Šamaš-šum-ukin et Frater: A Tale of Two Kings

A Latin Story

Šamaš-šum-ukin et Frater: A Tale of Two Kings

Part A (Interleaved Text)

1.1 Ōlim once in in terrā land Babylōnicā Babylonian rēx king potēns powerful nomine by name Šamaš Shamash habitābat lived quī who multōs many populōs peoples gubernābat ruled

1.2 Hic this rēx king duōs two fīliōs sons habēbat had quī who ambo both rēgnum kingdom magnopere greatly cupiēbant desired

1.3 Pater father moritūrus about to die imperium empire inter between fīliōs sons dīvīsit divided et and maiōrī to elder Babylōniam Babylon dedit gave

1.4 Minor younger autem however fīlius son potentior more powerful erat was et and Assyriam Assyria cum with exercitū army validō strong obtinēbat held

1.5 Initiō at first frātrēs brothers concordēs harmonious erant were et and alter one alterī to other auxilium help dabat gave

1.6 Paulātim gradually tamen however invidia envy in in animō mind Šamaš Shamash crēscēbat was growing dum while potentiam power frātris of brother contemplābat was contemplating

1.7 Clam secretly cum with sacerdōtibus priests et and astrologīs astrologers coniūrātiōnem conspiracy parāre to prepare coepit began

1.8 Multōs many aliōs other rēgēs kings et and ducēs leaders epistulīs with letters secretīs secret sollicitābat was soliciting

1.9 Frāter brother minor younger autem however speculātōrēs spies callidiōs clever habēbat had quī who omnia all things cōnsilia plans Šamaš Shamash cognōscēbant were learning

1.10 Per through multōs many mēnsēs months exercitum army ingēntem huge parābat was preparing et and arma weapons undique from everywhere colligēbat was collecting

1.11 Tandem finally tempus time advēnit arrived et and Šamaš Shamash signum signal rebelliōnis of rebellion dedit gave

1.12 Subitō suddenly flammae flames in on turribus towers Babylōniae of Babylon fulsērunt shone et and tubae trumpets bellicae warlike sonuērunt sounded

1.13 Exercitus army Šamaš Shamash portās gates urbis of city clausit closed et and mūrōs walls altōs high dēfendere to defend parātus prepared erat was

1.14 Frāter brother īrātus angry sed but nōn not attonitus surprised cōpiās forces maximās greatest ad to urbem city dūxit led

1.15 Per for duōs two annōs years bellum war atrōx fierce inter between frātrēs brothers gerēbātur was being waged

1.16 Babylōnia Babylon diū long obsessa besieged est was sed but mūrī walls validī strong hostēs enemies arcēbant were keeping away

1.17 Famēs hunger tamen however paulātim gradually cīvēs citizens superābat was overcoming et and multī many moriebantur were dying

1.18 Šamaš Shamash dēspērātus desperate templum temple maximum greatest intrāvit entered et and deōs gods implorābat was imploring

1.19 Sed but sacerdōtēs priests ipsi themselves iam now spem hope dēposuerant had given up et and populus people rebellāre to rebel incipiēbat was beginning

1.20 Tandem finally exercitus army hostium of enemies per through portam gate frāctam broken irruit rushed in

2.1 Šamaš Shamash cum with fidēlibus faithful ones ultimīs last in into palātium palace rēgium royal fūgit fled

2.2 Ibi there rogum funeral pyre ingentem huge exstrūxit built et and omnia all ornāmenta ornaments regia royal congessit heaped up

2.3 Cum when hostēs enemies appropinquārent were approaching ignem fire rogō to pyre dedit gave et and sē himself in into flammās flames conicit throws

2.4 Frāter brother victor victorious sed but maestus sad urbem city intrāvit entered et and corpus body frātris of brother magnō with great honōre honor sepelīvit buried

2.5 Posterī descendants hanc this fābulam story trīstem sad dē about frātribus brothers inimīcīs hostile semper always narrābant were telling

Part B (Complete Latin Text)

Ōlim in terrā Babylōnicā rēx potēns nomine Šamaš habitābat quī multōs populōs gubernābat.

Hic rēx duōs fīliōs habēbat quī ambo rēgnum magnopere cupiēbant.

Pater moritūrus imperium inter fīliōs dīvīsit et maiōrī Babylōniam dedit.

Minor autem fīlius potentior erat et Assyriam cum exercitū validō obtinēbat.

Initiō frātrēs concordēs erant et alter alterī auxilium dabat.

Paulātim tamen invidia in animō Šamaš crēscēbat dum potentiam frātris contemplābat.

Clam cum sacerdōtibus et astrologīs coniūrātiōnem parāre coepit.

Multōs aliōs rēgēs et ducēs epistulīs secretīs sollicitābat.

Frāter minor autem speculātōrēs callidiōs habēbat quī omnia cōnsilia Šamaš cognōscēbant.

Per multōs mēnsēs exercitum ingēntem parābat et arma undique colligēbat.

Tandem tempus advēnit et Šamaš signum rebelliōnis dedit.

Subitō flammae in turribus Babylōniae fulsērunt et tubae bellicae sonuērunt.

Exercitus Šamaš portās urbis clausit et mūrōs altōs dēfendere parātus erat.

Frāter īrātus sed nōn attonitus cōpiās maximās ad urbem dūxit.

Per duōs annōs bellum atrōx inter frātrēs gerēbātur.

Babylōnia diū obsessa est sed mūrī validī hostēs arcēbant.

Famēs tamen paulātim cīvēs superābat et multī moriebantur.

Šamaš dēspērātus templum maximum intrāvit et deōs implorābat.

Sed sacerdōtēs ipsi iam spem dēposuerant et populus rebellāre incipiēbat.

Tandem exercitus hostium per portam frāctam irruit.

Šamaš cum fidēlibus ultimīs in palātium rēgium fūgit.

Ibi rogum ingentem exstrūxit et omnia ornāmenta regia congessit.

Cum hostēs appropinquārent ignem rogō dedit et sē in flammās conicit.

Frāter victor sed maestus urbem intrāvit et corpus frātris magnō honōre sepelīvit.

Posterī hanc fābulam trīstem dē frātribus inimīcīs semper narrābant.

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