22.12.25: Comenius (1658) LVIII: a Banquet [5] from the authors [ii] (10) – (14)

[10] in filicātīs lancibus et splendidissimīs canistrīs holusculīs nōs solēs pāscere (Cicero) │ you usually feed us with little vegetables on plates decorated with fern leaves and in magnificent baskets

canistrum, -ī [2/m]: (wicker) basket for bread, fruit etc.

[11] From Plautus (Aulularia) …

Euclio: Redī. quō fugis nunc? tenē, tenē. │ Come back! Where are you running to now? Hold on, hold on!

Lyconides: Quid, stolide, clāmās? │ What are you shouting for, stupid?

Euclio: Quia ad trīs virōs iam ego dēferam nōmen tuum │ Because this instant I shall give your name to the Triumvirs (magistrates)

Lyconides: Quam ob rem? │ Why?

Euclio: Quia cultrum habēs. │ Because you have a knife.

Lyconides: Cocum [ = coquum] decet. │ That’s what a cook should have.

[12] Plautus (Psedolus); the reason why cooks are bad …

… quia enim, cum extemplō veniunt conductum coquum,│ because when they immediately come to hire a cook,

nēmō illum quaerit quī optimus et cārissimust [ = cārissimus + est]: │ nobody’s looking for the one who’s best and most expensive:

illum condūcunt potius quī vīlissimust. │ rather they hire the one who’s the cheapest.

nōn ego item cēnam condiō ut aliī coquī, │ likewise I don’t spice up a dinner like other cooks

quī mihi condīta prāta in patinīs prōferunt, │ who offer me seasoned meadows on the dishes,

bovēs quī convīvās faciunt herbāsque oggerunt, │ who turn the guests into oxen, and supply the grass

condiō, -īre, -iī (-īvī), condītus [4]: spice; season; make savoury

condītus, -a, -um: seasoned, savoury

[13] … veniēbat puer sacerdōtis, dum coquerentur carnēs, et habēbat (1) fuscinulam tridentem in manū suā, et mittēbat eam in (2) lebētem vel in (3) caldāriam aut in (4) ōllam sīve in (5) cācabum et omne quod levābat fuscinula tollēbat sacerdōs sibi (Vulgate)

… the priest’s servant would come while the meat(s) was (were) being boiled  and he would have a (1) three-pronged fork in his hand, and would put it into the (2) pan or (3) kettle or (4) pot or (5) cooking pot. Whatever the fork brought up the priest would take for himself.

cācabus, -ī [2/m]: cooking pot

caldāria, -ae [1/f] (Late) kettle; cooking-pot; cauldron

lebēs, lebētis [3/n]: copper basin; kettle; cauldron

ōlla, -ae [1/f]: pot; jar (various uses including the storage of fruit)

tridēns, tridentis < tri + dēns (tooth): having three teeth; three-pronged

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

[14] Excerpt from Catullus 12

Asinius Marrucinus has been stealing Catullus’ napkins which were a gift from his friends. He uses linteum, -ī [2/n] to refer to napkins, but the word also had a more general meaning of linen cloth or bedsheet

Marrucine Asini, manu sinistra │ Marrucinus Asinius, your left hand
non belle uteris in ioco atqua vino │ you do not use beautifully: in joke and in wine
tollis lintea neglegentiorum. │ you take the napkins of the careless people.

22.12.25: Comenius (1658) LVIII: a Banquet [4] from the authors [i] (1) – (9)

The quotations show in context most of the vocabulary covered in earlier posts together with some additional common ones. Note that, as was mentioned in the first post on this topic, translations can vary and be far less specific than dictionary definitions.

[1] ferculum est īnsecūtum plānē nōn prō expectātiōne magnum; novitās tamen omnium convertit oculōs (Petronius) │ a dish followed, not at all of the size we expected; but its novelty drew every eye to it

[2] ut senex hōc eōdem pōculō, quō ego bibī, biberet (Plautus) │ may the old fellow drink from the same cup that I have been drinking from.

[3] quia tēmētī nihil allātum intellegō (Plautus) │ Because I understand that no wine has been brought

[4] puerī, plaudite et mī ob iactum cantharō mulsum date (Plautus) │ Lads, clap your hands, and give me some honeyed wine in my cup, in honor of my throw.

mulsum, -ī [2/n]: considered to be the oldest alcoholic drink in the world, mulsum is the sweet Roman mixture of wine and honey. Wild grapes were not as sweet as they are now and so honey was added. Mulsum is also known as ‘mead’.

[5] cum duo Syrī expīlātūrī trīclīnium intrāvērunt, dumque inter argentum avidius rixantur, dīductam frēgērunt lagoenam (Petronius) │ All at once two Syrians came in to rob the dining-room, and in quarrelling greedily over the silver pulled a large jug in two and broke it.

[6]  Set up your own olive yard; Cato lists what you need, and here are a few to get started.

Quō modō olētum agrī iūgera CCXL īnstruere oporteat │ This is the proper equipment for an oliveyard of 240 iugera …

abacum I │ 1 small table

amphorās oleāriās II │ 2 oil jars

labellum paululum I │ 1 very small dish

labra aquāria II │ 2 water-basins

pēlvim I │ 1 basin

urceōs aquāriōs III │ 3 water-pots

[7] In arboribus, uti rādīcēs capiant, calicem pertunditō (Cato) │  to make them take root while on the tree, make a hole in the bottom of the pot 

[8] In the same work, Cato makes frequent references to dōlium, -ī [2/n]: a very large earthenware vessel; cask

Ubi tempestātēs malae erunt, cum opus fierī nōn poterit,… dōlia plumbō vincitō … quodvīs dōlium vīnārium facere poteris │ When the weather is bad, when no other work can be done … mend wine-jars with lead … you’ll be able to make whatever you want into a wine-jar …

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

PS: He also suggests clearing out the manure from the compost heap. I’ll stick to mending the wine-jars.

[9] dīmidium cochleārium cum acētō et liquāmine modicō miscēs aut post cēnam dīmidium cochleārium accipiēs (Apicius) │ Mix half a spoonful with vinegar and a little fish sauce or you take half a spoonful after dinner

acētum, -ī [2/n]: vinegar

21.12.25: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [20][iii] listening

Carolus et Maria XX

[1] Complete the text with the words and endings listed below:

_____ quī in illō locō stat est avunculus puerī puellae_____. Est frāter Iūliae. Avunculus Iūliam et nautam et Carolum et Mariam _____ exspectat. _____ circumspectat et nunc _____ videt. Avunculus _____ salūtat. _____ omnēs _____ domum avunculī eunt. Puer puellaque _____ rogant et avunculus multa nārrat. Tēctum avunculī parvum _____ grātum vidē_____. _____ tēctum et viam est hortus pulcher. _____ hortum est mūrus _____ hortum tegit _____ aliquis _____ vāstāre cupit. Flūmen parvum _____ tēctum fluit.

ad; circum; diū; eōs; eum; inter; is; mox; multa; omnēs; prope; -que; quī; sed; sī; -tur; undique

[2] Complete the text with the endings listed below:

Posterō di_____ omnēs ā tēct_____ avuncul_____ eunt. Ruīn_____ mūrī antīquī vid_____. Ōlim Rōmānī ad hanc īnsul_____ vēn_____ quod soci_____ novōs dēsīder_____. Hic erat mūr_____ antīqu_____ Caesar_____ quī erat dux Rōmān_____. Īnsulam oppugn_____ et occupāre cup_____. Armātī erant Britannī et, ubi host_____, Rōmānōs, vid_____, īrātī erant. Itaque diū Rōmānī ad terram ab aqu_____ ven_____ nōn audē_____. Diū in aquā manēba_____.

-ā; -am; -ās; -ē; -ēs; -ī; -is; -issimus; -ō; -ōrum; -ōs; -us

-ābant; -āre; -bant; -ēbant; -ent; -ērunt; -iēbat; -īre; -nt

[3] [i] Choose the correct form of the verb ([a], [b] or [c]):

(1) Subitō vir fortis, quī perīculum [a] vidēbās [b] vidēbant [c] vidēbat, …

(2) [a] clāmābant  [b] clāmābat [c] clāmābās:

(3) “[a] Properāte [b] Properātis [c] Properat, mīlitēs!” inquit.

(4) “Britannōs armātōs [a] oppugnātis [b] oppugnās [c] oppugnāte!”

(5) Ita mīlitēs [a] iubēbās [b] iubēbant [c] iubēbat.

(6) Itaque mīlitēs ācriter [a] pugnābunt [b] pugnābant [c] pugnābat.

(7) Posteā Caesar mīlitēs [a] probābat [b] probāvit [c] probābant quod hoc …

(8) [a] audēbant [b] audiēbant [c] audēbunt.

(9) Rōmānī iacula et alia tēla [a] iacēbant [b] iacēbunt [c] iaciēbant et Britannōs …

(10) [a] superābat [b] superābant [c] superāvērunt.

[3] [ii] Complete the text with the missing verbs (which are not listed):

Propter perīculum magnum huius bellī sociī ab Eurōpā __________ et Caesarem __________. Populus Rōmānus multās aliās terrās __________. Quamquam Caesar __________ dux bonus, tamen multōs inimīcōs Rōmae __________. Posteā hī eum __________.

[4] Complete the text with the missing verbs (which are not listed):

Undique pater māterque __________. Flūmina et aliās rēs Britanniae __________. “__________ne nunc Britannia hostēs quī īnsulam occupāre et vāstāre __________?” __________ Carolus.

“Minimē,” __________ avunculus, “sed posteā propter hostēs ā sociīs auxilium __________.”

Mox Carolus et Maria ā Britanniā __________. In aliā terrā, Germāniā, __________.

20.12.25: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [2]

The accusative-infinitive is like a ‘formula’ i.e. certain consistent changes are made to create an indirect statement from a direct one.

Direct statement: Caesar urbī appropinquat. │ Caesar is approaching the city.

To turn it into an indirect statement, two changes are made:

Nūntiī clāmant ¦ [1] Caesarem urbī [2] appropinquāre.

The messengers shout ¦ that [1] Caesar [2] is approaching the city.

[1] The subject of the indirect statement is in the accusative case; in grammar this is known as the subject accusative

[2] The verb of the indirect statement becomes an infinitive.

That’s why the construction is referred to as an accusative-infinitive.

There is no word for a ‘that’ conjunction introducing the indirect statement.

Examples:

[i] Duo fūrēs in apodyteriō sunt. │ Two thieves are in the changing room.

> Mārcus dīcit ¦ [1] duōs fūrēs [direct object: accusative] [2] esse [infinitive] in apodytēriō.

[literally: Marcus says ¦ [1] two thieves [2] to be in the changing room.]

> Marcus says ¦ that two thieves are in the changing room.

[ii] Is venit. │ He is coming.

> Sciō ¦ [1] eum [accusative] [2] venīre [infinitive]

[literally: I know ¦ [1] him [2] to be coming]

> I know ¦ that he is coming.

[iii] Discipulī student. │ The pupils are studying.

Magister dīcit ¦ [1] discipulōs [accusative] [2] studēre [infinitive]

[literally: The teacher says ¦ [1] the pupils [2] to be studying]

> The teacher says ¦ that the pupils are studying.

At first sight, the accusative-infinitive seems completely alien but, when you take a second look, there are some limited examples in English, restricted largely to expression of opinion, which give you an idea as to how it is put together.

I knew that [1] he [2] was an honest man.

= I knew [1] him [direct object] [2] to be [infinitive] an honest man

I believe that [1] the story [2] is true.

= I believe [1] the story [direct object] [2] to be true [infinitive].

We believe that [1] these truths [2] are self-evident.

= We hold [1] these truths [direct object] ¦ [2] to be [infinitive] self-evident.

Whereas in English, its use is limited and, at times, can sound rather stilted, it is that construction which is the way in which an indirect statement is always expressed in Latin.

20.12.25: Level 3; a noble foe

Themistoclēs ōlim, pugnā nāvālī dēvictīs Persīs, Athēnīs apud conciōnem dīxit: "Cōnsilium in animō habeō: hoc ūtile reīpūblicae erit, cēlārī tamen oportet. Ūnī ē prīmōribus rem dīcere volō." Aristīdēs ad hoc mūnus dēlēctus est. Huic dīxit Themistoclēs: "Lacedaemoniōrum classis in ancorīs in portū est. Hanc clam incendere poterimus. Ita illōrum potestās nāvālis dēlēbitur." Hīs audītis, ad concilium Aristīdēs reversus in hunc modum locūtus est: "Themistoclīs cōnsilium quum ūtile, tum minimē honestum est." Itaque Athēniēnsēs nē audītum quidem cōnsilium sprēvērunt.

[1] apud [+ acc] [i] at, by, near, among; [ii] at the house of (Fr. chez); [iii] (here) in the presence of; apud conciōnem │ before the assembly

[2] conciō, -iōnis [3/f] (Mediaeval spelling); contiō, -iōnis [3/f] (CL): meeting; assembly

[3] hoc ūtile reīpūblicae erit │ this will be useful to the republic

The term ‘Roman Republic’ refers to the period in Roman history from the overthrow of the Roman kingdom (traditionally dated to 509BC) and ending in 27AD with the establishment of the Roman Empire, but it has other meanings such as ‘the state’, ‘the nation’ or ‘civil affairs’.

Image: rēspūblica is formed from two words: (1) rēs, rēi [5/f] + (2) 1^st/2^nd declension adjective: pūblica; both parts decline. It is usually written as one word but may appear as two separate words;

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/05/170424-respublica.html

[4] Note the use of the dative of ūnus in:

Ūnī ¦ ē prīmōribus rem dīcere volō. │ I want to communicate the matter to one ¦ of the chief men.

[5] revertor, -ī, reversus sum [3/deponent]: return; perfect participle is passive in form but active in meaning

ad concilium Aristīdēs reversus │ Aristides, having returned to the Council …

[6] quum = cum; cum (quum) can be coupled with tum to express not only … but also …

movet rēs cum multitūdinem tum ducēs (Livy) │ Thīs event not only shocked the crowd but also the commanders

From the text: "Themistoclīs cōnsilium quum ūtile, tum minimē honestum est." │ The advice of Themistocles is not only useful, but also not at all honourable. [ …both useful and not at all honourable]

[7] Itaque Athēniēnsēs (2) nē audītum quidem (1) cōnsilium sprēvērunt. │ Therefore, the Athenians rejected (1) the plan ¦ (2) [which had] not even been heard. [ = without even hearing it]

____________________

Once upon a time, after the Persians had been utterly defeated in a naval engagement, Themistocles said before the Assembly at Athens: ‘I have a plan in my mind; this will be useful to the republic, yet it must be kept secret. I wish to communicate the matter to one of the chief men.’ Aristides was chosen for this office. Themistocles said to him: ‘The fleet of the Lacedaemonians is at anchor in harbour. We shall be able to set it on fire secretly. Thus their naval power will be destroyed.’ On hearing this, Aristides having returned to the Council, spoke as follows:  The advice of Themistocles is not only useful, but also not at all honourable.’ Therefore, the Athenians rejected the plan without even hearing it.