Romans versus Greeks, Statues, Romulus and Remus – a fatal disagreement, and Greeks versus Trojans continued.
Cambridge Latin Course, Section 10. Debating the superiority of Romans versus Greeks.
(Can’t help being reminded of the debate in ‘The Life of Brian’. – ‘what did the Romans ever do for us?’)
Controversius – Debate
| Quintus amicum Graecum habebat. amicus erat Alexander. | Quintus had a Greek friend. The friend was Alexander. |
| Quintus et Alexander ad Palaestam ibant, ubi rhetor Graecus erat. | Quintus and Alexander were going to the Palaestra where there was a Greek teacher |
| hic rhetor erat Theodorus et prope palaestram habibat. | This teacher was Theodorus and he was living near the palaestra. |
| in palaestra erat porticus longa, ubi Theodorus iuvenes docat. | In the palaestra there was a long collonade where Theodorus was teaching young men. |
| postquam ad hanc porticumvenerunt, Alexander et Quintus rhetorem audiverunt. | After they came to the colonnade , alexander and Quintus listened to the teacher. |
| rhetor iuvenes controversiam nuntiabat, Graeci sunt meliores quam Romani. | The teacher was proposing/teaching/ announcing a controversy to the young men, Greeks are better than Romans. |
| Quintus vehementer exclamavit. ‘minime nos Romani sumus meliores quam Graeci’ | Quintus exclaimed vehemently. ‘Not at all, we Romans are better than Greeks’ |
| Theodorus, postquam hanc sententiam audivit, respondit ‘haec est tua sententia. nos tamen non sententia quaerimus …. | Theodorus after he heard this opinion, replied.’this is your opinion, we are not looking for opinion we are looking for debate. |
| tum Quintus rhetori et amicus argumentum explicavit. | Then quintus explained his argument to the teacher and his friend(s) |
| nos Romani sumus fortissimi. nos barbaros ferocissimos superamus. | We Romans are very brave. We overcome ferocious barbarians. |
| nos imperium maximum habemus. nos pacem servamus. | We have a great empire. We keep the peace. |
| vos Graeci semper contentiones habetis, vos semper estis turbulenti. | You Greeks are always having disagreements, you are always turbulent. |
| nos sumus architecti optime. nos vias et pontes ubique aedificamus. | We are the best architects, and always build roads and bridges. |
| urbs Roma est maior quam omnes urbes. | The city of Rome is the greatest of all cities. |
| postremo nos Romani diligenter laboramus dei igitur nobis imperium maximum dent. | Finally we Roman work hard, therefore the gods give us the greatest empire. |
| vos Graeci estis ignavi. vos numquam laboratis dei vobis nihil dant. | You Greeks are lazy. You never work, the gods give you nothing. |
| postquam Quintus hanc sentimentiam explicavit iuvenes Pompeiani vehementer plauserunt et eum laudaverunt. | After Quintus explained this opinion the young Pompeians clapped vehemently and praised him’ |
| Alexander surrexit. iuvenes Pompeiani tacuerunt et Alexandrum intente spectaverunt. | Alexander got up. The young Pompeians were silent and looked at Alexander intently. |
| vos Romani estis miserandi.vos imperium habetis, sed vos estis imitatores;nos Graeci sumus auctores. | You Romans are pathetic. You have an empire, but you are imitators. We Greeks are the creators. |
| vos Graecas statuas spectatis. vos Graecos libros legitis, Graecos rhetores auditis. | You look at Greek statues. You read Greek books, listen to Greek teachers. |
| vos Romani estis ridiculi, quod estis Graeciores quam nos Graeci! | You Romans are ridiculous, but you are more Greek than us Greeks |
| iuvenes postquam Alexander sententium suam explicavit,riserunt, tum Theodorus nuntiavit, | After Alexander explained his opinion the young men laughed. Then Theodorus announced, |
| Alexander victor est. argumentum optimum explicavit. | Alexander is the victor. He gave the best opinion. |
Statuae – Statues
| postquam Theodorus Alexandrum laudavit iuvenes Pompeiani e porticu discesserunt. | After Theodorus praised Alexander the Pompeian youths left the collonade. |
| Alexander et Quintus ad villam ambulabant ubi Alexander et duo fratres habitabant. | Alexander and Quintus were walking to the house where Alexander and two brothers were living. |
| Alexander fratribus donum quaerebat, quod diem natalem celebrabant. | Alexander was looking for a present for his brothers, because they were celebrating their birthday. |
| in via institor parvas statuas vendebat et clamabat ‘ statuae! optimae statuae’ | In the street a pedlar was selling little statues and was shouting ‘Statues, the best statues’ |
| Alexander fratribus statuas emit, statuae erant senx, iuvenis, puella pulchra. | Alexander bought statues for his brothers, they were an old man, a young man and a beautiful girl. |
| Alexander, postquam statuas emit ad villam cum Quintus contendit. | After he had bought the statues Alexander hurried to the house with Quintus. |
| duo fratres in horto sedebant. Diodorus picturam pingebat, Thrasymachus librum Graecum legebat. | The two brothers were sitting in the garden. Diodorus was painting a picture, Thrasymachus was reading a Greek book. |
| postquam Alexander et Quintus villam intraverunt, pueri ad eos concurrerunt. Diodorus statuas conspexit. | After Alexander and Quintus entered the villa, the boys ran up to them. Diodorus spotted the statues. |
| ‘Alexander. quid portas?’ inquit. vos est felicas’ inquit Alexander. | ‘Alexander what are you carrying?’ he asked. You are lucky, said Alexander |
| ‘ego donum habeo quod vos diem natalem celebratis. ecce!’ Alexander fratribus statuas ostendit. | I have a gift for you because it is your birthday. See! Alexander showed the statues to his brothers |
| ‘quam pulchra est puella’ inquit Diodorus ‘da mihi puellam.’ | ‘How beautiful the girl is, said Diodorus’ Give me the girl’ |
| ‘minime’, frater, da mihi puellam’ clamavit Thrasymachus. Pueri dissentiebant et lacrimabant. | ‘No indeed, brother’, shouted Thrasymachus,’give me the girl!’ The boys were arguing and crying. |
| ‘hercle!’ vos estis stultissime pueri’ clamavit Alexander iratus. | ‘By Hercules’ you are the most stupid boys’, exclaimed Alexander angrily. |
| ‘semper dissentitis, semper lacrimatis. abite! abite! ego statuas retineo.’ | ‘You are always arguing, always crying. Go away! Go away! I am keeping the statues’ |
| pueri, postquam Alexander hoc dixit, abierunt. Diodorus picturam in terram deiecit, quod iratus erat. | The boys went out after Alexander had said this. Diodorus through his picture on the ground, because he was angry. |
| Thrasymachus librum in piscinam deiecit quod iratissimus erat. | Thrasymachus threw his book into the fishpond because he was most angry. |
| tum Quintus dixit ‘ Alexander, da mihi statuas. Thrasymache!, Diodore! venite huc!’ | Then Quintus said ‘Alexander give me the statues. Thrasymachus! Diodorus! Come here! |
| ‘Thrasymachus, ecce! tibi senem do, quod senex erat philosophus. | Thrasymachus, I give you the old man, because the old man was a philosopher. |
| ‘Diodore, tibi iuvenem do, quod iuvenis erat pictor.’ | Diodorus, I give you the young man, because the young man was an artist. |
| ego mihi puellam do, quod ego sum solus. Vosne estis contenti? | I give myself the girl, because I am lonely. Are you content? |
| ‘sumus contenti ‘responderuont pueri. | We are content, replied the boys. |
| ‘ecce Alexander’, inquit Quintus, ‘vos Graeci estis optime artifices, sed turbulenti’ | See Alexander, said Quintus,’ You Greeks are the best craftsmen, but quarrelsome. |
| ‘nos Romani vobis pacem damus’. | We Romans give you peace. |
| ‘et vos praemium accipitis,’ susurravit Thrasymachus. | And you take the profit’ muttered Thrasymachus. |
Anulus Aegyptius -The Egyption Ring
| Syphax in taberna sedebat. caupo Syphaci vinam dedit. | Syphax was sitting in the Inn. The inkeeper gave wine to Syphax. |
| Syphax cauponi anulus tradidit. ‘pecuniam non habeo’ inquit, ‘quod Neptune navem meum delevit. | Syphax handed the innkeeper a ring. ‘I have no money’ he said ‘ because Neptune destroyed my ship’ |
| caupo postquam anulum accepit eum inspexit. ‘anulus antiquus est’ inquit. | After the innkeeper accepted the ring he inspected it. ‘It is ancient’ he said. |
| ‘ita vero est’. Syphax cauponi respondit. ‘servus Aegyptius mihi anulum dedit. servus in pyramide anulum invenit.’ | ‘Yes indeed’ Syphax replied to the innkeeper. An Egyptian slave gave me the ring. The slave found the ring in a pyramid.’ |
| caupo, postquam tabernam clausit, ad villa suam festinavit. | The innkeeper, after he closed the inn, hurried to his house. |
| caupo uxori annulum ostendit. caupo uxori anulum dedit, quod anulus eam delectavit. | The innkeeper showed the ring to his wife. The innkeeper gave the ring to his wife, because she liked it. |
| uxor postridie ad urbem contendebat. | The next day his wife was hastening to the town. |
| subito servus ingens in via apparuit. pecuniam postulavit. femina quod erat perterrita servum pecuniam dedit. | Suddenly a huge slave appeared in the road. He demanded money. The woman gave the slave money, because she was terrified. |
| servus anulum conspexit. anulum postulavit. femina servo eum tradidit. | The slave spotted the ring. He demanded the ring. The woman handed it to the slave. |
| femina ad tabernam rediit et maritum quaesivit. | The woman returned to the inn and searched for her husband. |
| mox eum invenit. caupo incendium spectabat. | Soon she found him. the innkeeper was looking at a fire. |
| eheu! taberna ardebat! femina marito rem totam narravit. | Good heavens! the inn was on fire. The woman told her husband everything. |
| ‘anulus infelix est’, inquit caupo, ‘anulus tabernam meam delevit. | ‘The ring is unlucky’ said the innkeeper, ‘ the ring destroyed my inn’ |
| servus ingens postquam pecuniam et anulum cepit ad urbem contendit. | After he took the money and the ring the huge slave hurried to the town. |
| subito tres servos conspexit. servi inimici erant. | Suddenly he saw three slaves. The slaves were his enemies. |
| inimici postquam pecuniam conspexerunt, servum verberabant. servus fugit sed anulum amisit, | After they had seen the money the enemies were beating the slave. The slave fled, but he lost the ring. |
| Grumio cum Poppaea ambulabat. amulum in via invenit. | Grumio was walking with Poppeia. He saw the ring in the road. |
| ‘quid vidit?’ rogavit Poppaea. | What have you seen’ asked Poppaea.. |
| ‘anulum video’ inquit ‘anulus Aegyptus est’. | I see a ring, he said ‘ it is an Egyptian ring.’ |
| ‘euge!’ inquit Poppaea ‘anulus felix est.’ | ‘Well done’ said Poppaea, ‘ the ring is lucky’ |
The Greek Fleet Becalmed at Aulis
From GCSE Latin Stories book.
The Greek Fleet Becalmed at Aulis
From GCSE Latin Stories book.
Graeci mille naves Aulidem miserunt. Troiam navigare cupiebant ut urbem caperent.
A thousand Greek ships were sent to Aulis. They were eager to sail to Troy so that they might capture the city.
Diana tamen, irata quod Agamemnon cervum sibi sacrum necaverat, vento inhibebat.
However Diana, angry because Agamemnon had killed a sacred deer, was holding back the wind.
naves igitur navigare non poterant.
Therefore the ships were unable to sail.
tum vates Agamemnon dixit., ‘dea poenam poscit. filiam Iphigeniam, sacrifare debes.
Then the priest said to agamemnon, ‘ The goddess demands revenge/retribution. You have to sacrifice your daughter Iphigenia.
(This is Calchas, that same priest whom Homer describes as ‘ that perfidious man’, and who decreed that a young man Sinon should be sacrificed to ensure a safe journey home from Troy)
‘Graeci Troiam navigare poterunt.
The Greeks will be able to sail to Troy.
Agamemnon, quamquam miserimus erat, epistulam uxori scripsit.
Although Agamemnon was most unhappy, he wrote a letter to his wife.
simulabat Achilli uxorem quaerere. puella igitur a matre Aulidem missa est.
He was pretending to look for a wife for Achilles. Therefore the girl is sent to Aulis by her mother.
tum pater filiam sacrificare parababat omnes qui aderant oculos averterunt.
When the father was preparing to sacrifice his daughter all who were present averted their eyes.
Diana tamen puellae miserescebat. aram nube densa celavit.
However Diana was feeling pity for the girl. She hid the altar in thick mist.
cervum pro puella in aram posuit. cervus necatus est; dea tamen puellam ad terram Taurorum portavit, ut sacerdos sua ibi esset.
She placed a deer on the altar instead of the girl. The deer is killed; then the Goddess carried the girl to the land of the Taurians (The Crimea), where she might be her priestess.
Graeci, quamquam nexciebant quid accidisset, Troiam navigare tandem poterant.
The Greeks, though they were unaware of what might have happened were then able to sail to Troy.
They have sneaked in a few wicked verb tenses there –
Romulus and Remus – a Fatal Disagreement.
From GCSE Story Book
Romulus: salve Reme, frater et amice.
Greetings Remus, brither and friend.
Remus: salve Romule, frater et amici! Amulium tandem vicimus; laetissimus sum.
Greetings Romulus, brother and friend! We have finally conquered Amulius; I am very happy.
Romulus: ita vero, Reme: proelium longum et difficile erat, sed nunc novem urbem aedificare possumus.
Yes indeed Remus: it was a long and difficult conflict but now we are able to buid a new city.
Remus: certe, sed ubi stabit urbs? quod nomen habebit?
Certainly, but where will the city stand? What name will it have?
Romulus: Reme, urbem in Palatio aedificare debemus. quod ego fortior quam tu et callidior sum urbs nomen meum habebit. Roma vocabitur.
Remus, we are going to build the city on the Palatine Hill. because I am braver and cleverer than you the city will have my name. It will be called Rome.
Remus: minime Romule! ego fortior, ego callidior sum. urbem in Aventino aedificabemus. Rema vocabitur.
No Romulus! I am braver, I am cleverer. We will build the city on the Aventine Hill. We will call it Rema.
Romulus: dei hoc constituent: fratre delecto argurium mittent.
The gods will decide this. they will send a sign to the brothers.
Fratres in duobus collibus stant, Romulus in Palatio; Remus in Aventino. dei duo auguria mittunt; sex vultures Remo, duodecim Romulo.
The brothers stand on the two hills, Romulus on the Palatine, Remus on the Aventine. The gods send two signs; six vultures to Remus, twelve to Romulus.
Remus: dei me legerunt! augurium primum mihi miserunt.
The gods chose me! They sent the first sign to me.
Romulus: minime, frater! augurium meum maius et melius fuit.
No way brother! my sign was bigger and better.
Fratres vehementer pugnant. Romulus iratus Remum necat.
The brothers fight fiercely. angry Romulus kills Remus.
Romulus: Sic constitutum est, frater. urbs Roma vocabitur.
That’s settled, brother, the city will be called Rome.