06.01.25; level 1; topic; school [17]; sports and exercise [5]; Comenius; tennis

Ludus pilae │tennis-play

In sphaeristēriō │ in a tennis court

lūditur pilā │ they play with a ball

quam alter mittit, │ which one throweth

alter excipit │ the other receiveth

et remittit │ and sendeth (it) back

rēticulō │ with a racket

idque est lūsus │ and that is the sport

nōbilium │ of noble men

ad commōtiōnem corporis │to stir their body

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sphaeristērium, -ī [2/n]: (CL) large, open area connected with the Roman baths and used for exercise with balls; (New Latin) tennis court

reticulum, -ī [2/n]: (CL) net; fishnet; (New Latin) tennis racquet

Note: lūditur; this is an example of an impersonal passive which has no exact equivalent in English; its literal meaning is “it is being played (with a ball)” i.e. the focus is on the action rather than whoever is performing the action; the nearest English can get to this is the vague and impersonal ‘they’ i.e. they play (it) with a ball.