20.01.26: Level 2; Vincent (Latin Reader); XXXVIII / XXXIX [1] Description of Britain; [2] The Inhabitants of Britain (ii) grammar review

[1] Description of Britain

Incolae multī in Britanniā diū habitāverant; aliī, quī ex Galliā nāvigāverant, mānserant et agrōs colēbant. Incolīs est numerus magnus pecorum: aes et tāleae sunt: plumbum album est in regiōnibus mediterrāneīs, in maritimīs ferrum: sed ferrī est cōpia parva. Nec fāgus nec abiēs est in īnsulā. Incolae lepōrem et gallīnam et ānserem nōn gustant.

[2] The Inhabitants of Britain

Īnsula est nātūrā triquetra: ūnum latus est contrā Galliam; ūna ex parte est Hibernia; mediō in cursū est īnsula Mona. Multae sunt īnsulae minōrēs, ubi trīgintā diēs continuōs hieme summā est nox. Ex omnibus incolīs sunt hūmānissimī quī Cantium incolunt. Multī, quī regiōnēs interiōrēs incolunt, frūmenta nōn serunt, sed lacte et carne vīvunt. In bellō omnēs Britannī, ut Caesar in suīs librīs nārrat, sē īnficiunt vitrō, quod efficit colōrem caeruleum.

The questions refer to either of the two texts

[i] What tense are: nāvigāverant; mānserant?

[ii] Give the nominative singular of the following nouns from the texts:

agrōs

carne

colōrem

cursū

frūmenta

hieme

lacte

lepōrem

parte

pecorum

regiōnibus

[iii] Explain the use of the ablative case in the following extracts:

(1) hieme summā

(2) lacte et carne vīvunt

[iv] Identify the different cases of the nouns in bold and explain why they are being used:

(1) incolīs est numerus magnus pecorum

(2) sed ferrī est cōpia parva

(3) trīgintā diēs continuōs

[v]  Explain why these words in bold are used:

omnēs Britannī ut Caesar in (1) suīs librīs nārrat, (2) sē īnficiunt vitrō

[vi] What type of word are minōrēs; interiōrēs?

____________________

[i] pluperfect

[ii]

agrōs < ager

carne < carō

colōrem < color

cursū < cursus

frūmenta < frūmentum

hieme < hiems

lacte < lac

lepōrem < lepus

parte < pars

pecorum < pecus

regiōnibus < rēgiō

[iii]

(1) ablative of time when; in the depth of winter

(2) ablative of means; they live on milk and meat

[iv]

(1) dative; possession

(2) genitive; with a quantity

(3) accusative; duration of time

[v] Both are reflexive referring back to the subjects: (1) as Caesar recounts in his (own) books ; (2) the Britons … colour themselves

[vi] comparative adjectives

20.01.26: Level 2; Vincent (Latin Reader); XXXVIII / XXXIX [1] Description of Britain; [2] The Inhabitants of Britain (i) comprehension

[1] Description of Britain

Incolae multī in Britanniā diū habitāverant; aliī, quī ex Galliā nāvigāverant, mānserant et agrōs colēbant. Incolīs est numerus magnus pecorum: aes et tāleae sunt: plumbum album est in regiōnibus mediterrāneīs, in maritimīs ferrum: sed ferrī est cōpia parva. Nec fāgus nec abiēs est in īnsulā. Incolae lepōrem et gallīnam et ānserem nōn gustant.

tālea, -ae [1/f]: (here) ingot i.e. of precious metal

[1] comprehension

The following statements are untrue; correct them:

[i] At the time, the Britons had only recently occupied the country.

[ii] Others from Gaul occasionally occupied Britain.

[iii] They were not a race of farmers.

[iv] The inhabitants had few domestic animals.

[v] There was lead from the Mediterranean.

[vi] Britain had a large amount of iron.

[vii] There were no trees.

[viii] The inhabitants did not eat rabbits or ducks.

[2] The Inhabitants of Britain

Īnsula est nātūrā triquetra: ūnum latus est contrā Galliam; ūna ex parte est Hibernia; mediō in cursū est īnsula Mona. Multae sunt īnsulae minōrēs, ubi trīgintā diēs continuōs hieme summā est nox. Ex omnibus incolīs sunt hūmānissimī quī Cantium incolunt. Multī, quī regiōnēs interiōrēs incolunt, frūmenta nōn serunt, sed lacte et carne vīvunt. In bellō omnēs Britannī, ut Caesar in suīs librīs nārrat, sē īnficiunt vitrō, quod efficit colōrem caeruleum.

Note: Latin uses an adjective whereas English uses a noun:

medius cursus: the middle of the channel

hiems summa: the depth of winter

[2] Comprehension

[i] In which order are the following statements made?

Caesar’s books

darkness of winter

inner regions

living off milk and meat

not cultivating grain

smaller islands

tattooing with blue wode

the most humane inhabitants

war (7)

[ii] Map of Britain as conceived by Caesar: to which part of the map do the following statements refer?

mediō in cursū est īnsula Mona _____

īnsula est nātūrā triquetra _____

ūnā ex parte est Hibernia _____

ūnum latus est contrā Galliam _____

[iii] Are you smarter than a 5^th Grader? Below is the entire map. Can you identify the places, mountain and rivers, all of which were known and referred to by the Romans.

ALPĒS _____

BRITANNIA _____

CORSICA _____

DĀNUVIUS FL. _____

GALLIA CISALPĪNA _____

GALLIA TRĀNSALPĪNA _____

GERMĀNIA _____

HIBERNIA _____

HISPĀNIA _____

ILLYRICUM _____

PȲRĒNAEĪ MONTĒS _____

RHĒNUS FL. _____

RHODANUS FL. _____

SARDINIA _____

SICILIA _____

____________________

[1]

[i] had lived there for a long time

[ii] they sailed there and stayed

[iii] cultivated fields

[iv] a large number of domestic animals

[v] inland regions

[vi] small amount

[vii] neither beech trees nor fir trees

[viii] hares; geese

[2]

[i]

Caesar’s books (8) │ ut Caesar in suīs librīs nārrat

darkness of winter (2) │ hieme summā est nox

inner regions (4) │ regiōnēs interiōrēs

living off milk and meat (6) │ lacte et carne vīvunt

not cultivating grain (5) │ frūmenta nōn serunt

smaller islands (1) │ īnsulae minōrēs

tattooing with blue wode (9) │ sē īnficiunt vitrō, quod efficit colōrem caeruleum

the most humane inhabitants (3) │ ex omnibus incolīs sunt hūmānissimī

war (7)│ in bellō

[ii]

mediō in cursū est īnsula Mona (4)

īnsula est nātūrā triquetra (1)

ūnā ex parte est Hibernia (2)

ūnum latus est contrā Galliam (3)

[iii]

ALPĒS (4)

BRITANNIA (14)

CORSICA (3)

DĀNUVIUS FL. (7)

GALLIA CISALPĪNA (5)

GALLIA TRĀNSALPĪNA (11)

GERMĀNIA (8)

HIBERNIA (15)

HISPĀNIA (13)

ILLYRICUM (6)

PȲRĒNAEĪ MONTĒS (12)

RHĒNUS FL. (9)

RHODANUS FL. (10)

SARDINIA (2)

SICILIA (1)

19.01.26: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [23][iii] Grammar: imperfect passive

The imperfect passive translates as something was (being) / used to be / would be done to somebody. The text deliberately uses adverbs e.g. diū (for a long time), interdum (sometimes),  saepe (often), semper (always) and ōlim (at one time) to emphasise that the action was repeated or continued over a period of time or generally existed in the past.

In English we may not specifically convey that by the verb, but the Latin does:

interdum diū in vinculīs tenēbantur:

[i] Sometimes, they were held in chains for a long time.

[ii] Sometimes, they used to be held in chains for a long time.

[iii] Sometimes, they would be held in chains for a long time.

a few used to be killed │ Paucī necābantur

slaves used to be sent │servī mittēbantur

they would be ordered to fight │ pugnāre iubēbantur

the slaves would be encouraged by the commanders │ servī ā ducibus incitābantur

Compare this with the perfect passive which refers to a single, completed action:

ūnus vir … repertus est │ one man was found

servī quī in bellō captī sunt │ slaves who were captured in war [i.e. each slave was only captured once!]

Links:  the passive voice; imperfect tense

28.12.24: Level 2; the passive voice [12]; imperfect tense passive [1]; 3rd person singular and plural

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/10/261224-level-2-passive-voice-10.html

30.12.24: Level 2; the passive voice [13]; imperfect tense passive [2]; all forms [1]

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/10/301224-level-2-passive-voice-12.html

01.01.25: Level 2; the passive voice [14]; imperfect tense passive [3]; all forms [2]; translation practice

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/10/010125-level-2-passive-voice-13.html

19.01.26: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [23][ii] Find the Latin

Hodiē omnēs Americānī laetī sunt quod in Ītaliā sunt. Hīc mīles, amīcus patris, et poēta, amīcus magistrae, habitant. Hī duo virī Rōmae tēcta habent et paucōs diēs Americānī Rōmae manent. Tēctum mīlitis est magnum et ex māteriā factum. Tēctum multās rēs pulchrās habet.

Pater mīlitis multōs servōs habet. Pater nōn est dominus dūrus. Omnēs servī, igitur, eum laudant. Nūllus servus perfidus inter servōs est. Cum dominus imperat, omnēs statim pārent.

Antīquīs temporibus Rōmānī multōs servōs habēbant. Ita mīles nārrat. Multās rēs faciēbant. Labor eōrum nōn erat semper facilis. Lignum portābant; agrōs cūrābant; cēnās parābant; paucī servī erant magistrī puerōrum puellārumque. Aliī erant servī quī in bellō captī sunt. Sī servī erant perfidī, interdum diū in vinculīs tenēbantur. Servīs perfidiīs vincula nōn erant grāta. Paucī necābantur. Tum cēterī servī maestī et timidī erant. Facile nōn erat servum bonum esse, sī dominus malus dūrusque erat.

Interdum ā tēctō dominī servī mittēbantur. Saepe sē in fugam dabant. Tum sine auxiliō per tōtam terram errābant. Interdum cum bēstiīs ferīs pugnāre iubēbantur. Interdum servī ā ducibus incitābantur et posteā bellum erat. Animus servī bonī prō dominō suō pugnāre semper parātus erat. Sī dominus et servus in perīculō erant, servus nōn sē, sed dominum servābat. Multī servī vītam dūram agēbant ubi dominī erant saevī.

"Servōs in Americā nōn habēmus," inquit Maria.

"Ōlim servōs habēbātis," respondet mīles. "Servī vestrī erant Āfricānī et dominī saepe erant saevī."

"Ita, sed ūnus vir, dux magnus, repertus est. Is servīs nōn erat inimīcus," respondet Maria. "Bellum magnum, tamen, inter populōs terrae nostrae erat. Hodiē omnēs sunt amīcī. Incolae inter sē animō bonō sunt. Hoc bellum memoriā tenēre nōn cupiō."

Nocte Maria omnēs rēs quās hodiē vīdit et audīvit in epistulā scrīpsit. Eam ad magistram mīsit.

Schoolbook texts are deliberately constructed to focus on certain features of a language. In this case, it is giving practice in different tenses of the verb (including passive forms) since, in authentic Roman literature, that is precisely what will happen.

Find the Latin:

[1] Present tense

[i] (they) live here

[ii] These two men have houses in Rome

[iii] The Americans are staying in Rome for a few days

[iv] The house has many beautiful things

[v] All the slaves praise him

[vi] When the master commands …

[vii] … everybody (pl. in Latin) immediately obeys

[viii] The soldier recounts (the story) in this way

[ix] We don’t have slaves

[x] Maria replies

[xi] I do not wish to remember this war [literally: …. to keep this war in memory]

[2] Perfect tense: actions that happened once

Maria …

[i] saw

[ii] heard

[iii] wrote

[iv] sent

[3] Imperfect tense: note the translation of ‘used to’ or ‘would’ to emphasise actions that happened repeatedly, continued for a length of time or generally existed in the past.

[i] The Romans had / used to have many slaves

[ii] They did / used to do / would do many things

[iii] Their work wasn’t always easy / didn’t always used to be / wouldn’t always be easy

[iv] They used to / would …

… carry wood

… take care of the fields

… prepare dinners

[v] They would often take to flight [literally: give themselves into flight]

[vi] They would wander through the whole land

[vii] The slaves didn’t use to / would not save himself

[viii] Many slaves led / used to lead / would lead a hard life

[ix] “You used to have slaves at one time”

[x] The masters were often cruel

[4] Passive forms

(1) imperfect passive (to be discussed in the next post)

[i] They used to be held / would be held in chains

[ii] a few used to be killed

[iii] slaves used to be sent

[iv] they would be ordered to fight

[v] the slaves would be encouraged / urged on by the commanders

(2) perfect passive

[i] one man was found

[ii] slaves who were captured in war

____________________

[1] Present tense

[i] (they) live here │ hīc … habitant

[ii] These two men have houses in Rome │ Hī duo virī Rōmae tēcta habent

[iii] The Americans are staying in Rome for a few days │ paucōs diēs Americānī Rōmae manent

[iv] The house has many beautiful things │ Tēctum multās rēs pulchrās habet

[v] All the slaves praise him │ Omnēs servī … eum laudant

[vi] When the master commands … │ Cum dominus imperat …

[vii] … everybody (pl. in Latin) immediately obeys │ … omnēs statim pārent

[viii] The soldier recounts (the story) in this way │ Ita mīles nārrat

[ix] We don’t have slaves │ servōs nōn habēmus

[x] Maria replies │ respondet Maria

[xi] I do not wish to remember this war [literally: …. to keep this war in memory] │ Hoc bellum memoriā tenēre nōn cupiō.

[2] Perfect tense

Maria …

[i] saw │ vīdit

[ii] heard│audīvit

[iii] wrote│scrīpsit

[iv] sent│ mīsit

[3] Imperfect tense

[i] The Romans had / used to have many slaves │ Rōmānī multōs servōs habēbant

[ii] They did / used to do / would do many things │ Multās rēs faciēbant

[iii] Their work wasn’t always easy / didn’t always used to be / wouldn’t always be easy │ Labor eōrum nōn erat semper facilis

[iv] They used to / would …

… carry wood │ lignum portābant

… take care of the fields │ agrōs cūrābant

… prepare dinners │ cēnās parābant

[v] They would often take to flight [literally: give themselves into flight] │ Saepe sē in fugam dabant

[vi] They would wander through the whole land │ per tōtam terram errābant

[vii] The slaves didn’t use to / would not save himself │ servus nōn sē … servābat.

[viii] Many slaves led / used to lead / would lead a hard life │ Multī servī vītam dūram agēbant

[ix] “You used to have slaves at one time” │ “Ōlim servōs habēbātis”

[x] The masters were often cruel │ dominī saepe erant saevī

[4] passive forms

(1) imperfect passive

[i] They used to be held / would be held in chains │ in vinculīs tenēbantur

[ii] a few used to be killed │ Paucī necābantur

[iii] slaves used to be sent │servī mittēbantur

[iv] they would be ordered to fight │ pugnāre iubēbantur

[v] the slaves would be encouraged / urged on by the commanders │ servī ā ducibus incitābantur

(2) perfect passive

[i] one man was found │ ūnus vir … repertus est

[ii] slaves who were captured in war │ servī quī in bellō captī sunt

18.01.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [11]; the perfect active infinitive [iii]; practice (1)

If you want countless examples of any feature of Latin, Adler’s Practical Grammar of the Latin Language is the place to go! While some of his sentences can seem rather odd, he is extremely thorough in choosing, in this case, both different expressions by which an indirect statement may be introduced and a wide range of perfect active infinitives. Unlike many other works, which provide little more than a handful of examples, there are no half measures with Adler. He understands that, by seeing a feature frequently in context, it becomes easier to recognise.

Take a look at the whole exercise, then first  try the two exercises [A] and [B] which deal with it in two parts.

[1] It is evident ¦ that she has written that letter. │ __________ est ¦  __________ litterās illās  __________.

[2] Is it probable ¦ that he has sent us the book? │ Estne  __________ ¦  __________ nōbīs librum  __________?

[3] Do you confess ¦ that you were wrong? │  __________ne ¦  __________  __________?

[4] He denies ¦ that he was wrong [ = he says that he was not wrong] │  __________ ¦  __________  __________.

[5] I’m delighted ¦ that you have done it │  __________ ¦  __________ hoc  __________.

[6] It is said ¦ that he remained in the countryside │  __________ ¦  __________ rūrī  __________.

[7] I will (want to) say to him ¦ that you have finished the letter │  __________ eī  __________ ¦  __________ epistolam tuam  __________.

[8] Will you tell your father ¦ that I have been here? │  __________ patrī tuō  __________ ¦  __________  __________?

[9] Is it true ¦ that your uncle has arrived? │ Estne  __________ ¦  __________ tuum  __________?

[10] Did he know ¦ that you had arrived? │  __________ne ¦  __________  __________?

[11] It is understood ¦ that he arrived the day before yesterday. │  __________ ¦  __________ nūdius tertius  __________.

[12] I confess ¦ that I promised this. │  __________ ¦  __________ hoc  __________.

[13] He boasted ¦ that he not only had learnt all the exercises in this book, but ¦ that he himself had written the exercises in his own hand. │  __________¦  __________ nōn modo omnia pēnsa in hōc librō  __________, sed  __________et exercitia suā manū  __________.

[A] To complete the exercise, first match the English and Latin words and phrases which introduce the indirect statements:

[1] (It is) evident …│ __________ est …

[2] (Is it) probable …? │ Estne __________ …?

[3] Do you confess …? │ __________ne …?

[4] He denies … │ __________ …

[5] I am delighted … │ __________ …

[6] It is said …  │ __________ …

[7] I will (want to) say (to him) … │__________ eī _________ …

[8] Will you tell (your father) (do you want to say to…) … ?│__________ patrī tuō __________ …?

[9] (Is it) true …? │ Estne __________ …?

[10] Did he know …? │ __________ne …?

[11] It is understood …

[12] I confess … │ __________ …

[13] He boasted … │ __________ …

apertum; cōnfiteor; cōnfitēris; dēlector; dīcere … volō; dīcitur; glōriātus est; intelligitur; negat; scīvit; vērisimile; vērum; vīsne … dīcere

[B] Having completed [A] take a look at the second part, the indirect statement, and complete the Latin with the words listed below indicating [i] the subject and [ii] the verb.

[1] It is evident ¦ that she has written that letter. │ Apertum est ¦ __________ litterās illās __________.

[2] Is it probable ¦ that he has sent us the book? │ Estne vērisimile ¦ __________ nōbīs librum __________?

[3] Do you confess ¦ that you were wrong? │ Cōnfitērisne ¦ __________ __________?

[4] He denies ¦ that he was wrong │ Negat ¦ __________ __________.

[5] I am delighted ¦ that you have done it │ Dēlector ¦ __________ hoc __________.

[6] It is said ¦ that he remained in the countryside │ Dīcitur ¦ __________ rūrī __________.

[7] I will (want to) say to him ¦ that you have finished the letter │ Dīcere eī volō ¦ __________ epistolam tuam __________.

[8] Will you tell your father ¦ that I have been here? │ Vīsne patrī tuō dīcere ¦ __________ __________?

[9] Is it true ¦ that your uncle has arrived? │ Estne vērum ¦ __________  tuum __________?

[10] Did he know ¦ that you had arrived? │ Scīvitne ¦ __________ __________?

[11] It is understood ¦ that he arrived the day before yesterday. │ Intelligitur ¦ __________ nūdius tertius __________.

[12] I confess ¦ that I promised this. │ Cōnfiteor ¦ __________ hoc __________.

[13] He boasted …  │ Glōriātus est …

… that he not only had learnt all the exercises in this book, │ … __________ nōn modo omnia pēnsa in hōc librō __________ …

… but that he himself had written the exercises in his own hand. │… sed __________ et exercitia suā manū __________.

eam; eum; eum; eum; mē; mē; patruum; sē; sē; sēmetipsum*; tē; tē; tē; tē

*sēmetipsum (sēmet ipsum) < sēmetipse (sēmet ipse): he himself

adfuisse; advēnisse; advēnisse; advēnisse; conclūsisse; ēdidicisse; errāvisse; errāvisse; fēcisse; mānsisse; mīsisse; prōmīsisse; scrīpsisse; scrīpsisse

[1] Apertum est ¦ eam litterās illās scrīpsisse.

[2] Estne vērisimile ¦ eum nōbīs librum mīsisse?

[3] Cōnfitērisne ¦ tē errāvisse?

[4] Negat ¦ sē errāvisse.

[5] Dēlector ¦ tē hoc fēcisse.

[6] Dīcitur ¦ eum rūrī mānsisse.

[7] Dīcere eī volō ¦ tē epistolam tuam conclūsisse.

[8] Vīsne patrī tuō dīcere ¦ mē adfuisse?

[9] Estne vērum ¦ patruum tuum advēnisse?

[10] Scīvitne ¦ tē advēnisse?

[11] Intelligitur ¦ eum nūdius tertius advēnisse.

[12] Cōnfiteor ¦ mē hoc prōmīsisse.

[13] Glōriātus est ¦ sē nōn modo omnia pēnsa in hōc librō ēdidicisse, sed sēmetipsum et exercitia suā manū scrīpsisse.

18.01.26: Level 3; language review; Labours of Hercules [10] The oxen of Geryones

Gēryonēs gigās triplicī corpore in īnsulā Erythīā habitābat, multōs bovēs habēbat īdem, ā gigante Eurytiōne et ā cane bicipite custōdītōs. Herculēs hīs potīrī volēbat, itaque in Libyam et Hispāniam profectus est. Ibi ad utrumque latus maris columnās statuit: hīs igitur nōmen Herculeīs columnīs datum est. Calōre sōlis lacessītus in Helion tēla coniēcit: hic vērō audāciam mīrātus, eum aureā cymbā dōnāvit: itaque Erythīam pervenīre potuit. Interfectō Gēryonē cum Eurytiōne et cane, cum bōbus reversus est.

cymba, -ae [1/f]: boat

gigās, gigantis [3/m]: giant

īdem [m] / eadem [f] / idem [n]: the same (note the slight difference between the masculine and neuter)

https://www.theoi.com/Gigante/GiganteGeryon.html

Translate the phrases and explain the form and use of the words in bold:

[i] gigās triplicī corpore

[ii] multōs bovēs habēbat īdem … (1) ā cane bicipite (2) custōdītōs

[iii] (1) calōre sōlis (2) lacessītus

[iv] (1) hic verō audāciam (2) mīrātus …

[v] ad utrumque latus maris

____________________

[i] gigās triplicī corpore │ a giant with a threefold body; ablative of description

triplex, triplicis: threefold; triple

There are different accounts of Geryon’s appearance: one body and three heads (Hesiod), three bodies (Aeschylus)

[ii] multōs bovēs habēbat īdem … (1) ā cane bicipite (2) custōdītōs │ the same (giant) had many oxen, guarded by a dog with two heads; (1) ā cane: ablative of agent; (2) cūstōdītōs: acc. pl. of perfect passive participle (agreeing with bōvēs) < custōdiō, -īre, -iī, custōdītus [4]: guard

[iii] (1) calōre sōlis (2) lacessītus │ (having been) annoyed by the heat of the sun; (1) calōre: ablative of means / instrument; (2) lacessītus: perfect passive participle < lacessō, -ere, -īvī, lacessītus [3] (here): irritate; annoy; provoke; harass

[iv] (1) hic verō audāciam (2) mīrātus …│ the latter, wondering / having wondered at his boldness …

(1) hic: the latter; the preceding sentence refers both to Hercules and the Greek god Helios: in Helion tēla coniēcit │ he (i.e. Hercules) threw darts at Helios; hic is used to refer to the latter of the two (Helios); Hercules has been mentioned several times before, whereas the name Helios has only just been referred to

(2) mīrātus, -a, -um: perfect active participle < mīror, mīrārī, mīrātus sum [1/dep] i.e. ‘having wondered’; deponent verb: passive in form but active in meaning

[v] ad utrumque latus maris │ on each side of the sea; neuter ablative singular < uterque, utraque, utrumque: each (of two)

25.07.25: Level 3; pronominal adjectives [6](1); uterque: both; each (of two)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/04/250725-level-3-pronominal-adjectives-61.html

Geryones, a giant with a threefold body, used to live in the island of Erythia; the same had many oxen, guarded by the giant Eurytion and a dog with two heads. Hercules wished to get possession of these, so he set out for Libya and Spain. There he set up columns on each side of the sea; to these, therefore, was given the name of the Columns of Hercules. Annoyed by the heat of the sun he hurled darts at Helios; but the latter, wondering at his boldness, presented him with a golden boat; so he was able to get to Erythia. After Geryon had been killed, together with Eurytion and the dog, he returned with the oxen.

Heracles fighting Geryon, amphora ca. 540 BC, Louvre

Helios: from the temple of Athena in Ilion (Troy); between the first quarter of the 3rd century BC and 390 BC; Pergamon-Museum, Berlin

17.01.26: Comenius CV; Geometry; vocabulary [10] from the authors: Juvenal’s geometers – and other chancers …

We started with the geometrician, and so we’ll finish with him, and take a look at what Juvenal thought. Juvenal mocks the stereotypical jack-of-all-trades Greek immigrant, claiming to be an expert in every intellectual or mystical art — but is mostly a charlatan. There is an absurd variety of claimed talents – from the intellectual to cheap public entertainment – and the use of magus, the last in the list, can refer both to a magician, but also a trickster. Graeculus – a little Greek – is utterly pejorative.

quemvīs hominem sēcum attulit ad nōs: │ He’s brought with him any kind of man at all:

grammaticus, rhētor, geōmetrēs, pictor, alīptēs, │ a grammarian, rhetorician, geometer, painter, trainer,

augur, schoenobatēs, medicus, magus — omnia nōvit, │ soothsayer, rope-dancer, doctor, magician — he knows it all,

Graeculus ēsuriēns: in caelum iusseris, ībit. │ A starving little Greek: if you order him to heaven, he’ll go.

[i] augur, -is [3 m/f]: priest; augur; soothsayer (who can make predictions by interpreting the song and flight of birds:

ad prīmam vōcem timidās advertitis aurēs, / et vīsam prīmum cōnsulit augur avem (Ovid)

You turn timid ears to the first word spoken, / and the augur interprets the first bird seen.

[ii] magus, -ī [2/m]: magician, wizard, (derogatory) sorcerer, trickster, conjurer, charlatan

The image shows “The Conjurer” by Hieronymous Bosch (c. 1502). Take a close look to the left of the work, and you’ll see a second “sleight of hand” going on!

[iii]

grammaticus, -ī [2/m] a professional teacher who instructed older boys in the Latin and Greek languages and literature, focusing on interpreting classical poets and ensuring correct usage

rhētor, -is [3/m]: rhetor; rhetorician, a teacher of rhetoric i.e. public speaking

[iv] Note: while first declension nouns are indicated by -a, there are a few – and they’re rare – which are of Greek origin; they are effectively Latin transcriptions of Greek words, and three of them are in the lines from Juvenal:

alīptēs, -ae [1/f]: manager / trainer at a wrestling school < ἀλείπτης [aleíptēs]: trainer; masseur; oil anointer; also: alīpta, -ae [1/f]

geōmetrēs, -ae [1/m]: geometer, geometrician < γεωμέτρης [geōmétrēs]: geometrician; land surveyor

schoenobatēs, -ae [1/m]: rope-dancer, tightrope walker < σχοινοβάτης [schoinovátis]: tightrope walker, but there is also a pure Latin word: fūnambulus, -ī [2/m] and so I suspect that Juvenal dismissively uses a Greek variant since it’s what he heard from the mouths of the circus acts.

17.01.26: Comenius CV; Geometry; vocabulary [9] from the authors: Celsus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aulus_Cornelius_Celsus

When you read anything from Celsus you’re relieved that you never experienced a Roman surgeon …

Ergō ultrā calculum dextra semper manus eius sē oppōnit, sinistrae digitī deorsum eum conpellunt, dōnec ad cervīcem pervenītur: in quam, sī oblongus est, sīc compellendus est, ut prōnus exeat; sī plānus, sīc ut trānsversus sit; sī quadrātus, ut duōbus angulīs sedeat; sī alterā parte plēnior, sīc ut prius ea, quā tenuior sit, ēvādat. In rotundō nihil interesse ex ipsā figūra patet, nisi sī levior alterā parte est, ut ea antecēdat.

Therefore his right hand [the surgeon’s] is always kept above the stone whilst the fingers of the left press it downwards until it arrives at the neck of the bladder: and it must be pressed towards this so that if oblong, it comes out end on; if flat it lies crossways; if cubical, it rests on two of its angles; if any part is larger, the smaller part comes out first. In the case of a spherical [stone], it is clear that the shape makes no difference, except that if any part is the smoother this should be in front.

• dexter, dextra, -um: right
• sinister, sinistra, -um: left
• plānus, -a, -um: flat

16.01.26: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [23][i] text, vocabulary, notes

Carolus et Maria XXIII

Hodiē omnēs Americānī laetī sunt quod in Ītaliā sunt. Hīc mīles, amīcus patris, et poēta, amīcus magistrae, habitant. Hī duo virī Rōmae tēcta habent et paucōs diēs Americānī Rōmae manent. Tēctum mīlitis est magnum et ex māteriā factum. Tēctum multās rēs pulchrās habet.

Pater mīlitis multōs servōs habet. Pater nōn est dominus dūrus. Omnēs servī, igitur, eum laudant. Nūllus servus perfidus inter servōs est. Cum dominus imperat, omnēs statim pārent.

Antīquīs temporibus Rōmānī multōs servōs habēbant. Ita mīles nārrat. Multās rēs faciēbant. Labor eōrum nōn erat semper facilis. Lignum portābant; agrōs cūrābant; cēnās parābant; paucī servī erant magistrī puerōrum puellārumque. Aliī erant servī quī in bellō captī sunt. Sī servī erant perfidī, interdum diū in vinculīs tenēbantur. Servīs perfidiīs vincula nōn erant grāta. Paucī necābantur. Tum cēterī servī maestī et timidī erant. Facile nōn erat servum bonum esse, sī dominus malus dūrusque erat.

Interdum ā tēctō dominī servī mittēbantur. Saepe sē in fugam dabant. Tum sine auxiliō per tōtam terram errābant. Interdum cum bēstiīs ferīs pugnāre iubēbantur. Interdum servī ā ducibus incitābantur et posteā bellum erat. Animus servī bonī prō dominō suō pugnāre semper parātus erat. Sī dominus et servus in perīculō erant, servus nōn sē, sed dominum servābat. Multī servī vītam dūram agēbant ubi dominī erant saevī.

"Servōs in Americā nōn habēmus," inquit Maria.

"Ōlim servōs habēbātis," respondet mīles. "Servī vestrī erant Āfricānī et dominī saepe erant saevī."

"Ita, sed ūnus vir, dux magnus, repertus est. Is servīs nōn erat inimīcus," respondet Maria. "Bellum magnum, tamen, inter populōs terrae nostrae erat. Hodiē omnēs sunt amīcī. Incolae inter sē animō bonō sunt. Hoc bellum memoriā tenēre nōn cupiō."

Nocte Maria omnēs rēs quās hodiē vīdit et audīvit in epistulā scrīpsit. Eam ad magistram mīsit.

Vocabulary

[1]

From now on, verbs will be given with their four principal parts; if a verb is listed without a 4^th principal part, that is because it either does not have one or because that 4^th part would involve going into areas of the language which are not at Level 1, and unnecessary at this stage.

imperō, -are, -avī, -ātus [1]: command

pāreō, -ere, -uī [2]: obey

teneō, -ere, -uī, tentus [2]: hold

mittō, -ere, mīsī, missus [3]: send

reperiō, -īre, repperī, repertus [4]

[2]

fuga, -ae [1/f]: flight; fleeing; escape

memoria, -ae [1/f]: memory

dominus, -ī [2/m]: master

lignum, -ī [2/n]: wood

labor, labōris [3/m]: work

[3]

dūrus, -a, -um: hard; cruel

saevus, -a, -um: cruel

paucī, -ae, -a (plural): a few; not many

vester, -ra, -rum: you (pl.)

[4]

igitur: therefore

statim: immediately

15.01.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [10]; the perfect active infinitive [ii]; reading

Excerpt from Bacchides (Plautus)

CHRYSALUS

Occisi sumus. Qui in mentem venit tibi istuc facinus facere tam malum? │ We’re finished! What came into your head to do this thing, such an awful thing?

MNESILOCHUS

Bacchidem atque hunc suspicabar propter crimen, Chrysale, mi male consuluisse: ob eam ream omne aurum iratus reddidi meo patri. │ On account of an accusation, Chrysalus, I suspected ¦ that Bacchides and this man had plotted against me: because of that I angrily handed all the money over to my father.

CHRYSALUS

Quid, ubi reddebas aurum, dixisti patri? │ What did you say to your father when you were returning the money?

MNESILOCHUS

Me id aurum accepisse extemplo ab hospite Archidemide. │ [I said implied] That I had received the money on demand from his friend Archidemides.

15.01.26: Level 3; language review; Labours of Hercules [9] The girdle of Hippolyte

Hippolyte, Amāzonum rēgīna, zōnam pulcherrimam habēbat. Hāc autem potīrī volēbat, Admēte, Eurysthēī fīlia: itaque Herculēs eam asportāre iussus est. Tandem ad Amāzonum terram pervēnit. Ibi prīmum benignē excēpit Hippolyte, zōnamque prōmīsit, sed coortā rixā, contrā Herculem Amāzonēs manūs cōnseruērunt. Hīs victīs et occīsā Hippolyte Herculēs zōnā potītus est.

asportō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: carry away

cōnserō, -ere, cōnseruī, cōnsertus [3]: bind together, fasten

[1] Translate the phrases and explain the form and use of the words in bold:

[i] Hāc autem potīrī volēbat, Admēte, Eurysthēī fīlia

[ii] (1) coortā rixā (2) occīsā Hippolyte

[2] Give the first person singular, present tense of the verbs from the text:

(1) excēpit; (2) prōmīsit

[3] Find from the text an example of:

Enclitic conjunction

Fourth declension noun

Infinitive of a deponent verb

Superlative adjective

____________________

[1]

[i] Hāc autem potīrī volēbat, Admēte, Eurysthēī fīlia │ Now Admete, the daughter of Euiystheuft, wished to get possession of this;  hāc: abl. sg. fem. (referring to zōna in the previous sentence); potior, -īrī, potītus sum [4/dep]: take possession (of) is regularly followed by the ablative case 

[ii] (1) coortā rixā │ a quarrel having arisen; (2) occīsā Hippolyte │ after Hipployte had been slain

Both phrases are ablative absolutes; coorior, -īri, coortus sum [4/dep]: arise; occīdō, -ere, occīdī, occīsus [3]: kill; slay

[2] Give the first person singular, present tense of the verbs from the text:

(1) excēpit │ excipiō; (2) prōmīsit │ prōmittō

[3] Find from the text an example of:

Enclitic conjunction │ -que (zōnamque)

Fourth declension noun │ manūs

Infinitive of a deponent verb │ potīrī

Superlative adjective │ pulcherrimam

Hippolyte, queen of the Amazons, had a very beautiful girdle. Now Admete, the daughter of Euiystheuft, wished to get possession of this; so Hercules was ordered to fetch it. At length he reached the country of the Amazons. There at first Hippolyte received him kindly, and promised (him) the girdle, but a quarrel having arisen, the Amazons fought against Hercules. These having been conquered and Hippolyte slain, Hercules got possession of the girdle.

Hercules and the Girdle of Hippolyta. Statue at the Royal Palace Hofburg in Vienna, Austria

14.01.26: Comenius CV; Geometry; vocabulary [8] Weights and measures (2)

Unless you want to delve deeper into the topic, the Roman terms for units of measurement are extensive and many are infrequent. The link below lists them:

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Category:la:Units_of_measure

iūgerum, -ī [2/n]: Roman unit of area = approximately 2/3 of an acre

lībra, -ae [1/f]: Roman pound = approx. 327g; the pound sterling sign £ is a modification of the Latin L with a line through it

passus, -ūs [4/m]: Roman unit of length = 5 Roman feet; mille passūs = Roman mile (5,000 pēdēs: 5,000 feet)

ū̆ncia, -ae [1/f]: [i] ounce; [ii] inch

cubitus, -ī [2/m] or cubitum, -ī [2/n]: [i] elbow; [ii] a cubit; “the distance from the elbow to the end of the middle finger” (Lewis & Short)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubit

ibi tū videās litterātās fictilēs epistulās … nōmina īnsunt cubitum longīs litterīs (Plautus) │ There may you see epistles written in letters inscribed on pottery … the names are upon them in letters a cubit long;

The measurement frequently appears in the Vulgate:

[i] Et sīc faciēs eam: trecentōrum cubitōrum erit longitūdō arcae, quīnquāgintā cubitōrum lātitūdō, et trīgintā cubitōrum altitūdō illīus. Fenestram in arcā faciēs, et in cubitō cōnsummābis summitātem eius:

And you shall make it in this way: the length of the ark will be three hundred cubits, the width fifty, and its height thirty cubits. You shalt make a window in the ark, and in a cubit you shall finish the top of it:

From Britten’s Noye’s Fludde:

Three hundred cubits it shall be long

And fifty broad to make it strong

Of height fifty, thus measure it about

One window work through my wit

A cubit of length and breadth make it

[ii] Fēcit autem Beseleel et arcam dē lignīs setim, habentem duōs sēmis cubitōs in longitūdine, et cubitum ac sēmissem in lātitūdine, altitūdō quoque ūnīus cubitī fuit et dīmidiī: vestīvitque eam aurō pūrissimō intus ac foris. │ And Beseleel made also the ark of setim wood: it was two cubits and a half in length, and a cubit and a half in breadth, and the height was of one cubit and a half: and he overlaid it with the purest gold within and without. 

14.01.26: Comenius CV; Geometry; vocabulary [7] Weights and measures (1)

(1) quis mēnsus est pugillō aquās (2) et caelōs palmō ponderāvit (3) quis adpendit tribus digitīs mōlem terrae (4) et lībrāvit in pondere montēs (5) et collēs in statērā? (Vulgate)

(1) Who has measured the waters in a handful, (2) and weighed the heavens with a palm / in the palm of the hand. (3) Who has weighed the mass of the earth with three fingers (4) and balanced the mountains with a weight, (5) and the hills with a scale?"

with or without prefix: (ad)pendō / (ap)¦pendō, -pendere, -pendī, -pēnsus [3]: [i] weigh; [ii] consider > pēnsum, -ī [2/n]: several meanings including ‘task’, ‘assignment’; used now to refer to ‘homework’ for a school

lībrō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: balance; lībra, -ae [1/f]: [i] Roman pound [ii] scales, used to balance two weights to measure amounts, hence the astrological symbol Libra

mōlēs, -is [3/f]: mass (of material)

ponderō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: weigh; Engl. deriv. ponder

pondus, ponderis [3/n]: weight

statēra, -ae [1/f]: scales, balance

13.01.26: Level 1; 3rd declension adjectives [iv] examples of 3rd declension adjectives of one termination

one termination: many (but not all) end in -x or -ns and undergo stem changes,

Note:

English derivatives – which may have come from Latin words related to the original word – retain the genitive singular ending.

Derivatives tend to be very specific, whereas the Latin words may have several meanings or the original sense has changed over time.

[1]

(īn)fēlīx, (īn)fēlīcis: (un)happy; (un)fortunate > Engl. deriv. felicity; felicitous

atrōx, -cis: fierce; violent; cruel > Engl. deriv. atrocious

ferōx, -cis: wild; bold; fierce > Engl. deriv. ferocious

vēlōx, -cis: swift; rapid > Engl. deriv. velocity

This change from -x > -c- in the stem applies to all the adjectives of this type e.g. (in)fēlīx, (in)fēlīcis: (un)happy, but note an important exception: senex, senis: old; elderly

25.04.24: 3rd declension adjectives [11]: one termination; suffix -āx

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/05/250424-3rd-declension-adjectives-11-one.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/430890469522227/

The suffix -āx is used to form one termination adjectives which describe a tendency towards performing the action of the root verb.

audeō, -ēre [2]: dare > audāx, audācis: bold; daring; (negative) reckless > Engl. deriv. audacious

bibō, -ere [2]: drink > bibāx, -cis: addicted to / fond of drink > Engl. deriv. bibacious

capiō, -ere [3-iō]: hold; contain > capāx, capācis: spacious; capable of > Engl. deriv. capacious

edō, -ere [3]: eat > edāx, edācis: greedy  > Engl. deriv. edacious

efficiō, -ere [3-iō]: accomplish; complete > efficāx, -cis: efficient; effective > Engl. deriv. efficacious

fallō, -ere [3]: deceive > fallāx, -cis: deceitful; fallacious

sāgiō, -īre [4]: perceive quickly > sagāx, -cis: of quick perception; shrewd; sagacious

noun: fūr, -is [3 m/f]:thief > fūrāx, -cis: thieving; inclined to steal

[2] the nominative singular ending is -āns / -ēns, but in all other forms with a stem change, the vowel is shortened to -ant(is) / -ent(is)

The English derivatives all reflect the original genitive singular ending i.e. -ant(is) / -ent(is)

adulēscēns, adulescen¦tis: young; youthful > Engl. deriv. adolescent

cōnstāns, cōnstantis: unchanging > Engl. deriv. constant

frequēns, -entis: [i] crowded [ii] frequent

impatiēns, -entis: impatient

patiēns, -entis: [i] suffering; enduring [ii] patient

(im)potēns, -entis: being (un)able to; powerful (powerless); (im)potent

recēns, -entis: new; recent

vehemēns, -entis: very eager; vehement

violēns, -entis: violent

Notes:

[i] Good examples of the derivative losing the original sense of the Latin word or reflecting a single specific meaning:

īnfāns, -antis: [i] speechless [ii] newborn [iii] childish > Engl. deriv. infant

innocēns, -entis: harmless; inoffensive > Engl. deriv. innocent

[ii] A feature of the English language is the co-existence of words both from a Latin and Germanic origin which either have the same meaning or the Latin refers to something more specific:

vigilāns, -antis: vigilant, but also: watch¦ful < Old English wæċċe + suffix -ful

adulēscēns, -entis: young; youthful > Engl. deriv. adolescent i.e. a specific stage between a child and adult, but also: youth¦ful < Old English ġeoguþ + suffix -ful, a more general term that can apply to any age

[3] As mentioned above, not all adjectives of this type end in -x or -ns:

caelebs, caelibis: unmarried > Engl. deriv. celibate

vetus, veteris: old > Engl. deriv. veteran

dīves, dīvitis: rich

impār, imparis: unequal

iuvenis, -is: young; youthful

pauper, -is (no stem change): poor