18.07.26: Level 3 (review); a Second Latin Reader (Vincent) [19]: A Roman Victory near Bibracte

Language focus: ablative absolute

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/ablative%20absolute

Equitātū contrā hostēs missō Caesar suās cōpiās in proximum collem subdūxit. Intereā ipse in colle mediō aciem instrūxit legiōnum quattuor veterānārum; sed in summō iugō duās legiōnēs collocārī atque tōtum montem hominibus complērī iussit. Inde diū et ācriter est pugnātum. Tandem spē amissā hostēs, qui impetum nostrōrum sustinēre nōn poterant, sē fugae mandābant. Orgetorigis fīlia atque ūnus ē fīliīs est captus. Quartō diē Helvētiī in fīnēs Lingonum pervēnērunt atque legātōs ad Caesarem dē pāce mīsērunt.

____________________

After the cavalry had been sent against the enemy, Caesar led his forces up onto the nearest hill. Meanwhile he himself drew up the battle line halfway up the hill with four veteran legions; but on the summit ridge he ordered two legions to be posted and the entire mountain to be filled with men. Then the fighting went on for a long time and fiercely. At last, with hope (having been) lost, the enemy, who were unable to withstand the attack of our men, committed themselves to flight. Orgetorix’s daughter and one of his sons were captured. On the fourth day the Helvetii reached the territory of the Lingones and sent envoys to Caesar to negotiate peace.

15.07.26: Level 3 (review); a Second Latin Reader (Vincent) [18]: Battle avoided by the Romans

Language focus: ablative absolute

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/ablative%20absolute

Primā lūce Considius montem ab hostibus tenērī nuntiāvit. Quibus rēbus nuntiātīs Caesar proelium eō tempore committere nōlēbat: suās cōpiās in proximum collem subdūxit, aciem instrūxit. Inde hostēs secūtus tria milia passuum ab eōrum castrīs castra pōnit. Posterō diē consiliō mūtātō, quod frūmentum colligere voluit, iter ab Helvētiīs avertit atque Bibracte īre contendit. Ea rēs per fugitīvōs hostibus nuntiāta est. Helvētiī Rōmānōs terrērī arbitrātī impetūs in nostrōs ā tergō facere coepērunt.

____________________

At first light Considius reported that the mountain was being held by the enemy. When these things had been reported, Caesar was unwilling to join battle at that time; he led his forces onto the nearest hill and drew up his line of battle. From there, having followed the enemy, he pitches camp three miles from their camp. On the following day, after his plan had been changed, because he wished to collect grain, he turned his march away from the Helvetii and pushed on to Bibracte. This fact was reported to the enemy through deserters. The Helvetii, thinking [literally: having judged] that the Romans were frightened, began to make attacks on our men from the rear.

12.07.26: Level 3 (review); a Second Latin Reader (Vincent) [17]: Preparations for Battle

Language focus: ablative absolute

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/ablative%20absolute

His rēbus factīs eōdem diē Caesar ab explōrātōribus cognōvit hostēs sub monte consēdisse octō milia passuum ab ipsīus castrīs. Hāc rē nuntiātā Caesar impetum contrā hostēs facere cōnstituit. Dē tertiā vigilīā T. Labiēnum lēgātum cum duābus legiōnibus montem ascendere iubet. Ipse dē quārtā vigilīā ad eōs profectus equitātum ante sē mittit. Quibus rēbus factīs P. Considius, qui et in exercitū L. Sullae et posteā in M. Crassī fuerat, cum explōrātōribus praemittitur.

____________________

When / after these things had been done [literally: with these things having been done], on the same day Caesar learned from scouts that the enemy had taken up a position under the mountain, eight miles from his own camp. When this had been reported, Caesar decided to make an attack against the enemy. At the third watch he orders the lieutenant Titus Labienus to ascend the mountain with two legions. He himself, having set out at the fourth watch towards them, sends the cavalry ahead of him. When these things had been done, Publius Considius, who had served both in the army of Lucius Sulla and later in that of Marcus Crassus, is sent ahead with the scouts.

13.07.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [17]: review

1. Portā apertā mīlitēs in vīllam iērunt.
2. Quandō ad oppidum miserum ībitis, nūllō ibi vīvente?
3. Igne fortī dormiunt.
4. Incolīs īnsulae sagittīs interfectīs, est nēmō, quī animālia servāre potest.
5. Eius  nōmine  malō,  nēmō  quidquam  eī dīcit. 
6. Ovibus rūrī stantibus, nūbēs nigrae caelum implēvērunt.
7. Nostrā patriā pulchrā, multī virī hūc venīre volunt.
8. Crūdēlibus īnsidiīs imperātīs, legiō nōluit manēre apud inimīcōs.
9. Odōre sanguinis sēnsō, parentēs hortum nōn relinquunt.
10. Cyclōpe in spēluncā dormiente, captīvī cōnsilium cēperunt.
11. Omnibus hospitibus vīnum bibentibus, fūrēs pecūniam auferunt.
12. Mercātōre domum redeunte stēllae splendent.

____________________

1. Since the gate was opened, the soldiers came into the country house.
2. When will you (pl.) go to that wretched town, although no one lives there?
3. While the fire is strong, they sleep.
4. Because the inhabitants of the island were killed by arrows, there is no one who can save the animals.
5. His name being bad, no one says anything to him.
6. While the sheep were standing in the countryside, black clouds filled the sky.
7. Because our fatherland is beautiful, many men want to come here.
8. A cruel ambush having been commanded, the legion did not want to remain near the enemies.
9. Although the smell of blood is sensed, the parents do not leave the garden.
10. While the Cyclops was sleeping in the cave, the captives made a plan.
11. While all the guests are drinking wine, the thieves take away the money.
12. As the merchant is returning home, the stars are shining.

10.07.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [16]: practice (5)

Translate into English:

1. Claudiō et Aemiliō praetōribus, nūllī latrōnēs damnātī sunt.
2. Tarquiniō rēge Rōmānī Cloācam Maximam cōnstrūxērunt.
3. Boudiccā rēgīnā Britannī Camulodūnum expīlāvērunt.
4. Fīlō ductōre Thēseus ē labyrinthō effūgit.
5. Tempestāte grave, nāvis ad īnsulam portāta est.
6. Saxīs nōn parvīs, moenia hodiē aedificantur.
7. Tempore brevī, in pāce vīvere dēbētis.
8. Nūllā lūce in carcere, nēminem vidēre poterit.

expīlō, -āre, -āvī [1]: plunder

ductor, ductōris [3/m]: (here) guide

fīlum, -ī [2/n]: thread

____________________

1. When Claudius and Aemilius were praetors no robbers were convicted.
2. When Tarquin was king the Romans constructed the Cloaca Maxima (Great Sewer).
3. With Boudicca as queen the Britons sacked Colchester.
4. With a thread as his guide Theseus escaped from the labyrinth,
5. Since the storm was serious, the ship was carried to the island.
6. Because the rocks are not small, a rampart is being built today.
7. Since time is short, you (pl.) ought to live in peace.
8. Since there is no light [there being no light] in the prison s/he will be able to see no one.

07.07.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [15]: noun + noun; consular dating

In Rome two consuls were elected each year, serving together, each with veto power over the other's actions. Roman years were customarily denoted according to the names of the two consuls who held office that year, which is not an immediate answer to a modern reader. The names of holders of the post and the post itself are expressed using the ablative absoute:

[i] C. Asiniō C. Antistiō (nouns) [ii] cōnsulibus (nouns) ¦ nōnus Tiberiō annus erat compositae reī pūblicae, flōrentis domūs … (Tacitus: Annālēs 4.1)

Literally: [i] (with) C. Asinius and (with) C. Antisitius ¦ [ii] (being) consuls …

> When / while C. Asinius and C. Antistius were consuls ¦ it was for Tiberius the ninth year of an orderly state and flourishing household …

Here Tacitus pays no more than lip-service to consular dating by employing the ablative absolute construction to detach the consular year from the main action thereby underlining the limitation of the consuls’ role; there is juxtaposition with nōnus Tiberiō annus i.e. the ninth year was already in progress (began the previous August) but the consuls were not in any way the cause of the positive conditions of the reign of Tiberius.

Some examples include both the names of the consuls and the number of years since the founding of the city (ab urbe conditā) traditionally considered as 753BC:

C. Fabiō et L. Virgīniō cōnsulibus │ During the consulship of Gaius Fabius and Lucius Virginius [ablative absolute: literally with GF and LV being consuls i.e. while they were the consuls]

L. Genuciō et Q. Servīliō cōnsulibus mortuus est Camillus. │ Camillus died during the consulship of Lucius Genucius and Quintus Servilius

[i] M. Tulliō Cicerōne ōrātōre et C. Antōniō cōnsulibus, ¦ [ii] annō ab urbe conditā sexcentēsimō nōnāgēsimō primō … │[i] During the consulship of Marcus Tullius Cicero, the orator and Gaius Antonius ¦ [ii] in the 691^st year from the founding of the city

[i] C. Fabiō Liciniō C. Claudiō Canīnā cōnsulibus ¦  [ii] annō urbis conditae quadringentēsimō sexāgēsimō prīmō ¦ lēgātī Alexandrīnī ā Ptolemaeō missī Rōmam vēnēre et ā Rōmānīs amīcitiam quam petierant obtinuērunt. │ [i] During the consulship of Gaius Fabius Licinius and Gaius Claudius Canina ¦ [ii]  in the 461^st year of the founding of the city ¦ ambassadors from Alexandria sent by Ptolemy came to Rome and obtained the friendship that they had sought.

07.07.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [14]: noun + noun; noun + adjective: formation

As with the nouns plus the participles, the construction with noun + noun or noun + adjective is exactly the same i.e. take the two words and transfer both of them into the ablative case:

• with [1] Caesar ¦ [2] being leader

Begin with the nominative singular:

[1] Caesar [2] leader

> [1] Caesar [2] dux

[ii] Transfer both words into the ablative case:

[1] Caesare [2] duce = ablative absolute = (with) Caesar (being) leader = while / when / since Caesar was leader; depending on context, the entire phrase could be reworked: under Caesar’s leadership

Boudiccā rēgīnā │ with Boudicca as queen; when Boudicca was the queen; since (because) Boudicca was / is queen

caelō obscūrō │ with the sky being dark; when the sky was / is dark; since (because) the sky is / was dark; beneath a dark sky

07.07.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [13]: noun + noun; noun + adjective

Given that esse has no present active participle, absolute phrases can be constructed with [noun | pronoun] + noun or [noun | pronoun] + adjective.

Begin with a basic construction “with X ¦ being Y” e.g. Caesare duce: (with) Caesar (being) leader, and then, reword the phrase to a more fluent translation if it is appropriate to the context, for example:

[i] Caesare ¦ [ii] duce:

• With Caesar as leader, ..
• Because / since Caesar was / is leader, ...
• When Caesar was leader, …
• Caesar was leader and …

Remember that tense sequencing will still apply in translation:

Caesare duce, Gallia invāsa est. │ (with) Caesar (being) leader = when Caesar was leader, Gaul was invaded.

Caesare duce, Galliā invādētur. │ (with) Caesar (being) leader = because Caesar is leader, Gaul will be invaded.

Examples:

noun + noun

[i] fēminā [noun] + [ii] fūre [noun] │ [i] (with) the woman [ii] (being) a thief

[i] fēminīs [noun] + [ii] fūribus [noun] │ [i] (with) the women [ii] (being) thieves

[i] virō [noun] + [ii] fūre [noun], hominēs discessērunt │  [i] (with) the man [ii] (being) a thief, the people departed = since the man was a thief …

[i] virīs [noun] + [ii] fūribus [noun] hominēs conveniunt │[i]  (with) the men [ii] (being) thieves, the people come together = since the men are thieves …

noun + adjective

[i] incendiō [noun] + magnō [adjective] │ [i] (with) the fire [ii] (being) large …

[i] cōnsule [noun] + [ii] novō [adjective] │ [i] (with) the consul [ii] (being) new

[i] duce [noun] + bonō [adjective], mīlitēs bene pugnant │ [i] (with) the commander [ii] (being) good, the soldiers fight well = since the commander is good …

[i] rēge [noun] + [ii] salvō [adjective] cīvēs fuērunt fēlīcissimī │ [i] (with) the king [ii] (being) safe, the citizens were very happy = since the king was safe …

Rēge salvō, cīvēs laetissimī sunt. │ Because the king is safe, the citizens are very happy.

04.07.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [12]: practice (4)

Complete the Latin translations with the words listed below. Note the different ways the ablative absolute construction can be conveyed in English.

1. The teacher got angry because the boy was shouting in school. │ __________ in ludō __________, magister īrātus factus est.
2. Since the boys are shouting in school the teacher is getting angry. │ __________ in ludō __________, magister īrātus fit.
3. As the thief is running away, Sextus shouts in a loud voice. │ __________ __________, Sextus magnā vōce clamat.
4. With Titus greeting (them), the boys enter the changing room. │ __________ __________, puerī in apodyterium ineunt.
5. Since Caesar is coming, everybody is afraid. │ __________ __________, omnēs timent.
6. Although the leader is encouraging his soldiers, the enemies are coming. │ __________ mīlitēs eius __________, hostēs veniunt.
7. While the soldier was watching the river, the enemies seized the camp. │ __________ flūmen __________, hostēs castra cēpērunt.

aspiciente; Caesare; clamante; clamantibus; confugiente; duce; fūre; hortante; mīlite; puerīs; puerō; salūtante; Titō; veniente

____________________

1. Puerō in ludō clamante, magister īrātus factus est.
2. Puerīs in ludō clamantibus, magister īrātus fit.
3. Fūre confugiente, Sextus magnā vōce clamat.
4. Titō salūtante, puerī in apodyterium ineunt.
5. Caesare veniente, omnēs timent.
6. Duce mīlitēs eius hortante, hostēs veniunt.
7. Mīlite flūmen aspiciente, hostēs castra cēpērunt.

04.07.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [11]: practice (3)(ii)

Here are the same ablative absolute phrases again but, this time, as part of complete sentences. Complete the Latin translations with the words below.

1. As the sun was rising, the lady summoned her maidservants. │ __________ __________, mātrōna ancillās arcessīvit.
2. As the prisoner was running in the street, all the citizens were terrified. │ __________ in viā __________, omnēs cīvēs terrēbantur.
3. Because I am strong [with my being strong], my boys do not fear the darkness. │ __________ __________, puerī meī nōn timent tenebrās.
4. Since he was weeping, there was nothing that we had been able do. │ __________ __________, erat nihil, quod potuerāmus facere.
5. Since the soldiers are fortifying the camp, we will be saved. │__________ castra __________, servābimur.
6. While the enemies were going through the streets of the country, the people of the towns and cities were silent. │ __________ per viās terrae __________, populī oppidōrum urbiumque tacuērunt.
7. While the guards were sleeping, Ulysses captured the horses │ __________ __________, Ulixēs equōs cēpit.
8. With the citizens talking / While the citizens are talking, I cannot hear you. │ __________ __________, tē audīre nōn possum.
9. With the queen seeing the danger, the soldiers destroyed her temple. │ __________ perīculum __________, mīlitēs templum eius dēlēvērunt.

captīvō; cīvibus; currente; cūstōdibus; dormientibus; eō; euntibus; flente; inimīcīs; loquentibus; mē; mīlitibus; mūnientibus; oriente; rēgīnā; sōle; valente; vidente

____________________

1. Sōle oriente mātrōna ancillās arcessīvit.
2. Captīvō in viā currente, omnēs cīvēs terrēbantur.
3. Mē valente, puerī meī nōn timent tenebrās.
4. Eō flente, erat nihil, quod potuerāmus facere.
5. Mīlitibus castra mūnientibus, servābimur.
6. Inimīcīs per viās terrae euntibus, populī oppidōrum urbiumque tacuērunt.
7. Cūstōdibus dormientibus, Ulixēs equōs cēpit.
8. Cīvibus loquentibus tē audīre nōn possum.
9. Rēgīnā perīculum vidente, mīlitēs templum eius dēlēvērunt.

04.07.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [10]: practice (3)(i)

Translate the ablative absolute phrases literally i.e. with X ¦ Y-ing

1. puerō ¦ dormiente │ with the boy sleeping
2. captīvō in viā currente
3. cūstōdibus dormientibus
4. cīvibus loquentibus
5. sōle oriente
6. rēgīnā perīculum vidente
7. inimīcīs per viās euntibus
8. mē valente
9. eō flente
10. mīlitibus castra mūnientibus
11. leōne adveniente ¦ omnēs cīvēs fugiunt.

____________________

1. with the captive / prisoner running in the street
2. with the guards sleeping
3. with the citizens talking
4. with the sun rising
5. with the queen seeing the danger
6. with the enemies going through the streets
7. with me / my being strong
8. with him weeping
9. with the soldiers fortifying the camp
10. with the lion approaching, all the citizens flee

01.07.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [9]: with the present active participle

So far, we have looked at the ablative absolute with the perfect passive participle expressing ‘after / when / since something was / has been / had been done’. However, the ablative absolute can also be used with the present active participle which conveys two actions happening at the same time. The literal translation is with X ¦ Y-ing but, as before, there are more fluent alternatives.

• with [1] the boy ¦ [2] sleeping

[i] Begin with the nominative singular:

[1] boy [2] sleeping

> [1] puer [2] dormiēns i.e. the present active participle from the verb dormiō, -īre: sleep

[ii] Transfer both words into the ablative case:

> [1] puerō [2] dormiente = ablative absolute = literally: with X ¦ Y-ing = with the boy sleeping = while (since) the boy is / was sleeping

[i] Puerō dormiente, ¦ [ii] servus pecūniam abstulit. │ [i] With the boy sleeping / while (since) the boy was sleeping ¦ [ii] the slave stole the money.

The participle ends in -e rather than -ī in the ablative singular.

• with [1] the boys ¦ [2] sleeping

[i] Begin with the nominative singular:

[1] boys [2] sleeping

> [1] puerī [2] dormientēs i.e. the present active participle from the verb dormiō, -īre: sleep

[ii] Transfer both words into the ablative case:

> [1] puerīs [2] dormientibus = ablative absolute = literally: with X ¦ Y-ing = with the boy sleeping = while (since) the boy is / was sleeping

[ii] Puerīs dormientibus ¦ [ii] servus pecūniam abstulit. │ [i] With the boys sleeping / while (since) the boys were sleeping ¦ [ii] the slave stole the money.

Again, tense sequence will come into play in translation:

[i] Dominō dormiente ¦ [ii] servī effugiunt │ [i] With the master sleeping / while (since) the master is sleeping, [ii] the slaves escape.

[i] Dominō dormiente ¦ [ii] servī effūgērunt│ [i] With the master sleeping  / while (since) the master was sleeping, [ii] the slaves escaped.

Examples giving different possible translations; note the tense sequences in the translations in the last three examples.

1. Servō in agrō labōrante … │ While the slave is / was working in the field …
2. Feminā epistulam scribente … │While / since / although the woman is / was writing a letter …
3. Canibus in viā lātrantibus …    │ Because the dogs are / were barking in the street …
4. Senātōribus ōrātiōnem Cicerōnis audientibus … │ As the senators are / were listening to Cicero’s speech …
5. Agricolīs pontem trānseuntibus…. │ Since the farmers are / were crossing the bridge …
6. Puerō lacrimante, pater nihil facit. │ Although the boy is crying, the father does nothing.
7. Ancillā cēnam parante, domina in cubiculō dormiēbat. │ While the maid was preparing dinner, the mistress was sleeping in the bedroom.
8. Multīs hostibus urbem oppugnantibus cīvēs fortēs dē salūte nōn dēspērāvērunt. │ Although many enemy were attacking the city, the brave citizens did not despair of (their) safety.

01.07.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [8]: tense sequences

The absolute construction + perfect passive participle refers to an action which took place before the action of the main verb . Regardless of the tense of the main verb in Latin, the absolute construction will always be the same. This, however, is not the case when translating the phrase into English since English sequences the tenses. This is not obvious if the basic “with X having been Y-ed” construction is maintained, but it will be obvious if a relative clause is used.

• Urbe captā, hostēs templa dēlēvērunt.

> With the city having been captured, the enemy destroyed the temples.

> After the city had been captured, the enemy destroyed the temples.

• Verbīs poētae audītīs, puerī fēlīcēs erant.

> With the words of the poet having been heard, the boys were happy.

> After the words of the poet had been heard, the boys were happy.

But the translation of the ablative absolute may not be the equivalent of an English past perfect tense i.e. had:

• Librō populō scrīptō, omnēs nōbilēs auctōrem laudant.

> With the book having been written for the people, the nobles praise the author.

> Since the book was / has been written for the people, the nobles praise the author.

• Praedā istīus agricolae inventā, agrī tibi erunt.

With that farmer’s loot having been found, you will have the fields.

> Because that farmer’s loot was / has been found, you will have the fields.

• Aliquis ad āram templī nōs dūcet, auxiliō dē deīs petītō.

> Somebody will lead us to the altar with help from the gods having been asked for.

> Somebody will lead us to the altar of the temple, because help from the gods was / has been asked for.

• Negōtiō factō, nunc domī sumus.

> With the task having been done, we are now at home.

> Since the task was / has been done, we are now at home.

01.07.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [7]: to whom does it refer?

[1] (After) having read the letter [2] she was very touched.

[1] can only refer to [2] i.e. the subject of the sentence.

Now look at a similar sentence in Latin:

[1] Litterīs acceptīs ¦ [2] imperātor valdē īrātus est.

= [1] with the letter having been received, [2] the general got really angry

= [1] after / when / since the letter had been received, [2] the general got really angry

There is no grammatical connection between [1] and [2]; there is no implication that it was the general who received it. Context, however, may allow such a translation. In the first two examples below (both quoted in Dickinson), the ablative absolute is obviously referring to Caesar even though that is not directly stated:

Caesar, acceptīs litterīs, nūntium mittit (Caesar) │ Having received the letter [literally: with the letter having been received], Cæsar sends a messenger.

Quibus rēbus cōgnitīs Caesar apud mīlitēs cōntiōnātur (Caesar) │ Having learned this [literally: with these thing having been learned], Cæsar makes a speech to the soldiers.

Look, however, at the following examples:

Urbe dēlētā, cīvēs fūgērunt.

**Having destroyed the city** the citizens fled.” It is highly unlikely that the citizens destroyed their own city! Therefore, the original translation of the ablative absolute – with no connection to the subject – would be the appropriate one:

• When / after / since the city had been destroyed, the citizens fled.
• The city had been destroyed and the citizens fled.

Equō vēnditō agricola domum rediit.

This is a good example where it is down to context:

[1] Either: After / when / since the horse had been sold, the farmer returned home. / The horse had been sold and the farmer returned home.

[2] Or: Having sold the horse, the farmer returned home.

In general, when translating the ablative absolute – especially when you are still getting to grips with it – it is better to stick with [1] because [1] is always correct whereas [2] could be a misinterpretation of the Latin.

28.06.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [6]: practice (2)

These examples show the way in which the ablative absolute phrase can be extended by the use of adjectives or demonstratives modifying the noun, or by phrases indicating, for example, where the action took place or when it took place or by whom it was done example:

cēterīs urbis captīs │ since the remaining cities have been captured

pecūniā in hortō inventā│when the money had been found in the garden

Urbe ab hostibus captā, Rōmānī discessērunt. │ with the city having been captured by the enemy, the Romans departed

Translate into English:

1. [Hīs rēbus | cognitīs], Caesar equitātum revocāvit.
2. [Cēterīs urbibus | captīs], Troiam ipsam mox capiēmus.
3. [Cēnā magnā | parātā], omnēs amīcī laetissimī erant.
4. [Pecūniā | in hortō | cēlātā], servī statim fūgērunt.
5. [Vestīmentīs | ā fūre | trāditis], puerī domum iērunt.
6. [Lūdīs │ in palaestrā │confectīs] │in tepidārium intrāvērunt.
7. [Fūre | ā Sextō | trāditō], dominus ē thermīs statim exiit.

____________________

1. After these things had been known, Caesar called back the cavalry
2. Since the other cities have been captured, we will soon capture Troy itself.
3. Because a large dinner had been prepared, all the friends were very happy.
4. The money having been hidden in the garden, the slaves immediately fled.
5. Once the clothes had been handed over by the thief, the boys went home.
6. Sports having been completed in the exercise area, they entered into the warm room.
7. After the thief had been handed over by Sextus, the master immediately went out from the baths.

28.06.25; Level 3; the ablative absolute [5]: practice (1)

Translate into English, and take note of question [9] i.e. a deponent verb and so the ablative absolute is not expressed by a passive but active i.e. “having done (something)”

1. Caesar, acceptīs litterīs, nūntium mīsit.
2. Mīlitibus convocātīs imperātor haec verba dīxit.
3. Rōmulus signō datō iuvenēs puellās rapere iussit.
4. Equō vēnditō agricola domum rediit.
5. Horātius in aquam ponte dēlētō cum omnibus armīs dēsiluit.
6. Rēge vīctō, patria lībertātem accēpit.
7. Duce interfectō, hostēs dēspērābant.
8. Victōriā nūntiātā, epistulam patrī mīsimus.
9. Nūntiō locūtō portae apertae sunt.

____________________

Other translations are possible, but the key point is to convey that one action took place before the other.

1. After the letter had been received, Caesar sent a messenger.
2. Once the soldiers had been called together, the general said these words.
3. The signal having been given, Romulus ordered the young men to seize the girls.
4. Since the horse had been sold, the farmer returned home.
5. When the bridge had been destroyed, Horatius slipped into the water with all his armour.
6. Because the king had been conquered, the country received freedom.
7. The leader having been killed, the enemy were in despair.
8. After the victory had been announced, we sent a letter to our father.
9. Once the messenger had spoken, the gates were opened.

25.06.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [4]: translation; ablative absolute with deponent verbs

[1] The term absolute means that the phrase is grammatically set apart from the main clause; in other words, the participle does not modify any noun in the main clause. The rather unwieldy literal translation is “with something having been done” e.g. “with the city having been captured” and this is the standard way in grammar books of translating it. However, it is often preferable to refine the construction into an English clause. Various translations are possible:

urbe captā

• time: When / after the city had been captured ..
• cause: Since / because the city had been captured ..
• concessive: Although the city had been captured ..
• condition: If the city had been captured ..

Equally, the sentence could be restructured to include a compound sentence:

• Urbe captā, cīvēs fūgērunt. │ The city had been captured and the citizens fled.

Context will determine the most appropriate translation.

[2] Watch out for deponent verbs when translating the ablative absolute; remember that the deponents are passive in form but active in meaning:

loquor, loquī, locūtus sum [3/deponent]: speak

proficīscor, proficīscī, profectus sum [3/deponent]: set out

i.e. profectus and locūtus are not passive but active and so they are translated as:

locūtus: having spoken

profectus: having set out

ōrātōre locūtō, cīvēs inter sē loquēbantur │ With the orator having spoken = After the orator had spoken, the citizens began talking among themselves.

poētā sīc locūtō, cīvēs magnopere timēbant. │ After the orator had spoken in this way, the citizens were greatly afraid.

Omnibus profectīs, tamen ego tē exspectāvī. │ Although everybody had set out, I neverthless waited for you.

25.06.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [3]: literal translation

All of the following phrases are ablative absolutes; translate them into English using, at this stage, the literal construction ‘with X having been Y-ed’

Examples:

urbe ¦ captā │ with the city ¦ having been captured

servō monitō │ with the slave having been warned

1. urbe incēnsā
2. cōnsule interfectō
3. librō lectō
4. epistulā scriptā
5. oppidō oppugnātō
6. mīlitibus revocatīs
7. hīs litterīs acceptīs
8. hīs verbīs dictīs

____________________

1. with the city having been set on fire
2. with the consul having been killed
3. with the book having been read
4. with the letter having been writeen
5. with the town having been attacked
6. with the soldiers having been recalled
7. with this / these letter(s) having been received
8. with these words having been said

22.06.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [2]: formation

Forming the ablative absolute is not unlike an ‘equation’ i.e. there is a consistent step-by-step way of creating it. Examples:

• With [1] the city ¦ [2] having been captured

[i] Begin with the nominative singular:

[1] city [2] captured

> [1] urbs [2] capta i.e. the perfect passive participle, the fourth principal part of the verb < capiō, capere, cēpī, captus

[ii] Transfer both words into the ablative case:

> [1] urbe [2] captā = ablative absolute = with the city having been captured

• With the brother | having been killed.

[i] Begin with the nominative singular:

[1] brother [2] killed

> [1] frāter [2] necātus < necō, -āre, -āvī, necātus

[ii] Transfer both words into the ablative case:

> [1] frātre [2] necātō = ablative absolute = with the brother having been killed

The same approach would also apply to ablative absolutes with plural nouns or pronouns:

• With the soldiers | having been killed.

[i] nominative plural:

[1] soldiers [2] killed

> [1] mīlitēs [2] necātī

[ii] Transfer both words into the ablative case:

> [1] mīlitibus [2] necātīs = ablative absolute = with the soldiers having been killed

22.06.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [1]

One of the reasons why Latin can express itself far more concisely than many other languages is the construction known as the ablative absolute and it is because of its conciseness that it very frequently occurs in the literature.

The ablative absolute is a phrase that describes the circumstances under which an action is performed. The circumstances most often refer either to time or reason.

First take a look at this English sentence that comprises two clauses:

[1] When (after) / since the money had been found, ¦ [2] the master punished the slave.

[1] is an adverbial clause in that it describes the circumstances in which the action in the main clause [2] took place; in this example [1] could refer either to time (when or after) or reason (since)

3 points to note:

[i] the adverbial clause is passive i.e. after the money had been found

[ii] the action in [1] happened before the action in [2]

[iii] the adverbial clause does not say that it was the master who found the money; maybe he did, but the clause does not imply that

In Latin, this clause can be expressed by a phrase: the ablative absolute which comprises 2 parts:

[1] noun / pronoun + [2] perfect passive participle; both in the ablative case

> [1] pecūniā [2] inventā = the ablative absolute

In grammar books this type of ablative absolute is normally translated in a very literal way so that it is clear what exactly is being conveyed: with X having been Y-ed

[X] pecūniā ¦ [Y] inventā = literally: with the money ¦ having been found. This, of course, sounds very cumbersome in English but, at this early stage, it is better to keep to that translation; in later posts, more natural sounding translations will be discussed.

Pecūniā inventā, dominus servum punīvit. │ With the money having been found, the master punished the slave.

Leōne vīsō, fēminae discessērunt. │ With the lion having been seen, the women departed.

Acceptīs litterīs, Caesar discēdit. │ With the letter having been received, Caesar departs.

Hīs verbīs dictīs, Caesar discessit. │ With these words having been said, Caesar departed.

Remember:

[i] the construction is passive: with the lion having been seen

[ii] the ablative absolute refers to something which happened before the main action: [1] Leōne vīsō, ¦ [2] fēminae discessērunt.

[iii] the ablative absolute does not refer to the subject of the sentence; there is no implication that it was the women themselves who saw the lion (that may be construed from context, but it is not stated in the ablative absolute)