A dinner Party where there is a lot to drink and things get Spooky, Slave problems, Death of Hector Part 1.
We’ve all done it haven’t we? Started telling ghost stories and been scared to walk home- it seems the Pompeians were no different from the rest of us.
Cena
Cambridge Course Book 1, the illustrations 1-9 are on pages 84-85 of your books.
| 1. Amicus Caecilium visitabat. villam intravit | A friend was visiting Caecilius. |
| 2. Caecilius amicum exspectabat. amicum salutavit. | Caecilius was expecting his friend. He greeted him. |
| 3. amicus cum Caecilio cenebat. cenam laudavit. | The friend was dining with Caecilius. He praised the dinner. |
| 4. amicus poculaum inspexit. vinum gustavit. | The friend inspected his wine cup. He drank the wine. |
| 5. amicus poculum hausit. tum fabulam longam narravit. | The friend drained his cup. Then he told a long story. |
| 6. Caecilius plausit. ‘euge!’ dixit. | Caecilius applauded,’ more!’, he said. |
| 7. amici optimum vinum biberunt. tandem surrexerunt. | The friends drank a great deal of wine. Finally they rose. |
| 8. sevi in atrio stabant. ianuam aperuerunt. | The slaves were standing in the atrium. They opened the door. |
| 9. amicus ‘vale’ dixit, e villa discessit. | The friend said goodbye and left the villa. |
fabula mirabilis
| multi amici cum Caecilio cenebant. Felix quoque aderat. omnes amici coquum laudaverunt, quod cena erat optima. | Many friends were dining with Caecilius. Felix was also present. All the friends praised the cook, because the dinner was the excellent. |
| postquam omnes cenaverunt, Caecilius clamavit, ‘ubi est Decens? Decens non adest’. tum Caecilius Clementem e villa misit. servus Decentem per urbem quaesevit. | After everyone had eaten, Caecilius exclaimed, ‘ where is Decens? Decens has not arrived’. Then Caecilius sent Clemens from the villa. The slave searched for Decens through the town. |
| postquam servus villa discessit, Felix poculum hausit. tum libertus fabulam mirabilem narravit. | After the slave had left the villa, Felix drained his wine cup. Then he told a strange story. |
| ‘olim amicus meus ex urbe discedebat. Nox erat, sed luna plena lucebat. amicus per viam festinabat, ubi silva erat, et subito centurionem conspexit. | Once upon a time a friend of mine was leaving the city. it was night, but a full moon was shining. My friend was hurrying along the road, when there was a wood, and suddenly he saw a centurion. |
| amicus meus centurionem salutavit. centurio tamen nihil dixit. | My friend gretted the centurion, however the centurion said nothing. |
| tum centurio tunicam deposuit. ecce! centurio evanuit. ingens lupus subito apparuit. | Then the centurian took off his tunic. Behold! the centurian had vanished. A huge wold suddenly appeared. |
| amicus meus valde timebat. ingens lupus ululavit et ad silvam festinavit. | My friend was truly terrified. The huge wolf howled and hurried into the wood. |
| tunica in vias iecabat. amicus tunicam caute inspexit. ecce! tunica erat lapidae. | The tunic was lying in the rod. My friend cautiously examined the tunic. See! it was of stone. |
| tum amicus rem intellexit. centurio erat versipellis | Then my friend understood everything. The centurion was a werewolf. |
Decens
postquam Felix fabulam narravit, Caecillius et hospites plauderunt, tum omnes tacebant et aliam fabulam exspectabant. subito clamorem audiverunt. omnes ad atrium festinaverunt, ubit Clemens stabat.
After Felix told his story, Caecilius and the guests applauded, then all were silent and were expecting another story. Suddenly they heard a noise. They all hurried to the atrium, where Clemens was standing.
| Caecilius: | hercle! quid est? cur clamorem facis? | By Hercules (Good Heavens!) why are making a noise. |
| Clemens: | Decens, Decens … | Decens, Decens … |
| Caecilius: | quid est? | What is it? |
| Clemens: | Decens est mortuus. | Decens is dead |
| omnes: | Quid? mortuus? | What? dead? |
| two slaves enter | ||
| Caecilius: | quid dicis? | what do you say? |
| servus primus: | dominus meus ad villam tuam veniebat; dominus gladiatorem prope amphitheatrum conspexit. | My master was coming to your house; my master noticed a gladiator near the maphitheatre. |
| servus secundus: | gladiator dominum terruit, quod gladium ingentem vibrabat. tum gladiator clamavit ; ‘tu me non terres, leo, tu me non terres! leones amicum meum in arena necaverunt, sed tu me non terres!’ | The gladiator frightened the master, becuase he was brandishing a huge sword. Then the gladiator shouted ‘ you do not frighten me lion, you do not frighten me. Lions killed my friend in the arena, but you do not frighten me! |
| servus primus: | Decens valde timebat. tu es insanus’ inquit dominus.’ego non sum leo. sum homo. | Decens was truly afraid. ‘You are mad’, said the master ‘I am not a lion, I am a man.’ |
| servus secundus: | gladiator tamen dominum ferociter petevit et eum ad amphithreatrum traxit. Dominus perterritus clamavit. Clemens clamorem audivit. clemens fortis erat, amphitheatrum intravit, Decentem in arena conspexit. dominus meus erat motuus. | However the gladiator attacked my master ferociously and dragged him to the amphitheatre. The master cried out in terror. Clemens heard the noise. Clemens was brave, he entered the amphitheatre, he saw Decens in the arena. My master was dead. |
| Caecilius: | ego rem intellego! gladiator erat Pugnax. Pugnax erat gladiator notissimus. Pugnax olim in arena pugnabat, et leo Pugnacem necavit. Pugnax non vivit; Pugnax est umbra. umbra Decentem necavit. | I understand everything! The gladiator was Pugax. Pugnax was a famous gladiator. Pugnax was once fighting in the arena, and a lion killed him. Pugnax is not alive. Pugnax is a ghost, a ghost killed Decem. |
post cenam
| postquam Caecilius rem explicavit, omnes amici tacebant. | After Caecilius had explained everything, all the friends were silent. |
| mox ‘vale’ dixerunt et e villa discesserunt, per viam timide procedebant. | soon they said ‘goodbye’ and left the villa, they proceeded through the street timidly. |
| nullae stellae lucebant. nulla luna in caelo. | No stars shone. No moon in the sky. |
| amici nihil audiverunt, quod viae desertae erant. amici per urbem tacite procedebant, quod umbram timebant. | The friends heard nothing, because the streets were deserted. The friends were proceeding through the city silently, because they feared a ghost. |
| subito feles ululavit. amici valde timebant. | Suddenly a cat howled. The friends were truly afraid. |
| omnes per urbem perterriti ruerunt, quod de vita desperabant. | They all rushed through the city in terror, because they feared for their lives. |
| clamorem mirabilem fecerunt. Multi Pompeiani erat soliciti, quod clamorem audivierunt. | They made an amazing noise. Many Pompeians were concerned, because they heard the noise. |
| Caecilius tamen clamorem non audivit, quod cubiculo dormiebat. | Caecilius however did not hear the noise, because he was asleep in the bedroom. |
Metella and Melissa
| Metella Melissam in villa quaerebat. Metella culinam intravit, ubi Grumio laborat. Grumio erat iratus. | Metella was searching for Melissa in the villa. Metalla entered the kitchen, where Grumio works. Grumio was angry. |
| ‘cur tu es iratus, Grumio? cur ferociter circumspecta?’ rogavit Metella. | Why are you angry Grumio? Why are you looking about fiercely?’ (why the angry face?) asked Metella. |
| ‘heri Melissa cenam optimam paravit’, respondit coquus. hodie ego cenam pessimus paro, quod nullus cibus adest. | Yesterday Melissa prepared a great meal’ replies the cook. ‘Today I prepare an awful meal, because there is no food present (left). |
| heri multus cibus erat in culina. ancilla omnem cibum coxit.’ | Yesterday there was much(plenty) of food in the kitchen. The slave girl has cooked it all.’ |
| Metella e culina discessit et ad tabulinum festinavit, ubi Clemens laborat. Clemens quoque erat iratus. | Metella left the kitchen and hurried to the study, where Clemens works. Clemens was also angry. |
| Melissa est pestis!’ clamavit servus. ‘quid fecit Melissa?’ rogavit Metella. | Melissa est pestis!’ clamavit servus. ‘quid fecit Melissa?’ rogavit Metella. |
| ‘heri in tablino laborabat’, respondit Clemens. ‘hodie ego in tablino laboro. Ecce! cerae et stili absunt. nihil est in loco proprio. | Yesterday she was working in the study’, replies Clemens, ‘ today I work in the study. See! Tablets and pens are missing. Nothing is in its proper place.’ |
| Metella, postquam e tablino discessit, hortum intravit. Metella Melissam in horto vidit. | After leaving the study, Metella entered the garden. Metella sees Melissa in the garden. |
| eheu! ancilla lacrimabat. ‘Melissa cur lacrimas?’ rogavit Metella. | Alas the slave girl as crying. ‘Why are you crying Melissa?’ asked Metella. |
| ‘lacrimo quod Grumio et Clemens me vituperant’ respondit ancilla. | I cry because Grumio and Clemens are reproving me (telling me off) replied the slave girl. |
| ego tamen te non vitupero’ inquit Metella. ‘ego te laudo’ | yet I do not reprove you(tell you off) says Metella, ‘ I praise you’ |
| ecce! tu crines meos optime componis. stolam meam optime componis. | See! You arrange my hair very well. You arrange my dress(clothes) very well. |
| fortasse Grumio et Clemens te non laudant; sed ego te laudo, quod me diligenter curas. | Perhaps Grumio and Clemens do not praise you, but I praise you who takes care of me diligently. |
Fancy something a bit more challenging?
The Death of Hector – Part 1
The Death of Hector Part 1 (adapted from the Iliad)
Back Story – We are back in Troy. The seige drags on but Achilles is refusing to fight. He sulks in his tent, I think over a dispute about a female prisoner, a Trojan princess that he felt should be his. His young favourite, Patroculus is shamed by this, and goes out into battle in his stead, wearing Achilles’ distinctive armour, and is killed by Hector. Hector refuses to give up the body and says he will leave it out for the dogs to devour. Achilles is grief stricken and furious and challenges Hector to single combat. Everyone else retreats into the city, leaving Hector alone.
(It’s interesting how Roman literature seems to jump quite happily between tenses. I noticed it with Ovid too.)
ut canis cervam per valles et silvas captat, ita Achilles Hectorem circum muros Troiae;
As a hound hunts the deer through valleys and woods, so Achilles (persued)Hector around the city walls of Troy;
et quando Hector portis Urbis appropinquaverat, Achilles eum antecedebat et ad campum pellebat.
And whenever Hector would approach the city gates, Achilles was anticipating him and pushing him towards the camp.
Sed postquam quarter muros circumierunt, ad Achillem venit Athene dea et, ‘nunc’ inquit,’praeclare Achilles, Hectorem superabimus et interficiemus.
But after they had circled the city walls four times, the goddess Athene comes and ‘now’ she says, ‘clearly Achilles we will overcome and we will destroy Hector.
non iam nos effugiet etsi Apollo auxilium dabit.
He will not now escape us even if Apollo gives (him) help.
itaque discessit Athene et, postquan forman Deiphobi, fratris Hectoris, induit, appropinquavit et Hectori,’ frater’ inquit,’nunc melius est resistere et cum Achille pugnare.
And so Athene left and after she put on the form of Deiphobi, Hector’s brother she approached and says to Hector ’Today is better (now is the time) to make a stand and to fight with Achilles.’
tum Hector,’Deiphobe’, respondit, ‘antea tu mihi eras omnium fretrem carissimus; nunc tamen eo magis te amo quod, dum ceteri intra moena manent, tu solus ex urbe venisti,’
Then Hector replies Deiphobe before, you were the brother most beloved by me, yet now I love you more because, while the others stay within the city walls you alone came out of the city.
tum iterum Athene, mi frater’, inquit, ‘ tui parentes et fratres et comites omnes pro te tremunt.
Then Athene speaks again ‘my brother’, she says ‘your brothers, parents, all the nobles tremble before you.
frater fortis et nobilis in pugno triumphebis.
Noble and brave brother you will triumph in the fight’.
deinde concurrerunt Hector et Achilles, et ille, ‘non iam’ inquit, ‘ fugiam. Animus enim me iubet, Achilles, te sustinere.
Then Hector and Achilles engaged in battle, and the former says ‘ I will flee no longer’ Indeed my mind commands me. (indeed it is imperative), Achilles, to withstand you. (stand up to you?)
aut ego interficiam aut a te interficiar.
Either I will kill you or be killed by you.
si tamen mihi di victoriam dederint, te non male tractabo, sed, cum te armis praeclaris spoliavero, et Achaeis te reddam.
If however the gods should give me victory, I will not treat you badly, but, I am going to strip you of your splendid armour, and return you to the Greeks.
sed truci vultu Achilles, ‘Hector’ inquit, ‘ cur ita deliras?ut neque inter homines leonesque, neque inter lupos, ovesque fides ulla esse potest, ita nullum inter nos erit foedus.
But with fierce looks, Achilles says ‘Hector why are you so mad? As neither between men and lions, nor wolves and sheep will any trust be held, so nothing will be agreed between us.
virtutis tuae memor pugna. nulla enim tibi est fuga.
Remembering your courage in a fight. Flight is in fact nothing for you.( Flight is not an option)
brevi poenas dabis pro amicis quos proelio interfecisti.
Soon you will pay the price for (my)friends whom you killed in battle
To be continued …
I’m afraid I haven’t got around to a quiz this time. Must be lock-down lethargy setting in, is it in this list?
cupiditas,
gula,
avaritia,
inertia,
ira,
invidia,
superbia
- definitely inertia, but I deny all the others!