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CAVE CANEM “Beware of Dog!” Mosaic. Courtesy of WikiCommons & Radomil<\/p><\/div>\n
There comes a time in every dog owner’s life when their beloved friend and family member is ready for the rainbow journey (as I have heard it called). This connection to our beloved doggie pets is not a new or modern attachment but one that has traces throughout history and of course the Roman are no exceptions. I have chosen this topic as my own beloved pet, Emi, now twelve years old has decided that her time with me is nearly over and she is ready for her next adventure. So this blog post is rather cathartic in nature – but in thinking how to commemorate my love, feelings, and history with her – I look back on my foundation (education foundation) to what did the Romans do – how did they say those feelings love and loss – would I transcribe my own Grave Stele in Latin for her? If I could find the words, I think I would. If this is too tender a subject for you, I recommend my post on famous weird Roman pets<\/a>\u00a0or popular pets<\/a>.<\/p>\n I was first introduced to the notion of animal grave steles during my Classical education at the University of<\/p>\n Gravestone to Helena, AD150-200, Getty Villa Malibu, Taken by Brittany Britanniae<\/p><\/div>\n California Riverside, but I must credit the Getty Villa in Santa Monica, California for providing additional insight and primary sources including the gravestone of Helena<\/a>.\u00a0 There is some speculation on whether this is a little girl’s grave and the dog is a protective symbol OR if it a dog’s grave.\u00a0 In this case, let us say it is that of a dog.<\/p>\n Helenae alumnae “To Helena, foster daughter, However, the passage I truly wish to focus on is for the “Tombstone with a poem for a dog called Patrice;”<\/strong> I would wish to spend more time on this translation, but for the sake of the learners – I will translate each line literally in the order of the words to assist beginner learners and then poetically or in better English. I highly recommend for those still working on forms and tense to use this resource<\/a>.<\/p>\n Portavi lacrimis madidus te nostra catella,<\/em> I carried with tears, I being soak or wet, you, our pup\/small dog (female) <\/p>\n Oh, what sweet words.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Salvete Omnes, There comes a time in every dog owner’s life when their beloved friend and family member is ready for the rainbow journey (as I have heard it called). This connection to our beloved doggie pets is not a new or modern attachment but one that has traces throughout history and of course…<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/latin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2013\/07\/Summer-2013-007-263x350.jpg\")
\nanimae
\nincomparabili et
\nbene merenti.<\/p>\n
\nthe soul
\nincomparable and
\nwell-deserving (worthy).”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nquod feci lustris laetior ante tribus.<\/em>
\nergo mihi, Patrice, iam non dabis osculla mille<\/em>
\nnec poteris collo grata cubare meo.<\/em>
\ntristis marmorea posui te sede merentem<\/em>
\net iunxi semper manib(us) ipse meis,<\/em>
\nmorib(us) argutis hominem simulare paratam;<\/em>
\nperdidimus quales, hei mihi, delicias.<\/em>
\ntu dulcis, Patrice, nostras attingere mensas<\/em>
\nconsueras, gremio poscere blanda cibos,<\/em>
\nlambere tu calicem lingua rapiente solebas<\/em>
\nquem tibi saepe meae sustinuere manus,<\/em>
\naccipere et lassum cauda gaudente frequenter<\/em>
\n\u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013 \u2013<\/em><\/p>\n
\nSoaked with tears, I carried you, our little dog<\/em><\/strong>
\nWhich I did, in fives years, I being happier, before with threes (three and five are ablatives of time)
\nWhich I did, being happier, before fifteen years ago.<\/em><\/strong>
\nTherefore, to me, Patrice, now not will you give 1,000 kisses
\nTherefore now, Patricus, you will no (longer) give me 1,000 kisses<\/em><\/strong>
\nNor, will you be able neck being affectionate lie mine.
\nNor will you able to lie lovingly at my neck.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\nWith sadness, in marble, I placed you, dwelling, worthy one
\nWith sadness, I placed you, a good girl, in a marble tomb.<\/em><\/strong>
\nand I have fastened\/united always (you implied from\u00a0te<\/em> above) to spirit self me.
\nand I have fastened\/attached you always to my very\/own spirt.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\nWith a showing habit (Ablative Absolute), to humans similar you were scheming\/clever
\nWith an assertive demonstration, you were clever, similar to a human<\/em><\/strong>
\nHaving lost of what kind, woe is me! a darling
\nOf what kind of darling(pet) I have lost! Woe is me!<\/strong><\/em>
\nYou sweet, Patrice, our you would join table.
\nYou sweet (boy), Patricus, you used to join our table<\/strong><\/em>
\nYou had been devising lap to beg with fawning food
\nFawning, you had been devising to beg for food from our laps<\/strong><\/em>
\nTo lick, you cup with tongue seizing you were accustomed to
\nYou used to lick the cup with your seizing tongue<\/em><\/strong>
\nwhich to you often my held hands
\nwhich often my hands held to\/for you<\/em><\/strong>
\nto accept and weary with tail delighted frequently
\nand frequently to welcome (your) weary (owner) with a delighted (wagging?) tail.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n