the way I learned it, long ago, Carthago delenda est meant Carthage must be destroyed...or words to that effect.

but, what would the translation of "should Carthage be destroyed" be?  (ie, should we raze the city, fellow romans, or should we just defeat them).  :)

thanks.

ps:  would "Carthago non delenda est" be the proper way of saying "Carthage should not be destroyed" ?

thanks again.

I think the proper question should be:

An Carthago delenda sit?

and, yes, the negative form should be exactly the way you put it.

this is for your story, isn’t it? I wish you good luck in writing and I’d like to see the results somewhere somehow. I love historical stories and novels, especially about Antiquity.  

[quote author=bombichka link=board=translate;num=1057813676;start=0#1 date=07/10/03 at 04:25:07]this is for your story, isn’t it? I wish you good luck in writing and I’d like to see the results somewhere somehow. I love historical stories and novels, especially about Antiquity.  

the first story with the quotation about Carthage  has just been completed (it’s a piece of fanfiction), and work is progressing reasonably well on the historical fiction piece.

if you’d like to read them, send me an email  (and specify in the subject line  ‘yourdictionary’ so my computer doesn’t bounce).

thanks for your help!!