Beltane Early Growth Moon
Greg, my Latin tutor, and I have begun moving through Ovid with an eye to a possible commentary, noting where I have difficulty and where we both have trouble. These are the kind of things that can be expanded on in a commentary, as both aids to future translators but also as educational tools to broaden an understanding of this particular work and Ovid in general.
It’s difficult to describe my level of excitement about this. After spending so long getting ready, we’re actually doing it and I’m a full partner, not as skilled as Greg at Latin but I’m focused on Ovid and have a lot bring to the conversation. My translations have begun to raise fewer and fewer flags and my choices bring a fresh perspective to the work.
It’s fun. I know that must sound weird, but I really enjoy this. It’s detective work, history, poetry, mythology, philology and straight out brain work. Complex and a bit arcane, my favorite.
At this point I can actually imagine translating all 15 books, 15,000 verses. Who knows? I’m also expanding my reading to Virgil and Horace, perhaps some Catullus, too. I need to know other Augustan poets and their conventions to better understand Ovid’s work.
Here’s another oddity in all this. When I finish a session with Greg, every two weeks, I feel like I’m done with classes and all I want to do is relax, read something or putter in the garden. This is an old, well ingrained feeling, put into place over many, many years of education.
