11.06.26; Level 3+; Subjunctive [51]; imperfect subjunctive; passive / deponent; anatomy of a sentence; Livy

As you progress through this Level, you will notice that quotations become more involved: they are longer, feature more complex word order, and—crucially—the translations you may consult do not always render the original Latin exactly. This is not necessarily a problem, since fluent and idiomatic translation is often required; however, when analysing how the Latin itself is functioning, it is important that a “first stage” literal translation be examined.

Here is the original passage from Livy:

Ratem ūnam ducentōs longam pedēs, quīnquāgintā lātam ā terrā in amnem porrēxērunt, quam, nē secundā aquā dēferrētur, plūribus validīs retināculīs parte superiōre rīpae religātam pontis in modum humō iniectā cōnstrāvērunt ut bēluae audācter velut per sōlum ingrederentur.

[1] We begin with a literal translation:

Ratem ūnam ducentōs longam pedēs, quīnquāgintā lātam ā terrā in amnem porrēxērunt, quam, … │ They pushed out into the river one raft 200 feet long and 50 feet broad which …

nē secundā aquā dēferrētur, │ so that it would not be carried off by the downstream current

plūribus validīs retināculīs parte superiōre rīpae religātam, │ secured by several strong hawsers / fastenings to the upper part of the bank

pontis in modum ¦ humō iniectā ¦  cōnstrāvērunt │ they covered, with earth having been thrown (on it), in the manner of a bridge [ = they covered with earth like a bridge]

ut bēluae audācter ¦ velut per solum ¦ ingrederentur │ so that the beasts might boldly advance ¦ as if over solid ground.

They pushed out into the river one raft 200 feet long and 50 feet broad which, so that it would not be carried off by the downstream current,  secured by several strong hawsers / fastenings to the upper part of the bank, they covered, with earth having been thrown (on it), in the manner of a bridge so that the beasts might boldly advance ¦ as if over solid ground.

[2] Now we can look at a “second stage” translation from a reliable source that rephrases the passage and divides it into separate sentences, whereas the original Latin consists of a single main clause followed by a series of subordinate clauses.

They pushed out into the river a raft 200 feet long and 50 feet broad, and to prevent it from being carried down-stream, one end was secured by several stout hawsers to the bank. It was covered with earth like a bridge in order that the animals, taking it for solid ground, would not be afraid to venture on it.

Compare [i] original and literal with [ii] a “second stage” rephrased translation that is idiomatic and more fluent, but still conveys the original ideas

[1]

[i] plūribus validīs retināculīs parte superiōre rīpae religātam │ secured by several strong hawsers / fastenings to the upper part of the bank

[ii] one end was secured by several stout hawsers to the bank, i.e. that is what is implied rather than specifically stated in the original

[2]

[i] original and literal

ut bēluae audācter ¦ velut per solum ¦ ingrederentur │ so that the beasts might boldly advance ¦ as if over solid ground.

[ii] in order that the animals, taking it for solid ground, would not be afraid to venture on it i.e. the original positive statement is reworked into a negative one