h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello
Before I go too far I just wanted to let u all know that I am a historical military re-enactor and about two months ago had an
Master Armourer make me a "Real" English longsword from pictures
I took when I was up at the Leeds Armoury Museum.

I'd like to get my sword engraved with a Latin inscription
"Ass kicking moth__F___ker" (I need not say more here)
I don't want to offend anyone and I apologise if I do, but is it possible to get some sort of Latin translation on that?

What about: "For God, Queen and Country"
Many thanx in advance.

I'm afraid I'm not up on my Latin profanity, because that's just not what they teach you in school. (Though I certainly wish I knew a bit more - it could be useful in life!)

I can help you with 'For God, Queen and Country' though:

Pro Deo, Regina et Patria.

Allow me to express great interest in your re-enacting. I'm a wee bit obsessed with military history (mediaeval through Napoleon) but there's just not many places for a girl (me) in a re-enacting troupe, not that they have many of those in San Diego anyway. *sigh*

I know there are at least 3 faires that goes on in the San Diego area.
SDRF at Balboa Park is the one I am the stage managers for the battlefield stage and there's also Escondido Spring and Fall faires.
Any how that's for the help in translating part of the inscription.

I did have a friend who took graduate studies in classical Greek and Latin, unfortunately he's in Europe for 9 months. Hopefully I can get
my translation done b4 January when the sword is completed.

R

English is better at experessing this sort of thing starkly and economically than Latin. You would need something like "a shagger of his own mother who strikes buttocks with his foot" (="Fututor suae matris qui calce clunes ferit").

"For God, queen, and country" is "Pro Deo, regina, et patria" as echomikeromeo has already pointed out.


By the way, anyone interested in Latin profanities should look at:

http://www.orbilat.com/Languages/Latin/Vocabulary/Latin-Forbidden.html

Which is OK, except (1) for 'scrortum' read 'scrotum', (2) for 'vomerm' read 'vomer', and (3) they forgot to include 'landica -ae'(=clitoris).

Are you a San Diegan then, Rahonavis?

Many thanx for your help echomikeromeo and Banjo. It had to be Latin because I saw another inscription while I was at the Hapsburg Museum in Vienna which the crossguard of the sword had been inscribed with religious carble (think it was a prayer) and I wanted to copy the idea
when I got my own sword.

...and no echomikeromeo, I'm from Orange County but I do alot of different faires up and down California, Nevada and AZ. It just so happened I was hired as the fight director and battle coordinator
at SDRF. When it comes down to historical militia and re-enactments
I'm one of the more anal types who are serious about performances
as well as having the right information. It's just the historian in me
gets a little carried away.

More could be found on my page at
geocities.com/[email protected]/index.html

Again, thank you both.

Banjo
Any chance of endorsing your assistance in translating a
certificate from English to Latin.
My historical fencing academy will have new graduates come January
and instead of the plain old certificate of achievement thing
I created a new certificate for those who passed their sword proficiency test and have demonstrated the use of the sword.

I'd ready love to get one that's special for the new "gradulate scholars" and "Free Scholars" in my faire group.
Let me know okay?
R

Historical fencing? Did someone say historical fencing? *perks up ears excitedly; giggles madly*

My friend, you happened upon exactly the person who will swoon over any sort of historical reenacting. Though I'd like to be part of it, and I feel my sex is somewhat working against me there.

Yes echomikeromeo
I fence and I teach istorical fencing in every sense of the word.
The material we're using are all historical manuscripts from the 14th-16th Century.

echomikeromeo
At my school, it make no difference to what sex you are so long
as your willing to devote time, energy and effort in swordplay.
Safety is first, technique, style and finesse can all be learnt.
We have a number of students who are femail and they are all faire
participants.

*so* cool!!!!