"you may be more afraid..."

English translation: the consequences for you of bringing the sentence may be dire

13:34 Jun 7, 2012

English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

English term or phrase: "you may be more afraid..."

The quotation below is again from Greenblatt's "The Swerve". Giordano Bruno, 16th century scholar is convicted by the Inquisition, and...

Before an audience of spectators, Bruno was forced to his knees and sentenced as “an impenitent, pernicious, and obstinate heretic.” He was no Stoic; he was clearly terriBed by the grisly fate that awaited him. But one of the spectators, a German Catholic, jotted down strange words that the obstinate heretic had spoken at the moment of his conviction and excommunication:
“He made no other reply than, in a menacing tone, ‘You may be more afraid to bring that sentence against me than I am to accept it.’ ”

I'm not sure how to understand Bruno's last words. Does he mean to say that 'I'm afraid to accept the sentence, but you are more afraid in bringing it against me"? Or is it something else?

vitaminBcomplex KudoZ activity Questions: 249 (none open) (7 closed without grading) Answers: 0
Local time: 09:43

Selected answer:the consequences for you of bringing the sentence may be dire

Explanation:
As he used a "menacing tone", I understand that he is suggesting that the consequences for the inquisitors of bring the sentence against him may be negative. Therefore, they have reason to be afraid, even more afraid than he is.

Selected response from:

Martin Riordan
Brazil
Local time: 03:43

Grading comment

thank you, martin
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

4 +2

the consequences for you of bringing the sentence may be dire

Martin Riordan

4 +1

You may be more fearful of the consequences that bringing this sentence against me will provoke...

Jenni Lukac (X)

Answers

9 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

the consequences for you of bringing the sentence may be dire

Martin Riordan
Brazil
Local time: 03:43
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 275

Grading comment

thank you, martin

16 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

You may be more fearful of the consequences that bringing this sentence against me will provoke...

Explanation:
I think Simon is correct that the consequences could be dire, but I also think that Bruno wants to use this opportunity to unmask the inquisitors fears concerning these consequences, so I'd leave it in.

Jenni Lukac (X)
Local time: 08:43
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 392

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"you may be more afraid..."

English translation: the consequences for you of bringing the sentence may be dire

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