RITCHIE'S FABULAE FACILES RITCHIE'S SIMPLE STORIES: 66 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION

THE ARGONAUTS 66 - THE SYMPLEGADES

a)Hóc factó Phíneus, ut pró tantó benefició meritam grátiam referret, Iásoní démónstrávit quá ratióne Symplégadés vítáre posset. Symplégadés autem duae erant rúpés ingentí mágnitúdine, quae á Iove positae erant eó cónsilió, né quis ad Colchida perveníret. Hae parvó interválló in marí natábant, et sí quid in medium spatium vénerat, incrédibilí celeritáte concurrébant. Postquam igitur á Phíneó doctus est quid faciendum esset, Iásón sublátís ancorís návem solvit, et léní ventó próvectus mox ad Symplégadés appropinquávit. Tum in prórá stáns columbam quam in manú tenébat émísit. Illa réctá viá per medium spatium volávit, et priusquam rúpés cónflíxérunt, incolumis évásit caudá tantum ámissá. Tum rúpés utrimque discessérunt; antequam tamen rúrsus concurrerent, Argonautae, bene intellegentés omnem spem salútis in celeritáte positam esse, summá ví rémís contendérunt et návem incolumem perdúxérunt. Hóc factó dís grátiás máximás égérunt, quórum auxilió é tantó perículó éreptí essent; omnés enim sciébant nón sine auxilió deórum rem tam félíciter événisse.

b)

Some words have been chosen for special consideration and are listed below. For the words not included in this list please refer to the WORDLIST in PAGES TOP RIGHT SIDE BAR. If you need help with points of grammar raised in today's excerpt, consult ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR NOTES also top right side bar.

Hoc facto - 'when this had been accomplished.' The ablative absolute is often used instead of a subordinate clause of time, cause, condition, or the like. The ablative absolute 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.

pro tanto – as we have seen before tanto is a signal word alerting us to a coming result clause which will have the verb in the subjunctive mood, as here with referret.

referret.- 'To give thanks' or 'thank' is usually gratias agere; gratiam referre means 'to show one's gratitude,' 'to recompense' or 'requite.'

qua ratione – in what way, how

eo consilio – ‘for this purpose’, or ‘to this end’, obviously introducing a purpose clause which will have its verb in the subjunctive mood, which turns out to be perveniret, ‘so that no one might reach’ or ‘in order that no on might come to’.

ne quis – ‘so that no one.' 'Negative clauses of purpose and negative clauses of result may be distinguished by the negative: ne, ne quis, etc., for negative purpose clauses; ut non, ut nemo, etc., for result clauses.

Colchida – this is an alternative feminine accusative singular Greek version of the third declension feminine latinised noun Colchis.

Hae – ‘these’, this feminine nominative plural pronoun refers to the two huge cliffs, or rocks, rupes, -is, f., rock, cliff; reef.

natabant – third person plural imperfect tense indicative active of nato, natare, -avi, -atus, first conjugation verb means ‘swim’ and also, as here, ‘float’.

parvo intervallo – this is ablative of degree of difference meaning ‘by a small distance’ meaning, 'a short distance apart.

in medium spatium - 'between them.'

quid faciendum esset – 'what was to be done.' This is the gerundive which is used with the verb sum to indicate obligation, that something should, or must be done. This is called the passive periphrastic conjugation.

sublatis ancoris – ablative absolute again, literally: ‘when the anchors had been lifted’.

sublatis – though it is not obvious at a glance where this comes from; it is from the verb tollo, tollere, sustuli, sublatus, meaning lift, raise; take away, remove. When used with anchor, ancoras tollere, it means ‘to raise anchor’ and there is another expression in English which means exactly the same which is ‘to weigh anchor.’ sublatis ... solvit, 'weighed anchor and put to sea.'

provectus – past participle of proveho, -ere, -vexi, -vectus ‘carry forward.’

concurrerent, - 'could rush together.' The subjunctive is used with antequam to denote that the action is expected or intended.

utrimque - adverb, ‘on either side or both sides’.

intellegentes - equivalent to cum intellegerent.

dis - the usual form of the dative and ablative plural of deus, as di of the nominative plural.

quorum auxilio - equivalent to cum eorum auxilio, ‘by or with whose help’. A relative clause of cause, like a cum-clause of cause, has its verb in the subjunctive.

Note: This section is not translated into idiomatic English but is intended, together with the notes, to give you the gist of the meaning; you can then come up with your own improved translation.

Hoc facto Phineus,

When this had been done, Phineus,

ut pro tanto beneficio

in return for such great kindness

meritam gratiam referret,

gave deserved gratitude

Iasoni demonstravit qua ratione

explained to Jason in what way

Symplegades vitare posset.

he might avoid the Symplegades.

Symplegades autem duae erant

Now the Symplegades were two

rupes ingenti magnitudine,

rocks of enormous size,

quae a Iove positae erant

which by Jupiter had been placed

eo consilio, ne quis ad Colchida perveniret.

for this purpose, so that no one could come to Colchis.

Hae parvo intervallo in mari natabant,

These were floating close together in the sea

et si quid in medium spatium venerat,

and whenever anything came into the space in the middle

incredibili celeritate concurrebant.

they used to run together with incredible speed.

Postquam igitur a Phineo doctus est

therefore after they it was explained by Phineus

quid faciendum esset,

what must be done,

Iason sublatis ancoris navem solvit,

Jason having weighed anchor, set sail,

et leni vento provectus

and carried forward by a gently wind

mox ad Symplegades appropinquavit.

soon they approached the Simplegades.

Tum in prora stans columbam

Then standing in the prow, the dove

quam in manu tenebat emisit.

which he held in his hand, he released.

Illa recta via per medium spatium volavit,

The dove flew straight through the middle,

et priusquam rupes conflixerunt,

and before the cliffs dashed together,

incolumis evasit cauda tantum amissa.

it escaped unharmed with only its tail missing.

Tum rupes utrimque discesserunt;

Then the cliffs on both sides moved apart;

antequam tamen rursus concurrerent,

and before they could again rush together,

Argonautae, bene intellegentes

The Argonauts, knowing well

omnem spem salutis in celeritate positam esse,

that all hope of safety was to be placed in speed

summa vi remis contenderunt

rowed with the utmost effort

et navem incolumem perduxerunt.

and brought the ship through unharmed.

Hoc facto dis gratias maximas egerunt,

Having done this, they gave great thanks to the gods

quorum auxilio e tanto periculo erepti essent;

by whose help they had been snatched from such danger;

omnes enim sciebant non sine auxilio deorum

for they all knew that without the help of the gods

rem tam feliciter evenisse.

the affair would not have turned out so happily.

d) The following section is for you to copy and translate.