Latin

The chapter begins with a discussion of some of the characteristic features of Latin, such as its case system and ablative absolute construction, with examples taken largely from Latin phrases (like vice versa) that have passed directly into English. Three case studies follow: the first looks at the word-play in Lucretius’ De rerum natura made possible through linguistic features particular to Latin, the second at the difficulties involved in translating Horace’s Odes 4.7 through a comparison of the Latin with A. E. Housman’s translation, noting especially the interlaced word order of the original poem, the third at the extreme compression of Latin seen in Tacitus’ Annals.