67 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION – THE ARGONAUTS 67 - A HEAVY TASK

THE ARGONAUTS 67 - A HEAVY TASK

THIS SEVENTEENTH CENTURY PAINTING BY CHARLES LA FOSSE AT VERSAILLES PALACE DEPICTS JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS DISEMBARKING AT COLCHIS.
a) Breví intermissó spatió Argonautae ad flúmen Phásim vénérunt, quod in fínibus Colchórum erat. Ibi cum návem appulissent et in terram égressí essent, statim ad régem Aeétem sé contulérunt et ab eó postulávérunt ut vellus aureum sibi tráderétur. Ille cum audívisset quam ob causam Argonautae vénissent, írá commótus est et diú negábat sé vellus tráditúrum esse. Tandem tamen, quod sciébat Iásonem nón sine auxilió deórum hóc negótium suscépisse, mútátá sententiá prómísit sé vellus tráditúrum, sí Iásón labórés duós difficillimós prius perfécisset; et cum Iásón díxisset sé ad omnia perícula subeunda parátum esse, quid fierí vellet ostendit. Prímum iungendí erant duo taurí specié horribilí, quí flammás ex óre édébant; tum hís iúnctís ager quídam arandus erat et dentés dracónis serendí. Hís audítís Iásón etsí rem esse summí perículí intellegébat, tamen, né hanc occásiónem reí bene gerendae ámitteret, negótium suscépit.
 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. If you need help with points of grammar raised in today's excerpt, consult ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR NOTES also top right side bar.

brevi intermisso spatio – ‘in a short space of time’, ablative of time within which.

appullissent ... egressi essent – subjunctives after cum introducing past clauses.

in terram – preposition in followed by the accusative when indicating motion in to.

se contulerunt – ‘they made their way’ third person plural, perfect tense of the verb se confero, conferre, contuli, conlatus, ‘betake oneself, make one's way’.

vellus – notice that this is a third declension neuter noun, not second declension masculine as you might have thought: vellus, velleris, n., ‘fleece’.

traderetur – third person singular imperfect subjunctive; the subjunctive is used here as this is another example of indirect discourse with the verb is in a clause following a verb of petition or asking.

negabat - . Third person singular imperfect tense of negare; this verb is often used instead of dico when a negative statement follows; when thus used, it should be translated by 'say' with the appropriate negative, here 'said that he would not.'

se traditurum esse  - accusative infinitive construction as this is indirect discourse, ‘he said that he would not hand over’. Notice that later we have promisit se vellus traditurum, ‘he promised he would hand over the fleece’ and esse is left out this often happens when the participle is part of the infinitive.

Iasonem ... suscepisse – Accusative infinitive after sciebat ‘he knew’.

prius - Notice that Latin is here more exact than English, using the comparative because only two actions are spoken of.

Primum – ‘first’ or ‘first of all’; primum is chiefly used in enumeration, primo in contrasting an action or state with one that follows it.

quid fieri vellet – literally ‘what to be done he was wanting’.

iungendi erant – ‘had to be joked together’; the gerundive is used with sum to denote necessary action. This is called the passivecperiphrastic conjugation.

rei bene gerendae - 'of accomplishing his mission', literally ‘of doing the thing well’.

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.

Brevi intermisso spatio Argonautae

In a short space of time the Argonauts

ad flumen Phasim venerunt,

came to the river Phasis

quod in finibus Colchorum erat.

which was in the territory of the Colchians

Ibi cum navem appulissent

Here when they had moored the ship

et in terram egressi essent,

and had disembarked on land,

statim ad regem Aeetem se contulerunt

they made they way at once to King Aeetes

et ab eo postulaverunt

and requested from him

ut vellus aureum sibi traderetur.

that he hand over to them the golden fleece.

Ille cum audivisset

He, when he had heard

quam ob causam Argonautae venissent,

for what reason the Argonauts had come,

ira commotus est et diu

he was angry and for a long time

negabat se vellus traditurum esse.

said that he would not hand over the fleece.

Tandem tamen, quod sciebat Iasonem

At length however, since he knew that Jason

non sine auxilio deorum hoc negotium suscepisse,

had not undertaken this business without the help of the gods,

mutata sententia promisit se

he changed his mind and promised he

vellus traditurum, si Iason

would hand over the fleece if Jason

labores duos difficillimos prius perfecisset;

would first carry out two most difficult tasks

et cum Iason dixisset se

and when Jason had said that he

ad omnia pericula subeunda paratum esse,

was prepared to suffer all dangers

quid fieri vellet ostendit.

he explained what he wanted to be done.

Primum iungendi erant

Firstly had to be joked together

duo tauri specie horribili,

two bulls of horrible appearance,

qui flammas ex ore edebant;

which poured forth flames from their mouths;

tum his iunctis ager quidam

then when these were yoked a certain field

arandus erat et dentes draconis serendi.

had to be ploughed and dragon’s teeth had to be sown.

His auditis Iason etsi

When he had heard this, Jason though

rem esse summi periculi intellegebat,

he understood the task to be most dangerous

tamen, ne hanc occasionem

yet, not this opportunity

rei bene gerendae amitteret,

to lose of accomplishing his mission

negotium suscepit.

undertook the business.

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

Brevi intermisso spatio Argonautae

ad flumen Phasim venerunt,

quod in finibus Colchorum erat.

Ibi cum navem appulissent

et in terram egressi essent,

statim ad regem Aeetem se contulerunt

et ab eo postulaverunt

ut vellus aureum sibi traderetur.

Ille cum audivisset

quam ob causam Argonautae venissent,

ira commotus est et diu

negabat se vellus traditurum esse.

Tandem tamen, quod sciebat Iasonem

non sine auxilio deorum hoc negotium suscepisse,

mutata sententia promisit se

vellus traditurum, si Iason

labores duos difficillimos prius perfecisset;

et cum Iason dixisset se

ad omnia pericula subeunda paratum esse,

quid fieri vellet ostendit.

Primum iungendi erant

duo tauri specie horribili,

qui flammas ex ore edebant;

tum his iunctis ager quidam

arandus erat et dentes draconis serendi.

His auditis Iason etsi

rem esse summi periculi intellegebat,

tamen, ne hanc occasionem

rei bene gerendae amitteret,

negotium suscepit.

66 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION – THE ARGONAUTS 66 - THE SYMPLEGADES

THE ARGONAUTS 66 - THE SYMPLEGADES

 a)Hóc factó Phíneus, ut pró tantó benefició meritam grátiam referret, Iásoní démónstrávit quá ratióne Symplégadés vítáre posset. Symplégadés autem duae erant rúpés ingentí mágnitúdine, quae á Iove positae erant eó cónsilió, né quis ad Colchida perveníret. Hae parvó interválló in marí natábant, et sí quid in medium spatium vénerat, incrédibilí celeritáte concurrébant. Postquam igitur á Phíneó doctus est quid faciendum esset, Iásón sublátís ancorís návem solvit, et léní ventó próvectus mox ad Symplégadés appropinquávit. Tum in prórá stáns columbam quam in manú tenébat émísit. Illa réctá viá per medium spatium volávit, et priusquam rúpés cónflíxérunt, incolumis évásit caudá tantum ámissá. Tum rúpés utrimque discessérunt; antequam tamen rúrsus concurrerent, Argonautae, bene intellegentés omnem spem salútis in celeritáte positam esse, summá ví rémís contendérunt et návem incolumem perdúxérunt. Hóc factó dís grátiás máximás égérunt, quórum auxilió é tantó perículó éreptí essent; omnés enim sciébant nón sine auxilió deórum rem tam félíciter événisse.

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. If you need help with points of grammar raised in today's excerpt, consult ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR NOTES also top right side bar.

Hoc facto - 'when this had been accomplished.'  The ablative absolute is often used instead of a subordinate clause of time, cause, condition, or the like. The ablative absolute construction consists of two parts, a noun, or pronoun corresponding to the subject of a clause, and a participle corresponding to the verb of a clause.

pro tanto – as we have seen before tanto is a signal word alerting us to a coming result clause which will have the verb in the subjunctive mood, as here with referret.

referret.- 'To give thanks' or 'thank' is usually gratias agere; gratiam referre means 'to show one's gratitude,' 'to recompense' or 'requite.'

qua ratione – in what way, how

eo consilio – ‘for this purpose’, or ‘to this end’, obviously introducing a purpose clause which will have its verb in the subjunctive mood, which turns out to be perveniret, ‘so that no one might reach’ or ‘in order that no on might come to’.

ne quis – ‘so that no one.' 'Negative clauses of purpose and negative clauses of result may be distinguished by the negative: ne, ne quis, etc., for negative purpose clauses; ut non, ut nemo, etc., for result clauses.

Colchida – this is an alternative feminine accusative singular Greek version of the third declension feminine latinised noun Colchis.

Hae – ‘these’, this feminine nominative plural pronoun refers to the two huge cliffs, or rocks, rupes, -is, f., rock, cliff; reef.

natabant – third person plural imperfect tense indicative active of nato, natare, -avi, -atus, first conjugation verb means ‘swim’ and also, as here, ‘float’.

parvo intervallo – this is ablative of degree of difference meaning ‘by a small distance’ meaning, 'a short distance apart.

in medium spatium - 'between them.'

quid faciendum esset – 'what was to be done.' This is the gerundive which is used with the verb sum to indicate obligation, that something should, or must be done. This is called the passive periphrastic conjugation.

sublatis ancoris – ablative absolute again, literally: ‘when the anchors had been lifted’.

sublatis – though it is not obvious at a glance where this comes from; it is from the verb tollo, tollere, sustuli, sublatus, meaning lift, raise; take away, remove.  When used with anchor, ancoras tollere, it means ‘to raise anchor’ and there is another expression in English which means exactly the same which is ‘to weigh anchor.’  sublatis ... solvit, 'weighed anchor and put to sea.'

provectus – past participle of proveho, -ere, -vexi, -vectus ‘carry forward.’

concurrerent, - 'could rush together.'  The subjunctive is used with antequam to denote that the action is expected or intended.

utrimque - adverb, ‘on either side or both sides’.

intellegentes - equivalent to cum intellegerent.

dis - the usual form of the dative and ablative plural of deus, as di of the nominative plural.

quorum auxilio - equivalent to cum eorum auxilio, ‘by or with whose help’. A relative clause of cause, like a cum-clause of cause, has its verb in the subjunctive.

 

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.

Hoc facto Phineus,

When this had been done, Phineus,

ut pro tanto beneficio

in return for such great kindness

meritam gratiam referret,

gave deserved gratitude

Iasoni demonstravit qua ratione

explained to Jason in what way

Symplegades vitare posset.

he might avoid the Symplegades.

Symplegades autem duae erant

Now the Symplegades were two

rupes ingenti magnitudine,

rocks of enormous size,

quae a Iove positae erant

which by Jupiter had been placed

eo consilio, ne quis ad Colchida perveniret.

for this purpose, so that no one could come to Colchis.

Hae parvo intervallo in mari natabant,

These were floating close together in the sea

et si quid in medium spatium venerat,

and whenever anything came into the space in the middle

incredibili celeritate concurrebant.

they used to run together with incredible speed.

Postquam igitur a Phineo doctus est

therefore after they it was explained by Phineus

quid faciendum esset,

what must be done,

Iason sublatis ancoris navem solvit,

Jason having weighed anchor, set sail,

et leni vento provectus

and carried forward by a gently wind

mox ad Symplegades appropinquavit.

soon they approached the Simplegades.

Tum in prora stans columbam

Then standing in the prow, the dove

quam in manu tenebat emisit.

which he held in his hand, he released.

Illa recta via per medium spatium volavit,

The dove flew straight through the middle,

et priusquam rupes conflixerunt,

and before the cliffs dashed together,

incolumis evasit cauda tantum amissa.

it escaped unharmed with only its tail missing.

Tum rupes utrimque discesserunt;

Then the cliffs on both sides moved apart;

antequam tamen rursus concurrerent,

and before they could again rush together,

Argonautae, bene intellegentes

The Argonauts, knowing well

omnem spem salutis in celeritate positam esse,

that all hope of safety was to be placed in speed

summa vi remis contenderunt

rowed with the utmost effort

et navem incolumem perduxerunt.

and brought the ship through unharmed.

Hoc facto dis gratias maximas egerunt,

Having done this, they gave great thanks to the gods

quorum auxilio e tanto periculo erepti essent;

by whose help they had been snatched from such danger;

omnes enim sciebant non sine auxilio deorum

for they all knew that without the help of the gods

rem tam feliciter evenisse.

the affair would not have turned out so happily.

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

Hoc facto Phineus,

ut pro tanto beneficio

meritam gratiam referret,

Iasoni demonstravit qua ratione

Symplegades vitare posset.

Symplegades autem duae erant

rupes ingenti magnitudine,

quae a Iove positae erant

eo consilio, ne quis ad Colchida perveniret.

Hae parvo intervallo in mari natabant,

et si quid in medium spatium venerat,

incredibili celeritate concurrebant.

Postquam igitur a Phineo doctus est

quid faciendum esset,

Iason sublatis ancoris navem solvit,

et leni vento provectus

mox ad Symplegades appropinquavit.

Tum in prora stans columbam

quam in manu tenebat emisit.

Illa recta via per medium spatium volavit,

et priusquam rupes conflixerunt,

incolumis evasit cauda tantum amissa.

Tum rupes utrimque discesserunt;

antequam tamen rursus concurrerent,

Argonautae, bene intellegentes

omnem spem salutis in celeritate positam esse,

summa vi remis contenderunt

et navem incolumem perduxerunt.

Hoc facto dis gratias maximas egerunt,

quorum auxilio e tanto periculo erepti essent;

omnes enim sciebant non sine auxilio deorum

rem tam feliciter evenisse.

65 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION – THE ARGONAUTS 65 - THE DELIVERANCE OF PHINEUS

65 - THE DELIVERANCE OF PHINEUS

This fabulous picture is of Zetes and Calais, two of Jason's companions, chasing off three harpies.  The picture is from Alciato at Glasgow.
a)Rés igitur male sé habébat cum Argonautae návem appulérunt. Phíneus autem simul atque audívit eós in suós fínís égressós esse, mágnopere gávísus est. Sciébat enim quantam opíniónem virtútis Argonautae habérent, nec dubitábat quín sibi auxilium ferrent. Núntium igitur ad návem mísit, quí Iásonem sociósque ad régiam vocáret. Eó cum vénissent, Phíneus démónstrávit quantó in perículó suae rés essent, et prómísit sé mágna praemia datúrum esse, sí illí remedium repperissent. Argonautae negótium libenter suscépérunt, et ubi hóra vénit, cum rége accubuérunt; at simul ac céna apposita est, Harpýiae cénáculum intrávérunt et cibum auferre cónábantur. Argonautae prímum gladiís volucrés petiérunt; cum tamen vidérent hóc nihil pródesse, Zétés et Calais, quí álís erant ínstrúctí, in áera sé sublevávérunt, ut désuper impetum facerent. Quod cum sénsissent Harpýiae, reí novitáte perterritae statim aufúgérunt, neque posteá umquam rediérunt.

 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. If you need help with points of grammar raised in today's excerpt, consult ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR NOTES also top right side bar.

Res .. male se habebat – res we know is hard to pin down in a translation as it can have so many meanings:  ‘things’ meaning ‘the way things are going’, or ‘events’, or ‘proceedings’, or ‘matter’ or ‘affair’, so this expression means something like ‘the situation was desperate’.

se habebat – habere is another word which has multiple meanings amongst which are:  have, hold, consider, think, reason; manage, keep, spend, pass time.

appulerunt – third person plural perfect indicative active of appello, -pellere, -puli, -pulsus, drive to, bring to; with or without navem, put in, meaning therefore ‘they brought in’ or ‘they docked’.

simul atque – simul is an adverb meaning ‘at the same time’; simul atque or ac, is an adverbial phrase meaning ‘as soon as’.

eos ... egressos esse – accusative and infinitive construction after ‘he heard .. that they had entered’.

gavisus est – third person singular perfect tense of the semi-deponent verb gaudeo, gaudere, gavisus est, be glad, rejoice, which takes passive verb forms in the perfect system.

quantam ..haberent – quantam (agreeing with the femininine accusative opinionem) is we know a signal word for a following result clause which requires the verb be in the subjunctive... ‘how great a reputation they had’.

virtutis – notice that this is genitive form of the third declension feminine noun, virtus, -tutis, manliness, courage, bravery, and means literally ‘a reputation of bravery/virtue’ whereas in English we would say ‘a reputation for bravery’ using the dative.

nec dubitabat quin – negative expressions of doubt as here ‘he did not doubt that’ are regularly followed by the subjunctive, hence ferrent, third person plural imperfect subjunctive of fero, meaning ‘they would bring’.  You should learn the irregular forms of this verb as it is very common: fero, ferre, tuli, latus.

qui ... vocaret – the relative pronoun often introduces what is in effect a purpose clause as here, literally ‘who was to summon/call Jason to the palace’ or ‘in order to call Jason to the palace.’

quanto ... essent – quanto is a signal word for a following result clause, ‘in what great danger ... they were’.

si ..repperissent – if introducing a conditional clause ‘if they discovered’ requires the subjunctive and so heer we have the third person plural pluperfect subjunctive of reperio, reperire, repperi, repertus, find, discover, meaning therefore ‘if ...they discovered’.

accuberunt – third person plural perfect indicative active of accumbo, -cumbere, -cubui, -cubitus, lie down (at table) as the Romans used to lie down on couches to dine.

conabantur – third person plural imperfect of the deponent verb conor, conari ‘they were trying’.

petierunt – we often find the ‘v’ or ‘iv’ missing in the perfect system of verbs, the alternative here is ‘petiverunt’ , third person plural perfect tense of petere; this is called a syncopated form and is very common.

cum ... viderent – cum introducing a clause which provides an explanation as here takes the subjunctive, ‘when or since they could see’.

alis – ablative plural of the first declension feminine noun ala, alae, wing, meaning ‘by or in the use of wings’.

ut ... facerent – ut introducing a purpose clause requires the subjunctive ‘in order that they might attack’.

aufugerent – third person plural imperfect subjunctive of aufugio, -fugere, -fugi

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.

Res igitur male se habebat

And so things were going badly

cum Argonautae navem appulerunt.

when the Argonauts docked their boat.

Phineus autem simul atque audivit

Now Phineus as soon as he heard

eos in suos finis egressos esse,

they had entered his territory

magnopere gavisus est.

rejoiced greatly.

Sciebat enim quantam opinionem

For he knew how great a reputation

virtutis Argonautae haberent,

for bravery the Argonauts had,

nec dubitabat quin sibi auxilium ferrent.

and he did no doubt they would bring him help.

Nuntium igitur ad navem misit,

And so he sent a messenger to the ship,

qui Iasonem sociosque ad regiam vocaret.

to call Jason and his allies to the palace.

Eo cum venissent,

When they had come there,

Phineus demonstravit

Phineus explained,

quanto in periculo suae res essent,

in what great danger his affairs were,

et promisit se magna praemia daturum esse,

and promised he would give great rewards,

si illi remedium repperissent.

if they would find the remedy.

Argonautae negotium libenter susceperunt,

The Argonauts undertook the business gladly,

et ubi hora venit, cum rege accubuerunt;

and when the time came, they reclined to dine with the king

at simul ac cena apposita est,

and as soon as the dinner was put down,

Harpyiae cenaculum intraverunt

the harpies entered the dining room

et cibum auferre conabantur.

and were trying to steal the food.

Argonautae primum gladiis volucres petierunt;

The Argonauts at first went after the birds with swords;

cum tamen viderent hoc nihil prodesse,

when however they could see that this did no good,

Zetes et Calais, qui alis erant instructi,

Zetes and Calais who had been trained in the use of wings,

in aera se sublevaverunt,

raised themselves into the air,

ut desuper impetum facerent.

in order to make an attack from above.

Quod cum sensissent Harpyiae,

When the Harpies became aware

rei novitate

of the unusualness of the proceedings

perterritae statim aufugerunt,

terrified, they fled at once,

neque postea umquam redierunt.

nor afterwards did they ever return.

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

Res igitur male se habebat

cum Argonautae navem appulerunt.

Phineus autem simul atque audivit

eos in suos finis egressos esse,

magnopere gavisus est.

Sciebat enim quantam opinionem

virtutis Argonautae haberent,

nec dubitabat quin sibi auxilium ferrent.

Nuntium igitur ad navem misit,

qui Iasonem sociosque ad regiam vocaret.

Eo cum venissent,

Phineus demonstravit

quanto in periculo suae res essent,

et promisit se magna praemia daturum esse,

si illi remedium repperissent.

Argonautae negotium libenter susceperunt,

et ubi hora venit, cum rege accubuerunt;

at simul ac cena apposita est,

Harpyiae cenaculum intraverunt

et cibum auferre conabantur.

Argonautae primum gladiis volucres petierunt;

cum tamen viderent hoc nihil prodesse,

Zetes et Calais, qui alis erant instructi,

in aera se sublevaverunt,

ut desuper impetum facerent.

Quod cum sensissent Harpyiae,

rei novitate

perterritae statim aufugerunt,

neque postea umquam redierunt.

64 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION – THE ARGONAUTS 64. - DIFFICULT DINING

64 - DIFFICULT DINING

THIS VASE PAINTING DEPICTS PHINEUS AND THE HARPIES

 a) Post haec Argonautae ad Thráciam cursum tenuérunt, et postquam ad oppidum Salmydéssum návem appulérunt, in terram égressí sunt. Ibi cum ab incolís quaesíssent quis régnum éius regiónis obtinéret, certiórés factí sunt Phíneum quendam tum régem esse. Cógnóvérunt etiam hunc caecum esse et díró quódam supplició adficí, quod ólim sé crúdélissimum in fíliós suós praebuisset. Cúius supplicí hóc erat genus. Missa erant á Iove mónstra quaedam specié horribilí, quae capita virginum, corpora volucrum habébant. Hae volucrés, quae Harpýiae appellábantur, Phíneó summam molestiam adferébant; quotiéns enim ille accubuerat, veniébant et cibum appositum statim auferébant. Quó factum est ut haud multum abesset quín Phíneus famé morerétur.
 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. If you need help with points of grammar raised in today's excerpt, consult ESSENTIAL GRAMMAR NOTES also top right side bar.

Argonautae – feminine plural as Argonauta is a feminine noun of the first declension, as is nauta, ‘sailor’.

ad Thraciam – ad before accusative to indicate motion towards.

ad Salmydessum – ad with the accusative here indicates place where, ‘at Salmydessus’.

egressi sunt – third person plural perfect of the deponent verb egredior, -gredí, -gressus go out or forth, go ashore, disembark, meaning therefore ‘they disembarked’.

cum ... quaesissent – ‘when they had asked’, as usual cum introducing a clause in the past takes the subjunctive, here the third person plural pluperfect subjunctive of quaero, quaerere, quaesivi, quaesitus, seek; ask, inquire.

quis ... obtineret – quis is a signal word here indicating that they is probably an indicect question coming, ‘who was ... etc’ and so the verb which follows in in the subjunctive, here third person imperfect subjunctive of obtinere, ‘who might possess/own; with regnum meaning 'rule, be ruler of.’

certiores facti – ‘they were informed’, from the phrase certiorem facere ‘to inform’; this is a very commonly used phrase.

regnum, i – second declension neuter noun, ‘royal power, rule, throne; kingdom, realm.’

obtineret – subjunctive as this is indirect discourse after ‘they had asked’.

adficit – present third person singular of the verb adficio, -ficere, -feci, -fectus, ‘do to, move, affect; visit, afflict’.

in filios suos .. praebuisset,- towards his (own) sons ... had behaved; third person singular pluperfect subjunctive of praebeo, -ere, -ui, -itus , hold forth, supply, furnish, give; show, present, exhibit. We have the subjunctive here as it is in a subordinate clause of indirect discourse. You need to turn this section around to make good English but the sense should be clear to you from the Gist Translation. 

adferebant – literally ‘they were bringing’, from adfero, adferre, attuli, adlatus, bear to, bring.

summam molestiam – summam feminine accusative form of the adjective summus, summa, summum meaning ‘highest, greatest, top of etc.’ agreeing with the feimine accusative singular of molestia, -ae, feminine noun of the first declension meaning ‘annoyance’

supplici – genitive singular of the neuter noun supplicium, -í meaning ‘punishment, torture’. In the Latin writings of Nepos, Caesar, Cicero, and Vergil, the genitive singular of second-declension nouns ending in -ius and -ium ends in i, not ii; but the nominative plural ends in ii, and the dative and ablative plural in iis.

accubuerat.- he had reclined to dine.  The Romans reclined at table, supporting themselves on the left arm and taking the food with the right hand. They naturally represented others as eating in the same way.

appositum -  'which had been placed before him.'  The participle is often equivalent to

a relative clause.

Quo ... moreretur -  'and so it came to pass that Phineus was nearly dying of starvation,' literally 'that not much was wanting but that Phineus would die.'

quo factum est – and so it was, or more idiomatically ‘and so it came to pass.’

Ut haud multum abesset – this is a clause of result, the subject of factum est, literally (and so.it happened) ‘that he was not far from’ in other words 'he almost died from hunger.'

haud ...quin ... moreretur - subjunctive verb is used after certain negative expressions such as haud ... quin ‘not ... but that’.

fame - ablative of cause, ‘by/from.hunger’. Notice that fames has a fifth declension ablative, but is otherwise declined as a noun of the third declension.

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 Argonautae ad Thraciam

After this the Argonauts towards Thracia

cursum tenuerunt, et postquam

held their course, and after

ad oppidum Salmydessum navem appulerunt,

at the town of Salmydessus, they put the ship in,

in terram egressi sunt.

they disembarked on to land.

Ibi cum ab incolis quaesissent

Here when they had asked the inhabitants

quis regnum eius regionis obtineret,

who was ruler of this region,

certiores facti sunt Phineum quendam

they were informed a certain Phineus

tum regem esse. Cognoverunt etiam hunc

was then king.  They found out also he

caecum esse et diro quodam supplicio adfici,

was blind and afflicted with a certain harsh torment,

quod olim se crudelissimum

because at one time he extremely cruel

in filios suos praebuisset.

towards his sons   had behaved.

Cuius supplici hoc erat genus.

His torment was of this kind.

Missa erant a Iove monstra quaedam

Certain monsters were sent by Jupiter

specie horribili, quae capita virginum,

of horrible appearance, who the heads of girls,

corpora volucrum habebant.

and the bodies of birds had.

Hae volucres, quae Harpyiae appellabantur,

These birds, which were called Harpies

Phineo summam molestiam adferebant;

brought Phineus the utmost bother,

quotiens enim ille accubuerat, veniebant

for whenever he reclined to dine, they used to come

et cibum appositum statim auferebant.

and steal the food as soon as it had been placed before him

Quo factum est ut

And the result of this was

haud multum abesset quin Phineus

that Pheneus was not far from

fame moreretur.

dying of hunger.

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

Post haec Argonautae ad Thraciam

cursum tenuerunt, et postquam

ad oppidum Salmydessum navem appulerunt,

in terram egressi sunt.

Ibi cum ab incolis quaesissent

quis regnum eius regionis obtineret,

certiores facti sunt Phineum quendam

tum regem esse. Cognoverunt etiam hunc

caecum esse et diro quodam supplicio adfici,

quod olim se crudelissimum

in filios suos praebuisset.

Cuius supplici hoc erat genus.

Missa erant a Iove monstra quaedam

specie horribili, quae capita virginum,

corpora volucrum habebant.

Hae volucres, quae Harpyiae appellabantur,

Phineo summam molestiam adferebant;

quotiens enim ille accubuerat,

veniebant et cibum appositum statim auferebant.

Quo factum est ut haud multum abesset

quin Phineus fame moreretur.