[1] An affectionate fish
Ōlim delphīn amīcitiam cum puerō quōdam contrāxisse dīcitur. Quotīdiē autem ā puerō vocātūs, frusta pānis accipiēbat. In summam aquam veniēbat, et, acceptīs frustīs, puerum dorsō excipiēbat. Mortuō puerō, delphīn prae dolōre mortuus esse dīcitur.
contrahō, -ere, -trāxī, -tractus [3]: several different meanings [i] collect; assemble [ii] accomplish [iii] cause; produce; (here) form (a friendship) [iv] make a contract
frū̆stum, -ī [2/n]: piece; bit; crumb; morsel; scrap (of food)
Dīcitur: he / she / it is said…; both in English and in Latin, this construction is followed by an infintive, for example:
He is said ¦ to be [present] rich.
He is said ¦ to have made [past] a lot of money.
In the short text there are two examples of this:
[i] Delphīn amīcitiam cum puerō contrāxisse dīcitur. │ The dolphin is said to have formed a friendship with the boy.
perfect active infinitive:
22.06.25: Level 3; the Labours of Hercules; [I] The infant Hercules and the serpents; note [4]
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/220625-level-3-i-infant-hercules-and.html
02.09.25: Level 3; Sonnenschein; Prō Patriā [9]; Anglī et Saxonēs [1]
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/05/020925-level-3-sonnenschein-pro-patria.html
19.10.25: Level 3; Spartan boys: the contempt of pain
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/07/191025-level-3-spartan-boys-contempt-of.html
[ii] Delphīn prae dolōre mortuus esse dīcitur. │ The dolphin is said to have died from grief.
[2] perfect infinitive of deponent verb: this forms part of the next topic to be discussed at Level 3 i.e. indirect statement
morior, morī, mortuus sum [3-iō/ deponent]: die; passive forms but active in meaning. Therefore, mortuus sum = I (have) died > mortuus esse: to have died
[2] Philoctetes
Poētae multa dē Philoctētē nārrant. Dīcitur Herculis armiger fuisse, et ab eō sagittās, venēnātō sanguine Hȳdrae tīnctās, accēpisse. Pēs autem eius aut sagittā cadente aut serpentis dente vulnerātus est. Ex hōc vulnere odor gravissimus ortus est, itaque Graecī eum ā sē expulērunt, et in īnsulā Lemnō relīquērunt. Hīc diū sōlus in antrō vīvēbat. Graecī autem sine sagittīs illīus Troiam capere nōn potuērunt. Tum vērō Ulyssēs et Diomēdēs Lemnum missī, Philoctētēm sēcum Trōiam dūcere cōnātī sunt. Diū restitit: tandem precibus victus, Troiam abiit. Haud multō post Troiā, per decem annōs frūstrā oppugnāta, sagittārum ope capta est.
armiger, -ī [2/m]: weapon-bearer; bodyguard
ops, -is [3/f]: [i] strength; power; [ii] help; assistance; sagittārum ¦ ope │ with the help ¦ of the arrows
prex, precis [3/f]: request; prayer; entreaty;
restō, -āre, restitī / restāvī, - [1]: (here) resist
tingō, -ere, tīnxī, tīnctus [3]: wet; moisten; dip; tinge
The same structure as in [1][i] above is also used here:
(1) Dīcitur Herculis armiger (2) fuisse [perfect active infinitive], et ab eō sagittās, venēnātō sanguine Hȳdrae tīnctās, (2) accēpisse [perfect active infinitive].
sum, esse, fuī [perfect active] > fu¦isse: to have been
accipico, -ere, accēpī [perfect active] > accēp¦isse: to have received
He (Philoctetes) (1) is said (2) to have been the armour-bearer of Hercules, and (2) to have received from him arrows dipped in the poisoned blood of the Hydra
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philoctetes
The isolation of Philoctetes on Lemnos (Jean-Charles-Joseph Rémond;1818)
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[1] Once, a dolphin is said to have formed a friendship with a certain boy. Every day, having been called by the boy, he used to receive pieces of bread. He used to come to the surface of the water and, after receiving the pieces, would take the boy onto his back. After the boy died, the dolphin is said to have died from grief.
[2] The poets recount many things about Philoctetes. He is said to have been the armour-bearer of Hercules, and to have received from him arrows dipped in the poisoned blood of the Hydra. His foot, however, was wounded either by a falling arrow or by the tooth of a serpent. From this wound a very foul smell arose, and so the Greeks expelled him from their company and left him on the island of Lemnos. The Greeks, however, could not capture Troy without his arrows. Then indeed, Ulysses and Diomedes, having been sent to Lemnos, tried to lead Philoctetes to Troy with them. He resisted for a long time; at last, overcome by prayers / requests / entreaties, he went away to Troy. Not long after, Troy, having been besieged in vain for ten years, was captured with the help of the arrows.
