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

Level 3; Verbs with the dative case [4]: special verbs [3]

Complete the Latin sentences with the verbs listed below; note the endings of the dative case

Forgive me │ [1] __________ mihi

Why do you envy me? │ Cūr mihi [2] __________?

He certainly convinces (persuades) me. │ Prōrsus mihi [3] __________ (Cicero)

Hard punishment and constant sadness will not persuade the queen. │ Dūra poena et perpetua trīstitia rēgīnae nōn [4] __________.

For it neither pleases me nor our Atticus [= it’s neither pleasing to me nor to our Atticus] │ nec enim mihi [5] __________ nec Atticō nostrō (Cicero)

The Romans were unable to oppose Boudica. │ Rōmānī Boudicae [6] __________ nōn poterant.

Tiberius and Gaius didn’t resist [were not opposed to] hard discipline and obeyed Cornelia. │ Tiberius et Gāius disciplīnae dūrae nōn [7] __________ et Cornēliae [8] __________.

Boudica never forgave the Romans. │ Numquam Boudica Rōmānīs [9] __________.

Do you believe the words of the allies? Many do not believe their words. │ [10] __________ verbīs sociōrum? Multī verbīs eōrum nōn [11] __________.

My neighbours will not favour your plan because they are eager for war. │ Meī fīnitimī cōnsiliō tuō nōn [12] __________, quod bellō [13] __________.

Many Romans favoured the commander. │ Multī Rōmānī imperātōrī [14] __________.

Soon the arrows will fly and harm the wretched children. │ Mox sagittae volābunt et līberīs miserīs [15] __________.

At the same time he ordered the third line, and the entire army not to charge without his command │ Simul tertiae aciēī tōtīque exercituī [16] __________, nē iniussū suō concurreret (Caesar)

That friend of mine …is / has become very angry with you. │ ille noster amīcus … sānē tibi [17] __________. (Cicero)

Nobody is free who is a slave to his body. │ Nēmō līber est quī corporī [18] __________. (Seneca)

For Anicia, the cousin of Pomponius, had married Servius, the brother of Sulpicius │ namque Anicia, Pompōniī cōnsōbrīna, [19] __________ Serviō, frātrī Sulpiciī. (Nepos)

Therefore the one has confidence in his case, the other distrusts his. │ itaque alter causae [20] __________, alter [21] __________. (Cicero)

cōnfīdit; crēdisne; crēdunt; diffīdit; favēbant; favēbunt; ignosce; imperāvit; invidēs; īrātus est; nocēbunt; nūpserat; pārēbant; pepercit; persuādēbunt; persuādet; placet; resistēbant; resistere; servit; student

Level 3; The story of Arion [6]

 [A] ____________________

Arīōn citharista praeclārus erat. Is diū apud Periandrum Corinthiōrum rēgem versātus erat. Tum in Ītaliam Siciliamque nāvigāre cupīvit. Ingentibus opibus ibi comparātis, Corinthum redīre voluit. Itaque Tarentō, urbe Ītaliae, profectus est; ibi nāvigium hominum Corinthiōrum condūxerat.

[B] ____________________

Hī autem eum in mare prōicere cōnstituērunt; pecūniā enim potīrī cupiēbant. Tum vērō Arīōn cōnsilium intellēxit. Trīstis ad precēs cōnfūgit. Pecūniā omnī nautīs oblātā, vītam dēprecātus est. Nautae vērō precibus virī nōn commōtī, mortem eī statim minātī sunt.

[C] ____________________

In hās angustiās redāctus Arīōn, in puppī stetit, omnī ōrnātū suō indūtus. Tum ūnum ē carminibus canere incēpit. Nautae suāvī carmine captī ē puppī mediam in nāvem concessērunt. Ille omnī ōrnātū indūtus, captā citharā, carmen perēgit. Cantū perāctō in mare sē prōiēcit. Tum nautae Corinthum nāvigāvērunt.

[D] ____________________

Arīōn autem ā delphīne exceptus dorsō Taenarum dēlātus est. Ēgressus in terram, Corinthum cum eōdem habitū contendit. Ibi nautārum facta nārrāvit. Periander autem eī crēdere nōluit. Arīōn igitur in cūstōdiā ab eō retentus est.

[E] ____________________

Interim nautae Corinthum advēnērunt. Ā Periandrō interrogātī sunt dē Arīone. Turpissimē mentītī sunt omnēs. Subitō Arīōn appāruit cum eōdem ōrnātū. Attonitī nautae scelus cōnfitentur. Ā rēge Periandrō omnēs interfectī sunt, et multum pecūniae Arīonī datum est.

[1] Each section has a title. Match the titles below with the heading [A] – [E] of each section

• ​Arion sings a beautiful song, and leaps overboard.
• Arion is miraculously saved by a dolphin.
• The wicked sailors are detected and punished, and Arion is rewarded.
• The sailors form a plan to rob and murder him.
• Arion, after travelling abroad, hires a vessel to take him home.

[2] Review these are deponent verb forms; find the Latin:

1. having landed / disembarked = having gone out onto the land
2. he begged for his life
3. he desired to possess (money)
4. he had lived (for a long time)
5. he set out (from Tarentum)
6. the sailors confess
7. they all lied (most disgracefully)
8. they threatened him (with death) = they threatened to kill him

[3] Review these passive forms; find the Latin:

1. Arion … was carried away
2. Arion was held ¦ by him ¦ in custody
3. they were questioned ¦ by Periander
4. they were (all) killed ¦ by the king
5. a lot of money was given ¦ to Arion
6. Arion, having been reduced to a state of distress …
7. … the sailors, not moved ¦ by the man’s entreaties …
8. … the sailors, captivated ¦ by the sweet song …
9. … dressed ¦ in all his fine clothing …
10. Astonished, the sailors confess

[4] Review the ablative absolute; find the Latin:

1. after the lyre had been taken up
2. after the song was finished
3. after all his money had been offered ¦ to the sailors
4. with huge riches having been acquired (there)

Level 3; Barbarians [1]

If you want to upset the Romans, this is the best way of going about it …

Maxuma pars tribuum dēditiōnem fēcit et iam tribūta contulit, at nōn iste.

At nōn iste.

Concēdō tibi spem extrēmam, barbare.

Metelle! Tribūs id tamen nōn intellegent. Apud eōs iūs vetat quemquam capite damnārī ab aliō homine.

Iūs vērō Germānicum nūllum. Vērum autem Rōma. Tandem eīs expertō opu’st.

____________________

[1] Maxuma pars tribuum dēditiōnem fēcit ... │ Most of the tribes have surrendered / capitulated …

• deditiō, deditiōnis [3/f]: surrender; capitulation [literally: the majority have made a surrender]
• maxumus, -a, -um = maximus, -a, -um; maxima pars = the biggest part = the majority; the verb fēcit is singular because the verb agrees with the singular noun pars, partis [3/f]
• tribus, -ūs [4/f]: tribe 

[2] … et iam tribūta contulit ... │ …and have already got the (their) tributes together …

• cōnferō, -ferre, -tulī: gather; bring together; collect
• tribūtum, -ī [2/n]: tribute

https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0062:entry=tributum-harpers

[3] … at nōn iste. │ … but not this one.

• iste, ista, istud: he / she / it; that / this (man / woman), this / that one; in Classical Latin this was often used in a negative / pejorative manner, which is appropriate here

[4] At nōn iste. │ But not this one.

[5] Concēdō tibi spem extrēmam, barbare. │ I grant a last hope to you [= I give you one last chance], Barbarian.

• concēdō, -ere, concessī [3]: (here): grant; allow
• extrēmus, -a, -um: last (of time)
• spēs, speī [5/f]: hope

[6] Metelle! Tribūs id tamen nōn intellegent. │ Metellus! Nevertheless, the tribes will not understand it / this.

• barbare / Metelle: vocative case; nouns in -us > -e when the person is being addressed directly

Note: the Latin subtitle gives the line as Tribus id tamen nōn intelleget i.e. singular (the tribe will not understand this) but I’m sure I hear intellegent (plural) which would also make sense since they are receiving tributes from several tribes and he does go on to say apud eōs (among them), but maybe my ears are playing tricks with me; anyway it doesn’t matter because the key point is the concern that this act may be provocative …

Apud eōs iūs vetat quemquam capite damnārī ab aliō homine │Among them the law forbids anybody to be condemned to death by another man. [According to their law …]

• apud (+accusative): at; by; near; among: apud mē = at my house = Fr: chez moi = Gmn: bei mir = Russ: u menya, but it can have a far wider meaning to refer to a group of people and, in this context, what their attitude is or how they do things;  ‘according to their law’ would be a good translation
• damnārī: to be condemned, the  passive infinitive of damnō, -āre [1]: condemn; capite / morte [ablative] damnārī: to be condemned to death
• iūs, iūris [3/n]: law
• quisquam (masc. / fem.) quicquam [or quidquam] (neuter): anybody / anything

[7] Iūs vērō Germānicum nūllum. │ But (there is) no Germanic law.

• nūllus, -a, -um: not any; none; nobody
• vērō: truly; really; in post-positive position i.e. 2^nd position [(i) iūs (ii) vērō] can simply translate as ‘but’

[8] Vērum autem Rōma. │ On the contrary, the reality / truth (is) Rome.

• vērum, -ī [2/n] truth; reality

[9] Tandem eīs expertō opu’st. │ Eventually, they need to have experienced this.

• experior, experīrī, expertus [4/deponent]: put to the test; experience; witness; endure

opu’st is a contraction of opus + est, a reflection of speech where two (almost) adjacent sounds combine

• opus, operis [3/n]: (here) need; necessity

opus esse: to have need (of something); the person who needs it is in the dative case, and what there is a need of is expressed either by the nominative case or, here, the ablative case.

• novō cōnsiliō [ablative] nunc mihi [dative] opus est (Plautus) │ Now I need [literally: to me there is need of] a new plan.
• auxiliō [ablative] mihi [dative] opus fuerat (Cicero) │ I had needed assistance.

eīs [dative] expertō [ablative] opu’st [= opus est]

Level 3; Verbs with the dative case [3]: special verbs [2]

 Complete the translations using the verbs from the previous post; note the endings of the dative case

1. Caesar inimīcīs pepercit │ Caesar __________ (his) enemies
2. Cīvēs sacerdōtibus fīdunt │ the citizens __________ the priests (priestesses)
3. Cursōrēs glaciēī diffīdēbant │ the runners __________ the ice
4. Dōnum frātrī placuit │ the gift __________ (his / her) brother
5. Fēlēs canibus diffīdunt │cats __________ dogs
6. Imperātor nūntiō crēdidit │ the commander __________ the messenger
7. Īrāscor tibi │I __________ you
8. Iūdex sīcāriō nōn ignōscet │ the judge __________ the murderer / assassin
9. Magister puellīs fāvit │ the teacher __________ the girls
10. Mandāta mīlitibus nōn placent │ the orders __________ the soldiers
11. Mātrī favet │ he __________ (his) mother
12. Mīlitibus nōn serviēmus │ we __________ soldiers
13. Mōlēs undīs resistet │the dam __________ the waves
14. Multa nōbīs displicēbant │ many things __________ us
15. Ōrātōrī senātōrēs nōn crēdidērunt │ the senators __________ the speaker
16. Pauperēs dīvitibus nōn invident│ the poor do not __________ the rich
17. Portia Brūtō nūpsit │ Portia __________ Brutus
18. Praestigiātōrēs hospitibus placuērunt │ the conjurors __________ the guests
19. Rēginae fīdēbās │ you __________ the queen
20. Rōmānīs barbarī diū resistēbant │ for a long time the barbarians __________ the Romans
21. Servī dominō parent │ the slaves __________ the master
22. Sociīs nōn persuāsistis │ you __________ the allies
23. Sulla inimīcīs nocuit │ Sulla __________ (his) enemies
24. Vēnātōrēs vestīgiīs cervī studēbant. │ the hunters __________ the stag’s footprints
25. Victōribus invideō │ I __________ the victors
26. Vulpēs pullīs nōn nocēbunt │ the foxes __________ the chickens

Level 3; The story of Arion [5]

Interim nautae Corinthum advēnērunt. Ā Periandrō interrogātī sunt dē Arīone. Turpissimē mentītī sunt omnēs. Subitō Arīōn appāruit cum eōdem ōrnātū. Attonitī nautae scelus cōnfitentur. Ā rēge Periandrō omnēs interfectī sunt, et multum pecūniae Arīonī datum est.

vocabulary

appāreō, -ere, appāruī, appāritus [2]: appear; come into sight

scelus, sceleris [3/n]: wicked deed

questions

1. What did Periander do when the sailors arrived? (2)
2. How did they respond? (2)
3. What suddenly happened? (2)
4. How did the sailors react and what did they do as a result? (2)
5. How did Periander deal with [i] the sailors and [ii] Arion? (2)

notes

[1] turpissimē: superlative adverb < turpis, -e: shameful

[2] deponent verbs

cōnfiteor, cōnfitērī, confēssus sum [2/dep]: confess; admit

mentior, mentīrī, mentītus sum [4/dep]: lie; cheat; deceive

____________________

Meawhile the sailors arrived at Corinth. They were questioned by Periander about Arion. They all lied very shamefully. Suddenly Arion appeared with the same clothing. Astonished the sailors confess the wicked deed. They were all killed by king Periander, and a lot of money was given to Arion.

Level 3: literature: Seneca, Epistula VII, 11; notes by David Amster

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/617962407481698/

Who needs a large audience?! A single sympathetic friend or student is enough.

Ē’gregiē hoc ‘tertium (dictum) Epi’cūrus (dixit), cum ūnī ex cōn’sortibus studi’ōrum su’ōrum ‘scrīberet: "haec," inquit, "ego (dico/scribo) nōn multīs, sed tibi; satis enim magnum alter ‘alterī the’ātrum sumus."***

Seneca, Epistula VII, 11

1. Read the Latin aloud 2-3 times, trying to understand as much as you can.

2. Then read my notes.

3. Read the Latin a few more times, focusing on good pronunciation and reading fluently, without translating.

***Where there are 3 or more syllables, I’ve added an apostrophe before the stressed syllable.

Ē’gregiē: excellently, brilliantly, uncommonly well

hoc: this; acc sing neut (hic)

‘tertium: third; acc sing neut

(dictum): saying; Seneca earlier mentioned “three sayings”.

Epi’cūrus: nom sing masc, subject of understood verb. Greek philosopher, 341–270 BC, founder of the Epicurean school of thought. Seneca was a Stoic (the opposing school) but he greatly admired Epicurus, and often quoted him.

(dixit): said, spoke. Note how economical Seneca is with language, omitting words that can be understood from context.

cum: when

‘scrīberet: he was writing: 3rd p sing imperfect subjunctive (scribo)

ūnī: to one; dative sing masc (unus)

ex: of, from among + abl.

cōn’sortibus: the sharers, colleagues, brothers; abl pl masc/fem (consors)

su’ōrum: of his; gen pl neut (suus)

studi’ōrum: studies, school; gen pl neut (studium)

haec: this things, words; acc pl neut, direct object of implied verb (hic)

inquit: he said; 3rd p sing present or perfect. Indicating a direct quotation.

ego: I; nom sing

(dico/scribo): say, write, intend; understood from context.

nōn: not

multīs: to many (people), for the many, to the masses; dative pl masc/fem (multus)

sed: but

tibi: to you, for you; dative

enim: for

sumus: we are; 1st p pl (sum)

alter: one: nom sing masc

‘alterī: to the other, for the other; dative sing

satis: (a) sufficiently, enough, adequately; adverb

magnum: large; nom sing neut

the’ātrum: theater; nom sing neut. In Classical Latin “TH” is pronounced like a breathy “T”.

Level 3; the story of Arion [4]

Arīōn autem ā delphīne exceptus dorsō Taenarum dēlātus est. Ēgressus in terram, Corinthum cum eōdem habitū contendit. Ibi nautārum facta nārrāvit. Periander autem eī crēdere nōluit. Arīōn igitur in cūstōdiā ab eō retentus est.

vocabulary

contendō, -ere, contendī, contentus [3]: hurry; journey quickly (to a place)

excipiō, -ere, excēpī, exceptus [3-iō]: (here) receive; ā delphīne exceptus dorsō │ having been received by a dolphin on its back = having been taken onto the back of a dolphin

habitus, -ūs [4/m]: dress; attire

retineō, -ēre, retinuī, retentus [2]: detain; restrain; confine

Taenarus, -ī [2/m]: Taenarus, a promontary and town in Laconia, a region in the southern Peloponnese, Greece

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taenarus_(mythology)

questions

1. How was Arion helped? (3)
2. What did Arion do when he reached land? (1)
3. How was he dressed? (1); note: cum eōdem habitū
4. What did Arion recount and how did Periander react? (3)

notes

[1] dē¦ferō, dēferre, dētūlī, dēlātus [3]: carry away

Taenarum dēlātus est │ he was carried away to Taenarus

[2] deponent verbs

ēgredior, ēgredī, ēgressus sum [3-iō/dep]: go out; come out; disembark

An important point always to bear in mind when dealing with the deponent verbs; they look passive in form but they are active in meaning and that also applies to this participle:

Compare:

[i] Passive verbs

Nautae vērō precibus virī nōn commōtī, … │ But the sailors, not moved [passive] by the man’s entreaties …

Nautae suāvī carmine captī … │ The sailors, captivated [passive] by the sweet song …

… omnī ōrnātū suō indūtus … │ … dressed [passive] in all his fine clothing …

Arīōn autem ā delphīne exceptus dorsō │ Arion, however, having been received [passive] by a dolphin onto its back = having been taken onto the back of a dolphin i.e. he was given a ride on the back of a dolphin

Arīōn autem … Taenarum dēlātus est. │ Arion, however, … was carried away [passive] to Taenarus

Arīōn igitur in cūstōdiā ab eō retentus est. │ Arion, therefore, was held [passive] in custody by him

However …

[ii] deponent verbs

Ēgressus in terram … │ Having disembarked [active] (onto the land) …

Is diū … versātus erat │ He had lived [active] for a long time …

…Tarentō … profectus est; │He set out [active] from Tarentum

vītam dēprecātus est │ he begged for [active] (his) life

mortem eī statim minātī sunt │ they immediately threatened [active] him with death

Level 3; Verbs with the dative case [2]: special verbs [1]

The dative with “special verbs” – arguably the vaguest grammatical term in existence!

A number of verbs in Latin are followed by the dative case even though, in English, that isn’t obvious.

Take a look at these two simple sentences in English:

I eat a pizza i.e. subject – verb – direct object; you are doing something to the pizza i.e. it is being affected by you

I envy you i.e. subject – verb – direct object; English would analyse this sentence in exactly the same way as it would the first sentence.

But, pause for a moment, nothing is happening to the person in the second sentence and we could change it to: I am envious of you i.e. I experience envy and you happen to be the person who is receiving that envy, you are the indirect object of the envy which I am giving / showing to you.

These “special verbs” fall into that category:

“In each case the dative indirect object is the person or thing to which a benefit, injury, or feeling is directed” (Dooge)

These verbs can have other meanings and, depending on that meaning, may not always take the dative but, again, this is something to be aware of.

Below is a list of verbs that can be followed by the dative. The list is not exhaustive.

Notice how, when English reworks these concepts by using primarly nouns, the indirect nature of the action is conveyed even if the verb equivalents do not.

[1] imperō, imperāre, imperāvī [1]: command; order (give a command / order to)

servus, -ī [2/m]: slave

mīles, mīlitis [3/m]: soldier

exercitus, -ūs [4/m]: army

• servō dominus imperāvit │ the master ordered the slave (the master gave an order to the slave)
• servīs dominī imperāvērunt │ the masters ordered the slaves (the masters gave orders to the slaves)
• dux mīlitī imperāvit │ the commander ordered the soldier
• dux mīlitibus imperāvit │the commander ordered the soldiers
• exercituī imperāvit │ he commanded the army (he gave an order to the army)

[2] faveō, favēre, fāvī  [2]: favour (show favour to); support

candidātus, -ī [2/m]: candidate

rēgīna, -ae [1/f]: queen

rēx, rēgis [3/m]: king

• candidātō nōn favēmus │ we do not support / are not in favour of the candidate
• cīvēs rēgīnae favēbant │ the citizens favoured / suppported / showed favour to the queen
• cīvēs rēgī favēbunt │ the citizens will favour the king

[3] invideō, invidēre, invīdī [2]: envy (show envy to)

[4] noceō, nocēre, nocuī [2]: injure (do harm to)

[5] pāreō, pārēre, pāruī [2] obey (give obedience to)

[6] persuādeō, persuādēre, persuāsī [2]: (literally: to make sweet / agreeable to); persuade (offer persuasion to)

[7] studeō, studēre, studuī [2]: be eager for (give attention to; to dedicate oneself to)

One of these came up at a very early stage in the group:

[8] placeō, placēre, placuī [2]: to please (be pleasing to)

From the remarkably well preserved Roman author, David Amster in AD2024:

• Quod genus librōrum vōbīs praecipuē placet? │ What type of books do you like [literally: What types of books is pleasing to you?]

And the opposite:

[9] displiceō, displicēre, displicuī [2]: to displease (be displeasing to)

[10] cōnfīdo, cōnfīdere, confīsus sum [3/semi-deponent*]: confide in (somebody)

From Pseudolus (“The Cheat”) by Plautus (191BC):

• Nōn cōnfīdit sȳcophanta hic nūgīs │ This swindler doesn’t rely on nonsense (jokes, trifles)

[11] diffīdō, diffīdere, diffīsus sum [3/semi-deponent*]: distrust (be distrustful of)

[12] fīdō, fīdere, fīsus sum [3/semi-deponent*]: trust (place confidence in; rely upon)

[13] ignōscō, ignōscere, ignōvī [3]: forgive (give pardon to)

[14] īrāscor, īrāscī, īrātus sum [3/deponent]: be angry (show anger towards)

[15] parcō, parcere, pepercī (or parsī) [3]: spare (have mercy for; be lenient to)

[16] resistō, resistere, restitī [3]: resist (offer resistance to)

[17] serviō, servīre, servīvī [4]: be a slave (to); serve

*see: [link]

[18] nūbō, nūbere, nūpsī [3]: (of a woman) to marry (get married to) a man; note: men also married women in Ancient Rome but they didn’t use a special verb!

• Rēx ancillam in mātrimōnium dūxit. │ The king married the maidservant (literally: the king led the maidservant into marriage)

[19] crēdō, crēdere, crēdidī  [3]: believe (give belief to); the German verb glauben and the Russian verb verit’ (believe) can also be followed by the dative case

I don’t believe you ¦ tibi nōn crēdō ¦ Russ: ya tebe ne verju (and you can see that common Indo-European origin which goes way back before Latin)

This verb is a good example of where, depending on context and precise meaning, the dative may not always be used:

Crēdō in ūnum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factōrem caelī et terrae, vīsibilium omnium et invīsibilium. │I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible i.e. the verb is not stating that you believe what a person is saying, but rather it is expressing belief in the existence of something.