Animula vagula blandula
Hadrian's last poem
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Animula vagula blandula is the first line of a poem which appears in the Historia Augusta as the work of the dying emperor Hadrian.
It has been extensively studied and there are numerous translations.[1] The author of the Historia Augusta was disparaging but later authors such as Isaac Casaubon were more respectful.[2]
- Animula vagula blandula
- Hospes comesque corporis
- Quae nunc abibis in loca?
- Pallidula rigida nudula
- Nec ut soles dabis iocos
- Poor little, wandering, charming soul
- Guest and companion of my body,
- What place will you go to now?
- Pale, stiff, naked little thing,
- Nor will you be making jokes as you always do.
It was translated by D. Johnston as follows:
- Oh, loving Soul, my own so tenderly,
- My life’s companion and my body’s guest,
- To what new realms, poor flutterer, wilt thou fly?
- Cheerless, disrobed, and cold in thy lone quest,
- Hushed thy sweet fancies, mute thy wonted jest.
Some translators take the adjectives in line 4 as neuter plural, agreeing with the word loca (places), but the majority take them as feminine singular, describing the soul.