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.

16 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 16 - A CRUEL DEED

HERCULES 16 - A CRUEL DEED

a) THE PICTURE IS OF A STATUE OF HERCULES.
Herculés iam aduléscéns Thébís habitábat. Réx Thébárum, vir ígnávus, Creón appellábátur. Minyae, géns bellicósissima, Thébánís fínitimí erant. Légátí autem á Minyís ad Thébánós quotannís mittébantur; hí Thébás veniébant et centum bovés postulábant. Thébání enim ólim á Minyís superátí erant; tribúta igitur régí Minyárum quotannís pendébant. At Herculés cívís suós hóc stípendió líberáre cónstituit; légátós igitur comprehendit, atque aurís eórum abscídit. Légátí autem apud omnís gentís sánctí habentur.
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.

Habitabat – note the use of the imperfect to describe continued action in the past best rendered by ‘he used to etc’.

Appellabatur – passive ‘he was called’; active would be ‘he called’.

Bellicossima – superlative adjective, ‘most or very or extremely warlike’.

Finitimus – neighbouring, adjoining. Finitimi erant – literally ‘were neighbouring’.

Autem - conj., can mean however, or moreover; or as here ‘now’.

Legatus – ambassador.

A Minyis, ad Thebanos – notice a followed by ablative; ad is followed by accusative plural.

Hi – personal pronoun, see GRAMMAR NOTES meaning ‘these men’.

Veniebant, postulabant – notice use of imperfect tense because we are talking about repeated actions in the past.

Superati erant – ‘had been overcome’, pluperfect passive which could be translated as ‘had been beaten in battle’

Pendebant – used to pay, from pendo, pendere, pependi, pensus, weigh out, pay. Notice that this again is repeated action in the past and is signposted by ‘quotannis’ ‘every year’.

Hoc stipendio – ablative of adjective ‘this’ (See Hic, Haec, Hoc in GRAMMAR NOTES) agreeing with the ablative of the noun stípendium, -í, n., tax, tribute.

Eorum – ‘their’, genitive plural of is, ea, id ‘of them’ meaning ‘the ears of them’ or more idiomatically ‘their ears’.

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 iam aduléscéns Thébís habitábat.
Hercules when a young man used to live at Thebes.

Réx Thébárum, vir ígnávus, Creón appellábátur.
The king of the Thebans, a cowardly man, was called Creon.

Minyae, géns bellicósissima, Thébánís fínitimí erant.
The Minyae, a most warlike people, lived next door to the Thebans.

Légátí autem á Minyís ad Thébánós quotannís mittébantur;
Now every year embassadors were sent from Minyans to the Thebans

hí Thébás veniébant et centum bovés postulábant.
These men used to come to the Thebans and demand a hundred cattle.

Thébání enim ólim á Minyís superátí erant;
For the Thebans had once been beaten in battle by the Minyans.

tribúta igitur régí Minyárum quotannís pendébant.
A tribute therefore was paid to the king of the Minyans.

At Herculés cívís suós hóc stípendió líberáre cónstituit;
But Hercules resolved to free his citizens from this tax;

légátós igitur comprehendit, atque aurís eórum abscídit.
He seized the ambassadors therefore, and cut off their ears.

Légátí autem apud omnís gentís sánctí habentur.
Ambassadors however among all peoples are considered sacrosanct.

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

Hercules iam adulescens Thebis habitabat. Rex Thebarum, vir ignavus, Creon appellabatur. Minyae, gens bellicosissima, Thebanis finitimi erant. Legati autem a Minyis ad Thebanos quotannis mittebantur; hi Thebas  veniebant et centum boves postulabant. Thebani enim olim a Minyis superati erant; tributa igitur regi Minyarum quotannis pendebant. At Hercules civis suos hoc stipendio liberare constituit; legatos igitur comprehendit, atque auris eorum abscidit. Legati autem apud omnis gentis sancti habentur.

15 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 15 – HERCULES ESCAPES SACRIFICE

HERCULES 15 - HERCULES ESCAPES SACRIFICE

a)This vase painting depicts Hercules killing Busiris.

Dé Hercule haec etiam inter alia nárrantur.
Ólim dum iter facit, in fínís Aegyptiórum vénit.
Ibi réx quídam, nómine Búsíris, illó tempore régnábat;
híc autem vir crúdélissimus hominés immoláre cónsuéverat.
Herculem igitur corripuit et in vincula coniécit.
Tum núntiós dímísit et diem sacrifició édíxit.
Mox ea diés appetébat, et omnia ríte paráta sunt.
Manús Herculis caténís ferreís vinctae sunt,
et mola salsa in caput éius ínspersa est.
Mós enim erat apud antíquós salem
et fár capitibus victimárum impónere.
Iam victima ad áram stábat;
iam sacerdós cultrum súmpserat.
Subitó tamen Herculés mágnó cónátú
vincula perrúpit; tum íctú sacerdótem próstrávit;
alteró régem ipsum occídit.

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.

Haec – these things. We know it is not feminine singular ‘this thing’ as it goes with the plural verb ‘narrantur’ meaning ‘they are told’.
dum iter facit - literally 'while he is making a journey' as dum is followed by a present tense even when the sense requires a past tense, so we might translate as 'when he was making a journey'. 
Finis – finis can mean end, and boundary; in the plural it often means ‘territory’.
Inter alia – an expression we use today straight from the Latin, ‘amongst other things’.
Olim – once, or once upon a time.
Iter facere – means to travel, or journey; notice present tense after dum whereas we would use a past tense in English.
Crudelissimus – is a superlative adjective meaning ‘most cruel’ or ‘very cruel’.
Consueverat – this is the pluperfect tense from the verb con-suesco, -suescere, -sueví, -suetus, which means to become accustomed; in tenses of completed action it means to have become accustomed, be accustomed or wont.
Corripuit – perfect tense from the verb corripio, -ripere, -ripui, -reptus [com- + rapió], seize, snatch, snatch up meaning here ‘he seized’.
Diem edixit – from die edere, to announce the date.
Appetebat – imperfect tense of appeto, -petere, -petiví, -petítus [ad + peto], to draw near, approach.
Rite – an adverb meaning duly, fitly, correctly.
Mola salsa - mola, -ae f. means meal, and salsus, -a, -um, means salted, (from sal, salt. n.), so together they mean ‘salted meal’ which refers to the Roman custom of sprinkling salted meal over the victim before being sacrificed.
Far, farris, n. – is another name for meal, or grain.
Sumpserat – pluperfect from the verb sumo, sumere, sumpsí, sumptus [sub + emo], to take under or up, take.
Culter, cultri, m. - knife.
Magno conatu – ablative of conatus, -us m., attempt, effort, from the verb conor, meaning with a great effort.


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.

Dé Hercule haec etiam inter alia nárrantur.
These things are often told, amongst still other things, about Hercules.

Ólim dum iter facit, in fínís Aegyptiórum vénit.
Once while he was journeying, he came into the territory of he Egyptians.

Ibi réx quídam, nómine Búsíris, illó tempore régnábat;
Here a certain king, called Busiris, was reigning at that time;

híc autem vir crúdélissimus hominés immoláre cónsuéverat.
This very cruel man however was accustomed to sacrifice men.

Herculem igitur corripuit et in vincula coniécit.
And so he seized Hercules and threw him in chains.

Tum núntiós dímísit et diem sacrifició édíxit.
Then he sent messengers out and announced the day for the sacrifice.

Mox ea diés appetébat, et omnia ríte paráta sunt.
Soon the day was drawing near and everything was correctly prepared

Manús Herculis caténís ferreís vinctae sunt,
Hercules hands were bound by iron chains,

et mola salsa in caput éius ínspersa est.
and salted meal was sprinkled on his head.

Mós enim erat apud antíquós
For it was the custom with the ancients

salem et fár capitibus victimárum impónere.
To put salt and meal on the heads of the victims.

Iam victima ad áram stábat;
Now the victim was standing at the altar;

iam sacerdós cultrum súmpserat.
Now the priest had taken up the knife

Subitó tamen Herculés mágnó cónátú
Suddenly however, Hercules with a great effort

vincula perrúpit; tum íctú sacerdótem próstrávit;
broke his chains; then laid low the priest with a blow;

alteró régem ipsum occídit.
And with another (blow) killed the king himself.


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 long vowel marks in yourself ; ii) provide your own translation.


De Hercule haec etiam inter alia narrantur.
Olim dum iter facit, in finis Aegyptiorum venit.
Ibi rex quidam, nomine Busiris, illo tempore regnabat; hic autem vir crudelissimus homines immolare consueverat. Herculem igitur corripuit et in vincula coniecit. Tum nuntios dimisit et diem sacrificio edixit. Mox ea dies appetebat, et omnia rite parata sunt. Manus Herculis catenis ferreis vinctae sunt, et mola salsa in caput eius inspersa est. Mos enim erat apud antiquos salem et far capitibus victimarum imponere. Iam victima ad aram stabat; iam sacerdos cultrum sumpserat. Subito tamen Hercules magno conatu vincula perrupit; tum ictu sacerdotem prostravit;
altero regem ipsum occidit.

14 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION – HERCULES 14– THE MUSIC LESSON

HERCULES 14 – THE MUSIC LESSON

THIS IS A STATUE OF A CENTAUR; IT IS HALF HORSE AND HALF HUMAN.













a)

Herculés á pueró corpus suum díligenter exercébat; mágnam partem diéí in palaestrá cónsúmébat; didicit etiam arcum intendere et téla conicere. Hís exercitátiónibus vírés éius cónfírmátae sunt.
In músicá etiam á Linó centauró érudiébátur (centaurí autem equí erant sed caput hominis habébant); huic tamen artí minus díligenter studébat. Híc Linus Herculem ólim obiúrgábat, quod nón studiósus erat; tum puer írátus citharam subitó rapuit, et omnibus víribus caput magistrí ínfélícis percussit. Ille íctú próstrátus est, et pauló post é vítá excessit, neque quisquam posteá id officium suscipere voluit.

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.

A puero, from a boy, ablative case.
Exercebat, is imperfect tense in Latin as this describes behaviour over a long time, or habitual behaviour.
In palaestra is ablative case after preposition ‘in’ as it means inside, if it were 'into' meaning motion towards the inside rather than in meaning place in which, the accusative case would be used.
Didicit, is perfect tense of disco, discere to learn.
Arcum intendere means to draw a bow from inendo, -ere, -endi, -tentus, to stretch out; stretch, draw, aim.
His exercitationibus, through these exercises, ablative case.
A Lino, is ablative case, by Linus.
Erudiebatur, is passive, ‘he was instructed’.
Huic arti is dative, ‘to this art’.
Obiurgo, -iurgare, -avi, -atus, means to, chide, scold, reproach it is imperfect to show that Linus was constantly scolding Hercules over a period of time.
Omnibus viribus is ablative meaning ‘with all his strength’.
Ictu, ablative, ‘by the blow’.
E vita excessit, he died or litterally, he departed from life, from excedo, -cedere, -cessí, -cessus, go out or forth, depart.
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 á pueró corpus suum díligenter exercébat;
From a boy Hercules assiduously exercised his body;

mágnam partem diéí in palaestrá cónsúmébat;
a large part of his day was taken up in the gym;

didicit etiam arcum intendere et téla conicere.
As he learned to draw a bow and throw a spear.

Hís exercitátiónibus vírés éius cónfírmátae sunt.
These exercises fortified his strength.

In músicá etiam á Linó centauró érudiébátur
And he was even instructed in music by Linus.

(centaurí autem equí erant sed caput hominis habébant);
(moreover the centaurs were horses but had the head of a man);

huic tamen artí minus díligenter studébat.
To this art however he gave less studious attention.

Híc Linus Herculem ólim obiúrgábat,
This Linus once scolded Hercules,

quod nón studiósus erat;
because he was not studious;

tum puer írátus citharam subitó rapuit,
when the angry boy suddenly snatched the lyre,

et omnibus víribus caput magistrí ínfélícis percussit.
And with all his strengh struck the head of the unfortunate teacher.

Ille íctú próstrátus est, et pauló post é vítá excessit,
He was prostrated by the blow and a short time afterwards he departed this life.

neque quisquam posteá id officium suscipere voluit.
Nor did anyone afterwards want to undertake this duty.

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 in yourself ; ii) provide your own translation.

Hercules a puero corpus suum diligenter exercebat;
magnam partem diei in palaestra consumebat;
didicit etiam arcum intendere et tela conicere.
His exercitationibus vires eius confirmatae sunt.
In musica etiam a Lino centauro erudiebatur
(centauri autem equi erant sed caput hominis habebant);
huic tamen arti minus diligenter studebat.
Hic Linus Herculem olim obiurgabat,
quod non studiosus erat;
tum puer iratus citharam subito rapuit,
et omnibus viribus caput magistri infelicis percussit.
Ille ictu prostratus est,
et paulo post e vita excessit,
 neque quisquam postea id officium suscipere voluit.

13 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION – HERCULES 13 – HERCULES AND THE SERPENTS

HERCULES 13 - HERCULES AND THE SERPENTS

a)

Íphiclés, fráter Herculis, mágná vóce exclámávit; sed Herculés ipse, fortissimus puer, haudquáquam territus est. Parvís manibus serpentís statim prehendit, et colla eárum mágná ví compressit. Tálí modó serpentés á pueró interfectae sunt. Alcména autem, máter puerórum, clámórem audíverat,et marítum suum é somnó excitáverat.Ille lúmen accendit et gladium suum rapuit;tum ad puerós properábat, sed ubi ad locum vénit,rem míram vídit, Herculés enim rídébat et serpentís mortuás mónstrábat.

b)

The words below have been selected for special attention.  For words not included in this list pease refer to the WORDLIST in PAGES TOP RIGHT SIDE BAR.

Herculis – genitive case to express ‘of Hercules’.
Magna voce – ablative case to express ‘in a loud (literally big, great) voice. This is called the 'ablative of manner'. Notice you do not always need to put the preposition ‘in’ as the ablative case on its own is enough.
Ipse – himself, see PERSONAL PRONOUNS in ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR NOTES at the top right under PAGES.
Fortissimus – superlative adjective meaning the most brave, very brave.
Parvis manibus – ablative case here used to express 'with his little hands', notice again that the preposition ‘with’ is not translated as the ablative case expresses ‘with’ on its own without ‘cum’. This is called the 'instrumental ablative'.
Magna vi – ablative case again to express ‘with’ meaning ‘with great force’; this is the ablative of manner again.
A puero – a with puero to express ‘by the boy’. Here, we use the preposition ‘a’ as we are dealing with ‘by + a human being’; as we have seen, with things we can leave the preposition out but not when we are referring to human beings being the agent of an action.
Interfectae sunt – passive form as the snakes were having an action done to them; they were were killed they were not ‘doing’ the action.


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.

Íphiclés, fráter Herculis, mágná vóce exclámávit;

Iphicles, Hercules’ brother, cried out in a large voice,

sed Herculés ipse, fortissimus puer,

but Hercules himself, a most brave boy,

haudquáquam territus est.

Was not at all frightened.

Parvís manibus serpentís statim prehendit,

With his small hands he immediately seized the snakes

et colla eárum mágná ví compressit.

And with great strength squeezed their necks.

Tálí modó serpentés á pueró interfectae sunt.

In this way the snakes were killed by the boy.

Alcména autem, máter puerórum, clámórem audíverat,

Alcmena however, the mother of the boys, had heard the noise.

et marítum suum é somnó excitáverat.

And had roused her husband from his sleep.

Ille lúmen accendit et gladium suum rapuit;

He lit a light and grasped his sword,

tum ad puerós properábat, sed ubi ad locum vénit,

Then hurried to the boys, but when he came to the place,

rem míram vídit, Herculés enim rídébat

he saw something wonderful. For Hercules was smiling

et serpentís mortuás mónstrábat.

And he was showing him the dead snakes.

 

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

Iphicles, frater Herculis, magna voce exclamavit;

sed Hercules ipse, fortissimus puer,

haudquaquam territus est.

Parvis manibus serpentis statim prehendit,

et colla earum magna vi compressit.

Tali modo serpentes a puero interfectae sunt.

Alcmena autem, mater puerorum, clamorem audiverat,

et maritum suum e somno excitaverat.

Ille lumen accendit et gladium suum rapuit;

tum ad pueros properabat, sed ubi ad locum venit,

rem miram vidit, Hercules enim ridebat

et serpentis mortuas monstrabat.

12 RITCHIE FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 12 - THE HATRED OF JUNO

HERCULES 12 – THE HATRED OF JUNO

THIS PICTURE IS OF JUNO AND JUPPITER
Hercules, a Greek hero celebrated for his great strength, was pursued throughout his life by the hatred of Juno. While yet an infant, he strangled some serpents sent by the goddess to destroy him. During his boyhood and youth he performed various marvelous feats of strength, and on reaching manhood succeeded in delivering the Thebans from the oppression of the Minyae. In a fit of madness sent upon him by Juno, he slew his own children; and on consulting the Delphic oracle as to how he should cleanse himself from this crime, he was ordered to submit himself for twelve years to Eurystheus, king of Tiryns, and to perform whatever tasks were appointed him. Hercules obeyed the oracle, and during the twelve years of his servitude accomplished twelve extraordinary feats known as the Labours of Hercules. His death was caused unintentionally by his wife Dejanira. Hercules had shot with his poisoned arrows a centaur named Nessus, who had insulted Dejanira. Nessus, before he died, gave some of his blood to Dejanira, and told her it would act as a charm to secure her husband's love. Some time after, Dejanira wishing to try the charm soaked one of her husband's garments in the blood, not knowing that it was poisoned. Hercules put on the robe, and after suffering terrible torments died, or was carried off by his father Jupiter.

a)
Herculés, Alcménae fílius, ólim in Graeciá habitábat. Híc omnium hominum validissimus fuisse dícitur. At Iúnó, régína deórum, Alcménam óderat et Herculem adhúc ínfantem necáre voluit. Mísit igitur duás serpentís saevissimás; hae mediá nocte in cubiculum Alcménae vénérunt, ubi Herculés cum frátre suó dormiébat. Nec tamen in cúnís, sed in scútó mágnó cubábant. Serpentés iam appropinquáverant et scútum movébant; itaque puerí é somnó excitátí sunt.

b)

Below are some words which have been chosen for special consideration. For the many other words not included in this list pease refer to the WORDLIST in PAGES TOP RIGHT SIDE BAR.

Scuto - shield , in scuto means ‘in a shield’, scuto being the ablative of the second declension noun scutum as the ablative is required after the preposition in meaning inside, in = place where.
omnium hominum. - Genitive case plural; this means 'of all men' in the sense of 'of all mankind.'
oderat - This verb is pluperfect and just as odi is perfect in form but present in meaning; the pluperfect here has the force of the imperfect verb, ‘she was hating’, ‘she hated’. Remember that Latin uses imperfect when referring to feelings in the past as it is descriptive of a state rather than recounting an event or action.
media nocte - ablative case, used here to indicate time when, with the idea of 'in the middle of the night,' 'in the dead of night.'
Nec tamen - 'not ... however… but' Latin uses nec and neque to connect the clauses.
movebant - Contrast this tense with appropinquaverant and excitati sunt.

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, Alcménae fílius,
Hercules, son of Alcmena,
ólim in Graeciá habitábat.
once upon a time lived in Greece.
Híc omnium hominum
He of all men (mankind)
validissimus fuisse dícitur.
is said to have been the bravest.
At Iúnó, régína deórum,
But Juno, queen of the gods,
Alcménam óderat et
hated Alcmena and
Herculem adhúc ínfantem
Hercules from his infancy
necáre voluit.
she wanted to kill.
Mísit igitur duás serpentís saevissimás;
She sent therefore two most savage serpents;
hae mediá nocte
these, in the middle of the night,
in cubiculum Alcménae vénérunt,
came into the bedroom of Alcmena ,
ubi Herculés cum frátre suó dormiébat.
where Hercules with his brother was sleeping.
Nec tamen in cúnís,
However not in a cradle,
sed in scútó mágnó cubábant.
but in a large shield.they were lying.
Serpentés iam appropinquáverant
The serpents had just approached/come close
et scútum movébant;
and were moving the shield;
Itaque puerí é somnó excitátí sunt.
And so the boys were aroused from sleep.

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

Hercules, Alcmenae filius,

olim in Graecia habitabat.

Hic omnium hominum

validissimus fuisse dicitur.

At Iuno, regina deorum,

Alcmenam oderat

et Herculem adhuc infantem necare voluit.

Misit igitur duas serpentis saevissimas;

hae media nocte

in cubiculum Alcmenae venerunt,

ubi Hercules cum fratre suo dormiebat.

Nec tamen in cunis,

sed in scuto magno cubabant.

Serpentes iam appropinquaverant

et scutum movebant;

itaque pueri e somno excitati sunt.

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.