Level 3: Wild beasts [8] from the authors: Bread and panthers … without the panthers [5]; Cicero’s reply

Laodiceae; prid. Non. Apr. 50 │ Laodicea, 4 April 50(BC) (see notes)

[1] Dē panthērīs per eōs quī vēnārī sōlent agitur mandātū meō dīligenter.  │ The matter concerning the panthers is, according to my order, being diligently attended to by those who usually hunt.

[i] agitur │ it is being done; impersonal construction = the matter is being attended to

[ii] per eōs ¦ quī vēnarī sōlent; soleō, -ere [2]: be accustomed to; by those ¦ who are accustomed to hunting = those who usually hunt = (less literally) by the usual hunters

[2] Sed mīra paucitās est, │ But there is a remarkable scarcity,

[3] et eās quae sunt valdē aiunt querī  │ and they say that those that there are complain greatly

aiunt: they say; this is known in grammar as a defective verb i.e. a verb that does not have a full set of conjugated forms. The English verb ‘can’ is defective because it has no infinitive; it is not *to can*, but ‘to be able’ i.e. defective. The Latin verb is aiō, aiere (say), but is most commonly found as ait (he/she says or said) and, here, aiunt (they say).

[4] quod nihil cuīquam īnsidiārum in meā prōvinciā nisi sibi fīat. │ because there are no traps for anything / anyone in my province apart from for them

[i] nihil īnsidiārum │ genitive after nihil = no traps; English uses a genitive with abstract nouns e.g. nothing of interest, but its English use is limited; the translation ‘no traps’ could equally be rendered as ‘nothing in the way of traps’ which is the closest equivalent to the Latin

[ii] cuīquam: dative of quisquam; this forms part of the next major topic to be covered at Level 3; quisquam is an indefinite pronoun, the English equivalent being ‘anyone / anything’ and is generally used, as here, in negative constructions: nihil cuīquam īnsidiārum │ no traps for anyone / anything

[iii] it’s a light-hearted response: the panthers are complaining that traps are only set for them i.e. they are referring back to themselves (sibi: reflexive)

[5] Itaque cōnstituisse dīcuntur in Cāriam ex nostrā prōvinciā dēcēdere. │ Therefore, they are said to have decided to depart into Caria from our province.

Cāria, -ae [1/f]: district in SW Asia Minor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caria

[6] Sed tamen sēdulō fit et in prīmīs ā Patiscō. │ Nevertheless, it is being done zealously / with great care, and especially by Patiscus.

sēdūlō: zealously; diligently; carefully

[7] Quicquid erit, tibi erit; │ Literally: whatever there is [ will be], you will have [it will be for you] i.e. However many animals there are, you will have them;

quicquid (or quidquid): whatever;  a further example of an indefinite pronoun

[8] sed quid esset plānē nesciēbāmus. │ but what [i.e. how many] there might be, I obviously don’t know.

See the notes below on this part of the sentence

Notes

[i] PRID. ¦ NON. APR. 50

(1) prid: abbreviation of prīdiē ¦  (2) NON. APR.│ (1) the day before ¦ (2) the Nones of April

See previous post: the Nones is the 5^th of April. Therefore, the letter was written on the day before the Nones / 5^th of April i.e. April 4th

[ii] sed quid esset ¦ plānē nesciēbāmus │ but what / how many there might be, I obviously don’t know

There are three points to note concerning this part of the sentence

(1) nesciēbāmus: Cicero often uses the first person plural to refer to himself

(2) nesciēbāmus: the imperfect tense is used; this is an example of epistolary tense which was discussed here:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/06/011025-level-3-epistolary-tenses-brief.html

The term epistolary tense refers to letters, and – fairly common in the letters of Cicero – it refers to a shift in the uses of tenses. We write letters using the time frame that applies to us, the writers e.g. “I’m not sure how many of those books I have, but, whatever I find, I’ll send them to you.” However, Cicero – as he does here – changes the sentence to the time perspective of the reader, one reasonable interpretation of this style being the lengthy period that would have elapsed from the time the writer in Ancient Rome dispatched the letter until the time the recipient read it i.e. whatever is happening as Cicero writes will have finished by the time the recipient reads about it.

In the example English sentence, Cicero’s epistolary style would most likely change it to “I wasn’t sure (at the time I was writing) how many of those books I had, but, whatever I found, I’ve sent them to you.” Therefore, although the literal translation is “We ( = I) didn’t know …” (because he didn’t know at the point at which the letter was received), the actual translations is “I don’t know …”

The usage isn’t consistent and it only tends to occur when referring to events happening to the speaker at the time of writing.

Both of the points discussed above are also here (refer to the notes at the end of the post):

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/06/041025-level-3-review-irregular-verbs-9.html

(3) sed quid esset ¦ plānē nesciēbāmus │ But how many there might be, I obviously don’t know.

esset is subjunctive; a further use of the subjunctive is with indirect questions e.g. Ubi est templum? │ Where is the temple i.e. a direct question > Nesciō ¦ ubi sit [subjunctive] templum │ I don’t know ¦ where the temple is i.e. an indirect question; English could convey this using an ‘equivalent’ of a subjunctive i.e. “I don’t know where the temple might be” (slightly stilted but correct)

Level 3: Wild beasts [7] from the authors: Bread and panthers … without the panthers [4]; make a date with a Roman

Scr. Romae iv Non. Sept. a. 703 (51). CAELIVS CICERONI S. ¦ M. CAELIUS RUFUS TO CICERO, Rome, 2^nd September, 51BC

Romae (locative); at Rome

Each Roman month had three principal days:

[i] Kalendae, -ārum (Kal.): the Kalends (Calends); the first day of the month (which involves no thinking at all because it always refers to the first of the month)

[ii] Nōnae, -ārum (Non.): the Nones; [i] seventh day of March, May, July, October; [ii] fifth day of all other months

[iii] Īdūs, -uum (Id.) the Ides; [i] fifteenth day of March, May, July, October; [ii] thirteenth day of all other months; Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March i.e. the 15th

Step-by-step

IV NON. SEPT.

[1] This letter refers to the Nones of September i.e. the 5^th day of the month

[2] The preceding IV [IV NON.] refers to 4 days before and including the Nones itself, and so you start counting backwards from the Nones

Day 1: 5^th │ the Nones of September

> Day 2: 4^th of September

> Day 3: 3^rd of September

> Day 4: 2^nd of September

[3] a(nnō) 703 │ in the year 703

Romans used two different ways of expressing the year, and sometimes both are written in the same text:

[i] Consular dating: two consuls were elected each year, serving together, each with veto power over the other's actions. Roman years were customarily denoted according to the names of the two consuls who held office that year:

C. Fabiō et L. Virgīniō ¦ cōnsulibus │ During the consulship of Gaius Fabius and Lucius Virginius ¦  literally: with GF and LV ¦ (being) consuls  [ablative absolute] = while GF and LV were consuls = during the consulship of GF and LV

L. Genuciō et Q. Servīliō cōnsulibus mortuus est Camillus. │ Camillus died during the consulship of Lucius Genucius and Quintus Servilius.

From the perspective of a 21^st century reader this provides little if any further information; a UK reader may know, for example, what years a person was British Prime Minister but that historical knowledge isn’t guaranteed.

[ii] ab urbe conditā (AUC)│ from the founding of the city

The year was also calculated based on the number of years that had passed since the foundation of Rome i.e. 753BC, and, like the dates, 753 itself is included in the calculation. Therefore, whatever year is expressed, you subtract that from 754: a. 703; 754 – 703 = 51BC

In general, we need to be a little circumspect when dealing with dates referring to events 2000 years ago, and there is not always consistency and / or accuracy in calculation. In the end – despite the date appearing in one of the manuscripts of Pliny’s letter – nobody is really sure when exactly Mount Vesuvius erupted. It is now generally accepted that either Pliny was wrong (there is physical and written evidence that the eruption happened later in the year) or couldn’t remember and felt he had to write something, or a date was added or misinterpreted by a scribe. I have my own thoughts on that one, but I’ll keep them to myself until we look in detail at Pliny’s account of Vesuvius.

Level 3 (review): Pronouns and demonstratives: more from the authors

Although the posts explain the different ways in which the pronouns and demonstratives are used, bear in mind that the translations really are restricted to a handful of words. The following extracts show many of these in context. At the early stages of original literature, focus on meaning rather than dwelling on why a particular word is being used. Apart from the last two, they’re all from Plautus.

(1) Amōre captus Alcumēnās Iuppiter mūtāvit sēsē in fōrmam eius coniugis │ Jupiter, being seized with love for Alcmena, changed himself into the form of her husband

(2) postrīdiē in castra ex urbe ad nōs veniunt flentēs prīncipēs … ōrant ignōscāmus peccātum suom [ = suum], dēduntque sē │ The following day their foremost men come tearfully to the camp from the city to us [ = to our camp]  … and entreat us to pardon their transgression: and they surrender themselves

(3) Senex avārus vix sibi crēdēns Euclīō domī suae dēfossam multīs cum opibus aulam invenit, …. eius fīliam Lycōnidēs vitiārat │ A miserly old man named Euclio, barely trusting himself, finds a pot full of treasure buried within his house, …. Lyconides had corrupted his /  the old man’s  daughter.

(4) nesciō unde (2) haec (1) hic spectāvit │ I don’t know where (1) he saw (2) these things from

(5) ex aedibus ēiēcit huius māter │ And her mother [ = the mother of this (woman)] has thrown me out of the house

(6) Chrysale, quis ille est quī minitātur fīliō? / Vir hic est illīus mulieris quācum accubat │ Chrysalus, who is he / that man who is threatening my son? / He is the husband of that woman with whom he is lying on the couch.

(7) nam iam domum ībō atque—aliquid surripiam patrī. (1) id (2) istī dabō │ For I'll go home now, and—steal something from my father and give (1) it (2) to her.

(8) Sōsia ille, quem iam dūdum dīcō, is quī ¦ mē contudit │ That Sosia, who I’ve been talking about all along, he’s the one who smashed me up.

(9) nesciō etiam id quod sciō │ I don’t even know what [ = that which] I know.

(10) Mihi quoque adsunt testēs, quī illud quod ¦ ego dicam adsentiant. │ I have [ = to me there are] witnesses present, who will corroborate what [ = that which] I say.

(11) hanc fābulam, inquam, hic Iuppiter hodiē ipse aget │ This play, then, Jove himself will act in to-day

(12) Neque tū illī neque mihi virō ipsī crēdis? │ You won't believe him, or me, your very husband, either?

(13) nam vīdī hūc ipsum addūcere trapēzītam Exaerambum │ for I saw Exaerambus himself bringing the banker here

(14) Dīxitque patruus Saūl ad eum et ad puerum eius quō abistis quī respondērunt quaerere asinās … et dīxit eī patruus suus … (Vulgate) │ Saul's uncle said to him and his attendant "Where did you go?" And they answered "To look for the donkeys," … and his uncle said to him …

(15) Videntēs autem cōnservī eius quae fīēbant contrīstātī sunt valdē et vēnērunt et nārrāvērunt dominō suō omnia quae facta erant. Tunc vocāvit illum dominus suus et ait illī … (Vulgate) │ His fellow servants, seeing what was happening, were greatly distressed and they came and reported to their (own) master everything that had happened. Then his (own) master summoned him and said to him …

Level 3 (review): ipse, ipsa, ipsum

English uses ‘-self / -selves’ in two different ways:

[1] As discussed in the previous posts, it conveys the third person reflexive pronoun i.e. ‘himself, herself, itself, and themselves’

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

Puella in flumine sē lavat │ The girl is washing herself in the river

Per sē labor perfecit │ He completed the task by his own effort (ie by means of himself)

Dūxit sēcum virginem. │ He took the young girl with him(self)

Cōpiam frūctuum sibi cōnficiunt atque in hiemem servant │ They collect a supply of fruit for themselves and keep it for the winter

Sēsē castrīs tenēbant (Caesar) │ They kept themselves in the camp

[2] It has an emphatic use conveying the same idea as English ‘myself’, ‘yourself’, ‘himself’ etc. in combination with a noun or personal pronoun e.g. I myself can do it, the lady said it herself.

To express this idea, Latin does not use the reflexive pronoun, but the emphatic pronoun: ipse, ipsa, ipsum:

Agricola ipse frūctum numquam adspiciet │ The farmer himself will never see the fruit

Ancilla ipsa amphoram portāvit. │ The maidservant herself carried the jar

Prīmum amīcum plūs quam mē ipsum dīligō (Gesta Rōmānōrum) │I love the first friend more than me myself

16.07.25: Level 3; review: ipse, ipsa, ipsum

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/04/160725-level-3-review-ipse-ipsa-ipsum.html

[i] The pronoun declines in the same way as the nine pronominal adjectives discussed here:

19.07.25: Level 3; pronominal adjectives; introduction; the naughty nine …

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/04/190725-level-3-pronominal-adjectives.html

i.e. it has the same changes as those adjectives in the genitive singular (-īus) and dative singular (-ī)

[ii] It can translate either as “-self / -selves” or as “the very …”

Cicerō mē ipsum laudāvit. │ Cicero praised me myself.

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

[iii] in the 3^rd person it can stand alone:

ipse cum gaudiō uxōrem senis mīlitis occīsī in mātrimōnium dūxit (gesta Rōmānōrum) │ and with joy he himself married the wife of the old soldier who had been killed

idque reī pūblicae praeclārum, ipsīs glōriōsum │ and this was splendid for the state, glorious for themselves

Dī capitī ipsīus generīque reservent │ May the gods hold in reserve [such a fate] to fall on his own head [ = the head of himself] and his son-in-law's

Examples from earlier posts:

Et omnēs hominēs cupidī erant rēgem Britannōrum ipsum spectandī.  │ All the people were eager to look at the king of the Britons himself.

Ante oculōs prīncipis ipsīus collocātus "Rēx sum" inquit … │ Placed before the eyes of the Emperor himself he said “I am a king”

Tum prīnceps … veniam lībertātemque Caractacō ipsī … dedit. │ The Emperor then gave mercy and freedom to Caractacus himself.

Magna multitūdō captīvōrum Britannicōrum ūnā cum Caractacō ipsō et uxōre frātribusque eius in catēnīs aderant. │ A great number of British prisoners together with Caractacus himself and his wife and brothers were present in chains.

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?

Lēgātōs cīvium Rōmānōrum ipsōrum servāvistis. │ You have saved the ambassadors of the Roman citizens themselves.

Level 3: Wild beasts [6] from the authors: Bread and panthers … without the panthers [3]; text, translation with accompanying notes to lines [6] – [10]

[6] hoc vehementius labōrō nunc, quod seorsus ā collēgā putō mihi omnia paranda. │ I am all the more concerned about this now, because, apart from my colleague, I think I shall have to prepare everything.

mihi omnia paranda │ all these things (are) to be prepared ¦ by me = I need to / I shall have to prepare everything; gerundive of obligation

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/020625-level-3-gerundive-1.html

[7] amābō tē, imperā tibi hoc. cūrāre solēs libenter, ut ego maiōrem partem nihil cūrāre.  │ Please tell yourself to do this / give yourself that order. You’re usually willing to take care of things, as I for the most part take none.

[8] in hōc negōtiō nūlla tua nisi loquendī cūra est, hoc est imperandī et mandandī; │ In this business there is no concern of yours except speaking  – that is, giving an order and a commission / command.

In hōc negōtiō … │ in this business / matter …

nūlla tua … cūra est │ there is no concern of yours …

nisi loquendī (hoc est) imperandī et mandandī │ apart from that of speaking (that is / i.e.) (of) giving an order and (of) giving a commission

loquendī, imperandī and mandandī are gerunds that indicate the act of doing something

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/270525-level-3-gerund-1.html

"In this matter, you have no concern except for speaking: giving orders and commissions." To put it more casually: “All you’ve got to do is speak, order and command.”

[9] nam simulatque erunt captae, quī alant eās et dēportent ¦ habēs eōs ¦ ... │ For as soon as they (will) have been captured, ¦ you have these (men) ¦ who will feed and transport them …

…quī alant eās et dēportent; again, this is another example of a subjunctive of purpose; with quī it is used when, for example, saying that somebody has been sent to do something; Cicero already has men there ¦ who will feed and transport the animals i.e. that is their purpose

[10] putō etiam, sī ūllam spem mihi litterīs ostenderis, mē istō missūrum aliōs. │ I think also that, if you show [ = will have shown] me any hope in your letters, I shall send others (other men) to where you are / to your place.

[i] putō … mē … missūrum │ I think … ¦ I shall / am going to send; future active infinitive

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/06/250925-level-3-grammar-of-things-to.html

[ii] istō: to the place where you are; iste, ista, istud (that) refers to something near the person being addressed

Personal comments:

There’s a sense of frustration on the part of Caelius; this isn’t the first time he’s mentioned the matter. While wild animals have been supplied to him from another source, he clearly doesn’t have enough to stage the extravaganza he has in mind. The political position of curule aedile is not insignificant: does Caelius have his eyes of the prize of a consulship?

One feels that Caelius is pressurising Cicero, referring to a local go-between (Patiscus) who sent panthers to the tribune Curio (one of Cicero’s friends) who, in turn, gave them to Caelius as a gift; in the political machinations of Ancient Rome, ‘gifts’ matter – including (somewhat sarcastically expressed) estates in the countryside – and if others can do all that, why can’t Cicero? Cicero himself, in Caelius’ view, will consider it disgraceful (turpe) that he has been unable not merely to match the number of animals already supplied but, indeed, significantly to increase it, which does read as if Caelius is embarrassing him although others interpret the exchange as light-hearted.

Cicero, according to Caelius, has more than enough authority – and offers a little praise of Cicero’s usual willingness to make arrangements – to order this without taking any direct action himself i.e. no effort required on the part of Cicero and, by his own admission, Caelius is not keen on the idea of sorting things out without assistance (and would possibly prefer not lifting a finger to do anything at all). Nevertheless, there are already men in the vicinity on financial matters (a reference omitted in the excerpt here) who can support Cicero in feeding and transporting the animals: quī alant eās et dēportent ¦ habēs eōs │ you have those men to feed and transport them. And Caelius does offer additional assistance when the panthers are caught.

What I find fascinating about this letter, is the importance attached to the hunting show, that Caelius has referred to the animals several times before and has already considered ways in which they can be looked after – and he knows where they can be caught. Panthers, rather than policy, seem to be the concern of this rather pushy political ladder climber. According to Jones and Sidwell, Caelius had been recently elected to this post which, undoubtedly, made it crucial to give a first-rate impression to the spectators of Rome.

I can’t help feeling that, if British politicians were to stage some freeby gladiatorial shows, their ratings would go up – because, as I write, they couldn’t be any lower! Furthermore, if they gave me an estate in the countryside, they’d get my vote.

Freebies, backhanders, use your mate’s influence, be pushy, get someone else to do it, keep the “mob” happy. Sarcasm alert: of course, they’re all things that happened in the past, right? I mean, they don’t happen now, do they?

Level 3: Wild beasts [5] from the authors: Bread and panthers … without the panthers [2]; text, translation with accompanying notes to lines [1] – [5]

Scr. Romae iv Non. Sept. a. 703 (51). CAELIVS CICERONI S. ¦ M. CAELIUS RUFUS TO CICERO, Rome, 2^nd September, 51BC

[1] ferē litterīs omnibus tibi dē panthērīs scrīpsī. │ In almost every letter I have written to you about panthers.

[2] turpe tibi erit ¦ Patiscum Cūriōnī decem panthērās mīsisse, ¦ tē nōn multīs partibus plūrīs; │ It will be a disgrace to you ¦ that Patiscus has sent ten panthers to Curio, (and) ¦ that you haven’t (sent) many times more.

[i] mīsisse: to have sent; perfect active infinitive

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/07/191025-level-3-spartan-boys-contempt-of.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/05/020925-level-3-sonnenschein-pro-patria.html

[ii] Patiscus: research suggests that Patiscus was an agent working locally for Caelius to obtain panthers and, most likely, other exotic animals

[iii] Curiō i.e. Gaius Scribonius Curio: Roman politician

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Scribonius_Curio_(tribune_50_BC)

[3] quās ipsās Cūriō mihi et aliās Āfricānās decem dōnāvit │ and these very ones (i.e. beasts), as well as ten other African ones, Curio has presented to me,

quās: connecting relative; it starts the sentence and is referring back to something mentioned in the previous one. Therefore, it does not translate as ‘which’ but ‘And these … (i.e. the animals referred to in the earlier statement)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/270625-level-3-labours-of-hercules-iii.html [note (3)]

[4]  … nē pūtēs ¦ illum tantum praedia rūstica dare scīre. │ so that you don’t think ¦ that he only knows how to give (gifts of) estates in the country

[i] nē + the subjunctive: the subjunctive is used to express the purpose of an action i.e. x does something ¦ in order that / so that y may happen; when nē is included, it indicates a negative purpose i.e. something is done ¦ so that something does not happen

[ii] …illum … scīre; indirect statement

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/05/310825-level-1-readings-18-damocles.html

[5] tū sī modo memoriā tenueris et Cibyrātās arcessieris itemque in Pamphȳliam litterās miseris (nam ibi plūrīs cāpī aiunt), quod volēs efficiēs. │ If only you keep (this) in mind / remember (this) [ = literally: if you will have kept in mind], and send for [ = will have sent for] some (panthers) from Cibyra, and likewise send [ = will have sent]  a letter to Pamphylia – for they say they’re mostly captured there – you’ll achieve what you want.

[i] Note in this section the use of the future perfect tense which emphasises the completion of a future action; in English the literal translation sounds clumsy, but English can convey this idea e.g. If you paint the dining room by Tuesday, we can have the party = If you’ve painted the dining room = If you’ve got the dining room painted … i.e. English can use a present perfect tense to stress completion, whereas Latin uses the future perfect:

[ii] item: likewise

[iii] Pamphȳlia, -ae [1/f]: a region in Asia Minor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamphylia

image #1: 15^th century map showing Pamphylia

[iv] Cibyra, -ae [1/f]: a town in SE Asia Minor; also: Kibyra (Gk. Κίβυρα)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cibyra

image #2: the Roman theatre of Cibyra; if the panthers had been there, I wouldn’t have booked a seat on the front row!

Images #3 and #4: the stadium at Cibyra and a representation of a gladiatorial scene

Level 3: Wild beasts [4] from the authors: Bread and panthers … without the panthers [1]; text and translation

Caelius is worried. If you want to “get on” in Rome, if you want to climb the political ladder (cursus honōrum), keep the people happy. Give them bread, and give them free shows to let them see what a generous guy you are. Apart from gladiators, the Romans were treated to vēnātiōnes (hunting shows) where men (hunters: vēnātōrēs) would fight wild animals [see image]. The only problem is that, if you don’t have wild animals, you ain’t got no show!

The introduction to this excerpt is from Reading Latin by Jones and Sidwell (pp239ff); the translation, vocabulary and notes are my own. The extensive work by Jones and Sidwell is outstanding: they cover short and manageable excerpts from a wide range of Latin literature of different periods and genres; although there are three separate books, the ‘Text and Vocabulary’ can stand alone. Texts are accompanied by notes which contextualise the excerpts and, by working through the book (which starts with Plautus), you gain insight into significant events. I went through the book from start to finish, and I found it extremely helpful in beginning to find my way through the authors. I would recommend buying the latest edition of this book although an older, and far less detailed edition is at:

https://archive.org/details/jones-peter-sidwell-keith-reading-latin/mode/2up

Image: the text and my own translation

I’ve divided the post itself into three parts:

[i] text and translation

[ii] text, translation with accompanying notes to lines [1] – [5]

[iii] text, translation with accompanyung notes to lines [6] – [10]

Links are given to aspects of Level 3 grammar that have been covered earlier. References will be made to the use of the subjunctive without, at this stage, going into detail.

“Caelius was elected curule aedile, an important step on the cursus honōrum. One of his new duties was to stage public games. Caelius became anxious about the animals to appear in the vēnātiōnes (wild animal hunts).  He was eager to increase his prestige by putting on an extravagant show. So he wrote to Cicero requesting help. He had already made several mentions of these animals in earlier letters.” (Jones and Sidwell)

Scr. Romae iv Non. Sept. a. 703 (51). CAELIVS CICERONI S.

ferē litterīs omnibus tibi dē panthērīs scrīpsī. turpe tibi erit Patiscum Cūriōnī decem panthērās mīsisse, tē nōn multīs partibus plūrīs; quās ipsās Cūriō mihi et aliās Āfricānās decem dōnāvit, nē putēs illum tantum praedia rūstica dare scīre. tū sī modo memoriā tenueris et Cibyrātās arcessieris itemque in Pamphȳliam litterās miseris (nam ibi plūrīs cāpī aiunt), quod volēs efficiēs. hoc vehementius labōrō nunc, quod seorsus ā collēgā putō mihi omnia paranda. amābō tē, imperā tibi hoc. cūrāre solēs libenter, ut ego maiōrem partem nihil cūrāre. in hōc negōtiō nūlla tua nisi loquendī cūra est, hoc est imperandī et mandandī; nam simulatque erunt captae, quī alant eās et dēportent habēs eōs… putō etiam, sī ūllam spem mihi litterīs ostenderis, mē istō missūrum aliōs.

M. CAELIUS RUFUS TO CICERO, Rome, 2^nd September, 51BC

I’ve written to you about panthers in almost every letter. You’ll find it disgraceful that Patiscus has sent ten panthers to Curio and you haven’t sent far, far more. And those very beasts, as well as ten others from Africa, Curio’s given to me as a gift, so you don’t think that he only knows how to give gifts of country estates. If only you bear this in mind, and send for some (panthers) from Cybyra, and likewise send a letter to Pamphylia –  for they say they’re mostly captured there – you’ll manage to do what you want. I’m getting increasingly concerned about this now, because, apart from my colleague, I think I’ll have to prepare everything. Please tell yourself to do this. You’re usually willing to take care of things, in the same way that I mostly take none. In this business all you have to do is speak, that is, give an order and a commission, for as soon as they’ve been captured, you have the men to feed and transport them .. If you offer me any hope in your letters, I even think I’ll send others to where you are.

Level 3 (review): reflexive constructions [2] [i] sē [ii] suus, -a, -um; practice

Exercise: complete the quotations with the appropriate form of [a] suus and [b] the reflexive pronouns; the answers are at the end of the post.

[a] forms of suus:

[i] He said to his son │ dīxit ad fīlium __________ (Vulgate)

[ii] And Judith spoke to her maid │ Dīxitque Judith puellae __________ (Vulgate)

[iii] Even now Biblus is not thinking about coming into his own province │ Bibulus nē cōgitābat quidem etiam nunc in prōvinciam __________ accēdere (Cicero)

[iv] his servants hurried to their lodgings │ festīnāvērunt servī illīus ad hospitia __________ (Vulgate)

[v] Without their own money, they will not do well │ sine pecūniā __________ nōn valēbunt

[vi] She / that woman saw the faults of her own sons │ illa culpās fīliōrum __________ vīdit

[vii] Caesar divided his troops │ Caesar cōpiās __________ dīvīsit (Caesar)

[viii] Why does he not do the same in his own letters? │ sed cūr nōn __________ litterīs īdem facit? (Cicero)

[ix] Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons [ = above all his sons] │ Isrāēl autem dīligēbat Joseph super omnēs fīliōs __________ (Vulgate)

sua; suā; suae; suam; suās; suīs; suōrum; suōs; suum

[b] reflexive constructions

[i] Give wise men to yourselves.  │ Date __________ virōs sapientēs (Vulgate)

[ii] I believe he’ll bring it out with him  │ crēdō ecferet iam __________ (Plautus)

[iii] I have freed myself from danger; I have given a benefit to myself. │ Līberāvī __________ perīculō: beneficium __________ dedī. (Seneca)

[iv] They all love themselves │ __________ omnēs amant (Plautus)

[v] This old man who is to ask for her hand [ = who will desire her as a wife for himself] │ hic quī poscet eam __________ uxōrem senex (Plautus)

[vi] And, the cup having been taken, he gave thanks and said: “Take this and share it among yourselves.” │ .” et acceptō calice grātiās ēgit et dīxit accipite et dīvidite inter __________ (Vulgate)

[vii] You should keep your own things [ = your things for / to yourself], and give me back mine │ __________ habeās rēs tuās, reddās meās (Plautus)

mē; mihi; sēcum; sēsē; sibi; tibi; vōbīs; vōs

[a]

[i] dīxit ad fīlium suum

[ii] Dīxitque Judith puellae suae

[iii] Bibulus nē cōgitābat quidem etiam nunc in prōvinciam suam accēdere

[iv] festīnāvērunt servī illīus ad hospitia sua

[v] sine pecūniā suā nōn valēbunt

[vi] illa culpās fīliōrum suōrum vīdit

[vii] Caesar cōpiās suās dīvīsit

[viii] sed cūr nōn suīs litterīs īdem facit?

[ix] Isrāēl autem dīligēbat Joseph super omnēs fīliōs suōs

[b]

[i] Date vōbīs virōs sapientēs

[ii] crēdō ecferet iam sēcum

[iii] Līberāvī mē perīculō : beneficium mihi dedī. 

[iv] sēsē omnēs amant

[v] hic quī poscet eam sibi uxōrem senex

[vi] et acceptō calice grātiās ēgit et dīxit accipite et dīvidite inter vōs

[vii] tibi habeās rēs tuās, reddās meās

Level 3 (review): reflexive constructions [1] [i] sē [ii] suus, -a, -um

LINKS

(1) 09.09.24: Level 1; Ora Maritima 10[3]; notes

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/08/090924-level-1-ora-maritima-103-notes.html

(2) 28.09.24: Level 2; Ora Maritima [24] and [25] (7); grammar notes; reflexive constructions

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

(3) 28.05.25: Level 1; readings [12] - [15]: review (3); possessive adjectives

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/280525-level-1-readings-12-15-review-3.html

(4) 16.07.25: Level 3; review: the reflexive pronoun sē

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/04/160725-level-3-review-reflexive-pronoun.html

A reflexive construction is one which refers back to the subject of the sentence.

[1] To express ‘myself’ and ‘yourself’ Latin will use the the accusative, dative or genitive personal pronouns:

Mortī mē obtulī. │ I have exposed myself to death.

Cūr tibi litterās scrīpsistī? │ Why have you written a letter to yourself?

Itaque nōmina inter vōs permūtāstis (Plautus) │ That's how you exchanged names [ = you changed the names between yourselves]

[2] Latin distinguishes the reflexive construction in the 3^rd person

[i] the reflexive pronoun sē (himself, herself, itself, themselves); it has no nominative form since it can only refer back to the subject of the sentence

Accusative: sē or sēsē

Cleopatra sē interfēcit │ Cleopatra killed herself.

Compare: Cleopatra eum / eam interfēcit │ Cleopatra killed him / her

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

Dumnorīgem ad sē vocat (Caesar) │ He calls Dumnorix to him [i.e. to himself]

Sēsē castrīs tenēbant (Caesar) │ They kept themselves in the camp [as opposed to: Eōs castrīs tenēbant │ They kept them (another group) in the camp]

Genitive: suī

Ut Seneca philosophus dīxit, īra brevis īnsānia et impotēns suī est. │ As the philosopher Seneca said: anger is a brief madness and has no control of itself / power over itself.

Habētis ducem … oblītum suī │ You have a leader … forgetful of himself

Dative: sibi

Hominem sibi cārum audivit. │ He heard a man (who was) dear to him(self) i.e. dear to the person who heard

Ablative: sē (or sēsē)

Caesar, postquam hostēs superāvit, litterās ad senātum dē sē mīsit, 'Vēnī, vīdī, vīcī.' │ After he conquered the enemy, Caesar sent a letter to the senate about himself, ‘I came, I saw, I conquered.'

As with the ablative of the other personal pronouns, when sē is used with cum, the preposition is attached to the end of the pronoun i.e. sēcum

Prīmum sēcum dīxit: “Iste bombus aliquid significat.” (Winne Ille Pu) │ First of all he said to himself  “That buzzing means something” [Note: Latin literally says with himself]

Examples:

inter sē cōnflīgunt │ they contend with each other [ = between themselves]

in Amphitruōnis vertit sēsē imāginem (Plautus) │ He (Jupiter) has turned himself into the image of Amphitryon

nam ubi parturit, deōs sibi invocat (Plautus) │ As soon as her time comes she calls on the gods to help her [ = she summons the gods to herself] 

At ut scelesta sōla sēcum murmurat (Plautus) │ Hear the old criminal mumbling away to [ = with] herself, though!

[ii] suus, -a, -um: declines in exactly the same way as meus, -a, -um i.e. like a 1^st / 2^nd declension adjective. It means ‘his, her, its, their’ but refers back to the subject i.e. the implication, even if not always translated, is his own, her own etc.

Like the other possessive adjectives, suus etc. will agree in gender, number and case with the noun ‘owned’:

Mātrem suam amat│ (S)he / she loves his / her (own) mother

Liberōs suōs amant │ They love their (own) children

Compare:

Mātrem eius timet │ (S)he / she fears his / her (somebody else’s) mother

Līberōs eōrum in vinculīs habēbat │ He had their (somebody else’s) children in chains

Examples from Plautus:

iussit vel nōs ātriēnsem vel nōs uxōrem suam dēfraudāre  │ HE gave us orders to deceive the steward, or else HIS wife [i.e. not the steward’s wife, but the wife of the man who gave the order]

cupiō esse amīcae quod det argentum suae  │ I desire that HE gives some money TO HIS mistress.

Hic* nunc domī servit suō patrī  │ He is now at home, a slave to his (own) father; *note: the translator neatly conveys hic as: “Now here he is …” i.e. pointing to him

Tēloboae contrā ex oppidō legiōnēs ēdūcunt suās  │ And from the city, too, the Teloboians led out their legions 

Quia salūtāre advenientem mē solēbās antidhāc, appellāre, itidem ut pudīcae suōs virōs quae sunt solent  │ Because till to-day you used to welcome me as I was arriving and greet me as modest (women / wives) generally do their husbands

servat mē ille suīs periūriīs  │ that man is saving me by perjuring himself [ = literally: by his own perjuries / false oaths]

Note: Unlike sē, which has no nominative case, suus, -a, -um can also be found in the nominative case when emphasising one’s own rather than somebody else’s, or referring back to a person in a previous statement. In the examples below a person is mentioned (1) and then a second statement is made referring back to that person (2). In other words, although (1) is not the subject of the second statement, the use of suus indicates that (2) is referring to that person.

(1) Nōbīscum hic perhonōrificē et peramīcē Octāvius. (2) Quem quidem suī Caesarem salūtābant (Cicero) │ (1) Octavius is here with us on terms of respect and friendship. (2) His own (people) address him as Caesar

Dē frātre satis. (1) Dē eius iuvene fīliō, indulsit illī quidem (2) suus pater semper (Cicero) │ Enough about (my) brother. (1) As for his young son, (2) his father has certainly always indulged him.

(1) C. Flāminius…  invītō senātū … ad populum lēgem agrāriam ferēbat. Hunc ¦ (2) pater suus ¦ concilium plēbis habentem dē templō dēdūxit (Cicero) │ (1) Caius Flaminius …against the consent of the senate … proposed an agrarian law to the people. While he was holding an assembly of the people, (2) his own father dragged him from the temple.

Mercātor quīdam fuit Syrācūsīs senex, eī sunt nātī (1) fīliī geminī duo, ita fōrma similī puerī, ut (2) māter sua nōn internōsse posset (Plautus) │ There was a certain old man, a merchant from Syracuse; to him (1) two twin sons were born so like in appearance that (2) their own mother could not tell them apart.

(1) C. enim Caesar vīllam in Herculānēnsī pulcherrimam, quia (2) māter sua aliquandō in illā cūstōdīta erat, dīruit (Seneca the Younger) │ For  (1) Gaius  Caesar destroyed  a  very  beautiful  villa  near  Herculaneum because  (2) his  mother had once been imprisoned in it

Level 3: Wild beasts [3] from the authors [i] Pliny the Elder

All from Pliny the Elder’s Natural History:

[A] Praeparant hiemī et īrēnāceī ac volūtātī suprā iacentia pōma adfixa spīnīs, ūnum amplius tenentēs ōre, portant in cavās arborēs.

[B] (īrēnāceī) … ubi vērō sēnsēre vēnantem, contractō ōre pedibusque ac parte omnī īnferiōre, … convolvuntur in fōrmam pilae, nē quid conprehendī possit praeter aculeōs.

[C] Mīrum pardōs*, panthērās, leōnēs et similia condītō in corporis vāgīnās unguium mucrōne, … ingredī āversīsque falculīs currere nec nisi in adpetendō prōtendere. [*Pliny is referring here to a male panther]

[D] leōnī praecipua generōsitās tunc, cum colla armōsque vestiunt iubae

[E] Panthēra et tigrīs maculārum varietāte prope sōlae bēstiārum spectantur

[F] in Olympō Macedoniā monte nōn sunt lupī nec in Crētā īnsulā, ibi quidem nec vulpēs ursīve atque omnīnō nūllum maleficum animal praeter phalangium* [*a species of spider: arānea, -ae (1/f)]

[G] Alia sollertia in metū mēlibus: sufflātae cutis distentū ictūs hominum et morsūs canum arcent.

cutis, -is [3/f]: skin

morsus, -ūs [4/m]: bite; sting

mucrō, mucrōnis [3/m]: sharp point

The translations of the text and the answers are at the end of the post.

Exercise [1] Which of the extracts [A] to [G] refers to:

[i] animals with spots

[ii] apples

[iii] dog bites

[iv] something remarkable / wonderful

[v] the island of Crete

[vi] the neck and shoulders

[vii] the shape of a ball

Exercise [2] Which animal(s) as stated by Pliny the Elder:

[i] are noble

[ii] senses the approach of hunters

[iii] have a smart reaction when frightened

[iv] stores food for the winter

[v] have claws

[vi] can prevent human blows

[vii] only show claws when seizing prey

[viii] stores food in tree hollows

Exercise [3] Which of the following statements are specifically made by Pliny the Elder?

[i]

[A] Wolves are found both on Mount Olympus and on Crete.

[B] Wolves are found on Mount Olympus but not on Crete.

[C] Wolves are not found either on Mount Olympus or on Crete.

[ii]

[A] Bears and foxes are found on Crete.

[B] Neither bears nor foxes are found on Crete.

[C] Only bears are found on Crete.

[D] Only foxes are found on Crete.

[iii]

[A] Panthers and tigers are almost the only spotted animals.

[B] Only tigers have spots.

[C] Panthers and tigers are the only spotted animals.

[iv]

[A] The lion is considered noble from birth.

[B] Some lions don’t have manes.

[C] The lion is considered noble when it has a mane.

[v]

[A] Hedgehogs use their quills to pierce food.

[B] Hedgehogs use their quills to attack.

[C] Hedgehogs use their quills for protection.

____________________

Exercise [1] Which of the extracts [A] to [G] refers to:

[i] animals with spots [E]

[ii] apples [A]

[iii] dog bites [G]

[iv] something remarkable / wonderful [C]

[v] the island of Crete [F]

[vi] the neck and shoulders [D]

[vii] the shape of a ball [B]

Exercise [2] Which animal(s) as stated by Pliny the Elder:

[i] are noble │ lions

[ii] senses the approach of hunters │ hedgehogs

[iii] have a smart reaction when frightened │ badgers

[iv] stores food for the winter │ hedgehogs

[v] have claws │ panthers; lions

[vi] can prevent human blows │ badgers

[vii] only show claws when seizing prey │ panthers; lions

[viii] stores food in tree hollows │ hedgehogs

Exercise [3] Which of the following statements are specifically made by Pliny the Elder?

[i] [C] Wolves are not found either on Mount Olympus or on Crete.

[ii] [B] Neither bears nor foxes are found on Crete.

[iii] [A] Panthers and tigers are almost the only spotted animals.

[iv] [C] The lion is considered noble when it has a mane

[v] [A] Hedgehogs use their quills to pierce food; [C] Hedgehogs use their quills for protection

[A] Hedgehogs also lay up food for the winter; rolling themselves on apples as they lie on the ground, they pierce one with their quills, and then take up another in the mouth, and so carry them into the hollows of trees.

[B] When they perceive the approach of the hunter, they draw in the head and feet, and all the lower part of the body … and then roll themselves up into the form of a ball, so that there is no way of taking hold of them but by their quills.

[C] It is a remarkable fact, that pards,  panthers, lions, and other animals of this kind, walk with the points of their nails concealed in a sheath in the body, … and that, when they run, their hooked claws are turned backwards, and are never extended, except in the act of seizing their prey.

[D] the lion (has) particular nobility when the manes cover the neck and shoulders

[E] The panther and tiger are almost the only beasts seen with a variety of spots

[F] Upon Olympus, a mountain of Macedonia, there are no wolves, nor on the island of Crete. Indeed there are neither foxes, nor bears, nor any kind of harmful animal, with the exception of the phalangium

[G] Badgers have another clever trait when frightened: by the expansion of inflated skin they ward off the blows of men and the bites of dogs

https://penelope.uchicago.edu/thayer/e/roman/texts/pliny_the_elder/home.html

https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/L/Roman/Texts/Pliny_the_Elder/8*.html

https://www.attalus.org/translate/pliny_hn8b.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Images #1 and #2: lions and tigers and bears in the Ancient World, including Rome’s most beloved wolf.

Image #3: there are no depictions of badgers from the Roman world (as far I could find) but we have one to thank for unearthing the biggest hoard of Roman coins ever found in Spain:

https://www.thearchaeologist.org/blog/hungry-badger-unearths-largest-ever-roman-coin-hoard-in-spain

Level 3 (review): demonstratives [4]; 3rd person pronouns [ii] is / ea / id; practice

The answers are at the end of the post.

complete the quotations, all of which are from the Vulgate, with the appropriate pronouns listed below; many of them are used twice.

[i] It seemed difficult to / for him │ difficile __________ vidēbātur

[ii] He turned their supply of water into blood, and killed all their fish │ Convertit aquās __________ in sanguinem, et occīdit piscēs __________

[iii] They asked, and the quail came: and he filled them with the bread of heaven. │ Petiērunt, et vēnit coturnīx, et pāne cælī saturāvit __________.

[iv] And a man's kinsman shall take him up, and shall burn him,  │ et tollet __________ propinquus suus et conbūret __________

[v] If a man open a pit, and dig one, and does not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall into it …│ sī quis aperuerit cisternam et fōderit et nōn operuerit __________ cecīderitque bōs vel asinus in __________ …

[vi] These are the judgments which you shall set before them [ = propose to them] │  haec sunt iūdicia quae prōpōnēs __________

[vii] And his mouth was immediately opened, and his tongue, and he began to speak, praising God│ apertum est autem īlicō os __________ et lingua __________ et loquēbātur benedīcēns Deum

[viii]..and he shall say to him who is in the inner rooms of the house … │ dīcet __________ in penetrābilibus domus est

[ix] But hold on to what [ = that which] you have until I come │  tamen __________ habētis tenēte dōnec veniam

[x] And do not fear them / those who kill the body │ et nōlīte timēre __________ occīdunt corpus

eam; eam; eī; eī quī; eīs; eius; eius; eōrum; eōrum; eōs; eōs quī; eum; eum; id quod

[i] difficile eī vidēbātur

[ii] Convertit aquās eōrum in sanguinem, et occīdit piscēs eōrum

[iii] Petiērunt, et vēnit coturnīx, et pāne cælī saturāvit eōs.

[iv] et tollet eum propinquus suus et conbūret eum

[v] sī quis aperuerit cisternam et fōderit et nōn operuerit eam cecīderitque bōs vel asinus in eam …

[vi] haec sunt iūdicia quae prōpōnēs eīs

[vii] apertum est autem īlicō os eius et lingua eius et loquēbātur benedīcēns Deum

[viii] dīcet eī quī in penetrābilibus domus est

[ix] tamen id quod habētis tenēte dōnec veniam

[x] et nōlīte timēre eōs quī occīdunt corpus