Monday, November 24, 2025

11.02.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [22]; future passive infinitive: practice

Complete the Latin with the appropriate form of the future passive infinitive listed below.

[i] He said that he would be hindered by you. │ Ille dīxit sē ā tē __________.

[ii] Remember that you've undertaken that … all the money will be returned to me│ Mementō prōmīsisse tē … mihi omne argentum __________ (Plautus)

[iii] After he had heard that a wife would not be given to his son │ Quī postquam audierat nōn __________ fīliō uxōrem suō (Terence)

[iv] So long as he thinks it will be known, he is on his guard │ Dum id __________ crēdit tantisper cavet (Terence)

[v] What did you imagine that … she would be brought home to your chamber? │ Quid? crēdēbās … illam … in cubiculum __________ domum? (Terence)

[vi] [that he hoped] … that truly no harm would come to him [= he would not be harmed] │ [spērāre] ...  ipsī vērō nihil __________ (Caesar)

[vii] He could see that Sopater would be acquitted __________ Sōpatrum vidēbat (Cicero)

[viii] They understood that the matter would appear [ = would be seen] (as) … more unfair. │ …  rem … inīquiōrem __________ intellegēbant. (Cicero)

[ix] If, therefore, this money has not been spent as yet, ¦ and if it is evident that it will not be spent, … │ ita sī neque adhūc cōnsūmpta est ista pecūnia ¦ et est perspicuum nōn __________, … (Cicero)

[x] And he adds this assertion, that he will be condemned by the vote … │ Atque hoc addit testimōnī, suā illum sententiā … __________ (Cicero)

absolūtum īrī; condemnātum īrī; cōnsūmptum īrī; datum īrī; impedītum īrī; īrī dēductum; nocitum īrī; redditum īrī; rescītum īrī; vīsum īrī

____________________

[i] impedītum īrī

[ii] redditum īrī

[iii] datum īrī

[iv] rescītum īrī

[v] īrī dēductum

[vi] nocitum īrī

[vii] absolūtum īrī

[viii] vīsum īrī

[ix] cōnsūmptum īrī

[x] condemnātum īrī

11.02.26: Level 3; the Pater Noster of Juvencus [3]; notes on Latin poetry [2] long and short syllables

[2] Identifying long and short vowels

A syllable is defined as long or short dependent upon the length of the vowel sound. How do you know if a syllable is long or short? There are two important terms to note:

[i] long by nature i.e. the vowel is always long – not only in poetry – for example:

[l.2] NŌ-mĭ-nĭs ¦ Ō-rĀ- ¦ mūs vĕ-nĕ- ¦ rĀ- tiŌ ¦ sĀnc- tĭ- fĭ- ¦ cĒ-tŭr

Diphthongs are always long, for example:

[l.1] cĀE-lī

[l.4] rĕ-¦ clĀU-dăt

[l.9] Ēt nōs ¦ hĀUt ă-lĭ-¦ tēr cōn- ¦ cē-dĕ-rĕ ¦ fŌE-nŏ-ră ¦ nōs-trīs

[l.10] Tē-trī ¦ sĀE-vă prŏ- ¦ cūl tēmp- ¦ tā-tiō ¦ dĀE-mŏ-nĭs ¦ āb-sĭt

[l.11] ĀE-quĕ mă- ¦

[ii] long by position; this is a crucial feature of Latin poetry:

Where a vowel is followed by two consonants [VCC] – even if those consonants are split between words –the vowel becomes long; there are exceptions but it is important to become familiar with this idea since it is an integral part of the rhythm.

[l.2] The verb ŌrĀmus has two vowels that are long by nature – they are always long. However, -mus is usually short, but in the verse, because it is followed by two consonants, it becomes long: ō-rā- ¦ mŪS ͜ Vĕ-nĕ- [VCC]

All the capitalised vowels in bold are normally short, but here they are long [VCC]:

[l.1] genitor (/o/ usually short) > gĕ-nĭ- ¦ tŌ͜ Rĕ- [VCC]; in (/i/ usually short) > ĪN ¦ Vēr [VCC]

[l.3] Ī͜ Nō- ¦ bīs Pă- tĕr ¦ ĀL-Tĕ tŭ- ¦ ī: trĀN- ¦ QU-ĪL-Lă-quĕ ¦ mŪN-Dō

[l.5] fīat (/a/normally short) > fī- ¦ Ā͜ Tŭ-ă

[l.11] tol-lat (/o/ normally short) > tŌL-Lat

[iii] V + X: a vowel followed by /x/ becomes long since /x/ is composed of two consonant sounds /ks/:

[l.7] mox (normally short) > tŭ-ă ¦ mŌX [V + /ks/]

11.02.26: Level 3; Reading (review); [30] Dido’s curse

Didō rēgīna, quae Aenēam valdē amāverat, fugam eius vehementer dolēbat. Ea, postquam frūstrā deōs, frūstrā fortūnam accūsāvit, sē eō gladiō, quem Aenēās eī dōnāverat, necāre parāvit. Dum eī rogus struitur: “Ēn“, inquit, “vir pius, quī simulācra ē Troiā servāta sēcum portat! Ēn pius Aenēās, cui deī ipsī imperant, cuius facta deīs ipsīs placent! At ego tē, Hecatē, vocō, ā quā vindicantur facta impia: Tū eum ipsum sociōsque, quōs sēcum dūcit, Ītaliā arcēbis! Sīn autem fāta nōn sinent, eum bellō quidem et armīs vexābis: mortuōs vidēbit eōs, quōs amāvit, neque diū rēgnābit in eīs terrīs, quās nunc petit! Numquam amīcitia inter eius populum et meum erit, et oppida, quae condet, aliquandō ā cōpiīs Poenōrum vastābuntur. Bellum diuturnum erit, ipsīque pugnābunt et posterī cūnctī!”

Find the Latin:

[i] a pious man, who brings statues

[ii] Aeneas, to whom the gods themselves give commands, …

[iii] and the allies whom he leads with him

[iv] he will see them dead whom he loved

[v] Hecate, by whom wicked deeds are avenged

[vi] in those lands which he now seeks

[vii] Queen Dido, who had greatly loved Aeneas

[viii] the towns which he shall found

[ix] whose deeds (the deeds of whom) please the gods themselves

[x] with the / that sword which Aeneas had given to her


____________________

[i] vir pius, quī simulācra … portat

[ii] Aenēās, cui deī ipsī imperant

[iii] sociōsque, quōs sēcum dūcit

[iv] mortuōs vidēbit eōs, quōs amāvit

[v] Hecatē … ā quā vindicantur facta impia

[vi] in eīs terrīs, quās nunc petit

[vii] Didō rēgīna, quae Aenēam valdē amāverat

[viii] oppida, quae condet

[ix] cuius facta deīs ipsīs placent

[x] eō gladiō, quem Aenēās eī dōnāverat

Queen Dido, who had loved Aeneas very much, was deeply grieving his flight. After she had accused the gods and her fate in vain, she prepared to kill herself with that sword, which Aeneas had given to her. While the funeral pyre was being built for her, she said:

‘Behold, pious man, who carries with him the images saved from Troy! Behold pious Aeneas, whom the gods themselves command, whose deeds please the gods themselves! But I call you, Hecate, by whom wicked deeds are avenged: you will keep him and his companions, whom he leads with him, away from Italy! But if the fates do not allow it, indeed you will harass him with war and arms: he will see them dead whom he loved, and he will not rule long in the lands which he now seeks! Never will there be friendship between his people and mine, and the towns that he will found will one day be devastated by the forces of the Carthaginians. There will be a long war, and they themselves and all the descendants will fight!’

11.02.26: Level 3; Celestial Sphere: from the authors [1] Tacitus

(1) The fate of Tiberius: sealed in one sentence

In Annalēs VI, Tacitus portrays the departure from Rome of the Emperor Tiberius. He is presented as a lonely and isolated figure: Profectiō artō comitātū fuit │ His departure was attended by a small retinue.

The following line appears immediately after Tacitus narrates the departure – which is to be the final exit of Tiberius:

ferēbant perītī caelestium iīs mōtibus sīderum excessisse Rōmā Tiberium ut reditus illī negārētur (Tacitus) │ Experts in celestial matters / heavenly bodies were saying that, by the motions of the stars, Tiberius had departed from Rome in such a way that a return was denied him.

Note: indirect statement with perfect active infinitive

(1) ferēbant perītī … (3) excessisse Rōmā (2) Tiberium │ Experts (1) said … ¦ (2) that Tiberius (3) had departed from Rome [literally: (1) Experts said (2) Tiberius (3) to have departed

[1] Tacitus’ writing is compact; the action and consequence of that action are conveyed by two verbs: excesisse (departed) – negārētur (denied)

[2] The reference to perītī i.e. ‘skilled’ people as opposed to idle rumour, which adds veracity and mysticism to his narrative

[3] The fate of Tiberius is determined by the stars; the stars prophesy that Tiberius will spend the rest of his life in exile. Therefore, human control is an illusion, which is ironic given Tiberius’ obsession with control.

[4] A moral subtext: the stars articulate what Tiberius’ life choices have already determined i.e. the alignment of character and fate

https://www.heritage-history.com/index.php?c=resources&s=char-dir&f=tiberius

(2) And, according to Tacitus, the stars weren’t working out too well for Nero either …

Inter quae sīdus comētēs effulsit; dē quō vulgī opīniō est tamquam mūtātiōnem rēgis portendat │Meantime a comet blazed (in the sky), about which the opinion of the common people is that it portends, as it were, a change of king.

Tacitus uses the noun in conjunction with sīdus (star), but the word can stand alone:

comētēs, -ae [1/m] or comēta, -ae [1/f] comet; meteor; shooting star; it is also referred to as:

stēlla crīnīta: long-haired star

Does Tacitus believe that comets are portents of disaster? A 21st century journalist, especially a sensationlist one, will “spice up” his report by adding unverified detail, simultaneously distancing himself (and avoiding litigation) with allegedly or it is rumoured that. Tacitus himself isn’t stating that Nero is to be dethroned – but others think he might be.

10.02.26: Comenius CVI; the Celestial Sphere [7]; text and vocabulary [6]

[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

[1]

horīzon, horizontis [3/m]: horizon > Engl. deriv. horizontal

aequātor, aequātōris [3/m]: [i] (Classical; rare) coin inspector; [ii] (Mediaeval) equator

colūrus, -ī [2/m]: colure (astronomical term; now rarely, if ever used)

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

*aequinoctium, -ī [2/n]: equinox < aequus (equal) + nox (night); original text: aequinox(iōrum); possible misspelling or alternative during this period, but the spelling with /x/ is not attested)

aequinoctiālis, -e: (of / pertaing to) the equinox

sōlstitium, -ī [2/n]: solstice (in the text: solsticiōrum); again, note the same spelling shift of -ti- > -ci- which was also in an earlier section of this text: spaciō (CL: spatiō)

[2]

vernus, -a, -um; vernālis, -e: (of / pertaing to) spring; Engl. deriv. vernal

autumnālis, -e: (of / pertaing to) autumn; Engl. deriv. autumnal

aestīvus, -a, -um; aestivālis, -e: (of / pertaing to) summer; Engl. deriv. estival

hībernus, -a, -um (original text with /y/); hībernālis, -e: (of / pertaing to) winter; wintry

[3] “the Tropic(k)s”; used in the text as a noun

tropicus, -a, -um: tropical

tropicus Cancrī: the tropic of Cancer

tropicus Capricornī: the tropic of Capricorn

polāris, -e: (pertaining to) the poles


Hondius Map of America (1606)

From North to South …

SEPTENTRIŌ: North

AMERICA SEPTENTRIŌNĀLIS: North America

TROPICUS CANCRĪ: Tropic of Cancer

AEQUINOCTIĀLIS LĪNEA: equinoctial line; celestial equator

MARE PĀCIFICUM: Pacific ‘sea’ (Ocean)

AMERICA MERĪDIŌNĀLIS: Southern America

TROPICUS CAPRICORNĪ: Tropic of Capricon

TERRA AUSTRĀLIS: The ‘Southern Land’ (i.e. we’re pretty sure something’s there but we don’t know what it is yet, which is why the word incognita (unknown) is often added; it does not refer to Australia since it hadn’t been ‘discovered’ – apart from by the people who lived there).

MERĪDIĒS: South

Note the use of the long /s/ in Hiſpanis

And, for the benefit of the American members of this group (not that I wish a ‘debate’) …

It’s small, but it’s there …

SINUS MEXICĀNUS: the Gulf of Mexico; sinus, -ūs [4/m]: various meanings including [i] curve, fold; [ii] bosom, breast; [iii] gulf, bay

09.02.26: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [24][vi]: the superlative of adjectives

Rōma est urbs pulcherrima Rome is a very beautiful city

Equī rēgis sunt pulcherrimī │ The king’s horses are very beautiful

[i] Superlative: in English, longest, most beautiful; in Latin the superlative can also be translated simply as very + the adjective

mōns altissimus: [i] the highest mountain; [ii] a very high mountain

[ii] For almost all adjectives -issimus [masculine], -issima [feminine], issimum [neuter] to the stem:

long¦us, -a, -um: long > longissimus, longissima, longissimum: [i] (the) longest; [ii] very long

[iii] Adjectives which end in -r add -rimus, -a, -um to the masculine nominative singular form i.e. the /r/ is doubled:

pulcher, pulchra, pulchrum: beautiful > pulcher¦rimus, pulcherrima, pulcherrimum: [i] (the) most beautiful; [ii] very beautiful

miser, -a, -um (wretched) > miserrimus, -a, -um

ācer, ācris, ācre (bitter) > ācerrimus, -a, -um

celer, -is, -e (fast) > celerrimus, -a, -um

[iv] 3rd declension adjectives

As with the comparative, 3rd declension adjectives which have a stem change – indicated by the genitive singular – will use that stem to form the superlative + -issimus, -a, -um:

audāx: bold > genitive singular: audāc¦is > stem: audāc- > superlative: audācissimus, -a, -um: (the) boldest; very bold

recēns: recent > genitive singular: recent¦is > stem: recent- > superlative: recentissimus, -a, -um: most recent

[v] A small group of adjectives form their superlative by adding -limus, -a, -um to the stem i.e. the /l/ is doubled; the six adjectives listed below are the only ones which form the superlative in this way.

facil¦is, -e: easy > facillimus, -a, -um: easiest

difficilis, -e: difficult > difficillimus, -a, -um: most difficult

similis, -e: similar > simillimus, -a, -um: most similar

dissimilis, -e: dissimilar; different > dissimillimus, -a, -um: most unlike

gracilis, -e: slender > gracillimus, -a, -um: most slender

humilis, -e: humble > humillimus, -a, -um: humblest

Note: even though there are differences in the way in which the superlative ending is added to the stem, look out for the distinctive -¦imus, -a, -um: longissimus; pulcherrimus; audācissimus; facillimus

Link:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/021224-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-14.html

Saturday, November 22, 2025

08.02.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [21]; future passive infinitive

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/06/190925-level-3-supine-1.html (note [2][ii]; the supine + īrī)

The supine + īrī creates a future passive infinitive i.e. referring to something that is “going to be done”.

verberātum īrī │ to be going / to be about to be beaten

mūtātum īrī │ to be going / to be about to be changed

This construction is rare in CL literature, and, with the distinctive īrī, is easily recognisable. It does not agree with the subject i.e. you will only see this form in indirect statements:

Putō pontem dēlētum īrī ā Caesare. │ I think that the bridge is going to be / will be destroyed by Caesar

Caesar dīcit librōs missum īrī. │ Caesar says that the books are going to / about to / will be sent.

Dīxit urbem captum īrī. │ He said that the city was going to / about to / would be captured.

Examples from the post referred to above:

Negant urbem facile captum īrī. │ They say that the city will not easily be captured. [= they deny that the city will easily be captured.]

Inter omnēs cōnstat urbem nunquam traditum īrī. │ All agree that the city will never be surrendered.

Nōn crēdō pecūniam solūtum īrī. │ I do not believe that the money will be paid.

08.02.26: Level 3; the Pater Noster of Juvencus [2]; notes on Latin poetry [1] metre

Some basics of Latin poetry were first discussed here:

04.09.25: The best place to start Latin poetry is … in a cave! [2]; some basics concerning Classical Latin poetry

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/774016828542921/

[i] In print, you will either come across completely unscanned versions of verse or, as I have written below, edited texts with naturally long vowels marked (see the next post: identifying long and short syllables)

Sīdereō genitor residēns in vertice caelī

Nōminis ōrāmus venerātiō sānctificētur

In nōbīs Pater alte tuī: tranquillaque mundō

Adveniat rēgnumque tuum lūx alma reclaudat

In caelō ut terrīs fīat tua clāra voluntās

Vītālisque hodiē sānctī substantia pānis

Prōveniat nōbīs; tua mox largītiō solvat

Innumera indulgēns errōris dēbita prāvī

Et nōs haut aliter concēdere foenora nostrīs

Tētrī saeva procul temptātiō daemonis absit

Aequē malīs tua nōs in lūcem dextera tollat

[ii] A fully scanned version would have this or a similar format:

l.1: Sī-dĕ-rĕ- ¦ ō gĕ-nĭ- ¦ tōr rĕ-sĭ- ¦ dēns īn ¦ vēr-tĭ-cĕ ¦ cāe-lī

l.2: Nō-mĭ-nĭs ¦ ōr-ā- ¦ mūs vĕ-nĕ- ¦ rā- tiō ¦ sānc- tĭ- fĭ- ¦ cē-tŭr

l.3: Īn nō- ¦ bīs pă- tĕr ¦ āl-tĕ tŭ- ¦ ī: trān- ¦ qu-īl-lă-quĕ ¦ mūn-dō

l.4: Ād-vĕ-nĭ- ¦ āt rēg- ¦ nūm-quĕ tŭ- ¦ ūm lūx ¦ āl-mă rĕ- ¦ clāu-dăt

l.5: Īn cāe- ¦ l(o) ͜ ūt tēr- ¦ rīs fī- ¦ āt tŭ-ă ¦ clāră vŏ- ¦ lūn-tās

l.6: Vī-tā- ¦ līs-qu(e) ͜ (h)ŏ-dĭ- ¦ ē sānc- ¦ tī sūb- ¦ stān-tĭ-ă ¦ pā-nĭs

l.7: Prō-vĕ-nĭ- ¦ āt nō- ¦ bīs; tŭ-ă ¦ mōx lār- ¦ gī-tiō ¦ sōl-văt

l.8: Īn-nŭ-mĕ- ¦ r(a) ͜ īn-dūl- ¦ gēns ēr- ¦ rō-rīs ¦ dē-bĭ-tă ¦ prāvī

l.9: Ēt nōs ¦ hāut ă-lĭ-¦ tēr cōn- ¦ cē-dĕ-rĕ ¦ fōe-nŏ-ră ¦ nōs-trīs

l.10: Tē-trī ¦ sāe-vă prŏ- ¦ cūl tēmp- ¦ tā-tiō ¦ dāe-mŏ-nĭs ¦ āb-sĭt

l.11: Āe-quĕ mă- ¦ līs tŭ-ă ¦ nōs īn ¦ lū-cēm ¦ dēx-tĕ-ră ¦ tōl-lăt

As an example. The links below are to a poem V by Catullus:

[i] The first link takes you to a completely unscanned version

http://rudy.negenborn.net/catullus/text2/l5.htm

[ii] The second takes you to a scanned version

http://rudy.negenborn.net/catullus/text2/sc5.htm

[1] Metre

References are made here to long and short syllables; that is discussed in the next post

Vincent describes the verse as dactylic hexameter:

(1) a dactyl is a long syllable followed by two short syllables: — UU

Line 1: SĪ-DĔ-RĔ- ¦ ō gĕ-nĭ- ¦ tōr rĕ-sĭ- ¦ dēns īn ¦ vēr-tĭ-cĕ ¦ cāe-lī

(2) Two short syllables can equal one long syllable i.e. — UU = — — ; a combination of two long syllables is known as a spondee

Sī-dĕ-rĕ- ¦ ō gĕ-nĭ- ¦ tōr rĕ-sĭ- ¦ (2) DĒNS ĪN ¦ vēr-tĭ-cĕ ¦ cāe-lī

Combinations, six feet of six dactyls or spondees, is known as hexameter.

[1] Sī-dĕ-rĕ- ¦ [2] ō gĕ-nĭ- ¦ [3] tōr rĕ-sĭ- ¦ [4] dēns īn ¦ [5] vēr-tĭ-cĕ ¦ [6] cāe-lī

(3) The last syllable of a line can be long or short; this is usually indicated by X i.e. — X; a syllable of this type is called an anceps

[i] In the first line, the final syllable is long:

Sī-dĕ-rĕ- ¦ ō gĕ-nĭ- ¦ tōr rĕ-sĭ- ¦ dēns īn ¦ vēr-tĭ-cĕ ¦ cāe-LĪ

[ii] In Line 2 the final syllable is short:

Nō-mĭ-nĭs ¦ ōr-ā- ¦ mūs vĕ-nĕ- ¦ rā- tiō ¦ sānc- tĭ- fĭ- ¦ cē-TŬR

When a poem is scanned, sometimes no mark is given above an anceps because it makes no difference.

[iii] Note that /i/ when it is with another vowel e.g. -iō- or -ia- can, depending on the rhythm, be [a] similar to English /y/ and not scanned separately,  or [b] a separate vowel sound

[a]

[l.2] vĕ-nĕ- ¦ rā- tiō [imagine ve-ne-¦ ra-tyo (or -tjo- as written in some scans)]

[l.7] lār- ¦ gī-tiō

[l.10] tēmp- ¦ tā-tiō

[b]

[l.4] the /i/ is scanned as an independent vowel: Ād-vĕ-n- ¦ āt i.e. it is pronounced distinctly seperately from the following /a/

[l.6] sūb- ¦ stān-t-ă

[l.7] Prō-vĕ-n- ¦ āt


08.02.26: Level 3; Reading (review); [29] The theft of Sabinian women

Rēmus necātus erat, Rōmulus nōnnūllus annōs rēgnāverat et rēx bonus fuerat, Rōma ipsa crēverat. Iam aedificia varia et templa aedificāta, iam viae strātae erant. Rōmānī autem, quamquam ipsī vītam bonam vīvēbant, contentī nōn erant, quod fēminās nōn habēbant. Iam nōnnūllī clam Rōmulum ipsum adierant eumque rogāverant: “Fēminās nōn habēmus; unde nōbīs parābimus?” Rōmulus autem “Id mihi”, inquit, “ignōtum nōn est!”, et cūrās eōrum dolēbat. Ac profectō ipse brevī eīs fēminās parāvit dolō.

Mox Rōmānī Sabīnōs, quī fīnitimī eōrum erant, ad lūdōs invītāvērunt. Sabīnī libenter ad eōs lūdōs adiērunt fēmināsque et fīliās, quārum multās habēbant, sēcum Rōmam trānsportāvērunt. Iam Sabīnī, quī necopīnī et sine armīs ad lūdōs ierant, iīs gaudēbant, cum Rōmānī, quibus Rōmulus id imperāverat, fīliās pulchrās captāvērunt et in casās suās portāvērunt. Sabīnī, quibus arma nōn erant, neque fīliās adiuvābant neque facta impia vindicābant, sed Rōmulum, cuius dolō fraudātī erant, verbīs dūrīs accūsāvērunt. Posteā autem magnīs cum cōpiīs Rōmam rediērunt fīliāsque, quae captātae erant, repetīvērunt. At fēminae ipsae eōs arcēbant et clāmāvērunt: “Abstinēte ā virīs nostrīs, quōs nunc amāmus!” Ex eō annō diuturna inter Rōmānōs et Sabīnōs amīcitia fuit.

abstineō, -ēre, -uī, abstentus [2]: stay away

arceō, -ēre, -uī, arcitus [2]: keep away; prevent

diuturnus, -a, -um: long-lasting

fraudō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: cheat; defraud; swindle

necopīnus, a, -um: unsuspecting

Find the Latin:

[i] (they invited) the Sabines, who were their neighbours,

[ii] and the daughters who had been captured 

[iii] by whose trickery [lit: by the trickery of whom] (they had been defrauded) 

[iv] our husbands who(m) we now love

[v] the Romans to whom Romulus had given this command 

[vi] the Sabines who did not have weapons [lit: … to whom there were not weapons] 

[vii] The Sabines who, unsuspecting and without weapons,  

[viii] the women and daughters of whom they had many 

____________________

[i] Sabīnōs, quī fīnitimī eōrum erant,

[ii] fīliāsque, quae captātae erant

[iii] cuius dolō fraudātī erant

[iv] virīs nostrīs, quōs nunc amāmus

[v] Rōmānī, quibus Rōmulus id imperāverat

[vi] Sabīnī, quibus arma nōn erant

[vii] Sabīnī, quī necopīnī et sine armīs

[viii] fēmināsque et fīliās, quārum multās habēbant

Remus had been killed, Romulus had ruled for several years and had been a good king, and Rome itself had grown. By now various buildings and temples had been built, and the roads had already been paved. But the Romans, although they themselves were living a good life, were not content, because they did not have women. Already some had secretly approached Romulus himself and had asked him: ‘We have no women; from where shall we obtain them?’ But Romulus said, ‘That is not unknown to me,’ and he felt their concerns. And indeed, before long he himself provided women for them by trickery.

Soon the Romans invited the Sabines, who were their neighbours, to the games. The Sabines gladly went to those games and brought with them to Rome the women and daughters of whom they had many. Now the Sabines, who had gone to the games unsuspecting / without suspicion and without weapons, were enjoying them, when the Romans, to whom Romulus had given this command, seized the beautiful daughters and carried them off to their huts. The Sabines, who had no weapons, neither helped their daughters nor punished the wicked deeds, but they accused Romulus, by whose trickery they had been deceived, with harsh words. Afterwards, however, they returned to Rome with great forces and demanded back their daughters who had been taken. But the women themselves kept them away and cried: ‘Stay away from our husbands, whom we now love!’ From that year on there was long-lasting friendship between the Romans and the Sabines.

07.02.26: Comenius CVI; the Celestial Sphere [6]; text and vocabulary [5](ii)

Take a second look at images #2 and #3 from the previous post

If you are looking at any original Mediaeval or, here, Renaissance documents, you will see abbreviations, letter forms and spellings that are not in Classical Latin. There are many of these and a number of them were discussed in posts concerning both the Domesday Book and the Bayeux Tapestry:

[i]

ORIĒS / OCCIDĒS = oriens / occidens

COEL= coelum (caelum)

It can be simply a line or what looks like a Spanish tilde (˜) or, for want of a better term, a ‘squiggle’ above a vowel. In original documents it is not a macron i.e. an indicator of vowel length, but usually indicates the omission of /n/ or /m/ i.e. nasalised sounds. However, it isn’t confined to that usage. Depending on the writer it can indicate the absence of a group of letters, in the same way that we would use a ‘full stop’ e.g. info. for information.

28.11.25: the Domesday Book; reading the manuscript [iii] types of abbreviation [ii]

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/08/281125-domesday-book-reading-manuscript.html

This example from the Bayeux Tapestry shows the use of the abbreviation to omit groups of letters

HIC PORTATVR CORPVS EADWARDI REGIS AD ECCLESIAM ST PETRI ALI

Hīc portātur corpus Eadwardi regis ad ecclesiam Sancti Petri Apostoli

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/07/130725-bayeux-tapestry-2.html

[ii] Various symbols were used to indicate the absence of a letter or small group; becoming familiar with these is a whole field of study in itself

What looks like a small number 9:

POLVS ARCTIC9 = arcticus

POLVS ANTAR(c)TIC9 = antar(c)ticus

28.11.25: the Domesday Book; reading the manuscript [v] types of abbreviation [iv]; mind your p’s and q’s

Note (5)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/08/281125-domesday-book-reading-manuscript_35.html

[iii] long /s/ i.e. ſ

[iv] abbreviation for ‘and’, similar to 7; it is called an ampersand, and an equivalent can be found which is still used today i.e. &

eclipſis ſolis 7 lune = eclipsis solis et lunae [note also: spelling shift /ae/ > /e/]

For both [iii] and [iv] above:

01.12.25: the Domesday Book; reading the manuscript [vi] types of abbreviation [v]; the long s

Long s: note (1); Ampersand: note (4)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/09/011225-domesday-book-reading-manuscript.html

07.02.26: Comenius CVI; the Celestial Sphere [6]; text and vocabulary [5](i)

[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.

cursitō, -āre [1] literally: run all around / here and there;  this verb has a suffix: –(i)tō; this suffix denotes a frequentative action i.e. one that is performed more than once:

  • dictitō, -āre [1]: repeat, maintain i.e. keep saying something
  • clāmitō, -āre [1]: yell i.e. not a single shout but a prolonged action
  • vēnditō, -āre [1]: offer something, again and again, for sale

eclīptica, -ae [1/f]: ecliptic

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

eclīptica, -ae

By Tfr000 (talk) 16:54, 15 March 2012 (UTC) - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18710950

stēlla, -ae [1/f] errāns: wandering star i.e. planet

planēta, -ae [1/f]: planet

The ancient Romans recognized seven "planets", the term referring to any celestial body that moved against the background of fixed stars hence the term stēllae errantēs (wandering stars) as opposed to stēllae fīxae / inerrantēs (fixed stars). Therefore, they also included the Sun and the Moon as planets:

Sōl, -is [3/m]

Mercurius, -ī [2/m]

Venus, Veneris [3/f]

Lūna, -ae [1/f]

Mārs, Mārtis [3/m]

Sāturnus, -ī [2/m]

Iuppiter, Iovis [3/m]


Geocentric World  (1517)

06.02.26: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [24][v]: the comparative of adjectives

Ubi populus sibi imperat, laetior est. │ When a people governs itself, it is happier [ = when the people rule themselves, they are happier]

Urbs antīqua etiam pulchrior erat │ The ancient city was even more beautiful

comparative: in English, happier, longer, more beautiful; sometimes the comparative simply means rather + adjective or too + adjective

vir fortior: [i] a braver man; [ii] a rather brave man

hoc difficilius est: [i] this is more difficult; [ii] this is rather / too difficult

[ii] Apart from a few irregular forms, the comparatives of adjectives are formed by two distinctive endings: -ior (masculine and feminine); -ius (neuter)

[iii] 1st / 2nd declension adjectives

(i) addition of -ior or -ius to the stem of the adjective:

long¦us, -a, -um: long > longior, longius: longer; rather / too long

(ii) adjectives in -er form drop /e/ before the ending is added:

pulcher, pulchr¦a, pulchrum: beautiful > pulchrior, pulchrius: more beautiful

[iv] 3rd declension adjectives

(i) The comparatives of these adjectives have the same endings i.e. -ior / -ius:

fort¦is, forte: brave, strong > fortior, fortius: braver, stronger

(ii) 3rd declension adjectives which have a stem change – indicated by the genitive singular – will use that stem to form the comparatives:

audāx: bold > genitive singular: audāc¦is > stem: audāc- > comparative: audācior, audācius: bolder

recēns: recent > genitive singular: recent¦is > stem: recent- > comparative: recentior, recentius: more recent

Links:

Degrees of comparison: introduction

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/041124-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-1.html

-ior; -ius

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/041124-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-2.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/081124-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-3.html

Translation of comparatives

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/161124-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-8.html

Sunday, November 16, 2025

05.02.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [20]; future active infinitive: practice (2)

Exercise [3]: Complete the English translation with the appropriate pronouns and phrases listed below. Note: each pronoun translation is only used once.

Cornēlius nūntiāvit [i] rēgibus [ii] ignōtūrum esse. │ Cornelius announced that [i] he (referring to himself) [ii] would forgive the kings.

Flāvia nūntiat [i] eum [ii] valitūrum esse. │ Flavia announces that [i] he (referring to somebody else) [ii] will thrive.

Spērābam [i] nautae fābulam [ii] nārrātūram esse. │ I was hoping that [i] you (sg.) [ii] would tell a story to the sailor.

Nūntiāvimus eam ad magnum templum ventūram esse. │ We announced that [i] she (referring to somebody else) [ii] would come to the big temple.

Dea nūntiābat [i] [ii] subrīsūram esse. │ The goddess was announcing that [i] she (referring to herself) [ii] would smile.

Spērāvistis [i] eōs in illam vīllam iter [ii] factūrōs esse. │ You hoped that [i] they (referring to other people) [ii] would make a journey into that country house.

Illī putant [i] vōs eīs [ii] crēditūrās esse. │ They think that [i] you (pl.) [ii] will trust them.

Rēgīnae nūntiābant [i] nōs in silvam [ii] festīnātūrās esse. │ The queens were announcing that [i] we [ii] would hurry into the forest.

Amīcus dīcēbat [i] cibōs āthlētae [ii] datūram esse. │ A friend was saying that [i] I [ii] would give the foods to the athlete.

Puellae dīxērunt [i] eās [ii] petītūrās esse. │ The girls said that [i] they (referring to themselves) [ii] would seek them.

[i]

he (referring to himself); he (referring to somebody else); I; she (referring to herself); she (referring to somebody else); they (referring to other people); they (referring to themselves); we; you (pl.); you (sg.)

[ii]

would tell; would smile; would seek; would make; would hurry; would give; would forgive; would come; will trust; will thrive

[i] Cornelius announced that [i] he (referring to himself) [ii] would forgive the kings.

[ii] Flavia announces that [i] he (referring to somebody else) [ii] will thrive.

[iii] I was hoping that [i] you (sg.) [ii] would tell a story to the sailor.

[iv] We announced that [i] she (referring to somebody else) [ii] would come to the big temple.

[v] The goddess was announcing that [i] she (referring to herself) [ii] would smile.

[vi] You hoped that [i] they (referring to other people) [ii] would make a journey into that country house.

[vii] They think that [i] you (pl.) [ii] will trust them.

[viii] The queens were announcing that [i] we [ii] would hurry into the forest.

[ix] A friend was saying that [i] I [ii] would give the foods to the athlete.

[x] The girls said that [i] they (referring to themselves) [ii] would seek them.

Exercise [4]: Choose the correct translation [a] [b] or [c]

Note:

(1) Identify the tense of the verb which introduces the indirect statement e.g. he says / he said, because that will determine whether English translates the indirect statement as will or would

(2) Where pronouns are involved as the subject of the indirect statement, they will come first and, to double check, look at the ending of the future active infinitive. From the first question:

Horātia putāvit

Is it: Horatia thinkswillor Horatia thoughtwould …?

puellam iūturum esse.

Who is doing the helping? Is it you [tē] or the girl [puellam]? Does iūturum agree with puellam?

[i] Horātia putāvit ¦ puellam iūtūrum esse.

(a) Horatia thinks that you will help the girl.

(b) Horatia thought that you would help the girl.

(c) Horatia thinks that the girl will help you.

[ii] Gladiātōrēs putābant Marium dictūrum esse

(a) The gladiators thought that Marius would speak.

(b) The gladiators thought that Marius was speaking.

(c) The gladiators thought that Marius had spoken.

[iii] Ille spērāvit tē nūntiōs impedītūram esse.

(a) He hopes that you (pl.) will hinder the messengers.

(b) He hoped that you (pl.) would hinder the messengers.

(c) He hoped that you (sg.) would hinder the messengers.

[iv] Poēta dīcit sē mē ad Graeciam revocātūrum esse.

(a) The poet says that he will call me back to Greece.

(b) The poet said that he would call me back to Greece.

(c) The poet said that I will call him back to Greece.

[v]  Illī crēdunt eās in curiam ambulātūrās esse.

(a) They believed that they would walk into the senate house.

(b) They believe that these men will walk into the senate house.

(c) They believe that these women will walk into the senate house.

[vi] Patrēs dīcēbant sē nōs dēfēnsūrōs esse.

(a) The fathers were saying that they would defend us.

(b) The fathers were saying that we would defend them.

(c) The fathers are saying that they will defend us.

[vii] Crēdimus Vergilium eī cūram ostentūrum esse.

(a) We believe that he will show concern to Vergil.

(b) We believe that Vergil will show concern to him.

(c) We believed that Vergil showed concern to her.

[viii] Discipula nūntiāvit sē tē dēspectūram esse.

(a) The student announced that she would despise you.

(b) The student announced that you would despise her.

(c) The student announced that she was despised by you.

[i] (b)

[ii] (a)

[iii] (c)

[iv] (a)

[v] (c)

[vi] (a)

[vii] (b)

[viii] (a)

05.02.26: Level 3; the Pater Noster of Juvencus [1] text and translation

Vincent recites the Pater Noster of Juvencus (c. 330 AD)

[l.1] Sīdereō genitor residēns in vertice caelī │ Creator / Father sitting in the starry summit of heaven

  • genitor, -tōris [3/m]: father; parent (m); creator
  • sīdereus, -a, -um: starry; filled with stars < sīdus, -eris [3/n]: star
  • vertex, verticis [3/m]: highest point; summit

[l.2] Nōminis ōrāmus venerātiō sānctificētur │ May the reverence of (your) name, we pray, be sanctified

A prayer by its nature is often expressing what someone wants to happen e.g. in English “May he rest in peace”. In Latin this is conveyed by the subjunctive, and the verse contains many examples of it: sānctificēturMay (the reverence of your name) be sanctified.

[l.3] In nōbīs ¦ Pater alte ¦  tuī: tranquillaque mundō │ Father on High, (bring) peaceful things of yours / your peace in us and in the world

pater alte: vocative case < altus, -a, -um: high

[l.4] Adveniat rēgnumque tuum lūx alma reclaudat │ May your kingdom come and the nourishing light disclose.

  • almus, -a, -um: nourishing; kind
  • reclaudō, -ere [3] = reclūdō, -ere [3]: reveal; disclose

Adveniat rēgnum … tuum: May your kingdom come; subjunctive

lūx alma reclaudatmay the nourishing light disclose

[l.5] In caelō ut terrīs fīat clāra voluntās │ In heaven as on earth (the lands) may your will be made / become clear

  • voluntās, -tātis [3/f]: will; desire; free will; Eng. deriv. (via French) volunteer < La: voluntārius, -a, -um: willing

at clāra voluntās: May (your) will become clear; subjunctive

[l.6] Vītālisque hodiē sānctī substantia pānis │ And today the vital substance of the holy bread

  • substantia, -ae [1/f]: material; contents; (here) substance

Note the word order:

(1) Vītālisque hodiē (2) sānctī (1) substantia (2) pānis

(1) (and) the vital substance (2) of the holy bread

Because of the case endings, Latin words – especially in verse – are often not written together; in poetry this is known as hyperbaton; a writer may do this to conform to the rhythm and / or to create a particular effect e.g. to emphasise certain words or ideas or, in this line (I suspect), to produce alliteration (the repetition of the same initial sound, usually a consonant) i.e. sānctī substantia (pānis)

[l.7] Prōveniat nōbīs; tua mox largītiō solvat │ May it come (forth) to us; may your generosity soon bestow it

  • solvō, -ere [3]: (various meanings) loosen; release; pay; grant

[l.8] Innumera indulgēns errōris dēbita prāvī │ Indulging (i.e. being lenient towards / pardoning / forgiving) the countless debts of wicked error

  • prāvus, -a, -um: wicked; crooked; depraved; improper etc.

Again, note the word order as an example of hyperbaton (see the note to l.6)

(1) Innumera ¦ indulgēns ¦  (2) errōris (1) dēbita prāvī

indulging ¦ the (1) countless debts (2) of wicked error

And again, you see the word order manipulated to create alliterationInnumera ¦ indulgēns; the repetition of vowel and consonants extends throughout the line:

Innumera ¦ indulgēns ¦  (2) errōris (1) bita prāvī

For reference, there are three terms used to describe this poetic device:

  1. Alliteration: repetition of initial sounds, usually consonants: silent seas swell slowly
  2. Assonace: repetition of vowel sounds inside words: rise high in the bright sky
  3. Consonance: repetition of consonants (not always initial): stroke of luck

However, they rarely appear in such strict divisions, but, like line 8 above, as a combination of devices. One example alone from our era shows how effective such poetic devices can be, an example of sheer genius:  excerpt from the “Witch’s Rap” in the Sondheim musical Into the Woods. The Baker’s father steals from the Witch’s garden; note how she growls, hissesfumes and spits her words!

Greens greens and nothing but greens! / Parsley, pepperscabbages, and celery, / Asparagus and  watercress / And fiddleferns and lettuce. / He said "Alright!" / But it wasn't quite. / Cause I caught him / In the autumn / In my garden one night!

You’re not often going to come across such relentless intensity, but it’s useful to know the terms when instances of such poetic devices occur.

[l.9] Et nōs haut aliter concēdere foenora nostrīs │ no differently than we grant debts to our own (people) [i.e. we do not treat others using different terms]; Compare ll8-9 with the standard version of the prayer (Church of Scotland): Forgive us our debts / as we forgive our debtors

The same lines from the Book of Cerne (9th century): Forgive countless debts of our wicked errors, / no different than we pardon our debtors.

  • aliter: otherwise; differently
  • concēdō, -ere [3]: (here) allow; grant
  • foenus = faenus, -oris [3/n]: (literally) interest on a loan
  • haut = haud: not

[l.10] Tētrī saeva procul temptātiō daemonis absit │ May the savage temptation of the foul demon be far away

  • tēter = taeter, -tra, -trum: foul; offensive; hideous

(1) Tētrī (2) saeva [procul] (2) temptātiō (1) daemonis

(2) the savage temptation (1) of the foul demon

[l.11] Aequē malīs tua nōs in lūcem dextera tollat │ Equally may your right hand raise us / lift us up from evils into the light

  • dextera, -ae [1/f]: right hand
  • tollō, -ere [3]: (here) raise; lift up

tua nōs in lūcem dexterayour right hand …