langs: en en en en id ru en zh en en en ru ru en en en en en la es la la en la la it en ca pt fr la en la hbs_lat la la la la en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en es la it la sv es en nb es la la la la la la la en en la en es en hbs_lat la tl it la la la la es it la la es it en en it en la la la la la pl nl es la la la la en la la it en la it es en tl la la it es it es it it la la la la es la la la la la en es la pl fr la la la la la la la en en en en en pt es hu fr lv fr es es ca ca es de gl sv ru lt fr ca fr nn es war es la ca en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fr war gl de ca fr la fr es war fr ca fr fr es war nl fr nl es gl gl ca es fr gl fr fr fr sv lt fr es gl fr gl gl lt ru ca es en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en ca fr fr ca es es la fr fr ca ca es fr es es fr es lt hu fr ca fr fr fr sv gl en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fr ca es gl sk fr la en en en en en en fr ca es en en fr lt ca es gl es fr en en en en en en en en en en en de la fr fr fr fr fr es nl fr it eo es fr es en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fr es fr sv es es fr sv es fr fr war it ca lt es nb ca pl en en en pt en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fr fr es fr fr fr it ca es la fr pt fr fr la fr la fr fr sv es en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en es fr ro fr nb fr pl sv ca fr fr vi en fr gl lt sv ca es et es fr es fr gl hu en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fr hu lt es fr pl ca vi fr sv fr es fr fr fr eu fr fi es pl fr es en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fr gl es ca ca es war es sv nl ca ia es es sv ja en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en de sv war fr fr fr es fr la lt en en en en en en en en en en zh war cs it sv es de sv ca fr fr war fr hu en en en en en en en en en en en en en fr pt fr gl war ca sv nn es nl fr es fr lt ru es lt es nl en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en de ca es fr ro fr es gl de fr es fr fr nl en en en en en en en en en en en en en fr war fr fr ru eo fr pl fr ca es fr gl en en en en en en en en en en en en fr pt fr fr nl ca es la fr fr fr es it fr es war ca la nl es en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fr war fr ca sv ca ca ca ca ca fr fr hu fr es fr fr la en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en ca es es fr eo fr gl fr fr es fr ca es en en en en en en en en en en en en en bg bg lt lt sk en lt lt sk en lt lt vi vi lt lt lt bg es ca war fr ca la fr fr fr ca fr la ca fr fr fr fr en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en war vi en bg vi lt bg en bg en vi vi sk lt lt lt en bg en en en en zh la en en en la en en en en la en en de de en zh la en en de en es en pt en en hu en la en en en hbs_lat en lt en en en en tr la en en en en en en en en en la en vi en de la en en pt en en en la en es en en en en en en tr la en sv it it en it en en hbs_lat en en en da la en en en en en en en en es en en sk en en en en en en en nb la en pt en en en it en en en en la en en en hbs_lat en en ru en en en en la en en la en en la en nb la en sv la en zh la en en la en ru en en en da la en it en it en en en en en jv en la en en en vi en en en en en en en en en en da la en en en es hbs_lat en en es en en en en fi la en en en en en pt de la en en en en hbs_lat en la en en gl en en en nb en hbs_lat en en la en en en en en en en hbs_lat en en en en en en en la de ro fr la fr uk la la es la la la en la es pt la en en it en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fr en la la fr la la la la la en fr fr la la en la fr la en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en la en la fr nb fr la es la la es la vi la sv ca fr en en en en en en en en en en en en en en ru en en en en en la en en en en en en en la en en en en en en en en en en la en en en en es en en la la it la en en en la ja la en en en en it la en en en lt en en en en zh la en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en ru en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en

text:
Study Guides Written by David Gravolet
November 27, 2017November 27, 2017Leave a comment
Courtesy of Peter Carr and Leo John Arnett.
NOTE: The source for these lines is one line ahead of the book we use, e.g., 147 in the book is 148 here.
Haec uestis priscis hominum uariata figuris
Heroum mira uirtutes indicat arte.
Namque fluentisono prospectans litore Diae
Thesea cedentem celeri cum classe tuetur
Indomitos in corde gerens Ariadna furores, 55
Necdum etiam sese quae uisit uisere credit,
Vt pote fallaci quae tunc primum excita somno
Desertam in sola miseram se cernat harena.
Immemor at iuuenis fugiens pellit uada remis,
Irrita uentosae linquens promissa procellae. 60
Quem procul ex alga maestis Minois ocellis
Saxea ut effigies bacchantis prospicit, eheu,
Prospicit et magnis curarum fluctuat undis,
Non flauo retinens subtilem uertice mitram,
Non contecta leui uelatum pectus amictu, 65
Non tereti strophio lactentis uincta papillas,
Omnia quae toto delapsa e corpore passim
Ipsius ante pedes fluctus salis adludebant.
Sed neque tum mitrae neque tum fluitantis amictus
Illa vicem curans toto ex te pectore, Theseu, 70
This vestment adorned with the ancient figures of men
depicts the virtues of heroes with marvelous skill.
For Ariadne looking out on the shore of Dia resounding with waves,
watched Theseus departing with rapid fleet,
bearing wild wild fury in her heart,
not yet does she believe that she sees what she sees,
seeing that she then first aroused from a false sleep
discerns herself deserted , miserable on a lonely beach.
Yet the unmindful youth escaping struck the waves with oars,
leaving behind his worthless promises to the windy storm
whom the Minoan girl, from the seaweed on the beach, with gloomy eyes
saw him as a stony effigy of a bacchant, alas, she sees and she tosses with great waves of cares
not retaining the delicate headpiece on her blonde hair,
nor having been covered by a light garment with respect to her clothed bosom
nor having been bound by an elegant band with respect to her milky breasts,
All things which having slipped everywhere from her whole body
played the waves of the sea before her feet herself.
That woman caring on the one hand for neither the headpiece
nor on the other for the flowing garment,
hung, lost with her whole heart, with her whole spirit, with her whole mind, Theseus.
Toto animo, tota pendebat perita mente.
Ah misera, adsiduis quam luctibus exsternauit
Spinosas Erycina serens in pectore curas
Illa tempestate, ferox quo ex tempore Theseus
Egressus curuis e litoribus Piraei 75
Attigit iniusti regis Gortynia tecta.
Nam perhibent olim crudeli peste coactam
Electos iuuenes simul et decus innuptarum
Cecropiam solitam esse dapem dare Minotauro. 80
Quis angusta malis cum moenia uexarentur,
Ipse suum Theseus pro caris corpus Athenis
Proicere optauit potius quam talia Cretam
Funera Cecropiae nec funera portarentur.
Atque ita naue leui nitens ac lenibus auris 85
Magnanimum ad Minoa uenit sedesque superbas.
Oh Wretched one, how with constant griefs Venus terrified you sowing thorny cares in your heart, at that season in which time fierce Theseus, having set out from the curved shores of Piraeus reached the Gortynian Temple of the unjust king.  For they say once upon a time that Athens, having been compelled by a cruel pestilence to pay the penalty for the slaughter of Androgeos, was accustomed to give chosen youths at the same time and the glory of unwed girls as a feast to the minotaur.  When the narrow walls were troubled with these evils, Theseus himself wished to throw his own body on behalf of dear Athens rather than such deaths of Athens nor should such corpses be carried to Crete, and so striving in his light boat and with light wind he came to the great spirited Minos and his haughty home.
Hunc simul ac cupido conspexit lumine uirgo
Regia, quam suauis exspirans castus odores
Lectulus in molli complexu matris alebat,
Quales Eurotae progignunt flumina myrtos 90
Auraue distinctos educit uerna colores,
Non prius ex illo flagrantia declinauit
Lumina quam cuncto concepit corpore flammam
Funditus atque imis exarsit tota medullis.
Heu misere exagitans immiti corde furores, 95
Sancte puer, curis hominum qui gaudia misces,
Quaeque regis Golgos quaeque Idalium frondosum,
Qualibus incensam iactastis mente puellam
Fluctibus in flauo saepe hospite suspirantem!
Quantos illa tulit languenti corde timores, 100
Quanto saepe magis fulgore expalluit auri,
Cum saeuum cupiens contra contendere monstrum
Aut mortem appeteret Theseus aut praemia laudis.
Non ingrata tamen frustra munuscula diuis
Promittens tacito succendit uota labello. 105
As soon as the royal maiden caught sight of him with her desirous eye, she whom the chaste bed exhaling sweet odors nourished in the soft embrace of her mother, such as the myrtles which the rivers of the Eurotas produce or the distinct colors which the spring air leads forth, no sooner did she lower her flaming eyes from him than she kindled a flame completely in her whole body and she completely flares out from her innermost marrow.  Alas miserably arousing madness with his fierce heart, holy boy, you who mix joys with the cares of humans, and you who rule Golgi and Idalium rich in leaves have thrown what sort of waves into the girl burning in the mind sighing often for the golden guest!  She bore how great fears in her weak heart!  By how much more than the glimmering of gold did she often turn pale, when Theseus desiring to battle the savage monster sought either death or the rewards of praise!  Moreover, She in vain promising little gifts more over not unpleasing to the gods undertook her vow with silent lip.
Nam uelut in summo quatientem bracchia Tauro
Quercum aut conigeram sudanti cortice pinum
Indomitus turbo contorquens flamine robur
Eruit (illa procul radicitus exturbata
Prona cadit, †lateque cum eius obuia frangens), 110
Sic domito saeuum prostrauit corpore Theseus
Nequiquam uanis iactantem cornua uentis.
Inde pedem sospes multa cum laude reflexit
Errabunda regens tenui uestigia filo,
Ne labyrintheis e flexibus egredientem 115
Sed quid ego a primo digressus carmine plura
Commemorem, ut linquens genitoris filia uultum,
Vt consanguineae complexum, ut denique matris,
Quae misera in gnata deperdita laetabatur, 120
Omnibus his Thesei dulcem praeoptarit amorem,
Aut ut uecta rati spumosa ad litora Diae
Venerit, aut ut eam deuinctam lumina somno
Liquerit immemori discedens pectore coniunx?
For just as when a wild storm twisting the trunk on the summit of Mt. Taurus with its blasts uprooted the oak shaking its branches or a cone-bearing pine with its sweating bark (that tree knocked out from the roots falls headlong, broadly shattering whatever is in its way).  Thus Theseus fell the savage beast with his corpse conquered throwing its horns into the empty winds in vain.  Then safe he turned back his foot with much praise guiding his wandering footsteps with thin thread so that the unnoticed maze of the house not deceive him going out of the labyrinthian winding.  But why should I recount more things having departed from my first poem how the daughter leaving the face of her father, leaving the embrace of her sister, and of her mother, who wretched, rejoiced in her ruined child, she prefered the sweet love of Theseus to all these: or when she came carried by boat to the foamy shores of Dia, or how her husband departing with an unmindful heart left her having been bound with respect to her eyes by sleep.
Saepe illam perhibent ardenti corde furentem 125
Clarisonas imo fudisse ex pectore uoces,
Ac tum praeruptos tristem conscendere montes
Vnde aciem in pelagi uastos protenderet aestus,
Tum tremuli salis aduersas procurrere in undas
Mollia nudatae tollentem tegmina surae, 130
Atque haec extremis maestam dixisse querelis,
Frigidulos udo singultus ore cientem:
‘sicine me patriis auectam, perfide, ab aris
perfide, deserto liquisti in litore, Theseu?
sicine discedens neglecto numine divum, 135
immemor a! devota domum periuria portas?
nullane res potuit crudelis flectere mentis
consilium? tibi nulla fuit clementia praesto,
immite ut nostri vellet miserescere pectus?
at non haec quondam blanda promissa dedisti 140
voce mihi, non haec miserae sperare iubebas,
sed conubia laeta, sed optatos hymenaeos,
quae cuncta aereii discerpunt irrita uenti.
nunc iam nulla uiro iuranti femina credat,
nulla uiri speret sermones esse fideles; 145
quis dum aliquid cupiens animus praegestit apisci,
nil metuunt iurare, nihil promittere parcunt:
They say that she often raging with burning heart poured forth clear voices from the bottom of her heart, and then she, sad, climbed the steep mountains whence she extended her sight onto the vast waves of the sea, and then that she ran forward into the opposite waves of the trembling sea, bearing the soft coverings of her bare calf, and that she, gloomy, said these things with final complaints invoking chilly sobs from her wet mouth:  Is this how you have left me, unfaithful Theseus, carried from ancestral altars, on deserted shore.  Is this how you, departing, with the power of the gods neglected, unmindful Alas! Carry home accursed lies?  Was nothing able to bend the plan of your cruel mind? Was there no mercy at hand for you so that your severe heart might be willing to pity us? But not once did you give me those things which you promised me with charming voice; you did not order me miserable to wish for these things but a happy wedding and a desired marriage, all of which things the breezy winds have torn apart null and void. Now let no woman trust a man swearing, and let no woman hope the conversations of a man are faithful; for whom while wishing something his mind is eager to acquire, they fear to swear nothing, they spare to promise nothing:
sed simul ac cupidae mentis satiata libido est,
dicta nihil metuere, nihil periuria curant.
certe ego te in medio versantem turbine leti 150
eripui, et potius germanum amittere creui,
quam tibi fallaci supremo in tempore dessem.
pro quo dilaceranda feris dabor alitibusque
praeda, neque iniacta tumulabor mortua terra.
quaenam te genuit sola sub rupe leaena, 155
quod mare conceptum spumantibus exspuit undis,
quae Syrtis, quae Scylla rapax, quae vasta Carybdis,
talia qui reddis pro dulci praemia uita?
But as soon as the lust of the desirous mind has been satisfied, they do not at all fear words, they do not care about lies not at all.  Certainly I snateched you turning in the middle of death’s whirlwind, and I decided to lose a brother rather than to fail you, deceptive man, in your time of grateful need.  On behalf of whom I will be given to beasts and to birds as booty to be torn apart, nor dead will I be buried with earth thrown over me.  What kind of lioness bore you under a lonely cliff? What sea spat you out conceived from foaming waves, what Syrtis, what rapacious Scylla, what vast Charybdis, you who returns such gifts for my sweet life?
Latin VH Q2 T1 Translation
November 2, 2017November 2, 2017Leave a comment
With help from Peter Carr, Leo John Arnett, and Caleb Rogers.
Etsi me adsiduo defectum cura dolore
sevocat a doctis, Ortale, virginibus,
nec potis est dulcis Musarum expromere fetus
mens animi: tantis fluctuat ipsa malis,—
namque mei nuper Lethaeo gurgite fratris
pallidulum manans adluit unda pedem,
Troia Rhoeteo quem subter litore tellus
Ereptum nostris obterit ex oculis.
nunquam ego te vita frater amabilior
adspiciam posthac: at certe semper amabo,
semper maesta tua carmina morte canam,
qualia sub densis ramorum concinit umbris
Daulias absumpti fata gemens Ityli,—
sed tamen in tantis maeroribus, Ortale, mitto
haec expressa tibi carmina Battiadae,
ne tua dicta vagis nequiquam credita ventis
effluxisse meo forte putes animo,
ut missum sponsi furtivo munere malum
procurrit casto virginis e gremio,
quod miserae oblitae molli sub veste locatum,
dum adventu matris prosilit, excutitur;
atque illud prono praeceps agitur decursu,
huic manat tristi conscius ore rubor.
Although care calls me, exhausted by constant grief,
From the learned maidens, Hortalus.
Nor is the mind of my spirit able to bring forth
The sweet offspring of the Muses (for it itself tosses with such great evils:
For recently a wave flowing washed over the pale foot of my brother
Whom the Trojan land close to the Rhotaean shore
Crushed, having been snatched from our eyes.
Will I never hereafter catch sight of you, brother
More lovable than life? Certainly I shall always love you,
Always I shall sing sad songs about your death,
Such as the Idalian woman sang under the dense
Shades of branches, lamenting the fate of Itylus seized.
But moreover in such great griefs, Hortalus of Cyrene,
I send you these translated poems of Callimachus,
So that you may not think that your words
Entrusted in vain to wandering winds have
By chance flowed out of my mind,
As an apple sent as a gift of a secret lover
Fell forward from the chaste lap of a maiden,
The apple, which, placed under the soft clothing of the little wretch,
Was shaken out when she jumped up at the arrival of her mother,
And was driven headlong in a downward descent,
And blushing flowed in the sad face of the knowing girl.
Quod mihi fortuna casuque oppressus acerbo
conscriptum hoc lacrimis mittis epistolium,
naufragum ut eiectum spumantibus aequoris undis
sublevem et a mortis limine restituam,
quem neque sancta Venus molli requiescere somno
desertum in lecto caelibe perpetitur,
nec veterum dulci scriptorum carmine musae
oblectant, cum mens anxia pervigilat,
id gratum est mihi, me quoniam tibi dicis amicum
muneraque et Musarum hinc petis et Veneris.
sed tibi ne mea sint ignota incommoda, Manli,
neu me odisse putes hospitis officium,
accipe quis merser fortunae fluctibus ipse,
ne amplius a misero dona beata petas.
tempore quo primum vestis mihi tradita pura est,
iucundum cum aetas florida ver ageret,
multa satis lusi; non est dea nescia nostri
quae dulcem curis miscet amaritiem:
sed totum hoc studium luctu fraterna mihi mors
abstulit. o misero frater adempte mihi,
tu mea tu moriens fregisti commoda, frater,
tecum una tota est nostra sepulta domus,
omnia tecum una perierunt gaudia nostra,
quae tuus in vita dulcis alebat amor.
cuius ego interitu tota de mente fugavi
haec studia atque omnes delicias animi.
quare, quod scribis Veronae turpe Catullo
esse quod hic quisquis de meliore nota
frigida deserto tepefactet membra cubili,
id, Manli, non est turpe, magis miserum est.
ignosces igitur, si, quae mihi luctus ademit,
haec tibi non tribuo munera, cum nequeo.
nam quod scriptorum non magna est copia apud me,
hoc fit quod Romae vivimus: illa domus,
illa mihi sedes, illic mea carpitur aetas;
huc una ex multis capsula me sequitur.
quod cum ita sit, nolim statuas nos mente maligna
id facere aut animo non satis ingenuo
quod tibi non utriusque petenti copia parta est:
ultro ego deferrem, copia si qua foret.
Because you, oppressed by fortune and bitter chance, send to me
This short letter, written with tears,
Let me lift you up like a shipwrecked man run aground on the foaming waves of the sea
And let me restore you to health from the boundary of death,
Whom neither sacred Venus allows relief abandoned in a
Nor do the Muses delight with sweet song of old writers
When an anxious mind stays up at night,
This is pleasing to me since you say me [to be] your friend
And you seek the gifts both of the Muses and of Venus here.
But so that my troubles might not be unknown to you, Manlius,
Nor you think me to have neglected the duty of hospitality,
Hear, I who myself by the waves of fortune am tossed,
So that you no longer seek blessed gifts from a miserable man.
At that time when the clothing was first handed down to me,
When the flower of my youth passed a pleasant spring,
I played many things sufficiently: of us the goddess is not unknowing,
Who mixes sweet bitterness with cares.
But my brother’s death entirely took away this eager game from me.
.O miserable brother, removed  from me,
Dying, you broke my everything good; brother,
Our whole house was buried together with you,
And all our joys died together with you,
Which your your sweet love nourished in life.
Because of whose death I expelled from my whole mind
These games and all delights of the mind.
Therefore, because you write that it is shameful for Catullus
To be in Verona, because here anyone noted for a better thing,
Makes warm his limbs cold from a deserted bed,
It is not a shame, Manlius, it is a source of great grief.
Therefore, pardon me if I do not give you these gifts
Which grief took away from me, since I am not able.
For, since we live in Rome: that house,
That seat for me, there my youth is plucked off;
Here one  small scroll box from many follows me.
Since these things are so, I don’t want you to decide that we
Do this with a malignant mind or with a mind not open enough,
Because to you an abundance of each sought was not sent
Willingly let me confer, if any such abundance were made.
Si qua recordanti benefacta priora voluptas
est homini, cum se cogitat esse pium,
nec sanctam violasse fidem, nec foedere in ullo
divum ad fallendos numine abusum homines,
multa parata manent in longa aetate, Catulle,
ex hoc ingrato gaudia amore tibi.
nam quaecumque homines bene cuiquam aut dicere possunt
aut facere, haec a te dictaque factaque sunt:
omnia quae ingratae perierunt credita menti.
quare cur tu te iam amplius excrucies?
quin tu animo offirmas atque istinc teque reducis
et dis invitis desinis esse miser?
difficile est longum subito deponere amorem;
difficile est, verum hoc qua libet efficias.
una salus haec est, hoc est tibi pervincendum;
hoc facias, sive id non pote sive pote.
o di, si vestrum est misereri, aut si quibus unquam
extremam iam ipsa in morte tulistis opem,
me miserum adspicite et, si vitam puriter egi,
eripite hanc pestem perniciemque mihi!
hei mihi subrepens imos ut torpor in artus
expulit ex omni pectore laetitias.
non iam illud quaero, contra ut me diligat illa,
aut, quod non potis est, esse pudica velit:
ipse valere opto et taetrum hunc deponere morbum.
o di, reddite mi hoc pro pietate mea.
If there is any pleasure to a man remembering former good deeds,
When he believes he is faithful,
Nor to have violated a sacred faith, nor to have abused the power of the gods
To deceive men by any argument,
Many joys remain in long life for you, Catullus,
Prepared from this ungrateful love.
For whatever things men are able either to say or to do well,
These things have been both said and done by you.
And all these things perished to an ungrateful mind entrusted.
Therefore why do you now further torment yourself?
Why do you not resolve yourself in your mind and bring yourself back
And cease to be miserable, the gods unwilling?
It is difficult to suddenly put aside a long love,
It is difficult, truly you do this by whatever means it is pleasing:
This is one safety, this must be thoroughly defeated by you,
May you do this, whether is possible or not possible.
O Gods, if it is yours to feel pity, or if ever you have brought help to anyone
Already in death itself at last,
Look upon wretched me, and if I led my life purely,
Seize this plague and destruction from me,
Which creeping up to me as a numbness into my bottommost limbs
Expelled the joys from my whole chest.
I do not ask for that, that she chooses me in return,
Or, because it is not able, she wish to be chaste:
I wish that I myself be healthy and put aside this foul sickness.
O gods, give this to me for my loyalty.
Rufe mihi frustra ac nequiquam credite amice
(frustra? immo magno cum pretio atque malo),
sicine subrepsti mi atque intestina perurens
hei misero eripuisti omnia nostra bona?
eripuisti, eheu nostrae crudele venenum
vitae, eheu nostrae pestis amicitiae.
O Rufus, trusted by me, my friend, in vain and pointlessly
(in vain? On the contrary with a great price and evil)
Thuse you have crept upon me, and burning, my innards
You have snatched all good things from wretched me.
You have seized, alas, alas, the cruel poison of my life,
Alas, alas, plague of our friendship
Odi et amo. quare id faciam fortasse requiris
nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior.
I hate, and I love. Why do I do this, perhaps you ask?
I do not know, but I know it happens, and I am tortured.
Quintia formosa est multis, mihi candida, longa,
recta est. haec ego sic singula confiteor,
totum illud “formosa” nego: nam nulla venustas,
nulla in tam magno est corpore mica salis.
Lesbia formosa est, quae cum pulcherrima tota est,
tum omnibus una omnis subripuit Veneres.
Quintia is beautiful to many. To me, she is dazzling, tall,
And right: for I admit these things one by one.
I deny this whole beautiful thing; there is no charm,
There is no grain of wit in so great a body
Lesbia is beautiful; she, who is not only the most beautiful,
But also alone has stolen all the charms of Venus from all.
Latin V Honors Q1 Exam Review
October 15, 2017October 15, 2017Leave a comment
“You never make me any food / And you are never in the mood / So come on baby, tell me, are you gay?” – Poppy, “Software Upgrade”
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Paene insularum, Sirmio, insularumque
ocelle, quascumque in liquentibus stagnis
marique vasto fert uterque Neptunus,
quam te libenter quamque laetus inviso,
vix mi ipse credens Thyniam atque Bithynos
liquisse campos et videre te in tuto!
o quid solutis est beatius curis,
cum mens onus reponit, ac peregrino
labore fessi venimus larem ad nostrum
hoc est quod unum est pro laboribus tantis.
salve, o venusta Sirmio, atque ero gaude;
gaudete vosque, o Lydiae lacus undae;
ridete, quidquid est domi cachinnorum.
Sirmio, my little gem, whatever of peninsulas and of islands,
Each Neptune bears in liquid lakes and in the vast sea,
How willingly and how happy I see you again,
Scarcely myself, believing myself to have left
Thunia and the Bithynian Plains,
And to see you in safety,
O, what is happier than cares having been released,
When the mind puts aside its burden, and tired
From foreign labor, we come to our home,
And we rest in our desired bed?
This is that one thing which is so great for labors.
Greetings, O charming Sirmio, and rejoice,
With the master rejoicing, and you, O lake of Lydian water,
Laugh at whatever of laughter there is at home.
Poetae tenero, meo sodali
velim Caecilio, papyre, dicas,
Veronam veniat, Novi relinquens
Comi moenia Lariumque litus:
nam quasdam volo cogitationes
amici accipiat sui meique.
quare, si sapiet, viam vorabit,
quamvis candida milies puella
euntem revocet manusque collo
ambas iniciens roget morari,
quae nunc, si mihi vera nuntiantur,
illum deperit impotente amore:
nam quo tempore legit incohatam
Dindymi dominam, ex eo misellae
ignes interiorem edunt medullam.
ignosco tibi, Sapphica puella
Musa doctior: est enim venuste
Magna Caecilio incohata Mater.
Papyrus, I would wish that you tell
To a gentle poet, my friend Caecilius,
That he should come to Verona, leaving
The walls of New Como and the Latium Shore.
For I wish that he would receive certain thoughts
Of a friend of mine and of his.
Therefore if he is wise, he will devour the way
Although your candid girl a thousand times
May call you, going back, and throwing both
Her hands around your neck,
She may ask you to delay.
The girl who now, if true things are announced to me,
Is desperately in love with that man with an uncontrollable love.
For at the time when she reads the Mistress of
Dindymus, begun from this time,
Fires eat the innermost marrow of the poor little girl,
I forgive you, girl more learned
Than the Sapphic muse, for the
Magna Mater has been charmingly begun by Caecilius.
Annales Volusi, cacata charta,
votum solvite pro mea puella:
nam sanctae Veneri Cupidinique
vovit, si sibi restitutus essem
desissemque truces vibrare iambos,
scripta tardipedi deo daturam
et hoc pessima se puella vidit
iocose lepide vovere divis.
nunc, o caeruleo creata ponto,
quae sanctum Idalium Uriosque apertos,
quaeque Ancona Cnidumque harundinosam
colis, quaeque Amathunta, quaeque Golgos,
quaeque Durrachium Hadriae tabernam,
acceptum face redditumque votum,
si non inlepidum neque invenustum est.
at vos interea venite in ignem,
pleni ruris et inficetiarum
Annales Volusi, cacata charta.
Annals of Volusius, defiled paper,
Verify the vow for my girl,
For she is vowed to Holy Venus and Cupid,
If I had been restored to her,
And if I had ceased to brandish my savage iambs,
She vowed that she would give
The selected writings of the worst poet to the lame god,
To be burned in unfortunate wood,
And the naughty girl in this sees
That she vows humorously and charmingly to the gods,
Now, O you created from the cerulean sea,
Who inhabits holy Idalium and open Urii,
And who inhabits Ancona and reedy Cnidos
And who inhabits Amathis and Golgi
And Durrachium, the shop of the Adriatic.
Make the vow accepted and returned
If it is neither uncharming nor unpleasing.
But you meanwhile come into the fire,
Full of the country and of coarse jokes,
Annals of Volusius, defiled paper.
Acmen Septimius suos amores
tenens in gremio “mea,” inquit, “Acme,
ni te perdite amo atque amare porro
omnes sum adsidue paratus annos
quantum qui pote plurimum perire,
solus in Libya Indiaque tosta
caesio veniam obvius leoni.”
hoc ut dixit, Amor, sinistra ut ante,
at Acme leviter caput reflectens
et dulcis pueri ebrios ocellos
illo purpureo ore saviata
“sic,” inquit, “mea vita, Septimille,
huic uni domino usque serviamus,
ut multo mihi maior acriorque
ignis mollibus ardet in medullis.”
hoc ut dixit, Arnor, sinistra ut ante,
nunc ab auspicio bono profecti
mutuis animis amant amantur.
unam Septimius misellus Acmen
mavult quam Syrias Britanniasque:
uno in Septimio fidelis Acme
quis ullos homines beatiores
vidit, quis Venerem auspicatiorem?
Septimius holding his love Acme in his lap said,
My Acme, unless I love you recklessly and am prepared to love you
Constantly for all the years on and on,
As much as he is able who is desperately in love,
I alone shall come to baking India and Lydia,
Meeting with the blue-eyed lion.
When he said this, Cupid sneezed
On the left side as before on the right,
And Acme, lightly bending back her head,
And having kissed the drunk eyes of that sweet boy with her purple mouth,
Said, Thus, my life, my little Septimius, let us
Serve this one master alone continuously
So that a much greater and keener fire
May burn for me in my soft marrow,
When she said this, Cupid sneezed approval
On the left side ad before on the right.
And now having set out from a great augury,
They love and are loved with mutual minds.
Poor Septimius prefers Acme alone,
Than the Syrians and Britains,
In Septimius alone faithful Acme
Makes delights and pleasures.
Who has seen any happier humans,
Who has seen a more well-omened Venus [love]?
Hesterno, Licini, die otiosi
multum lusimus in meis tabellis,
ut convenerat esse delicatos.
scribens versiculos uterque nostrum
ludebat numero modo hoc modo illoc,
reddens mutua per iocum atque vinum.
atque illinc abii tuo lepore
ut nec me miserum cibus iuvaret,
nec somnus tegeret quiete ocellos,
sed toto indomitus furore lecto
versarer cupiens videre lucem,
ut tecum loquerer simulque ut essem.
at defessa labore membra postquam
hoc, iucunde, tibi poema feci,
ex quo perspiceres meum dolorem.
nunc audax cave sis, precesque nostras,
oramus, cave despuas, ocelle,
ne poenas Nemesis reposcat a te.
est vehemens dea: laedere hanc caveto.
Yesterday at leisure, Licinius,
We played much on my writing tablets,
As it had been agreed to be racy,
Each of us, writing small verses,
Played with metre now this way, now that way,
Returning mutual things through jest and wine.
And I went from there inflamed
By your humor and wit, Licinius,
So that neither food helped me miserable,
Nor sleep covered my eyes with quiet.
But wild with so much fury in my bed,
I was tossed, wishing to see daylight,
So that I may speak with you and at the same time be together with you.
But afterwards my half-dead limbs,  weary from labor,
Lay on the small couch,
Pleasant one, I made this poem for you,
From which you might see my grief.
Beware that now you are daring, we beg,
Beware that you scorn our prayers, little gem,
Lest Nemesis demand punishment from you.
She is a violent goddess: Beware of hurting her.
Ille mi par esse deo videtur,
ille, si fas est, superare divos
qui sedens adversus identidem te
dulce ridentem, misero quod omnis
eripit sensus mihi: nam simul te,
Lesbia, adspexi, nihil est super mi
lingua sed torpet, tenuis sub artus
flamma demanat, sonitu suopte
tintinant aures, gemina teguntur
otium, Catulle, tibi molestum est:
otio exsultas nimiumque gestis.
otium et reges prius et beatas
That man seems to me to be equal to a god,
That man, if it is right, to surpass gods,
He who, sitting opposite you constantly
To you laughing sweetly, something which seizes
All sense from wretched me: for as soon
Lesbia, as I saw you, nothing is greater to me.
But my tongue is numb, down under my thin limbs
A flame flows, with their own sound
My ears ring, my eyes are covered
Catullus, leisure is troublesome for you:
You revel in and long for leisure too much:
Leisure has before destroyed
Both kings and happy cities.
Latin V Honors Catullus 1-3, 5, 7, 8
September 5, 2017September 5, 2017Leave a comment
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“Honey, I rose up from the dead–I do it all the time.” – Taylor Swift, “Look What You Made Me Do”
– Neoterics – “new poets” in Rome, including Catullus; imitate/influenced by Alexandrians, including Callimachus
– Callimachus – Alexandrian poet who influenced Neoterics, including Catullus
– Sappho – female poet from Lesbos who also influenced Catullus
– Cornelius Nepos – Roman historian to whom Catullus dedicated his poems in Catullus 1, from the same town as Catullus, attempted to write all history in three volumes
– Bithynia – Where Catullus’s brother died; poem four is about trip there
Cui dono lepidum novum libellum
arido modo pumice expolitum?
Corneli, tibi; namque tu solebas
meas esse aliquid putare nugas,
iam tum cum ausus es unus Italorum
omne aevum tribus explicare chartis,
doctis, Iuppiter, et laboriosis!
quare habe tibi quidquid hoc libelli
qualecumque, quod, o patrona virgo,
plus uno maneat perenne saeclo.
To whom do I give a fine new small book
Having just now been polished with dry pumice?
To you, Cornelius [Nepos]: And for you were accustomed
To think that my trifles are something
Already then, when you alone of the Italians dared
To explain all history with three scrolls,
Learned and labored over, [by] Jove.
Therefore have for yourself whatever of a book this [is],
Of whatever sort [it is], which, O patron maiden,
Let remain enduring for more than one generation.
Passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere,
cui primum digitum dare adpetenti
et acris solet incitare morsus,
cum desiderio meo nitenti
carum nescio quid libet iocari
(et solaciolum sui doloris,
credo, ut tum gravis adquiescat ardor),
tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem
et tristis animi levare curas!
… Tam gratum est mihi quam ferunt puellae
pernici aureolum fuisse malum,
quod zonam solvit diu ligatam.
Sparrow, delight of my girl,
With whom she is accustomed to play, whom she is accustomed to hold in her lap,
To whom seeking she is accustomed to give her fingertip [first finger]
And to incite fierce bites,
When with my longing shining,
It pleases her to joke I don’t know some thing,
And I believe a little comfort of her grief,
So that the serious flame of passion may then calm:
If only I were able to play with you as she herself
And to lighten the cares of her sad soul.
It is as pleasing to me as they say
The golden apple was for the swift girl,
Which untied her girdle too long bound.
Lugete, o Veneres Cupidinesque
et quantum est hominum venustiorum!
passer mortuus est meae puellae,
passer, deliciae meae puellae,
quem plus illa oculis suis amabat;
nam mellitus erat, suamque norat
ipsa tam bene quam puella matrem,
nec sese a gremio illius movebat,
sed circumsiliens modo huc modo illuc
ad solam dominam usque pipiabat.
qui nunc it per iter tenebricosum
illuc unde negant redire quemquam.
at vobis male sit, malae tenebrae
Orci, quae omnia bella devoratis;
tam bellum mihi passerem abstulistis.
o factum male! o miselle passer!
tua nunc opera meae puellae
flendo turgiduli rubent ocelli.
Mourn, O Venuses and Cupids,
And however many of more beautiful men there are,
The sparrow of my girl has died,
The sparrow, delight of my girl,
Which that girl loved more than her own eyes.
For he was honey-sweet and had known his
Master as well as a girl her mother,
Nor did he move himself from the lap of that girl,
But hopping around this way, that way,
To the lone girl it chirped,
Who now goes through that dark journey,
From which they deny that anyone returns.
But let it be bad for you, evil spirits
Of Orcus, who devour all beautiful things:
You have taken so beautiful a sparrow from me.
O bad deed! O poor little sparrow!
Now by your work the little swollen eyes
Of my girl are red with crying.
Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus,
omnes unius aestimemus assis.
soles occidere et redire possunt:
nobis, cum semel occidit brevis lux,
nox est perpetua una dormienda.
da mi basia mille, deinde centum,
dein mille altera, dein secunda centum,
deinde usque altera mille, deinde centum,
dein, cum milia multa fecerimus,
conturbabimus illa, ne sciamus,
aut ne quis malus invidere possit,
cum tantum sciat esse basiorum.
Let us live, my Lesbia, and let us fuck,
Let us evaluate all the rumors of stricter old men,
As worth a single penny!
Suns are able to rise and to set:
When once the brief light has fallen down,
There is one perpetual night to be slept by us.
Give to me a thousand kisses, then a hundred,
Then another thousand, then a second hundred,
Then another thousand continuously, then a hundred,
Then, when we will have made many thousands,
We will confuse these things, lest we know,
Or lest any person be able to cast an evil eye upon us,
Because he knows that there are so many of our kisses.
Quaeris quot mihi basiationes
tuae, Lesbia, sint satis superque.
quam magnus numerus Libyssae harenae
oraclum Iovis inter aestuosi
et Batti veteris sacrum sepulcrum,
aut quam sidera multa, cum tacet nox,
furtivos hominum vident amores,
tam te basia multa basiare
vesano satis et super Catullo est,
quae nec pernumerare curiosi
possint nec mala fascinare lingua.
You ask how many kisses of yours,
Lesbia, are enough and more than enough for me.
As many as the number of Libyan sands
Lie in asafetida-bearing Cyrene
Between the oracle of very hot Jove
And the sacred ground of  old Battis;
Or as many as the stars, when the night is still,
See the stolen loves of men.
To kiss you so many kisses
Is enough and more for insane Catullus.,
Which the busybodies are able neither to count
Nor to bewitch with their bad tongues.
Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire,
et quod vides perisse perditum ducas.
fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles,
cum ventitabas quo puella ducebat
amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla.
ibi illa multa tum iocosa fiebant,
quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat.
fulsere vere candidi tibi soles.
nunc iam illa non vult: tu quoque, impotens, noli,
nec quae fugit sectare, nec miser vive,
sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura.
vale, puella! iam Catullus obdurat,
nec te requiret nec rogabit invitam:
at tu dolebis, cum rogaberis nulla.
scelesta, vae te! quae tibi manet vita!
quis nunc te adibit? cui videberis bella?
quem nunc amabis? cuius esse diceris?
quem basiabis? cui labella mordebis?
at tu, Catulle, destinatus obdura.
Sad Catullus, stop making a fool of yourself,
And you should consider that what you see has gone through, destroyed.
Suns once shined for you bright,
When you kept on following where the girl led,
Loved by us as much as nothing will be loved.
There those many playful things were then done,
Which you wished, and the girl did not reject.
The suns truly shined for you bright.
Now no longer does she girl want those things: you too powerless,
Do not run after her who flees, and do not live miserable,
But endure with a determined mine; persevere.
Be strong, girl! Yet Catullus endures,
And he will not seek you again nor ask you, unwilling:
But you will grieve, when you will be asked nothing.
Wretched, alas you! What life remains for you!
Who now seeks you? To whom will you seem beautiful?
Whom will you now love? Whose will you be said to be?
Whom will you kiss? Whose lips will you nibble on?
But you, Catullus, persist fixed in mind.
Latin IV Honors Aeneid 3rd Quarter Exam Translation
March 5, 2017March 5, 2017Leave a comment
Click here for the AP Caesar Translation
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“I’ll be the beauty queen in tears: It’s a new art form, showing people how little we care.” – Lorde, “Tennis Court”
“Vertitur interea caelum et ruit oceano nox,                  250
involvens umbra magna terramque polumque
Myrmidonumque dolos; fusi per moenia Teucri
conticuere, sopor fessos complectitur artus:
et iam Argiva phalanx instructis navibus ibat
a Tenedo tacitae per amica silentia lunae                       255
litora nota petens, flammas cum regia puppis
extulerat, fatisque deum defensus iniquis
inclusos utero Danaos et pinea furtim
laxat claustra Sinon.  Illos patefactus ad auras
reddit equus, laetique cavo se robore promunt              260
Thessandrus Sthenelusque duces, et dirus Ulixes,
demissum lapsi per funem, Acamasque, Thoasque,
Pelidesque Neoptolemus, primusque Machaon,
et Menelaus, et ipse doli fabricator Epeos.
Invadunt urbem somno vinoque sepultam;                     265
caeduntur vigiles, portisque patentibus omnis
accipiunt socios atque agmina conscia iungunt.
Meanwhile the sky is turned, and night rushes from the ocean,                            250
Covering with a great shadow both the land and the sky
And the tricks of the Myrmidons; through the walls the scattered Teucrians
Fell silent, sleep lays hold of their weary limbs:
And already the Argive phalanx, the ships equipped, went
From Tenedos through the friendly silence of the passed over moon,                  255
Seeking the familiar shores, when the royal ship
Brought out flames, and Sinon, defended by the unjust fates of the gods,
Releases the Danaans closed off in its belly and in a pine gate.
Opened up, the horse returns those men to the airs,
And happy, they bring themselves out from the wooden opening,
The leaders Thessandrus and Sthenelus and cruel Ulysses,
Having slipped through a rope sent down, and Acamas, Thoas,
Neoptolemus, son of Peleus, and the first Machaon,
And Menelaus, and Epeos, the maker of the trickery himself.
They invade the city overcome with sleep and wine;
They slaughter the watches, and with all the gates lying open,
They receive their allies and join the privy troops.
Tempus erat, quo prima quies mortalibus aegris
incipit, et dono divum gratissima serpit.
In somnis, ecce, ante oculos maestissimus Hector       270
visus adesse mihi, largosque effundere fletus,
raptatus bigis, ut quondam, aterque cruento
pulvere, perque pedes traiectus lora tumentes.
Ei mihi, qualis erat, quantum mutatus ab illo
Hectore, qui redit exuvias indutus Achilli,                      275
vel Danaum Phrygios iaculatus puppibus ignis,
squalentem barbam et concretos sanguine crines
vulneraque illa gerens, quae circum plurima muros
accepit patrios. Ultro flens ipse videbar
Compellare virum et maestas expromere voces:          280
It was the time when the first sleep begins for weary mortals,
And creeps on most pleasingly as a gift of the gods.
In sleeps, behold, before my eyes most gloomy Hector
Seemed to appear to me and to pour out abundant tears,
Having been dragged by a chariot, as before, dark with bloody dust
Pierced through his swollen feet with leather straps.
Ah! For me, as he was, how much altered from that Hector,
Who returned, having donned the spoils of Achilles,
Or having hurled Phrygian fires to the ships of the Danaans,
Bearing a beard, being filty, and hairs hardened with blood
And those wounds, very many of which he received
Around his ancestral walls. Further weeping, I myself seemed
To address the man and to express gloomy voices:
quo – Abl. of time when
dono – Dat. of purpose
visus – PPP, m. nom. sg., understand with est
adesse – Pres. inf. of adsum
raptatus – PPP, m. nom. sg.
ut quondam – Hector looks the same as he did at Troy
traiectus – PPP, m. nom. sg.
tumentes – Pres. act. part. m. acc. pl.
mutatus – PPP, m. nom. sg.
redit – Perf. 3rd sg. indic. act.
indutus – PPP m. nom. sg., used like Greek middle part.
iaculatus – Perf. dep. part. m. nom. sg.
puppibus – Dat. of direction, synecdoche
squalentem – Pres. act. part. f. acc. sg.
gerens – Pres. act. part. m. nom. sg.
plurima – Superl. of multus
flens – Pres. act. part. m. nom. sg.
videbar – Imperf. indic. 3rd sg. pass.
“O lux Dardaniae, spes O fidissima Teucrum,
quae tantae tenuere morae? Quibus Hector ab oris
exspectate venis? Ut te post multa tuorum
funera, post varios hominumque urbisque labores
defessi aspicimus! Quae causa indigna serenos            285
foedavit vultus? Aut cur haec vulnera cerno?”
Ille nihil, nec me quaerentem vana moratur,
sed graviter gemitus imo de pectore ducens,
“Heu fuge, nate dea, teque his, ait, eripe flammis.
Hostis habet muros; ruit alto a culmine Troia.               290
Sat patriae Priamoque datum: si Pergama dextra
defendi possent, etiam hac defensa fuissent.
Sacra suosque tibi commendat Troia penates:
hos cape fatorum comites, his moenia quaere
magna, pererrato statues quae denique ponto.”            295
Sic ait, et manibus vittas Vestamque potentem
aeternumque adytis effert penetralibus ignem.
“O light of the Dardanians, O most faithful hope of the Teucrians,
What so great hesitations held you? From which shores do you come,
Hector having been awaited? How do we weary men look upon you
After many funerals of your men, after various toils of both men and of the city?
What unworthy cause has befouled your fair face(s)?
Or why do I perceive these wounds?
That man (says) nothing, and he does not heed me, asking useless things,
But seriously leading a groan from the bottom of his chest,
He says, “Alas, flee, born from a goddess, and snatch yourself up from these flames.
The enemy holds the walls; Troy falls from its high peak.
Enough was given to the fatherland and to Priam: if Pergama
Were able to be defended by this right hand, still it would have been defended by this one.
Troy entrusts its sacred things and household gods to you:
Take these comrades of the fates, seek great walls for these,
Which you will establish at last, the sea thoroughly traversed.”
Thus he speaks and with his hands carries forth the bands and powerful Vesta
And the eternal flame from the interior sanctuaries.
tenuere – Syncope, 3rd pl. perf., Aeneas doesn’t realize that Hector is dead in the dream.
exspectate -PPP, m. voc. sg.
foedavit – Perf. indic. 3rd sg. act.
vultus – Plural to express idea of “facial features”
moratur – Pres. dep. 3rd sg. indic.
quaerentem – Pres. act. part. m. acc. sg.
ducens – Pres. act. part. m. nom. sg.
fuge, eripe – Pres. imperative 2nd sg. act.
nate dea – PPP, m. voc. sg., refers to Aeneas’s being born the son of Venus
datum – PPP, n. nom. sg., understand with est
si – Mixed contrary-to-fact conditional
possent – Imperf. subj. 3rd pl. act.
fuissent – Plpf. subj. 3rd pl.
cape…quaere – Pres. imperative 2nd sg. act.
his – Dat. of reference
statues – 2nd sg. fut. indic. act.
pererrato…ponto – ABl. abs., PPP m. abl. sg.
aeternumque…ignem – The sacred fire of Vesta (tended to by Vestal Virgins) was never allowed to go out.
adytis – ABl. of place from which/separation
Latin IV AP Caesar 3rd Quarter Exam Translation
March 5, 2017March 6, 2017Leave a comment
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“I just lit my wrist up; I need some more attention.” – Future, “Rent Money”
Subductis navibus concilioque Gallorum Samarobrivae peracto, quod eo anno frumentum in Gallia propter siccitates angustius provenerat, coactus est aliter ac superioribus annis exercitum in hibernis collocare legionesque in plures civitates distribuere. Ex quibus unam in Morinos ducendam Gaio Fabio legato dedit, alteram in Nervios Quinto Ciceroni, tertiam in Esubios Lucio Roscio; quartam in Remis cum Tito Labieno in confinio Treverorum hiemare iussit. Tres in Bellovacis collocavit: eis Marcum Crassum quaestorem et Lucium Munatium Plancum et Gaium Trebonium legatos praefecit. Unam legionem, quam proxime trans Padum conscripserat, et cohortes V in Eburones, quorum pars maxima est inter Mosam ac Rhenum, qui sub imperio Ambiorigis et Catuvolci erant, misit. Eis militibus Quintum Titurium Sabinum et Lucium Aurunculeium Cottam legatos praeesse iussit. Ad hunc modum distributis legionibus facillime inopiae frumentariae sese mederi posse existimavit. Atque harum tamen omnium legionum hiberna praeter eam, quam Lucio Roscio in pacatissimam et quietissimam partem ducendam dederat, milibus passuum centum continebantur. Ipse interea, quoad legiones collocatas munitaque hiberna cognovisset, in Gallia morari constituit.
With the ships having been beached and the assembly of the Gauls having been completed at Samarobriva, because in this year in Gaul on account of droughts the grain had more narrowly grown, he was compelled otherwise than in former years to collect the army in the winter quarters and to divide the legions to more states. And from these he gave one to be led to the Moroni by Gaius Fabius, the lieutenant, another to the Nervi by Quintus Cicero, a third to the Esubii by Lucius Roscius, a fourth he ordered to winter among the Remi with Titus Labienus in the boundary of the Treveri. He collected three among the Bellovaci: he put quaestor Marcus Crassus and lieutenants Lucius Manatius Plancus and Gaius Trebonius in charge of these. He sent one legion, which he had enrolled recently across the Padus River and five cohorts to the Eburones, of which the largest part is between the Mosa and the Rhene, which was under the command of Ambiorix and Catuvolcus. He ordered envoys Quintus Titunius Sabinus and Lucius Aurunculeius Cotta to be in command of these soldiers. In this way, with the legions having been distributed, he thought that he would most easily be able to remedy the lack of grain. And nevertheless the winter quarters of all these legions except one, which he had given to be led by Lucius Roscius to the most peaceful and most quiet part, were contained within a hundred miles. Meanwhile he himself, until he had learned that the legions were collected and that the winter quarters were fortified, decided to delay in Gaul.
Subductis navibus, concilioque peracto – Abl. Abs., PPP f./m. abl. pl./sg.
anno – Dat. time when
angustius – Comparative adverb
quibus – Conjunctive relative
ducendam – Gerundive with unam, f. acc. sg.
Gaio Fabio, Quinto Ciceroni, Lucio Roscio – Either dat. of agent or reference, also translated with “to”
militibus – Dat. for object of praeesse
distributis legionibus – Abl. Abs., PPP f. abl. pl.
facillime – Superl. adv.
pacatissimam et quietissimam – Superl. adj., f. acc. sg.
ducendam – Gerundive describing quam, f. acc. sg.
morari – Pres. dep. inf.
Erat in Carnutibus summo loco natus Tasgetius, cuius maiores in sua civitate regnum obtinuerant. Huic Caesar pro eius virtute atque in se benevolentia, quod in omnibus bellis singulari eius opera fuerat usus, maiorum locum restituerat. Tertium iam hunc annum regnantem inimici, multis palam ex civitate eius auctoribus, eum interfecerunt. Defertur ea res ad Caesarem. Ille veritus, quod ad plures pertinebat, ne civitas eorum impulsu deficeret, Lucium Plancum cum legione ex Belgio celeriter in Carnutes proficisci iubet ibique hiemare quorumque opera cognoverat Tasgetium interfectum, hos comprehensos ad se mittere. Interim ab omnibus legatis quaestoreque, quibus legiones tradiderat, certior factus est in hiberna perventum locumque hibernis esse munitum.
Among the Carnutes Tasgetius was born in the highest rank, whose ancestors had held the kingship in his state. To this man Caesar for his courage and his good will to him, because in all wars he had used his remarkable work, had restored the place of his ancestors. The enemies killed this man, ruling now for his third year, openly with many instigators from his state. This matter is reported to Caesar. That man, having feared, because it pertained to more people, lest the state revolt by instigation of these men, orders Lucius Plancus with his legion to set out swiftly from Belgium to the Carnutes and there to winter and to send these men, having been arrested, to him by the work of whom he had learned that Tasgetius had been killed. Meanwhile by all the lieutenants and quaestors, to whom he had entrusted the legions, he was informed that it had been arrived at the winter quarters and that the place had been fortified for the winter quarters.
summo loco – Abl. source/origin
fuerat usus – Plpf. dep. 3rd sg. indic.
Tertium…annum – Acc. of extent of time
regnantem – Pres. act. part. m. acc. sg.
ne…deficeret – Fear clause with imperf. subj. following PPP m. nom. sg. veritus
proficisci – Pres. dep. inf.
certior – Comparative adj. m. nom. sg., this idiom literally means “was made more certain”
perventum – Impersonal n. acc. sg. perf. pass. inf.
hibernis – Dat. reference
Diebus circiter XV, quibus in hiberna ventum est, initium repentini tumultus ac defectionis ortum est ab Ambiorige et Catuvolco; qui, cum ad fines regni sui Sabino Cottaeque praesto fuissent frumentumque in hiberna comportavissent, Indutiomari Treveri nuntiis impulsi suos concitaverunt subitoque oppressis lignatoribus magna manu ad castra oppugnatum venerunt. Cum celeriter nostri arma cepissent vallumque adscendissent atque una ex parte Hispanis equitibus emissis equestri proelio superiores fuissent, desperata re hostes suos ab oppugnatione reduxerunt. Tum suo more conclamaverunt, uti aliqui ex nostris ad colloquium prodiret: habere sese, quae de re communi dicere vellent, quibus rebus controversias minui posse sperarent.
Within about fifteen days, in which it was come into the winter quarters, the beginning of the hasty tumult and revolt sprung up from Ambiorix and Catuvolcus, who, when they had met Sabinus and Cotta at the borders of their kingdom and had collected grain to the winter, having been incited by messengers of Indutiomarius of the Treveri, they roused their men and, the wood-foragers having been suddenly surprised with a great gang, they came to the camp to attack. Because swiftly our men had taken arms and had climbed the wall and, the Spanish cavalry having been sent forth from one part, the cavalry were superior in battle, with the matter having despaired of, the enemies led back their men from the fight. Then with their custom they shouted that some men from our men come forth to a conference: that they had things which they wanted to say concerning the common matter, by which matters they hoped that the controversies could be settled.
Diebus circiter XV – Abl. time
ventum est – Impersonal perf. pass. indic. 3rd sg. n. nom.
oppressis lignatoribus – Abl. abs. PPP m. abl. pl.
oppugnatum – Acc. supine expressing purpose
equitibus emissis – Abl. abs. PPP m. abl. pl.
desperata re – Abl. abs., PPP f. abl. sg.
uti…prodiret – Substantive purpose clause/indirect command with imperf. subj. 3rd sg. act.
quae…vellent – Relative clause in indirect discourse, imperf. subj. 3rd pl. act.
quibus…sperarent – Relative clause in indirect discourse, imperf. subj. 3rd pl. act.
Mittitur ad eos colloquendi causa Gaius Arpineius, eques Romanus, familiaris Quinti Tituri, et Quintus Iunius ex Hispania quidam, qui iam ante missu Caesaris ad Ambiorigem ventitare consuerat; apud quos Ambiorix ad hunc modum locutus est: Sese pro Caesaris in se beneficiis plurimum ei confiteri debere, quod eius opera stipendio liberatus esset, quod Aduatucis, finitimis suis, pendere consuesset, quodque ei et filius et fratris filius ab Caesare remissi essent, quos Aduatuci obsidum numero missos apud in servitute et catenis tenuissent; neque id, quod fecerit de oppugnatione castrorum, aut iudicio aut voluntate sua fecisse, sed coactu civitatis, suaque esse eiusmodi imperia, ut non minus haberet iuris in se multitudo quam ipse in multitudinem. Civitati porro hanc fuisse belli causam, quod repentinae Gallorum coniurationi resistere non potuerit. Id se facile ex humilitate sua probare posse, quod non adeo sit imperitus rerum ut suis copiis populum Romanum superari posse confidat. Sed esse Galliae commune consilium: omnibus hibernis Caesaris oppugnandis hunc esse dictum diem, ne qua legio alterae legioni subsidio venire posset. Non facile Gallos Gallis negare potuisse, praesertim cum de recuperanda communi libertate consilium initum videretur. Quibus quoniam pro pietate satisfecerit, habere nunc se rationem offici pro beneficiis Caesaris: monere, orare Titurium pro hospitio, ut suae ac militum saluti consulat. Magnam manum Germanorum conductam Rhenum transisse; hanc adfore biduo. Ipsorum esse consilium, velintne priusquam finitimi sentiant eductos ex hibernis milites aut ad Ciceronem aut ad Labienum deducere, quorum alter milia passuum circiter quinquaginta, alter paulo amplius ab eis absit. Illud se polliceri et iureiurando confirmare tutum iter per fines daturum. Quod cum faciat, et civitati sese consulere, quod hibernis levetur, et Caesari pro eius meritis gratiam referre. Hac oratione habita discedit Ambiorix.
To these men for the sake of speaking, Gaius Arpenius is sent, a Roman equestrian, an intimate friend of Quintus Titurus, and a certain Quintus Junius from Spain, who already before by the sending of Caesar had been accustomed to visit to Ambiorix, and among these men Ambiorix spoke in this way: that he confessed to owe the most to him for the kindnesses of Caesar to him, because by his work he had been freed from the tax, which he had been accustomed to pay out to his neighbors, the Aduatuci, and because his son and his brother’s son had been returned to him by Caesar, whom the Aduatuci had held among themselves in slavery and chains, having been sent in the number of hostages, and that he had not done that which he did concerning the attack of the camp either by his own judgment or consent but by the compulsion of the state and that his powers were of such sort that the multitude had no less authority over him than he himself over the multitude. Furthermore that this was the cause of war for his state because it was not able to resist the unexpected conspiracy of the Gauls. That he was able to demonstrate this easily out of his own weakness because he is not inexperienced of things to such an extent that he hopes that the Roman people are able to be overcome by his own troops. But the plan is common of Gaul: the day had been named for all the winter quarters of Caesar to be attacked so that not any legion might be able to come as a help for another legion. That not easily had the Gauls been able to refuse the Gauls especially since the plan seemed formed concerning recovering their common freedom. And since now on behalf of loyalty he satisfied these men, now he had the account of his duty on behalf of the kindnesses of Caesar: He warned, he begged Titurius on behalf of hospitality that he take care for the safety of himself and of his soldiers. That a great band of Germans assembled crossed the Rhene, this would be present in two days. That their own is the plan, whether they wish, before the neighbors know, to lead forth their soldiers, led out from their winter quarters, either to Cicero or to Labienus, of whom one is absent from them by about fifty miles, the other by a little more. That he promised that and confirmed with an oath that he would give a safe journey through his borders. And since he did this, that he was both looking out for his state because it may be relieved of the winter quarters and was giving thanks to Caesar for his favors. This speech having been delivered, Ambiorix departed.
colloquendi causa – Gerund expressing purpose
quos – Conjunctive relative
quod…liberatus esset – Causal clause in indirect statement, Plpf. subj. 3rd sg. pass.
quod…consuesset – Relative clause in indirect statement, Plpf. subj. 3rd sg. act.
quodque…remissi essent – Causal clause in indirect statement, Plpf. subj. 3rd pl. pass.
quos…tenuissent – Relative clause in indirect statement, Plpf. subj. 3rd pl. act.
quod fecerit – Relative clause in indirect statement, Perf. subj. 3rd sg. act.
ut…haberet – Result clause with imperf. act. subj. 3rd sg.
fuisse – Perf. inf.
quod…potuerit – Causal clause in indirect statement, Perf. subj. 3rd sg. act.
quod…sit – Causal clause in indirect statement, Pres. subj. 3rd sg.
ut…confidat – Result clause, pres. act. subj. 3rd sg.
hibernis…oppugnandis – Dat. pl. gerundive
legioni subsidio – Double dat., reference/purpose
ne…posset – Purpose clause imperf. subj. 3rd sg.
recuperanda…libertate – Gerundive f. abl. sg.
Quibus – Conjunctive relative
ut…consulat – Substantive purpose clause/indirect command, pres. act. subj. 3rd sg.
transisse – Perf. act. inf.
adfore – Syncopated fut. ind., = adfuturum esse
velintne – Indirect question, pres. act. subj. 3rd pl.
eductos – PPP m. acc. pl.
paulo – Abl. degree of difference w/ comparative amplius
quorum…absit – Rel. clause in ind. statement, pres. subj. 3rd sg.
daturum [esse] – Fut. act. inf.
Quod – Conjunctive relative
quod…levetur – Causal clause in indirect statement, pres. pass. subj. 3rd sg.
oratione habita – Abl. abs., PPP f. abl. sg.
Arpineius et Iunius, quae audierunt, ad legatos deferunt. Illi repentina re perturbati, etsi ab hoste ea dicebantur, tamen non neglegenda existimabant maximeque hac re permovebantur, quod civitatem ignobilem atque humilem Eburonum sua sponte populo Romano bellum facere ausam vix erat credendum. Itaque ad consilium rem deferunt magnaque inter eos exsistit controversia. Lucius Aurunculeius compluresque tribuni militum et primorum ordinum centuriones nihil temere agendum neque ex hibernis iniussu Caesaris discedendum existimabant: quantasvis magnas copias etiam Germanorum sustineri posse munitis hibernis docebant: rem esse testimonio, quod primum hostium impetum multis ultro vulneribus illatis fortissime sustinuerint: re frumentaria non premi; interea et ex proximis hibernis et a Caesare conventura subsidia: postremo quid esse levius aut turpius, quam auctore hoste de summis rebus capere consilium?
Arpineius and Junius report these things, which they heard, to the lieutenants. Those men, disturbed by the sudden matter, although these things were said by the enemy, nevertheless they thought that these things must not be neglected, and they were especially incited by this matter because it was hardly to be believed that the undistinguished and abject state of the Eburones dared to wage war against the Roman people of their own accord.  And so they bring back this matter to the council, and great controversy appeared among these men. Lucius Aurunculeius and a great many tribunes of the soldiers and the centurions of the first ranks thought that nothing ought to be done blindly and they ought not to depart from the winter quarters without the command of Caesar. They demonstrated that however large the troops of even the Germans were able to be endured, the winter quarters fortified: the matter for proof was the fact that they very bravely withstood the first attack of the enemies moreover with many wounds having been inflicted, that they are not pressed by this matter of grain; meanwhile both from the nearby winter quarters and from Caesar help would come: Finally what was sillier or more shameful than to seize a plan about the highest matters with the enemy as the author?
perturbati – PPP m. nom. pl.
neglegenda – Passive periphrastic, gerundive n. acc. pl.
erat credendum – Impersonal, gerundive n. nom. sg.
ausam [esse] – Perf. dep. inf.
agendum [esse], discedendum [esse] – Passive periphrastic, gerundive n. acc. sg.
munitis hibernis – Abl. abs., PPP f. abl. pl.
testimonio – Dat. purpose
vulneribus illatis – Abl. abs., PPP n. abl. pl.
premi – Pres. pass. inf.
levius, turpius – Comparative adj.
quam – For comparison with levius and turpius
Contra ea Titurius sero facturos clamitabat, cum maiores manus hostium adiunctis Germanis convenissent aut cum aliquid calamitatis in proximis hibernis esset acceptum. Brevem consulendi esse occasionem. Caesarem arbitrari profectum in Italiam; neque aliter Carnutes interficiendi Tasgeti consilium fuisse capturos, neque Eburones, si ille adesset, tanta contemptione nostri ad castra venturos esse. Non hostem auctorem, sed rem spectare: subesse Rhenum; magno esse Germanis dolori Ariovisti mortem et superiores nostras victorias; ardere Galliam tot contumeliis acceptis sub populi Romani imperium redactam superiore gloria rei militaris exstincta. Postremo quis hoc sibi persuaderet, sine certa re Ambiorigem ad eiusmodi consilium descendisse? Suam sententiam in utramque partem esse tutam: si nihil esset durius, nullo cum periculo ad proximam legionem perventuros; si Gallia omnis cum Germanis consentiret, unam esse in celeritate positam salutem. Cottae quidem atque eorum, qui dissentirent, consilium quem habere exitum? In quo si non praesens periculum, at certe longinqua obsidione fames esset timenda.
Against these Titurius exclaimed that they would do it too late, when larger gangs of the enemies had come together with the Germans having been joined, or when something of a disaster had been received to their near winter quarters. The opportunity of consulting was brief. That he thought that Caesar had set out to Italy, otherwise neither would the Carnutes have taken the plan of killing Tasgetius, nor would the Eburones, if that man were present, have come to the camp with so great a disdain of us. That he was not looking at the enemy as an advisor but the matter: that the Rhene was near; that the death of Ariovistus and our previous victories were as a great grief to the Germans; that Gaul was inflamed, so many affronts having been received under the power of the Roman people, having been reduced, with the former glory of the military matter destroyed. At last who would persuade himself this, that without a certain matter Ambiorix had resorted to such a plan? That his opinion in each part was safe: that if nothing was more difficult, with no danger they would come to the nearby legion, if all Gaul agreed with the Germans, their only safety was placed in swiftness. Indeed what result did the plan of Cotta and these men, who differed, have? In which, if danger was not present, yet certainly in a long siege must hunger be feared?
facturos [esse] – Fut. act. inf. m. acc. pl.
adiunctis Germanis – Abl. abs., PPP m. abl. pl.
convenissent – Plpf. subj. 3rd pl. act.
esset acceptum – Plpf. subj. 3rd sg. pass. n. nom.
consulendi – Genitive gerund
profectum [esse] – Perf. dep. inf. m. acc. sg.
adesset – Imperf. subj. 3rd sg. in contrary-to-fact condition
fuisse capturos, venturos esse – Fut. act. inf. m. acc. pl.
Germanis dolori – Double dative; Germanis is reference; dolori is purpose
contumeliis acceptis – Abl. abs., PPP f. abl. pl.
gloria…exstincta – Abl. abs., PPP f. abl. sg.
quis…persuaderet – Indirect question, imperf. subj. 3rd sg. act.
descendisse – Perf. act. inf.
durius – Comparative adj.
perventuros [esse] – Fut. act. inf.
positam – Perf. pass. inf. f. acc. sg.
qui dissentirent – Rel. clause in indirect statement, imperf. subj. 3rd pl. act.
esset timenda – Passive periphrastic, gerundive f. nom. sg.
Hac in utramque partem disputatione habita, cum a Cotta primisque ordinibus acriter resisteretur, “Vincite,” inquit, “si ita vultis,” Sabinus, et id clariore voce, ut magna pars militum exaudiret; “neque is sum,” inquit, “qui gravissime ex vobis mortis periculo terrear: hi sapient; si gravius quid acciderit, abs te rationem reposcent, qui, si per te liceat, perendino die cum proximis hibernis coniuncti communem cum reliquis belli casum sustineant, non reiecti et relegati longe ab ceteris aut ferro aut fame intereant.”
In each side, this argument having been had, when by Cotta and the first ranks it was sharply opposed, he said, “Conquer, if you so wish,” and Sabinus with a clearer voice, so that a greater part of the soldiers might hear, said this, “And I am not he who is out of you most seriously frightened by the danger of his death: These men will understand; if anything more serious will have happened, from you they will ask for reckoning, who, if through you it should be permitted, on the day after tomorrow, having been joined with the nearby winter quarters, would endure the common misfortune of war with the others and would not die by either iron or hunger, having been driven back and sent away by far from the rest.”
disputatione habita – Abl. abs., PPP f. abl. sg.
resisteretur – Imperf. subj. 3rd sg. pass.
Vincite – Pres. act. imperative 2nd pl.
vultis – Pres. act. subj. 2nd pl.
clariore voce – Abl. means
ut…exaudiret – Purpose clause, imperf. subj. 3rd sg. act.
gravissime – Superl. adv.
sapient – Fut. 3rd pl. indic. act.
acciderit – Fut. perf. indic. act. 3rd sg.
reposcent – Fut. 3rd pl. indic. act.
si…acciderit,…reposcent – Future More Vivid Conditional with fut. indic.
liceat, sustineant, intereant – Pres. act. subj. 3rd sg./pl.
coniuncti, reiecti, relegati – PPP m. nom. pl.
si…liceat,…sustineant…intereant – Future Less Vivid Conditional with pres. subj.
Latin IV AP Caesar De Bello Gallico 4.30-36
February 18, 2017February 19, 2017Leave a comment
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“Remember that last time, the episode? Asking me why the h*ll I text in code?” – Kanye West, “FML”
Quibus rebus cognitis, principes Britanniae, qui post proelium ad Caesarem convenerant, inter se conlocuti, cum et equites et naves et frumentum Romanis deesse intellegerent et paucitatem militum ex castrorum exiguitate cognoscerent, quae hoc erant etiam angustior quod sine impedimentis Caesar legiones transportaverat, optimum factu esse duxerunt rebellione facta frumento commeatuque nostros prohibere et rem in hiemem producere, quod his superatis aut reditu interclusis neminem postea belli inferendi causa in Britanniam transiturum confidebant. Itaque rursus coniuratione facta paulatim ex castris discedere et suos clam ex agris deducere coeperunt.
And with these things known, the chiefs of Britain, who had assembled to Caesar after the battle, having spoken among themselves, when they understood that the horsemen and ships and grain were lacking for the Romans, and they noticed the small number of their soldiers from the scantiness of their camps, which were also more narrow than this because without baggage Caesar had transported his legions, they decreed that the best thing to do, a revolt made, was to keep our men from the grain and provisions and to prolong this matter into the winter. Because these men conquered or shut off from a return, they hoped that no one would afterwards cross into Britain for the purpose of waging war. And so in turn the conspiracy made little by little, they began to depart from their camps and secretly bring their men from their fields.
At Caesar, etsi nondum eorum consilia cognoverat, tamen et ex eventu navium suarum et ex eo quod obsides dare intermiserant fore id quod accidit suspicabatur. Itaque ad omnes casus subsidia comparabat. Nam et frumentum ex agris cotidie in castra conferebat et, quae gravissime adflictae erant naves, earum materia atque aere ad reliquas reficiendas utebatur et quae ad eas res erant usui ex continenti comportari iubebat. Itaque, cum summo studio a militibus administraretur, XII navibus amissis, reliquis ut navigari satis commode posset effecit.
But Caesar, although not yet had he learned the plans of these men, nevertheless both from the fate of his own ships and from the fact that they had neglected to give hostages, suspected that this would be the thing which happened. And therefore he prepared help for all misfortunes. And for he collected grain from the fields to his camp daily and, the ships which had been damaged most gravely, of these he used the wood and copper to repair the rest, and he ordered the things which were as a use for these matters to be acquired from the continent. Therefore, since it was managed with the greatest eagerness by his soldiers, twelve ships having been lost, with the rest he brought it about that very easily it was able to be sailed.
Dum ea geruntur, legione ex consuetudine una frumentatum missa, quae appellabatur VII, neque ulla ad id tempus belli suspicione interposita, cum pars hominum in agris remaneret, pars etiam in castra ventitaret, ei qui pro portis castrorum in statione erant Caesari nuntiaverunt pulverem maiorem quam consuetudo ferret in ea parte videri quam in partem legio iter fecisset. Caesar id quod erat suspicatus aliquid novi a barbaris initum consilii, cohortes quae in statione erant secum in eam partem proficisci, ex reliquis duas in stationem succedere, reliquas armari et confestim sese subsequi iussit. Cum paulo longius a castris processisset, suos ab hostibus premi atque aegre sustinere et conferta legione ex omnibus partibus tela coici animadvertit. Nam quod omni ex reliquis partibus demesso frumento pars una erat reliqua, suspicati hostes huc nostros esse venturos noctu in silvis delituerant; tum dispersos depositis armis in metendo occupatos subito adorti paucis interfectis reliquos incertis ordinibus perturbaverant, simul equitatu atque essedis circumdederant.
While these things are waged, one legion, which was called the seventh, having been sent from habit to forage, and not at the time any suspicion of war having been caused, when part of the men remained in the fields, part still were traveling to the camp, these men who were on guard before the gates of the camp announced to Caesar that a dust larger than habit would carry was seen in this direction in which direction the legion had made a journey. Caesar, having suspected that which was, that something of a new plan had been formed by the barbarians, ordered cohorts which were on guard with him to set out in this direction, two cohorts from the remaining to succeed in guard, the remaining ones to be armed and to follow him immediately. When by a little longer he had advanced from the camp, he noticed that his own men were pressed by the enemies and were enduring with difficulty, and, the legion dense, from all directions their spears were hurled. For because all grain having been reaped from the remaining parts, there was one remaining part, the enemies, having suspected that our men would come here, by night had lurked in the forests, then they, having suddenly attacked the scattered men, had terrified the other men with their weapons laid down, engaged in harvesting, with a few men having been killed, the ranks being uncertain, and at the same time with cavalry and chariots they had surrounded them.
Genus hoc est ex essedis pugnae. Primo per omnes partes perequitant et tela coiciunt atque ipso terrore equorum et strepitu rotarum ordines plerumque perturbant, et cum se inter equitum turmas insinuaverunt, ex essedis desiliunt et pedibus proeliantur. Aurigae interim paulatim ex proelio excedunt atque ita currus conlocant ut, si illi a multitudine hostium premantur, expeditum ad quos receptum habeant. Ita mobilitatem equitum, stabilitatem peditum in proeliis praestant, ac tantum usu cotidiano et exercitatione efficiunt uti in declivi ac praecipiti loco incitatos equos sustinere et brevi moderari ac flectere et per temonem percurrere et in iugo insistere et se inde in currus citissime recipere consuerint.
This is the kind of fighting from their chariots. At first through all parts they ride about and hurl weapons and greatly disturb the ranks very often with the fear itself of the horses and the noise of the wheels, and when they have insinuated themselves among the troops of the horsemen, they dismounted from their chariots and battle on their feet. Meanwhile the charioteers little by little withdraw from the battle and gather their chariots in such a way that, if those men are oppressed by the great number of the enemies, they have an unimpeded retreat for their men. Thus they exhibit the mobility of their horses, the stability of their feet, and they bring about so great a thing with daily use and exercise that in the declining and precipitous place they became accustomed to sustaining their excited horses and controlling them in a brief time and to guide them and run along through the pole and to stand firm in the yoke and then to take themselves back to the chariots most speedily.
Quibus rebus perturbatis nostris novitate pugnae tempore oportunissimo Caesar auxilium tulit: namque eius adventu hostes constiterunt, nostri se ex timore receperunt. Quo facto, ad lacessendum hostem et committendum proelium alienum esse tempus arbitratus suo se loco continuit et brevi tempore intermisso in castra legiones reduxit. Dum haec geruntur, nostris omnibus occupatis qui erant in agris reliqui discesserunt. Secutae sunt continuos complures dies tempeststes, quae et nostros in castris continerent et hostem a pugna prohiberent. Interim barbari nuntios in omnes partes dimiserunt paucitatemque nostrorum militum suis praedicaverunt et quanta praedae faciendae atque in perpetuum sui liberandi facultas daretur, si Romanos castris expulissent, demonstraverunt. His rebus celeriter magna multitudine peditatus equitatusque coacta ad castra venerunt.
And with our men throughly terrified by these things, by the novelty of the fighting, at the most opportune time Caesar brought help: And for with his arrival the enemies stood firm, our men received themselves from time. And with this having been done, having thought that the time was unfavorable for attacking the enemy and beginning battle, they held themselves in their place and a brief time having passed, he led his legions to camp. While these things are being waged, with our men engaged by all things the remaining, who were in the fields, departed. Storms followed for very many continuous days, which both held our men in camp and prevented the enemy from fighting. Meanwhile, the foreigners sent away messengers in all directions and proclaimed the scarcity of our soldiers to their men and they showed that so great an opportunity of making booty and of freeing themselves forever would be given, if they had expelled the Romans from their camp. With a great multitude of infantry and cavalry having been driven by these things, they came to the camp.
Caesar, etsi idem quod superioribus diebus acciderat fore videbat, ut, si essent hostes pulsi, celeritate periculum effugerent, tamen nactus equites circiter XXX, quos Commius Atrebas, de quo ante dictum est, secum transportaverat, legiones in acie pro castris constituit. Commisso proelio diutius nostrorum militum impetum hostes ferre non potuerunt ac terga verterunt. Quos tanto spatio secuti quantum cursu et viribus efficere potuerunt, complures ex iis occiderunt, deinde omnibus longe lateque aedificiis incensis se in castra receperunt.
Caesar, although he saw that the same thing which had happened on previous days would be, that, if the enemies were driven, they would flee the danger with swiftness, nevertheless having obtained possession of around 300 horsemen, which Commius the Atrebatian, concerning whom before it was said, had transported with himself, set up the legions in a battle line for the camp. The battle having been begun, the enemies were no longer able to bear the attack of our soldiers and turned their backs. And having followed them for as great a distance as they could accomplish with strength and a course, they killed very many men from them, then with all buildings having been burned far and wide, they received themselves to he camp.
Eodem die legati ab hostibus missi ad Caesarem de pace venerunt.
On the same day, the envoys, having been sent by the enemies, came to Caesar concerning peace.
Latin IV AP Caesar’s De Bello Gallico 4.24-4.29 Translation
January 31, 2017February 1, 20171 Comment
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“If you think this is over, then you’re wrong.” – Radiohead, “Separator”
At barbari, consilio Romanorum cognito praemisso equitatu et essedariis, quo plerumque genere in proeliis uti consuerunt, reliquis copiis subsecuti nostros navibus egredi prohibebant. Erat ob has causas summa difficultas, quod naves propter magnitudinem nisi in alto constitui non poterant, militibus autem, ignotis locis, impeditis manibus, magno et gravi onere armorum oppressis simul et de navibus desiliendum et in auctibus consistendum et cum hostibus erat pugnandum, cum illi aut ex arido aut paulum in aquam progressi omnibus membris expeditis, notissimis locis, audacter tela coicerent et equos insuefactos incitarent. Quibus rebus nostri perterriti atque huius omnino generis pugnae imperiti, non eadem alacritate ac studio quo in pedestribus uti proeliis consuerant utebantur.
And the foreigners, the plan of the Romans known, their cavalry and soldiers having been sent forth, which kind they were accustomed to use very often in battles, with their remaining troops, having followed our men, they prevented them from marching out from their ships. There was on account of these causes the highest difficulty because on account of their large size, except on the deep, the ships were not able to be anchored, moreover, the soldiers surprised by the unknown places, the obstructed hands, the great and serious burden of their arms, at the same time they both had to dismount from their ships and had to take a position in the waves and had to fight with their enemies while those men, having progressed either from dry land or a little into water, all their limbs unimpeded, in most familiar places fearlessly threw their weapons and urged on trained horses. And by these things thoroughly terrified and entirely unexperienced in this kind of fight, our men were not using the same eagerness and enthusiasm which they had been accustomed to use in battles on foot.
consilio…cognito- Abl. Abs., PPP. n. abl. sg.
praemisso equitatu et essedariis – Abl. Abs., PPP m. abl. sg. (agreeing with nearest subject)
uti – Takes ablative quo…genere
egredi – Pres. dep. inf.
constitui – Pres. pass. inf.
militibus…oppressis – Dat. of agent as the subject of the following passive periphrastics
desiliendum, consistendum,  erat pugnandum – Passive periphrastic expressing necessity
alacritate ac studio – Abl. with utebantur
quo – Abl. with uti
Quod ubi Caesar animadvertit, naves longas, quarum et species erat barbaris inusitatior et motus ad usum expeditior, paulum removeri ab onerariis navibus et remis incitari et ad latus apertum hostium constitui atque inde fundis, sagittis, tormentis hostes propelli ac submoveri iussit; quae res magno usui nostris fuit. Nam et navium figura et remorum motu et inusitato genere tormentorum permoti barbari constiterunt ac paulum modo pedem rettulerunt. Atque nostris militibus cunctantibus, maxime propter altitudinem maris, qui decimae legionis aquilam gerebat, obtestatus deos, ut ea res legioni feliciter eveniret, ‘ desilite’, inquit, ‘ milites, nisi vultis aquilam hostibus prodere; ego certe meum rei publicae atque imperatori officium praestitero.’ Hoc cum voce magna dixisset, se ex navi proiecit atque in hostes aquilam ferre coepit. Tum nostri cohortati inter se, ne tantum dedecus admitteretur, universi ex navi desiluerunt. Hos item ex proximis primi navibus cum conspexissent, subsecuti hostibus appropinquarunt.
And when Caesar noticed this, he ordered that the long ships, of which both the appearance was more unusual to the foreigners and the movement was more unimpeded to use, to be withdrawn a little from ships equipped for loads and to be set in motion with oars and to be anchored near the open side of the enemy and from there that the enemies be routed and driven away with slings, arrows, and machines, and this thing was as a great use for our men. And for thoroughly moved by the shape of ships and the motion of oars and the unusual type of siege weapons, the foreigners drew up and retreated only a little. And our soldiers delaying, especially on account of the depth of the sea, the one who bore the eagle of the tenth legion, having entreated the gods that this thing turn out fortunately for the legion said, “Dismount, fellow soldiers, unless you wish to betray the eagle to the enemies. I will certainly have exhibited my duty to the republic and to the general.” When he had said this with his great voice, he jumped from the ship and began to bear the eagle to the enemies. Then our men, having encouraged amongst each other that so great a dishonor not be committed, jumped all together from our ship. In a like manner when they had first perceived these men from the nearest ships, having followed the enemies closely, they approached.
Quod – Conjunctive relative
inusitatior, expeditior – Comparative adj.
removeri, incitari, constitui, propelli, submoveri – Pres. pass. inf., obj. inf. with iussit
usui nostris – Double dative: usui is dat. purpose; nostris is dat. reference
militibus cunctantibus – Abl. Abs., pres. act. part. m. abl. pl.
ut…eveniret – Indirect command
eveniret – Imperf. act. subj. 3rd sg.
desilite – Pres. act. pl. imperative
praestitero – Fut. perf. 1st sg. indic. act.
dixisset – Plpf. subj. 3rd sg. act.
ne…admitteretur – Negative indirect command
conspexissent – Plpf. 3rd pl. subj. act.
appropinquarunt – Syncopated from appropinquaverunt, Perf. indic. act. 3rd pl.
Pugnatum est ab utrisque acriter. Nostri tamen, quod neque ordines servare neque firmiter insistere neque signa subsequi poterant atque alius alia ex navi quibuscumque signis occurrerat se adgregabat, magnopere perturbabantur; hostes vero, notis omnibus vadii, ubi ex litore aliquos singulares ex navi egredientes conspexerant, incitatis equis impeditos adoriebantur, plures paucos circumsistebant, alii ab latere aperto in universos tela coiciebant. Quod cum animadvertisset Caesar, scaphas longarum navium, item speculatoria navigia militibus compleri iussit, et quos laborantes conspexerat, his subsidia submittebat. Nostri, simul in arido constiterunt, suis omnibus consecutis, in hostes impetum fecerunt atque eos in fugam dederunt; neque longius prosequi potuerunt, quod equites cursum tenere atque insulam capere non potuerant. Hoc unum ad pristinam fortunam Caesari defuit.
It was fought sharply by both. Nevertheless, our men, because they were able neither to keep the ranks nor to stand firmly nor to follow their standards, and a different man from a different ship was gathering himself to whichever standards he had happened upon, were greatly disturbed; the enemies truly, with all shallows being familiar, when from the shore they had perceived some people one by one departing from the ship, attacked the hindered men, their horses excited, more people surrounded few, the others from the open side were throwing spears at the men all together. And when Caesar had noticed this, he ordered the skiffs of the long boats and also the scouting ships to be filled with soldiers, and which men he had perceived working hard, to these men he sent help. Our men, as soon as they stood on dry land, all their men having followed up, made an attack on the enemies and gave them to flight, and no longer were they able to pursue because the horsemen had not been able to hold their course and seize the island. This one thing was lacking for Caesar for his previous fortune.
Pugnatum est – Impersonal, Perf. indic. act. 3rd sg.
notis omnibus vadii – Abl. abs. with implied participle of sum
egredientes – Pres. dep. part. m. acc. pl.
incitatis equis – Abl. abs., PPP m. abl. pl.
Quod – Conjunctive relative
compleri – Pres. pass. inf.
laborantes – Pres. act. part. m. acc. pl.
quos…his – Placing the relative pronoun before its antecedent is meant to mimic the fact that Caesar saw the men working hard before he sent them help.
omnibus consecutis – Abl. abs., PPP m. abl. pl.
prosequi – Pres. dep. inf.
potuerant – Plpf. 3rd pl. indic. act. (The “u” differentiates the plpf. from the impf.)
Hostes proelio superati, simul atque se ex fuga receperunt, statim ad Caesarem legatos de pace miserunt; obsides sese daturos quaeque imperasset facturos polliciti sunt. Una cum his legatis Commius Atrebas venit, quem supra demonstraveram a Caesare in Britanniam praemissum. Hunc illi e navi egressum, cum ad eos oratoris modo Caesaris mandata deferret, comprehenderant atque in vincula coniecerant; tum proelio facto remiserunt et in petenda pace eius rei culpam in multitudinem contulerunt et propter imprudentiam ut ignosceretur petiverunt. Caesar questus quod, cum ultro in continentem legatis missis pacem ab se petissent, bellum sine causa intulissent, ignoscere se imprudentiae dixit obsidesque imperavit; quorum illi partem statim dederunt, partem ex longinquioribus locis arcessitam paucis diebus sese daturos dixerunt. Interea suos in agros remigrare iusserunt, principesque undique convenire et se civitatesque suas Caesari commendare coeperunt.
The enemies, having been conquered in battle, as soon as they recovered themselves from flight, immediately sent envoys to Caesar concerning peace; they promised that they would give hostages and would do what he had demanded. Together with these envoys, Commius, an Atrebatian, came, whom I had described before sent by Caesar to Britain. These men had arrested this man having departed from his ship when he reported the commands of Caesar in the manner of an ambassador to them and had put him in chains; then, the battle having been done, they returned him and in seeking peace they ascribed the guilt of this thing to the many men and on account of their ignorance they sought that it be forgiven. Caesar, having lamented because, although, envoys sent to the continent, they had voluntarily sought peace from him, without cause they had waged war, said that he forgave the indiscretion and ordered hostages, of whom they immediately gave to that man a part, they said they would give the part summoned from more remote places in a few days. Meanwhile they ordered their men to return to the fields, and their chiefs everywhere began to come together and to surrender themselves and their states to Caesar.
daturos, facturos – Fut. act. inf. with implied esse
quaeque imperasset – Subj. because it’s a rel. clause in an indirect statement
imperasset – Plpf. 3rd sg. subj. act., syncopated from imperavisset
deferret – Imperf. subj. 3rd sg. act. in cum temporal clause
proelio facto – Abl. abs., PPP n. abl. sg.
in petenda pace – Gerundive, f. abl. sg.
ut ignosceretur – Indirect command
ignosceretur – Imperf. subj. 3rd sg. pass.
legatis missis – Abl. abs., PPP m. abl. pl.
petissent, intulissent – Plpf. act. subj. 3rd pl.
daturos [esse] – Fut. act. inf.
longinquioribus – Comparative adj.
His rebus pace confirmata, post diem quartum quam est in Britanniam ventum naves XVIII, de quibus supra demonstratum est, quae equites sustulerant, ex superiore portu leni vento solverunt. Quae cum adpropinquarent Britanniae et ex castris viderentur, tanta tempestas subito coorta est ut nulla earum cursum tenere posset, sed aliae eodem unde erant profectae referrentur, aliae ad inferiorem partem insulae, quae est propius solis occasum, magno suo cum periculo deicerentur; quae tamen ancoris iactis cum fluctibus complerentur, necessario adversa nocte in altum provectae continentem petierunt.
Peace strengthened by these things, after the fourth day on which it was come into Britain, eighteen ships, about which before it was described, which had taken horsemen on board, sailed with a gentle wind from the upper port. And when these men arrived to Britain and were seen from the camps, so great a storm suddenly broke out that none of them was able to hold course, but some were borne back to the same place from which they had set out, others were cast down to the lower part of the island, which is nearer to the setting of the sun with its great danger; those, which nevertheless, anchors thrown, were filled with waves, by necessity with night opposite, having been carried on the deep, sought the continent.
pace confirmata – Abl. abs., f. abl. sg.
est…ventum, demonstratum est – Impersonal perf. 3rd sg. indic. pass.
Quae – Conjunctive relative
adpropinquarent – Imperf. subj. 3rd pl. act.
viderentur – Imperf. subj. 3rd pl. pass.
ut…posset – Result clause
posset – Imperf. subj. 3rd sg. act.
ancoris iactis – Abl. abs., PPP f. abl. pl.
complerentur – Imperf. subj. 3rd pl. pass.
Eadem nocte accidit ut esset luna plena, qui dies a maritimos aestus maximos in Oceano efficere consuevit, nostrisque id erat incognitum. Ita uno tempore et longas naves, quibus Caesar exercitum transportandum curaverat, quas Caesar in aridum subduxerat, aestus compleverat, et onerarias, quae ad ancoras erant deligatae, tempestas adflictabat, neque ulla nostris facultas aut administrandi aut auxiliandi dabatur. Compluribus navibus fractis, reliquae cum essent funibus, ancoris reliquisque armamentis amissis ad navigandum inutiles, magna, id quod necesse erat accidere, totius exercitus perturbatio facta est. Neque enim naves erant aliae quibus reportari possent, et omnia deerant quae ad reficiendas naves erant usui, et, quod omnibus constabat hiemari in Gallia oportere, frumentum in his locis in hiemem provisum non erat.
On the same night it happened that the moon was full, a day which was accustomed to making the greatest tides of the sea on the ocean, and this was unknown to our men. In this way at one time both the tide had filled the long ships by which he had taken care of transporting the army and which Caesar had led up to dry land, and a tempest harassed the freight ships, which had been moored to anchors, and not was any opportunity of either waiting upon or helping given to our men. Very many ships having been broken, since the remaining, with their ropes, anchors, and the remaining gear having been lost, were useless for sailing, a thing which was necessary to happen, a great disturbance of the whole army was made. And not indeed were there other ships by which they were able to be carried, and all things were lacking which were as a use for repairing ships, and because it was evident to all to be necessary to [be] winter[ed] in Gaul, grain had not been provided in these places for the winter.
ut esset – Substantive clause of result
esset – Imperf. subj. 3rd sg.
administrandi aut auxiliandi – Genitive gerunds
navibus fractis – Abl. abs., PPP f. abl. pl.
funibus, ancoris, armamentis amissis – Abl. abs., PPP f. abl. pl.
ad navigandum – Accusative gerund expressing purpose
reportari, hiemari – Pres. pass. inf.
Latin IV Honors Aeneid Book 2.1-56 Translation
January 23, 2017January 23, 2017Leave a comment
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“Now she’s a little boy in Spain, playing pianos filled with flames.” – Neutral Milk Hotel, “Holland, 1945”
Thanks in part to Leo Arnett, Reese Leonhard, Paul James, Trey Aucoin, and Davis Hatrel.
Conticuere omnes, intentique ora tenebant.
Inde toro pater Aeneas sic orsus ab alto:
Infandum, regina, iubes renovare dolorem,
Troianas ut opes et lamentabile regnum
eruerint Danai; quaeque ipse miserrima vidi,                 5
et quorum pars magna fui.  Quis talia fando
Myrmidonum Dolopumve aut duri miles Ulixi
temperet a lacrimis?  Et iam nox umida caelo
praecipitat, suadentque cadentia sidera somnos.
Sed si tantus amor casus cognoscere nostros                 10
et breviter Troiae supremum audire laborem,
quamquam animus meminisse horret, luctuque refugit,
“Fracti bello fatisque repulsi
ductores Danaum, tot iam labentibus annis,
instar montis equum divina Palladis arte                        15
aedificant, sectaque intexunt abiete costas:
votum pro reditu simulant; ea fama vagatur.
Huc delecta virum sortiti corpora furtim
includunt caeco lateri, penitusque cavernas
ingentes uterumque armato milite complent.              20
All men fell silent, and, eager, they held their faces.
Then from his high couch father Aeneas began thus:
Queen, you order me to renew unspeakable grief,
How the Danaans destroyed the Trojan wealth and the lamentable kingdom
And what more unfortunate things I saw,
And of which I was a great part. In saying such things
What Myrmidon or Dolopian or warrior of harsh Ulysses
Would restrain from tears? And already the damp night
Casts down from the sky, and the falling stars urge sleepy men.
But if there is so great a love to know our misfortunes,
And briefly hear the final labor of Troy,
Although my mind shudders to remember and runs away at the grief, I will begin.
Crushed by the war and rebuffed by the fates,
The leaders of the Danaans, already so many years gliding by,
Build a horse, the equal of a mountain, by the divine art of Pallas,
And weave the sides with cut fir.
They pretend it is a votive offering for their return; the rumor wanders.
Having cast lots, here in secret they enclose the picked bodies of men,
In the blind side; and deep within
They fill the huge caverns and the belly with an armed soldier.
Est in conspectu Tenedos, notissima fama
insula, dives opum, Priami dum regna manebant,
nunc tantum sinus et statio male fida carinis:
huc se provecti deserto in litore condunt.
Nos abiisse rati et vento petiisse Mycenas:                   25
ergo omnis longo solvit se Teucria luctu;
panduntur portae; iuvat ire et Dorica castra
desertosque videre locos litusque relictum.
Hic Dolopum manus, hic saevus tendebat Achilles;
classibus hic locus; hic acie certare solebant.             30
Pars stupet innuptae donum exitiale Minervae,
et molem mirantur equi; primusque Thymoetes
duci intra muros hortatur et arce locari,
sive dolo, seu iam Troiae sic fata ferebant.
At Capys, et quorum melior sententia menti,            35
aut pelago Danaum insidias suspectaque dona
praecipitare iubent, subiectisque urere flammis,
aut terebrare cavas uteri et temptare latebras.
Scinditur incertum studia in contraria volgus.
Tenedos is in sight, an island most notable in
Fame, rich in resources, while the kingdoms of Priam remained,
Now so much a bay and an outpost of a vessel in bad faith:
They, having carried themselves here, hide in the deserted shore.
We thought they had left on a boat and had sought Mycenae with a wind.
Therefore all Troy released itself from its long grief;
The gates are spread out; it pleases to go and to see
The Doric camps and the deserted places and the abandoned shore.
Here the Dolopian gang, here cruel Achilles strived.
Here the place for ships, here they were accustomed to contend at the battle line.
Part was amazed at the destructive gift of virgin Minerva,
And they wonder at the size of the horse; and first Thymoetes
Urges that it be led into the walls and placed in the citadel,
Either by treachery, or already the fates of Troy were bearing it thus.
And Capys, and those whose opinion is better to the mind,
Order either to throw the treacheries and the suspected gifts of the Greeks
Into the sea, and burn them, flames thrown under,
Or to bore through the hollows of its belly and test for hiding places.
The uncertain crowd is divided into contrary spirits.
Primus ibi ante omnis, magna comitante caterva,
Laocoön ardens summa decurrit ab arce,
et procul: “O miseri, quae tanta insania, cives?
Creditis avectos hostis?  Aut ulla putatis
dona carere dolis Danaum?  Sic notus Ulixes?
aut hoc inclusi ligno occultantur Achivi,                          45
aut haec in nostros fabricata est machina muros
inspectura domos venturaque desuper urbi,
aut aliquis latet error; equo ne credite, Teucri.
Quicquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentis.”
Sic fatus, validis ingentem viribus hastam                     50
in latus inque feri curvam compagibus alvum
contorsit: stetit illa tremens, uteroque recusso
insonuere cavae gemitumque dedere cavernae.
Et, si fata deum, si mens non laeva fuisset,
impulerat ferro Argolicas foedare latebras,                   55
Troiaque, nunc stares, Priamique arx alta, maneres.
The first before all, a great troop following,
Laocoon, being eager, runs down from the top of the citadel,
And at a distance (he says), “O miserable citizens, what so great madness is this? Do you believe that the enemies were conveyed away? Or do you think
That any gifts are free from the tricks of the Greeks? Is Ulysses thus familiar? Either enclosed in this wood, Achaeans are concealed,
Or this device was made against our walls,
To look into our homes and to come from above to our city,
Or some trick lies hidden. Do not believe the horse, Teucrians.
Whatever it is, I fear the Danaans, even bearing gifts.
Thus having spoken, he twirled with great strength a huge spear into its side And into the belly of the beast curved with joints.
That (spear) stood, shaking, and the belly having been shaken,
The hollow cavities resounded and gave a groan.
And, if the fates of the gods, if the mind had not been unlucky,
He would have driven (us) to to defile the Argive hiding places with iron,
And now Troy would stand, and you would remain, high citadel of Priam.
Latin IV AP Caesar De Bello Gallico 1.1-7
January 18, 2017January 19, 2017Leave a comment
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NOTE: I updated this study guide by adding a sentence accidentally omitted in 1.3 of the original version and fixing the PDF’s formatting.
“When the things don’t make sense, I have courage because of you.” – The xx, “Brave for You”
Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres, quarum unam incolunt Belgae, aliam Aquitani, tertiam qui ipsorum lingua Celtae, nostra Galli appellantur. Hi omnes lingua, institutis, legibus inter se differunt. Gallos ab Aquitanis Garumna flumen, a Belgis Matrona et Sequana dividit. Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae, propterea quod a cultu atque humanitate provinciae longissime absunt, minimeque ad eos mercatores saepe commeant atque ea quae ad effeminandos animos pertinent important, proximique sunt Germanis, qui trans Rhenum incolunt, quibuscum continenter bellum gerunt. Qua de causa Helvetii quoque reliquos Gallos virtute praecedunt, quod fere cotidianis proeliis cum Germanis contendunt, cum aut suis finibus eos prohibent aut ipsi in eorum finibus bellum gerunt. Eorum una, pars, quam Gallos obtinere dictum est, initium capit a flumine Rhodano, continetur Garumna flumine, Oceano, finibus Belgarum, attingit etiam ab Sequanis et Helvetiis flumen Rhenum, vergit ad septentriones. Belgae ab extremis Galliae finibus oriuntur, pertinent ad inferiorem partem fluminis Rheni, spectant in septentrionem et orientem solem. Aquitania a Garumna flumine ad Pyrenaeos montes et eam partem Oceani quae est ad Hispaniam pertinet; spectat inter occasum solis et septentriones.
All Gaul is divided into three parts, of which the Belgians inhabit one, the Aquitanians another, a third the people who are called in the language of themselves the Celts, in ours the Gauls. These all differ among themselves in language, institutions, and laws. The Garumna river (divides) the Gauls from the Aquitanians, the Matrona and Sequana divide them from the Belgians. Of all these men the bravest are the Belgians, because from the culture and humanity of the province they are longest absent, and least often do merchants visit to them and bring in those things which pertain to weakening minds, and they are nearest to the Germans, who live across the Rhene, with whom they continually wage war. And for this reason the Helvetians also surpass the other Gauls in virtue because in almost daily battles they fight with the Germans, when either they keep them from their own borders, or they themselves wage wars in the borders of these men. One part of these, which it is said that the Gauls hold, takes its beginning from the Rhodan river, is bound by the Garumna river, the Ocean, the borders of the Belgians, also extends from the Sequanians and the Helvetians to the Rhene river, turns to the North. The Belgians rise from the furthest borders of Gaul, reach to the lower part of the Rhene river, face to the north and the rising sun. Aquitania extends from the Garumna river to the Pyrenees mountains and this part of the Ocean which is near Hispania, it faces between the setting of the sun and the north.
quarum – Partitive gen.
lingua, institutis, legibus – This phrase, along with much of Caesar’s writing, makes use of asyndeton to make the language more brief/less complex.
a cultu atque humanitate – Abl. separation
ad effeminandos animos – Gerundive expressing purpose, m. acc. pl.
Eorum – Partitive gen.; The remainder of this chapter is thought not to have been written by Caesar since it seems almost like a parody of his style: Note the asyndeton turned up to eleven, resulting in meaninglessly vague descriptions.
Apud Helvetios longe nobilissimus fuit et ditissimus Orgetorix. Is Marco Messala, et Marco Pupio Pisone consulibus regni cupiditate inductus coniurationem nobilitatis fecit et civitati persuasit ut de finibus suis cum omnibus copiis exirent: perfacile esse, cum virtute omnibus praestarent, totius Galliae imperio potiri. Id hoc facilius iis persuasit, quod undique loci natura Helvetii continentur: una ex parte flumine Rheno latissimo atque altissimo, qui agrum Helvetium a Germanis dividit; altera ex parte monte Iura altissimo, qui est inter Sequanos et Helvetios; tertia lacu Lemanno et flumine Rhodano, qui provinciam nostram ab Helvetiis dividit. His rebus fiebat ut et minus late vagarentur et minus facile finitimis bellum inferre possent; qua ex parte homines bellandi cupidi magno dolore adficiebantur. Pro multitudine autem hominum et pro gloria belli atque fortitudinis angustos se fines habere arbitrabantur, qui in longitudinem milia passuum CCXL, in latitudinem CLXXX patebant.
Among the Helvetians by far the noblest and richest was Orgetorix. He, Marcus Messala and Marcus Pupius Piso being consuls, influenced by desire for the kingdom, made a conspiracy of the nobility and persuaded the state to leave from their borders with all their supplies, that it is very easy, since they surpass all in virtue, to obtain power of all Gaul. With this he persuaded them this more easily, since on all sides the Helvetians are bound by the nature of the place: from one part by the widest and deepest river Rhene, which divides the Helvetian land from the Germans; from another part by the highest mountain Jura, which is between the Sequanians and Helvetians; from a third by the Lake Lemmanus and the Rhodan river, which divides our province from the Helvetians. By these things it happened that they both wandered less widely and less easily were able to wage war with their neighbors; and for this reason the men, desirous of waging war, were affected with great grief. Moreover in proportion to the multitude of those people and in proportion to the glory of war and courage, they thought they had narrow borders, which extended in length 240 miles, in width 180.
nobilissimus – Refers to social status, not character, as will be made clear by his betrayal of his people
Marco Messala, et Marco Pupio Pisone consulibus – 61 BCE. Since the Romans elected two consuls every year, an ablative absolute with an understood form of sum is the preferred way of noting a year.
ut…exirent – Substantive purpose clause, Imperf. act. subj. 3rd pl.
potiri – Pres. dep. inf., notably takes abl. imperio
hoc – Abl. cause/means
ut…vagarentur…possent – Substantive result clause with fiebat, Imperf. dep./act. subj. 3rd pl.
bellandi – Genitive gerund with cupidi
autem – Either “moreover” or “however” depending upon context
His rebus adducti et auctoritate Orgetorigis permoti constituerunt ea quae ad proficiscendum pertinerent comparare, iumentorum et carrorum quam maximum numerum coemere, sementes quam maximas facere, ut in itinere copia frumenti suppeteret, cum proximis civitatibus pacem et amicitiam confirmare. Ad eas res conficiendas biennium sibi satis esse duxerunt; in tertium annum profectionem lege confirmant. Ad eas res conficiendas Orgetorix deligitur. Is sibi legationem ad civitates suscipit. In eo itinere persuadet Castico, Catamantaloedis filio, Sequano, cuius pater regnum in Sequanis multos annos obtinuerat et a senatu populi Romani amicus appellatus erat, ut regnum in civitate sua occuparet, quod pater ante habuerit; itemque Dumnorigi Haeduo, fratri Diviciaci, qui eo tempore principatum in civitate obtinebat ac maxime plebi acceptus erat, ut idem conaretur persuadet eique filiam suam in matrimonium dat. Perfacile factu esse illis probat conata perficere, propterea quod ipse suae civitatis imperium obtenturus esset: non esse dubium quin totius Galliae plurimum Helvetii possent; se suis copiis suoque exercitu illis regna conciliaturum confirmat. Hac oratione adducti inter se fidem et ius iurandum dant et regno occupato per tres potentissimos ac firmissimos populos totius Galliae sese potiri posse sperant.
Influenced by these things and moved by the authority of Orgetorix, they decided to prepare those things which pertained to setting out, to gather up as great a number as possible of pack animals and carts, to make as many showings as possible so that a supply of grain might be near on the journey, to strengthen peace and friendship with the nearest civilizations. To complete these things they decreed that two years was enough for them; in the third year they strengthen by law their departure. To complete these things, Orgetorix is chosen. He undertook the commission to the civilizations for them. On his journey he persuades Casticus, the son of Catamantoledis, a Sequanian, whose father had held the ruler ship among the Sequanians for many years and had been named a friend of the Roman people by the senate, to seize the rulership in his civilization, which before his father had held, and in like manner he persuades Dumnorix the Aeduan, the brother of Divicacius, who in that time held the chief place in his state and had been received very well by the common people, to try the same, and he gives to him his own daughter in marriage. He demonstrates that for them it is thoroughly easy in the doing to finish these undertakings because he himself was about to hold command of his state: There was no doubt that the Helvetians were the most capable of Gaul, he confirms that he will with his own supplies and army win over the kingdoms for those men. Influenced by this speech, they give among themselves a pledge and an oath, and they hope, the rulership having been seized, that they are able to possess all Gaul through the three most powerful and strongest peoples.
proficiscendum – Acc. gerund with ad for purpose
quam maximum – quam + superl. = “as ___ as possible”
ut…suppeteret – Purpose clause, Imperf. act. subj. 3rd sg.
Ad eas res conficiendas – Gerundive expressing purpose, f. acc. pl.
ut…occuparet, ut…conaretur – Substantive purpose clauses, Imperf. act/dep. subj. 3rd sg.
obtenturus esset – Active periphrastic (future participle with form of sum)
suis copiis suoque exercitu – Abl. means
potiri – Pres. dep. inf., takes gen. totius Galliae
Ea res est Helvetiis per indicium enuntiata. Moribus suis Orgetoricem ex vinculis causam dicere coegerunt; damnatum poenam sequi oportebat, ut igni cremaretur. Die constituta causae dictionis Orgetorix ad iudicium omnem suam familiam, ad hominum milia decem, undique coegit, et omnes clientes obaeratosque suos, quorum magnum numerum habebat, eodem conduxit; per eos ne causam diceret se eripuit. Cum civitas ob eam rem incitata armis ius suum exequi conaretur multitudinemque hominum ex agris magistratus cogerent, Orgetorix mortuus est; neque abest suspicio, ut Helvetii arbitrantur, quin ipse sibi mortem consciverit.
This thing was reported to the Helvetians through informers. By their customs they compelled Orgetorix to say his cause from chains; it was necessary for the punishment to follow him, declared guilty, that he be burned by fire. On the decided day of the pleading of his case, Orgetorix gathered to his trial all his family, about ten thousand men, on all sides, and in the same place he assembled all his clients and debtors, of whom he had a great number; through these men he rescued himself to not plead his case. When the state on account of this thing excited tried to enforce its law with arms and the magistrates were gathering a multitude of men from the fields, Orgetorix died; and not is suspicion absent, as the Helvetians think, that he himself did not commit suicide.
ad hominum milia decem – Ad here can be translated as “about”
ne causam diceret – Negative purpose clause, Imperf. act. subj. 3rd sg.
Cum civitas…conaretur…magistratus…cogerent – Cum temporal clause, Imperf. dep./act. subj. 3rd sg./pl.
Post eius mortem nihilo minus Helvetii id quod constituerant facere conantur, ut e finibus suis exeant. Ubi iam se ad eam rem paratos esse arbitrati sunt, oppida sua omnia, numero ad duodecim, vicos ad quadringentos, reliqua privata aedificia incendunt; frumentum omne, praeter quod secum portaturi erant, comburunt, ut domum reditionis spe sublata paratiores ad omnia pericula subeunda essent; trium mensum molita cibaria sibi quemque domo efferre iubent. Persuadent Rauracis et Tulingis et Latobrigis finitimis, uti eodem usi consilio oppidis suis vicisque exustis una cum eis proficiscantur, Boiosque, qui trans Rhenum incoluerant et in agrum Noricum transierant Noreiamque oppugnarant, receptos ad se socios sibi adsciscunt.
After the death of him nevertheless the Helvetians try to do that which they had decided to do, that they go out from their borders. When now they thought that they were prepared for this thing, they burn all their towns, in number to twelve, their villages to four hundred, their remaining private buildings; they burn up all their grain, except that which they were about to carry with them so that hope of return home removed, they might be prepared to endure all things; they order each man to carry out from his home flour for three months for himself. They persuade the neighboring Rauraci and Tulingi and Latobrigi to set out together with them, having used the same plan, their towns and villages having been burned up, and they receive as allies for themselves the Boii, having been received to themselves, who had lived across the Rhene and had migrated to the Noricum land and had attacked Noreia.
ut…subeunda essent – Purpose clause, Plpf. act. subj. 3rd pl.
uti proficiscantur – Substantive purpose clause, Pres. dep. subj. 3rd pl.
oppugnarant – Syncopated from oppugnaverant, Plpf. act. indic. 3rd pl.
Erant omnino itinera duo, quibus itineribus domo exire possent: unum per Sequanos, angustum et difficile, inter montem Iuram et flumen Rhodanum, vix qua singuli carri ducerentur, mons autem altissimus impendebat, ut facile perpauci prohibere possent; alterum per provinciam nostram, multo facilius atque expeditius, propterea quod inter fines Helvetiorum et Allobrogum, qui nuper pacati erant, Rhodanus fluit isque non nullis locis vado transitur. Extremum oppidum Allobrogum est proximumque Helvetiorum finibus Genava. Ex eo oppido pons ad Helvetios pertinet. Allobrogibus sese vel persuasuros, quod nondum bono animo in populum Romanum viderentur, existimabant vel vi coacturos ut per suos fines eos ire paterentur. Omnibus rebus ad profectionem comparatis diem dicunt, qua die ad ripam Rhodani omnes conveniant. Is dies erat a. d. V. Kal. Apr. Lucio Pisone, Aulo Gabinio consulibus.
There were only two routes, by which routes they were able to depart from home: one through the Sequanians, narrow and difficult, between the Jura mountain and the Rhodan river, scarcely by this (way) carts are led one by one, moreover the highest mountain overhung it so that very few men might be able to prevent them easily; the other through our province, much easier and more unimpeded, because between the borders of the Helvetians and Allobroges, who recently had been pacified, flows the Rhodan, and it is in some places crossed by a ford. The furthest town of the Allobroges and the nearest to the borders of the Helvetians is Geneva. From this town a bridge extends to the Helvetians. They thought that they would either persuade the Allbroges, since not yet did they seen with a good mind to the Roman people, or would compel them by force to allow them to go through their borders. All things prepared for setting out, they declare the day, on which day they all assemble at the bank of the Rhodan. This day was the fifth day before the Kalends of April, Lucius Piso and Aulus Gabinius being consuls.
ut…possent – Result clause, even without signal word like ita, Imperf. act. subj. 3rd pl.
multo – Abl. of degree of difference
persuasuros [esse], coacturos [esse] – Fut. act. inf.
ut…paterentur – Substantive purpose clause, Imperf. dep. subj. 3rd pl.
a. d. V. Kal. Apr. – Five days before the Kalends (first) of April or March 28th by the Roman calendar with inclusive reckoning
Lucio Pisone, Aulo Gabinio consulibus – Abl. abs., 58 BCE, see earlier note on 1.2
Caesari cum id nuntiatum esset, eos per provinciam nostram iter facere conari, maturat ab urbe proficisci et quam maximis potest itineribus in Galliam ulteriorem contendit et ad Genavam pervenit. Provinciae toti quam maximum potest militum numerum imperat (erat omnino in Gallia ulteriore legio una), pontem, qui erat ad Genavam, iubet rescindi. Ubi de eius adventu Helvetii certiores facti sunt, legatos ad eum mittunt nobilissimos civitatis, cuius legationis Nammeius et Verucloetius principem locum obtinebant, qui dicerent sibi esse in animo sine ullo maleficio iter per provinciam facere, propterea quod aliud iter haberent nullum: rogare ut eius voluntate id sibi facere liceat. Caesar, quod memoria tenebat Lucium Cassium consulem occisum exercitumque eius ab Helvetiis pulsum et sub iugum missum, concedendum non putabat; neque homines inimico animo, data facultate per provinciam itineris faciundi, temperaturos ab iniuria et maleficio existimabat. Tamen, ut spatium intercedere posset dum milites quos imperaverat convenirent, legatis respondit diem se ad deliberandum sumpturum: si quid vellent, ad Id. April. reverterentur.
When this has been announced to Caesar, that they were trying to march through our province, he hastens to set out from the city and by day trips as long as he can he marches to further Gaul and arrives to Geneva. He demands from all the province as great a number of soldiers as possible (there was altogether in further Gaul one legion), and he orders that the bridge which was near Geneva be destroyed. When of his departure the Helvetians were made more certain, they send the most noble men of the state as envoys to him, of which envoy Nammeius and Verucloetius held the chief place, who were saying that for them it was in mind to march through the province without any wrongdoing because they had no other route, to ask that it be permitted to them to do this by their will. Caesar, because he remembered that consul Lucius Cassius was killed and his army was driven and sent under the yoke by the Helvetians, thought he should not permit it and not did he think that the men with their hostile mind, the opportunity of marching through the province having been given, would refrain from injury and mischief. Nevertheless, so that time was able to pass while the soldiers whom he had demanded assembled, he responded to the envoys that they would take up the day to deliberate: if they wished anything, they should return on the Ides of April.
cum…nuntiatum esset – Cum temporal clause, Plpf. pass. subj. 3rd sg.
quam maximis potest – Idiomatic for “as long as he can”
certiores – Comparative adj.
qui dicerent – Relative purpose clause, Imperf. act. subj. 3rd pl.
propterea quod…haberent – Relative clause in indirect discourse, Imperf. act. subj. 3rd pl.
memoria tenebat – Idiomatic for “remembered”
concedendum – Gerundive for passive periphrastic
temperaturos [esse] – Fut. act. inf.
ut…posset – Purpose clause, Imperf. act. subj. 3rd sg., Caesar says he’ll consider their demands later not because he intends to give in but because he needs to pass time for his army to arrive.
ad deliberandum – Gerund expressing purpose
sumpturum [esse] – Fut. act. inf.
vellent, reverterentur – Imperf. act./dep. subj. 3rd pl.
Id. April. – The 13th of April; The Ides fall on the 13th of all months but March, May July, and October during which they fall on the 15th.
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