02.02.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [19]; future active infinitive: practice (1)

Exercise [1] Complete the Latin translation with the appropriate form of the future active participle listed below. The exercise is divided into two sections based on how English would translate them i.e. either [a] …that somebody will do something, or [b] … that somebody would do something. In Latin, however, there is no difference in the formation of the future active infinitive.

[a]

[i] Catullus hopes that you will cry. │ Catullus spērat tē __________ esse.

[ii] You believe that Dido will flee. │ Crēditis Dīdōnem __________ esse.

[iii] The messenger says that the barbarians will send the sister to the forum. │ Nūntius dīcit barbarōs sorōrem ad forum __________ esse.

[iv] He believes that we will fight. │ Ille crēdit nōs __________ esse.

[v] He announces that he will run to help the nymphs. │ Ille nūntiat sē nymphīs __________ esse.

[vi] They believe that you will praise the bad queen. │ Illae crēdunt tē rēgīnam malam __________ esse.

[vii] Proserpina believes that we will show the sign to him/her. │ Prōserpina crēdit nōs signum eī __________ esse.

[viii] The boys say that we will rejoice. │ Puerī dīcunt nōs __________ esse.

fugitūram; gāvīsūrās; lacrimātūrum; laudātūram; missūrōs; mōnstrātūrōs; pugnātūrās; succursūrum

[a]

[i] Catullus spērat tē lacrimātūrum esse.

[ii] Crēditis Dīdōnem fugitūram esse.

[iii] Nūntius dīcit barbarōs sorōrem ad forum missūrōs esse.

[iv] Ille crēdit nōs pugnātūrās esse.

[v] Ille nūntiat sē nymphīs succursūrum esse.

[vi] Illae crēdunt tē rēgīnam malam laudātūram esse.

[vii] Prōserpina crēdit nōs signum eī mōnstrātūrōs esse.

[viii] Puerī dīcunt nōs gāvīsūrās esse.

[b]

[i] They hoped that Scipio would return as a conqueror. │ Spērāvērunt Scīpiōnem __________ esse victōrem.

[ii] The sons were saying that Minerva would trust them. │ Fīliī dīcēbant Minervam eīs __________ esse.

[iii] You were hoping that the deputies would sleep. │ Spērābās lēgātōs __________ esse.

[iv] The daughters said that they would come into this field. │ Fīliae dīxērunt sē in hunc campum __________ esse.

[v] You announced that Achilles would send the guards to Germany. │ Nūntiāvistis Achillem custōdēs ad Germāniam __________ esse.

[vi] The sister thought that the queen would hand the prizes over to me. │ Soror putābat rēgīnam mihi praemia __________ esse.

[vii] They hoped that the young people would lead us to the town. │ Illae spērāvērunt iuvenēs nōs ad oppidum __________ esse.

[viii] The students were saying that they would work. │ Discipulae dīcēbant sē __________ esse.

crēditūram; dormītūrōs; ductūrōs; labōrātūrās; missūrum; reditūrum; trāditūram; ventūrās

[b]

[i] Spērāvērunt Scīpiōnem reditūrum esse victōrem.

[ii] Fīliī dīcēbant Minervam eīs crēditūram esse.

[iii] Spērābās lēgātōs dormītūrōs esse.

[iv] Fīliae dīxērunt sē in hunc campum ventūrās esse.

[v] Nūntiāvistis Achillem custōdēs ad Germāniam missūrum esse.

[vi] Soror putābat rēgīnam mihi praemia trāditūram esse.

[vii] Illae spērāvērunt iuvenēs nōs ad oppidum ductūrōs esse.

[viii] Discipulae dīcēbant sē labōrātūrās esse.

Exercise [2]: Choose the appropriate ending [a] – [d] for the future active participle. Note the subject of the indirect statement: it will be accusative masculine or feminine, singular or plural

[i] Juno thought that Tiberius would work. │ Iūnō putābat Tiberium [a] labōrātūrum [b] labōrātūram [c] labōrātūrōs [d] labōrātūrās esse.

[ii] The men announced that the enemies would defend the students. │ Virī nūntiāvērunt hostēs discipulās [a] dēfēnsūrum [b] dēfēnsūram [c] dēfēnsūrōs [d] dēfēnsūrās esse.

[iii] The witch hoped that Diana would tell a lie to me. │ Strīga spērāvit Diānam mendācium mihi [a] nārrātūrum [b] nārrātūram [c] nārrātūrōs [d] nārrātūrās esse.

[iv] The teachers believe that Quintus will sell the carriages to the students. │ Magistrī crēdunt Quīntum discipulīs raedās [a] vēnditūrum [a] vēnditūram [a] vēnditūrōs [a] vēnditūrās esse.

[v] The women say that they will call the mothers back to the island. │ Fēminae dīcunt sē mātrēs ad īnsulam [a] revocātūrum [b] revocātūram [c] revocātūrōs [d] revocātūrās esse.

[vi] You believed that the citizens would show mercy to the leaders. │ Crēdēbātis cīvēs clēmentiam ducibus [a] ostentūrum [b] ostentūram [c] ostentūrōs [d] ostentūrās esse.

[vii] You believed that the daughters would laugh. │ Crēdidistis fīliās [a] rīsūrum [b] rīsūram [c] rīsūrōs [d] rīsūrās esse.

[viii] You thought that the nymph would call them back to Italy. │ Putābātis nympham eās ad Italiam [a] revocātūrum [b] revocātūram [c] revocātūrōs [d] revocātūrās esse.

[i] [a] labōrātūrum

[ii] [c] dēfēnsūrōs

[iii] [b] nārrātūram

[iv] [a] vēnditūrum

[v] [d] revocātūrās

[vi] [c] ostentūrōs

[vii] [d] rīsūrās

[viii] [b] revocātūram

02.02.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [18]; future active infinitive

images #1 and #2: the future active infinitive is formed from the future active participle with ‘esse’ to express in an indirect statement what somebody is going to do; the future active participle will agree with the accusative subject of the indirect statement.

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/06/250925-level-3-grammar-of-things-to.html

laudō, -āre, -āvī, laudātus [perfect passive participle: having been praised]

> laudātūrus, -a, -um [future active participle: about to / going to praise]

> laudātūrus, -a, -um esse [future active infinitive to be about to /  going to praise]

portō, portāre, portāvī, portātus > portātūrus, -a, -um > ¦ portātūrus, -a, -um esse │ to be going to / about to carry

videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsus > vīsūrus, -a, -um > ¦ vīsūrus, -a, -um esse │ to be going to see

pōnō, pōnere, posuī, positus > positūrus, -a, -um > ¦ positūrus, -a, -um esse │ to be going to put

audiō, audīre, audīvī, audītus > audītūrus, -a, -um > ¦ audītūrus, -a, -um esse │ to be going to listen

The future active infinitive agrees with the accusative case subject in gender and number.

Dīcit ¦ rēgem mīlitēs laudātūrum esse. │ He says that the king is going to praise the soldiers.

Dīcit ¦ rēginam mīlitēs laudātūram esse. │ He says that the queen is going to praise the soldiers.

Dīcit ¦ mīlitēs ducem laudātūrōs esse. │ He says that the soldiers are going to praise the commander.

Dīcit ¦ deās rēgīnam laudātūrās esse. │ He says that the goddesses are going to praise the queen.

[2] Remember the distinction in Latin when expressing he / she / they in indirect statements

[a] If the subject of the indirect statement is the same as the person who introduces it, then sē is used:

Rēx [masculine singular] dīcit ¦ sē mīlitēs laudātūrum [masculine accusative singular] esse. │ The king says that he [referring to himself] is going to praise the soldiers.

Rēgīna [feminine singular] dīcit ¦ sē mīlitēs laudātūram [feminine accusative singular] esse. │ The queen says that she [referring to herself] is going to praise the soldiers.

Mīlitēs [masculine plural] dīcunt ¦ sē ducem laudātūrōs [masculine accusative plural] esse. │ The soldiers say that they [referring to themselves] are going to praise the commander.

Deae dīcunt ¦ sē rēgīnam laudātūrās [feminine accusative plural] esse. │ The goddesses say that they [referring to themselves] are going to praise the queen.

[b] If the subject of the indirect sentence and the person who introduces it are not the same, then eum, eam, eōs, eās are used:

Rēgīna dīcit ¦ eum mīlitēs laudātūrum esse. │ The queen says that he is going to praise the soldiers.

Rēgina dīcit ¦ eam [e.g. deam] mīlitēs laudātūram esse. │ The queen says that she [referring to somebody else e.g. the goddess] is going to praise the soldiers.

Rēgina dīcit ¦ eōs [e.g. cīvēs] mīlitēs laudātūrōs esse. │ The queen says that they [e.g. the citizens] are going to praise the soldiers.

Rēgina dīcit ¦ eās [e.g. deās] mīlitēs laudātūrās esse. │ The queen says that they [e.g. the goddesses] are going to praise the soldiers.

i.e. the gender / number of the person who makes the statement is not involved, but the gender and number in the accusative of the subject of the indirect statement

[3] Where a verb has no perfect passive participle, it most often can be replaced by the supine, but the formation of the future active participle remains the same:

adveniō, advenīre, advēnī, supine adventum

> future active participle: adventūrus, -a, -um (about to arrive)

Dīcunt ¦ Plinium adventūrum esse │ They say that Pliny is about to / is going to / will arrive.

Dīxērunt ¦ Plinium adventūrum esse │ They said that Pliny was about to / was going to / would arrive.

[4]

[a] the future active infinitive of the verb esse itself is futūrus, -a, -um esse:

Longum hunc (morbum) futurum esse manifestum est (Celsus) │ It becomes evident that this (disease) is going to be / will be long (prolonged)

Lāvīnia locūta est sē uxōrem Aenēae futūram esse. │ Lavinia said that she would be the wife of Aeneas.

Tribūnī sē in auctōritāte patrum futūrōs esse pollicitī sunt (Livy) │ The tribunes promised that they would be under the authority of the Fathers. 

Ita Dāvum modo timēre sēnsī, ubi nūptiās futūrās esse audīvit (Terence) │ I felt that Davus was so afraid just now when he heard that there was going to be a marriage.

So alarmed did I perceive Davus to be just now, when he heard that there was going to be a marriage. 

… sē in tempore adfutūrum esse (Livy) │ (Hannibal said that) he would be there at the right moment.

[b] There is an alternative future active participle of sum: fore

vīdit in magnō sē fore perīculō (Nepos) │ He saw that he was going to be in great danger.

magnō sibī ūsuī fore arbitrābātur (Caesar) │ He thought that it would be very useful to him.

comitia fore nōn arbitror (Cicero) │ I do not think there will be an election.

in litterīs scrībit sē cum legiōnibus profectum celeriter adfore (Caesar) │ In the letter he wrote that he had set out with the legions and would soon be there

From Calgacus’ speech in Agricola by Tacitus:

Magnus mihi animus est ¦ hodiernum diem cōnsēnsumque vestrum initium lībertātis tōtī Britanniae fore

I have a sure confidence ¦ that this day, and this union of yours, will be the beginning of freedom to the whole of Britain.

Note: fore occurs in another construction which is related to this topic but will be discussed later in conjunction with the subjunctive.

[5] Note, once again, that, while English changes the tense of the indirect statement depending on the tense of the introductory statement e.g. they say that they will / are going to … / they said that he would / was going to …, Latin does not change the infinitive form.

Pater dīcit fīliōs crās locūtūrōs esse. │ The father says that the sons will speak tomorrow.

Graecī dīxērunt sē excessūrōs esse. │ The Greeks said that they would leave.

Didō  nūntiat sē moritūram esse. │ Dido announces that she is going to die.

Didō [feminine singular] nūntiāvit sē moritūram esse. │ Dido announced that she was going to / would die.

02.02.26: Level 3; the poetry of Rome: introduction – you’ve just gotta love Lesbia

To give you an idea of the direction in which this set of posts is going, the ability to scan a Latin poem and to analyse its effects are requirements of the UK A Level (post-16) Latin examination.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z_QAPB3XeA

Uīuāmūs mĕă Lēsbĭa ͜ ātque ͜ ămēmŭs

rūmōrēsquĕ sĕnūm sĕuērĭōrŭm

ōmnēs ūnĭŭs aēstĭmēmŭs āssĭs

dā mī bāsĭă mīllĕ deīndĕ cēntŭm

deīn mīlle ͜ āltĕră deīn sĕcūndă cēntŭm

Deīnde ͜ ūsque ͜ āltĕră mīllĕ deīndĕ cēntŭm

deīn cūm mīlĭă mūltă fēcĕrīmŭs

cōntūrbābĭmŭs īllă nē scĭāmŭs

aūt nē quīs mălŭs īnuĭdērĕ pōssĭt

cūm tāntūm scĭăt ēssĕ bāsĭōrŭm

(Catullus V)

Let us live, my Lesbia, and let us love,

and let us judge all the rumors of the old men

to be worth just one penny!

Give me a thousand kisses, then another hundred,

then another thousand, then a second hundred,

then yet another thousand more, then another hundred.

Then, when we have made many thousands,

we will mix them all up so that we don't know,

and so that no one can be jealous of us when he finds out

how many kisses we have shared.

The composer, Farya Faraji, makes the following comment: “In my opinion, the best place to start for reconstructing their music is the poetry: Ancient Roman poetry used the interplay of long vs short vowel lengths and stress accent to create rythmic effects to the poetry, not unlike modern rap does.”

And that’s where we’re going to start – not with Catullus, but with a verse from the 4^th century. We’ll meet Catullus – and his fairweather friends – later. The following posts will look at the 4^th century Pater Noster of Juvencus (recited by Vincent). 

02.02.26: Level 3; Reading (review); [28] Dido and Aeneas

Dē antīquīs Poenōrum et Rōmānōrum inimīcitiīs et dē eārum causīs poētae Rōmānōrum varia scrībunt. Apud Vergilium legimus Aenēam, postquam Troia ā Graecīs expugnāta et dēlēta est, paucīs cum amīcīs fugam capessīvisse ventīsque adversīs in Āfricam agitātum esse. Ibi Dīdō rēgīna ante nōnnūllōs annōs Carthāginem aedificāverat; nam et ipsa ē patriā fugāta erat. Ubi Sychaeus, vir eius, dolō et īnsidiīs necātus est, ipsīus quoque vīta in perīculō fuerat; ipsī enim īnsidiae parātae erant.

Itaque Dīdō cum paucīs sociīs ē patriā exierat, per multās terrās ignōtās errāverat, novam patriam quaesīverat.

Vix Aenēās Carthāginem intrāverat, cum Dīdō eum virum pulchrum et probum adamāvit; amābat et Aenēās ipse rēgīnam; iamque Dīdō nūptiās cōgitābat, cum Aenēās ā deīs ad officium revocātus est: Clam abiit Ītaliamque petīvit! Id ipsum Dīdō valdē dolēbat.

[1] apud Virgilium: a good example of the various meanings of apud (at the house of; Fr. chez; among; in the presence of); (here) in (the works of) Virgil

[2] Indirect statement: perfect active infinitive and perfect passive infinitive within the same sentence separated by a subordinate clause of time.

… legimus ¦ (1) Aenēam, [postquam Troia ā Graecīs expugnāta et dēlēta est], paucīs cum amīcīs fugam (2) capessīvisse ventīsque adversīs in Āfricam (3) agitātum esse.

… we read ¦ that (1) Aeneas, [after Troy was captured and destroyed by the Greeks], (2) sought refuge with a few friends, and (3) was driven here and there by opposing winds to Africa.

[3] agitō, -āre [1] < agō, -ere [3] in the sense of ‘drive’, ‘push’, ‘set in motion’ + the frequentative suffix -it(ō): this indicates that an action was repeated or continued over a period of time or, in this context, ‘randomness’ = to toss about or to drive here and there

[4] Vix Aenēās Carthāginem intrāverat, cum Dīdō eum virum pulchrum et probum adamāvit │ Scarcely had Aeneas entered Carthage when Dido fell in love / became infatuated with this handsome and virtuous man

01.11.25: Comenius (1658) XXVIII: Labouring Beasts [i]

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/08/011125-comenius-1658-xxviii-labouring.html

____________________

The Roman poets write various things about the ancient enmities / hostilities between the Carthaginians and the Romans and the causes of these. In Virgil, we read that Aeneas, after Troy had been captured and destroyed by the Greeks, sought refuge with a few friends and was driven by opposing winds to Africa. There, Queen Dido had built Carthage several years earlier; for she too had been driven out of her homeland. When Sychaeus, her husband, was killed by treachery and deceit, her own life had also been in danger; indeed, traps had been set for her.

Therefore, Dido had left her homeland with a few companions, wandered through many unknown lands, and sought a new homeland.

Hardly had Aeneas entered Carthage when Dido fell in love with him, admired this handsome and virtuous man; Aeneas himself also loved the queen. And now, Dido was thinking of marriage, when Aeneas, called back by the gods to his duty, secretly left and sought Italy! This (very thing) greatly pained Dido."

01.02.26: Comenius CVI; the Celestial Sphere [4]; text and vocabulary [3]

[4] The Heaven is full of stars every where. │ Cælum est stēllātum undique.

stēllātus, -a, -um < stēlla + -ātus: starry; star-filled

[5] There are reckoned above a thousand fixed stars; but of constellations towards the North: XXI, towards the South: XVI │ Stēllārum fīxārum numerantur plūs mīlle; sīderum vērō Septentriōnārium: XXI, Merīdiōnālium: XVI.

stēlla, -ae [1/f]: star

stēllae fīxae: fixed (immovable) stars; they are also referred to as:

stēllae inerrantēs: stars that are not wandering

sidus, sideris [3/n]: star; constellation

There are numerous words that refer to the compass points, winds and Gods that personified the winds:

[i]

(1) septentriō, -iōnis [3/m]: north

septentriōnēs (pl.): the North; northern regions

septentriōnālis, -e;  (rare) septentriōnārius, -a, -um: northern

(2) aquilō, -ōnis [3/m]: north

aquilōnius, -a, -um: northern

(3) boreās, -ae [1/m]: north

boreālis, -e: northern; Aurōra Boreālis: the Northern Lights

[ii] 

(1) merīdiēs, -ēī [5/m]: mid-day; south

merīdiōnālis, -e;  meridiānus, -a, -um: southern

(2) auster, austrī [2/m]: south

austrālis, -e; austrīnus, -a, -um: southern

[iii]

oriēns, orientis [3/m]: east

orientālis, -e: eastern

[iv]

occidēns, occidentis [3/m]: west

occidentālis, -e: western

Both oriēns and occidēns can also be participles:

sōl oriēns: the rising sun

sōl occidēns: the setting sun

mēnsamque extrā vēlum et contrā mēnsam candēlābrum in latere tabernāculī merīdiānō mēnsa enim stābit in parte aquilōnis (Vulgate) │ You shall place the table outside the veil, and opposite the table the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle; for the table shall stand on the north side.

ā septentriōne et occidente sicciōrēs quam ā merīdiē et oriente (Pliny the Elder)│ from the North and West they [winds] are drier than from the South and East

Further information on compass points:

20.06.25: topic; ships [7]; Comenius; XCI; a Ship-wreck (2)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/200625-topic-ships-7-comenius-xci-ship.html

Image: you need to turn the 7^th century map 90 degrees to the right so that north is at the top!

The second image turns it round to what we’d expect.

31.01.26: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [24][iii] comprehension (2)

[4] Interdum prope flūmen Tiberim, quod per urbem fluit, hī trēs amīcī errant. Poēta fābulās nārrat: "Ōlim trāns flūmen hostēs Rōmānōrum, quibuscum Rōmānī saepe in bellīs pugnābant, habitābant. Posteā Rōmānī eōs superāvērunt. Fugam eōrum memoriā tenēre semper est grātum."

Dē ānseribus quoque, quī mīlitēs convocābant et Rōmam servābant, poēta nārrat. Semper Rōmānī hōs ānserēs laudant. Nunc poēta et eius amīcī prope Tiberim stant. Ā tergō clāmor audītur.

"Aliquis clāmat," inquit Carolus. Omnēs undique circumspectant.

"Rēx est! Rēx venit!" clāmat poēta. Undique hominēs properant. Carolus et poēta sine morā currunt, sed Maria sōla manet.

"Heu!" inquit puella. "Sōla sum et timida. Ubi sunt poēta et Carolus? Parva sum et rēgem nōn facile vidēbō."

Comprehension [4]

[i] In which order are the following first referred to?

conquering the enemy _____

telling stories _____

happy memories _____

fighting with the enemy _____

wandering near the river _____

[ii] Why do the Romans praise the geese? (2)

[iii] Where are they standing? (1)

[iv] From where is a shout heard? (1)

[v] What do they do when they hear it? (1)

[vi] Translate:

"Rēx est! Rēx venit!" clāmat poēta. Undique hominēs properant. Carolus et poēta sine morā currunt, sed Maria sōla manet. "Heu!" inquit puella. "Sōla sum et timida. Ubi sunt poēta et Carolus? Parva sum et rēgem nōn facile vidēbō." (10)

[5] Equī rēgis sunt pulcherrimī. Mīlitēs prope rēgem ambulant. Gladiōs portant. Ā dextrā et ā sinistrā rēgis sunt mīlitēs. Ā tergō multī mīlitēs veniunt. Parātī sunt tēla conicere sī perīculum est. Clāmōrēs hominum sunt magnī. Puella parva lacrimat et frātrem vocat.

Carolus statim audit et mox manum sorōris tenet. Ubi Maria esse tūta reperta est, nōn lacrimat. In altō locō trēs stant et rēgem vident.

"In patriā vestrā nūllus rēx est, et populus sibi imperat. Estne hoc cōnsilium bonum?" rogat poēta.

"Ita," respondet Carolus. "Ubi populus sibi imperat, laetior est."

Comprehension [5]

[i] (1) Match phrases from the text with the images below and (2) number the images in the sequence in which they are referred to in the text.

[ii] Translate: "In patriā vestrā nūllus rēx est, et populus sibi imperat. Estne hoc cōnsilium bonum?" rogat poēta. "Ita," respondet Carolus. "Ubi populus sibi imperat, laetior est." (8)

____________________

[4]

[i] conquering the enemy (4)

telling stories (2)

happy memories (5)

fighting with the enemy (3)

wandering near the river (1)

[ii] (1) summoned the soldiers; (2) saved Rome

[iii] near the Tiber

[iv] from behind

[v] look around (everywhere)

[vi] (1) “There’s the king! The king is coming!” (2) shouts the poet. (3) People hurry from all sides. (4) Carolus and the poet run without delay, (5) but Maria stays alone. (6) “Oh dear!” says the girl. (7) “I’m alone and afraid. (8) Where are the poet and Carolus? (9) I’m small and (10) I won’t easily see the king.”

[5]

[i]

[ii] (1) There’s no king (2) in your country, (3) and the people rule themselves. (4) Is this a good plan?” (5) the poet asks.  (6) “Yes,” replies Carolus. (7) “When the people rule themselves, (8) they are happier.”

30.01.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [17]: the perfect passive infinitive with fuisse

The perfect passive infinitive in an indirect statement may occur with fuisse rather than esse; this is rare and, in fact, is generally not listed in verb conjugations, but should at least be recognised.

The perfect passive infinitive with esse refers to an event which took place before the verb of speaking.

[i] Nuntius dīcit ¦ urbem captam esse. │ The messenger says that the city was / has been captured.

[ii] Nuntius dīxit ¦ urbem captam esse.  │ The messenger said that the city was / had been captured.

Occasionally, however, you will come across the perfect passive participle with fuisse which emphasises that a situation had existed at a certain point in the past before the time of speaking:

Ex ōrātiōne appāret … exercitum in forō collocātum ā Gn. Pompeiō fuisse (Asconius) │ It appears from the speech that the army had been placed in the forum by Pompey

Satis est … docēre … magnam spem in Milōnis morte prōpositam … fuisse (Cicero) │ It is sufficient … to show … that great hope had been placed on Milo’s death

Populum Tanaquil adloquitur … sōpītum fuisse rēgem subitō ictū (Livy) │ Tanaquil addressed the people, [saying that] the king had been rendered unconscious by a sudden blow

Note the inclusion of ‘previously’ and ‘formerly’ in the following translations, emphasising the function of fuisse.

Cognōvī tibi eum falsō suspectum fuisse (Cicero) │ I found out that he had previously been unfairly suspected by you

Zanclē quoque iūncta fuisse dīcitur Ītaliae (Ovid) │ It is said that Zancle had formerly been joined to Italy

30.01.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [16]; the perfect passive infinitive [iv]; reading

[A] This is a short and sweet example of a feature to look out for when reading original Classical Latin. From Epiducus by Plautus.

[1] Look at the question:

APAECIDES

Quis [i] hoc dīcit [ii] factum? │ Who says ¦ that [i] this [ii] has been done?

[2] Look at the answer:

EPIDICUS

Ego ita factum esse dīcō. │ I say that it has been done.

i.e. esse is omitted in [1]; the omission of esse in the perfect passive infinitive in indirect statements is a common feature among the authors

Frātrem interfectum audīvit (Seneca) │ He heard that his brother had been killed.

[B] From the case against Verres, prosecuted by Cicero.

First of all, here is the Latin text and the English translation:

Frequentissimī vēnērunt ad hoc iūdicium mercātōrēs, hominēs locuplētēs atque honestī, [1] quī ¦ [2] partim sociōs suōs, partim lībertōs, partim conlībertōs [3] spoliātōs in vincla coniectōs, partim in vinclīs necātōs, partim secūrī percussōs esse [1] dīcunt

Note the use of the word partim (partly; some of). Cicero uses this to indicate that those present at the trial have had different negative experiences, some of them will say X, some will say Y etc.

Merchants in crowds have come to this trial, wealthy and honourable men, [1] who say ¦ [2] that some of their comrades, some of their freedmen, some of their fellow freedmen [3] were robbed and thrown into chains, some of them were killed in chains, some of them were beheaded with an axe.

Let’s take it apart and see the way in which Cicero uses indirect statement to create a powerful piece of oratory.

[1] He begins by implying that the merchants are reliable and the sheer number of them adds considerable weight to the allegations.

Frequentissimī vēnērunt ad hoc iūdicium mercātōrēs,  │ Merchants in crowds have come to this trial

hominēs locuplētēs atque honestī, │ wealthy and honourable men

[2] He goes on to state what these merchants say

… quī … dīcunt

[3] Cicero then gives an indirect statement itemising the three groups of people who are the subject of the indirect statement; it is also worth noting Cicero’s frequent use of the tricolon i.e. a word or words which are structurally similar and delivered in a group of three:

[i] (quī) partim sociōs suōs, [ii] partim lībertōs, [iii] partim conlībertōs … (dīcunt)

[i] (who say) ¦ (some of them) that [i] their partners, [ii] (some) that their freedmen, [iii] (some) that their fellow freedmen …

[4] The verbs have become perfect passive infinitives but note that Cicero only uses esse once, and the auditory effect of the passives which all have the same ending -ōs

[i] spoliātōs, [ii] in vincla coniectōs, [iii] partim in vinclīs necātōs, [iv] partim secūrī percussōs esse [i] were robbed, [ii] thrown in chains, [iii] some murdered when in chains [iv] some struck with an axe.

29.01.26: Comenius CVI; the Celestial Sphere [3]; text and vocabulary [2]

[2] The globe of heaven is turned about upon an axle-tree, about the globe of the earth, in the space of XXIV hours. │ Globus cælī volvitur super axem, circā globum terræ, spaciō XXIV hōrārum.

axis, -is [3/m]: axle-tree; axle of a wheel; also: the North Pole

axis mundī: the axis of Earth between the celestial poles

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_mundi

Again, note CL: spatium, -ī [2/n] > post-CL / Med: spacium > Engl. deriv. space; the same shift is seen in, for example, CL: grātia > gracia > Engl. deriv. grace

Globus cælī volvitur │ The globe of heaven is turned about

terra, -ae [1/f]: land; in Ancient Rome Terra, -ae i.e. a proper noun referred to the goddess of the Earth and is used in Neo-Latin as the astronomical term for the Earth

Also:

tellūs, tellūris [3/f]: various meanings including Earth; globe; world

The Ancient Romans referred to:

orbis, -is [3/m] terrārum: the circle of lands 

[3] The Pole-stars, or Pole, the Arctick, the Antarctick, conclude the axle-tree at both ends. │ Stēllæ polārēs, Arcticus, Antarcticus, fīniunt Axem utrinque.

utrinque = utrimque: on / from both sides

polāris, -e (Late Latin): pertaining to the (North / South) poles

(polus) Arcticus, -ī [2/m]: Arctic; CL: arcticus, -a, -um: northern

(polus) Antarcticus, -ī [2/m]: Antarctic; CL: antarcticus, -a, -um: southern

In the image, note what it was first called, and the link takes you to why the name was changed:

23.06.25: topic; ships [9]; Comenius; XCI; a Ship-wreck (4); terra austrālis: the southern land

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/230625-topic-ships-9-comenius-xci-ship.html

28.01.26: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [24][ii] comprehension (1)

Carolus et Maria XXIV

[1] Tēctum poētae est casa parva, ex māteriā facta. Paucōs diēs Carolus et Maria hīc manēre cupiunt. Rōma est urbs pulcherrima. Urbs antīqua etiam pulchrior erat quam haec. Carolus et Maria per viās Rōmae cum poētā errant et dē amīcā, magistrā, dīcunt putantque.

Comprehension [1]: choose [A], [B] or [C]

[i] The poet lives in:

[A] a small stone cottage

[B] a large wooden house

[C] a small timber cottage

[ii] Carolus and Maria:

[A] are planning to stay there for a few days

[B] have been staying there for a few days

[C] want to stay there for a long time

[iii]

[A] Rome is more beautiful now than it was in the past

[B] Modern Rome is not as beautiful as Ancient Rome

[C] Rome is the most beautiful city in the world

[iv] Carolus and Maria:

[A] wander through the streets alone

[B] think about a friend

[C] talk about the poet

Comprehension [2]: Complete the Latin text with the words listed below. Use the English translation as a guide.

In (1) one place there were the buildings of the (2) ancient (3) kings of Rome. (4) Sometimes (5) these (6) kings were harsh masters, (7) who the people, the servants (8) of the king, did not wish (9) to obey. (10) A few (11) men were treacherous, and if (12) they were found to be treacherous, (13) afterwards they were not free. They remained in chains (14) for a long time and later (15) they were killed.

In (1) __________ locō erant tēcta (2) __________ (3) __________ Rōmae. (4) __________  (5) __________ (6) __________  erant dominī dūrī (7) __________  populus, servī (8) __________, (9) __________ nōn cupiēbat. (10) __________ (11) __________  erant perfidī et sī perfidī esse (12) __________, (13) __________ nōn līberī erant. (14) __________ in vinculīs manēbant et posteā (15) __________.

antīquōrum; diū; hī; interdum; necātī sunt; pārēre; paucī; posteā; quibus; rēgēs; rēgis; rēgum; repertī sunt; ūnō; virī

[3] Etiam nunc Rōma rēgem habet. Hic rēx magnum tēctum et mīlitēs quoque habet. Vīta rēgis nōn est semper facilis, nam rēx nōn est homō līber. Labor eius quoque nōn est facilis. Servus populī Rōmānī est. Servī numquam hominēs līberī sunt. Hic rēx in populum Rōmānum animō bonō est. Dūrus et saevus nōn est. Populō Rōmānō magnā cum cūrā imperat. Populus, igitur, rēgem laudat.

Comprehension [3]

[i] Vīta rēgis nōn est semper facilis, nam rēx nōn est homō līber. Labor eius quoque nōn est facilis. Servus populī Rōmānī est. Servī numquam hominēs līberī sunt.

What reasons are given for the first statement? (4)

[ii] Hic rēx in populum Rōmānum animō bonō est. Dūrus et saevus nōn est. Populō Rōmānō magnā cum cūrā imperat. Populus, igitur, rēgem laudat.

What are the reasons given for the last statement? (3)

____________________

[1]

[i] [C] a small timber cottage

[ii] [A] are planning to stay there for a few days

[iii] [B] Modern Rome is not as beautiful as Ancient Rome

[iv] [B] think about a friend

[3]

[i]

king not a free man

work not easy

servant / slave of the roman people

servants / slaves never free (men)

[ii]

kind attitude towards the Roman people

not harsh or cruel

rules with great care

27.01.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [15]; the perfect passive infinitive [iii]; practice (2)

[C] Complete the English translations with the words listed below.

[1] Cicerō crēdidit praemium Nerōnī ā magō vēnditum esse. │ Cicero __________ that the prize __________ to Nero by a magician.

[2] Mōnstrum nūntiāvit sē līberātum esse. │ The monster __________ that it __________.

[3] Illae putābant plaustrum agricolae trāditum esse. │ They __________ that the cart __________ to the farmer.

[4] Dīcēbās dōnum servō fidēlī datum esse. │ You __________ that a gift __________ to the faithful servant.

[5] Mōnstra dīcunt sē ad oppidum ducta esse. │ The monsters say that they were led to the town.

announced; believed; say; thought; were saying

had been freed; had been given; had been handed over; had been sold; were led

[C]

[1] Cicero believed that the prize had been sold to Nero by a magician.

[2] The monster announced that it had been freed.

[3] They thought that the cart had been handed over to the farmer.

[4] You were saying that a gift had been given to the faithful servant.

[5] The monsters say that they were led to the town.

[D] Give the Latin translation by putting the words into the correct word order.

[1] They knew that the Gauls had been conquered by Caesar.

Ā; CAESARE; ESSE; GALLŌS; SCĪVĒRUNT; VĪCTŌS

[2] Everybody heard that the twins had been found by a wolf.

Ā; AUDĪVĒRUNT; ESSE; GEMINŌS; INVENTŌS; LUPŌ; OMNĒS

[3] They said that they had been led to Asia.

AD; ĀSIAM; DĪXĒRUNT; DUCTŌS; ESSE; ILLĪ; SĒ

[4] The god believed that the foods had been given to Sextus.

CIBŌS; CRĒDIDIT; DATŌS; DEUS; ESSE; SEXTŌ

[5] We announce that you were called back to Italy.

AD; ESSE; ITALIAM; NŪNTIĀMUS; REVOCĀTŌS; VŌS

[D]

[1] Scīvērunt Gallōs ā Caesare vīctōs esse.

[2] Omnēs audīvērunt geminōs ā lupō inventōs esse.

[3] Illī dīxērunt sē ad Āsiam ductōs esse.

[4] Deus crēdidit cibōs Sextō datōs esse.

[5] Nūntiāmus vōs ad Italiam revocātōs esse.

[E] Choose the correct translation.

[1] Sciēbam vōs ad Aegyptum revocātās esse.

[a] I know that you (pl.) have been recalled to Egypt.

[b] I knew that you (pl.) had been recalled to Egypt.

[c] I knew that you (sg.) were being recalled to Egypt.

[2] Puellae clamābant sē ad Aegyptum ductās esse.

[a] The girls were shouting that she had been led to Egypt.

[b] The girls are shouting that they were led to Egypt.

[c] The girls were shouting that they had been led to Egypt.

[3] Putābāmus eās ad īnsulam missās esse.

[a] We thought that they had been sent to the island.

[b] We think they have been sent to the island.

[c] We thought they were being sent to the island.

[4] Prōserpina crēdidit vōs ā mē dēspectās esse.

[a] Prosperina believed that you (sg.) had been despised by me.

[b] Prosperina believed that I had despised you (pl.)

[c] Prosperina believed that you (pl.)  had been despised by me.

[5] Magistrī sciunt discipulās ā nōbīs laudātās esse.

[a] The teachers knew that the pupils had been praised by us.

[b] The teachers know that the pupils were praised by us.

[c] The teachers know that the pupils are praised by us.

[E]

[1] Sciēbam vōs ad Aegyptum revocātās esse. │ [b] I knew that you (pl.) had been recalled to Egypt.

[2] Puellae clamābant sē ad Aegyptum ductās esse. │ [c] The girls were shouting that they had been led to Egypt.

[3] Putābāmus eās ad īnsulam missās esse. │ [a] We thought that they had been sent to the island.

[4] Prōserpina crēdidit vōs ā mē dēspectās esse. │ [c] Prosperina believed that you (pl.)  had been despised by me.

[5] Magistrī sciunt discipulās ā nōbīs laudātās esse. │ [b] The teachers know that the pupils were praised by us.

27.01.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [14]; the perfect passive infinitive [ii]; practice (1)

Complete the Latin translations with the words listed below each section.

[A]

[1] I believe that you were heard. │ [i] __________ [ii] __________ [iii] __________ esse.

[2] Flavius thought that I had been freed. │ Flāvius __________ __________ __________ esse.

[3] Somebody announced that Marcus had been elected consul. │ Aliquis __________ __________ cōnsulem __________ esse.

[4] Cornelia and Flavia hope that the wolf has been driven away. │ Cornēlia et Flāvia __________ __________ __________ esse.

[5] Do you believe that the brave man has been killed? │ __________ne fortem __________ __________ esse?

[6] They say that the book was read. │ __________ __________ __________ esse.

[7] Horatius was saying that he had been deceived. │ Horātius __________ __________ __________ esse.

[8] Epicurus thought that people had been ruled by fear of the gods. │ Epicūrus __________ __________ metū superōrum __________ esse.

[i] cōgitāvit; crēdis; crēdō; dīcēbat; dīcunt; nūntiāvit; putāvit; spērant

[ii] librum; lupum; Mārcum; mē; populum; sē; tē; virum

[iii] auditum; creātum; falsum; interfectum; lēctum; līberātum; rectum; repulsum

[A]

[1] Crēdō tē auditum esse.

[2] Flāvius putāvit mē līberātum esse.

[3] Aliquis nūntiāvit Mārcum cōnsulem creātum esse.

[4] Cornēlia et Flāvia spērant lupum repulsum esse.

[5] Crēdisne fortem virum interfectum esse?

[6] Dīcunt librum lēctum esse.

[7] Horātius dīcēbat sē falsum esse.

[8] Epicūrus cōgitāvit populum metū superōrum rectum esse.

[B]

[1] Mother said that dinner had been prepared. │ Māter dīxit cēnam __________.

[2] Cornelia knows that the woman was praised. │ Cornēlia scit fēminam __________.

[3] The goddess announced that she had been scolded by me. │ Dea nūntiāvit sē ā mē __________.

[4] Juno said that Claudia had been helped. │ Iūnō dīcēbat Claudiam __________.

[5] You knew that the money had been given to Diana. │ Scīvistī pecūniam Diānae ā rēgīnīs __________.

datam esse; iūtam esse; laudātam esse; parātam esse; reprehēnsam esse

[B]

[1] Māter dīxit cēnam parātam esse.

[2] Cornēlia scit fēminam laudātam esse.

[3] Dea nūntiāvit sē ā mē reprehēnsam esse.

[4] Iūnō dīcēbat Claudiam iūtam esse.

[5] Scīvistī pecūniam Diānae ā rēgīnīs datam esse.

27.01.26: Level 3; Reading (review); [27](b) Romulus and Remus

The twins Romulus and Remus were exposed on the order of the king Amulius. A wolf fed them at first.

Fābula est pāstōrem Rōmulum et Remum in Palātiō spectāvisse et ad sē trānsportāvisse. Nōn ignōrāmus geminōs ibi ēducātōs esse. Lēgimus geminōs eum locum posteā rūrsus quaesīvisse ibique ā Rōmulō mūrōs oppidī novī aedificātōs viāsque strātās esse. Rēmus autem parvōs mūrōs sprēvit et trānsiluit. Rōmulus ā Remō irrīsus eum necāvit. 

[1] perfect active infinitive

Fābula est ¦ pāstōrem Rōmulum et Remum in Palātiō spectāvisse et ad sē trānsportāvisse. │ The story is ¦ that the shepherd saw Romulus and Remus on the Palatine Hill and carried them home.

Lēgimus ¦ geminōs eum locum posteā rūrsus quaesīvisse… │ We (have) read ¦ that the twins again sought out that place

[2] perfect passive infinitive

Nōn ignōrāmus ¦ geminōs ibi ēducātōs esse. │ We are not unaware ¦ that the twins were raised there.

Lēgimus ¦ … ibique ā Rōmulō mūrōs oppidī novī aedificātōs viāsque strātās esse. │ We (have) read ¦ that … the walls of a new town were built and the roads (were) paved by Romulus.

____________________ 

The story goes that the shepherd saw Romulus and Remus on the Palatine Hill and carried them home. We know that the twins were raised there. We have read that the twins again sought that place, and that there the walls of a new town were built and the roads were paved by Romulus. But Remus scorned the low walls and leapt over them. Romulus, mocked by his brother, killed him.

27.01.26: Level 3; Reading (review); [27](a) Maintain, don’t annihilate

Cōnstat nōn cūnctōs Rōmānōs verba Mārcī Porciī laudāvisse imprīmīsque Nāsīcam* sententiam eius sprēvisse.

“Nōn negō”, inquit, “mē quoque cōpiās Poenōrum reformīdāvisse; sed appāret eās ad Zamam strātās et dēlētās esse. Itaque crēdō Poenōs bellum cōgitāre dēsiisse. Tū, Catō, dīcis dīvitiās eōrum crēvisse, Carthāginem cūnctīs bonīs implētam esse – et ego gaudeō Carthāginem dīvitiīs abundāre. Neque ignōrō ā Poenīs dīvitiās amārī; itaque perīcula bellī vītābunt, amīcitiam nostram colent, frūmentum exportābunt. Cōnstat ab eīs pacta adhūc servāta esse; oportet ea pacta etiam ā nōbīs servārī. Proinde dēsine nōbīs bellum iniūstum suādēre, dēsine odium et inimīcitiās serere, dēsine Poenōs timēre! Equidem nōn sinam Carthāginem vastārī.”

*Nasica: Publius Scipio Nasica, a Roman politician who favoured the Greek influence, in contrast to Cato

[1] present active infinitive

ego gaudeō ¦ Carthāginem dīvitiīs abundāre │ I rejoice ¦ that Carthage is overflowing with riches

[2] present passive infinitive

Neque ignōrō ¦ ā Poenīs dīvitiās amārī │ Nor am I unaware ¦ that riches are loved by the Carthaginians

[3] Perfect active infinitive

Cōnstat ¦ nōn cūnctōs Rōmānōs verba Mārcī Porciī laudāvisse │  It is well known / generally agreed ¦ that not all Romans praised the words of Marcus Porcius (Cato)

… imprīmīsque Nāsīcam sententiam eius sprēvisse. │ … and ¦ that Nasica especially rejected his opinion.

Nōn negō … ¦ mē quoque cōpiās Poenōrum reformīdāvisse │ I do not deny … ¦ that I too dreaded the Carthaginian troops

crēdō ¦ Poenōs bellum cōgitāre dēsiisse │ I believe ¦ that the Carthaginians have stopped thinking about war

Tū, Catō, dīcis ¦ dīvitiās eōrum crēvisse … │ You say, Cato, ¦ that their wealth has grown

[4] Perfect passive infinitive

appāret ¦ eās ad Zamam strātās (esse) et dēlētās esse │ it is clear ¦ that they were overthrown and (were) destroyed at Zama

Tū, Catō, dīcis ¦ … Carthāginem cūnctīs bonīs implētam esse │ You say, Cato … ¦ that Carthage has been totally filled with all (sorts of) goods

Cōnstat ¦ ab eīs pacta adhūc servāta esse │ It is well known ¦ that the treaties have still been kept by them.

 ____________________

 It is well known / generally agreed that not all Romans praised the words of Marcus Porcius (Cato) and that Nasica especially rejected his opinion.

“I do not deny,” he said, “that I too dreaded the Carthaginian troops, but it is clear that they were overthrown and destroyed at Zama. Therefore, I believe that the Carthaginians have stopped thinking about war. You say, Cato, that their wealth has grown, that Carthage has been totally filled with all (sorts of) goods – and I rejoice that Carthage is overflowing with riches / wealth. Nor am I unaware that riches are loved by the Carthaginians; therefore, they will avoid the dangers of war, they will cultivate our friendship, (and) they will export grain. It is well known that the treaties have still been kept by them. It is necessary that these treaties also be kept by us [ = we too ought to keep these treaties]. Therefore, stop recommending an unjust war to us, stop sowing hatred and hostilities, stop fearing the Carthaginians! Indeed / for my part, I shall not allow Carthage to be laid waste.”