11.09.25: Level 1 / 2 (review); Ora Maritima [13]; Vestīgia Rōmānōrum [3]: listening & comprehension

Listen to the extract and answer the questions. The translation is at the end of the post.

Vocabulary

aquilifer, -ī [2/m]: standard-bearer, the one who carries the aquila [aquila, -ae (1/f): eagle], the (eagle) standard of the legion; also: signifer, -ī [2/m]: standard-bearer

collocō, -āre, -āvī [1]: place; put together; assemble

dēsum, -esse [irr.]: be lacking / missing

explicō, -āre, -āvī [1]: [i] unfold; unfurl [ii] (here) deploy (troops)

impigrē (adv.) [< impiger, impigra, impigrum]: actively; diligently; energetically

nisi: unless; if not; the standard-bearer puts some mental pressure on his comrades: ‘Ad aquilam vōs congregāte,’ inquit ‘nisi ignāvī estis. │ ‘If you’re not cowardly (cowards) / Unless you’re cowardly,’ he said, ‘gather yourselves / assemble at the (eagle) standard’

officium, -ī [2/n]: duty

praestō, -āre, -stitī (-āvī) [1]: (here) perform

prōpulsō, -āre, -āvī [1]: drive back; repel

[A] 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 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 certō officium meum praestābō.’

[B] Et cum aquilā undīs sē dedit. Iam ūniversī Rōmānī ad aquiliferum sē congregāverant, et 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] Listen to Part [A] and answer the questions:

[i] Why, according to the writer’s uncle, is the location suitable for the deployment of troops?

[ii] What does the uncle point to? (1)

[iii] What had Gaius Julius done? (1)

[iv] What had the Britons done? (2)

[v] What does he ask the boys to imagine / picture in their mind? (1)

[vi] What were the Romans reluctant / hesitant to do? (1)

[vii] What does the standard bearer tell them to do? (1)

[viii] What phrase in Latin does the standard bearer use possibly to make them feel guilty? (1)

[ix] What statement in Latin does the standard bearer make to show his dedication to Rome? (1)

[2] Listen to Part [B] and answer the questions:

Without looking at the transcript complete the text below with the missing words, parts of words and endings:

Et cum (1) aquil_____ undīs (2) _____ dedit. Iam (3) ūnivers_____ Rōmānī ad (4) aquilifer_____ sē (5) congregāv_____, et cum Britannīs in (6) und_____ impigrē (7) pugnā_____. (8) Confūs_____ et aspera (9) _____ pugna. Prīmō (10) labōr_____ Rōmānī; sed tandem (11) Britann_____ (12) prōpulsāv_____ et (13) terr_____ (14) occupā_____. Ante vesperum Britannī sē (15) fug_____ (16) _____erant. Numquam (17) _____ cōpiae Rōmānae in (18) sol_____ Britannicō (19) _____erant. Audācia aquiliferī (20) laud_____ (21) _____.

-a; -ā; -ae; -am; -ī; -īs; -ō; -ōs; -um

-ābant; -anda; -bant; -erant; -ērunt; -vērunt

ded-; stet-

anteā; erat; fuit; sē

Review:

[i] Links to all main posts on the pluperfect tense:

https://mega.nz/file/SU0hHbqI#Gx95_NvIkNLHlJAzhsQHJT9wHiFlho82TwVRTTrR-IQ

[ii] the gerund and the gerundive

locus idōneus est ¦ ad cōpiās explicandās │ it is a suitable place ¦ for troops to be deployed / to deploy troops

audācia aquiliferī ¦ laudanda erat │ the bravery of the standard-bearer ¦ was to be praised / praiseworthy

from earlier sections of the text:

Parātīne estis ¦ ad ambulandum? │ Are you ready ¦  for walking / to (go for a) walk?

inter Dubrās et Rutupiās est locus ¦ ad nāvigia applicanda ¦ idōneus │ Between Dover and Richborough is a suitable site ¦ for ships to be brought to land / to bring ships to land

27.05.25: Level 3; the gerund [1]

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

27.05.25: Level 3; the gerund [2]; practice

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/270525-level-3-gerund-2-practice.html

02.06.25: Level 3; the gerundive [1]

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

02.06.25: Level 3; the gerundive [2]; practice (1)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/020625-level-3-gerundive-2-practice-1.html

05.06.25: Level 3; the gerundive [3]; practice (2)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/050625-level-3-gerundive-3-practice-2.html

05.06.25: Level 3; the gerundive [4]; practice (3)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/050625-level-3-gerundive-4-practice-3.html

08.06.25: Level 3; the gerundive [5]; purpose

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/080625-level-3-gerundive-5-purpose.html

08.06.25: Level 3; the gerundive [6]; practice (4)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/080625-level-3-gerundive-6-practice-4.html

08.06.25: Level 3; the gerundive [7]; practice (5)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/080625-level-3-gerundive-7-practice-5.html

Translation

[A] But we had already arrived at the place, and my uncle said, “Look, boys, here is an open field; there are no rocks, and it is a suitable place for deploying troops. There, perhaps, where you see the fishing boats, Gaius Julius had anchored the Roman ships. Here the Britons had placed their troops and urged their horses into the water. Can you not watch the whole battle with your mind? [Can you not imagine …] But I will tell you the rest. While the Romans were hesitating to go into the water [ = literally: give themselves to the waves], the eagle-bearer said, “Gather yourselves at the eagle, unless you are cowardly. I will certainly do my duty.”

[B] And with the eagle he went into the water [ = literally: he gave himself to the waves]. Now all the Romans had gathered at the standard-bearer, and were fighting vigorously with the Britons in the waves. The battle was confused and harsh. At first the Romans were struggling; but at last they drove the Britons away and occupied the land. Before evening the Britons had fled [ = literally: had given themselves to flight]. Never before had Roman troops stood on British soil. The audacity / bravery of the standard-bearer was to be praised / praiseworthy.

Answers: Question [1]

[i] (1) open field (2) no rocks / cliffs │ hīc (1) campus apertus est; (2) scopulī dēsunt

[ii] fishing boats │ ubi scaphās piscātōriās spectātis

[iii]  anchored the ships │ Gāius Iūlius nāvigia Rōmāna ad ancorās dēligāverat.

[iv] (1) assembled their troops (2) spurred on / urged their horses into the water │ Britannī (1) cōpiās suās collocāverant, et (2) equōs in aquam incitāverant.

[v] the whole battle │ Nōnne potestis tōtam pugnam animō spectāre?

[vi] Go into the water [literally: give themselves to the waves]│ Rōmānī undīs sē dare dubitant

[vii] Gather at the eagle (standard) │ Ad aquilam vōs congregāte

[viii] nisi ignāvī estis (unless you’re cowardly)

[ix] Ego certō officium meum praestābō (I shall certainly perform my duty)

Answers: Question [2]

Et cum (1) aquilā undīs (2) sē dedit. Iam (3) ūniversī Rōmānī ad (4) aquiliferum sē (5) congregāverant, et cum Britannīs in (6) undīs impigrē (7) pugnābant. (8) Confūsa et aspera (9) fuit pugna. Prīmō (10) labōrābant Rōmānī; sed tandem (11) Britannōs (12) prōpulsāvērunt et (13) terram (14) occupāvērunt. Ante vesperum Britannī sē (15) fugae (16) dederant. Numquam (17) anteā cōpiae Rōmānae in (18) solō Britannicō (19) steterant. Audācia aquiliferī (20) laudanda (21) erat.