Level 3+; Subjunctive [55] dependent uses [3] indirect commands (3); practice [ii]

[1] Complete the Latin translations with the verbs listed below.

[i] The king encourages us to give money to him.

Rēx nōs __________ ut pecūniam eī __________.

[ii] The king encouraged us to give money to him.

Rēx nōs __________ ut eī pecūniam __________.

[iii] Well I neither urge nor ask you to come home anymore.

Ego vērō iam tē nec __________ nec __________ ut domum __________ (Cicero)

[iv] We advised them not to come into the city.

__________ eōs nē in urbem __________

[v] He (1) ordered them (2) to search.

Hīs utī (2) __________ (1) __________

[vi] Let me pass through your land [= I beseech (you) that it may be permitted for me ...]

__________  ut trānsīre mihi __________  per terram tuam. (Vulgate)

[vii] He urgently begged me to go to Laodicea at once.

Magnō opere ā mē __________ ut Laodiceam protinus __________ (Cicero)

rogō; petīvit; obsecrō; monuimus; imperāvit; hortor; hortātus est; hortātur

conquīrerent; darēmus; dēmus; īrem; liceat; redeās; venīrent

[2] Give the Latin translations using one clause from [A] and one from [B]:

[i] He is encouraging me to write to the Senate.

[ii] I beg and pray you to aid him.

[iii] He warns him to avoid all suspicion.

[iv] He ordered his men not to throw back any weapon at all.

[v] But he asked one thing of them: that they should inscribe (it) on his tomb.

[vi] Ariovistus demanded that Caesar bring no foot-soldier to the conference.

[A]

Ariovistus postulāvit

hortātur mē 

monet

sed ūnum ab iīs petīvit

suīs imperāvit

tē rogō atque ōrō

[B]

nē quem peditem ad conloquium Caesar addūceret

nē quod omnīnō tēlum reicerent

ut eum iuvēs

ut in sepulchrō suō īnscrīberent

ut omnēs suspīciōnēs vītet

ut senātū scrībam

____________________

[1]

[i] Rēx nōs hortātur ut pecūniam eī dēmus.

[ii] Rēx nōs hortātus est ut eī pecūniam darēmus.

[iii] Ego vērō iam tē nec hortor nec rogō ut domum redeās (Cicero)

[iv] Monuimus eōs nē in urbem venīrent.

[v] Hīs utī conquīrerent imperāvit (Caesar)

[vi] Obsecrō ut trānsīre mihi liceat per terram tuam. (Vulgate)

[vii] Magnō opere ā mē petīvit ut Laodiceam protinus īrem (Cicero)

[2]

[i] Hortātur mē ut senātū scrībam (Cicero)

[ii] Tē rogō atque ōrō ut eum iuvēs (Cicero)

[iii] Monet ut omnēs suspīciōnēs vītet (Caesar)

[iv] Suīs imperāvit nē quod omnīnō tēlum reicerent (Caesar)

[v] Sed ūnum ab iīs petīvit, ut in sepulchrō suō inscriberent (Nepos)

[vi] Ariovistus postulāvit nē quem peditem ad conloquium Caesar addūceret (Caesar)

Level 3+; Subjunctive [54] dependent uses [3] indirect commands (2); practice [i]

We’ll now take a closer look at the verbs used in the previous post and add a few more.

The term indirect “command” – although one which is used in numerous grammar books – is rather too narrow in its meaning. While ‘command’ can also encompass ‘demands’, this subjunctive use can be extended to, for example, requests, desires, encouragement, prayers, warnings and even begging.

Below are some of the verbs commonly found with this subjunctive use; the verbs have been placed under headings based on (broad) similarity of idea. The list is not exhaustive nor would all lists have the same headings.

asking / requesting / demanding

• rogō, -āre [1]: ask
• petō, -ere [3]: request; seek
• postulō, -āre [1]: demand

With petō and postulō, when the person who is asked / demanded is named ā / ab (abs) + the ablative is used:

Petō abs tē, ut haec dīligenter cūrēs (Cicero)  │ I ask from you  that you take care of these things carefully.

Ā senātū postulāvit ut auxilium mitterētur │ He demanded from the senate that help (should) be sent.

begging

• ōrō, -āre [1]; beg; pray
• obsecrō, -āre [1]: beseech; implore

desiring / urging / persuading / wanting

• hortor, -ārī [1/dep] urge
• volō, velle: want
• persuādeō, -ēre [2]: persuade

With persuādeō, the person being persuaded is in the dative case:

Cīvitātī persuāsit, ut dē fīnibus suīs cum omnibus cōpiīs exīrent (Caesar) │  He persuaded the state to withdraw from their territories with all their forces

deciding / proposing

• cēnseō, -ēre [2]: decree; give an opinion

M. Calidius … cēnsēbat, ut Pompēius in suās prōvinciās proficīscerētur │ M. Calidius … expressed the opinion that Pompeius should go to his own province

• cōnstituō, -ere [3]: decide

Iuvenēs quī convīvere solēbant cōnstituērunt ut in lītore cēnārent (Quintilian)  │ The young men, who were accustomed to live together, decided that they should dine on the shore.

commanding / ordering

• imperō, -āre [1]: order; command
• mandō, -āre [1]: order; entrust

The person who is being ordered or commanded is in the dative case:

Dux lēgātō imperāvit ut ab hostibus pācem peteret. │ The general ordered / gave an order to the envoy to seek peace from the enemy.

Dux mīlitibus imperāvit, ut castra dēfenderent. │ The general ordered / gave an order to the soldiers to defend the camp.

Fīliola tua grātum mihi fēcit, quod tibi dīligenter mandāvit, ut mihi salūtem adscrīberēs (Cicero) │ Your tiny daughter has done me a favour in ordering [ = because she ordered] you earnestly to send me her greetings.

warning

• moneō, -ēre [2]: warn

Practice

Complete the Latin translations with the verbs listed below. Each pair tests the difference between primary and historic tense sequence.

hortor (urge)

[i] The teacher urges the students to work.
Magister discipulōs __________ ut __________.

[ii] The teacher urged the students to work.
Magister discipulōs __________ est ut __________.

rogō (ask)

[iii] The father asks his son to come.
Pater fīlium __________ ut __________.

[iv] The father asked his son to come.
Pater fīlium __________ ut __________.

moneō (warn / advise — positive)

[v] I warn a friend to be silent.
Amīcum __________ ut __________.

[vi] I warned a friend to be silent.
Amīcum  __________ ut __________.

moneō (warn; negative with nē)

[vii] The teacher warns the students not to run.
Magister discipulōs __________ nē __________.

[viii] The teacher warned the students not to run.
Magister discipulōs __________ nē __________.

imperō (order)

[ix] The leader orders the soldiers to fight.
Dux mīlitibus __________ ut __________.

[x] The leader ordered the soldiers to fight.
Dux mīlitibus __________ ut __________.

petō (ask; request)

[xi] The king asks the citizens to give help.
Rēx ā cīvibus __________ ut auxilium __________.

[xii] The king asked the citizens to give help.
Rēx ā cīvibus __________ ut auxilium __________.

rogāvit; rogat; petīvit; petit; monuit; monuī; monet; moneō; imperāvit; imperat; hortātur; hortātus est

currant; currerent; darent; dent; labōrārent; labōrent; pugnārent; pugnent; taceat; tacēret; veniat; venīret

____________________

[i] Rēx nōs hortātur ut pecūniam eī dēmus.

[ii] Rēx nōs hortātus est ut eī pecūniam darēmus.

[iii] Ego vērō iam tē nec hortor nec rogō ut domum redeās (Cicero)

[iv] Monuimus eōs nē in urbem venīrent.

[v] Hīs utī conquīrerent imperāvit (Caesar)

[vi] Obsecrō ut trānsīre mihi liceat per terram tuam. (Vulgate)

[vii] Magnō opere ā mē petīvit ut Laodiceam protinus īrem (Cicero)

[i] Magister discipulōs hortātur ut labōrent.

[ii] Magister discipulōs hortātus est ut labōrārent.

[iii] Pater fīlium rogat ut veniat.

[iv] Pater fīlium rogāvit ut venīret.

[v] Amīcum moneō ut taceat.

[vi] Amīcum monuī ut tacēret.

[vii] Magister discipulōs monet nē currant.

[viii] Magister discipulōs monuit nē currerent.

[ix] Dux mīlitibus imperat ut pugnent.

[x] Dux mīlitibus imperāvit ut pugnārent.

[xi] Rēx ā cīvibus petit ut auxilium dent.

[xii] Rēx ā cīvibus petīvit ut auxilium darent.

Image + Latin tutorial: the short video lists some additional verbs. However, occurrences of those verbs in this context are rare and so the image only focusses on the more common ones.

Level 3+; Subjunctive [53] dependent uses [3] indirect commands (1)

[1] Do that! │ direct command

I want you to do that │ indirect command

In English, an indirect command is constructed with (1) the verb + (2) the direct object of the person + (3) the infinitive of the verb:

(1) I want (2) you / him / them (3) to do that.

(1) He would like (2) me / her (3) to do that.

[2] In other languages this idea is rephrased. Each language uses a conjunction plus a finite verb rather than an infinitive, and both French and Spanish use the subjunctive:

Fr: Je veux ¦ que tu le fasses (subjunctive) │ literally: I want ¦ that you do it.

Sp: Quiero ¦ que lo hagas (subjunctive) │ literally: I want ¦ that you do it.

Neither German nor Russian use the subjunctive but they do use a conjunction and a finite verb:

Gmn: ich will, ¦ dass du es tust (indicative) │ literally: I want ¦ that you do it.

Russ: Ya khochu, ¦ chtoby ty eto sdelal (я хочу, чтобы ты это сделал) │ literally: I want ¦ that you should do that (get it done)

[3] English can imitate this construction although it is formal, distant and somewhat archaic. Note, however, the way in which auxiliary verbs step in.

The king desires that they should not be afraid of him but should trust him, and would receive from him not sorrow but happiness.

[4] From that antiquated English model we can move to the Latin construction.

verb + ut / nē + subjunctive

[i] positive indirect command

(1) Volō ¦ (2) ut (3) dicās vēritātem.

Literally: (1) I want ¦ (2) that (3) you should tell the truth.

= I want you to tell the truth.

• Quid inde aequom est darī mihi? dīmidium volō ¦ ut dīcās. (Plautus)

What is fair for me to be given, then? Half — I want ¦ you to say it.”

[ii] negative indirect command

(1) Moneō ¦ (2) nē (3) faciātis (Cicero)

Literally:  I warn / advise that you should not do it

= I advise / warn you not to do it.

• Ōrō nē nocturnās religiōnēs iocum rīsumque faciātis (Petronius)

I beg you not to make a joke and laughter of the night-time religious rites.

[5] The primary and historic tense sequences apply

[i]  Primary Sequence

• nōn rogō [present indicative] ¦ ut tollās [present subjunctive] eōs dē mundō sed ¦ ut servēs [present subjunctive] eōs ex mālō (Vulgate)

Literally: I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one

= I do not ask you to take them … but to protect them

• Mārcellus mīlitibus persuādet [present indicative] ¦ ut sē recipiant [present subjunctive] in castra (Bellum Alexandrinum)

Literally: Marcellus persuades the soldiers that they should withdraw to the camp.

= Marcellus persuades the soldiers to withdraw to the camp.

• Abs tē ¦ petō [present indicative] ¦ ut mihi hoc ignōscās [present subjunctive] (Cicero)

Literally:  I ask ¦ from you, ¦ that you (may) forgive me for this

= I ask you to forgive …

• Postulō [present indicative]  ¦ ut mihi respondeat [present subjunctive] (Cicero)

I demand ¦ that he replies to me

• Inde tribūnīs centuriōnibusque imperat [present indicative] ¦ ut viam equitibus patefaciant [present subjunctive] (Livy)

Literally: Then he orders / gives a command to the tribunes and centurions ¦ that they should open a way for the cavalry.

= then he orders the tribunes and centurions to open a passage for the cavalry.

• Rogat eōs atque ōrat [present indicative]  ¦ nē oppugnent [present subjunctive] fīlium suum (Cicero)

Literally: He asks and begs them ¦ that they should not attack his son.

= He asks and begs them not to attack …

[ii] Historic Sequence

• Ter Dominum rogāvī [perfect indicative] ut discēderet [imperfect subjunctive] ā mē (Vulgate)

Three times I asked the Lord, that it should leave me.

• Cīvitātī persuāsit [perfect indicative] ¦ ut dē fīnibus suīs cum omnibus cōpiīs exīrent [imperfect subjunctive] (Caesar)

Literally: He persuaded the state ¦ that they should go out of their territories with all their troops

= He persuaded the state to withdraw from their territories with all their forces

• Hominem convēnī et ab eō ¦ petīvī [perfect indicative] ¦ ut quam prīmum tē nōbīs redderet [imperfect subjunctive] (Cicero)

Literally: I met the man and asked ¦ from him ¦ that he should return you to us as soon as possible.

= … and asked him to return you to us …

• Exitū annī Q. Fabius Maximus ā senātū ¦ postulāvit [perfect indicative]  ¦ ut aedem Veneris Erycīnae … dēdicāre licēret [imperfect subjunctive] (Livy)

Literally: Towards the close of the year Q. Fabius Maximus asked ¦ from the Senate ¦ that it be permitted to dedicate the temple of Venus Erycina

= …asked the Senate to allow him …

• Fīnitimīs imperāvit [perfect indicative] ¦ ut ab iniūriā et maleficiō sē suōsque prohibērent [imperfect subjunctive] (Caesar)

Literally: He commanded / gave an order to the neighbouring peoples ¦ that they should keep themselves and their people from injury and wrongdoing

= He ordered the neighbouring peoples to keep …

• Tunc Ēlias ōrāvit [perfect indicative] ¦ nē plueret [imperfect subjunctive] super terram, … (Mediaeval: Geoffrey of Monmouth referring to the biblical account)

Literally: Then Elijah prayed ¦ that it should not rain upon the earth

= Then Elijah prayed for it not to rain …

However, if we continue that sentence, it is a very good illustration of the same verb being used in (1) the subjunctive and (2) the indicative, and clearly shows the thinking that underpins the two moods.

• Tunc Ēlias ōrāvit (1) nē plueret super terram, ¦¦ et (2) nōn pluit annōs trēs et mēnsēs sex.

(1) Then Elijah prayed that it would not rain; La: subjunctive – this is something that he wanted to happen, but, at the point when the action took place, it was not yet fullfilled

(2) …and it did not rain for three years and six months; La: indicative – factual – it did happen

Sometimes, a single sentence can convey what “lies beneath” subjunctive usage.

Level 3 (review); a Second Latin Reader (Vincent) [14]: a Roman victory

Language focus: accusative and infinitive

Caesar per explorātōrēs certior factus est [1] Helvētiōs ratibus et nāvibus flūmen Ararim trānsīre. Ubi Caesar pervēnit, trēs partēs hostium trānsierant, quārta pars citrā flūmen reliqua erat. Magnus numerus eōrum est interfectus: reliquī sē fugae mandāvērunt atque in proximās silvās fūgērunt. Inde exercitus Rōmānus est trāductus. Helvētiī subitō adventū Rōmānōrum territi lēgātōs ad Caesarem mīsērunt. Caesar obsidēs darī iussit. Divicō, princeps lēgātōrum, respondit [2] Helvētiōs obsidēs accipere, nōn dare, cōnsuēvisse.

____________________

Caesar was informed by scouts [1] that the Helvetii were crossing the river Arar by rafts and boats. When Caesar arrived, three parts of the enemy had crossed; a fourth part remained on this side of the river. A great number of them were killed; the rest took to flight and fled into the nearest woods. From there the Roman army was led across. The Helvetii, terrified by the sudden arrival of the Romans, sent envoys to Caesar. Caesar ordered hostages to be given. Divico, the leader of the envoys, replied [2] that the Helvetii were accustomed to accepting hostages, not to giving them.

____________________

[1]

Caesar per explorātōrēs certior factus est (1) Helvētiōs … (2) trānsīre.

Caesar was informed by scouts (1) that the Helvetii (2) were crossing …

[2]

Divicō … respondit (1) Helvētiōs obsidēs accipere, nōn dare, (2) cōnsuēvisse.

Divico, the leader of the envoys, replied (1) that the Helvetii (2) were accustomed …

____________________

LINKS

All posts: https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/indirect%20statement

[1]: present active infinitive

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/10/311225-level-3-indirect-statement.html

[2]: perfect active infinitive

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/120126-level-3-indirect-statement.html

Level 3+; Subjunctive [52] passive forms [iv] perfect / pluperfect passive; perfect / pluperfect active of deponent verbs

[1] Image #1: the [i] perfect passive and [ii] pluperfect passive indicative, which were discussed in depth in earlier posts, are formed with the perfect passive participle + [i] the present tense of esse and [ii] the imperfect tense of esse

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

[i] Perfect Passive Participle

vocātus, -a, -um: having been called

+ present tense of esse, the PPP agreeing with the subject in gender and number

= perfect passive indicative, for example:

vocātus [m], vocāta [f] sum: I was / have been called

vocātus [m], vocāta [f] es:  you (sg.) were / have been called

vocātus [m], vocāta [f], vocātum [n] est: he / she / it has been called

vocātī [m.pl.], vocātae [f.pl] sumus: we were / have been called

vocātī [m.pl.], vocātae [f.pl] estis: you (pl.) were / have been called

vocātī [m.pl.], vocātae [f.pl], vocāta [n.pl]: they were / have been called

[ii] Perfect Passive Participle

vocātus, -a, -um: having been called

+ imperfect tense of esse, the PPP agreeing with the subject in gender and number

= pluperfect passive indicative, for example:

vocātus [m], vocāta [f] eram: I had been called

vocātus [m], vocāta [f] erās:  you (sg.) had been called

vocātus [m], vocāta [f], vocātum [n] erat: he / she / it had been called

vocātī [m.pl.], vocātae [f.pl] erāmus: we had been called

vocātī [m.pl.], vocātae [f.pl] erātis: you (pl.) had been called

vocātī [m.pl.], vocātae [f.pl], vocāta [n.pl] erant: they had been called

Image #2: to form [i] the perfect and [ii] pluperfect passive subjunctive we use:

[i] the present subjunctive of esse (sim, sīs, sit, sīmus, sītis, sint) + the perfect passive participle, agreeing in gender and number with the subject

[ii] the imperfect subjunctive of esse (essem, essēs, esset, essēmus, essētis, essent) + the perfect passive participle, , agreeing in gender and number with the subject

[i] Perfect passive indicative: vocātus sum

> Perfect passive subjunctive: vocātus sim

[ii] Pluperfect passive indicative: vocātus eram

> Pluperfect passive subjunctive: vocātus essem

[2] Image #3: All of the above also applies to deponent verbs which, although passive in form, are active in meaning.

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/01/070425-level-3-deponent-verbs-9-perfect.html

For the deponents, we take the third principal part (hortor, hortārī, hortātus) + the present or the imperfect subjunctive of esse:

hortātus sum │ I (have) encouraged

horātus eram │ I had encouraged

In the subjunctive, these become:

hortātus sim

hortātus essem

audeō, audēre, ausus sum (2/semi-deponent): dare

Tantum opēs crēverant, ut movēre arma, nec Mezentius, neque ūllī aliī accolae ausī sint (Livy adapted) │ “Their strength had grown so much that neither Mezentius nor any other neighbor dared to move a weapon.”

All of the examples are in result clauses since that is one of the uses already discussed at this stage. These forms occur in many other uses and so you need to be familiar with them. They will, however, be dealt with more fully when other uses are introduced.

[a] present passive subjunctive in primary sequence

Tanta est fāma cōnsulis ut ab omnibus laudātus sit. │ The consul’s fame is so great that he has been praised by everybody.

Tam aeger est puer ut ā medicō nōn cūrātus sit. │ The boy is so sick that he has not been treated by the doctor.

Tam dīligenter labōrat ut omnia opera parāta sint. │ He works so diligently that all the works have been prepared.

[b] pluperfect passive subjunctive in historic sequence

Dominus adeō saevus erat ut ā servīs necātus esset. │ The master was so cruel that he had been killed by the slaves.

Senex aurum ita cēlāverat ut ā fīliīs nōn inventum esset.│ The old man had hidden the gold in such a way that it had not been found by (his) sons.

Tanta fūērat clādēs ut signa captāta essent. │ The defeat had been so great that the standards had been captured.

Tanta erat virtūs mīlitum ut hostēs superātī essent. │ The courage of the soldiers was so great that the enemies had been defeated.

Comenius (1658) XXXV; Sea-fish and Shell-fish … and fish that ‘flie’ (4) from the authors; Pliny the Elder’s Natural History [4]

[v] Piscium sanguine carent dē quibus dicēmus. sunt autem tria genera: prīmum quae mollia appellantur, dein contēcta crustīs tenuibus, postrēmō testis conclūsa dūrīs. mollia sunt lollīgō, saepia (sēpia), polypus et cētera generis eius.

Piscium sanguine carent dē quibus dicēmus,│ There are some fish that lack blood, of which we will speak,

sunt autem tria genera: │ but there are three kinds: 

prīmum quae mollia appellantur, │ first, those which are called soft-bodied;

dein contēcta crustīs tenuibus │ next, those covered with thin crusts;

postrēmō testīs conclūsa dūrīs. │ and finally, those enclosed in hard shells.

mollia sunt │ The soft-bodied ones are

lollīgō, │ the squid

saepia (sēpia), │  the cuttlefish,

polypus │ the octopus,

et cētera generis eius. │ and others of that kind.”

[vi] ideō pinnārum quoque fīunt discrīmina, quae pedum vice sunt datae piscibus nūllīs suprā quaternās, quibusdam bīnae, aliquis nūllae. bīnae omnīnō longīs et lūbricīs, ut anguillīs et congrīs, aliīs nūllae, ut mūrēnīs, quibus nec branchiae. … et ē plānīs aliqua nōn habent pinnās, ut pastinācae … et quae mollia appellantur, ut polypī, quoniam pedēs illīs pinnārum vicem praestant.

ideō pinnārum quoque fīunt discrīmina, │ Therefore, distinctions are also made among fins,

pinna, -ae [1/f]: fin, although far more usually an alternative form of penna, -ae [1/f]: feather

quae pedum vice sunt datae piscibus nūllīs suprā quaternās, quibusdam bīnae, aliquis nūllae │ which in place of feet have been given to fish, none (have) more than four, some have two, some have none

vice [+ gen.]: in place (of)

bīnae omnīnō longīs et lūbricīs, ut anguillīs et congrīs, │ long and slippery (fish / ones), such as eels and conger eels, have two in all

conger, congrī [2/m]: conger eel

lūbricus, -a, -um: slippery; slimy 

aliīs nūllae, ut mūrēnīs, quibus nec branchiae. │ others, like moray eels, have none, and nor do they have gills

branchia, -ae [1/f] (usually plural branchiae) gills

et ē plānīs aliqua nōn habent pinnās, ut pastinācae │ and among flat (fishes), some have no fins such as the stingrays

et quae mollia appellantur, ut polypī, │ and those which are called soft, such as the octopuses,

quoniam pedēs illīs pinnārum vicem praestant. │ Literally: because the feet provide for them the the function of fins = because their feet serve them instead of fins.

vicis, -is [3/f]: (here) duty (of one person assumed by another)

[vii] Plūrima autem et maxima animālia in Indicō marī, ex quibus ballaenae quaternum iūgerum, … quippe ubi locustae quaterna cubita impleant, anguillae quoque in Gange amne trīcēnōs pedēs. │ But the greatest number and largest animals (are) in the Indian Ocean; among them are whales covering four iugera of space… where even lobsters reach four cubits in length, and eels in the river Ganges thirty feet.

iūgerum, -ī [2/n]: a juger / iuger, Roman measurement of land equalling approx. ¼ hectare

Level 3 (review); a Second Latin Reader (Vincent) [13]: Appeals for help

Language focus: accusative and infinitive

Inde lēgātī et ab Aeduīs et a cēterīs gentibus ad Caesarem sunt missī. Lēgātī Aeduōrum dixērunt [1] sē diū fuisse amīcōs populī Rōmānī; [2] iam suōs agrōs ab hostibus vastārī, [3] līberōs abdūcī, [4] oppida expugnārī. Eōdem tempore Ambarri Caesarem certiōrem fēcērunt [5] agrōs vastārī [6] nec impetuī hostium sē resistere posse. Allobrogēs etiam sē a fīnibus expellī nuntiāvērunt. Caesar igitur Aeduīs et eōrum sociīs sine morā subvenīre cōnstituit.

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Then envoys both from the Aedui and from the other tribes were sent to Caesar. The envoys of the Aedui said [1] that they had long been friends of the Roman people; [2] now their fields were being devastated by the enemy, [3] the children were being carried off, and [4] the towns were being stormed. At the same time, the Ambarri informed Caesar [5] that the fields were being ravaged and [6] they could not withstand the assault of the enemy. The Allobroges also reported [7] that they were being driven from their territory. Caesar therefore resolved to bring aid to the Aedui and their allies without delay.

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Lēgātī Aeduōrum dixērunt …

The envoys of the Aedui said …

[1]

(1) sē diū (2) fuisse amīcōs ¦ populī Rōmānī;

[that] (1) they (2) had long been friends ¦ of the Roman people;

[2]

iam (1) suōs agrōs ab hostibus (2) vastārī,

[that] now (1) their fields (2) were being devastated by the enemy,

[3]

(1) līberōs (2) abdūcī,

[that] (1) the children (2) [were being] carried off,

[4]

(1) oppida (2) expugnārī.

and [that] (1) the towns (2) [were being] stormed.

Eōdem tempore Ambarri Caesarem certiōrem fēcērunt …

At the same time, the Ambarri informed Caesar …

[5]

(1) agrōs (2) vastārī

that (1) the fields (2) were being ravaged

[6]

nec impetuī hostium (1) sē resistere (2) posse.

nor (2) could (1) they withstand the assault of the enemy [ = and they were not able to …]

[7]

Allobrogēs etiam (1) sē a fīnibus (2) expellī ¦ nuntiāvērunt.

The Allobroges also reported ¦ [that] (1) they (2) were being driven from their territory.

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LINKS

All posts: https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/indirect%20statement

[1]: perfect active infinitive

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/120126-level-3-indirect-statement.html

predicative nominative

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/10/231225-level-3-indirect-statement.html

[2] – [5] and [7]: present passive infinitive

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/10/060126-level-3-indirect-statement.html

[6]: present active infinitive

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/10/311225-level-3-indirect-statement.html