Every year, the Association for Latin Teaching (ARLT) runs a reading competition for spoken Latin. Students in the Senior category this year had to read a passage of Virgil’s Aeneid, which would be judged on accuracy of pronunciation and ability to convey the meaning and mood of the passage. Sensitivity to metre was also noted.
Sophie B and Constantin I in Year 12 submitted entries this year. Both students gave due diligence to the task, expanding their understanding of Latin as a language during the process. They spent time learning about how to effectively pronounce Latin hexameter verse, which is no mean feat. Constantin was awarded 3rd place in the Senior category, a commendable achievement!
Their entries are below for you to listen to; I’m certain you’ll agree Sophie and Constantin animate the Latin superbly:
Sophie
Constantin
Aeneid 2 203-227
ecce autem geminī ā Tenedō tranquilla per alta
(horrēscō referēns) immēnsīs orbibus anguēs
incumbunt pelagō pariterque ad lītora tendunt; 205
pectora quōrum inter fluctūs arrēcta iubaeque
sanguineae superant undās, pars cētera pontum
pōne legit sinuatque immēnsa volūmine terga.
fit sonitus spūmante salō; iamque arva tenēbant
ardentēsque oculōs suffectī sanguine et ignī 210
sībila lambēbant linguīs vibrantibus ōra.
diffugimus vīsū exsanguēs. illī agmine certō
Lāocoonta petunt; et prīmum parva duōrum
corpora nātōrum serpēns amplexus uterque
implicat et miserōs morsū depāscitur artūs; 215
post ipsum auxiliō subeuntem ac tēla ferentem
corripiunt spīrīsque ligant ingentibus; et iam
bis medium amplexī, bis collō squāmea circum
terga datī superant capite et cervīcibus altīs.
ille simul manibus tendit dīvellere nōdōs 220
perfūsus saniē vittās ātrōque venēnō,
clāmōrēs simul horrendōs ad sīdera tollit:
quālīs mūgītūs, fūgit cum saucius āram
taurus et incertam excussit cervīce secūrim.
at geminī lāpsū dēlūbra ad summa dracōnēs 225
effugiunt saevaeque petunt Trītōnidis arcem,
sub pedibusque deae clipeīque sub orbe teguntur.