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.
The celebrated voyage of the Argonauts was brought about in this way. Pelias had expelled his brother Aeson from his kingdom in Thessaly, and had determined to take the life of Jason, the son of Aeson. Jason, however, escaped and grew up to manhood in another country. At last he returned to Thessaly; and Pelias, fearing that he might attempt to recover the kingdom, sent him to fetch the Golden Fleece from Colchis, supposing this to be an impossible feat. Jason with a band of heroes set sail in the ship Argo (called after Argus, its builder), and after many adventures reached Colchis. Here Aeetes, king of Colchis, who was unwilling to give up the Fleece, set Jason to perform what seemed an impossible task, namely to plough a field with certain fire-breathing oxen, and then to sow it with dragon's teeth. Medea, however, the daughter of the king, assisted Jason by her skill in magic, first to perform the task appointed, and then to procure the Fleece. She then fled with Jason, and to delay the pursuit of her father, sacrificed her brother Absyrtus. After reaching Thessaly, Medea caused the death of Pelias and was expelled from the country with her husband. They removed to Corinth, and here Medea becoming jealous of Glauce, daughter of Creon, caused her death by means of a poisoned robe. She was afterward carried off in a chariot sent by the sun-god, and a little later Jason was accidentally killed
Erant olim in Thessalia duo fratres, quorum alter Aeson, Pelias alter appellabatur. Aeson primo regnum obtinuerat; at post paucos annos Pelias regni cupiditate adductus non modo fratrem suum expulit, sed etiam in animo habebat Iasonem, Aesonis filium, interficere. Quidam tamen ex amicis Aesonis, ubi sententiam Peliae cognoverunt, puerum e tanto periculo eripere constituerunt. Noctu igitur Iasonem ex urbe abstulerunt, et cum postero die ad regem rediissent, ei renuntiaverunt puerum mortuum esse. Pelias cum hoc audivisset, etsi re vera magnum gaudium percipiebat, speciem tamen doloris praebuit et quae causa esset mortis quaesivit. Illi autem cum bene intellegerent dolorem eius falsum esse, nescio quam fabulam de morte pueri finxerunt.
Post breve tempus Pelias, veritus ne regnum suum tanta vi et fraude occupatum amitteret, amicum quendam Delphos misit, qui oraculum consuleret. Ille igitur quam celerrime Delphos se contulit et quam ob causam venisset demonstravit. Respondit oraculum nullum esse in praesentia periculum; monuit tamen Peliam ut si quis unum calceum gerens veniret, eum caveret. Post paucis annis accidit ut Pelias magnum sacrificium facturus esset; nuntios in omnis partis dimiserat et certam diem conveniendi dixerat. Die constituta magnus hominum numerus undique ex agris convenit; in his autem venit etiam Iason, qui a pueritia apud centaurum quendam habitaverat. Dum tamen iter facit, unum e calceis in transeundo nescio quo flumine amisit.
Iason igitur cum calceum amissum nullo modo recipere posset, uno pede nudo in regiam pervenit. Quem cum Pelias vidisset, subito timore adfectus est; intellexit enim hunc esse hominem quem oraculum demonstravisset. Hoc igitur consilium iniit. Rex erat quidam Aeetes, qui regnum Colchidis illo tempore obtinebat. Huic commissum erat vellus illud aureum quod Phrixus olim ibi reliquerat. Constituit igitur Pelias Iasoni negotium dare ut hoc vellere potiretur; cum enim res esset magni periculi, eum in itinere periturum esse sperabat. Iasonem igitur ad se arcessivit, et eum cohortatus quid fieri vellet docuit. Ille etsi intellegebat rem esse difficillimam, negotium libenter suscepit.
Cum tamen Colchis multorum dierum iter ab eo loco abesset, solus Iason proficisci noluit. Dimisit igitur nuntios in omnis partis, qui causam itineris docerent et diem certam conveniendi dicerent. Interea, postquam omnia quae sunt usui ad armandas navis comportari iussit, negotium dedit Argo cuidam, qui summam scientiam nauticarum rerum habebat, ut navem aedificaret. In his rebus circiter decem dies consumpti sunt; Argus enim, qui operi praeerat, tantam diligentiam adhibebat ut ne nocturnum quidem tempus ad laborem intermitteret. Ad multitudinem hominum transportandam navis paulo erat latior quam quibus in nostro mari uti consuevimus, et ad vim tempestatum perferendam tota e robore facta est.
Interea is dies appetebat quem Iason per nuntios edixerat, et ex omnibus regionibus Graeciae multi, quos aut rei novitas aut spes gloriae movebat, undique conveniebant. Traditum est autem in hoc numero fuisse Herculem, de quo supra multa perscripsimus, Orpheum, citharoedum praeclarissimum, Theseum, Castorem, multosque alios quorum nomina sunt notissima. Ex his Iason quos arbitratus est ad omnia pericula subeunda paratissimos esse, eos ad numerum quinquaginta delegit et socios sibi adiunxit; tum paucos dies commoratus, ut ad omnis casus subsidia compararet, navem deduxit, et tempestatem ad navigandum idoneam nactus magno cum plausu omnium solvit.
Haud multo post Argonautae (ita enim appellabantur qui in ista navi vehebantur) insulam quandam, nomine Cyzicum, attigerunt; et e navi egressi a rege illius regionis hospitio excepti sunt. Paucas horas ibi commorati ad solis occasum rursus solverunt; sed postquam pauca milia passuum progressi sunt, tanta tempestas subito coorta est ut cursum tenere non possent, et in eandem partem insulae unde nuper profecti erant magno cum periculo deicerentur. Incolae tamen, cum nox esset obscura, Argonautas non agnoscebant, et navem inimicam venisse arbitrati arma rapuerunt et eos egredi prohibebant. Acriter in litore pugnatum est, et rex ipse, qui cum aliis decucurrerat, ab Argonautis occisus est. Mox tamen, cum iam dilucesceret, senserunt incolae se errare et arma abiecerunt; Argonautae autem cum regem occisum esse viderent, magnum dolorem perceperunt.
Postridie eius diei Iason tempestatem satis idoneam esse arbitratus (summa enim tranquillitas iam consecuta erat), ancoras sustulit, et pauca milia passuum progressus ante noctem Mysiam attigit. Ibi paucas horas in ancoris exspectavit; a nautis enim cognoverat aquae copiam quam secum haberent iam deficere, quam ob causam quidam ex Argonautis in terram egressi aquam quaerebant. Horum in numero erat Hylas quidam, puer forma praestantissima. Qui dum fontem quaerit, a comitibus paulum secesserat. Nymphae autem quae fontem colebant, cum iuvenem vidissent, ei persuadere conatae sunt ut secum maneret; et cum ille negaret se hoc facturum esse, puerum vi abstulerunt.
Comites eius postquam Hylam amissum esse senserunt, magno dolore adfecti diu frustra quaerebant. Hercules autem et Polyphemus, qui vestigia pueri longius secuti erant, ubi tandem ad litus redierunt, Iasonem solvisse cognoverunt.
Post haec Argonautae ad Thraciam cursum tenuerunt, et postquam ad oppidum Salmydessum navem appulerunt, in terram egressi sunt. Ibi cum ab incolis quaesissent quis regnum eius regionis obtineret, certiores facti sunt Phineum quendam tum regem esse. Cognoverunt etiam hunc caecum esse et diro quodam supplicio adfici, quod olim se crudelissimum in filios suos praebuisset. Cuius supplici hoc erat genus. Missa erant a Iove monstra quaedam specie horribili, quae capita virginum, corpora volucrum habebant. Hae volucres, quae Harpyiae appellabantur, Phineo summam molestiam adferebant; quotiens enim ille accubuerat, veniebant et cibum appositum statim auferebant. Quo factum est ut haud multum abesset quin Phineus fame moreretur.
Res igitur male se habebat cum Argonautae navem appulerunt. Phineus autem simul atque audivit eos in suos finis egressos esse, magnopere gavisus est. Sciebat enim quantam opinionem virtutis Argonautae haberent, nec dubitabat quin sibi auxilium ferrent. Nuntium igitur ad navem misit, qui Iasonem sociosque ad regiam vocaret. Eo cum venissent, Phineus demonstravit quanto in periculo suae res essent, et promisit se magna praemia daturum esse, si illi remedium repperissent. Argonautae negotium libenter susceperunt, et ubi hora venit, cum rege accubuerunt; at simul ac cena apposita est, Harpyiae cenaculum intraverunt et cibum auferre conabantur. Argonautae primum gladiis volucres petierunt; cum tamen viderent hoc nihil prodesse, Zetes et Calais, qui alis erant instructi, in aera se sublevaverunt, ut desuper impetum facerent. Quod cum sensissent Harpyiae, rei novitate perterritae statim aufugerunt, neque postea umquam redierunt.
Hoc facto Phineus, ut pro tanto beneficio meritam gratiam referret, Iasoni demonstravit qua ratione Symplegades vitare posset. Symplegades autem duae erant rupes ingenti magnitudine, quae a Iove positae erant eo consilio, ne quis ad Colchida perveniret. Hae parvo intervallo in mari natabant, et si quid in medium spatium venerat, incredibili celeritate concurrebant. Postquam igitur a Phineo doctus est quid faciendum esset, Iason sublatis ancoris navem solvit, et leni vento provectus mox ad Symplegades appropinquavit. Tum in prora stans columbam quam in manu tenebat emisit. Illa recta via per medium spatium volavit, et priusquam rupes conflixerunt, incolumis evasit cauda tantum amissa. Tum rupes utrimque discesserunt; antequam tamen rursus concurrerent, Argonautae, bene intellegentes omnem spem salutis in celeritate positam esse, summa vi remis contenderunt et navem incolumem perduxerunt. Hoc facto dis gratias maximas egerunt, quorum auxilio e tanto periculo erepti essent; omnes enim sciebant non sine auxilio deorum rem tam feliciter evenisse.
Brevi intermisso spatio Argonautae ad flumen Phasim venerunt, quod in finibus Colchorum erat. Ibi cum navem appulissent et in terram egressi essent, statim ad regem Aeetem se contulerunt et ab eo postulaverunt ut vellus aureum sibi traderetur. Ille cum audivisset quam ob causam Argonautae venissent, ira commotus est et diu negabat se vellus traditurum esse. Tandem tamen, quod sciebat Iasonem non sine auxilio deorum hoc negotium suscepisse, mutata sententia promisit se vellus traditurum, si Iason labores duos difficillimos prius perfecisset; et cum Iason dixisset se ad omnia pericula subeunda paratum esse, quid fieri vellet ostendit. Primum iungendi erant duo tauri specie horribili, qui flammas ex ore edebant; tum his iunctis ager quidam arandus erat et dentes draconis serendi. His auditis Iason etsi rem esse summi periculi intellegebat, tamen, ne hanc occasionem rei bene gerendae amitteret, negotium suscepit.
Medea, regis filia, Iasonem adamavit, et ubi audivit eum tantum periculum subiturum esse, rem aegre ferebat. Intellegebat enim patrem suum hunc laborem proposuisse eo ipso consilio, ut Iason moreretur. Quae cum ita essent, Medea, quae summam scientiam medicinae habebat, hoc consilium iniit. Media nocte insciente patre ex urbe evasit, et postquam in montis finitimos venit, herbas quasdam carpsit; tum suco expresso unguentum paravit quod vi sua corpus aleret nervosque confirmaret. Hoc facto Iasoni unguentum dedit; praecepit autem ut eo die quo isti labores conficiendi essent corpus suum et arma mane oblineret. Iason etsi paene omnibus hominibus magnitudine et viribus corporis antecellebat (vita enim omnis in venationibus atque in studio rei militaris consumebatur), tamen hoc consilium non neglegendum esse censebat.
Ubi is dies venit quem rex ad arandum agrum edixerat, Iason orta luce cum sociis ad locum constitutum se contulit. Ibi stabulum ingens repperit, in quo tauri erant inclusi; tum portis apertis tauros in lucem traxit, et summa cum difficultate iugum imposuit. At Aeetes cum videret tauros nihil contra Iasonem valere, magnopere miratus est; nesciebat enim filiam suam auxilium ei dedisse. Tum Iason omnibus aspicientibus agrum arare coepit, qua in re tantam diligentiam praebuit ut ante meridiem totum opus confecerit. Hoc facto ad locum ubi rex sedebat adiit et dentis draconis postulavit; quos ubi accepit, in agrum quem araverat magna cum diligentia sparsit. Horum autem dentium natura erat talis ut in eo loco ubi sementes factae essent viri armati miro quodam modo gignerentur.
Nondum tamen Iason totum opus confecerat; imperaverat enim ei Aeetes ut armatos viros qui e dentibus gignerentur solus interficeret. Postquam igitur omnis dentis in agrum sparsit, Iason lassitudine exanimatus quieti se tradidit, dum viri isti gignerentur. Paucas horas dormiebat, sub vesperum tamen e somno subito excitatus rem ita evenisse ut praedictum esset cognovit; nam in omnibus agri partibus viri ingenti magnitudine corporis gladiis galeisque armati mirum in modum e terra oriebantur. Hoc cognito Iason consilium quod dedisset Medea non omittendum esse putabat. Saxum igitur ingens (ita enim Medea praeceperat) in medios viros coniecit. Illi undique ad locum concurrerunt, et cum quisque sibi id saxum nescio cur habere vellet, magna controversia orta est. Mox strictis gladiis inter se pugnare coeperunt, et cum hoc modo plurimi occisi essent, reliqui vulneribus confecti a Iasone nullo negotio interfecti sunt.
Rex Aeetes ubi Iasonem laborem propositum confecisse cognovit, ira graviter commotus est; id enim per dolum factum esse intellegebat; nec dubitabat quin Medea ei auxilium tulisset. Medea autem cum intellegeret se in magno fore periculo si in regia maneret, fuga salutem petere constituit. Omnibus rebus igitur ad fugam paratis media nocte insciente patre cum fratre Absyrto evasit, et quam celerrime ad locum ubi Argo subducta erat se contulit. Eo cum venisset, ad pedes Iasonis se proiecit, et multis cum lacrimis eum obsecravit ne in tanto discrimine mulierem desereret quae ei tantum profuisset. Ille quod memoria tenebat se per eius auxilium e magno periculo evasisse, libenter eam excepit, et postquam causam veniendi audivit, hortatus est ne patris iram timeret. Promisit autem se quam primum eam in navi sua avecturum.
Postridie eius diei Iason cum sociis suis orta luce navem deduxit, et tempestatem idoneam nacti ad eum locum remis contenderunt, quo in loco Medea vellus celatum esse demonstrabat. Cum eo venissent, Iason in terram egressus est, et sociis ad mare relictis, qui praesidio navi essent, ipse cum Medea in silvas se contulit. Pauca milia passuum per silvam progressus vellus quod quaerebat ex arbore suspensum vidit. Id tamen auferre erat summae difficultatis; non modo enim locus ipse egregie et natura et arte erat munitus, sed etiam draco quidam specie terribili arborem custodiebat. Tum Medea, quae, ut supra demonstravimus, medicinae summam scientiam habuit, ramum quem de arbore proxima deripuerat veneno infecit. Hoc facto ad locum appropinquavit, et draconem, qui faucibus apertis eius adventum exspectabat, veneno sparsit; deinde, dum draco somno oppressus dormit, Iason vellus aureum de arbore deripuit et cum Medea quam celerrime pedem rettulit.
Dum autem ea geruntur, Argonautae, qui ad mare relicti erant, anxio animo reditum Iasonis exspectabant; id enim negotium summi esse periculi intellegebant. Postquam igitur ad occasum solis frustra exspectaverunt, de eius salute desperare coeperunt, nec dubitabant quin aliqui casus accidisset. Quae cum ita essent, maturandum sibi censuerunt, ut duci auxilium ferrent; sed dum proficisci parant, lumen quoddam subito conspiciunt mirum in modum intra silvas refulgens, et magnopere mirati quae causa esset eius rei ad locum concurrunt. Quo cum venissent, Iasoni et Medeae advenientibus occurrerunt, et vellus aureum luminis eius causam esse cognoverunt. Omni timore sublato magno cum gaudio ducem suum exceperunt, et dis gratias maximas egerunt quod res tam feliciter evenisset.
His rebus gestis omnes sine mora navem rursus conscenderunt, et sublatis ancoris prima vigilia solverunt; neque enim satis tutum esse arbitrati sunt in eo loco manere. At rex Aeetes, qui iam ante inimico in eos fuerat animo, ubi cognovit filiam suam non modo ad Argonautas se recepisse sed etiam ad vellus auferendum auxilium tulisse, hoc dolore gravius exarsit. Navem longam quam celerrime deduci iussit, et militibus impositis fugientis insecutus est. Argonautae, qui rem in discrimine esse bene sciebant, omnibus viribus remis contendebant; cum tamen navis qua vehebantur ingenti esset magnitudine, non eadem celeritate qua Colchi progredi poterant. Quo factum est ut minimum abesset quin a Colchis sequentibus caperentur, neque enim longius intererat quam quo telum adici posset. At Medea cum vidisset quo in loco res essent, paene omni spe deposita infandum hoc consilium cepit.
Erat in navi Argonautarum filius quidam regis Aeetae, nomine Absyrtus, quem, ut supra demonstravimus, Medea ex urbe fugiens secum abduxerat. Hunc puerum Medea interficere constituit eo consilio, ut membris eius in mare coniectis cursum Colchorum impediret; certo enim sciebat Aeetem, cum membra fili vidisset, non longius prosecuturum esse. Neque opinio Medeam fefellit, omnia enim ita evenerunt ut speraverat. Aeetes ubi primum membra vidit, ad ea conligenda navem teneri iussit. Dum tamen ea geruntur, Argonautae non intermisso remigandi labore mox e conspectu hostium auferebantur, neque prius fugere destiterunt quam ad flumen Eridanum pervenerunt. Aeetes nihil sibi profuturum esse arbitratus si longius progressus esset, animo demisso domum revertit, ut fili corpus ad sepulturam daret.
Tandem post multa pericula Iason in eundem locum pervenit unde profectus erat. Tum e navi egressus ad regem Peliam, qui regnum adhuc obtinebat, statim se contulit, et vellere aureo monstrato ab eo postulavit ut regnum sibi traderetur; Pelias enim pollicitus erat, si Iason vellus rettulisset, se regnum ei traditurum. Postquam Iason quid fieri vellet ostendit, Pelias primo nihil respondit, sed diu in eadem tristitia tacitus permansit; tandem ita locutus est: "Vides me aetate iam esse confectum, neque dubium est quin dies supremus mihi appropinquet. Liceat igitur mihi, dum vivam, hoc regnum obtinere; cum autem tandem decessero, tu mihi succedes." Hac oratione adductus Iason respondit se id facturum quod ille rogasset.
His rebus cognitis Medea rem aegre tulit, et regni cupiditate adducta mortem regi per dolum inferre constituit. Hoc constituto ad filias regis venit atque ita locuta est: "Videtis patrem vestrum aetate iam esse confectum neque ad laborem regnandi perferendum satis valere. Vultisne eum rursus iuvenem fieri?" Tum filiae regis ita responderunt: "Num hoc fieri potest? Quis enim umquam e sene iuvenis factus est?" At Medea respondit: "Me medicinae summam habere scientiam scitis. Nunc igitur vobis demonstrabo quo modo haec res fieri possit." Postquam finem loquendi fecit, arietem aetate iam confectum interfecit et membra eius in vase aeneo posuit, atque igni supposito in aquam herbas quasdam infudit. Tum, dum aqua effervesceret, carmen magicum cantabat. Mox aries e vase exsiluit et viribus refectis per agros currebat.
Dum filiae regis hoc miraculum stupentes intuentur, Medea ita locuta est: "Videtis quantum valeat medicina. Vos igitur, si vultis patrem vestrum in adulescentiam reducere, id quod feci ipsae facietis. Vos patris membra in vas conicite; ego herbas magicas praebebo." Quod ubi auditum est, filiae regis consilium quod dedisset Medea non omittendum putaverunt. Patrem igitur Peliam necaverunt et membra eius in vas aeneum coniecerunt; nihil autem dubitabant quin hoc maxime ei profuturum esset. At res omnino aliter evenit ac speraverant, Medea enim non easdem herbas dedit quibus ipsa usa erat. Itaque postquam diu frustra exspectaverunt, patrem suum re vera mortuum esse intellexerunt. His rebus gestis Medea se cum coniuge suo regnum accepturam esse sperabat; sed cives cum intellegerent quo modo Pelias periisset, tantum scelus aegre tulerunt. Itaque Iasone et Medea e regno expulsis Acastum regem creaverunt.
Iason et Medea e Thessalia expulsi ad urbem Corinthum venerunt, cuius urbis Creon quidam regnum tum obtinebat. Erat autem Creonti filia una, nomine Glauce. Quam cum vidisset, Iason constituit Medeae uxori suae nuntium mittere eo consilio, ut Glaucen in matrimonium duceret. At Medea ubi intellexit quae ille in animo haberet, ira graviter commota iure iurando confirmavit se tantam iniuriam ulturam. Hoc igitur consilium cepit. Vestem paravit summa arte textam et variis coloribus infectam; hanc mortifero quodam veneno tinxit, cuius vis talis erat ut si quis eam vestem induisset, corpus eius quasi igni ureretur. Hoc facto vestem ad Glaucen misit; illa autem nihil mali suspicans donum libenter accepit, et vestem novam more feminarum statim induit.
Vix vestem induerat Glauce cum dolorem gravem per omnia membra sensit, et paulo post crudeli cruciatu adfecta e vita excessit. His rebus gestis Medea furore atque amentia impulsa filios suos necavit; tum magnum sibi fore periculum arbitrata si in Thessalia maneret, ex ea regione fugere constituit. Hoc constituto solem oravit ut in tanto periculo auxilium sibi praeberet. Sol autem his precibus commotus currum misit cui erant iuncti dracones alis instructi. Medea non omittendam tantam occasionem arbitrata currum ascendit, itaque per aera vecta incolumis ad urbem Athenas pervenit. Iason ipse brevi tempore miro modo occisus est. Accidit sive casu sive consilio deorum ut sub umbra navis suae, quae in litus subducta erat, dormiret. Mox navis, quae adhuc erecta steterat, in eam partem ubi Iason iacebat subito delapsa virum infelicem oppressit.
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.]
33. 1. alter ... alter, 'one ... the other.' Remember that this word is
used to denote one of two given persons or things. We have in this
passage an instance of the chiastic order, in which variety and emphasis
are gained by reversing the position of the words in the second of two
similar expressions. Here the two names are brought together by this
device.
3. regni, objective genitive, i.e. a genitive used to denote the object
of the feeling cupiditate.
6. ex amicis. Quidam, like unus, commonly has ex or de and the
ablative, instead of the partitive genitive.
10. puerum mortuum esse, 'that the boy was dead,' literally 'the boy to
be dead.' This is indirect for Puer mortuus est, 'The boy is dead.'
Notice carefully what changes Latin makes in quoting such a statement
indirectly, and what the changes are in English. We have already met two
constructions of indirect discourse, the subjunctive in indirect
questions, and the subjunctive in informal indirect discourse. By the
latter is meant a subordinate clause which, though not forming part of a
formal quotation, has the subjunctive to show that not the speaker or
writer but some other person is responsible for the idea it expresses
(see the notes on dedisset, 27, 25, and occidisset. 30, 3). In
indirect discourse, then, a statement depending upon a verb of saying,
thinking, knowing, perceiving, or the like has its verb in the infinitive
with the subject in the accusative; a command or question has its verb in
the subjunctive; and any clause modifying such a statement, command, or
question has its verb in the subjunctive.
33. 13. intellegerent. See the note on 14, 20.
14. nescio quam fabulam, 'some story or other.' Notice that nescio with
the interrogative pronoun is equivalent to an indefinite pronoun.
19. oraculum. Read again the description beginning at the bottom of
page 11.
21. quis. See the note on 30, 3.
Post paucis annis, 'a few years later,' literally 'later by a few years.'
Post is here an adverb, and paucis annis ablative of degree of
difference. The expression is equivalent to post paucos annos.
22. accidit. See the note on 30, 1.
facturus, 'intending to make.' The future participle with a form of sum
is used to express an intended or future action. This is called the
active periphrastic conjugation.
23. certam. See the note on 5, 13.
24. Die constituta, ablative of time.
26. a pueritia. Compare a puero, 9, 20.
34. 2. transeundo flumine. See the note on sui ulciscendi, 30, 16.
nescio quo. See the note on 33. 14.
4. uno pede nudo, 'with one foot bare,' the ablative absolute. This
construction consists of two parts, a noun, or pronoun corresponding to
the subject of a clause, and a participle corresponding to the verb of a
clause. A predicate noun or adjective may take the place of the
participle. In the latter case the use of the participle 'being' will
show the two parts in the relation of subject and predicate, 'one foot
being bare.'
34.6. demonstravisset, subjunctive because subordinate in indirect
discourse. See the note on 33, 10. Pelias thought, Hic est homo quem
oraculum demonstravit.
9. vellus aureum. Phrixus and his sister Helle were about to be put to
death, when they were rescued by a ram with fleece of gold, who carried
them off through the air. Helle fell from the ram's back into the strait
that separates Europe and Asia, called after her the Hellespont, 'Helle's
sea,' and known to us as the Dardanelles. Phrixus came safely to Colchis,
and here he sacrificed the ram and gave the fleece to Aeetes. Read Mr.
D.O.S. Lowell's Jason's Quest.
11. ut ... potiretur. See the note on 27, 6.
hoc vellere. Potior takes the same construction as vescor, for which
see the note on 16, 19.
16. iter, accusative of extent.
20. usui, dative of purpose. We say 'of use' or 'useful.'
24. operi dative after the compound with prae. Notice that not all
verbs compounded with prepositions govern the dative. Many compounds of
ad, ante, com (for cum), in, inter, ob, post, prae, pro, sub, and
super do have the dative, and some compounds of circum. You will find
it profitable to keep a list of all such compound verbs governing the
dative that you meet in your reading.
25. ne ... quidem, 'not ... even.' The word emphasized must stand between
ne and quidem.
ad laborem. See the note on ad quietem, 14, 1.
26. Ad multitudinem transportandam, used like ad laborem. The gerundive
in this use is very common.
27. quibus. The antecedent eae is not expressed. Notice that utor
governs the same case as vescor and potior. Two other deponent verbs,
not found in this book, take this construction, namely fruor, 'enjoy,'
and fungor, 'perform.'
nostro mari, i.e. the Mediterranean.
consuevimus. See the note on consueverat, 10, 9.
35. 8. citharoedum. It was said that Orpheus made such sweet music on his
golden harp that wild beasts, trees, and rocks followed him as he moved.
By his playing he even prevailed upon Pluto to give back his dead wife
Eurydice.
Theseum, a mythical hero, whose exploits resemble and rival those of
Hercules. The most famous of them was the killing of the Minotaur.
Theseus was the national hero of Athens.
Castorem, the famous tamer of horses and brother of Pollux, the boxer.
Read Macaulay's Lays of Ancient Rome, The Battle of the Lake Regillus.
10. quos, the subject of esse. Its antecedent is eos, line 11. The
relative frequently precedes in Latin, but the antecedent must be
translated first.
16. Argonautae. Notice the composition of this word.
24. deicerentur, part of the result clause.
26. arbitrati. See the note on 25, 27.
egredi. See the note on 22, 18.
27. pugnatum est. See the note on 20 4.
36. 5. Postridie eius diei, 'the next day,' more literally 'on the day
following that day.' This idea may be expressed by postridie alone, and
the fuller expression is simply more formal.
9. in ancoris, 'at anchor.'
10. haberent. See the note on 34, 6.
11. ex Argonautis. See the note on 33, 6.
13. Qui, 'he.' See the note on quibus, 20, 1.
dum quaerit, 'while looking for.' The present indicative with dum is
often to be translated by a present participle.
15. vidissent. We say 'saw,' but Latin makes it plain that the seeing
(and falling in love) came before the attempt to persuade.
ei. Keep a list of all intransitive verbs which are used with the dative.
16. negaret. This verb is commonly used instead of dico when a negative
statement follows; when thus used, it should be translated by 'say' with
the appropriate negative, here 'said that he would not.'
37. 1. praebuisset, subjunctive in a subordinate clause of indirect
discourse.
2. supplici. See the note on 7, 8.
6. accubuerat. The Romans reclined at table, supporting themselves on the
left arm and taking the food with the right hand. They naturally
represented others as eating in the same way.
appositum, 'that had been placed before him.' See the note on
exanimatum, 14, 4.
7. Quo ... moreretur, 'and so it came to pass that Phineus was nearly
dying of starvation,' literally 'that not much was wanting but that
Phineus would die.' Ut ... abesset is a clause of result, the subject of
factum est; quin ... moreretur is a form of subordinate clause with
subjunctive verb used after certain negative expressions; fame is
ablative of cause. Notice that fames has a fifth-declension ablative,
but is otherwise of the third declension.
9. Res male se habebat, 'the situation was desperate.' What is the
literal meaning?
12. opinionem virtutis, 'reputation for bravery.'
13. quin ferrent. Negative expressions of doubt are regularly followed by
quin and the subjunctive.
16. quanto in periculo. See the note on 11, 25.
suae res, 'his affairs.' See the note on res, 13, 8.
17. repperissent. Phineus used the future perfect indicative.
22. nihil, used adverbially.
23. aera. See the note on 4, 11.
27. Hoc facto, 'when this had been accomplished.' See the note on 34, 4.
The ablative absolute is often used instead of a subordinate clause of
time, cause, condition, or the like.
38. 1. referret. See the note on 6, 16.
3. eo consilio. See the note on 28, 1.
4. ne quis, 'that no one.' 'Negative clauses of purpose and negative
clauses of result may be distinguished by the negative: ne, ne quis,
etc., for purpose; ut non, ut nemo, etc., for result.
parvo intervallo, 'a short distance apart,' ablative absolute. See the
note on 34, 1.
5. in medium spatium, 'between them.'
7. quid faciendum esset, 'what was to be done.' The gerundive is used
with sum to denote necessary action. This is called the passive
periphrastic conjugation.
8. sublatis ... solvit, 'weighed anchor and put to sea.' What is the
literal translation? The ablative absolute is often best translated by a
cooerdinate verb, and this requires a change of voice, for the lack of a
perfect active participle in Latin is the reason for the use of the
ablative absolute in such cases. If there were a perfect active
participle, it would stand in the nominative, modifying the subject, as
we have found the perfect participle of deponent verbs doing.
11. recta ... spatium, 'straight between them.'
12. cauda tantum amissa, 'having lost only its tail-feathers.' Notice
that we change the voice, as in line 8, and that the use of the ablative
absolute is resorted to here for the same reason as in that passage. Make
sure at this point that you know three ways in which the ablative
absolute may be translated, as in this passage, as in line 8, and as
suggested in the note on 37, 27.
14. concurrerent, 'could rush together.' See the note on possent, 27,
20.
intellegentes, equivalent to cum intellegerent.
17. dis, the usual form of the dative and ablative plural of deus, as
di of the nominative plural.
quorum, equivalent to cum eorum. A relative clause of cause, like a
cum-clause of cause, has its verb in the subjunctive.
27. negabat. See the note on 36, 16.
39. 1. traditurum. In infinitives formed with participles esse is often
omitted,
prius. See the note on 27, 25.
3. Primum. See the note on 12, 16.
4. iungendi erant. See the note on 38, 7.
8. rei bene gerendae, 'of accomplishing his mission.' What is the literal
meaning?
10. rem aegre ferebat, 'she was greatly distressed.' What is the literal
meaning?
12. Quae ... essent. See the note on 29, 23.
13. medicinae, objective genitive.
14. Media nocte. See the note on 9, 5.
insciente patre, 'without the knowledge of her father,' ablative
absolute.
15. venit. See the note on 3, 13.
17. quod ... confirmaret, a relative clause of purpose.
19. essent, subjunctive in informal indirect discourse, or by attraction
to oblineret.
20. hominibus. See the note on 34, 24.
21. magnitudine et viribus, ablative of specification.
40. 2. nihil valere, 'prevailed not.'
5. qua in re. See the note on 11, 25.
6. confecerit. See the note on 19, 22.
8. quos. See the note on quibus, 20, 1.
9. autem. See the note on 5, 8.
10. essent, subjunctive by attraction.
11. quodam, 'some.'
16. gignerentur, 'should be born.' With dum, 'until,' the subjunctive is
used of action anticipated, as with antequam (see the note on
possent, 27, 20).
19. omnibus agri partibus. See the note on 18, 6.
20. mirum in modum = miro modo.
25. nescio cur, 'for some reason.' See the note on 33, 14.
28. nullo negotio, 'with no trouble,' 'without difficulty.'
41. 3. quin tulisset. See the note on 37, 13.
15. quam primum, 'as soon as possible.' See the note on 23, 2.
16. avecturum. See the note on traditurum, 39, 1.
17. Postridie eius diei. See the note on 36, 5.
19. loco. The antecedent is frequently thus repeated in the relative
clause.
21. qui ... essent, 'to guard the ship.' See the note on 13, 16.
22. ipse. See the note on 21, 19.
27. quidam. This word may sometimes be rendered by the indefinite
article.
28. demonstravimus. See the note on narravimus, 14, 17.
42. 5. dormit. See the note on fugit, 4, 25.
12. aliqui. Learn from the vocabulary the difference between aliquis
and aliqui.
maturandum sibi, 'they ought to hasten,' more literally 'haste ought to
be made by them'; maturandum (esse) is the impersonal passive, and sibi
the so-called dative of the agent. With the gerundive the person who has
the thing to do is regularly expressed in the dative.
16. mirati. See the note on 25, 27.
20. dis. See the note on 38, 17.
21. evenisset. See the note on accepissent, 26, 21.
23. vigilia. The Romans divided the day from sunrise to sunset into
twelve hours (horae), the night from sunset to sunrise into four
watches (vigiliae).
24. neque enim. See the note on 7, 12.
25. inimico animo, ablative of description.
43. 2. hoc dolore, 'this anger,' i.e. 'anger at this.'
Navem longam, 'war-galley,' 'man-of-war.' The adjective contrasts the
shape of the man-of-war with that of the merchantman.
4. fugientis, used as a noun, 'the fugitives.'
6. qua, ablative of means.
7. qua, 'as,' but in the same construction as eadem celeritate.
8. Quo ... caperentur. See the note on 37, 7.
9. neque ... posset, 'for the distance between them was not greater than
a javelin could be thrown.' What is the literal translation? The clause
quo ... posset denotes result; the distance was not so great that a
javelin could not be thrown from one ship to the other.
11. vidisset. See the note on 36, 15.
15. fugiens, 'when she fled.' See the note on fessus, 23, 15.
18. fili. See the note on 7, 8.
19. Neque ... fefellit, 'and Medea was not mistaken.' What is the literal
meaning?
20. ubi primum, 'as soon as,' literally 'when first.'
24. prius, not to be rendered until quam is reached. The two words
together mean 'before,' more literally 'earlier than,' 'sooner than,'
They are sometimes written together (priusquam).
25. nihil ... esse, 'that it would be of no advantage to him.'
44. 5. pollicitus erat. Verbs of promising do not usually take in Latin
the simple present infinitive, as in English, but the construction of
indirect discourse.
10. mihi. The dative of reference is often used in Latin where we should
use a possessive in English. Translate here as if the word were meus,
modifying dies.
11. Liceat mihi, 'permit me,' literally 'let it be permitted to me.'
Commands and entreaties in the third person are regularly expressed in
the subjunctive.
dum vivam, 'so long as I live.' The verb with dum 'so long as' is not
restricted to the present, as with dum 'while,' but any tense of the
indicative may be used. We have here the future indicative, or the
present subjunctive by attraction.
12. tu. The nominative of the personal pronouns is commonly expressed
only when emphatic. Here the use of the pronoun makes the promise more
positive.
15. rem aegre tulit, 'was vexed.' Compare 39, 10.
20. Vultisne, the verb vultis and the enclitic -ne, which is used to
introduce a question, and is incapable of translation. Num (line 21)
introduces a question to which a negative answer is expected, and is
likewise not to be translated, except in so far as its effect is
reproduced by the form of the question or the tone of incredulity with
which the words are spoken.
28. effervesceret. See the note on 40, 16.
45. 3. stupentes, 'in amazement.'
5. Vos. See the note on 44, 12. Vos and ego in the next sentence are
contrasted.
7. Quod ubi. See the note on 28, 8.
10. necaverunt. See the note on interfecit, 13, 18.
13. quibus. For the case see the note on quibus, 34, 27.
15. re vera, 'really.'
18. aegre tulerunt, 'were indignant at.' Compare 39, 10, and 44, 15.
23. Creonti. See the note on cui erant, 13, 5.
25. nuntium, 'a notice of divorce.'
26. duceret. See the note on duxit, 6, 18.
28. ulturam. See the note on 39, 1.
46. 1. Vestem. Compare the story of the death of Hercules, pp. 30, 31.
3. quis. See the note on 30, 3.
induisset, subjunctive by attraction.
5. nihil mali. See the note on 22, 26.
16. itaque, not the adverb itaque, but the adverb ita and the
enclitic conjunction -que.
aera. See the note on 4, 11.
21. in eam partem, 'to that side.'