27.03.25: Vincent; the verdict of a dog

[1] literal translation

Tē īnspicit oblīquīs oculīs et sollicitātur. │ He observes / looks upon you with sidelong eyes and is made anxious / disturbed

inspiciō, -ere, inspēxī [3-iō]: examine, inspect, consider

obliquus, -a, -um: sidelong; slanting i.e. the dog is not looking directly, but with uncertainty or suspicion out the corner of his eye

Omnibus ipse placet, iūdicat ille simul. │ Everybody likes him [literally: he himself is pleasing to everyone], at the same time, he judges / passes judgement

ipse [m], ipsa [f], ipsum [n]: himself, herself, itself

simul: at the same time; Engl. simultaneously

[2] less literal but I’ve tried to keep as close as possible to the original meaning and mood:

Observing you with eyes askance and

Anxious look he’s liked

By all - and all by him are meanwhile

Judged.

30.06.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein: Britannia Pācāta [3](ii): listening

[1]

["In parte flūminis Tamesae ubi fīnēs Cassivellaunī erant ūnum tantum vadum erat. Quō cum Caesar adventāvit, cōpiās hostium ad alteram rīpam flūminis collocātās spectāvit. "]

The following statements are false. Correct them.

[i] None of the territory of the Cassivellauni was by the river.

[ii] The river had several shallow parts.

[iii] Caesar observed the enemy on the same side.

[2]

["Rīpa autem sudibus acūtīs firmāta erat; et Britannī multās sudēs sub aquā quoque occultāverant. Sed Caesar hostibus instāre nōn dubitāvit. Aqua flūminis profunda erat, et mīlitēs capite solum ex aquā exstābant; "]

Complete each statement with a single word or short phrase:

[i] The river was defended by __________ which were __________ under the water.

[ii] Caesar did not hesitate to __________.

[iii] Because the water was __________ only the __________ of the Romans were visible.

[3]

["sed Rōmānī sē aquae fortiter mandāvērunt, et Britannōs in fugam dedērunt. "]

[i] How did the Romans deal with the depth of the water? (2)

[ii] What happened to the Britons? (1)

[4]

["'Oppidum' Cassivellaunī nōn longē aberat, inter silvās palūdēsque situm, quō Britannī magnum numerum hominum, equōrum, ovium, boum, congregāverant. Locum ēgregiē et natūrā et opere firmātum Caesar ex duābus partibus oppugnāre properāvit: oppidum expugnāvit et dēfensōrēs fugāvit."]

[i] Where was the town of the Cassivellauni? (3)

[ii] What had the Britons gathered there? (5)

[iii] Why was the place very well defended? (2)

[iv] Describe Caesar’s attack and the outcome. (3)

30.06.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein: Britannia Pācāta [3](i): text, exercises

"In parte flūminis Tamesae ubi fīnēs Cassivellaunī erant ūnum tantum vadum erat. Quō cum Caesar adventāvit, cōpiās hostium ad alteram rīpam flūminis collocātās spectāvit. Rīpa autem sudibus acūtīs firmāta erat; et Britannī multās sudēs sub aquā quoque occultāverant. Sed Caesar hostibus instāre nōn dubitāvit. Aqua flūminis profunda erat, et mīlitēs capite solum ex aquā exstābant; sed Rōmānī sē aquae fortiter mandāvērunt, et Britannōs in fugam dedērunt. 'Oppidum' Cassivellaunī nōn longē aberat, inter silvās palūdēsque situm, quō Britannī magnum numerum hominum, equōrum, ovium, boum, congregāverant. Locum ēgregiē et natūrā et opere firmātum Caesar ex duābus partibus oppugnāre properāvit: oppidum expugnāvit et dēfensōrēs fugāvit."

Vocabulary

sudis, -is [3/f]: stake; log

īnstō, -āre, īnstitī [1]: pursue

palūs, palūdis [3/f]: marsh; swamp

Note

Quō: can be a question word or a conjunction meaning ‘to / in which place’:

…, inter silvās palūdēsque situm, quō Britannī magnum numerum hominum … congregāverant │ … situated between the forest and marshes, in which place (where) the Britons had gathered together a large number of men …

However, it can also refer to the previous sentence:

Quō cum Caesar adventāvit …│ And when Caesar arrived at that place / there …

[i] Vocabulary review: match the Latin and English

acūtus, -a, -um

alter, -a, -um

bōs, bovis [3 m/f]

collocō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

congregō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

dubitō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

ēgregiē

expugnō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

exstō, -āre [1]

firmō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

mandō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

profundus, -a, -um

rīpa, -ae [1/f]

situs, -a, -um

tantum

vadum, -ī [2/n]

bank (of a river); commit; deep; excellently; gather; head of cattle (e.g. cow, bull, ox); hesitate / doubt; only; place; shallow water; sharp; situated / positioned; stand out; strengthen; fortified; take by storm; the other (of two)

[ii] Find the Latin

[1] he observed the troops positioned on the other side

[2] the bank had been fortified ¦ by sharp stakes

[3] the Romans had committed themselves to the water

[4] a large number … of cattle

[5] the place, … naturally  … defended …

[6] from two sides (directions)