Expert: Maria - 1/28/2008

Question
There is a Latin phrase in the book Rameau's Nephew that I would like translated.  It is "Ingenii largitor venter."  Also, are you able to tell me the source of this quote, if there is one?

Answer
Hello,

the Latin phrase, we read in Rameau's Nephew (Le Neveu de Rameau) by the French philosopher Denis Diderot, literally  means “The belly is the  bestower/ giver  of wit /genius”, where the belly refers to the ‘necessity’/‘hunger’ which sharpens the wits and is the mother of invention. [See below for grammatical analysis].

The source of this quote is  the  Roman Satirical Poet Aulus Persius Flaccus (34-62 AD) whose full sentence is “Magister artis ingeniique largitor venter” meaning “The belly is the teacher of art and the bestower /giver  of wit” (See ‘Satires’, prologue, line 10).

Best regards,
Maria
___________________________________________________________
Note that:
-INGENII (genitive  of INGENIUM, 2nd.declension) = of the wit/ cleverness/ genius.

-LARGITOR (predicate, nominative, 3rd.declension) = the bestower / giver.

-VENTER (Subject, Nominative, 3rd.declension) = the belly/stomach.
Note that the verb EST (‘ is’ in English ) has been omitted as it is implied.