viernes, 3 de abril de 2009

TEXT 104: Sir Thomas Elyot, The Governour, 1531 (i) (facsimile)

Freeborn. Page 298

ORIGINAL TEXT

A publik weale is a body lyuyng, compacte or made of sondry astates and degrees of men, whiche is disposed by the ordre of equite and gouerned by the rule and moderation of reason. In the latin tonge it is called Respublica, of the whiche the worde Res hath diuers significations, and dothe nat only betoken that, that is called a thynge, whiche is distincte from a persone, but also signifieth astate, condition, substance, and profite. In our olde vulgare, profite is called weale. And it is called a welthy contraye wherin is all thyng that is profitable. And he is a welthy man that is riche in money and substance. Publike (as Varro saith) is diriuied of people, whiche in latin is called Populus, wherfore hit semeth that men haue ben longe abused in calling Rempublieam a commune weale. And they which do suppose it so to be called for that, that euery thinge shulde be to all men in commune without discrepance of any astate or condition, be thereto moued nore by sensualite than by any good reason or inclination to humanite. And that shall sone appere unto them that wyll be satisfied either with autorite or with naturall ordre and example.
Fyrst, the propre and trewe signification of the wordes publike and commune, whiche be borowed of the latin tonge for the insufficiencie of our owne langage, shal sufficiently declare the blyndenes of them whiche haue hitherto holden and maynteyned the sayde opinions.

MODERN TRANSLATION

A public weal is a body living, compact or made of several estates and different classes of men, which is disposed by the order of traditional values, and governed by the rule and moderation of reason. In the Latin tongue it is called respublica, of which the word res has diverse significations, and does not only be taken that is called a thing, which is distinct from a person, but also signifies estate, condition, substance and profit. In the common tongue, profit is called commonwealth, and it is called a wealthy country, wherein is zll thing that is profitable; and he is a wealthy man, that is rich in money and property. Public (as Varro says) is derived from people, which in Latin is called populus, wherfore it seems that men have long benn mistaken in calling republicam a distrubution of wealth. And they which do suppose it so to be called for that, that everything should be to all men in common without discrepancy of any estate or condition, be moved more by their basic instints, than by any good reason or inclination to humanity. And that shall soon be obvius to those that will be satisfied either with authority, or with natural order and example.
First, the proper and true signification of the words public and common, which are borrowed from the Latin tongue for the insufficiency of our own language, shall sufficiently declare the blindness of those, which have hold and mantained the said opinions.


No hay comentarios:

Publicar un comentario