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.”