Chapter 59: - Page 6 of 11
Patriotism and Private Interests
(English version of “Noli Me Tangere”)
Ay, cousin!
cried the woman, running toward him in tears, I’ve sent for you because I don’t know what’s going to become of us. What do you advise? Speak, you’ve studied Latin and know how to argue.
But first, quid quaeritis? Nihil est in intellectu quod prius non fuerit in sensu; nihil volitum quin praecognitum. [9]
He sat down gravely and, just as if the Latin phrases had possessed a soothing virtue, the couple ceased weeping and drew nearer to him to hang upon the advice from his lips, as at one time the Greeks did before the words of salvation from the oracle that was to free them from the Persian invaders.
Why do you weep? Ubinam gentium sumus? [10]
You’ve already heard of the uprising?
Alzamentum Ibarrae ab alferesio Guardiae Civilis destructum? Et nunc? [11] What! Does Don Crisostomo owe you anything?
No, but you know, Tinong invited him to dinner and spoke to him on the Bridge of Spain—in broad daylight! They’ll say that he’s a friend of his!
A friend of his!
exclaimed the startled Latinist, rising. Amice, amicus Plato sed magis amica veritas. Birds of a feather flock together. Malum est negotium et est timendum rerum istarum horrendissimum resultatum! [12] Ahem!
[9] What do you wish? Nothing is in the intellect which has not first passed through the senses; nothing is willed that is not already in the mind.
[10] Where in the world are we?
[11] The uprising of Ibarra suppressed by the alferez of the Civil Guard? And now?
[12] Friend, Plato is dear but truth is dearer ... It’s a bad business and a horrible result from these things is to be feared.