Uricalus: probably the elder of two brothers (see Decentinus below), as suus refers back to him. The individuals in their families are listed by name on this tablet (Uricalus has a wife, son, and daughter; Decentinus is named probably with his wife). The oath they took may have related to the disposition of inherited property, which would explain the importance of guarding it with a curse. Letters in square brackets are additions to the text.
nomen, -inis n.
name, title; these
family names are a mix of Celtic and Roman names, typical of inscriptions found
in Bath. Letters in angle brackets are to be removed: the a may be a
misspelling or the beginning of a discarded phrase.
iuro (1)
take an oath, swear. While
the repetition of qui iuraverunt may be an error, as some scholars
believe, it is possible the author for legal/magical purposes was making
separate statements: the list of individuals who swore, then the place and date
of their oath-taking.
fons, fontis m.
spring; ground water
source; this is the first mention of the sacred spring for which Aquae
Sulis was named.
Idus, -uum f. pl.
Ides: in April
they fall on the 13th (15th of March, May, July, October); one of the three
markers of the Roman month, the others being the Kalends and Nones.
illic, adverb
there; in that
matter.
periuro/peiero (1)
swear falsely,
perjure oneself; the proximity of deae Suli followed by facias (direct address) has led some scholars to conjecture that deae Suli is vocative.
facias: the subjunctive used as a polite
imperative addressed to the goddess: bring it about that, followed (not classical usage) by indirect statement (illum ... satisfacere).
sanguis, -inis m.
blood; descent,
family, offspring; strength, life.
satisficio, -ere, -feci, -factum
give
satisfaction; compensate; satisfy; followed by the indirect object of person (deae Suli) and direct object of thing (illud).
Tretia, -ae f.: a proper name. The
accusative case ending (letter omissions are indicated by square brackets) has
been generally accepted. It has been suggested that Tretia is a
misspelling for Tertia.
defico = defigo, -ere, -fixi, -fixum
fix, embed; drive in; bind with a spell, bewitch (in magic
texts).
iocur, iocine/oris and iecur,
iecoris/-inoris n.
liver; locus of passion. The vertical line (|)
marks the place in the word where the line ends on the disk and a new line
begins.
intermisceo, -ere, -miscui, -mixtum
mix
up, intermingle. Angle brackets (< >) mark supernumerary letters; it
is certainly possible that these letters, written in inverse order, were
intentionally added as part of the magic of the curse (mirror writing), in
order to ensure the desired effect.
for, -ari, fatus/a sum
speak;
fata: perfect passive participle, n. pl. = things said.
cogitata, -orum n. pl.
ideas,
thoughts.
possit<t>: the author used the
subjuntive following sic, as in a result clause.
secerno, -ere, -crevi,
-cretum
separate, set apart; sicreta sint = secreta
sint.
neque, conjunction
and not;
nor.
defero, -ferre, -tuli, -latum
carry
down, convey; charge, indict. Conjectured letters are enclosed in square
brackets. The vertical line (|) marks the place in the word where the line ends
on the tablet and a new line begins.
lego (1)
send as an envoy, appoint;
l[egata] seems less apt than the conjecture [li]gata, from
ligo: bind, fasten, tie up, constrict, a verb often used in
binding curses.
inferi, - orum m. pl.
the dead, the
spirits of the underworld.
vis, vis f. (vim: accusative, vi:
ablative)
force, power; violence.
corripio, -ere, -ripui,
reptum
snatch up, seize hold of; carry away; censure; the subjunctive
follows ut in a purpose clause .
Silonia, -ae f.: a proper name. Her name
may derive from the Greek word meaning "snub-nosed." It has been suggested that
Silonia is in the vocative case rather than the nominative, which would
make her the target of this "lover's complaint" rather than its author.
Secundus, -i m.: a cognomen, the betrothed or
husband (sponsus) of the writer. One reading is that his whole name is
Surus Caenus Secundus; another that Surum Caenu[m], seemingly
inserted afterwards between Silonia and Secundum (view drawing
side B), are the names of two other men, perhaps friends or slaves who aided in
the betrayal. The accusative case and the nature of this inscription call for a
cursing verb (e.g., devoveo, exsecror).
te= the person addressed, presumably a woman,
who has attracted the sponsus.
sponsus, -i m.
betrothed man;
bridegroom; husband.
proco, -are, --, --
urge, press;
woo. Another reading is pro[vo]cat, from provoco (1) call
out to, appeal to.
illum: the script is difficult to read;
another transcription supports eum.
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