A SURPRISING DISCUSSION BETWEEN GENERALS
The Roman Scipio and Carthaginian Hannibal meet in their old
age.
[line 1] Post
Bellum Poenicum Secundum, scrīptum est et Hannibalem et Scīpiōnem simul forte
(1)
[line 2] esse in Syriā.
Quamquam fuerant inimīcī ācerrimī (2), tamen eō tempore saepe familiāriter
[line 3] colloquēbantur(2). Renārrābant multa et mīra dē bellō et
dē virtūtibus antīquīs. Ōlim
[line 4] Scīpiō,
cōgitāns dē victōriā suā Zamae, Hannibalem rogāvit, "Quis est optimus
imperātor
[line 5] omnium?"
Statim Hannibal respondit, "Alexander Magnus." Tum Scīpiō rogāvit,
[line 6] “Quem
pōnis in secundō locō?” "Pyrrhum, sine dubiō," respondit Hannibal.
Ubi Scīpiō
[line 7] tertium
nōmen quaesīvit, Hannibal suum dīxit. Scīpiō cum rīsū exclāmāvit,
"Mehercule!
[line 8] Ego tē
vīcī!" Hannibal placidē respondit, "Vērum est. Sed sī tē vīcissem (5),
nōmen meum
[line 9] suprā
etiam Alexandrī nōmen posuissem! (6)"
(1) forte: by
chance
(2) ācerrimī: very
bitter
(3) colloquēbantur:
they used to converse
(4) Zamae = at Zama
(5) vīcissem = I
had defeated
(6) posuissem = I
would have placed
29. We learn in
lines 1-2 (Post…Syriā) that Hannibal and Scipio
A) fought their
last battle in Syria
B) had agreed to
meet in Syria
C) were both born
in Syria many years before
D) happened to be
in Syria at the same time
30. Quamquam (line
2) is best translated
A) whichever
B) however
C) although
D) still
31. According to
lines 2-3, what is the relationship between the two men?
A) They were still
bitter enemies and often insulted each other.
B) Despite being
former enemies, they found they had a lot to discuss.
C) They were
unfriendly to each other, speaking only when necessary.
D) While they
lived in the same town, they only spoke through messengers.
32. In line 3,
what are the two men discussing?
A) the very
beautiful landscape of Asia
B) many of their
fallen comrades
C) things they
missed from their homelands
D) many aspects of
war and courage
33. In line 4,
what is the best translation of suā?
A) her
B) himself
C) their
D) his own
34. What does
Scipio ask Hannibal in lines 4-5?
A) Who is the best
general of all?
B) What was the
greatest victory of all?
C) Who had the
bravest army of all?
D) Which of their
native lands is the most powerful?
35. In lines 5-6,
what does Scipio do upon hearing Hannibal’s answer?
A) nods silently
B) moves to a new
location
C) asks about the
second position
D) offers his
conflicting opinion
36. What does
Hannibal give as his answer in lines 6-7 (Ubi…dīxit)?
A) Scipio himself
B) an unknown name
C) his own name
D) his father’s
name
37. Why does this
answer surprise Scipio?
A) Scipio was
amazed Hannibal would give any credit to him.
B) Scipio expected
that his own name would be placed before that of Hannibal.
C) Scipio didn't
recognize the unfamiliar name.
D) Scipio didn't
understand why Hannibal repeated the question.
38. Which noun is
NOT in the same case as the others?
A) victōriā (line
4)
B) Scīpiō (line 5)
C) dubiō (line 6)
D) rīsū (line 7)
39. According to
line 8, how does Hannibal react when Scipio shouts “Ego tē vīcī!”
A) with anger
B) with confusion
C) calmly
D) triumphantly
40. What is
Hannibal’s general point in the last sentence (Sed…posuissem)?
A) If Hannibal had
defeated Scipio, then Hannibal would consider himself above Alexander.
B) If Scipio had
been defeated, Hannibal would be second only to Alexander.
C) If Hannibal had
had the chance, he could have beaten Alexander himself.
D) If Scipio had
lost, Scipio’s name would not even be on the list.
____________________
29. D; 30. C;
31. B; 32. D; 33. D; 34. A; 35. C; 36. C; 37. B; 38. B; 39. C; 40. A
29.
D: happened to be in Syria
at the same time; simul forte esse in Syriā
30.
C: although
31. B:
Despite being former enemies, they found they had a lot to
discuss; Quamquam fuerant inimīcī ācerrimī tamen eō tempore saepe
familiāriter colloquēbantur. │ Although they had been very bitter
enemies, nevertheless at that time they often used to converse in a
familiar manner.
32. D:
many aspects of war and
courage; Renārrābant … dē bellō et dē virtūtibus antīquīs.
33. D:
his own
34. A:
Who is the best general of all?; Quis est optimus imperātor omnium?
35. C:
asks about the second
position; Quem pōnis in secundō locō?
36. C:
his own name; Hannibal suum dīxit
37. B:
Scipio expected that his own
name would be placed before that of Hannibal i.e. Scipio had conquered
Hannibal; Scīpiō cum rīsū exclāmāvit, "Mehercule! Ego tē vīcī!"
38. B:
Scipiō; nominative case;
the other three are in the ablative
39. C:
calmly; placidē respondit
40. A: If
Hannibal had defeated Scipio, then Hannibal would consider himself above
Alexander; Sed (1) sī tē vīcissem, (2) nōmen meum suprā
etiam Alexandrī nōmen posuissem! │ But (1) if I had defeated you,
(2) I would have placed my name above even Alexander’s name!
After the Second
Punic War, it was written that both Hannibal and Scipio were by chance in Syria
at the same time. Although they had been very bitter enemies, nevertheless at
that time they used to converse often in a familiar manner. They were retelling
many (and) wonderful things about war and about ancient virtues/courage. One
day Scipio, while thinking about his victory at Zama, asked Hannibal, “Who is
the best general of all?” Immediately Hannibal responded, “Alexander the
Great.” Then Scipio asked, “Whom do you put in second place?” “Pyrrhus, without
a doubt,” responded Hannibal. When Scipio asked a third name, Hannibal said his
own (name). Scipio exclaimed with a laugh, “By Hercules! I defeated you!”
Hannibal calmly responded, “It is true. But if I had defeated you, I would have
placed my name above even Alexander’s
name!”
