This site will include contributions from other writers who are members of the Facebook group: David Amster has been a member of Latin for Learners since the group began and regularly publishes posts on Latin poetry as well as short but powerful excerpts from Latin prose literature. David consistently includes very detailed notes and, for the poetry, excellently produced videos. All of his work is at the Latin for Learners Facebook page, but I am also going to include his contributions here since they are very suitable for the level of Latin on which this site focuses. David's work is reproduced here with his permission.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/619091490702123/
Rēctum iter, quod sērō cog’nōvī et lassus er’randō, ‘aliīs mōnstrō. Clāmō: "vī’tāte quae’cumque vulgō placent, quae cāsus at’tribuit; ad omne fortu’ītum bonum suspīci’ōsī pavi’dīque sub’sistite.***
Seneca, Epistula VIII, 3
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.
Rēctum: the right, straight, correct, proper, true; acc sing neut (rectus)
iter: path, road, way; acc sing neut; direct object of “monstro”
quod: which; acc sing neut
cog’nōvī: I have learned/learned by inquiring, perceived, seen, understood, came to know; 1st p sing perfect (cognosco)
sērō: late, late in the day, in the evening, too late.
et: and
lassus: weary, tired, worn out, exhausted; nom sing masc
er’randō: from/by wandering, going astray, making mistakes; ablative gerund (errandum, erro)
mōnstrō: I show, point out, make known, inform, advise, teach, instruct, tell; 1st p sing
‘aliīs: to others; dative pl masc/fem (alius)
Clāmō: I cry out, shout aloud; 1st p sing
vī’tāte: avoid, shun, seek to escape; 2nd p pl imperative (vito)
quae’cumque: whatever things, whatsoever things; acc pl neut (quicumque)
placent: are pleasing, give pleasure, are approved, are acceptable, suit; 3rd p pl present + dative (placeo)
vulgō: to the crowd, the common people, populace, multitude, rabble; dat sing masc (vulgus)
quae: which (things), things which; acc pl neut
cāsus: chance, fortune, a chance occurrence, accident: nom sing masc
at’tribuit: assigns, bestows, gives; 3rd p sing present (attribuo)
ad: at, towards + acc
omne: every; acc sing neut (omnis)
bonum: good, good thing, advantage, benefit; acc sing neut
fortu’ītum: that takes place by chance or accident, accidental, happening by chance; acc sing neut
suspīci’ōsī:, full of suspicion, mistrustful, suspicious; nom pl masc
(suspiciosus)
pavi’dī-que: and trembling, quaking, fearful, anxious; nom pl masc (pavidus)
-que = and, attached to the 2nd word
sub’sistite: stand still, stop, halt; 2nd p pl imperative (subsisto)
