Latin of “Hodie Christus natus est” antiphon
  • Felipe Gasper
    Posts: 804
    In the LU, the text goes:
    hodie exsultant justi, dicentes:

    … while in AR2 it is:
    hodie exsultent iusti dicentes:

    OCO confirms, which suggests this is an intended difference.

    My Latin is shaky at best, but AR2’s reading seems to be a change to the subjunctive … what is the difference in meaning here? I’m assuming it’s not as simple as just introducing uncertainty?
  • MarkB
    Posts: 1,085
    I think the difference is:

    Version 1) Today the just are rejoicing, saying:
    Version 2) Today let/may the just rejoice, saying:

    Small difference. As you said, the difference between indicative and subjunctive mood.
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen mmeladirectress
  • madorganist
    Posts: 906
    Both are correct according to different MSS:
    http://gregorianik.uni-regensburg.de/an/#id/170
    Thanked by 3CHGiffen tomjaw mmeladirectress
  • a_f_hawkins
    Posts: 3,471
    https://www.thoughtco.com/moods-of-verbs-indicative-imperative-subjunctive-112176 says:
    Hortatory and Iussive Subjunctive (Independent Clause)
    The hortatory and iussive (or jussive) subjunctives are for encouraging or inciting actions.
    In an independent Latin clause, the hortatory subjunctive is used when there is no ut or ne and an action is being urged (exhorted). Usually, the hortatory subjunctive is in the first person plural present.
    In the second or the third person, the iussive subjunctive is usually used. "Let" is generally the key element in translating into English. "Let's go" would be hortatory. "Let him play" would be iussive.
    Thanked by 3CHGiffen Carol Felipe Gasper
Add a Comment