Suburani Story Overview: Sabina is from the Subura, a lower-class district in Rome. Lucilius is a military tribune (officer) from the higher-class part of Rome, and they met when he was visiting the Subura. Because of her father’s debt, Sabina was forced to escape to Arelate (modern day France), and she met Alexander, who is an artist, during the journey there. This rap battle takes place at a theatre in Arelate, which Alexander invited Sabina to, and Lucilius shows up.
LATINA LOOSE ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Lucilius:
Audīte! Mansī tacitus diutissimē! Listen! I have stayed silent for too long!
Sabīna, manē ab bestiā, Sabina, stay away from this beast,
Nolī legere male, Do not choose wrong,
Et prope mē venī! And come close to me!
Possum complēre theātrum argentō I can fill this stadium once with silver
semel et aurō bis and twice with gold,
Alexander nōn potest vincere, Alexander cannot compete;
cor nimium frīgidum est! his heart is just too cold!
Alexander:
Amor nōn est aliquis quī potest vendērī, Love is not something that can be sold,
Tūpōtes numquam intellegere, You could never understand,
Audācēs fortūna iuvat! Fortune favors the bold!
Ego et Sabīna, Sabina and I,
Tolerāvimus multa dūra, We have been through thick and thin,
Dum potēs emere bona, While goods you can buy,
Mēcum, laetior est quam fuit umquam! With me, she’s happier than she’s ever been!
Lucilius:
Temeritas aequālis virtūtī nōn, Boldness does not equal substance,
Tūne dignitātem tuam probās? Can you prove your worth?
Ab corde eius abes! In her heart you are just nonexistent!
Ego sum vir pulcherrimus I am the finest man to walk this earth!
quī in orbe terrārum ambulō!
Alexander:
Potisest tē pulcherrimum, Youmay be very fine,
Sedmiserum tē! Ea mea! Buttoo bad; she is mine!
Facieminvidiōsam habēs, Yourface is turning green,
Tamquamfructum tiliae! Likea sour lime!
Nolīdīcere mē nimium incommodum, Donot say I am too mean,
Existimōtē velle vidērī! Ithink you just want to feel seen!
Lucilius:
Cadistū comprehendere quaestiōnem, Youfail to grasp the essence
Potisest tē artificem, Youmay be an artist,
Sedes mūsa nulla; Butyou are no muse—
Sabīnaest Venus, Sabinais Venus;
Tūmīnor quam ricinus! Youare less than Ricinus!
Alexander:
Ricinumnetū dīcis? Ricinus,you say?
Svavises, Youare cute,
Saevus!in animō est, Imean, couth!
Lapsuslinguae— Slipof the tongue—
Quiddīcere possum? Whatcan I say?
OpīnorLatīnam iucundam tantum! GuessLatin is just fun!
Potisest lepidum tē, Youmight be smart,
Sedēlegans sum, ButI have gotten style,
Sabīna,quod necesse est, habet, Sabinahas what she needs,
Certē, Nodoubt,
Manēbitdiū! Shewill be staying a while!
Sabina:
Satis,satis! Enough,enough!
Lucilī,admīror fortitūdinem, Lucilius,I admire your resolve,
EtAlexander, ēlegantia animosior, AndAlexander, your style is quite bold,
Nisifortasse fiērī optimī vultis, Maybeif you were not obsessed with being the best,
Potestisvidēre mē nōn adesse Youwill see that I am not here
propter certāmen parvum! for your little contest!
Necpraemium, quod vōs potestis vincere, sum Iam neither a prize to be won
Nectropaeum, quod vōs potestis capere, Nora trophy to be claimed
ubipugna fīnīta est! whenthe fight is done!
Grātacōnātuī, Iappreciate the effort,
Sedintellegite, Butlet’s be clear,
Mihiestis nōn, Youare just not my type,
Vosfīnītī estis, mī amīcī So,take a bow, My friends,
Hocfīnītum est; Thisis over—
Valēte! Goodnight!
