05.06.25: Level 3; the gerundive [4]; practice (3)

Complete the Latin translations with the words listed below each section.

[a]

[1] Cato was a candidate worthy of election. │ Catō candidātus __________ erat.

[2] My wife is truly loveable. │ Uxor mea vērē __________ est.

[3] The speaker’s words are worth hearing.* │ Verba ōrātōris __________ sunt.

[4] Brutus was a man worthy of praise among the Romans. │ Brūtus vir __________ apud Rōmānōs erat.

[5] I used to collect many jewels which were worth having. │ Multās gemmās __________ congerēbam.

[6] The very small fly is not to be seen (not visible). │ Musca minima nōn __________ est.

[7] The consuls put on games worth watching. │ Lūdōs __________ cōnsulēs ēdidērunt.

[8] I saw certain horses yesterday which were worth buying. │ Equōs quōsdam __________ heri vīdī.

[9] The huge knot was not to be untied. │ Nōdus ingēns nōn __________ erat.

[10] The very good cook was preparing a dinner worth eating. │ Coquus optimam cēnam __________ parābat.

[11] The soldier approaches the fearsome general [ = the general deserving of fear]. │ Imperātōrī __________ mīles appropinquat.

*Sentence [3] is a good example where, depending upon context, the sentence could translate as “The speaker’s words are worth hearing” or “The speaker’s words must be heard.”

amanda; audienda; edendam; ēligandus; emendōs; habendās; laudandus; solvendus; spectandōs; timendō; videnda

[b]

[1] These letters have to be sent. │ __________ __________ mittendae sunt.

[2] We need to send these letters. │ __________ hae litterae mittendae sunt .

[3] Cicero has to send these letters. │ __________ hae litterae mittendae sunt .

[4] Cicero’s daughter has to send these letters. │ __________ __________ hae litterae mittendae sunt.

[5] All the pupils need to send these letters. │ __________ __________ hae litterae mittendae sunt.

[6] These famous women have to send these letters. │ __________ __________ __________ hae litterae mittendae sunt.

Cicerōnī; Cicerōnis; clārīs; discipulīs; fēminīs; fīliae; hae; illīs; litterae; nōbīs; omnibus

[d] Here all the participles function as adjectives i.e. they are not used with esse in any way. They have the same sense of obligation / necessity and modify the noun in gender, number and case. The translations will generally require a subordinate clause.

[1] He put the books which had to be read on the table.

Librōs __________ in mēnsā posuit.

[2] I have said nothing about the plan which must be hidden.

Nihil dīxī dē cōnsiliō __________.

[3] As she had to be punished, the citizens threw Tarpeia down from the rock.

Tarpēiam __________ cīvēs dē saxō deiecerent

[4] A grave and intolerable wrong [a wrong which must not be tolerated] has been done.

Gravia iniūria facta est et nōn __________.

[5] He gave the fields to the Helvetians to be inhabited.

Agrōs Helvētiīs __________ dēdit.

[6] I have given you a letter to be sent [I’ve give you a letter to send / which you need to send].

Epistulam __________ tibi dedī.

cēlandō; ferenda; habitandōs; legendōs; mittendam; pūniendam

Sentences 7-11

The gerundive is used in agreement with the object of the sentence to show that something is arranged to be done. The literal translation still retains the passive nature of the structure.

Claudius aquaeductum faciendum cūrāvit. │ Claudius arranged for an aqueduct to be built / had an aqueduct built; literally: …took care of an aqueduct [which was] to be built.

[7] The consuls caused / arranged for a theatre to be built / had a theatre built │ Theātrum cōnsulēs __________ cūrāvērunt.

[8]  The commander arranged for roads to be built. │ Imperātor viās __________ cūrāvit.

[9] He arranged for his tyrant brother to be killed. │ Frātrem tyrannum __________ cūrāvit.

[10] The king arranged for temples to be built. │ Rēx templum __________ cūrāvit. 

[11] He had provided hostages to be given between them. │ Obsidēs inter eōs __________ cūrāverat.

aedificanda; dandōs; faciendās; faciendum; interficiendum

05.06.25: Level 3; the gerundive [3]; practice (2)

Complete the Latin translation with the missing gerundive. The first five sentences give both a literal translation of the construction plus a reworked version.

[1] A will needs to be made by you = You need to make a will. │ Tibi testāmentum __________ est.

[2] Dinner is to be prepared by the cook = The cook must prepare dinner. │Coquō cēna __________ est.

[3] Peace had to be sought by our leaders = Our leaders had to seek peace. │Pāx ducibus nostrīs __________ erat.

[4] This book will need to be read by me with care = I will need to read this book with care. │ Hic liber mihi cum cūrā __________ erit.

[5] That story about you has to be told by me =  I have to tell that story about you. │ Illa fābula dē tē mihi __________ est.

[6] You must praise our commander. │ Noster dux tibi __________ est.

[7] You have to visit Haterius. │Vōbīs Hatērius __________ est.

[8] We need to discover new lands. │ Novae terrae nōbīs __________ sunt .

[9] The slaves must bring water. │ Aqua servīs __________ est.

[10] We ought not to despise duties. │ Officia nōbīs nōn __________ sunt.

[11] The sailors had to drag the ships to the sea. │ Nāvēs nautīs ad mare __________ erant.

[12] The pupils had to follow the leader. │ Dux __________ erat discipulīs.

[13] I will have to avoid this danger. │ Mihi hoc perīculum __________ erit.

[14] The servants had to bring the wine into the study. │ Vīnum in trīclīnium servīs __________ erat.

[15] The girls had to carry the water. │ Aqua __________ puellīs erat.

[16] You must not fear the enemy. │ Hostēs vōbīs nōn __________ sunt.

[17] I have proved the argument which had to be demonstrated. │ Argūmentum quod erat __________ praebuī.

[18] We must always respect our parents. │ Parentēs nōbīs semper __________ sunt.

Note the impersonal use of the gerundive in these three sentences.

[19] Taste is not to be argued about = We must not argue about tastes. │ Dē gustibus nōn __________ est.

[20] Now you must be quiet. │ Nunc vōbīs __________ est.

[21] You must beware. │ __________ est tibi.

cavendum; contemnenda; dēmōnstrandum; disputandum; faciendum; ferenda; ferendum; honōrandī; inveniendae; laudandus; legendus; nārranda; paranda; petenda; portanda; sequendus; tacendum; timendī; trahendae; vīsitandus; vītandum

05.06.25: Level 3; Ritchie; Fābulae Facilēs; Perseus [1]: Fīlius Iovis

The listening exercises are at the end of every post, but if you want to watch the YouTube originals, I have given the links at the start of each section.

Listen to the recording without looking at the transcript and answer the questions.

appellō, -ere, -pulī, -pulsus [3]: drive

arca, -ae [1/f]: chest; box

comprehendō, -ere, -dī, -sus [3]: seize

harēna, -ae [1/f]: sand

inclūdō, -ere, -ūsī, -ūsus [3]: shut in

nepōs, nepōtis [3/m]: [i] (here) grandson; [ii] descendant

quiētem capiō, -ere, cēpī [3-iō]: take a rest

reperiō, -īre, repperī, repertus [3-iō]: find

sēdēs, -is [3/f]: abode, home

sinus, -ūs [4/m]: lap, bosom

turbō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: disturb

[A] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cxdXoQfaYo

[Haec nārrantur ā poētīs dē Perseō. Perseus fīlius erat Iovis, maximī deōrum; avus eius Ācrisius appellābātur. Ācrisius volēbat Perseum nepōtem suum necāre; nam propter ōrāculum puerum timēbat. Comprehendit igitur Perseum adhūc īnfantem, et cum mātre in arcā ligneā inclūsit. Tum arcam ipsam in mare coniēcit. Danae, Perseī māter, magnopere territa est; tempestās enim magna mare turbābat. Perseus autem in sinū mātris dormiēbat.]

[i] How do we know about Perseus? (1)

[ii] Give two pieces of information about Jupiter. (2)

[iii] Who was Acrisius? (1)

[iv] What did Acrisius want to do and why? (3)

[v] Why does the passage refer to a wooden chest? (2)

[vi] What did Acrisius do with the chest? (1)

[vii] Who was Danae? (1)

[viii] How did she feel and why? (3)

[ix] What did Perseus do? (2)

[B] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQidM5c3j8o

[Iuppiter tamen haec omnia vīdit, et fīlium suum servāre cōnstituit. Tranquillum igitur fēcit mare, et arcam ad īnsulam Serīphum perdūxit. Huius īnsulae Polydectēs tum rēx erat. Postquam arca ad lītus appulsa est, Danae in harēnā quiētem capiēbat. Post breve tempus ā piscātōre quōdam reperta est, et ad domum rēgis Polydectis adducta est. Ille mātrem et puerum benignē excēpit, et eīs sēdem tūtam in fīnibus suīs dedit. Danae hoc dōnum libenter accēpit, et prō tantō beneficiō rēgī grātiās ēgit.]

[i] What decision did Jupiter make? (1)

[ii] What did he do to the sea? (1)

[iii] What did he do with the chest? (1)

[iv] Who was Polydectes? (2)

[v] What did Danae when the chest reached the shore? (2)

[vi] When did the fisherman find her? (1)

[vii] Where did he take her? (1)

[viii] How did Polydectes receive them? (1)

[ix] What did he give them? (2)

[x] How did Danae react to this offer? (3)

[C] Review passive forms:

Find the Latin either by listening or from the transcript:

[i] His grandfather was called

[ii] She was found ¦ by a fisherman

[iii] She was led (to the house)

[iv] She was terrified

[v] The chest was driven to the shore

[vi] These things are told ¦ by the poets

08.03.25: Vincent and the winds [2]: listening

Listen to the recording and choose the correct option [a], [b] or [c]

Salvē.

[a] audīs [b] audīsne [c] auditne ¦ [a] hunc [b] hinc [c] hanc strepitum horridum?

[a] es [b] esse [c] est diēs ventōsus, procellōsus.

[a] ventī [b] ventus [c] ventō vehementer flant.

[a] quod [b] quid [c] quis est ventus?

Est unda āeris [a] quae [b] quī [c] quā hūc illūc [a] moventur [b] movēmur [c] movētur.

Et unde [a] venīs [b] venit [c] ventus?

Orīgō seu prīncipium [a] mōtuum [b] mōtum [c] mōtū ¦ [a] ventum [b] ventō [c] ventōrum est sōl.

08.03.25: Vincent and the winds [1]: video, transcript, translation and notes

Salvē. │ Hello.

Audīsne hunc strepitum horridum? │ Do you hear this dreadful noise?

Est diēs ventōsus, procellōsus. │ It’s a windy, stormy day.

Ventī vehementer flant. │ The winds are blowing strongly (violently).

Quid est ventus? │ What is the wind?

Est unda āeris quae ¦ hūc illūc ¦ movētur. │ It’s a wave of air which ¦ is moved ¦ here and there [literally: to here and to there = older English hither and thither]

Et unde venit? │ And where does it come from?

Orīgō seu prīncipium ¦ mōtuum ¦ ventōrum est sōl. │ But the origin or beginning ¦ of the movements ¦ of the winds is the sun. [seu = sīve = or]

Notes

[i] 4th declension nouns:

mōtus, -ūs [4/m]: movement

strepitus, -ūs [4/m]: noise; din

If you’re new to Latin, this is something you need to look out for. Most nouns ending in -us belong to a huge group called the 2nd declension with their own set of endings. However, the -us ending alone does not tell you that: strepitus and motus look like 2nd declension nouns, but they’re not – they belong to the 4th declension and have a different set of endings.

When a Latin word is given in, for example, a dictionary or a vocabulary list, it will be listed with [i] its nominative singular form and [ii] its genitive singular. It is the genitive singular that tells you the declension the noun belongs to.

Compare:

[1] ventus [nominative singular], ventī [genitive singular], usually abbreviated to ventus, -ī: a second declension noun and it is the genitive that is telling you that

[2] strepitus [nominative singular], strepitūs [genitive singular] > strepitus, -ūs: a fourth declenion noun and, again, it is the genitive giving you that information

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/permalink/470682685543005

[ii] Expressions about the weather in Latin have been done to death! The links to all posts about the weather are here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/478446208099986/

04.06.25: blunt razors, blood-letting and glowing walnut shells; Comenius LXXVI; at the barber’s shop [2]

The Barber, 1. in the Barbers-shop, 2. cutteth off the Hair and the Beard with a pair of Sizzars, 3. or shaveth with a Razor, which he taketh out of his Case, 4. │ Tōnsor, 1. in Tōnstrīnā, 2. tondet Crīnēs & Barbam Forcipe, 3. vel rādit Novāculā, quam dēprōmit ē Thēcā, 4.

[1]

tōnsor, tonsōris [3/m]: barber; also: tōnstrīx, tōnstrīcis [3/f]: female barber / hair cutter; the term tonsorial parlour is older English for a barber’s shop

tōnstrīna, -ae [1/f]: barber’s shop

ōrnātrīx, ōrnātrīcis [3/f]: hairdresser (female); there is a masculine equivalent i.e. ōrnātor, ornatōris [3/m] meaning a “dresser” but it’s very rare; the term does not refer to the cutting of hair, but to a slave who dressed the hair of the mistress; Lewis and Short: a female “adorner”

Image #1: bas-relief of an ōrnātrīx (2^nd century AD)

The wealthy Romans paid a lot of attention to their appearance. The first image shows an ōrnātrīx, sometimes rather loosely translated as a 'hairdresser' but the term more accurately refers to a female slave who beautified and adorned their owners, working to create elaborate hairstyles, arranging clothing, jewelry, cosmetics, and perfumes, in fact anything to embellish their owners.

Image #2: the modest little memorial to Gnome Pierinis, a slave girl (ancilla) who had the special role of hairdresser (ōrnātrīx) to her mistress.

[2]

barba, -ae [1/f]: beard

capillus, -ī [2/m]: hair (specifically refers to hair of the head)

coma, -ae [1/f]: hair of the head

crīnis, -is [3/m]: hair

pīlus, -ī [2/m]: hair

the nouns for hair may appear in singular or plural forms:

odōrātīs humerōs perfūsa capillīs (Ovid) │ with perfumed tresses overflowing her shoulders

incultum cānō solvent ā vertice crīnem  (Catullus) │ they will release their unkempt hair from their white head

… et praesectīs omnium mulierum crīnibus tormenta effēcērunt  (Caesar) │ they made ropes for their “engines” (i.e. siege machines) with the hair cut off all the women’s heads

At vērō Aenēās aspectū obmūtuit āmēns, arrēctaeque horrōre comae et vōx faucibus haesit (Virgil) │ But indeed Aeneas stood speechless, distraught at the sight, and his hair stood on end from horror and his voice halts in his throat.

Genus quoque vītī est, quom [= cum] inter ¦ pilōs ¦ palpebrārum ¦ pedūculī nāscuntur (Celsus) │ There is also a kind of disorder when lice are born between the eyelashes [= the hairs ¦ of the eyelids]

Note: pīlus was also used to refer to something insignificant, similar to English “I don’t care a jot about that”

ego enim nē pīlō quidem minus mē amābō (Cicero) │ for I shall not love myself even less than one hair [ = by one little bit]

From: Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities

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

“The hair of the head. Besides this general term, there are various other words, both in Greek and Latin, signifying the hair, each of which acquires its distinctive meaning from some physical property of the hair itself or from some peculiarity in the mode of arranging it”

There is a huge amount of information at that link on Ancient Roman and Greek hairstyles, together with words for specific styles e.g. capillāmentum, -ī [2/n]: wig [image #3: from a bas-relief at Rome]

[3]

tondeō, -ēre, totondī [2]: shave, clip, shear

rādō, -ere, rāsī [3]: shave, scratch, scrape

[4]

forceps, forcipis [3/m]: (Classical) a pair of tongs or pincers, hence the modern-day surgical instrument

novacula, -ae [1/f]: razor; sharp knife used for shaving

thēca, -ae [1/f]: case, cover; Suetonius refers to calamāriae et graphiāriae thēcae, cases for holding writing implements

Note: ablative of instrument referring to the object which is used to perform the action

tondet crīnēs et barbam forcipe │ he cuts the hair and beard with a pair of scissors

vel rādit novāculā │ or shaves with (by means of) a razor

04.06.25: blunt razors, blood-letting and glowing walnut shells; Comenius LXXVI; at the barber’s shop [1]

Some time back, one member mentioned that he enjoyed learning about the everyday lives of the Romans. While this little text isn’t from the Roman period, it refers to, for example, objects, places and people that the Romans did talk about, and we’ll look at them as we go along.

There is far more to this topic than would first appear. I have posted the entire original text here but will look at the contents over a series of posts. 

03.06.25: Level 1; readings [12] - [15]: review (5); the imperative (command); 1st / 2nd conjugation

The term imperative comes from the Latin verb imperō, imperāre [1]: order; command. It’s also known as the command form i.e. it’s used when you’re telling somebody to do, or not to do something.

The Latin imperative most often has no tense (there is a future imperative but it’s by no means as common, and can be dealt with when it appears in reading); the only disctinction Latin makes is when a command is being given to one or more than one person. It’s straightforward to form.

Talking to one person:

1st conjugation

portāre: to carry; remove the -re > portā! carry! That’s the command. Latin had no exclamation mark, but it’s commonly used now to indicate it. It doesn’t mean that the person is shouting.

festināre: to hurry

> festinā lente: Hasten slowly.

2nd conjugation

manēre: to stay; remove the -re > manē! stay!

cavēre: to beware

> cavē canem! Beware (of) the dog!

audēre: to dare

> Sapere audē. (Horace) Dare to be wise.

Talking to more than one person:

[ii] Talking to more than one person:

-te is added to the imperative singular forms

1^st conjugation

portāte! carry!

2^nd conjugation

cavēte! beware!

[iii] Telling somebody not to do something

Latin has more than one way of doing this, but the easiest way is to use:

nōlī + the infintive of the verb (talking to one person)

nōlīte + the infinitive of the verb (talking to more than one person)

nōlī(te) are in themselves the imperative forms of the verb nōlō, -ere: ‘be unwilling’, but are used to express do not / don’t [do something]:

Nōlī mē tangere! │ Do not touch me! 

Nōlīte spēluncās intrāre! │ Don’t enter the caves!

02.06.25: Level 3; the gerundive [2]; practice (1)

Translate these simple sentences into English using the literal translation of the gerundive and then, where necessary, reworking the translation if it needs to sound more fluent.

Note

[i] those sentences where an agent is expressed in the dative case i.e. the person by whom the action is to be done

[ii] the gerundive can refer to the past, present or future and so look out for the tense of esse

[iii] while, most often, you will come across third person constructions i.e. he / she / it / they, the gerundive can refer to any person

1. Homō laudandus est.
2. Laudandus es. 
3. Audācia aquiliferī laudanda erat.
4. Fīlius meus trīstis est quod canis interficiendus mihi erit.
5. Omnēs cīvēs interficiendī sunt.
6. Epistula mittenda est.
7. Haec epistula scrībenda est.
8. Litterae mittendae sunt.
9. Mulier timenda est.
10. Nihil timendum est.
11. In oppidum mittenda sum.
12. Hostēs nōbīs superandī sunt.
13. Nummī numerandī erunt.
14. Verba audienda sunt.
15. Castra quam celerrimē mūnienda sunt.
16. Hostēs trāns flūmen repellendī sunt.
17. Auxilium ad sociōs statim mittendum est.
18. Volumen legendum est.
19. Hae fābulae tibi legendae sunt.
20. Castra capienda sunt.
21. Omnia agenda sunt.
22. Cupiditās vōbīs neglegenda est.
23. Vōcēs audiendae sunt.
24. Liber puerō legendus est.
25. Captīvī illī ad rēgem statim dūcendī sunt.
26. Haec puella meō fīliō amanda est.
27. Librōs legendōs habeō.
28. Hoc mihi faciendum erat.
29. Nōbīs pugnandum erit.
30. Nunc est bibendum.

02.06.25: Level 3; the gerundive [1]

The gerundive was first referred to in the following two posts:

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

[2] https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/11/120225-level-2-reading-schoolmasters.html

[i] laudandus, -a, -um: gerundive; it is adjectival i.e. it agrees with the noun in gender, number and case

[ii] the literal meaning is: to be Y-ed, for example:

mīles laudandus │a soldier (who is) to be praised

epistula scrībenda│ a letter (which is) to be written

dēdit mihi epistulam legendam tuam (Cicero) │he gave me your letter to read [ = (which was) to be read]

deinde eum … redūcendum Faleriōs puerīs trādidit (Livy) │ he then handed him to the boys to be taken back to Falerii

Gravis iniūria facta est et nōn ferenda. │ A grave and intolerable wrong has been done, i.e. a wrong ¦ which is not to be tolerated

Gerundives exist in English derivatives:

agenda: things that are / need to be done (usually during a meeting)

memorandum (pl. memoranda): a reminder, something that is to be remembered

addendum (pl. addenda): something which is to be added, usually at the end of a document

corrigendum (pl. corrigenda): an error that is to be corrected in a book after publication

2 English proper nouns:

Amanda (literally: she who is to be loved)

Miranda (literaly: she is who to be wondered / marvelled at)

[iii] Because it is referring to something that is to be done it can also refer to as a future passive participle

[iv] It is formed from the stem of the present tense with a distinctive -nd- ending + the adjective endings -us, -a, -um; below are its forms with its basic meaning

laudō, laudā¦re [1] > lauda- > lauda¦nd¦us, -a, -um │ which is to be praised (future passive participle i.e. something that is to be done in the future)

timeō, timē¦re [2] > time- > timendus, -a, -um│ which is to be feared

dūcō, dūce¦re [3] > dūc- > dūcendus, -a, -um│ which is to be led

3-iō and 4th conjugation have -ie- before the ending is added

capiō, cape¦re [3-iō] > capie¦nd¦us, -a, -um│ which is to be captured

audiō, audī¦re [4] > audiendus, -a, -um│ which is to be heard

[v] The most frequent use of the gerundive is with esse. In grammar this is known as the passive periphrastic, a term that sound intimidating, but all it means is that more than one word is required to express the idea. Unlike English, the overwhelming majority of Latin verbs simply need a single word to express the idea e.g. veniēbat (he was coming), laudāmur (we are praised) whereas a periphrastic construction needs more than one.

The verb esse can be in the present, imperfect or future tense:

Hoc faciendum est. │ This must be / has to be / needs to be done.

Hoc faciendum erat. │ This had to be / needed to be done.

Hoc faciendum erit. │ This will have to be done.

Depending on context, the translations can be flexible depending on whether something ought to be / should be done or needs to be / must be done:

Hic liber legendus est. │ Literally: This book is to be / needs to be / should be / worthy of being / read =  this book is worth reading.

Carthāgō dēlenda est. │ Carthage must / should be destroyed.

Mīles laudandus erat. │ The soldier was to be praised = the soldier was praiseworthy.

[vi] If the action that needs to be done includes who needs to do it i.e. the agent, then the dative is used to express it. The gerundive conveys a sense of obligation and it is given that grammatical term: the gerundive of obligation.

Carthāgō nōbīs dēlenda est. │ Carthage is to be destroyed by us i.e. even though the translation is ‘by us’ (which would suggest an ablative), it is the dative that expresses the idea in this construction.

It would be perfectly possible to rework the sentence from a passive to an active meaning:

Carthāgō nōbīs dēlenda est. │ Carthage is to be destroyed by us > We must destroy Carthage.

English can convey a similar idea:

Hic liber tibi legendus est │literally: this book is to be read by you >  this book is for you to read > you need to read this book

[vii] In all the examples above, there is a subject since the construction conveys [X: noun] needs to be Y-ed

Hic liber legendus est. │ This book needs to be read.

Carthāgō (nōbīs) dēlenda est. │ Carthage must be destroyed (by us)

However, the neuter singular of the gerundive + esse can express an impersonal idea i.e. there is no noun subject to which something needs to be done.

Mihi currendum est │I need to run; the gerundive here indicates the agent must perform that action.

Sometimes, no agent is indicated i.e. there is simply a neuter gerundive with esse; context will determine how that is best translated, for example:

Pugnandum est │ (I, you, we etc.) need to fight i.e. there is need for fighting; even though no agent is indicated, it is usually best to include a subject.

In the next post we will look at a further use of the gerundive, namely to express purpose i.e. the third column in the first image.

02.06.25: Level 3; Sonnenschein; Prō Patriā [2]; Britannia Līberāta

Gāius Iūlius Caesar, postquam cōpiās suās pedestrēs et equestrēs ex Britanniā in Galliam trānsportāvit, nihil amplius dē Britannīs cōgitāvit. Ab incolīs lītoris merīdiānī victōriam reportāverat, ad flūmen Tamesam penetrāverat, oppidum Cassivellaunī expugnāverat, magnum numerum captīvōrum in servitūtem vēnumdederat, tribūtum Britannīs imperāverat. Id eī satis erat. Sed Britanniam nōn rēvērā dēbellāverat, nec victōria eius magna fuerat. Tacitus eum nōn magnam victōriam reportāvisse in capite tertiō decimō Vītae Agricolae affirmat. “Dīvus Iūlius” inquit “Britanniam Rōmānīs mōnstrāvit, sed nōn dēbellāvit.” Britannī autem virī animō fortī erant. Tribūtum et servitūtem nōn tolerābant.

Et Rōmānīs post tempora C. Iūliī Caesaris longa oblīviō erat Britanniae. Nam per multōs annōs bellum domesticum cīvitātem Rōmānam vexāvit. Post fīnem eius bellī Rōmānī Augustum prīncipem creāvērunt. Eī Britannia nōn cūrae erat. Nec prīncipēs secundus et tertius, Tiberius et Caligula, īnsulam nostram intrāvērunt; quamquam Caligula dē eā intrandā cōgitāvit.

Vocabulary

amplius (adverb): any more

dīvus, -a, -um: divine; Augustus, the first Roman emperor, was declared divine after his death

bellum domesticum: civil war

oblīviō, oblīviōnis [3/f]: the state of being forgotten

Notes

[i] Britannī autem virī animō fortī erant. │ But the British men were of brave spirit; ablative of description, used with a noun to indicate a quality or characteristic of the person

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/300425-level-3-beasts-in-egypt-and.html

[ii] Eī Britannia nōn cūrae erat. │ Britannia was not ¦ of concern ¦ to him.

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/030525-level-3-verbs-with-dative-case-9.html

[iii] quamquam Caligula ¦ dē eā intrandā ¦ cōgitāvit. │ although Caligula did think ¦ about attacking it

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/11/120225-level-2-reading-schoolmasters.html

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

[iv] Tacitus ¦ eum nōn magnam victōriam reportāvisse … affirmat. │ Tacitus asserts ¦ that he did not bring back a great victory.

This is a feature of the language that has not yet been covered in depth but was briefly referred to here:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/070225-speaking-latin-on-campus_30.html

This is an example of an indirect statement e.g. “he says that …” “she replied that …”; the use of a conjunction e.g. English: he says that …, French: il dit que …, German: er sagt, dass …, Russian: on govorit, chto … was not used in Classical Latin although Mediaeval Latin can create an indirect statement with quod.

Instead, Latin uses a construction known as the accusative-infinitive. The literal translation of the Latin sentence is:

Tacitus ¦ [i] eum nōn magnam victōriam [ii] reportāvisse … affirmat. │ Tacitus asserts ¦[i]  him not [ii] to have brought back a victory = Tacitus asserts ¦ that he did not bring back a great victory.

i.e. [i] the subject of the indirect statement is put into the accusative and [ii] the verb becomes an infinitive

This infinitive has not been discussed before, and is known as the perfect active infinitive = to have done something.

To form it:

[i] the third principal part of the verb is used: reportō, reportāre, reportāvī

[ii] the personal ending -ī is removed: reportāv-

[iii] -isse is added: reportāv¦isse

Further information on notes [iv] the gerundive and [v] the accusative-infinitive will be given in later Level 3 posts

Language Review: is, ea, id (singular and plural)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/220525-level-1-readings-12-15-review-1a.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/220525-level-1-readings-12-15-review-1b.html

All posts:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LsKpv7nwA3-rwgzn88bzoOGgPMV8Kqj-/view?usp=sharing

01.06.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein: Certāmina Varia [3]: listening [2]

Listen to the recording and answer the questions.

"Victōria Caesarī nōn multum prōfuit: nam Britannīs fugātīs īnstāre nōn poterat, quia nātūram locī ignōrābat. Praetereā praefectus castrōrum, [1] __________ Quintus Ātrius, magnum incommodum nuntiāverat: tempestās nāvigia in  [2] __________ afflictāverat. [3] __________ perīculōsum erat; nam Caesarī necesse erat ā  [4] __________ ad  [5] __________ maritimum properāre, et legiōnēs suās ab insectātiōne Britannōrum revocāre. Multa ex nāvigiīs in vadīs afflictāta erant; cētera novīs armīs ornanda erant. [6] __________ magnī labōris erat, et aliquantum  [7] __________postulābat. Sed nautārum atque mīlitum virtūs magnō  [8] __________ laudanda erat. Nōn solum per diurna sed etiam per nocturna  [9] __________ labōrāvērunt. Intereā Caesar nova nāvigia in Galliā aedificat: sine nāvigiīs nōn poterat cōpiās suās in Galliam reportāre; ūnō  [10] __________ necesse erat et nāvigia reparāre et contrā Britannōs bellāre."

[a] Fill in the blanks with the correct form of each 3^rd declension neuter noun. Choose from the nouns below; not all of them are used

flūmine; flūminī; flūminis; lītore; lītorī; lītus; nōmine; nōminī; nōminis; opere; operī; opus; tempora; tempore; temporis; tempus

[a] [Victōria Caesarī nōn multum prōfuit: nam Britannīs fugātīs īnstāre nōn poterat, quia nātūram locī ignōrābat.]

[i] How profitable was Caesar’s victory?

[ii] Why was he unable to pursue the Britons?

[b] [Praetereā praefectus castrōrum, nōmine Quintus Ātrius, magnum incommodum nuntiāverat: tempestās nāvigia in lītore afflictāverat. Tempus perīculōsum erat; nam Caesarī necesse erat ā flūmine ad lītus maritimum properāre, et legiōnēs suās ab insectātiōne Britannōrum revocāre. Multa ex nāvigiīs in vadīs afflictāta erant; cētera novīs armīs ornanda erant.]

[i] Who was Quintus Atrius?

[ii] What difficulty did the ships face?

[iii] What did Caesar need to do?

[iv] How did some ships need to be equipped?

[c] [Opus magnī labōris erat, et aliquantum temporis postulābat. Sed nautārum atque mīlitum virtūs magnō opere laudanda erat. Nōn solum per diurna sed etiam per nocturna tempora labōrāvērunt.]

[i] What two points are made about the work needing done?

[ii] How are the sailors and soldiers described and why?

[iii] How do we know that this work was time-consuming?

[d] [Intereā Caesar nova nāvigia in Galliā aedificat: sine nāvigiīs nōn poterat cōpiās suās in Galliam reportāre; ūnō tempore necesse erat et nāvigia reparāre et contrā Britannōs bellāre.]

[i] What was happening in Gaul at this time?

[ii] Why was this necessary?

[iii] What two actions were needed at the same time?

01.06.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein: Certāmina Varia [2]: listening [1]

Listen to the recording and answer the questions. Note: the speaker makes a slight error – he says *testitudine*; it should be “testūdine” 

"Britannī [1] __________ vītāvērunt, et in silvīs sē occultāvērunt, ubi locus erat prope [2] __________, ēgregiē et nātūrā et [3] __________ firmātus. Itaque 'oppidum' Britannicum erat. Dē [4] __________ [5] __________ nihil constat. Oppidum iam ante domesticī bellī causā praeparāverant, et crebrīs arboribus vallīsque firmāverant. Multa et varia [6] __________ fuērunt: Britannī ex silvīs cum equitibus essedīsque suīs contrā Rōmānōs prōvolābant; Rōmānīs perīculōsum erat intrā mūnītiōnēs Britannōrum intrāre. Sed post aliquantum [7] __________ mīlitēs septimae legiōnis aggere et testūdine locum oppugnāvērunt. Tandem Britannōs ex silvīs prōpulsāvērunt. Pauca erant [8] __________ Rōmānōrum: nam Rōmānī Britannōs [9] __________ armōrum et scientiā pugnandī multum superābant; magnitūdine et [10] __________ [11] __________ Britannī Rōmānōs superābant. Sed Romanī quoque hominēs rōbustō [12] __________ erant."

[a] Fill in the blanks with the correct form of each 3^rd declension neuter noun

[1] certāmina / certāminis / certāmen

[2] flūmine / flūmen / flūminis

[3] operī / operī / opere

[4] nōmine / nōminī/ nōmina

[5] flūmen / flūmine / flūminis

[6] certāmina / certāminis / certāmen

[7] temporī / temporibus / temporis

[8] vulneris / vulnera / vulnerī

[9] ponderī / pondere / pondera

[10] rōborī / rōbur / rōbore

[11] corporis / corporī / corpus

[12] corporis / corporibus / corpore

[b] Answer the questions with a single word or short phrase:

[Britannī certāmen vītāvērunt, et in silvīs sē occultāvērunt, ubi locus erat prope flūmen, ēgregiē et nātūrā et opere firmātus. Itaque 'oppidum' Britannicum erat. Dē nōmine flūminis nihil constat.]

[i] The Britons avoided fighting in __________ [1]

[ii] The place was __________ a river. [1]

[iii] The place was well fortified by __________ and __________ [2]

[iv] The name of the river is __________ [1]

[c] Choose the correct answer [A], [B] or [C]

[Oppidum iam ante domesticī bellī causā praeparāverant, et crebrīs arboribus vallīsque firmāverant. Multa et varia certāmina fuērunt: Britannī ex silvīs cum equitibus essedīsque suīs contrā Rōmānōs prōvolābant; Rōmānīs perīculōsum erat intrā mūnītiōnēs Britannōrum intrāre. Sed post aliquantum temporis mīlitēs septimae legiōnis aggere et testūdine locum oppugnāvērunt.]

[i] The “oppidum” was prepared [A] when the Romans invaded [B] owing to a civil war [C] so they could start a war

[ii] It was fortified by [A] sticks and ditches [B] ramparts and ditches [C] trees and ramparts

[iii] The Britons would rush forward [A] with cavalry and chariots [B] with chariots and infantry [C] with horses and chariots

[iv] The Britons’ defences were [A] dangerous [B] easily entered [C] well-armed

[v] The location was attacked [A] by the sixth legion [B] in a very short time [C] using Roman military tactics

[d] The following statements are incorrect. What does the passage actually say?

[Tandem Britannōs ex silvīs prōpulsāvērunt. Pauca erant vulnera Rōmānōrum: nam Rōmānī Britannōs pondere armōrum et scientiā pugnandī multum superābant; magnitūdine et rōbore corporis Britannī Rōmānōs superābant. Sed Romanī quoque hominēs rōbustō corpore erant.]

[i] The Britons drove the Romans out of the forests.

[ii] Many Romans were wounded.

[iii] The Romans were weighed down by their armour.

[iv] The Britons were better fighters than the Romans.

[v] The Britons were smaller than the Romans.

[vi] The Romans did not have as much bodily strength as the Britons.

01.06.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein: Certāmina Varia [1]: text, exercises and notes

"Britannī certāmen vītāvērunt, et in silvīs sē occultāvērunt, ubi locus erat prope flūmen, ēgregiē et nātūrā et opere firmātus. Itaque 'oppidum' Britannicum erat. Dē nōmine flūminis nihil constat. Oppidum iam ante domesticī bellī causā praeparāverant, et crebrīs arboribus vallīsque firmāverant. Multa et varia certāmina fuērunt: Britannī ex silvīs cum equitibus essedīsque suīs contrā Rōmānōs prōvolābant; Rōmānīs perīculōsum erat intrā mūnītiōnēs Britannōrum intrāre. Sed post aliquantum temporis mīlitēs septimae legiōnis aggere et testūdine locum oppugnāvērunt. Tandem Britannōs ex silvīs prōpulsāvērunt. Pauca erant vulnera Rōmānōrum: nam Rōmānī Britannōs pondere armōrum et scientiā pugnandī multum superābant; magnitūdine et rōbore corporis Britannī Rōmānōs superābant. Sed Romanī quoque hominēs rōbustō corpore erant."

"Victōria Caesarī nōn multum prōfuit: nam Britannīs fugātīs instāre nōn poterat, quia nātūram locī ignōrābat. Praetereā praefectus castrōrum, nōmine Quintus Ātrius, magnum incommodum nuntiāverat: tempestās nāvigia in lītore afflictāverat. Tempus perīculōsum erat; nam Caesarī necesse erat ā flūmine ad lītus maritimum properāre, et legiōnēs suās ab insectātiōne Britannōrum revocāre. Multa ex nāvigiīs in vadīs afflictāta erant; cētera novīs armīs ornanda erant. Opus magnī labōris erat, et aliquantum temporis postulābat. Sed nautārum atque mīlitum virtūs magnō opere laudanda erat. Nōn solum per diurna sed etiam per nocturna tempora labōrāvērunt. Intereā Caesar nova nāvigia in Galliā aedificat: sine nāvigiīs nōn poterat cōpiās suās in Galliam reportāre; ūnō tempore necesse erat et nāvigia reparāre et contrā Britannōs bellāre."

[1] Vocabulary review: Match the Latin and English

1. agger, -is [3/m]
2. aliquantum, -ī [2/n]
3. causā (+ genitive)
4. certāmen, certāminis [3/n]
5. crēber, -ra, -rum
6. ēgregius, -a, -um
7. essedum, -ī [2/n]
8. insectātiō, insectātiōnis [3/f]
9. occultō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]
10. praefectus, -ī [2/m]
11. prōpulsō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]
12. prōvolō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]
13. rōbur, rōboris [3/n]
14. testūdō, testūdinis [3/f]
15. vadum, -ī [2/n]
16. vallum, -ī [2/n]

[i] contest / [ii] (here) combat, battle; [i] tortoise / [ii] Roman military tactic; a little / some; chariot; commander; dash forward; drive forward / repel; earthwork (for defence); excellent; for the sake of / on  account of; hardness / strength; hide; pursuit; rampart; (shallow) body of water; thick / dense

[2] Find the Latin; the phrases are chosen because of the case usage:

[a] Genitive

[i] after a little ¦ time (compare French: un peu de temps)

[ii] a lot of work was needed [ = there was need ¦ of great work]

[iii] on account ¦ of a war

[b] Dative

[iv] it was necessary ¦ for Caesar

[v] it was dangerous ¦ for the Romans

[c] Ablative

[vi] the place had been fortified ¦ [i] by nature [i.e. naturally] and [ii] by (defensive) work [i.e. man-made]

[vii] they had strengthened (it) ¦ by means of [i] thick trees and [ii] ramparts

[viii] the Britons surpassed the Romans ¦ in (terms of) [i] size and [ii] bodily strength [= the strength of the body]

[ix] the men had a strong body i.e. were strong (in) body

[x] the camp commander ¦ by the name of …

[xi] many ¦ of [ = out of] the vessels

[xii] at one / the same time

Notes

[1] verbs followed by the dative case

prōsum, prōdesse, prōfuī: be of use / benefit / profit

īnstō, -āre, īnstitī [1] (here) pursue

Victōria Caesarī nōn multum prōfuit │ Victory was not greatly profitable / of great use (benefit) to Caesar

Britannīs fugātīs īnstāre nōn poterat │ He was not able to pursue the Britons who had been put to flight

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/130425-level-3-verbs-with-dative-case-1.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/730075776270360/

[2] the gerund

Rōmānī Britannōs … scientiā pugnandī multum superābant │ The Romans greatly surpassed the Britons by (their) knowledge of fighting

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

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

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/270525-level-3-gerund-2-practice.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/775443715066899/

[3] the gerundive

cētera novīs armīs ornanda erant │ the rest were to be equipped with new weapons

nautārum atque mīlitum virtūs … laudanda erat │ the courage of the sailors and the soldiers was to be praised (praisworthy; worthy of being praised)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/11/120225-level-2-reading-schoolmasters.html

Essedum Britannicum

Image: from Trajan’s column; now it’s clear why this Roman military tactic was known as a testūdō:

03.03.25: follow-up; Silvae apud Austinopolin (Vincent) [3] notes

[1] Watch out for:

hīc: here (with long /ī/; hic with short /i/ means he / this)

hūc: to here

hinc: from here

[2] Apud rīvulum dēambulāmus.  │ We’re walking near a little stream (brook) < rīvus, -ī [2/m]: stream; brook; the inclusion of -ul- in a Latin word makes it smaller; in grammar known as a diminutive and discussed here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/427339066544034/

[3] Diēs iūcundissimus est. │ It is a very pleasant day.

-issim¦us, -a, -um: the ending for the superlative which, depending on context can translate as most + the adjective or, simply, as very + the adjective

[4] Nōn versāmur Hustōniae neque Dallāsiī │ We’re neither in Houston nor in Dallas; when referring to being in named cities or towns (and in a few other limited circumstances), Latin does not use a preposition but an old case ending known as the locative, which was discussed here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/415064654438142/

[5] Austino¦polis: any word ending in polis or derived from it e.g. Constantinople ( < Constantinopolis), metropolis (metropolitan), necropolis is originally from Ancient Greek πόλις (pólis): town; city; some nouns in Latin, especially proper nouns derived from Greek, may retain Greek case endings or have a mixture of Latin and Greek case endings.

In the reel Vincent says: Sēlēgī Austinopolim │ I’ve chosen Austin; that is a (rare) Latin accusative case ending which also occurs in, for example, the name of the river Tiber i.e. Tiberis > accusative Tiberim; also; turris (tower) > turrim and puppis (stern of a ship) > puppim. However, in the title of the video on Youtube we have: silvae apud Austinopolin, which is a Greek accusative, and equally valid as an ending.

[6] Vincentius loquor, ¦ gubernāns raedam... │ It’s me, Vincent, speaking ¦ (while) driving the car …

This is an example of a present active participle, a very important feature of Latin and used frequently in the literature. Many posts were written on this and they are all here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IZm2lKJ6aMF_UTmnLZrkxif5AqNnAXyb/view?usp=drive_link

[7] These three sentences use the Latin subjunctive.

Scītisne ¦ ubi sīmus?

Sed nōn cōnstituī hūc venīre ¦ ut vīserem aedificia.

Bene sapiat.

The subjunctive is a massive topic that will be looked at in depth when Level 3 is introduced. However, whenever it turns up, I will make brief mention of it.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/618725067405432/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/618726997405239/

The subjunctive is used in many different ways including:

[i] an indirect question: scītisne ¦ ubi sīmus? │do you know ¦ where we are [ = where we might be]?

[ii] expressing purpose: Sed nōn cōnstituī hūc venīre ¦ ut vīserem aedificia. │ But I didn’t decide to come here ¦ (in order) to visit buildings [ = in order that I might visit …]

[iii] expressing a polite request

vivat rēx! │ (long) live the king! [= may the king live (long)]

Bene sapiat. │ Literally: may it taste well = enjoy your food = Bon appétit!

There is no historical evidence that, when told the peasants had no bread, Marie-Antoinette said “let them eat cake” which, in Latin, would be this type of subjunctive: but I wouldn’t lose your head over it!