Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Latin term or phrase:
Parcere subjectis.
English translation:
[To] spare the conquered
Added to glossary by
SeiTT
Oct 18, 2014 06:19
9 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Latin term
Parcere subjectis.
Latin to English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Greetings
The above was written somewhere in a prison if I remember rightly.
Please could you translate the phrase and let me know the exact nature of ‘parcere’ – passive imperative or infinitive?
Best wishes, and many thanks,
Simon
The above was written somewhere in a prison if I remember rightly.
Please could you translate the phrase and let me know the exact nature of ‘parcere’ – passive imperative or infinitive?
Best wishes, and many thanks,
Simon
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +2 | [To] spare the conquered |
Sandra Mouton
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| 4 | To be merciful to those who submit... |
Pierre POUSSIN
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Proposed translations
+2
4 hrs
Sandra Mouton
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Efficiency and finesse
Native in: French 
Works in: English to French, Russian to French, Latin to French, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
Selected
[To] spare the conquered
... and vanquish the proud (Virgil, AeneidVI, 853).
In the original the infinitive could be interpreted as the object of the future imperative memento but as a standalone motto, it would definitely be understood as an infinitive of command.
In the original the infinitive could be interpreted as the object of the future imperative memento but as a standalone motto, it would definitely be understood as an infinitive of command.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Many thanks, super."
31 mins
Pierre POUSSIN
France
France
France
Fast and accurate.
Native in: French (Variant: Standard-France) 
Works in: English to French, French to English, Latin to French, and 2 more.
To be merciful to those who submit...
I think "parcere" is an infinitive, not an imperative form.
It could be a sort of standing order, though, to the jailers...
It could be a sort of standing order, though, to the jailers...
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Sandra Mouton
: Subjectis is in the perfect form, ie a past form, therefore "those who have submitted" is acceptable not "those who submit" (present form).
3 hrs
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See Jennifer's comment... I DO agree with her, but then...if you say so, I wil n ot wage war...;-)
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| agree |
Jennifer White
: don't understand Sandra's comment. This is acceptable.
12 hrs
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Thank you so much! I don't understand her comment, either, but...!
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| neutral |
Joseph Brazauskas
: I think Sandra means, since the particple is perfect, it should be translated as a perfect.
1 day 5 hrs
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But it is NOT a perfect participle IMHO,it' s a dative case of sbject. But anyway, it did not deserve a red "disagree"!!
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