66 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION – THE ARGONAUTS 66 - THE SYMPLEGADES

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.

 

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.

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.

Hoc facto Phineus,

ut pro tanto beneficio

meritam gratiam referret,

Iasoni demonstravit qua ratione

Symplegades vitare posset.

Symplegades autem duae erant

rupes ingenti magnitudine,

quae a Iove positae erant

eo consilio, ne quis ad Colchida perveniret.

Hae parvo intervallo in mari natabant,

et si quid in medium spatium venerat,

incredibili celeritate concurrebant.

Postquam igitur a Phineo doctus est

quid faciendum esset,

Iason sublatis ancoris navem solvit,

et leni vento provectus

mox ad Symplegades appropinquavit.

Tum in prora stans columbam

quam in manu tenebat emisit.

Illa recta via per medium spatium volavit,

et priusquam rupes conflixerunt,

incolumis evasit cauda tantum amissa.

Tum rupes utrimque discesserunt;

antequam tamen rursus concurrerent,

Argonautae, bene intellegentes

omnem spem salutis in celeritate positam esse,

summa vi remis contenderunt

et navem incolumem perduxerunt.

Hoc facto dis gratias maximas egerunt,

quorum auxilio e tanto periculo erepti essent;

omnes enim sciebant non sine auxilio deorum

rem tam feliciter evenisse.

62 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION – THE ARGONAUTS 62. - A FATAL MISTAKE.

THE ARGONAUTS 62. - A FATAL MISTAKE

a)Haud multó post Argonautae (ita enim appellábantur quí in istá náví vehébantur) ínsulam quandam, nómine Cyzicum, attigérunt; et é náví égressí á rége illíus regiónis hospitió exceptí sunt. Paucás hórás ibi commorátí ad sólis occásum rúrsus solvérunt; sed postquam pauca mília passuum prógressí sunt, tanta tempestás subitó coorta est ut cursum tenére nón possent, et in eandem partem ínsulae unde núper profectí erant mágnó cum perículó déicerentur. Incolae tamen, cum nox esset obscúra, Argonautás nón ágnóscébant, et návem inimícam vénisse arbitrátí arma rapuérunt et eós égredí prohibébant. Ácriter in lítore púgnátum est, et réx ipse, quí cum aliís décucurrerat, ab Argonautís occísus est. Mox tamen, cum iam dílúcésceret, sénsérunt incolae sé erráre et arma abiécérunt; Argonautae autem cum régem occísum esse vidérent, mágnum dolórem percépérunt.

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.

Haud – ‘not’, negative particle.

Argonautae – notice that this is feminine plural, because nauta, nautae is a feminine first declension noun, though it refers to male sailors and if it was with an adjective the adjective would be in the masculine form: e.g. nauta bonus – a good sailor.  There are not many masculine first declension nouns, another which comes to mind is agricola, farmer.

appellabantur – third person plural imperfect indicative passive of appello, appellare meaning therefore ‘they were called’.  Vehebantur is the same form, from veho, behere, vexi, vectus, third conjugation verb, meaning ‘carry, bear, transport; sail’.

in ista navi – in takes the ablative so we have ista ‘that’ and ‘navi’ which ends in i as it is one of the third declension i-stem nouns which take i in the ablative, called parasyllabic nouns which just means that they have the same number of syllables in the genitive as they have in the nominative: navis, navis (f.).  They also have ium in the genitive plural.

insulam quandam – indefinite adjective accusative case agreeing with accusative of insula, ‘a certain island’.

nomine – ablative of nomen means ‘by the name of’, or simply ‘called’.

e navi egressi – e the preposition followed by ablative case (navi of navis again); egressi is the past participle of the third conjugation deponent egredior, egredi, egressus sum adn can be translated by something like ‘having disembarked’.

illius regionis – genitive case ‘of that region’.

hospitio – ablative of hospitium, ii , neuter noun of the second declension, meaning ‘with hospitality’.

excepti sunt – third person plural passive of excipio, excipere, excepi, exceptus, meaning therefore ‘they were received’.

paucas horas – there is no need for a preposition when a time word is used for indicating duration of time, as here, the accusative case is sufficient, ‘for few hours’.

ad solus ocasum – literally towards the setting of the sun, meaning appraoching sunset, when referring to time when.

pauca milia passuum – literally translated this is ‘few’, agreeing with ‘thousands’ and the genitive plural ‘of paces’ which is how the Romans expressed a distance which we would approximate to ‘mile’, so it is better expressed as ‘a few miles’.

tanta ...ut ... non possent – tanta is one of those signal words which indicate to us that there is a subjunctive coming up which will be introduced by ut: ‘such a .... that they could not etc.’; this is called a result clause.

profecti erant – pluperfect of the deponend verb profiscor, ‘they had set out’.

deicerentur – third person plural imperfect indicative passive of deiicio, ‘they were thrown back/down’.It is third person subjunctive as it is part of the result clause following tanta tempestas...ut ... such a storm that etc.

incolae – neuter plural nominative case of another feminine noun referring to both male and females here ‘the inhabitants’.

cum nox esset obscura – cum meaning ‘since’ is followed by the subjunctive, here the third person singular of sum meaning ‘it was’, altogether ‘since it was dark night’.

navem inimicam venisse – accusative infinitive construct after ‘they thought’, meaning literally ‘they thought a hostile ship to have come’, but we would say ‘they thought a hostile ship had come’.

arbitrati - The perfect participle of deponent verbs is often best rendered into English by a present participle, for example we might put ‘thinking that’.

egredi - 'from disembarking.'

pugnatum est - 'the battle raged' or 'they fought,' literally 'it was fought,' Intransitive verbs are often used impersonally in the passive, with the subject implied in the verb itself.

senserunt se errare – after verbs of knowing, feeling and similar verbs, we have the accusative infinitive again; se is the accusative pronoun referring to the subject of the sentence , incolae ‘the inhabitants’: they perceived that they had made a mistake’.

abiecerunt – they threw down, compare this with the verb we mat earlier ‘deiecerunt and you will see that they are derived from the same source verb with prepositions prefixed.

cum iam dilucesceret – here we have the conjunction cum ‘since’ introducing a clause in the past which must have its verb in the subjunctive, here the third person imperfect subjunctive of the verb dilucesco. You may remember we have met this type of verb before, they are called inceptive or inchoative verbs, recognizable by the ‘esc’ which denote the beginning of something, ‘since it was now growing light’.

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.

Haud multo post Argonautae

Not long after the Argonauts

(ita enim appellabantur qui

(for so are called those who

in ista navi vehebantur)

in that ship were transported)

insulam quandam, nomine Cyzicum,

a certain island, called Cyzicum,

attigerunt; et e navi egressi

they reached, and having disembarked from the ship

a rege illius regionis

by the king of that region

hospitio excepti sunt.

they were received with hospitality

Paucas horas ibi commorati

Having lingered a few hours there

ad solis occasum rursus solverunt;

towards sunset they set sail again;

sed postquam pauca milia passuum

but after a few miles

progressi sunt, tanta tempestas

they travelled, such a storm

subito coorta est

suddenly arose

ut cursum tenere non possent,

that they could not keep their course,

et in eandem partem insulae

and into that same part of the island

unde nuper profecti erant

from where they had set out

magno cum periculo deicerentur.

with great danger they were thrown down.

Incolae tamen, cum nox esset obscura,

The inhabitants however, since it was dark night,

Argonautas non agnoscebant,

did not recognize the Argonauts,

et navem inimicam venisse arbitrati

and thinking that a hostile ship had come

arma rapuerunt et eos egredi prohibebant.

seized their arms and prevented them from disembarking.

Acriter in litore pugnatum est,

There was a fiece battle on the shore,

et rex ipse, qui cum aliis decucurrerat,

and the king himself, who will the others had run down,

ab Argonautis occisus est.

by the Argonauts was killed.

Mox tamen, cum iam dilucesceret,

Soon however, since it was now growing light,

senserunt incolae se errare

the inhabitants saw that they were wrong,

et arma abiecerunt; Argonautae autem

and threw down their arms; the Argonauts however

cum regem occisum esse viderent,

when they saw the king was dead,

magnum dolorem perceperunt.

felt great grief.

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

Haud multo post Argonautae

(ita enim appellabantur qui

in ista navi vehebantur)

insulam quandam, nomine Cyzicum,

attigerunt; et e navi egressi

a rege illius regionis

hospitio excepti sunt.

Paucas horas ibi commorati

ad solis occasum rursus solverunt;

sed postquam pauca milia passuum

progressi sunt, tanta tempestas

subito coorta est

ut cursum tenere non possent,

et in eandem partem insulae

unde nuper profecti erant

magno cum periculo deicerentur.

Incolae tamen, cum nox esset obscura,

Argonautas non agnoscebant,

et navem inimicam venisse arbitrati

arma rapuerunt et eos egredi prohibebant.

Acriter in litore pugnatum est,

et rex ipse, qui cum aliis decucurrerat,

ab Argonautis occisus est.

Mox tamen, cum iam dilucesceret,

senserunt incolae se errare

et arma abiecerunt; Argonautae autem

cum regem occisum esse viderent,

magnum dolorem perceperunt.

61 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION – THE ARGONAUTS 61 – THE ANCHOR IS WEIGHED

THE ARGONAUTS 61. THE ANCHOR IS WEIGHED

HERE WE HAVE JASON AND PHOEBUS - WHEN YOU READ TODAY'S EPISODE IT WILL BE OBVIOUS TO YOU WHO'S WHO.

 a)Intereá is diés appetébat quem Iásón per núntiós édíxerat, et ex omnibus regiónibus Graeciae multí, quós aut reí novitás aut spés glóriae movébat, undique conveniébant. Tráditum est autem in hóc numeró fuisse Herculem, dé quó suprá multa perscrípsimus, Orpheum, citharoedum praeclárissimum, Théseum, Castorem, multósque aliós quorum nómina sunt nótissima. Ex hís Iásón quós arbitrátus est ad omnia perícula subeunda parátissimós esse, eós ad numerum quínquágintá délégit et sociós sibi adiúnxit; tum paucós diés commorátus, ut ad omnís cásús subsidia comparáret, návem dédúxit, et tempestátem ad návigandum idóneam nactus mágnó cum plausú omnium solvit.

 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.

interea – adverb meaning ‘in the meantime, meanwhile.’

dies – you will remember that dies can be masculine or feminine; here it is masculine hence agreeing with quem, ‘the day which/that.’

appetebat – second person singular imperfect indicative active of the third conjugation verb appeto, -petere, -petivi –petitus, ‘draw near’, so this means ‘it was drawing near, it was approaching.’

per nuntios – the preposition per is followed by accusative case, nuntios (the messengers/heralds), so with the verb edixerat it means (the day) ‘which he had appointed through the heralds’.

ex omnibus regionibus – ex before a vowel, otherwise e, is a preposition meaning ‘out of, from’ and governs the ablative case, ‘out of /from all the regions.’

multi – ‘many men.’

rei novitas – the little fifth declension feminine noun res, rei, pops up in all sorts of contexts with all sorts of meanings; it can be translated by thing, matter, affair, circumstance, or situation, here we have the genitive case together with novitas meaning together ‘the novelty of the thing.’

spes gloriae – similar construct to the above ‘hope of glory.’

leer; res pops up in all sorts of contexts with all sorts of meaningsnei ’.

undique -  adv., from or on all sides.

traditum est – ‘it was reported.’

conveniebant – third person plural imperfect indicative active of the fourth conjugation verb convenio, -ire, -veni, -ventus, ‘come together, assemble, gather.’

autem – conjunction, moreover; but, however; now.

fuisse Herculem – after traditum est, which is obviously past tense ‘it was reported’ we have the accusative infinitive construct also in the past tense.

de quo supra – de preposition meaning ‘concerning, about’ must be followed by ablative hence quo ‘whom’, supra adverb ‘above’, altogether meaning ‘about whom above’ (i.e. in the passages above, the episodes prior to this one).

multa perscripsimus – multa, neuter plural  nominative ‘many things’, perscripsimus, first person plural perfect of perscribo, -scribere, -scripsi, scriptus, write in full, describe fully, recount, so together ‘(about whom) we have written many things fullyl’.

citharoedum praeclarissimum – a most oustanding cithara player.  It was said that Orpheus made such sweet music on his lyre harp that wild beasts, trees, and rocks followed him as he moved. By his playing he even prevailed upon Pluto, god of the Underworld, to give back his dead wife Eurydice.

Theseum-  another hero of ancient myths, whose exploits resemble and rival those of Hercules. The most famous of them was the killing of the Minotaur. Theseus was the national hero of Athens.

Castorem - famous tamer of horses and brother of Pollux, the boxer.

arbitratus est – third person singular perfect of the deponent verb (remember they look passive but are active) arbitror, -ari, -atus, consider, think

quos – in Latin the relative frequently precedes its antecedent which sounds illogical but is not too confusing when you get used to it.  The antecedent of quos here is eos, ‘those he chose ... who were etc.’...so to turn it into idiomatic English the antecedent must be translated first.

subsidia – pl of the neuter second declension noun subsidium, -i , reserve, reinforcement, support, help.

ad navigandum – ad before the gerund of the verb navigare, indicates purpose, ‘for sailing’.

magno cum plausu – notice cum is sandwiched between the noun and ablative ‘with great applause’, plausu being ablative of the masculine fourth declension noun plausus, -us , applause.

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.

Interea is dies appetebat

In the meantime the day was approaching

quem Iason per nuntios edixerat,

which Jason through the heralds had proclaimed

et ex omnibus regionibus Graeciae multi,

and out of all the regions of Greece many men,

quos aut rei novitas

who, the novelty of the event

aut spes gloriae movebat,

or the the hope of glory, was inspiring

undique conveniebant.

from all sides, were gathering.

Traditum est autem

Moreover it was reported

in hoc numero fuisse Herculem,

Hercules was in this number,

de quo supra multa perscripsimus,

about whom we have written many things above,

Orpheum, citharoedum praeclarissimum,

Orpheus, the oustanding lyre player,

Theseum, Castorem, multosque alios

Theseus, Castor, and many others

quorum nomina sunt notissima.

whose names are very famous.

Ex his Iason quos arbitratus est

From these Jason those whom he considered

ad omnia pericula subeunda paratissimos esse,

to be most prepared to undergo all dangers,

eos ad numerum quinquaginta

them to about the number fifty

delegit et socios sibi adiunxit;

he chose and joined them to himself as allies

tum paucos dies commoratus,

then a few days later,

ut ad omnis casus subsidia compararet,

when he was ready with reserves for all eventualties

navem deduxit, et tempestatem

he launched the ship, and the weather

ad navigandum idoneam nactus

having arisen suitable to sail

magno cum plausu omnium solvit.

with the great applause of all, he set sail.

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

Interea is dies appetebat

quem Iason per nuntios edixerat,

et ex omnibus regionibus Graeciae multi,

quos aut rei novitas

aut spes gloriae movebat,

undique conveniebant.

Traditum est autem

in hoc numero fuisse Herculem,

de quo supra multa perscripsimus,

Orpheum, citharoedum praeclarissimum,

Theseum, Castorem, multosque alios

quorum nomina sunt notissima.

Ex his Iason quos arbitratus est

ad omnia pericula subeunda paratissimos esse,

eos ad numerum quinquaginta

delegit et socios sibi adiunxit;

tum paucos dies commoratus,

ut ad omnis casus subsidia compararet,

navem deduxit, et tempestatem

ad navigandum idoneam nactus

magno cum plausu omnium solvit.

60 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION – THE ARGONAUTS 60 – THE BUILDING OF THE GOOD SHIP ARGO

60. THE BUILDING OF THE GOOD SHIP ARGO

THIS GREEK STAMP SHOWS WHAT THE ARGO MAY HAVE LOOKED LIKE - ELLAS (BOTTOM LEFT OF THE STAMP) IS GREEK FOR GREECE.

a)Cum tamen Colchis multórum diérum iter ab eó locó abesset, sólus Iásón proficíscí nóluit. Dímísit igitur núntiós in omnís partís, quí causam itineris docérent et diem certam conveniendí dícerent. Intereá, postquam omnia quae sunt úsuí ad armandás návís comportárí iussit, negótium dedit Argó cuidam, quí summam scientiam nauticárum rérum habébat, ut návem aedificáret. In hís rébus circiter decem diés cónsúmptí sunt; Argus enim, quí operí praeerat, tantam díligentiam adhibébat ut né nocturnum quidem tempus ad labórem intermitteret. Ad multitúdinem hominum  tránsportandam návis pauló erat látior quam quibus in nostró marí útí cónsuévimus, et ad vim tempestátum perferendam tóta é róbore facta est.

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.

cum – often introduces a reason as here, ‘since ... Colchis was many days away’.

iter -  accusative of extent, ‘a journey of many days (duration)’.

ab eo loco – ablative, ‘from that place’.

proficisci – deponent verb infinitive ‘to set out’.

noluit – third person singular perfect of nolle ‘he didn’t want’ which is often found before an infinitive, as it is in English, ‘he didn’t want ... to set out’.

dimisit – third person singular perfect of dimitto, -mittere, -misi, -missus, send different ways, send forth or away, despatch; let slip, lose.

in omnis partis – ‘to all parts;, ‘everywhere’.

qui ... docerent – refers to the purpose of the ‘messengers’ or ‘heralds’ (nuntios) being sent out who were to explain the reason for the journey.

docerent – third person plural imperfect subjunctive of doceo, -ere, -ui, -tus, teach, explain, in the purpose clause.

diem certam – this is feminine accusative; the fifth declension noun die dies, -ei, can be masc and feminine; it is usually feminine when referring to a specific day, as here.

conveniendi – genitive of the gerund of the verb convenire (the gerund is the verbal noun, e.g. ‘meeting’) meaning ‘of meeting’.

omnia quae – ‘all the things which’ ..

usui - dative of purpose. We say 'of use' or 'useful.'

ad armandas navis – ad before a gerundive denotes purpose, armandas is the gerundive (verbal adjective) of armo, -are, -avi, -atus, arm, equip, so altogether it means ‘for equipping ships’.

comportari iussit – turn it about in English ‘he ordered’, perfect third person singular of iubeo, iubere, iussi, iussus, bid, order, command, with the passive infinitive of the first conjugation verb comportare which is comportari, meaning to carry or bring together, to collect, so together it all means something like ‘he orderered (that all the things etc.) be brought.

Argo – dative of Argus ‘to Argus’ after ‘he gave’.

operi praeerat – ‘was in charge of the work’, operi is the dative case as it is governed by the compound verb praeerat which comes from praesum, -esse, -fui, be before, preside over, have charge of, command. Not all, but many verbs which are compounds of ad, ante, com (for cum), in, inter, ob, post, prae, pro, sub, and super do have the dative, and some compounds of circum.

ne ... quidem - , 'not ... even.' The word emphasized must stand between ne and quidem, here ‘not even at night’.

tantam – this is a signal word for a following result clause, ‘so great ... that etc.’ which is why we have ‘ut ..intermitteret’.

ad laborem.- we have ad again here expressing purpose ‘for the work’.

Ad multitudinem transportandam – ad again introducing purpose, transportandam is the gerundive of transportare ‘for transporting a multitude.

paulo erat latior – literally ‘by a little was more wide’ or more simply ‘a little wider’.

nostro mari – ‘our sea’ which in this context means the Mediterranean.

consuevimus.- ‘we are accustomed’ or literally ‘we have become accustomed’ from consuesco. Many verbs ending in sco are what we call inceptive verbs which means that they denote the beginning of an action or state. The perfect and pluperfect of such verbs often represent the state of things resulting from the completion of the action, and are then to be translated as present and imperfect respectively. So consuesco means 'I am becoming accustomed,' consuevi means 'I have become accustomed' or 'am accustomed,' consueveram means 'I had become accustomed' or 'was accustomed.'

ad perferendam – purpose again with gerundive ‘in order to withstand’ from perfero, -ferre, -tuli, -latus, bear endure, weather.

e robore – ablative after e meaning made out of, from robur, roboris, third declension neuter noun, oak ‘out of oak.

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.

Cum tamen Colchis multorum dierum

Since however Colchis many days

iter ab eo loco abesset,

journey from that place was distant,

solus Iason proficisci noluit.

Jason didn’t want to set out alone.

Dimisit igitur nuntios in omnis partis,

Therefore he sent out messengers into all parts,

qui causam itineris docerent

who the reason of the journey were to explain

et diem certam conveniendi dicerent.

and to inform (them) the specified day to meet.

Interea, postquam omnia quae sunt

Meanwhile, after all the things which

usui ad armandas navis comportari iussit,

of use to equip ships he ordered be brought together

negotium dedit Argo cuidam,

he gave the job to a certain Argus,

qui summam scientiam

who had the greatest knowledge

nauticarum rerum habebat,

of nautical things,

ut navem aedificaret.

to build the ship.

In his rebus circiter decem dies

In this task around ten days

consumpti sunt; Argus enim,

were taken up; for Argus,

qui operi praeerat,

who was in charge of the work,

tantam diligentiam adhibebat

displayed such great diligence

ut ne nocturnum quidem

that not even during the night

tempus ad laborem intermitteret.

was time lost to work.

Ad multitudinem hominum transportandam

To transport a multitude of men

navis paulo erat latior

the ship was a little wider

quam quibus in nostro mari

than those on our sea

uti consuevimus,

we are accustomed to use,

et ad vim tempestatum perferendam

and in order to withstand the force of storms

tota e robore facta est.

everthing was made out of oak.

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

Cum tamen Colchis multorum dierum

iter ab eo loco abesset,

solus Iason proficisci noluit.

Dimisit igitur nuntios in omnis partis,

qui causam itineris docerent

et diem certam conveniendi dicerent.

Interea, postquam omnia quae sunt

usui ad armandas navis comportari iussit,

negotium dedit Argo cuidam,

qui summam scientiam

nauticarum rerum habebat,

ut navem aedificaret.

In his rebus circiter decem dies

consumpti sunt; Argus enim,

qui operi praeerat,

tantam diligentiam adhibebat

ut ne nocturnum quidem

tempus ad laborem intermitteret.

Ad multitudinem hominum transportandam

navis paulo erat latior

quam quibus in nostro mari

uti consuevimus, et ad vim tempestatum

perferendam tota e robore facta est.