Metvo ne patrem dvm morior occidam: tradução e estudo da Declamação Maior 4 atribuída a Quintiliano

Abstract

This research aims at translating the 4th Major Declamation (DM 4) ascribed to Quintilian, entitled as Mathematicus, or The astrologer. The DM 4 is part of the compendium of forensic fictional speeches called Declamationes Maiores, and is one of the declamations of the collection in which elements that could be considered fantastic under certain aspect appear, such as the presence of the astrologer who makes a prophecy about the birth of a child, Son – the main character of the narrative – and the alleged posterior possession of the aforementioned character. We have the inicial objective of analyzing the implications of these elements in the context of that time, including the dialogue of DM 4 with Hercules furens, by Seneca, and its relation with the Roman beliefs about divination. This path, considering the historical context of the DM’s composition, the melodramatic function they aquired and their importance for the teaching of rhetoric, leads us to the posterior analysis of the dialogue of the DM 4 with Greek and Roman mythology, of the relation between fathers and sons in Roman society, of Roman laws which enlighten important concepts of the narrative, of the philosophical argumentation explored in the speech. Furthermore, an introduction about the DM’s composition and considerations about the translation process are a part of this research.