A very short
anecdote to introduce the word in bold:
Quīdam ōlim Spartānō dīxit: "Cūr moenia
nōn habet Sparta?" Contrā Spartānus inquit:
"Nē mentītus sīs, optime; moenia praestantissima, incolārum scīlicet
virtūtem, urbs nostra habet."
scīlicet: (various
meanings) of course; naturally; namely
[1] quīdam: a
certain; see the next three Level 3 posts
[2] nē … sis:
present subjunctive of esse and used here in a negative command i.e. ‘do
not be …’ [ = may you not be]
[3] mentītus, -a,
-um: deceived < mentior, -īrī, -ītus sum [4/deponent]: lie
[4] optime:
vocative case; (here) my very good (friend)
[5] praestō, -āre,
-stāvī / -stitī, praestātus / praestitus [1]: be outstanding; excel > praestāns,
praestantis: outstanding
____________________
Some one [= a
certain (person)] once said to a Spartan, ‘Why does Sparta not have walls?’ In
reply, the Spartan said, ‘Do not be deceived, my good friend; our city has outstanding
walls, namely the courage of its inhabitants.’
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparta
Antique map of
classical city of Sparta (based on ancient sources and not archaeology)
The theatre of
ancient Sparta with Mt. Taygetus in the background
By Κούμαρης
Νικόλαος, Attribution, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7035971
Medieval depiction of Sparta from the Nuremberg Chronicle (1493); note the title LACEDEMONIA
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