ne velocissima quidem venena ei nocerent

English translation: there were no poisons quick (enough) to kill him

10:37 Dec 10, 2008
Latin to English translations [PRO]
Other
Latin term or phrase: ne velocissima quidem venena ei nocerent
It is a latin joke, but i fail to understand it. Please, who can help me?


Mithridates, rex Ponti saepe venenum hauserat, ut sibi a clandestinis caveret insidiis. Hinc factum est, ut, quum a Pompejo superatus mortem sibi consciscere vellet, ne velocissima quidem venena ei nocerent.
Olga Krasko
Local time: 22:45
English translation:there were no poisons quick (enough) to kill him
Explanation:
This King Mithridates used to take little amounts of poisson to be immune in future intrigues against him. But, when he was beaten by Pompeius and wanted to commit suicide, he couldn't find a proper poison that could kill him before Pompeius shall seize or kill him.

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Note added at 22 mins (2008-12-10 11:00:31 GMT) Post-grading
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It is not a literal translation, just an interpretation. Nocere means "to do harm", although in this case is unto death.
Selected response from:

Luis Antonio de Larrauri
Local time: 21:45
Grading comment
thank you a lot. u really helped me
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4not even the fastest (working) poisons could hurt/harm him
Anders Dalström
4 +1there were no poisons quick (enough) to kill him
Luis Antonio de Larrauri


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
there were no poisons quick (enough) to kill him


Explanation:
This King Mithridates used to take little amounts of poisson to be immune in future intrigues against him. But, when he was beaten by Pompeius and wanted to commit suicide, he couldn't find a proper poison that could kill him before Pompeius shall seize or kill him.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 mins (2008-12-10 11:00:31 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

It is not a literal translation, just an interpretation. Nocere means "to do harm", although in this case is unto death.

Luis Antonio de Larrauri
Local time: 21:45
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
thank you a lot. u really helped me

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Joseph Brazauskas: I agree with the general tenor of your translation, although I personally would have incorporated a rendering of 'ne...quidem' into it.
3 hrs
  -> You are right, "not even" would be required in an exact translation
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
not even the fastest (working) poisons could hurt/harm him


Explanation:
I agree with the general meaning of Luis's answer, but 'ne...quidem' means 'not even' and 'nocerent' is in the subjunctive so indicates a conditional 'could'/'would'

Anders Dalström
Sweden
Local time: 21:45
Native speaker of: Native in SwedishSwedish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Joseph Brazauskas
1 hr

agree  Rebecca Garber
2 hrs

agree  Luis Antonio de Larrauri
4 hrs

agree  Péter Jutai
18 hrs
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