68 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION – THE ARGONAUTS 68 - THE MAGIC OINTMENT

THE ARGONAUTS 68 - THE MAGIC OINTMENT

This picture is of a painting by John William Waterhouse of  Jason and medea.

a) Médéa, régis fília, Iásonem adamávit, et ubi audívit eum tantum perículum subitúrum esse, rem aegré ferébat. Intellegébat enim patrem suum hunc labórem próposuisse eó ipsó cónsilió, ut Iásón morerétur. Quae cum ita essent, Médéa, quae summam scientiam medicínae habébat, hóc cónsilium iniit. Mediá nocte ínsciente patre ex urbe évásit, et postquam in montís fínitimós vénit, herbás quásdam carpsit; tum súcó expressó unguentum parávit quod ví suá corpus aleret nervósque cónfírmáret. Hóc factó Iásoní unguentum dedit; praecépit autem ut eó dié quó istí labórés cónficiendí essent corpus suum et arma máne oblineret. Iásón etsí paene omnibus hominibus mágnitúdine et víribus corporis antecellébat (víta enim omnis in vénátiónibus atque in studió reí mílitáris cónsúmébátur), tamen hóc cónsilium nón neglegendum esse cénsébat.

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.

adamavit – third person singular perfect tense of ad-amo, -amare, -amavi, -amatus, ‘feel love for, fall in love with’ meaning therefore ‘she fell in love with’.

subiturum esse – After the verb audire, a verb of sense perception, we require the Accusative Infinitive construction in Latin. Here we find a composite future infinitive of the verb subeo ‘to endure, to undergo etc.’ which is made up of the future active participle of subeo and the infinitive esse.  We would express this probably as ‘when she learned that he was going to be put in such danger’ but in Latin if we think of it in accusative infinitive terms literally we have ‘when she learned him going to be enduring such danger’ which is ‘eum subiturum esse’.

rem aegre ferebat – literally ‘the matter badly she took/carried’ but we would probably say something like 'she was greatly distressed' or more colloquially, ‘she took it very badly’.

patrem suum – ‘her father’, don’t forget that the possessive adjective agrees with the thing possessed not the possessor so patrem suum can mean his father or her father, unlike English where we have ‘her father’ and ‘his father’ which changes depending on whether the possesor is feminine or madculine.

proposuisse – perfect infinitive of the verb propono, proponere, proposui, propositus, ‘put or set before, offer, propose; set forth, say’.  Intellegebat ‘she knew’ is a verb of mental percecption which requires the accusative infinitive in Latin.  In English we would probably express the following idea as ‘she knew that he had proposed etc’ but when we think this in terms of the accusative and infinitive we get ‘she knew him to have proposed this etc.’ which is closer to the construction we have in Latin.

Consilium iniit - consilium, -i , neuter noun of the second declension meaning advice; plan, design, purpose; prudence, with the third person perfect of ineo, inire in-eo, -ire, -ii, -itus, go into, enter; adopt. together meaning ‘she adopted the plan’ or ‘she hatched the plan’.

quae cum ita essent - 'and this being the case,' 'and so,' literally 'since which things were so.'

scientiam medicinae – knowledge of the art of healing. Medicinae is the objective genitive.of the first declension feminine noun medicína, -ae , art of healing, medicine.

Media nocte – ablative of time when ‘in the middle of the night’.

insciente patre - ablative absolute, 'without the knowledge of her father,' insciente is ablative of the present participle insciens ‘not knowing’ and patre ablative of the noun pater ‘father’.

venit.- Postquam is regularly followed by the perfect or present indicative, but the English translation usually requires the pluperfect, ‘she had come’.

carpsit – third person singular perfect tense of the  verb carpo, -ere, -si, -tus, pluck.

suco expresso – ablative absolute ‘when she had squeezed out the juice’; suco is ablative of the second declension noun sucus, -i , juice and expresso the ablative of the past participle expressus from the verb exprimo, exprimere, expressi, expressus, ‘press out’.

aleret – third person singular imperfect subjunctive, he/she/it might nourish, from alo, -ere, -ui, -tus, nourish.

nervos – masculine plural accusative of the second declension noun nervus, -i, sinew, muscle.

quod ... confirmaret - a relative clause of purpose, quod vi sua corpus aleret nervosque confirmaret’ literally means ‘which with its force to nourish the body and strengthen the sinews’.

hoc facto – ablative absolute, ‘when this had been done.’

eo die quo – ablative of time when, ‘on that day when’.

oblineret – third person singular imperfect subjunctive of the verb oblino, -linere, -levi, -litus, ‘daub over, smear’. This is an example of a verb in a clause of indirect command ‘she ordered .. that .. he smear’.

magnitudine et viribus - ablative of specification.

antecellebat – third person singular imperfect tense of antecello, -cellere, ‘surpass, excel’.

omnibus hominibus ... antecellebat- omnibus hominibus is dative case as they are governed by the verb antecellebat, a compound verb from ante + cellare.

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.

Medea, regis filia, Iasonem adamavit,

Media the king’s daughter, was in love with Jason,

et ubi audivit

and when she heard

eum tantum periculum subiturum esse,

that he was going to face such great danger,

rem aegre ferebat.

she took it badly.

Intellegebat enim patrem suum

for she knew that her father

hunc laborem proposuisse eo ipso consilio,

proposed this task with the very intention,

ut Iason moreretur.

that Jason should die.

Quae cum ita essent, Medea,

As this was so, Medea,

quae summam scientiam medicinae habebat,

who had very great knowledge of the healing arts,

hoc consilium iniit.

adopted this plan.

Media nocte insciente patre

In the middle of the night, without her father knowing

ex urbe evasit,

she got away from the town,

et postquam in montis finitimos venit,

and after she had come into the border mountains

herbas quasdam carpsit;

she picked certain herbs;

tum suco expresso unguentum paravit

then having squeezed the juice she made an ointment

quod vi sua corpus aleret

which with its strength might nourish the body

nervosque confirmaret.

and strengthen the sinews.

Hoc facto Iasoni unguentum dedit;

Having done this she gave the ointment to Jason;

praecepit autem ut eo die

and she ordered that on that day

quo isti labores conficiendi essent

when those tasks were to be accomplished

corpus suum et arma mane oblineret.

in the morning, he should smear his body and weapons.

Iason etsi paene omnibus hominibus

Jason though almost all men

magnitudine et viribus corporis

in size and strength of body

antecellebat (vita enim omnis in venationibus

he excelled (for all his life in hunting

atque in studio rei militaris consumebatur),

and in the pursuit of military affairs he had spent),

tamen hoc consilium non neglegendum esse censebat.

still he considered this advice should not be ignored.

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

Medea, regis filia, Iasonem adamavit,

et ubi audivit

eum tantum periculum subiturum esse,

rem aegre ferebat.

Intellegebat enim patrem suum

hunc laborem proposuisse eo ipso consilio,

ut Iason moreretur.

Quae cum ita essent, Medea,

quae summam scientiam medicinae habebat,

hoc consilium iniit.

Media nocte insciente patre

ex urbe evasit,

et postquam in montis finitimos venit,

herbas quasdam carpsit;

tum suco expresso unguentum paravit

quod vi sua corpus aleret

nervosque confirmaret.

Hoc facto Iasoni unguentum dedit;

praecepit autem ut eo die

quo isti labores conficiendi essent

corpus suum et arma mane oblineret.

Iason etsi paene omnibus hominibus

magnitudine et viribus corporis

antecellebat (vita enim omnis in venationibus

atque in studio rei militaris consumebatur),

tamen hoc consilium non neglegendum esse censebat.

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.