13.07.25: Level 3; the Labours of Hercules; [VIII] the Belt of Hippolyte, Queen of the Amazons; syncopated verb forms; elision; the descent to Hades and the dog Cerberus

[VIII] THE BELT OF HIPPOLYTE, QUEEN OF THE AMAZONS

Gēns Amāzonum dīcitur omnīnō ex mulieribus fuisse. Hae cum virīs proelium committere nōn verēbantur. Hippolytē, Amāzonum rēgīna, balteum habuit pulcherrimum. Hunc balteum possidēre fīlia Eurystheī vehementer cupiēbat. Itaque Eurystheus iussit Herculem impetum in Amāzonēs facere. Ille multīs cum cōpiīs nāvem cōnscendit et paucīs diēbus in Amāzonum finīs pervēnit, ac balteum postulāvit. Eum trādere ipsa Hippolytē quidem cupīvit; reliquīs tamen Amāzonibus persuādēre nōn potuit. Postrīdiē Herculēs proelium commīsit. Multās hōrās utrimque quam fortissimē pugnātum est. Dēnique tamen mulierēs terga vertērunt et fugā salūtem petiērunt. Multae autem captae sunt, in quō numerō erat ipsa Hippolytē. Herculēs postquam balteum accēpit, omnibus captīvīs lībertātem dedit.

[1] Gēns Amāzonum │ the race of the Amazons / the Amazonian race

Amāzōn, Amāzonis [3/f]: Amazon, female warrior

[2] Gēns … dīcitur … fuisse

See the previous post:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/220625-level-3-i-infant-hercules-and.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/837575635520373/

[3] vereor, verērī, veritus sum [2/deponent]: fear; be afraid

[4] impetum in Amāzonēs facere │ to make an attack on / against the Amazons

[5] paucīs diēbus: within a few days; ablative of time within which:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/300525-level-3-summary-of-of-uses-of.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/787623537182250/

[6] Amāzonibus persuādēre nōn potuit

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/180425-level-3-verbs-with-dative-case-2.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/733356709275600/

[7] petiērunt = petīvērunt; this is an example of a syncopated verb form which you often – but not exclusively – come across in poetry.

‘Syncopated’ means that one or more sounds are omitted from a verb; the term ‘contraction’ is also used.

[i] Image: loss of -v- in perfect tense forms although some are very rare; good examples are evident in 4^th conjugation verbs, many of which have a perfect tense stem in –(ī)v–. Therefore: petīvērunt > petiērunt

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/05/290524-level-2-perfect-tense-10-eo-ire.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/451995527411721/

[ii] often seen in the 3^rd person plural of perfect tense verbs where -ērunt is written as -ēre:

laudāvērunt > laudāvēre

mansērunt > mansēre

dūxērunt > dūxēre

fēcērunt > fēcēre

[iii] -ris [2nd person singular ending of passive verbs] > -re

present passive: laudāris > laudāre

imperfect passive: laudābāris > laudābāre

future passive: laudāberis > laudābere

At first sight, [ii] and [iii] could be misread as infinitives, but take a second look because the stems are still clear as is the distinctive ending of the passive

laudāv¦ērunt > laudāv¦ēre

dūx¦ērunt > dūx¦ēre

laudār¦is > laudār¦e

laudābār¦is > laudābār¦e

laudāber¦is > laudāber¦e

[iv] Like the English contractions he + is > he’s, we + have > we’ve, in older Latin writing e.g. Plautus, you will come across contractions of adjacent sounds i.e. one at the end of the first word and one at the beginning of the second:

Ubi is homōst [= homō + est] quem dīcis? (Plautus) │ Where is this person whom you mention?

Where contractions occur in literary texts, they will be noted.

[v] Elision: this loss of adjacent vowel sounds, known as elision, is an integral feature of Classical Latin poetry and is essential when [i] identifying the metre of a poem in order and [ii] reciting it correctly. That is not the focus here, but below is one example from Catullus:

Vīvāmus mea Lesbia atque amēmus │ Let us live, my Lesbia, and let us love

Note the adjacent vowel sounds at [i] the end of Lesbia and beginning of amemus, and [ii] the end of atque and the beginning of amēmus

Although both vowel sounds are written they are not pronounced separately but elided i.e. they are pronounced as one vowel sound or two vowel sounds effectively ‘fused’ i.e. blended into single sound.

The line is recited as follows:

Vivāmus mea Lesbi’atqu’amēmus

The metre for this poem is hendecasyllabic i.e. comprising eleven syllables; at first sight, since the vowels are all written, it looks as if there are more, but, through elision, the eleven syllables are maintained. The vowels marked in brackets [ ] are not pronounced but elided with the vowels that follow them.

1 Vī- 2 vā- ¦ 3 mūs 4 mĕ- 5 ă ¦ 6 Lēs- 7 bĭ-[a] ¦ 8 āt- 9 qu[e] ă- ¦ 10 mē- 11 mŭs

THE DESCENT TO HADES AND THE DOG CERBERUS

Iamque ūnus modō ē duodecim labōribus relinquēbātur sed inter omnēs hic erat difficillimus. Iussus est enim canem Cerberum ex Orcō in lūcem trahere. Ex Orcō autem nēmō anteā reverterat. Praetereā Cerberus erat mōnstrum maximē horribile et tria capita habēbat. Herculēs postquam imperia Eurystheī accēpit, statim profectus est et in Orcum dēscendit. Ibi vērō nōn sine summō perīculō Cerberum manibus rapuit et ingentī cum labōre ex Orcō in lūcem et ad urbem Eurystheī trāxit.

Sīc duodecim labōrēs illī intrā duodecim annōs cōnfectī sunt. Dēmum post longam vītam Herculēs ā deīs receptus est et Iuppiter filiō suō dedit immortālitātem.

Cerberus, or Cerberos, -ī [2/m]: the dog Cerberus which guarded the gate of Orcus, the abode of the dead.

Orcus, -ī [2/m]: the underworld; (Etruscan and Roman mythology): Orcus, the god of the Underworld

12.07.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein: Rōbur et Aes Triplex [3](ii); listening

[1]

[Hōra iam decima erat cum ā Rēgālī nōs in scapham dedimus. Tum ad lītus rēmigāre necesse erat; nam ventus adversus erat. Ego et Marcus ūnā cum patruō meō et nautā veterānō rēmīs labōrāvimus. Sed nōn ante undecimam hōram in lītore stetimus. Dum domum properāmus, imber fuit, et necesse erat in tabernā aliquantum temporis exspectāre: intrāvimus et nōs recreāvimus; nam fatīgātī erāmus.]

In what order are the following first mentioned?*

adverse wind

feeling tired

hurrying home

rain

rowing to the shore

rowing together

time they left the ship

time they reached the shore

waiting at an inn

[2]

[Sed 'post tenebrās lūx.' Cum domum adventāvimus, amita mea et Lȳdia "Ubi tam diū fuistis?" inquiunt; "nōs anxiae fuimus; sed cēna iam parāta est." Tum nōs "Multa spectāvimus" inquimus; "ambulātiō longa sed pergrāta et ūtilis fuit."]

Choose [a], [b] or [c]

[i] The writer says post tenebrās lūx because:

[a] good things always happen after bad things

[b] it’s the following morning

[c] the weather improves

[ii] When they got home, the writer’s aunt and Lydia first …

[a] said dinner was ready

[b] asked them where they’d been

[c] said they were worried

[iii] They replied that …

[a] they had seen something useful

[b] they had been on a short but enjoyable walk

[c] the walk had been useful and enjoyable

[3]

[Post cēnam Marcus et Alexander Dubrās in vehiculō properāvērunt. Ego per noctem dē Britannīs antīquīs et dē classe Britannicā hodiernā somniāvī. Ante oculōs erant virī fortēs membrīs robustīs, flāvīs capillīs, oculīs caeruleīs cum Rōmānīs terrā marīque pugnantēs.]

[i] When and how did Mark and Alexander return to Dover? (2)

[ii] What did the writer dream about? (2)

[iii] Which phrase suggests his dream was vivid? (1)

[iv] Complete the translation of the final sentence (7): erant virī fortēs membrīs robustīs, flāvīs capillīs, oculīs caeruleīs cum Rōmānīs terrā marīque pugnantēs

There were __________ men with sturdy __________, __________ hair, __________ eyes who were __________ with the Romans on __________ and __________.

____________________

* [1] 

adverse wind [3]

feeling tired [9]

hurrying home [6]

rain [7]

rowing to the shore [2]

rowing together [4]

time they left the ship [1]

time they reached the shore [5]

waiting at an inn [8]

[1] Hōra iam decima erat cum ā Rēgālī nōs in scapham dedimus. Tum [2] ad lītus rēmigāre necesse erat; nam [3] ventus adversus erat. [4] Ego et Marcus ūnā cum patruō meō et nautā veterānō rēmīs labōrāvimus. Sed [5] nōn ante undecimam hōram in lītore stetimus. Dum [6] domum properāmus, [7] imber fuit, et necesse erat [8] in tabernā aliquantum temporis exspectāre: intrāvimus et nōs recreāvimus; nam [9] fatīgātī erāmus.

12.07.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein: Rōbur et Aes Triplex [3](i); text and exercises

Hōra iam decima erat cum ā Rēgālī nōs in scapham dedimus. Tum ad lītus rēmigāre necesse erat; nam ventus adversus erat. Ego et Marcus ūnā cum patruō meō et nautā veterānō rēmīs labōrāvimus. Sed nōn ante undecimam hōram in lītore stetimus. Dum domum properāmus, imber fuit, et necesse erat in tabernā aliquantum temporis exspectāre: intrāvimus et nōs recreāvimus; nam fatīgātī erāmus. Sed 'post tenebrās lūx.' Cum domum adventāvimus, amita mea et Lȳdia "Ubi tam diū fuistis?" inquiunt; "nōs anxiae fuimus; sed cēna iam parāta est." Tum nōs "Multa spectāvimus" inquimus; "ambulātiō longa sed pergrāta et ūtilis fuit." Post cēnam Marcus et Alexander Dubrās in vehiculō properāvērunt. Ego per noctem dē Britannīs antīquīs et dē classe Britannicā hodiernā somniāvī. Ante oculōs erant virī fortēs membrīs robustīs, flāvīs capillīs, oculīs caeruleīs cum Rōmānīs terrā marīque pugnantēs.

[i] Vocabulary review: match the Latin and English

adversus, -a, -um

ambulātiō, ambulātiōnis [3/f]

anxius, -a, -um

fatīgō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

hodiernus, -a, um

imber, imbris [3/m]

inquimus

inquiunt

lūx, lūcis [3/f]

somniō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

stō, -āre, stetī, status [1]

taberna, -ae [1/f]

tenebrae, -ārum [1/f/pl]

ūnā

ūtilis, -e

vehiculum, -ī [2/n]

worried; we say / said; walk / stroll; useful; together; today’s / present-day; light; rain; stand; they say / said; tire; adverse; carriage; darkness; dream; inn

[ii] Find the Latin:

1. (for) quite some time / a considerable amount of time
2. (they) hurried to Dover
3. throughout the night
4. strong men with sturdy limbs
5. strong men with sturdy limbs, ¦ (with) blond hair, (with) blue eyes
6. fighting ¦ with the Romans
7. fighting with the Romans ¦ on land and sea

11.07.25: Level 1; Road to Latin [10]; Galbae Taberna; Diana; notes and exercises

GALBAE TABERNA

Galba magnam tabernam habet. Taberna est plēna statuārum et amphorārum. Taberna fēminās Rōmānās dēlectat. Hodiē, Tullia, Claudia, et Camilla tabernam Galbae intrant. Galba fēminās videt. Quid Tulliae dēmōnstrat? Tulliae parvam statuam dēmōnstrat, sed Tullia statuam nōn dēsīderat. Galba Claudiae statuam dēmōnstrat. Claudia statuam spectat et dēsīderat. Itaque fēmina Galbae pecūniam dat. Camilla quoque statuam deae dēsīderat. Galba Camillae rubram Diānae statuam dēmōnstrat. Statua Camillam dēlectat; Camilla Galbae pecūniam dat. Tum Galba fēminīs Rōmānīs amphoram dēmōnstrat; amphora pulchra fēminās dēlectat. Tullia fīliās vocat. Tum Galba fīliābus Tulliae amphoram dēmōnstrat. Amphora puellās quoque dēlectat. Cornēlia et Secunda tabernam Galbae amant. Interdum Galba fīliabus Tulliae parvam statuam dat. Galba puellīs fābulās saepe nārrat. Cornēlia et Secunda fābulās amant. Itaque fēminae et puellae tabernam Galbae saepe intrant.

DIANA

Camilla fīliābus rubram Diānae statuam dēmōnstrat. Puellae statuam spectant; tum Camilla fīliābus fābulam nārrat: “Diāna est dea silvārum et lūnae. Et agricolae et nautae Diānam laudant. Agricolae Diānae corōnas saepe dant quod dea silvās cūrat. Diāna, dea lūnae, nautās dēlectat quod lūna nautīs viam dēmōnstrat. Itaque nautae quoque corōnās dant.” Fīliae Camillae fābulam amant. Quod lūna et silvae fīliās dēlectant, puellae deam laudant et statuam deae ōrnant.

The Dative case was first introduced here:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/04/060324-introduction-to-dative-case.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/402709045673703/

[i] In the sentence Galba Tulliae parvam statuam dēmonstrat which word indicates to whom Galba shows the statue?

[ii] In the sentence Fēmina Galbae pecuniam dat which word indicates to whom the woman gives the money?

[i] The word Tulliae tells to whom the statue is shown.

[ii] The word Galbae tells to whom the money is given.

The word in a sentence which shows to whom something is given shown or told is called the indirect object of the verb. Such a word is in the dative case

How does each of these words end? Is Tulliae singular or plural? Observe that the word naming the indirect object ends in -ae the ending of the dative in the singular

Observe that the dative ending shown in Tulliae is the same as the genitive ending.

There are two ways in English of expressing the idea contained in the dative case. It may be expressed by using a phrase beginning with to, or to may not be used at all; as, Galba shows the statue to Tullia or Galba shows Tullia the statue. In Latin the indirect object usually precedes the direct object.

In the sentence Tum Galba fēminis Romānis amphoram dēmonstrat, to whom does Galba show the jar? How is fēminis used? Is this word singular or plural? What ending does it have? The dative plural of nouns in the first declension ends in -īs.

What other nouns in the story are in the dative plural? With what verbs are they used? What is the dative plural of fīlia? Filiābus is an exceptional form and is used to distinguish the dative plural of fīlia from fīliīs, the dative plural of the word for son. Dea also has the ending "-ābus" for the dative plural.

​Dative singular, puellae

Dative plural, puellīs 

You are now seeing all the cases being used in the same text. At the early stages, you should keep thinking about what cases are being used, and why.

Here are some examples of the dative case from the text:

Quid Tulliae dēmōnstrat? What does he show to Tullia?

Tulliae [dative] ¦ parvam statuam [accusative] dēmōnstrat. │ He shows a small statue ¦ to Tullia.

Camilla Galbae [dative] ¦ pecūniam [accusative] dat. │ Camilla gives money ¦ to Galba.

Agricolae Diānae [dative] ¦ corōnas [accusative] saepe dant. │ The farmers often give garlands ¦ to Diana.

Galba fēminīs Rōmānīs [dative] ¦ amphoram [accusative] dēmōnstrat. │ Galba shows the amphora ¦ to the Roman women.

lūna nautīs [dative] viam [accusative] dēmōnstrat. │ The moon shows the way ¦ to the sailors.

Galba puellīs [dative] ¦ fābulās [accusative] saepe nārrat. │ Galba often tells stories ¦ to the girls.

Camilla fīliābus [dative] ¦ fābulam [accusative] nārrat. │ Camilla tells a story ¦ to the daughters.

Exercise [1]

1. Quid Galba habet?
2. Cui Galba parvam statuam dēmonstrat? *cui = to whom? to what?
3. Num dēsīderat Tullia statuam?
4. Cui fēmina pecūniam dat?
5. Cui Galba statuam Diānae dēmonstrat?
6. Nõnne Camilla Galbae pecuniam dat?
7. Quid Galba fēminīs dēmonstrat?
8. Quās Tullia vocat?
9. Dēmonstratne Galba filiābus Tulliae amphoram?
10. Quibus Galba parvam statuam dat? *quibus = to whom? to what? (plural form)
11. Quibus Galba fābulās nārrat?

Unit [5]: Grammar exercise

Supply the proper case endings:

1. Interdum domina Rōmāna fīlī ___ fābulās longās nārrat.
2. Puellae femin ___ (pl) amphorās dant.
3. Ancillae Cornēlī ___ et Secund ___ rosās dēmōnstrant.
4. Ancillae rōs ___ (pl) aquam saepe dant.
5. Claudia de ___ (pl) corōnās dat.
6. Hodiē Galba puell ___ bōn ___ (sing) fābulam nārrat.
7. Ancilla domīn ___ (sing) casam dēmōnstrat.
8. Domina ancill ___ (sing) pecūniam dat.

11.07.25: Level 1; Road to Latin [9]; Galbae Taberna; Diana; text and vocabulary

[First Declension, Dative Case]

Galbae Taberna

Galba magnam tabernam habet. Taberna est plēna statuārum et amphorārum. Taberna fēminās Rōmānās dēlectat. Hodiē Tullia Claudia Camilla tabernam Galbae intrant. Galba fēminās videt. Quid Tulliae dēmōnstrat? Tulliae parvam statuam dēmōnstrat, sed Tullia statuam nōn dēsīderat. Galba Claudiae statuam dēmōnstrat. Claudia statuam spectat et dēsīderat. Itaque fēmina Galbae pecūniam dat. Camilla quoque statuam deae dēsīderat. Galba Camillae rubram Diānae statuam dēmōnstrat. Statua Camillam dēlectat. Camilla Galbae pecūniam dat.

​Tum Galba fēminīs Rōmānīs amphoram dēmōnstrat; amphora pulchra fēminās dēlectat. Tullia fīliās vocat. Tum Galba fīliābus Tulliae amphoram dēmōnstrat. Amphora puellās quoque dēlectat. Cornēlia et Secunda tabernam Galbae amant. Interdum Galba fīliābus Tulliae parvam statuam dat. Galba puellīs fābulās saepe nārrat. Cornēlia et Secunda fābulās amant. Itaque fēminae et puellae tabernam Galbae saepe intrant.

Diana

Camilla filiābus rubram Diānae statuam dēmonstrat. Puellae statuam spectant; tum Camilla filiābus fābulam nārrat:

"Diāna est dea silvārum et lūnae. Et agricolae et nautae Diānam laudant. Agricolae Diānae corōnās saepe dant quod dea silvās cūrat. Diāna, dea lūnae, nautās dēlectat quod lūna nautīs viam dēmōnstrat. Itaque nautae quoque deae corōnās dant."

Fīliae Camillae fābulam amant. Quod lūna et silvae fīliās dēlectant, puellae deam laudant et statuam deae ōrnant.

amphora: jar

cūrat: he/she/it cares for

dat: he/she/it gives

dēmōnstrat: he/she/it points out, shows

dēsīderat: he/she/it longs for, desires, wants

fābula: story

hodiē: today

interdum: sometimes

intrat: he/she/it enters, goes into

itaque: and so, therefore

laudat: he/she/it praises

lūna: moon

nārrat: he/she/it tells

pecūnia: money, wealth

rubra: red

spectat: he/she/it looks at, watches

taberna: shop

tum: then

via: street, road, way

videt: he/she/it sees

vocat: he/she/it calls, summons

10.07.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [16]: practice (5)

Translate into English:

1. Claudiō et Aemiliō praetōribus, nūllī latrōnēs damnātī sunt.
2. Tarquiniō rēge Rōmānī Cloācam Maximam cōnstrūxērunt.
3. Boudiccā rēgīnā Britannī Camulodūnum expīlāvērunt.
4. Fīlō ductōre Thēseus ē labyrinthō effūgit.
5. Tempestāte grave, nāvis ad īnsulam portāta est.
6. Saxīs nōn parvīs, moenia hodiē aedificantur.
7. Tempore brevī, in pāce vīvere dēbētis.
8. Nūllā lūce in carcere, nēminem vidēre poterit.

expīlō, -āre, -āvī [1]: plunder

ductor, ductōris [3/m]: (here) guide

fīlum, -ī [2/n]: thread

____________________

1. When Claudius and Aemilius were praetors no robbers were convicted.
2. When Tarquin was king the Romans constructed the Cloaca Maxima (Great Sewer).
3. With Boudicca as queen the Britons sacked Colchester.
4. With a thread as his guide Theseus escaped from the labyrinth,
5. Since the storm was serious, the ship was carried to the island.
6. Because the rocks are not small, a rampart is being built today.
7. Since time is short, you (pl.) ought to live in peace.
8. Since there is no light [there being no light] in the prison s/he will be able to see no one.

10.07.25: Level 3; the Labours of Hercules; [VII] Hercules captures the Cretan Bull and carries him living to Eurystheus; the flesh-eating horses of Diomedes

[VII] HERCULES CAPTURES THE CRETAN BULL AND CARRIES HIM LIVING TO EURYSTHEUS

Tum Eurystheus iussit Herculem portāre vivum ex īnsulā Crētā taurum quendam saevissimum. Ille igitur nāvem cōnscēndit—nam ventus erat idōneus—atque statim solvit. Postquam trīduum nāvigāvit, incolumis īnsulae adpropinquāvit. Deinde, postquam omnia parāta sunt, contendit ad eam regiōnem quam taurus vexābat. Mox taurum vīdit ac sine ūllō metū cornua eius corripuit. Tum ingentī labōre mōnstrum ad nāvem trāxit atque cum hāc praedā ex īnsulā discessit.

trīduum, -ī [2/n]: space of three days

THE FLESH-EATING HORSES OF DIOMEDES

Postquam ex īnsulā Crētā domum pervēnit, Herculēs ab Eurystheō in Thrāciam missus est. Ibi Diomēdēs quīdam, vir saevissimus, rēgnum obtinēbat et omnēs ā finibus suīs prohibēbat. Herculēs iussus erat equōs Diomēdis rapere et ad Eurystheum dūcere. Hī autem equī hominēs miserrimōs dēvorābant dē quibus rēx supplicium sūmere cupiēbat. Herculēs ubi pervēnit, prīmum equōs ā rēge postulāvit, sed rēx eōs dēdere recūsāvit. Deinde ille īrā commōtus rēgem occīdit et corpus eius equīs trādidit. Itaque is quī anteā multōs necāverat, ipse eōdem suppliciō necātus est. Et equī, nūper saevissima animālia, postquam dominī suī corpus dēvorāvērunt, mānsuētī erant.

[1] omnēs ā finibus suīs prohibēbat│(he) kept everybody from his territory; ablative of separation:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/170625-level-3-summary-of-of-uses-of.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/821880310423239/

[2] ipse eōdem suppliciō necātus est │ he himself was killed by the same punishment

Image: 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

[3] equī … mānsuētī erant │ the horses … had been tamed

mānsuēscō, -ere, mānsuēvī, mānsuētus [3]: tame

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

[1]

[Tum nautam veterānum dē nōminibus nāvium longārum interrogāvimus. In classe Britannicā mīlitāverat, sed tum mīlitiā vacābat, et custōs erat ōrae maritimae. Nōmina nāvium, ut affirmābat, erant Grandis, Rēgālis, Magnifica, Tonāns, Arrogāns, Ferōx; omnibus tegimen erat lāminīs ferreīs fabricātum. In Grandī praefectus classis nāvigābat.]

The boys asked the old sailor about __________ (2)

The old sailor had served in __________ (1) but was now working as a __________ (1)

All the ships were manufactured with __________ (2)

The __________ sailed in the Majestic (Grandis) (1)

[2]

[Omnēs ad ancoram dēligātae erant. Tum Alexander "Cur nōn" inquit "ad nāvēs in scaphā nāvigāmus?" Mihi et Marcō prōpositum pergrātum erat; et nauta ad nāvigandum parātus erat. Itaque patruus meus "Sērō domum adventābimus" inquit; "sed sī vōs puerī cupidī estis nāvem longam spectandī, ego nōn dēnegābō."]

Alexander suggested that they __________ (2) because the ships were __________ (1). Mark and the writer __________ (1) the proposal, and the sailor was __________ (2). The uncle said that they would __________ (2) but if the boys were __________ (2) he would not __________ (1).

[3]

[Tum nauta "Exspectāte" inquit "dum omnia parō"; et vēla rēmōsque in scapham portāvit. Quam dulce erat in marī tranquillō nāvigāre! Ventus lēnis flābat, et brevī tempore ad Rēgālem appropinquāvimus. Tum classiāriī nōbīs nāvem ingentem mōnstrāvērunt cum māchinīs, tormentīs, rostrīs, cēterīs.]

The sailor told them to __________ (1) until he had __________ (1) and he brought __________ (2) onto the boat. It was __________ (1) sailing because the sea was __________ (1) and a __________ (2) was blowing. It only took a __________ (1) for them to approach the Royal Sovereign. They were __________ (1) different parts of the __________ (1) ship by the __________ (1).

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

Tum nautam veterānum dē nōminibus nāvium longārum interrogāvimus. In classe Britannicā mīlitāverat, sed tum mīlitiā vacābat, et custōs erat ōrae maritimae. Nōmina nāvium, ut affirmābat, erant Grandis, Rēgālis, Magnifica, Tonāns, Arrogāns, Ferōx; omnibus tegimen* erat lāminīs ferreīs fabricātum. In Grandī praefectus classis nāvigābat. Omnēs ad ancoram dēligātae erant. Tum Alexander "Cur nōn" inquit "ad nāvēs in scaphā nāvigāmus?" Mihi et Marcō prōpositum pergrātum erat; et nauta ad nāvigandum parātus erat. Itaque patruus meus "Sērō domum adventābimus" inquit; "sed sī vōs puerī cupidī estis nāvem longam spectandī, ego nōn dēnegābō." Tum nauta "Exspectāte" inquit "dum omnia parō"; et vēla rēmōsque in scapham portāvit. Quam dulce erat in marī tranquillō nāvigāre! Ventus lēnis flābat, et brevī tempore ad Rēgālem appropinquāvimus. Tum classiāriī nōbīs nāvem ingentem mōnstrāvērunt cum māchinīs, tormentīs, rostrīs, cēterīs.

*tegimen, tegiminis [3/n]: cover(ing); protection

[i] Vocabulary review: match the Latin and English

affirmō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

arrogāns, arrogantis

classiārius, -ī [2/m]

dēligō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

dēnegō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

dulcis, -e

fabricō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

ferōx, ferōcis

ingēns, ingentis

interrogō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

lēnis, -e

mīlitō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

praefectus, -ī [2/m]

prōpositum, -ī [2/n]

sērō

tonō, -āre, -uī, tonitus [1]

arrogant; ask / enquire; fasten; furious; gentle; huge; late; manufacture; proposal / suggestion; commander; say no / deny; seaman / man of the fleet; serve in the military; thunder; sweet / pleasant; state / affirm

[ii] Find the Latin:

1. admiral
2. coastguard
3. he was free / retired from the military
4. they all had a covering
5. they all had a covering ¦ made from iron plates
6. they had all been anchored [literally: … fastened / tied at anchor]
7. Marcus and I really liked the suggestion [literally: the suggestion / proposal was very pleasing to me and (to) Marcus]
8. the sailor was ready to sail
9. but if you are eager to look at the battle ship [literally: … desirous of looking at …]
10. wait while I get everything ready
11. how pleasant it was to sail …
12. within a short time

08.07.25: Level 1; Road to Latin [8]; Marcella; Puellae Laetae; notes and exercises

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 laetae quod Tullia est benigna domina. Vīta Tulliae est laeta quod et fīliae et ancillae sunt bonae. Ancillae nōn semper labōrant. Saepe puellae et ancillae ambulant. Tullia est magistra fīliārum et ancillārum. Puellae sunt laetae; puellae Tulliam magistram amant.

The genitive case

In English, we say "My friend's book" using an 's apostrophe to indicate possession; one small spelling change makes that plural i.e. "My friends' teacher". However, we don't tend to use it with inanimate nouns i.e. we would more likely say "The windows of the house are all broken" rather than "The house's windows are all broken". In French, all possessions are indicated with the preposition 'de' (of): My brother's book > The book of my brother > Le livre de mon frère. In German and Russian, the possession is also indicated by placing the 'possessor' after the thing 'possessed' and, in fact, both those languages - as in Latin - use the genitive case. The apostrophe 's in English is also a genitive case; it was in Anglo-Saxon as -es (cyninges > Modern English king's) and it is one of the few remaining examples of when the original English language had a full case system.

The genitive case in Latin is used to indicate the possessor:

Marcella est fīlia ¦ Terentiae. │ Marcella is the daughter ¦ of Terentia = Marcella is Terentia's daughter.

Terentia est domina ¦ vīllae. │ Terentia is the mistress ¦ of the villa.

Tunica ¦ Marcellae est longa et alba. │ The tunic ¦ of Marcella is long and white = Marcella's tunic is long and white.

You can see that, when translating, it is more natural to use apostrophe 's when the possessor is animate and of when it is referring to something inanimate, but that is merely a question of translation style rather than a rule.

The genitive case normally follows the noun that is 'possessed' but it can precede it:

[i] Marcellae [ii] corbula est pulchra. │ [ii] The basket [i] of Marcella is beautiful = Marcella's basket is beautiful.

In practice, however, the genitive will most often occur after the noun.

Cornēlia et Secunda sunt fīliae ¦ Tulliae. │ Cornelia and Secunda are Tullia's daughters [i.e. the daughters ¦ of Tullia]

Ancillae ¦ Tulliae sunt laetae. │ Tullia's maidservants [i.e. the maidservants ¦ of Tullia] are happy.

Vīta ¦ Tulliae est laeta. Tullia's life [i.e. the life ¦ of Tullia] is happy.

The genitive singular of 1st declension nouns looks the same as the nominative plural: -ae

Nominative singular: puella

Genitive singular: puellae

The genitive plural of 1st declension nouns is -ārum

Nominative plural: puellae

Genitive plural: puellārum

Marcella statuās deārum amat. │ Marcella loves the statues of the goddesses.

Marcella statuās deārum ōrnat. │ Marcella decorates the statues of the goddesses.

Tullia est magistra fīliārum et ancillārum. │ Tullia is the teacher of the daughters and (of) the maidservants = Tullia is the daughters' and maidservants' teacher.

The genitive is not used only to express possession; it is used in many other circumstances where English uses of e.g. in quantities 'a bottle of wine' (which we look at in a later post) and, in the use in this text with the adjective plenus, -a, -um meaning 'full':

Corbula Marcellae est rosārum albārum plēna. │ Marcella's basket is full of white roses.

You can also see in the example above:

[i] the adjective endings are the same as the noun

[ii] two genitive cases in the same sentence

Corbula [i] Marcellae est [ii] rosārum albārum plēna. │ [i] Marcella's basket is full [ii] of white roses

Further examples of this are in:

Vīta [i] fīliārum [ii] Tulliae est laeta. │ The life [i] of the daughters [ii] of Tullia is happy = The life [ii] of Tullia's [i] daughters is happy.

Vīlla est plēna [i] statuārum [ii] deārum. │ The villa is full [i] of (the) statues [ii] of (the) goddesses.

Exercise [1]

1. Cuius fīlia est Marcella? *Cuius = interrogative pronoun in the genitive singular: whose?
2. Cuius tunica est longa et alba?
3. Cuius corbula est pulchra?
4. Nōnne Marcella statuās deārum amat?
5. Estne vīlla plēna statuārum?
6. Nōnne corbula Marcellae est plēna rosārum?
7. Ōrnatne Marcella statuās?
8. Quārum statuās Marcella ōrnat? *Quārum = interrogative pronoun in the genitive plural: whose?
9. Quās corōnae puellae dēlectant?

Unit [4]: Grammar exercise

Supply the proper case endings:

1. Fīliae agricol___ (pl.) sunt laetae.
2. Vīlla Tulli___ est pulchra.
3. Statua fēmin___ (sing.) Rōmān___ est magna.
4. Casa ancill___ (pl.) dominam dēlectat.
5. Ancilla corbulam Marcell___ portat.
6. Corbula est plēna ros___.

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.