| Progreditur res publica naturali quodam itinere et cursu. The State advances in a natural path and progress. |
(2) Metaphors differing in Latin and English—
| cedant arma togae | = let the sword yield to the pen. |
| ardet acerrime coniuratio | = the conspiracy is at its height. |
| rex factus est | = he ascended the throne. |
| conticuit | = he held his peace. |
[20.] Careful Translation a Help to Style.—In conclusion. Nothing will help your style more than to do your translations as well as you possibly can, and to avoid repeating the same mistakes. The Latins themselves knew the value of translation as a help to style.
For example, Pliny the Younger says:—
‘As useful as anything is the practice of translating either your Greek into Latin or your Latin into Greek. By practising this you will acquire propriety and dignity of expression, an abundant choice of the beauties of style, power in description, and gain in the imitation of the best models a facility of creating such models for yourself. Besides, what may escape you when you read, cannot escape you when you translate.’
[2.] Potts, Hints, p. 82.
[3.] Postgate, Sermo Latinus, p. 45.
[4.] Potts, Hints, p. 85.
[5.] Postgate, Sermo Latinus, p. 38.