Saturday, May 2, 2026

03.11.26: Level 3+ (Review); P. Cornelius Lentulus: The Story Of A Roman Boy [6]

LXVI. LENTULUS ENGAGES A TUTOR FOR HIS SON

Ā prīmīs annīs quidem Iūlia ipsa fīlium suum docuerat, et Pūblius nōn sōlum pūrē et Latīnē loquī poterat sed etiam commodē legēbat et scrībēbat. Iam Ennium aliōsque poētās lēgerat. Nunc vērō Pūblius duodecim annōs habēbat; itaque eī pater bonum magistrum, virum omnī doctrīnā et virtūte ōrnātissimum, parāvit, quī Graeca*, mūsicam, aliāsque artēs docēret. Namque illīs temporibus omnēs ferē gentēs Graecē loquēbantur. Cum Pūbliō aliī puerī, Lentulī amīcōrum fīliī, discēbant. Nam saepe apud Rōmānōs mōs erat nōn in lūdum fīliōs mittere sed domī per magistrum docēre. Cotīdiē discipulī cum magistrō in peristȳlō Marcī domūs sedēbant. Omnēs puerī bullam auream, orīginis honestae signum, in collō gerēbant, et omnēs togā praetextā amictī erant, quod nōndum sēdecim annōs nātī sunt.

*Graeca, -ōrum [2/n/pl]: Greek writings / literature

Comprehension

[1] “Ā prīmīs annīs …. lēgerat.” What details are given about Publius’ early education? (4 marks)

[2] “Nunc vērō … loquēbantur.” What changes were made to his education when he was older? (6 marks)

[3] “Cum Pūbliō … nātī sunt.” What do we learn about in this section of the passage regarding:

[a] Roman boys? (5 marks)

[b] the education of Publius and his friends? (6 marks)

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Notes on the subjunctive: purpose

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/subjunctive%3A%20purpose

Eī pater bonum magistrum … parāvit, quī Graeca, mūsicam, aliāsque artēs docēret.

  • The father provided a good teacher for him who was to teach Greek, music, and other arts.

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[1] Julia / Publius’ mother had taught him (1) │ Iūlia ipsa fīlium suum docuerat

spoke and wrote Latin (1) ¦ fluently and with ease (1)│ nōn sōlum pūrē et Latīnē loquī poterat sed etiam commodē legēbat et scrībēbat

had read Ennius and other poets (1) │ Ennium aliōsque poētās lēgerat

[2] Father arranged a good tutor for him (1) │ pater bonum magistrum … parāvit

highly accomplished (1) in every branch of learning and virtue (1) │ virum omnī doctrīnā et virtūte ōrnātissimum

to teach him (1) Greek writings, music and other arts (1) │ quī Graeca, mūsicam, aliāsque artēs ¦ docēret

almost everybody spoke Greek (1) │ omnēs ferē gentēs Graecē loquēbantur

[3] [a] Wore a gold bulla (1) around their neck (1); mark of respectable birth (1) │ bullam auream, ¦ orīginis honestae signum, ¦ in collō gerēbant, et omnēs togā praetextā amictī erant, quod nōndum sēdecim annōs nātī sunt.

Wore the toga praetexta (1) because they were not yet 16 (1)  togā praetextā amictī erant, ¦ quod nōndum sēdecim annōs nātī sunt

[b] Publius and his friends learned together (1); sons of Lentulus’ friends (1) │ Cum Pūbliō aliī puerī, ¦ Lentulī amīcōrum fīliī, ¦ discēbant.

often did not go to a school (1) │ nōn in lūdum fīliōs mittere

educated at home by a teacher (1) │ domī per magistrum docēre

studied daily (1) in the peristyle garden (of Marcus’ house) (1) │ Cotīdiē ¦ discipulī cum magistrō in peristȳlō Marcī domūs ¦ sedēbant.

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