PERSEUS 04 - GETS HIS OUTFIT
a). Perseus ubi haec audívit, ex ínsulá discessit, et postquam ad continentem vénit, Medúsam quaesívit. Diú frústrá quaerébat; namque nátúram locí ígnórábat. Tandem Apolló et Minerva viam démónstrávérunt. Prímum ad Graeás, sorórés Medúsae, pervénit. Ab hís tálária et galeam magicam accépit. Apolló autem et Minerva falcem et speculum dedérunt. Tum postquam tálária pedibus induit, in áera ascendit. Diú per áera volábat; tandem tamen ad eum locum vénit ubi Medúsa cum céterís Gorgonibus habitábat. Gorgonés autem mónstra erant specié horribilí; capita enim eárum anguibus omnínó contécta erant. Manús etiam ex aere factae erant.
b) We have picked out some words for consideration below. For the words not included in this list pease refer to the WORDLIST in PAGES TOP RIGHT SIDE BAR. Also see ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR NOTES in PAGES.
Perseus - When there are two clauses with the same subject, this usually stands first, as here Perseus being the subject.Haec - Literally, ‘these things’; in this context we can translate as ‘this’. It is necessary to know the literal meaning of a Latin word, but the translation will often be something quite different if it is to be acceptable English. Here we would proably say ‘When Perseus heard this … etc’.
Ex - prep. Meaning ‘from’, followed by ablative.
Continentem - Mainland, continent, (from com- + teneo, hold together, keep within. See WORDLIST lest side bar under PAGES).
Diu frustra - for a long time, in vain.
Graeas - The Graeas were three old women who had one eye and one
tooth in common, and took turns in using them.
ab iis - 'from these' ablative pronoun after ab.
Talaria - sandals. These sandals enabled the wearer to fly.
Galeam - helmet. This belonged to Pluto, the god of the underworld of the dead, and whosoever wore it was invisible.
Apollo autem et Minerva - autem often means however; here it means moreover.
Pedibus - 'on his feet,' dative plural of indirect object (see ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR under PAGES left sidebar at the top).
Aera - you might think this is an ablative after in but it is not it is accusative as ‘in’ meaning motion into takes accusative, ‘in’ meaning place where takes the ablative. It is spelled like this because it is the accusative form of the Greek word ‘aer’.
Ceteris - All the other, notice cum with the ablative plural.
specie horribili - 'of terrible appearance.' This is called ablative of description and is only used when a noun is with an adjective.
Earum - Of them, genitive feminine plural (see IS, ea, id ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR under PAGES left sidebar).
Anguibus - With snakes, ablative plural.
contecta - This and factae below are participles being used as adjectives meaning ‘covered’ and ‘made’ respectively.
c) 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.
Perseus ubi haec audívit, ex ínsulá discessit,
When Perseus heard this he left the island
et postquam ad continentem vénit, Medúsam quaesívit.
and after he came to the mainland, looked for Medusa.
Diú frústrá quaerébat; namque nátúram locí ígnórábat.
For a long while in vain he searched for he did not know the nature of the place.
Tandem Apolló et Minerva viam démónstrávérunt.
At length Apollo and Minerva showed him the way.
Prímum ad Graeás, sorórés Medúsae, pervénit.
First of all he came to the Graeae, Medusa’s sisters.
Ab hís tálária et galeam magicam accépit.
From these he received sandales and a magic helmet.
Apolló autem et Minerva falcem et speculum dedérunt.
Apollo and Minerva moreover gave him a dagger and mirror.
Tum postquam tálária pedibus induit, in áera ascendit.
Then after he put the sandals on his feet, went up into the air.
Diú per áera volábat; tandem tamen ad eum locum vénit
He flew through the air for a long time; at last however he came to the place
ubi Medúsa cum céterís Gorgonibus habitábat.
Where Medusa was living with the other Gorgons.
Gorgonés autem mónstra erant specié horribilí;
The Gorgons however were monsters horrible in aappearance;
capita enim eárum anguibus omnínó contécta erant.
For their heads were completely covered with snakes.
Manús etiam ex aere factae erant.
And in addition their hands were made of brass.
d) The following section is for you to copy and compose your own translation.
Perseus ubi haec audivit, ex insula discessit,
et postquam ad continentem venit,
Medusam quaesivit. Diu frustra quaerebat;
namque naturam loci ignorabat.
Tandem Apollo et Minerva viam demonstraverunt.
Primum ad Graeas, sorores Medusae, pervenit.
Ab his talaria et galeam magicam accepit.
Apollo autem et Minerva falcem
et speculum dederunt.
Tum postquam talaria pedibus induit,
in aera ascendit. Diu per aera volabat;
tandem tamen ad eum locum venit
ubi Medusa cum ceteris Gorgonibus habitabat.
Gorgones autem monstra erant specie horribili;
capita enim earum anguibus omnino contecta erant.
Manus etiam ex aere factae erant.
et postquam ad continentem venit,
Medusam quaesivit. Diu frustra quaerebat;
namque naturam loci ignorabat.
Tandem Apollo et Minerva viam demonstraverunt.
Primum ad Graeas, sorores Medusae, pervenit.
Ab his talaria et galeam magicam accepit.
Apollo autem et Minerva falcem
et speculum dederunt.
Tum postquam talaria pedibus induit,
in aera ascendit. Diu per aera volabat;
tandem tamen ad eum locum venit
ubi Medusa cum ceteris Gorgonibus habitabat.
Gorgones autem monstra erant specie horribili;
capita enim earum anguibus omnino contecta erant.
Manus etiam ex aere factae erant.
2 comments:
Every summer for the past few years, I have tried to relearn Latin with the aim of being able to read somewhat fluently. At the moment, my skills are almost equal to Ritchie's Perseus, but there are a few places that had me stumped. I really appreciate being able to check my comprehension against your notes. Thanks so much for putting this out on the web.
Nigga this translation is wack af. When you used moreover in the stead of also I l0ost it
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