Text in Comics [Latin]

Forum for English and all other languages.

Moderators: kokoyaya, Beaumont

Post Reply
Misha
Guest

Text in Comics [Latin]

Post by Misha »

My dear friends! I am editing a Russian text for a comics. In it, there is one phrase in Latin (which I do not know):

<<Arcuballistarius pete, bestia. Glans solum in manuballistula habemus. Si labaris -- vae nobis.
glans (plumbea)>>

By author’s intention, it is supposed to mean:

<<Aim at the arbalester. There is a single bullet in the revolver. Woe unto us if you miss.>>

Is his Latin OK? If it is not, could please suggest a correct phrase in Latin. I would extremely appriciate it.
User avatar
Sisyphe
Freelang co-moderator
Posts: 10959
Joined: 08 Jan 2004 19:14
Location: Au premier paquet de copies à gauche après le gros dico

Post by Sisyphe »

It is "modern" latin, but it is quite OK.

"Aim at the arbalester = arcuballistarium pete"

"There is a single bullet in the revolver = Glans unam* in manuballistula habemus"

* "Glans" is feminin. "unam" is better than "solam"

"Woe unto us if you miss = Si labaris, vae nobis"

There was a word which was not translated in the latin texte : "bestia" means "beast".

"glans (plumbea)" at the end does not mean anything, but "bullet (of lead)" ; this is the translation in "modern" latin of the word "bullet".

So the whole correct text is :
arcuballistarium pete, bestia. Glans unam in manuballistula habemus. Si labaris, vae nobis.

=

Aim at the arbalester, you beast (=stupid, like in french ?). There is a single bullet in the revolver ; woe unto us if you miss.
Misha
Guest

Post by Misha »

Sisyphe, thank you very much for all corrections!

With regards to “modern” Latin, could you suggest a good replacement for manuballistula that would be more close to the pistol or the revolver?

There have been variants such as revolvulus and pistolium, but I am not sure.
Post Reply