Ritchie's Fabulae Faciles


Ritchie's Fabulae Faciles: A First Latin Reader is a book, now in the public domain, written (ed.) by John Kirtland. I have reproduced the latin stories here for your education and enjoyment.

Hercules
Background (English)

Hercules, a Greek hero celebrated for his great strength, was pursued throughout his life by the hatred of Juno. While yet an infant, he strangled some serpents sent by the goddess to destroy him. During his boyhood and youth he performed various marvelous feats of strength, and on reaching manhood succeeded in delivering the Thebans from the oppression of the Minyae. In a fit of madness sent upon him by Juno, he slew his own children; and on consulting the Delphic oracle as to how he should cleanse himself from this crime, he was ordered to submit himself for twelve years to Eurystheus, king of Tiryns, and to perform whatever tasks were appointed him. Hercules obeyed the oracle, and during the twelve years of his servitude accomplished twelve extraordinary feats known as the Labors of Hercules. His death was caused unintentionally by his wife Dejanira. Hercules had shot with his poisoned arrows a centaur named Nessus, who had insulted Dejanira. Nessus, before he died, gave some of his blood to Dejanira, and told her it would act as a charm to secure her husband's love. Some time after, Dejanira wishing to try the charm soaked one of her husband's garments in the blood, not knowing that it was poisoned. Hercules put on the robe, and after suffering terrible torments died, or was carried off by his father Jupiter

The Hatred of Juno

Hercules, Alcmenae filius, olim in Graecia habitabat. Hic omnium hominum validissimus fuisse dicitur. At Iuno, regina deorum, Alcmenam oderat et Herculem adhuc infantem necare voluit. Misit igitur duas serpentis saevissimas; hae media nocte in cubiculum Alcmenae venerunt, ubi Hercules cum fratre suo dormiebat. Nec tamen in cunis, sed in scuto magno cubabant. Serpentes iam appropinquaverant et scutum movebant; itaque pueri e somno excitati sunt.

Hercules and the Serpents

Iphicles, frater Herculis, magna voce exclamavit; sed Hercules ipse, fortissimus puer, haudquaquam territus est. Parvis manibus serpentis statim prehendit, et colla earum magna vi compressit. Tali modo serpentes a puero interfectae sunt. Alcmena autem, mater puerorum, clamorem audiverat, et maritum suum e somno excitaverat. Ille lumen accendit et gladium suum rapuit; tum ad pueros properabat, sed ubi ad locum venit, rem miram vidit, Hercules enim ridebat et serpentis mortuas monstrabat.

The Music Lesson

Hercules a puero corpus suum diligenter exercebat; magnam partem diei in palaestra consumebat; didicit etiam arcum intendere et tela conicere. His exercitationibus vires eius confirmatae sunt. In musica etiam a Lino centauro erudiebatur (centauri autem equi erant sed caput hominis habebant); huic tamen arti minus diligenter studebat. Hic Linus Herculem olim obiurgabat, quod non studiosus erat; tum puer iratus citharam subito rapuit, et omnibus viribus caput magistri infelicis percussit. Ille ictu prostratus est, et paulo post e vita excessit, neque quisquam postea id officium suscipere voluit.

Hercules Escapes Sacrifice

De Hercule haec etiam inter alia narrantur. Olim dum iter facit, in finis Aegyptiorum venit. Ibi rex quidam, nomine Busiris, illo tempore regnabat; hic autem vir crudelissimus homines immolare consueverat. Herculem igitur corripuit et in vincula coniecit. Tum nuntios dimisit et diem sacrificio edixit. Mox ea dies appetebat, et omnia rite parata sunt. Manus Herculis catenis ferreis vinctae sunt, et mola salsa in caput eius inspersa est. Mos enim erat apud antiquos salem et far capitibus victimarum imponere. Iam victima ad aram stabat; iam sacerdos cultrum sumpserat. Subito tamen Hercules magno conatu vincula perrupit; tum ictu sacerdotem prostravit; altero regem ipsum occidit.

A Cruel Deed

Hercules iam adulescens Thebis habitabat. Rex Thebarum, vir ignavus, Creon appellabatur. Minyae, gens bellicosissima, Thebanis finitimi erant. Legati autem a Minyis ad Thebanos quotannis mittebantur; hi Thebas veniebant et centum boves postulabant. Thebani enim olim a Minyis superati erant; tributa igitur regi Minyarum quotannis pendebant. At Hercules civis suos hoc stipendio liberare constituit; legatos igitur comprehendit, atque auris eorum abscidit. Legati autem apud omnis gentis sancti habentur.

The Defeat of Minyae

Erginus, rex Minyarum, ob haec vehementer iratus statim cum omnibus copiis in finis Thebanorum contendit. Creon adventum eius per exploratores cognovit. Ipse tamen pugnare noluit, nam magno timore adfectus erat; Thebani igitur Herculem imperatorem creaverunt. Ille nuntios in omnis partis dimisit, et copias coegit; tum proximo die cum magno exercitu profectus est. Locum idoneum delegit et aciem instruxit. Tum Thebani e superiore loco impetum in hostis fecerunt. Illi autem impetum sustinere non potuerunt; itaque acies hostium pulsa est atque in fugam conversa.

Maddnes and Murder

Post hoc proelium Hercules copias suas ad urbem reduxit. Omnes Thebani propter victoriam maxime gaudebant; Creon autem magnis honoribus Herculem decoravit, atque filiam suam ei in matrimonium dedit. Hercules cum uxore sua beatam vitam agebat; sed post paucos annos subito in furorem incidit, atque liberos suos ipse sua manu occidit. Post breve tempus ad sanitatem reductus est, et propter hoc facinus magno dolore adfectus est; mox ex urbe effugit et in silvas se recepit. Nolebant enim cives sermonem cum eo habere.

Hercules Consults the Oracle

Hercules tantum scelus expiare magnopere cupiebat. Constituit igitur ad oraculum Delphicum ire; hoc enim oraculum erat omnium celeberrimum. Ibi templum erat Apollinis plurimis donis ornatum. Hoc in templo sedebat femina quaedam, nomine Pythia et consilium dabat iis qui ad oraculum veniebant. Haec autem femina ab ipso Apolline docebatur, et voluntatem dei hominibus enuntiabat. Hercules igitur, qui Apollinem praecipue colebat, huc venit. Tum rem totam exposuit, neque scelus celavit.

The Oracle's Reply

Ubi Hercules finem fecit, Pythia primo tacebat; tandem tamen iussit eum ad urbem Tiryntha ire, et Eurysthei regis omnia imperata facere. Hercules ubi haec audivit, ad urbem illam contendit, et Eurystheo regi se in servitutem tradidit. Duodecim annos crudelissimo Eurystheo serviebat, et duodecim labores, quos ille imperaverat, confecit; hoc enim uno modo tantum scelus expiari potuit. De his laboribus plurima a poetis scripta sunt. Multa tamen quae poetae narrant vix credibilia sunt.

First Labor: The Nemean Lion

Primum ab Eurystheo iussus est Hercules leonem occidere qui illo tempore vallem Nemeaeam reddebat infestam. In silvas igitur in quibus leo habitabat statim se contulit. Mox feram vidit, et arcum, quem secum attulerat, intendit; eius tamen pellem, quae densissima erat, traicere non potuit. Tum clava magna quam semper gerebat leonem percussit, frustra tamen; neque enim hoc modo eum occidere potuit. Tum demum collum monstri bracchiis suis complexus est et faucis eius omnibus viribus compressit. Hoc modo leo brevi tempore exanimatus est; nulla enim respirandi facultas ei dabatur. Tum Hercules cadaver ad oppidum in umeris rettulit; et pellem, quam detraxerat, postea pro veste gerebat. Omnes autem qui eam regionem incolebant, ubi famam de morte leonis acceperunt, vehementer gaudebant et Herculem magno honore habebant.

Second Labor: The Lernean Hydra

Paulo post iussus est ab Eurystheo Hydram necare. Hoc autem monstrum erat cui novem erant capita. Hercules igitur cum amico Iolao profectus est ad paludem Lernaeam, in qua Hydra habitabat. Mox monstrum invenit, et quamquam res erat magni periculi, collum eius sinistra prehendit. Tum dextra capita novem abscidere coepit; quotiens tamen hoc fecerat, nova capita exoriebantur. Diu frustra laborabat; tandem hoc conatu destitit. Deinde arbores succidere et ignem accendere constituit. Hoc celeriter fecit, et postquam ligna ignem comprehenderunt, face ardente colla adussit, unde capita exoriebantur. Nec tamen sine magno labore haec fecit; venit enim auxilio Hydrae cancer ingens, qui, dum Hercules capita abscidit, crura eius mordebat. Postquam monstrum tali modo interfecit, sagittas suas sanguine eius imbuit, itaque mortiferas reddidit.

Third Labor: The Cerynean Stag

Postquam Eurystheo caedes Hydrae nuntiata est, magnus timor animum eius occupavit. Iussit igitur Herculem cervum quendam ad se referre; noluit enim virum tantae audaciae in urbe retinere. Hic autem cervus, cuius cornua aurea fuisse traduntur, incredibili fuit celeritate. Hercules igitur primo vestigiis eum in silva persequebatur; deinde ubi cervum ipsum vidit, omnibus viribus currere coepit. Usque ad vesperum currebat, neque nocturnum tempus sibi ad quietem relinquebat, frustra tamen; nullo enim modo cervum consequi poterat. Tandem postquam totum annum cucurrerat (ita traditur), cervum cursu exanimatum cepit, et vivum ad Eurystheum rettulit.

Fourth Labor: The Erymanthian Boar

Tum vero iussus est Hercules aprum quendam capere qui illo tempore agros Erymanthios vastabat et incolas huius regionis magnopere terrebat. Hercules rem suscepit et in Arcadiam profectus est. Postquam in silvam paulum progressus est, apro occurrit. Ille autem simul atque Herculem vidit, statim refugit; et timore perterritus in altam fossam se proiecit. Hercules igitur laqueum quem attulerat iniecit, et summa cum difficultate aprum e fossa extraxit. Ille etsi fortiter repugnabat, nullo modo se liberare potuit; et ab Hercule ad Eurystheum vivus relatus est.

Hercules at the Centaur's Cave

De quarto labore, quem supra narravimus, haec etiam traduntur. Hercules dum iter in Arcadiam facit, ad eam regionem venit quam centauri incolebant. Cum nox iam appeteret, ad speluncam devertit in qua centaurus quidam, nomine Pholus, habitabat.

Ille Herculem benigne excepit et cenam paravit. At Hercules postquam cenavit, vinum a Pholo postulavit. Erat autem in spelunca magna amphora vino optimo repleta, quam centauri ibi deposuerant. Pholus igitur hoc vinum dare nolebat, quod reliquos centauros timebat; nullum tamen vinum praeter hoc in spelunca habebat. "Hoc vinum," inquit, "mihi commissum est. Si igitur hoc dabo, centauri me interficient." Hercules tamen eum inrisit, et ipse poculum vini de amphora hausit.

The Fight with the Centaurs

Simul atque amphora aperta est, odor iucundissimus undique diffusus est; vinum enim suavissimum erat. Centauri notum odorem senserunt et omnes ad locum convenerunt.

Ubi ad speluncam pervenerunt, magnopere irati erant quod Herculem bibentem viderunt. Tum arma rapuerunt et Pholum interficere volebant. Hercules tamen in aditu speluncae constitit et impetum eorum fortissime sustinebat. Faces ardentis in eos coniecit; multos etiam sagittis suis vulneravit. Hae autem sagittae eaedem erant quae sanguine Hydrae olim imbutae erant. Omnes igitur quos ille sagittis vulneraverat veneno statim absumpti sunt; reliqui autem ubi hoc viderunt, terga verterunt et fuga salutem petierunt.

The Fate of Pholus

Postquam reliqui fugerunt, Pholus ex spelunca egressus est, et corpora spectabat eorum qui sagittis interfecti erant. Magnopere autem miratus est quod tam levi vulnere exanimati erant, et causam eius rei quaerebat. Adiit igitur locum ubi cadaver cuiusdam centauri iacebat, et sagittam e vulnere traxit. Haec tamen sive casu sive consilio deorum e manibus eius lapsa est, et pedem leviter vulneravit. Ille extemplo dolorem gravem per omnia membra sensit, et post breve tempus vi veneni exanimatus est. Mox Hercules, qui reliquos centauros secutus erat, ad speluncam rediit, et magno cum dolore Pholum mortuum vidit. Multis cum lacrimis corpus amici ad sepulturam dedit; tum, postquam alterum poculum vini exhausit, somno se dedit.

Fifth Labor: The Augean Stables

Deinde Eurystheus Herculi hunc laborem graviorem imposuit. Augeas quidam, qui illo tempore regnum in Elide obtinebat, tria milia boum habebat. Hi in stabulo ingentis magnitudinis includebantur. Stabulum autem inluvie ac squalore erat obsitum, neque enim ad hoc tempus umquam purgatum erat. Hoc Hercules intra spatium unius diei purgare iussus est. Ille, etsi res erat multae operae, negotium suscepit. Primum magno labore fossam duodeviginti pedum duxit, per quam fluminis aquam de montibus ad murum stabuli perduxit. Tum postquam murum perrupit, aquam in stabulum immisit et tali modo contra opinionem omnium opus confecit.

Sixth Labor: The Styphalian Birds

Post paucos dies Hercules ad oppidum Stymphalum iter fecit; imperaverat enim ei Eurystheus ut avis Stymphalides necaret. Hae aves rostra aenea habebant et carne hominum vescebantur. Ille postquam ad locum pervenit, lacum vidit; in hoc autem lacu, qui non procul erat ab oppido, aves habitabant. Nulla tamen dabatur appropinquandi facultas; lacus enim non ex aqua sed e limo constitit. Hercules igitur neque pedibus neque lintre progredi potuit.

Ille cum magnam partem diei frustra consumpsisset, hoc conatu destitit et ad Volcanum se contulit, ut auxilium ab eo peteret. Volcanus (qui ab fabris maxime colebatur) crepundia quae ipse ex aere fabricatus erat Herculi dedit. His Hercules tam acrem crepitum fecit ut aves perterritae avolarent. Ille autem, dum avolant, magnum numerum earum sagittis transfixit.

Seventh Labor: The Cretan Bull

Tum Eurystheus Herculi imperavit ut taurum quendam ferocissimum ex insula Creta vivum referret. Ille igitur navem conscendit, et cum ventus idoneus esset, statim solvit. Cum tamen insulae iam appropinquaret, tanta tempestas subito coorta est ut navis cursum tenere non posset. Tantus autem timor animos nautarum occupavit ut paene omnem spem salutis deponerent. Hercules tamen, etsi navigandi imperitus erat, haudquaquam territus est.

Post breve tempus summa tranquillitas consecuta est, et nautae, qui se ex timore iam receperant, navem incolumem ad terram appulerunt. Hercules e navi egressus est, et cum ad regem Cretae venisset, causam veniendi docuit. Deinde, postquam omnia parata sunt, ad eam regionem contendit quam taurus vastabat. Mox taurum vidit, et quamquam res erat magni periculi, cornua eius prehendit. Tum, cum ingenti labore monstrum ad navem traxisset, cum praeda in Graeciam rediit.

Eighth Labor: The Man-Eating Horses of Diomede

Postquam ex insula Creta rediit, Hercules ab Eurystheo in Thraciam missus est, ut equos Diomedis reduceret. Hi equi carne hominum vescebantur; Diomedes autem, vir crudelissimus, illis obiciebat peregrinos omnis qui in eam regionem venerant. Hercules igitur magna celeritate in Thraciam contendit et ab Diomede postulavit ut equi sibi traderentur. Cum tamen ille hoc facere nollet, Hercules ira commotus regem interfecit et cadaver eius equis obici iussit.

Ita mira rerum commutatio facta est; is enim qui antea multos cum cruciatu necaverat ipse eodem supplicio necatus est. Cum haec nuntiata essent, omnes qui eam regionem incolebant maxima laetitia adfecti sunt et Herculi meritam gratiam referebant. Non modo maximis honoribus et praemiis eum decoraverunt sed orabant etiam ut regnum ipse susciperet. Ille tamen hoc facere nolebat, et cum ad mare rediisset, navem occupavit. Ubi omnia ad navigandum parata sunt, equos in navi conlocavit; deinde, cum idoneam tempestatem nactus esset, sine mora e portu solvit, et paulo post equos in litus Argolicum exposuit.

Ninth Labor: The Girdle of Hippolyte

Gens Amazonum dicitur omnino ex mulieribus constitisse. Hae summam scientiam rei militaris habebant, et tantam virtutem adhibebant ut cum viris proelium committere auderent. Hippolyte, Amazonum regina, balteum habuit celeberrimum quem Mars ei dederat. Admeta autem, Eurysthei filia, famam de hoc balteo acceperat et eum possidere vehementer cupiebat. Eurystheus igitur Herculi mandavit ut copias cogeret et bellum Amazonibus inferret. Ille nuntios in omnis partis dimisit, et cum magna multitudo convenisset, eos delegit qui maximum usum in re militari habebant.

The Girdle Is Refused

His viris Hercules persuasit, postquam causam itineris exposuit, ut secum iter facerent. Tum cum iis quibus persuaserat navem conscendit, et cum ventus idoneus esset, post paucos dies ad ostium fluminis Thermodontis appulit. Postquam in finis Amazonum venit, nuntium ad Hippolytam misit, qui causam veniendi doceret et balteum posceret. Ipsa Hippolyte balteum tradere volebat, quod de Herculis virtute famam acceperat; reliquae tamen Amazones ei persuaserunt ut negaret. At Hercules, cum haec nuntiata essent, belli fortunam temptare constituit.

Proximo igitur die cum copias eduxisset, locum idoneum delegit et hostis ad pugnam evocavit. Amazones quoque copias suas ex castris eduxerunt et non magno intervallo ab Hercule aciem instruxerunt.

The Battle

Palus erat non magna inter duo exercitus; neutri tamen initium transeundi facere volebant. Tandem Hercules signum dedit, et ubi paludem transiit, proelium commisit.

Amazones impetum virorum fortissime sustinuerunt, et contra opinionem omnium tantam virtutem praestiterunt ut multos eorum occiderint, multos etiam in fugam coniecerint. Viri enim novo genere pugnae perturbabantur nec magnam virtutem praestabant. Hercules autem cum haec videret, de suis fortunis desperare coepit. Milites igitur vehementer cohortatus est ut pristinae virtutis memoriam retinerent neu tantum dedecus admitterent, hostiumque impetum fortiter sustinerent; quibus verbis animos omnium ita erexit ut multi etiam qui vulneribus confecti essent proelium sine mora redintegrarent.

The Defeat of the Amazons

Diu et acriter pugnatum est; tandem tamen ad solis occasum tanta commutatio rerum facta est ut mulieres terga verterent et fuga salutem peterent. Multae autem vulneribus defessae dum fugiunt captae sunt, in quo numero ipsa erat Hippolyte. Hercules summam clementiam praestitit, et postquam balteum accepit, libertatem omnibus captivis dedit. Tum vero socios ad mare reduxit, et quod non multum aestatis supererat, in Graeciam proficisci maturavit. Navem igitur conscendit, et tempestatem idoneam nactus statim solvit; antequam tamen in Graeciam pervenit, ad urbem Troiam navem appellere constituit, frumentum enim quod secum habebat iam deficere coeperat.

Laomedon and the Sea-Monster

Laomedon quidam illo tempore regnum Troiae obtinebat. Ad hunc Neptunus et Apollo anno superiore venerant, et cum Troia nondum moenia haberet, ad hoc opus auxilium obtulerant. Postquam tamen horum auxilio moenia confecta sunt, nolebat Laomedon praemium quod proposuerat persolvere.

Neptunus igitur et Apollo ob hanc causam irati monstrum quoddam miserunt specie horribili, quod cottidie e mari veniebat et homines pecudesque vorabat. Troiani autem timore perterriti in urbe continebantur, et pecora omnia ex agris intra muros compulerant. Laomedon his rebus commotus oraculum consuluit, ac deus ei praecepit ut filiam Hesionem monstro obiceret.

The Rescue of Hesione

Laomedon, cum hoc responsum renuntiatum esset, magnum dolorem percepit; sed tamen, ut civis suos tanto periculo liberaret, oraculo parere constituit et diem sacrificio dixit. Sed sive casu sive consilio deorum Hercules tempore opportunissimo Troiam attigit; ipso enim temporis puncto quo puella catenis vincta ad litus deducebatur ille navem appulit. Hercules e navi egressus de rebus quae gerebantur certior factus est; tum ira commotus ad regem se contulit et auxilium suum obtulit. Cum rex libenter ei concessisset ut, si posset, puellam liberaret, Hercules monstrum interfecit; et puellam, quae iam omnem spem salutis deposuerat, incolumem ad patrem reduxit. Laomedon magno cum gaudio filiam suam accepit, et Herculi pro tanto beneficio meritam gratiam rettulit

Tenth Labor: The Oxen of Geryon

Tum vero missus est Hercules ad insulam Erythiam, ut boves Geryonis arcesseret. Res erat summae difficultatis, quod boves a quodam Eurytione et a cane bicipite custodiebantur. Ipse autem Geryon speciem horribilem praebebat; tria enim corpora inter se coniuncta habebat. Hercules tamen etsi intellegebat quantum periculum esset, negotium suscepit; ac postquam per multas terras iter fecit, ad eam partem Libyae pervenit quae Europae proxima est. Ibi in utroque litore freti quod Europam a Libya dividit columnas constituit, quae postea Herculis Columnae appellabantur.

The Golden Ship

Dum hic moratur, Hercules magnum incommodum ex calore solis accipiebat; tandem igitur ira commotus arcum suum intendit et solem sagittis petiit. Sol tamen audaciam viri tantum admiratus est ut lintrem auream ei dederit. Hercules hoc donum libentissime accepit, nullam enim navem in his regionibus invenire potuerat. Tum lintrem deduxit, et ventum nactus idoneum post breve tempus ad insulam pervenit. Ubi ex incolis cognovit quo in loco boves essent, in eam partem statim profectus est et a rege Geryone postulavit ut boves sibi traderentur. Cum tamen ille hoc facere nollet, Hercules et regem ipsum et Eurytionem, qui erat ingenti magnitudine corporis, interfecit.

A Miraculous Hail Storm

Tum Hercules boves per Hispaniam et Liguriam compellere constituit; postquam igitur omnia parata sunt, boves ex insula ad continentem transportavit. Ligures autem, gens bellicosissima, dum ille per finis eorum iter facit, magnas copias coegerunt atque eum longius progredi prohibebant. Hercules magnam difficultatem habebat, barbari enim in locis superioribus constiterant et saxa telaque in eum coniciebant. Ille quidem paene omnem spem salutis deposuerat, sed tempore opportunissimo Iuppiter imbrem lapidum ingentium e caelo demisit. Hi tanta vi ceciderunt ut magnum numerum Ligurum occiderint; ipse tamen Hercules (ut in talibus rebus accidere consuevit) nihil incommodi cepit.

The Passage of the Alps

Postquam Ligures hoc modo superati sunt, Hercules quam celerrime progressus est et post paucos dies ad Alpis pervenit. Necesse erat has transire, ut in Italiam boves ageret; res tamen summae erat difficultatis. Hi enim montes, qui ulteriorem a citeriore Gallia dividunt, nive perenni sunt tecti; quam ob causam neque frumentum neque pabulum in his regionibus inveniri potest. Hercules igitur antequam ascendere coepit, magnam copiam frumenti et pabuli comparavit et hoc commeatu boves oneravit. Postquam in his rebus tris dies consumpserat, quarto die profectus est, et contra omnium opinionem boves incolumis in Italiam traduxit.

Cacus Steals the Oxen

Brevi tempore ad flumen Tiberim venit. Tum tamen nulla erat urbs in eo loco, Roma enim nondum condita erat. Hercules itinere fessus constituit ibi paucos dies morari, ut se ex laboribus recrearet. Haud procul a valle ubi boves pascebantur spelunca erat, in qua Cacus, horribile monstrum, tum habitabat. Hic speciem terribilem praebebat, non modo quod ingenti magnitudine corporis erat, sed quod ignem ex ore exspirabat. Cacus autem de adventu Herculis famam acceperat; noctu igitur venit, et dum Hercules dormit, quattuor pulcherrimorum boum abripuit. Hos caudis in speluncam traxit, ne Hercules e vestigiis cognoscere posset quo in loco celati essent.

Hercules Discovers the Theft

Postero die simul atque e somno excitatus est, Hercules furtum animadvertit et boves amissos omnibus locis quaerebat. Hos tamen nusquam reperire poterat, non modo quod loci naturam ignorabat, sed quod vestigiis falsis deceptus est. Tandem cum magnam partem diei frustra consumpsisset, cum reliquis bobus progredi constituit. At dum proficisci parat, unus e bobus quos secum habuit mugire coepit. Subito ii qui in spelunca inclusi erant mugitum reddiderunt, et hoc modo Herculem certiorem fecerunt quo in loco celati essent. Ille vehementer iratus ad speluncam quam celerrime se contulit, ut praedam reciperet. At Cacus saxum ingens ita deiecerat ut aditus speluncae omnino obstrueretur.

Hercules and Cacus

Hercules cum nullum alium introitum reperire posset, hoc saxum amovere conatus est, sed propter eius magnitudinem res erat difficillima. Diu frustra laborabat neque quicquam efficere poterat; tandem tamen magno conatu saxum amovit et speluncam patefecit. Ibi amissos boves magno cum gaudio conspexit; sed Cacum ipsum vix cernere potuit, quod spelunca repleta erat fumo quem ille more suo evomebat. Hercules inusitata specie turbatus breve tempus haesitabat; mox tamen in speluncam inrupit et collum monstri bracchiis complexus est. Ille etsi multum repugnavit, nullo modo se liberare potuit, et cum nulla facultas respirandi daretur, mox exanimatus est.

Eleventh Labor: The Golden Apples of the Hesperides

Eurystheus postquam boves Geryonis accepit, laborem undecimum Herculi imposuit, graviorem quam quos supra narravimus. Mandavit enim ei ut aurea poma ex horto Hesperidum auferret. Hesperides autem nymphae erant quaedam forma praestantissima, quae in terra longinqua habitabant, et quibus aurea quaedam poma a Iunone commissa erant. Multi homines auri cupiditate inducti haec poma auferre iam antea conati erant. Res tamen difficillima erat, namque hortus in quo poma erant muro ingenti undique circumdatus erat; praeterea draco quidam cui centum erant capita portam horti diligenter custodiebat. Opus igitur quod Eurystheus Herculi imperaverat erat summae difficultatis, non modo ob causas quas memoravimus, sed etiam quod Hercules omnino ignorabat quo in loco hortus ille situs esset.

Hercules Asks Aid of Atlas

Hercules quamquam quietem vehementer cupiebat, tamen Eurystheo parere constituit, et simul ac iussa eius accepit, proficisci maturavit. A multis mercatoribus quaesiverat quo in loco Hesperides habitarent, nihil tamen certum reperire potuerat. Frustra per multas terras iter fecit et multa pericula subiit; tandem, cum in his itineribus totum annum consumpsisset, ad extremam partem orbis terrarum, quae proxima est Oceano, pervenit. Hic stabat vir quidam, nomine Atlas, ingenti magnitudine corporis, qui caelum (ita traditum est) umeris suis sustinebat, ne in terram decideret. Hercules tantas viris magnopere miratus statim in conloquium cum Atlante venit, et cum causam itineris docuisset, auxilium ab eo petiit.

Hercules Bears Up the Heavens

Atlas autem Herculi maxime prodesse potuit; ille enim cum ipse esset pater Hesperidum, certo scivit quo in loco esset hortus. Postquam igitur audivit quam ob causam Hercules venisset, "Ipse," inquit, "ad hortum ibo et filiabus meis persuadebo ut poma sua sponte tradant." Hercules cum haec audiret, magnopere gavisus est; vim enim adhibere noluit, si res aliter fieri posset. Constituit igitur oblatum auxilium accipere. Atlas tamen postulavit ut, dum ipse abesset, Hercules caelum umeris sustineret. Hoc autem negotium Hercules libenter suscepit, et quamquam res erat summi laboris, totum pondus caeli continuos compluris dies solus sustinebat.

The Return of Atlas

Atlas interea abierat et ad hortum Hesperidum, qui pauca milia passuum aberat, se quam celerrime contulerat. Eo cum venisset, causam veniendi exposuit et filias suas vehementer hortatus est ut poma traderent. Illae diu haerebant; nolebant enim hoc facere, quod ab ipsa Iunone (ita ut ante dictum est) hoc munus accepissent. Atlas tamen aliquando iis persuasit ut sibi parerent, et poma ad Herculem rettulit. Hercules interea cum pluris dies exspectavisset neque ullam famam de reditu Atlantis accepisset, hac mora graviter commotus est. Tandem quinto die Atlantem vidit redeuntem, et mox magno cum gaudio poma accepit; tum, postquam gratias pro tanto beneficio egit, ad Graeciam proficisci maturavit.

Twelfth Labor: Cerberus the Three-Headed Dog

Postquam aurea poma ad Eurystheum relata sunt, unus modo relinquebatur e duodecim laboribus quos Pythia Herculi praeceperat. Eurystheus autem cum Herculem magnopere timeret, eum in aliquem locum mittere volebat unde numquam redire posset. Negotium igitur ei dedit ut canem Cerberum ex Orco in lucem traheret. Hoc opus omnium difficillimum erat, nemo enim umquam ex Orco redierat. Praeterea Cerberus iste monstrum erat horribili specie, cui tria erant capita serpentibus saevis cincta. Antequam tamen de hoc labore narramus, non alienum videtur, quoniam de Orco mentionem fecimus, pauca de ea regione proponere.

Charon's Ferry

De Orco, qui idem Hades appellabatur, haec traduntur. Ut quisque de vita decesserat, manes eius ad Orcum, sedem mortuorum, a deo Mercurio deducebantur. Huius regionis, quae sub terra fuisse dicitur, rex erat Pluto, cui uxor erat Proserpina, Iovis et Cereris filia. Manes igitur a Mercurio deducti primum ad ripam veniebant Stygis fluminis, quo regnum Plutonis continetur. Hoc transire necesse erat antequam in Orcum venire possent. Cum tamen in hoc flumine nullus pons factus esset, manes transvehebantur a Charonte quodam, qui cum parva scapha ad ripam exspectabat. Charon pro hoc officio mercedem postulabat, neque quemquam, nisi hoc praemium prius dedisset, transvehere volebat. Quam ob causam mos erat apud antiquos nummum in ore mortui ponere eo consilio, ut cum ad Stygem venisset, pretium traiectus solvere posset. Ii autem qui post mortem in terra non sepulti erant Stygem transire non potuerunt, sed in ripa per centum annos errare coacti sunt; tum demum Orcum intrare licuit.

The Realm of Pluto

Ut autem manes Stygem hoc modo transierant, ad alterum veniebant flumen, quod Lethe appellabatur. Ex hoc flumine aquam bibere cogebantur; quod cum fecissent, res omnis in vita gestas e memoria deponebant. Denique ad sedem ipsius Plutonis veniebant, cuius introitus a cane Cerbero custodiebatur. Ibi Pluto nigro vestitu indutus cum uxore Proserpina in solio sedebat. Stabant etiam non procul ab eo loco tria alia solia, in quibus sedebant Minos, Rhadamanthus, Aeacusque, iudices apud inferos. Hi mortuis ius dicebant et praemia poenasque constituebant. Boni enim in Campos Elysios, sedem beatorum, veniebant; improbi autem in Tartarum mittebantur ac multis et variis suppliciis ibi excruciabantur.

Hercules Crosses the Styx

Hercules postquam imperia Eurysthei accepit, in Laconiam ad Taenarum statim se contulit; ibi enim spelunca erat ingenti magnitudine, per quam, ut tradebatur, homines ad Orcum descendebant. Eo cum venisset, ex incolis quaesivit quo in loco spelunca illa sita esset; quod cum cognovisset, sine mora descendere constituit. Nec tamen solus hoc iter faciebat, Mercurius enim et Minerva se ei socios adiunxerant. Ubi ad ripam Stygis venit, Hercules scapham Charontis conscendit, ut ad ulteriorem ripam transiret. Cum tamen Hercules vir esset ingenti magnitudine corporis, Charon solvere nolebat; magnopere enim verebatur ne scapha sua tanto pondere onerata in medio flumine mergeretur. Tandem tamen minis Herculis territus Charon scapham solvit, et eum incolumem ad ulteriorem ripam perduxit.

The Last Labor is Accomplished

Postquam flumen Stygem hoc modo transiit, Hercules in sedem ipsius Plutonis venit; et postquam causam veniendi docuit, ab eo petivit ut Cerberum auferre sibi liceret. Pluto, qui de Hercule famam acceperat, eum benigne excepit, et facultatem quam ille petebat libenter dedit. Postulavit tamen ut Hercules ipse, cum imperata Eurysthei fecisset, Cerberum in Orcum rursus reduceret. Hercules hoc pollicitus est, et Cerberum, quem non sine magno periculo manibus prehenderat, summo cum labore ex Orco in lucem et ad urbem Eurysthei traxit. Eo cum venisset, tantus timor animum Eurysthei occupavit ut ex atrio statim refugerit; cum autem paulum se ex timore recepisset, multis cum lacrimis obsecravit Herculem ut monstrum sine mora in Orcum reduceret. Sic contra omnium opinionem duodecim illi labores quos Pythia praeceperat intra duodecim annos confecti sunt; quae cum ita essent, Hercules servitute tandem liberatus magno cum gaudio Thebas rediit.

The Centaur Nessus

Postea Hercules multa alia praeclara perfecit, quae nunc perscribere longum est. Tandem iam aetate provectus Deianiram, Oenei filiam, in matrimonium duxit; post tamen tris annos accidit ut puerum quendam, cui nomen erat Eunomus, casu occiderit. Cum autem mos esset ut si quis hominem casu occidisset, in exsilium iret, Hercules cum uxore sua e finibus eius civitatis exire maturavit. Dum tamen iter faciunt, ad flumen quoddam pervenerunt in quo nullus pons erat; et dum quaerunt quonam modo flumen transeant, accurrit centaurus Nessus, qui viatoribus auxilium obtulit. Hercules igitur uxorem suam in tergum Nessi imposuit; tum ipse flumen tranavit. Nessus autem paulum in aquam progressus ad ripam subito revertebatur et Deianiram auferre conabatur. Quod cum animadvertisset Hercules, ira graviter commotus arcum intendit et pectus Nessi sagitta transfixit.

The Poisoned Robe

Nessus igitur sagitta Herculis transfixus moriens humi iacebat; at ne occasionem sui ulciscendi dimitteret, ita locutus est: "Tu, Deianira, verba morientis audi. Si amorem mariti tui conservare vis, hunc sanguinem qui nunc e pectore meo effunditur sume ac repone; tum, si umquam in suspicionem tibi venerit, vestem mariti hoc sanguine inficies." Haec locutus Nessus animam efflavit; Deianira autem nihil mali suspicata imperata fecit. Paulo post Hercules bellum contra Eurytum, regem Oechaliae, suscepit; et cum regem ipsum cum filiis interfecisset, Iolen eius filiam captivam secum reduxit. Antequam tamen domum venit, navem ad Cenaeum promunturium appulit, et in terram egressus aram constituit, ut Iovi sacrificaret. Dum tamen sacrificium parat, Licham comitem suum domum misit, qui vestem albam referret; mos enim erat apud antiquos, dum sacrificia facerent, albam vestem gerere. At Deianira verita ne Hercules amorem erga Iolen haberet, vestem priusquam Lichae dedit, sanguine Nessi infecit.

The Death of Hercules

Hercules nihil mali suspicans vestem quam Lichas attulerat statim induit; paulo post tamen dolorem per omnia membra sensit, et quae causa esset eius rei magnopere mirabatur. Dolore paene exanimatus vestem detrahere conatus est; illa tamen in corpore haesit, neque ullo modo abscindi potuit. Tum demum Hercules quasi furore impulsus in montem Octam se contulit, et in rogum, quem summa celeritate exstruxit, se imposuit. Hoc cum fecisset, eos qui circumstabant oravit ut rogum quam celerrime succenderent. Omnes diu recusabant; tandem tamen pastor quidam ad misericordiam inductus ignem subdidit. Tum, dum omnia fumo obscurantur, Hercules densa nube velatus a Iove in Olympum abreptus est.

NOTES
                
The numbers refer to the page of text and the line on the page
respectively. [Note: I realize neither the page numbers nor the 
text line numbers have been preserved, but here are the notes as they
appeared in the original book.]


9. 2. omnium hominum. This means 'all men' in the sense of 'all mankind.'

3. oderat. Odi is perfect in form, but present in meaning; and the
pluperfect has in like manner the force of an imperfect.
 5. media nocte, 'in the middle of the night,' 'in the dead of night.'

7. Nec tamen, 'not ... however.' See the note on neque enim, 7, 12.

8. movebant. Contrast this tense with appropinquaverant and excitati
sunt.

13. Tali modo = hoc modo, 4, 20.

20. a puero, 'from a boy,' 'from boyhood.'

exercebat, the imperfect of customary action, as is also consumebat.

24. autem. See the note on 5, 8.

25. arti, dative of indirect object with the intransitive verb studebat.

10. 2. omnibus viribus, 'with all his might,' ablative of manner.

3. e vita. Notice that the preposition denoting separation appears both
with the noun and in the verb. Compare in atrium inrupit, 7, 3.

4. neque quisquam, 'and not any one,' i.e. 'and no one.' Quisquam is
used chiefly in negative sentences.

5. voluit, 'was willing.'

7. facit. See the note on 4, 25.

8. nomine. See the note on 5, 8.

9. vir crudelissimus, not 'cruelest man,' but 'most cruel man.' The
superlative is often thus used to denote simply a high degree of the
quality.

consueverat. Inceptive verbs end in sco and denote the beginning of an
action or state. The perfect and pluperfect of such verbs often represent
the state of things resulting from the completion of the action, and are
then to be translated as present and imperfect respectively. So
consuesco = 'I am becoming accustomed,' consuevi = 'I have become
accustomed' or 'am accustomed,' consueveram = 'I had become accustomed'
or 'was accustomed.'

11. sacrificio, 'for the sacrifice,' dative of purpose.

ea. Why is dies feminine here? See the note on certam, 5, 13.

12. omnia. See the note on 5, 13.

15. capitibus, dative of indirect object after the compound verb (in +
pono).

16. iam. The omission of the conjunction that would naturally join this
clause with the preceding, and the repetition of iam, which thus in a
way connects the two clauses, reflect the imminence of the danger and
heighten our anxiety for the hero. Observe too how the tenses of the
verbs contribute to the vividness of the picture. We see Hercules at the
altar and the priest, knife in hand, about to give the fatal blow.

18. altero. Supply ictu.

19. Thebis, locative case. Notice that some names of towns are plural in
form.

21. Thebanis, dative with the adjective finitimi.

autem, 'now.'

22. Thebas. Names of towns are used without a preposition to express the
place to which.

23. veniebant, postulabant, imperfect of customary action.

25. civis suos, 'his fellow-citizens.' Compare 5, 10.

hoc stipendio, ablative of separation.

27. atque. This conjunction adds an important statement by way of
supplement. Here the meaning is something like 'and not only that, but.'

11. 11. conversa. Est and sunt are frequently not expressed with the
perfect participle.

17. suos ipse sua. Notice how the enormity of the crime is emphasized by
the use of all these words repeating the same idea.

23. oraculum Delphicum. See the note on 5, 6.

hoc oraculum omnium = hoc omnium oraculorum.

25. Hoc in templo. Monosyllabic prepositions often stand between the
noun and an adjective modifying it.

12. 1. qui. Remember that the relative pronoun agrees in gender, number,
and person with its antecedent; that its case depends upon its use. How
are the person and number of qui shown?

2. hominibus. See the note on 9, 2.

4. neque. See the note on 6, 8.

7. Tiryntha. This is a Greek accusative form. See the note on aera,
4, 11.

10. Duodecim annos, accusative of duration of time.

11. Eurystheo. The English verb 'serve' is transitive, but servio ('be
subject to') is intransitive and takes an indirect object.

14. quae. See the note on line 1. What is the case of quae?

16. Primum is chiefly used in enumeration, primo (line 6) in contrasting
an action or state with one that follows it.

19. secum. The preposition cum follows and is joined to the reflexive
and personal pronouns, usually also to the relative pronoun.

22. neque enim. See the note on 7, 12.

26. respirandi, the genitive of the gerund. It modifies facultas. The
gerund corresponds to the English verbal noun in -ing.

13. 5. Hoc. We might expect haec referring to Hydram, but a
demonstrative pronoun is commonly attracted into the gender of the
predicate noun (here monstrum).

cui erant, 'which had,' literally 'to which there were.' This
construction is found only with sum. It is called the dative of
possession.

8. res. In rendering this word choose always with great freedom the most
suitable English word.

13. 8. magni periculi. We say 'one of great danger.'

9. eius. What possessive would be used to modify sinistra?

11. hoc conatu, ablative of separation.

14. comprehenderunt. See the note on 3, 13.

unde = ex quibus.

16. auxilio Hydrae, 'to the aid of the Hydra,' but literally for aid
(i.e. as aid) to the Hydra,' for Hydrae is dative. This is called the
double dative construction, auxilio the dative of purpose, and Hydrae the
dative of reference, i.e. the dative denoting the person interested.

17. abscidit. See the note on 4, 25.

mordebat, 'kept biting,' the imperfect of repeated action.

18. tali modo. See the note on 9, 13.

interfecit. We have now had several verbs meaning 'kill.' Interficio is
the most general of these; neco (line 4) is used of killing by unusual
or cruel means, as by poison; occido (12, 23) is most commonly used of
the 'cutting down' of an enemy in battle.

19. reddidit, as well as imbuit, has sagittas for its object, but we must
translate as if we had eas with reddidit.

22. ad se. Compare this construction with the use of the dative in 4, 2.
Notice that se does not refer to Herculem, the subject of referre, but to
Eurystheus, the subject of Iussit. When the reflexive thus refers to the
subject of the principal verb rather than to the subject of the
subordinate verb with which it s directly connected, it is called
indirect.

23. tantae audaciae. The genitive of description, like the ablative of
description, consists always of a noun with some modifying word. Compare
specie horribili, 4, 14.

autem. Compare 5, 8 and 10, 21.

24. incredibili celeritate, ablative of description.

25. vestigiis, ablative of means.

26. ipsum, contrasts cervum with vestigiis.

27. omnibus viribus. See the note on 10, 2.

14. 1. currebat, 'he kept running.'

sibi, dative of reference. It need not be translated,

ad quietem, 'for rest.' Purpose is frequently thus expressed by ad.

3. cucurrerat. The pluperfect is sometimes used with postquam when the
lapse of time is denoted.

4. cursu, ablative of cause.

exanimatum = qui exanimatus erat. The participle is often equivalent to
a relative clause.

5. rettulit. See the note on 13, 19.

8. rem. See the note on res, 13, 8.

10. apro, dative of indirect object after the compound verb (ob +
curro).

11. timore perterritus. It is not necessary to translate both words.

13. iniecit, i.e. upon the boar.

summa cum difficultate. Compare this with omnibus viribus, 13, 27, and
notice that cum may be omitted with the ablative of manner when there
is an adjective. For the position of cum, see the note on 11, 25.

15. ad Eurystheum. We are told elsewhere that Eurystheus was so
frightened when he saw the boar that he hid in a cask.

vivus. Why have we the nominative here, but the accusative (vivum) in
line 5?

17. quarto. The capture of the Erymanthian boar is usually given as the
third labor and the capture of the Cerynean stag as the fourth.

narravimus. The writer sometimes uses the first person plural in speaking
of himself, instead of the first person singular. This is called the
plural of modesty, and is the same as the English usage.

18. in Arcadiam. How does this differ in meaning from in Arcadia?

20. appeteret. The subjunctive introduced by cum, 'since,' may express
the reason for the action of the main verb.

23. Hercules. See the note on Perseus, 4, 4.

26. quod, conjunction, not pronoun.

reliquos centauros, 'the rest of the centaurs,' 'the other centaurs.'
Compare media nocte, 9, 5. Notice that reliqui means about the same
as ceteri, and see the note on 4, 13.

28. inquit, historical present. This verb is used parenthetically with
direct quotations.

15. 1. dabo. Notice that Latin is more exact than English in the use of
the future tense in subordinate clauses. In English we often use the
present in the subordinate clause and leave it to the principal verb to
show that the time is future.

7. pervenerunt. See the note on 4, 26.

10. constitit, from consisto, not consto.

16. fuga. Latin says 'by flight,' not 'in flight.'

17. ex spelunca. See the note on 10, 3.

21. locum, the direct object of Adiit, which is here transitive. We might
also have ad locum with adeo used intransitively.

16. 4. Herculi. See the note on 10, 15.

laborem. This labor is usually given as the sixth, the destruction of the
Stymphalian birds as the fifth.

6. tria milia boum, 'three thousand cattle,' literally 'three thousands
of cattle.' The partitive genitive is the regular construction with the
plural milia, but the singular mille is commonly used as an
adjective, like English 'thousand.' Thus 'one thousand cattle' would be
mille boves.

7. ingentis magnitudinis. See the note on tantae audaciae, 13, 23.

8. neque enim umquam, 'for ... never.' See the note on neque enim, 7,
12.

11. multae operae. See the note on magni periculi, 13, 8.

12. duodeviginti pedum, i.e. in width.

duxit. This word is used with reference to the progress of work on a wall
or ditch from one end of it to the other.

15. opus. Compare this word with operae and labore, line 12. Labor is
used of heavy or exhausting labor, opera of voluntary exertion or
effort, opus of that upon which one labors or of the completed work.

17. imperaverat. This verb takes an indirect object to express the person
ordered (ei). The action commanded is expressed by the subjunctive in a
clause introduced by ut and used as the object of impero (ut
necaret). Notice that this may be translated 'that he should kill' or 'to
kill.' Compare now the construction with iubeo, 13, 22, with which the
command is expressed by the accusative and infinitive (Herculem
referre).

19. carne. Vescor is an intransitive verb and governs the ablative.

22. appropinquandi. See the note on 12, 26.

23. constitit, from consto, Compare 15, 10.

pedibus, 'on foot,' literally 'by his feet.'

25. consumpsisset. The imperfect and pluperfect tenses of the subjunctive
are used with cum, 'when,' to describe the circumstances of the action of
the main verb. Compare 14, 20, and the note.

26. hoc conatu. See the note on 13, 11.

27. peteret. The subjunctive is used with ut to express purpose. The best
translation is usually the infinitive ('to ask'), but the Latin
infinitive is not used in model prose to express purpose.

17. 3. avolarent. This is not subjunctive of purpose, but of result, as
is indicated by tam.

6. ex. Compare this with ab, 16, 21, and de, 16, 13. We commonly
translate all of these 'from,' but the real meanings are 'out of,' 'away
from,' and 'down from' respectively.

Creta. See the note on 3, 12.

7. esset. See the note on 14, 20.

8. insulae, dative with the compound verb (ad + propinquo).

appropinquaret. See the note on 16, 25.

9. tanta ... ut. Notice how frequently the clause of result is connected
with a demonstrative word in the main clause.

12. navigandi imperitus, 'ignorant of navigation,' 'inexperienced in
sailing.' See the note on 12, 26.

21. cum, the conjunction.

ingenti labore. See the note on summa cum difficultate, 14, 13.

25. ut reduceret. See the note on 16, 27.

26. carne. See the note on 16, 19.

vescebantur, imperfect of customary action.

18. 3. ut traderentur. Notice that postulo, like impero, takes an
object-clause introduced by ut and having its verb in the subjunctive.

sibi, the indirect reflexive. See the note on 13, 22.

4. ira ... interfecit, 'became furiously angry and killed the king,'
literally 'moved by wrath killed the king.' The participle is frequently
best rendered by a finite verb.

18. 4. cadaver. The subject of an infinitive stands in the accusative
case. We might translate here 'and gave orders that his body should be
thrown.' See the note on 16, 17.

6. mira rerum commutatio. When a noun has both an adjective and a
genitive modifier, this order of the words is common.

7. cum cruciatu, ablative of manner.

necaverat. See the note on interfecit, 13, 18.

10. referebant. See the note on 6, 16.

modo. This is the adverb, not a case of modus, the dative and ablative
singular of which would be modo, Make a practice of carefully observing
the quantity of vowels.

11. orabant. Notice that this verb, like impero and postulo, takes
ut and the subjunctive.

14. ad navigandum. See the note on ad quietem, 14, 1.

16. post, here an adverb of time.

18. dicitur. Notice that the Latin construction is personal ('the nation
is said to have consisted'), while English commonly has the impersonal
construction ('it is said that the nation consisted').

19. rei militaris, 'the art of war.'

25. mandavit. See the note on 16, 17.

26. Amazonibus, dative after the compound verb.

19. 1. persuasit. Notice that this verb governs the same construction
that we have already found used with impero and mando,

2. secum. See the note on 12, 19.

5. appulit. Supply navem,

6. doceret. A clause of purpose is frequently introduced by a relative.
Translate like the ut-clause of purpose, here 'to make known,'
literally 'who was to make known.'

14. magno intervallo, ablative of degree of difference.

16. non magna. The effect of the position of these words may be
reproduced by translating 'but not a large one.'

neutri. The plural is used because the reference is to two parties, each
composed of several individuals. 'Neither' of two individuals would be
neuter,

17. volebant, dedit. Consider the tenses. Each army waited for some time
for the other to cross; finally Hercules gave the signal.

22. occiderint. The perfect subjunctive is sometimes used in result
clauses after a past tense in the principal clause. This is contrary to
the general principle of the sequence of tenses, which requires the
imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive after a past tense, the present or
perfect subjunctive after a present or future tense.

23. Viri. Compare this with hominibus, 12, 2.

24. praestabant. Compare the tense with praestiterunt, line 21.

27. neu. As neque or nec is used for 'and not,' so neve or neu
for 'and that not' in an object-clause or a clause of purpose.

20. 1. quibus, 'and by these,' The relative is much used in Latin to
connect a new sentence with the one preceding. When so used, it is
generally best rendered by 'and' or 'but' and a demonstrative or personal
pronoun.

ita ... ut. See the note on 17, 9.

2. essent, most easily explained as the subjunctive of attraction. By
this is meant that the verb is attracted into the mood of the clause upon
which it depends.

4. pugnatum est, 'the battle raged' or 'they fought,' literally 'it was
fought,' Intransitive verbs are often thus used impersonally in the
passive, with the subject implied in the verb itself, as pugnatum
est = pugna pugnata est,

11. aestatis, partitive genitive. Notice that multum is used as a noun.

13. nactus. The perfect active participle is wanting in Latin, but the
perfect participle of deponent verbs is active in meaning.

24. specie horribili. See the note on 4, 14.

26. timore perterriti. See the note on 14, 11.

continebantur, 'kept themselves shut up.' This is the so-called reflexive
use of the passive, in which the subject is represented as acting upon
itself.

pecora. This word is used of herds of cattle, pecudes (line 25) of single
animals, especially sheep.

28. commotus consuluit. See the note on 18, 4.

21. 3. liberaret. See the note on 16, 27.

oraculo. Notice that parere is intransitive and has the dative of
indirect object, while 'obey' is transitive. It may help to understand
the Latin construction if you translate such verbs as pareo by
intransitives, here 'to submit to.'

4. sacrificio. See the note on 10, 11.

5. ipso temporis puncto quo, 'at the very moment when.'

8. egressus. See the note on 20, 13.

de rebus ... factus est, 'was informed of the state of things,' literally
'was made more certain about the things which were being done.' In what
gender, number, person, and case is quae? Give a reason for each.

11. posset. The subjunctive is used because the words of the king are
quoted indirectly. He said si potes, 'if you can.'

19. Ipse. Notice the use of this word in contrasts, frequently, as here,
of a person with that which belongs to him or with his subordinates.

20. inter se, 'to one another.'

22. esset, subjunctive in an indirect question. The direct form would be
Quantum periculum est? ('How great is the danger?'). multas terras,
just as we say 'many lands,'

23. Europae. Compare Thebanis, 10, 21.

24. in utroque litore, 'on each shore,' 'on both shores.'

25. columnas. The ancients believed that the Rock of Gibraltar was the
pillar set up by Hercules on the European side.

22. 4. tantum, an adverb.

5. dederit. See the note on 19, 22.

9. quo in loco. See the note on 11, 25. essent. See the note on 21, 22.

10. sibi, the indirect reflexive.

12. et ... et, 'both ... and.'

18. progredi, 'from proceeding.'

19. prohibebant, 'attempted to prevent,' imperfect of attempted action.
Notice that the use of the imperfect to express customary, repeated, or
attempted action follows naturally from its use to denote action going on
in past time. The present, the tense which denotes action going on in
present time, has the same special uses.

20. barbari. This word was used by the Greeks of all other peoples; by
the Romans it was used of all but the Greeks and themselves.

24. ceciderunt. Let the quantity of the i tell you whether this comes
from cado or caedo, Is occiderint a compound of cado or caedo?

25. in talibus rebus, i.e, when a god intervenes in behalf of his
favorite.

26. nihil incommodi, 'no harm,' literally 'nothing of harm'; incommodi is
partitive genitive.

23. 2. quam celerrime, 'as rapidly as possible.' Quam with the
superlative expresses the highest possible degree.

3. Necesse, predicate adjective with erat, the subject being has
transire.

5. citeriore. The Romans called upper Italy Gallia Citerior, 'Hither
Gaul,' because it was occupied by Gallic tribes.

6. perenni. Learn the derivation of this word. The meaning of a word may
often be seen most easily and remembered most surely by noticing its
derivation,

tecti, used as predicate adjective.

9. copiam. Notice carefully the meaning of this word. In what sense have
we found the plural copiae used?

10. rebus, 'preparations.' See the note on res, 13, 8.

consumpserat. See the note on 14, 3.

11. omnium opinionem. Hitherto we have had opinionem omnium, but here
omnium is made emphatic by being placed first.

15. itinere, ablative of cause.

fessus, 'since he was weary.' Notice that a Latin adjective or participle
must often be expanded into a clause in the translation.

16. Haud = non, It modifies a single word, usually an adjective or
adverb.

19. modo. See the note on 18, 10.

ingenti magnitudine. Compare ingentis magnitudinis, 16, 7.

23. boum. Learn the declension of this word from the vocabulary.

24. ne. A negative clause of purpose is introduced by ne,

24. 2. omnibus locis. Locus modified by an adjective is often used
without in in the ablative of place.

3. nusquam. We say 'could not find anywhere,' but Latin prefers to
combine the negative with another word.

6. reliquis. See the note on reliquos centauros, 14, 26.

7. e bobus. Compare boum, 23, 23. With unus the ablative with ex or
de is commonly used instead of the partitive genitive.

16. neque quicquam. See the note on 10, 4.

21. more suo, 'according to his custom.'

turbatus, 'was confused ... and.' See the note on ira ... interfecit,
18, 4.

22. in. See the note on in atrium, 7, 3.

25. respirandi. See the note on 12, 26.

25. 2. quam quos, for quam eos quos,

11. cui. See the note on cui erant, 13, 5.

12. Herculi imperaverat, 'had enjoined upon Hercules.'

17. Eurystheo. See the note on oraculo, 21, 3.

19. quaesiverat. With this verb the person of whom the question is asked
is expressed in the ablative with ab, de, or ex,

23. orbis terrarum, 'of the world,' literally 'of the circle of lands.'

26. umeris suis, ablative of means, but we say 'on his shoulders.'

ne. See the note on 23, 24.

decideret. Notice the force of the prefix de,

27. miratus, 'wondering at.' The perfect participle of deponent verbs is
often best rendered into English by a present participle.

26. 3. Herculi, dative with prodesse.

ille. See the note on Perseus, 4, 4.

4. certo, the adverb.

6. venisset. What would the form be in the direct question?

inquit. See the note on 14, 28.

7. filiabus. To avoid confusion with the corresponding forms of
deus and filius, the dative and ablative plural of dea and filia
sometimes end in abus,

sponte. This noun is practically confined to the ablative singular, in
prose usually with mea, tua, or sua, 'of my, your, his own accord.'

9. posset, subjunctive because indirect. The thought of Hercules was si
potest,

11. abesset. This also is indirect, quoting absum,

12. umeris. See the note on 25, 26.

17. pauca milia. Extent of space, like duration of time, is expressed by
the accusative,

passuum. See the note on 16, 6.

21. ita ut, 'as'

accepissent. Hitherto we have found the indicative in causal clauses
introduced by quod. The subjunctive indicates that the reason is quoted;
the Hesperides said quod accepimus,

28. gratias egit. See the note on 6, 16.

27. 2. e laboribus. See the note on 24, 7.

3. Herculi praeceperat = Herculi imperaverat, 25, 12.

5. posset, subjunctive because it quotes the thought of Eurystheus,
poterit,

6. ut ... traheret. This clause is not itself the object of dedit, but in
apposition with the object (Negotium).

7. omnium, partitive genitive.

11. narramus. The present is sometimes used with antequam to express
future action, as in English with 'before.' See the note on 15, 1.

alienum, predicate adjective, the subject of videtur being pauca ...
proponere. In the passive video may mean 'be seen,' but it usually
means 'seem.'

13. qui idem, 'which also,' literally 'which the same.'

14. Ut, 'when.'

15. deducebantur, customary action.

19. Stygis fluminis. We say 'river Styx,' but 'Mississippi River.'

quo, ablative of means.

20. necesse. See the note on 23, 3.

possent. The subjunctive is used with antequam to denote that the action
is expected or intended.

21. in. We say 'over.'

25. prius. Notice that Latin is here more exact than English, using the
comparative because only two actions are spoken of.

dedisset, subjunctive because indirect. Charon said nisi dederis
(future perfect), non transveham, 'unless you first give (shall have
given), I will not carry you across.'

28. 1. mortui, used as a noun, 'of the dead man.'

eo consilio, 'with this purpose,' 'to this end.' The clause ut ... posset
is in apposition with consilio.

6. Ut. Compare 27, 14.

8. quod cum fecissent, 'and when they had done this.' See the note on
quibus, 20, 1.

13. Stabant, 'there stood.' What is its subject?

15. mortuis, dative of indirect object.

et. Notice that ambiguity is avoided by a change of conjunctions, et
connecting the clauses and -que connecting praemia and poenas. Of these
connectives, et connects two ideas that are independent of each other
and of equal importance; -que denotes a close connection, often of two
words that together express a single idea; while ac or atque (see
line 18) adds something of greater importance.

18. et. Multi is often joined by et to another adjective modifying
the same noun.

24. ex. Compare 25, 18.

27. se socios, direct object and predicate accusative respectively.

29. 3. ne. After verbs of fearing ne must be rendered 'that,' ut,
'that not.' Notice, however, that the negative idea is as clearly present
here as in the other clauses introduced by ne that we have met, for
Charon wishes that the thing may not happen.

13. fecisset, indirect for feceris,

18. refugerit. See the note on 19, 22.

23. quae cum ita essent, 'and this being the case,' 'and so,' literally
'since which things were so.'

24. liberatus. See the note on ira ... interfecit, 18, 4.

25. quae, object of perscribere, which is the subject of est; longum is
predicate adjective.

26. est. We say 'would be.'

aetate, ablative of specification. Translate 'when he was now advanced in
age' (i.e, 'late in life'), and see the note on fessus, 23, 15.

30. 1. accidit. This is one of several impersonal verbs which take for
their subject a clause of result (ut ... occiderit).

3. ut ... iret, a clause of result; used as the subject of esset, mos
being predicate.

quis. After si, nisi, ne, and num, this is not the interrogative, but
an indefinite pronoun ('any one'),

occidisset, indirect for occiderit, which would be the form used in the
laws; or it may be explained as subjunctive by attraction to iret.

7. transeant, not 'they are crossing,' but 'they are to cross.' The
direct form would be transeamus('How in the world are we to get
across?'), subjunctive because the question expresses doubt. This is
called the deliberative subjunctive.

10. progressus, 'after advancing.'

11. revertebatur. This verb is deponent in the present, imperfect, and
future.

16. humi, locative, 'on the ground.'

ne. See the note on 23, 24.

sui ulciscendi, 'of avenging himself.' This is called the gerundive
construction. It is regularly used instead of the gerund when the gerund
would have an accusative object (se ulciscendi). Notice that the gerund
is a verbal noun; the gerundive a verbal adjective, agreeing with its
noun like any other adjective.

17. morientis, 'of a dying man.' Compare mortui, 28, 1.

18. vis, from volo,

20. si ... venerit, 'if you ever suspect him.' What is the literal
meaning? Notice that we use the present, while Latin by the use of the
future perfect indicates that the action is to precede that of the main
clause.

21. inficies. The future indicative is sometimes used, as in English, for
the imperative.

22. nihil mali. See the note on 22, 26.

suspicata. See the note on 25, 27.

25. Iolen, filiam, captivam, direct object, appositive, and predicate
accusative respectively.

26. domum. See the note on ad domum, 3, 15.

31. 1. referret. See the note on 19, 6.

2. facerent, subjunctive by attraction. The verb of a clause dependent
upon an infinitive is put in the subjunctive when the two clauses are
closely connected in thought. We have already met this construction in
the case of dependence upon a subjunctive; see the note on 20, 2.

gerere. Compare 30, 3. Such phrases as mos est may have as subject
either an infinitive or a clause of result.

3. verita. This participle is regularly rendered as present,

ne. See the note on 29, 3.

4. vestem. Notice that the position of this word helps to make it clear
that it is the object of infecit as well as of dedit.

5. suspicans. This does not differ appreciably in force from suspicata,
30, 22.

8. exanimatus, 'beside himself.'

14. succenderent. Notice the force of the prefix sub in this word and
in subdidit below.

15. inductus, 'moved.'

                







Fabulae Faciles

Latin

edonnelly