27 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 27 - THE FATE OF PHOLUS with NOTES AND INTERLINEAR TRANSLATION

HERCULES 27 - THE FATE OF PHOLUS

This vase painting shows Hercules and Pholus shaking hands.  The one below is of Hercules fighting with a centaur.
a)

Postquam reliquí fúgérunt, Pholus ex spéluncá égressus est, et corpora spectábat eórum quí sagittís interfectí erant. Mágnopere autem mírátus
est quod tam leví vulnere exanimátí erant, et causam éius reí quaerébat.
Adiit igitur locum ubi cadáver cúiusdam centaurí iacébat, et sagittam é vulnere tráxit. Haec tamen síve cású síve cónsilió deórum é manibus éius lapsa est, et pedem leviter vulnerávit. Ille extempló dolórem gravem per omnia membra sénsit, et post breve tempus ví venéní exanimátus est. Mox Herculés, quí reliquós centaurós secútus erat, ad spéluncam rediit, et mágnó cum dolóre Pholum mortuum vídit. Multís cum lacrimís corpus amící ad sepultúram dedit; tum, postquam alterum póculum víní exhausit, somnó
sé dedit.

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.

ex spelunca – ablative (of physical separation) after the preposition ex.

Egressus est – perfect tense of the deponent verb egredior, -gredi, -gressus (e + gradior) meaning ‘to go out or go forth' (also to go ashore or disembark). Remember it looks passive but is active so it means ‘he went out’.

Corpora – accusative plural of the third declension neuter noun corpus (body), direct object of the verb ‘he saw’, meaning therefore ‘he saw the bodies’.

Sagittis – ablative of instrument meaning ‘with/by the arrows’.

Eorum – masculine plural genitive of pronoun is meaning ‘of those (men)’ – see is, ea, id GRAMMAR NOTES, left top of sidebar under PAGES.

Magnopere – irregular adverb ‘greatly’.

Miratus est – he wondered, from the deponent verb miror, -ari, -atus, 'to wonder, to wonder at'.

Vulnere – ablative of neuter third declension noun vulnus, vulneris, 'with/by a wound'. 

Eius rei – genitive singular of pronoun is (see is, ea, id GRAMMAR NOTES top left sidebar under PAGES) with genitive of rem, 5^th declension feminine noun meaning ‘of this matter’

Adiit – perfect tense from ad-eo, -ire, -ii, -itus, go to, approach, meaning thereore ‘he approached’.

Locum - the direct object of adiit, which is here transitive, ‘he approached the place etc’.

Cuiusdam – genitive singular of the indefinite pronoun quidam ‘a certain’ meaning therefore ‘of a certain …’.

E vulnere – ablative of separation after e, ‘out of the wound’.

Sive … sive – followed by the ablative case whether by this, or whether by that’.  

cású  - ablative case of casus, adverb, ‘by chance, accidentally’.

Extemplo - adverb, ‘immediately, straightway, at once’.

Vi veneni – ablative of means, ‘by the power of the poison’.

Secutus erat – pluperfect tense of deponent verb sequor, meaning ‘he had followed’.

Magno cum dolore – ‘with great grief’, notice the word order, the preposition is sandwiched between the noun and its adjective. This also occurs in the the following sentence, multis cum lacrimis ‘with many tears’.

Ad sepulturam dedit – gave (his friend) up to burial, i.e. buried him.

Somno se dedit – gave himself up to sleep, i.e. went to sleep.

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 reliquí fúgérunt,

After the rest fled,

Pholus ex spéluncá égressus est,

Pholus came out of the cave,

et corpora spectábat eórum

and looked at the bodies of those

quí sagittís interfectí erant.

Who had been killed by the arrows.

Mágnopere autem mírátus est

But he was greatly surpised

quod tam leví vulnere exanimátí erant,

because the dead were so lightly wounded

et causam éius reí quaerébat.

And he enquired as to the cause of this

Adiit igitur locum ubi cadáver

He therefore approached where the dead body

cúiusdam centaurí iacébat,

of a certain centaur was lying,

et sagittam é vulnere tráxit.

And drew the arrow out of the wound.

Haec tamen síve cású síve cónsilió deórum

This however, whether by accident or whether by an act of the gods

é manibus éius lapsa est,

fell from his hands,

et pedem leviter vulnerávit.

And lightly wounded his foot.

Ille extempló dolórem gravem per omnia membra sénsit,

He immediately felt great pain throughtout his limbs,

et post breve tempus ví venéní exanimátus est.

and after a short time he was killed by the power of the poison.

Mox Herculés, quí reliquós centaurós secútus erat,

Soon Hercules, who had followed the rest of the centaurs,

ad spéluncam rediit,

came back to the cave,

et mágnó cum dolóre Pholum mortuum vídit.

And with great grief saw Pholus dead.

Multís cum lacrimís corpus amící ad sepultúram dedit;

With many tears he gave the body of his friend up to burial;

tum, postquam alterum póculum víní exhausit,

then, after he drained another glass of wine,

somnó sé dedit.

He gave  himself up to sleep.

d) The following section is as a) but without the macrons for you to copy and translate.

Postquam reliqui fugerunt,

Pholus ex spelunca egressus est,

et corpora spectabat eorum

qui sagittis interfecti erant.

Magnopere autem miratus est

quod tam levi vulnere exanimati erant,

et causam eius rei quaerebat.

Adiit igitur locum ubi cadaver

cuiusdam centauri iacebat,

et sagittam e vulnere traxit.

Haec tamen sive casu sive consilio deorum

e manibus eius lapsa est,

et pedem leviter vulneravit.

Ille extemplo dolorem gravem

per omnia membra sensit,

et post breve tempus vi veneni exanimatus est.

Mox Hercules, qui reliquos centauros secutus erat,

ad speluncam rediit,

et magno cum dolore Pholum mortuum vidit.

Multis cum lacrimis corpus amici ad sepulturam dedit;

tum, postquam alterum poculum vini exhausit,

somno se dedit.

26 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 26 - THE FIGHT WITH THE CENTAURS WITH NOTES AND INTERLINEAR TRANSLATION

HERCULES 26 - THE FIGHT WITH THE CENTAURS

This vase painting depicts an angry centaur holding a stone with which to attack Hercules.

a)
Simul atque amphora aperta est, odor iúcundissimus undique diffúsus est; vínum enim suávissimum erat. Centaurí nótum odórem sénsérunt et omnés ad locum convénérunt.
Ubi ad spéluncam pervénérunt, mágnopere írátí erant quod Herculem bibentem vídérunt. Tum arma rapuérunt et Pholum interficere volébant. Herculés tamen in aditú spéluncae cónstitit et impetum eórum fortissimé sustinébat. Facés árdentís in eós coniécit; multós etiam sagittís suís vulnerávit. Hae autem sagittae eaedem erant quae sanguine Hydrae ólim imbútae erant. Omnés igitur quós ille sagittís vulneráverat venénó statim absúmptí sunt; reliquí autem ubi hóc vídérunt, terga vertérunt et fugá salútem petiérunt.

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.

Aperta est – passive feminine sing., 'was opened'.

Iucundissimus – superlative of iucundus, meaning 'most or very pleasant'.

Diffusus est – perfect passive, was wafted, was spread about.

Suavissimum – superlative of suavis, meaning very or most sweet, agreeing with vinum.

Notus, a, um – well-known, famous

odorem senserunt – Senserunt, literally ‘they perceived the smell’, from sentio, sentire, sensi, sensus, ‘perceive, feel’, in the sense of ‘recognised the smell’.

Convenerunt – third person plural perfect tense from the verb con-venio, -venire, -veni, -ventus, ‘come together, assemble’.

Pervenerunt – third person plural perfect tense from the verb per-venio, -venire, -veni, -ventus, ‘come through, come, arrive, reach’.

Bibentem – present participle accusative agreeing with Herculem, direct object of ‘they saw’ meaning ‘they saw Hercules drinking’.

Tum arma – we have translated arma as ‘their weapons’ here but Latin seldom used possessive adjectives when it is obvious whose weapons they are.

In aditu – ablative of aditus ‘entrance’ after in, for place where.

con-sisto, -sistere, -stiti, -stitus, station oneself, take one's stand; consist.

Fortissime – superlative adverb, very bravely.

In eos – in with the accusative means against.

Sagittis suis – ablative of means with no preposition meaning ‘with his arrows’.

Eaedem – feminine plural of ídem, (see idem, eadem, idem GRAMMAR NOTES) demonstrative pronoun meaning the same; can sometimes be translated as likewise, also.

Quae – feminine plural nominative indefinite pronoun ‘which’, because the antecedent is  

feminine plural sagittae (arrows).

Ille sagittis – literally ‘that man by his arrows’, ablative of instrument again without a preposition.

Asumpti sunt – perfect passive plural masculine, they were carried off, swept away, we chose to translate with ‘finished off.’

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.

Simul atque amphora aperta est,

As soon as the wine amphora was opened,

odor iúcundissimus undique diffúsus est;

a pleasant smell wafted everywhere;

vínum enim suávissimum erat.

For the wine was very sweet.

Centaurí nótum odórem sénsérunt

The centaurs perceived the well-known smell,

et omnés ad locum convénérunt.

And they all made their way to the place.

Ubi ad spéluncam pervénérunt,

When they had reached the cave

mágnopere írátí erant

they were greatly annoyed

quod Herculem bibentem vídérunt.

Because they saw Hercules drinking.

Tum arma rapuérunt

Then they grasped their weapons

et Pholum interficere volébant.

And wanted to kill Pholus.

Herculés tamen in aditú spéluncae cónstitit

But Hercules stood in the entrance of the cave

et impetum eórum fortissimé sustinébat.

And very bravely withstood their attack.

Facés árdentís in eós coniécit;

He threw burning sticks at them;

multós etiam sagittís suís vulnerávit.

And wounded many with his arrows.

Hae autem sagittae eaedem erant

For these arrows were those same ones

quae sanguine Hydrae ólim imbútae erant.

Which had been once dipped in the blood of the Hydra.

Omnés igitur quós ille sagittís vulneráverat

All those therefore whom he wounded with his arrows

venénó statim absúmptí sunt;

were immediately finished off by the poison

reliquí autem ubi hóc vídérunt,

the rest however, when they saw this,

terga vertérunt et fugá salútem petiérunt.

Turned their backs and sought safety through flight.

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

Simul atque amphora aperta est,

odor iucundissimus undique diffusus est;

vinum enim suavissimum erat.

Centauri notum odorem senserunt

et omnes ad locum convenerunt.

Ubi ad speluncam pervenerunt,

magnopere irati erant

quod Herculem bibentem viderunt.

Tum arma rapuerunt et Pholum interficere volebant.

Hercules tamen in aditu speluncae constitit

et impetum eorum fortissime sustinebat.

Faces ardentis in eos coniecit;

multos etiam sagittis suis vulneravit.

Hae autem sagittae eaedem erant

quae sanguine Hydrae olim imbutae erant.

Omnes igitur quos ille sagittis vulneraverat

veneno statim absumpti sunt;

reliqui autem ubi hoc viderunt,

terga verterunt et fuga salutem petierunt.

25 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 25 - HERCULES AT THE CENTAUR'S CAVE

HERCULES 25 - HERCULES AT THE CENTAUR'S CAVE


This is a photo of some amphorae found at Pompeii and they are probably very like the one Hercules would have taken his drink from.  They were very large containers with tapered bottoms for storing wine, made from terracotta or stone.
a)
Dé quartó labóre, quem suprá nárrávimus, haec etiam tráduntur. Herculés dum iter in Arcadiam facit, ad eam regiónem vénit quam centaurí incolébant. Cum nox iam appeteret, ad spéluncam dévertit in quá centaurus
quídam, nómine Pholus, habitábat.
Ille Herculem benígné excépit et cénam parávit. At Herculés postquam cénávit, vínum á Pholó postulávit. Erat autem in spéluncá mágna amphora vínó optimó repléta, quam centaurí ibi déposuerant. Pholus igitur hóc vínum dare nólébat, quod reliquós centaurós timébat; núllum tamen vínum praeter hóc in spéluncá habébat. "Hóc vínum," inquit, "mihi commissum est. Sí igitur hóc dabó, centaurí mé interficient." Herculés tamen eum inrísit, et ipse póculum víní dé amphorá hausit.

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.

De etc – de, ‘about’, followed by ablative case.
Quem – relative pronoun, masculine singular accusative case, ‘which’ referring to labor, laboris masculine third declension noun, which we call its antecedent. (See pronouns GRAMMAR NOTES left top sidebar under PAGES).
Narrivimus - Have you noticed that in past posts I have sometimes said ‘We have chosen some words etc.’ instead of ‘I have chosen’ when in fact it is of course only me doing the choosing? This is called the ‘plural of modesty’ (as apposed to the ‘royal we’ which is the we the Queen uses and it is being used here by the narrator of our story.
Haec – could be feminine singular but as traduntur (passive) is plural it must be plural and means therefore ‘these things’ (see hic, haec, hoc under Pronouns in GRAMMAR NOTES left sidebar under PAGES).
In Arcadiam – notice that here we have the accusative Arcadiam because ‘in’ here means ‘into’ implying motion into whereas in Acadia, ablative case, would mean ‘in Arcadia, to indicate ‘place where’.
Quam – relative pronoun again, but feminine singular accusative case this time, ‘which’, referring to regionem (its antecedent).
Cum nox … appeteret – in a clause after cum meaning ‘since’ we have the imperfect subjunctive.
in qua – in which, relative pronoun, ablative case to indicate place where, the antecedent being ‘spelunca’ cave.
Ille Herculem … excepit – notice that ille is in the nominative = that man referring to Pholus and Herculem is accusative so it means that man (or simply he) welcomed Hercules.
a Pholo – notice that to ask for something from someone takes the accusative for the thing asked for (here vinum) and the ablative after a (or ab before a vowel) with the person who the thing is asked from.
autem – sometimes means ‘however’ or ‘moreover# or can be simply translated as ‘now’.
Erat – can mean he, she or it was and, as here, there was.
Deposuerant – pluperfect tense of deponere, meaning ‘they had put’.
Vino optimo – with the best wine, with excellent wine; optimo is the superlative adjective of bonus.
Quam – relative pronoun again, feminine singular accusative, here referring to amphora.
Quod – not a relative pronoun here but a conjunction meaning ‘because’.
Timebat – notice that timere takes accusative case (centauros).
Inquit – literally ‘he says’ historic present used with quotations, can be translated ‘he said.’
Dabo – translated ‘if I give’ but literally means ‘if I will give’.

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 quartó labóre, quem suprá nárrávimus,
Concerning the fourth labour, which we told about above,
haec etiam tráduntur.
these things also are reported.
Herculés dum iter in Arcadiam facit,
Hercules while he made his way into Arcadia,
ad eam regiónem vénit quam centaurí incolébant.
came to that region which the centaurs used to inhabit.
Cum nox iam appeteret,
Since night was already drawing in,
ad spéluncam dévertit in quá centaurus quídam,
he turned aside towards a cave in which a certain centaur,
nómine Pholus, habitábat.
by the name of Pholus, was living.
Ille Herculem benígné excépit et cénam parávit.
He welcomed Hercules kindly and prepared a meal.
At Herculés postquam cénávit, vínum á Pholó postulávit.
But after he dined Hercules asked Pholus for wine.
Erat autem in spéluncá mágna amphora
Now there was in the cave a large wine jar
vínó optimó repléta, quam centaurí ibi déposuerant.
filled with excellent wine, which the centaurs had put there.
Pholus igitur hóc vínum dare nólébat,
Pholus therefore did not want to give this wine,
quod reliquós centaurós timébat;
because he was afraid of the other centaurs;
núllum tamen vínum praeter hóc in spéluncá habébat.
He had no other wine besides this in the cave.
"Hóc vínum," inquit, "mihi commissum est.
“This wine”, he said “has been entrusted to me.
Sí igitur hóc dabó, centaurí mé interficient."
So if I give this, the centaurs will kill me.”
Herculés tamen eum inrísit,
Hercules however mocked him,
et ipse póculum víní dé amphorá hausit.
And he himself drew a glass of wine from the wine jar.

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.

De quarto labore, quem supra narravimus, haec etiam traduntur. Hercules dum iter in Arcadiam facit, ad eam regionem venit quam centauri incolebant. Cum nox iam appeteret, ad speluncam devertit in qua centaurus quidam, nomine Pholus, habitabat.

Ille Herculem benigne excepit et cenam paravit. At Hercules postquam cenavit, vinum a Pholo postulavit. Erat autem in spelunca magna amphora vino optimo repleta, quam centauri ibi deposuerant. Pholus igitur hoc vinum dare nolebat, quod reliquos centauros timebat; nullum tamen vinum praeter hoc in spelunca habebat. "Hoc vinum," inquit, "mihi commissum est. Si igitur hoc dabo, centauri me interficient." Hercules tamen eum inrisit, et ipse poculum vini de amphora hausit.

24 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 24 - FOURTH LABOUR: THE ERYMANTHIAN BOAR

HERCULES 24 - FOURTH LABOUR: THE ERYMANTHIAN BOAR

This picture is from a vase painting at the Louvre in Paris.  The story goes that when  Hercules showed the boar to Eurystheus he was so afraid that he hid in a cask!
a)
Tum véró iússus est Herculés aprum quendam capere quí illó tempore agrós Erymanthiós vástábat et incolás húius regiónis mágnopere terrébat. Herculés rem suscépit et in Arcadiam profectus est. Postquam in silvam paulum prógressus est, apró occurrit. Ille autem simul atque Herculem vídit, statim refúgit; et timóre perterritus in altam fossam sé próiécit.
Herculés igitur laqueum quem attulerat iniécit, et summá cum difficultáte aprum é fossá extráxit. Ille etsí fortiter repúgnábat, núlló modó sé líberáre potuit; et ab Hercule ad Eurystheum vívus relátus 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.

Quendam – a certain, (i.e. not specific) boar is an indefinite adjective which can also be used as a pronoun.  It looks feminine as it ends with dam and the temptation may be to put dum but you must remember that it is the beginning of the adjective which changes in this case and the ending remains the same – see quidam, quaedam, quoddam, indef. adj./pron., a certain, certain etc. in GRAMMAR NOTES, LEFT SIDEBAR UNDER PAGES.  

Illo tempore – ablative case to indicate time when, ‘at that time’.

Vastabat – imperfect tense to indicate that the action has been going on for some time.

Huius regionis – genitive case ‘of this region’ see hic, haec, hoc in ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR NOTES.

Magnopere – is an irregular adverb, from magnus, meaning ‘greatly’- SEE IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS IN ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR NOTES, TOP OF LEFT SIDEBAR IN PAGES.

Profectus est – perfect tense of the deponent verb proficiscor – to set out, which look passive but are active in meaning and means therefore ‘he set out’.

Paulum – is another irregular adverb derived from from the adjective paulus, little, meaning ‘a little, somewhat’.

Apro – why is this apro and not aprum? Because some verbs take the dative case and occurrere is just one of them, see DATIVE CASE in ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR NOTES for a list of the most common verbs which take the dative case.

Altam – feminine accusative adjective of altus -a, -um, which can mean ‘high’ or ‘deep’.

Quem – masculine accusative relative pronoun ‘which’, see quid, quae, quod in ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR NOTES, left sidebar under PAGES.

Iniecit – threw on, or in, perfect tense of the compound verb in + iacio.

Summa cum difficultate – notice again the preposition sandwiched between the adjective and noun in Latin which is a common construction whereas in English we would have preposition, adjective, noun – with + great + difficulty.

Etsi – conjunction meaning ‘although’, ‘even if’.

Ab Hercule – notice that a becomes ab before a vowel or h and that we use the preposition a or ab when meaning ‘by…’ when referring to a person as agent but leave it out when referring to things as instruments.

Vivus relatus est – nominative passive ‘he was brought back alive’.

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.

Tum véró iússus est Herculés aprum quendam capere

And then Hercules was ordered to seize a certain boar

quí illó tempore agrós Erymanthiós vástábat

which was at that time laying waste the fields of Erymanthus

et incolás húius regiónis mágnopere terrébat.

And was greatly terrifying the inhabitants of this region.

Herculés rem suscépit et in Arcadiam profectus est.

Hercules undertook the task and set off to Arcadia.

Postquam in silvam paulum prógressus est, apró occurrit.

After he had gone a little way into the woods he ran into the boar.

Ille autem simul atque Herculem vídit, statim refúgit;

He however, as soon as he saw Hercules, immediately fled;

et timóre perterritus in altam fossam sé próiécit.

And in a great fright threw itself in a deep ditch.

Herculés igitur laqueum quem attulerat iniécit,

Hercules therefore threw in the noose which he had brought,

et summá cum difficultáte aprum é fossá extráxit.

And with great difficulty he dragged the boar out of the ditch.

Ille etsí fortiter repúgnábat,

He, although he struggled bravely,

núlló modó sé líberáre potuit;

was in no way able to free himself;

et ab Hercule ad Eurystheum vívus relátus est.

and was brought back by Hercules alive to Eurystheus.

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.

Tum vero iussus est Hercules aprum quendam capere qui illo tempore agros Erymanthios vastabat et incolas huius regionis magnopere terrebat.
Hercules rem suscepit et in Arcadiam profectus est. Postquam in silvam paulum progressus est, apro occurrit. Ille autem simul atque Herculem vidit, statim refugit; et timore perterritus in altam fossam se proiecit.
Hercules igitur laqueum quem attulerat iniecit, et summa cum difficultate aprum e fossa extraxit. Ille etsi fortiter repugnabat, nullo modo se liberare potuit; et ab Hercule ad Eurystheum vivus relatus est.

23 HERCULES 23 - THIRD LABOUR: THE CERYNEAN STAG WITH NOTES AND INTERLINEAR TRANSLATION

HERCULES 23 - THIRD LABOUR: THE CERYNEAN STAG

THIS IS A VASE PAINTING OF HERCULES AND THE CERYNEAN STAG.
a)
Postquam Eurystheó caedés Hydrae núntiáta est, mágnus timor animum éius occupávit. Iussit igitur Herculem cervum quendam ad sé referre; nóluit enim virum tantae audáciae in urbe retinére. Híc autem cervus, cúius cornua aurea fuisse tráduntur, incrédibilí fuit celeritáte. Herculés igitur prímó vestígiís eum in silvá persequébátur; deinde ubi cervum ipsum vídit, omnibus víribus currere coepit. Úsque ad vesperum currébat, neque nocturnum tempus sibi ad quiétem relinquébat, frústrá tamen; núlló enim modó cervum cónsequí poterat. Tandem postquam tótum annum cucurrerat (ita tráditur), cervum cursú exanimátum cépit, et vívum ad Eurystheum rettulit.

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.

Noluit – perfect tense of nolle (infinitive – to not want), meaning ‘he did not want’.

tantae audáciae -  The genitive of description, like the ablative of

description, consists always of a noun with a modifying word, meaning ‘of such great boldness’.

Autem – autem sometimes means however, but often, as here, it simply introduces an explanation, we might translate it as ‘now’.

Aurea fuisse – fuisse is the perfect infinitive of sum (esse is present infinitive) and aurea is ablative used to indicate what something is made of, therefore the construction means ‘to have been of gold’.

Traduntur – ‘they are said’, or ‘are reported’ plural as referring to ‘cornua’ the horns which is plural.

incredibili celeritate – ‘incredibly swift’, ablative of description.

Vestigiis – ‘by the tracks’, this is ablative of means.

Persequebatur – imperfect tense of the deponent verb persequor, to follow up, pursue; remember these verbs look passive but are active in meaning.  The imperfect tense usually means ‘was etc.’ but ‘was following’ doesn’t sound quite satisfactory here and as the imperfect tense can also convey the idea of ‘began to follow’ this is how we have translated it here.

omnibus víribus – this is ablative of manner meaning ‘with all his might’.

Currébat – imperfect tense to express continued action, ‘he kept on running.'

Sibi  - dative of reference, ‘to himself’.

ad quiétem, 'for rest.' Purpose is frequently expressed by ad.

Cucurrerat – here we have the pluperfect being used with postquam which happens sometimes when the lapse of time has been mentioned.

Cursu – because of the race, ablative of cause.

exanimátum – the participle is here equivalent to a relative clause :qui exanimatus erat, ‘which had fainted’ .

Rettulit – perfect tense of referre to bring back, translate ‘brought it back.’

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 Eurystheó caedés Hydrae núntiáta est,

After the slaughter of the Hydra was announced to Eurystheus,

mágnus timor animum éius occupávit.

A great fear occupied his mind.

Iussit igitur Herculem cervum quendam ad sé referre;

He ordered Hercules therefore to bring him back a certain stag,

Nóluit enim virum tantae audáciae in urbe retinére.

For he did not want to keep a man of such boldness in the city.

Híc autem cervus, cúius cornua aurea fuisse tráduntur,

Now this stag, of which the horns were  reported to have been of gold,

incrédibilí fuit celeritáte.

Was incredibly fast.

Herculés igitur prímó vestígiís eum in silvá persequébátur;

Hercules therefore at first began to follow him from his tracks in the wood;

deinde ubi cervum ipsum vídit,

then when he saw the stag itself,

omnibus víribus currere coepit.

He began to run with all his strength.

Úsque ad vesperum currébat,

He kept on running into the evening,

neque nocturnum tempus sibi ad quiétem relinquébat,

and not (even) at night did he allow himself time to rest,

frústrá tamen; núlló enim modó

in vain however; for in no way

cervum cónsequí poterat.

Could he catch up with the stag.

Tandem postquam tótum annum cucurrerat

At length after he had run all of a year

(ita tráditur), cervum cursú exanimátum cépit,

(so it is reported), he caught the stag which had fainted because of the race,

et vívum ad Eurystheum rettulit.

And brought it back alive to Eurystheus.

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.

Postquam Eurystheo caedes Hydrae nuntiata est, magnus timor animum eius occupavit. Iussit igitur Herculem cervum quendam ad se referre; noluit enim virum tantae audaciae in urbe retinere. Hic autem cervus, cuius cornua aurea fuisse traduntur, incredibili fuit celeritate. Hercules igitur primo vestigiis eum in silva persequebatur; deinde ubi cervum ipsum vidit, omnibus viribus currere coepit. Usque ad vesperum currebat, neque nocturnum tempus sibi ad quietem relinquebat, frustra tamen; nullo enim modo cervum consequi poterat. Tandem postquam totum annum cucurrerat (ita traditur), cervum cursu exanimatum cepit, et vivum ad Eurystheum rettulit.