29.09.26: Level 3+ (review); impersonal verbs [6] interest; rēfert

Both verbs have a double function and, depending on that function, can have different meanings:

• intersum, interesse, interfuī: be / lie between; differ; be present / attend
• referō, referre, rettulī, relātus: many meanings including bring / carry back; relate / report

Here, however, we focus on their impersonal uses in the 3^rd person singular:

[1] interest: it interests / concerns / makes a difference / it is important (of importance)

Hoc inter mē et illōs interest (Cicero)

• The difference between me and them is this.

At quid interest inter periūrum et mendācem? (Cicero)

• What is the difference between a perjurer and a liar?

Quid interest ¦ dare tē in manūs argentum amantī hominī adulēscentī? (Plautus)

• What difference does it make ¦ for you to hand money to a young man who loves (women)?

Nihil enim interest (Cicero)

• For it’s of no importance / It does not matter (to me).

Sī nihil interest, nūlla rēgula est (Cicero)

• If nothing makes a difference / if there is no difference, there is no rule.

Neque … multum interest utrum mē hominēs in oppidō videant an in viā (Cicero)

• nor … does it much matter whether people see me in a town or on the road

When expressing the person affected:

interest: + (1) the genitive, or (2) the feminine ablative singular of the possessive adjective e.g. meā, nostrā etc. but with no noun expressed

(1)

nam eōrum quoque vehementer interest (Cicero)

• For it’s also a matter of great importance to them.

Eius aliquid interest vidērī … (Cicero)

• It is of some importance to him to appear …

Quid autem illīus interest … ubi sīs? (Cicero)

• What does it matter to him where you are?

Omnium interest valēre.

• It concerns all / it is in the interest of all to keep well.

(2)

Illud meā magnī interest (Cicero)

• That’s of great interest to me.

Meā nihil interest (Cicero)

• It’s of no interest to me / It does not matter to me.

Permagnī nostrā interest (Cicero)

• It is of the highest importance to us [ = to me]

This example shows both genitive and ablative used in the same sentence:

Magnī interest Cicerōnis [genitive], vel meā [ablative] potius vel mehercule utrīusque [genitive] (Cicero)

• It is a matter of great concern to my son*, or rather to me, or rather upon my word to both of us

*i.e. his son shares the cognomen

The extent of the concern is expressed by:

[i] the genitive

Illud meā magnī interest │ That is of great interest to me.

Permagnī nostrā interest │ It is of the highest importance to us

[ii] adverbs such as maximē:

Hoc maximē interest │ This is of very great / the greatest importance.

[iii] neuter pronouns

Neque … multum interest │ Nor does it matter much.

Meā nihil interest │ It’s of no interest to me.

[2] rēfert: it matters / concerns / it is important (of importance)

Quid rēfert? (Cicero)

• What does that matter?

The person affected is expressed by the ablative case:

Nam quid est? num meā [ablative] rēfert? (Plautus)

• Well what is it? Something that concerns me?

Tuā istuc rēfert maximē (Plautus)

• That business concerns you the most.

Tuā quod nīl rēfert, nē cūrēs (Plautus)

[literally: do not take care of what is of no concern to you]

• Keep your nose out of other people’s business!

‘nōn nostrā' inquit 'magis quam vestrā rēfert vōs nōn rebellāre’ (Livy)

• "It is not," he told them, "more in our interest than in yours, that you should not rebel”

GELASIMUS

Ōrātōrēs tū accipis, habeās tibi. │ You’re entertaining orators, you may keep them.

EPIGNOMUS

Tuā pol rēfert. │ By Pollux, this concerns you.

GELASIMUS

Enim, sī quidem meā rēfert, opera ūtere. │ Well then, if it really concerns me, make use of my services.

(Plautus)