Level 3; the ablative absolute [12]: practice (4)

Complete the Latin translations with the words listed below. Note the different ways the ablative absolute construction can be conveyed in English.

1. The teacher got angry because the boy was shouting in school. │ __________ in ludō __________, magister īrātus factus est.
2. Since the boys are shouting in school the teacher is getting angry. │ __________ in ludō __________, magister īrātus fit.
3. As the thief is running away, Sextus shouts in a loud voice. │ __________ __________, Sextus magnā vōce clamat.
4. With Titus greeting (them), the boys enter the changing room. │ __________ __________, puerī in apodyterium ineunt.
5. Since Caesar is coming, everybody is afraid. │ __________ __________, omnēs timent.
6. Although the leader is encouraging his soldiers, the enemies are coming. │ __________ mīlitēs eius __________, hostēs veniunt.
7. While the soldier was watching the river, the enemies seized the camp. │ __________ flūmen __________, hostēs castra cēpērunt.

aspiciente; Caesare; clamante; clamantibus; confugiente; duce; fūre; hortante; mīlite; puerīs; puerō; salūtante; Titō; veniente

____________________

1. Puerō in ludō clamante, magister īrātus factus est.
2. Puerīs in ludō clamantibus, magister īrātus fit.
3. Fūre confugiente, Sextus magnā vōce clamat.
4. Titō salūtante, puerī in apodyterium ineunt.
5. Caesare veniente, omnēs timent.
6. Duce mīlitēs eius hortante, hostēs veniunt.
7. Mīlite flūmen aspiciente, hostēs castra cēpērunt.

Level 3; the ablative absolute [11]: practice (3)(ii)

Here are the same ablative absolute phrases again but, this time, as part of complete sentences. Complete the Latin translations with the words below.

1. As the sun was rising, the lady summoned her maidservants. │ __________ __________, mātrōna ancillās arcessīvit.
2. As the prisoner was running in the street, all the citizens were terrified. │ __________ in viā __________, omnēs cīvēs terrēbantur.
3. Because I am strong [with my being strong], my boys do not fear the darkness. │ __________ __________, puerī meī nōn timent tenebrās.
4. Since he was weeping, there was nothing that we had been able do. │ __________ __________, erat nihil, quod potuerāmus facere.
5. Since the soldiers are fortifying the camp, we will be saved. │__________ castra __________, servābimur.
6. While the enemies were going through the streets of the country, the people of the towns and cities were silent. │ __________ per viās terrae __________, populī oppidōrum urbiumque tacuērunt.
7. While the guards were sleeping, Ulysses captured the horses │ __________ __________, Ulixēs equōs cēpit.
8. With the citizens talking / While the citizens are talking, I cannot hear you. │ __________ __________, tē audīre nōn possum.
9. With the queen seeing the danger, the soldiers destroyed her temple. │ __________ perīculum __________, mīlitēs templum eius dēlēvērunt.

captīvō; cīvibus; currente; cūstōdibus; dormientibus; eō; euntibus; flente; inimīcīs; loquentibus; mē; mīlitibus; mūnientibus; oriente; rēgīnā; sōle; valente; vidente

____________________

1. Sōle oriente mātrōna ancillās arcessīvit.
2. Captīvō in viā currente, omnēs cīvēs terrēbantur.
3. Mē valente, puerī meī nōn timent tenebrās.
4. Eō flente, erat nihil, quod potuerāmus facere.
5. Mīlitibus castra mūnientibus, servābimur.
6. Inimīcīs per viās terrae euntibus, populī oppidōrum urbiumque tacuērunt.
7. Cūstōdibus dormientibus, Ulixēs equōs cēpit.
8. Cīvibus loquentibus tē audīre nōn possum.
9. Rēgīnā perīculum vidente, mīlitēs templum eius dēlēvērunt.

Level 3; the ablative absolute [10]: practice (3)(i)

Translate the ablative absolute phrases literally i.e. with X ¦ Y-ing

1. puerō ¦ dormiente │ with the boy sleeping
2. captīvō in viā currente
3. cūstōdibus dormientibus
4. cīvibus loquentibus
5. sōle oriente
6. rēgīnā perīculum vidente
7. inimīcīs per viās euntibus
8. mē valente
9. eō flente
10. mīlitibus castra mūnientibus
11. leōne adveniente ¦ omnēs cīvēs fugiunt.

____________________

1. with the captive / prisoner running in the street
2. with the guards sleeping
3. with the citizens talking
4. with the sun rising
5. with the queen seeing the danger
6. with the enemies going through the streets
7. with me / my being strong
8. with him weeping
9. with the soldiers fortifying the camp
10. with the lion approaching, all the citizens flee

Level 3; the Labours of Hercules; [V] The Arcadian Stag and the Erymanthian Boar

[V] THE ARCADIAN STAG AND THE ERYMANTHIAN BOAR

Postquam Eurystheō mors Hydrae nūntiata est, summus terror animum eius occupāvit. Itaque iussit Herculem capere et ad sē reportāre cervum quendam; nam minimē cupīvit tantum virum in rēgnō suō tenere. Hic autem cervus dīcēbātur aurea cornua et pedēs multō celeriōrēs ventō habēre. Prīmum Herculēs vestigia animālis petīvit, deinde, ubi cervum, ipsum vidit, omnibus vīribus currere incēpit. Per plūrimōs diēs contendit nec noctū cessāvit. Dēnique postquam per tōtum annum cucurrerat — ita dīcitur — cervum iam dēfessum cēpit et ad Eurystheum portāvit.

Tum vērō iussus est Herculēs aprum quendam capere quī illō tempore agrōs Erymanthiōs vāstābat et hominēs illīus locī magnopere perterrēbat. Herculēs laetē negōtium suscēpit et in Arcadiam celeriter sē recēpit. Ibi mox aprum repperit. Ille autem, simul atque Herculem vidit, statim quam celerrimē fugit et metū perterritus in fossam altam sēsē abdidit. Herculēs tamen summā cum difficultāte eum extrāxit, nec aper ūllō modō sēsē liberāre potuit, et vīvus ad Eurystheum portātus est.

[1] Itaque (Eurystheus) iussit Herculem … ad sē reportāre cervum quendam │ Therefore, (Eurystheus) ordered Hercules … to bring a certain stag back to him; the reflexive pronoun sē is used since Eurystheus want the stag brought back to himself.

celeriter sē recēpit │ literally: he took himself back = he withdrew / retreated

sēsē abdidit │ hid itself; nec aper … sēsē liberāre potuit │ nor was the boar able to free itself

sēsē = sē

More information on reflexive pronouns:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/08/280924-level-2-ora-maritima-24-and-25-7.html

[2] cervus dīcēbātur … habēre │ the stag was said ¦ to have

[3] pedēs [i] multō celeriōrēs ¦ [ii] ventō │ feet [i] much faster ¦ [ii] than the wind

[i] ablative of degree of difference

[ii] ablative of comparison

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/110623-level-3-summary-of-of-uses-of.html

[4] quam celerrimē fugit │ he fled as quickly as possible

quam + superlative adverb = as [quickly, slowly etc.] as possible

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/10/111224-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-21.html

[5] vestīgium, -ī [2/n]: footprint; trace; track (of an animal)

[6] suscipiō, -ere, suscēpī, susceptus [3-iō]: undertake

[7] summā cum difficultāte │ with the greatest difficulty; ablative of manner:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/210525-level-3-summary-of-of-uses-of_37.html

Level 3; the ablative absolute [9]: with the present active participle

So far, we have looked at the ablative absolute with the perfect passive participle expressing ‘after / when / since something was / has been / had been done’. However, the ablative absolute can also be used with the present active participle which conveys two actions happening at the same time. The literal translation is with X ¦ Y-ing but, as before, there are more fluent alternatives.

• with [1] the boy ¦ [2] sleeping

[i] Begin with the nominative singular:

[1] boy [2] sleeping

> [1] puer [2] dormiēns i.e. the present active participle from the verb dormiō, -īre: sleep

[ii] Transfer both words into the ablative case:

> [1] puerō [2] dormiente = ablative absolute = literally: with X ¦ Y-ing = with the boy sleeping = while (since) the boy is / was sleeping

[i] Puerō dormiente, ¦ [ii] servus pecūniam abstulit. │ [i] With the boy sleeping / while (since) the boy was sleeping ¦ [ii] the slave stole the money.

The participle ends in -e rather than -ī in the ablative singular.

• with [1] the boys ¦ [2] sleeping

[i] Begin with the nominative singular:

[1] boys [2] sleeping

> [1] puerī [2] dormientēs i.e. the present active participle from the verb dormiō, -īre: sleep

[ii] Transfer both words into the ablative case:

> [1] puerīs [2] dormientibus = ablative absolute = literally: with X ¦ Y-ing = with the boy sleeping = while (since) the boy is / was sleeping

[ii] Puerīs dormientibus ¦ [ii] servus pecūniam abstulit. │ [i] With the boys sleeping / while (since) the boys were sleeping ¦ [ii] the slave stole the money.

Again, tense sequence will come into play in translation:

[i] Dominō dormiente ¦ [ii] servī effugiunt │ [i] With the master sleeping / while (since) the master is sleeping, [ii] the slaves escape.

[i] Dominō dormiente ¦ [ii] servī effūgērunt│ [i] With the master sleeping  / while (since) the master was sleeping, [ii] the slaves escaped.

Examples giving different possible translations; note the tense sequences in the translations in the last three examples.

1. Servō in agrō labōrante … │ While the slave is / was working in the field …
2. Feminā epistulam scribente … │While / since / although the woman is / was writing a letter …
3. Canibus in viā lātrantibus …    │ Because the dogs are / were barking in the street …
4. Senātōribus ōrātiōnem Cicerōnis audientibus … │ As the senators are / were listening to Cicero’s speech …
5. Agricolīs pontem trānseuntibus…. │ Since the farmers are / were crossing the bridge …
6. Puerō lacrimante, pater nihil facit. │ Although the boy is crying, the father does nothing.
7. Ancillā cēnam parante, domina in cubiculō dormiēbat. │ While the maid was preparing dinner, the mistress was sleeping in the bedroom.
8. Multīs hostibus urbem oppugnantibus cīvēs fortēs dē salūte nōn dēspērāvērunt. │ Although many enemy were attacking the city, the brave citizens did not despair of (their) safety.

Level 3; the ablative absolute [8]: tense sequences

The absolute construction + perfect passive participle refers to an action which took place before the action of the main verb. Regardless of the tense of the main verb in Latin, the absolute construction will always be the same. This, however, is not the case  when translating the phrase into English since English sequences the tenses. This is not obvious if the basic “with X having been Y-ed” construction is maintained, but it will be obvious if a relative clause is used.

• Urbe captā, hostēs templa dēlēvērunt.

> With the city having been captured, the enemy destroyed the temples.

> After the city had been captured, the enemy destroyed the temples.

• Verbīs poētae audītīs, puerī fēlīcēs erant.

> With the words of the poet having been heard, the boys were happy.

> After the words of the poet had been heard, the boys were happy.

But the translation of the ablative absolute may not be the equivalent of an English past perfect tense i.e. had:

• Librō populō scrīptō, omnēs nōbilēs auctōrem laudant.

> With the book having been written for the people, the nobles praise the author.

> Since the book was / has been written for the people, the nobles praise the author.

• Praedā istīus agricolae inventā, agrī tibi erunt.

With that farmer’s loot having been found, you will have the fields.

> Because that farmer’s loot was / has been found, you will have the fields.

• Aliquis ad āram templī nōs dūcet, auxiliō dē deīs petītō.

> Somebody will lead us to the altar with help from the gods having been asked for.

> Somebody will lead us to the altar of the temple, because help from the gods was / has been asked for.

• Negōtiō factō, nunc domī sumus.

> With the task having been done, we are now at home.

> Since the task was / has been done, we are now at home.

Level 3; the ablative absolute [7]: to whom does it refer?

[1] (After) having read the letter [2] she was very touched.

[1] can only refer to [2] i.e. the subject of the sentence.

Now look at a similar sentence in Latin:

[1] Litterīs acceptīs ¦ [2] imperātor valdē īrātus est.

= [1] with the letter having been received, [2] the general got really angry

= [1] after / when / since the letter had been received, [2] the general got really angry

There is no grammatical connection between [1] and [2]; there is no implication that it was the general who received it. Context, however, may allow such a translation. In the first two examples below (both quoted in Dickinson), the ablative absolute is obviously referring to Caesar even though that is not directly stated:

Caesar, acceptīs litterīs, nūntium mittit (Caesar) │ Having received the letter [literally: with the letter having been received], Cæsar sends a messenger.

Quibus rēbus cōgnitīs Caesar apud mīlitēs cōntiōnātur (Caesar) │ Having learned this [literally: with these thing having been learned], Cæsar makes a speech to the soldiers.

Look, however, at the following examples:

Urbe dēlētā, cīvēs fūgērunt.

**Having destroyed the city** the citizens fled.” It is highly unlikely that the citizens destroyed their own city! Therefore, the original translation of the ablative absolute – with no connection to the subject – would be the appropriate one:

• When / after / since the city had been destroyed, the citizens fled.
• The city had been destroyed and the citizens fled.

Equō vēnditō agricola domum rediit.

This is a good example where it is down to context:

[1] Either: After / when / since the horse had been sold, the farmer returned home. / The horse had been sold and the farmer returned home.

[2] Or: Having sold the horse, the farmer returned home.

In general, when translating the ablative absolute – especially when you are still getting to grips with it – it is better to stick with [1] because [1] is always correct whereas [2] could be a misinterpretation of the Latin.

Level 3; the Labours of Hercules; [IV] Slaying the Lernean Hydra

[IV] SLAYING THE LERNEAN HYDRA

Deinde Herculēs ab Eurystheō iussus est Hydram occīdere. Itaque cum amicō Iōlāō contendit ad palūdem Lernaeam ubi Hydra incolēbat. Hoc autem mōnstrum erat serpēns ingēns quae novem capita habēbat. Mox is mōnstrum repperit et summō cum perīculō collum eius sinistrā manū rapuit et tenuit. Tum dextrā manū capita novem abscidere incēpit, sed frustra labōrābat, quod quotiēns hoc fēcerat totiēns alia nova capita vidēbat. Quod ubi vidit, statuit capita ignī cremāre. Hōc modō octō capita delēvit, sed extrēmum caput vulnerārī nōn potuit, quod erat immortāle. Itaque illud sub ingentī saxō Herculēs posuit et ita victōriam reportāvit.

[1] Iōlaō, abl. of Iolaus, the hero's best friend.

[2] palūs, palūdis [3/f]: marsh; swamp

[3] reperiō, -īre, repperī, repertus [4]: find (out); discover

[4] … quotiēns hoc fēcerat totiēns alia nova capita vidēbat.

… however often / however many times (whenever) he did that, just as often he would see other new heads.

[5] … quotiēns hoc fēcerat totiēns alia nova capita vidēbat. Quod ubi vidit, … │ … however many times he did that, just as often he would see other new heads. And when he saw that, ….

Refer to the previous post on connecting relatives; quod is not related to a specific person or thing in the previous sentence but to the action described i.e. the continual regrowth of the heads.

[6] extrēmum caput vulnerārī nōn potuit │ the furthest head could not be injured

vulnerarī: passive infinitive

Level 3; the ablative absolute [6]: practice (2)

These examples show the way in which the ablative absolute phrase can be extended by the use of adjectives or demonstratives modifying the noun, or by phrases indicating, for example, where the action took place or when it took place or by whom it was done example:

cēterīs urbis captīs │ since the remaining cities have been captured

pecūniā in hortō inventā│when the money had been found in the garden

Urbe ab hostibus captā, Rōmānī discessērunt. │ with the city having been captured by the enemy, the Romans departed

Translate into English:

1. [Hīs rēbus | cognitīs], Caesar equitātum revocāvit.
2. [Cēterīs urbibus | captīs], Troiam ipsam mox capiēmus.
3. [Cēnā magnā | parātā], omnēs amīcī laetissimī erant.
4. [Pecūniā | in hortō | cēlātā], servī statim fūgērunt.
5. [Vestīmentīs | ā fūre | trāditis], puerī domum iērunt.
6. [Lūdīs │ in palaestrā │confectīs] │in tepidārium intrāvērunt.
7. [Fūre | ā Sextō | trāditō], dominus ē thermīs statim exiit.

____________________

1. After these things had been known, Caesar called back the cavalry
2. Since the other cities have been captured, we will soon capture Troy itself.
3. Because a large dinner had been prepared, all the friends were very happy.
4. The money having been hidden in the garden, the slaves immediately fled.
5. Once the clothes had been handed over by the thief, the boys went home.
6. Sports having been completed in the exercise area, they entered into the warm room.
7. After the thief had been handed over by Sextus, the master immediately went out from the baths.

Level 3; the ablative absolute [5]: practice (1)

Translate into English, and take note of question [9] i.e. a deponent verb and so the ablative absolute is not expressed by a passive but active i.e. “having done (something)”

1. Caesar, acceptīs litterīs, nūntium mīsit.
2. Mīlitibus convocātīs imperātor haec verba dīxit.
3. Rōmulus signō datō iuvenēs puellās rapere iussit.
4. Equō vēnditō agricola domum rediit.
5. Horātius in aquam ponte dēlētō cum omnibus armīs dēsiluit.
6. Rēge vīctō, patria lībertātem accēpit.
7. Duce interfectō, hostēs dēspērābant.
8. Victōriā nūntiātā, epistulam patrī mīsimus.
9. Nūntiō locūtō portae apertae sunt.

____________________

Other translations are possible, but the key point is to convey that one action took place before the other.

1. After the letter had been received, Caesar sent a messenger.
2. Once the soldiers had been called together, the general said these words.
3. The signal having been given, Romulus ordered the young men to seize the girls.
4. Since the horse had been sold, the farmer returned home.
5. When the bridge had been destroyed, Horatius slipped into the water with all his armour.
6. Because the king had been conquered, the country received freedom.
7. The leader having been killed, the enemy were in despair.
8. After the victory had been announced, we sent a letter to our father.
9. Once the messenger had spoken, the gates were opened.

Level 3; the Labours of Hercules; [III] Hercules becomes subject to Eurystheus; he strangles the Nemean lion

[III] HERCULES BECOMES SUBJECT TO EURYSTHEUS; HE STRANGLES THE NEMEAN LION

Itaque Herculēs Pȳthiae tōtam rem dēmōnstrāvit nec scelus suum abdidit. Ubi iam Herculēs finem fēcit, Pȳthia iussit eum ad urbem Tiryntha discēdere et ibi rēgī Eurystheō sēsē committere. Quae ubi audīvit, Herculēs ad illam urbem statim contendit et Eurystheō sē in servitūtem trādidit et dīxit, "Quid prīmum, Ō rēx, mē facere iubēs?"

Eurystheus, quī perterrēbātur vī et corpore ingentī Herculis et eum occīdī studēbat, ita respondit: "Audī, Herculēs! Multa mira nārrantur dē leōne saevissimō quī hōc tempore in valle Nemaeā omnia vāstat. Iubeō tē, virōrum omnium fortissimum, illō mōnstrō hominēs līberāre." Haec verba Herculī maximē placuērunt. "Properābō," inquit, "et pārēbō imperiō tuō." Tum in silvās in quibus leō habitabat statim iter fēcit. Mox feram vidit et plūris impetūs fēcit; frūstrā tamen, quod neque sagittīs neque ūllō aliō tēlō mōnstrum vulnerāre potuit. Dēnique Herculēs saevum leōnem suis ingentibus bracchiīs rapuit et faucīs eius omnibus vīribus compressit. Hōc modō brevī tempore eum interfēcit. Tum corpus leōnis ad oppidum in umerīs reportāvit et pellem posteā prō veste gerebat. Omnēs autem quī eam regiōnem incolēbant, ubi fāmam dē morte leōnis ingentis accēpērunt, erant laetissimī et Herculem laudābant verbīs amplissimīs.

[1] Tyrins; this is an example of a Greek-type noun; some of these nouns have case endings that are originally from Greek or the Greek ending is an alternative to the Latin:

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Tiryns

Notes on Greek-type nouns:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/06/080824-level-2-practice-in-reading.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/473759851901955/

[2] Eurystheus was king of Tiryns, a Grecian city, whose foundation goes back to prehistoric times.

[3] Quae ubi audīvit │ and when he heard these things

When we see forms of quī, quae and quod, the immediate translation which comes to mind is ‘who’ or ‘which’; in grammar this is known as a relative pronoun as it is referring back to a person / thing in the same sentence (the antecedent) i.e. they introduce a relative clause.

Tum in [i] silvās [antecedent] ¦ [ii] in quibus leō habitabat [relative clause] ¦ statim iter fēcit. │ Then he immediately travelled into the [i] forests ¦ [ii] in which the lion lived.

[i] Omnēs [antecedent] ¦ [ii] quī eam regiōnem incolēbant [relative clause] ¦ erant laetissimī │[i] Everyone ¦ [ii] who inhabited that region ¦ was very happy.

However, the relative pronouns quī etc. can also start a sentence referring to [a] a specific person or thing in the previous sentence or [b] the entire idea of the previous sentence.

The relative pronoun, therefore, is making a connection with the preceding sentence which is why, in grammar, it is known as a connecting relative.

In this position it is not translated as “who” or “which” but by a pronoun or demonstrative that refers to the antecedent.

(a)

[i] Caesar Rubicōnem trānsiit. [ii] Quī posterā diē adversus Rōmam profectus est. │ [i] Caesar crossed the Rubicon. On the next day [ii] he set out towards Rome.

It is common in translation to connect the two sentences with ‘and’:

Caesar crossed the Rubicon, and he set out towards Rome on the next day.

[i] Ancilla tandem advēnit. [ii] Quam ubi vīdī, laetissimus eram │ [i] The slave girl arrived. When I saw [ii] her, I was very happy, or The slave girl arrived, and when I saw her, I was very happy.

[i] Ille servus effugit. [ii] Quem posteā captum graviter pūnīvī. │ [i] That slave escaped, and afterwards, when he had been caught [ii] I punished him severely.

(b)

In the following examples, the connecting relative does not refer to a specific noun, but to the entire statement made in the preceding sentence:

[i] Canis equum adiūvit. [ii] Quod ubi vīdimus, mīrātī sumus │ The dog helped the horse. When we saw that, we were amazed, i.e. the connecting relative is not referring to the dog or to the horse, but to the whole event.

Similarly:

[i] Mīlitēs nostrī omnēs effūgērunt. [ii] Quod ubi vīdimus, laetissimī erāmus. │ [i] All our soldiers escaped. [ii] When we saw that, we were very happy.

Note in the next example the inclusion of verbīs to indicate that the connecting relative is referring to something that was heard.

[i] Victōria tandem Rōmae relāta est. [ii] Quibus verbīs audītīs omnēs gāvīsī sumus. │ [i] The victory was finally reported in Rome, [ii] and with these words having been heard [= and when these words had been heard, we all rejoiced.

In the text we are dealing with (b) i.e. the connecting relative referring to the whole preceding sentence.

Pȳthia iussit eum ad urbem Tiryntha discēdere et ibi rēgī Eurystheō sēsē committere. │ Pythia commanded him to depart to the city of Tiryns and there commit / entrust himself to Eurystheus.

> Quae ubi audīvit, Herculēs ad illam urbem statim contendit │ and when he heard these things Hercules immediately hurried to that city.

[4] eum occīdī studēbat │ was eager for him to be killed

occīdī: present passive infinitive

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/10/110125-level-2-passive-voice-19-present.html

[5] illō mōnstrō hominēs līberāre │ to free people from that monster; the ablative of separation

neque ūllō aliō tēlō mōnstrum vulnerāre potuit │ nor was he able to wound the monster with any other weapon

[6] ūllus, -a, -um: any

[7] alius, -a, -ud: other

[8] prō: instead of

Level 3; the Riot at Pompeii (Tacitus: XIV.17); it’s only a game?

This is the account to which below refers: the riot and bloodshed at the amphitheatre of Pompeii (AD59) reported by the Roman historian Tacitus. When dealing with an original Latin text, word order will become a major player, and so I have broken it up into clauses and phrases and then matched them with the English translation.

(1)

[1] Sub idem tempus ¦ [2] levī initiō ¦ [3] atrōx caedēs orta ¦ [3] inter colōnōs Nucerīnōs Pompēiānōsque ¦ [4] gladiātōriō spectāculō ¦ [5] quod Livinēius Rēgulus, ¦ [6] quem mōtum senātū rettulī, ¦ edēbat.

[1] At about the same time ¦ [2] from a trivial beginning ¦ [3] arose terrible carnage / bloodshed ¦ [4] between the inhabitants of Nucernia and Pompeii ¦ [4] at a gladiatorial show ¦ [5] which Livineius Regulus ¦ (6) whom, as I have related, had been expelled from the Senate ¦ was staging.

caedēs, -is [3/f]: slaughter; massacre; carnage; some translations of atrōx caedēs are less dramatic e.g. “serious affray” and “serious trouble”, but caedēs is stronger than that, suggesting bloodshed and killing i.e. it wasn’t just a spot of "trouble" because it reached the Senate and Tacitus wrote about it.

ēdō (with long /ē/), -ere, ēdidī [3]: give out; produce; publish (from which there are the English derivatives editor and edition); here it is referring to games organised, and presumably financed, by Livineius; Note: edō (with short /e/), -ere, ēdī [3]: eat

īdem [m], eadem [f], idem [n]: the same

levis, -e: light, trivial, trifling

mōtus, -a, -um: (literally) moved; mōtum senatū: expelled from the Senate

ortus, -a, -um: having arisen

referō, referre, retulī: (here) report; relate

(2) This section starts, in a sense, no differently from a football match nowadays where the rival fans are shouting at each other, but it soon turns nasty …

[1] quippe oppidānā lascīviā ¦ [2] in vicem incessentēs probra, ¦ [3] dein saxa, ¦ [4] postrēmō ferrum sūmpsēre, ¦ [5] validiōre Pompēiānōrum plēbe, ¦ [6] apud quōs spectāculum edēbātur.

[1] For with unruliness typical of townsfolk ¦ [2] hurling abuse in turns / at each other ¦ [3] they then took up stones ¦ [4] and finally weapons ¦ [5] with the people of Pompeii being / proving to be the stronger [i.e. the Pompeians had the upper hand] ¦ [6] where (literally: among whom / in whose presence) the show was being staged

ferrum, -ī [2/n]: iron, but can refer to any metal tool including a weapon or a sword

incessō, -ere, incessīvī [3]: assault; attack; abuse

invicem or in vicem: in turns; alternately

lascivia, -ae [1/f]: can be positive i.e. playfulness, or negative: wantonness; Tacitus writes that the incident grew from a trivial beginning (levī intiō) and so, possibly, what simply began as light-hearted “pot-shots” got out of hand

probrum, -ī [2/n]: insult; abuse

quippe: used to introduce an explanation or cause i.e. for, indeed, in fact

sūmpsēre = sūmpsērunt: they took (up) < sūmō, -ere, sūmpsī [3]: take

validus, -a, -um: strong; comparative: validior, -ius: stronger

(3)

[1] ergō ¦ [3] dēportātī sunt in urbem ¦ (2) multī ē Nucerīnīs ¦ [4] truncō per vulnera corpore, [5] ac plērīque līberōrum aut parentum mortīs dēflēbant.

[1] Therefore, ¦ (2) many of the Nucerians ¦ [3] were carried to the city ¦ [4] their bodies maimed through wounds ¦ [5] and most of them were lamenting the deaths of parents or children.

dēfleō, -ēre, dēflēvō [2]: weep / cry over; lament

dēportō, -āre, -āvī [1]: (here) convey; carry

truncus, -a, -um: mutilated; maimed

(4)

[2] cuius reī iūdicium ¦ [1] prīnceps ¦ [3] senātuī, ¦ [4] senātus cōnsulibus permīsit. [5] et rūrsus rē ad patrēs relātā, [6] prohibitī ¦ [8] pūblicē in decem annōs ¦ [7] eius modī coetū ¦ Pompēiānī ¦ [9] collēgiaque ¦ [10] quae contrā lēgēs īnstituerant ¦ dissolūta;

[1] The emperor delegated ¦ [2] judgement of this matter ¦ [3] to the Senate, (and) ¦ [4] the Senate to the consuls. [5] And the matter having again been referred back to the Senators, ¦ [6] the inhabitants of Pompeii were barred ¦ [7] from a gathering of this type ¦ [8] in public for ten years, ¦ [9] and associations ¦ [10] which they had formed against the law ¦ were dissolved.

collēgium, -ī [2/n]: association; society

coetus, -ūs [4/m]: meeting; gathering; Pompēiānī … coetū … prohibitī (sunt) │ The Pompeians were barred from (any) gathering

īnstituō, -ere, īnstituī [3]: establish; set up

patrēs: refers to patrēs concrīptī; literally: conscript fathers, the term used to refer to members of the Senate

(rūrsus) relātus, -a, -um: (here) having been referred back

(5)

[1] Livinēius et ¦ [2] quī aliī ¦ [3] sēditiōnem concīverant ¦ [4] exiliō multātī sunt.

[1] Livineius and ¦ [2] those others who ¦ [3] had provoked the riot ¦ [4] were punished with exile.

concieō, -ēre, concīvī [2]: provoke

multō, -āre, -āvī [1]: punish

sēditiō, sēditiōnis [3/f]: rebellion; riot; uprising

Level 3; the ablative absolute [4]: translation; ablative absolute with deponent verbs

[1] The term absolute means that the phrase is grammatically set apart from the main clause; in other words, the participle does not modify any noun in the main clause. The rather unwieldy literal translation is “with something having been done” e.g. “with the city having been captured” and this is the standard way in grammar books of translating it. However, it is often preferable to refine the construction into an English clause. Various translations are possible:

urbe captā

• time: When / after the city had been captured ..
• cause: Since / because the city had been captured ..
• concessive: Although the city had been captured ..
• condition: If the city had been captured ..

Equally, the sentence could be restructured to include a compound sentence:

• Urbe captā, cīvēs fūgērunt. │ The city had been captured and the citizens fled.

Context will determine the most appropriate translation.

[2] Watch out for deponent verbs when translating the ablative absolute; remember that the deponents are passive in form but active in meaning:

loquor, loquī, locūtus sum [3/deponent]: speak

proficīscor, proficīscī, profectus sum [3/deponent]: set out

i.e. profectus and locūtus are not passive but active and so they are translated as:

locūtus: having spoken

profectus: having set out

ōrātōre locūtō, cīvēs inter sē loquēbantur │ With the orator having spoken = After the orator had spoken, the citizens began talking among themselves.

poētā sīc locūtō, cīvēs magnopere timēbant. │ After the orator had spoken in this way, the citizens were greatly afraid.

Omnibus profectīs, tamen ego tē exspectāvī. │ Although everybody had set out, I neverthless waited for you.

Level 3; the ablative absolute [3]: literal translation

All of the following phrases are ablative absolutes; translate them into English using, at this stage, the literal construction ‘with X having been Y-ed’

Examples:

urbe ¦ captā │ with the city ¦ having been captured

servō monitō │ with the slave having been warned

1. urbe incēnsā
2. cōnsule interfectō
3. librō lectō
4. epistulā scriptā
5. oppidō oppugnātō
6. mīlitibus revocatīs
7. hīs litterīs acceptīs
8. hīs verbīs dictīs

____________________

1. with the city having been set on fire
2. with the consul having been killed
3. with the book having been read
4. with the letter having been writeen
5. with the town having been attacked
6. with the soldiers having been recalled
7. with this / these letter(s) having been received
8. with these words having been said

Level 3; [II] Hercules conquers the Minyæ; he commits a crime and goes to the Delphian oracle to seek expiation

[II] HERCULES CONQUERS THE MINYÆ

Herculēs ā puerō corpus suum gravissimīs et difficillimīs labōribus exercēbat et hoc modo vīrēs suās cōnfirmāvit. Iam adulēscēns Thēbīs habitābat. Ibi Creōn quīdam erat rēx. Minyae, gēns validissima, erant fīnitimī Thēbānīs, et, quia ōlim Thēbānōs vīcerant, quotannīs lēgātōs mittēbant et vectīgal postulābant. Herculēs autem cōnstituit cīvīs suōs hoc vectīgālī līberāre et dīxit rēgī, "Dā mihi exercitum tuum et ego hōs superbōs hostīs superābō." Hanc condiciōnem rēx nōn recūsāvit, et Herculēs nūntiōs in omnīs partīs dīmīsit et cōpiās coēgit. Tum tempore opportūnissimō proelium cum Minyīs commīsit. Diū pugnātum est, sed dēnique illī impetum Thēbānōrum sustinēre nōn potuērunt et terga vertērunt fugamque cēpērunt.

[1] ā puerō: from boyhood

[2] hōc modō vīrēs suās cōnfirmāvit │ in this way he asserted his strength

vīs, vīs [3/f] can be misread, especially in the plural; the word means ‘force’, ‘power’, ‘strength’, ‘violence’, but it is often used in the plural: vīrēs (strength; physical force) and looks similar to virī (men) but they are completely different words [image]

Image: vīs is also an example of a defective noun which refers to a noun where not all the case endings are attested in Classical Latin; the English verb “can” is defective since there is no infinitive “to can”, “to be able” being used instead of the original Anglo-Saxon infinitive cunnan (Modern German: können)

[3] Thēbīs: locative case < Thēbae (Thebes); plural noun

[4] vectīgal, vectīgālis [3/n]: tax, tribute

[5] pugnātum est: impersonal passive; literally: it has been fought = there was fighting

HE COMMITS A CRIME AND GOES TO THE DELPHIAN ORACLE TO SEEK EXPIATION

Post hoc proelium Creōn rēx, tantā victōriā laetus, fīliam suam Herculī in matrimōnium dedit. Thēbis Herculēs cum uxōre suā diū vivēbat et ab omnibus magnopere amābātur; sed post multōs annōs subitō in furōrem incidit et ipse suā manū līberōs suōs interfēcit. Post breve tempus ad sānitātem reductus tantum scelus expiāre cupiēbat et cōnstituit ad ōrāculum Delphicum iter facere. Hoc autem ōrāculum erat omnium clārissimum. Ibi sedēbat fēmina quaedam quae Pȳthia appellābātur. Ea cōnsilium dabat iīs quī ad ōrāculum veniēbant.

[1] in furōrem incidit: went mad

[2] ad sānitātem reductus │ literally: led back to sanity = came back to his senses 

[3] iīs = eīs

[4] Ibi sedēbat fēmina quaedam │ a certain woman was sitting there

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

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

Level 3; the ablative absolute [2]: formation

 Forming the ablative absolute is not unlike an ‘equation’ i.e. there is a consistent step-by-step way of creating it. Examples:

• With [1] the city ¦ [2] having been captured

[i] Begin with the nominative singular:

[1] city [2] captured

> [1] urbs [2] capta i.e. the perfect passive participle, the fourth principal part of the verb < capiō, capere, cēpī, captus

[ii] Transfer both words into the ablative case:

> [1] urbe [2] captā = ablative absolute = with the city having been captured

• With the brother | having been killed.

[i] Begin with the nominative singular:

[1] brother [2] killed

> [1] frāter [2] necātus < necō, -āre, -āvī, necātus

[ii] Transfer both words into the ablative case:

> [1] frātre [2] necātō = ablative absolute = with the brother having been killed

The same approach would also apply to ablative absolutes with plural nouns or pronouns:

• With the soldiers | having been killed.

[i] nominative plural:

[1] soldiers [2] killed

> [1] mīlitēs [2] necātī

[ii] Transfer both words into the ablative case:

> [1] mīlitibus [2] necātīs = ablative absolute = with the soldiers having been killed

Level 3; the ablative absolute [1]

One of the reasons why Latin can express itself far more concisely than many other languages is the construction known as the ablative absolute and it is because of its conciseness that it very frequently occurs in the literature.

The ablative absolute is a phrase that describes the circumstances under which an action is performed. The circumstances most often refer either to time or reason.

First take a look at this English sentence that comprises two clauses:

[1] When (after) / since the money had been found, ¦ [2] the master punished the slave.

[1] is an adverbial clause in that it describes the circumstances in which the action in the main clause [2] took place; in this example [1] could refer either to time (when or after) or reason (since)

3 points to note:

[i] the adverbial clause is passive i.e. after the money had been found

[ii] the action in [1] happened before the action in [2]

[iii] the adverbial clause does not say that it was the master who found the money; maybe he did, but the clause does not imply that

In Latin, this clause can be expressed by a phrase: the ablative absolute which comprises 2 parts:

[1] noun / pronoun + [2] perfect passive participle; both in the ablative case

> [1] pecūniā [2] inventā = the ablative absolute

In grammar books this type of ablative absolute is normally translated in a very literal way so that it is clear what exactly is being conveyed: with X having been Y-ed

[X] pecūniā ¦ [Y] inventā = literally: with the money ¦ having been found. This, of course, sounds very cumbersome in English but, at this early stage, it is better to keep to that translation; in later posts, more natural sounding translations will be discussed.

Pecūniā inventā, dominus servum punīvit. │ With the money having been found, the master punished the slave.

Leōne vīsō, fēminae discessērunt. │ With the lion having been seen, the women departed.

Acceptīs litterīs, Caesar discēdit. │ With the letter having been received, Caesar departs.

Hīs verbīs dictīs, Caesar discessit. │ With these words having been said, Caesar departed.

Remember:

[i] the construction is passive: with the lion having been seen

[ii] the ablative absolute refers to something which happened before the main action: [1] Leōne vīsō, ¦ [2] fēminae discessērunt.

[iii] the ablative absolute does not refer to the subject of the sentence; there is no implication that it was the women themselves who saw the lion (that may be construed from context, but it is not stated in the ablative absolute) 

Level 3; [I] The infant Hercules and the serpents

[I] THE INFANT HERCULES AND THE SERPENTS

Dī grave supplicium sūmunt dē malīs, sed iī quī lēgibus deōrum pārent, etiam post mortem cūrantur. Illa vita dīs erat grātissima quae hominibus miserīs ūtilissima fuerat. Omnium autem praemiōrum summum erat immortālitās. Illud praemium Herculī datum est.

Herculīs pater fuit Iuppiter, māter Alcmēna, et omnium hominum validissimus fuisse dīcitur. Sed Iūnō, rēgina deōrum, eum, adhūc infantem, interficere studēbat; nam eī et Herculēs et Alcmēna erant invisī. Itaque misit duās serpentēs, utramque saevissimam, quae mediā nocte domum Alcmēnae vēnērunt. Ibi Herculēs, cum fratre suō, nōn in lectulō sed in scūtō ingentī dormiēbat iam audācēs serpentēs adpropinquāverant, iam scūtum movēbant. Tum frāter, terrōre commōtus, magnā vōce mātrem vocāvit, sed Herculēs ipse, fortior quam frāter, statim ingentēs serpentēs manibus suīs rapuit et interfēcit.

Notes

[1] dī grave supplicium sūmunt │ the gods inflict heavy / serious punishment; illa vita dīs erat grātissima │ that life was very pleasing to the gods

Declension of deus: very few nouns in Latin have alternative endings; deus, -ī  [2/m] has the usual 2^nd declension endings in the singular, but there are alternative endings in the plural

[2] iī quī lēgibus deōrum pārent │ those (people) who obey the laws of the gods

iī is an alternative spelling of the plural eī (they) in the nominative plural; similarly iīs = eīs in the dative and ablative plural

[3] iī quī lēgibus deōrum pārent

pāreō, pārēre, pāruī [2] obey (give obedience to); some verbs in Latin – known in grammar as “special verbs” are followed by the dative case:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/180425-level-3-verbs-with-dative-case-2.html

[4] omnium hominum validissimus fuisse dīcitur │ he is said to have been the strongest of all men

You have already seen two infinitive forms:

[i] amāre: to love; the present active infinitive

[ii] amārī: to be loved; the present passive infinitive

The Latin infinitives are important since they are used in constructions which do not match English. That is a major topic which will be discussed in later posts. For the moment, note the following:

[iii] amāvisse: to have loved; the perfect active infinitive

These are regularly formed from the third principal part of the verb:

(1) amō, amāre, amāvī

(2) amāvī: I (have) loved

(3) remove -ī > amāv-

(4) add -isse

(5) > amāvisse: to have loved

Therefore:

sum, esse, fuī >

fuī: I was / have been

remove -ī > fu-

add -isse

> fuisse: to have been

[5] eī et Herculēs et Alcmēna erant invīsī │ both Hercules and Alcmena were hateful to her

invīsus, -um, -a: hateful i.e. they evoked a feeling of hatred in her

[6] Itaque misit duās serpentēs, utramque saevissimam │ Therefore, she sent two serpents, each (of them) very fierce

uter¦que [m], utra¦que [f], utrum¦que [n]: each (of two); both

[7] Herculēs ipse … ingentēs serpentēs … rapuit │ Hercules himself seized the huge serpents

Image: ipse, ipsa, ipsum is used to convey emphasis, the same idea as English ‘myself’, ‘yourself’, ‘himself’ etc. in combination with a noun or personal pronoun e.g. He himself said that. When used with a noun, the translation may be ‘the very’.

Caesarem ipsum servāvimus. │ We saved Caesar himself.

Vōs ipsī iūdicāte: decet mulierem nōn vēlātam ōrāre Deum? (Vulgate) │ You yourselves judge: is it proper for a woman without a veil to pray to God?

Fidēlissimī servī senem ad templum ipsum portāvērunt. │ The most faithful servants carried the old man to the temple itself /  the very temple.

Note: in English, -self and -selves, apart from having the same emphatic function as Latin ipse e.g. I myself will do it, also is used to express reflexive actions e.g. She hurt herself, he looked at himself in the mirror; Latin does not use ipse to convey this, but the reflexive pronoun sē.

Sē ex nāvī prōiēcit. (Caesar) │ He threw himself from the ship.