08.02.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [21]; future passive infinitive

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/06/190925-level-3-supine-1.html (note [2][ii]; the supine + īrī)

The supine + īrī creates a future passive infinitive i.e. referring to something that is “going to be done”.

verberātum īrī │ to be going / to be about to be beaten

mūtātum īrī │ to be going / to be about to be changed

This construction is rare in CL literature, and, with the distinctive īrī, is easily recognisable. It does not agree with the subject i.e. you will only see this form in indirect statements:

Putō pontem dēlētum īrī ā Caesare. │ I think that the bridge is going to be / will be destroyed by Caesar

Caesar dīcit librōs missum īrī. │ Caesar says that the books are going to / about to / will be sent.

Dīxit urbem captum īrī. │ He said that the city was going to / about to / would be captured.

Examples from the post referred to above:

Negant urbem facile captum īrī. │ They say that the city will not easily be captured. [= they deny that the city will easily be captured.]

Inter omnēs cōnstat urbem nunquam traditum īrī. │ All agree that the city will never be surrendered.

Nōn crēdō pecūniam solūtum īrī. │ I do not believe that the money will be paid.

08.02.26: Level 3; the Pater Noster of Juvencus [2]; notes on Latin poetry [1] metre

Some basics of Latin poetry were first discussed here:

04.09.25: The best place to start Latin poetry is … in a cave! [2]; some basics concerning Classical Latin poetry

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/774016828542921/

[i] In print, you will either come across completely unscanned versions of verse or, as I have written below, edited texts with naturally long vowels marked (see the next post: identifying long and short syllables)

Sīdereō genitor residēns in vertice caelī

Nōminis ōrāmus venerātiō sānctificētur

In nōbīs Pater alte tuī: tranquillaque mundō

Adveniat rēgnumque tuum lūx alma reclaudat

In caelō ut terrīs fīat tua clāra voluntās

Vītālisque hodiē sānctī substantia pānis

Prōveniat nōbīs; tua mox largītiō solvat

Innumera indulgēns errōris dēbita prāvī

Et nōs haut aliter concēdere foenora nostrīs

Tētrī saeva procul temptātiō daemonis absit

Aequē malīs tua nōs in lūcem dextera tollat

[ii] A fully scanned version would have this or a similar format:

l.1: Sī-dĕ-rĕ- ¦ ō gĕ-nĭ- ¦ tōr rĕ-sĭ- ¦ dēns īn ¦ vēr-tĭ-cĕ ¦ cāe-lī

l.2: Nō-mĭ-nĭs ¦ ōr-ā- ¦ mūs vĕ-nĕ- ¦ rā- tⁱō ¦ sānc- tĭ- fĭ- ¦ cē-tŭr

l.3: Īn nō- ¦ bīs pă- tĕr ¦ āl-tĕ tŭ- ¦ ī: trān- ¦ qu-īl-lă-quĕ ¦ mūn-dō

l.4: Ād-vĕ-nĭ- ¦ āt rēg- ¦ nūm-quĕ tŭ- ¦ ūm lūx ¦ āl-mă rĕ- ¦ clāu-dăt

l.5: Īn cāe- ¦ l(o) ͜ ūt tēr- ¦ rīs fī- ¦ āt tŭ-ă ¦ clāră vŏ- ¦ lūn-tās

l.6: Vī-tā- ¦ līs-qu(e) ͜ (h)ŏ-dĭ- ¦ ē sānc- ¦ tī sūb- ¦ stān-tĭ-ă ¦ pā-nĭs

l.7: Prō-vĕ-nĭ- ¦ āt nō- ¦ bīs; tŭ-ă ¦ mōx lār- ¦ gī-tⁱō ¦ sōl-văt

l.8: Īn-nŭ-mĕ- ¦ r(a) ͜ īn-dūl- ¦ gēns ēr- ¦ rō-rīs ¦ dē-bĭ-tă ¦ prāvī

l.9: Ēt nōs ¦ hāut ă-lĭ-¦ tēr cōn- ¦ cē-dĕ-rĕ ¦ fōe-nŏ-ră ¦ nōs-trīs

l.10: Tē-trī ¦ sāe-vă prŏ- ¦ cūl tēmp- ¦ tā-tⁱō ¦ dāe-mŏ-nĭs ¦ āb-sĭt

l.11: Āe-quĕ mă- ¦ līs tŭ-ă ¦ nōs īn ¦ lū-cēm ¦ dēx-tĕ-ră ¦ tōl-lăt

As an example. The links below are to a poem V by Catullus:

[i] The first link takes you to a completely unscanned version

http://rudy.negenborn.net/catullus/text2/l5.htm

[ii] The second takes you to a scanned version

http://rudy.negenborn.net/catullus/text2/sc5.htm

[1] Metre

References are made here to long and short syllables; that is discussed in the next post

Vincent describes the verse as dactylic hexameter:

(1) a dactyl is a long syllable followed by two short syllables: — UU

Line 1: SĪ-DĔ-RĔ- ¦ ō gĕ-nĭ- ¦ tōr rĕ-sĭ- ¦ dēns īn ¦ vēr-tĭ-cĕ ¦ cāe-lī

(2) Two short syllables can equal one long syllable i.e. — UU = — — ; a combination of two long syllables is known as a spondee

Sī-dĕ-rĕ- ¦ ō gĕ-nĭ- ¦ tōr rĕ-sĭ- ¦ (2) DĒNS ĪN ¦ vēr-tĭ-cĕ ¦ cāe-lī

Combinations, six feet of six dactyls or spondees, is known as hexameter.

[1] Sī-dĕ-rĕ- ¦ [2] ō gĕ-nĭ- ¦ [3] tōr rĕ-sĭ- ¦ [4] dēns īn ¦ [5] vēr-tĭ-cĕ ¦ [6] cāe-lī

(3) The last syllable of a line can be long or short; this is usually indicated by X i.e. — X; a syllable of this type is called an anceps

[i] In the first line, the final syllable is long:

Sī-dĕ-rĕ- ¦ ō gĕ-nĭ- ¦ tōr rĕ-sĭ- ¦ dēns īn ¦ vēr-tĭ-cĕ ¦ cāe-LĪ

[ii] In Line 2 the final syllable is short:

Nō-mĭ-nĭs ¦ ōr-ā- ¦ mūs vĕ-nĕ- ¦ rā- tⁱō ¦ sānc- tĭ- fĭ- ¦ cē-TŬR

When a poem is scanned, sometimes no mark is given above an anceps because it makes no difference.

[iii] Note that /i/ when it is with another vowel e.g. -iō- or -ia- can, depending on the rhythm, be [a] similar to English /y/ and not scanned separately,  or [b] a separate vowel sound

[a]

[l.2] vĕ-nĕ- ¦ rā- tⁱō [imagine ve-ne-¦ ra-tyo (or -tjo- as written in some scans)]

[l.7] lār- ¦ gī-tⁱō

[l.10] tēmp- ¦ tā-tⁱō

[b]

[l.4] the /i/ is scanned as an independent vowel: Ād-vĕ-nĭ- ¦ āt i.e. it is pronounced distinctly seperately from the following /a/

[l.6] sūb- ¦ stān-tĭ-ă

[l.7] Prō-vĕ-nĭ- ¦ āt

08.02.26: Level 3; Reading (review); [29] The theft of Sabinian women

Rēmus necātus erat, Rōmulus nōnnūllus annōs rēgnāverat et rēx bonus fuerat, Rōma ipsa crēverat. Iam aedificia varia et templa aedificāta, iam viae strātae erant. Rōmānī autem, quamquam ipsī vītam bonam vīvēbant, contentī nōn erant, quod fēminās nōn habēbant. Iam nōnnūllī clam Rōmulum ipsum adierant eumque rogāverant: “Fēminās nōn habēmus; unde nōbīs parābimus?” Rōmulus autem “Id mihi”, inquit, “ignōtum nōn est!”, et cūrās eōrum dolēbat. Ac profectō ipse brevī eīs fēminās parāvit dolō.

Mox Rōmānī Sabīnōs, quī fīnitimī eōrum erant, ad lūdōs invītāvērunt. Sabīnī libenter ad eōs lūdōs adiērunt fēmināsque et fīliās, quārum multās habēbant, sēcum Rōmam trānsportāvērunt. Iam Sabīnī, quī necopīnī et sine armīs ad lūdōs ierant, iīs gaudēbant, cum Rōmānī, quibus Rōmulus id imperāverat, fīliās pulchrās captāvērunt et in casās suās portāvērunt. Sabīnī, quibus arma nōn erant, neque fīliās adiuvābant neque facta impia vindicābant, sed Rōmulum, cuius dolō fraudātī erant, verbīs dūrīs accūsāvērunt. Posteā autem magnīs cum cōpiīs Rōmam rediērunt fīliāsque, quae captātae erant, repetīvērunt. At fēminae ipsae eōs arcēbant et clāmāvērunt: “Abstinēte ā virīs nostrīs, quōs nunc amāmus!” Ex eō annō diuturna inter Rōmānōs et Sabīnōs amīcitia fuit.

abstineō, -ēre, -uī, abstentus [2]: stay away

arceō, -ēre, -uī, arcitus [2]: keep away; prevent

diuturnus, -a, -um: long-lasting

fraudō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: cheat; defraud; swindle

necopīnus, a, -um: unsuspecting

Find the Latin:

[i] (they invited) the Sabines, who were their neighbours,

[ii] and the daughters who had been captured 

[iii] by whose trickery [lit: by the trickery of whom] (they had been defrauded) 

[iv] our husbands who(m) we now love

[v] the Romans to whom Romulus had given this command 

[vi] the Sabines who did not have weapons [lit: … to whom there were not weapons] 

[vii] The Sabines who, unsuspecting and without weapons,  

[viii] the women and daughters of whom they had many 

____________________

[i] Sabīnōs, quī fīnitimī eōrum erant,

[ii] fīliāsque, quae captātae erant

[iii] cuius dolō fraudātī erant

[iv] virīs nostrīs, quōs nunc amāmus

[v] Rōmānī, quibus Rōmulus id imperāverat

[vi] Sabīnī, quibus arma nōn erant

[vii] Sabīnī, quī necopīnī et sine armīs

[viii] fēmināsque et fīliās, quārum multās habēbant

Remus had been killed, Romulus had ruled for several years and had been a good king, and Rome itself had grown. By now various buildings and temples had been built, and the roads had already been paved. But the Romans, although they themselves were living a good life, were not content, because they did not have women. Already some had secretly approached Romulus himself and had asked him: ‘We have no women; from where shall we obtain them?’ But Romulus said, ‘That is not unknown to me,’ and he felt their concerns. And indeed, before long he himself provided women for them by trickery.

Soon the Romans invited the Sabines, who were their neighbours, to the games. The Sabines gladly went to those games and brought with them to Rome the women and daughters of whom they had many. Now the Sabines, who had gone to the games unsuspecting / without suspicion and without weapons, were enjoying them, when the Romans, to whom Romulus had given this command, seized the beautiful daughters and carried them off to their huts. The Sabines, who had no weapons, neither helped their daughters nor punished the wicked deeds, but they accused Romulus, by whose trickery they had been deceived, with harsh words. Afterwards, however, they returned to Rome with great forces and demanded back their daughters who had been taken. But the women themselves kept them away and cried: ‘Stay away from our husbands, whom we now love!’ From that year on there was long-lasting friendship between the Romans and the Sabines.

07.02.26: Comenius CVI; the Celestial Sphere [6]; text and vocabulary [5](ii)

Take a second look at images #2 and #3 from the previous post

If you are looking at any original Mediaeval or, here, Renaissance documents, you will see abbreviations, letter forms and spellings that are not in Classical Latin. There are many of these and a number of them were discussed in posts concerning both the Domesday Book and the Bayeux Tapestry:

[i]

ORIĒS / OCCIDĒS = oriens / occidens

COELV͞ = coelum (caelum)

It can be simply a line or what looks like a Spanish tilde (˜) or, for want of a better term, a ‘squiggle’ above a vowel. In original documents it is not a macron i.e. an indicator of vowel length, but usually indicates the omission of /n/ or /m/ i.e. nasalised sounds. However, it isn’t confined to that usage. Depending on the writer it can indicate the absence of a group of letters, in the same way that we would use a ‘full stop’ e.g. info. for information.

28.11.25: the Domesday Book; reading the manuscript [iii] types of abbreviation [ii]

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/08/281125-domesday-book-reading-manuscript.html

This example from the Bayeux Tapestry shows the use of the abbreviation to omit groups of letters

HIC PORTATVR CORPVS EADWARDI REGIS AD ECCLESIAM SC͞T PETRI AP͞LI

Hīc portātur corpus Eadwardi regis ad ecclesiam Sancti Petri Apostoli

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/07/130725-bayeux-tapestry-2.html

[ii] Various symbols were used to indicate the absence of a letter or small group; becoming familiar with these is a whole field of study in itself

What looks like a small number 9:

POLVS ARCTIC⁹ = arcticus

POLVS ANTAR(c)TIC⁹ = antar(c)ticus

28.11.25: the Domesday Book; reading the manuscript [v] types of abbreviation [iv]; mind your p’s and q’s

Note (5)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/08/281125-domesday-book-reading-manuscript_35.html

[iii] long /s/ i.e. ſ

[iv] abbreviation for ‘and’, similar to 7; it is called an ampersand, and an equivalent can be found which is still used today i.e. &

eclipſis ſolis 7 lune = eclipsis solis et lunae [note also: spelling shift /ae/ > /e/]

For both [iii] and [iv] above:

01.12.25: the Domesday Book; reading the manuscript [vi] types of abbreviation [v]; the long s

Long s: note (1); Ampersand: note (4)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/09/011225-domesday-book-reading-manuscript.html

07.02.26: Comenius CVI; the Celestial Sphere [6]; text and vocabulary [5](i)

[7] Under this move the seven wandring-stars which they call planets, whose way is a circle in the middle of the Zodiack, called the ecliptick │ Sub hōc cursitant stēllæ errantēs VII quās vocant planētās, quōrum via est circulus, in mediō zōdiacī, dictus eclīptica.

cursitō, -āre [1] literally: run all around / here and there;  this verb has a suffix: –(i)tō; this suffix denotes a frequentative action i.e. one that is performed more than once:

• dictitō, -āre [1]: repeat, maintain i.e. keep saying something
• clāmitō, -āre [1]: yell i.e. not a single shout but a prolonged action
• vēnditō, -āre [1]: offer something, again and again, for sale

eclīptica, -ae [1/f]: ecliptic

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

eclīptica, -ae

By Tfr000 (talk) 16:54, 15 March 2012 (UTC) - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18710950

stēlla, -ae [1/f] errāns: wandering star i.e. planet

planēta, -ae [1/f]: planet

The ancient Romans recognized seven "planets", the term referring to any celestial body that moved against the background of fixed stars hence the term stēllae errantēs (wandering stars) as opposed to stēllae fīxae / inerrantēs (fixed stars). Therefore, they also included the Sun and the Moon as planets:

Sōl, -is [3/m]

Mercurius, -ī [2/m]

Venus, Veneris [3/f]

Lūna, -ae [1/f]

Mārs, Mārtis [3/m]

Sāturnus, -ī [2/m]

Iuppiter, Iovis [3/m]

Geocentric World  (1517)

06.02.26: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [24][v]: the comparative of adjectives

Ubi populus sibi imperat, laetior est. │ When a people governs itself, it is happier [ = when the people rule themselves, they are happier]

Urbs antīqua etiam pulchrior erat │ The ancient city was even more beautiful

comparative: in English, happier, longer, more beautiful; sometimes the comparative simply means rather + adjective or too + adjective

vir fortior: [i] a braver man; [ii] a rather brave man

hoc difficilius est: [i] this is more difficult; [ii] this is rather / too difficult

[ii] Apart from a few irregular forms, the comparatives of adjectives are formed by two distinctive endings: -ior (masculine and feminine); -ius (neuter)

[iii] 1^st / 2^nd declension adjectives

(i) addition of -ior or -ius to the stem of the adjective:

long¦us, -a, -um: long > longior, longius: longer; rather / too long

(ii) adjectives in -er form drop /e/ before the ending is added:

pulcher, pulchr¦a, pulchrum: beautiful > pulchrior, pulchrius: more beautiful

[iv] 3^rd declension adjectives

(i) The comparatives of these adjectives have the same endings i.e. -ior / -ius:

fort¦is, forte: brave, strong > fortior, fortius: braver, stronger

(ii) 3^rd declension adjectives which have a stem change – indicated by the genitive singular – will use that stem to form the comparatives:

audāx: bold > genitive singular: audāc¦is > stem: audāc- > comparative: audācior, audācius: bolder

recēns: recent > genitive singular: recent¦is > stem: recent- > comparative: recentior, recentius: more recent

Links:

Degrees of comparison: introduction

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/041124-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-1.html

-ior; -ius

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/041124-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-2.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/081124-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-3.html

Translation of comparatives

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/161124-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-8.html

22.11.25: Level 1; review presentations (1):

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/838353188775951/

 22.11.25: Level 1; I'm just experimenting a bit with producing some simple presentation videos.

Key information:

1. 1st person singular present tense of ambulō (I walk / am walking), currō (I run), stō (I stand)
2. ego: I
3. when ego is not needed because the verb ending tells you who is performing the action: ambulō
4. negative of verbs: nōn ambulō (I don't walk / I am not walking)
5. via: street > in viā: in the street

 

05.02.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [20]; future active infinitive: practice (2)

Exercise [3]: Complete the English translation with the appropriate pronouns and phrases listed below. Note: each pronoun translation is only used once.

Cornēlius nūntiāvit [i] sē rēgibus [ii] ignōtūrum esse. │ Cornelius announced that [i] he (referring to himself) [ii] would forgive the kings.

Flāvia nūntiat [i] eum [ii] valitūrum esse. │ Flavia announces that [i] he (referring to somebody else) [ii] will thrive.

Spērābam [i] tē nautae fābulam [ii] nārrātūram esse. │ I was hoping that [i] you (sg.) [ii] would tell a story to the sailor.

Nūntiāvimus eam ad magnum templum ventūram esse. │ We announced that [i] she (referring to somebody else) [ii] would come to the big temple.

Dea nūntiābat [i] sē [ii] subrīsūram esse. │ The goddess was announcing that [i] she (referring to herself) [ii] would smile.

Spērāvistis [i] eōs in illam vīllam iter [ii] factūrōs esse. │ You hoped that [i] they (referring to other people) [ii] would make a journey into that country house.

Illī putant [i] vōs eīs [ii] crēditūrās esse. │ They think that [i] you (pl.) [ii] will trust them.

Rēgīnae nūntiābant [i] nōs in silvam [ii] festīnātūrās esse. │ The queens were announcing that [i] we [ii] would hurry into the forest.

Amīcus dīcēbat [i] mē cibōs āthlētae [ii] datūram esse. │ A friend was saying that [i] I [ii] would give the foods to the athlete.

Puellae dīxērunt [i] sē eās [ii] petītūrās esse. │ The girls said that [i] they (referring to themselves) [ii] would seek them.

[i]

he (referring to himself); he (referring to somebody else); I; she (referring to herself); she (referring to somebody else); they (referring to other people); they (referring to themselves); we; you (pl.); you (sg.)

[ii]

would tell; would smile; would seek; would make; would hurry; would give; would forgive; would come; will trust; will thrive

[i] Cornelius announced that [i] he (referring to himself) [ii] would forgive the kings.

[ii] Flavia announces that [i] he (referring to somebody else) [ii] will thrive.

[iii] I was hoping that [i] you (sg.) [ii] would tell a story to the sailor.

[iv] We announced that [i] she (referring to somebody else) [ii] would come to the big temple.

[v] The goddess was announcing that [i] she (referring to herself) [ii] would smile.

[vi] You hoped that [i] they (referring to other people) [ii] would make a journey into that country house.

[vii] They think that [i] you (pl.) [ii] will trust them.

[viii] The queens were announcing that [i] we [ii] would hurry into the forest.

[ix] A friend was saying that [i] I [ii] would give the foods to the athlete.

[x] The girls said that [i] they (referring to themselves) [ii] would seek them.

Exercise [4]: Choose the correct translation [a] [b] or [c]

Note:

(1) Identify the tense of the verb which introduces the indirect statement e.g. he says / he said, because that will determine whether English translates the indirect statement as will or would

(2) Where pronouns are involved as the subject of the indirect statement, they will come first and, to double check, look at the ending of the future active infinitive. From the first question:

Horātia putāvit …

Is it: Horatia thinks … will … or Horatia thought … would …?

… tē puellam iūturum esse.

Who is doing the helping? Is it you [tē] or the girl [puellam]? Does iūturum agree with puellam?

[i] Horātia putāvit ¦ tē puellam iūtūrum esse.

(a) Horatia thinks that you will help the girl.

(b) Horatia thought that you would help the girl.

(c) Horatia thinks that the girl will help you.

[ii] Gladiātōrēs putābant Marium dictūrum esse

(a) The gladiators thought that Marius would speak.

(b) The gladiators thought that Marius was speaking.

(c) The gladiators thought that Marius had spoken.

[iii] Ille spērāvit tē nūntiōs impedītūram esse.

(a) He hopes that you (pl.) will hinder the messengers.

(b) He hoped that you (pl.) would hinder the messengers.

(c) He hoped that you (sg.) would hinder the messengers.

[iv] Poēta dīcit sē mē ad Graeciam revocātūrum esse.

(a) The poet says that he will call me back to Greece.

(b) The poet said that he would call me back to Greece.

(c) The poet said that I will call him back to Greece.

[v]  Illī crēdunt eās in curiam ambulātūrās esse.

(a) They believed that they would walk into the senate house.

(b) They believe that these men will walk into the senate house.

(c) They believe that these women will walk into the senate house.

[vi] Patrēs dīcēbant sē nōs dēfēnsūrōs esse.

(a) The fathers were saying that they would defend us.

(b) The fathers were saying that we would defend them.

(c) The fathers are saying that they will defend us.

[vii] Crēdimus Vergilium eī cūram ostentūrum esse.

(a) We believe that he will show concern to Vergil.

(b) We believe that Vergil will show concern to him.

(c) We believed that Vergil showed concern to her.

[viii] Discipula nūntiāvit sē tē dēspectūram esse.

(a) The student announced that she would despise you.

(b) The student announced that you would despise her.

(c) The student announced that she was despised by you.

[i] (b)

[ii] (a)

[iii] (c)

[iv] (a)

[v] (c)

[vi] (a)

[vii] (b)

[viii] (a)

05.02.26: Level 3; the Pater Noster of Juvencus [1] text and translation

Vincent recites the Pater Noster of Juvencus (c. 330 AD)

[l.1] Sīdereō genitor residēns in vertice caelī │ Creator / Father sitting in the starry summit of heaven

• genitor, -tōris [3/m]: father; parent (m); creator
• sīdereus, -a, -um: starry; filled with stars < sīdus, -eris [3/n]: star
• vertex, verticis [3/m]: highest point; summit

[l.2] Nōminis ōrāmus venerātiō sānctificētur │ May the reverence of (your) name, we pray, be sanctified

A prayer by its nature is often expressing what someone wants to happen e.g. in English “May he rest in peace”. In Latin this is conveyed by the subjunctive, and the verse contains many examples of it: sānctificētur: May (the reverence of your name) be sanctified.

[l.3] In nōbīs ¦ Pater alte ¦  tuī: tranquillaque mundō │ Father on High, (bring) peaceful things of yours / your peace in us and in the world

pater alte: vocative case < altus, -a, -um: high

[l.4] Adveniat rēgnumque tuum lūx alma reclaudat │ May your kingdom come and the nourishing light disclose.

• almus, -a, -um: nourishing; kind
• reclaudō, -ere [3] = reclūdō, -ere [3]: reveal; disclose

Adveniat rēgnum … tuum: May your kingdom come; subjunctive

lūx alma reclaudat: may the nourishing light disclose

[l.5] In caelō ut terrīs fīat clāra voluntās │ In heaven as on earth (the lands) may your will be made / become clear

• voluntās, -tātis [3/f]: will; desire; free will; Eng. deriv. (via French) volunteer < La: voluntārius, -a, -um: willing

fīat clāra voluntās: May (your) will become clear; subjunctive

[l.6] Vītālisque hodiē sānctī substantia pānis │ And today the vital substance of the holy bread

• substantia, -ae [1/f]: material; contents; (here) substance

Note the word order:

(1) Vītālisque hodiē (2) sānctī (1) substantia (2) pānis

(1) (and) the vital substance (2) of the holy bread

Because of the case endings, Latin words – especially in verse – are often not written together; in poetry this is known as hyperbaton; a writer may do this to conform to the rhythm and / or to create a particular effect e.g. to emphasise certain words or ideas or, in this line (I suspect), to produce alliteration (the repetition of the same initial sound, usually a consonant) i.e. sānctī substantia (pānis)

[l.7] Prōveniat nōbīs; tua mox largītiō solvat │ May it come (forth) to us; may your generosity soon bestow it

• solvō, -ere [3]: (various meanings) loosen; release; pay; grant

[l.8] Innumera indulgēns errōris dēbita prāvī │ Indulging (i.e. being lenient towards / pardoning / forgiving) the countless debts of wicked error

• prāvus, -a, -um: wicked; crooked; depraved; improper etc.

Again, note the word order as an example of hyperbaton (see the note to l.6)

(1) Innumera ¦ indulgēns ¦  (2) errōris (1) dēbita prāvī

indulging ¦ the (1) countless debts (2) of wicked error

And again, you see the word order manipulated to create alliteration: Innumera ¦ indulgēns; the repetition of vowel and consonants extends throughout the line:

Innumera ¦ indulgēns ¦  (2) errōris (1) dēbita prāvī

For reference, there are three terms used to describe this poetic device:

1. Alliteration: repetition of initial sounds, usually consonants: silent seas swell slowly
2. Assonace: repetition of vowel sounds inside words: rise high in the bright sky
3. Consonance: repetition of consonants (not always initial): stroke of luck

However, they rarely appear in such strict divisions, but, like line 8 above, as a combination of devices. One example alone from our era shows how effective such poetic devices can be, an example of sheer genius:  excerpt from the “Witch’s Rap” in the Sondheim musical Into the Woods. The Baker’s father steals from the Witch’s garden; note how she growls, hisses, fumes and spits her words!

Greens greens and nothing but greens! / Parsley, peppers, cabbages, and celery, / Asparagus and  watercress / And fiddleferns and lettuce. / He said "Alright!" / But it wasn't quite. / Cause I caught him / In the autumn / In my garden one night!

You’re not often going to come across such relentless intensity, but it’s useful to know the terms when instances of such poetic devices occur.

[l.9] Et nōs haut aliter concēdere foenora nostrīs │ no differently than we grant debts to our own (people) [i.e. we do not treat others using different terms]; Compare ll8-9 with the standard version of the prayer (Church of Scotland): Forgive us our debts / as we forgive our debtors

The same lines from the Book of Cerne (9^th century): Forgive countless debts of our wicked errors, / no different than we pardon our debtors.

• aliter: otherwise; differently
• concēdō, -ere [3]: (here) allow; grant
• foenus = faenus, -oris [3/n]: (literally) interest on a loan
• haut = haud: not

[l.10] Tētrī saeva procul temptātiō daemonis absit │ May the savage temptation of the foul demon be far away

• tēter = taeter, -tra, -trum: foul; offensive; hideous

(1) Tētrī (2) saeva [procul] (2) temptātiō (1) daemonis

(2) the savage temptation (1) of the foul demon

[l.11] Aequē malīs tua nōs in lūcem dextera tollat │ Equally may your right hand raise us / lift us up from evils into the light

• dextera, -ae [1/f]: right hand
• tollō, -ere [3]: (here) raise; lift up

tua nōs in lūcem dextera: your right hand …

04.02.26: Comenius CVI; the Celestial Sphere [5]; text and vocabulary [4]

[6] Add (to these) the XII signs of the Zodiaque, every one XXX degrees … │ Adde Signa XII Zōdiacī, quodlibet graduum XXX …… whose names are … │ … quōrum nōmina sunt …

Note: the names are the same in both the Latin and English text except that Comenius uses:

[i] Capricorn as opposed to the Latin Capricornus, -ī [2/m]

[ii] Scorpius, -ī [2/m]: scorpion, but also CL: scorpiō, -iōnis [3/m] i.e. Modern English uses Scorpio for the astrological sign

The order is the same as the original text.

♈ Aries, ♉ Taurus, ♊ Gemini,  ♋ Cancer, ♌ Leo, ♍ Virgo, ♎ Libra, ♏ Scorpius (Scorpio), ♐ Sagittarius, ♑ Capricorn(us), ♒ Aquarius, ♓ Pisces.

quodlibet: each one

08.12.25: Level 3; indefinites [18] -vīs; -libet

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/09/081225-level-3-indefinites-18-vis-libet.html

gradus, -us [4/m] [i] step, pace; [ii] (here) degree

zōdiacus, -ī [2/m]: zodiac

aquārius, -ī [2/m]: water-carrier

piscis, -is [3/m]: fish

ariēs, arietis [3/m]: ram

taurus, -ī [2/m]: bull

geminus, -a, -um: born at the same time

tibi sunt geminī et trigeminī, sī tē bene habēs, fīliī (Plautus) │ you have two-fold and three-fold sons if you are happy

cancer, cancrī [2/m]: crab

leō, leōnis [3/m]: lion

virgō, virgōnis [3/m]: (unmarried) young woman; virgin

lībra, -ae [1/f]: scales, balance

scorpius, -ī [2/m]; scorpiō, scorpiōnis [3/m]: scorpion

sagittārius, -ī [2/m]: archer

Capricornus, -ī [2/m]: Capricorn < caper, caprī [2/m]: goat + cornū, -ūs [4/n]: horn

images from a 17th century woodcut

3^rd century Roman mosaic with images of the zodiac

03.02.26: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [24][iv] Find the Latin

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.

[2] In ūnō locō erant tēcta antīquōrum rēgum Rōmae. Interdum hī rēgēs erant dominī dūrī quibus populus, servī rēgis, pārēre nōn cupiēbat. Paucī virī erant perfidī et sī perfidī esse repertī sunt, posteā nōn līberī erant. Diū in vinculīs manēbant et posteā necātī sunt.

[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.

[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."

[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."

[i]

this king

there is no king

the king is coming

the king’s servants

the king’s horses

the life of a king

to the right and the left of the king

Rome has a king

I won’t see the king

the people praise the king

they see the king

the soldiers are walking near the king

these kings were …

the houses of the ancient kings

[ii]

a free man

they are not free men

a shout is heard

the shouts ¦ of men / people

a very beautiful city

… which flows through the city

near the river ..

across the river

they praise these geese

the poet talks about the geese

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.