Harrius Potter et Philosophi Lapis

Jenny's recent purchase of Harrius Potter et Philosophi Lapis has elicited some interest. You can read the blurb over at the publisher's site.  Here's an excerpt from the chapter 'Speculum Erisedii':

Harrius iam tam propinquus erat speculo ut naso imaginem paene tangeret.

'an tu es matercula?' susurravit. 'an tu paterculus?'

ei tantum eum spectabant, subridentes. et lente, Harrius vitus ceterorum in speculo inspexit et alia paria oculorum viridium similium suis vidit, nasos alios similes suis, etiam homunculum senem qui videbatur genua nodosa Harrii habere -- Harrius familiam suam spectabat quam nunquam prius tota vita viderat.

Potteri Harrio subridebant et manus iactabant et ille esuriens respiciebat, manibus planis contra vitrum pressis quasi speraret se recta per id lapsum ad eos perventurum esse. intus habebat desiderium magnum, quod erat mixtura gaudii et meastitiae terribilis.

quamdiu ibi staret, nesciebat. imagines non evanuerunt et usque spectabat dum sonus longinquus eum in mentem pristinam revocavit. non poterat ibi manere, via retro ad lectum ferens ei ivenienda erat. oculis a matria facie avulsis, susurravit, 'redibo', et e conclavi festinavit.

Translation of this passage into English is at Loopholes of Retreat, my commonplace book blog.

Comments

[maup]

Neat and what an accomplishment to translate this into Latin.
Odd though that the mirror is called 'Speculum Erisedii'. Why maintain the Englih 'desire' part? It no longer makes sense, you can't read erisedii backwards in Latin.

[Maxine]

Yes, Maup, that's a good point -- are there any words in Latin that make sense when read forwards and backwards, and would be appropriate in this context? Jenny's only been studying the language for a couple of weeks and my memory is very rusty.

[maup]

'Desire' doesn't read both ways either, does it? That's why I find it rather remarkable.
All you need have done here is take the Latin for desire (desiderium) and write it backwards, with some juggling so you can still recognize the genitive, for example: Speculum redisedii.

[Maxine]

They should obviously have asked you to translate it, Maup, and not that Peter man who actually did translate it.

[maup]

LOL. I'm sure this Peter man did a terrific job. It's always easiest to criticize after sb else did the job and generally easier to point out mistakes and omissions rather than the good things.
(BTW, I've now decided Speculum Iiredised makes most sense.)

[Maxine]

Maybe you are a sub/copyeditor at heart as well, maup. I know what you mean: I adore the lord of the rings movies and we watch them every christmas holiday. But each time, I keep finding things I wish Peter Jackson had done slightly "better"...but I should really be appreciating the overall magnificent achievement of those movies.