Equus et Eques: The Story of Fulmen and Claudius

A story in Latin and English

This story was inspired by the recent discovery of a Roman horse cemetery.

Part A (Interleaved Text)

1.1 Claudius Claudius Marcellus Marcellus eques cavalryman Rōmānus Roman fortis brave in in castrīs fort ad near rīpam bank flūminis of river Danuvii Danube statiōnem post habēbat had

1.2 Equus horse eius his nōmine by name Fulmen Lightning nigerrimus very black et and celerrimus very swift omnium of all equōrum horses in in turmā squadron erat was

1.3 Multōs many annōs years Claudius Claudius et and Fulmen Lightning simul together pugnāvērant had fought et and multās many victōriās victories reportāverant had brought back

1.4 Fulmen Lightning nōn not sōlum only equus horse sed but etiam also amīcus friend fidēlissimus most faithful Claudiī of Claudius erat was quem whom ā from puerō boy ēducāverat he had raised

1.5 Ūnō on one diē day barbarī barbarians Germānī Germans ex from silvīs forests dēnsis dense impetum attack in against castra camp Rōmāna Roman fēcērunt made

1.6 Claudius Claudius signum signal tubā with trumpet audīvit heard et and statim immediately arma arms cepit took Fulmenque and Lightning ad to proelium battle parāvit prepared

1.7 Magnā with great cum with virtūte courage eques horseman et and equus horse contrā against hostēs enemies pugnābant were fighting et and multōs many barbarōs barbarians prostravērunt laid low

1.8 Subitō suddenly sagitta arrow venenāta poisoned ē from silvā forest missa sent latus side Fulminis of Lightning penetrāvit penetrated et and equus horse fortis brave humi to ground cecidit fell

1.9 Claudius Claudius amīcum friend suum his morientem dying vidēns seeing lacrimās tears tenēre to hold nōn not poterat was able et and barbarōs barbarians furentēs raging vix scarcely repellēbat was repelling

1.10 Dēnique finally Rōmānī Romans victōrēs victors ex from proeliō battle discessērunt departed sed but Claudius Claudius graviter seriously vulnerātus wounded ad to castra camp portātus carried est was

1.11 Medicus doctor perītus skilled vīta life Claudium Claudius servāre to save potuit was able sed but vulnus wound ingentem huge dolōrem pain semper always eī to him dabat gave

1.12 Claudius Claudius iūrāvit swore sē himself Fulmen Lightning honōrificē honorably sepultūrum about to bury esse to be ut as amīcum friend vērum true nōn not ut as animal animal vīle worthless

1.13 Locum place pulchrum beautiful prope near flūmen river ēlēgit chose ubi where equus horse celeritāte by speed flūminis of river in in vītā life alterā other gaudeāre to rejoice posset would be able

1.14 Fossā pit parātā prepared corpus body equī of horse reverenter reverently deposuit placed et and lacrimāns weeping duās two amphorās jugs et and lucernam lamp olīvāriām oil addidit added

1.15 Amphorae jugs vīnum wine optimum best et and aquam water pūram pure continēbant contained quibus with which Fulmen Lightning in in itinere journey ad to campōs fields Elysios Elysian ūtī to use posset would be able

1.16 Lucerna lamp autem however viam way in in tenebrīs darkness illūmināre to illuminate debebat needed ut so that equus horse fidēlis faithful nōn not errāret might wander

1.17 Post after sepultūram burial Claudius Claudius prope near tumulum mound vigilābat kept watch et and carmina songs antīqua ancient dē about equīs horses immortālibus immortal cantābat sang

1.18 Tōtā whole nocte night stellae stars lūcidae bright super above sepulcrum tomb micābant twinkled et and ventus wind lēnis gentle per through herbās grasses susurrābat whispered

1.19 Multī many comitēs comrades dīcēbant were saying Claudium Claudius nocte at night umbram shade equī of horse vidisse to have seen per through campōs fields currentem running sīcut just as in in vītā life fēcerat it had done

1.20 Claudius Claudius numquam never alium another equum horse possidēre to possess voluit wanted et and post after annōs years multōs many iuxtā next to amīcum friend fidēlem faithful sepultus buried est was

Part B (Complete Latin Text)

1.1 Claudius Marcellus eques Rōmānus fortis in castrīs ad rīpam flūminis Danuvii statiōnem habēbat.

1.2 Equus eius nōmine Fulmen nigerrimus et celerrimus omnium equōrum in turmā erat.

1.3 Multōs annōs Claudius et Fulmen simul pugnāvērant et multās victōriās reportāverant.

1.4 Fulmen nōn sōlum equus sed etiam amīcus fidēlissimus Claudiī erat quem ā puerō ēducāverat.

1.5 Ūnō diē barbarī Germānī ex silvīs dēnsis impetum in castra Rōmāna fēcērunt.

1.6 Claudius signum tubā audīvit et statim arma cepit Fulmenque ad proelium parāvit.

1.7 Magnā cum virtūte eques et equus contrā hostēs pugnābant et multōs barbarōs prostravērunt.

1.8 Subitō sagitta venenāta ē silvā missa latus Fulminis penetrāvit et equus fortis humi cecidit.

1.9 Claudius amīcum suum morientem vidēns lacrimās tenēre nōn poterat et barbarōs furentēs vix repellēbat.

1.10 Dēnique Rōmānī victōrēs ex proeliō discessērunt sed Claudius graviter vulnerātus ad castra portātus est.

1.11 Medicus perītus vīta Claudium servāre potuit sed vulnus ingentem dolōrem semper eī dabat.

1.12 Claudius iūrāvit sē Fulmen honōrificē sepultūrum esse ut amīcum vērum nōn ut animal vīle.

1.13 Locum pulchrum prope flūmen ēlēgit ubi equus celeritāte flūminis in vītā alterā gaudeāre posset.

1.14 Fossā parātā corpus equī reverenter deposuit et lacrimāns duās amphorās et lucernam olīvāriām addidit.

1.15 Amphorae vīnum optimum et aquam pūram continēbant quibus Fulmen in itinere ad campōs Elysios ūtī posset.

1.16 Lucerna autem viam in tenebrīs illūmināre debebat ut equus fidēlis nōn errāret.

1.17 Post sepultūram Claudius prope tumulum vigilābat et carmina antīqua dē equīs immortālibus cantābat.

1.18 Tōtā nocte stellae lūcidae super sepulcrum micābant et ventus lēnis per herbās susurrābat.

1.19 Multī comitēs dīcēbant Claudium nocte umbram equī vidisse per campōs currentem sīcut in vītā fēcerat.

1.20 Claudius numquam alium equum possidēre voluit et post annōs multōs iuxtā amīcum fidēlem sepultus est.