Hīs labōribus perāctīs, opus difficillimum Herculī imperātur. Erat in Tartarīs cānis triceps, nōmine Cerberus. Hic aditum in Tartara cūstōdiēbat. Hunc in terram ferre iussus est. In Tartara profectus est cum Hermā et Athēnā. Tum summō labōre Cerberum manibus captum in terram sēcum portāvit. Hīs labōribus fūnctus Herculēs servitūte ab Eurystheō līberātus est.
Tartarus, -ī [2/n]: Tartarus; hell (part of the underworld); (here in the plural) infernal regions
Translate the phrases and explain the form and use of the words in bold:
[i] opus difficillimum
[ii] In Tartara profectus est
[iii] summō labōre
[iv] Cerberum … sēcum portāvit
[v] Herculēs servitūte … līberātus est
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[i] opus difficillimum │ a very difficult work; superlative adjective (neuter singular) < difficilis, -e
[ii] In Tartara profectus est │ he set out for the infernal regions; perfect tense < proficīscor, -ī, profectus sum [3/dep]
[iii] summō labōre │ with the greatest difficulty; ablative of manner
21.05.25: Level 3; summary of of the uses of the ablative case [6]: [i] the ablative of accompaniment; [ii] the ablative of manner
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/210525-level-3-summary-of-of-uses-of_37.html
[iv] Cerberum … sēcum portāvit │ he carried Cerberus with him; sēcum: ablative of reflexive pronoun sē (him/her/itself; themselves) + cum; the pronoun refers back to the subject i.e. literally: with himself
[iv] Hīs labōribus fūnctus │ literally: with these labours having been performed; ablative absolute with perfect active participle of fungor, -ī, fūnctus sum [3/dep]: perform; the verb is regularly followed by the ablative case
[v] Herculēs servitūte … līberātus est │ Hercules was freed from slavery; ablative of separation
17.06.25: Level 3; summary of of the uses of the ablative case [15]: the ablative of separation
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/170625-level-3-summary-of-of-uses-of.html
Having finished these labours, a very difficult work is appointed for Hercules. There was in the infernal regions a dog with three heads, Cerberus by name. He used to guard the approach to the infernal regions. He was ordered to bring him to earth. He set out for the infernal regions with Hermes and Athene. Then, with the greatest effort, Cerberus, (who had been) seized with his hands, he carried back to the earth with him. Having performed these labours, Hercules was freed from slavery by Eurystheus.
Engraving by Sebald Beham, 1540
