Semester so far
Sometime in the past week or so, a transition happened. I now feel like I can read Latin, more or less. I think it was a matter of having a few homework assignments in a row where I could figure out most of what was being said without a dictionary or recourse to grammar clues. I’m pretty psyched, because I’ve already taken two semesters and wasn’t particularly able to read — I was getting worried.
I don’t know exactly where this will go. Apart from Ovid, I haven’t fallen in love with any Latin authors. Some of the medieval authors we’re reading are appallingly tedious, like John Scottus Erigeunus (John the Irishman from Ireland). “Quod si aliqua eum [sc. deum] causa compelleret ad faciendum, ea merito maior meliorque eo crederetur; ac per hoc ipsa, non ipse, summa omnium causa desuque coleretur.” [If something could whup God it'd be God. -d.]
Oh snap! You tell ‘em, John! Definitiones tuas pugionibus similes e vagina educ!
There are some divinity students in the class, who got wonderfully hot and bothered about all this double predestination stuff. Me, I can live without the philosophy; I want stories about unicorns and shit.
I guess I should read more Ovid when I get a chance.