03.09.26: Vincent in Colorado

Transcript / translation

Hodiē sōl nūbibus operītur. | Today the sun is covered by clouds.

Est diēs tertius noster in Colōrātō. | It is our third day in Colorado.

Est locus amoenissimus … | It is a most / very beautiful place …

… sed difficile est omnia vidēre. | … but it is difficult to see everything.

Cacūmina montium cernī nōn possunt nunc … |  The peaks of the mountains cannot be seen now …

… propter nūbēs imbremque. | … because of the clouds and rain.

Sed nihil refert. | But it doesn't matter.

Fruimur nihilōminus ambulātiōne. | Nevertheless, we are enjoying a walk.

Quid inest in casulā? | What is inside the cabin [literally: little cottage]?

Ūna intrēmus. | Let's go inside together.

Hīc metallicī habitābant atque labōrābant. | Here miners used to live and (used to) work.

Nunc autem dēsertae sunt hae casulae. | But now these cabins are deserted.

[Roccō, intrā!] | [Rocco, come in!]

Per hanc ipsam fenestram nunc cōnspicimus eōsdem montēs … | Through this very window we now look at the same mountains …

… quōs iī ōlim spectābant. | … which they once looked at / used to look at.

Tempora mūtantur. | Times change.

Montēs manent. | The mountains remain.

____________________

Topical vocabulary

ambulātiō, -tiōnis [3/f]: walk; stroll

cacūmen, -inis [3/n]: peak; summit; top

casula (see note [6] below)

imber, imbris [3/m]: rain

locus, -ī [2/m]: place

metallicus, -ī [2/m]: miner; also: metallārius, -ī [2/m] < metallum, -ī [2/n]: [i] metal; [ii] mine

mōns, montis [3/m]: mountain

nūbēs, -is [3/f]: cloud

sōl, -is [3/m]: sun

Notes

Some key points. I only focus on those features which are common at the earlier stages of learning Latin.

[1] Look out for the imperfect sheep: -ba- / -bā-, indicating:

the imperfect tense: it refers to what somebody (i) was doing or (ii) used to do.

In the video, Vincent is describing what the miners used to do.

habitābant: they used to live

labōrābant: they used to work

spectābant: they used to look at

[2]

ipse, ipsa, ipsum: this has two functions

(i) himself, herself, itself etc. It is emphatic.

Magister ipse hoc dīxit. | The teacher himself [i.e. nobody else] said this.

Note: ipse etc. cannot be used to say, for example, he washed himself. Latin requires a different word to express that idea.

(ii)  the very / the actual; this is the sense which Vincent uses here:

per hanc ipsam fenestram | through the window itself; through this actual / very window

[3] -dem: īdem [masc.], eadem [fem.], idem [neut.]: the same

eōdem tempore: at the same time

eōdem annō: in the same year

[4] -issimus [masc.], -issima [fem.], -issimum [neut.]: creates the superlative form of the adjective, i.e. the biggest, the most beautiful. In Latin, however, it can also convey ‘very’:

locus amoenus: a beautiful place

locus amoenissimus: the most beautiful / a very beautiful place

[5] Vincent tells his dog to enter the cabin: Rocco, intrā! He uses an imperative, also known as a command form of the verb:

intrāre [1]: enter

> intrā: come in (used when speaking to one person – or dog!)

> intrāte: come in (when addressing more than one person)

[6] casa, -ae [1/f]: cottage > casula, -ae [1/f]: little cottage, cabin; -ul- is a common way of forming diminutives, i.e. smaller versions of the original noun

Exercise: complete the rewording of the original transcript by using the words listed below:

(1) Today is Vincent’s third day in Colorado. | __________ est diēs __________ Vincentiī in Colōrātō.

(2) He is walking in the mountains with his dog. | Cum cane suō in __________ __________.

(3) Vincent thinks that the place is very beautiful, … | Vincentius putat __________ __________ esse …

(4) … but he cannot see the tops of the mountains … | … sed __________ montium vidēre __________…

(5) … because it is raining … | quia __________ …

… and the sky is dark and cloudy. | … et __________ __________nebulōsumque est.

(6) He sees a cabin … | __________ videt …

(7) and asks what is in the cabin. | … et rogat __________ in eā casulā insit.

(8) Miners used to live and work in this cabin, … | In hāc casulā __________ et __________ metallicī, …

(9) … but this dwelling is now deserted. | … sed haec habitātiō nunc __________ est.

(10) He tells his dog to come into the cabin. | Canem suum iubet in casulam __________.

(11) He looks through the window … | __________ fenestram spectat …

(12) … and sees the same mountains … | … et __________ montēs cōnspicit …

(13) … which the miners once used to look at. | … quōs ōlim metallicī __________.

ambulat; amoenissimum; cacūmina; caelum; casulam; dēserta; eōsdem; habitābant; hodiē; intrāre; labōrābant; locum; montibus; nōn potest; obscūrum; per; pluit; quid; spectābant; tertius

____________________

Hodiē est diēs tertius Vincentiī in Colōrātō. Cum cane suō in montibus ambulat. Vincentius putat locum amoenissimum esse sed cacūmina montium vidēre nōn potest quia pluit et caelum obscūrum nebulōsumque est. Casulam videt et rogat quid in eā casulā insit. In hāc casulā habitābant et labōrābant metallicī, sed haec habitātiō nunc dēserta est. Canem suum iubet in casulam intrāre. Per fenestram spectat et eōsdem montēs cōnspicit quōs ōlim metallicī spectābant.

05.04.27: Level 1; First Latin Lessons; vocabulary review (1)

Below is the main vocabulary from Units 1 – 10 of First Latin Lessons. Match the English with the Latin in the word cloud or choose from the lists in bold below each section.

[1] Nouns

• daughter
• farmer
• forest, wood
• friend
• gift
• girl
• house
• inhabitant
• language
• letter
• life
• money
• mother
• picture
• poet
• reputation, fame
• road, street
• rose
• sailor
• school
• sister
• story
• window

agricola; amīcus; casa; dōnum; epistula; fābula; fāma; fenestra; fīlia; incola; lingua; māter; nauta; pecūnia; pictūra; poēta; puella; rosa; schola; silva; soror; via; vīta

[2] Verbs [i]

• I love
• I walk
• I see
• I give
• I praise
• you love
• (s)he / it loves
• (s)he / it desires, wants
• (s)he / it gives
• (s)he / it is
• (s)he / it waits, awaits
• (s)he / it has
• (s)he / it praises
• (s)he / it reads
• (s)he / it shows
• (s)he / it tells, narrates
• (s)he / it shows, displays
• (s)he / it writes

amās; amat; ambulō; amō; cupit; dat; dō; est; exspectat; habet; laudat; laudō; legit; mōnstrat; nārrat; ostendit; scrībit; videō

[3] Verbs [ii]

• we learn
• we love
• we praise
• we see
• they are
• they give
• they hurry
• they love
• they see
• they walk

amāmus; amant; ambulant; dant; discimus; laudāmus; properant; sunt; vidēmus; vident

[3] Pronouns, prepositions; conjunctions; adverbs

pronouns

• to me / for me
• to you / for you

prepositions

• from; out of
• in; on
• with

conjunctions

• and
• but

adverbs

• also
• now
• often
• sometimes
• there
• well
• why

bene; cum; cūr; ē / ex; et; ibi; in; interdum; mihi; nunc; quoque; saepe; sed; tibi

06.08.26: you can pick up a lot from one word

obstetrics: the noun has its origins in Latin: obstetrīx, -īcis [3/f]: midwife

Quī tū scīs? an tū fortasse fuistī meae mātrī obstetrīx, quī id tam audācter dīcere audēs? (Plautus)

How do you know? Or were you perhaps my mother’s midwife, that you dare to say that so boldly?

dīxit autem rēx Aegyptī obstetrīcibus Hebraeōrum quārum ūna vocābātur Sephra altera Phua (Vulgate)

The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was called Shiphrah, and the other Puah.

The Latin noun is derived from:

[i] obstō, obstāre [1]: stand before; stand in the way

[ii] -trīx, -trīcis: the suffix creates an agent noun, i.e. one that performs the action in the root – and specifically female. Therefore, in this case, the obstetrīx is the one who stands before the woman giving birth.

Image: we can see her doing that in Ostia Antica.

[iii] suffix: -trīx, -cis

ōrnātrīx, -cis [3/f]: hairdresser < ōrnō, -āre [1]: decorate, i.e. she arranged the hair of her mistress, adorning it with jewelry

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Category:Latin_terms_suffixed_with_-trix

[iv] The masculine equivalent is the suffix -tor, -tōris;  -sor, -sōris

cursor, -ōris [3/m]: runner < currō, -ere [3]: run

scrīptor, -ōris [3/m]: writer < scrībō, -ere [3]: write

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Category:Latin_terms_suffixed_with_-tor

[v] There are many examples of matching pairs:

āctor, -ōris [3/m]: actor | āctrīx, -cis [3/f]: actress

balneātor, -ōris [3/m]: bath attendant (male) | balneātrīx, -cis [3/f]: bath attendant (female)

piscātor, -ōris [3/m]: fisherman | piscātrix, -cis [3/f]: fisherwoman

tōnsor, -ōris [3/m]: barber (male) | tōnstrīx, -cis [3/f]: barber (female)

04.04.27: Level 4; literature; Bread and panthers … without the panthers [5]; Cicero’s reply

Laodiceae; prid. Non. Apr. 50 │ Laodicea, 4 April 50(BC) (see notes)

[1] Dē panthērīs per eōs quī vēnārī sōlent agitur mandātū meō dīligenter.  │ The matter concerning the panthers is, according to my order, being diligently attended to by those who usually hunt.

[i] agitur │ it is being done; impersonal construction = the matter is being attended to

[ii] per eōs ¦ quī vēnarī sōlent; soleō, -ere [2]: be accustomed to; by those ¦ who are accustomed to hunting = those who usually hunt = (less literally) by the usual hunters

[2] Sed mīra paucitās est, │ But there is a remarkable scarcity,

[3] et eās quae sunt valdē aiunt querī  │ and they say that those that there are complain greatly

aiunt: they say; this is known in grammar as a defective verb i.e. a verb that does not have a full set of conjugated forms. The English verb ‘can’ is defective because it has no infinitive; it is not *to can*, but ‘to be able’ i.e. defective. The Latin verb is aiō, aiere (say), but is most commonly found as ait (he/she says or said) and, here, aiunt (they say).

[4] quod nihil cuīquam īnsidiārum in meā prōvinciā nisi sibi fīat. │ because there are no traps for anything / anyone in my province apart from for them

[i] nihil īnsidiārum │ genitive after nihil = no traps; English uses a genitive with abstract nouns e.g. nothing of interest, but its English use is limited; the translation ‘no traps’ could equally be rendered as ‘nothing in the way of traps’ which is the closest equivalent to the Latin

[ii] cuīquam: dative of quisquam; this forms part of the next major topic to be covered at Level 3; quisquam is an indefinite pronoun, the English equivalent being ‘anyone / anything’ and is generally used, as here, in negative constructions: nihil cuīquam īnsidiārum │ no traps for anyone / anything

[iii] it’s a light-hearted response: the panthers are complaining that traps are only set for them i.e. they are referring back to themselves (sibi: reflexive)

[5] Itaque cōnstituisse dīcuntur in Cāriam ex nostrā prōvinciā dēcēdere. │ Therefore, they are said to have decided to depart into Caria from our province.

Cāria, -ae [1/f]: district in SW Asia Minor

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

[6] Sed tamen sēdulō fit et in prīmīs ā Patiscō. │ Nevertheless, it is being done zealously / with great care, and especially by Patiscus.

sēdūlō: zealously; diligently; carefully

[7] Quicquid erit, tibi erit; │ Literally: whatever there is [ will be], you will have [it will be for you] i.e. However many animals there are, you will have them;

quicquid (or quidquid): whatever;  a further example of an indefinite pronoun

[8] sed quid esset plānē nesciēbāmus. │ but what [i.e. how many] there might be, I obviously don’t know.

See the notes below on this part of the sentence

Notes

[i] PRID. ¦ NON. APR. 50

(1) prid: abbreviation of prīdiē ¦  (2) NON. APR.│ (1) the day before ¦ (2) the Nones of April

See previous post: the Nones is the 5^th of April. Therefore, the letter was written on the day before the Nones / 5^th of April i.e. April 4th

[ii] sed quid esset ¦ plānē nesciēbāmus │ but what / how many there might be, I obviously don’t know

There are three points to note concerning this part of the sentence

(1) nesciēbāmus: Cicero often uses the first person plural to refer to himself

(2) nesciēbāmus: the imperfect tense is used; this is an example of epistolary tense which was discussed here:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/06/011025-level-3-epistolary-tenses-brief.html

The term epistolary tense refers to letters, and – fairly common in the letters of Cicero – it refers to a shift in the uses of tenses. We write letters using the time frame that applies to us, the writers e.g. “I’m not sure how many of those books I have, but, whatever I find, I’ll send them to you.” However, Cicero – as he does here – changes the sentence to the time perspective of the reader, one reasonable interpretation of this style being the lengthy period that would have elapsed from the time the writer in Ancient Rome dispatched the letter until the time the recipient read it i.e. whatever is happening as Cicero writes will have finished by the time the recipient reads about it.

In the example English sentence, Cicero’s epistolary style would most likely change it to “I wasn’t sure (at the time I was writing) how many of those books I had, but, whatever I found, I’ve sent them to you.” Therefore, although the literal translation is “We ( = I) didn’t know …” (because he didn’t know at the point at which the letter was received), the actual translations is “I don’t know …”

The usage isn’t consistent and it only tends to occur when referring to events happening to the speaker at the time of writing.

Both of the points discussed above are also here (refer to the notes at the end of the post):

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/06/041025-level-3-review-irregular-verbs-9.html

(3) sed quid esset ¦ plānē nesciēbāmus │ But how many there might be, I obviously don’t know.

esset is subjunctive; a further use of the subjunctive is with indirect questions e.g. Ubi est templum? │ Where is the temple i.e. a direct question > Nesciō ¦ ubi sit [subjunctive] templum │ I don’t know ¦ where the temple is i.e. an indirect question; English could convey this using an ‘equivalent’ of a subjunctive i.e. “I don’t know where the temple might be” (slightly stilted but correct)

03.04.27: Level 4; literature; Bread and panthers … without the panthers [4]; make a date with a Roman

Scr. Romae iv Non. Sept. a. 703 (51). CAELIVS CICERONI S. ¦ M. CAELIUS RUFUS TO CICERO, Rome, 2^nd September, 51BC

Romae (locative); at Rome

Each Roman month had three principal days:

[i] Kalendae, -ārum (Kal.): the Kalends (Calends); the first day of the month (which involves no thinking at all because it always refers to the first of the month)

[ii] Nōnae, -ārum (Non.): the Nones; [i] seventh day of March, May, July, October; [ii] fifth day of all other months

[iii] Īdūs, -uum (Id.) the Ides; [i] fifteenth day of March, May, July, October; [ii] thirteenth day of all other months; Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March i.e. the 15th

Step-by-step

IV NON. SEPT.

[1] This letter refers to the Nones of September i.e. the 5^th day of the month

[2] The preceding IV [IV NON.] refers to 4 days before and including the Nones itself, and so you start counting backwards from the Nones

Day 1: 5^th │ the Nones of September

> Day 2: 4^th of September

> Day 3: 3^rd of September

> Day 4: 2^nd of September

[3] a(nnō) 703 │ in the year 703

Romans used two different ways of expressing the year, and sometimes both are written in the same text:

[i] Consular dating: two consuls were elected each year, serving together, each with veto power over the other's actions. Roman years were customarily denoted according to the names of the two consuls who held office that year:

C. Fabiō et L. Virgīniō ¦ cōnsulibus │ During the consulship of Gaius Fabius and Lucius Virginius ¦  literally: with GF and LV ¦ (being) consuls  [ablative absolute] = while GF and LV were consuls = during the consulship of GF and LV

L. Genuciō et Q. Servīliō cōnsulibus mortuus est Camillus. │ Camillus died during the consulship of Lucius Genucius and Quintus Servilius.

From the perspective of a 21^st century reader this provides little if any further information; a UK reader may know, for example, what years a person was British Prime Minister but that historical knowledge isn’t guaranteed.

[ii] ab urbe conditā (AUC)│ from the founding of the city

The year was also calculated based on the number of years that had passed since the foundation of Rome i.e. 753BC, and, like the dates, 753 itself is included in the calculation. Therefore, whatever year is expressed, you subtract that from 754: a. 703; 754 – 703 = 51BC

In general, we need to be a little circumspect when dealing with dates referring to events 2000 years ago, and there is not always consistency and / or accuracy in calculation. In the end – despite the date appearing in one of the manuscripts of Pliny’s letter – nobody is really sure when exactly Mount Vesuvius erupted. It is now generally accepted that either Pliny was wrong (there is physical and written evidence that the eruption happened later in the year) or couldn’t remember and felt he had to write something, or a date was added or misinterpreted by a scribe. I have my own thoughts on that one, but I’ll keep them to myself until we look in detail at Pliny’s account of Vesuvius.

02.04.27: Level 4; literature; Bread and panthers … without the panthers [3]; text, translation with accompanying notes to lines [6] – [10]

[6] hoc vehementius labōrō nunc, quod seorsus ā collēgā putō mihi omnia paranda. │ I am all the more concerned about this now, because, apart from my colleague, I think I shall have to prepare everything.

mihi omnia paranda │ all these things (are) to be prepared ¦ by me = I need to / I shall have to prepare everything; gerundive of obligation

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/020625-level-3-gerundive-1.html

[7] amābō tē, imperā tibi hoc. cūrāre solēs libenter, ut ego maiōrem partem nihil cūrāre.  │ Please tell yourself to do this / give yourself that order. You’re usually willing to take care of things, as I for the most part take none.

[8] in hōc negōtiō nūlla tua nisi loquendī cūra est, hoc est imperandī et mandandī; │ In this business there is no concern of yours except speaking  – that is, giving an order and a commission / command.

In hōc negōtiō … │ in this business / matter …

nūlla tua … cūra est │ there is no concern of yours …

nisi loquendī (hoc est) imperandī et mandandī │ apart from that of speaking (that is / i.e.) (of) giving an order and (of) giving a commission

loquendī, imperandī and mandandī are gerunds that indicate the act of doing something

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/270525-level-3-gerund-1.html

"In this matter, you have no concern except for speaking: giving orders and commissions." To put it more casually: “All you’ve got to do is speak, order and command.”

[9] nam simulatque erunt captae, quī alant eās et dēportent ¦ habēs eōs ¦ ... │ For as soon as they (will) have been captured, ¦ you have these (men) ¦ who will feed and transport them …

…quī alant eās et dēportent; again, this is another example of a subjunctive of purpose; with quī it is used when, for example, saying that somebody has been sent to do something; Cicero already has men there ¦ who will feed and transport the animals i.e. that is their purpose

[10] putō etiam, sī ūllam spem mihi litterīs ostenderis, mē istō missūrum aliōs. │ I think also that, if you show [ = will have shown] me any hope in your letters, I shall send others (other men) to where you are / to your place.

[i] putō … mē … missūrum │ I think … ¦ I shall / am going to send; future active infinitive

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

[ii] istō: to the place where you are; iste, ista, istud (that) refers to something near the person being addressed

Personal comments:

There’s a sense of frustration on the part of Caelius; this isn’t the first time he’s mentioned the matter. While wild animals have been supplied to him from another source, he clearly doesn’t have enough to stage the extravaganza he has in mind. The political position of curule aedile is not insignificant: does Caelius have his eyes of the prize of a consulship?

One feels that Caelius is pressurising Cicero, referring to a local go-between (Patiscus) who sent panthers to the tribune Curio (one of Cicero’s friends) who, in turn, gave them to Caelius as a gift; in the political machinations of Ancient Rome, ‘gifts’ matter – including (somewhat sarcastically expressed) estates in the countryside – and if others can do all that, why can’t Cicero? Cicero himself, in Caelius’ view, will consider it disgraceful (turpe) that he has been unable not merely to match the number of animals already supplied but, indeed, significantly to increase it, which does read as if Caelius is embarrassing him although others interpret the exchange as light-hearted.

Cicero, according to Caelius, has more than enough authority – and offers a little praise of Cicero’s usual willingness to make arrangements – to order this without taking any direct action himself i.e. no effort required on the part of Cicero and, by his own admission, Caelius is not keen on the idea of sorting things out without assistance (and would possibly prefer not lifting a finger to do anything at all). Nevertheless, there are already men in the vicinity on financial matters (a reference omitted in the excerpt here) who can support Cicero in feeding and transporting the animals: quī alant eās et dēportent ¦ habēs eōs │ you have those men to feed and transport them. And Caelius does offer additional assistance when the panthers are caught.

What I find fascinating about this letter, is the importance attached to the hunting show, that Caelius has referred to the animals several times before and has already considered ways in which they can be looked after – and he knows where they can be caught. Panthers, rather than policy, seem to be the concern of this rather pushy political ladder climber. According to Jones and Sidwell, Caelius had been recently elected to this post which, undoubtedly, made it crucial to give a first-rate impression to the spectators of Rome.

I can’t help feeling that, if British politicians were to stage some freebie gladiatorial shows, their ratings would go up – because, as I write, they couldn’t be any lower! Furthermore, if they gave me an estate in the countryside, they’d get my vote.

Freebies, backhanders, use your mate’s influence, be pushy, get someone else to do it, keep the “mob” happy. Sarcasm alert: of course, they’re all things that happened in the past, right? I mean, they don’t happen now, do they?

29.08.26: Vincent; holiday reading

There are some very useful points in this video although I have no expertise in Vincent’s choice of books.

Crās iter faciam | I’ll be travelling tomorrow [literally: I shall make a journey]

et nunc rēs meās parō. | … and now I’m preparing my things.

Quid habeō in capsā? | What do I have in the (suit)case?

Vestīmenta sānē … | Clothes, of course …

…etiam nōnnūllōs librōs portābō mēcum. | … I’ll also bring some books with me.

Quī sunt librī? | What are the books / Which books are they?

Librī ēvangeliōrum quattuor Iuvencī … | Juvencus's four books of the Gospels …

… ut semper cum itineror hunc librum portō mēcum … | … as I always bring this book with me when I’m travelling …

… Dē imitātiōne Chrīstī … | … concerning the imitation of Christ …

… Catēchismus Conciliī Tridentīnī. | … The Catechism of the Council of Trent.

Sānē in itinere nōn poterō perlegere hunc librum … | Of course I won’t be able to finish reading this book / read the whole book on the journey.

… sed fortasse nonullōs locōs animī causā legam … | … but perhaps I’ll read some / a few passages for the sake of enjoyment …

… et parvum Missāle. | … and a small missal.

Nunc cubitum eō. | I’m going to bed now.

In crāstinum. | See you tomorrow.

[1]

legō, -ere [3]: read

perlegere [3]: read through / to the end

per: as a preposition (+ accusative): means ‘through’ or ‘across’

per-: as a prefix conveys:

[i] with adjectives: very, e.g. magnus, -a, -um (large) > permagnus, -a, -um (very large)

[ii] with verbs: indicates that an action is carried out right to the end

permaneō [2]: stay until the end; Engl. deriv: permanent

perdiscō, -ere [3]: learn thoroughly; learn by heart

pernoctō, -āre [1]: spend the night (e.g. be / sleep somewhere through the entire night)

[2]

iter, itineris [3/n]: journey; (Mil.) march; Engl. deriv: itinerary

in itinere: on the journey

iter faciō, -ere [3-iō]: travel (make a journey); march

itineror, -ārī [1/deponent]: (Late Latin) travel

[3] cubitum eō | I’m going to bed [literally: I am going to lie down / sleep]

cubō, -āre [1]; perfect: cubuī; supine: cubitum

cubitum, the supine form of the verb, was actually discussed in the group very recently:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/1033721322572469

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/1033724789238789

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/1033723109238957

In this context, it is used with a verb of motion to indicate the purpose:

cubitum eō | I am going to sleep

A synonym also uses a supine: Dormītum eō. | I am going to sleep < dormiō, -īre [4], dormīvī, dormītum

[4] Quid habeō in capsā? | What do I have in the suitcase?

Vincent uses a Neo-Latin intepretation for the noun:

https://neolatinlexicon.org/latin/suitcase/

The Romans had a very wide range of terms to describe bags, just as we have today. However, they are rarely referred to, and it is sometimes tricky to picture the type of bag they are talking about.

Classical Latin capsa, -ae [1/f] can mean ‘case’ or ‘box’ but it was often used to mean a cylindrical holder for books – and it is depicted in a fresco [see image]. The diminutive form of capsa is capsula (a small box); English derivative: capsule.

A close examination of some words in their original context helps us to formulate some idea. This excerpt from Plautus gives three words in the same speech. Note that the character refers to viāticum, -ī [2/n]: travelling-money; provision for a journey

Nunc ībō in tabernam, [i] vāsa atque argentum tibi referam. rēctē est obsignātum in [ii] vīdulō [iii] marsūpium cum viāticō: id tibi iam hūc adferam.

• I’ll go to the inn now and bring you the bags and cash. Duly under seal in the bag is the wallet with the travelling money. I’ll bring it here to you directly.

[i] vāsa, -ōrum [2/n/pl]: while it most commonly occurs with the meaning of ‘vessels’ or ‘utensils’, it can also refer to baggage, i.e. a plural concept; a synonym is sarcīnae, -ārum [1/f/pl], again denoting more than one item of luggage 

[ii] vīdulus, -ī [2/m]; the noun refers to some form of large travelling case, sometimes defined as a portmanteau. Both here and in other contexts in Plautus, the term is a convincing rendering of our modern concept of a suitcase, and is also listed at the Neo-Latin Lexicon.

[iii] marsūpium, -ī [2/n]: the English derivative is marsupial referring to animals that bear their young in a pouch; a small pouch full of money, translated here as ‘wallet’ – and elsewhere as ‘purse’ – is a valid Neo-Latin rendering even if, in the ancient Roman period, such items did not look the same as they do now.

detail of a wall-painting from Pompeii: 1st c. CE

legal document on a sealed wax tablet next to a capsa holding 7 papyrus scrolls

01.04.27: Level 4; literature; Bread and panthers … without the panthers [2]; text, translation with accompanying notes to lines [1] – [5]

Scr. Romae iv Non. Sept. a. 703 (51). CAELIVS CICERONI S. ¦ M. CAELIUS RUFUS TO CICERO, Rome, 2^nd September, 51BC

[1] ferē litterīs omnibus tibi dē panthērīs scrīpsī. │ In almost every letter I have written to you about panthers.

[2] turpe tibi erit ¦ Patiscum Cūriōnī decem panthērās mīsisse, ¦ tē nōn multīs partibus plūrīs; │ It will be a disgrace to you ¦ that Patiscus has sent ten panthers to Curio, (and) ¦ that you haven’t (sent) many times more.

[i] mīsisse: to have sent; perfect active infinitive

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/07/191025-level-3-spartan-boys-contempt-of.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/05/020925-level-3-sonnenschein-pro-patria.html

[ii] Patiscus: research suggests that Patiscus was an agent working locally for Caelius to obtain panthers and, most likely, other exotic animals

[iii] Curiō i.e. Gaius Scribonius Curio: Roman politician

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Scribonius_Curio_(tribune_50_BC)

[3] quās ipsās Cūriō mihi et aliās Āfricānās decem dōnāvit │ and these very ones (i.e. beasts), as well as ten other African ones, Curio has presented to me,

quās: connecting relative; it starts the sentence and is referring back to something mentioned in the previous one. Therefore, it does not translate as ‘which’ but ‘And these … (i.e. the animals referred to in the earlier statement)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/270625-level-3-labours-of-hercules-iii.html [note (3)]

[4]  … nē pūtēs ¦ illum tantum praedia rūstica dare scīre. │ so that you don’t think ¦ that he only knows how to give (gifts of) estates in the country

[i] nē + the subjunctive: the subjunctive is used to express the purpose of an action i.e. x does something ¦ in order that / so that y may happen; when nē is included, it indicates a negative purpose i.e. something is done ¦ so that something does not happen

[ii] …illum … scīre; indirect statement

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/05/310825-level-1-readings-18-damocles.html

[5] tū sī modo memoriā tenueris et Cibyrātās arcessieris itemque in Pamphȳliam litterās miseris (nam ibi plūrīs cāpī aiunt), quod volēs efficiēs. │ If only you keep (this) in mind / remember (this) [ = literally: if you will have kept in mind], and send for [ = will have sent for] some (panthers) from Cibyra, and likewise send [ = will have sent]  a letter to Pamphylia – for they say they’re mostly captured there – you’ll achieve what you want.

[i] Note in this section the use of the future perfect tense which emphasises the completion of a future action; in English the literal translation sounds clumsy, but English can convey this idea e.g. If you paint the dining room by Tuesday, we can have the party = If you’ve painted the dining room = If you’ve got the dining room painted … i.e. English can use a present perfect tense to stress completion, whereas Latin uses the future perfect:

[ii] item: likewise

[iii] Pamphȳlia, -ae [1/f]: a region in Asia Minor

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

image #1: 15^th century map showing Pamphylia

[iv] Cibyra, -ae [1/f]: a town in SE Asia Minor; also: Kibyra (Gk. Κίβυρα)

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

image #2: the Roman theatre of Cibyra; if the panthers had been there, I wouldn’t have booked a seat on the front row!

Images #3 and #4: the stadium at Cibyra and a representation of a gladiatorial scene

31.03.27: Level 4; literature; Bread and panthers … without the panthers [1]; text and translation

Caelius is worried. If you want to “get on” in Rome, if you want to climb the political ladder (cursus honōrum), keep the people happy. Give them bread, and give them free shows to let them see what a generous guy you are. Apart from gladiators, the Romans were treated to vēnātiōnes (hunting shows) where men (hunters: vēnātōrēs) would fight wild animals [see image]. The only problem is that, if you don’t have wild animals, you ain’t got no show!

The introduction to this excerpt is from Reading Latin by Jones and Sidwell (pp239ff); the translation, vocabulary and notes are my own. The extensive work by Jones and Sidwell is outstanding: they cover short and manageable excerpts from a wide range of Latin literature of different periods and genres; although there are three separate books, the ‘Text and Vocabulary’ can stand alone. Texts are accompanied by notes which contextualise the excerpts and, by working through the book (which starts with Plautus), you gain insight into significant events. I went through the book from start to finish, and I found it extremely helpful in beginning to find my way through the authors. I would recommend buying the latest edition of this book although an older, and far less detailed edition is at:

https://archive.org/details/jones-peter-sidwell-keith-reading-latin/mode/2up

Image: the text and my own translation

I’ve divided the post itself into three parts:

[i] text and translation

[ii] text, translation with accompanying notes to lines [1] – [5]

[iii] text, translation with accompanying notes to lines [6] – [10]

Links are given to aspects of Level 3 grammar that have been covered earlier. References will be made to the use of the subjunctive without, at this stage, going into detail.

“Caelius was elected curule aedile, an important step on the cursus honōrum. One of his new duties was to stage public games. Caelius became anxious about the animals to appear in the vēnātiōnes (wild animal hunts).  He was eager to increase his prestige by putting on an extravagant show. So he wrote to Cicero requesting help. He had already made several mentions of these animals in earlier letters.” (Jones and Sidwell)

Scr. Romae iv Non. Sept. a. 703 (51). CAELIVS CICERONI S.

ferē litterīs omnibus tibi dē panthērīs scrīpsī. turpe tibi erit Patiscum Cūriōnī decem panthērās mīsisse, tē nōn multīs partibus plūrīs; quās ipsās Cūriō mihi et aliās Āfricānās decem dōnāvit, nē putēs illum tantum praedia rūstica dare scīre. tū sī modo memoriā tenueris et Cibyrātās arcessieris itemque in Pamphȳliam litterās miseris (nam ibi plūrīs cāpī aiunt), quod volēs efficiēs. hoc vehementius labōrō nunc, quod seorsus ā collēgā putō mihi omnia paranda. amābō tē, imperā tibi hoc. cūrāre solēs libenter, ut ego maiōrem partem nihil cūrāre. in hōc negōtiō nūlla tua nisi loquendī cūra est, hoc est imperandī et mandandī; nam simulatque erunt captae, quī alant eās et dēportent habēs eōs… putō etiam, sī ūllam spem mihi litterīs ostenderis, mē istō missūrum aliōs.

M. CAELIUS RUFUS TO CICERO, Rome, 2^nd September, 51BC

I’ve written to you about panthers in almost every letter. You’ll find it disgraceful that Patiscus has sent ten panthers to Curio and you haven’t sent far, far more. And those very beasts, as well as ten others from Africa, Curio’s given to me as a gift, so you don’t think that he only knows how to give gifts of country estates. If only you bear this in mind, and send for some (panthers) from Cybyra, and likewise send a letter to Pamphylia –  for they say they’re mostly captured there – you’ll manage to do what you want. I’m getting increasingly concerned about this now, because, apart from my colleague, I think I’ll have to prepare everything. Please tell yourself to do this. You’re usually willing to take care of things, in the same way that I mostly take none. In this business all you have to do is speak, that is, give an order and a commission, for as soon as they’ve been captured, you have the men to feed and transport them .. If you offer me any hope in your letters, I even think I’ll send others to where you are.

30.03.27: Topic / Level 4; transport [3]: wheeled vehicles (3) currus [ii]

The divine status which the chariot could represent is illustrated by Ovid as he describes the chariot of the Sun. Phoebus has been warning Phaethon not to drive the sun chariot because the task is too dangerous. After finishing these warnings, he still reluctantly leads his son to the chariot.

[1] Fīnierat monitūs; dictīs tamen ille repugnat

• he had finished the warnings; but he (Phaeton) resists his words,

[2] prōpositumque premit flagratque cupīdine currūs.

• persists in his purpose, and burns with desire for the chariot.

[3-4] ergō, quā licuit, genitor cunctātus ad altōs / dēdūcit iuvenem, Vulcānia mūnera, currūs.

• Therefore, delaying as long as he could, the father leads the youth up to the lofty chariot, the gift of Vulcan.

[5-6] aureus axis erat, tēmō aureus, aurea summae / curvātūra rotae, radiōrum argenteus ordō;

• The axle was of gold, the pole of gold, the wheelrim of gold; the row of spokes of silver;

[7] per iuga chrȳsolithī positaeque ex ōrdine gemmae

• Chrysolites and gems placed along the yoke in order,

[8] clāra repercussō reddēbant lūmina Phoebō.

• gave a bright light from the reflected sun.

Note the following poetic features:

[i] metre: dactylic hexameter

(1) Fī-nĭ-ĕ | (2) rāt mŏ-nĭ- | (3) tūs; dīc- | (4) tīs tă-mĕn | (5) īl-lĕ rĕ- | (6) pūg-năt

(1) prō-pŏ-sĭ- | (2) tūm-quĕ prĕ- | (3) mīt flā- | (4) grātquĕ cŭ- | (5) pī-dĭ-nĕ | (6) cūr-rūs.

Dactylic hexameter comprises two possible rhythmic patterns:

[ — ◡ ◡ ]: dactyl; fī-nĭ-ĕ | rāt mŏ-nĭ- |

[ — — ]: spondee;  | -tūs; dīc- |

Each single pattern is known as a foot, six of which appear in a line, hence hexameter.

[ii] vowels lengthened by position:

Fī-nĭ-ĕ | rāt mŏ-nĭ- | tūs; dīc- | tīs tă-mĕn | īl-lĕ rĕ- | pūg-năt

prō-pŏ-sĭ- | tūm-quĕ prĕ- | mīt flā- | grātquĕ cŭ- | pī-dĭ-nĕ | cūrrūs.

Line 1: The /a/ of fīnierat is not naturally long, but in poetic metre, vowels are lengthened before 2 consonants:

fī-nĭ-ĕr- | āT Mŏ-nĭ - |

Similarly:

[l1] īL-Lĕ rĕ - |

[l2] prō-po-si-tūM-QUe

[l2] flā- | grāT-QUĕ cŭ-

[l7] gēM-Mae

[iii] elision: the vowel of -que is dropped before the vowel of the following word:

pēr iŭ-gă |  chrȳ-sŏ-lĭ- | thī pŏ-sĭ- | tāe-qu[e] ēx* | ōr-dĭ-nĕ |  gēm-māe | [*i.e. positaequ’ex]

[iv] poetic plurals: the use of a plural to refer to a singular noun is a feature of CL poetry, creating a more elevated tone

[ll3-4] ad altōs … currūs; the adjective clearly marks the noun as plural although only one chariot is being referred to

Compare line 2: flagratque cupīdine currūs where the same noun is being used as a genitive singular

flagratque cupīdine currūs | and burns with desire for the chariot.

[l4]: mūnera (rather than the singular mūnus)

[l8]: lūmina (rather than the singular lūmen)

As you explore Classical Latin poetry in greater depth, you will come across specific terms to describe poetic devices. There are many such terms and it is advisable to note them when they occur since they are consistently used. Two of them are in Line 5:

aureus axis erat, tēmō aureus, aurea summae / curvātūra rotae,

[i] asyndeton: the omission of conjunctions

[ii] polyptoton: words derived from the same root are used together i.e. aureus / aurea

Both features allow for a rapid accumulation of images, emphasising the quantity of gold and mirroring the way in which Phaeton’s eyes dart about upon seeing this treasure.

29.03.27: Topic / Level 4; transport [2]: wheeled vehicles (2) currus [i]

(1) Often reinforced by our contemporary movie makers, the image of the chariot epitomises velocity, volatility and power. However, it is an image that was already conveyed by Virgil:

saevit tōtō Mars impius orbe, | Wicked Mars rages throughout the whole world,

ut cum carceribus [i] sēsē effūdēre quadrīgae, |  just as when four-horse chariots have burst forth from the barriers,

addunt in spatia [ii], et frūstrā retinācula tendēns | they quicken their pace lap after lap, and, tugging vainly at the harnesses,

fertur equīs aurīga neque audit currus habēnās | the charioteer is swept along by the horses, nor does the chariot heed the reins.

currus, -ūs [4/m]: chariot

quadrīga, -ae [1/f]: chariot pulled by four horses

aurīga, -ae [1/m]: charioteer

Virgil associates the chariots and charioteers with the Circus Maximus:

[i] carcerēs: the enclosed starting stalls at the wide straight end of the Circus Maximus where each chariot team was held prior to the commencement of the race

[ii] spatium, -ī [2/n]: (here) one lap of a race; addunt in spatia is a compressed expression which would normally require a direct object such as gradum (pace) i.e. the horses are adding to the pace with every lap they run.

Note: alternating between ‘galloping’ dactyls [ — ◡ ◡ ] and ‘straining’ spondees [ — — ], the rhythm of the words in the final line literally mimics the erratic, terrifying speed of the runaway vehicle which the charioteer is attempting to control:

fēr-tŭr ĕ- | quīs āu- | rī-gă nĕ- | qu'āu-dīt | cūr-rŭs hă- | bē-nās

(2) The chariot is also associated with triumphal processions even if such processions were sometimes considered controversial. Here we have Livy’s description of the triumphant arrival of Camillus after the conquest of Veii in 396 BC in which he refers to the appearance of the chariot as a political flashpoint:

adventus quoque dictātōris omnibus ōrdinibus obviam effūsīs celebrātior quam ūllius unquam anteā fuit, triumphusque omnem cōnsuētum honōrandī diēī illīus modum aliquantum excessit. maximē cōnspectus ipse est, currū equīs albīs iūnctō urbem inuectus, parumque id nōn cīuīle modō sed hūmānum etiam vīsum. Iovis Solīsque equīs aequiperātum dictātōrem in religiōnem etiam trahēbant, triumphusque ob eam ūnam maximē rem clārior quam grātior fuit.

adventus quoque dictātōris 

• The arrival also of the dictator

omnibus ōrdinibus obviam effūsīs 

• with all classes having poured out to meet him

celebrātior quam ūllius unquam anteā fuit, 

• was more celebrated than that of anyone ever before,

triumphusque omnem cōnsuētum honōrandī diēī illīus modum aliquantum excessit. 

• and his triumph considerably exceeded the entire customary manner of honoring that day.

maximē cōnspectus ipse est, 

• He himself was the object of greatest attention

currū equīs albīs iūnctō urbem invectus, 

• borne into the city by a chariot yoked to white horses,

parumque id nōn cīvīle modō sed hūmānum etiam vīsum. 

• And it seemed not only uncharacteristic of a citizen but even a mortal man

Iovis Sōlīsque equīs aequiperātum dictātōrem in religiōnem etiam trahēbant, 

• They also interpreted it as an offense against religion that the dictator was made equal to the horses of Jupiter and the Sun,

triumphusque ob eam ūnam maximē rem clārior quam grātior fuit. 

• and for that one reason above all, the triumph was more spectacular than it was pleasing.

Triumph of Furius Camillus: Francesco Salviati (1545)