Elegant variation in the RDCG

RDCG is characterized by elegant variation: even when the translation keeps close to the original, Marulić avoids repeating the same Latin words. Let us illustrate the point with transformations of a recurrent notice “and then the king died”. A single Croatian verb, “umrijeti” (“to die”), is translated by the following: uita defungi; defungi; mori; diem claudere extremum; mortem obire; uita decedere, etc.

• CC Mejutim umri kralj Bladin
  • In the meantime died king Bladin
• RDCG Interea Bladino rege uita defuncto

• CC I umri Ratimir
  • And died Ratimir
• RDCG Etenim haud ita multo post moritur Ratimirus

• CC I ta umri kralj Satamir
  • And then died king Satamir
• RDCG Cum ergo defuncto rege Satimero¹⁾

• CC I potom blaženi kralj kraljeva lit četrdeset i miseci tri s voljom <onogaj> ki sve može.
  • And thereafter the blessed king ruled years forty and months three by the will of the one who everything can.
• RDCG Rex autem ipse Budimerus anno a sua unctione quadragesimo, mense III.

• CC I imi u starost svoju sina.
  • And had in old age of his a son
• RDCG — — —

• CC I sedminade<se>te dan umri na devet miseca marča
  • And on the seventeenth day he died on the ninth of the month of March
• RDCG diem clausit extremum

• CC I potom ispustiv <dušu> umri kralj.
  • And thereafter having released the soul died the king
• RDCG Cumque in omnibus sese summa cum laude gessisset mortemque obiisset