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From: betsy@dartvax.UUCP (Betsy Hanes Perry)
Newsgroups: net.books
Subject: Re: Peter Wimsey Question
Message-ID: <2333@dartvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 24-Aug-84 15:07:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: dartvax.2333
Posted: Fri Aug 24 15:07:56 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Sep-84 09:35:02 EDT
References: <655@pyuxqq.UUCP>
Organization: Dartmouth College
Lines: 18

As far as I know, they're just being scholarly.
Wimsey says 'Placetne, Magistra?'
Harriet says 'Placet'.
 
This translates, roughly, to
'Does it please (you), Mistress?'
'It pleases.'
 
Isn't Sayers' habit of non-translation maddening?  I nearly went bats
over the ending of Clouds of Witness until I found an American edition
which provided a translation of the crucial letter.
 
I apologize to any true Latin scholars for the crudity of my translation.
-- 
Betsy Perry
UUCP: {decvax|linus|cornell}!dartvax!betsy  "What is Truth?" said
CSNET: betsy@dartmouth                      jesting Pilate; and would
ARPA:  betsy%dartmouth@csnet-relay          not stay for an answer.