THEBES, WHERE OUR STORY TAKES PLACE, WAS IN ANCIENT GREECE - CAN YOU FIND IT ON THIS OLD MAP?
a) Ergínus, réx Minyárum, ob haec vehementer írátus statim cum omnibus cópiís in fínís Thébánórum contendit. Creón adventum éius per explórátórés cógnóvit. Ipse tamen púgnáre nóluit, nam mágnó timóre adfectus erat; Thébání igitur Herculem imperátórem creávérunt. Ille núntiós in omnís partís dímísit, et cópiás coégit; tum proximó dié cum mágnó exercitú profectus est. Locum idóneum délégit et aciem ínstrúxit. Tum Thébání é superióre locó impetum in hostís fécérunt. Illí autem impetum sustinére nón potuérunt; itaque aciés hostium pulsa est atque in fugam conversa.
b)
The words below have been selected for special attention. For the words not included in this list pease refer to the WORDLIST in PAGES TOP RIGHT SIDE BAR. Points of grammar can be found in alphabetical order in ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR NOTES, also to be found in PAGES TOP RIGHT SIDE BAR.
Minyarum – feminine plural genitive
meaning ‘of the Minyans.
Ob – preposition which takes the
accusative meaning ‘on account of’.
Haec – as it comes after ob we know
this to be accusative so it cannot be feminine singular but must be neuter
plural (see hic, haec, hoc, in GRAMMAR NOTES) meaning literally ‘these things’
but we will translate simply ‘this’.
Cum – ‘with’ takes the ablative (see
CASES in GRAMMAR NOTES).
Explaratores – scouts, or spies.
Ipse – this word meaning ‘he’ is
sometimes used in a pejorative way, as here, but I have left it as he not to
confuse you, you might have translated it ‘the wretch’.
Adfectus
erat – he was
affected, or afflicted from adficio, -ficere, -feci, -fectus [ad + facio], do
to, move, affect; visit, afflict.
Imperatorem – accusative of imperator,
meaning commander or general.
in omnís partís – I have translated literally ‘in all
parts’ but you might have put ‘everywhere’.
Coegit – perfect tense of cogo, cogere,
coegi, coactus (co- + ago), drive together, collect; compel. Here we might
translate ‘he collected’, or ‘gathered together’.
proximo
die – ablative
for time when meaning ‘on the following day’.
acies, -ei, f., noun of the fifth declension
meaning a line of battle so aciem ínstrúxit is accusative of acies with perfect
of instruere meaning he drew up his army into battle lines.
Hostium – genitive plural of hostis third
declension noun meaning literally ‘of the enemies’ but I have put of the enemy.
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.
Erginus, king of the Minyans, on account of this was very angry
statim cum omnibus cópiís in fínís Thébánórum contendit.
He immediately hurried with all his forces into the territory of the Thebans
Creón adventum éius per explórátórés cógnóvit.
Creon learned of his arrival from his scouts.
Ipse tamen púgnáre nóluit,
He, however, did not want to fight,
nam mágnó timóre adfectus erat;
for he was affected by a great fear;
Thébání igitur Herculem imperátórem creávérunt.
The Thebans therefore made Hercules general
Ille núntiós in omnís partís dímísit,
He sent messengers to all parts
et cópiás coégit; tum proximó dié
and gathered forces, then the following day
cum mágnó exercitú profectus est.
he set out with a great army.
Locum idóneum délégit et aciem ínstrúxit.
He chose a suitable place and lined up his troops.
Tum Thébání é superióre locó
Then the Thebans from a higher position
impetum in hostís fécérunt.
Started the attack on the enemy.
Illí autem impetum sustinére nón potuérunt;
They however could not sustain the attack
itaque aciés hostium pulsa est
and so the battle line of the enemy was pushed back
atque in fugam conversa.
And turned to flight.
d)
The following section is for you to copy and compose your own translation.
Erginus, rex Minyarum, ob haec vehementer iratus statim cum omnibus copiis in finis Thebanorum contendit. Creon adventum eius per exploratores cognovit. Ipse tamen pugnare noluit, nam magno timore adfectus erat; Thebani igitur Herculem imperatorem creaverunt. Ille nuntios in omnis partis dimisit, et copias coegit; tum proximo die cum magno exercitu profectus est. Locum idoneum delegit et aciem instruxit.
Tum Thebani e superiore loco impetum in hostis fecerunt. Illi autem impetum sustinere non potuerunt; itaque acies hostium pulsa est atque in fugam conversa.
