07.06.27: topic; transport; Neo-Latin; Traupman [1] listening

Listen to the recording (referring to the transcript if you need to) and answer the questions after each section:

statiō ferriviāria | the train station

[A]

Diāna
Salvē! Velim comparāre tesseram itinerāriam prīmae classis

Tesserārius
Quō, quaesō?

Diāna
In Californiam. | To California.

Tesserārius
Vīsne tesseram unīus cursūs an tesseram itūs reditūsque?

Diāna
Tesseram itūs reditūsque. Quotā hōrā trāmen meum abscēdit?

Tesserārius
Hōrā ūndecimā.

Diāna
Ā quotā crepīdine trāmen abscēdit?

Tesserārius
Ā crepīdine quārtā, in orbitā decimā.

Diāna
Estne trāmen dīrēctum?

Tesserārius
Minimē. Mūtābis trāmina in statiōne Chicāgiēnsī.

[A] Tick the answers:

[1] The traveller wants:

a first class ticket _______

a second class ticket _______

a single ticket _______

a return ticket _______

[2] The train leaves at:

10.00 _______

10.10 _______

11.00 _______

11.10 _______

[3] The train leaves from:

platform 10 _______

track four _______

platform 4 _______

track ten _______

[4] The train is:

direct _______

not direct _______

[B]

bulga, -ae [1/f]: (NL) handbag; (CL) wallet, satchel, purse

pēra, -ae [1/f]: bag; satchel (slung over the shoulder)

riscus, -ī [2/m]: (NL) suitcase; (CL) trunk

sarcīnae, -ārum [1/f/pl]: luggage

[B]

Tesserārius

Quās sarcīnās tēcum habēs?

Diāna
Ūnum riscum, ūnam bulgam, ūnam pēram.

Tesserārius
Cūrātiō sarcīnārum est illīc, iuxtā oecum praestōlātōrium.

Diāna
Suntne bāiulī in promptū?

Tesserārius
Ita. Illī illīc stant prope scālas mōbilēs.

[B] Tick the answers:

[1] The ticket seller asks:

if the traveller has any luggage _______

how many pieces of luggage she has _______

what luggage she has _______

where her luggage is _______

[2] The traveller has:

a suitcase, a briefcase, a purse _______

a rucksack, two handbags _______

a suitcase, a handbag, a shoulder bag _______

[3] The baggage check-in is:

next to the waiting room _______

opposite the waiting room _______

in front of the waiting room _______

behind the waiting room _______

[4] The porters are:

sitting by the escalator _______

standing near the escalator _______

[C]

Diāna
Suntne currus cēnātōrius et currus dormītōrius in hōc trāmine?

Tesserārius
Certē..

Diāna
Quam mox mihi licet trāmen ferriviārium īnscendere?

Tesserārius
Vīgintī aut summum trīgintā minūtīs. En, cape hōrārium trāminum.

Diāna
Grātiās. Quantī cōnstat tessera itinerāria?

Tesserārius
Centum octōgintā quīnque dollarīs.

Diāna
Ecce vectūram.

Tesserārius
Grātiās. Bene ambulā!

[C] Tick the answers:

[1] The traveller asks about:

a dining car _______

a luggage compartment _______

a sleeping car _______

a smoking compartment _______

[2] When is the latest she can board the train?

quarter of an hour  _______

2o minutes _______

half an hour _______

35 minutes _______

[3] The ticket seller:

shows the traveller the departure time _______

tells the traveller to look at the timetable _______

gives the traveller a train schedule _______

[4] How much is the ticket?

$18.50 _______

$108.50 _______

$180.50 _______

$185 _______

[5] The ticket seller tells the traveller:

to go for a walk _______

to say thanks _______

to have a good trip _______

to walk to the train _______

____________________

[A]

[1] first class ticket; return ticket

[2] 11.00

[3] track four; platform 10

[4] not direct

[B]

[1] what luggage she has

[2] a suitcase, a handbag, a shoulder bag

[3] next to the waiting room

[4] standing near the escalator

[C]

[1] a dining car; a sleeping car

[2] half an hour

[3] gives the traveller a train schedule

[4] $185

[5] to have a good trip

06.06.27: Level 3+ (review); a Second Latin Reader (Vincent) [25] The Bellovaci

Caesar, obsidibus acceptīs prīmīs civitātis atque ipsīus Galbae rēgis duōbus fīliīs et armīs omnibus ex oppidō trāditīs, in dēditiōnem Suessiōnēs accēpit exercitumque in Bellovacōs dūcit. Quī sē suaque omnia in oppidum Bratuspantium contulerant; illō tempore Caesar ab eō oppidō cum exercitū mīlia passuum quīnque aberat. Paucī igitur erant quī sē Caesārī trādere nollent. Itaque omnēs maiōrēs nātū ex oppidō ēgressī manūs ad Caesarem tendere et petere coepērunt ut in potestātem populī Rōmānī venīrent. Inde, postquam ad oppidum vēnit castraque ibi posuit, puerī mulierēsque ex mūrō pācem ab Rōmānīs petiērunt.

[1] subjunctive usage

Relative clause of characteristic

Paucī igitur erant quī sē Caesārī trādere nollent. | There were few who were unwilling to surrender themselves to Caesar.

03.08.26: Level 3+; Subjunctive [79] dependent uses [9] relative clauses of characteristic (1)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2026/03/030826-level-4-subjunctive-79-dependent.html

03.08.26: Level 3+; Subjunctive [80] dependent uses [9] relative clauses of characteristic (2) practice

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2026/03/030826-level-4-subjunctive-80-dependent.html

[2] deponent verbs

ēgredior, ēgredī, ēgressus sum [3-iō/deponent]: come out

Deponent verbs are passive in form but active in meaning. Therefore, the participle translates as “having done …”:

omnēs maiōrēs nātū ex oppidō ēgressī … | all the elders, having come out of the town …

Examples from earlier passages:

hortor, -arī, hortātus sum [1/deponent]: encourage

Inde Caesar … suōs mīlitēs hortātus … | Then Caesar… having encouraged his soldiers …

proficīscor, proficīscī, profectus sum [3 / deponent]: set out

profectī igitur | therefore, having set out

ūtor, utī, ūsus sum [3/deponent]: use

Inde eae gentēs, eōdem consiliō ūsāe … | Then those peoples, having used the same plan …

[3] ablative of respect

omnēs maiōrēs nātū | all the elders [literally: all greater in respect of age / birth]

11.06.25; Level 3;  summary of the uses of the ablative case [14]: the ablative of respect / specification

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/110625-level-3-summary-of-of-uses-of_7.html

[4] Translate the full phrases and identify the constructions in bold.

[a]

obsidibus acceptīs prīmīs civitātis atque ipsīus Galbae rēgis duōbus fīliīs

armīs omnibus ex oppidō trāditīs

[b] petere coepērunt ut in potestātem populī Rōmānī venīrent

[c] Quī sē suaque omnia in oppidum Bratuspantium contulerant

[d] illō tempore Caesar ab eō oppidō … aberat

____________________

[4]

[a]

After the leading men of the state and the two sons of Galba, the king himself, had been received as hostages; ablative absolute

After all the weapons from the town had been handed over; ablative absolute

[b] (they) began requesting to come [= that they might come] under the authority of the Roman people; subjunctive: indirect command

[c] (And) they had taken themselves and all their possessions into the town of Bratuspantium; connecting relative

[d] At that time Caesar was away from the town; ablative of time when

Once the leading men of the state and the two sons of Galba, the king himself, had been received, Caesar received the Suessiones in surrender and leads the army against the Bellovaci. And they had taken themselves and all their possessions into the town of Bratuspantium; at that time Caesar together with the army was five miles away from the town. Therefore, there were few who refused to surrender to Caesar. And so all the elders, having come out of the town, began extending their hands to Caesar and requesting to come under the authority of the Roman people. Then, after he came to the town and placed a camp there, from the wall the children and women sought peace from the Romans.

05.06.27: Level 1-2 (review); Julia (a Latin Reader) [15] (2)

Inter captīvōs Rēgulus ipse Carthāginem ductus est. Tum summō gaudiō Poenī, "Nunc," inquiunt, "Rōmānōs vīcimus; Rōmānī igitur pācem dēsīderābunt et bonās condiciōnēs ferent. Tē, Rēgule, Rōmam iam mittēmus. Tū lēgātī modō in Senātum intrā – sī verbīs tuīs animōs cīvium tuōrum ad pācem addūxeris, tū vinculīs līberāberis, et līber in līberā urbe tuā habitābis. Sed sī Rōmānī nōn ad pācem amīcitiamque adductī erunt, sed malās condiciōnēs ferent, et Poenōs odiō īrāque petent, tū nōn in urbe tuā manēbis, sed Carthāginem iterum veniēs, et vinculīs mortīque crūdēlī tē trādēs."

Rēgulus igitur Poenīs fidem dedit, et ad patriam celerrimē revertit. Sed ubi Senātum intrāvit, nōn ad pācem amīcitiamque cīvēs suōs addūxit. "Nunc," inquit, "superātī sunt Rōmānī; malās condiciōnēs ferent Poenī. Vōs autem meliōrēs fortiōrēsque estis hostibus; sī igitur bellum summīs vīribus gerētis, et virōs vōs praebēbitis, mox vōs victōrēs eritis et vestrās condiciōnēs hostibus ferētis. Ego Carthāginem nāvigābō nec fidem violābō. Vōs animōs ad bellum firmāte et hostēs sub pedibus prōsternite. Ego nec vincula nec mortem recūsō, sed vestrō amōre mē dignum praebēbō."

Deinde Rēgulus fidem nōn violāvit, sed vultū serēnō Rōmā discessit et Carthāginem revertit. Ibi vinculīs mortīque sē trādidit.

addūcō, -ere, addūxī, adductus [3]: influence

amīcitia, -ae [1/f]: friendship

bellum gerō: I carry on war

condiciō, -ōnis [3/f]: term, condition

fidēs, -eī [5/f]: faith, promise; fidem violō: I break my promise

ipse, -a, -um: one’s self

lēgātus, -ī [2/m]: ambassador

līber, -era, -erum: free

melior, -ius: better

revertō, -ere, revertī, reversus [3]: turn back; (perfect tense): return

senātus, -ūs [4/m]: Senate, a governing body

victor, -ōris [3/m]: victorious

violō, -āre [1]: violate

____________________

Among the captives, Regulus himself was led to Carthage. Then, with the greatest joy, the Carthaginians said, "Now we have conquered the Romans; therefore, the Romans will desire peace and bring good terms. We will send you to Rome now, Regulus. Enter into the Senate in the manner of an envoy—if by your words you lead the minds of your citizens to peace, you will be freed from chains, and you will live a free man in your free city. But if the Romans are not led to peace and friendship, but bring bad terms, and attack the Carthaginians with hatred and anger, you will not remain in your city, but you will come to Carthage again, and you will surrender yourself to chains and a cruel death."

Regulus therefore gave his pledge to the Carthaginians, and returned to his homeland very quickly. But when he entered the Senate, he did not lead his citizens to peace and friendship. He said, "Now the Romans are overcome; the Carthaginians will bring bad terms. You, however, are better and braver than the enemy; if therefore you wage war with your utmost strength, and show yourselves to be men, soon you will be victors and you will bring your own terms to the enemy. I will sail to Carthage and I will not break my pledge. Strengthen your minds for war and lay the enemy low under your feet. I refuse neither chains nor death, but I will show myself worthy of your love."

Then Regulus did not break his pledge, but with a calm countenance he departed from Rome and returned to Carthage. There he surrendered himself to chains and death.

04.06.27: Level 1; First Latin Lessons (22); review [3]

[1] Match the English with the Latin in the word cloud:

dangerous

dark

dear; beloved

famous; well-known

good

happy

kind

large; great

Latin

many; much

my

open

pleasing; welcome

small

your

apertus, -a, -um; benignus, -a, -um; bonus, -a, -um; cārus, -a, -um; clārus, -a, -um;

grātus, -a, -um; laetus, -a, -um; Latīnus, -a, -um; magnus, -a, -um; meus, -a, -um;

multus, -a, -um; obscūrus, -a, -um; parvus, -a, -um; perīculōsus, -a, -um; tuus, -a, -um

[2] Label the images:

miser, -a, -um

pulcher, -chra, -chrum

vester, -stra, -strum

aeger, -gra, -grum

noster, -tra, -trum

impiger, -gra, -grum

[3] Which of the images illustrates these sentences?

Casa parva est.

Iānua aperta est.

Multam pecūniam habeō.

Puella aegra est.

Puer miser est.

Vir dēfessus est.

03.06.27: Topic / Level 4; transport [21]; on water [xi] Caesar Dē Bellō Cīvīle (3)

Again, we will consider the two stages of translation.  It is not a question of whether [i] is ‘wrong’ because the first versions still convey the meaning. The focus is, at this level, the skill of achieving greater fluency when necessary and retaining the pace and aggression of the narrative while retaining the meaning. The second translations are subjective i.e. there are other styles or adjustments you may personally prefer.

(5) neque vērō coniūnctī Albīcī comminus pugnandō dēficiēbant neque multum cēdēbant virtūte nostrīs.

[i] Nor indeed did the Albici, (having been) united with them, fail in hand-to-hand fighting, nor did they yield much to ours in valour.

[ii] And the Albici, who had joined them, were neither inadequate in close combat nor far less courageous than our own men.

(6) simul ex minōribus nāvibus magna vīs ēminus missa tēlōrum multa nostrīs dē imprōvīsō imprūdentibus atque inpedītīs vulnera īnferēbant.

[i] At the same time, from the smaller ships, a great force of weapons sent from a distance was inflicting many wounds upon our men unexpectedly, off their guard, and entangled.

[ii] At the same time a great assault of long-range weapons hurled from the smaller vessels suddenly inflicted many wounds on our men – caught off guard and pinned down.

(7) cōnspicātaeque nāvēs trirēmēs duae nāvem D. Brūtī, quae ex īnsignī facile agnōscī poterat, duābus ex partibus sēsē in eam incitāverant.

[i] And two ships with three banks of oars, having spotted the ship of Decimus Brutus, which was able to be easily recognized from its flag, had driven themselves into it from two sides.

[ii] And two triremes, having spotted the ship of Decimus Brutus – easily recognisable by its flag – had charged at it from both sides.  

(8) sed tantum rē prōvīsā Brūtus celeritāte nāvis ēnīsus est ut parvō mōmentō antecēderet.

[i] But with the matter having been foreseen, Brutus, by the swiftness of his ship, so greatly extricated himself that he got ahead for a little moment.

[ii] But Brutus had anticipated this and, thanks to the speed of the ship, made such a great effort to force his way out that, momentarily, he got ahead of them.

(9) illae adeō graviter inter sē incitātae cōnflīxērunt, ut vehementissimē utraque ex concursū labōrārent, altera vērō praefrāctō rōstrō tōta conlabefieret.

[i] Those ships, having been driven forward, collided with each other so heavily that each was very severely afflicted by the impact, and one indeed, with its ram having been broken off, was completely shattered.

[ii] Those ships which had been rapidly moved forward collided so violently with each other that each was very severely damaged from the crash, and one, in fact, its ram broken off, was completely shattered.

(10) quā rē animadversa, quae proximae eī locō ex Brūtī classe nāvēs erant, in eās inpedītās impetum faciunt celeriterque ambās dēprimunt.

[i] With this thing having been noticed, the ships from Brutus's fleet which were closest to that place make an attack upon those hindered ships and quickly sink both.

[ii] And having observed this incident, the ships from Brutus’ fleet which were nearest to that position, launched an attack on those disabled ships, quickly sinking them both.

____________________

And the Albici, who had joined them, were neither inadequate in close combat nor far less courageous than our own men. At the same time a great assault of long-range weapons hurled from the smaller vessels suddenly inflicted many wounds on our men – caught off guard and pinned down. And two triremes, having spotted the ship of Decimus Brutus – easily recognisable by its flag – had charged at it from both sides.  But Brutus had anticipated this and, thanks to the speed of the ship, made such a great effort to force his way out that, momentarily, he got ahead of them. Those ships which had been rapidly moved forward collided so violently with each other that each was very severely damaged from the crash, and one, in fact, its ram broken off, was completely shattered. And having observed this incident, the ships from Brutus’ fleet which were nearest to that position, launched an attack on those disabled ships, quickly sinking them both.

02.06.27: Topic / Level 4; transport [20]; on water [x] Caesar Dē Bellō Cīvīle (2)

The passage continues:

neque vērō coniūnctī Albīcī comminus pugnandō dēficiēbant neque multum cēdēbant virtūte nostrīs. simul ex minōribus nāvibus magna vīs ēminus missa tēlōrum multa nostrīs dē imprōvīsō imprūdentibus atque inpedītīs vulnera īnferēbant. cōnspicātaeque nāvēs trirēmēs duae nāvem D. Brūtī, quae ex īnsignī facile agnōscī poterat, duābus ex partibus sēsē in eam incitāverant. sed tantum rē prōvīsā Brūtus celeritāte nāvis ēnīsus est ut parvō mōmentō antecēderet. illae adeō graviter inter sē incitātae cōnflīxērunt, ut vehementissimē utraque ex concursū labōrārent, altera vērō praefrāctō rōstrō tōta conlabefieret. quā rē animadversa, quae proximae eī locō ex Brūtī classe nāvēs erant, in eās inpedītās impetum faciunt celeriterque ambās dēprimunt.

[i]

concursus, -us [4/m]: collision; crash; impact

īnsigne, -is [3/n]: insignia; standard; distinguishing mark

rōstrum, -ī [2/n]: ram; battering ram; beak of a ship

trirēmis, -is [3/f]: trireme; warship with three banks of oars

[ii]

conflīgō, conflīgere, conflīxī, conflīctus [3]: to collide; clash; strike together

conlabefīō, conlabefierī, conlabefactus sum [3]: to be completely shattered; break down; collapse

dēprimō, dēprimere, dēpressī, dēpressus [3]: to weigh down; sink

ēnītor, ēnītī, ēnīsus sum [3/dep]: to strain; force one's way out; struggle

coniūnctus, -a, -um: joined together; acting in concert; united

[iii]

imprūdēns, imprūdentis: off guard; unaware; unsuspecting

inpedītus, -a, -um: pinned down; hampered; disabled; entangled

praefrāctus, -a, -um: broken off in front; shattered

[iv]

comminus: at close quarters; hand-to-hand

ēminus: from a distance; from afar; at long range

dē imprōvīsō: unexpectedly; suddenly

(5) neque vērō coniūnctī Albīcī comminus pugnandō dēficiēbant neque multum cēdēbant virtūte nostrīs.

(6) simul ex minōribus nāvibus magna vīs ēminus missa tēlōrum multa nostrīs dē imprōvīsō imprūdentibus atque inpedītīs vulnera īnferēbant.

(7) cōnspicātaeque nāvēs trirēmēs duae nāvem D. Brūtī, quae ex īnsignī facile agnōscī poterat, duābus ex partibus sēsē in eam incitāverant.

(8) sed tantum rē prōvīsā Brūtus celeritāte nāvis ēnīsus est ut parvō mōmentō antecēderet.

(9) illae adeō graviter inter sē incitātae cōnflīxērunt, ut vehementissimē utraque ex concursū labōrārent, altera vērō praefrāctō rōstrō tōta conlabefieret.

(10) quā rē animadversa, quae proximae eī locō ex Brūtī classe nāvēs erant, in eās inpedītās impetum faciunt celeriterque ambās dēprimunt.

Identify the sections of the passage (5) – (10) which refer to:

a shattered ship _____

a specific type of ship _____

a violent collision _____

anticipating actions _____

attacking from two sides _____

broken battering ram _____

catching sight of a ship _____

caught off guard _____

close combat _____

displays of courage _____

identifying a ship by its standard _____

long-range weapons _____

many wounded men _____

nearby ships _____

sinking ships _____

smaller vessels _____

using the speed of the ship _____

____________________

a shattered ship: 9; tōta conlabefieret

a specific type of ship: 7; nāvēs trirēmēs

a violent collision: 9; graviter inter sē … cōnflīxērunt

anticipating actions: 8; rē prōvīsā

attacking from two sides: 7; duābus ex partibus sēsē in eam incitāverant

broken battering ram: 9; praefrāctō rōstrō

catching sight of a ship: 7;  cōnspicātaeque … nāvem

caught off guard: 6; imprūdentibus

close combat: 5; comminus pugnandō

displays of courage: 5;  neque multum cēdēbant virtūte

identifying a ship by its standard:  7; ex īnsignī … agnōscī poterat

long-range weapons: 6; … ēminus missa tēlōrum

many wounded men: 6;  multa nostrīs … vulnera īnferēbant

nearby ships: 10;  proximae eī locō … nāvēs erant

sinking ships: 10;  ambās dēprimunt

smaller vessels: 6;  ex minōribus nāvibus

using the speed of the ship: 8;  celeritāte nāvis

01.06.27: Topic / Level 4; transport [19]; on water [ix] Caesar Dē Bellō Cīvīle (1)

This excerpt from Caesar’s Dē Bellō Cīvīle is a good example of the ‘two stages’ of translation:

dīductīsque nostrīs paulātim nāvibus et artificiō gubernātōrum et mōbilitātī nāvium locus dabātur, et sīquandō nostrī facultātem nactī ferreīs manibus iniectīs nāvem religāverant, undique suīs labōrantibus succurrēbant.

[i] begin with as literal a translation as possible even if that first stage is clumsy

[ii] then picture in your mind what exactly is happening and rework the Latin so that it still retains the meaning but reads fluently in your own language; the translations marked [ii] are suggested because there can be various ways in which the meaning can be conveyed.

(1) dīductīsque nostrīs paulātim nāvibus

[i] ablative absolute; literally: with our ships having been gradually separated

> [ii] our ships being / since our ships were at some distance from each other

(2) et artificiō gubernātōrum et mōbilitātī nāvium locus dabātur,

[i] and ‘opportunity’ was given both to the skill of the pilots and the mobility of the ships;

• Some translations translate locus as ‘opportunity’ which is a possible meaning. However, Caesar is describing the advantage of the ships’ physical location:

[ii] room was allowed for both the skill of their pilots and the maneuvering of their ships

• i.e. now that the ships are physically apart, they are no longer in danger of fouling each other's oars or colliding with friendly vessels, which is exactly what allows the pilots to display their skill.

(3) et sīquandō nostrī ¦ facultātem nactī ¦ ferreīs manibus iniectīs ¦ nāvem religāverant, …

[i] and if ever ours, ¦ having obtained the opportunity, ¦ with iron hands having been cast in, ¦ had bound a ship fast …

[ii] and if at any time our men, once they had gained an advantage and had laid hold of a ship by casting iron grappling hooks on board …

• manus, -ūs [4/f]: although the most immediate rendering of the noun is ‘hand’, Wiktionary, for example, lists seventeen possible translations depending upon context, one of which is “(military, nautical) grappling hooks used to snare enemy vessels”.
• ‘laid hold’ arguably conveys a greater sense of aggression and capture

(4) undique suīs labōrantibus succurrēbant.

[i] from all sides they were running to help their own struggling.

[ii] they would run / they would start running from every direction to help their own men who were in distress

• Bear in mind that the imperfect tense in Latin can convey more than “was / were doing something”:

(a) frequentative: an action that happened repeatedly

(b) inceptive: the beginning of an action

Therefore, succurēbant could translate here as: “They would start running …” which reflects both the frequentative and inceptive ideas.

In a sense, a final ‘pass’ is less about the Latin but rather the way in which the passage reads in your own language. You may even at that stage consider alternative expressions.

Since our ships were at some distance from each other, room was allowed [or: there was enough room] for both the skill of their pilots and the maneuvering of their ships, and if at any time our men, once they had gained an advantage and laid hold of [or: snared] a ship by casting iron grappling hooks on board, they would start running from every direction to help their own men who were in distress.

31.05.27: Level 3+ (review); a Second Latin Reader (Vincent) [24]: Caesar at Bibrax

Ab hīs castrīs oppidum Rēmōrum Bibrax aberat octō mīlia passuum. Id ex itinere magnō impetū Belgae oppugnāre coepērunt. Gallōrum eadem atque Belgārum oppugnātiō est haec: circumiēctā multitūdine hominum tōtīs moenibus undique in mūrum lapidēs iaciēbantur, et mūrus dēfēnsōribus nūdābātur; testūdine factā portās succēdunt mūrumque subruunt. Quod tum facile fīēbat. Iccius igitur, quī tum oppidō praefuerat, ad Caesarem nuntium mīsit, quī auxilium peteret.

[1] connecting relative

Quod tum facile fīēbat | (and) this was easily done at that time; quod refers back to the content of the previous sentence and not to a specific noun

24.12.26: Level 3+ (review); Dooge LXXV [2] connecting relative

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2026/06/241226-level-3-review-dooge-lxxv-2.html

[2] ablative of separation

mūrus dēfēnsōribus nūdābātur | the wall was stripped of its defenders

17.06.25: Level 3;  summary of the uses of the ablative case [15]: the ablative of separation

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/170625-level-3-summary-of-of-uses-of.html

[3] verbs with the dative case

quī tum oppidō praefuerat | who had been in command of the town at that time

13.04.25: Level 3; Verbs with the dative case [1]: compound verbs

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

[4] Translate the full phrases and identify the constructions in bold.

[a]

circumiēctā multitūdine hominum tōtīs moenibus

testūdine factā portās succēdunt

[b]

ad Caesarem nuntium mīsit, quī auxilium peteret

[5] What is a testūdō?

____________________

[4]

[a]

Once a large number of men had been placed around all the fortifications …; ablative absolute

After a testudo formation has been made, they advance towards the gates; ablative absolute

[b] (he) sent a messenger to Caesar to seek help; subjunctive of purpose

[5] Roman military tactic involving a formation of soldiers using shields to form a tortoise-shell-like protection against enemy weapons

Bibrax, a town of the Remi, was eight miles away from this camp. The Belgae began to storm it directly from their march with a powerful assault. The method of attack used by both the Gauls and the Belgae is the same, as follows: once a large number of men had been placed around all the fortifications, stones were being hurled onto the wall from all sides, and the wall was being stripped of defenders; then, once a testudo formation has been formed, they advance toward the gates and undermine the wall. And this was easily done at that time. Therefore Iccius, who had been in command of the town at that time, sent a messenger to Caesar to seek help.

30.05.27: Level 1-2 (review); Julia (a Latin Reader) [15] (1)

REGULUS

Nūllī per tōtum orbem terrārum cīvēs libentius quam Rōmānī sē patriae dedērunt. Alteram fābulam vōbīs dē fortī Rōmānō nārrābō.

Prīmō Bellō Pūnicō diū Rōmānī ā Poenīs superābantur, quia paucās nāvēs, nec magnum nāvium ūsum habēbant. Sed tandem Rōmānī nāvēs optimās aedificāvērunt, et Poenōs plūrimīs proeliīs superāvērunt. Itaque Rēgulum cōnsulem ad Āfricam cum exercitū mīsērunt. Rēgulus exercitum in Āfricam terram exposuit. Prīmō rēs bene gessit; agrōs ferrō et ignī vastāvit, et magnā spē Carthāginem contendit.

Intereā Poenī summīs vīribus cōpiās colligēbant, et multa mīlia peditum equitumque in Rōmānōs dūxērunt. Ācriter pugnābant Rōmānī, sed nōn diū hostium impetum sustinēbant. Perturbātī et fugātī sunt. Paucī salūtem fugā petīvērunt, et ad oppidum amīcum cucurrērunt. Maior pars exercitūs aut necātī aut captī sunt.

amīcus, -a, -um: friendly

Carthāgō, -inis [3/f]: Carthage

expōnō, -ere, exposuī, expositus [3]: put out

libentius: more gladly

mīlle, (pl.) mīlia: a thousand

optimus, -a, -um: best, very good

perturbō, -āre [1]: confuse

Poenus, -ī [2/m]: a Carthaginian

prīmō: at first

Pūnicus, -a, -um: Punic, Phoenician, relating to the Carthaginians

Rēgulus, -ī [2/m]: Regulus, a Roman general

ūsus, -ūs [4/m]: use, practice

____________________

No citizens throughout the whole world gave themselves to their country more willingly than the Romans. I will tell you another story about a brave Roman.

In the First Punic War, the Romans were for a long time overcome by the Carthaginians, because they had few ships and did not have great experience with ships. But at last, the Romans built excellent ships and overcame the Carthaginians in very many battles. Therefore, they sent the consul Regulus to Africa with an army. Regulus landed the army in the land of Africa. At first, he managed things well; he laid waste the fields with sword and fire, and with great hope hastened toward Carthage.

Meanwhile, the Carthaginians were collecting forces with their utmost strength, and led many thousands of infantry and cavalry against the Romans. The Romans fought fiercely, but they did not withstand the enemy's attack for long. They were thrown into confusion and put to flight. A few sought safety in flight and ran to a friendly town. The greater part of the army was either killed or captured.

29.05.27: Level 1; First Latin Lessons (21); 1st / 2nd declension adjectives [4]; possessive adjectives

I: Amīcus meus multōs librōs habet. Librōs amat. Fīlius amīcī meī librōs nōn amat. Sed puer bonus est, et bene labōrat. Validus et impiger est. Equōs bonōs amat et laetus est cum in agrīs labōrat.

Amiikus meus multoos libroos habet. Libroos aamat. Fiilius amiikii meii libroos noon aamat. Sed puuer bonus est, et bene laboorat. Uualidus et impiger est. Equoos bonoos aamat et laitus est kum in aagriis laboorat.

II: Māter tua parvum hortum habet. In hortō sunt rosae et līlia. Māter tua mihi saepe rosās dat. Soror mea līlia et rosās amat, et in hortō cum fīliā amīcī meī interdum ambulat. Ex fenestrā tēctī nostrī hortum vidēmus.

III: Hortus Mārcī est pulcher, et ibi cum Mārcō saepe ambulō. Mārcus est amīcus meus. Sed hodiē in hortō sōlus ambulō quod Mārcus est aeger. Miser sum quod amīcus meus est aeger.

IV: Sextus equōs meōs laudat. Bellum longum exspectāmus. Fīlia tua est puella bona. Īnsula est parva sed pulchra. Nautae sunt validī.

līlium, -ī [2/n]: lily

(1) nautae sunt validī; although nauta is 1^st declension, it is masculine and so the plural adjective agrees in gender

(2) māter (mother) and soror (sister) belong to a different declension that you have not yet seen. However, they are both feminine and, therefore, the adjective is feminine:

māter tua: your mother

soror mea: my sister

(3) The possessive adjectives in Latin – my, your, our – also act as possessive pronouns: mine, yours, ours.

[i]

meus, -a, -um: my [or: mine]

tuus, -a, -um: your (singular) [or: yours]

These have the same endings as 1^st / 2^nd declension adjectives e.g. bonus, -a, -um

Amīcus meus multōs librōs habet. | My friend has many books.

Fīlius amīcī meī librōs nōn amat. | My friend’s son [ = the son of my friend] does not like books.

Sextus equōs meōs laudat. | Sextus praises my horses.

Fīlia tua est puella bona. | Your daughter is a good girl.

Note: meus also has a vocative singular form when addressing a person (or, technically, an object) that is masculine singular.

Nominative: meus

Vocative: mī

Ō fīlī mī! | Oh, my son!

Valē, amīce mī! | Farewell, my friend!

Quid istuc est, mī vir, negōtī? (Plautus) | What is that business, my husband?

[ii]

noster, nostra, nostrum: our [or: ours]

vester, vestra, vestrum: your (plural) [or: yours]

These have the same endings as 1^st / 2^nd declension adjectives in -er where the /e/ is lost e.g. pulcher, pulchra, pulchrum

Ex fenestrā tēctī nostrī hortum vidēmus. | From the window of our house we see the garden.

[iii] 3^rd person possessives i.e. his / her(s) / their(s) are not adjectives, but pronouns and they do not decline:

(1)

eius: his / her(s); literally: of him / of her

no agreement in gender, number and case

Equus eius validus est. | His / her horse is strong.

Amīcī eius in viā ambulant. | His / her friends are walking on the road.

Amīcum eius videō. | I see his / her friend.

(2)

eōrum: their(s) [masculine]; eārum [feminine]; literally: of them

These do not agree with what is ‘owned’, but with the ‘owner’:

Puerī [masculine] in agrīs labōrant. Casae eōrum [masculine] parvae sunt. Casās eōrum [masculine] videō.

The boys are working in the fields. Their cottages are small. I see their cottages.

Puellae [feminine] linguam Latīnam discunt. Magister eārum [feminine] benignus est. Magistrum eārum [feminine; referring to the girls] saepe audiō.

The girls are learning Latin. Their teacher is kind. I often hear their teacher.

Latin has other ways of expressing 3^rd person possessives but, at this stage, focus on and recognise the ones that are given here.

LINKS

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/04/210224-meus-mea-meum-my-mine.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/04/tuus-tua-tuum-eius-1-tuus-tua-tuum-are.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/04/nominative-plural-of-meus-mea-meum-and.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/280525-level-1-readings-12-15-review-3.html

The tables are given for reference, but the endings are exactly the same as for 1^st / 2^nd declension nouns and adjectives.

____________________

I: My friend has many books. He loves books. My friend's son does not love books. But the boy is good, and he works well. He is strong and hardworking. He loves good horses and is happy when he works in the fields.

II: Your mother has a small garden. In the garden there are roses and lilies. Your mother often gives me roses. My sister loves lilies and roses, and she sometimes walks in the garden with my friend's daughter. From the window of our roofed building/house we see the garden.

III: Marcus's garden is beautiful, and I often walk there with Marcus. Marcus is my friend. But today I walk alone in the garden because Marcus is ill. I am sad because my friend is ill.

IV: Sextus praises my horses. We are expecting a long war. Your daughter is a good girl. The island is small but beautiful. The sailors are strong.

28.05.27: Topic / Level 4; transport [18]; on water [viii] Cicero on the interpretation of maritime law (2)

PART ONE

[1] Duo quīdam, cum iam in altō nāvigārent, [subjunctive: circumstantial]

• Two men, when they were sailing on the open sea

[2] et cum eōrum alterīus nāvis, alterīus onus esset, [subjunctive: circumstantial]

• and when the ship belonged to one of them and the cargo to another,

[3] naufragum quendam natantem et manūs ad sē tendentem animum advertērunt [present active participles];

• noticed a (certain) shipwrecked man swimming and holding out his hands to them;

[4] misericordiā commōtī  [perfect passive participle]

• (Having been) moved by pity …

[5] … nāvem ad eum adplicārunt,  [adplicārunt: syncopated verb form = adplicāvērunt]

• they brought the ship alongside him

[6] hominem ad sē sustulērunt.

• (and) took the man aboard [literally: they raised the man up to themselves]

PART TWO

In the following section two subjunctive types are being used:

[7] posteā aliquantō ipsōs quoque tempestās vehementius iactāre coepit,

• A little afterwards the storm also began to toss them about very violently

[8] usque adeō, ut dominus nāvis,

• to such a degree that the owner of the ship,

usque adeō, ut … introduces clauses of result; in Cicero’s scenario those results extend over several clauses (in italics) i.e. the acts of [A] taking refuge, [B] attempting to steer the ship and [C] falling upon the sword were results of the storm

[9] cum īdem gubernātor esset,

• since he was also the pilot,

The subjunctive clause here is a separate statement not related to result but to circumstances.

[10] in scapham cōnfugeret [A]

• took refuge in a little boat

[11] et inde fūniculō,

• and from there, by a rope,

[12] quī ā puppī religātus scapham adnexam trahēbat,

• which towed the little boat (that was) tied to the stern,

[13] nāvī, quod posset, moderārētur, [B]

• he guided the ship as best he could,

[14] ille autem, cuius mercēs erant,

• but the man to whom the cargo belonged,

[15] in gladium in nāvī ibīdem incumberet. [C]

• threw himself upon his sword right there on the ship.

PART THREE

[16] hīc ille naufragus ad gubernāculum accessit  

• Then the shipwrecked man went to the steering-oar / helm

[17] et nāvī, quod potuit, est opitulātus.

• and assisted the ship as best he could.

[18] Sēdātis autem flūctibus [ablative absolute; literally: with the waves having been calmed]

• But after the waves had subsided,

[19] et tempestāte iam commūtātā [ablative absolute; literally: with the storm having now been changed]

• and the storm had passed over,

[20] nāvis in portum pervehitur.

• The ship was brought into harbour.

[21] ille autem, quī in gladium incubuerat,

• But the man who had fallen on his sword,

[22] leviter saucius

• (was) slightly wounded,

[23] facile ex vulnere est recreātus.

• easily recovered from his wound.

[24] nāvem cum onere hōrum trium suam quisque esse dīcit.

• Each one of these three men said that the ship with the cargo was his own.

Cicero introduces the scenario with a legal statute. In reality, however, he constructs the case so that all three men may have a plausible claim to the ship and its cargo.

The key issue in the law is abandonment.

[1] Did the owner of the ship technically abandon it? He took refuge in a small boat which was attached to the ship and, from there, attempted to guide it. In other words, could the scapha itself be considered part of the ship?

[2] The owner of the cargo attempted to commit suicide, thereby effectively abandoning any responsibility for the control of the vessel. Does that mean that he forfeited his claim?

[3] The rescued man remained on the ship itself, took the helm and steered the vessel safely into harbour. Does that mean that he became its legal owner?

The beauty of the exercise is that none of these questions has an obvious answer. The case is not really about maritime law at all; it is a demonstration that legal outcomes often depend not on disputed facts, but on disputed definitions of words.