Because it’s the Ides of March, and because I am on a train speeding to see my boy child in a few hours, I am going to do an off the cuff translation, from memory, into the language of my ancestors, of Mark Anthony’s “Friends, Romans, countrymen” speech.
The Ides of March, baby!
The Ides of March, baby!
Shwamwari dzadiwa, vagari veRoma nenyika ino,
Dondipaivo zheve,
Handina kuvuya pano kuzotutumadza Siza bodo, asi kuhomuviga,
Zvivi zvemunhu zvinorangarigwa warova,
Zvene zvaaiita zvichifushirwa nemapfupa ake,
Ngazvive zvimwezvo pana Siza.
Dondipaivo zheve,
Handina kuvuya pano kuzotutumadza Siza bodo, asi kuhomuviga,
Zvivi zvemunhu zvinorangarigwa warova,
Zvene zvaaiita zvichifushirwa nemapfupa ake,
Ngazvive zvimwezvo pana Siza.
Iri jinda renduramo, Brutus,
Rataura pano, kwahi Siza waiva mutongi waiva nohundyire,
Kana zvirizvo, zvokwadi Siza wakaresvesa,
Kuresva kwacho kukamuvinga, ndokumubaya nerakagomara,
Ndinotaura nemi nomvumo
YaBrutus nevamwe vake,
Brutus munongomuziva,
Kuti muchinda ane nduramo.
Rataura pano, kwahi Siza waiva mutongi waiva nohundyire,
Kana zvirizvo, zvokwadi Siza wakaresvesa,
Kuresva kwacho kukamuvinga, ndokumubaya nerakagomara,
Ndinotaura nemi nomvumo
YaBrutus nevamwe vake,
Brutus munongomuziva,
Kuti muchinda ane nduramo.
And I am very glad I remembered the Ides of March, if only for a chance to look at pictures of James Purefoy, the most charming and decadent and FUN Mark Anthony ever!
Ah Rome, ah HBO. Why couldn’t we have had another season!!
Ah Rome, ah HBO. Why couldn’t we have had another season!!
