22.05.26; Level 3+; Subjunctive [41] dependent uses [2] result [ii] practice

[1] Complete the Latin sentences with the words and phrases listed below:

[i] I was so far away that I could not see.

__________ longē aberam ut __________.

[ii] He works so energetically that he accomplishes many things.

__________ strēnuē labōrat ut multa __________.

[iii] Their camp is so far away from Rome that you can’t reach it in one day.

Castra eōrum __________ longē Rōmā absunt ut ūnō diē advenīre __________.

[iv] The Roman army killed so many enemies that the city was safe.

__________  hostēs interfēcit exercitus Rōmānus ut urbs incolumis  __________.

[v] He did such great things that he saved the city.

__________ fēcit ut urbem __________.

[vi] No one is so savage / savage to such an extent that he cannot be tamed.

Nēmō __________ ferus est ut __________ mītēscere __________.

[vii] She was so confused / confused to such an extent that she was barely able to speak.

__________ perturbāta erat ut vix loquī __________.

[viii] Hannibal’s army was so great that it destroyed many legions.

__________ erat exercitus Hannibalis ut multās lēgiōnes __________.

[ix] They made an attack with such force against Pompey’s cavalry that none of them stood their ground.

__________ vī in Pompēī equitēs impetum fēcērunt ut eōrum nēmō __________.

[x] So great a fear suddenly seized the whole army that it greatly [literally: not slightly] disturbed the minds and spirits of all.

__________  subitō timor omnem exercitum occupāvit ut nōn mediocriter omnium mentēs animōsque __________. (Caesar)

adeō; adeō; tam; tam; tam; tanta; tantā; tantus; tantus; tot

cōnsisteret; destrueret; esset; nōn … possit; nōn vidērem; perficiat; perturbāret; posset; possīs; servāret

[2] Translate the sentence using one phrase from [A] and one phrase from [B]; take careful note of the tenses being used

[i] There are so many buildings that I cannot see them all.

[ii] There were so many buildings that I could not see them all.

[iii] The children’s mother is so happy that she cannot speak.

[iv] The children's mother was so happy that she couldn't speak.

[v] The thief is running so quickly that he cannot be caught.

[vi] The thief ran so quickly that nobody could catch him.

[vii] He is so handsome that all the girls love him.

[viii] She was so beautiful that all the boys loved her.

[ix] He has given you so many gifts so that you won’t leave.

[x] I gave you so many gifts so that you would not leave.

[xi] The king is so fierce that no one wants to fight him.

[xii] The queen was so fierce that no one wanted to fight her.

[A]

Tibi tot dōna dedit

Tibi tot dōna dedī

Tam pulchra erat

Tam pulcher est

Erant tot aedificia

Sunt tot aedificia

Rēx ita ācris est

Regīna ita ācris erat

Māter līberōrum adeō gaudet

Māter līberōrum adeō gaudēbat

Fūr tam celeriter cucurrit

Fūr tam celeriter currit

[B]

ut cāpī nōn possit.

ut loquī nōn posset.

ut loquī nōn possit.

ut nēmō eam pugnāre vellet.

ut nēmō eum capere posset.

ut nēmō eum pugnāre velit.

ut nōn discedās.

ut nōn discederēs.

ut omnēs puellae eum ament.

ut omnēs puerī eam amārent.

ut omnia vidēre nōn possem.

ut omnia vidēre nōn possim.

____________________

[1]

[i] Tam longē aberam ut nōn vidērem.

[ii] Tam strēnuē labōrat ut multa perficiat.

[iii] Castra eōrum tam longē Rōmā absunt ut ūnō diē advenīre nōn possīs.

[iv] Tot hostēs interfēcit exercitus Rōmānus ut urbs incolumis esset.

[v] Tanta fēcit ut urbem servāret.

[vi] Nēmō adeō ferus est ut nōn mītēscere possit.

[vii] Adeō perturbāta erat ut vix loquī posset.

[viii] Tantus erat exercitus Hannibalis ut multās lēgiōnes destrueret.

[ix] Tantā vī in Pompēī equitēs impetum fēcērunt ut eōrum nēmō cōnsisteret.

[x] Tantus subitō timor omnem exercitum occupāvit ut nōn mediocriter omnium mentēs animōsque perturbāret. (Caesar)

[2]

[i] Sunt tot aedificia ut omnia vidēre nōn possim.

[ii] Erant tot aedificia ut omnia vidēre nōn possem.

[iii] Māter līberōrum adeō gaudet ut loquī nōn possit.

[iv] Māter līberōrum adeō gaudēbat ut loquī nōn posset.

[v] Fūr tam celeriter cucurrit ut nēmō eum capere posset.

[vi] Fūr tam celeriter currit ut cāpī nōn possit.

[vii] Tam pulcher est ut omnēs puellae eum ament.

[viii] Tam pulchra erat ut omnēs puerī eam amārent.

[ix] Tibi tot dōna dedit ut nōn discedās.

[x] Tibi tot dōna dedī ut nōn discederēs.

[xi] Rēx ita ācris est ut nēmō eum pugnāre velit.

[xii] Regīna ita ācris erat ut nēmō eam pugnāre vellet.

22.05.26; Level 3+; Subjunctive [40] dependent uses [2] result [i]

[1] A result clause shows the outcome or consequence of an action. It is introduced by:

[i] ut + subjunctive: positive result

Tam stultus est ¦  ut hoc semper dīcat. │ He is so foolish ¦ that he always says this.

[ii] ut nōn + subjunctive: negative result

Tam timida est ¦ ut nōn respondeat. │ She is so timid ¦ that she does not answer.

[2] Result clauses can look very similar to purpose clauses especially when ut is used. However, note the differences:

(1) A negative result is not introduced by nē, but by ut nōn.

These two examples show the difference in meaning between a purpose clause and a result clause:

Cūstōdītus est ¦ nē effugeret. │ He was guarded ¦ in order that he might not escape i.e. purpose

Cūstōdītus est ¦ ut nōn effugeret. │ He was guarded ¦ so that he did not escape i.e. result / consequence

(2) There is frequently a ‘signal word’ in the main clause that indicates that a result clause is to follow. The signal words can refer to the extent / degree to which something is / was done, or the way in which something is / was done that led to the outcome. We can also say that these words express intensity.

The examples below also show the sequence of tenses with the present and imperfect subjunctive.

[i] tam … ut:  so … that

Tam fortis est [present indicative] ¦ ut hostēs vincat [present subjunctive] │ He is so brave ¦ that he conquers the enemy

Tam fortis erat [imperfect indicative] ¦ ut hostēs vinceret [imperfect subjunctive] │ He was so brave ¦ that he conquered the enemy

[ii] tantus / tanta / tantum … ut: so great … that

Tantus clāmor est ¦ ut cīvēs ōrātōrem nōn audiant. │ The noise is so great ¦ that the citizens do not hear the speaker.

Tantus clāmor erat ¦ ut cīvēs ōrātōrem nōn audīrent. │ The noise was so great ¦ that the citizens did not hear the speaker.

Magister tantam vōcem habet ¦ ut discipulī timeant. │ The teacher has such a great (loud) voice ¦ that the pupils are afraid.

Magister tantam vōcem habēbat ¦ ut discipulī timērent. │ The teacher had such a great (loud) voice ¦ that the pupils were afraid.

[iii] tot … ut:  so many … that

Tot mīlitēs urbem oppugnant ¦ ut valdē timeāmus. │ So many soldiers are attacking the city ¦ that we are very afraid.

Tot mīlitēs urbem oppugnābant ¦ ut valdē timerēmus. │ So many soldiers were attacking the city ¦ that we were very afraid.

[iv] tālis, -a … ut: such … that …

Puerī tālia verba clāmant ¦ ut mātrēs audīre nōlint. │ The boys are shouting such words ¦ that the mothers refuse to listen.

Puerī  tālia  verba  clāmābant  ¦ ut  mātrēs  audīre  nōllent. │ The boys were shouting such words ¦ that the mothers refused to listen.

[v] adeō … ut:  to such a degree … that

Rōmam adeō amat ¦ ut semper hīc habitāre velit. │ He loves Rome to such an extent ¦ that he always wants [literally: would always want] to live here.

Rōmam adeō amābat ¦ ut semper hīc habitāre vellet. │ He loved Rome to such an extent ¦ that he always wanted to live here.

Translations can vary and it is not always necessary to stick rigidly to the separate meanings given here i.e. He loves / loved Rome so much that … would be a smoother alternative in English.

fac sīs sit dēlātum hūc mihi frūmentum, hunc annum quod satis, mī et familiae omnī sit meae, atque adeō ¦ ut frūmentō a(f)fluam (Plautus)  │ See to it that grain is brought here to me—enough for this year, for me and for my whole household—and indeed so much ¦ that I may abound in grain.

nam quae flūmine Nīlō fertur, adeō est līmōsa ac turbida ¦ ut multōs variōsque morbōs efficiat (Bellum Alexandrinum) │ For what is carried by the Nile river is so muddy and turbid that it produces many and various diseases.

[vi] ita … ut = in such a way … that

Mūrōs ita aedificant ¦ ut hostēs eōs dēlēre nōn possint. │ They build the walls in such a way ¦ that the enemies cannot destroy them.

Mūrōs ita aedificāverant ut hostēs eōs dēlēre nōn possent. │ They had built the walls in such a way ¦ that the enemies could not destroy them.

[vii] sīc … ut: so / in such a way … that …

Sīc pugnat vēnātor ¦ ut leō fugiat. │ The hunter fights in such a way ¦ that the lion flees.

Sīc pugnāvit vēnātor ¦ ut leō fugeret. │ The hunter fought in such a way ¦ that the lion fled.

In practice, there is little difference between [vi] - [viii] above and you could equally find ita or adeō instead of sic in result clauses:

Ita pugnāvit vēnātor ut leō fugeret.

Adeō pugnāvit vēnātor ut leō fugeret.

21.05.26: Comenius (1658) XXXV; Sea-fish and Shell-fish … and fish that ‘flie’ (1)

Sea-fish, and shell-fish. │ marīnī piscēs & conchæ.

The whale, 1. (is the) │ bālæna, (cētus) 1.

Greatest ¦ of the sea-fish. │ maximus ¦ piscium marīnōrum.

The dolphin, 2. │ delphīnus, 2.

The swiftest.│ vēlōcissimus.

The scate, 3.│ raia, 3.

The most monstrous.│ mōnstr(u)ōsissimus.

Others are the lamprel, 4. │ aliī sunt mūrænula, 4.

The salmon, 5. │ salmō, 5.

There are also fish that flie, 6. │ dantur etiam volātilēs, 6.

Add herrings, 7. │ adde halecēs, 7.

Which are brought pickled, │ quī salsī,

And pla(i)ce, 8. and cods, 9. │ & passerēs, 8. cum asellīs, 9.

Which are brought dry; │ quī adferuntur ārefactī;

And the sea monsters, │ & mōnstra marīna,

The seal. 10. │ phōcam, 10.

And the sea-horse, &c. │ hippopotamum, &c.

Shell-fish, 11. have shells. │ concha, 11. habet testās,

The oyster, 12. │ ostrea, 12.

Affordeth sweet meat. │ dat sapidam carnem.

The purple-fish, │ mūrex, 13.

Purple; │ purpuram;

The others, pearls, 14. │ aliī, 14. margarītās.

____________________

[1] bālaena / ballaena, -ae [1/f]: whale

also: orca, -ae [1/f]

cētus, -ī [2/m]: any large sea animal e.g. whale, shark, dolphin etc.; can also refer to a sea-monster

[2] delphīnus, -ī [2/m]: dolphin

[3] To see some of this vocabulary in context, we’ll look in later posts at excerpts from Pliny the Elder’s Natural History (Nātūrālis historia). In Book 9, he makes many references to types of fish and uses terms to distinguish between three which, to the untrained eye, look similar:

[i] raia, -ae [1/f]: ray; marine fish with a flat body

[ii] pastināca, -ae [1/f]; raia, -ae [1/f] pastināca (in this topic) sting-ray; pastināca a food term for parsnip (or carrot) referring to the tapering nature of its tail; Pliny specifically distinguishes the sting-ray by describing its venom and the strength of its spine

[iii] squātina, -ae [1/f]: skate

[4] mūrena / mūraena, -ae [1/f]: moray eel; lamprey (transl. lamprel; obsolete); mūrēnula / mūraenula, -ae [1/f] is a diminutive form, but in CL it referred to a small necklace that resembled an eel

also: anguilla, -ae [1/f]: eel

[5] salmō, salmōnis [3/n]: salmon

solea, -ae [1/f]: although its principal meaning is the sole of a shoe, it was also used to refer to the fish owing to its shape

thunnus, -ī [2/m]: tuna

tructa, -ae [1/f] / tructus, -ī [2/m]: (Late Latin) trout

Note the following three where I have given distinguishing translations for them, but there can be overlap and / or lack of clarity in original texts:

lōlīgō, lōlīginis [3/f]: squid

sēpia, -ae [1/f]: cuttlefish

pōlypus, -ī [2/m]: octopus

[6] volātilis, -e: flying; winged > piscēs volātilēs: flying fish

[7] halecēs: ‘herrings’

various forms: (h)ālex, -ēcis [3 m/f]; ālec / (h)allec: “the sediment of a costly fish-sauce, garum; and in general the sauce prepared from small fish, fish-pickle, fish-brine” (Lewis & Short)

It seems an unusual choice to describe the fish itself since there is a more recognisable alternative:

harengus / haringus, -ī [2/m]: (Late Latin) herring

[8] passer, -is [3/m]: refers far more often in CL to a sparrow, not least Lesbia’s famous deceased one in the Catullus poem, but it also was used to mean a ‘turbot’, various species of flatfish including plaice

[9] asellus, -ī [2/m]: “A sea-fish much prized by the Romans, perhaps cod or haddock” (Lewis & Short)

mōnstrum, -ī marīnum: sea-monster

[10]  in the English language of this period, “fish” i.e. the title of the text could be used much more broadly to refer to any marine mammal such as whales or seals:

phōca, -ae [1/f]: seal

hippopotamus, -ī [2/m]: the English term ‘sea-horse’ as used by the translator is referring to a walrus; the Classical Latin did refer to the Nile hippopotamus (‘river-horse’) i.e. the same animal we mean today

hippocampus, -ī [2/m]: sea-horse i.e. the small marine fish with a horse-like head and long tail

[11]

concha, -ae [1/f]: refers to a ‘bilvalve’ shellfish consisting of two hinged sections e.g. scallop, clam, mussel or oyster

conchȳlium, -ī [2/n]: shellfish

testa, -ae [1/f]: various meanings including the shell of a shellfish

mȳtilus / mȳtulus / mutulus, -ī [2/m]: (edible) mussel

cancer, cancrī [2/m]: crab

lōcusta, -ae [1/f]: lobster

[12] ostrea, -ae [1/f]: oyster

[13] mūrex, mūricis [3/m]: a shellfish used as a source of the dye Tyrian purple; the purple-fish

18.07.24: level 1; bright white (and purple) politicians

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/06/180724-level-1-bright-white-politicians.html

[14] margarīta, -ae [1/f]: pearl

Classical Latin did not have a specific word for ‘seafood’ although Neo-Latin fructus, -ūs [4/m] maris (Ital. frutti di mare; Fr. fruits de mer) i.e. fruit(s) of the sea conveys the idea. Equally, a simple combination of two general words i.e. piscēs et conchȳlia maris would have the same meaning.

Most of the illustrations in Comenius’ work are generally accurate. It’s interesting, however, that the images of the fish are not, many of them naively drawn with distinct human facial features. But it’s 1658; it is highly probable that the illustrator had only ever heard of some of these, or had seen earlier and / or inconsistent representations. Moreover, that earlier illustrations exist (one of those posted below is from 1617 and reasonably accurate) does not mean that the illustrator had access to them. A good example of that are three contemporary reports of whales, two prior to Comenius and one – the most bizarre – afterwards.

And I couldn’t end without referring to the news report from 1645 which stated that, when the whale was opened: “there was found in the belly of it a Romiſh prieſt with Pardon for divers Papiſts in England and in Ireland”

They did write some garbage in the 17^th century – and they still do, don’t they? 

Mosaic of an octopus from the floor of the tepidarium in the Roman central baths, Herculaneum 

21.05.26: Level 3 (review); a Second Latin Reader (Vincent) [7]: the Route taken by the Helvetii

 Language focus: passive and deponent forms

Inde eae gentēs, eōdem consiliō ūsāe, omnia oppida et aedificia incendērunt atque cum Helvētiīs proficīscī cōnstituērunt. Erant duo itinera: ūnum per Sēquanōs, angustum et difficile, inter montem Iūram et flūmen Rhodanum; propter altitūdinem montis paucī multōs facile prohibēre poterant; alterum per prōvinciam nostram, multō facilius, quod inter fīnēs Helvētiōrum et Allobrogum, quī superātī erant, Rhodanus fluit, atque cōpiae nōnullīs locīs trādūcī possunt. Genāva est extrēmum oppidum Allobrogum et proximum fīnibus Helvētiōrum.

____________________

Then those peoples, having used the same plan, burned all their towns and buildings and decided to set out with the Helvetii. There were two routes: one through the Sequani, narrow and difficult, between Mount Jura and the river Rhône; because of the height of the mountain, a few men could easily prevent many; the other through our province, much easier, because between the territory of the Helvetii and that of the Allobroges, who had been defeated, the Rhône flows, and forces can be led across at several places. Geneva is the furthest town of the Allobroges and nearest to the borders of the Helvetii.

20.05.26: Level 2 (review); Carolus et Maria [27] [iv]: language focus and translation

“Antīquīs temporibus,” inquit pater, “mīlitēs circum iānuam stābant.”

“Cūr hoc fēcērunt?” rogat Carolus.

“Sīc eī rēgēs ā perīculō rapiēbant,” respondet pater. “Saepe rēgēs inimīcōs quī eōs etiam necāre audēbant habēbant. Saepe pictūrās in quibus erant pīla quae paucī ex mīlitibus portābant vīdī. Galeās et gladiōs quoque portābant. Haec erant arma splendida. Signa in quibus erant figūrae avium aut animālium portābantur. Tū exempla bona hōrum signōrum antīquōrum Rōmae vīdistī. Mīlitēs Rōmānī quoque signa in proeliīs portābant. Sīc in mediō proeliō mīlitēs loca sua nōscēbant.”Bottom of Form

Language focus: imperfect tense

audēbant

erant

habēbant

nōscēbant

portābant

portābantur

rapiēbant

stābant

Remember that the imperfect tense can convey:

[i] was / were doing something i.e. referring to a single action that was incomplete

[ii] a repeated action, often expressed in English with ‘used to (do)’ or ‘would (do)’; English may use a simple past tense in translation if the meaning is clear either from context or with the use of, for example, an adverb that indicates that the action was frequentative

[iii] a general situation at the time; background description

Note the following:

[i] Translation can vary, but be careful. The Latin imperfect can be used in situations where English makes a distinction that Latin does not, for example:

[1] John was walking down our street.

[2] John used to walk down our street.

Both of these would normally be expressed by the imperfect tense in Latin, but they do not mean the same thing in English.

The first suggests an action in progress at a particular moment, while the second suggests a habitual action over time.

When translating, you must decide which English form best fits the context, rather than assuming there is only one correct equivalent for the imperfect.

[ii] Saepe pictūrās in quibus erant pīla quae paucī ex mīlitibus portābant vīdī.

This would seem to contradict the previous information in that a repeated action is referred to, indicated by the adverb saepe (often). You would expect an imperfect tense, but Latin uses a perfect. However, compare the following two English sentences:

[1] I often used to go to my grandmother’s house.

[2] I have often bought bread from that shop.

[1] has no sense of ‘beginning or end’; it merely refers to an action that happened frequently

[2] does indicate repeated actions, but ones that were clearly completed

Saepe pictūrās … vīdī. │ I have often seen pictures.

In other words, a Roman writer distinguished between whether an action was ongoing / habitual, or as repeated but complete.

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/tenses%3A%20imperfect

____________________

“In ancient times,” says the father, “soldiers used to / would stand around the gate.”

“Why did they do this?” asks Carolus.

“In this way they were protecting the kings from danger,” replies the father. “Often kings had / used to have enemies who even dared / would even dare to kill them. I have often seen pictures in which there were javelins which a few of the soldiers were carrying. They were also carrying helmets and swords. These were splendid weapons. Standards on which were figures of birds or animals were carried. You’ve seen good examples of these ancient standards in Rome. Roman soldiers also carried / would carry / used to carry standards in battles. In this way, in the middle of a battle, soldiers knew their positions.”