31.12.26: Vincent and the Headache (2) step-by-step; focussing on key points (level 1)

From the previous post:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2026/06/210626-vincent-and-headache-1-step-by.html

“It isn’t a question of what matters; in a sense, all of it matters. What is important is to identify the ‘building bricks’ that come first.”

Here, I have focussed on words, phrases and concepts that would normally occur in the early stages together with literal translations of certain expressions.

Caput multum dolet

• I have a bad headache [literally: the head is hurting a lot]

sed in silvā [i] iterum [ii] nihilōminus [iii] ambulō

• but, [i] again, [ii] nevertheless, [iii] I’m walking in the forest / woods

[i] quia [ii] sciō ambulātiōnem mihi prōdesse

• [i] because [ii] I know that walking benefits me [literally: I know walking to be of benefit to me]

et mē adiuvāre

• and helps me [literally: (I know walking) … to be helping me]

ad dolōrem leniēndum.

• to relieve the pain.

[i] Praetereā [ii] oportet mē [iii] cotīdiē cum Roccō, cane meō, [iv] ambulāre.

[note the difference in the Latin and English word order]

• [i] Besides, [ii] I have [iv] to walk [iii] every day with Rocco, my dog.

Ergō hoc prōdest et mihi et eī.

• Therefore, this is of benefit both to me and to him.

Solēbam legere  |  

• I was in the habit of reading

[i] simul [ii] dum ambulō ¦ sub dīvō

[i] at the same time [ii] while I am walking ¦ in the open air [literally: under the sky; dīvum, -ī (2/n): sky]

sed [i] hodiē hoc [ii] nōn faciō

• but [i] today [ii] I’m not doing this

[i] quia, [ii] utī dīxī, caput dolet

• [i] because, [ii] as I said, I have a headache

et ergō difficilius est animum intendere.

• and, therefore, it is more difficult to concentrate [literally: to focus the mind]

Difficilius est incumbere studiīs ¦ eōdem tempore.

• It is more difficult to apply oneself / pay attention to studies ¦ at the same time.

Ergō hodiē oportet fruī serēnitāte.

• Therefore, today, I need to enjoy the peacefulness [serenitās, -tātis (3/f): peacefulness; serenity; the word can also mean fine weather]

Et hoc satis erit.

• And this will be enough.

Level 1:

(1) Not everything in Latin changes!

[a] adverbs: these are ‘stand alone’ words which are indeclinable

cotīdiē: every day

ergō: therefore

hodiē: today

iterum: again [Engl. derivative: reiterate]

multum: a lot

nihilōminus: nevertheless

praetereā: besides

simul: at the same time [Engl. deriv: simultaneous(ly)]

Note: an adverb may not be a single word, but a phrase that expresses an adverbial idea e.g. where, when or how something is done:

eōdem tempore: at the same time; that comprises two declined words but, in the early stages, just learn it as a phrase

[b] satis: enough; there are times when this word changes, but you’ll see it the most often in this form, and that should be satisfactory for now

[c] conjunctions

et … et …: both … and …

dum: while

quia: because

ut: as; ut dīxī | as I said

(2) key verbs: look for the ‘clues’

faciō: I do / am doing

sciō: I know

ambulō: I walk / am walking

ambulāre: to walk

adiuvāre: to help

legere: to read

(2) From this text, I’ve extracted 20 key words and ideas:

adiuvāre; ambulāre; ambulō; cotīdiē; dum; ergō; eōdem tempore; et … et …; faciō; hodiē; iterum; legere; multum; nihilōminus; praetereā; quia; satis; sciō; simul; ut

The vocabulary at level 1 won’t go away: you’ll see those words iterum iterumque (again and again)!

(3) From this video we can extract one topic that is easy to express in Latin and which covers a key area of vocabulary, namely parts of the body. That will be discussed in the next post.

30.12.26: Level 4; literature; Vulgate [8]: The Death of Jesus [3]; Mark 15: 33 – 39

[33] et factā hōrā sextā tenebrae factae sunt per tōtam terram usque in hōram nōnam

• And at the sixth hour [literally: with the sixth hour having happened / been made; ablative absolute], there was darkness over the whole earth until the ninth hour.

[34] et hōrā nōnā exclāmāvit Iēsus vōce magnā dīcēns Eloi Eloi lama sabachthanī quod est interpretātum: Deus meus Deus meus ut quid dērelīquistī mē

• And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying: Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? Which is interpreted [as]: My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani; the words – from Psalm 22.1 – are delivered in Aramaic, which was most likely Jesus’ native language.

[35] et quīdam dē circumstantibus audientēs dīcēbant ecce Heliam vocat

• And some of those [who were] standing by, hearing [it], said: Look! He is calling Elijah.

[36] currēns autem ūnus et implēns spongiam acētō circumpōnēnsque calamō pōtum dabat eī dīcēns: sinite videāmus sī veniat Heliās ad dēpōnendum eum

• And one [person] running and filling a sponge with vinegar and putting it upon a reed, gave it to him to drink, saying: Leave him alone, let us see if Elijah will (may) come to take him down.

[i]  The use of participles – especially present active participles – contributes greatly to the narrative flow. All of them have been highlighted in all the extracts from the Vulgate, but line [36] is a very good example, depicting four events that take place in rapid succession or almost simultaneously. This is, of course, not exclusive to the Vulgate; Tacitus, for example, makes extensive usage of participles for the same purpose.

[ii]

(1) videāmus … | let us see …; subjunctive [hortative]

(2) sī veniat Heliās … | if / whether Elijah will (may) come

An indirect question i.e. ‘if’ in the sense of ‘whether (or not)’ is normally not introduced by sī, but there are occasional examples:

Vīsam ¦ sī domī est (Terence) | I will go see ¦ if he is at home.

CL uses sī to introduce a conditional clause, whereas an indirect question such as this would normally be introduced by utrum (whether).

12.07.26; Level 3+; Subjunctive [69] dependent uses [6] indirect questions (6); utrum … an …

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2026/02/120726-level-3-subjunctive-69-dependent.html

This usage with sī becomes common only in post-Classical / Late Latin.

[37] Iēsus autem ēmissā vōce magnā exspīrāvit

• And Jesus, having cried out with a loud voice [literally: with a great / loud voice having been let out; ablative absolute], breathed his last / expired.

[38] et vēlum templī scissum est in duo ā sūrsum usque deorsum

• And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from the top to the bottom.

[39] vidēns autem centuriō quī ex adversō stābat quia sīc clāmāns exspīrāsset ait: vērē hic homō Fīlius Deī erat

• And the centurion who stood over against him, seeing that, [while] crying out in this manner, he had breathed his last, said: Indeed this man was the son of God.

[i] vidēns … quia … | seeing … that …; the use of quod and quia to introduce an indirect statement is, apart from very specific circumstances, not a feature of CL

17.02.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [24]: use of quod

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/170226-level-3-indirect-statement.html

[ii] exspīrāsset: an example of a syncopated or contracted verb form which refers to the omission of one or more sounds from a verb. This is not a random feature but commonly occurs with past tense verb forms where /v/ or /vi/ is part of the ending:

petīvērunt > petiērunt

Here: exspīrāvisset > exspīrāsset

[iii] the use of the subjunctive here aligns closely with its use in causal clauses i.e. what the soldier saw is being reported unlike other verbal statements earlier in the account which are presented as direct speech.

23.08.26; Level 3+; Subjunctive [90] dependent uses [15] reported / indirect reason: quod and quia

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2026/03/230826-level-3-subjunctive-90-dependent.html

29.12.26: Level 3+ (review); Dooge LXXV [5] vocabulary

Match the Latin and English:

29.12.26: Level 3+ (review); Dooge LXXV [4] comprehension (3)

Item Caesar, animō ad dīmicandum parātus, exercitum suum ēdūxit et septem cohortibus praesidiō castrīs relictīs cōpiās triplicī aciē īnstrūxit. Tum, mīlitibus studiō pugnae ārdentibus, tubā signum dedit. Mīlitēs prōcurrērunt et pīlīs missīs gladiōs strīnxērunt. Neque vērō virtūs hostibus dēfuit. Nam et tēla missa sustinuērunt et impetum gladiōrum excēpērunt et ōrdinēs cōnservāvērunt. Utrimque diū et ācriter pugnātum est nec quisquam pedem rettulit. Tum equitēs Pompēī aciem Caesaris circumīre cōnātī sunt. Quod ubi Caesar animadvertit, tertiam aciem, quae ad id tempus quiēta fuerat, prōcurrere iussit. Tum vērō integrōrum impetum dēfessī hostēs sustinēre nōn potuērunt et omnēs terga vertērunt. Sed Pompēius dē fortūnīs suīs dēspērāns sē in castra equō contulit, inde mox cum paucīs equitibus effūgit.

• integer, -ra, -rum: (here) ‘fresh’ but referring to troops that are uninjured, healthy, not tired

[1] “Item Caesar… dedit.”

[i] What was the purpose of the seven cohorts left behind? (1)

[ii] To what does the phrase aciē triplicī refer? (1)

[iii] Quote and translate the phrase that emphasises the soldiers’ eagerness to fight. (2)

[2] “Mīlitēs … rettulit.”

In which order do the following actions take place?

javelins thrown _____

not giving ground _____

forward charge _____

keeping rank _____

swords drawn _____

[3] “Tum equitēs … effūgit.”

[i] What did Caesar notice? (2)

[ii] What order did he give and to whom? (1)

[iii] Why did the enemy ‘turn their backs’ i.e. flee? (2)

[iv] How does the last sentence convey Pompey’s utter defeat? Give your own opinion with reference to the text. (4)

____________________

[1]

[i] to guard the camp

[ii] a type of military formation

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/05/160424-acies-triplex.html

[iii] mīlitibus studiō pugnae ārdentibus | with the soldiers burning with eagerness to fight

[2]

javelins thrown [2]

not giving ground [5]

forward charge [1]

keeping rank [4]

swords drawn [3]

[3]

[i] Pompey’s cavalry had tried to surround (1) Caesar’s battle line (2)

[ii] he ordered the third line to charge

[iii] the enemy were exhausted (1); could not withstand the attack of fresh troops (1)

[iv]

Suggested answer: the sentence implies a loss of confidence and retreat / abandonment (or loss of control) of the majority of his troops / acceptance of his fate (any one) (1)

he despaired of his fortunes (1); rode back to camp (1); soon fled with a few cavalary (1)

29.12.26: Level 3+ (review); Dooge LXXV [3] comprehension (2)

CIVIL WAR BREAKS OUT BETWEEN CÆSAR AND POMPEY; THE BATTLE OF PHARSALIA [2]

Plūribus leviōribus proeliīs factīs, tandem cōpiae adversae ad Pharsālum in Thessaliā sitam castra posuērunt. Cum Pompeī exercitus esset bis tantus quantus Caesaris, tamen erant multī quī veterānās legiōnēs quae Gallōs et Germānōs superāverant vehementer timēbant. Quōs ante proelium commissum Labiēnus lēgātus, quī ab Caesare nūper dēfēcerat, ita adlocūtus est: “Nōlīte exīstimāre hunc esse exercitum veterānōrum mīlitum. Omnibus interfuī proeliīs neque temerē incognitam rem prōnūntiō. Perexigua pars illīus exercitūs quī Gallōs superāvit adhūc superest. Magna pars occīsa est, multī domum discessērunt, multī sunt relictī in Italiā. Hae cōpiae quās vidētis in citeriōre Galliā nūper cōnscrīptae sunt.” Haec cum dīxisset, iūrāvit sē nisi victōrem in castra nōn reversūrum esse. Hoc idem Pompēius et omnēs reliquī iūrāvērunt, et magnā spē et laetitiā, sīcut certam ad victōriam, cōpiae ē castrīs exiērunt.

• tantus … quantus …: as big … as … 
• perexiguus, -a, -um: very small

[1] “Plūribus … timēbant.”

[i] What had happened prior to both sides pitching camp? (1)

[ii] How did the armies of Caesar and Pompey compare in size? Read carefully. (1)

[iii] Why was Caesar’s army feared? (2)

[2] “Quōs ante … cōnscrīptae sunt.”

[i] Why did Labenus know about Caesar’s army? (2)

[ii] Quote and translate the statement Labienus made to emphasise his knowledge. (2)

[iii] What information did Labienus give concerning the current condition of Caesar’s army? (6)

[3] “Haec cum dīxisset … ē castrīs exiērunt.”

[i] What did Labienus swear? (1)

[ii] How did Pompey and the rest of the men respond? (1)

[iii] What was the mood of the troops when they went out of the camp? (3)

____________________

[1]

[i] several lighter engagements had been fought

[ii] Pompey’s army was twice as big as Caesar’s (Cum Pompeī exercitus esset bis tantus quantus Caesaris …)

[iii] the army comprised veteran legions (1) that had defeated the Gauls and the Germans (1)

[2]

[i] He had recently defected from Caesar (Caesar’s army) (1); he had been involved in all the battles (1).

[ii] … neque temerē incognitam rem prōnūntiō | … and I do not rashly pronounce on a matter I do not know.

[iii]

a very small part ¦ which defeated the Gauls (1) ¦ still survived (1)

a large part had been killed (1)

many had gone home (1)

many left behind in Italy (1)

forces in Cisalpine Gaul had been recently levied (were recent conscripts) (1)

[3]

[i] He would not return to the camp unless he was victorious.

[ii] They swore the same.

[iii] very hopeful (1); happy (1); as if certain of victory (1)

28.12.26: Level 2 (review); Carolus et Maria [37] (1)

[1] Paucīs ante diēbus vir ad casam nautae pervēnit. Ubi Iūlia eum nōn esse validum, sed dēfessum aegrumque cognōvit, virum in casam invītāvit. Diū vir maestus silēbat. Maria eī cibum atque aquam dedit. Post quiētem longam vir fābulam dē vītā suā nārrāvit:

The following sentences each contain two wrong pieces of information. Rewrite them.

[i] The sailor reached the man’s cottage a few days later. (2)

[ii] He learned that Julia was strong, but hungry and sick. (2)

[iii] The man invited Julia into the cottage, and he was gloomy and silent all day. (2)

[iv] Julia was given bread and water by Maria. (2)

[v] After a brief silence the man read out a letter about this life. (2)

[2]

[a] Quamquam nunc exsul sum, ōlim, tamen, laetus in patriā meā habitābam.

[b] Semper parātus eram salūtem patriae atque rēgem dēfendere.

[c] Septem annōs in exercitū rēgis eram explōrātor.

[d] Explōrātor ante exercitum it et viās cognōscit.

[e] Per explōrātōrēs imperātor locum hostium cognōscit.

[f] Nihil timēbam, nōn etiam hostēs fortissimōs.

[g] Quīdam ex cīvibus, autem, erant inimīcī rēgis.

[h] ‘Līberī esse cupimus,’ inquiunt.

[i] ‘Sine rēge regēmus.

[j] Sī sapiēns eris nōbīscum veniēs et cōpiās rēgis repellēmus.

[k] Exercitus noster victōriam habēbit.

[l] Hōc modō līberī esse poterimus.

[m] Victōria nostra per omnēs terrās erit nōta.’

In which sentence(s) [a] – [m] are the following referred to? Sometimes more than one letter will apply to each statement.

a famous victory _____

being free _____

being wise _____

defending the country _____

enemies of the king _____

ensuring the king’s safety _____

fearlessness _____

length of military service _____

repelling the king’s troops _____

ruling without a king _____

specific details about his duties _____

suggestion that he acompanies them _____

used to be happy _____

____________________

[1]

[i] The man reached the sailor’s cottage (1) a few days earlier / before (1).

[ii] Julia learned that he was not strong (1), but tired  (1) and sick (1).

[iii] Julia invited the man (1) into the cottage, and he was gloomy and silent for a long time (1).

[iv] Maria gave him (1) food (1) and water.

[v] After a long silence (1) the man told the story (1) about his life.

[2]

a famous victory [m]

being free [h], [l]

being wise [j]

defending the country [b]

enemies of the king [g]

ensuring the king’s safety [b]

fearlessness [f]

length of military service [c]

repelling the king’s troops [j]

ruling without a king [i]

specific details about his duties [d], [e]

suggestion that he accompanies them [j]

used to be happy [a]

27.12.26: Level 1-2 (review): Julia (a Latin Reader) [8] (3)

BACCHUS ET PĪRĀTAE (3)

Ubi autem Bacchus ē somnō sē excitāvit, et undās caeruleās undique vīdit, tum nec īrātus nec perterritus, "Nōn ego," inquit, "stultōs ignāvōsque timeō; mox tamen pīrātae nūmen meum vidēbunt et vehementer timēbunt."

Tum ē mediā nāve vītis flōrēbat et in altum ascendēbat. Ē vīte rāmī, ē rāmīs pampinī flōrēbant, et dē summīs rāmīs ūvae purpureae pendēbant. Nōn iam candida erant vēla, sed lūce purpureā fulgēbant.

Ubi nautae vītem mīram in mediā nāve vīdērunt, tum magnō timōre deum spectāvērunt; capillī in capitibus horruērunt. Subitō ex undīs tigrēs leōnēsque saevī in nāvem ascendērunt et in nautās perterritōs cucurrērunt. Pīrātae, terrōris plēnī, ē nāve in mare sē prōstrāvērunt. Deinde Iuppiter propter misericordiam hominēs in delphīnōs convertit.

Intereā Neptūnus vēla purpurea ventīs secundīs implēvit, et sōlus sub vītium umbrā Bacchus ad terrās longinquās nāvigāvit.

[i]

delphīn, -inis [3/m]: dolphin

ego: I

leō, leōnis [3/m]: lion

lūx, lūcis [3/f]: light

misericordia, -ae [1/f]: pity

Neptūnus, -ī [2/m]: Neptune, god of the sea

rāmus, -ī [2/m]: branch

terror, -ōris [3/m]: terror

tigris, -is [3 m/f]: tiger

vēlum, -ī [2/n]: sail

[ii]

ascendō, -ere [3]: climb

convertō, -ere [3]: turn, change

currō, -ere [3]: run

impleō, -ēre [2]: fill

pendeō, -ēre [2]: hang

[iii]

candidus, -a, -um: white

secundus, -a, -um: favourable

____________________

But when Bacchus roused himself from sleep and saw the blue waves on every side, he was neither angry nor afraid. “I,” he said, “do not fear foolish and cowardly men; soon, however, the pirates will see my divine power and will be greatly afraid.”

Then from the middle of the ship a vine began to grow and climbed high. From the vine branches spread, from the branches vine-leaves grew, and from the topmost branches purple grapes were hanging. The sails were no longer white, but were gleaming with a purple light.

When the sailors saw the strange vine in the middle of the ship, then with great fear they looked at the god; their hair stood on end. Suddenly from the waves savage tigers and lions climbed onto the ship and ran at the terrified sailors. The pirates, full of terror, threw themselves from the ship into the sea. Then Jupiter, out of pity, changed the men into dolphins.

Meanwhile Neptune filled the purple sails with favourable winds, and Bacchus, alone beneath the shade of the vine, sailed on to distant lands.

26.12.26: Vincent and the Headache (1) step-by-step; transcript; translation

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1032251739737881

Step-by-step!

Vincent’s video, which is less than a minute, is crammed with useful language.

There is nothing here – absolutely nothing – that is not of great value in learning Latin. As I wrote the transcript, I did not see a single word or phrase that is uncommon.

The challenge – especially if [a] you’re a beginner, and [b] you’re working alone – is cognitive overload, i.e. the amount of information anybody can absorb at one time.

It isn’t a question of what matters; in a sense, all of it matters. What is important is to identify the ‘building bricks’ that come first.

In this first post, we’ll begin by looking at ‘the big picture’ – all of it with a translation and no notes – so you can see exactly what you’re dealing with.

For some learners, that can be enough; they’re happy to see it all and work out for themselves what is going on.

For others – with every justification – this may be too much, and that can be off-putting. A translation can help, but it does not examine how the language is working, why words and phrases are translated in certain ways, and which points come first in the gradual approach to learning the language.

Therefore, in the next post, we will take a second look at the transcript and highlight and explain what would be expected to be known at the beginners’ level.

Caput multum dolet | I have a bad headache

sed in silvā iterum nihilōminus ambulō | but, again, nevertheless, I’m walking in the forest / woods

quia sciō ambulātiōnem mihi prōdesse | because I know that walking benefits me

et mē adiuvāre | and helps me

ad dolōrem leniēndum. | to relieve the pain.

Praetereā oportet mē cotīdiē cum Roccō, cane meō, ambulāre. | Besides, I have to walk every day with Rocco, my dog.

Ergō hoc prōdest et mihi et eī. | Therefore, this is of benefit both to me and to him.

Solēbam legere | I was in the habit of reading

simul dum ambulō  sub dīvō | at the same time while I am walking in the open air

sed hodiē hoc nōn faciō | but today I’m not doing this

quia, ut dīxī, caput dolet | because, as I said, I have a headache

et ergō difficilius est animum intendere. | and, therefore, it is more difficult to concentrate.

Difficilius est incumbere studiīs eōdem tempore. | It is more difficult to apply oneself to studies at the same time.

Ergō hodiē oportet fruī serēnitāte. | Therefore, today I need to enjoy the peacefulness.

Et hoc satis erit. | And this will be enough.