20.02.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [25] Review; the Road to Latin; Unit 44 (1); Dē Orgetorīge I

This text reviews indirect statement by first presenting the information as direct speech [A] and then showing how this is changed to indirect statement / reported speech in [B]

Vocabulary

coniūrātiō, coniūrātiōnis [3/f]: [i] conspiracy [ii] (here) alliance, league

dēferō, dēferre, dētulī, dēlātus: to carry down; report

difficultās, difficultātis [3/f]: difficulty, trouble

fortitūdō, fortitūdinis [3/f]: bravery, courage

nātūra, -ae [1/f]: nature, character

• nātūra locī: natural features; topography

nōbilitās, nōbilitātis [3/f]: nobility, the nobles

ōrātiō, ōrātiōnis [3/f]: speech

• ōrātiōnem habēre: to make a speech

prīncipātus, -ūs  [4/m]: leadership; supremacy; the first place

quondam: formerly, once

sine dubiō: doubtless

spērō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: to hope, expect

DĒ ORGETORĪGE I

Apud Helvētiōs Orgetorīx est prīnceps longē nōbilissimus et potentissimus. Is, rēgnī cupiditāte adductus, coniūrātiōnem nōbilitātis facit. Cuius coniūrātiōnis dux esse vult. Ad nōbilēs hanc ōrātiōnem habet:

[A] "Cīvitās Helvētia, nostra patria, locī nātūrā continētur. Helvētiī undique flūminibus montibusque continentur. Helvētiī, hominēs maximae audāciae, sunt bellī cupidī, sed propter angustōs fīnēs fīnitimīs bellum nōn facile īnferre possunt. Glōria bellī et fortitūdinis quondam fuit maxima sed mox minima erit. Helvētiī sine difficultāte dē fīnibus suīs exīre et lātiōrēs fīnēs petere possunt. Sīc fīnēs sibi magis idōneōs obtinēbunt."

"Rōmānī autem magnam partem Galliae iam superāvērunt. Prīncipātum tōtīus Galliae obtinēre volunt. Rōmānī fortasse ab itinere nōs prohibēre temptābunt. Multae nātiōnēs autem ab Helvētiīs vīctae sunt. Exercitus Rōmānus quidem ab eīs quondam victus est. Sine dubiō cōpiae Helvētiōrum eum iterum vincent."

[A] What Orgetorix actually says i.e. direct statement / direct speech

(1) “Cīvitās Helvētia, nostra patria, locī nātūrā continētur.

(2) Helvētiī undique flūminibus montibusque continentur. 

(3) Helvētiī, hominēs maximae audāciae, sunt bellī cupidī, sed (4) propter angustōs fīnēs fīnitimīs bellum nōn facile īnferre possunt.

(5) Glōria bellī et fortitūdinis quondam fuit maxima sed (6) mox minima erit.

(7) Helvētiī sine difficultāte dē fīnibus suīs exīre et lātiōrēs finēs petere possunt.

(8) Sīc fīnēs sibi magis idōneōs obtinēbunt.

(9) Rōmānī autem magnam partem Galliae iam superāvērunt.

(10) Prīncipātum tōtīus Galliae obtinēre volunt.

(11) Rōmānī fortasse ab itinere nōs prohibēre temptābunt.

(12) Multae nātiōnēs autem ab Helvetiīs victae sunt.

(13) Exercitus Rōmānus quidem ab eīs quondam victus est.

(14) Sine dubiō cōpiae Helvētiōrum eum iterum vincent.”

[1]

Which of the direct statements (1) – (14) above refers to:

_____ a great part of Gaul already conquered

_____ eager for war

_____ former glory in war

_____ glory will soon be very small

_____ hope for Helvetian victory

_____ inability to make war easily

_____ limited / contained by natural features  

_____ many nations conquered

_____ obtaining leadership / supremacy of all Gaul

_____ obtaining more suitable territories

_____ possible attempts to prevent the journey

_____ Roman army once conquered

_____ seeking wider territory

_____ surrounded by rivers and mountains

Alius Helvētius, frāter Orgetorīgis, Rōmānīs amīcus, hanc ōrātiōnem audit et Caesarī dēfert:

[B] Orgetorīx dīcit cīvitātem Helvētiam locī nātūrā continērī. Dēmōnstrat Helvētiōs undique flūminibus et montibus continērī. Cōnfirmat Helvētiōs, hominēs maximae audāciae, bellī esse cupidōs sed propter angustōs fīnēs fīnitimīs bellum nōn facile īnferre posse. Nōbilibus nostrīs nārrat eōrum glōriam bellī et fortitūdinis fuisse maximam sed mox futūram esse minimam. Putat Helvētiōs sine difficultāte dē fīnibus suīs exīre et fīnēs lātiōrēs petere posse; sīc sibi fīnēs magis idōneōs obtentūrōs esse. Dīcit Rōmānōs ipsōs magnam partem Galliae iam superāvisse et prīncipātum tōtīus Galliae obtinēre velle. Putat Rōmānōs fortasse eōs ab itinere prohibēre temptātūrōs esse. Scit autem multās nātiōnēs ab Helvētiīs vīctās esse et exercitum Rōmānum quidem ab eīs quondam vīctum esse. Spērat cōpiās Helvētiōrum Rōmānōs iterum victūrās esse.

[B] What Orgetorix is reported as saying i.e. indirect statement / reported speech

Orgetorīx dīcit ¦ cīvitātem Helvētiam locī nātūrā continēri.

Dēmōnstrat ¦ Helvētiōs undique flūminibus et montibus continērī.

Cōnfirmat ¦ Helvētiōs, hominēs maximae audāciae, bellī esse cupidōs sed propter angustōs fīnēs fīnitimīs bellum nōn facile īnferre posse.

Nōbilibus nostrīs nārrat ¦ eōrum glōriam bellī et fortitūdinis fuisse maximam sed mox futūram esse minimam.

Putat ¦ Helvētiōs sine difficultāte dē fīnibus suīs exīre et fīnēs lātiōrēs petere posse; sīc sibi fīnēs magis idōneōs obtentūrōs esse.

Dīcit ¦ Rōmānōs ipsōs magnam partem Galliae iam superāvisse et prīncipātum tōtius Galliae obtinēre velle.

Putat ¦ Rōmānōs fortasse eōs ab itinere prohibēre temptātūrōs esse.

Scit ¦ autem multās nātiōnēs ab Helvētiīs victās esse et exercitum Rōmānum quidem ab eīs quondam victum esse.

Spērat ¦ cōpiās Helvētiōrum Rōmānōs iterum victūrās esse.

[B]

[1] Find the Latin:

[i] he asserts

[ii] he hopes

[iii] he knows

[iv] he says

[v] he shows

[vi] he tells / recounts

[vii] he thinks

[2] Put the following infinitives under the appropriate heading of:

(a) present active

(b) perfect active

(c) future active

(d) present passive

(e) perfect passive

continēri

esse

fuisse

futūram esse

obtentūrōs esse

posse

superāvisse

temptātūrōs esse

velle

victās esse

victum esse

victūrās esse

[3] Underline the subject accusative of the following indirect statements:

[i] Orgetorīx dīcit cīvitātem Helvētiam locī nātūrā continēri.

[ii] Dēmōnstrat Helvētiōs undique flūminibus et montibus continērī.

[iii] Nōbilibus nostrīs nārrat eōrum glōriam bellī et fortitūdinis fuisse maximam

[iv] Dīcit Rōmānōs ipsōs magnam partem Galliae iam superāvisse

[v] 2 subject accusatives: Scit autem multās nātiōnēs ab Helvētiīs victās esse et exercitum Rōmānum quidem ab eīs quondam victum esse.

[vi] Spērat cōpiās Helvētiōrum Rōmānōs iterum victūrās esse.

____________________

[A]

[1]

a great part of Gaul already conquered (9)

eager for war (3)

former glory in war (5)

glory will soon be very small (6)

hope for Helvetian victory (14)

inability to make war easily (4)

limited by natural features (1)

many nations conquered (12)

obtaining leadership / supremacy of all Gaul (10)

obtaining more suitable territories (8)

possible attempts to prevent the journey (11)

Roman army once conquered (13)

seeking wider territory (7)

surrounded by rivers and mountains (2)

[B]

[1]

[i] he confirms: cōnfirmat

[ii] he hopes: spērat

[iii] he knows: scit

[iv] he says: dīcit

[v] he shows: dēmōnstrat

[vi] he tells / recounts: nārrat

[vii] he thinks: putat

[2]

[3]

[i] Orgetorīx dīcit cīvitātem Helvētiam locī nātūrā continēri.

[ii] Dēmōnstrat Helvētiōs undique flūminibus et montibus continērī.

[iii] Nōbilibus nostrīs nārrat eōrum glōriam bellī et fortitūdinis fuisse maximam

[iv] Dīcit Rōmānōs ipsōs magnam partem Galliae iam superāvisse

[v] Scit autem (1) multās nātiōnēs ab Helvētiīs victās esse et (2) exercitum Rōmānum quidem ab eīs quondam victum esse.

[vi] Spērat cōpiās Helvētiōrum Rōmānōs iterum victūrās esse.

Translation of [B]

Orgetorix says that the Helvetian state is confined by natural features.

He shows that the Helvetians are surrounded on all sides by rivers and mountains.

He asserts that the Helvetians—people of the greatest boldness—are eager for war, but because of their narrow borders they are not able to wage war easily on their neighbours.

He tells our nobles that their glory of war and bravery had once been very great, but soon will be very small.

He thinks that the Helvetians can, without difficulty, depart from their own borders and seek wider territories; and thus they will obtain territories more suitable for themselves.

He says that the Romans themselves have already conquered a large part of Gaul and wish to obtain the leadership of all Gaul.

He thinks that the Romans will perhaps try to prevent them from their journey.

He knows, however, that many nations have been conquered by the Helvetians and that the Roman army indeed was once defeated by them.

He hopes that the forces of the Helvetians will defeat the Romans again.

20.02.26: Level 3; Celestial Sphere: [4] Feng-Shui, Roman style: Columella

Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella, 1^st century AD Roman writer on agriculture: Dē rē rūsticā (12 books)

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

https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/columella/de_re_rustica/1*.html

[1] Modus autem membrōrumque numerus aptētur ūniversō cōnsaeptō et dīvidātur in trēs partēs, urbāna, rūsticam, frūctuāriam

The size of the villa and the number of its parts should be proportioned to the whole enclosure, and it should be divided into three groups: the villa urbana⁠ [house in the city], the villa rustica⁠ [house in the country; ‘farmhouse’], and the villa fructuaria [literally: pertaining to fruit; here: storehouse].

• cōnsaeptum, -ī [2/n]: enclosure; also: fence, hedge
• frūctuārius, -a, -um: (pertaining to) fruit; fruitful
• rūsticus, -a, -um: (pertaining to the) countryside; rural;
• urbānus, -a, -um: (pertaining to a) city

[2] Urbāna rūrsus in hībernācula⁠ et aestīva sīc dīgerātur ut spectent hiemālis temporis cubicula brūmālem orientem, cēnātiōnēs aequinoctiālem occidentem.

The   manor house should be divided in turn into winter apartments and summer apartments, in such a way that the winter bedrooms [lit: of the winter season / time] may face the sunrise at the winter,⁠ and the (winter) dining-room face the sunset at the equinox.

[i]

aestīva (cubicula): winter bedrooms

brūmālis, -e: winter; winter solstice

hībernaculum, -ī [2/n]: winter quarters

hiemālis, -e: winter

[ii]

(1)

occidēns, -entis [3/m]: sunset; west (or as participle: setting)

oriēns, -entis [3/m]: sunrise (or as participle: rising)

(2)

ortus, -ūs [4/m]: rising (of heavenly bodies)

obitus, -ūs [4/m]: setting

occāsus, -ūs [4/m]: setting

Sapientēs antīquī sōlis et lūnae reliquōrumque sīderum ortūs, obitūs, mōtūsque cognōscere voluērunt.

The wise men of old wished to know the risings, settings, and movements of the sun, the moon, and the other stars.

[3] Rūrsus aestīva cubicula⁠ spectent merīdiem aequinoctiālem, sed cēnātiōnēs eiusdem temporis prōspectent hībernum orientem.

The summer bedrooms, on the other hand, should look toward the midday sun at the time of the equinox,⁠ but the dining-rooms of that season should look toward the rising sun of winter.⁠

[4] Balneāria occidentī aestīvō advertantur, ut sint post merīdiem et usque in vesperum inlūstria.

The baths should face the setting sun of summer,⁠ that they may be bright after midday and up to evening.

• inlūstris / illūstris, -e: bright, shining

[5] Ambulātiōnēs merīdiānō aequinoctiālī subiectae sint, ut et⁠ hieme plūrimum sōlis et aestāte minimum recipiant.

The promenades should be exposed to the midday sun at the equinox, so as to receive both the maximum of sun in winter and the minimum in summer.

• ambulātiō, -iōnis [3/f]: [i] a walk / stroll; [ii] a place for walking, promenade

19.02.26: Level 2; Vincent (Latin Reader); XLII / XLIII; [1] A Surprise Attack by the British; [2] the Submission of the Trinobantes (i) comprehension

[1] A Surprise Attack by the British

Posterō diē hostēs, quī procul ā castrīs erant in collibus, nostrōs equitēs proeliō lacessere incipiēbant. Tempore merīdiānō, ubi Caesar trēs legiōnēs et omnēs equitēs cum Gāiō Trebōniō, lēgātō, frūmentī causā mīserat, illī subitō in pābulātōrēs impetum fēcērunt. Sed nostrī ācriter resistēbant atque magnum numerum illōrum necāvērunt et cēterōs fugāvērunt. Hāc ex fugā auxilia, quae omnibus ex partibus convēnerant ad hostēs, discessērunt nec post illud tempus hostēs cum omnibus cōpiīs contrā nostrōs contendērunt.

pabulātor, -ōris [3/m]: forager

hāc ex fugā: after this rout

[1] Comprehension

[i] When did the incident happen? (1)

[ii] Where were the enemy? (2)

[iii] What did they start to do? (2)

[iv] Who is Gaius Trebonius? (1)

[v] What had Caesar sent him to do? (1)

[vi] At what time did the enemy attack? (1)

[vii] Who did they attack? (1)

[viii] How did the Romans react? (3)

[ix] Where had the auxiliary troops come from? (1)

[x] What did the auxiliary troops do after the enemy had fled?

[2] the Submission of the Trinobantes

Inde Trinobantēs, prope firmissima illārum regiōnum cīvitās, lēgātōs ad Caesarem dē pāce mīsērunt atque sē Caesarī dedērunt. Ex hāc cīvitāte Mandubracius, fīlius rēgis, ad Caesarem in Galliam vēnerat. Caesar multōs obsidēs et frūmentum imperat atque Mandubracium ad illōs mittit. Illī imperāta faciunt atque obsidēs ad numerum et frūmentum mittunt. Inde gentēs multae lēgātōs dē pāce mittunt atque sē Caesarī dant.

ad numerum: to the required number

[2] Comprehension

[i] The Trinobantes were:

[A] the strongest of all the tribes; [B] nearly the strongest tribe; [C] a very strong tribe

[ii] What would be the most fluent way of translating the following extract, particularly avoiding literal translations of the phrases in bold: lēgātōs ad Caesarem dē pāce mīsērunt atque sē Caesarī dedērunt (3)

[iii] Mandubracius:

[A] went to see Caesar’s son; [B] had come from Gaul to see Caesar; [C] had gone to Gaul to see Caesar

[iv] What did Caesar demand? (2)

[v] What phrase tells you that Caesar’s demands were carried out exactly? (1)

Illī imperāta faciunt atque obsidēs ad numerum et frūmentum mittunt.

[vi] How do we know that other tribes accepted defeat? (3)

____________________

[1]

[i] on the following day

[ii] (1) in the hills; (2) far / at distance from the camp

[iii] (1) provoke the cavalry (2) to fight / battle

[iv] tribune / lieutenant

[v] get / gather grain

[vi] midday

[vii] foragers

[viii] (1) resisted fiercely; (2) killed a large number of the enemy; (3) put the rest to flight

[ix] from all parts (directions)

[x] (1) departed; (2) afterwards / after that time enemy did not advance; (3) against the Romans; (4) with all their forces

[2]

[i] [B] nearly the strongest tribe │ prope firmissima illārum regiōnum cīvitās

[ii] (1) They sent ambassadors to Caesar (2) [literally: about / concerning peace] to discuss peace (3) and [literally: gave themselves] surrendered (themselves) to Caesar.

[iii] [C] had gone to Gaul to see Caesar │ ad Caesarem in Galliam vēnerat

[iv] (1) many hostages; grain │ multōs obsidēs et frūmentum (imperat)

[v] ad numerum │ to the required number

[vi] (1) many tribes sent envoys (2) to discuss peace; (3) surrendered to Caesar

18.02.26: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [25][i] text, vocabulary, notes

Carolus et Maria XXV

[1] Paucīs ante diēbus Carolus et Maria rēgem vīdērunt. Mox iterum laetī erunt quod nāviculam poētae vidēre poterunt. Haec est in flūmine parvō sed nōn est prope Rōmam. Itaque hanc urbem relinquere necesse est. Post tempus longum Americānī flūmen parvum vident. Prope rīpam flūminis est nāvicula, parva sed nōn angusta. Magna nāvis nōn est. Paucī ūnō tempore in nāviculā sedēre possunt. Sine morā omnēs viam relinquunt et ad rīpam properant.

[2] Vesper est. Undique sunt rēs pulchrae. Ibi ānserēs natant et clāmōrēs eōrum audīrī possunt. Aliō in locō sunt nāvēs. In mediō flūmine sunt saxa in quibus paucī puerī sedent. Eī diū natāvērunt et nunc corpora eōrum sunt dēfessa. Homō quī in rīpā stat est pater ūnīus puerī. Omnēs puerōs convocat. Post tergum praemium habet. Quis hoc accipiet?

[3] Quamquam māter est timida, cum poētā, tamen, it. Carolus prope poētam manet et Maria ante frātrem sedet. Pater māterque in locō tūtō sedent. Nāvicula quae vinculīs tenēbātur nunc est lībera. Rīpam relinquit et mox est in mediō flūmine. Clāmōrēs hominum quī animālia convocant audiuntur. In summō colle homō casam aedificat. Nunc domum it.

[4] Poēta fābulās dē Rōmā nārrat. Dē Horātiō, duce fortī, quī etiam sōlus hostēs oppugnābat, nārrat. Is hostēs superāvit. Posteā in Tiberim sē iēcit et ad rīpam tūtō natāvit. Itaque urbs erat lībera. Puerī Rōmānī bene natāre poterant et corpora valida habēbant.

[5] Subitō undique sunt saxa. Via, quae inter saxa est, angusta et perīculōsa est. Poēta omnia dē nāviculīs flūminibusque intellegit. Māter, tamen, perīculum timet et in rīpā esse cupit. Nunc inter saxa nāvicula nōn tam celeriter sē movet. "Heu! Heu!" exclāmat māter. "Mox aut vulnerābimur aut necābimur, quod nōn omnēs natāmus."

[6] "Minimē," inquit pater, "tūtī erimus. Saepe haec nāvicula per haec saxa tūta venit."

Post tempus longum omnēs iterum ad rīpam veniunt. Poēta in terram vincula, quibus nāvicula tenētur, conicit. Laetissima est māter quod iterum lībera perīculō est. Prope nāviculam est casa parva poētae. Hīc multās rēs poēta scrībit. Tōtam noctem omnēs in casā manent. Diū hanc noctem memoriā tenēbunt. Paucīs diēbus necesse erit Rōmam relinquere. Maestī Americānī Rōmam et poētam et mīlitem relinquent.

Vocabulary

nāvicula, -ae [1/f]: small boat

rīpa, -ae [1/f]: bank; shore

saxum, -ī [2/n]: stone; rock

corpus, corporis [3/n]: body

nāvis, -is [3/f]: ship; vessel

aedificō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: build

natō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: swim

sedeō, -ēre, sēdī [2]: sit

relinquō, -ere, relīquī, relīctus [3]: leave behind; abandon

possum, posse, potuī: be able

angustus, -a, -um: narrow

aut: or; aut … aut …: either … or …

tam: so

Notes:

[1] Mox aut vulnerābimur aut necābimur │ soon we will either be injured or killed

Future passive: 1^st / 2^nd conjugation

03.01.25: Level 2; the passive voice [15]; future passive [1]; 1st and 2nd conjugation [1]; forms

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/10/030125-level-2-passive-voice-15-future.html

05.01.25: Level 2; the passive voice [16]; future passive [2]; 1st and 2nd conjugation [2]; translation practice

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/10/050125-level-2-passive-voice-16-future.html

[2] clāmōrēs eōrum audīrī possunt │ their cries can / are able to be heard

audīre is the active infinitive = to hear; audīrī is the passive infinitive = to be heard

11.01.25: Level 2: the passive voice [19]; present passive infinitive

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/10/110125-level-2-passive-voice-19-present.html

17.02.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [24]: use of quod

[i] In the first post on the topic of indirect statement, it was mentioned that quod as an equivalent of the English conjuction ‘that’ is a feature of Late Latin rather than Classical:

Level 3: indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [1] (note [4])

https://adckl2.blogspot.com/2025/06/level-3-indirect-statement-accusative.html

et vīdit Deus ¦ quod esset bonum (Vulgate) │ and God saw that it was good

lēgātī renūntiāvērunt ¦ quod Pompeium in potestāte habērent │ the ambassadors reported that they had Pompey in their power

This type of clause with quod gradually took over from the accusative and infinitive construction and became the usual way of expressing indirect speech in the Romance languages:

French / Spanish / Portuguese: que; Italian: che; Romanian: că

This parallels with, for example, Old English: þæt; Mediaeval German: daȥ; Modern Russian: chto (что)

However, in Classical Latin quod / quia introduces a causal / explanatory clause rather than an indirect statement:

[ii] quod: “(the fact) that”

quod rediit ¦ nōbīs mīrābile vidētur (Cicero) │ (the fact) that he returned ¦ seems marvellous to us

praetereō ¦ quod eam sibī domum dēlēgit (Cicero) │  I pass over ¦ the fact that he chose that house for himself

i.e. these two do not ‘report’ an event, but express a reaction to something already known

[iii] verbs of emotion / feeling are followed by either quod or quia; a way of differentiating the use of quod (or quia) in this context is mostly to interpret the meaning as ‘because’ rather than ‘that’.

Quod scrībis . . . gaudeō. │ I am glad ¦ that you write.

Gaudēmus quod ad tempus adestis │ We rejoice ¦ that you are here on time

Faciō libenter quod eam nōn possum praeterīre. │ I am glad ¦ that I cannot pass it by.

Gaudet quod vivit │ He rejoices ¦ that he is alive.

Opportūnissima rēs accidit quod Germānī vēnērunt. │ A very fortunate thing happened, ¦ (namely) that the Germans came.

Optimum, quod sustulistī. │ It is a very good thing ¦ that you have removed [him].

dolet mihi quod tū nunc stomachāris (Cicero) │ I'm sorry ¦ that you're angry now

quī ¦ quia nōn habuit ā mē turmās equitum ¦ fortasse suscēnset │ who perhaps feels angry ¦ that he did not receive squadrons of cavalry from me

https://dcc.dickinson.edu/grammar/latin/indicative-quod

[iv] The question is how the term Classical Latin is defined as opposed to, for example, Ecclesiastical or, in this case, “vernacular”. The use of quod to introduce an indirect statement is not considered a feature of Classical Latin i.e. the formal writing of Cicero, Livy etc. There may be occasional examples of quod introducing indirect statement. From Plautus:

Equidem sciō iam fīlius quod amet meus istanc meretrīcem ē proxumō Philaenium. │ I already know that my son is in love with that prostitute from next door, Philaenium.

Nunc sciō ego quod tē amāvī et miser sum factus. │ Now I know that I loved you and have been made wretched.

These would imply that quod was used in the vernacular, which would not be surprising given the common developments in the Romance languages that reflect that use, as well as equivalents in, for example, the Germanic and Slavonic languages, all of which would suggest it is a very early feature. While that is interesting to note, it is the literary language of the Classical period that is the predominant concern, and none of the major writers on Latin grammar refer to it, nor is it standard literary practice.

17.02.26: Level 3; the Pater Noster of Juvencus [5]; notes on Latin poetry [4] video

[5] video: Vincent’s complete recitation with lines scanned and key points noted.

Take away:

dactyl(ic)

spondee

anceps

hexameter

/i/ + V: either ⁱa / ⁱo or i-a / i-o

diphthong

long by nature i.e. always long in any form of written or spoken Latin

long by position: [i] VCC; [ii] V+X[ks] i.e. becomes long in verse

elision: -(V) ͜ V- / -(V) + (h)V

17.02.26: Level 3; Celestial Sphere: from the authors [3] Poeticon Astronomicon; Hyginus

[1] In fīnītiōne mundī circulī sunt parallēlī quīnque, in quibus tōta ratiō sphaerae cōnsistit, praeter eum quī zōdiacus appellātur; │ At the boundary of the world there are five parallel circles, in which the entire system of the sphere is contained, except for that one which is called the zodiac;

[2] quī, quod nōn ut cēterī circulī certā dīmēnsiōne fīnītur et inclīnātior aliīs vidētur, λοξός [loksos] ā Graecīs est dictus. │ and this (circle), because it is not bounded by a fixed dimension like the others and appears more inclined than the rest, is called loxos by the Greeks.

[3] Quīnque autem quōs suprā dīximus sīc in sphaerā mētiuntur: │ The five (circles), which we have mentioned above, measure out / divide the sphere in this manner:

[4] initiō sūmptō ā polō quī boreus appellātur, ad eum quī notius et antarcticus vocātur, in trīgintā partēs ūnumquodque hēmisphaerium dīviditur, ita utī dīmēnsiō significārī videātur in tōtā sphaerā sexāgintā partēs factās. │ Beginning from the pole called Boreas (the northern pole) to that which is called Notus or Antarctic, each hemisphere is divided into thirty parts, so that the entire sphere is seen to be marked out into sixty parts in all.

• boreās, -ae [1/m]: north; north wind
• boreus, -a, -um; boreālis, -e: northern; Aurōra Boreālis: Northern Lights
• Notus, -ī [2/m]: god of the Southern Wind
• hēmisphaerium, -ī  [2/n]: hemisphere
• ūnum¦quodque: each

05.12.25: Level 3; indefinites [16] -que

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/09/051225-level-3-indefinites-16-que.html

Image: woodcut from the 1482 edition

Note further features of abbreviation

[i] the letter /q/ with a stroke through it (ꝗ); again, depending on the writer, it could equal an entire word e.g. quam, but here it indicates the omission of letters:

Eꝗnoctialis = equinoctialis

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

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

[ii] (Difficult to make out in the image): zodiacʔ (the sign usually marking the omission of -us or -rum) = zodiacus

16.02.26: Level 2; Vincent (Latin Reader); XL / XLI; [1] A Sudden Attack by the British; [2] British Methods of Fighting (ii) grammar review

[1] A Sudden Attack by the British

Equitēs Britannōrum et essedāriī cum equitibus Rōmānīs in itinere ācriter proeliō cōnflīxērunt. Rōmānī omnibus in partibus erant superiōrēs atque hostēs in silvās et collēs compulērunt. Dum Rōmānī sunt incautī atque castra mūniunt, subitō hostēs ex omnibus partibus contrā mīlitēs, quī prō castrīs erant in statiōne, impetum fēcērunt. Caesar duās cohortēs et partem legiōnis mīsit. Rōmānī hostēs fugāvērunt atque numerum magnum necāvērunt.

[2] British Methods of Fighting

Hōc in genere pugnae nostrī propter arma gravia nec hostibus īnstāre poterant nec ab signīs discēdere audēbant. Nostrī equitēs magnō cum perīculō pugnābant, quod hostēs cōnsultō saepe cēdēbant atque, ubi nostrōs ā legiōnibus remōverant, ex essedīs dēsiliēbant et pedibus contendēbant. Hostēs rārī semper pugnābant et statiōnēs intervāllīs magnīs habēbant atque integrī fessīs succēdēbant. Hīs causīs mīlitēs  Rōmānī magnā cum difficultāte contendēbant.

The questions refer to either of the two texts

[i] Give the nominative singular of the following nouns

cohortēs

difficultāte

equitēs

genere

itinere

pedibus

[ii] Identify the case of the two words in bold and explain why that case is being used:

nec hostibus īnstāre poterant

integrī fessīs succēdēbant

[iii] Translate the following phrases all of which use the ablative case

(1)

prō castrīs

(2)

in itinere

in statiōne

hōc in genere pugnae

omnibus in partibus

(3)

ex essedīs

ex omnibus partibus

(4)

nec ab signīs discēdere audēbant

nostrōs ā legiōnibus remōverant

(5)

cum equitibus Rōmānīs

magnā cum difficultāte

magnō cum perīculō

(6)

hīs causīs

intervāllīs magnīs

pedibus contendēbant

____________________

[i]

cohortēs < cohors

difficultāte < difficultās

equitēs < eques

genere < genus

itinere < iter

pedibus < pēs

[ii] Both are compound verbs followed by the dative case

īnstō, -āre [1]: press on

succēdō, -ere (sub + cēdō) [3]: relieve

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/130425-level-3-verbs-with-dative-case-1.html

[iii]

(1)

prō castrīs │ in front of / before the camp

(2)

in itinere │ on the journey (march)

in statiōne │ at (one’s) post / on guard

hōc in genere pugnae │ in this type (of battle)

omnibus in partibus │ (here) in all respects / every respect

(3)

ex essedīs │ out of the chariots (here: the idea of ‘down from’)

ex omnibus partibus │ from every direction

(4)

nec ab signīs discēdere audēbant │ and they did not dare to go away from / leave their standards

nostrōs ā legiōnibus remōverant │ they had drawn our mean away from the legions

(5)

cum equitibus Rōmānīs │ with the Roman cavalry

magnā cum difficultāte  │ with great difficulty

magnō cum perīculō │ with great danger

(6)

hīs causīs │ for these reasons

intervāllīs magnīs │ lit: at large intervals = with great spaces (between them)

pedibus contendēbant │ they fought on foot

15.02.26: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [24][ix]: the comparative and superlative; reference tables

15.02.26: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [24][viii]: the comparative and superlative; Latin tutorial; irregular forms

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quUOppMKxTo

[1]

Haec avis est alta. │ This bird is high.

Illa avis quoque est alta. │ This bird is also high.

Illa / illa avis est altior  … │ That one / that bird is higher …

… quam haec / haec avis, │ …than this one / this bird,

sed haec avis est altissima. │ but this bird is the highest.

[2]

In itinere sunt tria flūmina lāta. │ On the journey / way there are three wide rivers.

Flūmen prīmum est lātum, │ The first river is wide,

sed flūmen secundum est lātius ¦ quam prīmum │ but the second river is wider ¦ than the first (one)

et flūmen tertium est lātissimum. │ and the third river is the widest.

[3]

Cicerō est ¦ optimus patrōnus ¦ omnium. │ Cicero is ¦ the best patron / protector ¦ of all.

Hortensius est ¦ patrōnus māior ¦ quam aliī patrōnī,  │ Hortensius is ¦ a greater patron ¦ than other patrons.

sed est patrōnus pēior quam Cicerō. │ but he is ¦ a worse patron ¦ than Cicero.

[4]

Rōmānī Mārtem ¦ deum potentem ¦ colunt. │ The Romans worship Mars, ¦ a powerful god.

Rōmānī quoque colunt Iōvem, ¦ patrem maximum ¦ deōrum. │ The Romans also worship Jupiter, ¦ the greatest father ¦ of the gods.

Iuppiter est potentior ¦ quam Mārs, │ Jupiter is more powerful ¦ than Mars,

Habet ¦ vim maiōrem ¦ quam Mārs. │ he has ¦ greater power ¦ than Mars. 

Iūppiter est potentissimus ¦ deōrum. │ Jupiter is the most powerful ¦ of the gods.

Est deus maximē potēns.  │ He is an especially powerful god.

[5] Match the answers with the questions:

[i] Minimē, illud est lātius quam hoc.

[ii] Cicerō est māior patrōnus quam Hortensius.

[iii] Cicerō est optimus patrōnus omnium.

[iv] Iūppiter māiōrem vim habet.

[v] Haec avis est altior.

Quis est optimus patrōnus omnium?

Quae est altior avis? Haec aut illa?

Est Cicerō māior aut pēior patrōnus quam Hortensius?

Estne hoc flūmen lātius quam illud flūmen?

Quis habet māiōrem vim? Mārs aut Iūppiter?

14.02.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [23]: negative statements; denial

[a] negō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1] [i] deny; [ii] refuse

This verb is also used to create a negative statement [literally: say … not] for example:

He does not understand. │ Nōn intellegit.

> He says ¦ that he does not understand. │ Negat ¦ sē intellegere.

i.e. the concept of ‘not’ in the indirect statement is already contained in the verb negat; nōn is not required

Examples; sometimes ‘deny’ is an alternative translation:

Haec negat sē tuam esse mātrem. (Plautus)│ She denies that she is your mother = She says that she is not your mother.

Negāvī mē scīre (Cicero) │ I said that I did not know.

Hostēs negāvērunt sē arma dissimilia habēre. │The enemies denied that they had different weapons = the enemies said that they did not have different weapons.

Magister negāvit sē discipulum verberāvisse. │ The teacher denied that he had beaten the pupil = the teacher said that he had not beaten the pupil.

Negāvit sē mihi pecūniam dedisse. │ He denied that he had given me the money = he said that he had not given me the money.

Nōn it, negat sē itūram [esse]* (Plautus) │ She’s not going, she says that she will not go.

*Note the omission of esse; this is a feature to look out for in original literature.

Marītus negāvit sē Rōmae mānsūrum esse. │ The husband said that he would not stay at Rome.

[b]

Look at the following English example and the different ways in which the same idea can be expressed:

[i] He said that he hadn’t ever [not + ever] seen a more faithful servant than her.

[ii] He said that he had never seen a more faithful servant than her.

Latin conveys the idea using the equivalent of [i] above:

quicquam / quidquam: anything

quisquam: anybody

ūllus, -a, -um: any

umquam: ever

usquam: anywhere

By using negō, -āre, which already contains the idea of ‘not’, those pronouns and adverbs become negative i.e. in translation they change to nothing, nobody, no (not any), never, nowhere.

Examples:

Negat ¦ sē umquam in Ītaliā fuisse │ He denies that he has ever been in Italy = He says that he has not ever been in Italy = he says that he has never been in Italy.

Negāvit sē umquam vīdisse servam fidēliōrem quam hanc. │ He denied that he had ever seen = He said that he had not ever seen = he said that he had never seen ¦ a more faithful servant than her.

Negāvit umquam sē bibisse iūcundius. (Cicero) │ He said that he had not ever drunk = he said that he had never drunk ¦ (anything) more pleasant.

Negāvit quemquam esse in cīvitāte praeter sē quī id efficere posset (Cicero) │ He said that there was not anybody = he said that there was nobody ¦ in the city apart from himself who could carry it out.

Negat quicquam esse … efficācius (Seneca) │ He says that there is not anything more effective = he says that there is nothing more effective.

Negat ūllum esse tempus … (Cicero) │ He says that there is not any time = he says that there is no time …

Negō usquam umquam fuisse maiōrēs (Cicero) │ I say that there never was a time or place where they had more = Literally: I say that there was not ever (and) not anywhere, where they had more.

Exercise: complete the Latin with the words listed below.

[1] He says that he did not do this. │ Hoc sē __________ negat.

[2] [i] I say that [ii] he has not done this. │ [i] __________ [ii] __________ hoc fēcisse.

[3] He says that [i] he (referring to himself) is not [ii] ready. │ [i] __________ [ii] __________ esse negat.

[4] He says he has done nothing. │ Negat sē __________ fēcisse.

[5] He said that he would [i] never [ii] do this. │ Sē hoc [i] __________ [ii] __________ negāvit.

[6] He says that it was not by this man that your brother [i] was [ii] killed. │ Ab hōc homine [ii] __________ [i] __________ frātrem tuum negat.

[7] [i] He denies that Caesar [ii] has been in Gaul. │[i] __________ Caesarem in Galliā [ii] __________.

[8] He said that Caesar had not been in Gaul. │ __________ Caesarem in Galliā fuisse.

[9] [i] We deny that [ii] we [iii] have received a benefit. │ [i] __________ [ii] __________ beneficium [iii] __________ (Seneca)

[10] He denies that he has [i] ever [iii] seen such wonders [ii] anywhere. │ Negat sē [i] __________ [ii] __________ tanta mīra [iii] __________. (Plautus: adapted)

[11] The Carthaginians [i] said that they would not [ii] accept unfair terms of peace. │ Carthāginiēnsēs [i] __________ sē inīquās condiciōnēs pācis [ii] __________ esse.

[12] They denied that they had heard about the arrival of the king. │ Negāvērunt sē dē rēgis adventū __________.

[13] [i] Surely you don’t [ii] deny that [iii] you [iv] did not know these things? │ [i] __________ [ii] __________ [iii] __________ haec [iv] __________?

negāmus; negās; negat; negāvērunt; negāvit; negō

eum; nōs; sē; tē

accēpisse; acceptūrōs; audīvisse; esse; factūrum; fēcisse; fuisse; interfectum; parātum; scīvisse; vīdisse

num; quidquam; umquam; umquam; usquam

____________________

[1] Hoc sē fēcisse negat.

[2] [i] Negō [ii] eum hoc fēcisse.

[3] [i] Sē [ii] parātum esse negat.

[4] Negat sē quidquam fēcisse.

[5] Sē hoc [i] umquam [ii] factūrum negāvit.

[6] Ab hōc homine [ii] interfectum [i] esse frātrem tuum negat.

[7] [i] Negat Caesarem in Galliā [ii] fuisse.

[8] Negāvit Caesarem in Galliā fuisse.

[9] [i] Negāmus [ii] nōs beneficium [iii] accēpisse (Seneca)

[10] Negat sē [i] umquam [ii] usquam tanta mīra [iii] vīdisse.

[11] Carthāginiēnsēs [i] negāvērunt sē inīquās condiciōnēs pācis [ii] acceptūrōs esse.

[12] Negāvērunt sē dē rēgis adventū audīvisse.

[13] [i] Num [ii] negās [iii] tē haec [iv] scīvisse?

14.02.26: Level 3; the Pater Noster of Juvencus [4]; notes on Latin poetry [3] elision; reciting the verse

[3] Elision

[l.5] Īn cāe-¦ l(o) ͜ ūt tēr- ¦ rīs fī- ¦ āt tŭ-ă ¦ clā-ră vŏ- ¦ lūn-tās [īn cāe-l^oūt]

[i] -V ͜ V- i.e. a vowel at the end of a word and a vowel at the beginning of the next word are usually elided; the term is elision, and you can see that the end vowel is not scanned as it is either generally omitted when speaking or spoken rapidly together with the next vowel so that it forms one syllable:

[l.8]  Īn-nŭ-mĕ- ¦ r(a) ͜ īn-dūl- ¦ gēns ēr- ¦ rō- rīs ¦ dē-bĭ-tă ¦ prā-vī [-mĕ-¦ r’īn-dūl-]

[ii] Elision also occurs when the following letter is /h/ [V + hV]; /h/ is considered silent

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

[4] Reciting the verse

It’s all very well talking about long and short syllables – but how are they actually said? Any poem in whatever language is open to interpretation, including the mood in which it is spoken, its pace and what the speaker wishes to emphasise. But you need to start somewhere to get the basic rhythms. The opening lyrics of “Paperback Writer” by the Beatles is comprised almost completely of crotchets (a single beat) and quavers (half a beat). Imagine you’re back in Primary Music class! Clap your hands, kids …

one q ¦ and a n ¦ two q ¦ and a n ¦ three q ¦ and a n ¦ four q

Omit the first and last words:

(Dear) ¦ Sir q or q Ma-dame n  will-you n read q my q book-it n took-me n years q to q write q, will-you n take-a n (look)?

Image #2: The notation is from the sheet music; the Beatles ‘play around’ a little with some of the rhythms when they sing it, but you can hear the long and short beats in the same way that you can hear the long and short syllables of the Latin work. Don’t sing it – say it, while tapping a pencil on the table. Then keep tapping that pencil and say the Latin line, and you’ll be getting pretty close to a Roman.