Speaking Latin on Campus (University of Dallas) [2]; comprehension

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMhOlxDaFCo

Either listen to the video alone or follow the text below and answer the questions.

[1] Estisne discipulī rērum classicārum? Ego quoque (sum). Salvēte sodālēs. Vincentius loquor. Hodiē velim ostendere vōbīs ūnversitātem ubi nunc studeō litterīs classicīs: Universitās Dāllāsēnsis.

[i] What question does Vincent ask you? (1)

[ii] What does he want to do today and why? (2)

[2] Ecce turris. Nesciō utrum sit in mediō campī; fortasse nōn quia hinc possum vidēre viam. Novus discipulus sum; ergō nōndum vīdī neque intrāvī in omnia aedificia. Sed hodiē tempus mihi est. Volō deambulāre hīc ut omnia videam.

[iii] What tall building does he point out? (1)

[iv] What is he not sure of? (1)

[v] What can he see? (1)

[vi] True / false? Vincent’s been at the university for several years. (1)

[vii] True / false? He’s been in all the buildings. (1)

[viii] Why does he want to take a walk? (1)

[3] [background dialogue: Anglicē, id est, barbaricē loquimur; ignoscite]. Sciō aliquō locō esse sēminārium, sed nōn habeō tabulam geōgraphicam. Ergō nesciō ubi sit. Ut credō ibi invenītur; veritās -  virtūs – sapientia.

[ix] Why does Vincent apologise? (1)

[x] What building is he looking for? (1)

[xi] Why does he not know where it is? (1)

[xii] Which three very “Roman” characteristics does he refer to? (3)

[4] Frequentō tantum hoc aedificium quod appellātur ‘Anselm’ (ex nōmine Sānctī Anselmī Cantuariēnsis) in quō sunt conclāvia mea.

[xiii] True / false: Vincent uses several buildings when he studies. (1)

[xiv] Why does the building have the name ‘Anselm’ (2); note: he doesn’t say this but writes it in the subtitles.

[xv] What is in the building? (1)

[5] Nunc bibliothēcam petō. Cuius est hic lectus suspensus? Tempus est prandium sūmere. Grātiās vōbīs agō quod spectāvistis. Cūrāte ut valeātis; in proximum.

[xvi] Where is he heading to? (1)

[xvii] What question does he ask? (1)

[xviii] What time of the day is it? (1)

____________________

[i] Are you students?

[ii] Show you the university; he’s studying Classics there 

[iii] tower

[iv] whether it’s in the middle of the campus

[v] a road

[vi] false: he’s a new student

[vii] false: he’s not yet been in all the buildings

[viii] to see everything

[ix] they’re speaking in English

[x] seminary

[xi] doesn’t have a map

[xii] truth; virtue; wisdom

[xiii] false: he only goes to one building

[xiv] named after Saint Anselm of Canterbury

[xv] his classrooms

[xvi] the library

[xvii] Whose hammock is this?

[xviii] lunch time

Level 3; deponent verbs (8); Back to the alligators …; deponent verbs with the ablative case

 Some time back Vincent posted a video about Brazos Bend State Park where you can see alligators.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/465398589404748/

or: https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/06/22.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/467026835908590/

or: https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/06/250624-level-2-vincent-and-alligators-2.html

 At the time I mentioned that Vincent used a number of verbs which, at that stage, should simply be noted until the appropriate time came to look at those verbs in more depth because they are all deponent. Now that we have looked in detail at the deponent verbs we can look again at the text:

fruor, fruī, frūctus sum [3/dep]: enjoy

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

queror, querī, questus sum [3/dep]: complain

versor, versārī, versātus sum [3/dep]: live; stay; be somewhere

Vincentius loquor. │ I, Vincent, am talking = This is Vincentius speaking / talking.

Est diēs calidus. │ It’s a hot day.

Temperātūra est ferē trīgintā quattuor gradūs celsiī. │ The temperature is about 34⁰C.

Multī nōn crēdunt │ Many (people) don’t believe (it)

sed hoc mihi placet. │ but [literally] this pleases me = I like this.

Vērum est. │It’s true.

Ferē numquam queror │ I almost never complain

dē calōre aestātis │ about the heat of the summer.

quia mihi placet. │ because [literally] it is pleasing to me = I like it

In hōc hortō pūblicō │In this park [lit: public garden]

nōmine ‘Brazos Bend State Park’ │[literally] by the name of = called ‘Brazos Bend State Park’ 

versantur multī alligātōrēs. │ there are many alligators.

Venīte mēcum │ Come with me

ad eōs spectandōs. │ to look at them.

Sī eōs vidēbō │ If I see them,

vōbīs ostendam. │ I’ll show you.

Bene, iam nōn multum loquar. │Well, I’ll not talk much any more [lit: I will no longer talk a lot]

Volō enim multum ambulāre │ For I want to walk a lot

et fruī deambulātiōne.* │ and enjoy the walk.

Vīdī nōnnūllōs alligātōrēs │I saw / I have seen some alligators

fortasse quīnque, sex aut septem │ perhaps 5, 6 or 7

sed omnēs vidēlicet in aquā natant … nunc. │ but they’re all evidently swimming in the water … now.

Nūllī versantur in terrā. │ None are on the land.

*Deponent verbs followed by the ablative case

Volō enim multum ambulāre │ For I want to walk a lot

et fruī deambulātiōne.* │ and enjoy the walk.

fruor, fruī, frūctus sum [3/dep]: enjoy

• cibō fruitur. │ He enjoys food.

Other deponent verbs that are followed by the ablative case:

ūtor, ūtī, ūsus sum [3/dep]: use

• Vincere scīs, Hannibal, victōriā ūtī nescīs. (Livy) │You know how to conquer, Hannibal, but you do not know how to use the victory.
• Miles gladiō ūtitur. │ The soldier uses a sword.
• Omnibus cōpiīs ūtuntur. │ They make use of all their forces. 

fungor, fungī, fūnctus sum [3/dep]: perform (a duty / function)

• consulatū fungitur. │He performs the office of consul.

vescor, vescī, -no perfect- [3/dep]: feed upon

• Numidae plērumque carne vēscuntur. │ The Numidians generally eat / feed on meat.

potior, potīrī, potītus sum [4/dep]: obtain; take possession of

• pīrātae nāvī potiuntur. │The pirates take control of the ship.
• Rēx Aegyptī bellum īnfert quī terrā potītur atque thēsaurōs templī et rēgiae aufert. │ The king of Egypt wages war and he takes possession of the land and steals the treasures of the temple and the palace.

Speaking Latin on Campus (University of Dallas) [1]; video / transcript / translation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMhOlxDaFCo

Post #1: video / transcript / translation (literal and reworked); points to be covered later are indicated in bold and italics.

[1] Estisne discipulī rērum classicārum? Ego quoque (sum). Salvēte sodālēs. Vincentius loquor. Hodiē velim ostendere vōbīs ūnversitātem ubi nunc studeō litterīs classicīs: Universitās Dāllāsēnsis.

Are you students of Classics? Me, too [literally: I also (am) / I am, too]. Hello, friends. It’s me, Vincent, speaking [literally: I, Vincent, am speaking]. Today I would like to show you the university where I’m now studying Classics: the University of Dallas.

[2] Ecce turris*. Nesciō utrum sit in mediō campī; fortasse nōn quia hinc possum vidēre viam. Novus discipulus sum; ergō nōndum vīdī neque intrāvī in omnia aedificia. Sed hodiē tempus mihi est. Volō deambulāre hīc ut omnia videam.

*turris, -is [3/f]: tower; this 3^rd declension noun has two alternative accusatives: turrem and turrim

Here’s a tower. I don’t know whether it’s in the middle of the campus; perhaps not because I can see a road from here. I’m a new student; therefore, I have not yet seen nor gone into all the buildings. But today I have time. I want to take a walk here to see everything [literally: (in order / so) that I may see].

[3] [background dialogue: Anglicē, id est, barbaricē loquimur; ignoscite] Sciō aliquō locō esse sēminārium, sed nōn habeō tabulam geōgraphicam. Ergō nesciō ubi sit. Ut credō ibi invenītur; veritās -  virtūs – sapientia.

[“We speak in English, that is / i.e. in Babarian. Forgive (us).] I know ¦ that there is a seminary in some place [literally: I know ¦ a seminary to be in some place], but I don’t have a map. Therefore, I don’t know where it is [literally: where it may / might be]. I think [literally: as I believe], it can be found there / you can find it there [literally: it is found there]; truth – virtue – wisdom.

[4] Frequentō tantum hoc aedificium quod appellātur ‘Anselm’ (ex nōmine Sānctī Anselmī Cantuariēnsis) in quō sunt conclāvia mea.

I only ‘frequent’ i.e. regularly visit / go to this building which is called ‘Anselm’ (from the name of Saint Anselm of Canterbury) where [literally: in which] my classrooms are.

[5] Nunc bibliothēcam petō. Cuius est hic lectus suspensus*? Tempus est prandium sūmere. Grātiās vōbīs agō quod spectāvistis. Cūrāte ut valeātis; in proximum.

*lectus, -ī suspensus: (New Latin) hammock; also lectulus (literally: a little bed) suspensus; the Neo-Latin Lexicon gives nine possibilities for ‘hammock’

https://neolatinlexicon.org/latin/hammock/

I think one is enough.

Now I’m heading to / making for the library. Whose hammock is this? It’s time to take lunch. Thank you (all) for watching [literally: thank you because you have watched]. Take care [literally: see to it that you may be well]; until the next time.

Level 3; deponent verbs (7); active / passive / transitive/ intransitive

 There are four grammatical terms that are used when dealing with deponent verbs and it’s important not to misinterpret them.

“a verb that has a [i] passive form but an [ii] active meaning”

[i] a passive verb: the subject of the sentence experiences the action; the action is done to the subject e.g. This book was written by George Orwell.

[ii] an active verb: the subject of the sentence performs the action e.g. George Orwell wrote “1984”.

The distinction between [i] and [ii] is generally clear.

The next two terms also apply to verbs but look at those verbs from a different point of view:

[iii] a transitive verb: a verb that must be followed by a direct object to make sense:

• Could you please bring ¦ + some coffee? i.e. ‘bring’ alone is meaningless; it requires a direct object
• My son has caught ¦ + a cold.

[iv] an intransitive verb: a verb that cannot be followed by a direct object.

• That dog is always barking.
• The boy yawns in class all day.
• They’ll arrive on Tuesday.

[v] Some verbs can be either intransitive or transitive:

• She sings in that club every Saturday. │ The lady sings ¦ + the Blues in that club every Saturday.
• He left at 7pm. │ He left ¦ + some money on the table.

[vi] When we now apply these concepts to the Latin deponent verbs the following can be stated:

loquor │ I am speaking

the verb is [i] passive in form (loquor) but [ii] active in meaning (I am speaking) i.e. although the verb looks passive, it is the subject that is performing the action

the verb is [iv] intransitive i.e. it is not followed by a direct object

You will see that many deponent verbs are intransitive:

• Sol oritur │ the sun rises
• Caesar ē castrīs proficīscitur │ Caesar sets out from the camp
• res ipsa loquitur │ the matter speaks for itself
• mortuus est │ he died
• Cūr īrāsceris? │ Why are you (getting) angry?
• Nox hīberna morātur │ the winter night lingers

Here are some more examples of deponent verbs from the authors. Again, they are active and, in these contexts, intransitive.

[1] opīnor, opīnārī, opīnātus sum [1/dep]: suppose; imagine; think

A deponent and passive verb in the same extract:

• Sed debebatur, ut opinor, fatis tantae origo urbis (Livy) │ But the beginning of such a great city, as I think /  believe / in my opinion, was owed to the fates …

[2]

fateor, fatērī, fassus sum [2/dep]: confess

patior, patī, passus sum [3-iō/dep]: suffer; endure; put up with

• pauper sum; fateor, patior; quod di dant fero. (Plautus) │ I am poor, I confess it -- I put up with it. What the Gods send, I endure.

[3] queror, querī, questus sum [3/dep]: complain

• hic qui verna natus est queritur (Plautus) │ this man who was born a slave is complaining

[4] luctor, -ārī, -ātus sum [1/dep]: struggle; wrestle

• pars in gramineis exercent membra palaestris, contendunt ludo et fulva luctantur harena (Virgil) │ Some train their limbs on the grassy wrestling grounds, compete in sport, and grapple / wrestle on the yellow sand

But, as is often the case in Latin, just because a large number of these deponent verbs are intransitive, you cannot say that all deponent verbs are intransitive – that would be a non sequitur!

Some can act as transitive verbs:

• Agricola equum sequitur. │ The farmer follows the horse.
• Hostēs urbem aggrediuntur. │ The enemy are attacking the city.
• Pulchritūdinem puellae mīrāmur. │ We admire the girl’s beauty.

recordor, -ārī, -ātus sum [1]: recollect

• Sed ut iis bonis erigimur, quae expectamus, sic laetamur iis, quae recordamur. (Cicero) │ But just as we are elated by the good things which we are waiting for, so we are delighted by the things which we recollect. 

Level 3: literature; Tempus est iocundum [2]

This is a ‘gentler’ version of the same song but still has that Mediaeval colour.

Note: for those who have been following the posts and / or the alternative site, every feature of Latin has been discussed before, and so this is a tremendous example of all the jigsaw pieces coming together.

Each verse is only a couple of lines. I’ll begin with verse #1 [V1] and the refrain

[V1] Tempus est iocundum, ō virginēs, modo congaudēte vōs iuvenēs │ The time is pleasing, you virgins, just rejoice, you young men

congaudeō, congaudēre [2]: (Late Latin) rejoice; here it’s in the imperative / command form (talking to more than one person) i.e. gaudēte

• iocundus, -a, -um (Late Latin): joyful (CL: iūcundus)
• iuvenis, -is [3/m]: young man
• tempus, temporis [3/n]: time
• virgō, virginis [3/f]: girl; maiden; virgin

Chorus: it has a very good example of different noun and adjective types working together

Ō, ō, tōtus flōreō! │Oh, oh, I am blossoming!

iam amōre virginālī tōtus ārdeō, novus, novus amor est, quō pereō. │ I’m totally burning with first love, it’s a new, new love from which I’m dying

• ārdeō, ārdēre [2]: burn
• flōreō, flōrēre [2]: bloom; blossom; flower
• tōtus, -a, -um: completely; the grammar FBI will say that it should be tōta because a girl is singing! It didn’t seem to bother them in 1230.
• pereō, perīre: die; perish; it’s come up before: eō, īre (go) can have prefixes to change its meaning
• amōre pereō: the ablative expresses the cause; I am burning with [because of] love

But, here’s the grammar point to note

• amor, amōris [3/m]: love; a third declension noun
• novus, -a, -um: new; a 1st/ 2nd declension adjective
• virginālis, -e: maidenly (or ‘first’ in the sense of your ‘first love’); a 3rd declension adjective

[i] iam amōre [3rd declension noun] virginālī [3rd declension adjective] tōtus ārdeō

• I am completely burning with first love

[ii] novus, novus [1st/ 2nd declension adjective] amor [3rd declension noun] est, quō pereō

• It is a new, new love from which I’m dying.

The adjective and the noun agree in gender, number and case but they retain their own endings.

Here are the rest of the verses:

[V2] Cantat philomena sīc dulciter, et modulāns audītur; intus caleō │The nightingale sings so sweetly, and it is heard singing, and I am hot inside

• caleō, calēre [2]: to be hot (check the posts on weather!)
• cantō, cantāre [1]: sing
• dulcis, -e [3]: sweet; and there is an example of how Latin forms some adverbs: dulciter: sweelty
• intus: (adverb) within; inside
• modulāns, modulantis [3]: (here) singing

Note: passive

• audit: he / she / it hears
• audītur: he / she / it is heard

[V3] Flōs est puellārum, quam dīligō, et rosa rosārum, quam sepe videō; │ She is the flower of the girls whom I love, and the rose of the roses whom I often see

• dīligō, dīligere [3]: love
• flōs, flōris [3/m]: flower
• sepe = saepe (often); Mediaeval spelling shift from /ae/ > /e/ to reflect pronunciation change
• videō, vidēre [2]: see

[V4] Mea mē cōnfortat prōmissiō, mea mē dēportat negātiō. │ My promise strengthens me, my refusal carries me away

[V5] Mea mēcum lūdit virginitās, mea mē dētrūdit simplicitās. │My virginity plays with me, my innocence pushes me down

Note: in some versions the ‘mea’ becomes ‘tua’ i.e. your promise strengthens me etc. I’m following the exact lyrics from the Youtube version.

• cōnfortō, cōnfortō [1]: strengthen
• dēportō, dēportāre [1]: carry off
• dētrūdō, dētrūdere [3]: push down
• lūdo, lūdere [3]: play
• mē¦cum: with me

Four 3rd declension nouns that always have the same type of stem change: -iō, -tās

• negatiō, negātiōnis [3/f]: refusal
• prōmissiō, prōmissiōnis [3/f]: promise
• simplicitās, simplicitātis [3/f]: innocence; simplicity
• virginitās, virginitātis [3/f]: maidenhood; virginity

[V6] Sile, philomēna, prō tempore, surge cantilēna dē pectore. │Be silent, nightingale, for a while, rise up, song, from (my) breast

• sileō, silēre [2]: be silent; imperative / command talking to one person i.e. sile
• surgō, surgere [3]: arise; imperative / command talking to one person i.e. surge
• cantilēna, -ae [1/f]: (old) song
• pectus, pectoris [3/m]: breast

[V7] Tempore brūmālī vir patiēns, animō vernālī lascīviēns. │In the winter time a man (is) patient, frisky with the breath of spring

• animus, -ī [2/m]: soul; ‘life force’, but ‘the breath / spirit of spring’ is quite neat
• vir, -ī [2/m]: man

2 adjectives to describe seasons

• brūmālis, -is [3]: winter; wintry; ablative of time when: tempore brūmālī (in the winter time)
• vernālis, -e [3]: spring

Note the regular stem changes of these types ending in -ns

patiēns, patientis [3]: patient

lascīviēns, lascīvientis [3]: frolicking; “frisky”

[V8] Venī, domicella, cum gaudiō, venī, venī, pulchra, iam pereō. │Come, maiden, with joy, come, come, beautiful (girl), I’m dying now

• domicella, -ae [1/f]: (Mediaeval) young lady; maiden
• gaudium, -ī [2/n]: joy
• preposition cum + ablative
• pulcher, pulchra, pulchrum: beautiful
• veniō, venīre [4]: come; imperative / command form talking to one person i.e. venī 

Level 3: literature; The song that wakes the dead - tempus est iocundum (Codex Buranus c1230)

Health warning: don’t play it at full volume otherwise you’ll wake the neighbours!

The reference in the topic title to “waking the dead” was a comment from Youtube! After the deafening introduction, the song goes into a joyful thumping beat.

I’m sure we all have a piece of music that takes us “somewhere else”, to another place, another time. This piece takes me to the Middle Ages, and I hope it takes you there too.

I like some of the Mediaeval works, especially the songs, because they show many Latin constructions which are easier to access at this stage rather than diving into Tacitus.

I will first post only with the Latin lyrics.

In the second post I will give detailed notes and translation.

I also couldn't resist posting this on July 4th (my time zone): today is the UK general election - tempus est iocundum: the time is pleasing. I doubt it.

Codex Buranus (c.1230)

Tempus est iocundum

[v1] Tempus est iocundum, ō virginēs, modo congaudēte vōs iuvenēs,

Refrain

Ō, ō, tōtus flōreō!

Iam amōre virginālī tōtus ārdeō, novus, novus amor est, quō pereō.

[v2] Cantat philomena sīc dulciter, et modulāns audītur; intus caleō

[v3] Flōs est puellārum, quam dīligō, et rosa rosārum, quam sepe videō;

[v4] Mea mē cōnfortat prōmissiō, mea mē dēportat negātiō.

[v5] Mea mēcum lūdit virginitās, mea mē dētrūdit simplicitās.

[v6] Sile, philomēna, prō tempore, surge cantilēna dē pectore.

[v7] Tempore brūmālī vir patiēns, animō vernālī lascīviēns.

[v8] Venī, domicella, cum gaudiō, venī, venī, pulchra, iam pereō.

Level 3; deponent verbs (6)(ii); imperfect and future tenses; exercise [2]

moror, -ārī, -ātus sum [1/dep]: to delay

mereor, -ērī, meritus sum [2/dep]: to deserve, earn

aggredior, -ī, aggressus sum [3-iō/dep]: to approach; advance towards; attack

patior, patī, passus sum [3-iō/dep]: to suffer; endure

Choose the correct translaton; this time, the present, future and imperfect tenses are used:

1. The sun is rising │Sōl [a] oriēbātur [b] oritur [c] oriētur
2. The sun was rising │ Sōl [a] oriētur [b] oritur [c] oriēbātur
3. The sun will rise │Sōl [a] oriētur [b] oriēbātur [c] oritur
4. He could easily endure [= was easily enduring bodily pain] │ ille … facile dolōrem corporis [a] patitur [b] patiēbātur [c] patiētur (Cicero)
5. I often use a sword │Gladiō saepe [a] ūtēbar [b] ūtar [c] ūtor
6. The angry sailors advance towards us │ [a] aggrediēbantur [b] aggredientur [c] aggrediuntur nōs furentēs nautae (Petronius)
7. The king is threatening him with death │ Rēx eī mortem [a] minātur [b] minābātur [c] minābitur
8. The king will threaten him with death │ Rēx eī mortem [a] minābātur [b] minātur [c] minābitur
9. The matter speaks for itself. Rēs ipsa [a] loquēbātur [b] loquitur [c] loquētur
10. What will he promise us? │ Quid nōbīs [a] pollicēbitur? [b] pollicēbātur? [c] pollicētur?
11. While he is staying a few days at Vesontio … │ Dum paucōs diēs ad Vesontiōnem … [a] morātur [b] morantur [c] morāmur … (Caesar)
12. The enemy, the enemy, who(ever) kills them will earn a reward │ 'hostēs, hostēs, quī eōs occīderit, praemium [a] merēbiminī [b] merēbitur [c] merēbuntur

____________________

The sun is rising │Sōl [a] oriēbātur [b] oritur [c] oriētur

The sun was rising │ Sōl [a] oriētur [b] oritur [c] oriēbātur

The sun will rise │Sōl [a] oriētur [b] oriēbātur [c] oritur

He could easily endure [= was easily enduring bodily pain] │ ille … facile dolōrem corporis [a] patitur [b] patiēbātur [c] patiētur (Cicero)

I often use a sword │Gladiō saepe [a] ūtēbar [b] ūtar [c] ūtor

The angry sailors advance towards us │ [a] aggrediēbantur [b] aggredientur [c] aggrediuntur nōs furentēs nautae (Petronius)

The king is threatening him with death │ Rēx eī mortem [a] minātur [b] minābātur [c] minābitur

The king will threaten him with death │ Rēx eī mortem [a] minābātur [b] minātur [c] minābitur

The matter speaks for itself. Rēs ipsa [a] loquēbātur [b] loquitur [c] loquētur

What will he promise us? │ Quid nōbīs [a] pollicēbitur? [b] pollicēbātur? [c] pollicētur?

While he is staying a few days at Vesontio … │ Dum paucōs diēs ad Vesontiōnem … [a] morātur [b] morantur [c] morāmur … (Caesar)

The enemy, the enemy, who(ever) kills them will earn a reward │ 'hostēs, hostēs, quī eōs occīderit, praemium [a] merēbiminī [b] merēbitur [c] merēbuntur