30.01.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [17]: the perfect passive infinitive with fuisse

The perfect passive infinitive in an indirect statement may occur with fuisse rather than esse; this is rare and, in fact, is generally not listed in verb conjugations, but should at least be recognised.

The perfect passive infinitive with esse refers to an event which took place before the verb of speaking.

[i] Nuntius dīcit ¦ urbem captam esse. │ The messenger says that the city was / has been captured.

[ii] Nuntius dīxit ¦ urbem captam esse.  │ The messenger said that the city was / had been captured.

Occasionally, however, you will come across the perfect passive participle with fuisse which emphasises that a situation had existed at a certain point in the past before the time of speaking:

Ex ōrātiōne appāret … exercitum in forō collocātum ā Gn. Pompeiō fuisse (Asconius) │ It appears from the speech that the army had been placed in the forum by Pompey

Satis est … docēre … magnam spem in Milōnis morte prōpositam … fuisse (Cicero) │ It is sufficient … to show … that great hope had been placed on Milo’s death

Populum Tanaquil adloquitur … sōpītum fuisse rēgem subitō ictū (Livy) │ Tanaquil addressed the people, [saying that] the king had been rendered unconscious by a sudden blow

Note the inclusion of ‘previously’ and ‘formerly’ in the following translations, emphasising the function of fuisse.

Cognōvī tibi eum falsō suspectum fuisse (Cicero) │ I found out that he had previously been unfairly suspected by you

Zanclē quoque iūncta fuisse dīcitur Ītaliae (Ovid) │ It is said that Zancle had formerly been joined to Italy

30.01.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [16]; the perfect passive infinitive [iv]; reading

[A] This is a short and sweet example of a feature to look out for when reading original Classical Latin. From Epiducus by Plautus.

[1] Look at the question:

APAECIDES

Quis [i] hoc dīcit [ii] factum? │ Who says ¦ that [i] this [ii] has been done?

[2] Look at the answer:

EPIDICUS

Ego ita factum esse dīcō. │ I say that it has been done.

i.e. esse is omitted in [1]; the omission of esse in the perfect passive infinitive in indirect statements is a common feature among the authors

Frātrem interfectum audīvit (Seneca) │ He heard that his brother had been killed.

[B] From the case against Verres, prosecuted by Cicero.

First of all, here is the Latin text and the English translation:

Frequentissimī vēnērunt ad hoc iūdicium mercātōrēs, hominēs locuplētēs atque honestī, [1] quī ¦ [2] partim sociōs suōs, partim lībertōs, partim conlībertōs [3] spoliātōs in vincla coniectōs, partim in vinclīs necātōs, partim secūrī percussōs esse [1] dīcunt

Note the use of the word partim (partly; some of). Cicero uses this to indicate that those present at the trial have had different negative experiences, some of them will say X, some will say Y etc.

Merchants in crowds have come to this trial, wealthy and honourable men, [1] who say ¦ [2] that some of their comrades, some of their freedmen, some of their fellow freedmen [3] were robbed and thrown into chains, some of them were killed in chains, some of them were beheaded with an axe.

Let’s take it apart and see the way in which Cicero uses indirect statement to create a powerful piece of oratory.

[1] He begins by implying that the merchants are reliable and the sheer number of them adds considerable weight to the allegations.

Frequentissimī vēnērunt ad hoc iūdicium mercātōrēs,  │ Merchants in crowds have come to this trial

hominēs locuplētēs atque honestī, │ wealthy and honourable men

[2] He goes on to state what these merchants say

… quī … dīcunt

[3] Cicero then gives an indirect statement itemising the three groups of people who are the subject of the indirect statement; it is also worth noting Cicero’s frequent use of the tricolon i.e. a word or words which are structurally similar and delivered in a group of three:

[i] (quī) partim sociōs suōs, [ii] partim lībertōs, [iii] partim conlībertōs … (dīcunt)

[i] (who say) ¦ (some of them) that [i] their partners, [ii] (some) that their freedmen, [iii] (some) that their fellow freedmen …

[4] The verbs have become perfect passive infinitives but note that Cicero only uses esse once, and the auditory effect of the passives which all have the same ending -ōs

[i] spoliātōs, [ii] in vincla coniectōs, [iii] partim in vinclīs necātōs, [iv] partim secūrī percussōs esse [i] were robbed, [ii] thrown in chains, [iii] some murdered when in chains [iv] some struck with an axe.

29.01.26: Comenius CVI; the Celestial Sphere [3]; text and vocabulary [2]

[2] The globe of heaven is turned about upon an axle-tree, about the globe of the earth, in the space of XXIV hours. │ Globus cælī volvitur super axem, circā globum terræ, spaciō XXIV hōrārum.

axis, -is [3/m]: axle-tree; axle of a wheel; also: the North Pole

axis mundī: the axis of Earth between the celestial poles

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

Again, note CL: spatium, -ī [2/n] > post-CL / Med: spacium > Engl. deriv. space; the same shift is seen in, for example, CL: grātia > gracia > Engl. deriv. grace

Globus cælī volvitur │ The globe of heaven is turned about

terra, -ae [1/f]: land; in Ancient Rome Terra, -ae i.e. a proper noun referred to the goddess of the Earth and is used in Neo-Latin as the astronomical term for the Earth

Also:

tellūs, tellūris [3/f]: various meanings including Earth; globe; world

The Ancient Romans referred to:

orbis, -is [3/m] terrārum: the circle of lands 

[3] The Pole-stars, or Pole, the Arctick, the Antarctick, conclude the axle-tree at both ends. │ Stēllæ polārēs, Arcticus, Antarcticus, fīniunt Axem utrinque.

utrinque = utrimque: on / from both sides

polāris, -e (Late Latin): pertaining to the (North / South) poles

(polus) Arcticus, -ī [2/m]: Arctic; CL: arcticus, -a, -um: northern

(polus) Antarcticus, -ī [2/m]: Antarctic; CL: antarcticus, -a, -um: southern

In the image, note what it was first called, and the link takes you to why the name was changed:

23.06.25: topic; ships [9]; Comenius; XCI; a Ship-wreck (4); terra austrālis: the southern land

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/230625-topic-ships-9-comenius-xci-ship.html

28.01.26: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [24][ii] comprehension (1)

Carolus et Maria XXIV

[1] Tēctum poētae est casa parva, ex māteriā facta. Paucōs diēs Carolus et Maria hīc manēre cupiunt. Rōma est urbs pulcherrima. Urbs antīqua etiam pulchrior erat quam haec. Carolus et Maria per viās Rōmae cum poētā errant et dē amīcā, magistrā, dīcunt putantque.

Comprehension [1]: choose [A], [B] or [C]

[i] The poet lives in:

[A] a small stone cottage

[B] a large wooden house

[C] a small timber cottage

[ii] Carolus and Maria:

[A] are planning to stay there for a few days

[B] have been staying there for a few days

[C] want to stay there for a long time

[iii]

[A] Rome is more beautiful now than it was in the past

[B] Modern Rome is not as beautiful as Ancient Rome

[C] Rome is the most beautiful city in the world

[iv] Carolus and Maria:

[A] wander through the streets alone

[B] think about a friend

[C] talk about the poet

Comprehension [2]: Complete the Latin text with the words listed below. Use the English translation as a guide.

In (1) one place there were the buildings of the (2) ancient (3) kings of Rome. (4) Sometimes (5) these (6) kings were harsh masters, (7) who the people, the servants (8) of the king, did not wish (9) to obey. (10) A few (11) men were treacherous, and if (12) they were found to be treacherous, (13) afterwards they were not free. They remained in chains (14) for a long time and later (15) they were killed.

In (1) __________ locō erant tēcta (2) __________ (3) __________ Rōmae. (4) __________  (5) __________ (6) __________  erant dominī dūrī (7) __________  populus, servī (8) __________, (9) __________ nōn cupiēbat. (10) __________ (11) __________  erant perfidī et sī perfidī esse (12) __________, (13) __________ nōn līberī erant. (14) __________ in vinculīs manēbant et posteā (15) __________.

antīquōrum; diū; hī; interdum; necātī sunt; pārēre; paucī; posteā; quibus; rēgēs; rēgis; rēgum; repertī sunt; ūnō; virī

[3] Etiam nunc Rōma rēgem habet. Hic rēx magnum tēctum et mīlitēs quoque habet. Vīta rēgis nōn est semper facilis, nam rēx nōn est homō līber. Labor eius quoque nōn est facilis. Servus populī Rōmānī est. Servī numquam hominēs līberī sunt. Hic rēx in populum Rōmānum animō bonō est. Dūrus et saevus nōn est. Populō Rōmānō magnā cum cūrā imperat. Populus, igitur, rēgem laudat.

Comprehension [3]

[i] Vīta rēgis nōn est semper facilis, nam rēx nōn est homō līber. Labor eius quoque nōn est facilis. Servus populī Rōmānī est. Servī numquam hominēs līberī sunt.

What reasons are given for the first statement? (4)

[ii] Hic rēx in populum Rōmānum animō bonō est. Dūrus et saevus nōn est. Populō Rōmānō magnā cum cūrā imperat. Populus, igitur, rēgem laudat.

What are the reasons given for the last statement? (3)

____________________

[1]

[i] [C] a small timber cottage

[ii] [A] are planning to stay there for a few days

[iii] [B] Modern Rome is not as beautiful as Ancient Rome

[iv] [B] think about a friend

[3]

[i]

king not a free man

work not easy

servant / slave of the roman people

servants / slaves never free (men)

[ii]

kind attitude towards the Roman people

not harsh or cruel

rules with great care

27.01.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [15]; the perfect passive infinitive [iii]; practice (2)

[C] Complete the English translations with the words listed below.

[1] Cicerō crēdidit praemium Nerōnī ā magō vēnditum esse. │ Cicero __________ that the prize __________ to Nero by a magician.

[2] Mōnstrum nūntiāvit sē līberātum esse. │ The monster __________ that it __________.

[3] Illae putābant plaustrum agricolae trāditum esse. │ They __________ that the cart __________ to the farmer.

[4] Dīcēbās dōnum servō fidēlī datum esse. │ You __________ that a gift __________ to the faithful servant.

[5] Mōnstra dīcunt sē ad oppidum ducta esse. │ The monsters say that they were led to the town.

announced; believed; say; thought; were saying

had been freed; had been given; had been handed over; had been sold; were led

[C]

[1] Cicero believed that the prize had been sold to Nero by a magician.

[2] The monster announced that it had been freed.

[3] They thought that the cart had been handed over to the farmer.

[4] You were saying that a gift had been given to the faithful servant.

[5] The monsters say that they were led to the town.

[D] Give the Latin translation by putting the words into the correct word order.

[1] They knew that the Gauls had been conquered by Caesar.

Ā; CAESARE; ESSE; GALLŌS; SCĪVĒRUNT; VĪCTŌS

[2] Everybody heard that the twins had been found by a wolf.

Ā; AUDĪVĒRUNT; ESSE; GEMINŌS; INVENTŌS; LUPŌ; OMNĒS

[3] They said that they had been led to Asia.

AD; ĀSIAM; DĪXĒRUNT; DUCTŌS; ESSE; ILLĪ; SĒ

[4] The god believed that the foods had been given to Sextus.

CIBŌS; CRĒDIDIT; DATŌS; DEUS; ESSE; SEXTŌ

[5] We announce that you were called back to Italy.

AD; ESSE; ITALIAM; NŪNTIĀMUS; REVOCĀTŌS; VŌS

[D]

[1] Scīvērunt Gallōs ā Caesare vīctōs esse.

[2] Omnēs audīvērunt geminōs ā lupō inventōs esse.

[3] Illī dīxērunt sē ad Āsiam ductōs esse.

[4] Deus crēdidit cibōs Sextō datōs esse.

[5] Nūntiāmus vōs ad Italiam revocātōs esse.

[E] Choose the correct translation.

[1] Sciēbam vōs ad Aegyptum revocātās esse.

[a] I know that you (pl.) have been recalled to Egypt.

[b] I knew that you (pl.) had been recalled to Egypt.

[c] I knew that you (sg.) were being recalled to Egypt.

[2] Puellae clamābant sē ad Aegyptum ductās esse.

[a] The girls were shouting that she had been led to Egypt.

[b] The girls are shouting that they were led to Egypt.

[c] The girls were shouting that they had been led to Egypt.

[3] Putābāmus eās ad īnsulam missās esse.

[a] We thought that they had been sent to the island.

[b] We think they have been sent to the island.

[c] We thought they were being sent to the island.

[4] Prōserpina crēdidit vōs ā mē dēspectās esse.

[a] Prosperina believed that you (sg.) had been despised by me.

[b] Prosperina believed that I had despised you (pl.)

[c] Prosperina believed that you (pl.)  had been despised by me.

[5] Magistrī sciunt discipulās ā nōbīs laudātās esse.

[a] The teachers knew that the pupils had been praised by us.

[b] The teachers know that the pupils were praised by us.

[c] The teachers know that the pupils are praised by us.

[E]

[1] Sciēbam vōs ad Aegyptum revocātās esse. │ [b] I knew that you (pl.) had been recalled to Egypt.

[2] Puellae clamābant sē ad Aegyptum ductās esse. │ [c] The girls were shouting that they had been led to Egypt.

[3] Putābāmus eās ad īnsulam missās esse. │ [a] We thought that they had been sent to the island.

[4] Prōserpina crēdidit vōs ā mē dēspectās esse. │ [c] Prosperina believed that you (pl.)  had been despised by me.

[5] Magistrī sciunt discipulās ā nōbīs laudātās esse. │ [b] The teachers know that the pupils were praised by us.

27.01.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [14]; the perfect passive infinitive [ii]; practice (1)

Complete the Latin translations with the words listed below each section.

[A]

[1] I believe that you were heard. │ [i] __________ [ii] __________ [iii] __________ esse.

[2] Flavius thought that I had been freed. │ Flāvius __________ __________ __________ esse.

[3] Somebody announced that Marcus had been elected consul. │ Aliquis __________ __________ cōnsulem __________ esse.

[4] Cornelia and Flavia hope that the wolf has been driven away. │ Cornēlia et Flāvia __________ __________ __________ esse.

[5] Do you believe that the brave man has been killed? │ __________ne fortem __________ __________ esse?

[6] They say that the book was read. │ __________ __________ __________ esse.

[7] Horatius was saying that he had been deceived. │ Horātius __________ __________ __________ esse.

[8] Epicurus thought that people had been ruled by fear of the gods. │ Epicūrus __________ __________ metū superōrum __________ esse.

[i] cōgitāvit; crēdis; crēdō; dīcēbat; dīcunt; nūntiāvit; putāvit; spērant

[ii] librum; lupum; Mārcum; mē; populum; sē; tē; virum

[iii] auditum; creātum; falsum; interfectum; lēctum; līberātum; rectum; repulsum

[A]

[1] Crēdō tē auditum esse.

[2] Flāvius putāvit mē līberātum esse.

[3] Aliquis nūntiāvit Mārcum cōnsulem creātum esse.

[4] Cornēlia et Flāvia spērant lupum repulsum esse.

[5] Crēdisne fortem virum interfectum esse?

[6] Dīcunt librum lēctum esse.

[7] Horātius dīcēbat sē falsum esse.

[8] Epicūrus cōgitāvit populum metū superōrum rectum esse.

[B]

[1] Mother said that dinner had been prepared. │ Māter dīxit cēnam __________.

[2] Cornelia knows that the woman was praised. │ Cornēlia scit fēminam __________.

[3] The goddess announced that she had been scolded by me. │ Dea nūntiāvit sē ā mē __________.

[4] Juno said that Claudia had been helped. │ Iūnō dīcēbat Claudiam __________.

[5] You knew that the money had been given to Diana. │ Scīvistī pecūniam Diānae ā rēgīnīs __________.

datam esse; iūtam esse; laudātam esse; parātam esse; reprehēnsam esse

[B]

[1] Māter dīxit cēnam parātam esse.

[2] Cornēlia scit fēminam laudātam esse.

[3] Dea nūntiāvit sē ā mē reprehēnsam esse.

[4] Iūnō dīcēbat Claudiam iūtam esse.

[5] Scīvistī pecūniam Diānae ā rēgīnīs datam esse.

27.01.26: Level 3; Reading (review); [27](b) Romulus and Remus

The twins Romulus and Remus were exposed on the order of the king Amulius. A wolf fed them at first.

Fābula est pāstōrem Rōmulum et Remum in Palātiō spectāvisse et ad sē trānsportāvisse. Nōn ignōrāmus geminōs ibi ēducātōs esse. Lēgimus geminōs eum locum posteā rūrsus quaesīvisse ibique ā Rōmulō mūrōs oppidī novī aedificātōs viāsque strātās esse. Rēmus autem parvōs mūrōs sprēvit et trānsiluit. Rōmulus ā Remō irrīsus eum necāvit. 

[1] perfect active infinitive

Fābula est ¦ pāstōrem Rōmulum et Remum in Palātiō spectāvisse et ad sē trānsportāvisse. │ The story is ¦ that the shepherd saw Romulus and Remus on the Palatine Hill and carried them home.

Lēgimus ¦ geminōs eum locum posteā rūrsus quaesīvisse… │ We (have) read ¦ that the twins again sought out that place

[2] perfect passive infinitive

Nōn ignōrāmus ¦ geminōs ibi ēducātōs esse. │ We are not unaware ¦ that the twins were raised there.

Lēgimus ¦ … ibique ā Rōmulō mūrōs oppidī novī aedificātōs viāsque strātās esse. │ We (have) read ¦ that … the walls of a new town were built and the roads (were) paved by Romulus.

____________________ 

The story goes that the shepherd saw Romulus and Remus on the Palatine Hill and carried them home. We know that the twins were raised there. We have read that the twins again sought that place, and that there the walls of a new town were built and the roads were paved by Romulus. But Remus scorned the low walls and leapt over them. Romulus, mocked by his brother, killed him.

27.01.26: Level 3; Reading (review); [27](a) Maintain, don’t annihilate

Cōnstat nōn cūnctōs Rōmānōs verba Mārcī Porciī laudāvisse imprīmīsque Nāsīcam* sententiam eius sprēvisse.

“Nōn negō”, inquit, “mē quoque cōpiās Poenōrum reformīdāvisse; sed appāret eās ad Zamam strātās et dēlētās esse. Itaque crēdō Poenōs bellum cōgitāre dēsiisse. Tū, Catō, dīcis dīvitiās eōrum crēvisse, Carthāginem cūnctīs bonīs implētam esse – et ego gaudeō Carthāginem dīvitiīs abundāre. Neque ignōrō ā Poenīs dīvitiās amārī; itaque perīcula bellī vītābunt, amīcitiam nostram colent, frūmentum exportābunt. Cōnstat ab eīs pacta adhūc servāta esse; oportet ea pacta etiam ā nōbīs servārī. Proinde dēsine nōbīs bellum iniūstum suādēre, dēsine odium et inimīcitiās serere, dēsine Poenōs timēre! Equidem nōn sinam Carthāginem vastārī.”

*Nasica: Publius Scipio Nasica, a Roman politician who favoured the Greek influence, in contrast to Cato

[1] present active infinitive

ego gaudeō ¦ Carthāginem dīvitiīs abundāre │ I rejoice ¦ that Carthage is overflowing with riches

[2] present passive infinitive

Neque ignōrō ¦ ā Poenīs dīvitiās amārī │ Nor am I unaware ¦ that riches are loved by the Carthaginians

[3] Perfect active infinitive

Cōnstat ¦ nōn cūnctōs Rōmānōs verba Mārcī Porciī laudāvisse │  It is well known / generally agreed ¦ that not all Romans praised the words of Marcus Porcius (Cato)

… imprīmīsque Nāsīcam sententiam eius sprēvisse. │ … and ¦ that Nasica especially rejected his opinion.

Nōn negō … ¦ mē quoque cōpiās Poenōrum reformīdāvisse │ I do not deny … ¦ that I too dreaded the Carthaginian troops

crēdō ¦ Poenōs bellum cōgitāre dēsiisse │ I believe ¦ that the Carthaginians have stopped thinking about war

Tū, Catō, dīcis ¦ dīvitiās eōrum crēvisse … │ You say, Cato, ¦ that their wealth has grown

[4] Perfect passive infinitive

appāret ¦ eās ad Zamam strātās (esse) et dēlētās esse │ it is clear ¦ that they were overthrown and (were) destroyed at Zama

Tū, Catō, dīcis ¦ … Carthāginem cūnctīs bonīs implētam esse │ You say, Cato … ¦ that Carthage has been totally filled with all (sorts of) goods

Cōnstat ¦ ab eīs pacta adhūc servāta esse │ It is well known ¦ that the treaties have still been kept by them.

 ____________________

 It is well known / generally agreed that not all Romans praised the words of Marcus Porcius (Cato) and that Nasica especially rejected his opinion.

“I do not deny,” he said, “that I too dreaded the Carthaginian troops, but it is clear that they were overthrown and destroyed at Zama. Therefore, I believe that the Carthaginians have stopped thinking about war. You say, Cato, that their wealth has grown, that Carthage has been totally filled with all (sorts of) goods – and I rejoice that Carthage is overflowing with riches / wealth. Nor am I unaware that riches are loved by the Carthaginians; therefore, they will avoid the dangers of war, they will cultivate our friendship, (and) they will export grain. It is well known that the treaties have still been kept by them. It is necessary that these treaties also be kept by us [ = we too ought to keep these treaties]. Therefore, stop recommending an unjust war to us, stop sowing hatred and hostilities, stop fearing the Carthaginians! Indeed / for my part, I shall not allow Carthage to be laid waste.”

26.01.26: Comenius CVI; the Celestial Sphere [2]; text and vocabulary [1]

The Celestial Sphere │ Sphera cælestis

[i] caelestis, -e: heavenly < caelum, -ī [2/n]: sky; heaven

alternative spellings: coelestis, -e; coelum, -ī [2/n]

caelestia, -ium [3/n/pl]: heavenly bodies

[ii] Note the spelling shift of CL sphaera > post-Classical / Mediaeval: sphera > Engl. deriv. sphere; this is a regular shift

[1] Astronomy considereth the motion of the stars, astrology the effects of them. │ Astronomia cōnsīderat mōtūs astrōrum, astrologia eōrum effectūs.

[i]

astrum, -ī [2/n]: star

astronomia, -ae [1/f]: astronomy

astrologia, -ae [1/f]: astrology

“These terms were at first synonymous expressions among the ancients, both signifying ‘the science of the stars.’ But afterwards astrology came to mean that part of the science which deals with the supposed influence of the stars on the destinies of men.”

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

[ii] mōtus, -ūs [4/m]: motion

effectus, -ūs [4/m]: effect

Many 4^th declension nouns are formed from perfect passive participles:

moveō, -ēre, mōvī, mōtus [2]: move > mōtus, -ūs [4/m]: movement; motion

efficiō, -ere, effēcī, effectus [3-iō]: accomplish > effectus, -ūs [4/m]: accomplishment; effect

Similarly:

audiō, -īre, audīvī, audītus [3]: hear > audītus, -ūs [4/m]: (the sense of) hearing

olfaciō, -ere, olfēcī, olfactus [3-iō]: smell > olfactus, -ūs [4/m]: (the sense of) smell

tangō, -ere, tetigī, tāctus [3]: touch > tāctus, -ūs [4/m]: (the sense of) touch

videō, -ēre, vīdī, vīsus [2]: see > vīsus, -ūs [4/m]: (the sense of) sight

25.01.26: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [24][i] text, vocabulary

Carolus et Maria XXIV

[1] Tēctum poētae est casa parva, ex māteriā facta. Paucōs diēs Carolus et Maria hīc manēre cupiunt. Rōma est urbs pulcherrima. Urbs antīqua etiam pulchrior erat quam haec. Carolus et Maria per viās Rōmae cum poētā errant et dē amīcā, magistrā, dīcunt putantque.

[2] In ūnō locō erant tēcta antīquōrum rēgum Rōmae. Interdum hī rēgēs erant dominī dūrī quibus populus, servī rēgis, pārēre nōn cupiēbat. Paucī virī erant perfidī et sī perfidī esse repertī sunt, posteā nōn līberī erant. Diū in vinculīs manēbant et posteā necātī sunt.

[3] Etiam nunc Rōma rēgem habet. Hic rēx magnum tēctum et mīlitēs quoque habet. Vīta rēgis nōn est semper facilis, nam rēx nōn est homō līber. Labor eius quoque nōn est facilis. Servus populī Rōmānī est. Servī numquam hominēs līberī sunt. Hic rēx in populum Rōmānum animō bonō est. Dūrus et saevus nōn est. Populō Rōmānō magnā cum cūrā imperat. Populus, igitur, rēgem laudat.

[4] Interdum prope flūmen Tiberim, quod per urbem fluit, hī trēs amīcī errant. Poēta fābulās nārrat: "Ōlim trāns flūmen hostēs Rōmānōrum, quibuscum Rōmānī saepe in bellīs pugnābant, habitābant. Posteā Rōmānī eōs superāvērunt. Fugam eōrum memoriā tenēre semper est grātum."

Dē ānseribus quoque, quī mīlitēs convocābant et Rōmam servābant, poēta nārrat. Semper Rōmānī hōs ānserēs laudant. Nunc poēta et eius amīcī prope Tiberim stant. Ā tergō clāmor audītur.

"Aliquis clāmat," inquit Carolus. Omnēs undique circumspectant.

"Rēx est! Rēx venit!" clāmat poēta. Undique hominēs properant. Carolus et poēta sine morā currunt, sed Maria sōla manet.

"Heu!" inquit puella. "Sōla sum et timida. Ubi sunt poēta et Carolus? Parva sum et rēgem nōn facile vidēbō."

[5] Equī rēgis sunt pulcherrimī. Mīlitēs prope rēgem ambulant. Gladiōs portant. Ā dextrā et ā sinistrā rēgis sunt mīlitēs. Ā tergō multī mīlitēs veniunt. Parātī sunt tēla conicere sī perīculum est. Clāmōrēs hominum sunt magnī. Puella parva lacrimat et frātrem vocat.

Carolus statim audit et mox manum sorōris tenet. Ubi Maria esse tūta reperta est, nōn lacrimat. In altō locō trēs stant et rēgem vident.

"In patriā vestrā nūllus rēx est, et populus sibi imperat. Estne hoc cōnsilium bonum?" rogat poēta.

"Ita," respondet Carolus. "Ubi populus sibi imperat, laetior est."

Vocabulary

[1]

māteria, -ae [1/f]: timber; wood

mora, -ae [1/f]: delay

tergum, -ī [2/n]: back; rear

ānser, -is [3/m]: goose

clāmor, clāmōris [3/m]: shout; loud call; cry

homō, hominis [3/m]: man; human being; person

rēx, rēgis [3/m]: king

urbs, urbis [3/f]: city

[2]

convocō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: summon; call together

coniciō, -ere, coniēcī, coniectus [3-iō]: (here) throw

[3]

līber, -a, -um: free

ex [materiā] factus, -a, -um: made from (timber)

[4]

etiam: [i] also; [ii] (here) even: etiam pulchrior even more beautiful; etiam nunc │ even now

heu! (interjection): oh! alas!