17.10.26: Level 3+; P. Cornelius Lentulus: The Story Of A Roman Boy [1]

LXI. PUBLIUS IS BORN NEAR POMPEII

P. Cornēlius Lentulus, adulēscēns Rōmānus, amplissimā familiā nātus est; nam pater eius, Mārcus, erat dux perītissimus, cuius virtūte et cōnsiliō multae victōriae reportātae erant; atque māter eius, Iūlia, ā clārissimīs maiōribus orta est. Nōn vērō in urbe sed rūrī Pūblius natus est, et cum mātre habitābat in villā quae in maris lītore et sub rādīcibus magnī montis sita erat. Mōns autem erat Vesuvius et parva urbs Pompēiī octo milia passuum aberat.

In Italiā antīquā erant plūrimae quidem villae et pulchrae, sed inter hās omnīs nūlla erat pulchrior quam villa Mārcī Iūliaeque. Frōns villae mūrō ā maris fluctibus mūniēbātur. Hinc mare et litora et insulae longē lātēque cōnspicī ac saepe nāvēs longae et onerāriae poterant. Ā tergō et ab utrōque latere agrī ferācissimi patēbant. Undique erat magna variōrum flōrum cōpia et multa ingentium arborum genera quae aestāte umbram dēfessis agricolīs grātissimam adferēbant. Praetereā erant in agrīs stabulīsque multa animālium genera, nōn sōlum equī et bovēs sed etiam rārae avēs. Etiam erat magna piscīna plēna piscium; nam Rōmānī piscēs dīligenter colēbant.

Note: for all the sections of the Lentulus text (there are 10 in total), the questions invite longer and more detailed answers. Remember: at this level, it is not about translation, but giving the answers in as concise a manner as possible; rephrasing, summarising etc. are the aims provided the meaning is not altered. Question 4 is not looking for one-word answers i.e. it is not merely about identifying nouns, but noting phrases that give an added piece of information to that noun.

Question [1]: What does the passage reveal about Publius Cornelius Lentulus’s family background, and how does the author use his parents’ achievements and ancestry to establish social status and prestige? (8 marks)

Question [2]: How does the passage describe the place where Publius was born and lived, and how is this location defined in relation to both natural features and nearby settlements? (8 marks)

Question [3]: “In Italiā … poterant.” Describe the villa and its location. (10 marks)

Question [4] “Ā tergō … colēbant.” What information is given that shows that the villa is in an agricultural setting? (8 marks)

____________________

Question [1]

Publius: born into a very distinguished family │ amplissimā familiā nātus est (1)

father: very experienced (1) military commander (1) │ pater eius (1) dux perītissimus (1)

father: credited with many victories (1) through courage (1) and judgment (1) │ cuius virtūte (1) ¦ et cōnsiliō (1) ¦ multae victōriae reportātae erant (1)

mother:  descended from (1) very famous ancestors (1) │  (māter eius … ā clārissimīs maiōribus (1) ¦ orta est (1)

Question [2]

not born in the city │  nōn vērō in urbe … nātus est (1)

born in the countryside │ sed rūrī (1)

lived with his mother │ cum mātre habitābat (1)

lived in a villa (1) on the seashore (1) at the foot of (1) Mount Vesuvius (1) │ in villā (1) ¦ quae in maris lītore (1) ¦ et sub rādīcibus magnī montis sita erat … (1)  ¦ mōns autem erat Vesuvius (1)

Pompeii eight miles away │ parva urbs Pompēiī octo mīlia passuum aberat (1)

Question [3]

No villa more beautiful │ nūlla erat pulchrior quam villa Mārcī Iūliaeque (1)

Front of the villa (1) fortified (1) from the sea / waves (1) by a wall (1) │ Frōns villae (1) ¦ mūrō (1) ¦ ā maris fluctibus (1) mūniēbātur (1)

Extensive views (1) from the villa (1) of the sea, shores and islands (1) │ Hinc (1) mare et litora et insulae (1) longē lātēque cōnspicī (1)

as well as warships (1) and merchant ships (1) │ ac saepe nāvēs longae (1) et onerāriae (1) poterant

Question [4]

References to:

very fertile fields

large amount of flowers

many species of huge trees

tired farmers

many species of animals (horses, oxen) in fields and stables

rare birds

fish ponds

cultivating fish

Ā tergō et ab utrōque latere agrī ferācissimi (1) patēbant. Undique erat magna variōrum flōrum cōpia (1) et multa ingentium arborum genera (1) quae aestāte umbram dēfessis agricolīs (1) grātissimam adferēbant. Praetereā erant in agrīs stabulīsque multa animālium genera (1), nōn sōlum equī et bovēs sed etiam rārae avēs (1). Etiam erat magna piscīna plēna piscium (1); nam Rōmānī piscēs dīligenter colēbant (1).