bryan Harris Interlinear Translation Of Lucretius

Here is a conversation moved over from private discussion of translation work:

Raphael Raul said:
Bryan, as I mentioned at today's Epicurean Friends meeting, the translation reads very smoothly in English.
I does not have that structural stiffness that older translations do... Also, your color coding and placing the translation below the Latin, so both are visible together, allows the reader to see your choices clearly... excellent work!... Bravo!

Bryan said:
Quote from TauPhi
start learning Latin
Gratias tibi ago, TauPhi-- I really appreciate that!! I have greatly benefited from your encouragement over the years.

Quote from Raphael Raul
does not have that structural stiffness
Thank you, Raphael Raul-- it is a balance. I have also tried, where possible, to use English words that are etymologically related to the Latin. Sometimes, this requires using less common English words...

For example:

"ómnis énim Cólor omnī́nō mūtā́tur ín ómnīs"
...for every Color is altogether changed into every [color]

However, given Lucretius uses "mūtā́tur," the word "mutated" is a direct descendant:
...for every Color is altogether mutated into every [color]

Even though "mutated" carries some baggage in English, it pairs better with the Latin, and is technically not incorrect as "mutated" just means "undergoing alteration or change." There are many such cases!

Occasionally, I feel as though I have no choice but to use an uncommon word... I am not too happy that the first word of the entire work is "Ancestress."
Most translators just use "mother" -- but Lucretius consistently uses a different word that means mother, and "Génetrīx" clearly means "a female ancestor from whom a person is descended"

Don said:
Bryan Fantastic work! Very impressive.

Bryan said:
Quote from Don
work
Thank you, Don. As you know, the text of De Rerum Natura is very stable compared to our Greek sources. There are only a few locations where the two main manuscripts leave us with lacunas. We are on solid ground here... [ ] ...in contrast to the P.Hercs., which leave us drowning in a pool of papyrus dust.
This is my cheeky but sincere apology for what comes next: a standalone On Nature, Περὶ Φύσεως ΛΖ.

Don said:
Quote from Bryan
in contrast to the P.Hercs., which leave us drowning in a pool of papyrus dust.
Well put. That's a bit of nice wordsmithing there On a serious note, I remain excited about the opportunity and potential of the "read without unrolling" technology. I just hope whatever comes out of that is made publicly available.

Bryan
Quote from Bryan
For example:
"ómnis énim Cólor omnī́nō mūtā́tur ín ómnīs"
...for every Color is altogether changed into every [color]
However, given Lucretius uses "mūtā́tur," the word "mutated" is a direct descendant:
...for every Color is altogether mutated into every [color]

Bryan, would it then be correct to say that: "when every color changes it is a completely different color" ?

Quote from Kalosyni

when every color changes

In this context (DRN 2.749), Lucretius is just explaining that the atoms lack color, and he uses various examples of color shifting on a single object to help make that point.

Hello all, this should be the final update until we get to Book Two.

(There are some spacing issues that will not be resolved until all the books are complete.)

By Zeus! This is an accomplishment! Well done, Bryan !

Quite impressive Bryan ! Speaking as one who is completely illiterate in Latin, I can say that this is a great resource

Don , Godfrey
Thank you very much!

I have a quick technical question for you both... when you open the document, does it have a black background, or is the page mostly white?

Quote from Bryan

have a quick technical question for you both... when you open the document, does it have a black background, or is the page mostly white?

Black, but I have a nighttime theme running

Black. I have a daytime theme running. If I switch to nighttime the document goes to shades of gray. I have it open in the ReadEra app.

Yeah. I can switch to white...

Thank you for this helpful input!

Black pages are my intention, and I am happy that this now seems to be the default.

I do my work with black pages, and I really think that is best way to view it.