Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Ave! Morituri te Salutant

“Ave! Old knitter of black wool. Morituri te salutant.’” (Conrad 13).

During the reign of Claudius, in ancient Roman times, prisoners took part in a mock naval battle, called “naumachia.” These prisoners said to Claudius before the battle, “Ave imperator, morituri te salutant,” meaning, “Hail emperor, those about to die salute you.” (http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/games/qt/morituritesalut.htm)

This phrase is now used histrionically when beginning anything risky. Marlow is discussing a woman who is sitting outside of the office where Marlow was about to begin his occupation as a steamboat driver on the Congo. He says of this woman, “Not many of those she looked at ever saw her again—not half, by a long way.”

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