22 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 22 - SECOND LABOUR: THE LERNEAN HYDRA WITH NOTES AND INTERLINEAR TRANSLATION

HERCULES 22 - SECOND LABOUR: THE LERNEAN HYDRA




THIS FABULOUS PICTURE IS OF HERCULES WITH HIS FRIEND SLAYING THE LERNEAN HYDRA.  WHICH ONE DO YOU THINK IS HERCULES? (answer below)

a)
Pauló post iússus est ab Eurystheó Hydram necáre. Hóc autem mónstrum erat cui novem erant capita. Herculés igitur cum amícó Ioláó profectus est ad palúdem Lernaeam, in quá Hydra habitábat. Mox mónstrum invénit, et quamquam rés erat mágní perículí, collum éius sinistrá prehendit. Tum dextrá capita novem abscídere coepit; quotiéns tamen hóc fécerat, nova capita exoriébantur. Diú frústrá labórábat; tandem hóc cónátú déstitit. Deinde arborés succídere et ígnem accendere cónstituit. Hóc celeriter fécit, et postquam lígna ígnem comprehendérunt, face árdente colla adússit, unde capita exoriébantur. Nec tamen sine mágnó labóre haec fécit; vénit enim auxilió Hydrae cancer ingéns, quí, dum Herculés capita abscídit, crúra éius mordébat. Postquam mónstrum tálí modó interfécit, sagittás suás sanguine éius imbuit, itaque mortiferás reddidit.

b)

Some words have been selected 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.

Paulo post – a little while later, after a little while.

Hóc - You might have expected this to be haec, feminine, referring to Hydram, but a demonstrative pronoun often takes the gender of the predicate noun, in this case monstrum and is therefore neuter.

Cui erant – means literally to which (dative) there were (erant) but we will translate ‘which had’.  This is an example of the use of the verb sum with a dative pronoun to indicate possession. Other examples are mihi est – ‘I have’; tibi est – ‘you have’ etc.

Capita – neuter plural of caput, head.

Cum amico Iolao – Notice cum when meaning ‘with’, takes ablative, Iolao being ablative of Iolaus..

Profectus est – perfect tense of proficiscor, deponent verb, therefore active in meaning.

In qua – ‘in which’, ablative of place in which using the feminine relative pronoun to agree with paludem (from palus, paludis, feminine third declension noun).

Invenit – ‘he found’, perfect tense.

Res – again this popular word is tricky to translate. Literally it means ‘the affair/matter was of great danger’ (genitive singular). You might say ‘although there was great danger’, or ‘although it was very dangerous’, or ‘although the situation was one of great danger’.  

Collum eius – 'his, her or its neck' when we are not talking about the subject of the sentence; suum collum would mean he grabbed his own neck.

Sinistra – this means left but in this context it means ‘left hand’ as manus is feminine (4^th declension noun) it is ablative to signify ‘with his left hand’ just as ‘dextra’ means in the following line ‘with his right hand’.

Coepit – he began.

Quotiens – adverb meaning how many or as often as, as.

Exoriebantur – not passive but imperfect of a deponent verb which looks passive but is active in meaning. The verb is exorior, -oriri, -ortus, spring up, arise from. It is imperfect because they kept springing up, repeated action in the past. 

Hoc conatu – ablative of separation after stopping doing something.

Postquam comprehenderunt - Postquam is often followed by the perfect or present Indicative but we usually translate it with a pluperfect i.e. ‘they had caught fire’.

Adussit – perfect tense of aduro, -urere, -ussi, -ustus, to set fire to, burn, scorch, sear.

Face – ablative of fax, facis noun feminine of the third declension, ‘with a torch, or with a burning brand’.

auxilió Hydrae – we have two datives here, auxilio the dative of purpose, in order to give help to, and Hydrae the dative of reference which means the person receiving the help.

Dum … abscidit – remember that when dum means 'while,'  or 'as,' it is followed by the present indicative, even when used of past events. We would translate with an imperfect, ‘while or as he was cutting off … etc.

Crura – plural of crus, cruris n, leg.

Mordebat – kept biting, notice again the imperfect for repeated action.

Tali modo – same as hoc modo, is ablative of manner ‘in this way’, ‘by this method’.

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.

Pauló post iússus est ab Eurystheó Hydram necáre.

After a little while he was commanded by Eurystheus to kill the Hydra.

Hóc autem mónstrum erat cui novem erant capita.

This monster however had nine heads.

Herculés igitur cum amícó Ioláó profectus est

Hercules thereore set out with his friend Iolaus

Ad palúdem Lernaeam, in quá Hydra habitábat.

Towards the Lernean swamp, in which the Hydra lived.

Mox mónstrum invénit, et quamquam rés erat mágní perículí,

Soon he found the monster, and although it was very dangerous

collum éius sinistrá prehendit.

He grasped its neck with his left hand.

Tum dextrá capita novem abscídere coepit;

Then with his right hand he began to cut off the nine heads;

quotiéns tamen hóc fécerat, nova capita exoriébantur.

As soon as he did this however, new heads sprang up.

Diú frústrá labórábat; tandem hóc cónátú déstitit.

He worked for a long time in vain; at last, he gave up the attempt.

Deinde arborés succídere et ígnem accendere cónstituit.

Then he cut down trees and deciced to light a fire.

Hóc celeriter fécit, et postquam lígna ígnem comprehendérunt,

This he quickly did, and after the pieces of wood had caught fire,

face árdente colla adússit,

With a burning brand he scorched the necks,

unde capita exoriébantur.

From where the heads were springing up

Nec tamen sine mágnó labóre haec fécit;

He did not do this however without much hard work;

vénit enim auxilió Hydrae cancer ingéns,

for a huge crab came to the aid of the Hydra,

quí, dum Herculés capita abscídit,

which, when Hercules cut off the heads,

crúra éius mordébat.

Kept biting his legs.

Postquam mónstrum tálí modó interfécit,

After he killed the monster in this way,

sagittás suás sanguine éius imbuit,

He dipped his arrows in its blood,

itaque mortiferás reddidit.

And so he rendered them deadly.

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

Paulo post iussus est ab Eurystheo Hydram necare. Hoc autem monstrum erat cui novem erant capita. Hercules igitur cum amico Iolao profectus est ad paludem Lernaeam, in qua Hydra habitabat. Mox monstrum invenit, et quamquam res erat magni periculi, collum eius sinistra prehendit. Tum dextra capita novem abscidere coepit; quotiens tamen hoc fecerat, nova capita exoriebantur. Diu frustra laborabat; tandem hoc conatu destitit. Deinde arbores succidere et ignem accendere constituit. Hoc celeriter fecit, et postquam ligna ignem comprehenderunt, face ardente colla adussit, unde capita exoriebantur. Nec tamen sine magno labore haec fecit; venit enim auxilio Hydrae cancer ingens, qui, dum Hercules capita abscidit, crura eius mordebat. Postquam monstrum tali modo interfecit, sagittas suas sanguine eius imbuit, itaque mortiferas reddidit.



Answer: Do you remember this from last week's post?: Tum clava magna quam semper gerebat leonem percussit. Hercules always carries his club so he must be the one on the left. 

21 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 21 - FIRST LABOUR: THE NEMEAN LION WITH NOTES AND INTERLINEAR TRANSLATION

HERCULES 21 – FIRST LABOUR : THE NEMEAN LION

a)
Prímum ab Eurystheó iússus est Herculés leónem occídere quí illó tempore vallem Nemeaeam reddébat ínféstam. In silvás igitur in quibus leó habitábat statim sé contulit. Mox feram vídit, et arcum, quem sécum attulerat, intendit; éius tamen pellem, quae dénsissima erat, tráicere nón potuit. Tum clává mágná quam semper gerébat leónem percussit, frústrá tamen; neque enim hóc modó eum occídere potuit. Tum démum collum mónstrí bracchiís suís complexus est et faucís éius omnibus víribus compressit. Hóc modó leó breví tempore exanimátus est; núlla enim respírandí facultás eí dabátur. Tum Herculés cadáver ad oppidum in umerís rettulit; et pellem, quam détráxerat, posteá pró veste gerébat. Omnés autem quí eam regiónem incolébant, ubi fámam dé morte leónis accépérunt, vehementer gaudébant et Herculem mágnó honóre habébant.

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.

Primum  - is often used in enumeration whereas primo is used when contrasing one state or action with another which follows.

Reddebat – imperfect tense of the verb reddo, -dere, -didi, -ditus, give back, return, restore; or render as here ‘it was rendering’.

Vallem – accusative of vallis, -is, f., valley.

Infestam – is a false friend as it does not mean infested as you might think but comes from the adjective infestus, -a, -um, meaning ‘insafe, dangerous’.

In silvas – notice the accusative here meaning ‘into the woods’ involving motion into, whereas it is followed by in quibus meaning ‘in which’, ablative of place.

Se contulit – perfect tense of se conferre, to make one’s way to.

Attulerat – he had brought, pluperfect tense of ad-fero, adferre, (attuli, adlatus).

Secum – with him (referring to the subject),  notice that the preposition cum follows and is joined to the pronoun.

Intendit – perfect tense of intendo, -tendere, -tendi, -tentus meaning stretch out; stretch, draw, aim.

Gerebat – the imperfect tense is signposted here by the adverb semper ‘always’ indicating something repeated or habitual in the past. It comes from the verb gero, gerere, gessi, gestus, means wear or carry.

Neque enim – for … not.

Complexus est – this is the perfect tense of the deponent verb complector (verbs which look passive but are active in meaning) and means ‘he embraced’ but here we translated it as ‘he put his arms around’.

Omnibus viribus – ablative of manner meaning with all his strength or might.

Brevi tempore – ablative of time within which.

Facultas -atis – feminine noun of the third declension which agrees with nulla meaning ‘no opportunity’.

Respirandi – genitive of the gerund respirandum meaning ‘of breathing’.

Rettulit – another ‘ferre’ verb meaning to bring or carry back.

Ubi – can mean where, or as here ‘when’.

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.

Prímum ab Eurystheó iússus est Herculés

First Hercules is ordered by Eurstheus

leónem occídere quí illó tempore

to kill the lion which at that time

vallem Nemeaeam reddébat ínféstam.

Was making the Nemean valley unsafe.

In silvás igitur in quibus leó habitábat

Into the woods therefore, in which the lion was living

statim sé contulit. Mox feram vídit,

he made his way at once.  Soon he saw the beast,

et arcum, quem sécum attulerat, intendit;

and he drew his bow which he had brought with him;

éius tamen pellem, quae dénsissima erat,

his hide was so vert thick however,

tráicere nón potuit.

That he could not pierce it.

Tum clává mágná quam semper gerébat

Then with a large club which he always carried

leónem percussit, frústrá tamen;

he struck the lion, in vain however;

neque enim hóc modó eum occídere potuit.

For he could not in this way kill it.

Tum démum collum mónstrí bracchiís suís complexus est

Then at last he put his arms round the monster’s neck

et faucís éius omnibus víribus compressit.

And squeezed his throat with all his might.

Hóc modó leó breví tempore exanimátus est;

In this way the lion lost consciousness in a short time.

núlla enim respírandí facultás eí dabátur.

For he was given no opportunity of breathing.

Tum Herculés cadáver ad oppidum in umerís rettulit;

Then Hercules carried the body back to the town on his shoulders;

Et pellem, quam détráxerat, posteá pró veste gerébat.

And the hide, which he had, afterwards he wore as a garment.

Omnés autem quí eam regiónem incolébant,

All those however, who lived in that region,

ubi fámam dé morte leónis accépérunt,

when they heard about the death of the lion,

vehementer gaudébant et Herculem mágnó honóre habébant.

Rejoiced heartily and held Hercules in great esteem.

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

Primum ab Eurystheo iussus est Hercules leonem occidere qui illo tempore vallem Nemeaeam reddebat infestam. In silvas igitur in quibus leo habitabat statim se contulit. Mox feram vidit, et arcum, quem secum attulerat, intendit; eius tamen pellem, quae densissima erat, traicere non potuit. Tum clava magna quam semper gerebat leonem percussit, frustra tamen; neque enim hoc modo eum occidere potuit. Tum demum collum monstri bracchiis suis complexus est et faucis eius omnibus viribus compressit. Hoc modo leo brevi tempore exanimatus est; nulla enim respirandi facultas ei dabatur. Tum Hercules cadaver ad oppidum in umeris rettulit; et pellem, quam detraxerat, postea pro veste gerebat. Omnes autem qui eam regionem incolebant, ubi famam de morte leonis acceperunt, vehementer gaudebant et Herculem magno honore habebant.

20 HERCULES 20 - THE ORACLE'S REPLY WITH NOTES AND INTERLINEAR TRANSLATION

HERCULES 20 - THE ORACLE'S REPLY

a)
Ubi Herculés fínem fécit, Pýthia prímó tacébat; tandem tamen iussit eum ad urbem Tíryntha íre, et Eurystheí régis omnia imperáta facere. Herculés ubi haec audívit, ad urbem illam contendit, et Eurystheó régí sé in servitútem trádidit. Duodecim annós crúdélissimó Eurystheó serviébat, et duodecim labórés, quós ille imperáverat, cónfécit; hóc enim únó modó tantum scelus expiárí potuit. Dé hís labóribus plúrima á poétís scrípta sunt. Multa tamen quae poétae nárrant vix crédibilia sunt.

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.

Ubi can mean ‘where’, or ‘when’ as it does here.

Finem fecit – literally made (perfect tense) an end but we would say ‘finished’.

Primo – adverb meaning ‘at first’.

Tacebat – was silent, imperfect tense of taceo.

Tandem – at length.

Ad – prep followed by accusative, ‘to, towards’ (the city).

Imperata – neut pl of imperatum, ‘order’, or ‘command’.

Omnia – neut pl adj (sing omnis etc.) agreeing with imperata, so it means ‘all the commands’.

Eurysthei regis – genitive case meaning ‘of the king Eurystheus’ (i.e. the commands of the King Eurystheus).

Ubi haec – ubi meaning ‘when’ again with neuter plural of the pronoun hic meaning ‘these things’.

Contendit – perfect tense of contendo (ere) meaning he hastened.

Illam – accusative of illa, agreeing with urbem, emaning ‘that city’.

Eurystheo regi – dative case, as Hercules gave himself to etc.

Se … tradidit – handed himself over.

Servitus – (genitive –itutis) slavery, servitude f. in servitutem because ‘in’ meaning ‘into’ is followed by the accusative case (for the complete declension of third declension nouns, see third declension nouns under the heading ‘Declension’ in ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR NOTES top left of sidebar under PAGES).

Duodecim annos – is in the accusative case as we are here talking about time during which, i.e. for twelve years.

Crudelissimo – superlative meaning ‘most cruel’, we know it is agreeing with Eurytheus and not years as it is in the singular dative case. The reason it is in the dative case is because the verb servio takes the dative case.  For other common verbs which take the take the dative case see the list in GRAMMAR NOTES in PAGES top left of side bar under DATIVE CASE.  

Quos – relative masc. accusative plural pronoun introducing the subordinate clause ‘which that man (i.e. Eurystheus) ordered’. It is masculine plural because it agrees with the antecedent ‘labores’.  

Plurima – another example of an adjective being used as a noun, in this case neuter plural, to mean ‘many things’.

De – preposition meaning ‘concerning’, ‘about’, followed by the ablative case.

Plurima – superlative of multus, meaning ‘a great many things’ and agreeing with scripta sunt ‘have been written’.

Multa – neuter plural adjective being used as a noun again to mean ‘many things’ and agreeing with ‘quae’ which and then credibilia

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.

Ubi Herculés fínem fécit,

When Hercules finished,

Pýthia prímó tacébat;

Pythia at first was silent;

tandem tamen iussit eum

At length however she ordered him

ad urbem Tíryntha íre,

to go to the city of Tiryns

et Eurystheí régis omnia imperáta facere.

And to carry out all the commands of the King Eurystheus

Herculés ubi haec audívit,

Hercules when he heard these things,

ad urbem illam contendit,

hastened to that city,

et Eurystheó régí

and to the King Eurystheus

sé in servitútem trádidit.

Handed himself over into servitude.

Duodecim annós crúdélissimó Eurystheó serviébat

For twelve years he served cruel Eurystheus

et duodecim labórés, quós ille imperáverat, cónfécit;

and the twelve labours, which that man ordered, he carried out;

hóc enim únó modó

for by this one way

tantum scelus expiárí potuit.

could he expiate such a great crime.

Dé hís labóribus plúrima á poétís scrípta sunt.

About these labours a great many things have been written by the poets.

Multa tamen quae poétae nárrant vix crédibilia sunt.

But many things which the poets relate are hardly believable.

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

Ubi Hercules finem fecit, Pythia primo tacebat; tandem tamen iussit eum ad urbem Tiryntha ire, et Eurysthei regis omnia imperata facere. Hercules ubi haec audivit, ad urbem illam contendit, et Eurystheo regi se in servitutem tradidit. Duodecim annos crudelissimo Eurystheo serviebat, et duodecim labores, quos ille imperaverat, confecit; hoc enim uno modo tantum scelus expiari potuit. De his laboribus plurima a poetis scripta sunt. Multa tamen quae poetae narrant vix credibilia sunt.

19 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 19 - HERCULES CONSULTS THE ORACLE

THIS IS A PICTURE OF PYTHIA THE DELPHIC ORACLE

HERCULES 19 - HERCULES CONSULTS THE ORACLE

a)
Herculés tantum scelus expiáre mágnopere cupiébat. Cónstituit igitur ad óráculum Delphicum íre; hóc enim óráculum erat omnium celeberrimum. Ibi templum erat Apollinis plúrimís dónís órnátum. Hóc in templó sedébat fémina quaedam, nómine Pýthia et cónsilium dabat iís quí ad óráculum veniébant. Haec autem fémina ab ipsó Apolline docébátur, et voluntátem deí hominibus énúntiábat. Herculés igitur, quí Apollinem praecipué colébat, húc vénit. Tum rem tótam exposuit, neque scelus célávit.

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.

tantum - (tantus), adj., 'so much', 'so great' neut agreeing with scelus.

scelus, - gen. sceleris, neuter noun of the third declension, meaning, wickedness, crime.

Magnopere – adverb meaning 'greatly'.

Ad – preposition followed by accusative, 'to', 'towards'.

Hoc – this, see hic, haec, hoc in GRAMMAR NOTES (top left under PAGES.

Omnium – of all, genitive plural of omnis.

Celeberrimum – superlative adjective agreeing with oraculum, ‘most famous’.

Ibi -  adv., 'in that place', 'there'.

Apollinis – genitive meaning 'of Appollo'.

Plurimis donis – ablative case, 'with many gifts' i.e. 'with many offerings'. Donum (gift) was often used to mean a sacrifice made.

Ornatum – adorned, adjective neuter nominative, agrees with templum.

Hoc in templo – In this temple, notice the word order, a preposition often comes in between the noun and an accompanying adjective.

Quaedam – is an indefinite adjective meaning ‘a certain’. It agrees here with femina, meaning ‘a certain lady’ and can also be used as an indefinite pronoun.  See quiddam, quaedam, quoddam in GRAMMAR NOTES

colo, colere, colui, cultus, till, cultivate; inhabit; worship.

Rem – popular word with many possible translations; we have chosen ‘the whole matter’ here to translate rem totam.

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.

Herculés tantum scelus expiáre mágnopere cupiébat.

Hercules greatly desired to expiate so great a crime.

Cónstituit igitur ad óráculum Delphicum íre;

He resolved therefore to go to the Delphic oracle

hóc enim óráculum erat omnium celeberrimum.

For this oracle was of all the most famous.

Ibi templum erat Apollinis plúrimís dónís órnátum.

In that place the temple of Apollo was adorned with many gifts.

Hóc in templó sedébat fémina quaedam,

In this temple was sitting a certain woman,

nómine Pýthia et cónsilium dabat

called Pythia and she used to give advice

iís quí ad óráculum veniébant.

To those who came to the oracle.

Haec autem fémina ab ipsó Apolline docébátur,

This woman moreover was taught by Apollo himself

et voluntátem deí hominibus énúntiábat.

And she pronounced to men the will of the god

Herculés igitur, quí Apollinem praecipué colébat,

Hercules therefore, who worshipped Apollo especially,

húc vénit. Tum rem tótam exposuit,

Came to this place. Then he told the whole matter

neque scelus célávit.

And did not hide his crime.

 

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.

Hercules tantum scelus expiare magnopere cupiebat. Constituit igitur ad oraculum Delphicum ire; hoc enim oraculum erat omnium celeberrimum. Ibi templum erat Apollinis plurimis donis ornatum. Hoc in templo sedebat femina quaedam, nomine Pythia et consilium dabat iis qui ad oraculum veniebant. Haec autem femina ab ipso Apolline docebatur, et voluntatem dei hominibus enuntiabat. Hercules igitur, qui Apollinem praecipue colebat, huc venit. Tum rem totam exposuit, neque scelus celavit.

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.

17 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 17 - THE DEFEAT OF THE MINYAE

HERCULES 17 - THE DEFEAT OF THE MINYAE
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.

Ergínus, réx Minyárum, ob haec vehementer írátus
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.