Sounder Sleep System

Last night I was watching a new DVD transfer of Bertolucci's THE CONFORMIST, based on the novel of Alberto Moravia. In my humble opinion this is one of the greatest and most visually beautiful films ever made.

Early in the film, as the protagonist silently ponders the personal and political storm winds that drive the plot forward, he mutters to himself two lines of Latin verse. I have seen the film many times, but never taken note of this phrase. This time, I Googled it and found the whole passage, which is marvelously relevant to the field somatic education. It is attributed to the Roman Emperor Hadrian (76-138) on his deathbed.

Here is the wonderfully sonorous, rhythmic, Latin original, followed by an English translation:

Animula, vagula, blandula
Hospes comesque corporis!
Quae nunc abibis in loca,
Pallidula, frigida nudula
Nec ut soles dabis joca?

"O fleeting soul of mine, my body's friend and guest, whither goest thou, pale, fearful, and pensive one? Why laugh not as of old?"—Ad Animam, according to Aelius Spartianus

Hear it read aloud.