I managed to finally track down my only hard copy of the Latin text with my notes. It is such a slender book with such a small spine that it has no writing on it. I wonder what to flesh the book out with (besides additional translations, which I have done, John of Cornwall and Geoffrey of Monmouth: The Prophecies of Merlin). Nennius is a short work, and my translation is even shorter now that I have brutally culled all unnecessary footnotes. So, I was thinking of editing a Latin text, for the facing pages. I have to do this anyway, and it would mean that any interpolated sentences which I have put in can also be noted in other footnotes, where these additional sentences came from.
If I'm honest, it is not a great edit. What I have done is translate absolutely every word I can find, so have crammed in lots of sentences which are only found in obscure manuscripts. They are, I feel, important, because nothing should be missed. It is not so much a 'recension' as an 'expansion'.
I have learnt a couple of things during this whole process:
1) Never lose your only hard copy of a Latin (or Greek) text when you're translating, especially when you're as poor as a church mouse. Keep it on a shelf in your library close by, always to hand, in a proper place.
2) Never delete all the notes which note where you have cited a source. I had deleted them or simply not added them, relying on my memory to write the bibliography for them. Nine out of ten times I can recall where I have read something (for I know my personal library very well indeed), and even if I don't I can search for the author (I always rename to include both the author and date of any book or academic article I download from the University's library or an open academic journal). However, some of my most beloved works (such as the Cambridge Histories or Companions) do not have every file named with its author and date, so it is impossible to search for them.
In other matters, it is difficult to know what may happen concerning the war in Ukraine. There are many commentators out there, especially in the media, which are generally less calm and rational, but instead full of emotive sensationalism (especially in the tabloids). I feel that NATO's response has been very even minded and pragmatic. The world ought not to engage in a Third World War which could potentially bring about Mutually Assured Destruction (a nuclear war). The Zircon hypersonic glide missile is a pretty harsh weapon, as is the S-400 missile defence system. It all depends on one person: Vladimir. This is his war, his game, played by his rules.
Let us suppose, hypothetically, that NATO does get goaded into a Third World War. The Russians have already said, many times, that if they get clobbered they will take everybody else out with them. No one wants this. No one.
So let's suppose that nukes (notwithstanding so-called 'tactical' nukes) are out of the question, for fear of Mutually Assured Destruction. It is difficult to know what will happen. Much will depend on what countries like China or North Korea do, or even India. If it is Russia versus everyone else, everyone will lose, because Russia will ultimately destroy the world with nukes. However, nukes aside, it would be a bitter, cruel war, with much loss of life. I'm not sure if Vladimir has any real knowledge of the great British character during wartime. It doesn't matter how big the enemy, Britain does not quit, surrender and it is never intimidated. Moreover, it is true that the whole of Europe, and indeed The Five Eyes countries will weigh in. If Russia does try anything, probing and annexing countries, it will have one hell of a fight on its hands. Imagine: America, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, even less well off nations in Eastern Europe, and the northmen: Norway, Denmark even maybe Sweden and Finland (should these two join NATO). That is not to mention the bravest lion of them all: Great Britain. I can see this thing escalating out of control. Turkey, imagine, if they got involved. They have a huge military (one of the biggest in NATO). In any case, I hope this thing comes to and end, and it does not spiral out of control, but the way things are going, they're not looking good. The whole world order hangs in the balance. Imagine if Europe and the US and our allies all get bogged down in a heavy war in Eastern Europe. What might certain hostile nations in the Middle East and Africa do? Certainly they may take advantage of the chaos and disorder. Let's hope it doesn't come to that, but I can see another ten year Trojan War on the horizon.
Max.
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