mentītūrus, -a, -um esse – to be going to lie
prōgressūrus esse – to be going to advance
FIGURE 11.2 Pompeii: the Marina Gate, situated on the western limit of the city on the Via Marina. Cities were walled for protection with gates, usually at the four corners to allow entrance to the city. Source: courtesy Sally Baume
Try This
Practice with deponent verbs.
Translate into Latin, using deponent verbs:
(i) to have promised (vi) we shall suffer
(ii) they will follow (vii) we shall have set out
(iii) I had died (viii) to use
(iv) to be about to delay (ix) you (pl.) will pursue
(v) they rose (x) you (sing.) had feared
11.4 Causal Clauses
Latin has a number of ways of expressing cause. We have already met one of these: the participle may have a causal force (including the ablative absolute construction). Latin also uses subordinate clauses with a finite verb regularly in the indicative. These may be introduced by quia, quoniam – since; because, or quod – because.
M’. Aquilium patrēs nostrī … , quia cum fugitīvīs fortiter bellum gesserat, iūdiciō līberāverunt (Cicero Pro Flacco 98): our fathers acquitted Manlius Aquilius … since he had bravely waged war with the runaway slaves.
11.5 Uses of Cases
11.5.1 Genitive of Characteristic
The genitive is also used (especially with the verb sum) to express ideas such as “characteristic of,” “the mark of,” and “the duty of”:
omnēs virī bonī … ius ipsum amant, nec est virī bonī errāre (Cicero De Legibus 1.48): all good men love the law itself, nor is it the mark of/characteristic of a good man to err.
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The Bigger Picture
De Legibus (On the Laws), a philosophical work, probably composed in 51 bc, but perhaps unfinished in the form we have it. It is written in dialogue form and concerns the nature of law and justice and the kind of laws that would be necessary in an ideal state.
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Sound Bite
Horace on the passing of time (Horace Odes 2.14.1–2)
eheu fugaces, Postume, Postume,
labuntur anni.
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Translation from Latin
1. quoniam id non <facere> poterat, harum rerum actorem quem idoneum esse arbitrata est ipsa delegit. (Cicero In Q. Caecilium 20)
2. quo in genere quia praestat omnibus Demosthenes, idcirco a doctis oratorum est princeps iudicatus. (Cicero Brutus 141)
3. institutas turres, testudines munitionesque hostium admiratur. (Caesar De Bello Gallico 5.52.2)
4. Caesar his de causis quas commemoravi Rhenum transire decreverat; sed navibus transire neque satis tutum esse arbitrabatur neque suae neque populi Romani dignitatis esse statuebat. (Caesar De Bello Gallico 4.17.1)
5. fateor me homines coegisse, fateor armasse, fateor tibi mortem esse minitatum, fateor hoc interdicto praetoris vindicari. (Cicero Pro Caecina 66)
6. hic primum ortus est a tribunis militum, praefectis reliquisque, qui ex urbe amicitiae causa Caesarem secuti non magnum in re militari usum habebant. (Caesar De Bello Gallico 1.39.3)
7. eo tempore tu non modo non ad C. Aquilium aut L. Lucilium rettulisti, sed ne ipse quidem te consuluisti, ne hoc quidem tecum locutus es: “Horae duae fuerunt; Quinctius ad vadimonium non venit.” (Cicero Pro Quinctio 53)
8. ii posteaquam temporibus rei publicae exclusi per senatum agere quae voluerant non potuerunt, in Syriam in regnum patrium profecti sunt. eorum alter, qui Antiochus vocatur, iter per Siciliam facere voluit, itaque isto praetore venit Syracusas. hic Verres hereditatem sibi venisse arbitratus est, quod in eius regnum ac manus venerat is quem iste et audierat multa secum praeclara habere e suspicabatur. (Cicero In Verrem 2.4.61–2)
9. aliis illud indignum, aliis ridiculum videbatur: ridiculum iis qui istius causam in testium fide, in criminum ratione, in iudicum potestate, non in comitiis consularibus positam arbitrabantur, indignum iis qui altius perspiciebant … etenim sic ratiocinabantur, sic honestissimi homines inter se et mecum loquebantur, aperte iam et perspicue nulla esse iudicia. (Cicero In Verrem 1.1.19–20)
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The Bigger Picture
In Q. Caecilium (Against Q. Caecilius), a speech made by Cicero before the senate in 70 bc, arguing that he, rather than Q. Caecilius, should be in charge of the prosecution of Verres. Caecilius had been an alternative candidate put up by Verres’ supporters, thinking that his incompetence would lead to an acquittal. Cicero, of course, succeeded in being given the prosecution of the case.
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Translation into Latin
1. It is not characteristic of a man, least of all of a Roman, to hesitate to give up his life breath for his homeland. (Cicero Philippicae 10.20)
2. I promise that I will carry out all these things diligently and strictly. (Cicero In Verrem 1.1.40)
3. The forces of the Gauls had filled all this place under the wall – the part of the hill which looked towards the rising sun. (Caesar De Bello Gallico 7.69.5)
4. He placed Quintus Atrius in charge of the garrison and the ships. He himself having advanced about 12 miles by night he caught sight of the forces of the enemy. (Caesar De Bello Gallico 5.9.2)
5. The envoys said that they would report these things to their people and, having considered the matter, would return to Caesar after the third day. (Caesar De Bello Gallico 4.9.1)
6. And so when nearly 40 days have elapsed, then at last they think they will respond to those things which have been said by us. (Cicero In Verrem 1.1.31)
7. Having decided these things … around the third watch he set sail and ordered the cavalry to advance to the further harbour, to embark and to follow him. (Caesar De Bello Gallico 4.23.1)
8. Did you try to lay your impious and sacrilegious hands upon that temple, so ancient, so holy, so sacred? (Cicero In Verrem 2.1.47)
9. In the meantime he ordered the baggage to be collected into one place and that the place be fortified by those troops who had halted on the higher flank. The Helvetii having followed with all their carts collected their equipment in one place. (Caesar De Bello Gallico 1.24.3–4)
FIGURE 11.3 Romano-British stone altar. The altar is dedicated to the goddess Brigantia. Brigantia was a goddess associated with the Brigantes, a tribe of people living in northern England. The Romans generally did not forbid the worship of local divinities. © Leeds Museums and Galleries (Discovery Centre)
Vocabulary to Learn
Nouns; Pronouns
crīmen, crīminis (n.) – crime; charge
fidēs, fideī (f.) – faith; honesty; credibility
hōra, -ae (f.) – hour
iūdex, iūdicis (m.) – judge
manus, manūs (f.) – hand (in sentence 10 in the sense “power”)
nāvis, -is (f.) – ship
ōrātor, -ōris (m.) – orator
ratiō, ratiōnis (f.) – reason; manner; motive
tempus, temporis (n.) – time; (pl. circumstances; troubles)
ūsus, ūsūs (m.) – use; experience
Deponent Verbs
admīror, admīrārī, admīrātus sum – admire; marvel at
arbitror, arbitrārī, arbitrātus sum – think; judge; suppose
ēgredior, ēgredī, ēgressus sum – march out; set out
fateor, fatērī, fassus sum – admit; confess
loquor, loquī, locūtus sum – speak
minitor, minitārī, minitātus sum (+ acc. of the thing threatened; dat. of person) – threaten
morior, morī, mortuus sum – die
moror, morārī, morātus sum – delay
orior, orīrī, ortus sum – rise; originate; begin
patior, patī, passus sum – put up with; suffer
persequor, persequī, persecūtus sum – pursue
polliceor, pollicērī, pollicitus
sum – promise
proficiscor, proficiscī, profectus sum – set out
sequor, sequī, secūtus sum – follow
ūtor, ūtī, ūsus sum (+ abl.) – use
vereor, verērī, veritus sum – fear
versor, versārī, versātus sum – spend one's time
Other Verbs
armō, armāre, armāvī, armātum – arm
cōgō, cogere, coēgī, coactum – assemble; bring together
consulō, consulere, consuluī, consultum – consult; question
dēcernō, dēcernere, dēcrēvī, dēcrētum – decide
praemittō, praemittere, praemīsī, praemissum – send ahead; send in advance
praestō, praestāre, praestitī, praestātum – be superior to; surpass
statuō, statuere, statuī, statūtum – establish; decide; consider
Adjectives
duo, duae, duo – two
idōneus, -a, -um – suitable
indignus, -a, -um – unworthy; intolerable
posterus, -a, -um – next; following
praeclārus, -a, -um – magnificent; opulent; valuable
princeps, -cipis – first; most eminent
rīdiculus, -a, -um – ridiculous; amusing; laughable
tūtus, -a, -um – safe
Adverbs; Prepositions; Conjunctions
idcirco – for this reason
nē … quidem – not even
nōn modo – not only
posteāquam – after that
similiter – in a like manner; similarly
Vocabulary Specifically for Chapter 11 Passages
Nouns; Pronouns
actor, -ōris (m.) – actor; orator; advocate
Antiochus, -i (m.) – a Syrian prince
C. Aquilius, -iī (m.) – Gaius Aquilius, a Roman jurist and contemporary of Cicero
comitia, -orum (n. pl.) – assembly
Demosthenes, -is (m.) – Demosthenes, the most famous Greek orator
hērēditās, hērēditātis (f.) – inheritance
impedimentum, -ī (n.) – (in pl. baggage; (military) equipment)
interdictum, -ī (n.) – provisional decree
Lūcīlius, -ii (m.) – Lucius Lucilius, an assistant to Aquilius (above)
mūnītiō, mūnītiōnis (f.) – fortification
praefectus, -ī (m.) – commander
P. Quinctius, -ii (m.) – Publius Quinctius, defended by Cicero
testūdō, testūdinis (f.) – tortoise; shelter (to protect besiegers)
turris, turris (f.) – tower
Sicilia, -ae (f.) – Sicily
Syrācūsae, -ārum (f. pl.) – Syracuse, a city in Sicily
Syria, -ae (f.) – Syria, country in Asia
vadimōnium vadimōniī (n.) – appearance in court; hearing
vigilia, -ae (f.) – watch (time of keeping watch at night – four watches per night)
Verbs
commemorō, commemorāre, commemorāvī, commemorātum – remind of; mention
dēligō, dēligere, dēlēgī, dēlectum – choose
exclūdō, exclūdere, exclūdī, exclūsum – shut out; hinder; prevent
insector, insectārī, insectātus sum – pursue
instituō, instituere, instituī, institūtum – build
perspiciō, perspicere, perspexī, perspectum – look at; examine
ratiōcinor, ratiōcinārī, ratiōcinātus sum – reckon; argue
referō, referre, rettulī, relātum – refer (to) (see fero, Chapter 12)
suspicor, suspicārī, suspicātus sum – suspect; believe; suppose
transeō, transīre, transīvī (or transiī), transitum – cross
vindicō, vindicāre, vindicāvī, vindicātum – punish
volō, velle, voluī – want; wish (see Chapter 12)
Adjectives
alius, -a, -ud – other; another; aliī … aliī – some … others
alter, -tera, -terum – one (of two)
consulāris, -e – consular
honestissimus, -a, -um – most honest; most honorable
patrius, -a, -um – belonging to one's father; belonging to one's forefathers; ancestral
quartus, -a, -um – fourth
Adverbs; Prepositions; Conjunctions
altius – more deeply
perspicuē – clearly; manifestly
English Derivations
From which Latin roots do the following English words derive?
(i) temporary
(ii) locution
(iii) patient
(iv) sequel
CHAPTER 12
Chapter Contents
12.1 IRREGULAR VERBS: FERŌ, VOLŌ, NŌLŌ, MĀLŌ, EŌ, FĪŌ
12.2 USES OF THE CASES 12.2.1 Ablative of Description
12.2.2 Genitive of Quality/Description
Translation from Latin
Translation into Latin
Verbs
Adjectives
Adverbs; Prepositions; Conjunctions
Vocabulary Specifically for Chapter 12 Passages Nouns; Pronouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Adverbs; Prepositions
FIGURE 12.1 Roman mosaic, 3rd century ad. Virgil and the Muses. The Muses were goddesses, nine in number. Each was associated with a specific sphere; for example, Calliope was the muse of epic poetry, Terpsichore of dancing. Source: Musée National du Bardo, Le Bardo, Tunisia/Giraudon/The Bridgeman Art Library
12.1 Irregular Verbs: Ferō, Volō, Nōlō, Mālō, Eō, Fīō
The following verbs are irregular: ferō – carry; bear; endure; volō – wish; nōlō – be unwilling; mālō – prefer; eō – go. Of these, only ferō has a full set of passive forms.
FYI
See Appendix 4 for the conjugation of nōlō and mālō.
FYI
The verb eō has three passive forms: itur (present indicative 3rd person singular), itum est (perfect indicative 3rd person singular), and īrī (present infinitive passive). The use of these forms is discussed in Chapter 17.
The verb fiō is used in the present tense as the passive of faciō and so means be made, be done or, often, happen. They are conjugated in the present indicative as follows:
The principal parts are as follows:
ferō, ferre, tulī, lātum
volō, velle, volui
eō, ire, i(v)i, itum
fīō, fierī, factus sum
The future forms are feram (passive ferar), volam, and ībō. Here ferō and volō follow the third conjugation pattern in -am, -ēs, -et, -ēmus, -ētis, -ent, and eō follows the first and second conjugation pattern ībō, ībis, ībit, ībimus, ībitis, ībunt. The perfect active forms (including perfect active infinitives) are derived regularly from the third principal part, which for eō may be the full form īvī or the contracted form īī. The perfect passive forms of ferō (including the perfect passive infinitive latus esse) and its future participle lātūrus are derived regularly from the fourth principal part (e.g., lātus, -a, -um sum; lātus, -a, -um eram; lātus, -a, -um erō).
Try This
Irregular verbs
Translate into Latin:
(i) I was unwilling (vi) we are going
(ii) they have preferred (vii) they are carried
(iii) it will happen (viii) we were brought
(iv) we carry (ix) you (sing.) will approach
(v) she wishes (x) they became
12.2 Uses of the Cases
12.2.1 Ablative of Description
The ablative is used (regularly without a preposition) to describe a quality or characteristic of a person. In this use the ablative phrase must include an adjective:
ipsī clam consiliō initō Achillam, praefectum rēgium, singulārī hominem audāciā, … mīserunt (Caesar Bellum Civile 3.104.3): they themselves, having formed a plot in secret, sent Achillas, a prefect of the king, a man of singular audacity.
mē … canō capite atque albā barbā … vidēs (Plautus Bacchides
1101): you see me with my grey head and white beard.
Notice that the ablative of description is most frequently used to describe physical characteristics.
12.2.2 Genitive of Quality/Description
The genitive is used also used to describe the quality of a person:
sed quid ego Socrātem aut Theramēnem, praestantis virōs virtūtis … commemorō? (Cicero Tusculanae Disputationes 1.100): but why do I mention Socrates or Theramenes, men of outstanding virtue?
C. Volusēnus, tribūnus mīlitum, vir et consiliī magnī et virtūtis, ad Galbam accurrit (Caesar De Bello Gallico 3.5.2): Gaius Volusenus, a military tribune, a man of great wisdom and courage, hastened to Galba.
Notice that the genitive is most frequently used to describe what may be described as inherent characteristics.
Translation from Latin
1. nam ut Brundisio profectus es, nullae mihi abs te sunt redditae litterae. (Cicero Epistulae ad Atticum 1.15.2)
HINT!
Abs is an alternative form of the preposition ab.
2. nobiscum versari iam diutius non potes; non feram, non patiar, non sinam. (Cicero In Catilinam 1.11)
3. L. Catilina, nobili genere natus, fuit magna vi et animi et corporis, sed ingenio malo pravoque. (Sallust Catiline 5.1)
4. erat una cum ceteris Dumnorix … de quo a nobis antea dictum est. hunc secum habere in primis <Caesar> constituerat, quod eum cupidum rerum novarum, cupidum imperii, magni animi, magnae inter Gallos auctoritatis cognoverat. (Caesar De Bello Gallico 5.6.1)
5. quis nunc te adibit? cui videberis bella?
quem nunc amabis? cuius esse diceris?
quem basiabis?
(Catullus 8.16–18)