In Renaissance times, students often memorized colloquia (dialogues, like skits) as a way to learn Latin. I have been reading the Colloquia of Erasmus and Corderius recently. Here I try my hand at a few modern versions: one between students (Corderius’ colloquia are all conversations between students) and three very simple versions of traditional fables.
O Me Miserum/Miseram! (O Poor Me!)
[note: male speakers should say “miserum” and “laetus;” female speakers “miseram” and “laeta”]A: Salve, [nomen]! Ut vales? | A: Hello [name]! How are you doing? | |
B: Male valeo. | B: I’m not doing well. | |
A: Quid tibi sit? | A: What’s up with you? | |
B. Hoc me taedet. Nihil mihi est ad faciendum. | B: I’m bored. I have nothing to do. | |
A: Sed Hodie ‘Sursum Corda’ nobis est! | A: But today we have Sursum Corda! | |
B: En, vero-ne? | B: Woah, really? | |
A: Ita! | A: Yes! | |
B: Euge! Nunc laetus/laeta sum. | B: Woo-hoo! Now I am happy. |
Testudo et Lepus (The Tortoise & the Hare)
Lepus: Lepus sum. Celer sum. | Hare: I am the hare. I am fast. | |
Testudo: Testudo sum. Tardus sum. Tenax autem sum. | Tortoise: I am the tortoise. I am slow. Persistent, though, I am. | |
L: Celerrimus sum! | H: I am sooo fast! | |
T: Ambulo. Ambulo. Ambulo. | T: I’m walking. I’m walking. I’m walking | |
L: O! Fessus sum. [yawns; falls asleep] | H: Oh! I’m tired. | |
T: Ambulo. Ambulo. Ambulo. | T: I’m walking. I’m walking. I’m walking | |
Lepus: [wakes up as tortoise wins] Eheu! Testudo vincit! | H: Oh no! The tortoise wins! |
Printable pdf version: Testudo et Lepus
Vulpes et Uva (The Fox & the Grape)
Narrator: Olim erat vulpes. | Narrator: Once there was a fox | |
Vulpes: Vulpes sum. | Fox: I am a fox. | |
N: Vulpes uvam vult. | N: The fox wants a grape. | |
V: Esurio. Uvam volo. | F: I’m hungry. I want a grape. | |
N: Eheu! Uvae altae sunt. [fox tries to jump and reach grapes] | N: Oh no! The grapes are high. | |
V: Nolo uvam. | F: I don’t want a grape. |
Printable pdf version: Vulpes et Uva
Puer Pastoris et Lupus (The Shepherd Boy & the Wolf)
Puer: Fatigatus sum. Oves odiosae sunt. | Boy: I am bored/tired. Sheep are tiresome. | |
Puer: Lupus! Lupus! Adiuvate me! | Boy: A Wolf! A Wolf! Help me! | |
Populi: [panting from running in] Nullus lupus adest. | People: No wolf is here. | |
Puer: Hahahae! | Boy: Ha Ha Ha | |
[the next day] Puer: Lupus! Lupus! Adiuvate me! | Boy: A Wolf! A Wolf! Help me! | |
Populi: [panting from running in] Nullus lupus adest. | People: No wolf is here. | |
Lupus: Esurio. Hahahae! | Wolf: I’m hungry. Ha Ha Ha. |
Printable pdf version: Puer Pastoris et Lupus
A. M.
Dear Heather,
Thank you so much for these! I teach Latin to very young kids, and my students have loved your skits (even the 1st graders). Could you do more of these? They’re fun and at a perfect level for younger learners to get engaged with Latin drama.