32 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 32 - NINTH LABOUR: THE GIRDLE OF HIPPOLYTE

HERCULES 32 - NINTH LABOUR: THE GIRDLE OF HIPPOLYTE
a)Géns Amázonum dícitur omnínó ex mulieribus cónstitisse. Hae summam scientiam reí mílitáris habébant, et tantam virtútem adhibébant ut cum virís proelium committere audérent. Hippolyté, Amázonum régína, balteum habuit celeberrimum quem Márs eí dederat. Adméta autem, Eurystheí fília, fámam dé hóc balteó accéperat et eum possidére vehementer cupiébat. Eurystheus igitur Herculí mandávit ut cópiás cógeret et bellum Amázonibus ínferret. Ille núntiós in omnís partís dímísit, et cum mágna multitúdó convénisset, eós délégit quí máximum úsum in ré mílitárí 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.

dicitur.- passive third person singular of dicere, meaning 'the nation is said to have consisted'.

ex mulieribus – ablative after ex , meaning literally (made wholly) out of women.

Hae – is the feminine plural nominative form of hic, haec, hoc ‘these’ but we have translated as ‘these women’.

rei mílitaris  - genitive case of res and militaris, ‘of the business of war’ which we have translated, 'the art of war.'

tantam .. ut – such ... that, tantam is a signal word for a following result clause which as we know requires a subjunctive verb., auderent ‘that ... they dared’.

celeberrimum – superlative adjective in the accusative case, ‘most or very famous’from the adjective celeber ‘famous’.

quem – accusative relative referring to the belt and therefore feminine singular (see relative pronoun in ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR, top right sidebar under PAGES.

ei – dative of personal pronoun, see is, ea, id  in ESSENTAIAL GRAMMAR, ‘to her’.

Eurysthei – Genitive case of Eurystheus, second declension masculine noun, ‘of Eurystheus’.

de hoc balteo – ablative after the preposition de meaning ‘concerning/about this belt.

eum – accusative case of is, meaning ‘it’, masculine singular, referring to the belt.

Herculi mandavit ... ut cogeret – mandare meaning ‘command or entrust to’ takes the dative case which is why we have Herculi here, and the following clause introduced by ut will have a verb in the subjunctive mood.

Amazonibus – this is dative plural as it is governed by  the compound verb inferre.

cum... venisset – subjunctive after cum introducing a clause in the past ‘when ... had assembled’.

eos – accusative masculine plural of is, ea, id meaning those which we have translated ‘those men’ to show the masculine component of the word.

re militari – the business of war
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.

Gens Amazonum dicitur

The race of the Amasons is said

omnino ex mulieribus constitisse.

to have consisted wholly of women.

Hae summam scientiam rei militaris habebant,

these women had the highest knowledge in the art of war

et tantam virtutem adhibebant

and they showed such bravery

ut cum viris proelium committere auderent.

that they dared to engage in battle with men.

Hippolyte, Amazonum regina,

Hippolyte, Queen of the Amazons,

balteum habuit celeberrimum

had a very famous belt

quem Mars ei dederat.

which Mars had given to her.

Admeta autem, Eurysthei filia,

Now Admeta, the daughter of Eurystheus

famam de hoc balteo acceperat

had heard rumour concerning this belt

et eum possidere vehementer cupiebat.

and earnestly wished to possess it.

Eurystheus igitur Herculi mandavit

and so Eurystheus commanded that Hercules

ut copias cogeret et bellum Amazonibus inferret.

gather together troops and wage war on the Amazons.

Ille nuntios in omnis partis dimisit,

He sent messengers to all areas

et cum magna multitudo convenisset,

and when a large multitude had assembled,

eos delegit qui maximum usum in re militari habebant.

he chose those men who had the greatest experience in the art of war.

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

Gens Amazonum dicitur

omnino ex mulieribus constitisse.

Hae summamscientiam rei militaris habebant,

et tantam virtutem adhibebant

ut cum viris proelium committere auderent.

Hippolyte, Amazonum regina,

balteum habuit celeberrimum

quem Mars ei dederat.

Admeta autem, Eurysthei filia,

famam de hoc balteo acceperat

et eum possidere vehementer cupiebat.

Eurystheus igitur Herculi mandavit

ut copias cogeret et bellum Amazonibus inferret.

Ille nuntios in omnis partis dimisit,

et cum magna multitudo convenisset,

eos delegit qui maximum usum in re militari habebant.

31(2) RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 31

HERCULES 31 - EIGHTH LABOUR: THE MAN-EATING HORSES OF DIOMEDES - PART TWO

a)
Ita míra rérum commútátió facta est; is enim quí anteá multós cum cruciátú necáverat ipse eódem supplició necátus est. Cum haec núntiáta essent, omnés quí eam regiónem incolébant máximá laetitiá adfectí sunt et Herculí meritam grátiam referébant. Nón modo máximís honóribus et praemiís eum decorávérunt sed órábant etiam ut régnum ipse susciperet. Ille tamen hóc facere nólébat, et cum ad mare rediisset, návem occupávit. Ubi omnia ad návigandum paráta sunt, equós in náví conlocávit; deinde, cum idóneam tempestátem nactus esset, sine morá é portú solvit, et pauló post equós in lítus Argolicum exposuit.

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. There are also more grammar explanations in GRAMMAR NOTES also in PAGES TOP RIGHT SIDE BAR.

mira rérum commutatio. When a noun (in this case commutatio) has both an adjective (mira) and a genitive modifier (rerum) it often follows in the order adj, genitive modifier, noun. 'A wonderful of things change' literally, we might translate as 'a strange turn of events'.

cum cruciatu – with cruelty, in a cruel way, ablative of manner.

necaverat – he had killed, necare is used when the means of killing is unusual or cruel and interficere used as a more general word for to kill.

gratiam referebant – from gratiam referre – to show gratitude to.

non modo …. sed … etiam – modo here is an adverb, not a case of modus; this frequently used construction can be found over the next two lines and means ‘not only but also’.

orabant – like imperare and postulare, orare is followed by ut and a clause with the verb in the subjunctive.

cum … rediisset – cum introducing a clause in the past tense ‘when he had returned’ requires the verb to be in subjunctive.

ubi omnia ad navigandum - 'when everything' (literally when all things)  followed by ad plus the accusative gerund of navigare, meaning 'for sailing' ad + gerund means for the purpose of + verbal noun 'sailing', bit tricky this, but you will get used to when we come across further examples just try to remember for now that ad + gerund is often used to express purpose.

in navi - ablative of navis, gen. is f. ship, because this is a third declension i stem noun.
nactus esset – subjunctive again after cum introducing a clause in the past, nactus is the past participle of the verb nanciscor meaning get, find, obtain.

paulo post – adverbial phrase a short time afterwards, a little while later.

in litus – I expect you were expecting in litore here ablative of litus, gen. litoris, third declension noun? The reason is is litus is that it is the accusative of the neuter noun litus, it is third declension, the ablative singular ends in i. It is followed by the accusative when it means ‘on to’ or ‘in to’ with motion implied not just 'in' or 'on' meaning place where.

 

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.

Ita míra rérum commútátió facta est;

And so this strange change of events came about;

is enim quí anteá multós cum cruciátú necáverat

for he who previously had killed many men in a cruel way

ipse eódem supplició necátus est.

himself with the same torture was killed.

Cum haec núntiáta essent,

When these things were announced,

omnés quí eam regiónem incolébant

all those who were living in that region

máximá laetitiá adfectí sunt et

experienced the greatest happiness and

Herculí meritam grátiam referébant.

Showed deserved gratitude to Hercules.

Nón modo máximís honóribus et praemiís eum decorávérunt

They decorated him not only with the greatest honors and rewards

sed órábant etiam ut régnum ipse susciperet.

But also pleaded with him that he himself take over the kingdom.

Ille tamen hóc facere nólébat,

But he did not want to do this,

et cum ad mare rediisset, návem occupávit.

And when he had returned to the shore he took a ship.

Ubi omnia ad návigandum paráta sunt,

When everything was prepared for sailing,

equós in náví conlocávit; deinde,

he placed the horses in the boat; then,

cum idóneam tempestátem nactus esset,

when he had got suitable weather

sine morá é portú solvit,

without delay he set sail from the port,

et pauló post equós in lítus Argolicum exposuit.

and shortly afterwards he landed the horses on to the shore of Argolis.

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

Ita mira rerum commutatio facta est;

is enim qui antea multos cum cruciatu

necaverat ipse eodem supplicio necatus est.

Cum haec nuntiata essent, omnes qui

eam regionem incolebant maxima laetitia

adfecti sunt et Herculi meritam gratiam referebant.

Non modo maximis honoribus et praemiis

eum decoraverunt sed orabant etiam

ut regnum ipse susciperet. Ille tamen hoc facere

nolebat, et cum ad mare rediisset, navem occupavit.

Ubi omnia ad navigandum parata sunt,

equos in navi conlocavit; deinde,

cum idoneam tempestatem nactus esset,

sine mora e portu solvit, et paulo post equos

in litus Argolicum exposuit.

31 (1) RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 31 - EIGHTH LABOUR: THE MAN-EATING HORSES OF DIOMEDES - PART ONE

HERCULES 31 - EIGHTH LABOUR: THE MAN-EATING HORSES OF DIOMEDES - PART ONE

a)

Postquam ex ínsulá Crétá rediit, Herculés ab Eurystheó in Thráciam missus est, ut equós Diomédis redúceret. Hí equí carne hominum véscébantur; Diomédés autem, vir crúdélissimus, illís obiciébat peregrínós omnís quí in eam regiónem vénerant. Herculés igitur mágná celeritáte in Thráciam contendit et ab Dioméde postulávit ut equí sibi tráderentur. Cum tamen ille hóc facere nóllet, Herculés írá commótus régem interfécit et cadáver éius equís obicí iussit.

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.

insula creta – in Latin we say ‘the island Crete’ whereas in English we say ‘the island of Crete’, Latin is in this instance the more logical as there is no genitive, no possession implied, it is the island Crete not ‘the island of Crete' or 'the island belonging to Crete’.

Eurystheo – ablative after a (ab before word beginning with vowel as here).

in Thraciam – accusative after in meaning into, motion into, as opposed to place where which would be in the ablative.

ut reduceret – ut here introduces a purpose clause, ‘in order that he bring back’, or more concisely ‘to bring back … ‘ so the verb will be in the subjunctive mood.

carne – this is ablative of caro, caronis f. third declension noun governed by the verb vescor, eat.

Vescebantur – here we have the imperfect tense to talk about customary action, ‘they used to …’.

ut tráderentur - postuló, like imperó, takes an object clause introduced by ut with its verb in the subjunctive.

sibi -  thdative, to him i.e. the subject of the main clause himself, Hercules.

írá commotus – moved by anger, or moved by wrath, you might translate became very angry as the participle (commotus) is frequently best rendered by a finite verb.

cadaver eius – ‘his body’, notice that ‘his’ is translated eius ‘of him’ when referring to someone other than the subject.

cadáver obici – the body to be thrown, obici is the passive infinitive and its subject, cadaver is in the accusative case.

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 ex ínsulá Crétá rediit,

After he returned from the island of Crete,

Herculés ab Eurystheó in Thráciam missus est,

Hercules was sent by Eurystheo into Thrace,

ut equós Diomédis redúceret.

In order to bring back the horses of Diomedes.

Hí equí carne hominum véscébantur;

These horses used to eat the flesh of men;

Diomédés autem, vir crúdélissimus,

Now Diomedes, a most cruel man,

illís obiciébat peregrínós omnís

used to throw to them all the strangers

quí in eam regiónem vénerant.

Who came  into the region.

Herculés igitur mágná celeritáte

Hercules therefore with great speed

in Thráciam contendit et ab Dioméde postulávit

made his way into Thrace and demanded of Diomedes

ut equí sibi tráderentur.

That he hand over the horses to him.

Cum tamen ille hóc facere nóllet,

Since however he did not want to do this,

Herculés írá commótus régem interfécit

Hercules moved by anger killed the king

et cadáver éius equís obicí iussit.

And ordered his body be thrown to the horses.

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

Postquam ex insula Creta rediit,

Hercules ab Eurystheo in Thraciam missus est,

ut equos Diomedis reduceret. Hi equi

carne hominum vescebantur; Diomedes autem,

vir crudelissimus, illis obiciebat peregrinos omnis

qui in eam regionem venerant. Hercules igitur

magna celeritate in Thraciam contendit

et ab Diomede postulavit ut equi sibi traderentur.

Cum tamen ille hoc facere nollet, Hercules

ira commotus regem interfecit et cadaver eius

equis obici iussit.

30 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 30 - SEVENTH LABOUR: THE CRETAN BULLWITH NOTES AND INTERLINEAR TRANSLATION

RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 30 - SEVENTH LABOUR: THE CRETAN BULL

a)
Tum Eurystheus Herculí imperávit ut taurum  quendam ferócissimum ex ínsulá Crétá vívum referret. Ille igitur návem cónscendit, et cum ventus idóneus esset, statim solvit. Cum tamen ínsulae iam appropinquáret, tanta tempestás subitó coorta est ut návis cursum tenére nón posset. Tantus autem timor animós nautárum occupávit ut paene omnem spem salútis dépónerent. Herculés tamen, etsí návigandí imperítus erat, haudquáquam territus est.

Post breve tempus summa tranquillitás  cónsecúta est, et nautae, quí sé ex timóre iam recéperant, návem incolumem ad terram appulérunt. Herculés é náví égressus est, et cum ad régem Crétae vénisset, causam veniendí docuit. Deinde, postquam omnia paráta sunt, ad eam regiónem contendit quam taurus vástábat. Mox taurum vídit, et quamquam rés erat mágní perículí, cornua éius prehendit. Tum, cum ingentí labóre mónstrum ad návem tráxisset, cum praedá in Graeciam rediit.


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.

Herculi imperavit – notice here that imperavit ‘he orders’ takes the dative case so we have Herculi, dative of Hercules, gen Hercules third declension masculine noun. It may help to think of the verb imperare as meaning ‘to give orders to’.

Ut …. referret – that he should bring back, imperfect subjunctive after imperavit.

Creta – Latin says ‘the island Crete’ (i.e. Creta, nominative case in apposition with island)whereas in English we would say ‘the island of Crete’ (i.e. genitive case). Latin is more logical in this instance as the island does not belong to Crete, it is Crete one and the same.

Cum ventus esset – ‘When the wind was …’ or ‘since the wind was …’etc. The subjunctive is used in clauses introduced by cum meaning ‘when’ or ‘since’ in the past. It may express the reason for the action of the main verb.

Insulae apropinquaret – insulae is dative of insula, feminine noun of the first declension, and it is in the dative case as apropinquare is a compound verb formed from the contraction of the preposition ad with propinquare meaning to get closer to i.e. approach.  Appropinquaret is the imperfect subjunctive of appropinquare. As we have seen elsewhere, the imperfect and pluperfect tenses of the subjunctive are used with cum, 'when,' to describe the circumstances of the action of the main verb.

tanta ... ut… non posset – tanta is a signal word for a following result clause which requires the subjunctive. ‘It was so great …that he was unable.’

Tantus timor … ut – as above we have the signal word tantus ‘so great’ … followed by ut ‘that’ with a result clause containing a verb in the subjunctive, deponerent, ‘that they relinquished, gave up etc.’

navigandi imperitus - 'ignorant of navigation,' or as we have translated here 'inexperienced in sailing.' Navigandi is the genitive of the gerund of navigare.  As we have seen before the genitive of the gerund is used after some adjectives including peritus and its opposite imperitus.

Se … receperant – we have not translated the se here as it reflexive and refers to the sailors recovering themselves, i.e. regaining their spirits etc. as opposed to recovering anyone else but there is no confusion in English.

Cum … venisset – cum, conjunction meaning ‘when’ introducting a subordinate clause in the past takes subjunctive, ‘when he had come’.

Causam veniendi docuit – gerund in the genitive again ‘of coming’ following causam, ‘the cause’ meaning literally he taught (him) the reason of (his) coming.

Res erat magni periculi – literally ‘the thing/matter was of great danger’.

Cornua eius – ‘the horns of him’ i.e. ‘his horns’.

Cum ingenti labore – this means ‘when, with a great effort’ ingenti labore being ablative of manner without the preposition but you might say, how do we know that the cum at the  beginning is not the preposition ‘with’? The verb traxisset being pluperfect subjunctive ‘he had dragged’ indicates that the cum in this instance is the conjunction ‘when, or since’ introducing a subordinate clause in the past.  

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 Eurystheus Herculi imperavit

Then Eurystheus ordered Hercules

ut taurum quendam ferocissimum ex insula Creta vivum referret.

To bring back alive a certain very fierce bull from the island of Crete.

Ille igitur navem conscendit,

He therefore boarded a ship,

et cum ventus idoneus esset, statim solvit.

and when the wind was suitable, set sail at once.

Cum tamen insulae iam appropinquaret,

When however he was getting near to the island,

tanta tempestas subito coorta est

such a great storm suddenly arose

ut navis cursum tenere non posset.

that the ship could not hold its course.

Tantus autem timor animos nautarum occupavit

Now such a great fear took hold of the minds of the sailors

ut paene omnem spem salutis deponerent.

that they almost gave up all hope of safety.

Hercules tamen, etsi navigandi imperitus erat,

But Hercules, was so inexperienced at sailing,

Haudquaquam territus est.

That he was not at all frightened.

Post breve tempus summa tranquillitas consecuta est,

After a short time the utmost tranquality followed,

et nautae, qui se ex timore iam receperant,

and the sailors, who had recovered from their fear,

navem incolumem ad terram appulerunt.

Brought the undamaged ship to the shore.

Hercules e navi egressus est,

Hercules left the ship,

et cum ad regem Cretae venisset,

and when he had come to the king of Crete,

causam veniendi docuit.

he told him why he had come.

Deinde, postquam omnia parata sunt,

Then, after everything was got ready,

ad eam regionem contendit quam taurus vastabat.

He made his way to that region which the bull was laying waste.

Mox taurum vidit, et quamquam res erat magni periculi,

Soon he saw the bull, and although it was very dangerous,

cornua eius prehendit. Tum, cum ingenti labore

he grabbed his horns. Then, when with a huge effort

monstrum ad navem traxisset,

he had dragged the monster to the ship

cum praeda in Graeciam rediit.

he returned with his booty to Greece.

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

Tum Eurystheus Herculi imperavit ut taurum quendam ferocissimum ex insula Creta vivum referret. Ille igitur navem conscendit, et cum ventus idoneus esset, statim solvit. Cum tamen insulae iam appropinquaret, tanta tempestas subito coorta est ut navis cursum tenere non posset. Tantus autem timor animos nautarum occupavit ut paene omnem spem salutis deponerent. Hercules tamen, etsi navigandi imperitus erat, haudquaquam territus est.

Post breve tempus summa tranquillitas consecuta est, et nautae, qui se ex timore iam receperant, navem incolumem ad terram appulerunt. Hercules e navi egressus est, et cum ad regem Cretae venisset, causam veniendi docuit. Deinde, postquam omnia parata sunt, ad eam regionem contendit quam taurus vastabat. Mox taurum vidit, et quamquam res erat magni periculi, cornua eius prehendit. Tum, cum ingenti labore monstrum ad navem traxisset, cum praeda in Graeciam rediit.

29 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 29 - SIXTH LABOUR: THE STYMPHALIAN BIRDS WITH NOTES AND INTERLINEAR TRANSLATION

HERCULES 29 - SIXTH LABOUR: THE STYMPHALIAN BIRDS

THIS VASE PAINTING DEPICTS HERCULES AND THE STYMPHALIAN BIRDS

a)
Post paucós diés Herculés ad oppidum Stymphálum iter fécit; imperáverat enim eí Eurystheus ut avís Stymphálidés necáret. Hae avés róstra aénea habébant et carne hominum véscébantur. Ille postquam ad locum pervénit, lacum vídit; in hóc autem lacú, quí nón procul erat ab oppidó, avés habitábant. Núlla tamen dabátur appropinquandí facultás; lacus enim nón ex aquá sed é límó cónstitit. Herculés igitur neque pedibus neque lintre prógredí potuit.
Ille cum mágnam partem diéí frústrá cónsúmpsisset, hóc cónátú déstitit et ad Volcánum sé contulit, ut auxilium ab eó peteret. Volcánus (quí ab fabrís máximé colébátur) crepundia quae ipse ex aere fabricátus erat Herculí dedit. Hís Herculés tam ácrem crepitum fécit ut avés perterritae ávolárent. Ille autem, dum ávolant, mágnum numerum eárum sagittís tránsfíxit.


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.

Post – followed by accusative case, paucos.

Oppidum Stymphalum – In English we say ‘the town of Stymphalus’ but in Latin it is ‘the town Stymphalus’ i.e. there is no genitive involved.

Imperáverat … ei – pluperfect of imperare ‘he had ordered’ which is followed by an indirect object or dative case ei to express the person ordered i.e. ‘him’. See DATIVE CASE GRAMMAR NOTES top left sidebar under PAGES , also see PRONOUNS is, ea, id.

ordered (eí).

Ut necaret – ‘that he kill’, ut introduces the clause saying what has been commanded which is expressed by the verb in the subjunctive mood necaret: ‘ordered him that he kill’ which we have translated ‘ordered that he kill’.
Avis - note that the ending 'is' is an alternative accusative plural ending (you might understandably have expected aves).

Stymphálides – from Stymphalis, gen. -idis, adj., of Stymphalus, Stymphalian.

Hae aves – ‘these birds’ hae feminine plural nominative of hic haec hoc (see GRAMMAR NOTES) agreeing with aves, feminine plural noun of the third declension.

Rostra aenea – ‘bronze beaks’, from rostrum gen. –i, neut. noun, second declension in agreement with aeneus, -a, -um adjective, of copper or bronze.

Vescebantur – third person plural imperfect of the deponent verb vescor (REMEMBER these verbs look passive but are active in meaning) feed on, eat.  It is an intransitive verb and governs the ablative, hence we have here carne the ablative form of the third declension noun caro, carnis. 

In hoc lacu – ‘in this lake’ we can tell that lacus is a fourth declension noun as we know that in when referring to place where, governs a noun in the ablative (if it was a second declension noun it would end in o). See DECLENSIONS in GRAMMAR NOTES, top left of sidebar under PAGES.

Nulla  - looks a bit tricky at first as we don’t know if we are to construe it to mean ‘no things’ neuter plural pronoun, or ‘no …’ as an adjective, but when you put it with the feminine noun facultas (opportunity, chance) it simply means ‘no opportunity’.

Dabatur – ‘he was given’ passive active third pers. Sing: dabat would mean ‘he gave, he was giving, he used to give etc.

facultas, -tatis – third declension  f. noun, possibility, opportunity, chance, means.

appropinquandi – this is the the genitive of the gerund, which is a verbal noun with the meaning ‘of approaching’. It modifies facultas: the opportunity of approaching.

ex aqua ... e limo – ablative of material (what something is made from) after preposition e, ex before a vowel.

Constitit – third pers. sing. perf. tense of con-sisto, -sistere, -stiti, -stitus, which means ‘station oneself, take one's stand; and , as here, ‘consist’, meaning therefore ‘it consisted of mud.’

Pedibus … lintre – pedibus is ablative plural of pes, pedis meaning ‘with the feet’ or as we would say ‘on foot’ and lintre is ablative sing of linter, lintris meaning ‘with/by a boat’ or as we would say ‘by boat.’

Cum … consumpsisset – the pluperfect subjunctive is used after cum ‘when’ or ‘since’ when referring to the past and may introduce the reason for the action of the main verb.

hoc conatu – ‘this attempt’ is in the ablative as it is governed by destitit ‘he gave up, stopped, desisted’ being a verb of separation.

Ad Volcanum – accusative of Volcanus after ad ‘to Vulcan.’

Peteret – third pers. Sing. Of verb petere used after ut which here means ‘in order to’ introducing a clause which expresses purpose and is followed by the subjunctive ‘in order that he might ask’ which is best translated in English by the infinitive

Auxilium ab eo – literally ‘help from him’, eo being ablative after ab, see IS, EA, ID GRAMMAR NOTES top left sidebar under PAGES.

crepundia, -orum – neut. Noun plural, ‘rattle.’

Aere – ablative again of material, what something is made from from aes, aeris, neut noun, copper, bronze, meaning therefore ‘of copper’, or ‘of bronze.’.

Crepitum – acc. Case from crepitus, -us (crepo, rattle)], m., rattle, clatter.

Avolarent – subjunctive of result clause introduced by tam, they were so terrified that …. Tam will often signpost a subjunctive result clause in this way.

Dum avolant – dum ‘while’ is followed by the present indicative but we have translated with a past tense.

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 paucós diés Herculés ad oppidum Stymphálum iter fécit;

After a few days Hercules made the journey to the town of Stymphalus;

imperáverat enim eí Eurystheus ut avís Stymphálidés necáret.

for Eurystheus had ordered him to kill the Stymphalian birds.

Hae avés róstra aénea habébant et carne hominum véscébantur.

These birds had brass beaks and fed on the flesh of men.

Ille postquam ad locum pervénit, lacum vídit;

After he reached the place he saw a lake;

in hóc autem lacú, quí nón procul erat ab oppidó,

Now on this lake, which was not far from the town,

avés habitábant.

the birds lived.

Núlla tamen dabátur appropinquandí facultás;

He was afforded no opportunity of approaching however;

lacus enim nón ex aquá sed é límó cónstitit.

For the lake was not water but slime

Herculés igitur neque pedibus neque lintre prógredí potuit.

Hercules therefore could not proceed on foot or by boat.

Ille cum mágnam partem diéí frústrá cónsúmpsisset,

Since he had spent a large part of the day in vain,

hóc cónátú déstitit et ad Volcánum sé contulit,

he gave up this attempt and took himself off to Vulcan

ut auxilium ab eó peteret.

In order to ask for his help

Volcánus (quí ab fabrís máximé colébátur)

Vulcan (who is most highly worshipped by craftsmen)

crepundia quae ipse ex aere fabricátus erat Herculí dedit.

Gave Hercules rattles which he himself had made from bronze

Hís Herculés tam ácrem crepitum fécit

With these Hercules made such a din,

ut avés perterritae ávolárent.

That the terrified birds flew off.

Ille autem, dum ávolant,

But he, while they were flying away,

mágnum numerum eárum sagittís tránsfíxit.

Pierced a great number of them with his arrows.

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

Post paucos dies Hercules ad oppidum Stymphalum iter fecit; imperaverat enim ei Eurystheus ut avis Stymphalides necaret. Hae aves rostra aenea habebant et carne hominum vescebantur.

Ille postquam ad locum pervenit, lacum vidit; in hoc autem lacu, qui non procul erat ab oppido, aves habitabant. Nulla tamen dabatur appropinquandi facultas; lacus enim non ex aqua sed e limo constitit. Hercules igitur neque pedibus neque lintre progredi potuit. Ille cum magnam partem diei frustra consumpsisset, hoc conatu destitit et ad Volcanum se contulit, ut auxilium ab eo peteret.

Volcanus (qui ab fabris maxime colebatur) crepundia quae ipse ex aere fabricatus erat Herculi dedit.

His Hercules tam acrem crepitum fecit ut aves perterritae avolarent.

Ille autem, dum avolant, magnum numerum earum sagittis transfixit.