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

SCAENA SECUNDA: IN FORŌ

Persōnae: Tiberius Gracchus, Mārcus Octāvius, Cēterī Tribūnī, Cīvēs

CĪVĒS

(inter sē colloquentēs) Tacēte! Veniunt tribūnī plēbis. Audīte Gracchum!

TIBERIUS GRACCHUS

Cīvēs Rōmānī, suffrāgia ferētis. Ego agrōs Italōs cupiō inter cīvēs omnēs, ut anteā, distribuī--prīvārī eōs quī plūs habent agrī quam quīngenta iūgera. Mārcus Octāvius vetat; tribūnus plēbis plēbem prōdit.

(Octāvium alloquēns) Mārce Octāvī, rūrsus tē admoneō. Dēsine etiam nunc populī voluntātem impedīre. (Octāvius tacet) Cīvēs Rōmānī, suffrāgia ferte! Cēnseō Octāviō magistrātum abrogandum. Quid sentītis? Placetne?

CĪVĒS

Placet.

TIBERIUS GRACCHUS

Mārce Octāvī, magistrātus tibi est abrogātus. Abī! Expellite eum!

MĀRCUS OCTĀVIUS

Mox tū poenās dabis, quī lēgēs Rōmānās, tribūnum sacrōsānctum, ita violās.

Vocabulary

abrogō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: [i] (here) take away; deprive of [ii] abolish; annul

iūgerum, -ī [2/n]: juger, a unit of land measurement

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/iugerum

prōdō, -ere, prodidī, prōditus [3]: (here) betray

sacrōsānctus, -a, -um: inviolable; sacrosanct

suffrāgium, -ī [2/n]: vote

suffrāgium ferō, ferre: to vote

Questions [answers and notes are in the second post]

[i] According to Tiberius Gracchus, what responsibility will the Romans citizens have? (1)

[ii] What proposal does he make? Give details. (5)

[iii] How does Marcus Octavius react to this proposal? (1)

[iv] What does Gracchus accuse Octavius of doing? (2)

[v] What warning does Gracchus give him? (1)

[vi]

[a] What proposal does Gracchus make? (1)

[b] How will that proposal be decided? (1)

[vii] What is the outcome of the proposal? (3)

[viii] What threat does Octavius make? (1)

[ix] What does Octavius accuse Gracchus of doing? (2)

[x] Find the Latin:

[1] Present passive infinitives:

I desire [i] the Italian fields to be distributed … [ii] those who have more than 50 jugers of land to be deprived (i.e. to have the land taken from them)

[2] gerundive: I recommend the office of magistrate to be taken away from Octavius.

[3] perfect passive: The office of magistrate has been taken away from you.

[4] present active participle of a deponent verb: Talking amongst themselves