Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Jack and Jill in Latin
W.H.D. Rouse, Chanties in Greek and Latin, 2nd ed. (1930):
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Gellia atque GelliusA more or less literal translation:
viam petunt in Alpes.
urceos manu tenent
aqua nova replendos.
ecce Gellius prior
cadit caputque frangit,
quem secuta Gelliast
subinde se revertens.
mater ut videt malum
silens utrumque curat.
namque uterque vapulat
bibitque uterque acetum.
Jill and Jack make their way into the Alps. In their hands they hold pails to be filled with fresh water. Behold, Jack falls first and breaks his head. Jill follows him, tumbling herself right after. When their mother sees the trouble, without a word she takes care of both of them. For both get a whipping and both drink vinegar.Finally here's one of many English versions:
Jack and Jill went up the hill,
To fetch a pail of water,
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.
Up Jack got and home he ran,
As fast as he could caper.
There his mother bound his head,
With vinegar and brown paper.
