Remote Roman Birthday Feast

Remote Roman Birthday Feast

April 18th, 2023, 7:00 p.m. - 7:37 p.m.

Participants: Sibylla Ambrosia Fulvia

                     A. Iulius Paterculus

                     Cn. Cornelius Lentulus

                     M. Quintius Clavus

                     A. Tullia Scholastica

   Sibylla Fulvia and I joined the call first and engaged in some pleasant conversation about our lives and farmers' markets.

   Cn. Lentulus arrived shortly thereafter. I expressed the hope that Lentulus was not too exhausted, since for him it was 1 a.m., on a weekday. He replied that while it was late, he had come because he had been invited and to honour Scholastica on her birthday. Lentulus added that he expected to leave early.

   The three of us examined the Latin translation of "Happy Birthday" Scholastica had provided to us. Sibylla asked Lentulus to share the Hungarian version of the song, which he did. Sibylla shared a verse of the SCA version.

    Quintius and Scholastica joined around that time. I pointed out that Lentulus had said he wouldn't be staying very long and suggested we jump ahead to the cake, if anyone had made one. No one had, but Sibylla did fetch and light a candle for Scholastica.

    Scholastica showed us photos of her childhood, one being carried as a baby by her mother (whom Lentulus compared to a young Queen Elizabeth), another standing outside her house on the day of her high school graduation (wearing a white gown and rose bouquet, as well as the medal she had been given), and a third sitting next to her younger brother (she was 11 & he was 8). We learned that Scholastica's mother had also been a teacher.

   Scholastica & Sibylla shared some experiences in teaching, which showed that the profession was not for the faint of heart.

   The others told of the meals they had earlier in the evening. Sibylla had enjoyed chicken, which Scholastica also planned to have that night, Quintius had eaten lamb with Greek seasoning, and Lentulus humus with pita bread with vegetables. We agreed that these dishes would likely have been recognisable to the ancients, although Quintius had supplemented his lamb with a thoroughly American side of home fries.

   Sibylla mentioned the fast food restaurant unearthed in Pompeii, and Lentulus told us of the visit he and Tita Popillia Laenas had made to Pompeii & Herculaneum the previous year. Conversation turned to upcoming trips: Lentulus to Rome, Scholastica to Budapest, and Sibylla to give a presentation in southern Connecticut. Scholastica was encountering some challenges in planning her trip. Quintius had some suggestions, but it was clear that Scholastica had research and preparations ahead.

   I told the others of the tour I would be taking of Greece in a few weeks and showed the two Roman dishes I'd prepared: olive relish & fish with cheese.

   We sang Scholastica's translation of "Happy Birthday". Lentulus fetched a candle and I a flashlight, so that Scholastica could ceremonially blow them out alongside the candle Sibylla had burning all along. Lentulus made a toast to Scholastica in Latin, and we drank to her health.

   Quintius was telling us of his intended travels, to CT Latin & Greek Day on April 27th, to Kennebunk on May 6th, and elsewhere when the call ended.

Thanks to Scholastica for feedback on the initial draft.

Hymn to Hecate

 Mistress of the triple ways

to whom the wise devoutly prays,

often armed with sword or key

to drive off ghosts or set them free,

wandering the eerie night

bearing strange aethereal light

cast by your own eternal fire,

backed by hounds and serpents dire,

triformed goddess, we who are lost

amidst dark streets or tempest-tossed

beseech you be our friend and guide

as over paths obscure we ride.

For the Divine Emperors

When British flags over fair India flew

and an old viceroy demitted to a new, 

the old was honoured for the the service past

with a new title higher than the last.

Just so, it's right that each imperial ghost 

retires to an even higher post

thenceforth receiving honours divine

once the Senate hears the proper sign.

For think what years of toil and pain

make a successful emperor's reign:

to start, you very often need 

to win a civil war ere you accede.

For that, you need to win your legions' love 

to have the favour of the gods above,

and strain your mind for fruitful strategy.

Thereafter calls for still more energy,

for having passed your initial test

you may have little chance to rest.

Soon you could be called to the frontier

where the barbarians draw near,

or else the soldiers want more pay

and willfully revolt to get their way.

The cities are too prone to riot:

free bread must be their steady diet.

Games and gifts you ought to share,

not just in Rome but everywhere.

So your largesse will not be lax,

you'll need to bring in loot or tax,

and while fiscal facts are faced -

take care the coins are not debased!

Your relatives will likely plot

to take themselves all that you've got.

With such chores, if, when you leave,

all the Roman people grieve 

for one who gave them more

than all the strengths they had before,

if you have that skill and nerve

perhaps you thoroughly deserve

your space in many a humble shrine.

A Hymn to Sol

Sol, Sol, Sol Indiges,
though nightly you concede
the world to holy darkness
Each morning you advance
once more past the horizon:
renewed and never conquered.

From your vantage point far at the apex
shadows shrink from sight
as your gaze illuminates
all that the skies cover.

You take the middle path,
though steering unruly horses,
not veering to cold distance
nor fiery closeness,
and daily you retreat
at just the proper time:
(clocks are set by you).

But each morning you advance
once more past the horizon:
renewed and never conquered.
Sol Indiges, Sol, Sol.

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