Ch. 8: First Preface of the Elegances of the Latin Language

Cum saepe de nostrorum maiorum et aliarum gentium rebus gestis cogito,

When I often think about the history of our ancestors and of other tribes,

videntur mihi nostri maiores non solum imperii sed etiam linguae propagatione alios omnes superavisse.

it seems to me that they, the ancient Romans, have surpassed all the others by the spread not only of empire, but also of language.

Ceres laudabatur, quod frumentum hominibus dederat;

They were praising Ceres, because she had given grain to the humans;

Minerva luadabatur quod oleas hominibus dederat;

They were praising Minerva because she had given the olives to the humans;

antiqui homines propter beneficia hominibus data colebantur tamquam dei.

Ancient people on account of the benefits given to mankind by them were worshipped as gods

Eratne minus utile linguam latinam gentibus dedisse,

Was it less useful to have given the Latin language to people

optimam frugem et vere divinam,

the best and truly divine grain,

nec corporis sed animi cibum?

food not for the body but for the mind?

Haec enim lingua gentes illas omnibus artibus, quae liberales vocantur, instituit.

For this language trained those people for all arts, which are called befitting of a free man.

Haec optimas leges docuit.

This language taught the best laws.

Haec viam ad omnem sapientiam ostendit.

This language showed the road to all wisdom.

Et maiores nostri alios omnes hortabantur ut et romae et in provinciis latine loquerentur.

And our ancestors were encouraging all others to speak in Latin both Rome and in the provinces.

At imperium romanum, tamquam onus ingratum, gentes nationesque pridem abiecerunt.

But the nations and people long ago threw away the Roman Empire as an unwelcomed burden.

linguam latinam omni auro meliorem putaverunt,

They thought the Latin language was better than any gold,

et sicut rem divinam e caelo missam apud se sevaverunt!

and they saved it as if something divine sent from heaven.

Amisimus, romani, amisimus imeprium et domnatum:

We lost Romans, we lost the empire, and our rule however:

tamen per hunc splendidiorem dominatum in magna adhuc parte orbis terrarum regnamus.

through this more illustrious rule we still rule in a great part of the world.

Nostra est italia, nostra gallia, nostra hispania, germania, pannonia, dalmation, illyricum multaeque aliae nationes!

Italy is ours, France is ours, Spain is ours, Germany is ours, Hungary is ours, Dalmatia is ours, Illyricum is ours and many other nations.

Ibi enim romanum iimperium est,

Wherever the Roman language rules,

umbicumque romana lingua dominatur!

there is the Roman Empire!

Quis autem litterarum bonique publici studiosus a lacrimis temperabit,

However, what person fond of letters and the public good, will refrain from tears

cum viderit linguam latinam eo in satu esse quo olim roma capta a gallis?

when he will have seen that the Latin language is in that state in which Rome once was capture by the Gauls?

Quousque, quirites -

To what extent Roman Citizens -

litterarum voco et linguae latinae cultores, qui veri quirites sunt

I am addressing those devoted to literature and the Latin language who are true Roman citizens -

quousque, inquam, urbem nostram parentem litterarum a gallis captam esse patiemini, id est linguam latinam a barbaris esse oppressam?

I will say to what extent will y’all suffer with the fact that our city, the mother of literature has been captured by the Gauls, namely, by the Latin literature has been subjected by the barbarians?

Parabo exercitum, quem in hostes ducam!

I will prepare an army, which I will lead against the enemies!

Animos vestros firmabo.

I wills strengthen your spirits.

Ibo in aciem!

I will go into the line of battle!

Ibo primus.

I will go first.