37 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 37 - THE RESCUE OF HESIONE

HERCULES 37 - THE RESCUE OF HESIONE

THIS IS A MEDIEVAL PAINTING SHOWING THE RESCUE OF HESIONE BY HERCULES

a)
Láomedón, cum hóc respónsum renúntiátum esset,  mágnum dolórem percépit; sed tamen, ut cívís suós tantó perículó líberáret, óráculó párére cónstituit et diem sacrifició díxit. Sed síve cású síve cónsilió deórum Herculés tempore opportúnissimó Tróiam attigit; ipsó enim temporis punctó quó puella caténís vincta ad lítus dédúcébátur ille návem appulit. Herculés é náví égressus dé rébus quae gerébantur certior factus est; tum írá commótus ad régem sé contulit et auxilium suum obtulit. Cum réx libenter eí concessisset ut, sí posset, puellam líberáret, Herculés mónstrum interfécit; et puellam, quae iam omnem spem salútis déposuerat, incolumem ad patrem redúxit. Láomedón mágnó cum gaudió fíliam suam accépit, et Herculí pró tantó benefició meritam grátiam 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. 

cum - introducing a clause in the past tense requires the verb to be in the subjunctive as here with esset

percepit – ‘felt’, from percipió, -cipere, -cépí, -ceptus.

ut ... liberaret – ‘in order to ..... free’  ut here introduces a purpose clause, which takes the subjunctive.

oraculo parere – oraculo is dative of oraculum as it follows parere which takes the dative.

sacrificio – this is dative of purpose ‘for the sacrifice’.

ipso temporis punctó quo – literally at the very point of time in which’ more likely translated as 'at the very moment when.'

sive ... sive – conjunction ‘whether ... or whether’.

casu – adverb, ‘by chance, accidentally’.

consilio – ablative of consilium,  ‘by design, by strategem, by purpose’.

attigit – perfect tense of attingo, -tingere, -tigi, -tactus, ‘to touch at’, ‘to reach’.

deducebatur – imperfect passive of deducere, ‘she was led out, or led down’.

egressus. - The perfect participle of deponent verbs is active in meaning, ‘when he had

de rebus quae gerebantur – de, preposition meaning ‘concerning’ or ‘about’ is followed by the ablative, which here is plural of res, so meaning ‘about the things’;  quae, relative pronoun meaning ‘which’ referring to rebus and is therefore feminine plural in the nominative case as it is the subject of gerebantur; gerebantur, passive plural imperfect indicative meaning ‘they were being done’ which all together means something like: ‘about the things which were being done’ or ‘what was going on’.

certior factus est – certior is the comparative of certus –a –um the adjective meaning certain, determined, fixed and so this phrase means ‘he was made more certain’ or more idiomatically ‘he was informed’.

se contulit – from se conferre meaning ‘to betake oneself, to make one’s way’.

auxilium suum obtulit – obtulit is the perfect third person singular indicative of the verb offero, offerre, obtulí, oblatus, meaning to offer, proffer, present, bestow, so this means ‘he offered his help’.

cum rex ei concessisset ut puellam libaret – cum meaning ‘since’ or ‘when’ the king to him (dative of is) permitted that he might free (imperfect subjunctive) the girl.

si posset – if he could, imperfect subjunctive third person singular ‘if he could’; the  subjunctive is used because this is an instance of indirect discourse; the words of the king are quoted indirectly, he would have said ‘si potes etc.’ ‘if you can etc.’

puellam ... quae ... spem salutis deposerat – the girl who had given up hope of safety; quae is the relative pronoun, it is feminine to agree with puellam but is in the nominative case (not the accusative) as it is the subject of the verb in its clause, deposerat.

ad patrem – we have put ‘to her father’ though there is no word for her because Latin often leaves out possessive adjectives (my, your, her, his, their) when it is obvious from the context whose ‘something’ we are talking about as here it is quite obvious that Hercules is returning the girl to her father and not to someone else’s father.

gratiam rettulit – third person singular perfect  of gratiam referre, ‘to show gratitude’.

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.

Laomedon, cum hoc responsum renuntiatum esset,

when this answer was announced to Laomedon

magnum dolorem percepit;

he felt great sadness

sed tamen, ut civis suos tanto periculo liberaret,

however, in order to free his citizens from such danger,

oraculo parere constituit et diem sacrificio dixit.

he resolved to obey the oracle and announced the day of the sacrifice.

Sed sive casu sive consilio deorum

But whether by chance or by design of the gods

Hercules tempore opportunissimo Troiam attigit;

at the most opportune time Hercules reached Troy;

ipso enim temporis puncto quo puella

for at the very moment when the girl

catenis vincta ad litus deducebatur

bound in chains was led to the shore

ille navem appulit. Hercules e navi egressus

he drew in his ship.  Hercules left the ship

de rebus quae gerebantur certior factus est;

was informed of what was going on;

tum ira commotus ad regem se contulit

then moved by anger he made his way to the king

et auxilium suum obtulit.

and offered his help

Cum rex libenter ei concessisset ut,

since the king gladly allowed that

si posset, puellam liberaret,

if he could, he might free the girl,

Hercules monstrum interfecit;

Hercules killed the monster;

et puellam, quae iam omnem spem salutis deposuerat,

and the girl, who had already given up all hope of safety,

incolumem ad patrem reduxit.

he brought back safe to her father.

Laomedon magno cum gaudio filiam suam accepit,

Laomedon received his daughter with great joy,

et Herculi pro tanto beneficio meritam gratiam rettulit.

and to Hercules, for such great kindness, he showed deserved gratitude.

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

Laomedon, cum hoc responsum renuntiatum esset,

magnum dolorem percepit;

sed tamen, ut civis suos tanto periculo liberaret,

oraculo parere constituit et diem sacrificio dixit.

Sed sive casu sive consilio deorum

Hercules tempore opportunissimo Troiam attigit;

ipso enim temporis puncto quo puella

catenis vincta ad litus deducebatur

ille navem appulit. Hercules e navi egressus

de rebus quae gerebantur certior factus est;

tum ira commotus ad regem se contulit

et auxilium suum obtulit.

Cum rex libenter ei concessisset ut,

si posset, puellam liberaret,

Hercules monstrum interfecit;

et puellam, quae iam omnem spem salutis deposuerat,

incolumem ad patrem reduxit.

Laomedon magno cum gaudio filiam suam accepit,

et Herculi pro tanto beneficio meritam gratiam rettulit.

36 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 36 - LAOMEDON AND THE SEA-MONSTER

HERCULES 36 - LAOMEDON AND THE SEA-MONSTER

THIS IS LAOMEDON, KING OF TROY.

a)

Láomedón quídam illó tempore régnum Tróiae obtinébat. Ad hunc Neptúnus et Apolló annó superióre vénerant, et cum Tróia nóndum moenia habéret, ad hóc opus auxilium obtulerant. Postquam tamen hórum auxilió moenia cónfecta sunt, nólébat Láomedón praemium quod próposuerat persolvere.

Neptúnus igitur et Apolló ob hanc causam írátí mónstrum quoddam mísérunt specié horribilí, quod cottídié é marí veniébat et homines pecudésque vorábat. Tróiání autem timóre perterrití in urbe continébantur, et pecora omnia ex agrís intrá múrós compulerant. Láomedón hís rébus commótus óráculum cónsuluit, ac deus eí praecépit ut filiam Hésionem mónstró obiceret.

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.

Laomedon quidam – quidam is in this case the indefinite adjective, ‘a certain Laomedon’.

illo tempore – ablative of time when, ‘at that time’.
regnum obtinere - to rule a kingdom.

ad hunc – ‘to th is man’; preposition ad followed by accusative case of masculine singular pronoun hic – see hic, haec, hoc in GRAMMAR NOTES left sidebar under PAGES.

anno superiore – ablative of time when of masculine second declension noun annus agreeing with comparative of the adjective superus; meaning therefore ‘the previous year’, or ‘the preceding year’ or ‘the year before’.

cum ... haberet – cum meaning since introducing a clause in the past takes the verb in the subjunctive.  ‘ since Troy ... did not have’.

obtulerant – careful with this verb you won’t find it under ob in the dictionary because it comes from the verb offero, offerre, obtuli, oblátus; it is a compound of ob + feró and means to bear to, proffer, offer.

horum auxilio – horum is genitive plural of the pronoun see hic, haec, hoc in GRAMMAR NOTES left sidebar under PAGES, so it means ‘of them’ or as here ‘their’; auxilio is ablative ‘by or with help’ with ‘of them’ together best rendered as‘ with their help’

persolvere - means to repay in full, to completely repay.  Per prefixed to a verb in this way intensifies or strengthens the meaning so terreo means ‘I frighten’ and perterreo means ‘I terrify’, sequor ‘I follow’ persequor ‘I pursue’.

quod – relative neuter singular ‘which’ referring to the neuter singular noun praemium.

proposuerat – pluperfect tense of propono, -ponere, -posui, -positus, put or set before, offer, propose; etc. meaning therefore ‘he had proposed’.

ob hanc causam – ob = ‘because of’ or ‘on account of’ with hanc – ‘this’ accusative demonstrative adjective (see hic, haec, hoc GRAMMAR NOTES)  with feminine accusative causam, literally ‘on account of this reason’.

quoddam – indefinite adjective (compare with quiddam in first line), agreeing with neuter singular accusative noun monstrum ‘a certain monster’.

specie horribili - 'of terrible appearance.' this is ablative of description. remember that the third declension adjectives are very similar to third declension nouns, one difference being that they end in i in the ablative singular (not e).

homines pecudesque – que added to the second of two words joins them, here we have ‘men and beasts’, pecudes from the feminine third declension noun pecus, gen. pecudis, ‘head of cattle, beast, sheep, goat’.

timore perterriti. -  11. timore perterritus. It is not necessary to translate both words.See the note on 14, 11.

continebantur – literally ‘they were contained’ ; this might be translated as ‘kept themselves shut up’ in which case the subject is represented as acting upon itself and this is sometimes referred to as the reflexive use of the passive.

pecora – refers to flocks of sheep or herds of cattle; compare this with pecus, pecudis which refers to single animals (especially sheep).

compulerant – from com-pello, -pellere, -puli, -pulsus, drive together, drive, ‘they were driven’, or ‘they were herded’.

his rebus commotus – rebus from res ‘by these things moved’ or ‘by these events greatly shaken’.

ei praecepit – perfect tense of praecipio, -cipere, -cepí, -ceptus; a compound verb from prae, before + capio meaning, ‘take beforehand, anticipate; order, charge’ which takes the dative and therefore we have ei (see is, ea, id GRAMMAR NOTES top left sidebar under PAGES).

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.

Laomedon quidam illo tempore

at that  time a certain Laomedon

regnum Troiae obtinebat.

was ruling the kingdom of Troy

Ad hunc Neptunus et Apollo

To this man Neptune and Apollo

anno superiore venerant,

had come the previous year

et cum Troia nondum moenia haberet,

and since Toy did not as yet have walls

ad hoc opus auxilium obtulerant.

they had given their assistance to this work.

Postquam tamen horum auxilio

After however with their help

moenia confecta sunt, nolebat Laomedon

the walls were made, Laomedon did not want

praemium quod proposuerat persolvere.

to pay the reward which he had offered.

Neptunus igitur et Apollo ob hanc causam irati

Neptune and Apollo therefore angry for this reason

monstrum quoddam miserunt specie horribili,

sent a certain monster of terrible appearance

quod cottidie e mari veniebat

which every day came out of the sea

et homines pecudesque vorabat.

and devoured men/people and animals.

Troiani autem timore perterriti

the Trojans however terrified

in urbe continebantur, et pecora omnia

shut themselves up in the city and all the animals

ex agris intra muros compulerant.

were driven from the fields within the walls

Laomedon his rebus commotus

Laomedon greatly shaken by these events

oraculum consuluit, ac deus ei praecepit

consulted the oracle, and the god ordered him

ut filiam Hesionem monstro obiceret.

to cast his daughter Hesione to the monster.

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

Laomedon quidam illo tempore

regnum Troiae obtinebat.

Ad hunc Neptunus et Apollo

anno superiore venerant,

et cum Troia nondum moenia haberet,

ad hoc opus auxilium obtulerant.

Postquam tamen horum auxilio

moenia confecta sunt, nolebat Laomedon

praemium quod proposuerat persolvere.

Neptunus igitur et Apollo ob hanc causam irati

monstrum quoddam miserunt specie horribili,

quod cottidie e mari veniebat

et homines pecudesque vorabat.

Troiani autem timore perterriti

in urbe continebantur, et pecora omnia

ex agris intra muros compulerant.

Laomedon his rebus commotus

oraculum consuluit, ac deus ei praecepit

ut filiam Hesionem monstro obiceret.

35 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 35 - THE DEFEAT OF THE AMAZONS

HERCULES 35 - THE DEFEAT OF THE AMAZONS

THIS SECTION OF A VASE PAINTING DEPICTS A SCENE FROM THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE AMAZONS AND THE GREEKS.




a)

Diú et ácriter púgnátum est; tandem tamen ad sólis occásum tanta commútátió rérum facta est ut mulierés terga verterent et fugá salútem peterent. Multae autem vulneribus défessae dum fugiunt captae sunt, in quó numeró ipsa erat Hippolyté.

Herculés summam clémentiam praestitit, et postquam balteum accépit, líbertátem omnibus captívís dedit. Tum véró sociós ad mare redúxit, et quod nón multum aestátis supererat, in Graeciam proficíscí mátúrávit. Návem igitur cónscendit, et tempestátem idóneam nactus statim solvit; antequam tamen in Graeciam pervénit, ad urbem Tróiam návem appellere cónstituit, frúmentum enim quod sécum habébat iam déficere coeperat.

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.

pugnatum est – quite literally means ‘it was fought’ with the subject implied in the verb (compare with 'it is raining').  Intransitive verbs (i.e. those which don’t take a direct object) are quite often used in Latin in an impersonal way by being put into in the passive voice whereas we would prefer an active verb such as ‘they fought’ or ‘the battle raged’.

ad solis occasum – in ancient times the time of day was of course, mostly calculated by the position of the sun in the sky, so ad solis occasum meaning literally ‘towards of the sun the setting’ means not long before sunset, towards evening, early evening etc.

rerum – again res ‘the thing, the matter, the affair’ crops up, here with the sense that the way ‘things’ or ‘events’ are going has changed.

Tanta commutatio ...facta est  - tanta is one of our signal words for a following result clause, ‘such change ... that’ and there will of course be a subjunctive verb in the result clause introduced by ut, and there it is ‘vertererent’.

facta est – agreeing with commutatio ‘change’ , ‘was made’ or ‘came about’ or ‘happened’.

terga verterent – literally ‘turned they backs’. Back is in the singular as they each only have one each whereas we would say ‘turned their backs’.  We might have translated ‘fled’ but as this comes next ‘turned’ would convey what is happening quite adequately.

fuga salutem peterent – fuga ablative singular meaning ‘through flight’, or ‘by fleeing’, the verb means ‘sought’, we ask ourselves sought what? – safety, which is therefore the object and is in the accusative – salutem.

defessae – fem adj plural agreeing with multae ‘many women’ meaning worn out, exausted, a more modern rendition might be ‘done in’.

fugiunt – dum ‘whilst’ is followed by present tense ‘whille they are fleeing’, or ‘as they flee’, we would most likely translate with a past tense.

in quo numero – literally ‘in which number’ or as we would more likely say ‘amongst whom’.

aestatis supererat – careful with this, some students may confuse supererat with the verb superare, the verb to conquer, but supererat comes from superesse ‘to be over, to be left or remaining’, so now you can easily see it means literally ‘of the summer there remained’. aestatis being partitive genitive, a part of a bigger something.

non multum - notice that multum is here used as a noun.

tempestas, -tatis – feminine noun third Declension, doesn’t always mean tempest or storm, here it means weather.

nactus  - The perfect participle of a deponent verb is active in meaning so nactus from nancíscor, ‘get, obtain, find’ meaning ‘having been obtained’ etc.

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.

Diu et acriter pugnatum est;
For a long time the battle was fought bitterly;

tandem tamen ad solis occasum
at length however towards the setting of the sun

tanta commutatio rerum facta est
such a great change of events came about

ut mulieres terga verterent
that the women turned their backs

fuga salutem peterent.
and through flight sought safety.

Multae autem vulneribus defessae
However many worn out with wounds

dum fugiunt captae sunt,
while fleeing were captured

in quo numero ipsa erat Hippolyte.
amongst whom was Hippolyte herself.

Hercules summam clementiam praestitit,
Hercules showed the greatest clemency,

et postquam balteum accepit,
and after he received the  belt,

libertatem omnibus captivis dedit.
gave freedom to all the captives

Tum vero socios ad mare reduxit,
and then led the allies out to sea

et quod non multum aestatis supererat,
and since not much of the summer remained

in Graeciam proficisci maturavit.
he made haste to depart to Greece

Navem igitur conscendit,
he boarded the ship therefore

et tempestatem idoneam nactus statim solvit;
and suitable weather having arisen, set sail at once

antequam tamen in Graeciam pervenit,
before however he arrived in Greece

ad urbem Troiam navem appellere constituit,
he decided to put the ship in at the city of Troy

frumentum enim quod secum habebat
for the grain which he had with him

iam deficere coeperat.
was now beginning to spoil.

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

Diu et acriter pugnatum est;

tandem tamen ad solis occasum

tanta commutatio rerum facta est

ut mulieres terga verterent

et fuga salutem peterent.

Multae autem vulneribus defessae

dum fugiunt captae sunt,

in quo numero ipsa erat Hippolyte.

Hercules summam clementiam praestitit,

et postquam balteum accepit,

libertatem omnibus captivis dedit.

Tum vero socios ad mare reduxit,

et quod non multum aestatis supererat,

in Graeciam proficisci maturavit.

Navem igitur conscendit,

et tempestatem idoneam nactus statim solvit;

antequam tamen in Graeciam pervenit,

ad urbem Troiam navem appellere constituit,

frumentum enim quod secum habebat

iam deficere coeperat.

34 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 34 - THE BATTLE

HERCULES 34 - THE BATTLE

THIS VASE PAINTING DEPICTS HERCULES FIGHTING WITH THE AMAZONS
a)Palús erat nón mágna inter duo exercitús; neutrí tamen initium tránseundí facere volébant. Tandem Herculés sígnum dedit, et ubi palúdem tránsiit,proelium commísit.
Amázonés impetum virórum fortissimé sustinuérunt, et contrá opíniónem omnium tantam virtútem praestitérunt ut multós eórum occíderint, multós etiam in fugam coniécerint. Virí enim novó genere púgnae perturbábantur nec mágnam virtútem praestábant. Herculés autem cum haec vidéret, dé suís fortúnís déspéráre coepit. Mílités igitur vehementer cohortátus est ut prístinae virtútis memoriam retinérent neu tantum dédecus admitterent, hostiumque impetum fortiter sustinérent; quibus verbís animós omnium ita éréxit ut multí etiam quí vulneribus cónfectí essent proelium sine morá redintegrárent.

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.

palus erat – remember that erat often means ‘there was’ especially when it comes near the beginning of a sentence or clause and est often means ‘there is’.

palus, -udis  - third declension feminine noun meaning swamp, marsh.

non magna – feminine adjective agreeing with palus, the phrase might be translated as ‘but not a big one’.

inter – preposition ‘between’ takes accusative case.

neutri – ‘neither’, plural as refering to the two armies which are groups of people, neuter would refer to two individuals.

initium transeundi facere – literally: the beginning of the crossing to make. Transeundi is the genitive of the gerund of the verb transeo ‘to go across’.

fortissime – superlative adverb ‘very or most bravely’.

ut ... occíderint.- ‘that they killed’, the perfect subjunctive is sometimes used in result clauses after a past tense in the main clause which is contrary to the general principle of the sequence of tenses, which requires the imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive after a past tense, the present or perfect subjunctive after a present or future tense.

Viri – notice here that we use viri to represent this particular group of men, if we were talking about men in the general sense of representative of mankind we would use homines, from homo, -inis.

novo genere  - ablative, ‘by this new kind’.

perturbantur – passive plural imperfect of perturbo, -turbare, -avi, -atus, meaning greatly disturb, disturb, agitate, throw into confusion.

cum haec videret – cum, ‘when’ introducing a clause in the past takes imperfect subjunctive, ‘when he saw’, with  haec neuter plural ‘these things’ translated as this.

neu - 'and not'.

quibus verbis – ‘by which words’; the relative is frequently used in Latin to connect a new sentence with the one preceding. When so used, it is generally best rendered by 'and' or 'but' and a demonstrative or personal pronoun, ‘and by these words’.

ita ... ut reintegrarent – ita ut followed by imperfect subjunctive; as we have seen before, ita is a signal word for a following result clause which takes a subjunctive verb ‘so ... that ...etc.’.

essent – this is referred to as the subjunctive of attraction. By this is meant that the verb is attracted into the mood of the clause upon which it depends.

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.

Palus erat non magna inter duo exercitus;

There was a swamp, but not a big one, between the two armies;

neutri tamen initium transeundi facere volebant.

but neither wanted to begin crossing.

Tandem Hercules signum dedit,

At length Hercules gave the signal,

et ubi paludem transiit, proelium commisit.

and when he crossed the swamp, he joined battle

Amazones impetum virorum fortissime sustinuerunt,

The Amazons withstood the charge of the men very bravely,

et contra opinionem omnium

and contrary to the expectation of all

tantam virtutem praestiterunt

they displayed such great valour

ut multos eorum occiderint,

that they killed many of them,

multos etiam in fugam coniecerint.

many even were put to flight.

Viri enim novo genere pugnae perturbabantur

For the men were thrown into confusion by this new kind of fight

nec magnam virtutem praestabant.

and were not displaying great valour.

Hercules autem cum haec videret,

Now when Hercules saw this,

de suis fortunis desperare coepit.

began to despair of his success.

Milites igitur vehementer cohortatus est

so he vigorously encourged the soldiers

ut pristinae virtutis memoriam retinerent

to keep in mind the memory of their former valour

neu tantum dedecus admitterent,

that they not allow such great dishonour

hostiumque impetum fortiter sustinerent;

and bravely withstand the attack of the enemy;

quibus verbis animos omnium ita erexit

by which words he so raised the spirits of all

ut multi etiam qui vulneribus confecti essent

that many who were still worn out with wounds

proelium sine mora redintegrarent.

went again into battle without delay.

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

Palus erat non magna inter duo exercitus;

neutri tamen initium transeundi facere volebant.

Tandem Hercules signum dedit,

et ubi paludem transiit, proelium commisit.

Amazones impetum virorum

fortissime sustinuerunt,

et contra opinionem omnium

tantam virtutem praestiterunt

ut multos eorum occiderint,

multos etiam in fugam coniecerint.

Viri enim novo genere pugnae perturbabantur

nec magnam virtutem praestabant.

Hercules autem cum haec videret,

de suis fortunis desperare coepit.

Milites igitur vehementer cohortatus est

ut pristinae virtutis memoriam retinerent

neu tantum dedecus admitterent,

hostiumque impetum fortiter sustinerent;

quibus verbis animos omnium ita erexit

ut multi etiam qui vulneribus confecti essent

proelium sine mora redintegrarent.

33 RITCHIE’S FABULAE FACILES TRANSLATION - HERCULES 33 - THE GIRDLE IS REFUSED

HERCULES 33 - THE GIRDLE IS REFUSED

THIS IS A STATUE OF AN AMAZONIAN WARRIOR       

a)

Hís virís Herculés persuásit,  postquam causam itineris exposuit, ut sécum iter facerent. Tum cum iís quibus persuáserat návem cónscendit, et cum ventus idóneus esset, post paucós diés ad óstium flúminis Thermódontis appulit. Postquam in fínís Amázonum vénit, núntium ad Hippolytam mísit, quí causam veniendí docéret et balteum pósceret. Ipsa Hippolyté balteum trádere volébat, quod dé Herculis virtúte fámam accéperat; reliquae tamen Amázonés eí persuásérunt ut negáret. At Herculés, cum haec núntiáta essent, bellí fortúnam temptáre cónstituit.

Proximó igitur dié cum cópiás édúxisset, locum idóneum délégit et hostísad púgnam évocávit. Amázonés quoque cópiás suás ex castrís édúxérunt et nón mágnó interválló ab Hercule aciem ínstrúxérunt.

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.

his – dative plural of is, ea, id (See GRAMMAR NOTES top right of sidebar under PAGES) meaning ‘these’. The dative case is used here as persuadere governs the dative case, as does imperare and mandare as we have previously seen.

causam itineris – genitive after causam, ‘itineris’ literally ‘of the journey’ better translated perhaps as ‘the reason for the journey’.

secum – the pronoun se is joined to the preposition cum to mean ‘with him’ when referring to the same subject as the subject of the main verb.

ut facerent – the subjunctive after ut is used in clauses of indirect command.  These clauses come after verbs meaning warn (monere), order (imperare), persuade (as here) – Hercules persuaded them to make the journey ....

cum iis quibus – cum here is the preposition ‘with’ which we know takes the ablative, followed by ablative plural of is, ea, id meaning ‘those’ agreeing with the relative pronoun from qui, quae, quod - so it must mean ‘with those whom’ he had persuaded etc.’

cum ventus idoneus esset – cum here means since and introduces a result clause, ‘since the wind was favourable’; cum in instances like these offers an explanation, for what comes after, here it explains why it is after a few dayscomes after

causam veniendi – genitive after causam again but this time genitive of the gerund of venire, literally ‘the cause of coming’.

ei persuaserunt – ‘persuaded her’, persuadere again followed by the dative case of ea (see is, ea, id in GRAMMAR NOTES top right of sidebar under PAGES).

ut negaret – imperfect subjunctive after persuadere, meaning ‘persuaded her that she refuse’,yet another example of indirect command, better translated as ‘her to refuse’.

haec - ‘these things’  better translated as ‘this’.

doceret – a purpose clause , as we know, required the verb to be in the subjuctive mood, H sent the messenger ‘who was to make known...’etc.

magno intervallo – this is ablative of degree of difference, ‘at a large distance’.

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.

Hís virís Herculés persuásit,

Hercules persuaded these men

postquam causam itineris exposuit,

after he explained the reason for the journey

ut sécum iter facerent.

to make the fourney with him.

Tum cum iís quibus persuáserat návem cónscendit,

then with those he had persuaded he boarded the ship

et cum ventus idóneus esset,

and since the wind was favourable,

post paucós diés ad óstium flúminis Thermódontis appulit.

after a few days at the mouth of the river of Thermodon he put the ship in

Postquam in fínís Amázonum vénit,

After he came to the territory of the Amazons

he sent a messenger to Hippolyte,

núntium ad Hippolytam mísit,

quí causam veniendí docéret et balteum pósceret.

who made known the reason for his coming and demanded the belt

Ipsa Hippolyté balteum trádere volébat,

Hippolyte herself was willing to hand over the belt

quod dé Herculis virtúte fámam accéperat;

because she had learned of the courage of Hercules

reliquae tamen Amázonés eí persuásérunt ut negáret.

the rest of the Amazons however persuaded her to refuse.

At Herculés, cum haec núntiáta essent,

But Hercules, when this was announced to him,

bellí fortúnam temptáre cónstituit.

resolved to try his fortune by war

Proximó igitur dié cum cópiás édúxisset,

the following day therefore he went out with his troops

locum idóneum délégit et hostís ad púgnam évocávit.

chose a suitable place and called the enemy to battle.

Amázonés quoque cópiás suás ex castrís édúxérunt

The Amazons too led out their forces from the camp

et nón mágnó interválló ab Hercule aciem ínstrúxérunt.

and at not a far distance from Hercules drew up their battle line.

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

His viris Hercules persuasit,

postquam causam itineris exposuit,

ut secumiter facerent.

Tum cum iis quibus persuaserat

navem conscendit, et cum

ventus idoneus esset,

post paucos dies

ad ostium fluminis Thermodontis

appulit.

Postquam in finis Amazonum venit,

nuntium ad Hippolytam misit,

qui causam veniendi doceret

et balteum posceret.

Ipsa Hippolyte balteum tradere volebat,

quod de Herculis virtute famam acceperat;

reliquae tamen Amazones ei persuaserunt

ut negaret. At Hercules, cum haec nuntiata essent,

belli fortunam temptare constituit.

Proximo igitur die cum copias eduxisset,

locum idoneum delegit

et hostis ad pugnam evocavit.

Amazones quoque copias suas

ex castris eduxerunt

et non magno intervallo

ab Hercule aciem instruxerunt.