Wiley's Real Latin

by Robert Maltby

  However, sometimes simple questions have no word to indicate that a question is being posed. Here context makes it clear that a question is being asked:

  patēre tua consilia non sentis? (Cicero In Catilinam 1.1): do you not realize that your plans are revealed?

  For questions of the type Surely you remember, don't you? where the answer “yes” is expected, Latin uses the word nōnne:

  nōnne senatūs consultum dē Vatiniō vidēs? (Cicero De Natura Deorum 3.13): surely you see the decree of the senate concerning Vatinius, don't you?

  For questions of the type Surely you do not believe him, do you? where the answer “no” is expected, Latin uses the word num:

  num negāre audēs? (Cicero In Catilinam 1.8) surely you do not dare to deny , do you?

  17.1.1 Alternative Direct Questions

  Alternative questions offer a choice: Do you love this man or do you hate him? In Latin, there are three different ways of expressing the first type where a true alternative is given:

  ūtrum tandem abstulistī an ēmistī? (Cicero In Verrem 2.4.29): did you take them, I ask, or did you buy them?

  vōsne vērō L. Domitium, an vōs Domitius dēseruit? (Caesar Bellum Civile 2.32.8): did you desert Lucius Domitius or did Domitius desert you?

  ēloquar an sileam? (Virgil Aeneid 3.39): am I to speak out or am I to be silent?

  That is ūtrum … an; -ne … an; (no word to introduce first alternative) … an.

  Where the alternative is merely the negative of the first, e.g., Do you love this man or not? the words an nōn are used (sometimes written as one word: annōn). The first part may be introduced by ūtrum, or -ne or no introductory word:

  isne est quem quaerō an nōn? (Terence Phormio 852): Is he the man whom I am seeking or not?

  17.2 Indirect Questions

  As we have seen, Latin expresses indirect statements differently from English: the accusative and infinitive construction. Indirect questions also have a different construction. In English the indicative mood is regularly used: You ask why I am an enemy to one against whom the Roman people are opposed. In Latin the verb in an indirect question is in the subjunctive and the tense of the subjunctive is regularly determined by the rules of sequence:

  quaeris cūr eī sim inimīcus cuī populus Rōmānus infestus est? (Cicero In Verrem 2.3.7): do you ask why I am an enemy to this man to whom the Roman people is hostile?

  Verres quaerēbātur ubi esset Cleomenes (Cicero In Verrem 2.5.107): Verres was asked where Cleomenes was.

  Indirect questions follow the rules of sequence; however, if the indirect question refers to future time, the future participle is used with the subjunctive of sum (compare result clauses – see Chapter 14). In primary sequence, the present subjunctive is used with the participle; in secondary/historic sequence, the imperfect subjunctive:

  quid factūrus sit, quid ipsī cāsūrum sit, quā sit ūsūrus ōrātiōne (Cicero De Inventione 1.36): what he will/is going to do, what will/is going to happen to him, what speech he will/is going to use.

  It should be noted that when num introduces an indirect question, it no longer suggests a question expecting the answer “no”; rather it means “if” or “whether”:

  quaerendum, crēdo, est Heius iste num aes aliēnum habuerit (Cicero In Verrem 2.4.11): we must ask, I suppose, if this man, Heius, was in debt.

  Note that the introductory verb need not be a verb of “asking”:

  exspectābant omnes … quidnam actūrus esset (Cicero In Verrem 2.5.161): all were awaiting … what he was going to do.

  17.2.1 Alternative Indirect Questions

  The same options apply as for direct alternative questions: ūtrum … an; -ne … an; (no word to introduce first alternative) … an. However, if the second is merely a negative of the first necne is used and not an non.

  quaesīvī ā Catilīnā in nocturnō conventū fuisset necne (Cicero In Catilinam 2.13): I asked Catiline whether he had been at the meeting at night or not.

  17.3 Verbs with the Dative

  A number of verbs in Latin are followed by the dative case (and so may be called intransitive verbs):

  HINT!

  A transitive verb, by definition, is followed by a direct object in the accusative case. By this definition all verbs that are followed by the genitive, dative, or ablative are intransitive.

  credet hīs equitibus Rōmānīs populus Rōmānus (Cicero In Verrem 2.1.13): the Roman people will believe these Roman knights.

  It is important to note that the English verb believe is transitive, that is, takes a direct object. Many of the verbs that take the dative in Latin have an English translation that is transitive. See the vocabulary for a partial list of verbs that take the dative case.

  17.4 Impersonal Passive

  Verbs followed by the genitive, dative, or ablative (intransitive verbs) present a problem when one tries to make them passive. Latin, however, has a way of getting around this problem: the impersonal third person singular is used in the passive voice and the genitive, dative, or ablative is retained:

  omnibus hīs resistitur (Caesar Bellum Civile 1.4.1): all these are resisted (literally: there is resistance to all these).

  Manilio et Luscio negas esse credendum? (Cicero Pro Q. Roscio Comoedo 43): are you saying that Manilius and Luscio must not be believed?

  Notice here that credendum is neuter singular (impersonal) and that the dative is retained (literally: “are you saying that there must not be belief to Manilius and Luscius?”). In this construction, if the agent is expressed ab + ablative is used instead of the dative of agent in order to avoid confusion.

  In addition there are a number of other intransitive verbs that are used impersonally; for example, itur – there is movement/people are coming, and curritur – there is a rush, and concurritur – there is a rushing together/men come together.

  Try This

  Identify the verbs in the following passage (including participles, infinitives, gerunds, and gerundives) and parse them (you will need to use a dictionary to complete this exercise):

  Cynthia prima suis miserum me cepit ocellis,

  contactum nullis ante cupidinibus.

  tum mihi constantis deiecit lumina fastus

  et caput impositis pressit Amor pedibus,

  donec me docuit castas odisse puellas

  improbus, et nullo vivere consilio.

  ei mihi, iam toto furor hic non deficit anno,

  cum tamen adversos cogor habere deos.

  Milanion nullos fugiendo, Tulle, labores

  saevitiam durae contudit Iasidos.

  nam modo Partheniis amens errabat in antris,

  rursus in hirsutas ibat et ille feras.

  (Propertius 1.1.1–12)

  17.5 Uses of the Cases

  17.5.1 Predicative/Interest/Double Dative

  The dative is also used in certain expressions in place of a nominative or accusative. This use occurs especially with forms of the verb sum as well as dūcō and habeō (both used in the sense consider). This dative is called predicative and almost invariably occurs with a second dative indicating the person interested (dative of interest). This construction with two datives is often called the double dative construction.

  Some examples:

  (alicuī) odiō esse – to be a source of hatred (to someone)

  (alicuī) impedimentō esse – to be a hindrance

  (alicuī) honōrī esse – to be honorable

  (alicuī) dolōrī esse – to be a source of sorrow

  (alicuī) bonō esse – to be profitable

  (alicuī) labōrī esse – to be a burden

  (alicuī) quaestuī esse/habēre – to be/to consider as a source of gain

  neminī meus adventus labōrī aut sumptuī fuit (Cicero In Verrem 2.1.16): my arrival caused labor or expense to no one.

  in Asiam īre nōluī quod et celebritās mihi odiō est et … abesse longē nōlēbam (Cicero Epistulae ad Atticum 3.19.1): I was unwilling to
go to Asia because a large crowd is a source of hatred to me … and I was unwilling to be far away .

  Translation from Latin

  1. quaesivi quae causa fuisset cur bona non venissent, cum ex edicto possiderentur. (Cicero Pro Quinctio 88)

  2. at quaerebat etiam paulo ante de me quid suo mihi opus fuisset auxilio. (Cicero In Pisonem 18)

  3. utrum cetera nomina in codicem accepti et expensi digesta habes an non? (Cicero Pro Q. Roscio Comoedo 9)

  4. non enim utrum indignum sit an non, sed factumne sit, quaeritur. (Cicero Rhetorica ad Herennium 2.46)

  5. Hirtius noster tardius convalescit. quid futurum sit plane nescio; spes tamen una est aliquando populum Romanum maiorum similem fore. (Cicero Epistulae ad Familiares 12.22.2)

  6. quaero enim cur Licinium titubantem, haesitantem, cedentem, fugere conantem mulieraria manus ista de manibus emiserit, cur non comprenderint, cur non ipsius confessione, multorum oculis, facinoris denique voce tanti sceleris crimen expresserint. (Cicero Pro Caelio 66)

  7. hoc cum ceterae gentes sic arbitrantur, tum ipsis Siculis ita persuasum est ut in animis eorum insitum atque innatum esse videatur. (Cicero In Verrem 2.4.106)

  8. tertium est genus eorum qui uri appellantur. hi sunt magnitudine paulo infra elephantos, specie et colore et figura tauri. magna vis eorum est et magna velocitas; neque homini neque ferae, quam conspexerunt, parcunt. (Caesar De Bello Gallico 6.28.3)

  9. multa enim falsa de me audiverunt; multa ad eos improbi detulerunt, quorum commoda, ut vos optimi testes estis, semper ego sententia, auctoritate, oratione firmavi: sed credunt improbis, credunt turbulentis, credunt suis. (Cicero Philippicae 12.29)

  Translation into Latin

  1. He also asked why I had returned from that very journey so suddenly. I have recently explained, Conscript Fathers, the cause of my return. (Cicero Philippicae 2.76)

  2. When I know on what day I am going to come, I will see that you know. (Cicero Epistulae ad Atticum 16.8.1)

  3. We are not acquainted with you; we do not know who you are; we have never seen you before. (Cicero In Q. Caecilium 20)

  4. But I am asking whether we think something was accomplished in the past days or nothing. (Cicero Tusculanae Disputationes 5.15)

  5. Perhaps this which I am about to say may seem wondrous to hear but surely I shall say what I feel. (Cicero In Pisonem 32)

  6. Whom of us do you think does not know what you did last night, what you did on the night before last, where you were, and whom you summoned together? (Cicero In Catilinam 1.1)

  7. In general those are believed who are experts. (Cicero Topica 74)

  8. If you have been persuaded, why would you want to learn from me? (Cicero De Natura Deorum 3.7)

  9. I know that these new things brought forward and invented by you have been a source of gain for you. (Cicero In Verrem 2.3.16)

  - - - - - - - - - -

  The Bigger Picture

  Topica (The Topics), a short work on rhetoric, similar to the De Inventione, dedicated to the lawyer Trebatius. Cicero claims it is a translation of Aristotle's Topics, but it bears little resemblance to this treatise and is probably derived from a later Hellenistic rhetorical work that Cicero adapts from memory.

  - - - - - - - - - -

  FIGURE 17.2 Romano-British copper alloy buckle, 2nd century ad. Minerals came to Rome from a number of areas as the empire expanded. Different mining techniques were employed and mine shafts as deep as 1115 feet have been discovered. Oil lamps were used to light the mine. Mine workers were often slaves but prisoners of war and convicts were also used. © Leeds Museums and Galleries (Discovery Centre)

  Extra Passages

  A love poem to Lesbia

  Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus,

  rumoresque senum severiorum1

  omnes unius aestimemus assis.

  soles occidere et redire possunt:

  nobis, cum semel occidit brevis lux,

  nox est perpetua una dormienda.

  da mi basia mille, deinde centum,

  dein mille altera, dein secunda centum,

  deinde usque altera mille, deinde centum.

  dein, cum milia multa fecerimus,

  conturbabimus illa, ne sciamus,

  aut nequis malus invidere possit,

  cum tantum sciat esse basiorum.

  (Catullus 5)

  A response to Lesbia's reply

  Quaeris, quot mihi basiationes

  tuae, Lesbia, sint satis superque.

  quam magnus numerus Libyssae harenae

  laserpiciferis2 iacet Cyrenis,

  oraclum Iovis inter aestuosi

  et Batti veteris sacrum sepulcrum;

  aut quam sidera multa, cum tacet nox,

  furtivos hominum vident amores:

  tam te basia multa basiare

  vesano satis et super Catullo est,

  quae nec pernumerare curiosi

  possint nec mala fascinare lingua.

  (Catullus 7)

  1Comparative form of the adjective severus, genitive masculine plural; translate “rather severe” or “stricter.”

  2“producing silphium,” which was used in medicine.

  Vocabulary

  Nouns; Pronouns

  acceptum, -ī (n.) – credit; income

  aes aliēnum, aeris aliēnī (n.) – debt; loan

  aliquis, aliquid – someone; something; anyone; anything

  cōdex, -icis (m.) – book; account book

  color, -ōris (m.) – color

  commodum, -ī – advantage; interest

  conventus, -ūs (m.) – meeting

  elephantus, -ī (m.) – elephant

  expensum, -ī (n.) – payment; expense

  figūra, -ae (f.) – figure; shape

  Hirtius, -iī (m.) – Aulus Hirtius, an acquaintance of Cicero

  Licinius, -iī – Publius Licinius, a friend of Caelius

  nōmen, -inis (n.) – name; item (in an account book)

  reditus, -ūs (m.) – return

  senātūs consultum, -ī (n.) – decree of the senate

  speciēs, -ēī (f.) – appearance

  sumptus, -ūs (m.) – expense

  taurus, -ī (m.) – bull

  testis, -is (m.) – witness; (testicle)

  urus, -ī (m.) – wild ox; ure-ox

  Verbs Taking the Dative

  crēdō, -ere, crēdidī, crēditum – believe; entrust

  dēferō, -ferre, -tulī, -lātum – report; denounce; accuse

  faveō, -ēre, fāvī, fautum – favor

  firmō, -āre – confirm; support

  haesitō, -āre – hesitate

  ignoscō, -ere, ignōvī, ignōtum – forgive

  imperō, -āre – (+ dat.) order

  invideō, -ēre, invīdī, invīsum – envy

  irascor, irascī, irātus sum – be angry with

  noceō, -ēre, nocuī, nocitum – harm

  obsequor, obsequī, obsecūtus sum – submit to; obey

  obstō, -stāre, -stitī, -stātum – stand in the way of; hinder

  parcō, -ere, pepercī, parsum – spare

  pāreō, pārēre, pāruī, pāritum – obey

  persuādeō, -ēre, persuāsī, persuāsum – persuade

  placeō, -ēre, placuī, placitum – please

  resistō, -ere, restitī – resist

  serviō, -īre, servi(v)ī, servitum – serve

  studeō, -ēre, studuī – be eager; apply onself to; study

  suādeō, -ēre, suāsi, suāsum – advise

  subveniō, -īre, subvēnī, subventum – help

  Other Verbs

  agō, -ere, ēgī, actum – do; accomplish

  audeō, -ēre, ausus sum – dare

  auferō, auferre, abstulī, ablātum – steal; take away

  cadō, -ere, cecidī, cāsum – fall; happen

  dēserō, -ere, dēseruī, dēsertum – desert

  dīgerō, -ere, -gessī, -gestum – separate; arrange

  discō, -ere, didicī – learn

  expōnō
, -ere, -posuī, -positum – explain

  noscō, -ere, nōvī, notum – become acquainted with; (in perfect) know; be acquainted with

  possideō, -ēre, -sēdī, -sessum – hold; possess

  prōferō, -ferre, -tulī, -lātum – bring forward

  quaerō, -ere, quaesīvī, quaesītum – ask; inquire

  revertō, -ere, -vertī, -versum – return

  sentiō, -īre, sēnsī, sensum – perceive; feel

  sileō, -ēre, -uī – be silent

  titubō, -āre – totter; stagger; be in doubt; waver

  veneō, -īre, -iī (or īvī), -ītum – be sold

  Adjectives

  conscriptus, -a, -um – elected; conscript (title for senators)

  improbus, -a, -um – bad; wicked

  infestus, -a, -um – hostile

  innātus, -a, -um – inborn; innate

  insitus, -a, -um – implanted; fixed

  mulierārius, -a, -um – belonging to a woman; sent by a woman

  superior, -ius – past; previous

  tertius, -a, -um – third

  turbulentus, -a, -um – restless; troublesome

  Adverbs; Conjunctions

  certē – certainly; surely

  forsitan – perhaps

  plānē – clearly; entirely

  tardius – more slowly

  English Derivations

  From which Latin roots do the following English words derive?

  (i) sumptuary

  (ii) imperative

  (iii) credit

  (iv) irate

  FIGURE 17.3 Temple of Mithras, Carrawburgh, Hadrian's Wall, Northumberland, England. Founded in the 3rd century ad near a military base. Mithras was an Indo-Iranian god, adopted by the Romans. For the Romans, Mithras was a sun-god and his cult flourished especially in the 2nd and 3rd centuries ad. Source: courtesy Sally Baume