Monday, May 6, 2024

30.04.24: review: imperfect tense [3]; Julia: a Latin reader (excerpts) [2]

In angulō Tiberis Campus Mārtius iacēbat. In Campō Mārtiō iuvenēs Rōmānī corpora dīligenter exercēbant. Ita firma et valida habēbant corpora. Post lūdōs in flāvīs Tiberis undīs natābant. Ita Tiberis corpora fessa recreābat. Hīc forte Rōmulus cīvibus suīs iūra dabat; bonōs cīvēs laudābat; malōs cīvēs culpābat.

At the corner of the Tiber lay the Campus Martius (Field of Mars). In the Campus Martius the young Romans diligently exercised / trained their bodies. Thus, they had firm and strong bodies. After the games they swam in the yellow waves of the Tiber. Thus the Tiber revived their tired bodies. Here perhaps Romulus gave / issued laws to his citizens; he praised good citizens; he blamed bad citizens.

Again, we see the same uses:

In angulō Tiberis Campus Mārtius iacēbat. │ The Field of Mars lay at the corner of the Tiber i.e. it always lay there; it didn’t suddenly move somewhere else!

Ita firma et valida habēbant corpora. │ Thus, they had firm and strong bodies, i.e. that was the general condition of their bodies over a period of time.

Actions which they used to do or regularly did:

Corpora dīligenter exercēbant. │ They diligently exercised / used to exercise their bodies.

In flāvīs Tiberis undīs natābant. │They swam / used to swim / would swim in the yellow waves of the Tiber.

Hīc forte Rōmulus cīvibus suīs iūra dabat. │ Here Romulus perhaps used to issue laws to his citizens.

bonōs cīvēs laudābat; malōs cīvēs culpābat.│He would praise good citizens; he would blame bad citizens.




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