Monday, August 19, 2024

24.09.24: Level 2; Ora Maritima [24] and [25] (4); lines 12 – 23 (2); grammar

Sed iam ad locum adventāverāmus, et patruus meus “Spectāte puerī” inquit; “hīc campus apertus est; scopulī dēsunt, et locus idōneus est ad cōpiās explicandās. Illīc fortasse, ubi scaphās piscātōriās spectātis, Gāius Iūlius nāvigia Rōmāna ad ancorās [line 15] dēligāverat. Hīc Britannī cōpiās suās collocāverant, et equōs in aquam incitāverant. Nōnne potestis tōtam pugnam animō spectāre? Sed reliqua narrābō. Dum Rōmānī undīs sē dare dubitant, aquilifer ‘Ad aquilam vōs congregāte,’ inquit ‘nisi ignāvī estis. Ego certē officium meum praestābō.’

Et cum aquilā undīs sē dedit. Iam ūniversī Rōmānī ad aquiliferum sē congregāverant, et [line 20] cum Britannīs in undīs impigrē pugnābant. Confūsa et aspera fuit pugna. Prīmō labōrābant Rōmānī; sed tandem Britannōs prōpulsāvērunt et terram occupāvērunt. Ante vesperum Britannī sē fugae dederant. Numquam anteā cōpiae Rōmānae in solō Britannicō steterant. Audācia aquiliferī laudanda erat.”

[1] Which of the following is the most precise translation in the context of the passage?

[i] Spectāte puerī! │ [a] Look at the boys! [b] You look, boys! [c] Boys, look!

[ii] Nōnne potestis …?[a] Surely, you can … [b] You can’t …, can you? [c] You’re not able to …

[iii] Sed reliqua narrābō. │ But [a] I was telling you [b] I’ll tell you [c] I’ve told you ¦ the rest.

[iv] Be careful with the next one. We’re dealing with the translation in context rather than what the verb literally means:

Dum Rōmānī … dubitant*, aquilifer ‘Ad aquilam vōs congregāte,’ inquit │ While the Romans [a] hesitate [b] were hestitating [c] are hestitating, the standard-bearer [a] said [b] says [c] had said [a] “Gather yourselves (assemble) …” [b] “You are gathering …” [c] “You’ve gathered ¦ at the eagle.”

[v] Iam ūniversī Rōmānī ad aquiliferum sē congregāverant │ All the Romans [a] were already assembling [b] had now assembled [c] have now assembled ¦ at the standard-bearer.

[vi] cum Britannīs … pugnābant. │ [a] used to fight [b] will fight [c] started fighting ¦ with the Britons

[4] Complete the translation with an appropriate verb:

[i] Gāius Iūlius nāvigia Rōmāna ad ancorās dēligāverat. Hīc Britannī cōpiās suās collocāverant, et equōs in aquam incitāverant.

Gaius Julius __________ the Roman vessels to anchors. Here the Britons __________ their forces and __________ the horses into the water.

[ii] Prīmō labōrābant Rōmānī; sed tandem Britannōs prōpulsāvērunt et terram occupāvērunt.

At first the Romans __________, but finally they __________ the Britons and __________ the land.

[5] Under which heading are each of the verbs in bold placed? Also included is the imperative i.e. the command form and the infinitive.


*Dum Rōmānī ... dubitant, aquilifer ‘... inquit: dubitant is present tense. However, when dum (while) is used to express something that was happening at the same time as another action in the past, the verb is present tense but, in English, translated as a past tense i.e. While the Romans were hesitating ... the standard-bearer said ...

Hoc dum nārrat [present], forte audīvī. (Terence) │ I happened to hear this while she was telling it.

 

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