Classical Latin

Frozen - Libera (Let it Go - CLASSICAL LATIN)

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• published: 23 Dec 2013
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'Let it Go' in Classical Latin - adapted from real Roman authors! Read description! Frozen is the property of Disney. This video is for educational purposes only; no copyright infringement is intended. The Latin lyrics are on the video; subtitles (English, Italian, French, Spanish, Greek) in captions! For the First Time in Forever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt7Brhk7LiI Do You Wanna Build a Snowman? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv7iFrnXmVg To see the captions please press the cog in the bottom right hand corner and choose your language from the 'Subtitles/CC' menu. 'English (United States)' shows the original lyrics (if you know Latin and want to compare); 'English (United Kingdom)' is the English translation of the Latin lyrics. *** For LYRICS + full explanation of the translation go here http://lux.livelatin.org/2013/12/23/libera/ *** The ultimate achievement in Latin literature was to reference earlier authors' work in innovative fashion, composing in such a way that the words could be relevant to two situations linked by genre, subject or theme, in order to illuminate both. I wrote my version of this song before the film was released, using the song and the trailers, so I was free to imagine a lot myself. That means that this translation is very different from most people's interpretation of the song. It is not about leaving behind right and wrong; it is about the struggle to do what is objectively right when everyone else is trying to create their own right and wrong, and how succumbing to pride, even for the best reasons, can have terrible consequences. Specifically I was inspired by an historical narrative which I particularly care about (understatement): the self-imposed exile of the second Roman emperor Tiberius, a stern, old-fashioned scholar and soldier who was never comfortable in his position (on principle or in practice) and was disliked by the people because he was strict and awkward, but nonetheless ruled as well as he could. After about 10 years as emperor (following 30 as Rome's greatest general) Tiberius retired to an island with his books. He kept up his administration of the provinces but hoped the senate would take care of affairs in Rome as it had done traditionally. In fact, chaos erupted, concealed from Tiberius by his scheming advisor Sejanus. Much as Elsa doesn't realise that her flight triggered an eternal winter, Tiberius didn't realise that by intervening to stop adulation of the emperor, he was doing what he dreaded: acting as emperor. The wording is inspired mainly by Tacitus and Suetonius, who both wrote about Tiberius' reign. Suetonius' biography is an anthology of quotations, trivia and rumours. Tacitus' 'Annals of Imperial Rome' is a masterpiece, which tells the truth but uses wording to distort it. Combining these with the orator Cicero and poets Catullus & Lucretius, I hope to bridge the gap between historical & literary scholarship. Literary scholars can fail to realise that many of the horrendous stories about the emperors are nasty inventions, inspired by classic fables. Historians dismiss this sort of thing, but they scrutinise historical texts, comparing them to each other to produce the most accurate textbook version, and sometimes lose sight of the narrative aspect - in this case the mesmerising, almost poetic language of Tacitus, and how powerful and moving a text the 'Annals' is to read simply for entertainment. After all, it is (I think) the most lethally enduring character study in history. The other songs focus on the relationship between Tiberius and his beloved younger brother Drusus whose early death devastated him. Together the style and references make 'Frozen' a Disney version of the legend of Castor and Pollux, who were guardians of freedom and whom Tiberius and Drusus adopted as their symbols. I'm very proud of the result! 2014 marks 2000 years since the death of Augustus and accession of Tiberius. I hope that this song does justice to both of them. Most history books - and celebrations this year - focus on Augustus, either ignoring or criticising Tiberius (which, since Tacitus chose to start with Tiberius, is a very strange error). Giving more attention to Tiberius, an equally capable ruler and equally fascinating individual, also (I hope) does something to shake away the centuries-old lie about Augustus: that he was a ruthless despot who aimed at monarchy from the beginning and disguised this by his charm and propaganda. Augustus was unpredictable and full of himself, but he was no tyrant; Tiberius was haughty and dismissive, but he was no monster. They both wanted, in their different ways, to protect the traditional structure of Rome - it was the Roman people who could not sustain it. This is my love letter to history; I hope that it conveys some of the inscrutable grandeur, dignity and anguish of the original Latin sources, and that it inspires you to write your own - hae pulcherrimae effigies et mansurae!