A Te Scaena Composita Est.

-- You Set The Scene ['67] -- LOVE, lyrics by Arthur Lee --

-- A Te Scaena Composita Est -- AMOR, a manu Arthur Lee --

-- PRIMA PARS --

Ubi vádis, / vídi te vádere
fúisti-ne iam ibi ?!
limen transcéndis, / gradatim et / plus iam
ad quid égisti egressum ?!
ádest limes / in mea scapha / cuius pallium
fibulis / ornatum / ést pro / loco honorum
ádest gallina / in meo nido / et illa négat
pariéndi, / nis' illi / caput / permóverim.

Se peténte / nil illa póscit
nil ti' débet / muneris
si ti' plácet, / ti' aquabátur
si non, / tu perúres.

Where are you walking, / I've seen you walking
have you been there before?
walk down your doorsteps, / you'll take some / more steps
what did you take them for?
there's a private / in my boat / and he wears
pins / instead of / medals / on his coat
there's a chicken / in my nest / and she won't
lay / until / I've given / her my best.
[pa-'rjèn-di, / ,ni ,sil-li / 'ka:-put / per-'mó:-vé-rim]

At her request / she asks for nothing
you get nothing / in return
if you want, / she brings you water
if you don't, / then you will burn.
[,si 'non 'tu: 'pè:-'ru:-'rè:s]
_ _ _

Mutationes pervádis, / res rara sít,
sed ést haec / quare hic / depósitus és
felix ésse crédis / et tu es felix
ita ést quo / felix és
vir ést qui / incertum ést, / si se opórtet
pugnáre pro / suo a patre / causa
súnt qui / de mundo solliciti / te erígunt
sed multo mállent / te deícere.

Me peténte / nil mi' pósco
nil ti' débeo / muneris
si blande ágis, / mi' aquabátur
si non, / ego perúram.

You go through changes, / it may seem strange
is this / what you're -- / put here for ?!
[,sè dèst 'hé:k kwa-,ré 'hi:k dé-'pó:-zi-tu ,zès]
you think you're happy / and you are happy
that's what you're / happy for
there's a man / who can't decide / if he should
fight for / what his father / thinks is right
there are people / wearing frowns who'll / screw you up
but they would rather / screw you down.

At my request / I ask for nothing
you get nothing / in return
if you're nice / she'll bring me water
if you're not / then I will burn.
[,si 'non 'é:-,go 'pè:-'ru:-'ra:m]
_ _ _ _ _

-- SECUNDA PARS --

Nunc tempus ubi / et vita / quam vívo
et subrídens / me advérto / diem
nam spatium / mi' statútum / sic breve ést
et omnia / me agénda / érit / cultu magis
loca súnt / quo / cúpio / obíre.

This is the time / and life that / I am living
and I'll face / each day / with a smile
for the time / that I've been given's / such a little while
and the things / that I must do / consist of / more than style
there are / places / that I / am going.
_ _ _

Ita sola res / quam certo sció
etiam omnia / viva / moritúra ést
et perpetue / mirabátur de / rationis quo
et post quodque / "iucunde" / "vale" / denuo iubétur
scaenam capiéndi / tempus tibi / satis ést.

This is the only thing / that I am sure of
and that all / that lives is / gonna die
and there'll always be / some people here / to wonder why
and for every / happy hello, / there will / be good-bye
there'll be time for / you to put / yourself on.
_ _ _

Omnia / quae vídi / recreanda ést
et cuique / cui hoc rarum / vidétur
tum te opórtet / ut primum vélle / hoc corrígere
et unicuique / qui pútat vitam / merum ludum ésse
plácent tibi / partes agéndae ?!

Everything / I've seen / needs rearranging
and for anyone / who thinks / it's strange
then you should be / the first to want / to make this change
and for everyone / who thinks that life / is just a game
do you like the part / you're playing ?!
_ _ _ _ _

-- TERTIA PARS --

Tuam iconum vídeo
eodem in quadro vetere
mutuo nobis reddémur
sic pulcher visu és
eodem cum subrisu vetere
ad tempus máneas
te tantum cáreo, oh, oh, oh, oh
si requiéscere vélis,
ipse iam adolesco
te amplecti vólo, sed
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

I see your picture
It's in the same old frame
We meet again
You look so lovely
You with the same old smile
Stay for a while
I need you so, oh, oh, oh, oh
And if you take it easy
I'm still teethin'
I wanna love you, but
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
_ _ _

Nunc tempus ubi / et vita / quam vívo
et subrídens / me advérto / diem
nam spatium / mi' statútum / sic breve ést
et omnia / me agénda / érit / cultu magis
diem capiéndi / tempus tibi / satis ést.
[... there'll be time for / you to start / all over.]

Hodie nobis id fíet et hodie nobis id fíet et
id fíet, fíet, fíet, fíet, fíet, fíet, fíet, fíet, fíet, . . .

This is the time and this is the time and
it is time, time, time, time, time, time, time, time, time . . .

[Translatio a 白狐]

-- NOTES --

mi' = mihi // ti' = tibi // nis' illi = nisi illi

"sed ést haec quare hic depósitus és" >
"sic pulcher visu és" >
my intuition about Arthur I have felt since the 1980's; he is said to have been a womaniser, but still . . .

et post quodque "iucunde" "vale" denuo iubétur >
et pro quoque laeto amplexu alibi plángitur
et post horam reditus una abitus séquitur

cápere diem > ca[r]pe diem !!
> carpe diem > literally = pluck, pick the day !! [flowers, fruit, etc.]
> cape diem > literally = take/conquer/seize the day !!

scaenae servire = to serve the stage
> to shine one's light before the people

Tuam imaginem vídeo [> aspíco = I look at]
Tuam photo[-graphiam] vídeo [> aspíco = I look at]

te tantum cáreo > mancus me séntio sine te [> tu me manque]