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

Listen to the recording and answer the questions.

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

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

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

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

[i] How profitable was Caesar’s victory?

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

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

[i] Who was Quintus Atrius?

[ii] What difficulty did the ships face?

[iii] What did Caesar need to do?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[ii] Why was this necessary?

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

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

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

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

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

[1] certāmina / certāminis / certāmen

[2] flūmine / flūmen / flūminis

[3] operī / operī / opere

[4] nōmine / nōminī/ nōmina

[5] flūmen / flūmine / flūminis

[6] certāmina / certāminis / certāmen

[7] temporī / temporibus / temporis

[8] vulneris / vulnera / vulnerī

[9] ponderī / pondere / pondera

[10] rōborī / rōbur / rōbore

[11] corporis / corporī / corpus

[12] corporis / corporibus / corpore

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[ii] Many Romans were wounded.

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

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

[v] The Britons were smaller than the Romans.

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

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

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

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

[1] Vocabulary review: Match the Latin and English

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

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

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

[a] Genitive

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

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

[iii] on account ¦ of a war

[b] Dative

[iv] it was necessary ¦ for Caesar

[v] it was dangerous ¦ for the Romans

[c] Ablative

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

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

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

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

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

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

[xii] at one / the same time

Notes

[1] verbs followed by the dative case

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

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

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

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

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

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

[2] the gerund

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

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

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

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

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

[3] the gerundive

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

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

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

Essedum Britannicum

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

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

[1] Watch out for:

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

hūc: to here

hinc: from here

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[7] These three sentences use the Latin subjunctive.

Scītisne ¦ ubi sīmus?

Sed nōn cōnstituī hūc venīre ¦ ut vīserem aedificia.

Bene sapiat.

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

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

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

The subjunctive is used in many different ways including:

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

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

[iii] expressing a polite request

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

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

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

03.03.25: follow-up; Silvae apud Austinopolin (Vincent) [2] listening

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

[Salvēte, sodālēs. Vincentius loquor, gubernāns raedam in viā. Quōmodo vōs habētis hodiē? Iter facimus.]

[i] What is Vincent doing while he is speaking?

[Scītisne ubi sīmus? Nōn versāmur Hustōniae neque Dallāsiī.]

[ii] What question does he ask you?

[iii] True / False? He’s travelling first to Dallas and then to Houston.

[Iter facimus ad urbem mētropolītānam, urbem prīmāriam, id est caput Cīvitātis Texānae: Austinopolis est.]

[iv] What information does he give about Austin?

[Sed nōn cōnstituī hūc venīre ut vīserem aedificia. Sēlēgī Austinopolim quia hīc sunt montēs vel potius collēs et silvae amoenae.]

[v] Which of the following statements is correct?

He came to Austin to see:

A: the buildings

B: mountains and rivers

C: forests and hills

[Diēs iūcundissimus est. Sōl lūcet. Caelum serēnum est. Nōn est calidum.]

[vi] What four points does he make about the weather?

[Apud rīvulum dēambulāmus. Hinc vidētur. Comes meus est – semper – Bao.]

[v] How does Vincent know he’s walking near a little stream?

[vi] True / False? Bao sometimes accompanies him.

[Fessī sumus omnēs, sed imprīmīs ēsurīmus. Ego maximē quia nōn sūmpsī prandium. Bene sapiat! Bene valēte! In proximum.]

[vii] How are they all feeling by the end of the day? [2]

[viii] Why does Vincent feel hungry?

03.03.25: follow-up; Silvae apud Austinopolin (Vincent) [1] text and translation

https://www.facebook.com/reel/579957518385278

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixdW8axUwNY

Salvēte, sodālēs. Vincentius loquor, ¦ gubernāns raedam in viā. │ Hello, friends. It’s me, Vincent, speaking, ¦ (while) driving the car on the road.

Quōmodo vōs habētis hodiē? │ How are you doing today?

Iter facimus. │ We’re on a journey (travelling).

Scītisne ¦ ubi sīmus? │ Do you know ¦ where we are [= we might be]?

Nōn versāmur Hustōniae neque Dallāsiī. │ We aren’t in Huston nor in Dallas.

Iter facimus ad urbem mētropolītānam, urbem prīmāriam,  │ We’re travelling to(wards) the capital city, the main (principal) city, …

… id est caput Cīvitātis Texānae: Austinopolis est. │ … that is / i.e. the capital of the State of Texas; it’s Austin.

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

Sēlēgī Austinopolim quia hīc sunt montēs vel potius collēs et silvae amoenae. │ I chose Austin because here there are mountains or, rather, hills and delightful (pleasant; beautiful) forests.

Diēs iūcundissimus est. │ It is a very pleasant day.

Sōl lūcet. │ The sun is shining.

Caelum serēnum est. │ The sky is clear (bright) [can be used more generally simply to say “it’s nice weather”]

Nōn est calidum. │ It isn’t hot.

Apud rīvulum dēambulāmus. │ We’re walking near a little stream.

Hinc vidētur. │ It can be seen from here.

Comes meus est – semper – Bao. │ My companion is, always, Bao.

Fessī sumus omnēs, sed imprīmīs ēsurīmus. │ We’re all tired, but we are especially hungry.

Ego maximē quia nōn sūmpsī prandium. │ I am, in particular, because I didn’t take lunch.

Bene sapiat! │ Bon appétit! = literally: may it taste well = Enjoy your food!

Bene valēte! │ Good-bye! [farewell]

In proximum. │ Until the next time.

31.05.25: Level 1; readings [12] - [15]: review (4); eō, īre and its compounds

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/04/160324-eo-ire-irregular-go-compounds-of.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/407788755165732/

eō, īre (go) is classified as an irregular verb in that it does not conform precisely to the way in which other verbs are formed. Despite this, it still has the same personal endings. What is unusual about the verb is that almost all those endings are attached to a single vowel

e¦ō: I go

ī¦s: you (sg.) go

i¦t: he / she / it goes

ī¦mus: we go

ī¦tis: you (pl.) go

eu¦nt: they go

compound verbs

a compound verb is one that is made of two or more parts e.g. over¦eat, black¦mail, under¦estimate etc. In Latin, compound verbs are often created with prefixes, many of which also function as prepositions. Here are a few examples although other compounds with eō exist.

ā / ab [(away) from] > ab¦eō, abīre: go away; depart

ad [towards] > ad¦eō, adīre: go to; approach

circum [around] > circum¦eō, circumīre: go around; surround

ē / ex [out of] > ex¦eō, exīre: go out

in [in(to) > on] in¦eō, inīre: go into

trāns [across] > trāns¦eō, trānsīre: go across

The prefix re- in English in, for example, reread and renew is derived from Latin re(d)- with the same original idea of ‘again’ or ‘back’: redeō, redīre: go back; return

Another commonly found example is: praeter (preposition + accusative): past > praeter¦eō, praeterīre: go past

The slightly odd one is per¦eō, perīre, using the preposition per (through) as a prefix: its meaning is ‘to perish; pass away; die’

You might want to remember this Mediaeval line:

Novus, novus amor est quō pereō!

It’s a new, new love by which I perish!

A word of advice / warning: Latin verbs can have multiple meanings which, while still rooted in the basic sense of the verb, are used to convey many abstract concepts e.g.

domum inīre: to go into a house, but bellum inīre (begin a war), consilium inīre (take a resolution)

You can fall into the trap of becoming too involved in what can be lists of definitions. When reading Latin, the best approach is to look at the use of a word in context (many good publications will provide notes) while bearing in mind the root meaning of the word.

30.05.25: Level 3; summary of the uses of the ablative case [11]: [i] the ablative of time when [ii] the ablative of time within which; practice

Complete the Latin translations with the words and phrases listed below. All of them are examples of the ablative of time when.

In the first year he conquered the Helvetians and in the same year many tribes of Germans surrendered. │ __________ Helvētiōs vīcit, et __________ multae Germānōrum gentēs sēsē dēdidērunt.

At midday Julia calls him to dinner. │ __________ Iulia eum ad cēnam vocat.

In summer the farmers’ sons give help to (their) father. │__________ fīliī agricolae auxilium patrī dant.

That night the girl ran from the fields. │ __________ puella ab agrīs cucurrit.

In autumn the leaves fall. │ __________ folia dēcidunt.

on the twenty-second day │ __________ diē

In the same month the captives were also sent to Italy. │__________ captīvī quoque in Ītaliam missī sunt.

on the third day before the Ides of January │ __________ ante īdūs Iānuāriās

aestāte; alterō vīcēsimō; autumnō; diē tertiō; eōdem annō; eōdem mēnse; illā nocte; merīdiē; prīmō annō

[2] Complete the sentences with the phrases listed below. All of them are examples of the ablative of time within which:

In a few days’ time, I shall go to Rome. │ __________ Rōmam ībō.

The planet Saturn completes its orbit within thirty years. │ Stella Sāturnī __________ cursum cōnficit.

We will be parents in nine months’ time. │ __________ parentēs erimus.

We will capture the city within three hours. │ Urbem __________ capiēmus.

We will leave within three days. │ __________ discēdēmus.

Within a short time Cornelia is tired. │ __________ Cornēliā dēfessa est.

brevī tempore; novem mēnsibus; paucīs diēbus; tribus diēbus; tribus hōrīs; trīgintā annīs

30.05.25: Level 3; summary of the uses of the ablative case [10]: [i] the ablative of time when [ii] the ablative of time within which

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_pOY9MqRZg

Note: not from the same Latin Tutorial videos that have been referred to before; this one looks only at the two ablative usages discussed here.

[i] the ablative of time when: when referring to a specific point or period in time e.g. a clock time, a season, a year, the ablative without a preposition is used:

horā quartā │ at the fourth hour

prīmā lūce │ at dawn

nocte │ at night

hieme │ in winter

annō secundō │ in the second year

eōdem diē │ on the same day

[ii] as the term would suggest, the ablative of time within which indicates the period during which an action take place

tribus proximīs annīs │ within the next three years

paucīs hōrīs │ within a few hours

Diēbus vīgintī quīnque aggerem exstrūxērunt. (Caesar) │ Within twenty-five days they finished building a mound.

Cēnābis bene, mī Fabulle, apud mē │  You will dine well, my  Fabullus, at my house

paucīs, sī tibi dī favent, diēbus, │ in a few days, if the gods favour you

Gaius Valerius Catullus

Image #4: expressions of time can be sub-divided into:

[1] Time when: refers to a specific point in time e.g. They set sail on the same day (eōdem diē).

[2] Time within which: the period of time taken to complete an action e.g. They will have reached the island within three days (tribus diēbus).

[1] and [2] have been discussed above. Both use the ablative case.

[3] Duration of time: for how long an action takes place; this is expressed in Latin by the accusative case:

Graecī Troiam multōs annōs oppugnāvērunt. │ The Greeks attacked Troy for many years.

Compare:

Quīnque hōrīs [ablative of time within which] ad urbem vēnērunt. │ They came to the city within five hours. 

Quattuor annōs [accusative of duration] in illā urbe labōrāvit. │ He worked in that city for five years.

30.05.25: Level 3; UK GCSE Latin [2]; notes on [i] the subjunctive of purpose, [ii] the subjunctive of result

Part [2]

[i] Translate the following parts of the story into English. 

This passage describes how Cleopatra visited Rome.

Cleopatra Caesarī fīlium suum ostendere magnopere volēbat; Rōmam igitur celeriter nāvigāvit. cum Caesare ac parvō puerō in urbe habitāre cōnstituit. Caesar eōs in suam domum libenter accēpit. brevī tempore tamen senātōrēs, quī imperium eius timēbant, Caesarem occīdērunt. Cleopatra in Aegyptum redīre coācta est. ibi trēs annōs rēgnāvit.

Words

senātor, senātōris m: senator

rēgnō, rēgnāre, rēgnāvī: I reign

[ii] Note: this passage contains a grammatical point that has not yet been covered. I will refer to it briefly at the end.

Now continue with your translation.

In this passage, Cleopatra meets Mark Antony.

Cleopatra, quamquam erat optima rēgīna, invidiam virōrum nōbilium timēbat. auxilium Rōmānōrum igitur vehementer cupiēbat. forte Mārcus Antōnius, imperātor Rōmānus, quī comes fidēlis Caesaris fuerat, prope Aegyptum cum quattuor legiōnibus iter faciēbat. Cleopatra prōgressa est ut eum salūtāret; quī, simulatque eam cōnspexit, gaudēbat; nam fēminam pulchriōrem illa numquam vīderat. tantus erat amor Antōniī ut sine eā vīvere nōllet.

Names

Mārcus Antōnius, Marcī Antōniī m: Mark Antony

Words

rēgīna, rēgīnae f: queen

invidia, invidiae f: jealousy

nōbilis, nōbilis, nōbile: noble

auxilium, auxiliī n: help

gaudeō, gaudēre, gāvīsus sum: I am happy

Note:

Two examples in this text of the subjunctive, a feature of the language that has been referred to but not yet covered in any detail:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/070225-speaking-latin-on-campus_49.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/070225-speaking-latin-on-campus_26.html

However, this won’t prevent you from understanding the phrases:

[1] Cleopatra prōgressa est ¦ ut eum salūtāret

[2] tantus erat amor Antōniī ¦ ut sine eā vīvere nōllet

The conjunction ut can translate as [1] in order to (do something); so that (he might do something) i.e. it can express purpose, and [2] “so that” in the sense of “with the result that ..” i.e. it expresses the outcome of the action

[1] the subjunctive of purpose

John went to the store and bought a cake [action concluded]. │ John went to the store to buy a cake [action unconcluded]; the second sentence indicates purpose but it does not indicate that the action was fulfilled. Maybe in the end he did buy a cake but, at the moment the sentence is stated, the action remained unfulfilled.

In ‘older’ English: John went to the store so that / in order that he might buy a cake. English speakers would rarely use that now, but it does exist:

People were bringing little children to him in order that / so that he might touch them (Vulgate transl.)

Cleopatra prōgressa est ¦ ut eum salūtāret │ Cleopatra went forward ¦ literally: in order that she might greet him = in order to greet him

[2] the subjunctive of result

ut here is used to express the outcome of the action in the main clause; it is often signalled by words such as tantus, -a, -um (so great) or tam + adjective e.g. tam fortis (so brave) or tot (so many):

Erant tot aedificia ¦ ut omnia vidēre nōn possem. │ There were so many buildings ¦ that I could not see them all.

tantus erat amor Antōniī ¦ ut sine eā vīvere nōllet │ Antony’s love was so great ¦ that he did not wish to live without her

For reference only since the subjunctive is an extensive topic:

The imperfect subjunctive is being used in the sentences. It is easy to form:

infinitive + personal endings added to the infinitive with no other changes apart from certain vowel lengths; this applies to all verbs both regular and irregular

[1]

[i] infinitive: salūtāre (greet)

[ii] add personal endings; note vowel lengths in italics

salūtārem

salūtārēs

salūtāret

salūtārēmus

salūtārētis

salūtārent

Cleopatra prōgressa est ¦ ut eum salūtāret

[2]

[i] infinitive: nōlle (to be unwilling)

[ii] add personal endings; note vowel lengths in italics

nōllem

nōllēs

nōllet

nōllēmus

nōllētis

nōllent

tantus erat amor Antōniī ¦ ut sine eā vīvere nōllet

29.05.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein; Ora Maritima; Pāx Violāta [2]; listening

Listen to the recording without looking at the transcript.

"Britannī pācem nōn violāverant, sed Rōmānī pācis nōn cupidī erant. Itaque aestāte annī quartī et quinquāgēsimī ante Christum nātum dux Rōmānus cum quinque legiōnibus mīlitum Rōmānōrum et magnō numerō equitum et auxiliōrum Gallicōrum iterum in Britanniam nāvigāvit. Tempestās erat idōnea, sed in mediā nāvigātiōne ventus nōn iam flābat; itaque mīlitibus necesse erat nāvigia rēmīs incitāre. Impigrē rēmigāvērunt, et postrīdiē nāvigia ad ōram Britannicam prosperē applicāvērunt. Labor rēmigandī magnus erat, virtūs mīlitum magnopere laudanda. Britannī Rōmānōs in scopulīs ōrae maritimae exspectābant; sed postquam multitūdinem nāvigiōrum et mīlitum equitumque spectāvērunt, in fugam sē dedērunt. Caesar nāvigia sua inter Dubrās et Rutupiās applicāvit, ut putō, nōn procul ā locō quō priōre annō applicāverat. Inde contrā Britannōs properāvit. Intereā ūnam legiōnem cum trecentīs equitibus ad castra in statiōne reservābat: nam perīculōsum erat nāvigia ad ancorās dēligāta dēfensōribus nūdāre."

[1] Which of the following statements are true (T) or false (F)?

["Britannī pācem nōn violāverant, sed Rōmānī pācis nōn cupidī erant. Itaque aestāte annī quartī et quinquāgēsimī ante Christum nātum dux Rōmānus cum quinque legiōnibus mīlitum Rōmānōrum et magnō numerō equitum et auxiliōrum Gallicōrum iterum in Britanniam nāvigāvit. Tempestās erat idōnea, sed in mediā nāvigātiōne ventus nōn iam flābat; itaque mīlitibus necesse erat nāvigia rēmīs incitāre. Impigrē rēmigāvērunt, et postrīdiē nāvigia ad ōram Britannicam prosperē applicāvērunt.]

[i] The Britons had violated peace agreements.

[ii] The Romans did not want peace.

[iii] They sailed to Britannia in the spring of 54BC.

[iv] They sailed to Britannia in the spring of 54AD.

[v] They sailed to Britannia in the summer of 54BC.

[vi] They had five legions and a large number of cavalry.

[vii] They had a large number of cavalry and Germanic auxiliary forces.

[viii] They sailed in favourable weather.

[ix] The wind kept blowing.

[x] They had to row the ships.

[2] Answer the questions with single words or short phrase:

[Impigrē rēmigāvērunt, et postrīdiē nāvigia ad ōram Britannicam prosperē applicāvērunt. Labor rēmigandī magnus erat, virtūs mīlitum magnopere laudanda. Britannī Rōmānōs in scopulīs ōrae maritimae exspectābant; sed postquam multitūdinem nāvigiōrum et mīlitum equitumque spectāvērunt, in fugam sē dedērunt]

[i] How did they row the ships?

[ii] When did they reach the British coastline?

[iii] What was the rowing like?

[iv] How are the soldiers described?

[v] Where were the Britons waiting?

[vi] (a) What did the Britons eventually do and (b) why?

[3] Complete the Latin text by referring to the English translation and using the words and phrases listed below.

[Caesar nāvigia sua __________ Dubrās et Rutupiās __________, __________, nōn __________ ā locō quō __________ annō __________. __________ __________ Britannōs properāvit. __________ ūnam legiōnem cum __________ equitibus ad castra in __________ reservābat: nam __________ erat nāvigia ad ancorās __________ dēfensōribus __________."]

Caesar steered his ships between Dover and Richborough, in my opinion, not far from the place (to) where he had steered his ships the previous year. From there he rushed against the Britons. Meanwhile he held in reserve one legion with 300 cavalarymen on watch at the camp, for it was dangerous to deprive of defenders the ships tied together at anchor.

applicāverat; applicāvit; contrā; dēligāta; inde; inter; intereā; nūdāre; perīculōsum; priōre; prōcul; statiōne; trecentīs; ut putō

29.05.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein; Ora Maritima; Pāx Violāta [1]; text; exercise

"Britannī pācem nōn violāverant, sed Rōmānī pācis nōn cupidī erant. Itaque aestāte annī quartī et quinquāgēsimī ante Christum nātum dux Rōmānus cum quinque legiōnibus mīlitum Rōmānōrum et magnō numerō equitum et auxiliōrum Gallicōrum iterum in Britanniam nāvigāvit. Tempestās erat idōnea, sed in mediā nāvigātiōne ventus nōn iam flābat; itaque mīlitibus necesse erat nāvigia rēmīs incitāre. Impigrē rēmigāvērunt, et postrīdiē nāvigia ad ōram Britannicam prosperē applicāvērunt. Labor rēmigandī magnus erat, virtūs mīlitum magnopere laudanda. Britannī Rōmānōs in scopulīs ōrae maritimae exspectābant; sed postquam multitūdinem nāvigiōrum et mīlitum equitumque spectāvērunt, in fugam sē dedērunt. Caesar nāvigia sua inter Dubrās et Rutupiās applicāvit, ut putō, nōn procul ā locō quō priōre annō applicāverat. Inde contrā Britannōs properāvit. Intereā ūnam legiōnem cum trecentīs equitibus ad castra in statiōne reservābat: nam perīculōsum erat nāvigia ad ancorās dēligāta dēfensōribus nūdāre."

Vocabulary review: Match the Latin and English

1. applicō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]
2. dēligō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]
3. eques, equitis [3/m]
4. flō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]
5. idōneus, -a, -um
6. impiger, impigra, impigrum
7. incitō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]
8. inde
9. laudandus, -a, -um
10. nūdō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]
11. pāx, pācis [3/f]
12. prosperus, -a, -um
13. rēmigō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]
14. rēmus, -ī [2/m]
15. scopulus, -ī [2/m]
16. statiō, statiōnis [3/f]

(military) watch; blow; cavalryman; cliff; deprive; energetic; from there; oar; peace; praiseworthy; row; steer; successful; suitable; tie together; urge forwards 

28.05.25: Level 1; readings [12] - [15]: review (3); possessive adjectives

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

[i] This is my shield.

[ii] This shield is mine.

In the first sentence my is a possessive adjective; in the second mine is a possessive pronoun, for it takes the place of a noun, this shield is mine being equivalent to this shield is my shield. Similarly, in Latin the possessives are sometimes adjectives and sometimes pronouns.

Images #1 - #3: the possessives my, mine, your, yours, etc. are declined like adjectives of the first and second declensions.

Singular

meus, mea, meum: my, mine

tuus, tua, tuum: your, yours

eius: his, her(s), its

suus, sua, suum: his (own), her (own), its (own)

Plural

noster, nostra, nostrum: our, ours

vester, vestra, vestrum: your, yours

eōrum, eārum: their(s)

suus, sua, suum: their (own), theirs

Notes: 

[i] meus has the irregular vocative singular masculine mī, as mī fīlī, O my son.

[ii] When your, yours, refers to one person, use tuus; when to more than one, vester:

Lesbia, your wreaths are pretty │ Corōnae tuae, Lesbia, sunt pulchrae

Girls, your wreaths are pretty │Corōnae vestrae, puellae, sunt pulchrae

[iii] the possessives, as in, for example, French, German and Russian, agree with the name of the thing possessed in gender, number, and case. Compare the English and Latin in:

Sextus magistrum suum videt. │ Sextus sees his teacher.

Iūlia magistrum suum videt. │ Julia sees her teacher.

suum agrees with magistrum, and is unaffected by the gender of Sextus or Julia

[iv] Suus is a reflexive possessive and regularly refers back to the subject.

Vir suōs servōs vocat │ The man calls his (own) slaves.

Here his (suōs) refers to man (vir), and could not refer to any one else (see [v] below).

[v]

eius: his / her(s) / its; eius does not change according to gender or case

eōrum [masculine / neuter]; eārum [feminine]: their(s); it also does not change according to case

Compare the difference in usage from [iv] above:

Vir suōs servōs vocat │ The man calls his (own) slaves.

Vir servōs eius vocat │ The man calls his (somebody else’s) slaves.

[vi] Possessives are used much less frequently than in English, being omitted whenever the meaning is clear without them. When translating from Latin into English, the inclusion of his, her etc. may often be necessary even if the original Latin does not use the equivalents. This is especially true of suus, -a, -um which, when inserted, is more or less emphatic, like our his own, her own, etc.

Vocabulary

auxilium, auxiliī [2/n]: help, aid 

castrum, -ī [2/n]: fort; (plural) camp 

cibus, -ī [2/m]: food

cōnsilium, cōnsiliī [2/n]: plan 

dīligentia, -ae [1/f]: diligence, industry

magister, magistrī [2/m]: master, teacher

aeger, aegra, aegrum: sick

crēber, crēbra, crēbrum: frequent

miser, misera, miserum: wretched, unfortunate

Exercise

Translate the following sentences:

1. Mārcus amīcō Sextō cōnsilium suum nūntiat.
2. Est cōpia frūmentī in agrīs nostrīs.
3. Amīcī meī bonam cēnam ancillae vestrae laudant.
4. Tua lōrīca, mī fīlī, est dūra.
5. Scūta nostra et tēla, mī amīce, in castrīs Rōmānīs sunt.
6. Suntne virī patriae tuae līberī? Sunt.
7. Ubi, Cornēlī, est tua galea pulchra?
8. Mea galea, Sexte, est in casā meā.
9. Pīlum longum est tuum, sed gladius est meus.
10. Iūlia gallīnās suās pulchrās amat et gallīnae dominam suam amant.
11. Nostra castra sunt vestra.
12. Est cōpia praedae in castrīs vestrīs.
13. Amīcī tuī miserīs et aegrīs cibum et pecūniam saepe dant.
14. Magister noster dīligentiam Mārcī laudat.
15. Fīlius meus Sextus praedam suam in castra Rōmāna portat.
16. Puellae tuae bonae aegrīs et miserīs auxilium dant.
17. Sunt proelia crēbra in vīcīs nostrīs.
18. Ubi, mī fīlī, est cibus lēgātī?
19. Castra sunt mea, sed tēla sunt tua.

02.03.25: Comenius XXVI; Apes, long-tailed monkeys … and forest men!

I wonder if all the kids who read this in 1658 ran home and begged their parents for a pet cercopithēcus …

Four-footed beasts and first those about the house │ Quadrupeda: & prīmum Domestica.

The Dog, 1. with the Whelp, 2. is keeper of the House. │ Canis, 1. cum Catellō, 2. est cūstōs Domūs.

The Cat, 3. riddeth the House of Mice, 4. which also a Mouse-trap, 5. doth. │ Fēlis* (Catus) 3. pūrgat domum ā Mūribus, 4. quod etiam Mūscipula, 5. facit.

A Squirrel, 6. The Ape, 7. and the Monkey, 8. are kept at home for delight. │ Sciūrus, 6. Sīmia, 7. & Cercopithēcus, 8. habentur domī dēlectāmentō.

The Dormouse, 9. And other greater Mice, 10. as, the Weesel, the Marten, and the Ferret, trouble the House,  │ Glīs, 9. & cæterī Mūrēs majōrēs, 10. ut, Mustēla, Mārtēs, Viverra, īnfestant domum.

*usually: fēlēs, but fēlis does exist

cūstōs, cūstōdis [3/m]: guard; keeper; watchman

pūrgō, -āre [1]: clean; purge

cæterī = cēterī; cēterus, -a, -um: the remaining / other(s) / rest

Notes:

[i] passive

sciūrus, sīmia, et cercopithēcus habentur domī │ a squirrel, the ape and the monkey are kept at home

[ii] glīs, glīris [3/m]: dormouse

The Romans were fond of the dormouse – as a snack:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/614138271197445/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/408755725069035

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/408938048384136/ 

Some of the images show Roman depictions of these animals (not the mousetrap one!) … and the saddest image of all: the dog that never made it out of Pompeii because it was chained.

Comenius wrote this work in 1658 and gives vocabulary for the ape (sīmia) and the long-tailed monkey (cercopithēcus); 4 years later, Gustave Schott wrote twelve books entitled Physica Curiosa the first six focussing on “all natural and supernatural monstrosities known at that time, including bizarre animals and physical abnormalities and abstract ideas of the mind” (Wikipedia) In this work Schott writes about the …

homō sylvestris │ a forest man

Moreover, he includes a picture [reproduced below] with a note to the right referring, correctly, to the location of this tall ‘man’ – standing upright and covered entirely in hair – as Java. I can only assume that Schott had never seen one, and was relying on travellers’ tales who may have been listening to local descriptions. Unlike the rough, but pretty close depictions of the ape and the monkey in the Comenius work, Schott is actually talking about the orang utan from Malay orang (man) and hutan (forest), the Malay term itself not attested until 1840 and reflecting the description of the animal by the English.