EASY LATIN PROSE
W.HORTON SPRAGGE,M.A
1/6
LaL.Gr
$7667e.l
EASY LATIN PROSE
BY
W. HORTON SPRAGGE, M.A.
/ x ,
LATE SCHOLAR Of ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE
ASSISTANT MASTER AT THE CITY OF LONDON SCHOOL
Ev
ARTBIENTAL
-IBRARY
J-g.. ^ -,
Q -
LONDON
EDWARD ARNOLD
41 & 43 MADDOX STREET, BOND STREET, W.
PREFACE
THIS book has been drawn up for the use of those
who are commencing the translation of consecutive
pieces of prose after having had some practice in
rendering English into Latin in the form of sentences.
All the extracts have been translated from Latin
authors. It is hoped that this will suggest to the
pupil the form and the phrase with which he has
become familiar through his reading. In order to
attain to this end the pieces chosen have been ren-
dered in as literal a manner as is consistent with the
structure of the English language. A few omissions
and some slight adaptations have occasionally been
found necessary. It is hoped that this plan will
ensure that the fair copy at any rate will be Latin
as it was actually written. The number of extracts,
which are progressive in difficulty, will allow of
selection in cases where the pupils happen to be
reading the work from which any piece has been
taken. A Latin-English Dictionary might be con-
sulted for the construction and exact meaning of the
words given in the notes, if they are not familiar.
No other aid should be required.
W. H. S
May, 190G.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION PAOE
THE SIMPLE SENTENCE . . . . . .1
THE COMPLEX SENTENCE . . . . .2
VARIETIES OP SUBORDINATE CLAUSES . . . .4
USE OF PARTICIPLES . . . . . .7
SPECIMEN PIECE . . . . . .9
CONNEXION OF SENTENCES . . . . .10
ORDER OF WORDS AND CLAUSES . . . .11
LIMITATIONS TO THE USE OF THE PERIOD . . .13
ORATIO OBLIQUA . . . . . .13
EXERCISES
I. 'THE BITER BIT' . . . . .1.9
II. A STORY OF REGULUS . . . . .20
III. A PRUDENT COMMANDER . . . .21
IV. THE FOUNDATION OF ROME . . . .22
V. A RUDE AWAKENING . . . . .23
VI. Two BAD CORRESPONDENTS . . . .24
VII. AN OBSTINATE ENCOUNTER . . . .25
VIII. STORY OF VALERIUS CORVUS . . . .26
IX. MlLTIADES MAKES AN ENEMY OF DARIUS (1) . . 27
X. (2) . . 28
XI. PYRRHUS AT HERACLEA . . . .29
XII. PYRRHUS ASKS FOR PEACE . . . .30
XIII. PHOCION . . . . . . .31
XIV. CAESAR PURSUES POMPEIUS TO EGYPT (1) . .32
XV. (2) . 33
XVI. STORY OF EPAMINONDAS . . . . .34
XVII. DEATH OF EPAMINONDAS AT MANTINEA. . . 35
XVIII. ALEXANDER BATHES IN THE RIVER CYDNUS (1) .36
XIX. (2) . 37
v
CONTENTS
EXERCISES
XX.
XXI.
XXII.
XXIII.
XXIV.
XXV.
XXVI.
XXVII.
XXVIII.
XXIX.
XXX.
XXXI.
XXXII.
XXXIII.
XXXIV.
XXXV.
XXXVI.
XXXVII.
XXXVIII.
XXXIX.
XL.
XLI.
XLII.
XL1II.
XLIV.
XLV.
XLVI.
XLVII.
XLVIII.
XLIX.
L.
LI.
LII.
MIL
LIV.
LV.
CAESAR ENCOURAGES HIS SOLDIERS AFTER A REVERSE
POMPEIUS' PLANS FOR THE BATTLE OF PHARSALIA.
ALEXANDER DECIDES TO FIGHT AT Issus . .
INTEGRITY OF EPAMINONDAS . . . .
PREPARATIONS FOR A NAVAL ENGAGEMENT . .
A NAVAL BATTLE .....
ALEXANDER is WOUNDED . . . .
THEMISTOCLES AND THE ATHENIAN FLEET . .
A BRAVE CENTURION AT THE SIEGE OF GERGOVIA.
A PLEA FOR MERCY . . . . .
A BESIEGED CITY . . . . .
A SURPRISE ATTACK . . . . .
A BROKEN TRUCE . . . . .
ALEXANDER BEFORE TYKE . . . .
A VISIT TO THE OLD SCHOOL . . .
A FIRE-SHIP . . . . . .
CICERO WRITES TO HIS WIFE FROM ATHENS .
HONESTY is THE BEST POLICY . . .
THE DIFFICULTIES OF A GENERAL . . .
ADVICE TO A PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR . .
OPERATIONS BEFORE A BATTLE . . .
A CUNNING TRICK (1) . . . .
(2) . . .
THE RELIGION OF THE GAULS . . .
THE RELATIONS OF SICILY WITH ROME . .
A GENERAL COMMUNICATES WITH HIS SUBORDINATES
ATTACK ON A MOUNTAIN STRONGHOLD (1) . .
(2) . .
(3) . .
PARENTS MUST MAKE ALLOWANCES FOR THEIR SONS'
FAILINGS . . . . . .
FLIGHT OF DARIUS AFTER ARBELA . . .
ALEXANDER REACHES THE Oxus . . .
GERMANICUS ADDRESSES HIS MUTINOUS SOLDIERS (1)
THE HUNTING EXPLOITS OF
THE CASE FOR THE AEDUI
LITERARY
MAN
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
CONTENTS
vn
EXERCISES 1>AGI ,
LVI. WHEN CIVIL WAR THREATENS . . .74
LVII. THE BEGINNING OF A BATTLE . . .75
LVIII. CAESAR'S EXPLOITS IN GAUL . . . 7r>
LIX. A JOINT TRIUMPH . . . .77
LX. AN IMPERTINENT THEORIST . . .78
LXI. A DESCENT UPON NEW CARTHAGE . . 79
LXII. SOME NICE POINTS OF HONOUR . . .80
LXIII. CJCERO ASKS FOR A FRIEND'S ADVICE . . 81
LXIV. A TREACHEROUS SCHOOLMASTER (1) . .82
LXV. (2) . . 83
LXVI. YOUTH AND AGE . . . . .84
LXVII. THE FOUNDATION OF ROME . . .85
LXVIII. SPEECH OF AGRICOLA TO HIS SOLDIERS . . 86
LXIX. CAESAR CROSSES THE RUBICON . . .87
LXX. SOCRATES ON DEATH (1) . . . .88
LXXI. (2) . . . . 81)
LXXII. A PUBLIC APPEAL TO A TRAITOR (1) . . 90
LXXIII. (2) . . 91
LXXIV. CAESAR'S DISCIPLINE . . . .92
LXXV. THE EXILED TARQUIN APPEALS FOR HELP . 93
LXXVI. DEATH OF CAESAR . . . .94
LXXVII. A MOMENTOUS WAR . . . .95
LXXVIII. THE DEATH OF CACUS . . . .96
LXXIX. THE SPIRIT OF OUR FATHERS . . .97
LXXX. ROME AND THE PIRATES . . . .98
LXXXI. HORATIUS (1) . . . .99
LXXXII. (2) 100
LXXXIII. (3) . . . . 101
LXXXIV. THE VIRTUES OF POMPEIUS (1) . . .102
LXXXV. ,, (2) . . . 103
LXXXVI. UNITY is STRENGTH . . . .104
LXXXVII. THE REASON OF RETREAT . . 105
LXXX VIII. THE MOTHER OF CORIOLANUS TO HER SON . 106
LXXXIX, CORIOLANUS RESIGNS THE ATTACK ON RoME . 107
XC. Two ANECDOTES OF THEMISTOCLES . . 108
XCI. MEETING OF HASDRUBAL AND SCIPIO . . 109
XCII. CRITICISM INVITED 110
Vlll
CONTENTS
EXERCISES
XCIII. THE IDEAL STATESMAN
XCIV. AN ADVOCATE'S CLOSING PLEA
A ROMAN'S VIEWS ON DEATH
A TREACHEROUS LIEUTENANT
MAN'S NEED OP SOCIETY
SOME VIEWS or FRIENDSHIP (1)
(2)
THE REWARD OF VIRTUE
THE STORY OF DAMOCLES (1)
(2)
xcv.
XCVI.
XCVII.
XCVIII.
XCIX.
c.
CL
GIL
PAGE
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
111)
120
INTRODUCTION
1. THE base of all composition is the simple sentence.
By this we can express (a) a statement of fact, (Z>) a con-
ception of the mind. In order to write or say anything
we must have first a subject to write or speak about, and
then something to say about this subject. So in the
simple sentence there are properly two parts, the Subject
and the Predicate.
Ex. Caesar sends messengers round to the neighbour-
ing states.
Caesar ad finitimas civitates nuntios dimitfcit.
Subject = Caesar.
Predicate = ad finitimas civitates nuntios dimittit.
2. In Grammatical analysis the parts of the sentence
are generally given as three, Subject, Predicate or Verb,
Object of Verb. Each of these parts is capable of enlarge-
ment. The subject and object may be enlarged by an
adjective, adjectival phrase, or adjectival clause. The
verb may be enlarged by an adverb, adverbial phrase, or
adverbial clause.
Ex. The warlike race of the Helvetii surpass the rest
of the Gauls in valour.
Helvetii, gens bellicosissima, reliquos Gallos virtute
praecedunt.
(i) Subject = Helvetii.
(ii) Enlargement of Subject = gens bellicosissima.
(iii) Object = Gallos,
2 EASY LATIN PROSE
(iv) Enlargement of Object = reliquos.
(v) Predicate = praecedunt.
(vi) Enlargement of Predicate = virtute.
3. This is still a simple sentence. If any of these six
parts consists of a clause headed by a relative pronoun or
some conjunction, the sentence becomes Complex.
Ex. When Caesar had been informed by his scouts
that the Helvetii had already taken three-fourths of their
army across that river, but that the fourth part was left
on this side of the Arar, having started from the camp
with three legions he attacked that part which had not
yet crossed.
Ubi per exploratores Caesar certior factus est tres iam
partes copiarum Helvetios id flumen traduxisse, quartam
vero partem citra flumen Ararim reliquam esse, cum
legionibus tribus e castris profectus earn partem aggredie-
batur quae nondum flumen transierat.
(i) Subject = Caesar.
(ii) Enlargement of (i) = cum legionibus tribus e castris
profectus (participial phrase).
(iii) Object = partem.
(iv) Enlargement of (iii) = (a) earn ;
(b) quae nondum flumen tran-
sierat (adjectival clause).
(v) Predicate = aggrediebatur.
(vi) Enlargement of (v) = ubi per exploratores . . . reli-
quam esse (adverbial clause).
This sentence starts with the simple statement, Caesar
partem aggrediebatur^ and is expanded into its complex
form by the addition of the subordinate clauses and
phrases. It could be made still more complicated by
THE COMPLEX SENTENCE 3
co-ordinating other clauses with these, or by introducing
subordinate clauses of the second degree, i. e. clauses
which are subordinate to a subordinate clause. Thus the
enlargement (iv b) might be expanded to quae, cum sew
domo cxiisset, flumcn nondum transicrat atque aitxilia
expectabat (which, having left home late, had not yet
crossed the river, but was awaiting reinforcements). The
ff/m-clause is then of the second degree of subordina-
tion, for it expresses the reason why the river had not
been crossed ; atque auxilia eocpectdbat is of the first
degree, being co-ordinate with quae flumen nondum
transicrat.
The analysis of this second complex sentence is left to
the student.
Labienus, ut ei erat praeceptum a Caesare ne proelium
committeret, nisi ipsius copiae prope hostium castra visa
essent, ut undique uno tempore in hostes impetus fieret,
monte occupato nostros expectabat proelioque abstinebat.
4. Instances of such complex sentences can easily be
found in Latin authors. English prose has them also,
but hardly to the same extent. A series of co-ordinate
simple sentences is often found with the necessary con-
nexion of thought left to the intelligence of the reader
to determine.
Ex. On such grounds as these Surajah Dowlah
marched with a great army against Fort William. The
servants of the Company at Madras had been forced by
Dupleix to become statesmen and soldiers. Those in
Bengal were still mere traders, and were terrified and
bewildered by the approaching danger. The governor,
who had heard much of Surajah Dowlah's cruelty, was
B 2
4 EASY LATIN PROSE
frightened out of his wits, jumped into a boat, and took
refuge in the nearest ship. The military commandant
thought that he could not do better than follow so good
an example. The fort was taken after a feeble resistance,
and great numbers of the English fell into the hands of
the conquerors.
5. Before translating such a passage into Latin it is
essential to read the whole of it through very carefully,
and ascertain what are the main ideas, and what are the
subordinate statements leading up to them, and pro-
ceeding from them. The latter, in the English, are often
put in the form of principal sentences, but in Latin
a principal statement alone must be put into a principal
sentence, while the attendant circumstances and causes, &c.,
must be rendered by subordinate phrases and clauses, each
coming in the logical order of the thought or incident
contained in them. So the complete Latin period is
built up.
6. Subordinate clauses are of three kinds :
(i) A substantival or noun clause, which takes the
place of subject or object.
(a) How great is the force
of friendship is but little
understood.
(I) You seem hardly to un-
derstand the difference
between a man and a
beast.
(c) I cannot reckon up the
number of my friends.
Parum intellegitur quanta
vis amicitiae sit.
Quid interhominemac behtam
intersit parum intellegere
videris.
Quot mihi sint amid vix
numerare possum.
SUBORDINATE CLAUSES
All these are indirect questions. In (a) the subordinate
clause is subject, in (fc) and (c) object of a verb in the
principal sentence.
(d) He asked them to un-
dertake the business.
Ab iis petivit ut negotium
susciperent.
Here the clause is an indirect command. It is
objective.
(e) It happened by chance i Forte accidit tit intus essem.
that I was indoors.
The subordinate clause, often called consecutive, is here
subject of accidit. Y
(/) I pass over those in-
stances that are of too
great antiquity, the fact
that Gains Ahala slew
Spurius Maelius with his
own hand.
Ilia nimis antiqua prae-
tereo, quod C. AJtala Sp.
Macliuni manu sua occi-
dit.
The quod-clause is here substantival, and in apposition
to nimis ilia antiqua.
7. (ii) An adjectival clause. This qualifies or describes
some noun or pronoun.
(a) They are the nearest to
the Germans, who live
on the other side of the
Rhine.
(I) We seek those very
things which we cannot
have.
Proximi sunt Germanis qul
trans Elienum incolunt.
Quae liabcre noti possumus
ea quaerimus.
6
EASY LATIN PROSE
In (a) the adjectival clause defines G-ermanis, in (b) ea.
This adjectival use of the relative must be distinguished
from its adverbial use, when qui = ut is, cum is, or
qiiamvls is.
8. (iii) An adverbial clause. Of such clauses there are
seven varieties :
(a) Final, expressing purpose.
He carefully made all pre- j Ut ad hoc nefarium scelus
parations, in order to ' acccderet, omnia dili-
attempt this wicked ! genter paravit.
crime.
(b) Consecutive, expressing result.
Nor am I so ignorant of
your feelings as not to
know this.
(c) Temporal.
After Caesar had arrived
there he demanded hos-
(d) Causal.
He preferred peace to war,
because he saw that
Epaminondas gained suc-
cess in the latter.
(e) Conditional.
Who could have borne
such caprice on the part
of the judges, if they had
acquitted Oppianicus?
Nee tarn sum sensus vestri
ignarus ut hoc nesciam.
Eo postquam Caesar venit (or
ul>i venit or cum vetiisset)
obsides poposcit.
Is, quod in re militari flo-
rere Epaminondam vi de-
bat, pacem bello ante-
ferebat.
Si Oppianicum absolvissent,
quis tantam libidinem
iudicum ferre potuisset?
SUBORDINATE CLAUSES
(/) Concessive.
Although Datis saw that
the position was un-
favourable to his men,
he still desired to fight.
(g) Comparative.
They dreaded the cruelty of
Ariovistus, just as if he
had been present.
Datis, ci&i non aequum locum
videbat suis, tamen con-
fligere cupiebat.
Ariovisti crudelitatem, velut
si adcsset, horrebant.
9. These adjectival or adverbial ideas need not always
be expressed by clauses. They can often be rendered by
a noun in apposition or some phrase ; which will have
the advantage, too, of being shorter and neater. Frequent
use may be made of the different participles, which occur
much more often in Latin than in English.
(i) They serve to economize the use of main verbs.
(a) I seized the nearest Proximum signiferum
standard-bearer by the
hand, and carried him
along with me against
the enemy.
(b) He found the body of
Marcellus there and
buried it.
manu arreptum mecum
in hostem rapui.
(c) Then he embraced his
wife and sent her away.
Ibi invention corpus
celli sepelivit.
Mar-
Complcxus inde uxorem di-
misit.
(ii) They may take the place of a relative clause.
(d) He drank the water Aquam cadaveribus
which had been polluted natam bibit.
by corpses.
EASY LATIN PEOSE
(iii) They express attendant circumstances, and thus
are equivalent to an adverbial clause.
(e) Though I asked him
again and again, he made
no reply.
(/) That letter was de-
livered to me after I had
dined.
(g) After they had dis-
covered this circumstance
by means of their scouts,
the Gauls abandon the
siege.
Mihi persaepc roganti nihil
respondit.
Cenato mild epistula est ilia
reddita.
Galli, hac re per explora-
tores cognita, obsidionem
relinquunt.
10. In the employment of participles it must be re-
membered (i) that the present participle generally signifies
time simultaneous with that of the main verb. In English
it is used much more loosely.
(a) Calling a council to-
gether Caesar exhorted
his soldiers not to be
dismayed by their re-
verse.
Concilia convocato Caesar
milites cohortatus est ne
incommode perturbaren-
tur.
Concilium convocans would be quite incorrect,
council was summoned first.
The
(&) Seeing that the enemy
had crossed the river the
dictator led out all his
forces.
' Seeing ' is causal, and therefore is rendered by cum
vidcret.
Dictator, cum videret hostes
ilumen transiisse, omnes
copias eduxit
USE OF PARTICIPLES
(ii) That only a deponent verb has a perfect participle
with an active meaning.
Caesar Remos coliortatiis
ad
(c) Caesar having encour-
aged the Remi ordered
all the senate to come to
meet him.
But(d) Caesar having reached
Rome sent for his friends.
omnem senatum
convenire iussit.
se
Caesar, cum Romam per-
venisset (or postquam . . .
pervenit) amicos arces-
sivit.
(iii) That the future participle always has an active
meaning.
(e) Intending-to-attack the
city he got together a
large army.
Urbem oppugnaturus exer-
citum permagnum com-
paravit.
11. The participle is also used to make up for the lack
of abstract nouns in such phrases as the following :
(a) Prom the foundation of
the city.
(b) After the murder of the
king.
(c) Will you disregard loss
of life ?
Ab urbe condita.
Post regem interfectum.
Vos crcptam vitam neglege-
tis?
12. As an illustration, let us suppose that a passage of
English, which has to be translated, runs thus :
The above facts became known (1) to the leading men
in Britain, who had joined Caesar after the battle. So
they held a conference and discussed the matter ('2).
They knew that the Romans were short of cavalry, ships,
\
10 EASY LATIN PROSE
and corn (3), and the narrow dimensions of the camp
betrayed how small the number of their soldiers was (4).
This camp was all the more limited (5), because Caesar
had brought his legions across without the encumbrance
of any baggage. The chiefs therefore considered the best
course to adopt was (6) to renew the struggle (7), inter-
cept the supplies of the Romans, and prolong the war
into the winter. They were confident (8) that, if this
expedition was crushed or prevented from returning (9),
no other would cross over into Britain with hostile in-
tentions (10).
The Latin will be :
Quibus rebus cognitis (1) principes Britanniae, qui
post proelium ad Caesarem convenerant, inter se collo-
cuti (2), cum equites et naves et frumentum Romanis
deesse intellegerent (3), et paucitatem militum ex castro-
rum exiguitate cognoscerent (4), quae hoc erant an-
gustiora (5), quod sine impediments Caesar legiones
transportaverat, optimum factu esse duxerunt (6), re-
bellione facta (7), frumento commeatuque nostros pro-
hibere, et rem in hiemem producere, quod, his superatis
aut reditu interclusis (9), neminem postea belli inferendi
causa (10) in Britanniam transiturum confidebant (8).
The main idea of the piece is that the chiefs decided
to renew the war. So this statement appears as the
principal sentence (6). The other ideas are all subordinate,
and are therefore expressed by subordinate clauses, par-
ticipial phrases, or ablative absolutes.
13. The connecting links between the co-ordinate
sentences, often omitted in English, are generally inserted
CONNEXION OF SENTENCES
11
in Latin. The relative is frequently employed for this
purpose.
(a) These people began to cut
off our supplies. When
Crassus noticed this he
thought he ought not to
hesitate to fight a de-
cisive battle.
(b) Our most reliable reve-
nues are at stake. If
these are lost, you will
miss both the embellish-
ments of peace and the
sinews of war.
Hi commeatibus nostros
intercludere instituunt.
Quod ubi Crassus anim-
advertit non cunctandum
exist imavit quin pugna
decertaret.
Vectigalia certissima agun-
tur, quibus amissis et
pacis ornamenta et sub-
sidia belli requiretis.
In (a) quod &c. = et ubi id Crassus animadvertit ; in
(b) quibus amissis = et eis amissis.
14. Such words also as autem, scd, rcro, cerum, itaque,
tyitur, qua re, quam ob rcm, quocirca, deinde, turn, qiiam-
quam (= and yet), etsi (= and yet) may be used, in accor-
dance with the context, to define the connexion of
sentences, which in English have no conjunction at all,
or perhaps have simply and.
ORDER OF WORDS AND CLAUSES.
15. The normal order of words within the sentence is
(i) Subject, (ii) Indirect Object, (iii) Direct Object, (iv)
Predicate. But this arrangement is often changed. First,
for the sake of emphasis.
(a) Law is silent in
midst of arms.
the
Inter arma silent leges.
12 EASY LATIN PROSE
To secure this emphasis in English it is often necessary
to expand the sentence ; in Latin we merely change the
order from the normal, for any word which is not in
its usual position becomes conspicuous and therefore
emphatic. The most emphatic place in the sentence is
the end, and next to that the beginning.
(b) It was not only the case | Movit patres conscriptos
itself but also its sup- ' cum causa turn auctor.
porter that influenced the
senate.
Notice the greater brevity which the flexible order of
the Latin permits. In the English it was necessary to
have a complex sentence in order to emphasize the two
nominatives.
Secondly, to point a contrast.
(c) Hear much and say little. | Multa audi, loquere pauca.
16. With regard to the order of clauses in a complex
sentence the previous examples (6-8) may be consulted.
The following general rules may be given.
1. The noun-clause comes in the same position that an
ordinary noun would have occupied.
2. The adjective -clause conies as near as possible to the
word that it concerns.
3. The ad verb- clause, with the exception of the con-
secutive, comes before the word which it modifies.
The consecutive is placed differently because, in deter-
mining the order of the clauses, we must consider their
priority in regard to time. That which happens first or
is first thought of comes first.
4. The principal sentence is generally placed at the
end of the series, in order to give it weight and emphasis.
LIMITATIONS TO THE USE OF THE PERIOD 13
17. A long complex sentence consisting of a series of
subordinate clauses with the principal sentence coming
at the end is called a Period. The frequent use of the
Period is characteristic of the styles of Cicero and Livy.
It is not however invariably employed by them. De-
tached sentences are purposely used in the description of
animated scenes, in summaries, and in letters. In a letter
a more conversational and natural style is generally
desirable.
ORATIO OBLIQUA.
18. There were two methods by which a Latin author
could report the words used by any speaker. He could
reproduce the speech word for word exactly as it was
delivered. This way of writing is called Oratio Recta
(Direct Speech). Or he could make the speech dependent
on some such phrase as lie said that, and report it in
another form with certain changes in the pronouns and
tenses. Then his report is said to be in Oratio Obliqua
(Indirect Speech). Oratio Eecta is generally preferred
when the writer desires his narrative to be especially vivid
or picturesque. For instance, in Caesar's account of the
invasion of Britain the standard-bearer's exhortation to
his fellows (De Bello Gallico, iv. 25) is put in Oratio Recta ;
but when a formal speech is recorded, such as that of
Ariovistus (-B. G. i. 36), the Oratio Obliqua is used. Both
these methods are found in English also, but, as the in-
direct form is frequently ambiguous owing to the paucity
of pronouns to denote the third person, the direct form
is often used in cases where a Latin author would employ
the Oratio Obliqua. It is impossible to write correctly
in Latin in Oratio Obliqua, unless the distinction between
14 EASY LATIN PROSE
the two methods in English is properly understood.
Practice in this may be obtained from the reports of Par-
liamentary speeches. The student should turn those
speeches that are reported directly into the indirect form,
and vice versa.
19. Let us suppose the actual words used by a speaker
to have been as follows :
(i) I acknowledge (says he)
that I owe a great debt
to Caesar for his kindness
towards me, because I
have been freed by his
help from the tribute
which I used to pay to
my neighbours, theAdua-
tuci.
Ego, inquit, pro Caesaris in
me beneficiis plurimum ei
confiteormedebere, quod
eius opera stipend io libe-
ratus sum, quod Adua-
tucis, finitimis meis, pen-
dere consueveram.
20. In Indirect Speech the English runs :
He said that he acknowledged that he owed a great
debt to Caesar for his kindness towards him, because by
his help he had been freed from the tribute which he had
been accustomed to pay to his neighbours, the Aduatuci.
21. In translating this into Latin Oratio Obliqua the
following rules must be observed :
(a) All principal statements in Oratio Recta are put in
the accusative and infinitive in Oratio Obliqua.
(b) All clauses subordinate to the main sentence, whether
headed by a relative pronoun or subordinating conjunction,
must be put in the subjunctive mood, with the proper
tense required by the sequence.
ORATIO OBLIQUA
15
(c) Only the third person of pronouns must be used.
Oratio Obliqua has se (occasionally ipsc) where ratio
Recta has ego or nos, and is (or ille) where Oratio Recta
has tu or vos.
* (d) Suus takes the place of the meus or noster of Oratio
Recta ; illius and illorum or eius and eorum replace tuus
and vester.
(e) Inqiiit must only be used when the speech is reported
directly. Some such word as dixit may be used to intro-
duce the Oratio Obliqua, but the introductory word of
saying is often implied only.
22. So the Latin for (i) in Oratio Obliqua is :
Locutus est (e) sese (c) pro Caesaris in se (c) beneficiis
plurimum ei confiteri (a) debere. quod eius opera stipendio
liberatus esset (b), quod Aduatucis, finitimis suis (d), pen-
dere consuesset (b).
23. (ii) Having heard this
the consul began to up-
braid those who hesitated
to take up arms. ' Why
do you linger and hang
back ? The enemy will
enter the camp, unless
you have gone outside
the camp. March out,
therefore, and wrest vic-
tory from your foes. To
whom is it not clear that
he who waits here for
the enemy unarmed must
Quae ubi consul accepit,
cunctantes arma capere
increpans, ' Quid,' inquit,
4 cessatis, quid tergivers-
amini ? Hostis in castra
veniet, nisi vos extra
castra exieritis. Signa
igitur proferte, victoriam
hosti extorquete. Cui
non apparet, qui hie in-
ermis hostem maneat, ei
aut mortem aut servi-
tutemperferendam? Tri-
buni quidem atque eorum
16 EASY LATIN PROSE
qui mecum dissentiunt,
consilium quern habebit
exitum ? Postremo cur
nunc cunctamur? Nolite
de virtute ducis despe-
rare.'
suffer either death or
slavery? What will be
the issue of the plans of
the tribune and of those
who disagree with me ?
Why, in fine, do we
now hesitate? Do not
despair of your leader's
valour.'
24. To change this to Oratio Obliqua these additional
rules must be followed :
(/) Questions which in Oratio Recta are of the second
person in Oratio Obliqua are put into the subjunctive in
the third person.
(g) Questions which in Oratio Recta are in the first or
third person are rendered by the accusative and infinitive
in Oratio Obliqua. Such questions are generally merely
rhetorical. They are statements put in an animated
form. (If the question in the third person is really asked
for information and expects an answer, it is then put
in the subjunctive as the questions under rule (/).)
(h) Commands expressed by the imperative in Oratio
Recta require the subjunctive in the third person in Oratio
Obliqua.
(i) What is already in the subjunctive in Oratio Recta
naturally remains so in Oratio Obliqua.
(Jc) Nunc, now, becomes in Oratio Obliqua tuni or tune,
then ; hie, here, becomes ibi, there. The pronouns hie and
iste are rare in Oratio Obliqua, being generally changed
to is or illc.
Note. It will be observed that no other moods are
OKATIO OBLIQUA 17
required (as a rule) in Oratio Obliqua but the infinitive
and subjunctive, and no other person but the third
pei son.
25. So example (ii) may be rendered in Oratio Obliqua
thus :
Quae ubi consul accepit, cunctantes anna capere incre-
pabat (e) : quid cessarent tergiversarenturque(/) ? Hostem
in castra veiiturum (), nisi illi extra castra exiissent (b) ;
signa igitur proferrent (/*) : victoriam hosti extorque-
rent (h). Cui non apparere (g) ei qui ibi (A 1 ) inermis
hostem maneret (I) aut mortem aut servitutem perfe-
rendam ? Tribuni quidem atque eorum qui secum (c)
dissentirent (b) consilium quem habiturum esset (y)
exituni ? Postremo cur se (c) tune (k) cunctari (y) ?
Nollent (h) de virtute ducis desperare.
26. It is clear how necessary it is, if the English
happens to be in indirect speech, to understand what it
would have been in the direct form. It is advisable,
therefore, before rendering into Latin, to change the whole
into the direct form in English, in the mind, at least, if
not on paper.
27. For practice in these rules the following exercises
will be useful :
I. Turn from the Oratio Kecta into the Oratio Obliqua
(i) Desilite, inquit, commilitones, nisi vultis aquilam
hostibus prodcre : ego certe meum reipullicae atque
imperatori officium praestitero.
(ii) Quid dubitas ? inquit, aut quem locum tuae pro-
bandae virtutis spectas ? hie dies de nostris controversiis
iudicabit.
18 EASY LATIN PROSE
(iii) Una ratio belli gerendi adversus Hannibalem est,
qua ego gessi.
(iv) Si igitur edere nolunt, inquit, bibendi dabo facul-
tatem.
(v) Noli adversus eos me ducere, cum quibus ne contra
te arma ferrem, Italian! reliqui,
II. Turn from Oratio Obliqua into Oratio Recta
(i) Publius Scipio dixit nunquam se minus otiosum
esse quam cum otiosus, nee minus sol um quam cum
solus esset.
(ii) Legatis Helvetiorum Caesar ita respondit : eo sibi
minus dubitationis dari, quod eas res quas legati com-
memorassent memoria teneret. Quod si veteris contu-
meliae oblivisci vellet, num etiam recentium iniuriarum,
quod iter per Provinciam per vim tentassent, quod
Aeduos, quod Ambarros, quod Allobroges vexassent, me-
moriam deponere posse ?
(iii) Dixit ille dictator! magistrum equitum intolera-
bilem fuisse : quid consuli adversus collegam seditiosum
atque temerarium virium atque auctoritatis fore? se
populare incendium priore consulatu semustum effugisse :
optare ut omnia prospere evenirent ; sed si quid adversi
caderet, hostium se telis potius quam suffragiis iratorum
civium caput obiecturum.
EXERCISES
[Words that are enclosed in round brackets may be omitted in
translating into Latin.
The references in the notes are to the numbered paragraphs in
the Introduction.]
'THE BITER BIT'
NASICA once paid a visit l to the poet Ennius, and when
he asked for him at the door 2 the maidservant 3 said that
he was not at home. Nasica saw that she said this by
her master's orders, and that he really was within. A
few days afterwards Ennius came to the house of Nasica,
and when he inquired for him at the street-door Nasica
exclaimed, 'I am not at home.' Then says Ennius,
' What ! do not I recognize your voice ? ' Thereupon the
other rejoined, l Shameless fellow that you are 4 ! when
I asked for you I believed your maid when she told me
that you were not at home ; do not you believe me in
person 5 ? '
1 venio, and see 10 (rf). 2 ab ostio. 3 ancilla. * = you
are a shameless (impudent) man. 5 ipse.
C 2
20 EASY LATIN PROSE
II
A STORY OF REGULUS
AFTER these reverses the Carthaginians asked Regains,
whom they had captured, to set out for Rome and obtain
peace for them. Having come 1 to Rome he was led
before the senate, but acted in no way like a Roman 2 ,
saying that from that day when he fell into the power
of the Africans he ceased to be a Roman. And so he
advised the senate not to make peace with the Cartha-
ginians ; that they were crushed 3 by so many disasters
and 3 had no hope ; that he himself was not of such value
that so many thousand prisoners should be given back
in return for him alone and for the few of the Romans
who had been captured. He went back to Carthage, and
when the Romans offered 4 to keep him at Rome said that
he would not remain in a city in which he could not
hold the position 5 of an honourable citizen. He re-
turned therefore to Africa, and was put to death with
every kind of torture fi .
1 see 10 (cf). 2 = did nothing as if (quasi) a Koman. s frango,
and see 9 (i). 4 see 9 (iii). 5 dignitas. 6 supplicium.
EXERCISES 21
III
A PRUDENT COMMANDER
MEANWHILE, a few days afterwards, our commander
receives information 1 from the Egyptians that all the
Arabs are collecting their forces together 2 , and issuing
orders to those tribes which are under their sway to send
reinforcements both of infantry and cavalry. In con-
sequence of this information he looks to 3 his supply of
corn, selects a suitable position for a camp, and orders
the Egyptians to lead home their cattle and take all their
belongings out of the fields into the towns, anticipating 4
that, uncivilized and unskilled as they were 5 , they might
be induced by stress of lack of provisions to fight on
unfavourable terms 6 ; he commissions them to send
many scouts among the Arabs, and to ascertain what
is going on there. They carry out his commands, and
after the interval of a few days 7 report that all the
Arabs, with their own forces and those of their allies
whom they had mustered, had withdrawn to the extreme
limits of their territories 8 , as soon as more reliable 9
intelligence of the British army reached them.
1 = is informed by. 2 = into one place. 3 provideo.
4 spero. 5 use Apposition. 6 = might be led to unfavour-
able terms (condicio) of fighting. 7 = a few days having
intervened (intermittor). 8 = far in to their furthest borders.
9 certus.
22 EASY LATIN PROSE
IV
THE FOUNDATION OF ROME
THE memory of man can call to mind scarcely any
empire that was smaller at its commencement, or
more extensive in its increase 1 throughout the whole
world 2 , than that of Rome. It takes its beginning 3
from Romulus, who was the son of Rea Silvia and, as
it was supposed, of Mars. When leading-a-robber's-life 4
amongst the shepherds, at the age of eighteen, he founded
a little * city on the Palatine mount, 394 years after the
destruction B of Troy. When he had founded the state,
which he called Rome after his own name, he acted
pretty-nearly 7 as follows. He admitted a number of his
neighbours into citizenship, and picked out one hundred
of the older men, by whose advice he might always act.
Then, as he himself and his people had no wives, he
invited the tribes that were neighbours to the city of
Rome to a show 8 of games, and seized their maidens.
1 increment-urn. 2 orbis. 3 exordium. 4 latrocinor.
exiguns. 6 excidium. 7 fero. 8 spectaenlum.
EXERCISES 23
V
A RUDE AWAKENING
THE Gauls, under the leadership of Belgius, in order
to test l the feelings of the Macedonians sent ambassadors
to Ptolemy 2 , offering peace if he was willing to purchase
it, but Ptolemy boasted :{ among his companions that the
Gauls sought for peace through fear of war. When the
result-of-the embassy* was reported the Gauls laughed,
exclaiming on all sides that he would soon realize 5
whether they offered peace through consideration G for
him or for themselves. After some days' interval they
engaged in conflict ; and the Macedonians were beaten 7
and cut to pieces. Ptolemy, wounded 8 in many places,
was taken prisoner. His head was cut off 7 , fixed to
a lance, and carried all along the line for the intimida-
tion 9 of the enemy. When this had been announced
throughout Macedonia, the gates of the cities were shut,
and there was general mourning 10 . At one time they
feared the destruction of their towns ; at another they
called to their assistance the names of Kings Alexander
and Philip.
1 tento. 2 Ptolemaeus. 3 glorior. 4 legatio. 5 sentio.
6 use pres. participle of consulo. 7 see 9 (i). 8 saueius.
9 terror. 10 = all things were filled with mourning.
24 EASY LATIN PROSE
VI
TWO BAD CORRESPONDENTS
(a) You have not sent me any letters now for a long
time. There is nothing, you say, for me to write.
Well ', write just this, that you have nothing to write,
or nothing more than that (phrase) with-which 2 your
previous letters were wont to commence ; ' If you are in
good health 3 , it is well; I myself am in good health/
This is sufficient for me ; for it is the most important
point. Do you think that I am joking 4 ? I ask this
seriously 5 . Let me know what you are doing, for I can-
not be ignorant of that without feeling the utmost
anxiety . Farewell 7 .
(6) I am angry, and it is not clear 8 to me whether
I ought to be, but I am angry (you know how love is
sometimes unfair 9 ) because no letters have come from
you for a long time. You can prevail 10 on me by one
method alone, by sending me, now at least, many long
ones. I shall regard this excuse 11 alone as genuine, and
all others as false. At my country-house 12 I am taking
pleasure partly in study, partly in indolence 13 , both of
which are-the-result 14 of leisure. Farewell.
1 At. 2 unde. 3 valeo. * ludo. 5 serio. 6 sol-
licitudo. 7 iinperat. of valeo. 8 liquet. 9 iniquus.
10 exoro (with ace.). n excusatio. 12 villa. ls desidia.
14 nascor.
EXERCISES 25
VII
AN OBSTINATE ENCOUNTER
AT dawn our men had all been taken across the river,
and the enemy's line was in sight. Our leader exhorted
his men to remember their former 1 valour and their
many successful engagements, and to think that Germani-
cus himself was present, under whose command they
had so often routed their foes. Then he gave the signal
for battle. On the right wing, where the seventh legion
had taken its position 2 , the enemy were driven back at
the first encounter :{ , and put to flight. On the left,
which was held by the twelfth legion, the front ranks
of the enemy fell pierced by the spears, but the rest
vigorously held-their-ground 4 . Their leader himself was
with his men and encouraged them. While the issue 5
of the fight was still uncertain 6 , intimation of what was
happening on the left wing reached the officers 7 of the
seventh legion, and they displayed their troops in the
enemies' rear 8 , and commenced an attack 9 . Not even
then did any of the enemy yield ground 10 , but they were
all surrounded and slain.
1 pristinus. 2 consisto. 8 concursus. 4 resisto.
5 exitus. G use abl. abs. 7 tribunus. 8 tergum.
9 signa infero. 10 loco cedo.
26 EASY LATIN PROSE
VIII
STORY OF VALERIUS CORVUS
WHEN the Latins, who had been subdued by the
Romans, refused to supply 1 soldiers, recruits 2 were picked
from the Romans only, and ten legions were made up.
So great was the bravery of the Romans in war, although
their power 3 was as yet small 4 . When these 5 legions
had set out against the Gauls, under the leadership of
Lucius Furius, one of the Gauls challenged 6 one of the
Romans. Marcus Valerius, a military tribune, offered
himself, and when he had stepped forward fully armed 7
a raven 8 perched 9 on his right arm. Afterwards, when
the combat had begun, the same raven struck-at the
eyes of the Gaul with his wings n and claws 12 , in order
that he might not be able to see straight 1:< . And so he
was killed by the tribune. The raven gave the latter not
only victory, but also a name, for after this he was called
Corvus.
praesto. 2 tiro. 3 res. * use abl. abs. '"' see 13.
8 cor
rectum.
- tiro. 3 res. * use abJ. abs. ' see 13
6 provoco. 7 armatus. 8 corvus. 9 sedeo. 10 verbero
11 ala. 12 unguis,
EXERCISES 27
IX
MILTIADES MAKES AN ENEMY OF DARIUS (1)
ABOUT the same time Darius 1 , the King of Persia,
brought his army across from Asia to Europe, and decided
to make war on the Scythians. He made a bridge over
the river Hister, by which to lead across his troops. He
left as guardians of that bridge the princes 2 whom he
had brought with him from Ionia and Aeolis 3 , to each of
whom he had given the government of their cities for
life 4 . Miltiades was one of those to whom that charge r '
was to be entrusted. As several couriers' 3 reported that
Darius was unsuccessful 7 and was hard-pressed by the
Scythians, Miltiades exhorted the guardians of the bridge
not to lose 8 the opportunity of delivering Greece. For
(he said) 9 if Darius perished with his troops, not only
would Europe be safe, but also all those of Greek blood 10
who inhabited Asia would be delivered from the Persian
yoke ll . It could easily be effected ; for if the bridge was
destroyed 12 the king would perish in a few days, either
by the sword of the enemy or through want.
1 Dareus. 2 princeps. 3 Aeolis, -idis. 4 = the perpetual
government. 5 custodia. nuntius. male rem gero.
8 dimitto. put all the rest of the piece in Oratio Obliqua.
10 _ Greeks by race. ll dominatio. 12 rescindo, and see
9 (iii).
28 EASY LATIN PROSE
MILTIADES MAKES AN ENEMY OF DARIUS (2)
ALTHOUGH many supported 1 this plan, Histiaeus of
Miletus prevented its accomplishment. He said that
they who held the supreme command 2 had not the same
interests 3 as the common-people, because their sovereignty
depended 4 on the rule of Darius ; if he 5 was killed they
themselves would be driven from power and pay the
penalty to their countrymen, and therefore he was so
opposed to 6 the plan of the others that he thought there
was nothing -more beneficial to them than the main-
tenance 7 of the Persian rule. As the majority followed
his opinion, Miltiades left the Chersonese and moved
back 8 again to Athens, for he had no doubt that his
propositions 9 would reach the king's ears. Although
his 5 reasoning did not prevail 10 , it is nevertheless greatly
to be commended, since he was a better-friend to the
freedom of all than he was to his own sovereignty.
1 accede ad. 2 summa imperil. 3 = the same thing was
not expedient to (expedio). 4 nitor. 5 see 9 (iii). fl abhor-
reo a. 7 = than for the rule to be confirmed. 8 demigro.
9 = plans. 10 valeo.
EXERCISES 29
XI
PYRRHUS AT HERACLEA
ABOUT the same time, because they had wronged * the
ambassadors of Rome, war was declared against the Taren-
tines. These called in Pyrrhus the King of Epirus, who
traced his descent 2 from the family of Achilles, to aid
them against the Romans. The consul Publius Valerius
was dispatched against him. Having captured the scouts
of Pyrrhus, he ordered them to be led through the camp,
and then to be sent away, in order that they might report
to Pyrrhus all that was being done by the Romans.
A battle soon began, and Pyrrhus was just beginning to
flee, when he gained the day by the aid of his elephants,
at which, being strange 3 , the Romans were greatly -terri-
fied 4 . Pyrrhus captured 1,800 Romans, whom he treated 5
with the greatest respect G . He also buried the dead ;
and 7 when he saw them lying with their wounds in-front 8
and with a fierce 9 expression 10 even in death, it is said
that he raised his hands to heaven with the remark 11 ,
that he could have been master of the world, if such
soldiers had fallen to his lot 12 .
1 iniuriam facio. This clause is in virtual Oratio Obliqua
(reported reason). 2 originem traho. 3 iiicognitus. 4 ex-
pavesco (gov. ace.). 5 tracto. honos. 7 see 13. 8 ad-
versus. 9 trux, trucis. 10 vultus. u vox. 12 coiitingo.
30 EASY LATIN PROSE
XII
PYRRHUS ASKS FOR PEACE
AMBASSADORS were sent to Pyrrhus concerning the
ransoming 1 of the captives, and were honourably 2 re-
ceived 3 by him. He sent the captives to Rome without
ransom 4 . He so admired Fabricius, one of the Roman
ambassadors, when he had ascertained he was poor, that
he wanted to tempt 5 him to come over to his side, by
promising c him a fourth part of his kingdom. He was
scorned by Fabricius, and so, filled 7 with great admiration
for the Romans, he sent a distinguished 8 man named
Cineas to ask for peace on equal terms, so that Pyrrhus
should retain 9 that part of Italy, which he had already
seized by force of arms. Peace was not to their liking 10 ,
and word was sent back to Pyrrhus by the senate that he
could not have peace with the Romans, unless he retired
from Italy. So the ambassador returned, and 11 when
Pyrrhus asked him what sort (of a place) he had found
Rome to be, he said that he had seen a nation of kings ;
and that in truth almost all there were such as Pyrrhus
alone was thought to be in Epirus and the rest of Greece.
1 redimo. 2 honorificc. 3 suscipio. * pretium.
5 sollicito. 6 use abl. abs. 7 since he was held by.
8 praecipuus. 9 obtineo. 10 was displeasing. u see 13.
EXERCISES 31
XIII
PHOCION
ALTHOUGH Phocion the Athenian often commanded
armies and filled high offices, the blamelessness T of his
life is much better known than his labours in war. So
of the latter we have no records 2 , but for the former his
reputation is great. From this circumstance he received
the title 3 of * the Good '. For he was always poor,
although he could have been very rich by means of the
many honours offered 4 to him and the high powers which
were granted him by the people. Once 5 he refused
a present 6 of a large sum of money from King Philip.
The envoys advised him, even if he could easily dispense 7
with it himself, to consider his children, who would find
it difficult to maintain 8 their father's glory in extreme
poverty. To which he replied 3 , 'If they are like me,
this small estate 9 , which has brought me to such a posi-
tion-of-honour 10 , will also support them ; if they are going
to prove degenerate 11 , I do not want their self-indul-
gence 1 " to be supported and fostered 13 at my expense 14 .'
1 integritas. 2 memoria. 3 = he was called good by title
(cognomen). * defero. 5 Put all this in one complex sen-
tence, 5. 6 munus. 7 careo. 8 tueor. 9 agellus.
10 dignitas. n dissimilis.
pensa.
32 EASY LATIN PKOSE
XIV
CAESAR PURSUES POMPEIUS TO EGYPT (1)
CAESAR was of the opinion that he ought to abandon
everything and pursue Pompeius into whatever regions
he had retired after his flight, in order that he might not
be able to get fresh l forces together and renew 2 the war.
He advanced each day over as great a distance as he
could accomplish with his cavalry, and ordered one legion
to follow by shorter stages 3 . A decree had been issued
at Amphipolis 4 in the name of Pompeius, that all the
young men of that province, Greeks and Romans, should
assemble to take-the-oath 5 . No one could determine
whether Pompeius had done this to avert suspicion, so
that he might conceal his plan of a further flight for as
long as possible, or whether he was attempting, in case
he was not pressed 6 , to hold Macedonia by new levies 7 .
He himself lay at anchor 8 for one night, and summoned
his friends at Amphipolis to meet him. From them he
collected y money for his necessary expenses 10 ; but on
hearing of Caesar's approach he left that place, and in the
course of a few days arrived at My tilene n . After having
been detained two days by bad-weather 12 he reached
Cilicia and afterwards Cyprus.
1 alius, 2 renovo. 3 iter. 4 Amphipolis, -is. B iuro.
6 = if no one pressed. 7 dilectus, -us. 8 ad ancoram consisto.
9 corrogo. 10 suraptus, -us. n Mytilenae, -arum. la tem-
pestas.
EXERCISES 33
XV
CAESAR PURSUES POMPEIUS TO EGYPT (2)
THERE he learnt that, with the consent 1 of all the
people-of- Antioch 2 , and of the Roman citizens who were
doing-business 3 there, the citadel had been seized with the
object of keeping him out 4 , and that messages had been
sent round to those who were said to have retired after
their flight into the neighbouring states, that they were
not to approach Antioch 5 , and that if they did so, it would
be at the risk of their lives 6 . The same thing had hap-
pened at Rhodes to Lentulus and some others. When,
following Pompeius in his flight, they came to the island,
they were not admitted in the town or the harbour, and
a message was sent to them that they should leave the
place ; so contrary to their own wishes they put to sea 7 .
And now the news of Caesar's approach was reaching the
states. Aware of this Pompeius gave up 8 his plan of
going to Syria. He placed on board his vessels a large
quantity 9 of money for military needs 10 and two thousand
armed men, and so made his way to Pelusium. After
stopping a few days in Asia, Caesar arrived at Alexandria
with two legions and eight hundred cavalry.
1 consensus. 2 Antioehenses. s negotior. * exclude.
5 Antioch ia. caput. 7 naves solvo. 8 depono.
9 pondus. 10 usus.
34 EASY LATIN PROSE
XVI
STORY OF EPAMINONDAS
THERE was a law at Thebes, which punished * with
death any one who had retained his command for a longer
period than had been previously-fixed 2 by statute. As
Epaminondas saw that this had been passed in order to
preserve the state, he did not want it to contribute 3 to
its destruction, and so held his command for four months
longer than the people had enjo'ned. After their return
home 4 , his colleagues were brought to trial on this charge ;
but he permitted them to transfer the whole case to him,
and to assert that they disobeyed the law at his instance r> .
By this defence they were released from their dangerous-
position G , and no one thought that Epaminondas would
make any answer, as he had nothing to plead 7 . But he
came before the court 8 , and denied none of the charges
which his enemies imputed 9 to him, but admitted all
that his colleagues had said. Nor did he refuse to submit 10
to the legal penalties, but only asked them to inscribe
the following on his tomb : ' Epaminondas was punished
with death by the Thebans, because he forced them to
overcome the Lacedaemonians, and because in one battle
he not only saved u Thebes from destruction, but also
secured the freedom 12 of all Greece.' After he had said
this general laughter arose, and no judge ventured to
give in his vote 13 on the matter.
1 multo. 2 praefinio. 3 confero. * use pass, imper-
sonal. 5 = that it was done by his efforts (opera) that they did
not obey the law. 6 periculum. 7 dico. 8 indicium.
9 = none of those things which his enemies gave for a charge to
him. 10 subeo. ll retraho. 12 in libertatem vindico
(gov. ace.). r! fero suffragium.
EXERCISES 35
XVII
DEATH OF EPAMINONDAS AT MANTINEA
EPAMINONDAS was in command at l Mantinea, and,
after forming his line, was pressing 2 boldly on the enemy
when he was recognized by the Lacedaemonians. In-a-
body n they made an attack on him alone, because they
thought that the safety of their country depended on 4
his death ; nor did they retire until they saw him fall,
struck by a spear from-a-distancc r> , while fighting bravely
in the midst of great bloodshed and destruction". By
his fall the advance of the Boeotians was considerably
retarded ; but still they did not leave the field 7 until
they had routed their opponents. Now Epaminondas
saw that he had received a mortal 8 wound, and that he
would die at once if he extracted the head 9 of the spear,
which had remained in his body ; but he kept it there
until 10 it was announced that the Boeotians were vic-
torious. After he heard that, he said, ' I have lived long
enough, for I die unconquered.' Then he pulled out the
spear-head and immediately breathed his last.
1 apud. 2 insto. 3 uni versus. * situs esso.
6 = great slaughter having been made and many killed,
exoedo. * mortifer. 9 ferrum. 10 quoad.
5 eminus.
7 pugna
D 2
36 EASY LATIN PROSE
XVIII
ALEXANDER BATHES IN THE RIVER
CYDNUS (1)
IN this way Alexander arrived at the city of Tarsus, to
which the Persians were just setting fire 1 , to prevent the
enemy attacking the wealthy town. But he sent on
Parmenio with a body of light-armed 2 soldiers to stop "
the conflagration, and, as soon as he heard that the bar-
barians had been put to flight by the approach of his
men, he entered the town which he had preserved. The
river Cydnus flows through the middle of it. It was
then summer, and the hottest 4 part of the day had just
commenced. The coolness r> of the water enticed 6 the
king, covered-as-he-was 7 with dust * and perspiration *, to
bathe 10 his body whilst it was still heated n . So he took
off his clothes and stepped down into the water in the
sight of his army. His limbs had hardly been immersed
when 12 they began to stiffen". Then paleness 14 spread
over them, and the warmth of-life 15 all but left the
whole body. His servants took him out, apparently
lifeless 16 , and carried him to his tent 17 hardly in-posses-
sion 18 of his senses.
1 ignem subicio. 2 expeditus. 3 inhibeo. 4 fervidus.
5 liquor. 6 invito. 7 use participle of perfundo. 8 pulvis.
? sudor. 10 abluo. u calidus. 12 = his limbs hardly
having entered began to stiffen. w rigeo. 14 pallor.
15 vitalis (adjective). ]6 = similar to one expiring. " taber-
EXERCISES 37
XIX
ALEXANDER BATHES IN THE RIVER
CYDNUS (2)
THERE was now in the camp great anxiety and mourn-
ing. With tears in their eyes 1 they lamented " the fact
that he, the most famous sovereign of any age or time s ,
had not been overthrown by his enemies on the field-of-
battle, but had lost his life whilst bathing in a stream.
'We must' (Oratio Obliqua) (said they) 'now again
return to those lands, which we have traversed 4 in vic-
tory ; either we ourselves or the enemy have laid every-
thing waste ; and who will give the signal to us in our
flight? who will venture to take the place 5 of Alex-
ander? Though in flight we reach the Hellespont, who
will prepare a fleet, wherein we may cross ? ' Then their
pity reverting to the king himself, unmindful of them-
selves, they mourned that their king and comrade 6 was
separated 7 and sundered 8 from them. Meanwhile the
king raised 9 his eyes, and gradually coming to himself 10
recognized his friends that stood round.
1 = weeping. 2 queror. 3 memoria. * peragro.
5 succedo (with chit.). 6 commilito. 7 divello. 8 abrumpo.
9 adlevo. lu * his mind gradually returning.
38 EASY LATIN PROSE
XX
CAESAR ENCOURAGES HIS SOLDIERS AFTER
A REVERSE
DIVERTED J from his former plans Caesar came to the
conclusion that he must change the whole scheme 2 of
the war. So collecting 3 all his army together he made
a speech and encouraged them not to be deeply affected 4
by what had happened or alarmed by these events. ' You
ought ' (Oratio Obliqua) (said he) ' to be grateful to fortune
for having gained Italy without a wound ; for having
subdued the two Spains, and for having reduced the
neighbouring and corn-bearing n provinces to subjec-
tion ; in short, you should remember with what good-
luck G all have been brought safely across to Greece, in
the midst of hostile fleets, when not only the harbours
but also the coasts were occupied 7 . If everything does
not turn out prosperously, you must aid 8 fortune by your
own efforts. Whatever loss has been received ought to
be ascribed y to any one's fault rather than mine. I have
given you favourable ground to fight on, and I have
gained possession of the enemies' camp ; I have driven
out and defeated my opponents. But whether it has
been our own confusion 10 , or some mistake, or even
fortune that n has interrupted 12 the victory when already
won and in-our-hands 10 , all must strive by their valour
to repair 14 the reverse 1 which we have sustained 16 .'
1 depello. - ratio. :i eee9(iii). 4 graviter fero.
5 frumentarius. 6 felicitas. T opplco. 8 sublcvo.
8 tribuo. 10 perturbatio. n see 15 (&';. 12 interpello.
13 praesens. 14 sarcio. 15 incommodum. lrt = received.
EXERCISES 39
XXI
POMPEIUS' PLANS FOR THE BATTLE OF
PHARSALIA
POMPEIUS, as was afterwards ascertained, had deter-
mined with the encouragement of all his soldiers to fight
a decisive battle 1 . For in his council some days pre-
viously he had declared that Caesar's army would
be defeated before the lines met 2 . When several ex-
pressed their surprise at that, 'I know,' said he, 'that
I am promising what is almost incredible, but hear the
reasons for my decision, so that you may go forward into
battle with the more resolution 3 . I persuaded my
cavalry, and they asserted that they would comply, to
attack Caesar's right wing on their exposed 4 flank, as
soon as it approached nearer, so that, by surrounding
their line from the rear, they might throw the whole
army into confusion and defeat them, before a single
spear was thrown by us at the enemy. Thus we shall
bring the war to a conclusion without risking 5 our
legions and almost without a wound. Now this is not
difficult, as we are so strong 6 in cavalry.'
1 proelio decerto. - concurro. :: = with a firmer mind.
4 apertus. 5 periculum. G valco.
40 EASY LATIN PROSE
XXII
ALEXANDER DECIDES TO FIGHT AT ISSUS
PARMENIO had been sent on in advance to explore the
road through the defile 1 , through which they had to
make their way to the city called Issus. After having
seized the passes 2 and left a small guard there, he had
captured Issus also, which was deserted by the barbarians.
Then the king moved his forces to Issus. There he held
a council (to decide) whether he ought to advance further
or wait 3 there for the new troops which it was known 4
were coming from Macedonia. Parmenio thought that
110 other place was more suited for a battle; there
(Oratio Obliqua) the forces of both kings would be equal
in number, since the passes did not hold 5 very many ;
they must avoid level ground and plains, where they
might be surrounded and overwhelmed by an attack
on-both-flanks ; he was afraid that they would lose in
consequence of their own fatigue 7 rather than through
the valour of the enemy. The arguments 8 of such salu-
tary 9 advice were easily admitted, and so the king decided
to wait for the enemy in the narrow defile.
1 saltus. - angustiae. s opporior (gov. ace.). 4 constat.
:> capio. 6 anccps. 7 lassitude. 8 ratio. 9 saluber.
EXERCISES 41
XXIII
INTEGRITY OF EPAMINONDAS
AT the request of Artaxerxes Diomedon had under-
taken 1 to bribe 2 Epaminondas with money. He came
to Thebes with a large quantity of gold, and by a present
of five talents won over to his views a lad named Micythus,
of whom Epaminondas was then very fond. Micythus
went-to-see 3 his master, and explained the reason of
Diomedon's arrival. 'But,' said Epaminondas in the
presence of Diomedon, ' I do not want the money ; for
if the king desires what is beneficial 4 to the Thebans,
I am ready to do it for nothing n ; if, on the other hand,
it is opposed -to- their-interests 6 , he has not enough silver
and gold. For I would not take the wealth of the whole
world in-exchange-for my country's love. I am not
surprised at you, who have thought me like yourself,
and I pardon you ; but depart at once, lest you corrupt
others, since you have not been able to corrupt me. And
do you, Micythus, give him back his money, or I will
hand you over to justice V
1 suscipio with gerundive construction as object; cf. 'pontem
faciendum curavit '. 2 corrumpo. 3 convenio. 4 utili*.
5 gratiis. 6 contrarius. 7 magistratus (using the concrete
instead of the abstract;.
42 EASY LATIN PROSE
XXIV
PREPARATIONS FOR A NAVAL ENGAGEMENT
WHILE this was going on at Her da the people-of-Mar-
seilles, following 1 the advice of Domitius, got ready
seventeen ships of war, eleven of which were decked 2 .
To these they added many smaller vessels 8 , in order that
our fleet might be terrified by the mere numbers. They
placed on them a large number of archers 4 ," whom they
urged on 5 by means of large rewards and promises.
Domitius demanded particular 6 ships for himself, and
filled them with colonists and shepherds, whom he had
brought with him. After the fleet had thus been equipped 7
with all requisites, they went forward with all confidence 8
to meet our vessels, which were under the command of
Brutus. These were holding positions 9 near the island
which is opposite to 10 Marseilles. When the enemy's
arrival was known, Brutus led his ships out of the
harbour and engaged with the enemy. Both sides carried
on the contest with great courage and vigour. Brutus
was much inferior in actual numbers, but Caesar had
picked out the bravest men from all the legions, who
had claimed that service 11 for themselves, and had
assigned 12 them to the fleet.
1 - having used, sec 9 (i) (c). 2 = covered (tego). 3 navigium.
4 Sagittarius. r > incite. 6 certus. 7 instruo. 8 fiducia.
' J static. 10 contra. n munus. 13 attribuo.
-EXERCISES 43
XXV
A NAVAL BATTLE
THE enemy, trusting to the speed of their ships and
the skill 1 of their steersmen 2 , easily baffled 3 our men,
and did not await 4 their attack. As long as it was
possible to avail themselves of the wider space, they
attempted, by extending their line further, to surround
us or to attack individual ships with greater numbers,
or, running past , to sweep oft' 7 their oars. Our men,
however, were not only employing less practised 8 rowers '
and less experienced helmsmen, who had suddenly been
taken from merchant 10 vessels, and had as yet no know-
ledge even of the names of the sails, but also were
embarrassed by the slowness 11 and weight 1 - of their
ships. And so they contentedly 13 exposed single vessels
to double their number 14 , provided that an opportunity
was given of fighting at close quarters 15 , and by throwing
grappling irons lt; and catching hold of both ships boarded 17
the enemies' vessels. After killing large numbers they
sank 18 part of them, captured some with their crews 1!l ,
and drove the rest into the harbour.
1 scientiu. 2 gubornator. 3 eludo. * cxcipio. 5 sin-
guli. 6 transciirro. 7 detergco. 8 exercitatus. 9 rein ex.
ln onerarius. ll tarditas. I2 gravitas. 13 = with a calm
v aequus) mind. * = to two apiece. 15 cominus. 16 manus
lerrca. 17 transcendo in. 18 deprimo. ly = with the men.
44 EASY LATIN PROSE
XXVI
ALEXANDER IS WOUNDED
MEANWHILE the Macedonians, having gone out in
a disorderly 1 line to seek fodder 2 , were surprised 3 by
the barbarians, who rushed down from the nearest
mountains. More were captured than slain, and the
barbarians, driving their prisoners before them, retired
back again into the mountains. While the king was
attacking them 4 , fighting amidst the foremost r> , he was
struck by an arrow, which, planted in the middle of his
thigh 6 , left its point 7 there. The Macedonians in sorrow
and dismay carried him back to camp.
On the next day the barbarians sent ambassadors to
the king. He ordered them* at once to be admitted,
and, loosening the bandages 8 , showed them his thigh.
Being ordered to sit down they asserted that the Mace-
donians were not sadder than they were when they heard
of his wound, and that if they discovered the culprit 9 ,
they would surrender him ; for only the impious 10 fought
against the gods.
After giving pledges 11 and recovering the captives the
king received their capitulation.
1 incompositus. : pabulum. 3 opprimo. 4 see 13.
" prompt us. 6 crus. 7 spiculum. * fascia, -ae. 9 auctor.
10 sacrilegus. u fides.
EXERCISES 45
XXVII
THEMISTOCLES AND THE ATHENIAN FLEET
SINCE the public revenue ' which accrued 2 from the
mines 3 was wasted 4 year after year by the lavishness r>
of the magistrates, Themistocles persuaded the people to
build a fleet of a hundred ships with that money. What
a means of safety that was to the whole of Greece was
proved in the Persian war, when Xerxes attacked Europe
by land and sea with such forces as no one ever employed
either before or after. When the news of his approach
reached Greece and it was said that the Athenians in
particular were the object of his attack, they sent to
Delphi to ask what they were to do. In answer to their
inquiry the Pythian-priestess 6 told them to protect them-
selves by means of their wooden 7 walls. When no one
understood what that reply meant, Themistocles persuaded
them that the advice of Apollo was that they should take
refuge 8 on board the ships with their property : for they
were the wooden wall signified by the god. Approving
of such a plan they took such property as could be moved
either to Salamis 10 or Troezen n ; they handed over the
care of the citadel and the temples to the priests and
a few old men, and abandoned the rest of the town.
1 pecunia. 2 redeo. s metalla, -orum. * intereo (inti-nns.).
5 largitio. 6 Pythia. 7 ligneus. 8 se conferre. 9 probo.
10 Salamis, -is, or -inos. " Troezen, -enis.
46 EASY LATIN PROSE
XXVIII
A BRAVE CENTURION AT THE SIEGE OF
GERGOVIA
VALERIUS, a centurion of the eighth legion,
had attempted to burst open the gates, but was over-
whelmed by numbers. Despairing for himself, as he had
received many wounds, he said ' to the-men-of-his-com-
pany 2 , who had followed him, 'Since I cannot save
myself along with you, I will at all events provide 3 for
the lives of you whom I, led on by the desire of glory,
have brought into danger. Now that the opportunity is
given, consult your own safety.' With that he charged 4
into the midst of the enemy, and, after slaying two,
pushed r> the rest back a little way from the gate. When
his men tried to help him, 'It is in vain/ he said, 'that
ye try to succour my life. Leave this j lace therefore,
while there is a chance 6 , and return to the legion.' So
shortly after he fell fighting, but proved the salvation
of his men. Our soldiers, hard pressed on all sides,
were dislodged 7 from the position with the loss of forty-
six centurions.
1 make this one sentence, 5. 2 manipularis. 3 prospicio
(with dat.). * irrumpo (intrans.X '" summoveo. faeultas.
7 deicio.
EXERCISES 47
XXIX
A PLEA FOE MERCY
AT last the enemy were beleagured l on all sides.
Suffering from the want of water, firewood 2 , and corn,
they asked for a parley 3 , as their cattle had been kept for
four days without fodder, and for that to be in a place
apart 4 from the soldiers, if it were possible. When it
was granted on the condition that they were willing to
hold the conference in-public 5 , in the hearing of both
armies the ambassadors urged that no one should be
angry either with themselves or with the soldiers, be-
cause they wished to keep faith with their commander.
But they had now satisfied the claims of duty 6 and
borne sufficient punishment 7 . They had suffered the
want of all necessaries ; and now they were hemmed
round 8 almost like wild beasts, prevented from obtaining
water and prevented from advancing 9 ; their bodies
could no longer bear their hardships nor their minds the
disgrace ; and so they acknowledged themselves beaten
and earnestly begged :0 that, if any room was left for com-
passion, they might not find it necessary to proceed to
extreme punishment. All this they set forward n with
the greatest possible humility and submission 12 .
1 obsideo. ligna, -orum. 3 colloquium. * semotus.
5 palam. = they had done enough for duty (officium).
7 supplicium. 8 circummunio. 9 = were cut off from water,
cut off from an advance (ingressus). 10 = begged and beseeched.
Two synonymous verbs in Latin often = a verb with inten-
sive adverb in English. n exj:
.submissively (subiecte^ as possible.
48 EASY LATIN PROSE
XXX
A BESIEGED CITY
FROM the camp and from all the higher ground it was
easy to look down into the city, (and see) how all the
young men who had stayed in the town, and all those of
riper years with their wives and children, either stretched
out their hands to the sky from the wall, or visited the
temples of the gods, and falling before the images 1
entreated their deities for victory. And of them all
there was no one who did not think that the fate of all
their possessions 2 depended on 3 the results of that day.
For all the distinguished youths and the most honour-
able 4 persons of every age, in answer to a personal sum-
mons and appeal 5 , had embarked on the ships, in order
that they might see, if anything untoward 6 had happened
to them, that there was nothing further left for them to
attempt ; if they had gained the victory, either through
their own resources or by means of foreign assistance,
they would be sure of the safety of their city.
1 simulacrum. 2 = fortunes. 3 consisto in. * amplus.
5 = having been called out by name (nominatim) and entreated.
6 adversus.
EXERCISES 49
XXXI
A SUEPRISE ATTACK
THE dictator then marched all his forces out of camp,
and ordered the cavalry, which he thought had been
cowed ! by the recent engagement, to follow the main-
body-. He formed them in a triple line, and quickly
accomplished a march of ten miles. So he reached the
enemy's camp before they could discover what was going
on. The latter"' were terrified both by the rapidity of
our approach and by the departure of their friends, and as
no time 4 was given them for holding a council or getting
their arms they were undecided whether it was more
advisable to lead their forces against the enemy, to
defend the camp, or to seek safety in flight. This fear
on their 3 part was made plain by their shouting and
ruiining-to-and-fro 5 . So our soldiers, enraged by the
treachery of the previous day, burst into the camp.
There 3 those who were able in the hurry to seize their
arms for a while resisted our attack, and fought in the
midst of their carts 7 and baggage, but the residue, consist-
ing of boys and women, who had left their homes and
crossed the river with all their men, began to take to
flight on all sides. The dictator sent his cavalry in
pursuit 8 of them. The others, hearing the shouting in
the rear and seeing their friends cut down, threw away
their arms, abandoned their standards 9 , and rushed out
of the camp.
1 perterrco. 2 agiuuii. 3 st-e 13. ' .spat him. 5 dia-
cursus. 6 pristinus. 7 carrus, -i. 8 connector. " sigiuun.
50 EASY LATIN PROSE
XXXII
A BROKEN TRUCE
THE enemy disloyally 1 were looking for an opportu-
nity for treachery 2 and deceit, as after the interval of
a few days our men became-weary 3 and relaxed ' in spirit.
So at midday, when some had gone away, when others,
after their protracted ' labour had fallen asleep actually on
the works, and all their arms were laid aside and covered
up fi , the enemy suddenly sally forth from the gates and
set fire 7 to the works. A strong and favouring 8 wind
spread this in such a way that the mantlets , the towers,
and the engines 10 all at once became alight 11 , and these
were entirely consumed before what had happened could
be noticed. Our men, aroused by the sudden mishap 1;i ,
snatched up what arms they could ; and others rushed up
from the camp. They made an attack on the enemy,
but were prevented by the arrows and catapults 13 from
pursuing the fugitives. So the labour of many months
was ruined 14 in a moment 15 of time by the treachery of
the enemy and the power of the gale.
1 = -without faith. 2 perfidiu. 3 langueo. * remissus.
-' diutiims. 6 contego. 7 ignem infero. 8 secundus.
'' pluteiisi. 10 tormentuin. n flammam concipio. 12 for-
13 tormentum. ll intereo (intrans. ). r> puiictum.
EXERCISES 51
XXXIII
ALEXANDER BEFORE TYRE
ALEXANDER having 1 a fleet close at hand and thinking
that a long siege would be a great hindrance to his other
plans, sent heralds 2 to induce the Tyrians to make peace.
These the Tyrians put to death, contrary to the law of
nations 3 , and hurled into the sea. Alexander, there-
lore, moved by this shameful death of his men, decided
to lay siege to the city. But it was necessary first to
construct 4 a mole 5 , in order to join the city with the
mainland ". Great despair, therefore, came-over 7 the
minds of the soldiers, when they looked at the depth of
the sea s , which could scarcely be filled up even with divine
aid. But the king, by no means unversed 1J in managing ]0
the minds of soldiers, announced that a vision of Her-
cules had appeared to him in a dream, stretching n out his
right hand, and that with Hercules as leader and clear-
ing 12 the way he seemed to enter the city. He spoke
also of the murder 13 of the heralds, and the violation of
the law of nations, and said that there was only one city,
which had dared to hinder his victorious progress 1J .
1 see 1O (&). 2 caduceator. 3 ius gentium. l iauio.
5 moles. 6 contiiieiis. 7 incedo (with dat.). 8 = the deep
sea. 9 rudis (with genitive). lu pertracto. u porrigo.
13 aperio. IJ see 11. H = the course (cursus) of the victor.
E 2
52 EASY LATIN PROSE
XXXIV
A VISIT TO THE OLD SCHOOL
WHAT more pleasant task could be imposed * upon me
by you than to search for a tutor for your brother's
children ? For by your favour 2 I return to school ;i , and
renew, as-it-were 4 , that most agreeable time of life ; I
take my seat among the lads, as I was wont to do, and
I actually discover how much influence, in consequence
of my pursuits, I possess among them. For recently
they were joking 5 together audibly 6 in the crowded
lecture-hall 7 in the presence of many of our rank-of-life 8 .
I entered ; they became silent. I would not mention
this, if it did not conduce 9 to their credit rather than to
mine, and if I did not wish that you should be able to
hope that } 7 our nephews are studying earnestly. For
what is of greater moment to you, than that the children
should be found worthy of their father and their uncle ?
I should have claimed 10 this n charge as mine 12 , even
if you had not entrusted it to me.
1 iniungo. 2 beneficium. 3 schola. * quasi. 5 iocor.
c clare. 7 auditorium. 8 ordo. 9 pertineo. 10 vindico.
II see 13. 12 = for me.
EXERCISES 53
XXXV
A FIRE-SHIP
IN the meantime the Tyrians had propelled 1 forward
with the oars a ship of extraordinary size, laden at the
stern 2 with stones and sand ', and smeared 4 with pitch '
and sulphur 1 '. When the sails had caught 7 the full
force of the wind, it quickly moved up to the mole 8 .
Then, after the prow had been set on fire, the rowers
leapt down into the boats '', which followed, provided
for that very purpose. The ship, however, as the flame
caught, began to spread the fire more widely, and it
seized on the tower and the other works placed on the
mole, before any resistance could be offered 10 . And
those who had leapt down into the little boats threw
torches 11 , and whatever was suitable for feeding 1 ' 2 the
fire, on to these works. And now, not only the foot of
the towers, but also the topmost stories 11 had caught
lire, while those who were on the towers were either
swallowed up in the flames, or, throwing away their
arms, lowered themselves into the sea.
1 concito. 2 puppis. 3 arena. 4 illino. 5 bitumen.
fl sulphur. 7 concipio. 8 moles. 9 scapha. 10 -= before
it could be met (occurro) ; use pass, impers. n fax. 12 alo.
::! tabulatum.
54 EASY LATIN PEOSE
XXXVI
CICERO WRITES TO HIS WIFE FROM
ATHENS
IF it is well with you and Tullia 1 , it is also well with
our dear Marcus and with myself. We came to Athens
on the 14th of October, after having had unfavourable 2
winds, and a slow and disagreeable voyage 3 . As we left
the ship, your slave met us with the letters. I received
your missive and gathered from it that you were afraid
the previous ones might not have been delivered *. All
have been delivered, and you have given a very careful
account 5 of everything, which was particularly agreeable
to me. I am not surprised that this letter which he
brought was short, for you are now waiting for me, or
rather for us, in person ; and we indeed are anxious to
come to you as soon as possible, although I understand
to what a country we are coming ; for I learn from the
letters of many friends, which the slave brought me,
that everything looks towards war, so that, when I have
come, I shall not be allowed to conceal my opinions.
But as I must submit to 7 my fate, I shall endeavour
to come with all the more haste, that I may consider the
whole case with greater ease. I should like you to come
on to meet me as far as you possibly can.
1 = if you and Tullia are well. 2 adversus. :: = after
having voyaged slowly and disagreeably (incommode). * reddo.
' I give an account = perscribo. 6 specto. 7 subeo (trans.).
EXERCISES 55
XXXVII
HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY
AFTER his victory in the war against the Persians
Themistocles announced in the assembly 1 that he had
a plan which would benefit the state, but that it must
not become generally known. So he asked the people
to appoint some one to whom he might communicate it.
Aristides was appointed. Then Themistocles informed
him that it was possible to set fire secretly to the Lace-
daemonian fleet, which had been drawn-up-on-shore 2 at
Gythaeum, by which action the power of Lacedaemon
would inevitably " be shattered. When Aristides heard
this, he returned to the assembly, and said : i What
Themistocles proposes is very advantageous, but by 110
means honourable.' The Athenians, therefore, came to
the conclusion that what was not honourable was not
advantageous either 4 , and, by the advice of Aristides,
rejected r> the proposition entirely, though they had never
even heard what it was.
1 contio. 2 subduco. 3 = by which action it was necessary
that the power would be broken. * not . . . cither -- in- . . .
quidem. 5 repudio.
56 EASY LATIN PROSE
XXXVIII
THE DIFFICULTIES OF A GENERAL
SULLA had everything to do at once ; he had to display 1
the flag 2 , which was a signal when it was necessary to
begin the battle ; he had to make a signal with the
bugle 3 , to recall the soldiers from the works and to send
for those who had gone on in advance a little way in
order to seek materials-for-an-earthwork 4 . He had to
draw up his line, and encourage his soldiers. A great
part of all this was prevented by the shortness of time
and the arrival of the enemy. Two circumstances proved
of assistance in these difficulties. First, the knowledge
and experience 5 of the men, who from having been
trained 6 in previous engagements could lay down for
themselves what was the necessary course, just as well
as be shown it by others ; and secondly, the fact that
Sulla had forbidden the several lieutenants to leave the
works and their respective 7 regiments, unless the camp
had been fortified. The latter, because of the close-
proximity 8 and rapid-movements of the enemy, no
longer waited for Sulla's orders, but of themselves carried
out all that seemed necessary.
1 propono. - vexillum. 3 tuba. * agger. 5 usus.
c exercito. 7 singuli. s propinquitns. 9 celeritas.
EXERCISES 57
XXXIX
ADVICE TO A PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR
MY love towards you compels me, not to instruct l you
(for indeed you need no instructor), but to warn 3 r ou to
remember and heed 2 what you already know. Consider
that 5 r ou have been sent to the province of Achaia, which
is the real and genuine 3 Greece, in which culture 4 ,
letters, and even the fruits of the earth are said to have
first been discovered. Respect 5 the gods who were its
founders r> and the names of the gods, respect its past
glory and even its old age, old age which in a man is
venerable, but in cities is sacred. Let there be in your
mind respect for its antiquity, for its mighty deeds, and
even for its legends 7 . Always keep before your eyes
the fact that this is the land which sent us its laws, that
it is Athens which you are visiting and Lacedaemon
that you are governing. It would be hard and cruel,
(nay) barbarous, to rob these cities of the shadow * and
name of liberty which remains to them. Remember
what each -state has been, but not in order that you may
despise them for having ceased so to be, and let all pride
and harshness be put on one side . I wish you to
believe, as I said at the beginning, that I have written
this by way of advice 10 , not instruction 10 , but in truth
I have no fear that in my love for you I have exceeded
the limit".
1 praecipio. 2 observe. 3 mems. 4 humanitas.
5 revereor. e conditor. 7 fabula. 8 umbra. u = let
pride and harshness be absent. 10 use participles, =1 ... advising.
II modus.
58 EASY LATIN PROSE
XL
OPERATIONS BEFORE A BATTLE
THERE was a small marsh between our army and that
of the enemy. The latter were waiting to see if our men
would cross this ; while our troops were under arms,
prepared, if the others commenced to cross, to attack
them whilst in-difficulties l . Meanwhile a cavalry
skirmish was fought between the two lines. When
neither side took the initiative 2 in crossing, Scipio led
back his men to camp, though the cavalry engagement
proved more favourable 3 to us. The enemy immediately
hastened from that place to the river Ebro 4 , which was
in the rear of our camp. There they discovered a ford 5 ,
and attempted to take over a part of their forces, with
the intention, if they could, of capturing the fort c , which
the lieutenant commanded, and of destroying the bridge ;
or, if they could not do this, of laying waste the fields in
the vicinity, which were of great use to us in carrying on
the war, and of cutting off our supplies 7 .
1 impeditus. - initium faeio. 3 secundus. * Hiberus.
5 vada, -orum. 6 castellum. 7 nostros commeatu prohibeo.
EXEECISES 59
XLI
A CUNNING TRICK (1)
A EOMAN knight named Tullius, a man of wit and
liberal education 1 , had betaken himself to Syracuse,
with the idea 2 , as he used to say, of taking a holiday ",
not of doing business 4 . He repeatedly said that he
wished to buy a small garden, to which he could invite
his friends and where he might amuse himself without
fear of any interruption 5 . When this had got about",
a certain Greek, who carried on the trade of a banker 7 at
Syracuse, said to him that his grounds were not for-sale s ,
but that Tullius might use them, if he wished, as his
own. At the same time he invited the man to dinner
in his gardens on the next day. Now the Greek, being
a banker , was popular with all classes, and so, when
Tullius had promised (to come), he summoned some
fishermen 10 , and asked them to fish 11 on the next day
opposite to his garden ; and he told them what he wanted
them to do,
1 = not unwitty (infacetus) and sufficiently educated (litteratus).
~ cnnsa. 3 otior. * negotior. 5 = without interrupters
(interpellator). " percrebresco. 7 argentariam facio.
8 venalis (adj.). 9 argentarius. 10 piscator. n piscor.
60 EASY LATIN PROSE
XLII
A CUNNING TRICK (2)
TULLIUS came to dinner at the proper time, and found
tli at a banquet 1 had been prepared by the Greek on-
a- magnificent-scale 2 . There were a large number of
fishing-boats 3 in -sight, and each fisherman brought what
he had caught. The fish were cast at the feet of the
host. Then says Tullius. 'What, pray, is this? Are
there so many fish, and so many boats here?' To which
the other replies, ' Of course 4 ; all the fish there are in
Syracuse are here.' Then Tullius, fired by desire, urged
the Greek to sell, and buys the garden at the price which
the Greek asked. On the next day Tullius invites his
friends, and comes himself in-good-time "'. He does not,
however, see a single vessel. So he asked his next-door f>
neighbour 7 whether it was a fishermen's holiday 8 , because
he did not see any of them. i It is no holiday,' says he,
'as far as I know, but none are accustomed to fish here :
I was wondering therefore what happened yesterday.'
Tullius was indignant 9 ; but what was he to do ?
(Render this piece in conversational style ; see 17.)
1 convivium. 2 opipare (adv.). 3 cymba. * - what is
wonderful ? 5 mature (adv.). 6 proximus. 7 vicinus.
8 ferine. stomacher.
EXERCISES 61
XLIII
THE KELIGION OF THE GAULS
EVEKY tribe among the Gauls is extremely super-
stitious \ On this account, those who are afflicted " with
serious illnesses, and those who are engaged 3 in scenes-
of-danger or in battles, either sacrifice 4 or make a vow
that they will sacrifice human beings as victims. They
employ the Druids as ministers 5 for these sacrifices.
They think that, unless a man's life is given up in
return for a man's life, the power of the gods cannot be
appeased . Others have idols 7 of gigantic size, whose
limbs are woven 8 of osiers u ; these they fill with living
persons, and when they are set on fire the victims are
surrounded by the flames and suffocated U) . They think
that the torture 11 of those who have been detected in
theft or brigandage 12 or some heinous-crime 13 is more
pleasing to the gods, but when there are none of this class
they also have recourse 14 to the torture of the innocent.
Mercury 13 is the god whom they worship most ; there
are many idols of him, and they regard him as the dis-
coverer of all arts.
1 = is given up to superstitious (religio). - affecttis.
3 versor. * imiuolo. 5 administer. c placo. 7 simula-
crum. 8 coiitexo. vinu'ii. 10 oxunimo. u sii};-
plicium. ia latrocinium. 13 nuxia, -ae. X1 duscendu.
15 see 15 (6).
62 EASY LATIN PROSE
XLIV
THE RELATIONS OF SICILY WITH ROME
BEFOKE I speak of the troubles 1 of Sicily, I think
I ought to say a few words about the dignity, antiquity,
and usefulness of that province. Now you ought to take
careful account '- of all your provinces, but in particular
of Sicily for many very good reasons. Sicily was the
first of all foreign ;! countries to attach 4 itself to the
friendship and faith of the Roman people : Sicily was
the first country to be styled a province, that glory of the
Roman empire, and the first to teach our ancestors how
glorious a thing it was to rule foreign nations. Sicily
alone has showed such loyalty and goodwill towards the
Roman people, that, when once the states of that island
had entered into friendship with us, they never after-
wards fell away". The majority and those the most
distinguished continued to be our friends in-perpetuity 7 .
Nor would the great power of Carthage have fallen so
easily, if Sicily had not been accessible 8 to us, both to
furnish a supply of corn and to be a refuge 9 for our
fleets. It was for this reason that the Sicilian towns,
after the destruction of Carthage, were adorned by Afri-
canus with beautiful statues 10 and memorials 1J .
1 iiicommodum. 2 = carefully to take account (ratiouem
habere). 3 extents. * applico. 5 ornameutum. c deficio.
7 perpetuo (adv.). 8 pateo. 9 receptaculum. J0 signum.
II monumentum.
EXERCISES 63
XLV
A GENERAL COMMUNICATES WITH HIS
SUBOKDINATES
So the general made his way by forced l marches into
the territories of the Caiitabrians ' 2 . There he ascertained
from his prisoners what was going on in the camp of his
lieutenant, and in what danger our cause was. There-
upon by large bribes :i he persuaded one of the Spanish 4
troopers to carry a letter to his lieutenant. He sends
this written in Greek characters 5 , to prevent our plans
being discovered by the enemy, if the letter was inter-
cepted. He advised the messenger, if he could not
approach, to hurl a spear, with the letter attached G to
the thong 7 , within the lines 8 of the camp. In the
letter he said that he had started with his regiment, and
would soon arrive, and he encouraged them to maintain
their former 9 courage. The Spaniard, fearing the risk,
threw the spear, just as he had been instructed. By
chance this stuck to one of the towers, and was not
noticed by our men for two days. On the third day it
was seen by some soldier, taken down and carried to
the lieutenant. He perused it, and then read-it-aloud 10 at
a meeting of the soldiers. All were filled with great joy.
1 = by great marches. a Caiitaber, -abri. 8 praemium.
* Ilispaims. 6 littera. c deligo. 7 amentum. "munitio.
9 pristinus. 10 recito.
64 EASY LATIN PROSE
XLVI
ATTACK ON A MOUNTAIN STRONGHOLD (1)
MANY obscure l towns were abandoned by their in-
habitants and fell into the king's hands. Their people,
fully armed, seized on a mountain named Aornis, which,
it was rumoured, had been in vain besieged by Hercules,
who was compelled by an earthquake - to desist 3 . As
the rock was steep and precipitous 4 on all sides, Alex-
ander was at-a-loss 5 for a plan, when an old man well-
acquainted with the country c came up to him with his
two sons, promising, if it was made worth his while 7 , to
point out the way-of-approach. Alexander decided to
give him eighty talents, and after detaining one of the
young men as a hostage, sent him away to carry out
what he had offered. The rock did not rise to a high
summit 8 , as most do, by moderate and gentle slopes '\
but was set up exactly in the shape of a pyramid 10 ; the
lowest parts of it were the widest, the higher portions
came together more closely, and the top rose to a sharp
peak n . The river Indus, very deep, with rugged banks
on both sides, came up close to the foot 12 of it, and on
the other side were chasms 13 and steep 14 gullies 15 .
1 ignobilis. ' 2 terrae inotus. 3 absisto. * abruptus.
5 mops (with geuit.}. = the places. 7 to be worth while
= operae pretium esse. 8 fastigium. y clivus. 10 ineta, -ac.
11 cacuincn. l ~ = the roots (radix). 13 vorago. u prae-
ruptus. J5 eluvies.
EXERCISES 65
XL VII
ATTACK ON A MOUNTAIN STRONGHOLD (2)
AT first, because the danger was so evident, it was
decided that the king should not run the risk l . But
when the signal was given with the trumpet, he turned
to his body-guard 2 , ordered them to follow him, and was
the first to attack the cliff. Then no Macedonian stood
still, but leaving their posts 3 all of their own accord
followed their king. The fate of many was pitiable, for
falling from the steep cliff they were swallowed up 4 by
the neighbouring river ; a sad sight even to those who
were not making-the-venture 5 . They were warned by
the fate of the others of what they had to fear for them-
selves, and, their pity turning to alarm, they mourned 6 ,
not for those whom they had lost, but for themselves.
And now they had reached 7 a point from which they
could not return without fatal-consequences 8 , unless they
were victorious, since the barbarians were rolling down
huge stones upon them as they ascended. They were
struck by these, and fell headlong 9 , as the foothold 10 was
insecure " and slippery 12 .
1 discrimen subeo. 2 = the guardians of his body. 3 statio.
4 haurio. 5 periclitor. 6 defleo (trans.). 7 use pass,
impers. 8 pernicies. 9 praeceps. 10 gradus. u insta-
bilis. 12 lubricus.
66 EASY LATIN PROSE
XLYIII
ATTACK ON A MOUNTAIN STRONGHOLD (3)
NEVERTHELESS Alexander and Charon, whom the king
had sent on with thirty picked 1 men, made their way up
and began to fight at-close-quarters 2 . But, as the bar-
barians showered missiles upon them from-above 3 , they
received wounds themselves more often than they in-
flicted them. So Alexander, while fighting with more
daring than caution 4 , mindful both of his name and his
promise, was stabbed 5 and overwhelmed 6 on all sides.
And when Charon saw him lying prostrate, he began to
rush upon the enemy, forgetful of everything except
vengeance 7 , and slew many with the spear and some
with the sword. But as so many were attacking him
alone, he fell lifeless 8 on the body of his friend. The
king, just as was meet 9 , was moved by the death of his
most forward 10 warriors and of the other soldiers, and
gave the signal for retreat 11 . It proved their salvation
that they retired gradually and without fear, and that
the barbarians did not press upon them in their retreat.
The king, however, decided to give up 12 the attempt 13 ,
because no hope presented itself of gaining possession
of the cliff; but still he made an appearance of per-
severing 14 in the attack, for he ordered the roads to be
blocked, towers to be moved up, and others to relieve 15
the wearied soldiers.
1 delectus. 2 cominus. 3 superne. * note idiom = more
boldly than more cautiously (caute). 5 confodio. 6 obruo.
7 ultio. 8 exanimis (adj.). 9 par. ] promptus.
11 signum do receptui. 12 desisto.
vero. 15 succedo (with dat.).
EXERCISES 67
XLIX
PARENTS MUST MAKE ALLOWANCES FOR
THEIR SONS' FAILINGS
A CERTAIN person was chiding l his son, because (as he
said) he used to buy horses and dogs at too extravagant
a rate 2 . I say to him, after the young man had gone,
* Ah ! did you never do anything which your father could
censure ? Do you not sometimes now do that which
your son would blame with the like severity 3 , if he were
suddenly to become the father and you the son ? Are
not all men tempted 4 by some failing 5 ? Does not one
person indulge himself in this, and another in that ? '
Warned by this instance of excessive 6 severity, I have
written this to you in the name of the love which we
have for each other, lest at any time you also should
treat 7 your son too harshly and sternly. Consider that
he is a boy, and that you were once, and so use your
fatherhood 8 that you may remember that you are a
human being and the father of a human being.
1 castigo. 2 = too extravagantly (sumptuose). 3 gravitas.
4 duco. 5 error. 6 immodicus. 7 tracto. 8 = use the
fact that you are a father.
F 2
68
EASY LATIN PROSE
FLIGHT OF DARIUS AFTER ARBELA
DAKIUS with a few companions of his flight had hastened
to the river Lycus. After he had crossed it he was
in doubt whether he should destroy the bridge, as it
was announced that the enemy would soon arrive. But
he saw that if he broke down the bridge many thousands
of his men. who had not yet each the river, would be
at the mercy l of the enemy. It is well known 2 that on
his departure, leaving 3 the bridge intact, he remarked
that he would rather grant a passage to his pursuers than
deprive 4 the fugitives of one. After traversing 5 a great
distance in his flight he reached Arbela 6 at about mid-
night. Chance had directed thither the flight of the
greater part of his friends and soldiers. And so he called
them together and explained that he had no doubt that
Alexander would attack the most populous 7 cities, and
the fields that abounded 8 in all kinds of supplies: the
furthest parts of his kingdom were still intact ; and from
these he would repair his strength without difficulty ; let
that greedy 9 race, destined soon to be at his mercy, seize
on his treasure 10 and glut n themselves with gold.
1 = would be the prey (praeda). 2 constat. 3 sino.
* aufero (with ace. of thing and dat. of person). 5 emetior.
6 Arbela, -orum ; a town of Assyria. 7 celeber. 8 abundo.
9 avidus. ] gaza. :1 satio.
EXERCISES 69
LI
ALEXANDER REACHES THE OXUS
AT last he reached the river Oxus, at about the begin-
ning of the evening, but a large part of his army had not
been able to follow. He ordered fires to be lighted on
a high mountain, in order that those who found difficulty
in following might be aware that they were not far from
the camp. He quickly refreshed l the soldiers who be-
longed to the van-guard 2 with food and drink 3 , and
ordered some to fill skins 4 , and others all the vessels 5 in
whieh water could be carried, and bear help to their com-
rades. But those who drank too eagerly 6 died from
suffocation 7 , and the number of these was larger than
he had lost in any battle. Alexander, however, without
refreshing himself 8 either with food or drink, took his
stand where the army was coming, and did not retire
to attend to 9 his own person until those who closed the
line had all passed. He spent the whole of that night
in great mental distress 10 , nor was he happier on the
next day, because he had no boats, and a bridge could
not be constructed.
1 firmo. 2 primum agmen. 3 potio. 4 uter. 5 vas,
vasis. c intemperanter. 7 = the breath (s>piritus) having
been cut off. 8 = not refreshed (reficio). 9 euro. 10 motus,
-us.
70 EASY LATIN PROSE
LIT
GERMANICUS ADDRESSES HIS MUTINOUS
SOLDIERS (1)
NEITHER wife nor son are dearer to me than my father
and the state ; but he wi 1 be defended by his own
majesty, and the empire of Rome by the other armies.
My wife and children, whom I would willingly offer up
to destruction for the sake of your glory, I now remove
out of the reach of your madness 1 ; in order that, what-
ever crime this is that threatens 2 , it may be expiated 3
by my blood alone, and that the murder 4 of a great-
grandson of Augustus and a daughter-in-law c of Tiberius
may not make your guilt greater still 7 . What name
shall I give this assembly ? Am I to call you soldiers,
you who have beset 8 your commander's son with an
entrenchment and with arms, or am I to call you citi-
zens, you who have renounced 9 the authority of the
Senate ? You have violated even the rights of enemies,
the privileges of ambassadors, and the law of nations.
1 = far from those-being-mad (furo). 2 immineo. 3 pio.
4 see 11. 5 pronepos. G minis. 7 = make you more
guilty. 8 circumsedeo. 9 proicio.
EXERCISES 71
LIII
GERMANICUS ADDRESSES HIS MUTINOUS
SOLDIERS (2)
A FINE return, first and twentieth legions, do you make 1
to your leader ! Shall I carry this report to my father,
who hears from the other provinces nothing but what is
welcome 2 , that his own recruits 3 , his own veterans 4 are
not satisfied 5 with discharge G or bounty ; that only here
centurions are murdered, tribunes cast out, and envoys
imprisoned 7 ; that camps and rivers are stained 8 with
blood, and that I drag on a precarious 9 life amidst bitter
foes. Why, my friends, on the first day of our meeting,
in your heedlessness 10 did you snatch from me that
weapon, which I was preparing to plunge into my breast ?
he who offered me his sword acted better and more
lovingly. I should at least have perished before I was
conscious of so many crimes, and you would have chosen
a leader who might leave 11 my death unpunished, but
would avenge that of Varus and his three legions.
1 I make a return = gratiam refero. 2 laetus. 3 tiro
4 veteranus. 5 satio. 6 missio, -onis. 7 include.
8 inficio. 9 precarius. 10 improvidus (adj.). ll sino.
EASY LATIN PROSE
LIV
THE HUNTING EXPLOITS OF A LITERAKY
MAN
You will laugh, and laugh you may. I, the man you
know, have caught three wild-boars ] , and very fine they
are too. Yourself? you say. Myself; not that I de-
parted in any degree from my (usual) indolence' 2 and
calm 3 . I sat by the nets 4 ; there was no hunting-spear 5
or lance at hand, but a pen 7 and a notebook 8 . I was
musing over 9 something and making notes 10 , so that
I might bring back my tablets n full, though my hands
were empty. There is no reason why you should despise
this method of study. It is wonderful how the mind is
stirred by the exercise 12 and movement of the body.
Moreover the woods and the solitude and the very
silence itself are great incentives 13 to thought. So when
you go a-hunting, you will be allowed, on my authority,
to take your note book with you. You will find that
Minerva wanders over the mountains just as much as
Diana.
[Translate in epistolary style, see 17.]
1 aper. 2 inertia. 3 quies. 4 rete. 5 venabulum.
6 lancea. 7 stilus, -i. 8 pugillares, -ium. 9 meditor.
10 enoto. n cerae, -arum. 12 agitatio. 13 incitamentum.
EXERCISES 73
LV
THE CASE FOR THE AEDUI
THE Aedui (Orat. Obliqua) and their dependents 1 have
fought again and again with the Germans. They have
been defeated, and have suffered great reverses ; they
have lost all their nobles, all their senate, all their
cavalry. Crushed by these battles and reverses, they,
who formerly possessed the most influence 2 in Gaul
through their own valour and the friendship of the
Roman people, have been compelled to give as hostages
the most noble of their state, and to bind 3 the community
by an oath not to demand the hostages back, or to ask
for assistance from Rome, or to refuse to be for ever
under the sway 4 and authority of their enemies. I am
the only one out of the whole state, who could not be
induced to take the oath or to surrender my children as
hostages. For that reason I have fled from my country,
and come to the senate at Rome to demand help.
2 I possess most influence = plurimum possum.
4 dicio.
74 EASY LATIN PROSE
LVI
WHEN CIVIL WAR THREATENS
You can tell in what a critical-position 1 my safety is,
together with that of all respectable 2 citizens, and even
of the entire commonwealth, from the fact that we have
left our homes and our country itself to the mercy of the
spoiler and incendiary 3 . Matters have reached such
a pass that, unless some god or some accident 4 come to
our assistance, it is impossible for us to be saved. For
my part, ever since I came to the city, I never ceased to
plan, to say, and to do everything that might conduce 5 to
harmony 6 . But an extraordinary fit of madness had
come over all, not the disaffected 7 only, but those also
who are regarded as respectable ; and so they desired
a contest in spite of my protesting 8 that there was nothing
more harrowing 9 than civil war. So when Caesar was
carried away by a sort of frenzy 10 and had so far forgotten
his fame and his position as to seize on Arretium, we
abandoned the city ; as to how far we acted wisely or
bravely there is no advantage in discussing 11 ; you see
indeed in what a plight 12 we are.
1 discrimen. 2 bonus. 3 = to be spoiled and burnt.
4 casus. 5 pertineo. c concordia. 7 improbus. 8 clamo.
9 miser. 10 amentia. n dispute. 12 casus.
EXERCISES 75
LYII
THE BEGINNING OF A BATTLE
IN the evening the consul passed the word J through
the camp that before daybreak the men and horses should
be attended to 2 and fed 3 , and that the troopers should be
armed and keep their horses saddled 4 and bridled 5 .
Almost before it was light, he sent out all the cavalry
with the light-armed troops c against the Carthaginian
outposts 7 , and then immediately went forward himself
with the heavy-armed legions 8 . Contrary to the expecta-
tions of his own men and the enemy the wings were
guarded by the Roman soldiery, and the allies were placed
in the centre. Hasdrubal, aroused by the shouting of the
cavalry, rushed from his tent 9 , and saw the confusion in
front of the camp and the panic 10 of his troops while the
standards of the legions were gleaming in the distance
and the plains were filled with the enemy. So at once
he sent out all his cavalry against the enemy's horsemen,
and marched out of the camp with a body of infantry.
In drawing up his line he made no change from his
usual custom.
1 tesseram do. 2 curatus. 3 praiisus. * instratus.
5 frenatus. c levis armatura. 7 static. 8 = with the
heavy-armed (gravis) body of legions. 9 tabernaculum.
10 trepidatio.
76 EASY LATIN PROSE
LVIII
CAESAR'S EXPLOITS IN GAUL
IN the course of the nine years in which he was in
authority l his achievements were pretty nearly as fol-
lows. He reduced all Gaul, which is bounded by the
pass 2 of-the-Pyrenees :< , by the Alps and Cevennes 4 , and
by the rivers Rhine and Rhone, and has a circumference 5
of about 3,200 miles, to the form of a province, with the
exception of the allied states and those that had served
him well 6 . He was the first of the Romans, by con-
structing a bridge, to attack the Germans who live across
the Rhine, and to inflict severe defeats upon them. He
also attacked the Bri tains who were formerly unknown,
and having vanquished them demanded hostages and an
indemnity 7 . Amongst so many successes he experienced
a reverse 8 on tfyree occasions, and no more ; in Britain,
when his fleet was almost destroyed by a violent storm ;
in Gaul, when a legion was routed at Gergovia ; and in
the territory of the Germans, when his lieutenants lost
their lives by an ambuscade. To the legions which he
had received from the state he added others at his own
private expense 9 , one of which was levied lo in Trans-
alpine Gaul, and had a Gallic title n , for it was called
' Alauda ', which he trained 12 and equipped 13 in the
Roman fashion, and to which he afterwards gave the
citizenship 14 .
1 imperium. 2 saltus. 3 Pyrenaeus (adj.). * moiis
Gebenna. 5 circuitus. = that deserved well. 7 pecuniae
(pi.). 8 adversus casus. 9 sumptus. 10 conscribo. " vo-
cabulum. Vi instituo. 13 orno. H civitate dono.
EXERCISES 77
LIX
A JOINT TRIUMPH
AN arrangement-was-made l between the two consuls
by letter that, although they were coming from different
directions, they should approach the city at one and the
same time, just as they had carried on the government
with one mind. The one who reached Praeneste 2 first
was requested to wait 3 there for his colleague. It so
happened that they both arrived at Praeneste on the same
day. A proclamation was sent on from there that the
senate should meet three days afterwards at the temple of
Bellona, and they approached the city, all the population
pouring out 4 to meet them. Some congratulated 5 them,
others expressed their thanks 6 that the state had been
saved by their exertions. After 7 giving an account to
the senate of their achievements, in the manner of all
commanders, they requested that, in return for the reso-
lute and successful management 8 of public affairs, honour
should be rendered to the gods, and they themselves
should be allowed to enter the city in triumph. The
Fathers replied that they granted their request from
thankfulness 9 first to the gods, and then after the gods
to the consuls 7 . So to avoid dividing their triumph
after having carried on the war in mutual accord, they
arranged that one consul should enter the city in a four-
horse car 10 followed by the soldiers, while the other
should ride in n unattended 12 .
1 it is arranged convenit (impers.). 2 Praeneste, -is (neut.),
a town of Latium. 3 opperior. 4 effundor. 5 gratulor.
6 gratias ago. 7 Make this one complex sentence. Which is
the main idea? see 5. 8 I manage = administro: see 11.
9 = through the desert (meritum) of .... 10 quadrigae, -arum.
11 equo invehor. 12 = without soldiers.
EASY LATIN PROSE
LX
AN IMPERTINENT THEORIST
WHEN Hannibal, after being banished from Carthage,
came as an exile to Antiochus at Ephesus, he was invited
by his hosts l to hear the philosopher Phormio. He said
he had no objection, and then that eloquent 2 personage
discoursed to him for several hours on the duties of a
general and the whole art of war. All the rest of the
audience were highly delighted, and asked Hannibal what
he thought 3 of that philosopher. The Carthaginian there-
upon is said to have replied that he had seen many crazy 4
old men, but no one who was more crazy than Phormio.
And rightly too. For what could be more presumptuous 5
than for a Greek, who had never seen the face of the
enemy G , or a camp, who in short had never come-into-
contact 7 with even the humblest department 8 of any
state office 9 , to give instruction 10 in the art of war to such
a man as Hannibal, who in the course of so many years
had contested the supremacy n with the Roman people,
the conquerors of the world ?
hospes.
copiosus.
3 iudico.
gans.
8 pars.
5 = had never seen an enemy,
munus. 10 praecepta, -orum.
4 delirus. 5 arro-
7 attingo (trans.).
11 de imperio certo.
EXERCISES 79
LXI
A DESCENT UPON NEW CARTHAGE
WHILE Mago was preparing to cross over to Africa,
news was brought to him from Carthage that the senate
ordered him to take his fleet across to Italy. As he was
sailing along * the Spanish coast, he landed 2 some troops
near to New Carthage and laid waste the fields in the
vicinity. Then he brought 3 his fleet up to the city.
During the day 4 he kept his soldiers in the ships, but at
night he effected a landing on the shore and marched up
to the walls, for he thought that the city was not held
by an adequate 5 garrison, and that some of the towns-
people would make a movement in the hope of bringing
about a revolution. But the news of the raid 6 , of the
flight of the country-people 7 , and the approach of the
enemy had been carried to the city by some panic-
stricken 8 messengers from the fields, and the fleet had
been seen during the day. So the inhabitants were kept
under arms in battle order within the gate that faced 
