Wednesday, July 29, 2026

28.02.27: Level 1-2 (review): Julia (a Latin Reader) [10] (2)

ĪPHIGENĪA (2)

Menelāus, ubi hospitis perfidiam vīdit, ad frātrem contendit et omnia nārrāvit. Agamemnōn īrā terribilī exclāmāvit, "Perfidus est Paris; perfidum est tōtum Troiānōrum genus, sed perfidiae stultitiaeque poenās dabunt. Tōtum exercitum meum ad ōram maritimam convocābō; equitēs peditēsque in nāvēs impōnēmus, et terrā marīque Troiam oppugnābimus. Ita urbem scelerātam excidēmus et genus perfidum ad Īnferōs mittēmus. Praedam quoque multam nōs domum reportābimus. Tū quoque Helenam tēcum domum ad rēgiam tuam redūcēs."

Agamemnōn igitur tōtum exercitum ad portum convocāvit. Multī equitēs multī peditēs aderant; prīncipēs quoque omnēs ē tōtā Graeciā eō convēnērunt. Sed ventī adversī nāvēs in portū diū retinēbant. Itaque Agamemnōn nūntium ad ōrāculum Delphicum mīsit, et ā deō respōnsum petīvit. Trīste et terribile respōnsum dedit Apollō; "Propter īram Diāna nāvēs Graecās in portū retinet, nec ventōs secundōs dat. Numquam Graecī ad Asiam nāvigābunt nisi virginis sanguine deae nūmen plācāverint."

Apollo, -inis [3/m]: Apollo, god of the sun

Asia, -ae [1/f]: Asia

Delphicus, -a, -um: Delphic, belonging to Delphi

Diāna, -ae [1/f]: Diana, goddess of hunting and the moon

[i]

domus, -ūs [4/f]: house, home; domī: at home

exercitus, -ūs [4/m]: army

genus, -eris [3/n]: sort, kind, race

ōrāculum, -ī [2/n]: oracle

perfidia, -ae [1/f]: treachery

poena, -ae [1/f]: penalty, punishment; poenās dō: I pay the penalty

portus, -ūs [4/m]: harbour

responsum, -ī [2/n]: answer

sanguis, -inis [3/m]: blood

stultitia, -ae [1/f]: folly

[ii]

adversus, -a, -um: adverse, hostile

terribilis, -e: terrible

tristis, -e: sad

[iii]

adsum, adesse [irreg]: am present

conveniō, -īre [4]: come together

petō, -ere [3]: seek

plācō, -āre [1]: appease

redūcō, -ere [3]: lead back; bring back

reportō, -āre [1]: carry back / off

retineō, -ēre [2]: hold back, restrain

[iv]

eō: thither

nisi: unless, except

nunquam: never

____________________

Menelaus, when he saw the treachery of his guest, hurried to his brother and told him everything. Agamemnon exclaimed in terrible anger:

“Paris is treacherous; the whole race of the Trojans is treacherous, but they shall pay the penalty for their treachery and folly. I shall summon my whole army to the seashore; we shall put cavalry and infantry aboard ships, and we shall attack Troy by land and sea. Thus we shall destroy the wicked city and send the treacherous race down to the Underworld. We shall also carry a great deal of booty home. You too will bring Helen back home with you to your palace.”

Accordingly, Agamemnon summoned his entire army to the harbour. Many horsemen and many foot soldiers were present; all the princes from the whole of Greece also gathered there. But adverse winds kept the ships in the harbour for a long time. Therefore Agamemnon sent a messenger to the Delphic oracle and sought an answer from the god.

Apollo gave a sad and terrible answer:

“Because of her anger, Diana is keeping the Greek ships in the harbour and is not giving favourable winds. The Greeks will never sail to Asia unless they appease the goddess’s divine power with the blood of a maiden.”


No comments: