Postquam Perseus ad ínsulam návem appulit, sé ad locum contulit ubi máter ólim habitáverat, sed domum invénit vacuam et omnínó désertam. Trís diés per tótam ínsulam mátrem quaerébat; tandem quartó dié ad templum Diánae pervénit. Húc Danaé refúgerat, quod Polydectem timébat. Perseus ubi haec cógnóvit, írá mágná commótus est; ad régiam Polydectis sine morá contendit, et ubi eó vénit, statim in átrium inrúpit. Polydectés mágnó timóre adfectus est et fugere volébat. Dum tamen ille fugit, Perseus caput Medúsae mónstrávit; ille autem simul atque hóc vídit, in saxum versus est.
b)
Below are some words selected for special consideration below. For the words not included in this list pease refer to the WORDLIST in PAGES TOP RIGHT SIDE BAR.
Appulit, perfect tense, 3rd person sing, of appello, -pellere, -pulí, -pulsus [ad + pelló], drive to, bring to; with or without návem, put in. It is translated here as 'had moored' rather than 'moored' which is pluperfect because it follows postquam.
Contulit, perfect tense, 3rd person sing., of con-fero, cónferre, contulí, conlátus, bring together; grant, confer; sé cónferre, to betake oneself, make one's way, so means here ‘he made his way’.
quod, not the relative pronoun, but a conjunction meaning because.
eo, the adverb, in that place.
in atrium. Although inrupit means 'burst into,' the preposition is
nevertheless required with the noun to express the place into which he burst.
ille. See personal pronouns in ESENTIAL GRAMMAR NOTES, IN PAGES TOP RIGHT OF SIDE BAR.
Polydectes in Saxum versus est – accusative after in meaning into, Polydectes was turned into stone.
Dum, is followed by a present tense, so 'dum fugit' literally means 'while he flees' but would be translated with a past tense, so 'while he was fleeing'.
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.
Postquam Perseus ad ínsulam návem appulit,
After Perseus had moored the boat at the island
sé ad locum contulit ubi máter
he took himself off to the place where his mother
ólim habitáverat, sed domum invénit vacuam
had once lived, but he found the house empty
et omnínó désertam. Trís diés per tótam ínsulam
and completely deserted. For three days all through the island
mátrem quaerébat; tandem quartó dié
he was searching for his mother; at length on the fourth day
ad templum Diánae pervénit. Húc Danaé
he made his way to the temple of Diana
refúgerat, quod Polydectem timébat.
had taken refuge, because she feared Polydectes.
Perseus ubi haec cógnóvit, írá mágná commótus est;
Perseus when he found this out, felt great anger;
ad régiam Polydectis sine morá contendit,
without delay he hurried to Polydectes palace
et ubi eó vénit, statim in átrium inrúpit.
and when he arrived there, burst into the atrium at once.
Polydectés mágnó timóre adfectus est
Polydectes felt very afraid
et fugere volébat. Dum tamen ille fugit,
and wanted to flee. But as he was running away
Perseus caput Medúsae mónstrávit;
Perseus showed him the head of Medusa
ille autem simul atque hóc vídit,
but as soon as he saw it
in saxum versus est.
he was turned to stone.
d)This section is for you to copy and compose your own translation.
Postquam Perseus ad insulam navem appulit,
se ad locum contulit ubi mater olim habitaverat,
sed domum invenit vacuam et omnino desertam.
Tris dies per totam insulam matrem quaerebat;
tandem quarto die ad templum Dianae pervenit.
Huc Danae refugerat, quod Polydectem timebat.
Perseus ubi haec cognovit, ira magna commotus est;
ad regiam Polydectis sine mora contendit,
et ubi eo venit, statim in atrium inrupit.
Polydectes magno timore adfectus est et fugere volebat.
Dum tamen ille fugit, Perseus caput Medusae monstravit;
ille autem simul atque hoc vidit, in saxum versus est.
