Tuesday, July 7, 2026

20.01.27: Level 1-2 (review): Julia (a Latin Reader) [9] (4)

 HORĀTIUS COCLES (4)

Trēs igitur Rōmānī in angustō locō stetērunt. Nec Etrūscī pugnam dētrectāvērunt. Trēs prīncipēs contrā Rōmānōs prōcēdunt. Superbī et splendidī sunt prīncipēs; gladiīs coruscīs in Horātium et comitēs prōcēdunt. Horātius autem in hostem fulminis modō ruit, et prīnceps Etrūscus magnō fragōre ad terram cecidit. Lartius quoque et Herminius hostēs validīs hastīs vulnerāvērunt et humī prōstrāvērunt. Iterum Etrūscī mīlitēs fortēs ferōcēsque in Rōmānōs mīsērunt; iterum Rōmānī Etrūscōs necāvērunt.

Diū et ācriter pugnābant. Iam multa hostium corpora humī iacēbant. Etrūscī timēbant, et Sextum, Tarquiniī fīlium, incitāvērunt. Sed Sextus quoque Horātium timēbat et pugnam dētrectāvit, nec in Rōmānōs, tam dīrōs hostēs, prōcessit.

[i]

comes, comitis [3 m/f]: companion

humus, -ī [2/f]: ground; humī: on the ground

prīnceps, principis [3 m/f]: chief, prince

[ii]

cadō, -ere [3]: fall

dētrectō, -āre [1]: shirk, refuse

mittō, -ere [3]: send

procēdō, -ere [3]: advance; go forward

vulnerō, -āre [1]: wound

[iii]

dīrus, -a, -um: dreadful

[iv]

ācriter: keenly

modō: after the manner of; abl. of modus, -ī [2/m]: manner; way

____________________

So the three Romans stood in a narrow place. And the Etruscans did not avoid the battle. Three leaders advance against the Romans. The leaders are proud and splendid; they advance against Horatius and his companions with flashing swords. But Horatius rushed at the enemy like a thunderbolt, and the Etruscan leader fell to the ground with a great crash. Lartius and also Herminius wounded the enemy with strong spears and threw them to the ground. Again the Etruscan soldiers sent brave and fierce men against the Romans; again the Romans killed the Etruscans.

For a long time they fought fiercely. Now many bodies of the enemy were lying on the ground. The Etruscans were afraid, and they urged on Sextus, the son of Tarquin. But Sextus too was afraid of Horatius and avoided the battle, and did not advance against the Romans, such terrible enemies.

No comments: