Friday, June 6, 2025

17.09.25: Level 2; Easy Latin Plays (Newman: 1913); Māter Gracchōrum [1][i]; Scaena Prīma; text, vocabulary and questions

https://la.wikisource.org/wiki/Easy_Latin_Plays/Mater_Gracchorum

MĀTER GRACCHŌRUM

Drāmatis Persōnae

Lists the characters in all scenes of the play

Cornēlia: mother of Tiberius Gracchus, and daughter of the famous general Scipio Africanus

Tiberius Gracchus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius_Gracchus

Gāius Gracchus

Blossius

Mārcus Octāvius

Tiberī Gracchī Fīlius

Famulae

Cīvēs

Tribūnī

Senātōrēs

Rusticus

SCAENA PRĪMA: APUD CORNĒLIAM

Persōnae: Cornēlia, Gāius Gracchus, Famulae, Tiberius Gracchus

GĀIUS GRACCHUS

Māter mea, cūr cessat Tiberius? Quid agit? Sōlitārius iam semper ego in Campō mē exerceō, vel in silvīs ferās captō sōlitārius.

CORNĒLIA

Frāter tuus, mī fīlī, prō patriā nostrā cōgitat et labōrat. Num vīs patris vestrī fīlium, Āfricānī nepōtem, esse dēgenerem? Num ille vēnātiōnibus studēbit, dum miseriīs premuntur cīvēs Rōmānī?

(Clāmōrēs audiuntur)

POPULUS

(extrā) Eugē, eugē! Salvē Gracche! Ecce Tiberius, tribūnus plēbis!

GĀIUS GRACCHUS

Cūr māter...

CORNĒLIA

Exaudī! Quid audiō? Quid clāmant?

(Intrat Tiberius)

TIBERIUS GRACCHUS

Salve, māter! Salvēte!

CORNĒLIA

Mī fīlī, quid audiēbam? Quid clāmābat populus?

TIBERIUS GRACCHUS

Māter mea, populus Rōmānus mē tribūnum plēbis creāvit.

CORNĒLIA

Tū ergō, mī fīlī, servābis Rōmam. Senātum comprimēs, cīvēs fovēbis.

TIBERIUS GRACCHUS

Nūper in Ītaliam revēniēbam. Iter faciēns per Viam Appiam multum dolēbam. Ubīque servōs vidēbam, miserōs hominēs et turpēsgregēs cūstōdientēs. Ubi agricolae Rōmānī ōlim habitābant et suōs quisque agrōs colēbat. Nunc, ēheu, omnēs agrōs dīvitēs habent; cīvēs Rōmānī in urbe in paupertāte ac vitiīs versanturoptimātium clientēs.

CORNĒLIA

Hoc ergō tibi erit opus, mī fīlī.

TIBERIUS GRACCHUS

Lēgem feram iūstissimam. Agrōs pauperibus reddam; iterum suum quisque fundum cōlet.

CORNĒLIA

(Gāium alloquēns) Hūc, puer! Audīsne? Ego et tū testēs sumus. Tiberius populō Rōmānō agrōs Italōs restituet, et prīstinōs Rōmānōrum mōrēs.

Vocabulary

cessō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: (various meanings) [i] stop [ii] be lacking [iii] delay [iv] be inactive; here, it has the sense of ‘not being around’

comprimō, -ere, compressī, compressus [3]: restrain

dēgener, -is: inferior to one’s predecessors / family

famula, -ae [1/f] female servant

fera, -ae [1/f]: wild beast

foveō, -ēre, fōvī, fōtus [2]: [i] favour [ii] support; assist

grex, gregis [3/m]: [i] a group of animals e.g. a flock [ii] a group of people

mōs, mōris [3/m]: [i] way of behaving [ii] custom; habit [iii] (pl.) morals; principles

optimās, optimātis [3/m]: [i] aristocrat [ii] (pl.) the aristocratic party

prīstinus, -a, -um: [i] former [ii] original [iii] traditional

restituō, -ere, restituī, resitūtus [3]: restore; reinstate

sōlitārius, -a, -um: lonely

testis, -is [3 m/f]: witness

turpis, -e: shameful; disgraceful; dishonourable; foul

versor, -ārī, versātus sum [3/deponent]: [i] live; stay [ii] be (in a particular condition / in certain circumstances)

vitium, -ī [2/n]: [i] vice [ii] crime; wrongdoing

Questions [answers and notes are in the second post]

[1] What effect does Tiberius’ absence have on Gaius? (5)

[2] According to Cornelia, what is Tiberius doing? (3)

[3] Translate: Num vīs patris vestrī fīlium, Āfricānī nepōtem, esse dēgenerem? Num ille vēnātiōnibus studēbit, dum miseriīs premuntur cīvēs Rōmānī?

[4] Why are the people shouting? (2)

[5] What three things does Cornelia say Gracchus will do as Tribune of the Plebs? (3)

[6]

[a] What was Tiberius Gracchus doing recently? (3)

[b] How did he feel when he was doing this? (1)

[7] What did he see? (4)

[8] Who used to live in this area and how has the ownership of the land changed? (3)

[9] What is the situation of those living in Rome? (3)

[10] What three things, according to Gracchus, will happen now that he is Tribune? (3)

[11] Why does Cornelia want her son to listen? (1)

[12] What does she tell Gaius that Tiberius will do? (3)

[13] Find the Latin:

(i) addressing Gaius

(ii) while making the journey

(iii) (come) here, boy!

(iv) shouts are heard

(v) the Roman people have made / elected me (as) tribune of the Plebs.

(vi) this will be your work

[14] What case (marked in bold) is used in the following phrases and why is it used? (2)

Salvē Gracche!

Tū ergō, fīlī, servābis Rōmam


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