31.10.26: Level 3+; P. Cornelius Lentulus: The Story Of A Roman Boy [5]

LXV. A DAY AT POMPEII

Apud forum ē currū dēscendērunt et Lentulus dīxit: “Hīc sunt multa tabernārum genera, mī Pūblī. Ecce, trāns viam est popīna! Hoc genus tabernārum cibāria vēndit. Frūctūs quoque ante iānuam stant. Ibi cibāria mea emam.”

“Optimē,” respondit Pūblius. “At ubi, mī pater, crūstula emere possumus? Namque māter nōbīs imperāvit ut haec quoque parārēmus. Timeō ut ista popīna vendat crūstula.”

“Bene dīcis,” inquit Lentulus. “At nōnne vidēs illum fontem ā dextrā ubi aqua per leōnis caput fluit? In illō ipsō locō est taberna pistōris quī sine dubiō vēndit crūstula.”

Brevi tempore omnia erant parāta, iamque quīnta hōra erat. Deinde Lentulus et fīlius ad caupōnam properāvērunt, quod famē et sitī urgēbantur. Ibi sub arboris umbrā sēdērunt et puerō imperāvērunt ut sibi cibum et vīnum daret. Huic imperiō puer celeriter pāruit. Tum laetī sē ex labōre refēcērunt.

Post prandium profectī sunt ut alia urbis spectācula vidērent. Illō tempore fuērunt Pompēiīs multa templa, duo theātra, thermae magnumque amphitheātrum, quae omnia post paucōs annōs flammīs atque incendiīs Vesuvī et terrae mōtū dēlēta sunt. Ante hanc calamitātem autem hominēs nihil dē monte veritī sunt. In amphitheātrō quidem Pūblius morārī cupīvit ut spectācula gladiātōria vidēret, quae in illum ipsum diem prōscrīpta erant et iam rē vērā incēperant.

Sed Lentulus dīxit: “Morārī, Pūblī, vereor ut possīmus. Iam decima hōra est et via est longa. Tempus suādet ut quam prīmum domum revertāmur.”

Itaque servō imperāvit ut equōs iungeret, et sōlis occāsū ad vīllam pervēnērunt.

Comprehension

Read the passage carefully. Decide whether each statement is true or false according to the text. If a statement is false, write in English what the true statement should be.

[i] Lentulus and Publius got down from their chariot near the forum.

[ii] According to Lentulus many different kinds of shops are found in this area.

[iii] The shop across the street sells clothing.

[iv] Fruit is displayed in front of the door.

[v] Publius’ mother has told them to buy cakes.

[vi] Publius is sure that the cook-shop across the street sells cakes.

[vii] There is fountain where water flows from a lion’s head.

[viii] The bakery is located a short walk from the fountain.

[ix] All their shopping was finished by the fifth hour.

[x] They went to the inn because they were hungry and thirsty.

[xi] They sat under the shade of a tree.

[xii] They ordered food and drink from the serving girl.

[xiii] After lunch, they left to see other sights of the city.

[xiv] Before the disaster, people were afraid of Mount Vesuvius.

[xv] Publius wanted to stay to watch the gladiatorial games.

[xvi] Lentulus thinks that they will be able to stay longer.

[xvii] Lentulus thinks they should go home later.

[xviii] Lentulus ordered the slave to yoke the horses.

[xix] They reached the villa before sunset.

____________________

Notes on the subjunctive

[i] purpose

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

Post prandium profectī sunt ut alia urbis spectācula vidērent.

• After lunch they set out in order to see other sights of the city.

In amphitheātrō quidem Pūblius morārī cupīvit ut spectācula gladiātōria vidēret.

• In the amphitheater, indeed, Publius wished to linger in order to see gladiatorial shows.

[ii] indirect command; where English uses an infinitive, Latin most often uses ut + subjunctive

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

Namque māter nōbīs imperāvit ut haec quoque parārēmus.

• For mother ordered us to prepare these things as well [literally: …that we should prepare …]

… et puerō imperāvērunt ut sibi cibum et vīnum daret.

• … and they ordered a boy to give them food and wine.

Tempus suādet ut quam prīmum domum revertāmur.

• Time urges us to return home as soon as possible.

Itaque servō imperāvit ut equōs iungeret.

• And so he ordered a slave to yoke the horses.

[iii] fear; verbs of fear ‘reverse’ the use of ut and nē:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/subjunctive%3A%20verbs%20of%20fearing

vereor / timeō + nē + subjunctive = I fear that something may happen

vereor / timeō + ut + subjunctive = I fear that something may not happen

• Timeō ut ista popīna vendat crūstula.

I’m afraid that that cook-shop may not sell cakes.

Morārī, Pūblī, vereor ut possīmus.

• Publius, I fear that we may not be able to linger.

____________________

[i] Lentulus and Publius got down from their chariot near the forum. (True)

Apud forum ē currū dēscendērunt.

[ii] According to Lentulus many different kinds of shops are found in this area. (True)

Hīc sunt multa tabernārum genera.

[iii] The shop across the street sells clothing. (False)

The shop across the street sells food. │ Hoc genus tabernārum cibāria vēndit

[iv] Fruit is displayed in front of the door. (True)

Frūctūs quoque ante iānuam stant

[v] Publius’ mother has told them to buy cakes. (True)

Māter nōbīs imperāvit ut haec quoque parārēmus

[vi] Publius is sure that the cook-shop across the street sells cakes. (False)

Publius is afraid that the cook-shop may not sell cakes. │ Timeō ut ista popīna vendat crūstula

[vii] There is fountain where water flows from a lion’s head. (True)

fontem … ubi aqua per leōnis caput fluit

[viii] The bakery is located a short walk from the fountain. (False)

The bakery is at the same place as the fountain. │ In illō ipsō locō est taberna pistōris.

[ix] All their shopping was finished by the fifth hour. (True)

Brevi tempore omnia erant parāta, iamque quīnta hōra erat.

[x] They went to the inn because they were hungry and thirsty. (True)

quod famē et sitī urgēbantur

[xi] They sat under the shade of a tree. (True)

Ibi sub arboris umbrā sēdērunt.

[xii] They ordered food and drink from the maidsevant. (False)

from the male servant / slave │ puerō imperāvērunt ut sibi cibum et vīnum daret.

[xiii] After lunch, they left to see other sights of the city. (True)

Post prandium profectī sunt ut alia urbis spectācula vidērent.

[xiv] Before the disaster, people were afraid of Mount Vesuvius. (False)

Before the disaster, people were not afraid of Mount Vesuvius. │ [ii] hominēs nihil dē monte veritī sunt

[xv] Publius wanted to stay to watch the gladiatorial games. (True)

Pūblius morārī cupīvit ut spectācula gladiātōria vidēret

[xvi] Lentulus thinks that they will be able to stay longer. (False)

Lentulus is afraid that they may not be able to stay longer. │ Morārī, Pūblī, vereor ut possīmus

[xvii] Lentulus thinks they should go home later. (False)

Lentulus thinks they should return home as soon as possible. │ Tempus suādet ut quam prīmum domum revertāmur

[xviii] Lentulus orders the slave to yoke the horses. (True)

Servō imperāvit ut equōs iungeret

[xix] They reached the villa before sunset. (False)

They reached the villa at sunset │ sōlis occāsū ad vīllam pervēnērunt

30.10.26: topic; architecture [13]; describing a modern house (Traupman); dialogue (1)

A standard UK GCSE examination (for 16-year-olds) in, for example, French would explore this topic by asking the candidate to say:

[1] whether (s)he lives in, for example, a house or an apartment;

[2] how many rooms – or specifically named rooms – there are e.g. the number of bedrooms;

[3] where rooms are located either on which floor or in relation to each other;

[4] what items of furniture or equipment are in particular rooms; 3 or 4 items would be expected; the kitchen is often questioned because it has less common vocabulary (e.g. cooker, fridge etc);

[5] what activities take place in a particular room.

It is perfectly possible to do this in Latin. By applying that suggested structure, you can practise speaking the language, and talking about your own surroundings while reinforcing vocabulary and grammar.

For the most part, Classical Latin has the vocabulary required although there are a few instances where Neo-Latin is needed. However, different sources may use different words for the same modern concept, and this is referred to in the vocabulary lists. I find certain Neo-Latin words dubious, but where the word is rooted in the original CL idea – and its use can be justified – I have included it and given an explanation.

[1]

A: Gloria, potesne venire domum meam? | Gloria, can you come to my house?

B: Quid poterimus facere ibi? | What can we do there?

A: Poterimus librōs legere in cubiculō meō. | We can read books in my bedroom.

B: Benignē. Ego multōs librōs domī habeō. | No, thank you. I have many books at home

A: Fortasse poterimus coquere crūstula in culīnā nostrā. | Maybe we can bake cookies in our kitchen

B: Benignē. Ego saepe coquō crūstula in culīnā meā. | No, thank you. I often bake cookies in my kitchen.

A: Recēns ego comparāvī novum catulum. Vīsne lūdere cum meō novō catulō in peristyliō nostrō? | Recently I got a new puppy. Do you want to play with my new puppy in our courtyard?

B: Ō, ego prōrsus adorō catulōs! Eāmus illūc curriculō! | Oh, I absolutely adore puppies! Let’s go there on the double!

[2] Answer the questions:

[i] Ubi cum cane ludis?

[ii] Ubi dēambulās?

[iii] Ubi dentēs pūrgās?

[iv] Ubi dormīs?

[v] Ubi ientāculum sumis?

[vi] Ubi librōs legis?

[vii] Ubi mūsicam audīs?

[viii] Ubi prandium sumis?

[ix] Ubi tē lavās?

[x] Ubi vestīmenta mutās?

29.10.26: Level 1-2 (review): Julia (a Latin Reader) [3]

RŌMA

Ōlim Rōmānī oppidum parvum habitābant. Nunc magna et splendida est Rōma; magnae et lātae sunt oppidī viae. In angulīs viārum rōsae sunt; Rōmānī templīs et monumentīs viās ōrnant.

Ōlim in Forō Rōmānō templa multa et splendida erant. Cottīdiē virī Rōmānī in Forō ambulābant. Albae erant togae virōrum, sed rubrae et caeruleae et croceae erant pallae fēminārum. Ārae quoque in Forō erant. In ārīs Rōmānī victimās multās Deīs Rōmānīs mactābant.

Nōn iam templa sunt in Forō Rōmānō. Nōn iam mactant Rōmānī victimās in ārīs. Sed etiam nunc pulchrum est Forum Rōmānum. Multae sunt ruīnae; rosae multae inter ruīnās sunt. Inter ruīnās et rosās lacertae parvae properant. Pulchrae et iūcundae sunt lacertae. Cicādae quoque undique cantant. Lacertīs et cicādīs grātum est caelum caeruleum.

[1]

fēmina, -ae [1/f]: woman

Forum Rōmānum, -ī [2/n]: Roman Forum

lacerta, -ae [1/f]: lizard

monumentum, -ī [2/n]: monument

palla, -ae [1/f]: cloak

ruīna, -ae [1/f]: ruin

toga, -ae [1/f]: toga

victima, -ae [1/f]: sacrificial victim

[2]

croceus, -a, -um: saffron-colored

lātus, -a, -um: wide

iūcundus, -a, -um: pleasant

[3]

cantō, cantāre [1]: sing

mactō, mactāre [1]: sacrifice

[4]

inter (+ acc.): among, between

undique: everywhere

ōlim: once, formerly

___________________

Once the Romans lived in a small town. Now Rome is great and splendid; the streets of the town are wide and large. In the corners of the streets there are roses; the Romans adorn the streets with temples and monuments.

Once in the Roman Forum there were many splendid temples. Every day Roman men walked in the Forum. The togas of the men were white, but the cloaks of the women were red, blue, and saffron. There were also altars in the Forum. On the altars the Romans sacrificed many victims to the Roman gods.

Now there are no longer temples in the Roman Forum. The Romans no longer sacrifice victims on the altars. But even now the Roman Forum is beautiful. There are many ruins; many roses are among the ruins. Among the ruins and roses small lizards hurry. The lizards are beautiful and pleasant. Cicadas also sing everywhere. The blue sky is pleasing to the lizards and cicadas.

28.11.26: Level 1 (review); Questions [13] – [18]