6

I am trying to write a motto and my knowledge of Latin is not very profound.

I wish to state using Latin to the effect of, and using king rather than man:

Know and understand this king. Be sure that you make yourself a disciple of Christ the ruling King.

To know and understand is suggested to be as grok. I do not wish to over complicate.

The best arrangement that I have so far come up with is,

Intellegere et scire regem. Fac tu discipulis Christi Regis

Is this anything near close? What would be correct Latin?

I do hope that this question will be allowed.

Edit

Having studied the magnificent answer from Ethan Bierlein and elsewhere I have near settled that the motto will be as follows:

Scītō atque intellege hunc rēgem. Es certus facere tē discipulum Christī Regēntis.

Answers yet improving upon this will be considered.

2
  • 2
    The first sentence has two very different readings, depending on whether you omitted a comma. Do you mean that the king needs to know and understand ("know and understand this, king"), or that the listener needs to know and understand the king?
    – brianpck
    Jul 26, 2018 at 13:45
  • @brianpck I intend for this motto that the reader is told to know and understand this king who is the bearer of the motto.
    – Willtech
    Jul 27, 2018 at 9:15

2 Answers 2

2

The first sentence in your translation is somewhat on-track, you simply neglected to insert the first person demonstrative adjective (hic, haec, hoc) for rēgem and used infinitive forms instead of imperative forms. The second sentence, however, is not terribly on-track (i.e, improper use of an imperative, incorrect indirect discourse, an incorrectly declined noun, etc.).

If you care less for a more pragmatic translation, I might suggest the following two sentences. If you are addressing a singular person:

Scītō atque intellege hunc rēgem. Es certus facere tē discipulum Christī, regentis rēgis.

If you are addressing a singular person, and that person is female, then certus and discipulum should become certa and discipulam, respectively.

If you are addressing multiple people.

Scītōte atque intellegite hunc rēgem. Este certī facere vōs discipulōs Christī, regentis rēgis.

If you mistyped in your original question, and meant to type "know and understand this, king" instead of "know and understand this king", then rēgem should be in its vocative form, rēx. A feminine or plural sentence would then be unnecessary, thus making your full sentence:

Scītō atque intellege hoc, rēx. Es certus facere tē discipulum Christī, regentis rēgis.

1
  • 1
    Your magnificent translation easily shows just how bad Google Translate truely is. I take point, however, that the motto intends to say Christ who is the actively ruling King rather than is ruling the king.
    – Willtech
    Jul 27, 2018 at 9:21
1

For the opening words a C10 hagiography copied into Harley 2253 f132v ch.5 keeps "Rex" in the nominative/vocative, which seems better than regem, Accusative:
"King, recognise and understand:"

Rex accippe et intellige

Rex accippe et intellige in 13th C. handwriting
and the King is promised a throne at the heavenly banquet.

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.