Latin in Marathon 2

"Manus Celer Dei"

Latin is used in a number of places in the Marathon 2 Story. The following are approximate translations.

Ernest Tomlinson <etomlins@rohan.sdsu.edu> writes:

As a double- major in computer science and classics with Latin emphasis (true!) at State, any fragments of Latin that turn up in books and movies and whatnot interest me greatly.

Anyway, considerable of the Latin in Marathon is munged; the "ingue [sic!] ferroque" error has already been noted. But another funny blunder is found in the Marathon II final screen. Durandal calls his Jjaro ship the "Manus Celer Dei", forgetting I suppose that "manus" is one of the only fourth-declension Latin nouns which is _feminine_ (hence the Spanish derivation "la mano"). So he should have called his ship the "Manus Celeris Dei". Oops.

It's possible though that "manus" can be of either gender, depending on context, something like the noun "dies" which is _usually_ feminine, but not always.

Mike Phillips <venom@silcon.com> writes:

Regarding Ernest Tomlinson's comment about the use of the feminine noun "Manus" in the name of Durandal's ship -- I'm no Latin major (nor do I have any knowledge of it other than what I've learned from the Marathon trilogy of games!), but I wanted to point out that ships, and many vehicles in general, tend to be christened with female names. I don't know why this is, but I'm sure there is some sort of old custom or superstition behind it, if anyone knows who would like to broaden our minds... ;)

Kieran Wheeler <kieran_wheeler@hotmail.com> writes:

Ancient seagoers, like the Greco-Romans, originally named their vessels after their gods, as a sign of respect. Female deities in particular. Later on, regular feminine names were used. The reason? Women were seen to be epitomically nurturing, caring, and (above all) protecting. The tradition evolved from the view that female ships would be more likely to make it safe to port, based on the previously mentioned gender stereotype. Apparently they thought their constructions of wood and iron were in some way animate... reminiscent of the AI's? Maybe.

The following latin text appears in the image file of a Marathon 2 terminal. This screenshot is taken from the final terminal on All Roads Lead to Sol... but the image appears on a number of other Marathon 2 levels. Note this is playing the original 1995 game.

It reads:

PERSEQUAR   INIMICOS   MEOS   ET   ADPREHENDAM   ET   NON   REVERTAR
DONEC   CONSUMAM   EOS   CADENT   SUB   PEDIBUS   MEIS

Roughly translated it means:

I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed: yea, they are fallen under my feet.

The word "consumed" can also be interpreted as "destroyed".

The latin appears to come from two Bible quotes:

Psalms 18:37 - [Vulgate 17:38]     persequar inimicos meos et adprehendam et non revertar donec consumam eos

and

2 Samuel 22:39     Consumam eos et confringam, ut non consurgant: cadent sub pedibus meis.

The latter translates as:

And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.

On Slings & Arrows of Outrageous Fortune, the second level of Marathon 2, both Durandal terminals display the following message. Note this is playing the original 1995 game.

It reads:

PERSEQUAR   INIMICOS   MEOS   ET   ADPREHENDAM   ET   NON   REVERTAR
0x1?   ONMUCSES   OMA   DTSBPI   UDEC   N2BUEA   0x14

While the top line is latin and is translated above. The 0x14 appears to be a Windows error code. And it is difficult to make out what the first error code is. The rest of the text appears to be garbage (hence the error codes).

During the Durandal Chapter and the attack on Durandal this terminal goes to mush.

Or does it?

And at what point in the game do we see the full latin text?

PERSEQUAR   INIMICOS   MEOS   ET   ADPREHENDAM   ET   NON   REVERTAR
DONEC   CONSUMAM   EOS   CADENT   SUB   PEDIBUS   MEIS