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I'm having trouble with quod sī. L&S offers, under the definition of quod,

With other particles, as si, nisi, utinam, ubi, etc., always with reference to something which precedes (very freq.), but, though, now

and then gives a whole bunch of examples that omit whatever the "something which precedes" is, thereby removing any context.

I'm asking now because I'm trying to translate an Armenian fairy tale into Latin, and there's a noble telling a peasant girl,

The King has sent us to ask you to become his son's wife. This ring, this necklace, these bracelets—all these are yours, if you consent!

I've translated it as follows, but I'm not sure I'm using quod sī correctly.

Rēx nōs mīsit tē fīlium nūbere ōrātum, quod sī annueris, hanc ānulam, hanc armillam, hoc monīle, cūncta tibi donābit!

I'm going for something along the lines of "The king has sent us to ask you to marry his son, if you agree to which [request], he'll give you this ring, this bracelet, [and] this necklace."

Thoughts?

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    To my knowledge quod si just means 'but if, and if', quod nisi 'but if not, and if not'.
    – Anonym
    Oct 16, 2017 at 22:58

1 Answer 1

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Nubo and annuo both take the dative case, giving filio instead of filium, and cui instead of quod. cui si seems ok to me - 'to which if you agree.' But see cnread's comment below regarding quod.

  • For authentic word arrangement I would suggest Rēx nōs tē fīlio nūbere oratum mīsit, cui sī annueris, hunc ānulum, hanc armillam, hoc monīle, cūncta tibi donābit! Latin usually puts verbs at the end of their clauses. Also Anulus is masculine so I have put anulum.
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    Note that the dative singular of the relative pronoun is cui (or, for an archaizing effect, quoi), not quo. At any rate, when what's agreed to is a thing, an accusative object is also found, according to Oxford Latin dictionary; so Joel's quod is perfectly acceptable.
    – cnread
    Jan 5, 2021 at 21:29
  • Thank you @cnread you are quite right. I will amend my post accordingly.
    – Afer
    Jan 5, 2021 at 21:39
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    Welcome to the site! You probably forgot to add "ask" in your translation?
    – Cerberus
    Jan 5, 2021 at 23:01
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    Thank you Cerberus! Well spotted you! My attention to detail is slipping. I will amend.
    – Afer
    Jan 6, 2021 at 12:29
  • One other correction: hanc and anulum don't agree in gender.
    – cnread
    Jan 6, 2021 at 17:55

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