24.01.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [13]; the perfect passive infinitive [i]

Indirect statement very frequently involves the perfect passive e.g. reporting that somebody has been killed or that a city has been captured.

The same principle applies: we need an infinitive to convey this idea but all we do is take the fourth principal part of the verb, the perfect passive participle:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/10/130125-level-2-passive-voice-20-perfect.html

amō, amāre, amāvī, amātus

amātus, -a, -um: perfect passive participle │ having been loved

to this we add esse: amātus, -a, -um esse │ to have been loved

The ‘formula’ for creating the indirect statement remains the same i.e. [1] the subject of the indirect statement is in the accusative case [2] the verb becomes a perfect passive infinitive agreeing with the noun in the accusative case:

[1] Urbs dēlēta est │ The city was / has been destroyed.

> Cōnsul dīcit ¦ [i] urbem [ii] dēlētam esse.

[literally: the consul says [i] the city [ii] to have been destroyed.

> The consul says ¦ that [i] the city [ii] was / has been destroyed.

[2] Omnēs nāvēs tempestāte dēlētae sunt. │ All the ships have been destroyed by the storm.

> Nautae  audīvērunt  ¦ [i] omnēs  nāvēs [accusative plural feminine]  tempestāte  [ii] dēlētās [accusative plural feminine]  esse.

> The sailors heard ¦ that [i] all the ships [ii] had been destroyed by the storm.

[3] Epistula optimē scrīpta est. │ The letter was / has been very well written.

Quid dīcit pater tuus dē illā epistulā? │ What does your father say about that letter?

> Ait [i] eam optimē [ii] scrīptam esse.

> He says ¦ that [i] it [ii] was / has been very well written.

[4] Liber tuus surreptus est. │ Your book was / has been stolen.

> Scīsne [i] librum tuum [ii] surreptum esse?

> Do you know ¦ that [i] your book [ii] has been stolen?

[5] Capti sunt. │ They have been captured.

> Putāmus [i] eōs [ii] captōs esse.

> We think ¦ that [i] they [ii] have been captured.

[6] Hostēs superātī sunt. │ The enemy have been overcome.

> Dīcit [i] hostēs [ii] superātōs esse.

> He says ¦ [i] the enemy [ii] have been overcome.

[7] Note, as always, that the English translation may use different tenses in the indirect statement depending upon the tense of the verb used to introduce it:

Dīcit [i] librum [ii] missum esse. │ He says ¦ that [i] the book [ii] has been sent.

Dīxit [i] librum [ii] missum esse. │ He said ¦ that [i] the book [ii] had been sent.

Crēdit [i] filiās [ii] amātās esse ā patre. │ He believes ¦ that [i] the daughters [ii] were loved by their father.

Crēdidit [i] filiās [ii] amātās esse ā patre. │ He believed ¦ that [i] the daughters [ii] had been loved by their father.

Here is a tremendous example from the work of Adler:

Cum maiōre meā calamitāte ego nunc [ii] patruum meum, virum optimum ā mē tantopere amātum, apoplēxiā [iii] correptum esse [i] cognōscō.

And to my still greater ill-luck [i] I hear ¦ that [ii] my uncle, a very good man, whom I love so much, [iii] has been struck with apoplexy.

To avoid being struck by apoplexy, it’s a good plan to deal with indirect statements slowly!

Examples:

[1] [i] Tē ex conchā [ii] nātam esse autumant* (Plautus) │ they state ¦ that [i] you [ii] were born from a shell

*autumō

[2] Ipsus* illī dīxit ¦ [ii] conductam esse [i] eam (Plautus) │ he himself told her ¦ that [i] she [ii] had been hired

* = ipse

[3] [i] Omnīs rēs [ii] gestās esse Athēnīs autumant (Plautus) │ they say ¦ that [i] all these things [ii] were done in Athens

[4] Ex hominum mīlibus LX vix ad D … [i] sēsē [ii] redāctōs esse ¦ dīxērunt (Caesar) │ they said ¦ that from 60,000 men [i] they [ii] had been reduced to scarcely 500 (Caesar)

If you did anything wrong in Ancient Rome, you would have hoped that Cicero wasn’t prosecuting you …

[5] Et audēs, Sex. Naevī, negāre ¦ absentem [ii] dēfēnsum esse [i] Quīnctium? (Cicero) │ And do you, Sextus Naevius, dare to deny that [i] Quinctius [ii] was defended in his absence?

[6] illud dīcō, [i] dominum [ii] expulsum esse dē praediō, dominō ā familiā suā [i] manūs [ii] adlātās esse ante suōs Larēs familiārīs (Cicero) │ I say this, ¦ that [i] the owner [ii] was expelled from his farm; [i] that hands [ii] were laid on their master by his own slaves, before his own household gods

[7] [i] īnsidiās [i] factās esse cōnstat (Cicero) │ It is agreed (cōnstat) ¦ that [i] an ambush (pl. in Latin) [ii] was made

[8] Note the use of two different infinitives in indirect statements:

Ego ad forum illum conveniam atque illī hunc ānulum dabō, atque praedicābō ā tuā uxōre mihi [1] datum esse ¦ [2] eamque illum dēperīre. (Plautus)

I'll meet him at the Forum, and give him this ring, and will tell him ¦ that it [1] has been delivered to me from your wife, and ¦ that [2] she is dying for him.

24.01.26: Level 3; language review; Labours of Hercules [12] Cerberus

Hīs labōribus perāctīs, opus difficillimum Herculī imperātur. Erat in Tartarīs cānis triceps, nōmine Cerberus. Hic aditum in Tartara cūstōdiēbat. Hunc in terram ferre iussus est. In Tartara profectus est cum Hermā et Athēnā. Tum summō labōre Cerberum manibus captum in terram sēcum portāvit. Hīs labōribus fūnctus Herculēs servitūte ab Eurystheō līberātus est.

Tartarus, -ī [2/n]: Tartarus; hell (part of the underworld); (here in the plural) infernal regions

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

[i] opus difficillimum

[ii] In Tartara profectus est

[iii] summō labōre

[iv] Cerberum … sēcum portāvit

[v] Herculēs servitūte … līberātus est

____________________

[i] opus difficillimum │ a very difficult work; superlative adjective (neuter singular) < difficilis, -e

[ii] In Tartara profectus est │ he set out for the infernal regions; perfect tense < proficīscor, -ī, profectus sum [3/dep]

[iii] summō labōre │ with the greatest difficulty; ablative of manner

21.05.25: Level 3; summary of of the uses of the ablative case [6]: [i] the ablative of accompaniment; [ii] the ablative of manner

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/210525-level-3-summary-of-of-uses-of_37.html

[iv] Cerberum … sēcum portāvit │ he carried Cerberus with him; sēcum: ablative of reflexive pronoun sē (him/her/itself; themselves) + cum; the pronoun refers back to the subject i.e. literally: with himself

[iv] Hīs labōribus fūnctus │ literally: with these labours having been performed; ablative absolute with perfect active participle of fungor, -ī, fūnctus sum [3/dep]: perform; the verb is regularly followed by the ablative case

[v] Herculēs servitūte … līberātus est │ Hercules was freed from slavery; ablative of separation

17.06.25: Level 3; summary of of the uses of the ablative case [15]: the ablative of separation

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

Having finished these labours, a very difficult work is appointed for Hercules. There was in the infernal regions a dog with three heads, Cerberus by name. He used to guard the approach to the infernal regions. He was ordered to bring him to earth. He set out for the infernal regions with Hermes and Athene. Then, with the greatest effort, Cerberus, (who had been) seized with his hands, he carried back to the earth with him. Having performed these labours, Hercules was freed from slavery by Eurystheus.

Engraving by Sebald Beham, 1540

23.01.26: Comenius CVI; the Celestial Sphere [1]; text

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/How_many_stars_are_there_in_the_Universe

According to the European Space Agency: “… there are something like 10¹¹ to 10¹² stars in our galaxy, and there are perhaps something like 10¹¹ or 10¹² galaxies.” Therefore, in my completely non-mathematical mind, those equations = a lot! Apart from the vocabulary that this text provides, it’s interesting to go back to 1658 to find out how many stars they thought there were. The text also contains my favourite phrase in Latin: stēllae errantēs │ ‘wandering stars’ i.e. planets.

And, if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, you can look up on a clear night and see what Comenius, and Galileo, and the Romans, and the Egyptians saw.

Below is the entire text (which is lengthy). Vocabulary and notes will be given in a series of posts afterwards. Following this, there will be more advanced (Level 3) texts from different authors who use the vocabulary discussed.

The Celestial Sphere │ Sphera cælestis

[1] Astronomy considereth the motion of the stars, astrology the effects of them. │ Astronomia cōnsīderat mōtūs astrōrum, astrologia eōrum effectūs.

[2] The globe of heaven is turned about upon an axle-tree, about the globe of the earth, in the space of XXIV hours. │ Globus cælī volvitur super axem, circā globum terræ, spaciō XXIV hōrārum.

[3] The Pole-stars, or Pole, the Arctick, the Antarctick, conclude the axle-tree at both ends. │ Stēllæ polārēs, Arcticus, Antarcticus, fīniunt Axem utrinque.

[4] The Heaven is full of stars every where. │ Cælum est stēllātum undique.

[5] There are reckoned above a thousand fixed stars; but of constellations towards the North: XXI, towards the South: XVI │ Stēllārum fīxārum numerantur plūs mīlle; sīderum vērō Septentriōnārium: XXI, Merīdiōnālium: XVI.

[6] Add (to these) the XII signs of the Zodiaque, every one XXX degrees … │ Adde Signa XII Zōdiacī, quodlibet graduum XXX …… whose names are … │ … quōrum nōmina sunt …

♈ Aries, ♉ Taurus, ♊ Gemini,  ♋ Cancer, ♌ Leo, ♍ Virgo, ♎ Libra, ♏ Scorpius (Scorpio), ♐ Sagittarius, ♑ Capricorn(us), ♒ Aquarius, ♓ Pisces.

[7] Under this move the seven wandring-stars which they call planets, whose way is a circle in the middle of the Zodiack, called the ecliptick │ Sub hōc cursitant stēllæ errantēs VII quās vocant planētās, quōrum via est circulus, in mediō zōdiacī, dictus eclīptica.

[8] Other Circles are the Horizon, │ Aliī Circulī sunt Horīzōn

the Meridian, │ Meridiānus (see previous post)

the Æquator, │ Æquātor,

the two Colures, │ duo Colūrī,

the one of the Equinocts, │ alter Æquinoxiōrum,

(of the Spring │ (Vernī,
when the ☉ entreth into ♈; │ quando ☉ ingreditur ♈;
Autumnal │ Autumnālis,
when it entreth in ♎) │ quando ingreditur ♎)

the other of the Solstices, │ alter Solsticiōrum (solstitiōrum)
(of the Summer, │ (Æstīvī,
when the ☉ entreth into ♋ │quando ☉ ingreditur ♋
of the Winter │ Hybernī (hībernī),
when it entreth into ♑) │ quando ingreditur ♑)

the Tropicks, │ duo Tropicī
the Tropick of Cancer, │ Tr. Cancrī,
the Tropick of Capricorn, │ Tr. Capricornī,
and the two │ & duo
Polar Circles, │ Polārēs

22.01.26: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [23][iv] Comprehension (2)

[3] 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.

[3] Comprehension

In what order are the following referred to?

always ready to fight _____

fleeing (escaping) ____

leading a hard life ____

ordered to fight with wild beasts ____

saving the master and not himself ____

slaves sent from the house ____

urged on by leaders ____

wandering through the country ____

[4] "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."

[4] (Bear in mind that this text was published in the United States in 1933)

[i] [a] What does Maria say about slavery in the US, and [b] how does the soldier respond? (4)

[ii] Ita, sed ūnus vir, dux magnus, repertus est. Is servīs nōn erat inimīcus.

Who do you think Maria is referring to?

[iii] Bellum magnum, tamen, inter populōs terrae nostrae erat.

What war is she talking about?

____________________

[1]

[i] they are in Italy

[ii] (1) a soldier, (2) father’s friend, (3) a poet, (4) a friend of the teacher

[iii] a few days

[iv] (1) large, (2) made of wood, (3) many beautiful things

[v] (1) praise him; (2) not cruel

[vi] (1) no servant is treacherous; (2) when the master gives an order (3) they all immediately obey

[3]

always ready to fight (6) │ pugnāre semper parātus erat

fleeing / escaping (2) │ sē in fugam dabant

leading a hard life (8) │ vītam dūram agēbant

ordered to fight with wild beasts (4) │ cum bēstiīs ferīs pugnāre iubēbantur

saving the master and not himself (7) │ nōn sē, sed dominum servābat

slaves sent from the house (1) │ ā tēctō … servī mittēbantur

urged on by leaders (5) │ ā ducibus incitābantur

wandering through the country (3) │ per tōtam terram errābant

[4]

[i] [a] no slaves in US now [b] used to have slaves; Africans; masters often cruel

[ii] Abraham Lincoln

[iii] American Civil War

22.01.26: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [23][iv] Comprehension (1)

[1] 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.

[1] Comprehension

[i] Why are the Americans happy? (1)

[ii] Who lives in Rome? (4)

[iii] How long do the Americans stay there? (1)

[iv] Give three pieces of information about the house. (3)

[v] What do the servants think of the soldier’s father and why? (2)

[vi] What information is given about the servants? (3)

[2] Complete the Latin text with the words listed below. Use the English translation as a guide

"In ancient (1) times, the Romans (2) had many slaves. So the soldier (3) tells it. (4) They did many things. (5) Their work (6) was not always (7) easy. (8) They carried wood; (9) they took care of the fields; (10) they prepared meals; (11) a few slaves were teachers (12) of boys and (13) girls. (14) Others were slaves (15) who (16) were captured in war. (17) If slaves were treacherous, sometimes (18) they were held in chains for a long time. Chains (19) were not pleasing to treacherous slaves. A few (20) were killed. Then (21) the rest of the slaves were sad and afraid. It was not (22) easy (23) to be a good slave if the master was cruel (24) and harsh."

Antīquīs (1) __________ Rōmānī multōs servōs (2) __________. Ita mīles (3) __________. Multās rēs (4) __________. Labor (5) __________ nōn (6) __________ semper (7) __________. Lignum (8) __________; agrōs (9) __________; cēnās (10) __________; (11) __________ servī erant magistrī (12) __________ (13) __________que. (14) __________ erant servī (15) __________ in bellō (16) __________. (17) __________ servī erant perfidī, interdum diū in vinculīs (18) __________. Servīs perfidiīs vincula nōn (19) __________ grāta. Paucī (20) __________. Tum (21) __________ servī maestī et timidī erant. (22) __________ nōn erat servum bonum (23) __________, sī dominus malus (24) dūrus__________ erat.

captī sunt; cūrābant; erant; erat; esse; faciēbant; habēbant; nārrat; necābantur; parābant; portābant; tenēbantur

puellārum; puerōrum; temporibus; facilis; facile; aliī; cēterī; paucī; eōrum; -que; quī; sī

21.01.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [12]; the perfect active infinitive [iv]; practice (2)

Complete the Latin with (1) the introductory verb and (2) the perfect active infinitive

[1]

[i] Flavia (1) says that the boys (2) fought. │ Flāvia (1) __________ puerōs (2) __________.

[ii] I announce that he showed the sign to the barbarian. │ __________ eum barbarō signum __________.

[iii] Livia announces that he sent the sister to Egypt. │ Līvia __________ eum sorōrem ad Aegyptum __________.

[iv] She believes that I hurried into this forest. │ Illa __________ mē in hanc silvam __________.

[v] The boys announce that they went into the prison. │ Puerī __________ sē in carcerem __________.

[vi] They know that the farmers cried. │ Illī __________ agricolās __________.

[vii] Venus knows that Livia raged. │ Venus __________ Līviam __________.

[viii] Venus thinks that he has hidden the gold. │ Venus __________ eum aurum __________.

[ix] We say that Hercules laughed. │ __________ Herculem __________.

[x] You (pl.) announce that the slave worked hard. │ __________ servum diligenter __________.

[xi] You know that Cornelia helped the student. │ __________ Cornēliam discipulam __________.

[xii] You think that I told a joke to him/her. │ __________ mē iocum eī __________.

(1) crēdit; dīcimus; dīcit; nūntiant; nūntiat; nūntiātis; nūntiō; putās; putat; scīs; scit; sciunt

(2) cēlāvisse; festīnāvisse; furuisse; iūvisse; īvisse; labōrāvisse; lacrimāvisse; mīsisse; mōnstrāvisse; nārrāvisse; pugnāvisse; rīsisse

[1]

[i] Flāvia dīcit puerōs pugnāvisse.

[ii] Nūntiō eum barbarō signum mōnstrāvisse.

[iii] Līvia nūntiat eum sorōrem ad Aegyptum mīsisse.

[iv] Illa crēdit mē in hanc silvam festīnāvisse.

[v] Puerī nūntiant sē in carcerem īvisse.

[vi] Illī sciunt agricolās lacrimāvisse.

[vii] Venus scit Līviam furuisse.

[viii] Venus putat eum aurum cēlāvisse.

[ix] Dīcimus Herculem rīsisse.

[x] Nūntiātis servum diligenter labōrāvisse.

[xi] Scīs Cornēliam discipulam iūvisse.

[xii] Putās mē iocum eī nārrāvisse.

[2]

[i] Did you believe that he had written this letter? │ Crēdēbās eum hanc epistulam scrīpsisse?

[ii] He announced that he had fled. │ Ille nūntiāvit sē fūgisse.

[iii] He didn’t know that you had seen the slave. │ Ille nesciēbat tē servum vīdisse.

[iv] Horatia said that she had despaired. │ Horātia dīxit sē dēspērāvisse.

[v] I announced that the girl had slept. │ Nūntiāvī puellam dormīvisse.

[vi] I believed that he had led the woman to Italy. │ Crēdidī eum mulierem ad Italiam dūxisse.

[vii] Iulia knew that the daughter had defended her. │ Iūlia sciēbat fīliam eam dēfendisse.

[viii] Leda was saying that she had suffered. │ Lēda dīcēbat sē doluisse.

[ix] Minerva was announcing that she had hindered the good girl. │ Minerva nūntiābat sē puellam bonam impedīvisse.

[x] We announced that you had sailed to Greece. │ Nūntiāvimus tē ad Graeciam nāvigāvisse.

[xi] You (pl.) were thinking that the messengers had killed the pirate. │ Putābātis nūntiōs pīrātam interfēcisse.

[xii] You thought that Aurelia had given the spear to Antonia. │ Putāvistī Aurēliam hastam Antōniae dedisse.

(1) crēdēbās; crēdidī; dīcēbat; dīxit; nesciēbat; nūntiābat; nūntiāvī; nūntiāvimus; nūntiāvit; putābātis; putāvistī; sciēbat

(2) dedisse; dēfendisse; dēspērāvisse; doluisse; dormīvisse; dūxisse; fūgisse; impedīvisse; interfēcisse; nāvigāvisse; scrīpsisse; vīdisse

[2]

[i] Crēdēbās eum hanc epistulam scrīpsisse?

[ii] Ille nūntiāvit sē fūgisse.

[iii] Ille nesciēbat tē servum vīdisse.

[iv] Horātia dīxit sē dēspērāvisse.

[v] Nūntiāvī puellam dormīvisse.

[vi] Crēdidī eum mulierem ad Italiam dūxisse.

[vii] Iūlia sciēbat fīliam eam dēfendisse.

[viii] Lēda dīcēbat sē doluisse.

[ix] Minerva nūntiābat sē puellam bonam impedīvisse.

[x] Nūntiāvimus tē ad Graeciam nāvigāvisse.

[xi] Putābātis nūntiōs pīrātam interfēcisse.

[xii] Putāvistī Aurēliam hastam Antōniae dedisse.

21.01.26: Level 3; language review; Labours of Hercules [11] The apples of the Hesperides

Mox opus difficilius Herculī imperātum est; mala scīlicet Hesperidum iussus est asportāre, nōn enim locum sciēbat. In monte autem Atlante habitābant Hesperidēs. Ibi cum serpente ingentī māla aurea cūstōdiēbant. Locum tandem nactus Herculēs, Atlantī dīxit: "Vīsne mihi māla aurea auferre? Hoc tē faciente caelum humerīs impositum tuī vice sustinēbō." Cum malīs reversus Atlās Herculī dīxit: "Nunc tibi licet caelum humerīs semper sustinēre, ipse autem abībō." Tum Herculēs per dolum onere humerīs Atlantis iterum impositō, cum mālīs recessit.

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

[i] opus difficilius

[ii] locum tandem nactus

[iii] hoc tē faciente

[iv] caelum … tuī vice sustinēbō

[v] cum malīs reversus

[vi] tibi licet caelum humerīs semper sustinēre

[vii] ipse autem abībō

____________________

[i] opus difficilius │ a more difficult work; comparative adjective (neuter singular) < difficilis, -e

[ii] locum tandem nactus │ having at last found the place; perfect active participle < nancīscor, -ī, nactus sum [3/dep]: to meet with, stumble on, encounter, acquire, find

[iii] hoc tē faciente │ while you are doing this; ablative absolute with a present active participle: faciēns, -entis

[iv] caelum … tuī vice sustinēbō │ I will support the sky … in your place [lit: in place / instead of you]; vice [+ genitive]: in place (of); tuī: genitive of tū

[v] cum malīs reversus │ having returned with the apples; perfect active participle < revertor, -ī, reversus sum [3/dep]: return

[vi] tibi licet caelum humerīs semper sustinēre │ you may always support the sky on your shoulders; licet: impersonal verb + dative [literally: it is allowed to you = you may]

[vii] ipse autem abībō │ but I myself will go away; emphatic pronoun ipse, -a, -um (myself, yourself, him/her/itself)

Soon a more difficult work was appointed for Hercules; that is to say, he was ordered to fetch the apples of the Hesperides, for he did not know the place. Now the Hesperides used to live on Mount Atlas. There, with a huge serpent, they used to guard the golden apples. Having at last found the place, Hercules said to Atlas, ‘Are you willing to carry off the golden apples for me? While you are doing this, I will support the sky placed on my shoulders in your stead.’ Atlas, having returned with the apples, said to Hercules: ‘Now you may always support the sky on your shoulders, but I myself will go away.’ Then Hercules, having again placed the burden on Atlas’ shoulders by a trick, retired with the apples.

The golden apples of the Hesperides by Edward Burne-Jones, 1869-73 (detail)

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.