Posted with respect to long-suffering teachers.
I saw this a year ago and forgot to download it. Then I
couldn’t find it again. However, the gods were smiling on me today when, by
chance, I hit upon it. It is absolutely priceless.
From “Children’s Talk” (1697) which contains utter condemnation
of schoolboys’ behaviour.
It was written by Charles Hoole, the translator of Comenius’
Orbis Pictus. Hoole was a teacher. We, his 21st century counterparts,
can sympathise with him although 17th century schoolboys do appear to have been a little more extreme! This
is not the “refinement” of Victorian texts, but a far earthier and more unruly
world. The first image – a woodcut of a Tudor schoolroom – may be giving a far
more ideal image than the teachers actually experienced.
Enjoy the chaos…
Pages 5-6; lines 51 - 68
Manners of accusing anyone | Formulae accusandī quempiam
[51] Andrew did not do his duty [honour] to the minister |
Andrew non honōrāvit sacerdōtem
[52] John spake [used] English [literally: the native
language; obviously a criminal offence in a Latin class] | Joannēs ūsus est
linguā vernāculā
[53] Peter cuft (cuffed) me [felled me with his fists] | Peter cecidit mē
pugnīs
[54] This boy did not put off his hat [did not uncover his head] when he went
by a magistrate | Hic nōn dētexit caput cum praeterīret magistrātum
dētegō, -ere, -tēxī [3]: uncover
[55] He curst (cursed) me | Ille maledīxit mihi
[56] Yond boy (that boy over there) miscalled [insulted] us | Ille convitiātus
est nōbīs
convitior, -ārī, -ātus sum [1/deponent]: (Mediaeval) insult
[57] No boy (nobody) will say the lesson | Nēmō vult
repetere lēctiōnem
[58] James never salutes his father and mother | Jacobus numquam salūtat
parentēs
[59] He talks scurvily [about an indecent matter] | Fābulātur dē rē scurrilī
[60] He will not get out of my place | Nōn vult cēdere dē meō locō
[61] He hath all-to-be-pist my shooes [all-to-be: completely] | Permīnxit
calceōs meōs
mingō, -ere, mīnxī [3]: urinate; but it’s more than that – permingō:
he does it all over!
[62] He hath bemarred my paper | Conspurcāvit papȳrum meam
conspurcō, -āre [1]: (rare) defile; pollute
papȳrus, -ī [2 m or f]: paper
[63] He will not let me mind my books [does not allow me to
study] | Nōn patitur mē studēre
[64] He jeers me | Dērīdet mē
[65] He farts at us | Oppēdit nōbīs
the verb literally means “break wind” but can also refer to
jeering at somebody. However, judging by what he did to another boy’s shoes, it’s
probably the literal sense!
[66] He will not let me to (w)rite | Nōn sinet mē scrībere
[67] He shews (shows) his nakedness | Ostentat pudenda
without going into detail, ‘pudenda’ is very specific about
the type of nakedness described!
[68] He pulled me by the hair | Vulsit mē crinibus
vellō, -ere, vulsī [3]: (Classical Latin) pluck out (e.g. feathers);
pull out the hair from the skin. In other words, this is far from gentle hair
pulling.
And you thought Latin was just about Julius Caesar.
