Friday 5 February 2010

Day sixtyseven....

Rome Wasn't Built In A Day

Rome wasn't built in a day. In fact as we see buildings rise and fall from the Roma skyline, you could argue that Rome still has not been built. But is any city ever complete? If a city stops building then already it is seen as moving backwards. Even the city of Bath with its rigid building control, only allowing buildings to be built in limestone, keeps springing up new surprises all the time. The original phrase originates from an old French proverb which features in the 1190 best seller 'Li Proverbe Au Vilan'.


It was then translated into English by Richard Taverner. Most famous for his bible translations. But while being one of the more widely read translations, I think it pales next to Scott Walkers translations of a Jacque Brel song, Mathilde.





But that was the French waxing lyrical about the improbability of completing a task that is too big to be accomplished quickly. Here in the these isles we call Great Britain and Northern Ireland we like to do things a lot quicker. Well most things as long as its not a petty matter. So although Rome might not have been built in a day, Cardiff was....



Shortly after he then made chippy lane, the Bay and Cowbridge Road. Rhufain was mo adeiladedig mewn ddiwrnod. Arddun, arddun, ARDDUN!

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