25.04.25: Level 3; Verbs with the dative case [5]: examples from the authors [1]

[1] invideō, -ēre, invīdī [2]

Ille in sē stupet, ille cālīgat, invidet caecīs. (Seneca) │ Such a man is internally dazed; his vision is darkened [he has poor eyesight]; he envies the blind.

Ego nēminī invideō (Petronius) │ I envy nobody

probus invidet nēminī (Cicero) │ the honest man envies nobody

[2] persuādeō, -ēre, persuāsī [2]

Sīc enim volō tē tibi persuādēre, (Cicero) │ For I want you to convince yourself

sī tōtum tibi persuādēre nōn possum (Cicero) │ if I cannot persuade you entirely

[3] placeō, -ēre, -uī [2]

Hāc rē mihi placet, … tē ad eum scrībere (Cicero)│ Under the circumstances I see no objection (literally: it pleases me) … to you writing to him

[4] studeō, -ēre, -uī [2]

Cupiditāte rēgnī adductus novīs rēbus studēbat (Caesar) │incited by the desire of power, he was anxious for a revolution

Sulpicius Galus, quī maximē omnium nōbilium Graecīs litterīs studuit (Cicero) │ Sulpicius Galus, who most of all the nobles devoted himself to Greek literature

Studuit Catilīnae iterum petentī (Cicero) │ he supported Catiline when he was making a second attempt; note: studeō also has the meaning of siding with somebody

[5] cōnfīdō, -ere, cōnfīsus sum [3/semi-deponent]

Hīs amīcīs sociīsque cōnfīsus Catilīna … opprimundae reī pūblicae cōnsilium cēpit. (Sallust) │ Depending on such accomplices and adherents [= having / put his trust in]  … Catiline formed the design of overthrowing the government.

Huic legiōnī Caesar … cōnfīdēbat maximē. (Caesar)│ Caesar placed the greatest confidence in this legion

vehementer hominem contemnēbat et suīs et reī pūblicae cōpiīs cōnfīdēbat (Cicero) │  (Pompey) had an utter contempt for the man, and firm confidence in his own and the state's resources

Nōlī huic tranquillitātī cōnfīdere: mōmentō mare ēvertitur; eōdem diē ubi lūsērunt nāvigia sorbentur. (Seneca) │ Trust not in this tranquility, for in an instant is the sea turned upside down, and swallowed up are ships on that same day when once they played 

[6] crēdō, crēdere, crēdidī  [3]

crēde mihi … cum quasi tēcum loquor (Cicero) │ Believe me … when I seem to talk with you

Tū mihi nōn crēdis ipsī? (Cicero) │ Don’t you believe me myself?

[7] ignōscō, -ere, ignōvī [3]

Caesar mihi ignōscit per litterās quod nōn vēnerim (Cicero) │ Caesar has written to excuse me for not coming (to Rome); literally: Caesar forgives me by letter that I did not come

[8] nūbō, -ere, nūpsī [3]

Neque ita multō post A. Caecīnae nūpsit (Cicero) │ And not much later she married A. Caecina; nūbō can only refer to the act of a woman marrying a man

[9] resistō, -ere, restitī [3]

Sērō enim resistimus eī (Cicero) │ It is late to resist him; literally: we resist him late

[10] dēsum, dēesse, dēfuī

Domus tibi dēerat? (Cicero) │ Did you lack a house? [literally: was a house lacking to you]

[11] praesum, praeesse, praefuī

Hīs praeerat Viridovix (Caesar) │ Viridovix was in command of them [was at the head of them / was their chief]

[12] prōsum, prōdess, prōfuī

Tua disciplīna nec mihi prōdest nec tibi (Plautus) │ Your discipline benefits neither me nor you

25.04.25: Level 3; Habits of the Massagetae

Video commentary at:

https://youtu.be/BjkI9lHP5WU

He gives quite a lengthy introduction; if you want to go straight to the text then start at 04:41

Ūtuntur Massagetae et vestīmentō et vītae ratiōne similī Scythārum. Equīs pugnant; arcū et hastīs ūtuntur. Ad omnia aurō ūtuntur aut aere. Ad hastās, ad sagittārum cuspidēs āere ūtuntur; ad capītis ōrnātum, et ad lumbōrum cingula, aurō. Argentum et ferrum in eōrum terrā nōn reperiuntur; sed aeris et aurī est immēnsa cōpia. Senēs interficiunt propinquī, et pecudēs cum iīs; coctā carne deinde epulantur. Terrā autem condunt morbō mortuōs. Sēmentem nūllam faciunt: cibus eōrum ex pecoribus, piscibus, lacte, cōnstat. Deōrum ūnum Sōlem colunt: huic equōs immolant. ​

Vocabulary

aes, aeris [3/n]: bronze; copper; brass

cingulum, -ī [2/n]: girdle (encircling the hips); sword-belt

condō, -ere, condidī, conditus [3]: (here) bury

cuspis, -is [3/f]: point, tip (of a pointed object); Engl. deriv. cusp

lumbus, -ī [2/m]: (usually in the plural) loin

propinquus, -a, -um: near / neighbouring; (here plural) propinquī: relatives; relations; family members

ratiō, ratiōnis [3/f]: multiple meanings, but here: manner (way); method

Scytha, -ae [1/m]: Scythian

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Scythian

sēmentis, -is [3/f]: sowing; planting

Questions

[1] In what ways are the Massageteans similar to the Scythians? (2)

[2] How do they fight? (3)

[3] What specific uses are mentioned for:

[i] copper, and [ii] gold? (4)

[4] What information is given about iron and silver? (2)

[5] aeris et aurī est immēnsa cōpia

In what case are the nouns in bold and why is that case being used? (2)

[6] Translate: Senēs interficiunt propinquī, et pecudēs cum iīs; coctā carne deinde epulantur. Terrā autem condunt morbō mortuōs.

[7] What information is given about:

[i] their diet, and [ii] their religious practices? (6)

Notes

[i] two words which are not always easy to distinguish; in reality, various translations are equally acceptable

[a] … et pecudēs cum iīs

pecus, pecudis [3/f]: a single herd animal e.g. a horse or a head of cattle; plural: livestock e.g. sheep, goats

[b] cibus eōrum ex pecoribus … cōnstat

pecus, pecoris [3/n]: usually refers to a group of larger domestic animals such as cattle of sheep i.e. those animals which can pull carts or ploughs

[ii] … morbō mortuōs │ those who have died from a disease; this is an example of the ablative of cause

[iii] Deponent verbs

Both of these verbs are followed by a noun in the ablative case

ūtor, ūtī, ūsus sum [3/dep]: use; make use of

Ad omnia aurō ūtuntur aut aere. │ They use gold or copper for everything.

epulor, -ārī, epulātus sum [1/dep]: banquet; feast upon

Coctā carne … epulantur │ They feast upon … cooked meat

In context, this phrase can also be interpreted as an ablative absolute:

After the meat has been cooked … they have a feast

[iv] Massagetae or Massageteans: an ancient Iranian people who lived on the steppes of Central Asia

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

https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0064:entry=massagetae-geo

24.04.25: Level 2; topic; Mankind; the human body; accident and illness [2]: Comenius XXXVIII (1658); The Outward Parts of a Man. / Membra Hominis Externa [1]

[i] the head, 1. is above, the feet, 20. below. the fore part of the neck (which ends at the arm-holes, 2.) is the throat, 3. the hinder part, the crag,* 4. │  caput, 1. est suprā, īnfrā pedēs, 20. anterior pars collī (quod dēsit

in axillās, 2.) est iugulum, 3. posterior cervīx, 4.

 *crag (obsolete): nape of the neck

 [ii] The Breast, 5, is before; the back, 6, behind; Women have in it two Dugs,* 7. with Nipples, │ The Breast, 5, is before; the back, 6, behind; Women have in it two Dugs,** 7. with Nipples,

 **dug: now referring to the mammary gland of a domestic animal

 Vocabulary

anterior, -ius (comparative; Late Latin): foremost; former; (here) referring to the front part

posterior, -ius (comparative): coming after; further to the back; (here) referring to the rear part

suprā (adverb): above

infrā (adverb): below

ante (as an adverb): in front

retrō (adverb): behind

bīnus, -a, -um: (in the plural) two each; in pairs

[a] Below are the nouns referred to in this part of the text; what are the genitive singular forms? Fill in the blanks with the endings listed below.

[i]

1. axilla, axill__ [1/f]: armpit
2. caput, cap__is [3/n]: head
3. cervīx, cerv__is [3/f]: nape of the neck
4. collum, coll__ [2/n]: neck
5. iugulum, iugul__ [2/n]: throat
6. pēs, p__is [3/m]: foot

-it-; -īc-; -ae; -ī; -ed-; -ī

[ii]

1. dorsum, dors__ [2/n]: back
2. mamma, mamm__ [1/f]: female breast
3. papilla, papill__ [1/f]: nipple; teat
4. pectus, pect__is [3/n]: breast; chest

-ae; -ī; -or-; -ae

[b] derivatives

1. What are the mammary glands of an animal?
2. Where would you find: [i] the pectoral muscles? [ii] the jugular vein? [iii] a dorsal fin?
3. What is the origin of the term capital city?
4. The Victorians may have said “Sit on your posterior”. What might we say?!
5. A __________ precinct is the term referring to an area only for people who are on foot.
6. What is the origin of the word collar?

24.04.25: Level 2; review; Hillard and Botting (H & B); review sentences [D]

Complete the translation by choosing the correct form of the Latin words.

[1] At one time I used to fight in Asia. │Ōlim in [i] __________ [ii] __________.

[i] Asiā / Asia / Asiae

[ii] pugnābō / pugnō / pugnābam

[2] They often used to attack Troy. │ [iii] __________ Troiam [iv] __________.

[iii] semper / saepe / interdum

[iv] oppugnant / oppugnabunt / oppugnābant

[3] They finally took Troy by storm. │ [v] __________ Troiam [vi] __________.

[v] tandem / tamen / autem

[vi] expugnāvērunt / expugnāverant / expugnāverint

[4] I used to wander far and wide through Asia. │Lātē per [vii] __________ [viii] __________.

[vii] Asiā / Asiam / Asiae

[viii] errābat / errābās / errābam

[5] I sailed to Italy. │ Ad [ix] __________ [x] __________.

[ix] Ītaliā / Ītaliae / Ītaliam

[x] nāvigāvī / nāvigāveram / navigābam

[6] I gained fame among the inhabitants of Italy. │ Inter [xi] __________ [xii] __________ fāmam [xiii] __________.

[xi] incolārum / incolīs / incolās

[xii] Ītaliā / Ītaliae / Ītaliam

[xiii] comparō / comparāvī / comparābam

[7] I was fighting in Italy for a long time. │Diū in [xiv] __________ [xv] __________.

[xiv] Ītaliā / Ītaliae / Ītaliam

[xv] pugnābam / pugnābāmus / pugnābitis

[8] Finally I conquered the inhabitants of Italy. │ Tandem incolās [xvi] __________ [xvii] __________.

[xvi] incolārum / incolās / incolīs

[xvii] Ītaliae / Ītalia / Ītaliam

[9] (My) fame will always last in Italy. │ [xviii] __________ fāma in Ītaliā [xix] __________.

[xviii] saepe / interdum / semper

[xix] dūrābit / dūrābat / dūrat

[10] The descendants of Aeneas will build Alba Longa. │ Aeneadae Albam Longam [xx] __________.

[xx] aedificābant / aedificābunt / aedificāvērunt

23.04.25: Level 1; readings [6] - [11]: review (10); adjectives [v]; 1st / 2nd declension adjectives [iv]

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Latin_for_beginners_(1911)/Part_II/Lesson_X

23.04.25: Level 1; readings [6] - [11]: review (9); adjectives [iv]; 1st / 2nd declension adjectives [iii]

Masculine adjectives of this class are declined like dominus, and neuters like pīlum i.e. the adjectives happen to have the same endings as the nouns.

Note:  the table lists a vocative masculine singular form of the adjective i.e. bone; this is the only occurrence of a separate vocative ending for an adjective which is why D’Ooge only lists it in the singular

Nouns

amīcus, -ī, m., friend (amicable)

Germānia, -ae, f., Germany

patria, -ae, f., fatherland

populus, -ī, m., people

Rhēnus, -ī, m., the Rhine

vīcus, -ī, m., village

Exercise: translate

1. Patria servī bonī, vīcus servōrum bonōrum, bone popule.
2. Populus oppidī magnī, in oppidō magnō, in oppidīs magnīs.
3. Cum pīlīs longīs, ad pīla longa, ad mūrōs lātōs.
4. Lēgāte male, amīcī lēgātī malī, cēna grāta dominō bonō.
5. Frūmentum equōrum parvōrum, domine bone, ad lēgātōs clārōs.
6. Rhēnus est in Germāniā, patriā meā.
7. Sextus lēgātus pilum longum portat.
8. Oppidānī bonī Sextō lēgātō clārō pecūniam dant.
9. Malī servī equum bonum Mārcī dominī necant.
10. Galba agricola et Iīlia fīlia bona labōrant.
11. Mārcus nauta in īnsulā Siciliā habitat.

____________________

1. The fatherland of the good slave, the village of the good servants, O good people.
2. The people of the great town, in the large town, in the great towns.
3. With long spears, to long spears, to the wide walls.
4. wicked lieutenant, friends of the bad lieutenant, dinner pleasing to the good lord.
5. wheat of the small horses, O good lord, to the famous lieutenants
6. The Rhine is in Germany, my fatherland.
7. Sextus, the lieutenant, carries a long spear.
8. The good townspeople give money to Sextus, the renowned lieutenant.
9. The bad slaves kill the good horse of Marcus, the master.
10. Galba, the farmer, and Julia, his good daughter, are labouring.
11. Marcus the sailor lives on the island of Sicily.

22.04.25: Level 3; Verbs with the dative case [4]: special verbs [3]

Complete the Latin sentences with the verbs listed below; note the endings of the dative case

Forgive me │ [1] __________ mihi

Why do you envy me? │ Cūr mihi [2] __________?

He certainly convinces (persuades) me. │ Prōrsus mihi [3] __________ (Cicero)

Hard punishment and constant sadness will not persuade the queen. │ Dūra poena et perpetua trīstitia rēgīnae nōn [4] __________.

For it neither pleases me nor our Atticus [= it’s neither pleasing to me nor to our Atticus] │ nec enim mihi [5] __________ nec Atticō nostrō (Cicero)

The Romans were unable to oppose Boudica. │ Rōmānī Boudicae [6] __________ nōn poterant.

Tiberius and Gaius didn’t resist [were not opposed to] hard discipline and obeyed Cornelia. │ Tiberius et Gāius disciplīnae dūrae nōn [7] __________ et Cornēliae [8] __________.

Boudica never forgave the Romans. │ Numquam Boudica Rōmānīs [9] __________.

Do you believe the words of the allies? Many do not believe their words. │ [10] __________ verbīs sociōrum? Multī verbīs eōrum nōn [11] __________.

My neighbours will not favour your plan because they are eager for war. │ Meī fīnitimī cōnsiliō tuō nōn [12] __________, quod bellō [13] __________.

Many Romans favoured the commander. │ Multī Rōmānī imperātōrī [14] __________.

Soon the arrows will fly and harm the wretched children. │ Mox sagittae volābunt et līberīs miserīs [15] __________.

At the same time he ordered the third line, and the entire army not to charge without his command │ Simul tertiae aciēī tōtīque exercituī [16] __________, nē iniussū suō concurreret (Caesar)

That friend of mine …is / has become very angry with you. │ ille noster amīcus … sānē tibi [17] __________. (Cicero)

Nobody is free who is a slave to his body. │ Nēmō līber est quī corporī [18] __________. (Seneca)

For Anicia, the cousin of Pomponius, had married Servius, the brother of Sulpicius │ namque Anicia, Pompōniī cōnsōbrīna, [19] __________ Serviō, frātrī Sulpiciī. (Nepos)

Therefore the one has confidence in his case, the other distrusts his. │ itaque alter causae [20] __________, alter [21] __________. (Cicero)

cōnfīdit; crēdisne; crēdunt; diffīdit; favēbant; favēbunt; ignosce; imperāvit; invidēs; īrātus est; nocēbunt; nūpserat; pārēbant; pepercit; persuādēbunt; persuādet; placet; resistēbant; resistere; servit; student

22.04.25: Level 3; The story of Arion [6]

[A] ____________________

Arīōn citharista praeclārus erat. Is diū apud Periandrum Corinthiōrum rēgem versātus erat. Tum in Ītaliam Siciliamque nāvigāre cupīvit. Ingentibus opibus ibi comparātis, Corinthum redīre voluit. Itaque Tarentō, urbe Ītaliae, profectus est; ibi nāvigium hominum Corinthiōrum condūxerat.

[B] ____________________

Hī autem eum in mare prōicere cōnstituērunt; pecūniā enim potīrī cupiēbant. Tum vērō Arīōn cōnsilium intellēxit. Trīstis ad precēs cōnfūgit. Pecūniā omnī nautīs oblātā, vītam dēprecātus est. Nautae vērō precibus virī nōn commōtī, mortem eī statim minātī sunt.

[C] ____________________

In hās angustiās redāctus Arīōn, in puppī stetit, omnī ōrnātū suō indūtus. Tum ūnum ē carminibus canere incēpit. Nautae suāvī carmine captī ē puppī mediam in nāvem concessērunt. Ille omnī ōrnātū indūtus, captā citharā, carmen perēgit. Cantū perāctō in mare sē prōiēcit. Tum nautae Corinthum nāvigāvērunt.

[D] ____________________

Arīōn autem ā delphīne exceptus dorsō Taenarum dēlātus est. Ēgressus in terram, Corinthum cum eōdem habitū contendit. Ibi nautārum facta nārrāvit. Periander autem eī crēdere nōluit. Arīōn igitur in cūstōdiā ab eō retentus est.

[E] ____________________

Interim nautae Corinthum advēnērunt. Ā Periandrō interrogātī sunt dē Arīone. Turpissimē mentītī sunt omnēs. Subitō Arīōn appāruit cum eōdem ōrnātū. Attonitī nautae scelus cōnfitentur. Ā rēge Periandrō omnēs interfectī sunt, et multum pecūniae Arīonī datum est.

[1] Each section has a title. Match the titles below with the heading [A] – [E] of each section

• ​Arion sings a beautiful song, and leaps overboard.
• Arion is miraculously saved by a dolphin.
• The wicked sailors are detected and punished, and Arion is rewarded.
• The sailors form a plan to rob and murder him.
• Arion, after travelling abroad, hires a vessel to take him home.

[2] Review these are deponent verb forms; find the Latin:

1. having landed / disembarked = having gone out onto the land
2. he begged for his life
3. he desired to possess (money)
4. he had lived (for a long time)
5. he set out (from Tarentum)
6. the sailors confess
7. they all lied (most disgracefully)
8. they threatened him (with death) = they threatened to kill him

[3] Review these passive forms; find the Latin:

1. Arion … was carried away
2. Arion was held ¦ by him ¦ in custody
3. they were questioned ¦ by Periander
4. they were (all) killed ¦ by the king
5. a lot of money was given ¦ to Arion
6. Arion, having been reduced to a state of distress …
7. … the sailors, not moved ¦ by the man’s entreaties …
8. … the sailors, captivated ¦ by the sweet song …
9. … dressed ¦ in all his fine clothing …
10. Astonished, the sailors confess

[4] Review the ablative absolute; find the Latin:

1. after the lyre had been taken up
2. after the song was finished
3. after all his money had been offered ¦ to the sailors
4. with huge riches having been acquired (there)

21.04.25: Level 2: topic; Mankind; the human body; accident and illness [1]: Comenius XXXVI (1658); Homō / Man

The entire work can be found here:

https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/28299/pg28299-images.html

[i] Adam, 1. the first Man, was made by God after his own Image the sixth day of the Creation, of a lump of Earth.  │ Adamus, 1. prīmus Homō, fōrmātus est ā Deō ad Imāginem suam sextā diē Creātiōnis, ē Glēbā Terræ.

[ii] And Eve, 2.the first Woman, was made of the Rib of the Man. │ Et Eva, 2. prīma mulier, fōrmāta est ē costā virī.

[iii] These, being tempted by the Devil under the shape of a Serpent, 3. when they had eaten of the fruit of the forbidden Tree, 4. were condemned, 5. to misery and death, with all their posterity, and cast out of Paradise, 6. │ Hī, sēductī ā Diabolō sub speciē Serpentis, 3. cum comederent dē frūctū vetitæ arboris, 4. damnātī sunt, 5. ad miseriam & mortem, cum omnī posteritāte suā, & ēiectī ē Paradīsō 6.

vocabulary

costa, -ae [1/f]: (anatomy) rib

glēba, -ae [1/f] or glaeba, -ae [1/f]: lump (of earth); clod; mass

paradīsus, -ī [2/m]: [i] (CL) park; orchard [ii] (Eccl.) [a] Eden i.e. the paradise home of the first humans; [b] Paradise: the home of the blessed after death

sē¦dūcō, -dūcere, -dūxī, -ductus [3]: lead astray; seduce; note the way this verb is listed i.e. it has a prefix which is only given once, the rest of the verb showing its unprefixed forms

vetitus, -a, um: forbidden

notes

perfect passive voice; ablative of source / material

[a] Adamus … [i] fōrmātus est ¦ [ii] ā Deō … ¦ [iii] ē glēbā ¦ terræ. │ Adam … [i] was created ¦ [ii] by God ¦ [iii] from / out of a lump ¦ of earth.

[b] Eva … [i] fōrmāta est ¦ ē costā ¦ virī. │ Eve [i] was made ¦ [ii] of / from / out of the rib ¦ of the man.

ē glēbā (terrae) and ē costā (virī) are examples of the ablative of source / material i.e. it denotes from where something is derived or from which something is made; when referring to the material it is coveyed by the the use of the prepositions ē(x) or dē:

Erat tōtus ¦ ex fraude et mendāciō ¦ factus. │ He was entirely made up ¦ of fraud and (of) falsehood.

factum ¦ dē cautibus ¦ antrum │ a cave formed ¦ from rocks

Templum ¦ dē marmore ¦ pōnam. │ I’ll build a temple ¦ of marble.

[b] [i] Hī, … ¦ [i] damnātī sunt, ad miseriam et mortem … et [ii] ēiectī ē Paradīsō (sunt).

Neither in English nor in Latin is there a need to repeat were / sunt i.e. in grammatical terms ēiectī is dependent upon sunt:

They (these people) … [i] were condemned to misery and death … and [ii] (were) cast out from Paradise.

[ii] Hī, [iii] sēductī ā Diabolō … │ They ¦ (having been / who had been) tempted by the Devil …

Here the perfect passive participle stands alone; its literal translation is “having been tempted” but, as in the Latin, it can be translated equally neatly as a single word in English. 

09.02.25: Level 3; Barbarians [1]

If you want to upset the Romans, this is the best way of going about it …

Maxuma pars tribuum dēditiōnem fēcit et iam tribūta contulit, at nōn iste.

At nōn iste.

Concēdō tibi spem extrēmam, barbare.

Metelle! Tribūs id tamen nōn intellegent. Apud eōs iūs vetat quemquam capite damnārī ab aliō homine.

Iūs vērō Germānicum nūllum. Vērum autem Rōma. Tandem eīs expertō opu’st.

____________________

[1] Maxuma pars tribuum dēditiōnem fēcit ... │ Most of the tribes have surrendered / capitulated …

• deditiō, deditiōnis [3/f]: surrender; capitulation [literally: the majority have made a surrender]
• maxumus, -a, -um = maximus, -a, -um; maxima pars = the biggest part = the majority; the verb fēcit is singular because the verb agrees with the singular noun pars, partis [3/f]
• tribus, -ūs [4/f]: tribe 

[2] … et iam tribūta contulit ... │ …and have already got the (their) tributes together …

• cōnferō, -ferre, -tulī: gather; bring together; collect
• tribūtum, -ī [2/n]: tribute

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

[3] … at nōn iste. │ … but not this one.

• iste, ista, istud: he / she / it; that / this (man / woman), this / that one; in Classical Latin this was often used in a negative / pejorative manner, which is appropriate here

[4] At nōn iste. │ But not this one.

[5] Concēdō tibi spem extrēmam, barbare. │ I grant a last hope to you [= I give you one last chance], Barbarian.

• concēdō, -ere, concessī [3]: (here): grant; allow
• extrēmus, -a, -um: last (of time)
• spēs, speī [5/f]: hope

[6] Metelle! Tribūs id tamen nōn intellegent. │ Metellus! Nevertheless, the tribes will not understand it / this.

• barbare / Metelle: vocative case; nouns in -us > -e when the person is being addressed directly

Note: the Latin subtitle gives the line as Tribus id tamen nōn intelleget i.e. singular (the tribe will not understand this) but I’m sure I hear intellegent (plural) which would also make sense since they are receiving tributes from several tribes and he does go on to say apud eōs (among them), but maybe my ears are playing tricks with me; anyway it doesn’t matter because the key point is the concern that this act may be provocative …

Apud eōs iūs vetat quemquam capite damnārī ab aliō homine │Among them the law forbids anybody to be condemned to death by another man. [According to their law …]

• apud (+accusative): at; by; near; among: apud mē = at my house = Fr: chez moi = Gmn: bei mir = Russ: u menya, but it can have a far wider meaning to refer to a group of people and, in this context, what their attitude is or how they do things;  ‘according to their law’ would be a good translation
• damnārī: to be condemned, the  passive infinitive of damnō, -āre [1]: condemn; capite / morte [ablative] damnārī: to be condemned to death
• iūs, iūris [3/n]: law
• quisquam (masc. / fem.) quicquam [or quidquam] (neuter): anybody / anything

[7] Iūs vērō Germānicum nūllum. │ But (there is) no Germanic law.

• nūllus, -a, -um: not any; none; nobody
• vērō: truly; really; in post-positive position i.e. 2^nd position [(i) iūs (ii) vērō] can simply translate as ‘but’

[8] Vērum autem Rōma. │ On the contrary, the reality / truth (is) Rome.

• vērum, -ī [2/n] truth; reality

[9] Tandem eīs expertō opu’st. │ Eventually, they need to have experienced this.

• experior, experīrī, expertus [4/deponent]: put to the test; experience; witness; endure

opu’st is a contraction of opus + est, a reflection of speech where two (almost) adjacent sounds combine

• opus, operis [3/n]: (here) need; necessity

opus esse: to have need (of something); the person who needs it is in the dative case, and what there is a need of is expressed either by the nominative case or, here, the ablative case.

• novō cōnsiliō [ablative] nunc mihi [dative] opus est (Plautus) │ Now I need [literally: to me there is need of] a new plan.
• auxiliō [ablative] mihi [dative] opus fuerat (Cicero) │ I had needed assistance.

eīs [dative] expertō [ablative] opu’st [= opus est]

21.04.25: Level 2; review; Hillard and Botting (H & B); review sentences [C]

Complete the Latin translations with the words in the wordcloud; some words are used more than once.

1. At one time / in the past he used to reign in Greece. │ __________ in __________ __________.
2. He gained fame among the inhabitants. │ Inter incolās fāmam __________.
3. He prepared the troops. │ Cōpiās __________.
4. He sailed to Asia. │ Ad __________ __________.
5. He gained fame among the inhabitants of Asia. │Inter incolās __________ fāmam __________.
6. He attacked Troy. │ Troiam __________.
7. He finally conquered Troy. │ Tandem Troiam __________.
8. Afterwards he sailed to Greece. │__________ ad __________ __________.
9. Today he reigns among the inhabitants of Greece. │Hodiē inter incolās __________ __________.
10. (His) fame will always last in Greece. │ __________ in __________ fāma __________.

Asiae; Asiam; comparāvit; dūrābit; Graeciā; Graeciae; Graeciam; nāvigāvit; ōlim; oppugnāvit; parāvit; posteā; rēgnābat; rēgnat; semper; superāvit

Image #2: The student even puts a question mark! What mistakes have been made?

20.04.25: Level 1; readings [6] - [11]: review (8); adjectives [iii]; 1st / 2nd declension adjectives [ii]

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Latin_for_beginners_(1911)/Part_II/Lesson_VIII

20.04.25: Level 1; readings [6] - [11]: review (7); adjectives [ii]; 1st / 2nd declension adjectives [i]

[i] Latin adjectives agree with the noun in gender (masculine / feminine / neuter), number (singular / plural) and case (nominative, genitive etc.)

[ii] Latin adjectives are in two groups; here, we deal with the first group: 1^st / 2^nd declension adjectives, so-called because they happen to have the same endings are first and second declension nouns:

[iii]  Feminine adjectives in -a are declined like feminine nouns in -a, and you should learn to decline them together as follows [image]

Nouns

Italia, -ae, f., Italy

Sicilia, -ae, f., Sicily

tuba, -ae, f., trumpet (tube)

via, -ae, f., way, road, street (viaduct)

Adjectives

alta, high, deep (altitude)

clāra, clear, bright; famous

lāta, wide (latitude)

longa, long (longitude)

nova, new (novelty)

Exercise

1. Longae nōn sunt tuae viae.
2. Suntne tubae novae in meā casā? Nōn sunt.
3. Quis lātā in silvā habitat? Diāna, lūnae clārae pulchra dea, lātā in silvā habitat.
4. Nautae altās et lātās amant aquās.
5. Quid ancilla tua portat? Ancilla mea tubam novam portat.
6. Ubi sunt Lesbia et Iūlia? In tuā casā est Lesbia et Iūlia est in meā.
7. Estne Italia lāta terra? Longa est Italia, nōn lāta.
8. Cui Galba agricola fābulam novam nārrat? Fīliābus dominae clārae fābulam novam nārrat.
9. Clāra est īnsula Sicilia.
10. Quem laudat Lātōna? Lātōna laudat fīliam.

____________________

1. Your ways / streets / roads are not long.
2. Are the new trumpets in my cottage? They’re not.
3. Who lives in the wide forest? Diana, the beautiful goddess of the clear moon, lives in the wide forest.
4. The sailors love deep and wide waters.
5. What does your maidservant carry? My maidservant carries a new trumpet.
6. Where are lesbia and Julia? Lesbia is in your cottage, and Julia is in mine.
7. Is Italy a wide land? Italy is long, not wide.
8. To whom does Galba, the farmer, tell the new story? He tells the new story to the daughters of the famous lady.
9. The island of Sicily is famous.
10. Whom does Latona praise? Latona praises her daughter.

20.04.25: Level 1; readings [6] - [11]: review (6); adjectives [i]

Match the adjectives with the Latin in the word cloud

beautiful

big, important

complete, whole; plural: all

content, satisfied

good

grateful; comfortable, dear, welcome

happy

just, legal

light, clear, famous

loyal, reliable

many

much; a lot

old, venerable

rare, isolated

shining, excellent

strange

stupid, foolish

the rest, all others

true

wonderful, amazing

aliēnus, -a, -um; antīquus, -a, -um; bonus, -a, -um; cēterī, -ae, -a; clārus, -a, -um; contentus, -a, -um; cūnctus, -a, -um; fīdus, -a, -um; fōrmōsus, -a, -um; grātus, -a, -um; iūstus, -a, -um; laetus, -a, -um; magnus, -a, -um; mīrus, -a, -um; multī, -ae, -a; multus, -a, -um; praeclārus, -a, -um; rārus, -a, -um; stultus, -a, -um; vērus, -a, -um

19.04.25: Level 3; Verbs with the dative case [3]: special verbs [2]

Complete the translations using the verbs from the previous post; note the endings of the dative case

1. Caesar inimīcīs pepercit │ Caesar __________ (his) enemies
2. Cīvēs sacerdōtibus fīdunt │ the citizens __________ the priests (priestesses)
3. Cursōrēs glaciēī diffīdēbant │ the runners __________ the ice
4. Dōnum frātrī placuit │ the gift __________ (his / her) brother
5. Fēlēs canibus diffīdunt │cats __________ dogs
6. Imperātor nūntiō crēdidit │ the commander __________ the messenger
7. Īrāscor tibi │I __________ you
8. Iūdex sīcāriō nōn ignōscet │ the judge __________ the murderer / assassin
9. Magister puellīs fāvit │ the teacher __________ the girls
10. Mandāta mīlitibus nōn placent │ the orders __________ the soldiers
11. Mātrī favet │ he __________ (his) mother
12. Mīlitibus nōn serviēmus │ we __________ soldiers
13. Mōlēs undīs resistet │the dam __________ the waves
14. Multa nōbīs displicēbant │ many things __________ us
15. Ōrātōrī senātōrēs nōn crēdidērunt │ the senators __________ the speaker
16. Pauperēs dīvitibus nōn invident│ the poor do not __________ the rich
17. Portia Brūtō nūpsit │ Portia __________ Brutus
18. Praestigiātōrēs hospitibus placuērunt │ the conjurors __________ the guests
19. Rēginae fīdēbās │ you __________ the queen
20. Rōmānīs barbarī diū resistēbant │ for a long time the barbarians __________ the Romans
21. Servī dominō parent │ the slaves __________ the master
22. Sociīs nōn persuāsistis │ you __________ the allies
23. Sulla inimīcīs nocuit │ Sulla __________ (his) enemies
24. Vēnātōrēs vestīgiīs cervī studēbant. │ the hunters __________ the stag’s footprints
25. Victōribus invideō │ I __________ the victors
26. Vulpēs pullīs nōn nocēbunt │ the foxes __________ the chickens

19.04.25: Level 3; The story of Arion [5]

Interim nautae Corinthum advēnērunt. Ā Periandrō interrogātī sunt dē Arīone. Turpissimē mentītī sunt omnēs. Subitō Arīōn appāruit cum eōdem ōrnātū. Attonitī nautae scelus cōnfitentur. Ā rēge Periandrō omnēs interfectī sunt, et multum pecūniae Arīonī datum est.

vocabulary

appāreō, -ere, appāruī, appāritus [2]: appear; come into sight

scelus, sceleris [3/n]: wicked deed

questions

1. What did Periander do when the sailors arrived? (2)
2. How did they respond? (2)
3. What suddenly happened? (2)
4. How did the sailors react and what did they do as a result? (2)
5. How did Periander deal with [i] the sailors and [ii] Arion? (2)

notes

[1] turpissimē: superlative adverb < turpis, -e: shameful

[2] deponent verbs

cōnfiteor, cōnfitērī, confēssus sum [2/dep]: confess; admit

mentior, mentīrī, mentītus sum [4/dep]: lie; cheat; deceive

____________________

Meawhile the sailors arrived at Corinth. They were questioned by Periander about Arion. They all lied very shamefully. Suddenly Arion appeared with the same clothing. Astonished the sailors confess the wicked deed. They were all killed by king Periander, and a lot of money was given to Arion.

18.04.25: H & B; level 2; reading; chivalry in war

Rōmānīs, ubi cum Pyrrhō bellum gerēbant, praeerat Fābricius. Multa in historiā dē Fābriciō, multa dē Pyrrhō nārrantur. Ōlim trānsfuga ē Graecōrum exercitū ad castra Rōmāna vēnit: statim ad imperātōrem ductus est. ‘Via ad victōriam facillima Rōmānīs aperītur,’ inquit; ‘sī pecūniam mihi dabis, castra petam, rēgem venēnō necābō.’ Respondit Fābricius, ‘ingrātior erit nōbīs eiusmodī victōria quam miserrima clādēs: virtūte, nōn perfidiā, hostēs vincimus.’ Tum imperātōris iussū eum ad Graecōrum castra mīlitēs redūcunt tōtamque rem Pyrrhō nārrant. Mōvit rēgis animum Fābriciī līberālitās: statim omnēs captīvōs Rōmānīs sine pretiō reddidit. Contrā Rōmānī lēgātōs ad Pyrrhum mīsērunt. ‘Dē pāce,’ inquiunt, ‘Rōmānī cum hostibus, dum in Ītaliā sunt, nōn dissērunt: tibi tamen, virō omnium generōsissimō, libenter concēdimus indūtiās.’

[1] Lines 1 – 2 (Rōmānīs … narrāntur)

[i] What was the role of Fabricius in the war with Pyrrhus? (1)

[ii] How do we know about these two men? (1)

[2] Lines 2 – 4; translate into English (10)*:

Ōlim trānsfuga ē Graecōrum exercitū ad castra Rōmāna vēnit: statim ad imperātōrem ductus est. ‘Via ad victōriam facillima Rōmānīs aperītur,’ inquit; ‘sī pecūniam mihi dabis, castra petam, rēgem venēnō necābō.’

Note:

[i] word order; position of the genitive case: ē Graecōrum exercitū

[ii] What type of adjective is facillima?

[iii] tense usage (Latin / English): sī pecūniam mihi dabis, castra petam, rēgem venēnō necābō

Before you read the rest of the text, I suspect you know more than enough about Roman attitudes to guess what the commander’s reaction will be.

[3] Lines 5 – 6 (Respondit … vincimus)

Explain in your own words why Fabricius’s response reflects the title of the text. (3)**

[4] Lines 6 – 8 (Tum … reddidit)

[i] What command did Fabricius give? (2)

[ii] What action did the king take in return and why? (3)

[iii] Tum imperātōris iussū eum ad Graecōrum castra mīlitēs redūcunt tōtamque rem Pyrrhō nārrant.

[a] What tense is used here and why? (2)

[b] How is the phrase imperātōris iussū translated? (1)

[5] Lines 8 – end (Contrā … indūtiās)

[i] How did the Romans react to Pyrrhus’s actions? (1)

[ii] Why was their statement to Pyrrhus different on this occasion? (4)

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

Fabricius negotiating with Pyrrhus after Heraclea (Ferdinand Bol: 1656)

____________________

* [2] [i] A deserter ¦ [ii] from the Greek army [= the army of the Greeks] [i] once (at one time) ¦ [iii] to the Roman camp: ¦ [iv] he was immediately led to the commander. ¦ [v] “A very easy way / the easiest way to victory ¦ [vi] is (being) open(ed)  ¦ [vii] for the Romans,” he said ¦ [viii] “If you give [literally: will give] me money, ¦ [ix] I’ll make for the camp (and) ¦ [x] I will kill the king with poison.”

** [3] The Romans would only wish to win through military skills, physical strength and bravery rather than treachery; for Fabricius a victory without virtūs (virtue), that quintessential Roman characteristic, would be tantamount to defeat: virtūte, nōn perfidiā, hostēs vincimus.

18.04.25: Level 3; Verbs with the dative case [2]: special verbs [1]

The dative with “special verbs” – arguably the vaguest grammatical term in existence!

A number of verbs in Latin are followed by the dative case even though, in English, that isn’t obvious.

Take a look at these two simple sentences in English:

I eat a pizza i.e. subject – verb – direct object; you are doing something to the pizza i.e. it is being affected by you

I envy you i.e. subject – verb – direct object; English would analyse this sentence in exactly the same way as it would the first sentence.

But, pause for a moment, nothing is happening to the person in the second sentence and we could change it to: I am envious of you i.e. I experience envy and you happen to be the person who is receiving that envy, you are the indirect object of the envy which I am giving / showing to you.

These “special verbs” fall into that category:

“In each case the dative indirect object is the person or thing to which a benefit, injury, or feeling is directed” (Dooge)

These verbs can have other meanings and, depending on that meaning, may not always take the dative but, again, this is something to be aware of.

Below is a list of verbs that can be followed by the dative. The list is not exhaustive.

Notice how, when English reworks these concepts by using primarly nouns, the indirect nature of the action is conveyed even if the verb equivalents do not.

[1] imperō, imperāre, imperāvī [1]: command; order (give a command / order to)

servus, -ī [2/m]: slave

mīles, mīlitis [3/m]: soldier

exercitus, -ūs [4/m]: army

• servō dominus imperāvit │ the master ordered the slave (the master gave an order to the slave)
• servīs dominī imperāvērunt │ the masters ordered the slaves (the masters gave orders to the slaves)
• dux mīlitī imperāvit │ the commander ordered the soldier
• dux mīlitibus imperāvit │the commander ordered the soldiers
• exercituī imperāvit │ he commanded the army (he gave an order to the army)

[2] faveō, favēre, fāvī  [2]: favour (show favour to); support

candidātus, -ī [2/m]: candidate

rēgīna, -ae [1/f]: queen

rēx, rēgis [3/m]: king

• candidātō nōn favēmus │ we do not support / are not in favour of the candidate
• cīvēs rēgīnae favēbant │ the citizens favoured / suppported / showed favour to the queen
• cīvēs rēgī favēbunt │ the citizens will favour the king

[3] invideō, invidēre, invīdī [2]: envy (show envy to)

[4] noceō, nocēre, nocuī [2]: injure (do harm to)

[5] pāreō, pārēre, pāruī [2] obey (give obedience to)

[6] persuādeō, persuādēre, persuāsī [2]: (literally: to make sweet / agreeable to); persuade (offer persuasion to)

[7] studeō, studēre, studuī [2]: be eager for (give attention to; to dedicate oneself to)

One of these came up at a very early stage in the group:

[8] placeō, placēre, placuī [2]: to please (be pleasing to)

From the remarkably well preserved Roman author, David Amster in AD2024:

• Quod genus librōrum vōbīs praecipuē placet? │ What type of books do you like [literally: What types of books is pleasing to you?]

And the opposite:

[9] displiceō, displicēre, displicuī [2]: to displease (be displeasing to)

[10] cōnfīdo, cōnfīdere, confīsus sum [3/semi-deponent*]: confide in (somebody)

From Pseudolus (“The Cheat”) by Plautus (191BC):

• Nōn cōnfīdit sȳcophanta hic nūgīs │ This swindler doesn’t rely on nonsense (jokes, trifles)

[11] diffīdō, diffīdere, diffīsus sum [3/semi-deponent*]: distrust (be distrustful of)

[12] fīdō, fīdere, fīsus sum [3/semi-deponent*]: trust (place confidence in; rely upon)

[13] ignōscō, ignōscere, ignōvī [3]: forgive (give pardon to)

[14] īrāscor, īrāscī, īrātus sum [3/deponent]: be angry (show anger towards)

[15] parcō, parcere, pepercī (or parsī) [3]: spare (have mercy for; be lenient to)

[16] resistō, resistere, restitī [3]: resist (offer resistance to)

[17] serviō, servīre, servīvī [4]: be a slave (to); serve

*see: [link]

[18] nūbō, nūbere, nūpsī [3]: (of a woman) to marry (get married to) a man; note: men also married women in Ancient Rome but they didn’t use a special verb!

• Rēx ancillam in mātrimōnium dūxit. │ The king married the maidservant (literally: the king led the maidservant into marriage)

[19] crēdō, crēdere, crēdidī  [3]: believe (give belief to); the German verb glauben and the Russian verb verit’ (believe) can also be followed by the dative case

I don’t believe you ¦ tibi nōn crēdō ¦ Russ: ya tebe ne verju (and you can see that common Indo-European origin which goes way back before Latin)

This verb is a good example of where, depending on context and precise meaning, the dative may not always be used:

Crēdō in ūnum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factōrem caelī et terrae, vīsibilium omnium et invīsibilium. │I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible i.e. the verb is not stating that you believe what a person is saying, but rather it is expressing belief in the existence of something.