01.03.25: H & B; level 2; reading; the return of Camillus

Intereā arx Rōmae Capitōliumque in ingentī perīculō erat. Noctū aliquot Gallī per angustam viam genibus nīxī ascendēbant: nōn sōlum mīlitēs, sed etiam canēs fallēbant, ānserēs tamen Iūnōnī sacrōs nōn fefellērunt.

Ānserum clāmōribus excitātus est M. Mānlius: prīmum hostem manū dēturbat: tum arma sūmpsit, reliquōs ac arma vocāvit; Gallōs singulōs Rōmānī trucīdāvērunt.

Magna iam cibī inopia in arce erat: diū tamen sustinēbant; etiam pānem inter hostēs iactābant. ‘Nam sī cibī inopiam sēnserint,’ dictātor inquit, ‘ Gallōrum animī cōnfirmābuntur.’ Tandem lēgātōs ad hostem mīsērunt: salūtem mīlle librīs aurī ēmērunt. Aurum in forō ā Q. Sulpiciō tribūnō mīlitum Brennō rēgī Gallicō datur: ubi tribūnus ‘Inīqua pondera,’ inquit, ‘habētis, Gallī,’ Brennus ponderī gladium addidit : simul ‘Vae victīs’ clāmāvit.

Intereā tamen exercitus ā M. Fūriō Camillō exsule in Etrūriā collēctus erat: verba īnsolentia ā rēge vix dicta erant ubi Camillus cum novīs cōpiīs forum intrāvit. Statim Gallōs ācrī impetū oppugnant omnēsque mox trucīdant.

[A]

[1] Lines 1 – 5  (‘Intereā … trucīdāvērunt); in which order are the following first referred to?

animals deceived

attacking the enemy by hand

attacking the enemy with weapons

calling others

enemy moving on their knees

killing the enemy

Rome in danger

sacred animals

soldiers deceived

woken by animal noises

[2] Lines 6 – 8 (Magna … cōnfirmābuntur)

[i] What hardship did the city face? (1)

[ii] How well did they cope with this? (1)

[iii] “etiam pānem inter hostēs iactābant”: [a] translate the sentence (3) and [b] explain why the Romans acted in this way (2)

[3] Lines 8 – 11; translate (15)

Tandem lēgātōs ad hostem mīsērunt: salūtem mīlle librīs aurī ēmērunt. Aurum in forō ā Q. Sulpiciō tribūnō mīlitum Brennō rēgī Gallicō datur: ubi tribūnus ‘Inīqua pondera,’ inquit, ‘habētis, Gallī,’ Brennus ponderī gladium addidit: simul ‘Vae victīs’ clāmāvit.

Tandem lēgātōs ad hostem mīsērunt: salūtem mīlle librīs aurī ēmērunt. Aurum in forō ā Q. Sulpiciō tribūnō mīlitum Brennō rēgī Gallicō datur: ubi tribūnus ‘Inīqua pondera,’ inquit, ‘habētis, Gallī,’ Brennus ponderī gladium addidit: simul ‘Vae victīs’ clāmāvit.

[4] Lines 12 – end (Intereā … trucīdant)

[i] Where was Camillus and why was he there? (2)

[ii] What action did he take? (1)

[iii] What phrase tells you that he entered the forum quickly? Give the Latin and English translation. (5)

[iv] “Statim Gallōs ācrī impetū oppugnant omnēsque mox trucīdant.” How does this sentence convey the speed and intensity of the attack? (4)

[B] Match the words / phrases in bold with the grammatical descriptions

[i] hostem manū dēturbat; Statim Gallōs ācrī impetū oppugnant

[ii] salūtem mīlle librīs aurī ēmērunt

[iii] Aurum in forō ā Q. Sulpiciō ¦ tribūnō mīlitum Brennō ¦ rēgī Gallicō datur; intereā tamen exercitus ā M. Fūriō Camillō ¦ exsule in Etrūriā collēctus erat

[iv] sī cibī inopiam [v] sēnserint

[vi] datur

[vii] collēctus erat; dicta erant

[viii] Gallōrum animī cōnfirmābuntur

conjunction introducing a conditional clause __________

future perfect tense __________

ablative of price __________

ablative of means __________

future passive __________

nouns in apposition __________

pluperfect passive __________

present passive __________

____________________

[1] Intereā [i] arx Rōmae Capitōliumque in ingentī perīculō erat. [ii] Noctū aliquot Gallī per angustam viam genibus nīxī ascendēbant: nōn sōlum [iii] mīlitēs, sed etiam [iv] canēs fallēbant, [v] ānserēs tamen Iūnōnī sacrōs nōn fefellērunt. [vi] Ānserum clāmōribus excitātus est M. Mānlius: prīmum [vii] hostem manū dēturbat: [viii] tum arma sūmpsit, [ix] reliquōs ac arma vocāvit; [x] Gallōs singulōs Rōmānī trucīdāvērunt.

[3] [i] They finally sent envoys ¦ [ii] to the enemy; ¦ [iii] they bought (their) safety ¦ [iv] for a thousand pounds of gold. ¦ [v] In the forum, ¦ [vi] the gold is (was) given ¦ [vii] by Q(uintus) Sulpicius, the Tribune of the soldiers, ¦ [viii] to Brennus, the Gallic / Gaulish king: ¦ [ix] when the tribune said ¦ [x] “You have unfair weights, Gauls,” [xi] Brennus added a sword ¦ [xii] to the weight: ¦ [xiii] at the same time [xiv] he shouted ¦ [xv] “Woe to the vanquished.”

28.02.25: Level 1; readings [5]: different interests

Mārcus forum amat; nam ibi tot aedificia, templa, monumenta sunt. Monumenta et templa et aedificia Mārcus libenter spectat; imprīmīs autem rōstra Mārcum invītant. Ibi diū stat et auscultat. Et Cornēliam forum dēlectat, nam ibi tot tabernae sunt. Cornēliam tabernae invītant. Gaudet, cum aurum et argentum videt. Mārcus autem cōgitat: “Cūr Cornēlia gaudet et rīdet, cum aurum et argentum spectat? Certē aurum et argentum Cornēliam dēlectant, certē dōna exspectat!”

27.02.25: Level 3; deponent verbs (2)

Image #1: Apēs per agrōs vagantur. │ The bees wander through fields.

vagor, vagārī, vagātus (sum) [1/dep(onent)]: wander

[i] My own “shorthand” for this is to include the abbreviation ‘dep’ to show that it is a deponent verb rather than a passive one

[ii] as mentioned in the previous post, these verbs conjugate like any other passive verb but their meaning is active

[iii] image #2: deponent verbs can belong to any one of the conjugations

When reading, you will come across a mixture of passive and deponent verbs in the same text.

[i] passive

cōpia frūmentī cōnficitur │ a quantity of grain is produced

flōrēs aperiuntur │ flowers open (are opened)

frūmentum … in reliquum annum servātur │ the grain … is kept for the rest of the year

frūmentum mātūrum metitur │ ripe grain is harvested

omnia calōre ūruntur │ all things are burned by the heat

[ii] deponent

apēs per agrōs vagantur │ bees wander through the fields

avēs ex austrō revertuntur │ birds return from the south

bovēs … herbā pāscuntur │ cattle … feed on grass

herba ē terrā nāscitur │ grass grows / springs forth (is born) from the ground 

27.02.25: Level 3; reading; the four seasons [2]; summer

Dē aestāte

Aestāte sōl altus in caelō est. Sōl aestātis calidus est. Nōs calōre suō ūrit. Terra calida est. Caelum serēnum atque caeruleum est. Diēs longissimī, noctēs brevissimae sunt. Prīmā aestāte rūra flōrea sunt. Omnia flōrent. Apēs per agrōs vagantur. Mel dulce ē floribus legunt. Cōpiam mellis sibi faciunt atque in hiemem servant. Cōpia pābulī esse incipit. Frūctūs mātūrēscere incipiunt.

Hominēs pābulum metere incipiunt. Cōpiam pābulī equīs et bōbus cōnficiunt atque in hiemem servant. Frūctūs mātūrōs legere incipiunt. Cōpiam frūctuum sibi cōnficiunt atque in hiemem servant. Mediā aestāte frūmenta mātūrēscunt. Agrīs color est aureus. Frūmentum mātūrum metitur. Cōpia frūmentī cōnficitur atque in reliquum annum servātur. Extrēmā aestāte omnia calōre ūruntur. Agrī āridī sunt. Flōrēs ārēscunt. Herba ārēscit. Bovēs inopiā aquae labōrant. Omnia sitī labōrant. Omnia umbrās arborum et frīgus petunt.

Vocabulary    

ūrō, -ere; ussī [3]: burn

rūs, rūris [3/n]: country(side)

flōreus, -a, -um: flowery

vagantur: (they) wander

cōpia, -ae [1/f]: supply; abundance

sibi: (here) for themselves

pābulum, -ī [2/n]: food; (also food for animals)

mātūrēscō, -ere; mātūruī [3]: ripen; mature

metō, -ere; messuī [3]: reap; harvest

metitur: (it) is reaped / harvested

reliquus, -a, -um: remaining

servātur: (it) is kept

ārēscō, -ere; aruī [3]: wither; become dry

inopia, -ae [1/f]: scarcity; lack

sītis, -is [3/f ; no pl.; acc. sg. sitim]: thirst

umbra, -ae [1/f]: shade

[A]

1. Where is the sun in summer?
2. What does it do?
3. How are the following described: [i] the sky [ii] the days and the nights
4. What is the countryside like at the beginning of Spring?
5. What do the bees do?
6. How does the quantity of food change?
7. What do the fruits begin to do?        
8. [i] What do men start doing with the food? [ii] Which animals benefit from this?
9. What happens to the fruit?
10. When does the grain ripen?
11. What colour are the fields?
12. What is done with the grain?
13. Describe the conditions in late summer and how the animals react.

[B] Review the grammar terms; the following are examples of which grammatical features listed below?

1. aestāte sōl altus in caelō est; prīmā / mediā / extrēmā aestāte
2. agrīs color est aureus
3. bovēs inopiā aquae labōrant;  omnia sitī labōrant
4. cōpiam mellis sibi faciunt
5. longissimī; brevissimae
6. omnia calōre ūruntur; cōpiam pābulī equīs et bōbus cōnficiunt

• dative of possession
• reflexive pronoun
• superlative adjectives
• the ablative of cause i.e. the cause or reason why something happens
• the ablative of means / instrument i.e. the object / ‘thing’ by which something is done
• the ablative of time when i.e. it refers to a specific point or period in time

[C] Identify the case and number of the 4^th declension noun:

1. Frūctūs mātūrēscere incipiunt.
2. Frūctūs mātūrōs legere incipiunt.
3. Cōpiam frūctuum sibi cōnficiunt.

26.02.25: Level 2; Grammar Review; 3rd declension nouns [2]

haruspex, harusp __ is [3/m]: __________

leō, leō __ is [3/m]: __________

prīnceps, prīnc __ is [3/m]: __________

ars, ar __ is [3/f]: __________

arx, ar __ is [3/f]: __________

lēx, lē __ is [3/f]: __________

caput, cap __ is [3/n]: __________

corpus, corp __ is [3/n]: __________

sīdus, sīd __ is [3/n]: __________

volūmen, volūm __ is [3/n]: __________

-c-; -er-; -g-; -ic-; -in-; -ip-; -it-; -n-; -or-; -t-

body; chief; citadel; head; law; lion; scroll; skill; soothsayer; star

25.02.25: H & B; level 2; reading; a prophecy independently confirmed

Erant in Etrūriā multī et sapientēs haruspicēs. Ubi Rōmānī urbem Veiōs obsīdēbant, ūnus ex haruspicibus in sermōnem cum mīlitibus Rōmānīs incīdit. ‘Rōmānī,’ inquit, ‘urbem Veiōs nōn expugnābunt nisi aqua ē lacū Albānō ēmittētur.’ Posteā ē mūrīs in aggerēs Rōmānōs vēnit. Tum ūnus ē Rōmānīs, iuvenis fortis, senem īnfirmum superāvit et ad imperātōrem trāxit. Ab imperātōre ad urbem missus est. Intereā Rōmānī lēgātōs in Graeciam ad ōrāculum Apollinis miserant et reditum exspectābant. Lēgātī ubi revertērunt deī respōnsum nūntiāvērunt: “Sīc Apollō Rōmānōs monet: nisi aqua ē lacū Albānō ēmittētur, Rōmānī Veiōs nōn expugnābunt.” Tum dēnique sēnī crēdidērunt. Lacus Albānus tum forte imbribus auctus erat. Itaque Rōmānī ōrāculō pārent, aquam per agrōs ēmittunt, urbem Veiōs expugnant.

[A]

[1] Lines 1 - 3 (Erant … ēmittētur)

[i] How are the soothsayers described? (1)

[ii] When did one of them speak to the Roman soldiers? (2)

[iii] What prophecy was given? (3)

[2] Lines 3 – 5; translate (12):

Posteā ē mūrīs in aggerēs Rōmānōs vēnit. Tum ūnus ē Rōmānīs, iuvenis fortis, senem īnfirmum superāvit et ad imperātōrem trāxit. Ab imperātōre ad urbem missus est.

Marks awarded for translation are usually based upon ‘blocks’ of language and phrases rather than individual words. I have divided the text here into a suggested mark scheme although the content could have marks allocated in different ways. At this level it would be unlikely that common words such as Rōmānōs, fortis and īnfirmum would warrant separate marks. Look out for prepositions, adverbs and different tenses or active / passive constructions; these need to be conveyed precisely in a translation.

[i] Posteā ¦ [ii] ē mūrīs ¦ [iii] in aggerēs Rōmānōs ¦ vēnit. [iv] Tum ¦ [v] ūnus ē Rōmānīs, ¦ [vi] iuvenis fortis, ¦ [vii] senem īnfirmum ¦ superāvit ¦ [viii] et ad imperātōrem ¦ [ix] trāxit. [x] Ab imperātōre ¦ [xi] ad urbem ¦ [xii] missus est.

Questions 3 – 5:  reading comprehension and translation are not the same task although, in Latin tests, the questions are often so carefully worded that a translation seems to be the best option! Provided the answer gives the key points, it is not necessary to translate precisely. I have given sample answers at the end.

[3] Lines 5 – 6 (Intereā … exspectābant)

What were the Romans waiting for? Give details. (4)*

[4] Lines 6 – 8 (Lēgātī … crēdidērunt)

Why was the old man believed? Give details. (5)*

[5] Lines 9 – end (Lacus … expugnant)

Explain [i] why the Romans were able to obey the oracle and [ii] what the outcome was. (5)*

[B] Match the words / phrases in bold with the grammatical descriptions

[i] Ab imperātōre ad urbem [ii] missus est.

[iii] cum mīlitibus Rōmānīs

Intereā Rōmānī lēgātōs … ad ōrāculum Apollinis [iv] miserant et [v] reditum exspectābant.

[vi] Lacus Albānus tum forte [vii] imbribus  [viii] auctus erat.

[ix] nisi aqua ē [x] lacū Albānō [xi] ēmittētur

[xii] Tum dēnique sēnī crēdidērunt

4^th declension noun in the ablative case __________

4^th declension noun in the accusative case __________

4^th declension noun in the nominative case __________

ablative of accompaniment __________

ablative of agent __________

ablative of cause __________

conjunction introducing a conditional clause __________

future passive __________

noun in the dative case __________

perfect passive __________

pluperfect active __________

pluperfect passive __________

haruspex

https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0062:entry=haruspex-harpers

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

agger

https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0062:entry=agger-harpers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agger_(ancient_Rome)

____________________

*[3] The Romans had sent envoys [i] to Greece [ii] to the oracle of Apollo [iv] they were waiting for them to return

[4] [i] envoys returned ¦ [ii] gave the god’s response / same answer as the old man had given ¦ [iii] Apollo advises the Romans ¦ [iv] unless water is discharged from the lake / water  ¦ [v] Vei will not be captured

[5] [i] the lake had flooded by chance ¦ [ii] because of the rains [= by chance the rains had caused the lake to flood] ¦ [iii] the Romans discharged water ¦ [iv] through the fields ¦ [v] captured the city / Veii

24.02.25: Level 1; readings [4]: the fight

Iam Barbātus Syrum temptat. Gladiī crepant, populus adversāriōs incitat, nam pugnae turbam valdē dēlectant. Etiam Mārcus gaudet et clāmat, nam lūdōs et pugnās libenter spectat; Cornēliam autem lūdī nōn dēlectant: itaque sedet et tacet. Mārcus amīcam rogat: “Cūr pugna tē nōn dēlectat?” Cornēlia nōn respondet. Subitō Syrus adversārium temptat, vulnerat. Turba clāmat, sed Cornēlia lacrimās nōn iam tenet. Neque Mārcum nunc lūdus dēlectat. 

23.02.25: Level 3; reading; the four seasons [1]; spring

Dē vēre

Vēre sōl in caelō scandit. Singulī diēs longiōrēs fīunt. Singulae noctēs breviōrēs fīunt. Sōl vēris calēscit. Nix hiemis liquēscit. Auster pluviam fert. Herba ē terrā nāscitur. Nūdī agrī iterum viridēs fīunt. Arborēs folia prōdūcunt. Avēs ex austrō revertuntur. Silvae cantū sonant. Flōrēs aperiuntur.

Iuvat in agrōs silvāsque exīre. Bovēs iterum per collēs et vallēs herbā pāscuntur. Virī et puerī cum equīs exeunt. In agrīs labōrant. Agrōs arant. Sēmina et arborēs serunt. Arborēs serit dīligēns agricola, quārum adspiciet frūctum ipse numquam. Serit arborēs, quae alterī saeculō prōsint.

Vocabulary: note in particular the words in bold

scandō, -ere; scandī [3]: ascend

singulus, -a, -um: (here) one by one; one at a time

auster, -trī [2/m]: the south wind

nāscitur: is born

prōdūcō,-ere; prōdūxī [3]: produce

revertuntur: (they) return

sonō, -āre; sonuī [1]: resound

aperiuntur: (they) are being opened

iuvat [+ īnfīnītīve]: it is pleasing [to ...]

pāscuntur [+ abl.]: (they) feed [on ...]

sēmen, seminis [3/n]: seed

sērō, -ere; sēvī [3]: sow; plant

ipse: himself

alter, -a, -um: (here) the next

saeculum, -ī [2/n]: generation; century

prōsum, prōdesse; prōfuī [+ dat.]: be of benefit [to...]

[A]

1. How do the days and nights change in Spring?
2. How does the temperature change?
3. What happens to the snow?
4. What does the South Wind bring?
5. What appears from the earth?
6. What were the fields like before Spring and how are they now?
7. What do the trees do?
8. What return from the South?How do you know they are back?
9. What happens to the flowers?
10. What is it pleasant to do?
11. Where do the cattle feed?
12. Who come with horses?
13. What do they do?
14. Why will the farmer never see the trees that he plants?

[B] Review the grammar terms; the following are examples of which grammatical features listed below?

adspiciet

aperiuntur

calēscit; liquēscit

cantū; fructum

cum equīs; ē terrā; ex austrō; dē vēre

in agrōs; in agrīs

longiōrēs; breviōrēs

per collēs / per vallēs

quae; quārum

viridēs; diligēns

• 3^rd  declension adjectives
• 4^th declension nouns
• comparative adjectives
• future tense verb
• inchoative verbs (indicate the process of becoming something)
• preposition that only takes the accusative case
• preposition that takes both the accusative and the ablative case
• prepositions that only take the ablative case
• present passive verb
• relative pronouns 

23.02.25: Level 3; deponent verbs (1)

The previous text contained three verbs that were highlighted in the vocabulary list:

Avēs ex austrō revertuntur. │ The birds return from the south.

Bovēs iterum … herbā pāscuntur. │ The cattle again … graze on the grass.

Herba ē terrā nāscitur. │ Grass springs forth (is born) from the ground.

There is a group of verbs in Latin known as deponent that have passive forms but active meanings. At this stage it is best to remember two terms:

[i] An active verb is one where the subject performs the action.

The farmers harvest grain = active sentence

Agricolae frūmentum metunt.

The soldier killed the king = active sentence

Mīles rēgem interfēcit.

[ii] A passive verb is one where the subject experiences the action.

The grain is harvested by the farmers = passive sentence

Frūmentum ab agricolīs metitur.

The king was killed by the soldier = passive sentence

Rēx ā mīlite interfectus est.

With deponent verbs, however, the opposite is taking place; that’s not the be-all and end-all explanation, but it is enough for now. Deponent verbs look like passive verbs but they are active, the subject performing the action and not experiencing it.

Examples:

sequor = I follow, not I am followed!

ūtor = I use, not I am being used!

The deponent verbs only have three principal parts:

sequor, sequī, secūtus sum [3/dep]: follow

[1] sequor; first person singular present tense; I follow, not *I am followed*

[2] sequī; infinitive; to follow, not *to be followed*

The third principal part is not passive in meaning but rather the meaning of a perfect tense of an active verb; it will still agree in gender and number with the subject of the verb like the perfect passive participle, but what looks like a passive is, in fact, active.

[3] secūtus, -a sum; perfect active; I (have) followed, not *I have been / was followed*

secūtus, -a est │ he / she followed

secūtī, -ae sumus │ we (m/f) followed

[1] revertor; first person singular; I return

[2] revertī; infinitive; to return

[3] reversus, -a (sum); perfect active participle; I (have) returned

The next three readings on the seasons will give further examples of deponent verbs at which point we will look at them in more detail. There is a high risk of becoming tied in knots with long-winded explanations as to why such verbs exist, some writers on Latin grammar trying to analyse each deponent verb to work out why a passive form is being used when an active sense is meant. Given that there are over 500 deponent verbs in Latin, it seems to me to be a time-consuming wild goose chase. The best approach is to note deponent verbs when they occur and, for the moment, simply note that deponent verbs are passive in form but active in meaning.

The Latin Tutorial video will give you an overview of the deponent verbs:

22.05.25: Level 3; hot weather (Vincent): introduction to deponent verbs

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/690389376905667

We all approach learning in a different way. In terms of the Latin language, I deliberately structured the posts in three levels, discussing points in, as best as possible, an order according to relative importance, difficulty and a logical progression. The last one, for me, matters because one point of language may well be dependent upon another, in other words you can’t do [B] quadratic equations if you can’t [A] add, subtract etc.  Vincent’s videos are a case in point: he produces short, focussed work which contains a range of language at different levels. When he has posted them, I’ve written detailed notes on them but, at times, I have deliberately said “Just note that for the moment” because, to deal with that feature in depth requires knowledge of something that has gone before.

Vincent has used many deponent verbs in his work. Deponent verbs are structured in exactly the same way as passive verbs. Therefore, all the posts on the passive were done first, but now we can look at deponent verbs in detail. Note the verbs in bold.

Mihi valdē placent calidissimī diēs │ I really like very hot days [ = very hot days are very pleasing to me]

nam possum sōlus vel ūnā cum cane meō ut soleō deambulāre in silvā. │ for I can –  alone or together with my dog, as I usually do – go for a walk in the forest. [soleō, -ēre (2): be accustomed (to doing something)]

Aliī enim domī manent aut natātōrium petunt │ Because others stay at home or head for the swimming pool [natātorium, -ī (2/n) Neo-Latin: swimming pool < natātōrius, -a, -um (Late Latin) adj: swimming, swimmer]

[ii] vītandī calōris [i] causā. │ to avoid the heat [literally: [i] for the sake of ¦ [ii] avoiding the heat]*

*This is a gerundive: coming soon at Level 3!

Ego autem aequō animō patior. │ I, however, bear (it) with an even mind.

Immō saepe fruor calōre. │ What’s more (on the contrary), I often enjoy the heat.

Fruor ārdōribus sōlis. │ I enjoy the burning heat (Latin can use a plural) of the sun.

Libentissimē in sōle deambulō, versor. │ With great pleasure [libentissimē: (literally) very eagerly / willingly] I go for a walk in the sun (and) stay around here. [versor: tricky verb, at times, to translate neatly; the idea is to be somewhere, move around in a particular place]

Ergō nunc laetus sum. │ Therefore, I’m happy.

Focus on these three verbs as a way into deponent verbs:

fruor: I enjoy

patior: I bear; endure

versor: I move around

Those three verbs have what looks like passive endings e.g. laudor: I am praised. However, they do not refer to something being done to Vincent i.e. they are not passive. This type of verb is known as a deponent verb – it looks passive but is active in meaning – and will be the first language topic of Level 3.

22.02.25: Level 2; Grammar Review; 3rd declension nouns [1]

Fill in the genitive singular with the stem ending and its English meaning

dux, du __ is [3/m]: __________

mīles, mil __ is [3/m]: __________

rēx, rē __ is [3/m]: __________

tōnsor, tōns __ ris [3/m]: __________

legiō, legiō __ is [3/f]: __________

nox, no __ is [3/f]: __________

tempestās, tempestā__ is [3/f]: __________

cor, cor __ is [3/n]: __________

nōmen, nōm __ is [3/n]: __________

vulnus, vuln __ is [3/n]: __________

-c-; -ct-; -d-; -er-; -g-; -in-; -it-; -n-; -ō-; -t-

barber; commander; heart; king; legion; name; night; soldier; storm; wound

21.02.25: H & B; level 2; reading; the capture of Rome

Ad Gallōs, quod in Etrūriam cōpiās dūxerant, lēgātī ā Rōmānīs missī sunt: tum contrā iūs gentium lēgātī arma sūmpsērunt et cum Etrūscīs contrā Gallōs pugnāvērunt. Itaque Gallī ab Etrūriā in agrōs Rōmānōs vēnērunt. Statim ab urbe exercitus contrā novum hostem missus est. Prope Alliam fluvium pugnābant. Terrēbant Rōmānōs saeva ōra, magnī clāmōrēs, ingentia corpora barbarōrum: nostrī vix prīmum impetum sustinuērunt sed urbem fugā petīvērunt. Omnium animī ingentī timōre movēbantur. Iuvenēs statim Capitōlium occupāvērunt, reliquī, praeter senātōrēs, in Etrūriam discēdēbant. Gallī urbem intrant, ad forum veniunt: mīrum ibi spectāculum oculīs ostenditur: nam senātōrēs animīs ad mortem parātīs adventum hostium expectābant: magistrātūs in eburneīs sellīs sēdērunt honōrumque īnsignia gerēbant. Diū barbarī senēs immōtōs, velut deum imāginēs, spectābant. Tum ūnus ē Gallīs M. Papiriī barbam manū permulsit: senex īrātus caput scīpiōne eburneō ferit statimque ā barbarō necātur. Tum omnēs īrā moventur reliquōsque senēs in sellīs trucīdant.

[A]

[1] Line 1 (Ad Gallōs … missī sunt)

Why did the Romans send envoys to the Gauls? (1)

[2] Lines 1 - 2 (tum … pugnāvērunt)

What is the meaning of contrā iūs gentium and why is it referred to here? (4)

[3] Lines 2 – 5 (Itaque … missus est)

How did the Gauls and the Romans react to this? (4)

[4] Lines 4 – 6 (Prope … movēbantur)

Give details about the battle (8); [i] Prope Alliam fluvium pugnābant. [ii] Terrēbant Rōmānōs [iii] saeva ōra, [iv] magnī clāmōrēs, ingentia corpora [v] barbarōrum: [vi] nostrī vix prīmum impetum sustinuērunt [vii] sed urbem fugā petīvērunt. [viii] Omnium animī ingentī timōre movēbantur.

[5] Lines 7 – 8 (Iuvenēs … discēdēbant. )

Who occupied the Capitol? (1)

Who went to Etruria? (1)

Who stayed behind? (1)

[6] Lines  8 – 11 (Gallī … spectabant)

Describe what the Gauls saw when they entered the forum. (6); Gallī urbem intrant, ad forum veniunt: [i] mīrum ibi spectāculum oculīs ostenditur: [ii] nam senātōrēs animīs ad mortem parātīs* ¦ [iii] adventum hostium expectābant: [iv] magistrātūs in eburneīs sellīs sēdērunt [v] honōrumque īnsignia gerēbant. Diū barbarī [v] senēs immōtōs**, [vi] velut deum imāginēs, spectābant.

[7] Lines 11 – end (Tum … trucīdant.)

What provoked the first elderly man? How did he react and what happened afterwards? (7); Tum ūnus ē Gallīs M. Papiriī [i] barbam manū permulsit: senex [ii] īrātus [iii] caput scīpiōne eburneō ferit [iv] statimque ā barbarō necātur. Tum [v] omnēs īrā moventur [vi] reliquōsque senēs [vii] in sellīs trucīdant.

*animīs parātīs: ablative absolute:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/10/060225-level-2-reading-schoolmasters.html

 animus (mind) + parātus (perfect passive participle)

> both in the ablative: animīs [ad mortem] parātīs

> literally: with their minds having been prepared [for death]

> their minds having been prepared / when (after) their minds had been prepared / mentally prepared for death

Remember the “two stages” of translation: [i] go for the literal to be sure you grasp the construction, and [ii] rework it to convey the same meaning but in a more fluent manner.

**mōtus: having been moved; perfect passive participle from moveō, -ēre, mōvī, mōtus [2]: move

in + mōtus > immōtus: unmoved

[B] Complete the table which parses verbs from the text:

[C]

[i] Which five of the following nouns from the text are 4^th declension? The other nouns are either 2^nd or 3^rd declension:

adventus; barbarus; corpus; exercitus; fluvius; impetus; iūs; lēgātus; magistrātus; manus

[ii] A dictionary or vocabulary list would distinguish between these nouns by the inclusion of the genitive singular: -ī [2^nd declension]; -is [3^rd declension + stem change (if any)]; -ūs [4^th declension]

What would the genitive singular be of the nouns listed above?

adventus, advent __

barbarus, barbar  __

corpus, corp __

exercitus, exercit  __

fluvius, fluvi  __

impetus, impet __

iūs, iū __

lēgātus, lēgāt __

magistrātus, magistrāt __

manus, man __

____________________

20.02.25: Level 1; readings [3]: the gladiators arrive

Mārcus nōn rīdet, sed murmurat: “Elephantus! Sīmia! Ubi sunt Syrus et Barbātus? Cūr tuba nōn sonat?” Tum amīca: “Fortasse adversāriī hodiē nōn pugnant.” Etiam populus murmurat, quod Syrus et Barbātus nōndum adsunt; subitō autem tubae sonant, populus tacet, adversāriī intrant, stant, salūtant. Nunc populus gaudet et clāmat, et Mārcus vocat: “Mē neque elephantī neque sīmiae, sed lūdī et gladiī et tubae dēlectant.” Amīcī et amīcae rīdent.

19.02.25: Moving on; introduction to Level 3

[1] This FB group was never designed to be a random series of posts. It began on 19.02.24 at level 1 i.e. your cat knew more Latin than you did. Level 1 covered what I felt were the building bricks of the language.

19.05.24: a second level was introduced which simply continued from Level 1. The second level assumed that members were already confident in the features of level 1 either by using the posts here or on the other site, or through their own private study. Level 1 has continued and reviews points covered earlier.

Image #1: “Crossing the line”

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/permalink/445843464693594/

[2] I am now introducing a third level to the group which, in terms of the language covered, will go on from Level 2 to “the end”; Latin never really ends, but the grammar does reach a conclusion. Some of the texts remain quite simple but are chosen because they clearly show a specific point. However, they will increase in difficulty.

[3] Levels 1 and 2 will carry on reviewing the earlier topics; certain topics take a long time to explain, sometimes requiring many posts, and so there will be less repetition of the same point, but there will be:

Links to previous FB posts

Files stored in the group

Specific links to cloud storage and other external online sources which are both accurate and well-produced

[4] Everything that I post here – all three levels – is available on the alternative site [see image #2] that has been online almost since the group started.

[5] I have also started a new site [see image #3] which focuses only on the Level 3 posts. That is for those who are at a more advanced level and want to by-pass the less challenging topics.

I have mentioned before that, for some reason, FB does not allow a direct link to those sites and so simply note the addresses in the images.

18.02.25: Level 2; the passive voice [36]: translation practice

Most of the sentences in this exercise contain two perfect passive participles, for example:

[1] Oppidum [i] captum ¦ [ii] dēlētum est.

The sentence shows [i] a perfect passive participle describing the noun and [ii] a passive verb with ‘esse’

[i] The ‘having been captured’ ¦ town ¦ [ii] was destroyed.

Very often that literal translation needs to be reworked. There are various possibilities, but the examples below maintain the concept that something had happened to the town before the next action.

• The town, [i] after it had been captured, [ii] was destroyed.
• [i] When the town was captured [ii] it was destroyed.
• [i] The town was captured [ii] and destroyed.
• [i] Having been captured, [ii] the town was destroyed.

[2] Oppidum ¦ [i] ab hostibus captum ¦ [ii] dēlētum est.

• The town, captured by the enemy, was destroyed.
• After the town had been captured by the enemy it was destroyed.
• The town was captured by the enemy and (it was) destroyed.

Look out for tense sequences when translating

Dux barbarus ā Caesare captus Rōmam missus est.

The barbarian commander, captured by Caesar, was sent to Rome.

= The barbarian commander, who had been / was captured by Caesar, was sent to Rome.

Barbarī ā Rōmānīs captī Rōmam semper mittuntur.

Barbarians, captured by the Romans, are always sent to Rome.

= Barbarians who are / have been captured by the Romans, are always sent to Rome.

1. Cīvis vehementer perterritus in carcere clausus est.
2. Equus ligneus, ā Graecīs aedificātus, in urbem ductus est.
3. Gladiātor graviter vulnerātus ā medicō cūrātur.             
4. Helena, ā Paride vīsa, ad urbem Trōiam ducta est.       
5. Hostēs, captī ā mīlitibus Rōmānīs, Rōmam mittuntur.
6. Nāvēs tempestāte frāctae reficī nōn poterant.
7. Oppidum diū obsessum tandem incēnsum est.
8. Puer miser, ā cane rabiōsō morsus, cūrārī nōn poterat.             
9. Rēx gladiō interfectus postrīdiē sepultus est.  
10. Servī, ā dominīs laudātī, interdum līberābantur.
11. Terrae, ā Rōmānīs captae, bene regēbantur.
12. Urbs oppugnāta ab Horātiō dēfēnsa est.

One area that will be discussed at Level 3 is the style of the Roman authors, and there are certain features to look out for. As a “taster” here is an extract from the Jugurthine War by Sallust.

Cēterum oppidum incēnsum, Numidae pūberēs interfectī, aliī omnēs vēnumdatī, praeda mīlitibus dīvīsa.

Firstly, the statements are given in groups of three words (the “rule of three”) and note also the repetition of certain sounds

[i] Cēterum [ii] oppidum [iii] incēnsum

[i] Numidae [ii] pūberēs [iii] interfectī

[i] aliī [ii] omnēs [iii] vēnumdatī

[i] praeda [ii] mīlitibus [iii] dīvīsa

Moreover, the author omits the use of “esse” to form these passive constructions, thus allowing a greater and almost poetic momentum with emphasis on the final participle of each statement:

Cēterum oppidum incēnsum, │ Moreover, the town was burned

Numidae pūberēs interfectī, │ the adult Numidians (were) killed

aliī omnēs vēnumdatī, │ all the others (were) sold

praeda mīlitibus dīvīsa. │ (and) the spoil (was) divided among the soldiers

17.02.25: Level 1; readings [2]: Acquaintances everywhere

Nunc Mārcus et Cornēlia, Aemilia et Titus sedent et gaudent, nam Lūcius et Gāius appropinquant; rīdent et salūtant. Cornēlia nārrat: “Hodiē etiam Tullia et Claudia adsunt. Ecce! Ibi sedent.” Gāius rogat: “Cūr Quīntus nōn adest?” Tum Mārcus: “Quīntus aegrōtat, sed ibi sunt Titus et Aemilia! Lūdus nōn sōlum mē dēlectat, sed etiam…” Subitō Aemilia vocat: “Ecce elephantus, ecce sīmia!” Claudia et Cornēlia et Aemilia gaudent et rīdent.