25.03.25; Vincent: rejoicing in Spring

Salvēte │ Hello

Vēr iam adest │ Spring is already here.

Gaudeāmus igitur │ Therefore, let us rejoice.

Hodiē sōl lūcet │ The sun is shining today.

Avēs volant in caelō et canunt │ The birds are flying in the sky and singing.

Aliae bēstiolae vigent │ Other little creatures are thriving / flourishing.

Flōrēs crēscunt │ The flowers are growing.

Ergō scrīpsī novōs versūs │ Therefore, I have written new verses

Laudāns vēr │ While praising the spring.

Pepigī distichon │ I’ve composed a couplet (two-line verse)

Dē hōc tempore annī │ About this season

Quod mihi valdē placet │ Which I really like (which is really pleasing to me).

Ecce │ Here it is

Adsunt nunc flōrēs vernālēs suāveolentēs │ The sweet-smelling spring blooms are now here

Bēstiolae gaudent, frīgora nunc aberunt │ The little creatures rejoice, the cold will now be away / gone

Valēte │ Good-bye

The fragrant vernal flowers now are here

The cold will go and little beasts will cheer

Vocabulary

alius, -a, -ud: other

bēstiōla, -ae [1/f]: little beast / creature; -ol- creates a diminutive (smaller version) of bēstia, -ae [1/f]: beast

frīgus, frigoris [3/n]: cold; coldness; often appears in the plural even though we would translate it as singular

distichon, distichī [3/n]: couplet; two-line verse; distichon; a Greek-type noun hence the /n/ in the nominative: distichon

pangō, -ere, pepigī [3]: compose (usually in verse, but also in song)

tempus, temporis [3/n] annī: (literally) time of the year = season

vēr, -is [3/n]: spring

vērnālis, -e: spring (adjective); flōrēs vērnālēs: spring flowers

versus, -ūs [4/m]: verse

vigeō, -ēre, viguī [2]: be vigorous; thrive; flourish

Notes

[i] Vēr iam adest │ Spring is already here; adsunt … flōrēs │ the flowers are here

frīgora nunc aberunt │ the cold(s) will now be away / distant / gone

The verb sum; esse (be) with prefixes:

adsum, adesse: be here / present

absum, abesse: be away

[ii] flōrēs crescunt │ the flowers are growing

When you see -sc- before the verb ending it indicates the beginning of something or becoming something else; in grammar they are known as inchoative verbs:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/05/200424-inchoative-verbs.html

sōl lūcēscit │ the sun is beginning to shine

vesperāscit │ it’s becoming evening

[iii] participles; look out for -ns and -nt-

Ergō scrīpsī novōs versūs │ Therefore, I have written new verses

Laudāns vēr │ While praising the spring

flōrēs … suāveolentēs │ sweet-smelling flowers < suāvis, -e: sweet + oleō, -ēre, oluī: smell

[iv] gaudeāmus igitur │ let us, therefore, rejoice

From the academic song:

Gaudeāmus igitur / Iuvenēs dum sumus │ Let us, therefore, rejoice, while we are young

This is a subunctive: gaudēmus │ we rejoice > gaudeāmus │let us rejoice; Latin uses the subjunctive to express “Let’s do something”

27.06.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein: Britannia Pācāta [2](ii): listening

[1]

["Itaque Rōmānī ordinēs suōs contrā equitēs Britannōrum in prīmō certāmine nōn servāverant. Sed postrīdiē Rōmānī victōriam reportāvērunt; Britannī in collibus procul ā castrīs Rōmānīs stābant. Caesar magnum numerum cohortium et ūniversōs equitēs lēgātō suō Trebōniō mandāverat.”]

[i] What had the Romans failed to do during the first battle? (1)

[ii] When did the Romans achieve a victory? (1)

[iii] Where were the Britons standing? (2)

[iv] Why is Trebonius mentioned? (3)

[2]

["Hostēs subitō prōvolāvērunt, et ordinēs Rōmānōs impugnāvērunt. Sed Rōmānī superiōrēs fuērunt. Cōpiās Britannicās prōpulsāvērunt, et in fugam dedērunt. Magnum numerum hostium trucīdāvērunt. "]

In what order are the following mentioned?

attack on the Roman ranks

enemy driven back

number of enemy killed

enemy put to flight

sudden attack

superiority of the Romans

[3]

["Tum dux continuīs itineribus ad flūmen Tamesam et in fīnēs Cassivellaunī properāvit. Cassivellaunus autem cum quattuor mīlibus essedāriōrum itinera Rōmānōrum servābat, et paulum de viā dēclīnābat sēque in silvīs occultābat. Interdum ex silvīs prōvolābat et cum mīlitibus Rōmānīs pugnābat; Rōmānī autem agrōs Britannōrum vastābant."]

Which of the following statements are true? (8)

1. The troops marched using several routes.
2. The troops marched continuously.
3. They first went to the river and then into the territory of the Cassivellauni.
4. The Cassivellauni territory was on the River Thames.
5. They entered the territory of the Cassivellauni and then headed to the River Thames.
6. Cassivellaunus had 4,000 infantry.
7. Cassivellaunus had 4,000 charioteers.
8. Cassivellaunus had 4,000 cavalry.
9. Cassivelaunus was at the roadside.
10. Cassivellaunus had moved away from the roadside.
11. Cassivellaunus was hiding in forests.
12. Cassivellaunus was observing the Romans.
13. Cassivellaunus made a single attack.
14. The Romans fought with Cassivellaunus in the forests.
15. Cassivelllaunus  sometimes came out of the forests to attack.
16. The Romans destroyed the Britons’ fields.
17. The Romans destroyed all the fields at the same time.

____________________

attack on the Roman ranks [2]

enemy driven back [4]

number of enemy killed [6]

enemy put to flight [5]

sudden attack [1]

superiority of the Romans [3]

Hostēs [1] subitō prōvolāvērunt, et [2] ordinēs Rōmānōs impugnāvērunt. Sed Rōmānī [3] superiōrēs fuērunt. Cōpiās Britannicās [4] prōpulsāvērunt, et [5] in fugam dedērunt. [6] Magnum numerum hostium trucīdāvērunt.

27.06.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein: Britannia Pācāta [2](i): text, exercises

"Itaque Rōmānī ordinēs suōs contrā equitēs Britannōrum in prīmō certāmine nōn servāverant. Sed postrīdiē Rōmānī victōriam reportāvērunt; Britannī in collibus procul ā castrīs Rōmānīs stābant. Caesar magnum numerum cohortium et ūniversōs equitēs lēgātō suō Trebōniō mandāverat. Hostēs subitō prōvolāvērunt, et ordinēs Rōmānōs impugnāvērunt. Sed Rōmānī superiōrēs fuērunt. Cōpiās Britannicās prōpulsāvērunt, et in fugam dedērunt. Magnum numerum hostium trucīdāvērunt. Tum dux continuīs itineribus ad flūmen Tamesam et in fīnēs Cassivellaunī properāvit. Cassivellaunus autem cum quattuor mīlibus essedāriōrum itinera Rōmānōrum servābat, et paulum de viā dēclīnābat sēque in silvīs occultābat. Interdum ex silvīs prōvolābat et cum mīlitibus Rōmānīs pugnābat; Rōmānī autem agrōs Britannōrum vastābant."

[i] Vocabulary review: match the Latin and English

autem

collis, -is [3/m]

continuus, -a, -um

dēclīnō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

interdum

itaque

mandō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

occultō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

paulum

postrīdiē

prōpulsō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

reportō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

servō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

subitō

tum

ūniversus, -a, -um

(here) watch (over); a little; bring back; continual / uninterrupted; deviate / turn aside; drive back / repulse; however; hill; hide; entrust; sometimes; suddenly; whole / entire; then; therefore; the following day

[ii] Find the Latin

[1] (he) entrusted … the cavalry … to Trebonius

[2] (he) turned aside / deviated from the road

[3] and was hiding himself in the forests

[4] far from the camp

[5] they put the troops to flight [i.e. they made them flee]

[6] with / by means of uninterrupted / continual marches

26.06.25: topic; ships [10]; Comenius; CXLII; the Sea-Fight

thorow = through or thorough!

the Sea-Fight │ Pugna nāvālis

A sea-fight is terrible, when huge ships, like castles, run one upon another with their beaks, or shatter one another with their ordnance, and so being bored thorow they drink in their own destruction, and are sunk.

Nāvāle prœlium terribile est, quum [ = cum] ingentēs nāvēs, velutī arcēs, concurrunt rōstrīs, aut sē invicem quassant tormentīs, atque ita perforātæ, imbibunt perniciem suam & submerguntur.

Or when they are set on fire and either by the firing of gun-powder, men are blown up into the air, or are burnt in the midst of the waters, or else leaping into the sea are drowned.

Aut quum igne corripiuntur, & vel ex incendiō pulveris tormentāriī, hominēs ēiciuntur in ærem, vel exūruntur in mediīs aquīs, vel etiam dēsilientēs in mare, suffōcantur.

A ship that flieth away is overtaken by those that pursue her, and is taken.

Nāvis fugitīva intercipitur ab īnsequentibus & capitur.

[i] Passives:

nāvēs perforātae │ ships (which have been) pierced penetrated

nāves submerguntur │ ships are sunk

nāvēs ¦ igne ¦ corripiuntur │ ships are (literally) seized by fire

incendō, -ere, incendī, incēnsus [3]: set on fire

hominēs … │ men …

[1] … ēiciuntur │ … are cast out

[2] … exūruntur │ … are burnt up / consumed by fire

[3] … suffōcantur │ … are drowned

nāvis intercipitur │ the ship is intercepted / cut off

nāvis capitur │ the ship is captured / taken

[ii] present active participle:

hominēs … dēsilientēs in mare │ men (who are) leaping into the sea

nāvis …  intercipitur ¦ ab īnsequentibus │ the ship is intercepted ¦ by those (who are) pursuing (it)

[iii] nāvālis, -e: naval

proelium nāvāle; pugna nāvālis: naval battle

[iv] arx, arcis [3/f]: citadel; fortress; castle

[v] quassō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: shake violently; shatter; dash to pieces

Note: sē … quassant; reflexive i.e. they shatter each other

invicem: in turn; reciprocally; one another

[vi] pulvis, pulveris [3/n]: powder; dust; ashes

tormentārius, -a, -um: (rare) relating to a gun

25.06.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [4]: translation; ablative absolute with deponent verbs

[1] The term absolute means that the phrase is grammatically set apart from the main clause; in other words, the participle does not modify any noun in the main clause. The rather unwieldy literal translation is “with something having been done” e.g. “with the city having been captured” and this is the standard way in grammar books of translating it. However, it is often preferable to refine the construction into an English clause. Various translations are possible:

urbe captā

• time: When / after the city had been captured ..
• cause: Since / because the city had been captured ..
• concessive: Although the city had been captured ..
• condition: If the city had been captured ..

Equally, the sentence could be restructured to include a compound sentence:

• Urbe captā, cīvēs fūgērunt. │ The city had been captured and the citizens fled.

Context will determine the most appropriate translation.

[2] Watch out for deponent verbs when translating the ablative absolute; remember that the deponents are passive in form but active in meaning:

loquor, loquī, locūtus sum [3/deponent]: speak

proficīscor, proficīscī, profectus sum [3/deponent]: set out

i.e. profectus and locūtus are not passive but active and so they are translated as:

locūtus: having spoken

profectus: having set out

ōrātōre locūtō, cīvēs inter sē loquēbantur │ With the orator having spoken = After the orator had spoken, the citizens began talking among themselves.

poētā sīc locūtō, cīvēs magnopere timēbant. │ After the orator had spoken in this way, the citizens were greatly afraid.

Omnibus profectīs, tamen ego tē exspectāvī. │ Although everybody had set out, I neverthless waited for you.

25.06.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [3]: literal translation

All of the following phrases are ablative absolutes; translate them into English using, at this stage, the literal construction ‘with X having been Y-ed’

Examples:

urbe ¦ captā │ with the city ¦ having been captured

servō monitō │ with the slave having been warned

1. urbe incēnsā
2. cōnsule interfectō
3. librō lectō
4. epistulā scriptā
5. oppidō oppugnātō
6. mīlitibus revocatīs
7. hīs litterīs acceptīs
8. hīs verbīs dictīs

____________________

1. with the city having been set on fire
2. with the consul having been killed
3. with the book having been read
4. with the letter having been writeen
5. with the town having been attacked
6. with the soldiers having been recalled
7. with this / these letter(s) having been received
8. with these words having been said

25.06.25: Level 3; the Labours of Hercules; [II] Hercules conquers the Minyæ; he commits a crime and goes to the Delphian oracle to seek expiation

[II] HERCULES CONQUERS THE MINYÆ

Herculēs ā puerō corpus suum gravissimīs et difficillimīs labōribus exercēbat et hoc modo vīrēs suās cōnfirmāvit. Iam adulēscēns Thēbīs habitābat. Ibi Creōn quīdam erat rēx. Minyae, gēns validissima, erant fīnitimī Thēbānīs, et, quia ōlim Thēbānōs vīcerant, quotannīs lēgātōs mittēbant et vectīgal postulābant. Herculēs autem cōnstituit cīvīs suōs hoc vectīgālī līberāre et dīxit rēgī, "Dā mihi exercitum tuum et ego hōs superbōs hostīs superābō." Hanc condiciōnem rēx nōn recūsāvit, et Herculēs nūntiōs in omnīs partīs dīmīsit et cōpiās coēgit. Tum tempore opportūnissimō proelium cum Minyīs commīsit. Diū pugnātum est, sed dēnique illī impetum Thēbānōrum sustinēre nōn potuērunt et terga vertērunt fugamque cēpērunt.

[1] ā puerō: from boyhood

[2] hōc modō vīrēs suās cōnfirmāvit │ in this way he asserted his strength

vīs, vīs [3/f] can be misread, especially in the plural; the word means ‘force’, ‘power’, ‘strength’, ‘violence’, but it is often used in the plural: vīrēs (strength; physical force) and looks similar to virī (men) but they are completely different words [image]

Image: vīs is also an example of a defective noun which refers to a noun where not all the case endings are attested in Classical Latin; the English verb “can” is defective since there is no infinitive “to can”, “to be able” being used instead of the original Anglo-Saxon infinitive cunnan (Modern German: können)

[3] Thēbīs: locative case < Thēbae (Thebes); plural noun

[4] vectīgal, vectīgālis [3/n]: tax, tribute

[5] pugnātum est: impersonal passive; literally: it has been fought = there was fighting

HE COMMITS A CRIME AND GOES TO THE DELPHIAN ORACLE TO SEEK EXPIATION

Post hoc proelium Creōn rēx, tantā victōriā laetus, fīliam suam Herculī in matrimōnium dedit. Thēbis Herculēs cum uxōre suā diū vivēbat et ab omnibus magnopere amābātur; sed post multōs annōs subitō in furōrem incidit et ipse suā manū līberōs suōs interfēcit. Post breve tempus ad sānitātem reductus tantum scelus expiāre cupiēbat et cōnstituit ad ōrāculum Delphicum iter facere. Hoc autem ōrāculum erat omnium clārissimum. Ibi sedēbat fēmina quaedam quae Pȳthia appellābātur. Ea cōnsilium dabat iīs quī ad ōrāculum veniēbant.

[1] in furōrem incidit: went mad

[2] ad sānitātem reductus │ literally: led back to sanity = came back to his senses 

[3] iīs = eīs

[4] Ibi sedēbat fēmina quaedam │ a certain woman was sitting there

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/301124-comenius-in-17th-century-school_29.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/597986606145945/

24.06.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein: Britannia Pācāta [1](ii): listening

[1]

["Inter Tamesam et mare Britannicum prīma concursiō erat Rōmānōrum cum cōpiīs Cassivellaunī. Britannī duās cohortēs Rōmānās in itinere fortiter impugnāvērunt. Ex silvīs suīs prōvolāvērunt; Rōmānōs in fugam dedērunt; multōs Rōmānōrum trucīdāvērunt. "]

[i] Where did the first engagement take place between the Romans and the Cassevellauni? (2)

[ii] What Roman military divisions were attacked? (1)

[iii] From where had the Britons made the attack? (1)

[iv] What was the outcome of the attack? (2)

[2]

["Tum suōs ā pugnā revocāvērunt. Novum genus pugnae Rōmānōs perturbāverat. Nam Britannīs nōn mōs erat iustō proeliō pugnāre; sed equitibus essedīsque suīs per omnēs partēs equitābant, et ōrdinēs hostium perturbābant; tum consultō cōpias suās revocābant. "]

[i] What did Britons do immediately after the fight? (1)

[ii] Complete each sentence with a single word or short phrase

[a] The Romans were thrown into confusion by __________.

[b] The Britons were not accustomed to __________.

[c] The chariots and charioteers were __________.

[d] They threw __________ into confusion.

[e] They would call back their men __________.

[3]

["Essedāriī interdum pedibus pugnābant. Ita mōbilitatem equitum, stabilitātem peditum in proeliīs praestābant. Peditēs Rōmānī propter pondus armōrum nōn aptī erant ad hūiusmodī hostem. Et equitibus Rōmānīs perīculōsum erat sē longō intervallō ā peditibus sēparāre: neque pedibus pugnāre poterant."]

[i] How did the charioteers sometimes fight? (1)

[ii] What two advantages did the Britons have in the battles? (2)

[iii] Why were the Roman infantry at a disadvantage? (2)

[iv] What two disadvantages did the Roman cavalry have? (3)

24.06.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein: Britannia Pācāta [1](i): text, exercises

"Inter Tamesam et mare Britannicum prīma concursiō erat Rōmānōrum cum cōpiīs Cassivellaunī. Britannī duās cohortēs Rōmānās in itinere fortiter impugnāvērunt. Ex silvīs suīs prōvolāvērunt; Rōmānōs in fugam dedērunt; multōs Rōmānōrum trucīdāvērunt. Tum suōs ā pugnā revocāvērunt. Novum genus pugnae Rōmānōs perturbāverat. Nam Britannīs nōn mōs erat iustō proeliō pugnāre; sed equitibus essedīsque suīs per omnēs partēs equitābant, et ōrdinēs hostium perturbābant; tum consultō cōpias suās revocābant. Essedāriī interdum pedibus pugnābant. Ita mōbilitatem equitum, stabilitātem peditum in proeliīs praestābant. Peditēs Rōmānī propter pondus armōrum nōn aptī erant ad hūiusmodī hostem. Et equitibus Rōmānīs perīculōsum erat sē longō intervallō ā peditibus sēparāre: neque pedibus pugnāre poterant."

[i] Vocabulary review: match the Latin and English

cohors, cohortis [3/f]

concursiō, concursiōnis [3/f]

consultō

essedārius, -ī [2/m]

hūiusmodī

impugnō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

intervallum, -ī [2/n]

iter, itineris [3/n]

mōs, mōris [3/f]

ōrdō, ōrdinis [3/m]

pācō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

perturbō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

pondus, ponderis [3/n]

praestō, -āre, -stitī, -stitus [1]

prōvolō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

trucīdō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

attack; Britannic charioteer; habit / custom; interval / distance; journey / march; military unit of 500 men; of this kind; on purpose; running together / (mil.) engagement; show / exhibit; rush forward; rank; pacify; slaughter; throw into confusion; weight

[ii] Find the Latin:

[1] because of / on account of the weight ¦ of the armour

[2] (they) were not suited ¦ to an enemy ¦ of this kind

[3] they slaughtered ¦ many ¦ of the Romans

[4] it was dangerous for the cavalry

[5] it was not customary (the custom) for the Britons

[6] they called their men back from the battle

[7] to separate themselves ¦ from the infantry

[8] to separate themselves by a long distance

[9] (they) were … fighting on foot

[10] on the journey / during the march