Monday, May 18, 2026

01.12.26: Level 1-2 (review): Julia (a Latin Reader) [6] (1)

MĀRS RŌMULUM IN CAELUM VOCAT (1)

In angulō Tiberis Campus Mārtius iacēbat. In Campō Mārtiō iuvenēs Rōmānī corpora dīligenter exercēbant. Ita firma et valida habēbant corpora. Post lūdōs in flāvīs Tiberis undīs natābant. Ita Tiberis corpora fessa recreābat.

Hīc forte Rōmulus cīvibus suīs iūra dabat; bonōs cīvēs laudābat; malōs cīvēs culpābat. Subitō fulminis fragor populum perterruit; magnī dē caelō imbrēs virōs fēmināsque fugāvērunt.

Rōmulus sōlum serēnus impavidusque manēbat; Mārtem patrem in caelō vidēbat. Tum Mārs fīlium verbīs benignīs vocāvit: "Satis," inquit, "in terrīs rēgnāvistī; nunc in caelō et in stēllīs cum patre tuō cēterīsque dīs rēgnābis. Fīlium meum ad caelum portābō."

Tum equōs mīrōs incitāvit. Rōmulus cum patre ad stēllās properāvit.

[i]

corpus, -oris [3/n]: body

fragor, -ōris [3/m]: crash

fulmen, -inis [3/n]: lightning, thunder-bolt

imber, -ris [3/m]: rain, shower

iūs, iūris [3/n]: law, justice

iuvenis, -is [3 m/f]: a young man or woman

Campus Mārtius [2/m]: a strip of land near the Tiber, where the Romans met

Tiberis, -is [3/m]: the Tiber

unda, -ae [1/f]: wave

[ii]

exerceō, -ēre [2]: exercise

fugō, -āre [1]: put to flight

nātō, -āre [1]: swim

perterreō, -ēre [2]: frighten

recreō, -āre [1]: refresh

regnō, -āre [1]: reign

[iii]

fessus, -a, -um: tired

firmus, -a, -um: firm, strong

Mārtius, -a, -um: belonging to Mars

serēnus, -a, -um: calm

[iv]

dīligenter: carefully

forte: by chance

hīc: here

ita: so, thus

satis: enough

____________________

In a corner of the Tiber lay the Campus Martius. On the Campus Martius the young Roman men used to train their bodies carefully. Thus they kept their bodies strong and vigorous. After the games they swam in the yellow waters of the Tiber. In this way the Tiber refreshed their tired bodies.

Here, by chance, Romulus was giving laws to his citizens; he was praising the good citizens; he was blaming the bad citizens. Suddenly a crash of thunder frightened the people; heavy rains from the sky put the men and women to flight.

Romulus alone remained calm and fearless; he was seeing his father Mars in the sky. Then Mars called his son with kind words: “Enough,” he said, “you have reigned on earth; now you will reign in the sky and among the stars with your father and the other gods. I will carry my son to the sky.”

Then he urged on his wondrous horses. Romulus hastened with his father to the stars.

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