Friday, November 21, 2008

Catullus 84

Arrius used to say “hadvantages” if ever he wanted to say “advantages,” and “hambushes” for “ambushes,” and then was hoping that he had spoken wondrously, when he had said “hambushes” as much as he was able. Thus his mother, thus his free uncle, thus his maternal grandfather and grandmother had spoken, I believe. This one having been sent into Syria, the ears of everyone had rested: they were hearing these same things softly and smoothly. Nor afterwards were they fearing such words for themselves when suddenly a terrible message is brought, the Ionian Sea, after Arrius had gone there, now is not the “Ionian” but the Hionian.”

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