When forms of alius and alter appear twice, they are usually straightforward to translate:
Cīvēs [i] alterīus cōnsulis verbīs sunt territī, [ii] alterīus factīs. │ The citizens were terrified by the words of [i] the one consul and terrified by the deeds of [ii] the other.
[i] Alius hodiē venit, [ii] alius crās veniet. │ One comes today, another will come tomorrow.
[i] Aliī virō sunt multī amīcī, [ii] aliī paucī. │ One man has many friends, the other (has) few.
However, constructions with alius … alius … and alter … alter … can refer to two people even though, at first sight, the sentence seems to be suggesting only one.
Alius ¦ aliud fēcerat. │ One man had done one thing, the other had done another thing.
It is as if the sentence is repeated, but the second sentence is omitted:
Aliī aliōs librōs legunt = Alii alios libros legunt, alii alios libros legunt │ Some (people) read some books, others read other ones.
Aliī ad aliam prōvinciam fugiēbant. │ Some men were fleeing to one province, others to another.
Aliī ¦ ab aliō inventī sunt. │ Some were found by one man, others by another man.
Alius mīles aliō gladiō interfectus est. │ One soldier was killed by one sword, another soldier was killed by another.
Aliī servī aliōs dominōs vident. │Some slaves see some masters, other slaves see other masters.
Multī populum Rōmānum regere cōnātī sunt, aliī per alia. │ Many have tried to rule the Roman populace, some through some things, others through other things.
In illō proeliō frāter cum frātre pugnāvit; alter alterīus gladiō interfectī sunt. │ In that battle brother fought with brother; (the) one was killed by the sword of (the) one, the other (by the sword) of the other.
Bonī cīvēs habentur Caesar et Antōnius, [i] alter [ii] alterā dē causā. │ Caesar and Anthony are considered good citizens, [i] the one [ii] for one reason and [i] the other [ii] for another.
Sometimes, this construction can convey a reciprocal idea i.e. each other
Alius ex aliō causam quaerit │ they ask each other the reason
Match the Latin and English sentences:
[1] Alius aliud petit.
[2] Aliī alium laudant.
[3] Aliī alia dīxērunt.
[4] Alius aliud facit.
[5] Aliī aliō locō resistēbant.
[6] Aliud aliōs movet.
[7] Alter alterum adiuvat.
[8] nunc sibi uterque contrā legiōnēs parat, paterque fīliusque, clam alter alterum (Plautus)
[A] And now the pair of them, father and son, are preparing their opposing legions, each without the other’s knowledge.
[B] One does one thing, another does another.
[C] One man seeks one thing, another man seeks another.
[D] One reason moves some men, another reason moves other men [ = different reasons move different men]
[E] Some halted in one place, some in another.
[F] Some men praise one man, others praise another.
[G] Some people said one thing, others (said) another (thing).
[H] They help each other.
