21.04.25: Level 2: topic; Mankind; the human body; accident and illness [1]: Comenius XXXVI (1658); Homō / Man

The entire work can be found here:

https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/28299/pg28299-images.html

[i] Adam, 1. the first Man, was made by God after his own Image the sixth day of the Creation, of a lump of Earth.  │ Adamus, 1. prīmus Homō, fōrmātus est ā Deō ad Imāginem suam sextā diē Creātiōnis, ē Glēbā Terræ.

[ii] And Eve, 2.the first Woman, was made of the Rib of the Man. │ Et Eva, 2. prīma mulier, fōrmāta est ē costā virī.

[iii] These, being tempted by the Devil under the shape of a Serpent, 3. when they had eaten of the fruit of the forbidden Tree, 4. were condemned, 5. to misery and death, with all their posterity, and cast out of Paradise, 6. │ Hī, sēductī ā Diabolō sub speciē Serpentis, 3. cum comederent dē frūctū vetitæ arboris, 4. damnātī sunt, 5. ad miseriam & mortem, cum omnī posteritāte suā, & ēiectī ē Paradīsō 6.

vocabulary

costa, -ae [1/f]: (anatomy) rib

glēba, -ae [1/f] or glaeba, -ae [1/f]: lump (of earth); clod; mass

paradīsus, -ī [2/m]: [i] (CL) park; orchard [ii] (Eccl.) [a] Eden i.e. the paradise home of the first humans; [b] Paradise: the home of the blessed after death

sē¦dūcō, -dūcere, -dūxī, -ductus [3]: lead astray; seduce; note the way this verb is listed i.e. it has a prefix which is only given once, the rest of the verb showing its unprefixed forms

vetitus, -a, um: forbidden

notes

perfect passive voice; ablative of source / material

[a] Adamus … [i] fōrmātus est ¦ [ii] ā Deō … ¦ [iii] ē glēbā ¦ terræ. │ Adam … [i] was created ¦ [ii] by God ¦ [iii] from / out of a lump ¦ of earth.

[b] Eva … [i] fōrmāta est ¦ ē costā ¦ virī. │ Eve [i] was made ¦ [ii] of / from / out of the rib ¦ of the man.

ē glēbā (terrae) and ē costā (virī) are examples of the ablative of source / material i.e. it denotes from where something is derived or from which something is made; when referring to the material it is coveyed by the the use of the prepositions ē(x) or dē:

Erat tōtus ¦ ex fraude et mendāciō ¦ factus. │ He was entirely made up ¦ of fraud and (of) falsehood.

factum ¦ dē cautibus ¦ antrum │ a cave formed ¦ from rocks

Templum ¦ dē marmore ¦ pōnam. │ I’ll build a temple ¦ of marble.

[b] [i] Hī, … ¦ [i] damnātī sunt, ad miseriam et mortem … et [ii] ēiectī ē Paradīsō (sunt).

Neither in English nor in Latin is there a need to repeat were / sunt i.e. in grammatical terms ēiectī is dependent upon sunt:

They (these people) … [i] were condemned to misery and death … and [ii] (were) cast out from Paradise.

[ii] Hī, [iii] sēductī ā Diabolō … │ They ¦ (having been / who had been) tempted by the Devil …

Here the perfect passive participle stands alone; its literal translation is “having been tempted” but, as in the Latin, it can be translated equally neatly as a single word in English. 

09.02.25: Level 3; Barbarians [1]

If you want to upset the Romans, this is the best way of going about it …

Maxuma pars tribuum dēditiōnem fēcit et iam tribūta contulit, at nōn iste.

At nōn iste.

Concēdō tibi spem extrēmam, barbare.

Metelle! Tribūs id tamen nōn intellegent. Apud eōs iūs vetat quemquam capite damnārī ab aliō homine.

Iūs vērō Germānicum nūllum. Vērum autem Rōma. Tandem eīs expertō opu’st.

____________________

[1] Maxuma pars tribuum dēditiōnem fēcit ... │ Most of the tribes have surrendered / capitulated …

• deditiō, deditiōnis [3/f]: surrender; capitulation [literally: the majority have made a surrender]
• maxumus, -a, -um = maximus, -a, -um; maxima pars = the biggest part = the majority; the verb fēcit is singular because the verb agrees with the singular noun pars, partis [3/f]
• tribus, -ūs [4/f]: tribe 

[2] … et iam tribūta contulit ... │ …and have already got the (their) tributes together …

• cōnferō, -ferre, -tulī: gather; bring together; collect
• tribūtum, -ī [2/n]: tribute

https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0062:entry=tributum-harpers

[3] … at nōn iste. │ … but not this one.

• iste, ista, istud: he / she / it; that / this (man / woman), this / that one; in Classical Latin this was often used in a negative / pejorative manner, which is appropriate here

[4] At nōn iste. │ But not this one.

[5] Concēdō tibi spem extrēmam, barbare. │ I grant a last hope to you [= I give you one last chance], Barbarian.

• concēdō, -ere, concessī [3]: (here): grant; allow
• extrēmus, -a, -um: last (of time)
• spēs, speī [5/f]: hope

[6] Metelle! Tribūs id tamen nōn intellegent. │ Metellus! Nevertheless, the tribes will not understand it / this.

• barbare / Metelle: vocative case; nouns in -us > -e when the person is being addressed directly

Note: the Latin subtitle gives the line as Tribus id tamen nōn intelleget i.e. singular (the tribe will not understand this) but I’m sure I hear intellegent (plural) which would also make sense since they are receiving tributes from several tribes and he does go on to say apud eōs (among them), but maybe my ears are playing tricks with me; anyway it doesn’t matter because the key point is the concern that this act may be provocative …

Apud eōs iūs vetat quemquam capite damnārī ab aliō homine │Among them the law forbids anybody to be condemned to death by another man. [According to their law …]

• apud (+accusative): at; by; near; among: apud mē = at my house = Fr: chez moi = Gmn: bei mir = Russ: u menya, but it can have a far wider meaning to refer to a group of people and, in this context, what their attitude is or how they do things;  ‘according to their law’ would be a good translation
• damnārī: to be condemned, the  passive infinitive of damnō, -āre [1]: condemn; capite / morte [ablative] damnārī: to be condemned to death
• iūs, iūris [3/n]: law
• quisquam (masc. / fem.) quicquam [or quidquam] (neuter): anybody / anything

[7] Iūs vērō Germānicum nūllum. │ But (there is) no Germanic law.

• nūllus, -a, -um: not any; none; nobody
• vērō: truly; really; in post-positive position i.e. 2^nd position [(i) iūs (ii) vērō] can simply translate as ‘but’

[8] Vērum autem Rōma. │ On the contrary, the reality / truth (is) Rome.

• vērum, -ī [2/n] truth; reality

[9] Tandem eīs expertō opu’st. │ Eventually, they need to have experienced this.

• experior, experīrī, expertus [4/deponent]: put to the test; experience; witness; endure

opu’st is a contraction of opus + est, a reflection of speech where two (almost) adjacent sounds combine

• opus, operis [3/n]: (here) need; necessity

opus esse: to have need (of something); the person who needs it is in the dative case, and what there is a need of is expressed either by the nominative case or, here, the ablative case.

• novō cōnsiliō [ablative] nunc mihi [dative] opus est (Plautus) │ Now I need [literally: to me there is need of] a new plan.
• auxiliō [ablative] mihi [dative] opus fuerat (Cicero) │ I had needed assistance.

eīs [dative] expertō [ablative] opu’st [= opus est]

21.04.25: Level 2; review; Hillard and Botting (H & B); review sentences [C]

Complete the Latin translations with the words in the wordcloud; some words are used more than once.

1. At one time / in the past he used to reign in Greece. │ __________ in __________ __________.
2. He gained fame among the inhabitants. │ Inter incolās fāmam __________.
3. He prepared the troops. │ Cōpiās __________.
4. He sailed to Asia. │ Ad __________ __________.
5. He gained fame among the inhabitants of Asia. │Inter incolās __________ fāmam __________.
6. He attacked Troy. │ Troiam __________.
7. He finally conquered Troy. │ Tandem Troiam __________.
8. Afterwards he sailed to Greece. │__________ ad __________ __________.
9. Today he reigns among the inhabitants of Greece. │Hodiē inter incolās __________ __________.
10. (His) fame will always last in Greece. │ __________ in __________ fāma __________.

Asiae; Asiam; comparāvit; dūrābit; Graeciā; Graeciae; Graeciam; nāvigāvit; ōlim; oppugnāvit; parāvit; posteā; rēgnābat; rēgnat; semper; superāvit

Image #2: The student even puts a question mark! Only 8/10 this time: what mistakes have been made?

20.04.25: Level 1; readings [6] - [11]: review (8); adjectives [iii]; 1st / 2nd declension adjectives [ii]

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Latin_for_beginners_(1911)/Part_II/Lesson_VIII

20.04.25: Level 1; readings [6] - [11]: review (7); adjectives [ii]; 1st / 2nd declension adjectives [i]

[i] Latin adjectives agree with the noun in gender (masculine / feminine / neuter), number (singular / plural) and case (nominative, genitive etc.)

[ii] Latin adjectives are in two groups; here, we deal with the first group: 1^st / 2^nd declension adjectives, so-called because they happen to have the same endings are first and second declension nouns:

[iii]  Feminine adjectives in -a are declined like feminine nouns in -a, and you should learn to decline them together as follows [image]

Nouns

Italia, -ae, f., Italy

Sicilia, -ae, f., Sicily

tuba, -ae, f., trumpet (tube)

via, -ae, f., way, road, street (viaduct)

Adjectives

alta, high, deep (altitude)

clāra, clear, bright; famous

lāta, wide (latitude)

longa, long (longitude)

nova, new (novelty)

Exercise

1. Longae nōn sunt tuae viae.
2. Suntne tubae novae in meā casā? Nōn sunt.
3. Quis lātā in silvā habitat? Diāna, lūnae clārae pulchra dea, lātā in silvā habitat.
4. Nautae altās et lātās amant aquās.
5. Quid ancilla tua portat? Ancilla mea tubam novam portat.
6. Ubi sunt Lesbia et Iūlia? In tuā casā est Lesbia et Iūlia est in meā.
7. Estne Italia lāta terra? Longa est Italia, nōn lāta.
8. Cui Galba agricola fābulam novam nārrat? Fīliābus dominae clārae fābulam novam nārrat.
9. Clāra est īnsula Sicilia.
10. Quem laudat Lātōna? Lātōna laudat fīliam.

____________________

1. Your ways / streets / roads are not long.
2. Are the new trumpets in my cottage? They’re not.
3. Who lives in the wide forest? Diana, the beautiful goddess of the clear moon, lives in the wide forest.
4. The sailors love deep and wide waters.
5. What does your maidservant carry? My maidservant carries a new trumpet.
6. Where are lesbia and Julia? Lesbia is in your cottage, and Julia is in mine.
7. Is Italy a wide land? Italy is long, not wide.
8. To whom does Galba, the farmer, tell the new story? He tells the new story to the daughters of the famous lady.
9. The island of Sicily is famous.
10. Whom does Latona praise? Latona praises her daughter.

20.04.25: Level 1; readings [6] - [11]: review (6); adjectives [i]

Match the adjectives with the Latin in the word cloud

beautiful

big, important

complete, whole; plural: all

content, satisfied

good

grateful; comfortable, dear, welcome

happy

just, legal

light, clear, famous

loyal, reliable

many

much; a lot

old, venerable

rare, isolated

shining, excellent

strange

stupid, foolish

the rest, all others

true

wonderful, amazing

aliēnus, -a, -um; antīquus, -a, -um; bonus, -a, -um; cēterī, -ae, -a; clārus, -a, -um; contentus, -a, -um; cūnctus, -a, -um; fīdus, -a, -um; fōrmōsus, -a, -um; grātus, -a, -um; iūstus, -a, -um; laetus, -a, -um; magnus, -a, -um; mīrus, -a, -um; multī, -ae, -a; multus, -a, -um; praeclārus, -a, -um; rārus, -a, -um; stultus, -a, -um; vērus, -a, -um

19.04.25: Level 3; Verbs with the dative case [3]: special verbs [2]

Complete the translations using the verbs from the previous post; note the endings of the dative case

1. Caesar inimīcīs pepercit │ Caesar __________ (his) enemies
2. Cīvēs sacerdōtibus fīdunt │ the citizens __________ the priests (priestesses)
3. Cursōrēs glaciēī diffīdēbant │ the runners __________ the ice
4. Dōnum frātrī placuit │ the gift __________ (his / her) brother
5. Fēlēs canibus diffīdunt │cats __________ dogs
6. Imperātor nūntiō crēdidit │ the commander __________ the messenger
7. Īrāscor tibi │I __________ you
8. Iūdex sīcāriō nōn ignōscet │ the judge __________ the murderer / assassin
9. Magister puellīs fāvit │ the teacher __________ the girls
10. Mandāta mīlitibus nōn placent │ the orders __________ the soldiers
11. Mātrī favet │ he __________ (his) mother
12. Mīlitibus nōn serviēmus │ we __________ soldiers
13. Mōlēs undīs resistet │the dam __________ the waves
14. Multa nōbīs displicēbant │ many things __________ us
15. Ōrātōrī senātōrēs nōn crēdidērunt │ the senators __________ the speaker
16. Pauperēs dīvitibus nōn invident│ the poor do not __________ the rich
17. Portia Brūtō nūpsit │ Portia __________ Brutus
18. Praestigiātōrēs hospitibus placuērunt │ the conjurors __________ the guests
19. Rēginae fīdēbās │ you __________ the queen
20. Rōmānīs barbarī diū resistēbant │ for a long time the barbarians __________ the Romans
21. Servī dominō parent │ the slaves __________ the master
22. Sociīs nōn persuāsistis │ you __________ the allies
23. Sulla inimīcīs nocuit │ Sulla __________ (his) enemies
24. Vēnātōrēs vestīgiīs cervī studēbant. │ the hunters __________ the stag’s footprints
25. Victōribus invideō │ I __________ the victors
26. Vulpēs pullīs nōn nocēbunt │ the foxes __________ the chickens

19.04.25: Level 3; The story of Arion [5]

Interim nautae Corinthum advēnērunt. Ā Periandrō interrogātī sunt dē Arīone. Turpissimē mentītī sunt omnēs. Subitō Arīōn appāruit cum eōdem ōrnātū. Attonitī nautae scelus cōnfitentur. Ā rēge Periandrō omnēs interfectī sunt, et multum pecūniae Arīonī datum est.

vocabulary

appāreō, -ere, appāruī, appāritus [2]: appear; come into sight

scelus, sceleris [3/n]: wicked deed

questions

1. What did Periander do when the sailors arrived? (2)
2. How did they respond? (2)
3. What suddenly happened? (2)
4. How did the sailors react and what did they do as a result? (2)
5. How did Periander deal with [i] the sailors and [ii] Arion? (2)

notes

[1] turpissimē: superlative adverb < turpis, -e: shameful

[2] deponent verbs

cōnfiteor, cōnfitērī, confēssus sum [2/dep]: confess; admit

mentior, mentīrī, mentītus sum [4/dep]: lie; cheat; deceive

____________________

Meawhile the sailors arrived at Corinth. They were questioned by Periander about Arion. They all lied very shamefully. Suddenly Arion appeared with the same clothing. Astonished the sailors confess the wicked deed. They were all killed by king Periander, and a lot of money was given to Arion.

18.04.25: H & B; level 2; reading; chivalry in war

Rōmānīs, ubi cum Pyrrhō bellum gerēbant, praeerat Fābricius. Multa in historiā dē Fābriciō, multa dē Pyrrhō nārrantur. Ōlim trānsfuga ē Graecōrum exercitū ad castra Rōmāna vēnit: statim ad imperātōrem ductus est. ‘Via ad victōriam facillima Rōmānīs aperītur,’ inquit; ‘sī pecūniam mihi dabis, castra petam, rēgem venēnō necābō.’ Respondit Fābricius, ‘ingrātior erit nōbīs eiusmodī victōria quam miserrima clādēs: virtūte, nōn perfidiā, hostēs vincimus.’ Tum imperātōris iussū eum ad Graecōrum castra mīlitēs redūcunt tōtamque rem Pyrrhō nārrant. Mōvit rēgis animum Fābriciī līberālitās: statim omnēs captīvōs Rōmānīs sine pretiō reddidit. Contrā Rōmānī lēgātōs ad Pyrrhum mīsērunt. ‘Dē pāce,’ inquiunt, ‘Rōmānī cum hostibus, dum in Ītaliā sunt, nōn dissērunt: tibi tamen, virō omnium generōsissimō, libenter concēdimus indūtiās.’

[1] Lines 1 – 2 (Rōmānīs … narrāntur)

[i] What was the role of Fabricius in the war with Pyrrhus? (1)

[ii] How do we know about these two men? (1)

[2] Lines 2 – 4; translate into English (10)*:

Ōlim trānsfuga ē Graecōrum exercitū ad castra Rōmāna vēnit: statim ad imperātōrem ductus est. ‘Via ad victōriam facillima Rōmānīs aperītur,’ inquit; ‘sī pecūniam mihi dabis, castra petam, rēgem venēnō necābō.’

Note:

[i] word order; position of the genitive case: ē Graecōrum exercitū

[ii] What type of adjective is facillima?

[iii] tense usage (Latin / English): sī pecūniam mihi dabis, castra petam, rēgem venēnō necābō

Before you read the rest of the text, I suspect you know more than enough about Roman attitudes to guess what the commander’s reaction will be.

[3] Lines 5 – 6 (Respondit … vincimus)

Explain in your own words why Fabricius’s response reflects the title of the text. (3)**

[4] Lines 6 – 8 (Tum … reddidit)

[i] What command did Fabricius give? (2)

[ii] What action did the king take in return and why? (3)

[iii] Tum imperātōris iussū eum ad Graecōrum castra mīlitēs redūcunt tōtamque rem Pyrrhō nārrant.

[a] What tense is used here and why? (2)

[b] How is the phrase imperātōris iussū translated? (1)

[5] Lines 8 – end (Contrā … indūtiās)

[i] How did the Romans react to Pyrrhus’s actions? (1)

[ii] Why was their statement to Pyrrhus different on this occasion? (4)

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

Fabricius negotiating with Pyrrhus after Heraclea (Ferdinand Bol: 1656)

____________________

* [2] [i] A deserter ¦ [ii] from the Greek army [= the army of the Greeks] [i] once (at one time) ¦ [iii] to the Roman camp: ¦ [iv] he was immediately led to the commander. ¦ [v] “A very easy way / the easiest way to victory ¦ [vi] is (being) open(ed)  ¦ [vii] for the Romans,” he said ¦ [viii] “If you give [literally: will give] me money, ¦ [ix] I’ll make for the camp (and) ¦ [x] I will kill the king with poison.”

** [3] The Romans would only wish to win through military skills, physical strength and bravery rather than treachery; for Fabricius a victory without virtūs (virtue), that quintessential Roman characteristic, would be tantamount to defeat: virtūte, nōn perfidiā, hostēs vincimus.