25.03.25; Vincent: rejoicing in Spring

Salvēte │ Hello

Vēr iam adest │ Spring is already here.

Gaudeāmus igitur │ Therefore, let us rejoice.

Hodiē sōl lūcet │ The sun is shining today.

Avēs volant in caelō et canunt │ The birds are flying in the sky and singing.

Aliae bēstiolae vigent │ Other little creatures are thriving / flourishing.

Flōrēs crēscunt │ The flowers are growing.

Ergō scrīpsī novōs versūs │ Therefore, I have written new verses

Laudāns vēr │ While praising the spring.

Pepigī distichon │ I’ve composed a couplet (two-line verse)

Dē hōc tempore annī │ About this season

Quod mihi valdē placet │ Which I really like (which is really pleasing to me).

Ecce │ Here it is

Adsunt nunc flōrēs vernālēs suāveolentēs │ The sweet-smelling spring blooms are now here

Bēstiolae gaudent, frīgora nunc aberunt │ The little creatures rejoice, the cold will now be away / gone

Valēte │ Good-bye

The fragrant vernal flowers now are here

The cold will go and little beasts will cheer

Vocabulary

alius, -a, -ud: other

bēstiōla, -ae [1/f]: little beast / creature; -ol- creates a diminutive (smaller version) of bēstia, -ae [1/f]: beast

frīgus, frigoris [3/n]: cold; coldness; often appears in the plural even though we would translate it as singular

distichon, distichī [3/n]: couplet; two-line verse; distichon; a Greek-type noun hence the /n/ in the nominative: distichon

pangō, -ere, pepigī [3]: compose (usually in verse, but also in song)

tempus, temporis [3/n] annī: (literally) time of the year = season

vēr, -is [3/n]: spring

vērnālis, -e: spring (adjective); flōrēs vērnālēs: spring flowers

versus, -ūs [4/m]: verse

vigeō, -ēre, viguī [2]: be vigorous; thrive; flourish

Notes

[i] Vēr iam adest │ Spring is already here; adsunt … flōrēs │ the flowers are here

frīgora nunc aberunt │ the cold(s) will now be away / distant / gone

The verb sum; esse (be) with prefixes:

adsum, adesse: be here / present

absum, abesse: be away

[ii] flōrēs crescunt │ the flowers are growing

When you see -sc- before the verb ending it indicates the beginning of something or becoming something else; in grammar they are known as inchoative verbs:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/05/200424-inchoative-verbs.html

sōl lūcēscit │ the sun is beginning to shine

vesperāscit │ it’s becoming evening

[iii] participles; look out for -ns and -nt-

Ergō scrīpsī novōs versūs │ Therefore, I have written new verses

Laudāns vēr │ While praising the spring

flōrēs … suāveolentēs │ sweet-smelling flowers < suāvis, -e: sweet + oleō, -ēre, oluī: smell

[iv] gaudeāmus igitur │ let us, therefore, rejoice

From the academic song:

Gaudeāmus igitur / Iuvenēs dum sumus │ Let us, therefore, rejoice, while we are young

This is a subunctive: gaudēmus │ we rejoice > gaudeāmus │let us rejoice; Latin uses the subjunctive to express “Let’s do something”

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

[1]

["Itaque Rōmānī ordinēs suōs contrā equitēs Britannōrum in prīmō certāmine nōn servāverant. Sed postrīdiē Rōmānī victōriam reportāvērunt; Britannī in collibus procul ā castrīs Rōmānīs stābant. Caesar magnum numerum cohortium et ūniversōs equitēs lēgātō suō Trebōniō mandāverat.”]

[i] What had the Romans failed to do during the first battle? (1)

[ii] When did the Romans achieve a victory? (1)

[iii] Where were the Britons standing? (2)

[iv] Why is Trebonius mentioned? (3)

[2]

["Hostēs subitō prōvolāvērunt, et ordinēs Rōmānōs impugnāvērunt. Sed Rōmānī superiōrēs fuērunt. Cōpiās Britannicās prōpulsāvērunt, et in fugam dedērunt. Magnum numerum hostium trucīdāvērunt. "]

In what order are the following mentioned?

attack on the Roman ranks

enemy driven back

number of enemy killed

enemy put to flight

sudden attack

superiority of the Romans

[3]

["Tum dux continuīs itineribus ad flūmen Tamesam et in fīnēs Cassivellaunī properāvit. Cassivellaunus autem cum quattuor mīlibus essedāriōrum itinera Rōmānōrum servābat, et paulum de viā dēclīnābat sēque in silvīs occultābat. Interdum ex silvīs prōvolābat et cum mīlitibus Rōmānīs pugnābat; Rōmānī autem agrōs Britannōrum vastābant."]

Which of the following statements are true? (8)

1. The troops marched using several routes.
2. The troops marched continuously.
3. They first went to the river and then into the territory of the Cassivellauni.
4. The Cassivellauni territory was on the River Thames.
5. They entered the territory of the Cassivellauni and then headed to the River Thames.
6. Cassivellaunus had 4,000 infantry.
7. Cassivellaunus had 4,000 charioteers.
8. Cassivellaunus had 4,000 cavalry.
9. Cassivelaunus was at the roadside.
10. Cassivellaunus had moved away from the roadside.
11. Cassivellaunus was hiding in forests.
12. Cassivellaunus was observing the Romans.
13. Cassivellaunus made a single attack.
14. The Romans fought with Cassivellaunus in the forests.
15. Cassivelllaunus  sometimes came out of the forests to attack.
16. The Romans destroyed the Britons’ fields.
17. The Romans destroyed all the fields at the same time.

____________________

attack on the Roman ranks [2]

enemy driven back [4]

number of enemy killed [6]

enemy put to flight [5]

sudden attack [1]

superiority of the Romans [3]

Hostēs [1] subitō prōvolāvērunt, et [2] ordinēs Rōmānōs impugnāvērunt. Sed Rōmānī [3] superiōrēs fuērunt. Cōpiās Britannicās [4] prōpulsāvērunt, et [5] in fugam dedērunt. [6] Magnum numerum hostium trucīdāvērunt.

27.06.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein: Britannia Pācāta [2](i): text, exercises

"Itaque Rōmānī ordinēs suōs contrā equitēs Britannōrum in prīmō certāmine nōn servāverant. Sed postrīdiē Rōmānī victōriam reportāvērunt; Britannī in collibus procul ā castrīs Rōmānīs stābant. Caesar magnum numerum cohortium et ūniversōs equitēs lēgātō suō Trebōniō mandāverat. Hostēs subitō prōvolāvērunt, et ordinēs Rōmānōs impugnāvērunt. Sed Rōmānī superiōrēs fuērunt. Cōpiās Britannicās prōpulsāvērunt, et in fugam dedērunt. Magnum numerum hostium trucīdāvērunt. Tum dux continuīs itineribus ad flūmen Tamesam et in fīnēs Cassivellaunī properāvit. Cassivellaunus autem cum quattuor mīlibus essedāriōrum itinera Rōmānōrum servābat, et paulum de viā dēclīnābat sēque in silvīs occultābat. Interdum ex silvīs prōvolābat et cum mīlitibus Rōmānīs pugnābat; Rōmānī autem agrōs Britannōrum vastābant."

[i] Vocabulary review: match the Latin and English

autem

collis, -is [3/m]

continuus, -a, -um

dēclīnō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

interdum

itaque

mandō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

occultō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

paulum

postrīdiē

prōpulsō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

reportō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

servō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

subitō

tum

ūniversus, -a, -um

(here) watch (over); a little; bring back; continual / uninterrupted; deviate / turn aside; drive back / repulse; however; hill; hide; entrust; sometimes; suddenly; whole / entire; then; therefore; the following day

[ii] Find the Latin

[1] (he) entrusted … the cavalry … to Trebonius

[2] (he) turned aside / deviated from the road

[3] and was hiding himself in the forests

[4] far from the camp

[5] they put the troops to flight [i.e. they made them flee]

[6] with / by means of uninterrupted / continual marches

26.06.25: topic; ships [10]; Comenius; CXLII; the Sea-Fight

thorow = through or thorough!

the Sea-Fight │ Pugna nāvālis

A sea-fight is terrible, when huge ships, like castles, run one upon another with their beaks, or shatter one another with their ordnance, and so being bored thorow they drink in their own destruction, and are sunk.

Nāvāle prœlium terribile est, quum [ = cum] ingentēs nāvēs, velutī arcēs, concurrunt rōstrīs, aut sē invicem quassant tormentīs, atque ita perforātæ, imbibunt perniciem suam & submerguntur.

Or when they are set on fire and either by the firing of gun-powder, men are blown up into the air, or are burnt in the midst of the waters, or else leaping into the sea are drowned.

Aut quum igne corripiuntur, & vel ex incendiō pulveris tormentāriī, hominēs ēiciuntur in ærem, vel exūruntur in mediīs aquīs, vel etiam dēsilientēs in mare, suffōcantur.

A ship that flieth away is overtaken by those that pursue her, and is taken.

Nāvis fugitīva intercipitur ab īnsequentibus & capitur.

[i] Passives:

nāvēs perforātae │ ships (which have been) pierced penetrated

nāves submerguntur │ ships are sunk

nāvēs ¦ igne ¦ corripiuntur │ ships are (literally) seized by fire

incendō, -ere, incendī, incēnsus [3]: set on fire

hominēs … │ men …

[1] … ēiciuntur │ … are cast out

[2] … exūruntur │ … are burnt up / consumed by fire

[3] … suffōcantur │ … are drowned

nāvis intercipitur │ the ship is intercepted / cut off

nāvis capitur │ the ship is captured / taken

[ii] present active participle:

hominēs … dēsilientēs in mare │ men (who are) leaping into the sea

nāvis …  intercipitur ¦ ab īnsequentibus │ the ship is intercepted ¦ by those (who are) pursuing (it)

[iii] nāvālis, -e: naval

proelium nāvāle; pugna nāvālis: naval battle

[iv] arx, arcis [3/f]: citadel; fortress; castle

[v] quassō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: shake violently; shatter; dash to pieces

Note: sē … quassant; reflexive i.e. they shatter each other

invicem: in turn; reciprocally; one another

[vi] pulvis, pulveris [3/n]: powder; dust; ashes

tormentārius, -a, -um: (rare) relating to a gun

25.06.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [4]: translation; ablative absolute with deponent verbs

[1] The term absolute means that the phrase is grammatically set apart from the main clause; in other words, the participle does not modify any noun in the main clause. The rather unwieldy literal translation is “with something having been done” e.g. “with the city having been captured” and this is the standard way in grammar books of translating it. However, it is often preferable to refine the construction into an English clause. Various translations are possible:

urbe captā

• time: When / after the city had been captured ..
• cause: Since / because the city had been captured ..
• concessive: Although the city had been captured ..
• condition: If the city had been captured ..

Equally, the sentence could be restructured to include a compound sentence:

• Urbe captā, cīvēs fūgērunt. │ The city had been captured and the citizens fled.

Context will determine the most appropriate translation.

[2] Watch out for deponent verbs when translating the ablative absolute; remember that the deponents are passive in form but active in meaning:

loquor, loquī, locūtus sum [3/deponent]: speak

proficīscor, proficīscī, profectus sum [3/deponent]: set out

i.e. profectus and locūtus are not passive but active and so they are translated as:

locūtus: having spoken

profectus: having set out

ōrātōre locūtō, cīvēs inter sē loquēbantur │ With the orator having spoken = After the orator had spoken, the citizens began talking among themselves.

poētā sīc locūtō, cīvēs magnopere timēbant. │ After the orator had spoken in this way, the citizens were greatly afraid.

Omnibus profectīs, tamen ego tē exspectāvī. │ Although everybody had set out, I neverthless waited for you.

25.06.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [3]: literal translation

All of the following phrases are ablative absolutes; translate them into English using, at this stage, the literal construction ‘with X having been Y-ed’

Examples:

urbe ¦ captā │ with the city ¦ having been captured

servō monitō │ with the slave having been warned

1. urbe incēnsā
2. cōnsule interfectō
3. librō lectō
4. epistulā scriptā
5. oppidō oppugnātō
6. mīlitibus revocatīs
7. hīs litterīs acceptīs
8. hīs verbīs dictīs

____________________

1. with the city having been set on fire
2. with the consul having been killed
3. with the book having been read
4. with the letter having been writeen
5. with the town having been attacked
6. with the soldiers having been recalled
7. with this / these letter(s) having been received
8. with these words having been said

25.06.25: Level 3; the Labours of Hercules; [II] Hercules conquers the Minyæ; he commits a crime and goes to the Delphian oracle to seek expiation

[II] HERCULES CONQUERS THE MINYÆ

Herculēs ā puerō corpus suum gravissimīs et difficillimīs labōribus exercēbat et hoc modo vīrēs suās cōnfirmāvit. Iam adulēscēns Thēbīs habitābat. Ibi Creōn quīdam erat rēx. Minyae, gēns validissima, erant fīnitimī Thēbānīs, et, quia ōlim Thēbānōs vīcerant, quotannīs lēgātōs mittēbant et vectīgal postulābant. Herculēs autem cōnstituit cīvīs suōs hoc vectīgālī līberāre et dīxit rēgī, "Dā mihi exercitum tuum et ego hōs superbōs hostīs superābō." Hanc condiciōnem rēx nōn recūsāvit, et Herculēs nūntiōs in omnīs partīs dīmīsit et cōpiās coēgit. Tum tempore opportūnissimō proelium cum Minyīs commīsit. Diū pugnātum est, sed dēnique illī impetum Thēbānōrum sustinēre nōn potuērunt et terga vertērunt fugamque cēpērunt.

[1] ā puerō: from boyhood

[2] hōc modō vīrēs suās cōnfirmāvit │ in this way he asserted his strength

vīs, vīs [3/f] can be misread, especially in the plural; the word means ‘force’, ‘power’, ‘strength’, ‘violence’, but it is often used in the plural: vīrēs (strength; physical force) and looks similar to virī (men) but they are completely different words [image]

Image: vīs is also an example of a defective noun which refers to a noun where not all the case endings are attested in Classical Latin; the English verb “can” is defective since there is no infinitive “to can”, “to be able” being used instead of the original Anglo-Saxon infinitive cunnan (Modern German: können)

[3] Thēbīs: locative case < Thēbae (Thebes); plural noun

[4] vectīgal, vectīgālis [3/n]: tax, tribute

[5] pugnātum est: impersonal passive; literally: it has been fought = there was fighting

HE COMMITS A CRIME AND GOES TO THE DELPHIAN ORACLE TO SEEK EXPIATION

Post hoc proelium Creōn rēx, tantā victōriā laetus, fīliam suam Herculī in matrimōnium dedit. Thēbis Herculēs cum uxōre suā diū vivēbat et ab omnibus magnopere amābātur; sed post multōs annōs subitō in furōrem incidit et ipse suā manū līberōs suōs interfēcit. Post breve tempus ad sānitātem reductus tantum scelus expiāre cupiēbat et cōnstituit ad ōrāculum Delphicum iter facere. Hoc autem ōrāculum erat omnium clārissimum. Ibi sedēbat fēmina quaedam quae Pȳthia appellābātur. Ea cōnsilium dabat iīs quī ad ōrāculum veniēbant.

[1] in furōrem incidit: went mad

[2] ad sānitātem reductus │ literally: led back to sanity = came back to his senses 

[3] iīs = eīs

[4] Ibi sedēbat fēmina quaedam │ a certain woman was sitting there

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

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

24.06.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein: Britannia Pācāta [1](ii): listening

[1]

["Inter Tamesam et mare Britannicum prīma concursiō erat Rōmānōrum cum cōpiīs Cassivellaunī. Britannī duās cohortēs Rōmānās in itinere fortiter impugnāvērunt. Ex silvīs suīs prōvolāvērunt; Rōmānōs in fugam dedērunt; multōs Rōmānōrum trucīdāvērunt. "]

[i] Where did the first engagement take place between the Romans and the Cassevellauni? (2)

[ii] What Roman military divisions were attacked? (1)

[iii] From where had the Britons made the attack? (1)

[iv] What was the outcome of the attack? (2)

[2]

["Tum suōs ā pugnā revocāvērunt. Novum genus pugnae Rōmānōs perturbāverat. Nam Britannīs nōn mōs erat iustō proeliō pugnāre; sed equitibus essedīsque suīs per omnēs partēs equitābant, et ōrdinēs hostium perturbābant; tum consultō cōpias suās revocābant. "]

[i] What did Britons do immediately after the fight? (1)

[ii] Complete each sentence with a single word or short phrase

[a] The Romans were thrown into confusion by __________.

[b] The Britons were not accustomed to __________.

[c] The chariots and charioteers were __________.

[d] They threw __________ into confusion.

[e] They would call back their men __________.

[3]

["Essedāriī interdum pedibus pugnābant. Ita mōbilitatem equitum, stabilitātem peditum in proeliīs praestābant. Peditēs Rōmānī propter pondus armōrum nōn aptī erant ad hūiusmodī hostem. Et equitibus Rōmānīs perīculōsum erat sē longō intervallō ā peditibus sēparāre: neque pedibus pugnāre poterant."]

[i] How did the charioteers sometimes fight? (1)

[ii] What two advantages did the Britons have in the battles? (2)

[iii] Why were the Roman infantry at a disadvantage? (2)

[iv] What two disadvantages did the Roman cavalry have? (3)

24.06.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein: Britannia Pācāta [1](i): text, exercises

"Inter Tamesam et mare Britannicum prīma concursiō erat Rōmānōrum cum cōpiīs Cassivellaunī. Britannī duās cohortēs Rōmānās in itinere fortiter impugnāvērunt. Ex silvīs suīs prōvolāvērunt; Rōmānōs in fugam dedērunt; multōs Rōmānōrum trucīdāvērunt. Tum suōs ā pugnā revocāvērunt. Novum genus pugnae Rōmānōs perturbāverat. Nam Britannīs nōn mōs erat iustō proeliō pugnāre; sed equitibus essedīsque suīs per omnēs partēs equitābant, et ōrdinēs hostium perturbābant; tum consultō cōpias suās revocābant. Essedāriī interdum pedibus pugnābant. Ita mōbilitatem equitum, stabilitātem peditum in proeliīs praestābant. Peditēs Rōmānī propter pondus armōrum nōn aptī erant ad hūiusmodī hostem. Et equitibus Rōmānīs perīculōsum erat sē longō intervallō ā peditibus sēparāre: neque pedibus pugnāre poterant."

[i] Vocabulary review: match the Latin and English

cohors, cohortis [3/f]

concursiō, concursiōnis [3/f]

consultō

essedārius, -ī [2/m]

hūiusmodī

impugnō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

intervallum, -ī [2/n]

iter, itineris [3/n]

mōs, mōris [3/f]

ōrdō, ōrdinis [3/m]

pācō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

perturbō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

pondus, ponderis [3/n]

praestō, -āre, -stitī, -stitus [1]

prōvolō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

trucīdō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

attack; Britannic charioteer; habit / custom; interval / distance; journey / march; military unit of 500 men; of this kind; on purpose; running together / (mil.) engagement; show / exhibit; rush forward; rank; pacify; slaughter; throw into confusion; weight

[ii] Find the Latin:

[1] because of / on account of the weight ¦ of the armour

[2] (they) were not suited ¦ to an enemy ¦ of this kind

[3] they slaughtered ¦ many ¦ of the Romans

[4] it was dangerous for the cavalry

[5] it was not customary (the custom) for the Britons

[6] they called their men back from the battle

[7] to separate themselves ¦ from the infantry

[8] to separate themselves by a long distance

[9] (they) were … fighting on foot

[10] on the journey / during the march

23.06.25: topic; ships [9]; Comenius; XCI; a Ship-wreck (4); terra austrālis: the southern land

Sphera terrestris …dīvīsa est in trēs continentēs; nostram, quæ subdīviditur in Eurōpam, Asiam, & Āfricam, in Americam (cuius incolæ sunt antipodēs nōbīs) & in Terram Austrālem, adhūc incognitam. (Comenius CVII: 1658)

The terrestrial sphere … is divided into three continents, ours, which is subdivided into Europe, Asia, Africa, America, (whose inhabitants are antipodes to us;) and the South Land, yet unknown.

antipodēs from Greek: ἀντίποδες (antípodes), referring, in the world of Comenius, to the place on the opposite side of the Earth from a given point, the English derivative antipodean being an informal reference to the inhabitants of Australia and New Zealand, but Comenius uses it to describe America.

Images #1 and #2

[i] terra austrālis nōndum cognita (1570 (the southern land not yet known)

[ii] terra austrālis incognita (1618) (the unknown southern land)

However, the maps do not refer to Australia but to an as yet undiscovered (or partially discovered), unknown (or not yet known), disputed and, at times, dismissed notion of a landmass in the southern hemisphere, which was first suggested by Aristotle in the 4th century BC. And it did take a little time to prove that he was right!

What we call the continent of Australia was originally named New Holland, the term Terra Austrālis reserved for the southern landmass referred to above.

The English explorer Matthew Flinders was the first to circumnavigate New Holland in 1803, and used the name ‘Australia’ to describe it on a map in 1804. It was Flinders who suggested the name now used, the New South Wales Governor Lachlan Macquarie endorsing the name to replace New Holland in communication with London in 1817, and the name came into common local usage.

Image #3: Map of Australia by Flinders (1814) ascribing the name Terra Austrālis or Australia

On the “reassignment” of the name Terra Austrālis Flinders wrote:

“There is no probability, that any other detached body of land, of nearly equal extent, will ever be found in a more southern latitude; the name Terra Australis will, therefore, remain descriptive of the geographical importance of this country, and of its situation on the globe: it has antiquity to recommend it; and, having no reference to either of the two claiming nations, appears to be less objectionable than any other which could have been selected.”

Flinders was, of course, wrong in making that bold assertion because the “unknown southern land” did become known, by which point, however, the name now belonged to Australia.

Maybe from the 4^th century BC we hear Aristotle’s voice telling Flinders: “I told you so!” Moreover, Aristotle had already given it a name since, at the time, the north lay under the constellation Ἄρκτος [Árktos] i.e. “Ursa Major” (the Great Bear). Therefore, he called the other end of the world ἀνταρκτικός [antarktikós] i.e. opposite to the north > Latin: antarcticus, -a, -um (south) > New Latin …

“The five largest islands or peninsulas … are termed continents, and designated by the names Eurasia, Africa, North America, South America, and Australia. …. The elevated region round the South Pole is crowned by the unexplored and scarcely discovered continent of Antarctica.” [Hugh Robert Mill, “The Continental Area” (1891)]

23.06.25: topic; ships [8]; Comenius; XCI; a Ship-wreck (3)

boreālis, -e: northern

oriēns, orientis [3/m]: east

orientālis, -e: eastern

occidēns, occidentis [3/m]: west

occidentālis, -e: western

austrālis, -e: southern

images:

[i] aurora borealis: the northern lights

[ii] the Orient line to Australia (for £140 - return!)

[iii] oriental Jazz essentials

[iv] Occidental College, Los Angeles has the motto: Occidēns Proximus Orientī (the West is nearest the East)

22.06.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [2]: formation

Forming the ablative absolute is not unlike an ‘equation’ i.e. there is a consistent step-by-step way of creating it. Examples:

• With [1] the city ¦ [2] having been captured

[i] Begin with the nominative singular:

[1] city [2] captured

> [1] urbs [2] capta i.e. the perfect passive participle, the fourth principal part of the verb < capiō, capere, cēpī, captus

[ii] Transfer both words into the ablative case:

> [1] urbe [2] captā = ablative absolute = with the city having been captured

• With the brother | having been killed.

[i] Begin with the nominative singular:

[1] brother [2] killed

> [1] frāter [2] necātus < necō, -āre, -āvī, necātus

[ii] Transfer both words into the ablative case:

> [1] frātre [2] necātō = ablative absolute = with the brother having been killed

The same approach would also apply to ablative absolutes with plural nouns or pronouns:

• With the soldiers | having been killed.

[i] nominative plural:

[1] soldiers [2] killed

> [1] mīlitēs [2] necātī

[ii] Transfer both words into the ablative case:

> [1] mīlitibus [2] necātīs = ablative absolute = with the soldiers having been killed

22.06.25: Level 3; the ablative absolute [1]

One of the reasons why Latin can express itself far more concisely than many other languages is the construction known as the ablative absolute and it is because of its conciseness that it very frequently occurs in the literature.

The ablative absolute is a phrase that describes the circumstances under which an action is performed. The circumstances most often refer either to time or reason.

First take a look at this English sentence that comprises two clauses:

[1] When (after) / since the money had been found, ¦ [2] the master punished the slave.

[1] is an adverbial clause in that it describes the circumstances in which the action in the main clause [2] took place; in this example [1] could refer either to time (when or after) or reason (since)

3 points to note:

[i] the adverbial clause is passive i.e. after the money had been found

[ii] the action in [1] happened before the action in [2]

[iii] the adverbial clause does not say that it was the master who found the money; maybe he did, but the clause does not imply that

In Latin, this clause can be expressed by a phrase: the ablative absolute which comprises 2 parts:

[1] noun / pronoun + [2] perfect passive participle; both in the ablative case

> [1] pecūniā [2] inventā = the ablative absolute

In grammar books this type of ablative absolute is normally translated in a very literal way so that it is clear what exactly is being conveyed: with X having been Y-ed

[X] pecūniā ¦ [Y] inventā = literally: with the money ¦ having been found. This, of course, sounds very cumbersome in English but, at this early stage, it is better to keep to that translation; in later posts, more natural sounding translations will be discussed.

Pecūniā inventā, dominus servum punīvit. │ With the money having been found, the master punished the slave.

Leōne vīsō, fēminae discessērunt. │ With the lion having been seen, the women departed.

Acceptīs litterīs, Caesar discēdit. │ With the letter having been received, Caesar departs.

Hīs verbīs dictīs, Caesar discessit. │ With these words having been said, Caesar departed.

Remember:

[i] the construction is passive: with the lion having been seen

[ii] the ablative absolute refers to something which happened before the main action: [1] Leōne vīsō, ¦ [2] fēminae discessērunt.

[iii] the ablative absolute does not refer to the subject of the sentence; there is no implication that it was the women themselves who saw the lion (that may be construed from context, but it is not stated in the ablative absolute) 

22.06.25: Level 3; the Labours of Hercules; [I] The infant Hercules and the serpents

[I] THE INFANT HERCULES AND THE SERPENTS

Dī grave supplicium sūmunt dē malīs, sed iī quī lēgibus deōrum pārent, etiam post mortem cūrantur. Illa vita dīs erat grātissima quae hominibus miserīs ūtilissima fuerat. Omnium autem praemiōrum summum erat immortālitās. Illud praemium Herculī datum est.

Herculīs pater fuit Iuppiter, māter Alcmēna, et omnium hominum validissimus fuisse dīcitur. Sed Iūnō, rēgina deōrum, eum, adhūc infantem, interficere studēbat; nam eī et Herculēs et Alcmēna erant invisī. Itaque misit duās serpentēs, utramque saevissimam, quae mediā nocte domum Alcmēnae vēnērunt. Ibi Herculēs, cum fratre suō, nōn in lectulō sed in scūtō ingentī dormiēbat iam audācēs serpentēs adpropinquāverant, iam scūtum movēbant. Tum frāter, terrōre commōtus, magnā vōce mātrem vocāvit, sed Herculēs ipse, fortior quam frāter, statim ingentēs serpentēs manibus suīs rapuit et interfēcit.

Notes

[1] dī grave supplicium sūmunt │ the gods inflict heavy / serious punishment; illa vita dīs erat grātissima │ that life was very pleasing to the gods

Declension of deus: very few nouns in Latin have alternative endings; deus, -ī  [2/m] has the usual 2^nd declension endings in the singular, but there are alternative endings in the plural

[2] iī quī lēgibus deōrum pārent │ those (people) who obey the laws of the gods

iī is an alternative spelling of the plural eī (they) in the nominative plural; similarly iīs = eīs in the dative and ablative plural

[3] iī quī lēgibus deōrum pārent

pāreō, pārēre, pāruī [2] obey (give obedience to); some verbs in Latin – known in grammar as “special verbs” are followed by the dative case:

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

[4] omnium hominum validissimus fuisse dīcitur │ he is said to have been the strongest of all men

You have already seen two infinitive forms:

[i] amāre: to love; the present active infinitive

[ii] amārī: to be loved; the present passive infinitive

The Latin infinitives are important since they are used in constructions which do not match English. That is a major topic which will be discussed in later posts. For the moment, note the following:

[iii] amāvisse: to have loved; the perfect active infinitive

These are regularly formed from the third principal part of the verb:

(1) amō, amāre, amāvī

(2) amāvī: I (have) loved

(3) remove -ī > amāv-

(4) add -isse

(5) > amāvisse: to have loved

Therefore:

sum, esse, fuī >

fuī: I was / have been

remove -ī > fu-

add -isse

> fuisse: to have been

[5] eī et Herculēs et Alcmēna erant invīsī │ both Hercules and Alcmena were hateful to her

invīsus, -um, -a: hateful i.e. they evoked a feeling of hatred in her

[6] Itaque misit duās serpentēs, utramque saevissimam │ Therefore, she sent two serpents, each (of them) very fierce

uter¦que [m], utra¦que [f], utrum¦que [n]: each (of two); both

[7] Herculēs ipse … ingentēs serpentēs … rapuit │ Hercules himself seized the huge serpents

Image: ipse, ipsa, ipsum is used to convey emphasis, the same idea as English ‘myself’, ‘yourself’, ‘himself’ etc. in combination with a noun or personal pronoun e.g. He himself said that. When used with a noun, the translation may be ‘the very’.

Caesarem ipsum servāvimus. │ We saved Caesar himself.

Vōs ipsī iūdicāte: decet mulierem nōn vēlātam ōrāre Deum? (Vulgate) │ You yourselves judge: is it proper for a woman without a veil to pray to God?

Fidēlissimī servī senem ad templum ipsum portāvērunt. │ The most faithful servants carried the old man to the temple itself /  the very temple.

Note: in English, -self and -selves, apart from having the same emphatic function as Latin ipse e.g. I myself will do it, also is used to express reflexive actions e.g. She hurt herself, he looked at himself in the mirror; Latin does not use ipse to convey this, but the reflexive pronoun sē.

Sē ex nāvī prōiēcit. (Caesar) │ He threw himself from the ship.

21.06.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein: Maria Britannica [2]: listening

[“Lateris prīmī longitūdinem circiter quingenta mīlia esse iūdicat, secundī septingenta, tertiī octingenta. Itaque dē magnitūdine insulae nōn multum errabat. Flūmen Tamesam ā marī circiter octōgintā mīlia distāre iūdicat."]

[1] Choose [A], [B] or [C]

[a] Length of:

[i] the first side: [A] 50 [B] 500 [C] 5000 miles

[ii] the second side: [A] 700 [B] 7000 [C] 70 miles

[iii] the third side: [A] 8000 [B] 80 [C] 800 miles

[b] Distance of the Thames to the sea: [A] approximately 18 [B] 80 [C] about 80 miles

[Hīc nōs puerī "Errābat igitur" inquimus; "nam inter Londinium et mare nōn sunt octōgintā mīlia." Sed patruus meus "Rectē iudicābat" inquit; "nam pars maris ubi Caesaris castra erant circiter octōgintā mīlia Rōmāna ā Londiniō distat."]

[2] Why do the boys think Caesar made a mistake? (2)

[3] Why does the uncle state that Caesar was correct? (4); [nam [i] pars maris ¦ ubi [ii] Caesaris castra erant ¦ [iii] circiter octōgintā mīlia Rōmāna ¦ [iv] ā Londiniō distat]

[Tria maria insulam nostram circumdant; inter Britanniam et Galliam est mare Britannicum vel fretum Gallicum; ab occidente mare Hibernicum; ab oriente mare Germānicum. Nōmina marium temporibus antīquīs nōn ūsitāta erant; sed iam Graecī Britanniam esse insulam iūdicābant."]

[4] Which body of water is:

[i] between Britain and France? (1)

[ii] to the west? (1)

[iii] to the east? (1)

[5] What were not used at that time? (1)

[6] What had the Greeks determined? (1)

21.06.25: Level 2; Sonnenschein: Maria Britannica [1]: text, exercise, notes

“Lateris prīmī longitūdinem circiter quingenta mīlia esse iūdicat, secundī septingenta, tertiī octingenta. Itaque dē magnitūdine insulae nōn multum errabat. Flūmen Tamesam ā marī circiter octōgintā mīlia distāre iūdicat." Hīc nōs puerī "Errābat igitur" inquimus; "nam inter Londinium et mare nōn sunt octōgintā mīlia." Sed patruus meus "Rectē iudicābat" inquit; "nam pars maris ubi Caesaris castra erant circiter octōgintā mīlia Rōmāna ā Londiniō distat. Tria maria insulam nostram circumdant; inter Britanniam et Galliam est mare Britannicum vel fretum Gallicum; ab occidente mare Hibernicum; ab oriente mare Germānicum. Nōmina marium temporibus antīquīs nōn ūsitāta erant; sed iam Graecī Britanniam esse insulam iūdicābant."

Vocabulary review: match the Latin and English

circiter

circumdō, -dare, -dedī, -dātus [1]

distō, -āre, distitī [1]

errō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

flūmen, flūminis [3/n]

fretum, -ī [2/n]

Hibernicus, -a, -um

itaque

iūdicō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]

latus, lateris [3/n]

longitūdō, longitūdinis [3/f]

magnitūdō, magnitūdinis [3/f]

occidēns, occidentis [3/m]

oriēns, orientis [3/m]

rēctē

ūsitātus, -a, -um

judge / determine; Irish; east; correctly; channel / estuary; approximately; length; make a mistake; river; stand apart / be distant; size; side; surround; therefore; used / usual / common; west

Note: to review i-stem nouns like mare, -is [3/n]:

Level 3; Sonnenschein; Prō Patriā [3]; Cunobelīnus [4]; review: i-stem nouns (3)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/140625-level-3-sonnenschein-cunobelinus.html

20.06.25: topic; ships [7]; Comenius; XCI; a Ship-wreck (2)

Incubuēre marī tōtumque ā sēdibus īmīs / ūna [1] Eurusque [2] Notusque ruunt crēberque procellīs / [3] Āfricus et vastōs volvunt ad lītora flūctūs. (Virgil)

[The winds] fall upon the sea and they overturn everything from the bottom-most depths – together, both [1] East Wind and [2] South Wind and, frequent with gusts, the [3] Southwest Wind – and they roll huge waves toward the shores.

[i] Images #1 and #2: Latin has a number of terms pertaining to wind direction which were first discussed here:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/05/240424-nouns-and-adjectives-referring.html

Ancient Greek mythology referred to the ‘Anemoi’ / Ἄνεμοι (‘winds’) of which there were four, each personified as a god. In Roman mythology ‘anemoi’ is ventī (‘winds’) and the winds were also considered to be gods. The images of the four Gods are from the Tower of the Winds at Athens.

[1] Boreās, -ae [1/m]: the north wind

aquilō, aquilōnis [3/m]; septentriō, septentriōnis [3/m]: north, north wind

aquilōnāris, -e; boreālis, -e; septentriōnālis, -e: northern

[2] Notus, Notos, -ī [2/m]: the south wind

auster, austrī [2/m]; merīdiēs, merīdiēī [5/m]: south, south wind

austrālis, -e; merīdiōnālis, -e; merīdiānus, -a, -um: southern

[3] Eurus, -ī [2/m]; apēliōtēs, -ae [1/m]; subsōlānus, -ī [2/m]: east wind

oriēns, orientis [3/m]: east

orientālis, -e: eastern

[4] Zephyrus, -ī [2/m]; favōnius, -ī [2/m]: west wind

occidēns, occidentis [3/m]: west

occidentālis, -e: western

compass points

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/05/240424-east-and-west.html

Image #3: In antiquity, the earth was divided into parallel clime zones according to latitude; Renaissance geographers typically showed nine such climatic zones, this image also showing the compass points:

septentriō, septenriōnis [3/m]: north

merīdiēs, merīdiēī [5/m]: south

oriēns, orientis [3/m]: east

occidēns, occidentis [3/m]: west

Image #4: 1472: publication of Etymologiae of archbishop Isidore of Seville, a 7^th century encylcopedia

The map has East (Oriens) at the top, South (Meridies) at the right, West (Occidens) at the bottom, and North (Septentrio) at the left, the central sea labelled as ‘The Great Sea, or Mediterrnean” (Mare magnum sive mediterraneum). The continents aree named together with the son of Noah accredited with its settlement: Europa (Japhet / Iaphet), Africa (Ham), Asia (Shem). Jerusalem (Hierusalem) is placed in Western Asia near the centre of the world, the Garden of Eden (Paradisus) in the Far East.

Image #5

Sōl in oriente oritur. │ The sun rises in the East.

Sōl in occidente occidit. │ The sun sets in the West.

Ventus ab oriente spīrat. │ The wind is blowing from the East.

Ventus ab occidente flat. │ The wind is blowing from the West.

20.06.25: topic; ships [6]; Comenius; XCI; a Ship-wreck (1)

There are different editions of the work of Comenius; this one – and I have reproduced the text exactly – show an interesting comparison between Latin, the spelling of which has remained virtually unchanged for centuries, and 17^th century English, which still shows remarkable inconsistency in spelling, a feature also noticeable in the early editions of Shakespeare’s works.

suddain = sudden; sayl = sail; shipwrack = shipwreck; sheat = sheet; shoars = shores

When a storm ariseth on a suddain, they strike sayl lest the ship should be dashed against rocks or light upon shelves.

Cum procella oritur repente contrahunt vēla nē nāvīs ad scopulōs allīdātur, aut incīdat in brevia (syrtēs).

If they cannot hinder her they suffer shipwrack.

Sī nōn possunt prohibēre patiuntur naufragium.

And then the men, the wares, all things are miserably lost.

Tum hominēs, mercēs, omnia miserābiliter pereunt.

Nor doth the sheat-anchor, being cast with a cable, do any good.

Neque hīc sacra anchora, rūdentī iacta quidquam adiuvat.

Some escape, either on a plank, and by swimming, or in the boat.

Quīdam ēvādunt, vel tabulā, ac ēnatandō, vel scaphā.

Part of the wares, with the dead folks, is carried out of the sea, upon the shoars.

Pars mercium cum mortuīs ā marī in littora dēfertur.

[i] Passives:

Pars mercium … dēfertur │ Part of the wares … is carried away

anchora … iacta │ the anchor (which has been) thrown

[ii] Deponent verbs:

procella oritur │ a storm arises

patiuntur naufragium │ they suffer a shipwreck

[iii] Gerund:

Quīdam ēvādunt … ēnatandō │ some escape by swimming away

[iv] procella, -ae [1/f]: violent wind, storm, hurricane, tempest

tempestās, tempestātis [3/f]: context will determine the meaning: [i] storm or gale, [ii] weather (either good or bad), [iii]  period of time, season

[v] image #1: contrahō, -ere, contrāxī, contractus [3]: draw in; pull (several objects) together; contrahunt vēla │ they strike the sails i.e. the sails are furled

solvō, -ere, solvī, solūtus [3]: untie, loosen; used to refer to ‘setting sail’ i.e. untying the ship from its mooring: paulō post mediam noctem nāvēs solvit (Caesar) │ he sets sail a little after midnight

[vi] scopulus, -ī [2/m]: rock, cliff, crag

[vii] syrtis, -is [3/f]: sandbank

brevis, -e: [i] short; [i] (of depth) shallow i.e. Comenius is referring to the “shallow parts” of the water; Engl. shelf = reef, sandbar

[viii] naufragium,-ī [2/n]: shipwreck

Image #2: late 3^rd century Roman shipwreck off the coast of Sicily

submergō (summergō), -ere, -mersī, -mersus [3]: sink

nāvēs submerguntur │ ships are sunk

nāvis submersa │ a sunken ship

[ix] merx, mercis [3/f]: merchandise; goods

Image #3: Some of the 135 amphorae from the wreck of a Roman ship off the coast of northern Catalonia

[x] sacra anc(h)ora: the term “sacred anchor”, derived from sailors, refers to the strongest anchor, only weighed when the ship is at its most critical point; sheet anchor: a large, spare anchor for use in emergencies

Image #4: Prīncipia Latīnē Loquendī Scrībendīque (1556) with depiction of the sacra anchora

[xi] rūdēns, rūdentis [3/m]: rope, cord, cable

[xii] tabula, -ae [1/f]: [i] (here) plank, [ii] wax covered tablet used for writing with a stylus

[xiii] scapha, -ae [1/f]: light boat, skiff

et cum scaphās concurrere undique ab nāvibus cernerent (Livy) │ When they saw boats from all the ships rowing to the place [i.e. small boats which belong to larger ones]

[xiv] littus, littoris [3/n]: alternative of litus, litoris [3/n]: shore

Grammar

For the moment, note the use of the Latin subjunctive in the sentence:

contrahunt vēla ¦ nē nāvīs ad scopulōs [i] allīdātur, aut [ii] incīdat in brevia │ they strike the sails ¦ lest the ship [ii] (might / should) be dashed against the rocks or [ii] light upon sandbanks

The subjunctive is used to express purpose. That purpose may be [1] positive i.e. X is done in order that Y happens, or [2] negative i.e. X is done in order that Y does not happen. Latin uses a subjunctive here because, at the point at which the main action [X] takes place, the purpose [Y] has not yet been achieved; in older English, it was common to read: “He went [X] to the shop in order that he might buy [Y] bread”, and it is this type of structure which Latin uses.

What we have here is a negative purpose:

contrahunt vēla [X] ¦ nē nāvis ad scopulōs allīdātur [Y]

They strike the sails [X] ¦ in order that the ship might not be dashed [Y] against the rocks

The archaic word ‘lest’ is often used to convey this: they strike the sails lest the ships (should / might) be dashed against the wrecks [i.e. this is what they do not want to happen], but it can be rendered in a less stilted manner: … (in order) to avoid the ship being dashed against the rocks

Nē mīlitēs oppidum inrumperent, portās obstruit (Caesar) │ He barricaded the gates, in order that the soldiers might not break into the town = …to avoid the soldiers breaking into the town