08.11.24: level 2; degrees of comparison [4]; comparative in -ior, -ius (3)

08.11.24: level 2; degrees of comparison [3]; comparative in -ior, -ius (2); comparative of 3rd declension adjectives; magis + adjective

Comparative of 3^rd declension adjectives

These take the same endings -ior and -ius but, as would be expected, are added to the stem of the adjective which is indicated by the genitive case. Sometimes that makes no difference but often the stem has changed from the nominative:

[i] fēlix: happy

> genitive singular: fēlīc¦is

> comparative: fēlīcior, fēlīcius (happier)

[ii] ingēns (huge)

> genitive singular: ingent¦is

> comparative: ingent¦ior, ingent¦ius (more enormous)

[iii] fortis, forte (brave; strong)

> genitive singular: fort¦is

> comparative: fort¦ior, fort¦ius

[iv] ācer, ācris, ācre: sharp

> genitive singular: ācr¦is

> comparative: ācr¦ior, ācr¦ius (sharper)

magis + adjective

There is one brief footnote which applies to a small group of adjectives which end in a vowel + -us, for example:

ānxi¦us, -a, -um: anxious      

assidu¦us, -a, -um: constant; regular

dubius, -ā, -um: doubtful      

ēgregius, -a, -um: distinguished       

idōneus, -ā, -um: suitable

necessārius, -a, -um: necessary

pius, -a, -um: loyal

strēnuus, -a, -um: active

To form the comparative of these adjectives would involve the addition of -ior / -ius to a stem ending in a vowel which leads to difficulties in pronunciation. Therefore, with these adjectives the word magis (more) is used; a similar construction is used with the superlative which we’ll cover when the superlative is discussed. However, this is not consistent among all Roman writers and some of these – sometimes – are found with the usual comparative endings. It is not a matter over which you should lose sleep; just look out for magis when you’re reading in Latin.

 

07.11.24: Level 1; review; practice in the verbs [12]; reading

Aquilifer tamen nōn timet. In aquam dēsilit. Nostrī stupent, nam in barbarōs aquilam portat, " Vultisne " exclāmat "aquilam barbarīs prōdere? " Tum nostrī ex nāvibus dēsiliunt. Barbarīs vada nōta sunt, nostrīs ignōta. Aliī equōs incitant et cum nostrīs proelium committunt. Aliī in ūniversōs tēla mittunt. Multī Rōmānī summō in perīculō sunt. Caesar id animadvertit. Itaque scaphās armātīs complet et nostrīs auxilium submittit. Mox nostrī in āridō stant. Cum barbarīs proelium committunt et eōs in fugam dant.

Vocabulary and notes

aliī … aliī …: some … others …

animadvertō, -ere [3]: observe; pay attention (to)

aquilifer, -ī [2/m]: standard-bearer (specifically referring to the officer who held the eagle standard of the legion; aquila, -ae [1/f]: eagle); also: signifer, -ī [2/m]: standard-bearer

āridus, -a, -um: dry; in āridō: on dry (land)

committō, -ere [3]: (with proelium) begin a battle

in fugam dō, -āre [1]: literally: to give (somebody) into flight = to make (somebody) flee

prōdō, -ere [3]: (here) betray

scapha, -ae [1/f]: (light) boat

stupeō, -ēre [2]: be astonished

submittō, -ere [3] or summittō, -ere [3]: (here: with auxilium) supply; provide; despatch (can also suggest secrecy)

Note:

[i] scaphās armātīs [ablative] complet │ he fills the boats with armed (men)

[ii] nostrīs [dative] auxilium submittit │ he despatches help to our (men)

Questions

quibus: to whom (plural)?

1. Timentne omnēs?
2. Quis nōn timet?
3. Quid facit aquilifer?
4. Cūr stupent nostrī?
5. Quid in barbarōs portat?
6. Quid exclāmat aquilifer?
7. Prōduntne nostrī aquilam barbarīs?
8. Quibus vada nōta sunt? Quibus ignōta?
9. Quid aliī faciunt? Quid aliī?
10. Quis id animadvertit? Quid facit?
11. Quibus Mārs victōriam dat?

06.11.24: Level 2; Practice in reading the perfect tense; a First Latin Reader (Vincent) [28]

A Sudden Attack

Dum Rōmānī frūmentum comparant atque nāvēs reparant, pars legiōnis in agrīs manēbat, pars in castrīs. Inde mīlitēs, quī erant in statiōne prō portīs castrōrum, quod impetum hostium timēbant, nūntiōs ad Caesarem mīsērunt. Cōpiae Britannōrum in silvīs sē occultāverant, atque subitō fēcērunt impetum contrā Rōmānōs incautōs, quī frūmentum comparābant; paucōs necāvērunt aut vulnerāvērunt; equitēs Britannōrum et esseda multōs perturbāvērunt.

Vocabulary

• incautus, -a, -um: unsuspecting i.e. the idea that the Romans were caught off guard
• pars … pars …: some … others …
• pars, partis [3/f]: part
• perturbō, -āre, -āvī [1]: alarm; confuse
• stātiō, statiōnis [3/f]: (often in a military sense) watch; station; position

Questions

1. What were the Romans doing at the beginning of the passage? [2]
2. Where were the soldiers stationed? [2]
3. Why did the soldiers send messengers to Caesar? [2]
4. Where were the Britons hiding? [1]
5. How is the attack described? [1]
6. How many were killed or wounded? [1]
7. What caused many Romans great alarm? [2]

Grammar review: identifying case and usage

This is an exercise that is given in the UK GCSE and A Level examination: [i] identify the case [nothing else; no need to provide gender or number] and [ii] explain why that case is being used. [iii] The A Level also suggests that a translation of the phrase can be provided to help clarify the meaning.

Which explanation goes with which phrase?

[1] pars legiōnis

[2] Cōpiae Britannōrum

[3] subitō fēcērunt impetum

[4] prō portīs castrōrum

[5] contrā Rōmānōs

[6] Dum Rōmānī frūmentum comparant

• ablative case with preposition [name the preposition; give its meaning]
• accusative case with preposition [name the preposition; give its meaning]
• accusative case; direct object i.e. the person / thing experiencing the action
• genitive case; genitive of possession e.g. something that belongs to somebody else = often translates as ‘of’ someone or something
• genitive case; partitive genitive e.g. a smaller part of something larger; think of “a bottle of wine”
• nominative case; subject of the sentence i.e. the person / thing performing the action

____________________

While the Romans were procuring grain and repairing the ships, some of the legion remained in the fields, and others in the camp. Then the soldiers, who were on watch (were stationed) before the gates of the camp, because they feared an enemy attack, sent messengers to Caesar. The troops of the Britons had hidden themselves in the woods, and suddenly made an attack against the unsuspecting Romans, who were gathering corn; they killed or wounded a few; the cavalry and chariots of the Britons and alarmed many (of them).

05.11.24: Level 1; review; practice in the verbs [11]; reading

Sed barbarī cōnsilium Rōmānōrum cognōscunt. Essedariōs et reliquās cōpiās praemittunt. Ex āridō tēla mittunt. Nōnnūllī equōs incitant et in aquam prōcēdunt. Arma nostrōs opprimunt; membra barbarōrum expedīta sunt. Nostrī nāvēs onerāriās, nisi in altō, cōnstituere nōn possunt. Itaque Caesar nāvēs longās contrā barbarōs mittit. Fundīs, sagittīs, tormentīs barbarōs prōpellunt. Sed mīlitēs nostrī ex nāvibus nōn dēsiliunt. Novum proelium eōs terret.

• altum, -ī [2/n]: the sea; the deep
• dēsiliō, -īre [4]: jump down
• expedītus, -a, -um: (here) unhindered; unencumbered; not restricted
• opprimō, -ere [3]: press down; (here) weigh down
• praemittō, -ere [3]: send ahead
• prōcēdō, -ere [3]: advance
• prōpellō, -ere [3]: drive away

[A]

1. Why are the Britons able to send ahead charioteers and troops? [2]
2. From where can the Britons fire offensive weapons? [1]
3. What do some Britons do with the horses? [2]
4. Why are the Britons physically at an advantage compared to the Romans? [2]
5. In what way are the ships restricted? [2]
6. How does Caesar deal with this problem? [2]
7. What weapons do the Romans use against the Britons? [3]
8. What do the Romans not do and why? [4]

[B]

1. Cognōscuntne barbarī cōnsilium nostrum?
2. Quid faciunt?
3. Unde tēla mittunt?
4. Quid faciunt nōnnūllī?
5. Armane nostrōs opprimunt?
6. Opprimuntne barbarōs?
7. Cūr Caesar nāvēs longās contrā barbarōs mittit?
8. Cūr nāvēs onerāriās nōn mittit?
9. Quōmodo nostrī barbarōs prōpellunt?
10. Dēsiliuntne nostrī ex nāvibus?
11. Quid eōs terret?

04.11.24: level 2; degrees of comparison [2]; comparative in -ior, -ius (1); 1st / 2nd declension adjectives

Positive

longus, -a, -um │ long

Comparative

long¦ior (masculine / feminine),  longIUS (neuter) │ longer

Adjectives ending in -er e.g. pulcher, pulchra, pulchrum remove the -a from the feminine i.e. pulchr- before adding the ending > pulchr¦ior

Therefore, some grammar books will simply say remove the -a of the feminine of all 1^st / 2^nd declension adjectives.

04.11.24: level 2; degrees of comparison [1]; introduction

The images from the little schoolbook Principia show the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives.

Adjectives are compared in Latin in the same manner as in English.

There are three degrees of comparison:

[1] Positive: long │ longus, -a, -um

[2] Comparative: longer │ longior [masculine / feminine], longius [neuter]

[3] Superlative: longest │ longissimus, -a, -um

[i] In English we sometimes use ‘more’ and ‘most’ + adjective e.g. more beautiful / most beautiful, and there are a few adjectives in Latin which need to do this but almost all adjectives form their comparative and superlative in the way shown above.

[ii] English and Latin also have irregular comparatives that don’t conform to the endings listed above:

good │ bonus, -a, -um

better │ melior, -ius

best │ optimus, -a, -um

However, the irregular comparatives and superlatives in Latin are more familiar to us than they might at first appear; more on that in a later post.

03.11.24: Level 2: 2013 ACL/NJCL National Latin Exam; Latin 1; I Qs 1-18

 

02.11.24: Level 1; review; practice in the verbs [10]; reading

[A] Complete the Latin text by referring to the translation and using the verbs listed.

Rōmānī nāvēs __________. Tertiā circiter vigiliā Caesar nāvēs __________. Prīmae nāvēs hōrā circiter quārtā Britanniam __________. Ibi in altīs locīs sunt armātae cōpiae Britannōrum. Britannōs __________ Rōmānī. Barbarī ex altīs locīs tēla __________. Itaque ibi mīlitēs ex nāvibus Caesar nōn __________. Reliquās nāvēs ad hōram nōnam __________. Caesar interim lēgātōs __________. Eīs cōnsilia __________. Ventum secundum __________. Tum lēgātōs __________. Signum __________. Rōmānī ventō secundō ancorās __________. Mox in apertō locō nāvēs __________.

The Romans board the ships. Around the third watch Caesar unties the ships. The first ships reach Britain around the fourth hour. There in high positions are the armed troops of the Britons. The Romans see the Britons. The barbarians hurl missiles from the high positions. Therefore, Caesar does not put the soldiers ashore there. They wait for the remaining ships until the ninth hour. Meanwhile, Caesar summons his envoys. He explains his plans to them. He waits for a favourable wind. Then he dismisses his envoys. He gives the signal. The Romans raise the anchors [= weigh anchor] with the favourable wind. They soon line up the ships in an exposed position.

attingunt; cōnscendunt; cōnstituunt; convocat; dat; dīmittit; expōnit; exspectant; exspectat; mittunt; ostendit; solvit; tollunt; vident

[B] Answer the questions in Latin

quotus, -a, -um: which when asking about the numerical order of things / people i.e. an ordinal number (1^st, 2^nd etc) is expected in the answer, for example:

The answer is: sextā hōrā │ at the sixth hour

The question was: Quotā hōrā? │ at which hour (the first, second, third etc.?)

The answer is:  Augustus prīmus imperātor fuit. │ Augustus was the first emperor.

The question was: Quotus imperātor fuit Augustus? │ Which emperor (in sequence) was Augustus?

Therefore:

Quotā vigiliā?

The night watch was divided into four, and so at which one (in order) does the event happen – the first, second etc?

1. Quid faciunt Rōmānī?
2. Quotā vigiliā Caesar nāvēs solvit?
3. Quotā hōrā prīmae nāvēs Britanniam attingunt?
4. Ubi sunt armātae cōpiae Britannōrum?
5. Cūr Caesar mīlitēs ibi nōn expōnit? Quamdiū reliquās nāvēs exspectant?
6. Quid interim facit Caesar?
7. Quibus cōnsilia ostendit?
8. Quid exspectat?
9. Estne ventus secundus?
10. Quid faciunt Rōmānī?
11. Ubi Rōmānī nāvēs cōnstituunt?

____________________

Rōmānī nāvēs cōnscendunt. Tertiā circiter vigiliā Caesar nāvēs solvit. Prīmae nāvēs hōrā circiter quārtā Britanniam attingunt. Ibi in altīs locīs sunt armātae cōpiae Britannōrum. Britannōs vident Rōmānī. Barbarī ex altīs locīs tēla mittunt. Itaque ibi mīlitēs ex nāvibus Caesar nōn expōnit. Reliquās nāvēs ad hōram nōnam exspectant. Caesar interim lēgātōs convocat. Eīs cōnsilia ostendit. Ventum secundum exspectat. Tum lēgātōs dīmittit. Signum dat. Rōmānī ventō secundō ancorās tollunt. Mox in apertō locō nāvēs cōnstituunt.

02.11.24: Level 2; Ora Maritima [26](4): distinguishing tenses [2]

Advice from the Connecticut Department of Transportation:

One wrong move can lead to irreversible consequences.

Misreading a Latin verb won’t lead to irreversible consequences, but it can lead to dead ends, traffic jams, frustration and, if you are doing any examinations in the language, loss of marks. Therefore, take the advice from Connecticut and look for the “signs”

Image #1: looks like a tough hill to climb when you see the verb forms next to one another because they are all very similar. To start, don’t look at every verb form, but look at the summaries at the top of the table.

Each of the tenses is formed in a different way and there are tense markers to look out for:

[i] -ba- / -bā-: they mark the imperfect tense for almost every verb in Latin

[ii] -bō / -bi- / -bu-: they mark the future tense for the 1^st and 2^nd conjugation and so that takes you some way in recognising the future tense; the 3rd and 4th conjugations form the future differently and we will review those in a later post.

Now look at the perfect tense:

Three-in-one!

Whatever that stem is (it may not be a -v-), it will be the same for the perfect, pluperfect and future perfect tenses, and so, what you’re looking for, is what is added to it:

[iii] perfect tense stem + a set of personal endings = perfect tense

[iv] perfect tense stem + an entire verb i.e. the imperfect of esse = pluperfect tense

[v] perfect tense stem + an entire verb i.e. the future tense of esse apart from the 3^rd person plural which is erint rather than erunt = future perfect tense; even erint isn’t difficult to spot since it has the same vowel as -eris, -erit etc.

labōrābam │ I was working; I used to work

labōrābō │ I shall work

labōrāvī │ I worked; I have worked

labōrāveram │ I had worked

labōrāverō │ I shall have worked

For the perfect, pluperfect and future perfect, even if the stem is irregular, it will be formed no differently from any other verb in those tenses e.g.

sum, esse, fuī

perfect tense stem: fu¦ī

> fuī: I was; I have been

> fu¦eram: I had been

> fu¦erō: I shall have been

[A] Here are some of the verbs from the previous post. Take your time, refer to the table, look at how the verbs have been put together and identify the tenses that are used for each one:

[1] (a) postulābāmus (b) postulābimus (c) postulāvimus

[3] (a) dederis (b) dederat (c) dederās

[4] (a) dēlectāverant (b) dēlectāvērunt (c) dēlectāverint

[5] (a) recreāvimus (b) recreāverāmus (c) recreāverimus

[6] (a) properābimus (b) properāvimus (c) properābāmus

[7] (a) adventāverimus (b) adventāvimus (c) adventāverāmus

[8] (a) exspectāvit (b) exspectāverit (c) exspectāverat

[12] (a) gustāverat (b) gustāveram (c) gustābam

[13] (a) recreāvī (b) recreāveram (c) recreāverō

[15] (a) dedī (b) dedistis (c) dedistī

[B] More verbs from the previous post; match the Latin verbs with their English translations:

[2] (a) erit (b) erat (c) erunt

he was / he will be / they will be

[10] (a) erit (b) eris (c) erat

he was / he will be / you (sg.) will be

[14] (a) erō (b) fuerō (c) eram

I was / I shall have been / I shall be

[9] (a) fuerant (b) fuerat (c) fuerit

he will have been / they had been / he had been

[11] (a) fuī (b) fuit (c) fuerit

he will have been / I have been / he has been

02.11.24: Level 2; Ora Maritima [26](3): distinguishing tenses [1]; perfect - pluperfect - future perfect

01.11.24: Level 1; Maxey [16] (3): reading and comprehension; part 3

Part 3

Complete the Latin text with the verbs listed below.

Today the boys don’t have horses. What are the boys doing now? These four boys are hurrying from the cottages to the forest because animals are there. In the stable are black horses, and now they are staying there. The boys want to take the animals. Sometimes the animals are afraid of the boys. They are also afraid of the arrows. The boys stay in the forest for a long time, but the animals are not seen for a long time. “There,” says Marcus, “I see the head of a small, black animal,” Then Marcus takes the first arrows, then a second and a third. The animal stands and looks at the boy. There is no danger because the boys are tall and strong men. The boys go home when dinner is ready on the table. They eat dinner happily.

Hodiē puerī equōs nōn [1] __________. Quid puerī nunc [2] __________? Hī quattuor puerī ā casīs ad silvam [3] __________ quod ibi sunt animālia. In stabulō sunt equī nigrī, et nunc ibi [4] __________. Puerī animālia capere [5] __________. Interdum animālia puerōs [6] __________. Sagittās quoque [7] __________. Diū puerī in silvā [8] __________, sed diū animālia nōn [9] __________. “Ibi,” [10] __________ Mārcus, “caput parvī animālis nigrī [11] __________.” Tum Mārcus prīmam sagittam [12] __________, tum secundam et tertiam. Animal [13] __________ et puerum [14] __________. Nūllum perīculum est quod puerī nōn sunt virī magnī et validī. Puerī domum [15] __________ ubi cēna in mēnsā parāta est. Cēnam laetī [16] __________.

capit; cupiunt; edunt; eunt; faciunt; habent; inquit; manent; manent; properant; spectat; stat; timent; timent; videntur; videō

31.10.24: Level 2; Ora Maritima [26](2): cloze

Listen carefully to the recording and identify which verb form is being used; they are all very similar to each other.

Sed nōs puerī prandium iam [1] __________: nam hōra iam septima [2] __________. Quam bella crustula et pōma tū, amita, [3] __________! Quantopere nōs bācae rubrae et nigrae [4] __________!

Tum patruus meus “Cum nōs [5] __________,” inquit “domum [6] __________; nam nōn ante undecimam hōram [7] __________; intereā amita tua, mī Antonī, nōs [8] __________. Nōnne prandiō satiātī estis?” Tum ego “Nulla in mē mora [9] __________.”

Et Alexander “Ego iam parātus sum” inquit; “sed quandō tu, Marce, satiātus [10] __________?” Tum Marcus “Iēiūnus [11] __________” inquit; “nam per quinque horās nihil [12] __________.

Sed cum mē alterō pōmō [13] __________, parātus [14] __________. Tū, Alexander, inter viam crustulīs operam [15] __________; nam puer parvus es.” Nōs cachinnāmus, et mox in viam nōs damus.

[1] (a) postulābāmus (b) postulābimus (c) postulāvimus

[2] (a) erit (b) erat (c) erunt

[3] (a) dederis (b) dederat (c) dederās

[4] (a) dēlectāvērant (b) dēlectāvērunt (c) dēlectāverint

[5] (a) recreāvimus (b) recreāverāmus (c) recreāverimus

[6] (a) properābimus (b) properāvimus (c) properābāmus

[7] (a) adventāverimus (b) adventāvimus (c) adventāverāmus

[8] (a) exspectāvit (b) exspectāverit (c) exspectāverat

[9] (a) fuerant (b) fuerat (c) fuerit

[10] (a) erit (b) eris (c) erat

[11] (a) fuī (b) fuit (c) fuerit

[12] (a) gustāverat (b) gustāveram (c) gustābam

[13] (a) recreāvī (b) recreāveram (c) recreāverō

[14] (a) erō (b) fuerō (c) eram

[15] (a) dedī (b) dedistis (c) dedistī

____________________

Sed nōs puerī prandium iam [1] postulābāmus: nam hōra iam septima [2] erat. Quam bella crustula et pōma tū, amita, [3] dederās! Quantopere nōs bācae rubrae et nigrae [4] dēlectāvērunt! Tum patruus meus “Cum nōs [5] recreāverimus,” inquit “domum [6] properābimus; nam nōn ante undecimam hōram [7] adventāverimus; intereā amita tua, mī Antonī, nōs [8] exspectāverit. Nōnne prandiō satiātī estis?” Tum ego “Nulla in mē mora [9] fuerit.” Et Alexander “Ego iam parātus sum” inquit; “sed quandō tu, Marce, satiātus [10] eris?” Tum Marcus “Iēiūnus [11] fuī” inquit; “nam per quinque horās nihil [12] gustāveram. Sed cum mē alterō pōmō [13] recreāverō, parātus [14] erō. Tū, Alexander, inter viam crustulīs operam [15] dedistī; nam puer parvus es.” Nōs cachinnāmus, et mox in viam nōs damus.

30.10.24: a poem for Halloween

For anybody who is at the intermediate or advanced level of Latin, I’d like to post this little “ghost story” by the Roman poet Propertius as he sees his beloved Cynthia return from the grave who, at first, looks unchanged but is actually in the form of a skeleton. I think it’s a good example of the possible “two stages” of translation. Latin poetry doesn’t rhyme nor, with a few exceptions, does it adhere to the rhythmic patterns of our poetry now. When looking at this kind of work, a prose translation would be the norm. However, it’s a good challenge to try to render it in some poetic form staying as close as possible to the original sense and mood, allowing the poem to be read aloud.

[1] Here is the original Latin:

Sunt aliquid Manes: letum non omnia finit,

luridaque evictos effugit umbra rogos.

Cynthia namque meo visa est incumbere fulcro,

murmur ad extremae nuper humata viae,

cum mihi somnus ab exsequiis penderet amoris,

et quererer lecti frigida regna mei.

eosdem habuit secum quibus est elata capillos,

eosdem oculos; lateri vestis adusta fuit,

et solitum digito beryllon adederat ignis,

summaque Lethaeus triverat ora liquor.

spirantisque animos et vocem misit: at illi

pollicibus fragiles increpuere manus.

[2] Here’s a prose version of it:

There are Spirits, of a kind: death does not end it all, and the pale ghost escapes the ruined pyre. For Cynthia, lately buried, beside the roadway’s murmur, seemed to lean over my couch, when sleep was withheld from me, after love’s interment, and I grieved at the cold kingdom of my bed. The same hair she had, that was borne to the grave, the same eyes: her garment was charred against her side, and the fire had eaten the beryl ring from her finger, and Lethe’s waters had worn away her lips. She sighed living breath, and speech, but her brittle hands rattled their finger-bones.

[3] Here’s my attempt to get that prose translation into some poetic form in English:

There are such things as ghosts, you know,

Not all things Death can slay,

And from the pyre’s vanquished glow,

A sallow spectre flies away.

Scarce buried by the bustling road my Cynthia was seen,

Who o’er my bedpost seemed to lean,

While, since the funeral of my love,

A restless sleep would hang above

My couch –

That cold domain,

That reason for me to complain.

Unchanged her eyes, her hair unmarred

From when they bore her to the grave,

Against her side her clothing charred,

The gemstone ring she always wore

By all-consuming fire craved,

From Lake Oblivion waters pour

To wash away her lips, but still

Her voice with living breath was filled,

A voice that sighed,

A voice –

As if she’d never

Died.

But brittle hands rang out the tones

Of rapid, rattling finger-bones.

30.10.24: Level 1; Maxey [16] (2): reading and comprehension; part 2

Part 2

Quī sunt hī quattuor puerī qui in viā lātā ambulant? Amīcī sunt et fīliī agricolārum. Quid faciunt? Sagittās portant. Scūta et pila nōn portantur quod puerī mīlitēs nōn sunt et nōn pūgnant. Iacula nōn habent. Nōmen huius puerī altī est Mārcus. Medius puer est. Ā dextrā Mārcī est frāter, Lūcius, puer secundus, quī trēs sagittās portat. Ā sinistrā Mārcī est puer tertius, Carolus, nōmine. In capite Carolī est galea, sed mīles nōn est. Hic parvus puer, cuius nōmen est Claudius, post hōs trēs puerōs manet. Parvus est, sed cum puerīs magnīs ambulāre cupit. Dēfessus est quod puerī magnī properant.

[i] In which order are these statements first made?

carrying arrows

four boys

not carrying shields

not fighting

sons of farmers

walking in the road

[ii] Which statements apply to which boy? [A] MARCUS [B] LUCIUS [C] CAROLUS [D] CLAUDIUS

behind the others; carries three arrows; in the middle; Marcus’ brother; not a soldier; on the left; on the right; second boy; small; tall; third boy; tired; wearing a helmet

29.10.24: Level 2; Ora Maritima [26](1): reading and comprehension

Sed nōs puerī prandium iam postulābāmus: nam hōra iam septima erat. Quam bella crustula et pōma tū, amita, dederās! Quantopere nōs bācae rubrae et nigrae dēlectāvērunt! Tum patruus meus “Cum nōs recreāverimus,” inquit “domum properābimus; nam nōn ante ūndecimam hōram adventāverimus; intereā amita tua, mī Antonī, nōs exspectāverit. Nōnne prandiō satiātī estis?” Tum ego “Nūlla in mē mora fuerit.” Et Alexander “Ego iam parātus sum” inquit; “sed quandō tu, Marce, satiātus eris?” Tum Marcus “Iēiūnus fuī” inquit; “nam per quinque horās nihil gustāveram. Sed cum mē alterō pōmō recreāverō, parātus erō. Tū, Alexander, inter viam crustulīs operam dedistī; nam puer parvus es.” Nōs cachinnāmus, et mox in viam nōs damus.

Vocabulary and notes

cachinnō, -āre, -āvī [1]: laugh

crustulum, -ī [2/n]: small cake / pastry; biscuit

gustō, -āre, -āvī [1]: taste; (here) have a snack; have a bite to eat

satiātus, -a, -um: satisfied

mora, -ae [1/f]: delay

recreō, -āre, -āvī [1]: refresh; renew; revive

Nūlla in mē mora fuerit: this is an adaptation of a line from Ovid: nūlla mora est in mē “I am in no mood to tarry” and so, given the tense of the verb = I won’t have been in the mood to delay / wait around / I won’t have felt like waiting around

Note: telling the time

The references to hōra septima (7^th hour) and ūndecima hōra (11^th hour) are based upon the Roman system of time-keeping:

Sunrise (sōlis ortus) and sunset (sōlis occāsus) vary dependent upon the time of year. Therefore, hours were shortened (to about 45 minutes) or lengthened (to about 75 minutes) to compensate so that the hours would always be aligned to the sunrise and sunset.

Posted is a comparison of the Roman hours and our times. Note that these are approximate and simplified versions of research which gives exact modern equivalents in minutes and seconds. You may come across variations. You do not require such precision to express yourself – nor did the Romans – but when you read a time in Classical Latin or you wish to express a time yourself, then the table gives you an indication of what time they’re talking about.

The whole of this book is set during the boys’ summer holidays and so we can deduce that the boys are demanding lunch because it’s already 12.00 noon, and the uncle later says that they won’t get home before the “11^th hour” which, if we go with the approximate times in the summer, is 5pm.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/permalink/411050398172901/

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/04/220324-ordinal-numbers-2-telling-time.html

Questions

Choose the correct statement A, B, C or D; look carefully at the verbs in the text

[i]

[A] The boys had already had lunch.

[B] The boys wanted lunch later.

[C] The boys were having lunch.

[D] The boys were wanting lunch.

[ii]

[A] The aunt had given them cakes and apples.

[B] The aunt often gave them cakes and apples.

[C] The aunt was giving them cakes and apples.

[D] The aunt would give them cakes and apples later.

[iii] The uncle says:

[A] “We have already revived ourselves and we’ll hurry home now.”

[B] “We’ll revive ourselves later and then hurry home.”

[C] “When we’ve revived ourselves, we’ll hurry home.”

[D] “We’ll revive ourselves after we’ve hurried home.”

[iv] The uncle says:

[A] “We won’t have reached home at 11pm.”

[B] “We won’t have reached home before 5pm.”

[C] “We’ll have reached home before 5pm.”

[D] “We’ll have reached home by 11pm.”

[v] The uncle says:

[A] “Your aunt has waited for us.”

[B] “Your aunt is waiting for us.”

[C] “Your aunt was waiting for us.”

[D] “Your aunt will have waited for us.”

[vi] Marcus says:

[A] “I am hungry because I haven’t had anything to eat for five hours.”

[B] “I was hungry because I hadn’t eaten anything for five hours.”

[C] “I will be hungry because I won’t have eaten anything for five hours.”

[D] “I’m not hungry because I’ve been eating for five hours.”

[vii] Marcus says:

[A] “I was ready after I revived myself with another apple.”

[B] “I’m ready because I’ve revived myself with another apple.”

[C] “I’ll be ready when I’ve revived myself with another apple.”

[D] “When I’m ready, I’ll revive myself with another apple.”

____________________

But we boys were already asking for / demanding lunch, for it was already 12 o’clock. What beautiful cookies and apples you had given (us), aunt! How much the red and black berries delighted us [ = we loved the red and black berries so much!] Then my uncle said, "When we (will) have refreshed ourselves," he said, "we will hurry home; for we will not not have arrived before five o’clock; Meanwhile, your aunt, my Anthony, will have waited for us. You’re satisfied with lunch, aren’t you?” Then I said, "I won’t have felt like delaying.”  And Alexander said, "I am already ready." "But when will you be satisfied, Marcus?" Then Marcus said, "I was hungry, for I hadn’t had a bite to eat for five hours. But when I (will) have revived myself with another apple, I will be ready. You, Alexander, paid attention to / took interest in the cakes along the way, for you are a little boy." We laugh, and soon we are on our way.

28.10.24: Level 1; Maxey [16] (1): reading and comprehension; part 1

Colloquium

Part 1

[i]

Quae arma, mīles Rōmāne, __________?

Galeam et scūtum __________. __________ est galea __________; __________ est scūtum __________.

Quid __________ scūtum?

Scūtum mē __________.

__________ facit galea?

Galea __________ meum tegit.

Complete the text with the words listed below:

caput; facit; habeō; habēs; haec; hoc; mea; meum; quid; scūtum; tegit

[ii]

Quae tēla, mīles Rōmāne, habēs?

Tēla mea sunt gladius et pīlum. Multī mīlitēs sagittās habent sed ego sagittās nōn habeō quod nōn sum sagittārius.

Ubi habitās, mīles Rōmāne?

In castrīs habitō cum est bellum. Castra amō. Castra sunt lāta et longa et multī mīlitēs Rōmānī in castrīs sunt. Longē ā casā patris meī sunt castra. Patrem et mātrem nōn videō. Interdum sum dēfessus et patrem et mātrem vidēre cupiō, sed ad casam nōn eō quod dux hoc dīcit: “Bonus mīles pugnat. Mīles malus domum it.”

1. Why does the soldier not have any arrows? [1]
2. When does he live in the camp? [1]
3. Where is the camp? [2]
4. How does he sometimes feel? [1]
5. What does he want to do? [1]
6. Why can he not go to his cottage? [3]

[iii]

Cūr cōnsilium nōn capis et domum īs?

Dux meus est benignus dux sed cōnsilium intellegit. Nōn cupit mīlitēs domum īre. “Cōnsilium nōn est bonum,” inquit dux. “Est malum. In castrīs manē.” Tum numquam īre cupiō.

Labōrāsne semper in castrīs?

Minimē. Ego et trēs amīcī interdum ad silvam īmus. Cum in silvā sumus, iacula habēmus. (Iaculum est pīlum sed non longum pilum.) Sagittās quoque habēmus. Interdum ad castra animālia portāmus. Animālia ad ducem portantur. Cum cēna bona in mēnsā parāta est, laetī sumus. 

[a] Find the Latin:

• (he) does not want
• (he) understands
• are carried
• Do you (sg.) work?
• stay!
• to go
• we carry
• we go
• we have
• you (sg.) go
• you (sg.) take

[b]

1. How does he describe his commander? [1]
2. What does the commander think of his own advice? [1]
3. How often do they go to the forest? [1]
4. What is a iaculum and how is it different from a pilum? [2]
5. What do they bring to the camp? [1]
6. When are they happy? [3]

27.10.24: Level 2; future perfect tense [5]: practice [3]

Complete the translations with the Latin verbs listed below. Note that the English translations of the Latin future perfect in the first part of each sentence are deliberately varied. The second part of the sentence is always the future tense.

Before you have a go at this exercise – a type that is common in some Latin textbooks – pause. There is a thought process involved in these. The exercise is looking for two things:

[i] future perfect tense verbs

[ii] future tense verbs

Think analytically …

[1] Which of them end in the future tense of sum, esse? Those are the future perfect tense verbs. They have a “marker” -er- e.g. -erō, -eris etc. Throw them into one mental or written “box”

sēderō

sēderis

cēperō

cēperis

dūxerint

etc.                                                                                                           

[2] Then look at the personal endings which will tell you will have performed that action

sēderō │ I shall have …

cēperis │ you (sg.) will have …

necāverit  │ he will have …

portāverimus  │ we will have …

portāveritis  │ you (pl.) will have …

dūxerint  │ they will have …

[3] Do the first part of each sentence using the information you’ve worked out in [1] and [2] above

[4] the other verbs left are in the future tense

necābit

vidēbimus

accidet

etc.

[5] Again, look at the personal endings:

interficiēs │ you (sg.) will …

portābimus │ we will …

etc.

[1] Cum nōn iterum [i] __________ [future perfect], │ quid mihi [ii] __________ [future]?

When [i] I don’t sit again [= Lit: When I will not have sat again], │ what [ii] will happen to me?

[2] Cum nōn iterum __________, │ gladius __________.

When you don’t sit again, │ you will seize a sword.

[3] Cum gladium __________, │ quid mihi accidet?

Once I’ve seized the sword, │ what will happen to me?

[4] Cum gladium __________, │ magistrum __________.

When you seize the sword, │ you’ll kill the teacher.

[5] Cum magistrum __________, │ quid mihi accidet?

When I’ve killed the teacher, │ what will happen to me?

[6] Cum magistrum __________, │ vigilēs tē ad carcerem __________.

Once you kill the teacher, │ the guards will take you to prison.

[7] Cum vigilēs mē ad carcerem __________, │ quid mihi accidet?

Once the guards have taken me to prison, │ what will happen to me?

[8] Cum vigilēs tē ad carcerem __________, │ carnifex tē __________.

When the guards take you to prison, │ the executioner will kill you.

[9] Cum carnifex mē __________, │ quid mihi accidet?

When the executioner has killed me, │ what will happen to me?

[10] Cum carnifex tē __________, │ tē ad sepulcrum __________.

When the executioner kills you, │ we’ll carry you to the tomb.

[11] Cum mē ad sepulcrum __________, │ quid mihi accidet?

When you’ve carried me to the tomb, │ what will happen to me?

[12] Cum tē ad sepulcrum __________, │ cadāver in sepulcrum __________.

Once we’ve carried you to the tomb, │ we’ll put the body into the tomb.

[13] Cum mē in sepulcrum __________, │ quid mihi accidet?

When you’ve put me into the tomb, │  what will happen to me?

[14] Cum tē in sepulcrum __________, │ nōn iterum tē __________.

When we put you into the tomb, we won’t see you again.

accidet; capiēs; cēperis; cēperō; dūcent; dūxerint; dūxerint; interfēceris; interfēcerō; interficiēs; necābit; necāverit; necāverit; pōnēmus; portābimus; portāverimus; portāveritis; posuerimus; posueritis; sēderis; sēderō; vidēbimus

27.10.24: Level 2; future perfect tense [4]: practice [2]

Image #1: Look at the examples and the translations, noting the difference between the Latin verbs in bold and (i) the literal and (ii) actual possible translations in English.

Mārcus: Salvē, ō Sibylla. Pōtesne mihi rēs futūrās praedīcere? │ Hello, Sibylla. Can you predict the future for me? [= Can you predict future things / things that will be?]

Sibylla: Ita vērō. Possum. │ Yes, I can.

Mārcus: Quid igitur crās mihi accidet? │ What, therefore, will happen to me tomorrow?

Sibylla: Māne ē lectulō surgēs. │ Tomorrow you will get out of bed.

Mārcus: Cum ē lectulō surrēxerō, quid mihi accidet? │ (i) Lit: When I shall have got out of bed / (ii) = When I get out / have got out of bed, what will happen to me?

Sibylla: Cum ē lectulō surrēxeris, per scālās dēscendēs. │ Lit: When you will have got out of bed [ = When you get out / have got out of bed], you will go down the stairs.

Mārcus: Cum per scālās dēscenderō, quid mihi accidet? │ Lit: When I will have gone downstairs [= When I go / have gone downstairs], what will happen to me?

Sibylla: Cum per scālās dēscenderis, ōvum edēs. │ Lit: When you will have gone downstairs [= When you go / have gone downstairs], you will eat an egg.

Complete the dialogue with the future perfect tense verbs listed below. One verb is used twice.

ēderō

invēnerō

ieris

ōsculāveris

cecīderit

ēderis

sēderō

ierō

cecīderit

invēneris

ōsculāverō

sēderis

26.10.24: Level 1; review; practice in the verbs [9]; 4th conjugation

venīre [4]│ to come

veniō │ I come

venīs │ you come

venit │ he / she comes

venīmus │ we come

venītis │ you (pl.) come

veniunt │ they come

____________________

aperiō, -īre [4]: open

audiō, -īre [4]: hear

cūstōdiō,-īre [4]: guard

dormiō, -īre [4]: sleep

mūniō, -īre [4]: fortify

veniō, -īre [4]: come

[A]

1. Ego captīvōs __________. │ I guard the prisoners.
2. Ego castra fossā __________. │I fortify the camp with a ditch.
3. Ego ex Galliā __________.│ I come from Gaul.
4. Ego in cubiculō __________. │ I sleep in the bedroom.
5. Ego portās __________. │ I open the gates.
6. Ego tubam __________. │ I hear the trumpet.

aperiō; audiō; cūstōdiō; dormiō; mūniō; veniō

[B]

Complete the sentences

1. Nōs  castra  vāllō  __________.
2. Dux castra vāllō __________.
3. __________nē in cubiculō, Mārce?
4. __________nē in cubiculō, puerī?
5. Vōs portās __________.
6. Tū portam __________.
7. Mīlitēs tubam __________.
8. Mīles Rōmānus captīvōs __________.
9. Mīlitēs Rōmānī captīvum __________.
10. Barbarī ē Germāniā __________.
11. Barbarus ē Germāniā __________.
12. Unde __________, barbare?

[C] Match the English with the Latin verbs in the word cloud

• Are you (pl.) hungry?
• Do you (sg.) know?
• he / she is hungry
• he / she knows
• I know
• I’m hungry
• they are hungry
• they know
• to know
• to not know
• we know
• we’re hungry
• you (pl.) know
• you (sg.) know
• you’re (sg.) hungry