Latin and spells

[Bruce Alan Wilson]

No: HPFGUIDX 160640

Geoff:
"Finally, the famous "Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus" - 
never tickle a sleeping dragon. "Titillandus" is, I suspect, 
a gerundive, a verbal adjective. We need here here another 
Imperative, so we should have "titilla"."


BAW:
Yes, a more precise translation would be something like, "One 
ought never to tickle a sleeping dragon," or "A sleeping dragon 
should never be tickled."  The gerundive indicates 'necessity 
obligation or propriety', as most Latin grammars put it.  But 
translating the Latin gerundive as an English 'general imperative'
is perfectly acceptable.  (The Latin imperative usually is a 
'specific imperative.'  "Noli tittilare draconem dormientem" 
would be commanding a specific person on a specific occasion 
not to tickle a specific sleeping dragon.  The gerundive 
indicates that tickling sleeping dragons is generally not 
something that one should do.) (Classics major.  Can you tell?)