Sword with Terminus Est

Steve Simmons · 18 Apr 1991, 17:09 · from rec.arts.sf-lovers.1991.mbox

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From: scs at lokkur.dexter.mi.us (Steve Simmons)
Subject: Re: Sword with Terminus Est
Date: 18 Apr 91 17:09:27 GMT
Message-ID: <1991Apr18.170927.22201 at lokkur.dexter.mi.us>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf-lovers
References: <9253 at plains.NoDak.edu> <1991Mar29.191853.108 at midway.uchicago.edu> <9276 at plains.NoDak.edu> <1991Mar31.223444.11077 at leland.Stanford.EDU> <8987.27f748d9 at jetson.uh.edu> <1226 at argosy.UUCP> <cc1Wl0200Uh_042Tx7 at andrew.cmu.edu>

klaus at diku.dk (Klaus Ole Kristiansen) writes:

>sd1r+ at andrew.cmu.edu (Sridhar Dasari) writes:

>>I was just reading Gene Wolfe's Shadow of the Torturer.  The swrod with
>>the engraving called Terminus Est was mentioned.  The name rings a bell;
>> where did I hear this name before?  The only famous swords I can think
>>of are Excalibur, and Roland's sword (name starts with a C, I think) 
>>Anyone who can help me on this one?

>I can not help, but I have a question:

>Wouldn't Terminus Es be a better name?

Wolfe is usually worth reading closely.  His translations from the Latin
appear to be quite deliberately suspect.  I pointed out several to a
latin-literate friend and she confirmed some significant differences
between the phrases given and how the characters translated them.  In
particular he translates "Terminus Est" as "The dividing line", but my
friend claims "this is the end" is a better translation.

Sorry, I can't bring other instances to mind.

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