31.10.25: Level 2; Vincent (Latin Reader); XXXIII; Preparations for a Second Invasion

While wintering in Gaul, Caesar makes arrangements for a second invasion. Some ships are repaired and a new kind of ship is built, and after dealing with some trouble among the Treviri, Caesar sets sail again in 54 B.C.

Cōpiae Rōmānae in Galliā in hībernīs manēbant. Hieme Caesar in Ītaliam discessit, sed lēgātī, quī cum legiōnibus manēbant, nāvēs novās aedificābant et reliquās reparābant. Rōmānī nāvēs humiliōrēs, quod fluctūs nōn magnī ibi sunt, et lātiōrēs aedificāvērunt, atque rēs omnēs ad bellum parāvērunt. Caesar, ubi Rōmā in Galliam vēnit, mīlitēs propter studium laudāvit et iter fēcit contrā Pīrustās*, quī magnam partem Galliae vastāverant: sed Pīrustae nūntiōs ad Caesarem dē pāce mīsērunt atque obsidēs, quōs imperāverat, statim dedērunt.

*Pirustae, -ārum [1/m/pl]: ancient tribe from Illyria

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ancient_tribes_in_Illyria

Answers are at the end of the post

[A] Comprehension

[i] Where did the Roman troops spend the winter? (1)

[ii] Where did Caesar go at this time? (1)

[iii] [a] What types of ships were being built (2), and [b] why? (1)

[iv] How did Caesar react when he returned? (2)

[v] Why did Caesar march against the Pirustae? (2)

[vi] Translate: sed Pīrustae nūntiōs ad Caesarem dē pāce mīsērunt atque obsidēs, quōs imperāverat, statim dedērunt (5)

[B] Grammar review

[1] Give the precise meanings of:

[i] aedificābant; [ii] aedificāvērunt; [iii] vastāverant (3)

[2] [i] What case is hieme, and [ii] why is that case being used? (2)

[3] Caesar, ubi Rōmā in Galliam vēnit

[i] What case is Rōmā, and [ii] why is that case being used? (2)

[4] nouns ending in -us could be 2^nd or 3^rd or 4^th declension: [i] what declension is fluctūs, and [ii] how do you know?

[5] What is the nominative singular of the following 3^rd declension nouns from the text? (6)

[i] legiōnibus; [ii] nāvēs; [iii] mīlitēs; [iv] partem; [v] pāce; [vi] obsidēs

[6] What is the first person singular present tense of the following verbs from the text? (4)

[i] discessit ; [ii] fēcit; [iii] mīsērunt; [iv]  dedērunt

[7] What type of adjectives are humiliōrēs and lātiōrēs? (1)

[C] Derivatives: explain the Latin origins of the following English derivatives; those derivatives may not have come directly from the words in the text i.e. they may be from related adjectives or nouns.

[i] fluctuate

[ii] hibernation

[iii] humility

[iv] itinerary

[v] latitude

[vi] pacify

____________________

[A] Comprehension

[i] Gaul

[ii] Rome

[iii] [a] lower; wider [b] the waves were not large

[iv] praised the soldiers ¦ on account of their enthusiasm / eagerness

[v] They had laid waste to ¦ a large part of ¦ Gaul.

[vi] (1) but the Pirustae sent messengers (2) to Caesar (3) concerning peace [ = to make peace / to agree peace terms] and (4) they immediately gave / delivered the hostages (5) whom he had demanded

[B] Grammar review

[1] [i] they were building (or, in this context, they began building; the imperfect tense can convey the beginning of an action); [ii] they built; perfect tense [iii] they had laid waste; pluperfect tense

[2] [i]ablative; [ii] the ablative of time when i.e. used to indicate a precise moment or, more commonly, a period of time when an action took place i.e. hieme: in winter

[3] [i] ablative; [ii] Rōmā: from Rome i.e. no preposition is used to express from a named city

[4] [i] 4^th declension; [ii] fluctus, -ūs [4/m]; the nominative plural is -ūs

[5] [i] legiō; [ii] nāvis; [iii] mīles; [iv] pars; [v] pāx; [vi] obses

[6] [i] discēdō; [ii] faciō; [iii] mittō; [iv] dō

[7] comparative adjectives

[C] Derivatives

[i] fluctus, -ūs [4/m]: wave

[ii] hībernus, -a, -um: (adj.) winter

[iii] humilis, -e: low; lowly; humble

[iv] iter, itineris [3/n]: journey

[v]lātus, -a, -um: broad; wide

[vi]pāx, pācis [3/f]: peace