Expert: Maria - 9/5/2007

Question
Maria,

First let me apologize for asking this as I am sure you have probably been asked before. I attempted to skim the past answers section looking for this quote but I could not find it. So if you have answered this for someone else before I apologize.

Would it be possible for you to translate the quote
"This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man."
into latin?
I'm sure you recognize the source. I realize it is a bit long, if it would take too much time or effort feel free to shorten it to the most commonly recognized form. (i.e. "This above all: to thine own self be true") Whichever is easiest for you.

Also not quite a translation request, could you point me in the direction of some quotes in Latin about honor ancestors or those who came before?

Thank you again for your time and keep up the wonderful work. Just from skimming your past answers I have added tons of quotes to my collection.
Thank you,
Kevin.


Answer
Hello,

Glad to help you.

So, here’s the translation of this Polonius'advice to his son Laertes  in Shakespeare’s Hamlet (Act I, scene III, lines 78 -80):

“Hoc in primis: tibi ipsi esto fidelis,
Et hinc, ut nox diem,
Te sequitur nemini esse infidum”.

As for “some quotes in Latin about honor ancestors or those who came before”, I’m sorry, but there is no reliable site where you can find them.

All the best,
Maria

__________________________________________________________
Note that:

-This = HOC (nominative neuter of the demonstrative pronoun HIC, this)

-above all = IN PRIMIS

-be = ESTO (imperative, 2nd.person singular, of the verb SUM, I am)

-true = FIDELIS (nominative singular )

-to thyself = TIBI  (dative of TU meaning 'you', personal pronoun, 2nd.person singular) followed by IPSI (dative of the pronoun IPSE, self)

- And = ET

- it must follow = HINC SEQUITUR  

-as = UT

-the night = NOX (nominative)

-the day = DIEM (accusative of DIES, day)

-Thou = TE (accusative of the personal pronoun, as it is in an infinitive clause)

-canst not then be = ESSE (infinitive of SUM, I am)

-false = INFIDUM (accusative of INFIDUS agreed with the pronoun TE)

-to any man = NEMINI (dative of NEMO, no one  )


Latin word order is different from English, as you can see.