01.09.26: Level 3; Reading (review); [33] [ii] The siren’s song

During his journey home, Odysseus also passes the island of the Sirens (Sīrēnēs), who lure sailors to the shore with their songs and then kill them.

In order to be able to listen to the singing without danger, Odysseus has his men tie him to the mast and orders them to obstruct their ears. He himself listens:

“Salvē, Ulixēs, imperātor et rēx! Tē, victōrem magnī bellī Ithacaeque rēgem, salūtāmus; et victōrī et rēgī iūstum honōrem tribuimus. Tū mīlitibus Graecīs bene suāsistī, tū multōs labōrēs sustinuistī. Tū es summus cūnctōrum ducum et imperātōrum, et beātus est ille senex, Lāertēs pater tuus. Magnum erit gaudium patrisque mātrisque, sī tē integrum salūtābunt, sī Ithaca rēge servātō gaudēbit! Proinde appropinquā et auscultā, nam nōbīs nihil ignōtum est: Nārrābimus tibi dē virīs clārīs, quōs superāvistī; nōn ignōrāmus tē magnam multitūdinem hominum prōstrāvisse. Cūnctae regiōnēs sunt plēnae tuae laudis.”

Dum virginēs sīc cantant, Ulixēs comitēs vocat; nam diūtius auscultāre studet. Illī autem rēmōs dūcere pergunt.

Sīrēn, -is [3/f]: (Greek mythology) Siren

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siren_(mythology)

Images #1 and #2: 370 BC; 1^st century BC

Image #3: the Sirens may be equally depicted as having the features of fish, such as this example from the Bestiary of AD 1235

pergō, pergere, perrēxī, perrectus [3]: continue, proceed, go on

rēmus, -ī [2/m]: oar

Note: apposition

Appposition refers to two or more words – nouns or pronouns – which are adjacent to one another and refer to the same person / thing:

I live in Paris. I live in the capital of France.

> I live in [i] Paris, [ii] the capital of France. In the sentence ‘Paris’ and ‘the capital of France’ are in apposition.

[i] Henry the Eighth, [ii] the King of England ¦ at that time, …

[i] You, [ii] Joe, are a great athlete.

When this occurs, both parts of the apposition are in the same case:

Salvē, [i] Ulixēs, [ii] imperātor et [iii] rēx! │ “Greetings, [i] Ulysses, [ii] commander and [iii] king!

• All are in the vocative case, addressing Ulysses directly.

[i] Tē, [ii] victōrem magnī bellī Ithacaeque [iii] rēgem, salūtāmus; │ We greet [i] you as [ii] victor of the great war and [iii] king of Ithaca;

• All are in the accusative case, the direct object of salūtāmus

beātus est ille [i] senex, [ii] Lāertēs [iii] pater tuus │ blessed is that [i] old man, [ii] Laertes [iii] your father.

• All are in the nominative case, the subject of the sentence

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/07/230824-level-2-practice-in-reading_18.html

Exercises

[1] Give the nominative singular of the nouns from the text:

[i] ducum

[ii] hominum

[iii] laudis

[iv] mīlitibus

[v] multitūdinem

[vi] regiōnēs

[vii] virginēs

[2] Identify the word type in bold and explain why it is being used:

[i] Proinde appropinquā et auscultā

[ii] nōn ignōrāmus tē magnam multitūdinem hominum prōstrāvisse

[4] What tense is being used and how does that differ from English usage?

Magnum erit gaudium patrisque mātrisque, sī tē integrum salūtābunt, sī Ithaca rēge servātō gaudēbit!

____________________

[1]

[i] dux

[ii] homō

[iii] laus

[iv] mīles

[v] multitūdō

[vi] regiō

[vii] virgō

[2]

[i] imperative; giving a command

[ii] perfect active infinitive in an indirect statement

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/120126-level-3-indirect-statement.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/150126-level-3-indirect-statement.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/180126-level-3-indirect-statement.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/210126-level-3-indirect-statement.html

[iii] future tense; in the conditional clause, English would normally use the present

It will be a great joy for both father and mother if they (will) greet you safe and whole, if Ithaca rejoices [will rejoice] …

____________________

“Greetings, Ulysses, commander and king! We greet you as victor of the great war and king of Ithaca; and to both victor and king we grant just honour. You have served the Greek soldiers well; you have endured many hardships. You are the greatest of all leaders and commanders, and blessed is that old man, your father Laertes. It will be a great joy for both father and mother if they greet you safe and whole, if Ithaca rejoices now that the king has been saved! Therefore, come nearer and listen, for nothing is unknown to us: we will tell you about the famous men whom you have defeated; we are not unaware that you have overthrown a great multitude of men. All regions are full of your praise.”

While the maidens sing thus, Ulysses calls his companions; for he wishes to listen longer. But they continue to row the oars.