28.08.26: Level 3; Reading (review); [33] [i] The magician Circe

Another episode of Odysseus’ journey home:

Ulixēs, postquam magnā cum audāciā diū per undās nāvigāvit, īnsulam Circae intrāvit. Ibi ille vir callidus nōnnūllōs sociōs in vīllam Circae mīsit. Quibus illa dea vīnum venēnō mixtum praebuit; venēnō domitōs in suēs mūtāvit. Ūnus ex iīs, quī venēnum negāverat, ēvāsit docuitque Ulixem. Quem Mercurius quoque dē dolīs Circae docuerat remediumque praebuerat et eī suāserat: “Hōc remediō ā mē datō perīculum dolōsque deae vītābis!” Quibus verbīs monitus Ulixēs illō remediō tūtus vīllam Circae intrāvit, Circam ipsam gladiō ursit, dolōs perniciōsōs eius arcuit. Iussit eam illōs sociōs iam in suēs mūtātōs rūrsus in virōs mūtāre. Sīc ūnā cum sociīs vīvus ex illā īnsulā ēvāsit.

Circa, -ae [1/f]: (alternative to Circē) name of a witch in Greek mythology

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circe

venēnum, -ī [2/n]: (here) magic potion; poison

sūs, suis [3 m/f]: pig

[1] The connecting relative

[i] The following is incorrect in standard written English:

I bought a book. *Which I gave* to my brother.

English cannot begin a sentence with a relative pronoun that refers to something / someone in the previous sentence. The idea would be expressed in the following ways:

I bought a book which I gave to my brother [i.e. as one sentence, which introducing a subordinate clause]

I bought a book. I gave it to my brother. [i.e. two sentences; English would most commonly avoid repeating the noun by using a pronoun]

 I bought a book and I gave it to my brother [i.e. as one sentence with a coordinating conjunction]

[ii] Latin, however, can begin a sentence with the relatives quī, quae, quod referring to something / someone in the previous sentence, known in grammar as the antecedent:

Ibi ille vir callidus nōnnūllōs sociōs [antecedent] in vīllam Circae mīsit. Quibus [connecting relative] illa dea vīnum venēnō mixtum praebuit; …

Such sentences can be translated in different ways, the choice determined by style and context:

(a)   as separate sentences with the inclusion of a pronoun referring to the antecedent

There, that clever man sent some of his companions into her house. The goddess offered them wine mixed with poison; …

(b)   combining those sentences with ‘and’; that neatly conveys the “connecting” nature of quī, quae, quod

… and the goddess offered them …

(c)   a relative clause

… docuitque Ulixem [antecedent]. Quem [connecting relative] Mercurius quoque dē dolīs Circae docuerat …

… and informed Ulysses whom Mercury had also informed about Circe’s tricks, …

[iii] Translations are not always interchangeable; a common example is when the connecting relative refers to an entire preceding statement where a relative clause would sound clumsy:

“Hōc remediō ā mē datō perīculum dolōsque deae vītābis!” Quibus verbīs monitus Ulixēs …

 “With this remedy given by me, you will avoid the danger and the tricks of the goddess.” Having been warned by these words, Ulysses … [or: …, and having been warned …]

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/connecting%20relative

[2] Taking care when translating:

Latin word order is far more flexible than English and so, when translating, be conscious of what is and is not acceptable in standard English translation:

Quibus illa dea vīnum venēnō mixtum praebuit; venēnō domitōs in suēs mūtāvit.

The goddess offered them wine mixed with poison; *having been subdued by the potion*, she changed them into pigs.

Although “having been subdued by the potion” is the correct translation, its position in the English sentence above would indicate that she had been subdued by the potion, which is incorrect. Rewording is needed to be clear who that phrase is referring to:

“… once / after / when they had been subdued by the potion, she changed them …”

____________________

Ulysses, after he had sailed for a long time over the waves with great boldness, entered the island of Circe. There that clever man sent some companions into Circe’s house. The goddess offered them wine mixed with a (magic) potion; after they had been subdued by the potion, she changed them into pigs.

One of them, who had refused the potion, escaped and informed Ulysses. Mercury also had warned him about the tricks of Circe, had provided a remedy, and had advised him: “With this remedy given by me, you will avoid the danger and the tricks of the goddess.”

(Having been) warned by these words, Ulysses, safe because of that remedy [ = protected by that remedy], entered Circe’s house, threatened Circe herself with his sword, and drove away / warded off her deadly tricks. He ordered her to change those companions, who had already been turned into pigs, back into men. Thus he escaped alive from that island together with his companions.

11.11.25: Level 3; Wild beasts [5] from the authors: Bread and panthers … without the panthers [2]; text, translation with accompanying notes to lines [1] – [5]

Scr. Romae iv Non. Sept. a. 703 (51). CAELIVS CICERONI S. ¦ M. CAELIUS RUFUS TO CICERO, Rome, 2^nd September, 51BC

[1] ferē litterīs omnibus tibi dē panthērīs scrīpsī. │ In almost every letter I have written to you about panthers.

[2] turpe tibi erit ¦ Patiscum Cūriōnī decem panthērās mīsisse, ¦ tē nōn multīs partibus plūrīs; │ It will be a disgrace to you ¦ that Patiscus has sent ten panthers to Curio, (and) ¦ that you haven’t (sent) many times more.

[i] mīsisse: to have sent; perfect active infinitive

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/07/191025-level-3-spartan-boys-contempt-of.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/05/020925-level-3-sonnenschein-pro-patria.html

[ii] Patiscus: research suggests that Patiscus was an agent working locally for Caelius to obtain panthers and, most likely, other exotic animals

[iii] Curiō i.e. Gaius Scribonius Curio: Roman politician

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Scribonius_Curio_(tribune_50_BC)

[3] quās ipsās Cūriō mihi et aliās Āfricānās decem dōnāvit │ and these very ones (i.e. beasts), as well as ten other African ones, Curio has presented to me,

quās: connecting relative; it starts the sentence and is referring back to something mentioned in the previous one. Therefore, it does not translate as ‘which’ but ‘And these … (i.e. the animals referred to in the earlier statement)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/270625-level-3-labours-of-hercules-iii.html [note (3)]

[4]  … nē pūtēs ¦ illum tantum praedia rūstica dare scīre. │ so that you don’t think ¦ that he only knows how to give (gifts of) estates in the country

[i] nē + the subjunctive: the subjunctive is used to express the purpose of an action i.e. x does something ¦ in order that / so that y may happen; when nē is included, it indicates a negative purpose i.e. something is done ¦ so that something does not happen

[ii] …illum … scīre; indirect statement

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/05/310825-level-1-readings-18-damocles.html

[5] tū sī modo memoriā tenueris et Cibyrātās arcessieris itemque in Pamphȳliam litterās miseris (nam ibi plūrīs cāpī aiunt), quod volēs efficiēs. │ If only you keep (this) in mind / remember (this) [ = literally: if you will have kept in mind], and send for [ = will have sent for] some (panthers) from Cibyra, and likewise send [ = will have sent]  a letter to Pamphylia – for they say they’re mostly captured there – you’ll achieve what you want.

[i] Note in this section the use of the future perfect tense which emphasises the completion of a future action; in English the literal translation sounds clumsy, but English can convey this idea e.g. If you paint the dining room by Tuesday, we can have the party = If you’ve painted the dining room = If you’ve got the dining room painted … i.e. English can use a present perfect tense to stress completion, whereas Latin uses the future perfect:

[ii] item: likewise

[iii] Pamphȳlia, -ae [1/f]: a region in Asia Minor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamphylia

image #1: 15^th century map showing Pamphylia

[iv] Cibyra, -ae [1/f]: a town in SE Asia Minor; also: Kibyra (Gk. Κίβυρα)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cibyra

image #2: the Roman theatre of Cibyra; if the panthers had been there, I wouldn’t have booked a seat on the front row!

Images #3 and #4: the stadium at Cibyra and a representation of a gladiatorial scene

27.08.25: Level 3; Sonnenschein; Prō Patriā [8]; Castellum Rutupīnum [6]

Temporibus antīquīs portus celeber hīc erat, cui nōmen erat Portuī Rutupīnō; nāvēs ex Galliā in Britanniam nāvigantēs ad hunc portum plērumque applicābantur. Nam omnium portuum Britannicōrum hic optimus erat. Castellum in lītore portūs stābat. Intrā mūrōs castellī est ārea lāta. In mediā āreā fundāmentum aedificiī antīquī vidēs, quod fōrmam crucis habet. Hodiē "Crux Sānctī Augustīnī" vocātur, sed temporibus Rōmānīs fundāmentum phārī erat, ut cūstōs castellī affirmāvit. Sub hāc cruce est aedificium subterrāneum, quattuor et quadrāgintā passūs longum; quod intrāvimus. Cēreōs in manū tenēbāmus, quōs cūstōs dederat; nam locus obscūrus erat. Ab hōc aedificiō cunīculus, in fōrmam quadrātam excavātus, sub magnam partem āreae pertinet.

Dum per cunīculum ambulāmus, amita mea "Cui erat ūsuī hic cunīculus?" inquit.

Et cūstōs sīc respondet: "Piget mē quod dē ūsū cunīculī nihil affirmāre possum. Ūsuī fortasse erat, sī castellum obsīdēbātur: ecce puteus altus, ex quō aqua praebērī poterat."

Postquam haec spectāvimus, iterum circum mūrōs ambulāvimus. Dum ad dextrum cornū castellī stāmus, patruus meus nōbīs reliquiās amphitheātrī Rōmānī mōnstrāvit, quod nōn procul aberat. Magna multitūdō nummōrum Rōmānōrum in castellō servantur; ex quibus ūnum mihi cūstōs vēnumdedit. Tum cūstōdem valēre iubēmus, et ad cēnam properāmus.

Notes:

[1] Difference in the meaning of quod between the first two extracts, and the third:

[i] In mediā āreā fundāmentum aedificiī antīquī vidēs, quod fōrmam crucis habet │ In the middle of the open area you see the foundation of a building which has the form of a cross.

[ii] Patruus meus nōbīs reliquiās amphitheātrī Rōmānī mōnstrāvit, quod nōn procul aberat. │ My uncle showed us the remains of the Roman amphitheatre which was not far away.

[iii] Piget mē quod dē ūsū cunīculī nihil affirmāre possum. │ It annoys me ¦ that I can state nothing about the use of the tunne; see previous post

[2] Examples of the dative of the relative pronoun:

[i] portus celeber hīc erat, cui nōmen erat Portuī Rutupīnō │ There was a famous port here [literally: to which was the name] > which had the name Portus Rutupinus; note that the name of the port is in the dative case, and that will be explained in the next post with further examples

[ii] Cui erat ūsuī hic cunīculus? │ To whom was this tunnel of use?

[3] Connecting relatives

When we see forms of quī, quae and quod, the immediate translation which comes to mind is ‘who’ or ‘which’; in grammar this is known as a relative pronoun as it is referring back to a person / thing in the same sentence (the antecedent) i.e. they introduce a relative clause.

Tum in [i] silvās [antecedent] ¦ [ii] in quibus leō habitabat [relative clause] ¦ statim iter fēcit. │ Then he immediately travelled into the [i] forests ¦ [ii] in which the lion lived.

[i] Omnēs [antecedent] ¦ [ii] quī eam regiōnem incolēbant [relative clause] ¦ erant laetissimī │[i] Everyone ¦ [ii] who inhabited that region ¦ was very happy.

However, the relative pronouns quī etc. can also start a sentence referring to [a] a specific person or thing in the previous sentence or [b] the entire idea of the previous sentence.

The relative pronoun, therefore, is making a connection with the preceding sentence which is why, in grammar, it is known as a connecting relative.

In this position it is not translated as “who” or “which” but by a pronoun or demonstrative that refers to the antecedent.

(a)

[i] Caesar Rubicōnem trānsiit. [ii] Quī posterā diē adversus Rōmam profectus est. │ [i] Caesar crossed the Rubicon. On the next day [ii] he set out towards Rome.

It is common in translation to connect the two sentences with ‘and’:

Caesar crossed the Rubicon, and he set out towards Rome on the next day.

[i] Ancilla tandem advēnit. [ii] Quam ubi vīdī, laetissimus eram │ [i] The slave girl arrived. When I saw [ii] her, I was very happy, or The slave girl arrived, and when I saw her, I was very happy.

[i] Ille servus effugit. [ii] Quem posteā captum graviter pūnīvī. │ [i] That slave escaped, and afterwards, when he had been caught [ii] I punished him severely.

(b)

In the following examples, the connecting relative does not refer to a specific noun, but to the entire statement made in the preceding sentence:

[i] Canis equum adiūvit. [ii] Quod ubi vīdimus, mīrātī sumus │ The dog helped the horse. When we saw that, we were amazed, i.e. the connecting relative is not referring to the dog or to the horse, but to the whole event.

Similarly:

[i] Mīlitēs nostrī omnēs effūgērunt. [ii] Quod ubi vīdimus, laetissimī erāmus. │ [i] All our soldiers escaped. [ii] When we saw that, we were very happy.

Note in the next example the inclusion of verbīs to indicate that the connecting relative is referring to something that was heard.

[i] Victōria tandem Rōmae relāta est. [ii] Quibus verbīs audītīs omnēs gāvīsī sumus. │ [i] The victory was finally reported in Rome, [ii] and with these words having been heard [= and when these words had been heard, we all rejoiced.

[i] Pȳthia iussit eum ad urbem Tiryntha discēdere et ibi rēgī Eurystheō sēsē committere. │ Pythia commanded him to depart to the city of Tiryns and there commit / entrust himself to Eurystheus.

> [ii] Quae ubi audīvit, Herculēs ad illam urbem statim contendit │ and when he heard these things Hercules immediately hurried to that city.

In the Sonnenschein text, there are examples of this. Most of them could be translated as a relative clause like all the others, but the inclusion of the semi-colon in the text also invites the translation of a connecting relative.

[1] Sub hāc cruce est aedificium subterrāneum, quattuor et quadrāgintā passūs longum; quod intrāvimus.

Beneath this cross is an underground building, 44 yards long, …

The translation could continue as either [i] … which we entered, or [ii] … and we entered it

[2] Magna multitūdō nummōrum Rōmānōrum in castellō servantur; ex quibus ūnum mihi cūstōs vēnumdedit.

A very large number of Roman coins are kept in the castle …

The translation could continue as either [i] … one of which the guard sold to me, or [ii] … and the guard sold one of them to me

From earlier parts of this text:

[a]

… posteā autem ipse aegrōtāvit et Eburācī exspīrāvit. Quō annō quīnquāgintā mīlia Rōmānōrum ā Calēdonibus trucīdāta fuisse narrantur. │ … but afterwards he himself also died in York. And in that year  50,000 Romans are said to have been slaughtered by the Caledonians.

[b]

[1] Et Antōnīnus Pius … alterum vallum in ipsā Calēdoniā … aedificāvit: [2] cui nōmen hodiernum est Graham's Dyke.

[1] And Antoninus Pius built a second rampart in Caledonia itself …

[2] [i] literally: to which the name today is … > … which today has the name …; [ii] … and its name today is … / … and today it has the name …

[c]

[1] Itaque necesse fuit Hadriānō … magnum illud vallum … aedificāre; [2] cuius reliquiae hodiē spectantur.

[1] Therefore, it was necessary for Hadrian to build that large rampart

[2] [i] … the remains of which are seen today; [ii] and its remains are seen today

The key point is to translate the relative pronoun into a grammatically correct English structure i.e. Latin can begin a sentence with the equivalent of ‘which’, whereas English cannot.

He told me he was leaving. *Which* wasn’t true. Latin can express it that way, but it is incorrect in English.

> He told me he was leaving, and it wasn’t true. / He told me he was leaving, which wasn’t true.

06.08.25: Level 3; Kings of Rome [2]; the new city; the omens; the slaying of Remus

Mox Rōmulus Remusque volēbant in [1] iīs locīs, ubi ēducātī erant, urbem condere. Hinc foedum certāmen ā mītī prīncipiō ortum est. Namque, quoniam geminī erant, aetās discrīmen inter eōs facere nōn poterat. [2] “Uter”, inquiunt, “nomēn novae urbī dabit? [2] Uter [3] conditam imperiō reget?”.

Deōs igitur auguriō cōnsulunt. [4] Cuius causā templa capiunt, Palātium Rōmulus, Remus Aventīnum. Priōrī Remō signum venit; [4] cui sex vulturēs cito appārent. [5] Hōc nūntiātiō, duodecim Rōmulō sēsē ostendunt. [6] [a] Utrumque rēgem [6] [b] suī comitēs salūtāvērunt. Tempore enim [7] illī, hī numerō avium rēgnum sibi vindicābant.

Inde cum magnīs clāmōribus [8] congressī, ad caedem vertuntur. [9] Lūdibriō frātris Remus novōs trānsiluit mūrōs. Statim ab īrātō Rōmulō ictus cecidit. Tunc ille, “Sīc”, inquit, “[10] pereat, quīcumque alius trānsiliet moenia mea”. Ita sōlus potītus est imperiō Rōmulus; condita urbs conditōris nōmine appellāta est.

Vocabulary

augurium, -ī [2/n]: augury, divination, omen

īcō, -ere, īcī, ictus [3]: hit, strike stab

lūdibrium, -ī [2/n]: mockery

mītis, -e: gentle, mild, peaceful

potior, -īrī, potītus sum [4/deponent]: take possession (of + ablative); potītus est imperiō

quīcumque, quaecumque, quodcumque: who(so)ever; what(so)ever

trānsiliō, -īre, -uī [4]: jump across

vindicō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1] (often with sibi): lay claim

templum, -ī [2/n]: the most common meaning is ‘temple’ but, here, it refers to districts, the literal meaning of templum being  a ‘space marked off' i.e. by the augur's staff, for the purpose of taking omens. Hence it means 'sacred enclosure’ and then ' temple.'

Palātium: the Palatine; Aventīnum: the Aventine, two  of the seven hills on which Rome stood when complete.

Notes

[1] iīs = eīs

[2] uter: which (of two)?

“Uter … nomēn … dabit? │ Which (of the two) … will give the name?

“Uter … reget?”. │ Which (of the two) … will rule?

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/04/250725-level-3-pronominal-adjectives-6.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/907899478487988

[3] Uter conditam … reget? │ Which (of the two) will rule (the city) when / after it has been built?

condō, -ere, condidī, conditus [3]: establish, form, construct

The perfect passive participle conditam (having been constructed) refers to urbs in the previous sentence.

[4]

cuius causā │ and for this reason / because of this

cui sex vulturēs … appārent │ and two vultures … appear to him

connecting relatives

[5] hōc nūntiātiō │ with this having been announced = after this had been announced; ablative absolute

[6] [a] Utrumque rēgem [b] suī comitēs salūtāvērunt.

[a] uterque: both; each (of two)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/04/250725-level-3-pronominal-adjectives-61.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/907916665152936

[b] suī: the reflexive possessive adjective suus, -a, -um (his, her etc. own) is used to refer back to the subject in order to differentiate his (own) etc. as belonging to the subject as opposed to his i.e. somebody else’s.

Vir suōs servōs vocat │ The man calls his (own) slaves.

Vir servōs eius vocat │ The man calls his (somebody else’s) slaves.

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/08/090924-level-1-ora-maritima-103-notes.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/512110881400185

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/280525-level-1-readings-12-15-review-3.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/775452408399363

In this sentence, however, suī comitēs is in the nominative case i.e. the subject, in order to emphasise that each king had his own group of comrades.

Example:

Sōcratem cīvēs suī interfēcērunt. │ Literally: His own fellow citizens put Socrates to death. > Socrates was put to death by his own fellow citizens.

Therefore:

Utrumque rēgem suī comitēs salūtāvērunt. │ Literally: His own comrades hailed each (of the two) as king. > Each of them was hailed as king by his own comrades.

[7] ille and hic and can be used to distinguish between two (groups of) people in a similar way to English ‘the former’ and ‘the latter’ i.e. the sentence refers to the two groups of supporters of Remus and Romulus respectively.

Six vultures appeared first to Remus. Twelve vultures then appeared to Romulus.

Tempore enim [7] illī, hī numerō avium rēgnum sibi vindicābant. │The former (i.e. the supporters of Remus) laid claim to the kingdom [claimed the kingdom for themselves] based upon (priority of) time, the latter (i.e. the supporters of Romulus) on the number of birds.  

[8] congressī │ having come together

congredior, congredī, congressus sum [3-iō / deponent]: come together, meet; deponent verbs have passive forms but active meanings

[9]  Lūdibriō frātris │ in mockery of (his) brother

The phrase ‘the love of a father’ – out of context – can have two meanings:

[i] a father’s love / the love felt by a father i.e. the father is the ‘possessor’ of the love

[ii] love for a father i.e. the father is the object of the love

English does not distinguish them, and neither does Latin, but [i] and [ii] have different grammatical names:

[i] amor patris: a father’s love / the love felt by a father = subjective genitive i.e. it is the father who loves

[ii] amor patris: the love for a father = objective genitive i.e. it is the father who is being loved

Despite the differences in terms, the meaning is generally clear in context:

Lūdibriō frātris [objective genitive] │ in mockery of (his) brother i.e. it is Remus who is mocking, and Romulus who is the object of that mockery

[10] Sīc … pereat, quīcumque alius trānsiliet … │ May he perish in this way, whoever else will jump (jumps) across …

The subjunctive is soon to be discussed in detail. For now, simply note this example of its many uses: the jussive subjunctive from the verb iubeō, -ēre, iussī, iussus [2]: command; the jussive subjunctive is similar to the imperative (command) form of the verb. However, whereas the imperative is only giving a command directly to one or more people, the jussive subjunctive can refer to any person or number, often translated into English as ‘may / let somebody (do something)’

vivat rēx! │ long live the king! [literally: may the king live]

vīvant professōrēs! │ long live the professors! [ = may the professors live]

Tū quoque salvus sīs, Bernarde. │ May you also be well, Bernard.

[11] condita urbs conditōris nōmine appellāta est; these texts are adaptations from the work of Livy. However, the origin of the city’s name is unclear. The proper noun Romulus is in itself formed from Rōma + ulus i.e. the proper noun is derived from the name of the city, not vice-versa.

See ‘etymology’ at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome

03.08.25: Level 3; Kings of Rome [1]; Birth and early years of Romulus and Remus

Rea Silvia, [1] Albāna sacerdōs, [2] geminōs puerōs ēdidit. Amūlius, rēx crūdēlis, Silviam in cūstōdiam dedit; [3] puerōs in prōfluentem aquam mittī iussit. forte eō tempore super rīpās Tiberis effūsus erat. itaque in proximā eluvie puerī sunt expositī. paulisper alveus, in quō [4] iacent, hūc illūc fluitat. tandem tenuis aqua eōs in siccō dēstituit. simul lupa sitiēns ex montibus, quī circā sunt, ad puerīlem vāgītum cursum flexit. mox eam linguā lambentem puerōs Faustulus, magister rēgiī pecoris, invēnit; [6] quī Lārentiae uxōrī eōs ēducandōs dedit. ita genitī nūtrītīque sunt Rōmulus et Remus. posteā, iam adultī, vēnandō saltūs peragrant. hinc rōbur [7] corporibus animīsque sūmunt. nec iam ferās tantum agitant; sed in latrōnēs praedā onustōs faciunt impetūs. [8] pāstōribus rapta dīvidunt, et cum hīs sēria ac iocōs peragunt.

Vocabulary

agitō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1] (here): hunt, chase, pursue

alveus, -ī [2/m]: basket

dēstituō, -ere, dēstituī, dēstitūtus [3]: place, set; abandon

effundō, -ere, efffūdi, effūsus [3]: pour out

ēluviēs, -ēī [5/f]: flood

fera, -ae [1/f]: wild animal, beast

flectō, -ere, flexī, flexus [3]: bend, deviate, turn

fluitō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: float

gignō, -ere, genuī, genitus [3]: bear, beget, give birth

iocus, -ī [2/m]: joke, pastime, sport

lambō, -ere, lambī, lambitus [3]: lick, lap

nūtriō, -īre, nūtrī(v)ī, nūtrītus [4]: feed, breastfeed, suckle, nurse

onustus, -a, -um: loaded [+ abl. with]

paulisper: for a little while / short time

pecus, pecoris [3/n]: herd, flock; a collective term that can refer to any (large) group of animals

peragō, -ere, perēgī, perāctus [3]: (here) accomplish, carry out

peragrō, -āre, -āvī, -agrātus [1]: wander / travel through

prōfluēns, -entis: flowing

raptum, -ī [2/m]: plunder, prey

rēgius, -a, -um: royal

saltus, -ūs [4/m]: (here) forest / mountain pasture; the noun can refer to a mountain / narrow pass

siccus, -a, -um: dry

tenuis, -e: (here) shallow, but often has the meaning of ‘thin’, ‘delicate’

vāgītus, -ūs [4/m]: crying, wailing

Notes

[1] Albana: 'belonging to Alba.' The full name of the city was Alba Longa, 'the Long White City.' It was long and narrow, owing to the steepness of the mountain-side on which it was built. Alba was the head of the league of Latin towns, till Rome conquered her own mother-city and took her place. The exact site of Alba is unknown.

[2] geminōs puerōs: according to the legend, Mars was the father of the twins

[3] (i) puerōs in prōfluentem aquam (ii) mittī [present passive infinitive] iussit │ he ordered [i] the boys [ii] to be thrown / flung / cast into the flowing water

[4] iacent; fluitat: historic presents; used to produce a more vivid picture, a greater sense of immediacy

[5] eam … Faustulus … invēnit; quī Lārentiae uxōrī eōs ēducandōs dedit

Two separate points:

[i] eam … Faustulus … invēnit; quī Lārentiae … dedit │ Faustulus found it; and he gave them to Larentia …

quī: connecting relative

Unlike English, quī, quae, quod (who, which) can begin a sentence referring to someone / something in the previous one, and is usually translated as and he, she …

[ii] quī Lārentiae uxōrī eōs ēducandōs dedit │ and he gave them to his wife Larentia to be brought up

ēducandus, -a, -um: a gerundive meaning to be brought up

English would most often use a passive infinitive to express this idea i.e. he gave them to Larentia ¦ to be brought up. Latin, however, uses the gerundive like an adjective agreeing with the noun / pronoun which is affected by the action:

quī Lārentiae uxōrī eōs [accusative plural] ēducandōs [accusative plural] dēdit

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/08/260924-level-2-ora-maritima-24-and-25-6.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/080625-level-3-gerundive-5-purpose.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/808706941740576

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/797022766242327

Examples:

deinde [i] eum … [ii] redūcendum Faleriōs puerīs trādidit

> literally: He handed [i] him ¦ [ii] (who was) to be taken back to Falerii ¦ to the boys

> he then handed [ii] him to the boys [ii] to be taken back to Falerii

Caesar pontem faciendum cūrat (Caesar) │ Caesar causes a bridge to be made

[6] vēnandō saltūs peragrant │ they wander through the forests hunting

vēnandum: an example of the gerund i.e. (the act of) hunting

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/270525-level-3-gerund-1.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/775441468400457

venandō: ablative of manner

[7] rōbur corporibus animīsque sūmunt │ they draw (their) strength for (their) bodies and minds

corporibus animīsque: datives of advantage i.e. who or what benefits from an action

[8] pāstōribus: among the shepherds

puerōs in prōfluentem aquam mittī iussit

01.07.25: Level 3; the Labours of Hercules; [IV] Slaying the Lernean Hydra

[IV] SLAYING THE LERNEAN HYDRA

Deinde Herculēs ab Eurystheō iussus est Hydram occīdere. Itaque cum amicō Iōlāō contendit ad palūdem Lernaeam ubi Hydra incolēbat. Hoc autem mōnstrum erat serpēns ingēns quae novem capita habēbat. Mox is mōnstrum repperit et summō cum perīculō collum eius sinistrā manū rapuit et tenuit. Tum dextrā manū capita novem abscidere incēpit, sed frustra labōrābat, quod quotiēns hoc fēcerat totiēns alia nova capita vidēbat. Quod ubi vidit, statuit capita ignī cremāre. Hōc modō octō capita delēvit, sed extrēmum caput vulnerārī nōn potuit, quod erat immortāle. Itaque illud sub ingentī saxō Herculēs posuit et ita victōriam reportāvit.

[1] Iōlaō, abl. of Iolaus, the hero's best friend.

[2] palūs, palūdis [3/f]: marsh; swamp

[3] reperiō, -īre, repperī, repertus [4]: find (out); discover

[4] … quotiēns hoc fēcerat totiēns alia nova capita vidēbat.

… however often / however many times (whenever) he did that, just as often he would see other new heads.

[5] … quotiēns hoc fēcerat totiēns alia nova capita vidēbat. Quod ubi vidit, … │ … however many times he did that, just as often he would see other new heads. And when he saw that, ….

Refer to the previous post on connecting relatives; quod is not related to a specific person or thing in the previous sentence but to the action described i.e. the continual regrowth of the heads.

[6] extrēmum caput vulnerārī nōn potuit │ the furthest head could not be injured

vulnerarī: passive infinitive

27.06.25: Level 3; the Labours of Hercules; [III] Hercules becomes subject to Eurystheus; he strangles the Nemean lion

[III] HERCULES BECOMES SUBJECT TO EURYSTHEUS; HE STRANGLES THE NEMEAN LION

Itaque Herculēs Pȳthiae tōtam rem dēmōnstrāvit nec scelus suum abdidit. Ubi iam Herculēs finem fēcit, Pȳthia iussit eum ad urbem Tiryntha discēdere et ibi rēgī Eurystheō sēsē committere. Quae ubi audīvit, Herculēs ad illam urbem statim contendit et Eurystheō sē in servitūtem trādidit et dīxit, "Quid prīmum, Ō rēx, mē facere iubēs?"

Eurystheus, quī perterrēbātur vī et corpore ingentī Herculis et eum occīdī studēbat, ita respondit: "Audī, Herculēs! Multa mira nārrantur dē leōne saevissimō quī hōc tempore in valle Nemaeā omnia vāstat. Iubeō tē, virōrum omnium fortissimum, illō mōnstrō hominēs līberāre." Haec verba Herculī maximē placuērunt. "Properābō," inquit, "et pārēbō imperiō tuō." Tum in silvās in quibus leō habitabat statim iter fēcit. Mox feram vidit et plūris impetūs fēcit; frūstrā tamen, quod neque sagittīs neque ūllō aliō tēlō mōnstrum vulnerāre potuit. Dēnique Herculēs saevum leōnem suis ingentibus bracchiīs rapuit et faucīs eius omnibus vīribus compressit. Hōc modō brevī tempore eum interfēcit. Tum corpus leōnis ad oppidum in umerīs reportāvit et pellem posteā prō veste gerebat. Omnēs autem quī eam regiōnem incolēbant, ubi fāmam dē morte leōnis ingentis accēpērunt, erant laetissimī et Herculem laudābant verbīs amplissimīs.

[1] Tyrins; this is an example of a Greek-type noun; some of these nouns have case endings that are originally from Greek or the Greek ending is an alternative to the Latin:

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Tiryns

Notes on Greek-type nouns:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/06/080824-level-2-practice-in-reading.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/473759851901955/

[2] Eurystheus was king of Tiryns, a Grecian city, whose foundation goes back to prehistoric times.

[3] Quae ubi audīvit │ and when he heard these things

When we see forms of quī, quae and quod, the immediate translation which comes to mind is ‘who’ or ‘which’; in grammar this is known as a relative pronoun as it is referring back to a person / thing in the same sentence (the antecedent) i.e. they introduce a relative clause.

Tum in [i] silvās [antecedent] ¦ [ii] in quibus leō habitabat [relative clause] ¦ statim iter fēcit. │ Then he immediately travelled into the [i] forests ¦ [ii] in which the lion lived.

[i] Omnēs [antecedent] ¦ [ii] quī eam regiōnem incolēbant [relative clause] ¦ erant laetissimī │[i] Everyone ¦ [ii] who inhabited that region ¦ was very happy.

However, the relative pronouns quī etc. can also start a sentence referring to [a] a specific person or thing in the previous sentence or [b] the entire idea of the previous sentence.

The relative pronoun, therefore, is making a connection with the preceding sentence which is why, in grammar, it is known as a connecting relative.

In this position it is not translated as “who” or “which” but by a pronoun or demonstrative that refers to the antecedent.

(a)

[i] Caesar Rubicōnem trānsiit. [ii] Quī posterā diē adversus Rōmam profectus est. │ [i] Caesar crossed the Rubicon. On the next day [ii] he set out towards Rome.

It is common in translation to connect the two sentences with ‘and’:

Caesar crossed the Rubicon, and he set out towards Rome on the next day.

[i] Ancilla tandem advēnit. [ii] Quam ubi vīdī, laetissimus eram │ [i] The slave girl arrived. When I saw [ii] her, I was very happy, or The slave girl arrived, and when I saw her, I was very happy.

[i] Ille servus effugit. [ii] Quem posteā captum graviter pūnīvī. │ [i] That slave escaped, and afterwards, when he had been caught [ii] I punished him severely.

(b)

In the following examples, the connecting relative does not refer to a specific noun, but to the entire statement made in the preceding sentence:

[i] Canis equum adiūvit. [ii] Quod ubi vīdimus, mīrātī sumus │ The dog helped the horse. When we saw that, we were amazed, i.e. the connecting relative is not referring to the dog or to the horse, but to the whole event.

Similarly:

[i] Mīlitēs nostrī omnēs effūgērunt. [ii] Quod ubi vīdimus, laetissimī erāmus. │ [i] All our soldiers escaped. [ii] When we saw that, we were very happy.

Note in the next example the inclusion of verbīs to indicate that the connecting relative is referring to something that was heard.

[i] Victōria tandem Rōmae relāta est. [ii] Quibus verbīs audītīs omnēs gāvīsī sumus. │ [i] The victory was finally reported in Rome, [ii] and with these words having been heard [= and when these words had been heard, we all rejoiced.

In the text we are dealing with (b) i.e. the connecting relative referring to the whole preceding sentence.

Pȳthia iussit eum ad urbem Tiryntha discēdere et ibi rēgī Eurystheō sēsē committere. │ Pythia commanded him to depart to the city of Tiryns and there commit / entrust himself to Eurystheus.

> Quae ubi audīvit, Herculēs ad illam urbem statim contendit │ and when he heard these things Hercules immediately hurried to that city.

[4] eum occīdī studēbat │ was eager for him to be killed

occīdī: present passive infinitive

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/10/110125-level-2-passive-voice-19-present.html 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/644124801532125/

[5] illō mōnstrō hominēs līberāre │ to free people from that monster; the ablative of separation

neque ūllō aliō tēlō mōnstrum vulnerāre potuit │ nor was he able to wound the monster with any other weapon

[6] ūllus, -a, -um: any

[7] alius, -a, -ud: other

[8] prō: instead of

02.02.25: level 2; reading; a schoolmaster’s treachery; Livy’s account [2] language notes [1]

The words and phrases in bold will be discussed in this post and subsequent ones

[5] quae ubi Camillus audivit, 'non ad similem' inquit 'tui nec populum nec imperatorem scelestus ipse cum scelesto munere venisti. │[5] (and) when Camillus heard this, he said “You, wicked man with your wicked gift have come neither to a people nor a commander similar to yourself.  

[6] … sunt et belli sicut pacis iura, iusteque ea non minus quam fortiter didicimus gerere. [7] arma habemus non adversus eam aetatem, cui etiam captis urbibus parcitur, sed adversus armatos et ipsos, qui nec laesi nec lacessiti ¦ a nobis ¦ castra Romana ad Veios oppugnarunt. │ [6] …there are rights of war just as there are rights of peace, and we have learnt to wage our wars justly (with justice) no less than courageously.

[7] arma habemus non adversus eam aetatem, cui etiam captis urbibus parcitur, sed adversus armatos et ipsos, qui nec laesi nec lacessiti ¦ a nobis ¦ castra Romana ad Veios oppugnarunt. │ [7] We do not use our weapons against those of an age which is spared even when cities have been captured, but against those who are also armed themselves, and who, neither injured nor provoked ¦ by us, ¦ attacked the Roman camp at Veii.

[8] eos tu, quantum in te fuit, novo scelere vicisti; ego Romanis artibus, virtute, opere, armis, sicut Veios, vincam' │ [8] As far as you could, you have vanquished these men by a new act of villainy; I shall vanquish them as I vanquished Veii, by Roman arts, by courage and strategy and weapons.’

[9] denudatum deinde eum manibus post tergum inligatis ¦ reducendum ¦ Falerios ¦ pueris tradidit virgasque eis, quibus proditorem agerent in urbem verberantes, dedit… │ [9] The man, stripped and with his hands tied behind his back, he then handed over to the boys ¦ to be taken back ¦ to Falerii, and he gave them rods with which, while beating him, they might drive the traitor into the city …

Notes:

[i] quae ubi Camillus audivit │ (and) when Camillus heard this

‘quae’ is a relative pronoun (who; which) but it is used very often to refer back to a noun or a statement in the preceding sentence; this is known in grammar as a connecting relative which, in translation, frequently includes ‘and’ in order to make an immediate connection between the current sentence and the previous one

‘quae’ specifically here is neuter accusative plural referring to verba (words); verba isn’t stated but implied since it is linking this sentence back to something that was said i.e. And when Camillus heard these (words) = and when Camillus heard this

[ii] quantum in te fuit │ as much as was in you = as much/ far as you could / were able

[iii] ablative of means / instrument

ego Romanis artibus, virtute, opere, armis, sicut Veios, vincam │ I shall vanquish them as I vanquished Veii, by Roman arts, by (means of) / with courage and strategy and weapons.’

[iv] non minus quam: comparative adverb

iusteque ea non minus quam fortiter didicimus gerere │ and we have learned to wage wars justly no less than courageously

[v] Faleriōs; the accusative of the plural proper noun Faleriī (2/m/pl)

deinde eum … redūcendum Faleriōs puerīs trādidit │ then he handed him to the boys to be taken back to Falerii; the accusative without a preposition is used with named towns and cities when referring to going to that place

[vi] oppugnarunt: an example of a contracted / syncopated form of the verb; -vi- and -ve- (in the perfect tenses) is often dropped.

oppugnārunt = oppugnāvērunt │ they attacked

Further examples:

audiērunt = audīvērunt │ they heard

mūniērunt = mūnīvērunt │ they fortified

https://www.thelatinlibrary.com/101/contractions.pdf