18 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 18 - MADNESS AND MURDER

HERCULES 18 - MADNESS AND MURDER

a)

THIS PICTURE SHOWS HERCULES KILLING HIS CHILDREN
Post hóc proelium Herculés cópiás suás ad urbem redúxit. Omnés Thébání propter victóriam máximé gaudébant; Creón autem mágnís honóribus Herculem decorávit, atque fíliam suam eí in mátrimónium dedit. Herculés cum uxóre suá beátam vítam agébat; sed post paucós annós subitó in furórem incidit, atque líberós suós ipse suá manú occídit. Post breve tempus ad sánitátem reductus est, et propter hóc facinus mágnó dolóre adfectus est; mox ex urbe effúgit et in silvás sé recépit. Nólébant enim cívés sermónem cum eó habére.

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.

Proelium – accusative after post of neuter second declension noun proelium, agreeing with hoc ‘this’ (SEE GRAMMAR NOTES Demonstrative Adjectives).

Reduxit – perfect tense of reducere, third conjugation verb, re is often prefixed to mean back re + ducere and reductus est, he returned later in this passage.

Propter – on account of takes accusative, victoriam and later in this passage hoc facinus from facinus, facinoris [fació], n., deed, crime, meaning ‘this crime’.

decoro, -are, -avi, -atus [decus, adornment], adorn, distinguish.

Maxime – adverb greatly.

Magnis honoribus – ablative for with great honours.

Ei – to him, dative of is, see is, ea, id PERSON PRONOUNS in GRAMMAR NOTES.

Post paucos annos – after preposition post we have accusative again.

Uxore sua – ‘his wife’, possessive adjective agreeing with the noun as in liberos suos later in this passage ‘his children’ and sua manu 'with his own hand'.

magno dolore - ablative meaning with great grief.
Se recipit – perfect tense of se recipere, to betake oneself, withdraw; to collect oneself, recover. Here we again see the prefix re meaning back re- + capio.

Sermonem – accusative of the third declension noun sermo, -onis [sero, interweave], m., conversation, talk, speech.

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.

Post hóc proelium Herculés

After this battle Hercules

cópiás suás ad urbem redúxit.

Led his forces back to the city.

Omnés Thébání propter victóriam

All the Thebans on account of the victory

máximé gaudébant; Creón autem

were greatly rejoicing; Creon moreover

mágnís honóribus Herculem decorávit,

decorated Hercules with great honours

atque fíliam suam eí in mátrimónium dedit.

And gave his daughter to him in marriage.

Herculés cum uxóre suá beátam vítam agébat;

Hercules with his wife led a blessed life

sed post paucós annós subitó in furórem incidit,

but after a few years he suddenly fell into a fury

atque líberós suós ipse suá manú occídit.

And with his own hand killed his children.

Post breve tempus ad sánitátem reductus est,

After a short while he returned to sanity

et propter hóc facinus

and on account of this crime

mágnó dolóre adfectus est;

suffered great grief

mox ex urbe effúgit et in silvás sé recépit.

Soon he fled from the city and  withdrew to the woods

Nólébant enim cívés sermónem cum eó habére.

For the citizens did not want to speak with him.

d) The following section is as a) but without the stress marks for you to copy and: i) to see if you can put the stress marks ; ii) provide your own translation.

Post hoc proelium Hercules copias suas ad urbem reduxit. Omnes Thebani propter victoriam maxime gaudebant; Creon autem magnis honoribus Herculem decoravit, atque filiam suam ei in matrimonium dedit. Hercules cum uxore sua beatam vitam agebat; sed post paucos annos subito in furorem incidit, atque liberos suos ipse sua manu occidit. Post breve tempus ad sanitatem reductus est, et propter hoc facinus magno dolore adfectus est; mox ex urbe effugit et in silvas se recepit. Nolebant enim cives sermonem cum eo habere.

11 RITCHIE'S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - PERSEUS 11 - THE ORACLE FULFILLED with notes and interlinear translation

THE ORACLE FULFILLED

a)
Post haec Perseus cum uxóre suá
ad urbem Acrisí rediit. Ille autem ubi
Perseum vídit, mágnó terróre adfectus est;
nam propter óráculum istud nepótem suum
adhúc timébat. In Thessaliam igitur
ad urbem Lárísam statim refúgit, frústrá tamen;
neque enim fátum suum vítávit. Post paucós annós
réx Lárísae lúdós mágnós fécit; núntiós
in omnís partís dímíserat et diem édíxerat.
Multí ex omnibus urbibus Graeciae
ad lúdós convénérunt. Ipse Perseus inter aliós
certámen discórum iniit. At dum discum conicit,
avum suum cású occídit; Acrisius enim
inter spectátórés éius certáminis forte stábat.

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.

Acrisi. In Nepos, Caesar, Cicero, and Vergil, the genitive singular of second-declension nouns in -ius and -ium_ ends in i, not ii; but the nominative plural ends in ii, and the dative and ablative plural in iis.
istud. Remember that iste is commonly used of something connected with the person addressed. Here the meaning may be 'that oracle I told you about earlier'.
Adhuc, up till now, up to this point, still.
neque enim, 'for ... not,' as if simply non enim, but Latin uses neque to connect the clauses.
in omnis partis, 'in all directions' or 'in every direction.'
Multi. Many men, example of adjective used as a noun.
discorum. The discus was a round, flat piece of stone or metal, and the athletes tried to see who could throw it farthest. 
casu. This is one of the ablatives of manner that do not take ‘cum’.
stabat. Notice the tense is imperfect.

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.

Post haec Perseus cum uxóre suá
After this Perseus with his wife
ad urbem Acrisí rediit. Ille autem ubi
returned to the town of Acrisius. He however, when
Perseum vídit, mágnó terróre adfectus est;
he saw Perseus, was very afraid,
nam propter óráculum istud
for because of that oracle
nepótem suum adhúc timébat.
he was still afraid of his grandson.
In Thessaliam igitur ad urbem Lárísam
Into Thessaly therefore to the town of Larisa
statim refúgit, frústrá tamen;
he fled at once, however in vain;
neque enim fátum suum vítávit.
for his fate he did not avoid.
Post paucós annós réx Lárísae lúdós mágnós fécit;
After a few years the king of Larisa put on great games,
Núntiós in omnís partís dímíserat et diem édíxerat.
He had sent messengers in all parts and had proclaimed the day.
Multí ex omnibus urbibus Graeciae
Many people from all the towns of Greece
ad lúdós convénérunt. Ipse Perseus inter aliós
gathered at the games. Perseus himself among others
certámen discórum iniit. At dum discum conicit,
entered the discus competition. But when he threw the discus
avum suum cású occídit; Acrisius enim
he killed his grandfather by accident; for Acrisius
inter spectátórés éius certáminis forte stábat.
was by chance standing amongst the spectators of his competition.

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

Post haec Perseus cum uxore sua

ad urbem Acrisi rediit.

Ille autem ubi Perseum vidit,

magno terrore adfectus est;

nam propter oraculum istud

nepotem suum adhuc timebat.

In Thessaliam igitur

ad urbem Larisam statim refugit,

frustra tamen;

neque enim fatum suum vitavit.

Post paucos annos

rex Larisae ludos magnos fecit;

nuntios in omnis partis dimiserat

et diem edixerat.

Multi ex omnibus urbibus Graeciae

ad ludos convenerunt.

Ipse Perseus inter alios

certamen discorum iniit.

At dum discum conicit,

avum suum casu occidit;

Acrisius enim inter spectatores

eius certaminis forte stabat.

10 RITCHIE'S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - PERSEUS 10 - POLYDECTES IS TURNED TO STONE with notes and interlinear translation

POLYDECTES IS TURNED TO STONE

a)
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, 3^rd 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, 3^rd 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. Here Danae

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.

09 RITCHIE'S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - PERSEUS 09 - THE REWARD OF VALOUR with notes and interlinear translation

PERSEUS 09 - THE REWARD OF VALOUR

a)
Perseus postquam ad lítus déscendit, prímum tálária exuit; tum ad rúpem vénit ubi Andromeda vincta erat. Ea autem omnem spem salútis déposuerat, et ubi Perseus adiit, terróre paene exanimáta erat. Ille víncula statim solvit, et puellam patrí reddidit. Cépheus ob hanc rem máximó gaudió adfectus est. Meritam grátiam pró tantó benefició Perseó rettulit; praetereá Andromedam ipsam eí in mátrimónium dedit. Ille libenter hóc dónum accépit et puellam dúxit. Paucós annós cum uxóre suá in eá regióne habitábat, et in mágnó honóre erat apud omnís Aethiopés. Mágnopere tamen mátrem suam rúrsus vidére cupiébat. Tandem igitur cum uxóre suá é régnó Cépheí discessit.

b)Below are some words which have been selected for special attention. For the words not included in this list please refer to the WORDLIST in PAGES TOP RIGHT SIDE BAR.

Vincta erat – ‘was tied up, was bound, was chained’.
Ea - she pronoun. See is, ea, id in ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR NOTES in Pages, top of right side bar.
Salutis - notice that ‘is’ is not a long vowel and is therefore genitive meaning ‘of safety’; compare with ‘omnís’ which has the final ‘is’ accented as a long vowel and indicates that it is the alternative spelling of the accusative plural.
exanimata - used here as a predicate adjective which means it is joined to the subject of the sentence ‘ea’ meaning ‘she’ (Andromeda) by a form of the verb sum and therefore agrees with the subject.
Ille – personal pronoun meaning ‘that man’ or ‘he’. See ille, illa, illud ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR notes, top of right side bar. 
rettulit - 'To give thanks' or 'thank' is usually ‘gratias agere’, ‘gratiam referre’ means 'to show one's gratitude.'
praetereá - adv.conjunction, ‘besides this, besides, moreover’.
Ei - pronoun dative, to him. See is, ea, id in ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR top of right side bar.
duxit - This word came to mean 'marry,' because the bridegroom 'led' his bride in a wedding procession to his own home. It will be seen, therefore, that it can be used only of the man.
Paucos annos - For few years, accusative of duration of time.

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 postquam ad lítus déscendit, Perseus after he had descended on to the shore,
prímum tálária exuit; tum ad rúpem vénitfirst took off his sandals, then he came to the rock
ubi Andromeda vincta erat.where Andromeda was tied up.
Ea autem omnem spem salútis déposuerat,She however had given up all hope of safety
et ubi Perseus adiit, and when Perseus approached,
terróre paene exanimáta erat.she almost fainted with terror.
Ille víncula statim solvit,He released her bonds at once
et puellam patrí reddidit.and returned the girl to her father.
Cépheus ob hanc remCepheus because of this
máximó gaudió adfectus est.was moved with great joy.
Meritam grátiam pró tantó beneficióDeserved gratitude for such great kindness
Perseó rettulit;he showed Perseus
praetereá Andromedam ipsam moreover Andromeda herself
eí in mátrimónium dedit.he gave to him in marriage.
Ille libenter hóc dónum accépitHe gladly accepted this gift
et puellam dúxit.and married the girl.
Paucós annós cum uxóre suáFor a few years with his wife
in eá regióne habitábat,he lived in this region,
et in mágnó honóre erat apud omnís Aethiopés.And he was held in great honour among all the Ethiopians.
Mágnopere tamen mátrem suam rúrsus vidére cupiébat.But he really wanted to see his mother again.
Tandem igitur cum uxóre suáAt length therefore with his wife
é régnó Cépheí discessit.he left the kingdom of Cepheus.

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

Perseus postquam ad litus descendit,
primum talaria exuit;
tum ad rupem venit ubi Andromeda vincta erat.
Ea autem omnem spem salutis deposuerat,
et ubi Perseus adiit,
terrore paene exanimata erat.
Ille vincula statim solvit,
et puellam patri reddidit.
Cepheus ob hanc rem maximo gaudio adfectus est.
Meritam gratiam pro tanto beneficio Perseo rettulit;
praeterea Andromedam ipsam
ei in matrimonium dedit.
Ille libenter hoc donum accepit et puellam duxit.
Paucos annos cum uxore sua
in ea regione habitabat,
et in magno honore erat apud omnis Aethiopes.
Magnopere tamen
matrem suam rursus videre cupiebat.
Tandem igitur cum uxore sua e regno Cephei discessit.
 

03 RITCHIE'S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - PERSEUS 03 - PERSEUS IS SENT ON HIS TRAVELS - with notes and interlinear translation.

RITCHIE's FABULAE FACILES -  with notes and interlinear translation.

PERSEUS O3 - PERSEUS IS SENT ON HIS TRAVELS

3 a). Perseus igitur multós annós ibi habitábat, et cum mátre suá vítam beátam agébat. At Polydectés Danaén mágnopere amábat, atque eam in mátrimónium dúcere volébat. Hóc tamen cónsilium Perseó minimé grátum erat. Polydectés igitur Perseum dímittere cónstituit. Tum iuvenem ad sé vocávit et haec díxit: "Turpe est hanc ígnávam vítam agere; iam dúdum tú aduléscéns es. Quó úsque híc manébis? Tempus est arma capere et virtútem praestáre. Hinc abí, et caput Medúsae mihi refer."

b)  I 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.

Igitur - ‘therefore’, ‘and so’, comes second in a sentence as here, not first.
multos annos – ‘For many years’. Duration of time is expressed in the accusative case.
Danaen - Greek accusative case for the Proper name Danae.
Eam – ‘Her’ (accusative case). For further info. see is, ea, id  in WORDLIST (in PAGES top right side bar).
In matrimonium ducere - literally means to lead into marriage but we would say simply ‘to marry’.
haec - The literal translation would be 'these things,' but we would say 'thus', ‘this’, or 'as follows.'
Es - With iam dudum and similar expressions of duration, the present indicative is often used in Latin to denote an action or state begun in the past but continuing in the present whereas in English we would use the perfect tense: it has been some time since you became a young man, or you have already for some time been a young man, or it is long since you were a young man.
Quo usque - until what time, till when.
Hic - is not here the pronoun ‘he’, but an adverb meaning ‘here’.
Hinc - adverb meaning from here, hence.
mihi - to me (dative case).
Refer - Imperative mood meaning ‘Bring’. Dico, duco, facio, and fero have the imperative forms dic, duc, fac, and fer, instead of dice, etc.

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 igitur multós annós ibi habitábat,
And so Perseus lived many years there,
et cum mátre suá vítam beátam agébat.
and with his mother lived a blessed life.
At Polydectés Danaén mágnopere amábat,
But Polydectes greatly loved Danae
atque eam in mátrimónium dúcere volébat.
and wanted to marry her.
Hóc tamen cónsilium Perseó minimé grátum erat.
This plan however was not in the least pleasing to Perseus.
Polydectés igitur Perseum dímittere cónstituit.
Polydectes therefore decided to send Perseus away.
Tum iuvenem ad sé vocávit et haec díxit:
Then he called the young man to him and said this:
"Turpe est hanc ígnávam vítam agere;
‘It is disgraceful leading this lazy life;
iam dúdum tú aduléscéns es.
It has been a while since you became a young man.
Quó úsque híc manébis?
How long will you stay here?
Tempus est arma capere et virtútem praestáre.
It is time to take up arms and show (your) valour.
Hinc abí, et caput Medúsae mihi refer."
Go away from here, and bring me the head of Medusa.

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

Perseus igitur multos annos ibi habitabat,

et cum matre sua vitam beatam agebat.

At Polydectes Danaen magnopere amabat,

atque eam in matrimonium ducere volebat.

Hoc tamen consilium Perseo minime gratum erat.

Polydectes igitur Perseum dimittere constituit.

Tum iuvenem ad se vocavit et haec dixit:

"Turpe est hanc ignavam vitam agere;

iam dudum tu adulescens es.

Quo usque hic manebis?

Tempus est arma capere et virtutem praestare.

Hinc abi, et caput Medusae mihi refer."

00 RITCHIE'S FABULAE FACILES INTRO.

As a learner of Latin I have been disappointed by the lack of easy-to-read latin stories and having discovered RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES or RITCHIE’S EASY STORIES I have embarked on an exciting project to resurrect the stories which I believe are as relevant and interesting to learners of Latin today, as they were when they were first published over a hundred years ago. I hope you like them as much as I do.
There are 4 stories based on 4 Greek myths: PERSEUS; HERCULES; THE ARGONAUTS; and ULYSEES. I have adopted the same division of the stories into numbered chapters but I have altered the format dramatically in the following ways: The first titled paragraph is called section a) and presents the section with macrons and no notes; section b) provides detailed notes on vocabulary and grammar relating to the paragraph and any vocab not found in this section will be found in the WORDLIST under PAGES and further grammar exlanations can be found in ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR NOTES also under PAGES (top right of sidebar). Section c) provides an interlinear translation of the text (which is non-existent in the orginal) which I have prepared, as I think this is an excellent way to learn new vocabulary without spending an inordinate amount of time looking up words in the dictionary and it also enables the learner to clear up any unresolved difficulties encountered on initial reading. It sounds rather clumsy in places but I have sacrificed idiomatic English in favour of a close translation as I think it makes it easier to learn this way and you can, I am sure, invent your own improved translations once you have the gist of the meaning. I personally love interlinear translation as I think it saves a lot of time; I know these are not perfect but I hope they make the stories a little more accessible to complete beginners and I welcome comments and corrections. After a short time you should be able to read through section a) with complete understanding without having to refer to sections b) or c).  I have had great fun reading the stories and making sense of them and I hope you will too.