Helps to Latin Translation at Sight
Chapter 3
_Rashness justly punished._
Haud dubia res est, quippe inter Hannibalem ducem et centurionem; exercitusque, alterum vincendo veteranum, alterum novum totum, magna ex parte etiam tumultuarium et semiermem. |I| Ut conspecta inter se agmina sunt, et neutra pars detrectavit pugnam, extemplo instructae acies. |II| Pugnatum tamen, ut in nulla pari re, duas amplius horas, concitata et, donec dux stetisset, Romana acie. |III| Postquam is non pro vetere fama solum, sed etiam metu futuri dedecoris, si sua temeritate contractae cladi superesset, obiectans se hostium telis cecidit, fusa extemplo est Romana acies. |IV| Sed adeo ne fugae quidem iter patuit omnibus viis ab equite insessis, ut ex tanta multitudine vix mille evaserint, ceteri passim alii alia peste absumpti sint. |V|
LIVY.
_Rashness justly punished._
[Transcriber's Note: The braces around the "Postquam..." clause are in the original.]
+Haud dubia res est+, [quippe inter Hannibalem ducem et centurionem; exercitusque, alterum vincendo veteranum, alterum novum totum, magna ex parte etiam tumultuarium et semiermem.] {I} [Ut conspecta inter se agmina sunt, et neutra pars detrectavit pugnam], extemplo +instructae acies+. {II} +Pugnatum+ tamen, ut in nulla pari re, duas amplius horas, concitata et, [donec dux stetisset], Romana acie. {III} {Postquam is non pro vetere fama solum, sed etiam metu futuri dedecoris, [si sua temeritate contractae cladi superesset], obiectans se hostium telis cecidit}, +fusa+ extemplo +est Romana acies+. {IV} Sed adeo ne fugae quidem +iter patuit+ omnibus viis ab equite insessis, [ut ex tanta multitudine vix mille evaserint, ceteri passim alii alia peste absumpti sint]. {V}
LIVY.
DEMONSTRATION IV.
LIVY, xxv. 19.
_Read through the Passage carefully._--The context will be familiar to you, as this piece is a continuation of Demonstration III; but, none the less, read the passage through very carefully. Notice, for example, the use of +quippe+, the various uses and meanings of +ut+, +alterum ... alterum+, +alii alia+.
You can now begin to translate.
+I.+ +Haud dubia res est, quippe inter Hannibalem ducem et centurionem; exercitusque, alterum vincendo veteranum, alterum novum totum, magna ex parte etiam tumultuarium et semiermem.+
(i.) _Vocabulary._--
+quippe+ = +qui + pe+. +pe+ = a form of +que+ (cf. +nempe = nam-pe+ = indeed) = _since of course_.
+alterum+ (comparative of +al-ius+), cf. +alter+, _alternate_, _either_, _other_.
In distributive clauses, +alter--alter+ = _the one_, _the other_.
+tumultuarium+ (cf. +tumultus+), used of troops brought _hurriedly_ together; so, _disorderly_.
(ii.) _Translation._--This sentence is quite simple, consisting of one main statement, +Haud dubia res est+, and an explanatory subordinate statement of fact introduced by +quippe+. Notice that the influence of +inter+ extends over the whole of the subordinate clause.
_Literally:_ 'The affair was not doubtful, since, of course, it was between Hannibal as general and a centurion, and between armies, the one grown old in victory, the other wholly new, and for the most part also hurriedly raised and half-armed.'
There are several points in which this rendering must be improved. Thus:--
(a) _Affair_ for +res+ is too vague. You will remember what was said about +res+ in Sentence I. of Part I. pp. 33, 34.
(b) You must try to express more strongly the contrast in generalship between Hannibal and a mere centurion. Thus:--
'_The +result+ was not doubtful, considering that the contest was between a general such as Hannibal and a (mere) centurion; and between two armies, the one grown old in victory, the other consisting entirely of raw recruits, and for the most part undrilled and half-armed._'
+II.+ +Ut conspecta inter se agmina sunt, et neutra pars detrectavit pugnam, extemplo instructae acies.+
(i.) _Vocabulary._--
+neuter+ = ne + uter (+uter = eu-ter+ or +quo-ter-us+ = comparative in form of +quis+), _neither of two_.
+detrectavit+ = _declined_ (+de + traho+, draw-off).
+extemplo+ = _immediately_. +Ex + templum+ (dimin. +tempulum+).
+templum+ [Rt]+tem+ = cut; cf. #temnô# = prop. a _section_. So
(a) a _space marked_ out, a consecrated place, a _temple_.
(b) a _portion of time_; cf. _extempore_.
(ii.) _Translation._--This sentence again is quite simple (in form very similar to Sentence I.), consisting of one main statement, +extemplo instructae acies+, and an introductory subordinate statement of _time_ introduced by +ut+ = _when_.
_'When the armies came in sight of each other, and neither side declined battle, the ranks were at once drawn up in fighting order.'_
[14]+III.+ +Pugnatum tamen, ut in nulla pari re, duas amplius horas, concitata et, donec dux stetisset, Romana acie.+
[Footnote 14: Weissenborn and Müller read:--Pugnatum tamen, ut in nulla pari re, _diu_: duas amplius horas con_stitit pugna spe con_citante, donec dux stetit, Romana_m_ acie_m_.]
(i.) _Vocabulary._--
+concitata+ = _stirred-up_, _roused_. +con + ci-eo+; cf. _+ex-cite+_, _+incite+_, +c[)i]-tus+ = _put in motion_, _swift_, &c.
(ii.) _Translation._--This sentence is not quite so simple and needs care. Notice--
(a) +Pugnatum (est).+ The Impersonal Pass. serves as the principal subject and predicate.
(b) +ut in nulla pari re.+ +ut+ is here not a _conjunction_ but a relative _adverb_ of manner, referring the assertion +pugnatum duas amplius horas+ to the particular circumstance--_i.e._ of a battle fought under very unequal conditions. This use of +ut+ = _considering_ occurs frequently--_e.g._ +consultissimus vir ut in illa quisquam esse aetate poterat+ (Livy). Cf. also p. 124, l. 19. [[Selection C17, "ut in re trepida"]]
(c) +concitata Romana acie+ is clearly ablative absolute. To make quite sure that you understand the logical connection of the thought conveyed by this sentence, you may consult the detailed analysis on page 47.
_In spite of its being such an unequal match, the battle was maintained for more than two hours; the Roman army (as well as [+et+] the enemy's) being roused (to great exertions) so long as their leader survived._
+IV.+ +Postquam is non pro vetere fama solum, sed etiam metu futuri dedecoris, si sua temeritate contractae cladi superesset, obiectans se hostium telis cecidit, fusa extemplo est Romana acies.+
(i.) _Vocabulary._--
+dedecoris+ = of _dis-grace_, for +de+ in composition = separation, and so _removal_ of the fundamental idea. Cf. _un-_, _dis-_, _e.g._ +dis-par+ = _un_-equal.
+contractae+ = _brought on_, _caused_. +con + traho+ = _bring about_, _cause_.
(ii.) _Translation._--The meaning of this sentence should be quite plain to you if you notice carefully that
(a) the principal verb is +fusa est+, and the principal subject +Romana acies+, and
(b) that +Postquam ... cecidit+ is a subordinate clause of _time_ modifying the action of the principal verb +fusa est+.
It would perhaps be well to translate at first literally:--
_After that he, not only out of regard for_ (+pro+) _his old fame, but also from fear of future disgrace, if he should survive a disaster brought about by his own rashness, exposing himself to the weapons of the enemy fell, the Roman army was at once routed._
You will see that this rendering, though verbally correct, is not English, and must be considerably altered before it can be called a good translation. Thus:--
(a) _It is too long._ You can remedy this by taking +postquam ... cecidit+ as one complete sentence, and +fusa ... acies+ as another.
(b) _Exposing himself._ Better _exposed himself to ... and_. Notice here the strictly accurate use of the Pres. participle in Latin.
(c) '+future+' may be omitted, as tautological[15] in English. Cf. our inexact idiom '_he promised to come_' (Lat. '_that he would come_').
[Footnote 15: _i.e._ needless repetition (#tauto legein# = to say the same thing).]
_At last, both for the sake of his old renown and from the fear of disgrace should he survive a disaster brought on by his own rashness, he threw himself among the enemy's darts and was slain. The Roman army was routed in a moment._ --Church and B.
+V.+ +Sed adeo ne fugae quidem iter patuit omnibus viis ab equite insessis, ut ex tanta multitudine vix mille evaserint, ceteri passim alii alia peste absumpti sint.+
(i.) _Vocabulary._--
+p[)a]tuit+ = _was open_. Cf. +p[)a]te-facio+ = _to make open_; +p[)a]t-ulus+ = _open_, _spread out_; +p[)a]t-era+ = _a broad, flat dish_. English, _patent_.
+insessis+ = _occupied_; +in + sed-eo+ = _sit upon_--so, _occupy_.
+passim+ = _hither and thither_, _far and wide_, formed from +passus+ (+pando+), _expand_.
(ii.) _Translation._--This sentence resembles in form Sentence IV., with one principal verb +patuit+, and a principal subject +iter+, and a subordinate clause of _result_, +ut ... absumpti sint+, modifying the action of the principal verb +patuit+. You may conveniently break up this sentence into two, by beginning a new sentence with +Ceteri+. Thus:--
_So completely closed against them was every chance of escape, all the roads being beset by cavalry, that out of so numerous a host hardly a thousand escaped. The rest perished as they fled, some by one death and some by another._
Before laying aside these two passages, you should pay attention to the following points:--
(i.) _Vocabulary._--Besides carefully noticing _new_ words, try to form groups of _cognates_ (i.e. _related words_). One of the best ways to enlarge your vocabulary is to group together _words of common origin_, and to add to each, where you can, derivative and cognate English words. To take a few examples from this passage:--
Word. Meaning. English Derivative. +ALIUS+ = _another_ (of many). +ali-enus+ = _that belong to another_ alien, alienate. +ali-quot+ = _some, several_ aliquot (parts). +al-ter+ = _other of two_ alter, alternate. +ali-bi+ = _elsewhere_ alibi. etc.
+SENATUS+ = _the Council Senate. of the Elders_ +sen-ex+ = _old_ +sen-ior+ = _older_ senior, sire, sir. +sen-ile+ = _belonging to old people_ sen-ile. +sen-ectus+ = _old age_. etc.
+ITER+ = (+i-tiner+) = _a going_ itin-erant. +amb-it-io+ = _a going round, ambition. canvassing_ +comes+ = _a comrade_. a Count (+cum + eo+) (Fr. Comte). +in-it-ium+ = _a going in, a beginning_ initial. +sed-it-io+ = _a going apart, sedition_ sedition. etc.
(ii.) _Useful Phrases for Latin Prose._--You should try gradually to put together your own phrase-book. You will find this much more useful to you than any ready-made collection. A good and simple plan is to have a special note-book for this purpose. Mark in the text as you read useful phrases, and in your note-book write the Latin on the right-hand page and a good idiomatic rendering on the left. For example, from this passage you might collect the following:--
English. Latin.
_A chance of achieving a success._ +fortuna bene gerendae rei.+ _After completing his term of service._ +perfunctus militia.+ _Would make it worth their while._ +operae pretium facturum.+ _Up to that time._ +ad id locorum.+ _The result was not doubtful._ +haud dubia res est.+ _Though the fight was so unequal._ +ut in nulla pari re.+ _Some by one death and some by another._ +alii alia peste.+
(iii.) +HANNIBAL.+--Read some good short estimate of Hannibal as a patriot, statesman, and soldier--such as may be found in Mommsen's or Ihne's _History of Rome_. If you have time, you will find much to interest you in the _Hannibal_ ('Heroes of the Nations') by O'Connor Morris.
DEMONSTRATION IV.
SENTENCE
Kind of Sentence CONNECTIVE SUBJECT _Simple_ _Enlarged_ PREDICATE _Simple_ _Enlarged_ OBJECT _Simple_ _Enlarged_
_Sentence III._
Pugnatum tamen, ut in nulla pari re, duas amplius horas; concitata et, donec dux stetisset, Romana acie.
Complex tamen +(THE BATTLE)+ +PUGNATUM (EST)+ 1. duas amplius horas (_time_) 2. ut in nulla pari re (_manner_) 3. concitata ... Romana acie (_manner_)
_Sentence IV._
A. Postquam is non pro vetere fama solum, sed etiam metu futuri dedecoris, si sua temeritate contractae cladi superesset, obiectans se hostium telis cecidit, fusa extemplo est Romana acies.
Complex Postquam +ACIES+ Romana +FUSA EST+ 1. extemplo (_time_) 2. Postquam is ... cecidit (_time_)
A1. Postquam is ... cecidit
Subordinate _adv._ to +FUSA EST+ in A Postquam is non pro vetere ... +OBIECTANS+ telis cecidit
A2. si sua ... superesset
Subordinate _adv._ to +OBIECTANS+ in A1 si (he) superesset cladi sua temeritate contractae
DEMONSTRATION V.
_The Happy Life._
(a) Felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas, I Atque metus omnes et inexorabile fatum Subiecit pedibus, strepitumque Acherontis avari! || Fortunatus et ille, deos qui novit agrestes, II Panaque, Silvanumque senem, Nymphasque sorores! || 5 Illum non populi fasces, non purpura regum III Flexit et infidos agitans discordia fratres, Aut coniurato descendens Dacus ab Histro, Non res Romanae, perituraque regna; || neque ille IV Aut doluit miserans inopem aut invidit habenti. || 10
VERGIL.
_The Happy Life._
(b) +Felix+, (qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas, I Atque metus omnes et inexorabile fatum Subiecit pedibus, strepitumque Acherontis avari!) +Fortunatus+ et +ille+, (deos qui novit agrestes, II Panaque, Silvanumque senem, Nymphasque sorores!) 5 +Illum+ non populi +fasces+, non +purpura+ regum III +Flexit+ et infidos agitans +discordia+ fratres, Aut coniurato descendens +Dacus+ ab Histro, Non +res Romanae, perituraque regna+; neque ille IV Aut +doluit+ miserans inopem aut +invidit habenti+. 10
VERGIL.
DEMONSTRATION V.
VERGIL, _Georg._ ii. 490-499.
_Read the Passage carefully._--Notice as you read the many allusions and key-words in the passage, _e.g._ +Acherontis+, +Pana+, +Silvanum+, +Nymphas+, +Dacus ab Istro+, +res Romanae+, +rerum causas+, and +populi fasces+. These, taken in connection with the main predicates +felix+, +fortunatus+, +non flexit+, +neque doluit+, +aut invidit+, will readily suggest to you the main thought of the passage:--
_Happy is Nature's bard who knows and fears not: happy he too who knows the gods of the country. He is not distressed by ambition, nor wars, nor pain, nor envy._
+I.+
+Felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas, Atque metus omnes et inexorabile fatum Subiecit pedibus, strepitumque Acherontis avari!+
(i.) _Vocabulary._--
+inexorabile+ = _relentless_; lit. _that cannot be moved by entreaty_. +in+ (_not_) + +ex+ (_easily_) + +orabilis+ (_entreated_).
For +oro+ cf. +ôs+ = _mouth_; +orator+ = _speaker_; +oratio+ = _speech_.
+fatum+ = _fate_, _i.e._ of _death_, as the common lot of all men, the decree of nature.
+fatum+ = _that which is said_, espec. prophetically. [Rt]+fa+, #pha#. Cf. +for+ (+fâ-ri+), _speak_; +fâ-ma+, _report_; +fâ-bula+, _a story_; +in-fans+, _that cannot speak_; +fâ-cundus+, _eloquent_.
+strepitum+ = _roar_; lit. a wild, confused noise, din of any kind; cf. _obstreperous_.
+Acherontis+ = _Acheron_ = (a) a river in the Lower World; (b) the Lower World itself. Perh. +Acheron+ = #ho achea rheôn# = the stream of woe; cf. #Kôkutos# = _Cocytus_, river of _wailing_.
(ii.) _Translation._-- You cannot be in doubt about the principal subject and predicate. +Felix+ is the only word outside the subordinate clause from +qui ... avari+. The sense, too, of these lines is clear, so you may translate at once; but you must take special care to use dignified and appropriate language:--
_Happy the man who has availed to know the causes of things, and so trampled under foot all fears and fate's relentless decree, and the roar of insatiate Acheron._
+II.+
+Fortunatus et ille, deos qui novit agrestes, Panaque, Silvanumque senem, Nymphasque sorores!+
(i.) _Vocabulary._--
+agrestes+ = _of the country_; cf. +ager+ (#agros#), +agrarius+, _agrarian_; +peragro+ (+per + ager+), _travel over_. Perhaps to be traced to the same root as +ag-o+ = _drive_, +ager+ and #agros# being so named +a pecore agendo+ (cf. Germ. +trift+ = _pasturage_, +treiben+ = _drive_).
+Silvanum+ = _Silvanus_ = Latin god of fields and woods (+silva+), _sylvan_.
(ii.) _Translation._--This sentence closely resembles in form Sentence I, +Ille Fortunatus+ being the principal subject and predicate.
_He too is blest who knows the gods of the country, Pan, and old Silvanus, and the sisterhood of the Nymphs._
+III.+
+Illum non populi fasces, non purpura regum Flexit, et infidos agitans discordia fratres; Aut coniurato descendens Dacus ab Histro, Non res Romanae, perituraque regna;+
(i.) _Vocabulary._--
+fasces+ = _fasces_, i.e. _honours_; +populi+, i.e. _conferred by the people_.
+fascis+ = a _bundle_, espec. of wood.
+fasces+ = _the lictors' rods_ (_rods_ + _axe_ in certain cases) carried before the highest magistrates, as an emblem of authority.
+purpura+, _i.e._ the _purple_ robe worn by kings and magistrates.
Cf. [16]'+Purpura Pompeium summi velabit honoris.+'
OV. _Ex Ponto_ IV. iv. 25.
[Footnote 16: 'The purple (the insignia) of the highest office shall clothe Pompeius.']
+agitans+ = _driving_, i.e. _moving_, _impelling_.
+discordia+ = _discord_. Notice force of +dis-+ = separation, negation; cf. +dis-crimen+, +dis-par+.
+coniurato+ = _united by oath_, _sworn confederate_.
+Dacus+, the Dacians, akin to the Thracians, N. of Danube, conquered by Trajan. Cf. modern _Roumanians_.
+Histro+ = the Lower Danube.
(ii.) _Translation._--You will see there is only one principal verb, +flexit+ (or +flexerunt+), with several principal subjects, +fasces+, +purpura+, +discordia+, +res Romanae+, +perituraque regna+, and no subordinate clauses. You may therefore translate at once:--
(a) _Him fasces of the people or purple of kings sway not, not maddening discord among treacherous brethren, nor the Dacians swarming down from the leagued Danube, not the Roman State, or realms destined to decay;_
OR
(b) _He is not (1) moved by honours that the people confer, or the purple of empire, or civil feuds, that make (2) brothers swerve from brothers' duty; or the Dacian coming down from the Hister, his sworn (2) ally; no, nor by the great Roman State and the death-throes of subject kingdoms._
N.B.--(b) is superior to (a) in--
(1) the use of Passive for Active;
(2) the predicative use of +agitans+, +infidos+, +coniurato+.
+IV.+
+neque ille Aut doluit miserans inopem, aut invidit habenti.+
(i.) _Vocabulary._--You will probably know the meanings of the words in this sentence. Thus the meaning of--
+doluit+ is suggested by +dolor+. +miserans+ " " +miser+. Cf. _miser-able_. +inopem+ " " +in + ops+. Cf. _op-ulent_. +invidit+ " " +invidia+. Cf. _envy_.
(ii.) _Translation._--You have here two principal verbs, +doluit+, +invidit+, joined by +aut+, and a principal subject +ille+.
Notice that +inopem+ must be the object of the participle +miserans+, and that +habenti+ is used as a noun.
_He never felt the pang of pity for the poor, or of envy for the rich._
Copy of a rendering shown up by a boy of fifteen in a recent scholarship examination:--
'Happy is the man who _is able_ to discern the reason of things, and _controls_ under his feet all changes and inexorable destiny, and the _groaning_ of greedy Acheron! |I| Blessed also is he who knows the rustic gods, Pan and old Silvanus, and those sisters, the nymphs! |II| He is not moved by _the people's axes_, nor by the regal purple, nor by discord that rouses brothers to _distrust_ each other. He is not moved by _Dacus_, coming down from the _sacred_ Danube, nor by _the affairs_ of Rome, and the realms about to perish. |III| He neither _grieves for nor pities the helpless_, nor does he envy the rich.' |IV|
The above version is fair, but notice the following points:--
_Sentence I._--
_is able ... and controls_. The connection in thought is not shown: 'He is happy because he _knows_ and [therefore] fears not.'
_groaning_--_i.e._ +gemitum+; +strepitum+ = _roar_, _din_.
_Sentence III._--
_by the people's axes_. This suggests quite a wrong idea; contrast the version, 'by the honours that the people confer.'
_sacred_. This is quite wrong. +con-iurato+ = _allied by oath_.
_the affairs of Rome_. A very weak, and inadequate rendering.
_Sentence IV._--
_grieves for nor pities_. This quite obscures the point. Vergil says that a country life, with its absence of poverty, so commonly met with in a town, saves a man from the necessity of feeling a pang of pity for the poor.
Before you put aside this passage, try to avail yourself of some of the following suggestions. Thus:--
I. _For the Poet Vergil_[17] (70 B.C.-19 B.C.).--The chief facts of his life and the subject of his great poems are clearly and shortly given in the _Student's Companion to Latin Authors_ (a useful and convenient book of reference).
[Footnote 17: See Short Lives, p. 343.] [[Appendix VI]]
II. _For the Georgics, Poems on Husbandry._ (The passage for translation is taken from _Georgic II._ lines 490-499.) See--
(i.) _Student's Companion to Latin Authors_, pp. 157-8. (ii.) Nettleship's _Vergil_, pp. 37-45. (iii.) Sellar's _Vergil_, pp. 174-198.
Notice especially the _political purpose_ of the _Georgics_--to help the policy of Augustus, which aimed at checking the depopulation of the country districts. Compare the alarming migration from the country to the towns in England at the present day.
III. _Relation of Lucretius to the Georgics._
(i.) Sellar's _Vergil_, pp. 199-243.
(ii.) Munro's _Lucretius_, Notes on Book i. line 78, and Book iii. line 449.
Notice in this connection the opening lines of the passage, +Felix qui potuit ... Acherontis avari+, which may be summarised as follows: 'Happy he who knows the laws of Nature, and has therefore ceased to fear natural phenomena and has learnt to despise the fabled terrors of Hades.' Munro says: 'I feel that by his +Felix qui+ Vergil does mean a poet-philosopher, who can only be Lucretius.'
Cf. also _Lucretius_, iii. 1-30. His address to Epicurus.
For the thought, cf. Wordsworth's _Happy Warrior_--
'He therefore does not stoop, nor lie in wait For wealth, or honours, or for worldly state.'
DEMONSTRATION VI.
_The Tomb of Archimedes._
(a) Archimedis ego quaestor ignoratum ab Syracusanis, cum esse omnino negarent, saeptum undique et vestitum vepribus et dumetis, indagavi sepulcrum. |II| Tenebam enim quosdam senariolos, quos in eius monumento esse inscriptos acceperam: qui declarabant in summo sepulcro sphaeram esse positam cum cylindro. |III| Ego autem, cum omnia collustrarem oculis--est enim ad portas Agragantinas magna frequentia sepulcrorum--animadverti columellam non multum e dumis eminentem, in qua inerat sphaerae figura et cylindri. |IV| Atque ego statim Syracusanis--erant autem principes mecum--dixi me illud ipsum arbitrari esse quod quaererem. |V| Immissi cum falcibus multi purgarunt locum. |VI| Quo cum patefactus esset aditus, accessimus: |VII| apparebat in sepulcro epigramma, exesis posterioribus partibus versiculorum, dimidiatis fere. ||
CICERO.
_The Tomb of Archimedes._
(b) {I} Archimedis +ego quaestor+ ignoratum ab Syracusanis, [cum esse omnino negarent,] saeptum undique et vestitum vepribus et dumetis, +indagavi sepulcrum+. {II} +Tenebam+ enim quosdam +senariolos+, [quos in eius monumento esse inscriptos acceperam]: [qui declarabant in summo sepulcro sphaeram esse positam cum cylindro.] {III} +Ego+ autem, [cum omnia collustrarem oculis]--est enim ad portas Agragantinas magna frequentia sepulcrorum--+animadverti columellam+ non multum e dumis eminentem, [in qua inerat sphaerae figura et cylindri]. {IV} Atque +ego+ statim Syracusanis--erant autem principes mecum--+dixi+ me illud ipsum arbitrari esse [quod quaererem]. {V} +Immissi+ cum falcibus multi +purgarunt locum+. {VI} [Quo cum patefactus esset aditus], +accessimus+: {VII} +apparebat+ in sepulcro +epigramma+, exesis posterioribus partibus versiculorum, dimidiatis fere.
CICERO.
DEMONSTRATION VI.
CICERO, _Tusc._ v. 23. 64.
_Read the Passage through carefully._--As you read you will notice many allusions and key-words, _e.g._ +Archimedes+, +ego quaestor+, +Syracusanis+, +sepulcrum+, etc. These, taken in connection with the heading and the author, will suggest to you the main subject of the passage--the finding of the Tomb of Archimedes by Cicero.
+I.+ +Archimedis ego quaestor ignoratum ab Syracusanis, cum esse omnino negarent, saeptum undique et vestitum vepribus et dumetis, indagavi sepulcrum.+
(i.) _Vocabulary._--
+Quaestor+ (contr. from +quaesîtor+--+quaero+), i.e. _investigator_, originally two main functions:--
(a) The preparation of evidence in public prosecutions (this about 240 B.C. transferred to the Tribunes).
(b) Treasurers of State. Of these the +Quaestores urbani+ stayed at Rome, while the +Quaestores provinciales+ or +militares+ acted as financial assistants to the _Consuls_ or _Praetors_ for the provinces.
+saeptum+ = _hedged in_; +saepes+ = _a hedge_, _fence_.
+vepribus+ = _with bramble-bushes_.
+dumetis+ = _with brushwood_.
+indagavi+ = _I traced out_. A metaphor from hunting. Cf.
'Dum trepidant alae, saltusque indagine cingunt.'
Verg. _Aen._ iv. 121.
'While the scouts (beaters) are all busy, and are encircling the coverts with nets.'
(ii.) _Translation._--The form of the sentence is quite simple. The principal verb is +indagavi+, with subject +ego quaestor+, and object +sepulcrum+. From +ignoratum ... dumetis+ describes +sepulcrum+, and the subordinate clause +cum ... negarent+ emphasises +ignoratum a Syracusanis+. You may now translate
(a) literally: _I, when Quaestor, traced out the tomb of Archimedes, not known of by the Syracusans, for they said it was not there at all, hedged in on all sides and covered with brambles and brushwood._
(b) A better rendering: _When I was Quaestor I was able to trace the tomb of Archimedes, overgrown and hedged in with brambles and brushwood. The Syracusans knew nothing of it, and entirely denied its existence._
Notice here the improvement made by breaking up the one long sentence into two.
+II.+ +Tenebam enim quosdam senariolos, quos in eius monumento esse inscriptos acceperam: qui declarabant in summo sepulcro sphaeram esse positam cum cylindro.+
(i.) _Vocabulary._--
+senariolos+ = _some lines_, _i.e._ of poetry--dimin. of +senarius+ (+seni+) = _consisting of six each_, especially of the _iambic senarii_.
+sphaeram+ = _a sphere, globe_--#sphaira#.
+cylindro+ = _a cylinder_, #kulindros#.
(ii.) _Translation._--The only principal verb is clearly +tenebam+ (with subject contained in the verb), and the principal object +senariolos+ (sc. +versus+). From +quos ... cylindro+ we have two subordinate adjectival clauses enlarging +senariolos+.
_The fact is, I remembered some iambic lines which I had been told were inscribed on his monument, and which set forth that his tomb was surmounted by a sphere and a cylinder._
+III.+ +Ego autem, cum omnia collustrarem oculis--est enim ad portas Agragantinas magna frequentia sepulcrorum--animadverti columellam non multum e dumis eminentem, in qua inerat sphaerae figura et cylindri.+
(i.) _Vocabulary._--
+collustrarem+ = _I was surveying on all sides_; +con (cum) + lustro+.
+lustro+, perhaps akin to +luc-eo+, +lu-men+; so, +il-lustris+ = _lighted up_, _illustrious_.
+frequentia+ = _a large number_; cf. +frequens+, [Rt]#phrak#, +farc+; cf. #phrag-ma# = _a fence_, +farc-io+ = _pack close together_; so, +con-fer-tus+ = _crowded_, +freq-uens+ = _repeated_, _frequent_.
+columellam+ = _a small column_, dimin. of +columen+, [Rt]cel; cf. +cel-sus+ = _lofty_; cf. +ex-cello+, +col-umen+ (= +cul-men+) = _the summit_; cf. _culminate_.
(ii.) _Translation._--This sentence is apparently not quite so simple, but if you carefully bracket the subordinate clauses you will see that the only principal verb is +animadverti+, with subject +ego+ and object +columellam+. Notice next that--
(a) +cum ... oculis+ modifies the principal verb +animadverti+ and is an adverbial clause of _time_.
(b) The parenthetical clause +est enim ... sepulcrorum+ explains +collustrarem+.
(c) +in qua ... cylindri+ is an adjectival clause enlarging +columellam+.
You may now translate into your best English, following closely the thought and the order of the Latin:--
_Well, as I was surveying the whole place (there is a large number of tombs at[18] the Agrigentine gate) I perceived a small column just showing above the undergrowth, on which appeared the figure of a sphere and a cylinder._
[Footnote 18: Var. lect. +ad portas Achradinas+.]
+IV.+ +Atque ego statim Syracusanis--erant autem principes mecum--dixi me illud ipsum arbitrari esse, quod quaererem.+
(i.) _Vocabulary._--The words of this sentence present no difficulty.
(ii.) _Translation._--With the practice you have now had, you may translate at once; but notice carefully that--
(a) the parenthetical clause +erant ... mecum+ enlarges +Syracusanis+; and
(b) +quod quaererem+ describes +illud ipsum+.
_So I immediately said to the Syracusans who were with me (some people of importance) that I thought that was the very thing I was looking for._
+V.+ +Immissi cum falcibus multi purgarunt locum.+
(i.) _Vocabulary._--
+falcibus+ = _with bill-hooks_; +falx+ perh. akin to +flect-o+ = _bend_, from its shape. Cf. _falcon_ (from its _hooked_ claws).
+purgarunt+ = _cleared_; +purgo+, contr. from +pur-igo+ = +purum + ago+ = _purge_. Cf. +pur-us+.
(ii.) _Translation._--
_Some men sent in with bill-hooks cleared out the space._
+VI.+ +Quo cum patefactus esset aditus, accessimus.+
(i.) _Vocabulary._--
+patefactus+ = _laid open_: +pateo + facio+. Cf. _patent_.
(ii.) _Translation._--
_As soon as the way was open, we went up to it._
+VII.+ +Apparebat in sepulcro epigramma, exesis posterioribus partibus versiculorum, dimidiatis fere.+
(i.) _Vocabulary._--
+epigramma+ = _inscription_. Cf. _epi-gram_.
+exesis+ = lit. '_eaten out_'; +ex + edo+. Cf. _ed-ible_.
+dimidiatis+ = _halved_ = +dis + medius+, i.e. _divided into halves_.
(ii.) _Translation._--_There was the inscription on the tomb: the latter part of each line was gone, nearly half the verse._
_Note._--Notice here the rendering of the Lat. abl. absol., an idiom foreign to our language except for example in the so-called nom. absol. of Milton. Cf. Introduction, p. 12 (5). [[Introduction 13 (5)]]
Cicero adds the following reflection:--'_Ita nobilissima Graeciae civitas, quondam vero etiam doctissima, sui civis unius acutissimi monumentum ignorasset, nisi ab hoimine Arpinate didicisset._'
_Thus it was that one of the most renowned of Greek cities, and in ancient times one of the most enlightened, would have remained ignorant of the monument of the greatest genius it ever produced, if it had not learnt it from a man born at Arpinum._[19]
[Footnote 19: Also the birthplace of Marius. Cf. p. 163.] [[Selection B4]]
_Some Suggestions and Authorities._
Before you leave this passage, try to notice some of the following points, and if possible consult _some_ of these authorities:--
(i.) Read (_e.g._ in Church and Brodribb's translation) Livy's account of the siege of Syracuse by Marcellus, 214-212 B.C., Book xxiv. cap. 34;