 | This article possibly contains original research. (August 2008) |
Carpent tua poma nepotes is a Latin expression meaning "your descendants will pluck your fruit."[1] It is also translated as "Your grandsons (descendants) will gather your apples."[2] The fruit in question is also sometimes rendered as pears instead of apples.
Historically, the phrase was likely in popular use at the time, but is most famously quoted in Virgil's Bucolica (“Bucoliche”) IX, 50.
Daphnis, why are you gazing at the old constellations rising? See! the star [comet] of Caesar, seed of Dione, has gone forth – the star to make the fields glad with corn, and the grape deepen its hue on the sunny hills. Graft your pears, Daphnis; your children’s children shall gather the fruits you have sown.
This is a metaphor which can be interpreted on many levels. It represents, in many ways social intergenerational thinking and planning, and expresses how Roman culture emphasized long-term success by establishing lifelong, and greater than lifelong, plans and aspirations. According to WordInfo.com: "'Plan for the future' or Virgil is telling us that hard work and careful management of our existing resources will extend to generations long after we are gone."[1]
For a literal agricultural meaning, children in ancient Rome were not limited by modern labor laws or social mores (which often bar or discourage child labor), and helped work the orchards. Their labor was valued to help a family survive during an age where every working hand could mean the difference of survival or luxury. In a legal or philosophical sense, children in Rome were often treated less than free people, and more like property or even like slaves, until they reached maturity. As well, the slaves of children also often participated in the familia rustica (farm family).[3]
It also meant, in a legal and economic metaphor, one's children would inherit the family land and farm, or more generally, any family property, treasury, capital, goods, and businesses.
In the Roman and general societal sense of reputation, fame and honor, it also means that your descendants will inherit whatever "good name" you give to them. If you, as a parent, had a bad reputation, your children would be adversely affected. If you had a good reputation, your children would benefit.
It also applied to the society to which you were part of. This latter sense is the clearest manner to apply when it was cited by Dugald Stewart in 1793 to describe Adam Smith's intellectual legacy to England.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b Special Dictionary / Latin Phrases and Abbreviations Cite error: The named reference "wordinfo" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ carpo-, carp- (cerp-) + (Latin: to pluck, to pick out, to gather, to select )
- ^ Roman Slavery, roman history, roman civilization
- ^ Account of the Life and Writings of Adam Smith LL.D., by Dugald Stewart, 1793
External links
edit- Quoted in Bucolica, in the Works of Virgil
- Quoted in Routledge Dictionary of Latin Quotations ISBN, 0415969085, Published 2005