Winnie Ille Pu

Books
The Parents’ Review, 1961, p. 144

Winnie Ille Pu, translated by Alexander Lenard (Methuen, 12/6). Some time ago there was a prolonged correspondence in The Times on ‘the use of Latin in schools’, which made one thankful that this basic language is in no danger of being removed from P.U.S. Programmes. Here, for linguists of all ages except the very youngest, is a rare treat and a delicious surprise—A. A. Milne’s Winnie The Pooh translated into perfect Latin and accompanied by the original illustrations by E. H. Shepard. All our old friends are here in classic dignity: Pu, Porcellus, Christophorus Robinus, Ior, Canga. This is a jeu d’esprit of which every page is enchanting, especially perhaps the ‘hums’ of Pooh (I mean, of course, Pui cantica), e.g.:

Maxima calamitas!
Abest pretiosum vas
Vacat tabulatum,
O iniquum fatum!

Sine lacte, sine cibo,
Non comeco neque bibo
Infectis rebus abeo
Non lambo quod non habeo.

Punch described this book as ‘a don’s delight’, but young readers are assured that it is not necessary to be a don in order to be delighted.

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