(A) strategically placed interlude

[willemv369]

It will be used as the title for a chapter in a book that isn't really a chapter, but just a "strategically placed interlude" that contains parts of the storyline that apply to later chapters.

As always, I leave this in your capable hands with much gratitude,

- Willem

 

[Petrus Cotoneus]

I would suggest waiting for other opinions, but perhaps: embolium (po)situm (per)commode.
The word embolium is not a common one (I had never encountered it previously), but Cicero uses it twice in the sense of a theatrical interlude or episode. It is a direct borrowing of the Greek ἐμβόλιον.

 

[willemv369]

Thanks, Petrus.

The meaning of "interlude" here would be more akin to "insertion," if that makes it clearer.

"Strategically placed insertion" would work just as well, if not better.

 

[scrabulista]

There's a compendium at the beginning of Sectio Secunda of the Catechism.
Although otherwise, the compendia are at the end of the division.

I recall "argument" at the beginning of each Book of Paradise Lost.
It must have been placed there by the editor rather than written by Milton.

That particular definition of argumentum is down the list in Lewis & Short:
a. But esp. freq., the subject-matter of a poem or fictitious writing, the subject, contents:

 

[willemv369]

Hi @scrabulista! Thanks for the response, though I must admit that I do not understand how it relates to the translation.

 

[scrabulista]

Oh....I thought the compendium was a summary of the section....throughout the document the compendia usually come at the end rather than the beginning though.
Argumentum....it was a summary of the forthcoming Book.

 

[willemv369]

I see.

This is not for a summary. This is for the title of a chapter that is purposefully out of place, inserted between two other chapters: ""Strategically placed insertion" (interlude would likely have too much of a theatrical connotation)

I am not expecting a known Latin literary construct. Just a straight translation.

 

[Petrus Cotoneus]

would likely have too much of a theatrical connotation

For what it's worth, here is one of the sentences in which Cicero uses the word embolium (from QFr. 21.24):

Itaque mirificum embolium cogito in secundum librum meorum Temporum includere: dicentem Apollinem in concilio deorum qualis reditus duorum imperatorum futurus esset, . . . .
And so I am thinking of including a marvelous episode in the second book of my Times: Apollo, in the assembly of the gods, predicting the return of the two generals, . . . .

Cicero is referring here to an epic poem (now lost) called De temporibus suis (On His Life and Times) that he apparently wrote on the subject of his own political fortunes and misfortunes. Since this work was presumably not a work for the stage, it seems reasonable to suppose that the word embolium could be used in a slightly wider sense, not unlike the English interlude, to refer to any kind of narrative episode. Indeed, the literal meaning of the Greek is just "something thrown in." So I think it fits your needs rather aptly. The main downside is that it is a rather obscure word.

 

[Petrus Cotoneus]

Another, less exotic word would be fabula (story). So you could say fabula (per)commode interposita (a story conveniently interposed), where the prefix inter- is now doing some of the work of communicating the idea of insertion or arrangement. You could even replace (per)commode with the adverb apposite (aptly), which would result in a bit of a pun, since both apposite and interposita are derived from the verb pono/ponere/posui/positus meaning "to place" - though, on second thought, that might register more as a pleonasm than as a pun.

 

[Inak]

Maybe digressio?

 

[willemv369]

I would be surprised if Latin did not have a word for strategic(ally), but perhaps it doesn't, or it can't be used in this context? Aptly or conveniently is, however, not really what I am looking for.

Likewise, I guess from the suggestions so far that a straight Latin translation of "insertion" can't be used in this context, either.

I do appreciate all the help so far!

 

[Petrus Cotoneus]

First of all, you must realize that your intended sense of strategic(ally) is actually a metaphorical one: the word's literal sense is military, relating to the conduct of war. For example, the OED gives the following two definitions of strategically:

1. In a manner consistent with the principles of military strategy; as regards military strategy.
2. In a manner that is useful or important in relation to an overall plan or design. Also: in a skilfully planned or executed manner.

In regards to the second, transferative sense (yours), Collins says:

If you put something in a strategic position, you place it cleverly in a position where it will be most useful or have the most effect.

So there is an idea of usefulness, of skill or cleverness, of efficacy, and - crucially - of alignment with some kind of larger plan. You will be hard pressed to find closer English synonyms than apt(ly), fitting(ly), convenient(ly), artful(ly), shrewd(ly), etc.
Thus, to translate the English word usefully, Smith and Hall suggests the Latin words utiliter, commode, and apte. If you desire a stronger connotation of shrewdness or calculation, you could say callide or astute. But you are certainly not going to be able to replicate the precise nuance that the English word inherits from its primary, military sense. Indeed, under the headword strategically, Smith and Hall offers only the paraphase:

*quod ad belli rationes attinet [= that which appertains to the methods of war].

As regards the English insertion, there is no strictly equivalent Latin noun; rather, in Latin, one would most naturally express this idea by means of a verb. Hence my suggestion of the participle interposita (lit. placed between or into).

 

[scrabulista]

Another word that comes to mind is fasciculus = fascicle.

a section of a book or set of books being published in installments as separate pamphlets or volumes.

 

[willemv369]

Petrus Cotoneus, from all your explanations it appears that "embolium interpositum (interposita?) callide" would then be "a cleverly inserted interlude" and come closest to what I am looking for.

 

[Petrus Cotoneus]

The noun embolium by itself already refers to something "thrown in" or "inserted," so pairing it with interpositum (rather than just situm or positum) arguably results in a bit of a pleonasm. I think these are your best options:
- embolium (per)commode/callide (po)situm
- fabula (per)commode/callide interposita
The adverb commode means suitably/appropriately/conveniently/opportunely/skillfully/etc. The variant percommode means the same but even stronger (very suitably). The adverb callide means shrewdly/cleverly/skillfully/expertly/etc.