Jun 7, 2012 13:34
11 yrs ago
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English term
"you may be more afraid..."
Non-PRO
English
Art/Literary
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
The quotation below is again from Greenblatt's "The Swerve". Giordano Bruno, 16th century scholar is convicted by the Inquisition, and...
Before an audience of spectators, Bruno was forced to his knees and sentenced as “an impenitent, pernicious, and obstinate heretic.” He was no Stoic; he was clearly terriBed by the grisly fate that awaited him. But one of the spectators, a German Catholic, jotted down strange words that the obstinate heretic had spoken at the moment of his conviction and excommunication:
“He made no other reply than, in a menacing tone, ‘You may be more afraid to bring that sentence against me than I am to accept it.’ ”
I'm not sure how to understand Bruno's last words. Does he mean to say that 'I'm afraid to accept the sentence, but you are more afraid in bringing it against me"? Or is it something else?
Before an audience of spectators, Bruno was forced to his knees and sentenced as “an impenitent, pernicious, and obstinate heretic.” He was no Stoic; he was clearly terriBed by the grisly fate that awaited him. But one of the spectators, a German Catholic, jotted down strange words that the obstinate heretic had spoken at the moment of his conviction and excommunication:
“He made no other reply than, in a menacing tone, ‘You may be more afraid to bring that sentence against me than I am to accept it.’ ”
I'm not sure how to understand Bruno's last words. Does he mean to say that 'I'm afraid to accept the sentence, but you are more afraid in bringing it against me"? Or is it something else?
Responses
+2
9 mins
Martin Riordan
Brazil
Brazil
Native in English
&
English
Brazil
Brazilian lawyer - 40+ years in Brazil
Native in: English (Variants: US, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, Scottish, British, UK, Irish) 
, Portuguese (Variants: Angolan, European/Portugal, Brazilian, Mozambican) 
Works in: Portuguese to English, English to Portuguese, English, and 1 more.
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the consequences for you of bringing the sentence may be dire
As he used a "menacing tone", I understand that he is suggesting that the consequences for the inquisitors of bring the sentence against him may be negative. Therefore, they have reason to be afraid, even more afraid than he is.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thank you, martin"
+1
16 mins
You may be more fearful of the consequences that bringing this sentence against me will provoke...
I think Simon is correct that the consequences could be dire, but I also think that Bruno wants to use this opportunity to unmask the inquisitors fears concerning these consequences, so I'd leave it in.
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