08.07.25: Level 1; Road to Latin [7]; Marcella; Puellae Laetae; reading and vocabulary

[First Declension, Genitive Case]

Marcella

Puella est Marcella. Marcella est fīlia Terentiae. Terentia est domina vīllae. Marcella est laeta quod novam tunicam habet. Tunica Marcellae est longa et alba. Marcella corbulam portat. Marcellae corbula est pulchra.

​Marcella statuās deārum amat. Vīlla est plēna statuārum deārum. Corbula Marcellae est rosārum albārum plēna. Marcella statuās deārum ōrnat; corōnae deās dēlectant.

Puellae Laetae

Cornēlia et Secunda sunt fīliae Tulliae. Tullia et fīliae vīllam pulchram et ancillās multās habent. Vīta fīliārum Tulliae est laeta quod Tullia fīliās amat. Ancillae Tulliae sunt defessae quod semper laborant. Vīta Tulliae est laeta quod fīliae sunt bonae. Ancillae nōn semper labōrant. Saepe puellae et ancillae ambulant. Tullia est magistra fīliārum et ancillārum. Puellae sunt laetae; puellae Tulliam magistram amant.

alba: white

ambulat: he/she/it walks, takes a walk

ambulant: they walk, take a walk

benigna: kind

corbula: little basket

corōna: garland, wreath

dea: goddess

laeta: happy, cheerful

Marcella: Marcella, daughter of Terentia

ōrnat: he/she/it adorns, decorates

ōrnant: they adorn, decorate

plēna: full

portat: he/she/it carries, brings​

portant: they carry, bring

rosa: rose

saepe: often

semper: always

statua: statue

Terentia: Terentia

tunica: tunic (a kind of Roman clothing)

vīta: life

20.04.25: Vincent; dē grātiīs agendīs et aliīs rēbus [5] notes

[1] Audītisne strepitum āeroplanōrum? Mihi displicet et quādam causā: nunc eōdem tempore in caelō sunt multa āeroplāna. │ Do you hear the noise of the aeroplanes? I don’t like it [lit: it is displeasing to me] for a certain / specific reason: at the same time there are many planes in the sky.

[2] Salvēte, sodālēs latīnē loquentēs. Vincentius loquor. Modo advēnī domum et iterum cum cane meō dēambulō. │ Hello, Latin speaking friends. This is Vincent speaking [lit: I, Vincent, am speaking]. I’ve just arrived home and again I’m going for a walk with my dog.

[3] Mihi est in animō facere brevem pelliculam ad exercendum quia est modus exercendī meus. │ I’m planning [lit: I have in my mind] to make a short film to practise because it’s my way of practising.

[4] Hīs mēnsibus cōnor legere plūra carmina Latīna, carmina et alia opera, et scrībere quoque. Adhūc difficile est mihi legere et intellegere carmina. │ During these months I’m trying to read more / a great number of Latin poems, poems and other works, and also to write. It’s still difficult for me to read and understand poems.

[5] Ergō grātiās agere velim professōribus meīs quī semper mē adiuvant et gaudeō mē posse colloquī latīnē cum aliīs ērudītīs saltem semel in septimānā quia apud ūniversitātem meam habēmus conventiculum Latīnum quod appellātur mēnsa Latīna, semel in septimānā. Ergō beātus sum. │ Therefore, I would like to thank my professors who always help me and I am really pleased [lit: I rejoice] that I am able to converse talk in Latin together with other educated people at least once a week because at my university we have a Latin meeting which is called the Latin table, once a week. Therefore, I am happy / fortunate / blessed.

[1] Mihi [dative] displicet: (literally) it is displeasing to me, an impersonal construction which we would normally rework into I don’t like (it)

[2] quīdam, quaedam, quiddam: a certain or a specific; quādam causā │ for a specific reason

Discussed in detail here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/597986606145945/

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/301124-comenius-in-17th-century-school_29.html

[3] īdem, eadem, idem: the same

personal pronouns is, ea, id + dem

is + dem > īdem; ea + dem > eadem; id + dem > idem

Note the spellings in the image, in particular:

Accusative singular: eundem / eandem

Genitive plural: eōrundem / eārundem

However, the main feature to recognise is the addition of -dem.

eōdem tempore │ at the same time

[4] sodālēs latīnē loquentēs │ Latin speaking friends [literally: friends (who are) speaking Latin

See files section in the group: 29.03.25: Uploaded to files; the present active participle (Level 2); all posts

[5] mihi est in animō │ I have in my mind = I intend

Mihi est in animō [ + infinitive] facere brevem pelliculam │ I’m planning to make a short film

[6] ad exercendum; est modus exercendī meus

Exercendum is an example of a gerund, sometimes referred to in English grammar as a verbal noun since it refers to the performing of the action which the verb describes.

facere brevem pelliculam ad exercendum │ to make a short film in order to practise / for the purpose of practising

est modus exercendī meus │ it’s my way of practising (training)

Gerunds were briefly discussed here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/611381141473158/

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/10/121224-level-1-topic-school-4-arts.html

They were discussed in greater detail here:

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

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

[7] plūra carmina │ more poems; plūs does not always specifically mean ‘more’ but can have a general meaning of a (fairly) large number (of)

Discussed in detail here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/586538670624072/

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/241124-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-11.html

[8] gaudeō ¦ mē posse (colloquī) │ I’m really pleased ¦ that I can (converse)

We say in English:

He said that he lived in Italy, the equivalents in other languages being, for example:

French: il a dit que …

German: er sagte, dass …

Russian: on skazal, chto …

Classical Latin does not use this construction (although Mediaeval Latin does), but a rather unusual construction called the accusative-infinitive.

Discussed here: 07.02.25; Speaking Latin on Campus (University of Dallas) [7]: notes [iv]; introduction to the accusative-infinitive

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/620534037224535/

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

[9] quod appellātur │ which is called (passive)

 

20.04.25: Vincent; dē grātiīs agendīs et aliīs rēbus [4] text, translation and vocabulary

More information on certain features of the text will be given in the next post.

[1] Audītisne strepitum āeroplanōrum? Mihi displicet et quādam causā: nunc eōdem tempore in caelō sunt multa āeroplāna. │ Do you hear the noise of the aeroplanes? I don’t like it [lit: it is displeasing to me] for a certain / specific reason: at the same time there are many planes in the sky.

[2] Salvēte, sodālēs latīnē loquentēs. Vincentius loquor. Modo advēnī domum et iterum cum cane meō dēambulō. │ Hello, Latin speaking friends. This is Vincent speaking [lit: I, Vincent, am speaking]. I’ve just arrived home and again I’m going for a walk with my dog.

[3] Mihi est in animō facere brevem pelliculam ad exercendum quia est modus exercendī meus. │ I’m planning [lit: I have in my mind] to make a short film to practise because it’s my way of practising.

[4] Hīs mēnsibus cōnor legere plūra carmina Latīna, carmina et alia opera, et scrībere quoque. Adhūc difficile est mihi legere et intellegere carmina. │ During these months I’m trying to read more / many Latin poems, poems and other works, and also to write. It’s still difficult for me to read and understand poems.

[5] Ergō grātiās agere velim professōribus meīs quī semper mē adiuvant et gaudeō mē posse colloquī latīnē cum aliīs ērudītīs saltem semel in septimānā quia apud ūniversitātem meam habēmus conventiculum Latīnum quod appellātur mēnsa Latīna, semel in septimānā. Ergō beātus sum. │ Therefore, I would like to thank my professors who always help me and I am really pleased [lit: I rejoice] that I am able to converse talk in Latin together with other educated people at least once a week because at my university we have a Latin meeting which is called the Latin table, once a week. Therefore, I am happy / fortunate / blessed.

[6] Nunc pergam lūdere cum cane. Valēte. │ Now I’ll carry on playing with (my) dog. Good bye.

vocabulary

ad exercendum: for practising < exerceō, -ēre [2]: practise [see next post]

āeroplānum, -ī [2/n]: (Neo-Latin) aeroplane

alius, -a, -ud: other

beātus, -a, -um: blessed; happy; fortunate

brevis, -e: short

carmen, carminis [3/n]: poem; song

conloquor, conloquī (or: colloquor, colloquī) [3/deponent]: converse; talk together; discuss

cōnor, cōnārī [1/deponent verb]: try

conventiculum, -ī [2/n]: meeting

displiceō, -ēre, -uī [2]: displease

ērudītus, -a, -um: educated; learned

grātiās agō: I give thanks / I thank

īdem, eadem, idem: the same

loquēns, loquentis: [who is / are] speaking

modus, -ī [2/m]: way; manner (e.g. of doing something)

opus, operis [3/n]: work (e.g. of literature)

pellicula, -ae [1/f]: (in Neo-Latin) film; movie

pergō, -ere, perrēxī [3]: continue

quīdam, quaedam, quiddam: a certain

septimāna, -ae [1/f] (Late Latin) week

strepitus, -ūs [4/m]: noise; din

20.04.25: Vincent; dē grātiīs agendīs et aliīs rēbus [3] find the Latin (ii)

Find in the wordcloud the Latin for these words as they are used in the text:

Audītisne strepitum āeroplanōrum? Mihi displicet et quādam causā: nunc eōdem tempore in caelō sunt multa āeroplāna. Salvēte, sodālēs latīnē loquentēs. Vincentius loquor. Modo advēnī domum et iterum cum cane meō dēambulō. Mihi est in animō facere brevem pelliculam ad exercendum quia est modus exercendī meus. Hīs mēnsibus cōnor legere plūra carmina Latīna, carmina et alia opera, et scrībere quoque. Adhūc difficile est mihi legere et intellegere carmina. Ergō grātiās agere velim professōribus meīs quī semper mē adiuvant et gaudeō mē posse colloquī latīnē cum aliīs ērudītīs saltem semel in septimānā quia apud ūniversitātem meam habēmus conventiculum Latīnum quod appellātur mēnsa Latīna, semel in septimānā. Ergō beātus sum. Nunc pergam lūdere cum cane. Valēte.

(at) the same

a certain / specific

again

also

always

at least

because

just

now

once

still

therefore

these

which

who

____________________

adhūc; eōdem; ergō; hīs; iterum; modo; nunc; quādam; quī; quia; quod; quoque; saltem; semel; semper

20.04.25: Vincent; dē grātiīs agendīs et aliīs rēbus [2] find the Latin (i)

Audītisne strepitum āeroplanōrum? Mihi displicet et quādam causā: nunc eōdem tempore in caelō sunt multa āeroplāna. Salvēte, sodālēs latīnē loquentēs. Vincentius loquor. Modo advēnī domum et iterum cum cane meō dēambulō. Mihi est in animō facere brevem pelliculam ad exercendum quia est modus exercendī meus. Hīs mēnsibus cōnor legere plūra carmina Latīna, carmina et alia opera, et scrībere quoque. Adhūc difficile est mihi legere et intellegere carmina. Ergō grātiās agere velim professōribus meīs quī semper mē adiuvant et gaudeō mē posse colloquī latīnē cum aliīs ērudītīs saltem semel in septimānā quia apud ūniversitātem meam habēmus conventiculum Latīnum quod appellātur mēnsa Latīna, semel in septimānā. Ergō beātus sum. Nunc pergam lūdere cum cane. Valēte.

1. at the same time
2. Do you hear?
3. during these months
4. friends speaking Latin
5. I am really pleased [literally: I rejoice] that I can talk in Latin together (with …); note: more on this in a later post
6. I don’t like it [literally: it is displeasing to me]
7. I intend / I have in mind
8. I’ve come home
9. I would like to thank
10. which is called

____________________

Audītisne strepitum āeroplanōrum? Mihi displicet et quādam causā: nunc eōdem tempore in caelō sunt multa āeroplāna. Salvēte, sodālēs latīnē loquentēs. Vincentius loquor. Modo advēnī domum et iterum cum cane meō dēambulō. Mihi est in animō facere brevem pelliculam ad exercendum quia est modus exercendī meus. Hīs mēnsibus cōnor legere plūra carmina Latīna, carmina et alia opera, et scrībere quoque. Adhūc difficile est mihi legere et intellegere carmina. Ergō grātiās agere velim professōribus meīs quī semper mē adiuvant et gaudeō mē posse colloquī latīnē cum aliīs ērudītīs saltem semel in septimānā quia apud ūniversitātem meam habēmus conventiculum Latīnum quod appellātur mēnsa Latīna, semel in septimānā. Ergō beātus sum. Nunc pergam lūdere cum cane. Valēte.

20.04.25: Vincent; dē grātiīs agendīs et aliīs rēbus [1] listening and comprehension

[1] Audītisne strepitum āeroplanōrum? Mihi displicet et quādam causā: nunc eōdem tempore in caelō sunt multa āeroplāna.

What does Vincent not like?

[A] aeroplanes

[B] the noise of an aeroplane

[C] an aeroplane in the sky

[D] lots of aeroplanes flying at the same time

[2] Salvēte, sodālēs latīnē loquentēs. Vincentius loquor. Modo advēnī domum et iterum cum cane meō dēambulō.

[i] Who specifically does Vincent greet?

[ii] When did Vincent get home?

[A] yesterday

[B] very recently

[C] a few days ago

[iii] True or false? This is the first time Vincent has ever had the chance of walking his dog.

[3] Mihi est in animō facere brevem pelliculam ad exercendum quia est modus exercendī meus.

[i] What is Vincent planning to do? (1)

[ii] What are his reasons? (2)

[4] Hīs mēnsibus cōnor legere plūra carmina Latīna, carmina et alia opera, et scrībere quoque. Adhūc difficile est mihi legere et intellegere carmina.

[i] Vincent is trying to:

[A] read poems

[B] understand poems

[C] write poems

[D] all of the above

[ii] Does Vincent find this easy?

[5] Ergō grātiās agere velim professōribus meīs quī semper mē adiuvant et gaudeō mē posse colloquī latīnē cum aliīs ērudītīs saltem semel in septimānā quia apud ūniversitātem meam habēmus conventiculum Latīnum quod appellātur mēnsa Latīna, semel in septimānā. Ergō beātus sum.

[i] Why does Vincent thank his professors? (2)

[ii] How does Vincent feel about speaking in Latin? (1)

[iii] He has the chance to do this:

[A] at least once a week

[B] more than once a week

[C] only once a week

[iv] He has the chance to do this:

[A] during a lecture

[B] at a meeting

[C] at the dinner table

[D] during a convention

[v] How do we know that Vincent feels fortunate to be able to do this?

[6] Nunc pergam lūdere cum cane. Valēte.

Vincent will continue to [A] run [B] walk [C] play with his dog.

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• with [1] Caesar ¦ [2] being leader

Begin with the nominative singular:

[1] Caesar [2] leader

> [1] Caesar [2] dux

[ii] Transfer both words into the ablative case:

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

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

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

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

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

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

[i] Caesare ¦ [ii] duce:

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

Remember that tense sequencing will still apply in translation:

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

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

Examples:

noun + noun

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

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

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

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

noun + adjective

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

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

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

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

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

07.07.25: Level 3; the Labours of Hercules; [VI] Hercules cleans the Augean Stables and kills the Stymphalian Birds

[VI] HERCULES CLEANS THE AUGEAN STABLES AND KILLS THE STYMPHALIAN BIRDS

Deinde Eurystheus Herculī hunc labōrem multō graviōrem imperāvit. Augēas quidam, quī illō tempore rēgnum Ēlidis obtinēbat, tria milia boum habebat. Hī ingentī stabulō continēbantur. Hoc stabulum, quod per trīgintā annōs nōn pūrgātum erat, Herculēs intrā spatium ūnīus diēī purgāre iussus est. Ille negōtium alacriter suscēpit, et prīmum labōre gravissimō maximam fossam fōdit per quam flūminis aquam dē montibus ad mūrum stabulī dūxit. Tum partem parvam mūrī dēlēvit et aquam in stabulum immīsit. Hōc modō fīnem operis fēcit ūnō diē facillimē.

Post paucōs diēs Herculēs ad oppidum Stymphālum iter fēcit; nam Eurystheus iusserat eum avīs Stymphālidēs occīdere. Hae avēs rōstra ferrea habēbant et hominēs miserōs dēvorābant ille, postquam ad locum pervenit, lacum vīdit in quō avēs incolēbant. Nūllō tamen modō Herculēs avibus adpropinquāre potuit; lacus enim nōn ex aquā sed ē līmō cōnstitit. Denique autem avēs dē aliquā causā perterritae in aurās volāvērunt et magna pars eārum sagittīs Herculis occīsa est.

[1] Ēlis, Ēlidis [3/f]: Elis, an ancient Greek city-state

[2] tria milia boum habebat │ (he) had 3,000 head of cattle

image: declension of bōs, bovis [3 m/f]: head of cattle (cow, ox, bull); note the genitive and dative / ablative plurals

[3] hī ingentī stabulō continēbantur │ these were contained by a huge stable; ablative of means but can translate as “in a huge stable”

[4] intrā spatium ūnīus diēī │ within a period of one day

ūnus declines like any other 1^st / 2^nd declension adjective except in the genitive and dative singular:

genitive: ūnīus

dative: ūnī

[5] nūllō … modō │ in no way

nūllus, -a, -um: not any; no

Note: ūnus and nūllus belong to a group of nine words known as pronominal adjectives which will be discussed in detail in later posts; for the moment, simply recognise the meanings

[6] ē līmō cōnstitit │ consisted of mud

cōnstō, -āre, cōnstitī, cōnstātus [1] (here) consist; be composed of

līmus, -ī [2/m]: mud

[7] dē aliquā causā perterritae │ frightened for some reason

aliquis / aliquī [m], aliqua [f], aliquid [n]: [i] pronouns someone; anyone; something; anything [ii] adjectival: some; any

aliquis is normally a pronoun whereas aliquī acts likes an adjective but that usage is not consistent

Note: ali-, a prefix used to give a sense of indefiniteness, for example:

aliquandō: at some / any time; sometimes / now and then; at one time (in the past)

aliquot: some; several; a few

aliquotiē(n)s: several times

06.07.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein: Rōbur et Aes Triplex [1](ii); listening

[1]

[Tum Marcus "ō gentem fortem et admīrābilem Britannōrum!" inquit. "Nam insigne erat facinus quod contrā Rōmānōs, victōrēs orbis terrārum, tam fortiter et nōnnumquam prosperē pugnāvērunt. Nōn mīrum est, sī Rōmānī victōriam reportāvērunt." Nōs sententiam Marcī comprobāvimus.]

[i] To which people – the Romans or the Britons – do the following statements refer?

admirable

victorious

distinguished deed

sometimes successful

world conquerers

[ii] What do the others think of Mark’s opinion?

[2]

[Sed iam nōna hōra erat, cum Alexander, digitō ad orientem monstrāns, "Nōnne nāvēs procul ā lītore spectātis?" inquit. Et patruus meus "Ita est" inquit; "nam illīc est statiō tūta nāvibus. Sed illae nāvēs, ut putō, nāvēs longae sunt ex classe Britannicā; nam pars classis nostrae nunc in fretō Gallicō est."]

[i] In what direction does Alexander point? (1)

[ii] Where are the ships and why are they there? (3)

[iii] What kind of ships does the writer’s uncle think they are? (2)

[iv] Why does he think that? (2)

[3]

[Tum ego "eugē, optimē!" inquam; "nāvem longam adhūc nōn spectāvī. Sed nōn tam grandēs sunt quam putāvī." "Pergrandēs sunt," inquit patruus meus "sed procul ā lītore sunt; omnēs lāminīs ferreīs, nōnnullae arietibus vel turribus armātae sunt."]

[i] Why is the writer happy? (1)

[ii] What does he say about the size of the ships? (2)

[iii] What explanation does the uncle give for that? (2)

[iv] How does the uncle describe the ships? (3)

06.07.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein: Rōbur et Aes Triplex* [1](i); text and exercises

Tum Marcus "ō gentem fortem et admīrābilem Britannōrum!" inquit. "Nam insigne erat facinus quod contrā Rōmānōs, victōrēs orbis terrārum, tam fortiter et nōnnumquam prosperē pugnāvērunt. Nōn mīrum est, sī Rōmānī victōriam reportāvērunt." Nōs sententiam Marcī comprobāvimus. Sed iam nōna hōra erat, cum Alexander, digitō ad orientem monstrāns, "Nōnne nāvēs procul ā lītore spectātis?" inquit. Et patruus meus "Ita est" inquit; "nam illīc est statiō** tūta nāvibus. Sed illae nāvēs, ut putō, nāvēs longae sunt ex classe Britannicā; nam pars classis nostrae nunc in fretō Gallicō est." Tum ego "eugē, optimē!" inquam; "nāvem longam adhūc nōn spectāvī. Sed nōn tam grandēs sunt quam putāvī." "Pergrandēs sunt," inquit patruus meus "sed procul a lītore sunt; omnēs lāminīs ferreīs, nōnnullae arietibus vel turribus armātae sunt."

* The title of the text - rōbur et aes triplex – is a quotation from the Roman poet Horace which symbolises great strength and courage and used here to refer both to the Ancient Britons in their battles with the Romans and to the modern British war-ships.

illī rōbur et aes triplex / circā pectus erat (Horace: Odes 1.3) │ Oak and brass of triple fold / Encompass'd sure that heart, … [He had a heart encased in oak and triple bronze, …]

rōbur, rōboris [3/n]: oak tree; strength

aes, aeris [3/n]: brass

triplex, triplicis: triple; three-fold

** statiō, satiōnis [3/f]: (here) roadstead, a partly sheltered area near the shore where ships can anchor

[i] Vocabulary review: match the Latin and English

adhūc

ariēs, arietis [3/m]

comprobō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

eugē

facinus, facinoris [3/n]

grandis, -e

illīc

insignis, -e

mīrus, -a, -um

nōnnumquam

orbis, -is [3/m] terrārum

pergrandis, -e

prosperus, -a, -um

sententia, -ae [1/f]

turris, -is [3/f]

tūtus, -a, -um

approve; big; deed / action; distinguished; favourable / successful; globe; hurray / bravo!; opinion; over there; ram; safe; sometimes; still / thus far; tower / turret; very big; wonderful / surprising

[ii] Find the Latin:

1. pointing ¦ with (his) finger ¦ to the east
2. over there is a safe roadstead for the ships
3. as I think i.e. in my opinion
4. they’re not as big as I thought
5. some are armed with towers

05.07.25: Level 1; Road to Latin [6]; Vīlla Rōmāna; notes and exercises

[i] The enclitic [a small group of letters attached to the end of a word] -ne is used in questions to show a "yes or no" question but the speaker cannot anticipate what the answer will be. It is attached to the most important word of the question for emphasis, usually the verb, and this important word is placed at the beginning of the question.

Labōratne agricola? │ Is the farmer working?

Habetne domina ancillās? │  Does the mistress have female slaves?

[ii] The word nōnne is used to introduce questions to which the speaker expects the answer to be "yes"

Nōnne agricola labōrat? │ Surely the farmer is working? / The farmer is working, isn't he?

Nōnne vīlla Rōmāna columnās habet? │  The Roman villa has columns, doesn’t it? /  Surely the Roman villa has columns?

[iii] The question word num is used to introduce questions to which the speaker expects the answer to be "no"

Num agricola laborat? │ Surely the farmer isn’t working? / The farmer isn't working, is he?

Exercise [1]

1. Estne vīlla Rōmāna?
2. Quālis vīlla Corneliāna est?
3. Habetne vīlla Rōmāna multam terram?
4. Nōnne vīlla Rōmāna columnās habet?
5. Num casa columnās habet?
6. Quid vīlla Corneliāna habet?
7. Nōnne vīlla Corneliāna est magna?
8. Num est vīllā parvā?
9. Habetne domina ancillās?
10. Nōnne ancillae labōrant?
11. Nōnne Tullia fīliās habet?
12. Num puellae stant?
13. Nōnne agricolae labōrant?
14. Quid agricolae amant?
15. Quid nautae amant?

Unit 3; Grammar Exercise

Supply the proper case endings:

1. Tullia fili___ bon___ amat.
2. Silva pulchra domin___ Rōmā___ dēlectat.
3. Fēmin___ vīll___ et ancill___ habet.
4. Ancill___ labōrant quod domin___ amant.
5. Vīll___ magn___ est pulchr___.
6. Agricolae silv___ amant.
7. Terra et silva agricol___ dēlectant.
8. Dēlectatne aqua naut___?
9. Nōnne fenestra est apert___?
10. Num casae sunt pulchr___?

05.07.25: Level 1; Road to Latin [5]; Vīlla Rōmāna; reading and vocabulary

[Review of the Nominative and Accusative; Latin Questions with "-ne," "nonne" and "num"]

Estne vīlla Americāna? Vīlla nōn est Americāna. Vīlla est Rōmāna. Vīlla Rōmāna casās parvās et multam terram habet. Vīlla Rōmāna est Vīlla Corneliāna. Vīlla Corneliāna est longa et lāta. Nōnne vīlla Corneliāna est magna et pulchra? Vīlla Corneliāna est magna et pulchra. Vīlla columnās habet. Num casa parva columnās habet? Casa parva columnās nōn habet.

Quis est fēmina? Tullia est fēmina. Nōnne Tullia est Rōmāna? Certē Tullia est Rōmāna. Tullia domina est. Domina multās ancillās habet. Ancillae labōrant. Habetne Tullia fīliās? Tullia fīliās habet. Cornēlia et Secunda fīliae sunt. Stantne Cornēlia et Secunda? Puellae nōn stant sed fēmina stat.

Labōrantne agricolae? Agricolae labōrant. Nōnne terra agricolās dēlectat? Terra agricolās dēlectat. Agricolae et terram et silvam amant. Num terram nautae amant? Terram nautae nōn amant. Nautās nōn terra sed aqua dēlectat. Nōnne vīlla Corneliāna et Tulliam et fīliās dēlectat? Villa Corneliāna et Tulliam et fīliās dēlectat.

agricola: farmer

ancilla: slave woman

aqua: water

casa: cottage; hut; shed; little house

certē: certainly; surely; indeed

columna: column

Cornēliāna: belonging to Cornelius; Cornelius'

domina: mistress

fīlia: daughter

labōrat: he/she/it works

labōrant: they work

lāta: wide: broad

multa: much

multae: many

nauta: sailor

pulchra: beautiful; handsome; pretty

Secunda: Secunda (second daughter of Cornelius)

silva: forest; woods

terra: land: earth

Tullia: Tullia (wife of Cornelius)

vīlla: villa; farm; country estate

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

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

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

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

____________________

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

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

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

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

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

____________________

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

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

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

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

____________________

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

04.07.25: Level 3; the Labours of Hercules; [V] The Arcadian Stag and the Erymanthian Boar

[V] THE ARCADIAN STAG AND THE ERYMANTHIAN BOAR

Postquam Eurystheō mors Hydrae nūntiata est, summus terror animum eius occupāvit. Itaque iussit Herculem capere et ad sē reportāre cervum quendam; nam minimē cupīvit tantum virum in rēgnō suō tenere. Hic autem cervus dīcēbātur aurea cornua et pedēs multō celeriōrēs ventō habēre. Prīmum Herculēs vestigia animālis petīvit, deinde, ubi cervum, ipsum vidit, omnibus vīribus currere incēpit. Per plūrimōs diēs contendit nec noctū cessāvit. Dēnique postquam per tōtum annum cucurrerat — ita dīcitur — cervum iam dēfessum cēpit et ad Eurystheum portāvit.

Tum vērō iussus est Herculēs aprum quendam capere quī illō tempore agrōs Erymanthiōs vāstābat et hominēs illīus locī magnopere perterrēbat. Herculēs laetē negōtium suscēpit et in Arcadiam celeriter sē recēpit. Ibi mox aprum repperit. Ille autem, simul atque Herculem vidit, statim quam celerrimē fugit et metū perterritus in fossam altam sēsē abdidit. Herculēs tamen summā cum difficultāte eum extrāxit, nec aper ūllō modō sēsē liberāre potuit, et vīvus ad Eurystheum portātus est.

[1] Itaque (Eurystheus) iussit Herculem … ad sē reportāre cervum quendam │ Therefore, (Eurystheus) ordered Hercules … to bring a certain stag back to him; the reflexive pronoun sē is used since Eurystheus want the stag brought back to himself.

celeriter sē recēpit │ literally: he took himself back = he withdrew / retreated

sēsē abdidit │ hid itself; nec aper … sēsē liberāre potuit │ nor was the boar able to free itself

sēsē = sē

More information on reflexive pronouns:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/08/280924-level-2-ora-maritima-24-and-25-7.html

[2] cervus dīcēbātur … habēre │ the stag was said ¦ to have

[3] pedēs [i] multō celeriōrēs ¦ [ii] ventō │ feet [i] much faster ¦ [ii] than the wind

[i] ablative of degree of difference

[ii] ablative of comparison

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/110623-level-3-summary-of-of-uses-of.html

[4] quam celerrimē fugit │ he fled as quickly as possible

quam + superlative adverb = as [quickly, slowly etc.] as possible

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/10/111224-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-21.html

[5] vestīgium, -ī [2/n]: footprint; trace; track (of an animal)

[6] suscipiō, -ere, suscēpī, susceptus [3-iō]: undertake

[7] summā cum difficultāte │ with the greatest difficulty; ablative of manner:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/210525-level-3-summary-of-of-uses-of_37.html

03.07.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein: Britannia Pācāta [4](ii): listening

[1]

["Sed in Cantiō, ubi quattuor rēgēs Britannīs praeerant, nōndum fīnis erat pugnandī. Britannī castra Rōmāna ad mare sita fortiter oppugnant; sed frustrā. Rōmānī victōrēs. "]

In which order are the following mentioned?*

failed attempt

location of the Roman camp

fighting unfinished

victory

the rulers of Kent

[2]

["Intereā multae ex cīvitātibus Britannicīs pācem ōrant. Trinobantibus Caesar novum rēgem dat, et pācem confirmat. Itaque propter tot clādēs, propter fīnēs suōs bellō vastātōs, maximē autem propter dēfectiōnem tot cīvitātum, Cassivellaunus de condiciōnibus pācis dēlīberat. "]

[i] What did many tribes do during this time? (1)

[ii] How did Caesar establish peace (2)

[iii] For which three reasons did Cassivellaunus consider peace terms? Which of these was the main reason? (4)

[3]

["Caesar pācem dat; Cassivellaunum vetat Trinobantēs bellō vexāre, et tribūtum Britannīs imperat. Tum cōpiās suās cum magnō numerō obsidum et captīvōrum in Galliam reportat. Britannī fortiter sed frustrā prō ārīs et focīs suīs pugnāverant."]

Complete each statement with a short phrase:

[i] Caesar forbade Cassivellaunus from __________.

[ii] Caesar imposed  __________.

[iii] Caesar returned to Gaul with __________.

[iv] The Britons had fought bravely for  __________.

____________________

*[1] 

failed attempt [4]

location of the Roman camp [3]

fighting unfinished [2]

victory [5]

the rulers of Kent [1]

Sed [1] in Cantiō, ubi quattuor rēgēs Britannīs praeerant, [2] nōndum fīnis erat pugnandī. Britannī [3] castra Rōmāna ad mare sita fortiter oppugnant; [4] sed frustrā. [5] Rōmānī victōrēs.

03.07.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein: Britannia Pācāta [4](i): text, exercise

"Sed in Cantiō, ubi quattuor rēgēs Britannīs praeerant, nōndum fīnis erat pugnandī. Britannī castra Rōmāna ad mare sita fortiter oppugnant; sed frustrā. Rōmānī victōrēs. Intereā multae ex cīvitātibus Britannicīs pācem ōrant. Trinobantibus Caesar novum rēgem dat, et pācem confirmat. Itaque propter tot clādēs, propter fīnēs suōs bellō vastātōs, maximē autem propter dēfectiōnem tot cīvitātum, Cassivellaunus de condiciōnibus pācis dēlīberat. Caesar pācem dat; Cassivellaunum vetat Trinobantēs bellō vexāre, et tribūtum Britannīs imperat. Tum cōpiās suās cum magnō numerō obsidum et captīvōrum in Galliam reportat. Britannī fortiter sed frustrā prō ārīs et focīs suīs pugnāverant."

Note: prō ārīs et focīs suīs

Literally: they fought for their alters and hearths (fireplaces) but the expression was used to refer to everything that people held dear to them

[i] Vocabulary review: match the Latin and English

āra, -ae [1/f]

cīvitās, cīvitātis [3/f]

clādēs, -is [3/f]

dēlīberō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus

focus, -ī [2/m]

frustrā

imperō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: (here) impose

intereā

maximē

obses, obsidis [3 m/f]

ōrō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus

pāx, pācis [3/f]

praesum, praeesse

tot

vetō, -āre, -uī, vetitus [1]

vexō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

disaster; deliberate / consider / ponder; be in command; altar; (here) impose; especially; forbid; hearth / fire-place; hostage; in vain; meanwhile; trouble / harrass; tribe / city (-state) / kingdom; peace; pray / beg for; so many

[ii] Find the Latin

[1] there was not yet an end to the fighting

[2] the camp … situated by the sea …

[3] many of the tribes

[4] … territory… laid waste …

[5] Caesar imposes a tribute on the Britons

[6] with a large number