13 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION – HERCULES 13 – HERCULES AND THE SERPENTS

HERCULES 13 - HERCULES AND THE SERPENTS

a)

Íphiclés, fráter Herculis, mágná vóce exclámávit; sed Herculés ipse, fortissimus puer, haudquáquam territus est. Parvís manibus serpentís statim prehendit, et colla eárum mágná ví compressit. Tálí modó serpentés á pueró interfectae sunt. Alcména autem, máter puerórum, clámórem audíverat,et marítum suum é somnó excitáverat.Ille lúmen accendit et gladium suum rapuit;tum ad puerós properábat, sed ubi ad locum vénit,rem míram vídit, Herculés enim rídébat et serpentís mortuás mónstrábat.

b)

The words below have been selected for special attention.  For words not included in this list pease refer to the WORDLIST in PAGES TOP RIGHT SIDE BAR.

Herculis – genitive case to express ‘of Hercules’.
Magna voce – ablative case to express ‘in a loud (literally big, great) voice. This is called the 'ablative of manner'. Notice you do not always need to put the preposition ‘in’ as the ablative case on its own is enough.
Ipse – himself, see PERSONAL PRONOUNS in ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR NOTES at the top right under PAGES.
Fortissimus – superlative adjective meaning the most brave, very brave.
Parvis manibus – ablative case here used to express 'with his little hands', notice again that the preposition ‘with’ is not translated as the ablative case expresses ‘with’ on its own without ‘cum’. This is called the 'instrumental ablative'.
Magna vi – ablative case again to express ‘with’ meaning ‘with great force’; this is the ablative of manner again.
A puero – a with puero to express ‘by the boy’. Here, we use the preposition ‘a’ as we are dealing with ‘by + a human being’; as we have seen, with things we can leave the preposition out but not when we are referring to human beings being the agent of an action.
Interfectae sunt – passive form as the snakes were having an action done to them; they were were killed they were not ‘doing’ the action.


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.

Íphiclés, fráter Herculis, mágná vóce exclámávit;

Iphicles, Hercules’ brother, cried out in a large voice,

sed Herculés ipse, fortissimus puer,

but Hercules himself, a most brave boy,

haudquáquam territus est.

Was not at all frightened.

Parvís manibus serpentís statim prehendit,

With his small hands he immediately seized the snakes

et colla eárum mágná ví compressit.

And with great strength squeezed their necks.

Tálí modó serpentés á pueró interfectae sunt.

In this way the snakes were killed by the boy.

Alcména autem, máter puerórum, clámórem audíverat,

Alcmena however, the mother of the boys, had heard the noise.

et marítum suum é somnó excitáverat.

And had roused her husband from his sleep.

Ille lúmen accendit et gladium suum rapuit;

He lit a light and grasped his sword,

tum ad puerós properábat, sed ubi ad locum vénit,

Then hurried to the boys, but when he came to the place,

rem míram vídit, Herculés enim rídébat

he saw something wonderful. For Hercules was smiling

et serpentís mortuás mónstrábat.

And he was showing him the dead snakes.

 

  d) The following section is for you to copy and compose your own translation.

Iphicles, frater Herculis, magna voce exclamavit;

sed Hercules ipse, fortissimus puer,

haudquaquam territus est.

Parvis manibus serpentis statim prehendit,

et colla earum magna vi compressit.

Tali modo serpentes a puero interfectae sunt.

Alcmena autem, mater puerorum, clamorem audiverat,

et maritum suum e somno excitaverat.

Ille lumen accendit et gladium suum rapuit;

tum ad pueros properabat, sed ubi ad locum venit,

rem miram vidit, Hercules enim ridebat

et serpentis mortuas monstrabat.