Barbarians [2] [v]: notes [3]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv2rBVkfsDY

[9] In Germāniam nōn pervēnī quī honōribus tuīs essem subsidiō, barbare. │ I didn’t come to Germania / I haven’t reached Germania to support your advancement, Barbarian.

• perveniō, -venīre, -vēnī [4]: come, arrive, reach
• subsidium, -ī [2/n]: help, support, aid
• honor, honōris [3/m]: honour, but it is also the term used amongst the Romans to refer to a hierarchy of political offices (cursus honōrum) that an aspiring citizen could hold and which, if he played his cards right, could lead to the ultimate position of a consul of Rome; this is why “advancement” is a very good translation of the word

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

In Germāniam nōn pervēnī [i] quī honōribus tuīs essem [ii] subsidiō, barbare.

[i] In Germāniam nōn pervēnī …quī … essem …subsidiō

As in the previous notes: the imperfect subjunctive of esse but it has a different function here.

He sent [i] the soldiers to the camp ¦ [ii] to kill the enemy; ‘to kill the enemy’ expresses purpose and we already know that the soldiers are to do that.

In Latin this is not expressed by an infinitive as in English but with a construction using ‘who’ (quī / quae) + the subjunctive; a literal translation: He sent the soldiers to the camp ¦ who were to kill / who would (might) kill the enemy i.e. that’s what they would do but, at the point at which the statement is made, they hadn’t done it yet.

I didn’t come to Germania ¦ (very literally) who might / would be / act as a means of support … = I didn’t come to Germania to support (your advancement)

[ii] quī essem honōribus tuīs subsidiō: this is an example of what is known in grammar as a predicative dative; there is something similar in English although it doesn’t match the Latin dative:

• How can I be ¦ of assistance to you?
• I don’t think that’s ¦ of much use.
• I did it ¦ as a favour to him.
• I use these glasses as ¦ a means of protection.
• That is ¦ (a cause) of great concern to me.
• That’s ¦ (a source) of benefit

Latin uses the dative case, very often with the verb esse, to express the purpose of the noun or the result which is achieved by the noun; translations may include ‘as a’, ‘a cause of’, ‘a source of’ or ‘a means of’ although English may omit it:

• Puella mihi est cūrae │The girl is a concern / (a source / cause) of concern to me i.e. the noun serves the purpose of causing concern

This construction most often appears not only with the noun that expresses the purpose but also the person / thing for whom / which the purpose is intended: both are in the dative case; in grammar this is known as the double dative

https://www.classicstuition.com/latin/a-level-latin/as-latin-accidence-and-syntax/as-latin-predicative-dative/

• bellum est [i] exitiō (dative) ¦ [ii] incolīs (dative)│ war brings destruction to the inhabitants = Literally: war is [i] a source / cause of destruction ¦ [ii] to the inhabitants
• Illa fēmina, quae līberōs interfēcit [i] odiō (dative) [ii] omnibus (dative) est. │ That woman who killed her own children is hated by everyone = Literally … is [i] a source of hatred [ii] for everybody
• Caesar omnem ex castrīs equitātum [ii] suīs (dative) [i] auxiliō (dative) mīsit. (Caesar) │ Caesar sent all the cavalry in the camp [i] as a relief (for the purpose of relief) [ii] to his men.

This is exactly what is being used in the extract:

• In Germāniam nōn pervēnī quī honōribus tuīs essem subsidiō, …. │ I didn’t come to Germania as (a means of) support ¦ for your advancement …

More information at this stage can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA-LqaKZy-4

[10] Veniam ā tē petō, lēgāte, sed virī meī cōnsimilēs tibi opus erunt. │ Forgive me, governor, but you will need men like me.

cōnsimilis, -e: alike; very similar; this adjective can either be followed by the dative or, here, the genitive: meī [genitive] cōnsimilēs │ similar to me

• petō, -ere, -ī(v)ī [3]: ask (for); beg; seek
• venia, -ae [1/f]: forgiveness; veniam ā tē petō │ I seek forgiveness from you
• opus erunt: this construction with opus was discussed here (the first excerpt from Barbarians):

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/620459540565318/

https://adckl2.blogspot.com/2025/02/level-3-barbarians-1.html

Barbarians [2] [iv]: notes [2]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv2rBVkfsDY

[4] Dūc mē ad Folkwinī pāgum, barbare.

[5] Sī mentītus es tē iubēbō in cruce fīgī.

[6] Gentēs sunt inter sē discordēs.

[7] Tamen apud eōs ego magnum mōmentum habēre possum in rem Rōmae optimam.

[8] Sī ego rēx gentis meae essem …

[4] Dūc mē ad Folkwinī pāgum, barbare. │ Take me to Folkwin’s district (small point but among early Germanic tribes, it is more likely to refer to a territory larger than a village)

• dūc (singular) / dūcite (plural); dūc is an irregular imperative (command form of the verb) < dūco, -ere [3]: lead; other irregular command forms (in the singular only) are: [i] dīc (mihi): tell me; dīc (sg.) / dicite (pl.) < dīcō, -ere [3]: say; tell [ii] fac (sg.) / facite (pl.) < faciō, -ere [3-iō]: do; make
• pāgus, -ī [2/m]: “In ancient Rome, the Latin word pāgus (plural pāgī) was an administrative term designating a rural subdivision of a tribal territory, which included individual farms, villages (vīcī), and strongholds (oppida) serving as refuges” (Wikipedia)

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

[5] Sī mentītus es tē iubēbō in cruce fīgī. │If you’ve lied, ¦ I’ll have you crucified. [Literally: I’ll order you to be fastened on a cross.]

• fīgī: to be fastened, passive infinitive of figō, -ere [3]: fix, fasten
• iubeō, -ēre, iussī [2]: command; order
• mentior, mentīrī, mentitus sum [4/deponent]: lie; tell lies, cheat, deceive
• crux, crucis [3/f]: not necessarily a cross (although generally interpreted as such) but any wooden frame used for execution; the most horrific and tortuous form of execution

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/597984456146160/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/414449861166288/

[6] Gentēs sunt inter sē discordēs. │ The tribes are divided. [Literally: the tribes are in disagreement / disagreeing amongst themselves.]

• discors, discordis: inharmonious; disagreeing
• gēns, gentis [3/f]: various meanings including ‘nation’, ‘country’, Roman family ‘clan’ or, here, ‘tribe’
• sē: reflexive pronoun as in English himself, herself, itself or, here, themselves

[7] Tamen apud eōs ego magnum mōmentum habēre possum in rem Rōmae optimam. │ However, I can have great influence among them in the best interests of Rome.

• mōmentum, -ī [2/n]: (here) ‘weight’ in the sense of ‘influence’
• rēs, -eī [5/f]: not always straightforward to translate; has multiple meanings including ‘thing’, ‘matter’, ‘affair’; the plural translation is good i.e. “in the best interests of Rome”

[8] Sī ego rēx gentis meae essem …│ If I were the ‘reik’ (ruler) of my tribe …

• The choice of the word ‘reik’ in the translation is from Gothic 𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌺𐍃 (reiks) meaning ruler / lord
• Sī ego rēx … essem … │ If I were the ruler …; essem: imperfect subjunctive of ‘esse’ and there is a 100% equivalent in English: If I were = Gmn: wenn ich wäre [imperfect subjunctive in German too] i.e. it is a hypothetical / unreal statement

Barbarians [2] [iii]: notes [1]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv2rBVkfsDY

[1] Ego salūtem tibi dīcō, Rōmae lēgāte.

[2] Eius sonus omnīnō mihi intolerandu’st.

[3] Tamquam moechae cuiusdam ēdentulae quae poētārī cōnētur.

[1] Ego salūtem tibi dīcō, Rōmae lēgāte. │ Greetings / I greet you [literally: I say a greeting to you], Roman governor [literally: governor of Rome]

• salus, salūtis [3/f]: [i] safety; [ii] greeting; Fr. deriv. salut

[2] Eius sonus omnīnō mihi intolerandu’st. │ I can’t stand / bear his accent [literally: his accent is utterly intolerable to me]

• intolerandus, -a, -um: unbearable / intolerable; intolerandu’st: contraction (discussed in the previous post on these video excerpts)
• omnīnō (adverb): utterly, completely
• sonus, -ī [2/m]: sound, tone, speech (i.e. style of speaking)

[3] Tamquam moechae cuiusdam ēdentulae quae poētārī cōnētur. │ Just like some toothless whore [literally: just like (the accent) of some toothless whore] who’s trying / who would try to be a poet.

cōnor, cōnārī, cōnātus sum [1/deponent]*: try; attempt; he uses the subjunctive here: … quae poētārī cōnētur; Latin uses this not to convey somebody who is doing something but the sort of person who might / would do that sort of thing

• ēdentulus, -a, -um: toothless
• moecha, -ae [1/f]: adulteress or promiscuous woman; I quite like “toothless harlot” – as a translation, I mean, rather than as a form of entertainment!; non moechaberis (Vulgate: Exodus 20:14): Thou shalt not commit adultery
• poētor, poētārī [1/deponent]*: (infrequent) to be poet
• tamquam: just as; as if
• quīdam [m], quaedam [f], quoddam [n]: some (person / thing); discussed in more detail here:

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

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

*Deponent verbs:

https://www.thelatinlibrary.com/101/Deponent.pdf

Barbarians [2] [ii]: comprehension

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv2rBVkfsDY

[1] Listen to the recording without looking at the transcript; fill in the blanks with the missing words listed below:

_____ salūtem _____ dīcō, Rōmae lēgāte.

_____  sonus omnīnō _____ intolerandu’st.

Tamquam moechae cuiusdam ēdentulae _____ poētārī cōnētur.

[Gmn: Bitte, sprich deine Sprache]

Dūc _____ ad Folkwinī pāgum, barbare.

_____ mentītus es _____ iubēbō in cruce fīgī.

Gentēs sunt inter _____ discordēs.

Tamen apud _____ _____ magnum mōmentum habēre possum in rem Rōmae optimam.

_____ _____ rēx gentis meae essem …

In Germāniam nōn pervēnī _____ honōribus _____ essem subsidiō, barbare.

Veniam ā _____ petō, lēgāte, sed virī _____ cōnsimilēs _____ opus erunt.

ego; ego; ego; eius; eōs; mē; meī; mihi; quae; quī; sē; sī; sī; tē; tē; tibi; tibi; tuīs

[2] Again, either listen to the text without looking at the transcript or follow the transcript and try the comprehension questions

Image #1: Segestes

Image #2: Varus

Segestes: Ego salūtem tibi dīcō, Rōmae lēgāte.

Varus: Eius sonus omnīnō mihi intolerandu’st. Tamquam moechae cuiusdam ēdentulae quae poētārī cōnētur.

[Gmn: Bitte, sprich deine Sprache]

Varus: Dūc mē ad Folkwinī pāgum, barbare. Sī mentītus es tē iubēbō in cruce fīgī.

Segestes: Gentēs sunt inter sē discordēs. Tamen apud eōs ego magnum mōmentum habēre possum in rem Rōmae optimam. Sī ego rēx gentis meae essem …

Varus: In Germāniam nōn pervēnī quī honōribus tuīs essem subsidiō, barbare.

Segestes: Veniam ā tē petō, lēgāte, sed virī meī cōnsimilēs tibi opus erunt.

1. What does Varus think of the way Segestes speaks Latin? To what does he compare it? (3)
2. Where does Varus want to go? (1)
3. What threat does he make to Segestes? (2)
4. What does Segestes say about the tribes? (1)
5. How does he think he can be of assistance? (2)
6. What condition does he make? (1)
7. How does Varus react to this suggestion? (1)
8. Why is Segestes’ last remark a little ominous? (1)

Segestes

Varus

Barbarians [2] [i]: introduction; transcription; translation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv2rBVkfsDY

The moment you step into “real” Latin, everything – everything – will be thrown at you and so, although mentioned many times before, be wary of diving in at the deep end because Barbarians wasn’t produced for Latin learners, but for a Netflix audience. While Barbarians is a tremendous example of how Latin may well have been spoken at this period, the dialogue contains a whole range of features some of which are straightforward, and some of which, if you want to explore the language in greater depth, involve considerable study. Therefore, I’ve broken it up:

Post #1: transcription and translation (with literal translations added in brackets so you can get a grip on what the Latin actually says)

Post#2:  reading / listening comprehension to get the “gist” of the dialogue and to focus on some key words in Latin

Posts #3 - #5: vocabulary and brief notes on sections of the dialogue together with links which refer to higher level points of language not yet covered in the group

transcription; translation

[1] Segestes: Ego salūtem tibi dīcō, Rōmae lēgāte.

[2] Varus: Eius sonus omnīnō mihi intolerandu’st.

[3] Tamquam moechae cuiusdam ēdentulae quae poētārī cōnētur.

[Gmn: Bitte, sprich deine Sprache]

[4] Varus: Dūc mē ad Folkwinī pāgum, barbare.

[5] Sī mentītus es tē iubēbō in cruce fīgī.

[6] Segestes: Gentēs sunt inter sē discordēs.

[7] Tamen apud eōs ego magnum mōmentum habēre possum in rem Rōmae optimam.

[8] Sī ego rēx gentis meae essem …

[9] Varus: In Germāniam nōn pervēnī quī honōribus tuīs essem subsidiō, barbare.

[10] Segestes: Veniam ā tē petō, lēgāte, sed virī meī cōnsimilēs tibi opus erunt.

__________

[1] Greetings / I greet you [literally: I say a greeting to you], Roman governor [literally: governor of Rome]

[2] I can’t stand / bear his accent [literally: his accent is utterly intolerable to me]

[3] Just like some toothless whore [literally: just like (the accent) of some toothless whore] who’s trying / who would try to be a poet.

[4] Take me to Folkwin’s district (small point but among early Germanic tribes, it is more likely to refer to a territory larger than a village)

[5] If you’ve lied, ¦ I’ll have you crucified. [Literally: I’ll order you to be fastened on a cross.]

[6] The tribes are divided. [Literally: the tribes are in disagreement / disagreeing amongst themselves.]

[7] However, I can have great influence among them in the best interests of Rome.

[8] If I were the ‘reik’* (ruler) of my tribe … [*reik: Gothic reiks]

[9] I didn’t come to Germania / I haven’t reached Germania ¦ to support your advancement, Barbarian. [Literally: (that) I might be (a means) of support to your honours]

[10] Forgive me, [Literally: I seek forgiveness from you] governor, but you will need men like me.

Level 3; Verbs with the dative case [5]: examples from the authors [1]

 [1] invideō, -ēre, invīdī [2]

Ille in sē stupet, ille cālīgat, invidet caecīs. (Seneca) │ Such a man is internally dazed; his vision is darkened [he has poor eyesight]; he envies the blind.

Ego nēminī invideō (Petronius) │ I envy nobody

probus invidet nēminī (Cicero) │ the honest man envies nobody

[2] persuādeō, -ēre, persuāsī [2]

Sīc enim volō tē tibi persuādēre, (Cicero) │ For I want you to convince yourself

sī tōtum tibi persuādēre nōn possum (Cicero) │ if I cannot persuade you entirely

[3] placeō, -ēre, -uī [2]

Hāc rē mihi placet, … tē ad eum scrībere (Cicero)│ Under the circumstances I see no objection (literally: it pleases me) … to you writing to him

[4] studeō, -ēre, -uī [2]

Cupiditāte rēgnī adductus novīs rēbus studēbat (Caesar) │incited by the desire of power, he was anxious for a revolution

Sulpicius Galus, quī maximē omnium nōbilium Graecīs litterīs studuit (Cicero) │ Sulpicius Galus, who most of all the nobles devoted himself to Greek literature

Studuit Catilīnae iterum petentī (Cicero) │ he supported Catiline when he was making a second attempt; note: studeō also has the meaning of siding with somebody

[5] cōnfīdō, -ere, cōnfīsus sum [3/semi-deponent]

Hīs amīcīs sociīsque cōnfīsus Catilīna … opprimundae reī pūblicae cōnsilium cēpit. (Sallust) │ Depending on such accomplices and adherents [= having / put his trust in]  … Catiline formed the design of overthrowing the government.

Huic legiōnī Caesar … cōnfīdēbat maximē. (Caesar)│ Caesar placed the greatest confidence in this legion

vehementer hominem contemnēbat et suīs et reī pūblicae cōpiīs cōnfīdēbat (Cicero) │  (Pompey) had an utter contempt for the man, and firm confidence in his own and the state's resources

Nōlī huic tranquillitātī cōnfīdere: mōmentō mare ēvertitur; eōdem diē ubi lūsērunt nāvigia sorbentur. (Seneca) │ Trust not in this tranquility, for in an instant is the sea turned upside down, and swallowed up are ships on that same day when once they played 

[6] crēdō, crēdere, crēdidī  [3]

crēde mihi … cum quasi tēcum loquor (Cicero) │ Believe me … when I seem to talk with you

Tū mihi nōn crēdis ipsī? (Cicero) │ Don’t you believe me myself?

[7] ignōscō, -ere, ignōvī [3]

Caesar mihi ignōscit per litterās quod nōn vēnerim (Cicero) │ Caesar has written to excuse me for not coming (to Rome); literally: Caesar forgives me by letter that I did not come

[8] nūbō, -ere, nūpsī [3]

Neque ita multō post A. Caecīnae nūpsit (Cicero) │ And not much later she married A. Caecina; nūbō can only refer to the act of a woman marrying a man

[9] resistō, -ere, restitī [3]

Sērō enim resistimus eī (Cicero) │ It is late to resist him; literally: we resist him late

[10] dēsum, dēesse, dēfuī

Domus tibi dēerat? (Cicero) │ Did you lack a house? [literally: was a house lacking to you]

[11] praesum, praeesse, praefuī

Hīs praeerat Viridovix (Caesar) │ Viridovix was in command of them [was at the head of them / was their chief]

[12] prōsum, prōdess, prōfuī

Tua disciplīna nec mihi prōdest nec tibi (Plautus) │ Your discipline benefits neither me nor you

Level 3; Habits of the Massagetae

Video commentary at:

https://youtu.be/BjkI9lHP5WU

He gives quite a lengthy introduction; if you want to go straight to the text then start at 04:41

Ūtuntur Massagetae et vestīmentō et vītae ratiōne similī Scythārum. Equīs pugnant; arcū et hastīs ūtuntur. Ad omnia aurō ūtuntur aut aere. Ad hastās, ad sagittārum cuspidēs āere ūtuntur; ad capītis ōrnātum, et ad lumbōrum cingula, aurō. Argentum et ferrum in eōrum terrā nōn reperiuntur; sed aeris et aurī est immēnsa cōpia. Senēs interficiunt propinquī, et pecudēs cum iīs; coctā carne deinde epulantur. Terrā autem condunt morbō mortuōs. Sēmentem nūllam faciunt: cibus eōrum ex pecoribus, piscibus, lacte, cōnstat. Deōrum ūnum Sōlem colunt: huic equōs immolant. ​

Vocabulary

aes, aeris [3/n]: bronze; copper; brass

cingulum, -ī [2/n]: girdle (encircling the hips); sword-belt

condō, -ere, condidī, conditus [3]: (here) bury

cuspis, -is [3/f]: point, tip (of a pointed object); Engl. deriv. cusp

lumbus, -ī [2/m]: (usually in the plural) loin

propinquus, -a, -um: near / neighbouring; (here plural) propinquī: relatives; relations; family members

ratiō, ratiōnis [3/f]: multiple meanings, but here: manner (way); method

Scytha, -ae [1/m]: Scythian

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Scythian

sēmentis, -is [3/f]: sowing; planting

Questions

[1] In what ways are the Massageteans similar to the Scythians? (2)

[2] How do they fight? (3)

[3] What specific uses are mentioned for:

[i] copper, and [ii] gold? (4)

[4] What information is given about iron and silver? (2)

[5] aeris et aurī est immēnsa cōpia

In what case are the nouns in bold and why is that case being used? (2)

[6] Translate: Senēs interficiunt propinquī, et pecudēs cum iīs; coctā carne deinde epulantur. Terrā autem condunt morbō mortuōs.

[7] What information is given about:

[i] their diet, and [ii] their religious practices? (6)

Notes

[i] two words which are not always easy to distinguish; in reality, various translations are equally acceptable

[a] … et pecudēs cum iīs

pecus, pecudis [3/f]: a single herd animal e.g. a horse or a head of cattle; plural: livestock e.g. sheep, goats

[b] cibus eōrum ex pecoribus … cōnstat

pecus, pecoris [3/n]: usually refers to a group of larger domestic animals such as cattle of sheep i.e. those animals which can pull carts or ploughs

[ii] … morbō mortuōs │ those who have died from a disease; this is an example of the ablative of cause

[iii] Deponent verbs

Both of these verbs are followed by a noun in the ablative case

ūtor, ūtī, ūsus sum [3/dep]: use; make use of

Ad omnia aurō ūtuntur aut aere. │ They use gold or copper for everything.

epulor, -ārī, epulātus sum [1/dep]: banquet; feast upon

Coctā carne … epulantur │ They feast upon … cooked meat

In context, this phrase can also be interpreted as an ablative absolute:

After the meat has been cooked … they have a feast

[iv] Massagetae or Massageteans: an ancient Iranian people who lived on the steppes of Central Asia

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

https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0064:entry=massagetae-geo