08.04.25: Level 1; readings [11]: sacrifices and festivals [ii]; Connoisseurs of wine

“Just to the Gods” (the conversation from the previous reading continues)

Sed Mārcus: “Sine dubiō templa deōrum summā dīligentiā cūrāmus, deōs sacrificiīs praeclārīs plācāmus. Certē nōs cēterōs populōs iūstitiā superāmus. Nam nōs iūstī sumus in deōs. Vōs Graecī autem deōs fābulīs irrīdētis. Prō vērīs deīs scurrās habētis.”

Tum Dēmarātus: “Cūr nōs vituperās, Mārce, quod deōs interdum fābulīs irrīdēmus? Sine dubiō vērī deī īrā vacant, et certē bonīs iocīs gaudent et rīdent.”

Connoisseurs of wine

Claudius vīna ē Graeciā importat; sine dubiō vīna bona sunt. Itaque interdum amīcōs invītat; hodiē quoque amīcī Claudium vīsitant. Deōs sacrificiō plācant; tum vīnō bonō et multīs iocīs gaudent. Claudius Epicharmō et Dēmarātō nārrat: “Magnā dīligentiā vīna Graecā cūrō, quod bona sunt. Sed etiam vīna Rōmāna amō; imprīmīs Falernum (vīnum) cētera vīna ēlēgantiā superat. Ecce! Hodiē vōs Falernō dēlectō!” Cūnctī scientiam Claudiī laudant, vīnō bonō gaudent.

importō, -āre [1]: import

ēlegantia, -ae [1/f]: taste; refinement; elegance

Falernum, -ī [2/n]: Falernian wine, a strong white wine produced on the slopes of Mount Falernus (now Monte Massico) near the border of Latium and Campania.

08.04.25: Level 1; readings [10]: sacrifices and festivals [i]

Posteā amīcī cum Mārcō in forō Rōmānō magnam pompam exspectant. In Viā Sacrā stant, aedificia clāra forī spectant, multa rogant. Iam pompa praeclāra ex templō Vestae appropinquat, et Mārcus amīcīs dē deīs et templīs et sacrificiīs Rōmānōrum nārrat.

Epicharmus autem: “Rōmānī”, inquit, “deōs deāsque magnā cum dīligentiā cūrant, in ārīs deōrum multās hostiās immolant. Certē Rōmānī īram deōrum deārumque nōn minus timent quam servī īram dominōrum.”