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Geoffrey Steadman
Selections from Ovid’s Metamorphoses
Latin Text with Facing Vocabulary and Commentary
Beta Edition
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The Latin text was originally edited by Albert Curtis Clark in 1908.
ISBN-13: 978-0-9991884-1-5
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iii
āēr, āeris m.: air (āera – greek acc. sg.), 2 locus, -ī m.: place
animus, -ī m.: soul, spirit; courage, pride minimus, -a, -um: least, smallest, very small
ars, artis f.: art, craft, skill, 3 Mīnos, Mīnōis m.: Minos (King of Crete)
at: but nam: for
brevis, -e: short nātālis, -e: of one’s birth, birth
certus, -a, -um: reliable, certain, definite nātūra, -ae. f.: nature
claudō, -ere, -sī, -sus: close in, hem in novō (1): make new, change, renew
coepī, coepisse, coeptum: begin, start, 3 obstruō, obstruere, obstrūxī: block
Crēta (Crētē), -ae f.: Crete (-ēn, Greek acc.) ordō, -inis m.: order, row, line
dīmittō, -ere, -mīsī, -missus: direct; send away pateō, -ēre, -uī: lie open, extend
eō, īre, īvī: to go, come, 2 pelagus, -ī: sea
exilium, -iī n.: exile, banishment per-ōdī, -isse, perōsus: hate utterly, loathe
ignōtus, -a, -um: unknown, unaccustomed, 2 possideō, -ēre, -sēdī: possess, take hold of, 2
illāc: (to) there sequor, -ī, secūtus sum: follow, 2
inquit: he/she says tangō, tangere, tetigī, tāctus: to touch
intereā: meanwhile, in the meantime unda, -ae f.: wave, 3
licet, -ēre, uit: be allowed; although, granted that
1
Ovid’s Metamorphoses: Icarus and Daedalus
191 ut…putēs: so that…; result clause with ūnā: near; “together,” or “as one;” an adverb
2s pres. subj. 196 stābat...captābat...molliēbat...impediēbat:
(pennās)…crēvisse: that (the feathers) grew…; Note how these impf. verbs are placed at the
ind. disc. with pf. inf. beginning of each line for emphasis.
(in) clīvō: abl. place where: add the preposition 196 sē tractāre…: that he…; ind. disc. following
sīc: introducing a brief simile ignārus; reflexive sē is acc. subject
rūstica fistula: i.e. a Pan flute sua perīc(u)la: i.e. things dangerous to himself
disparibus…avēnīs: with…; abl. means 197 ōre renīdentī: his face…; abs. abs. with pres.
līnō mediās (pennās alligat) et cērīs alligat pple that has a 3rd decl. i-stem abl. ending; the
īmās (pennās): The fem. pl. adjectives refer to participle means ‘beaming’ but refers to the
the missing noun pennās; Note that mediās and smile on his face; Icarus appears naïve of how
īmās are can be translated with or without the dangerous the situation is
preposition “of” in English; līnō and cērīs are modo…modo…: now…now…; adv. as Icarus
abl. means runs from one activity to the next
194 (pennās) ita compositās: PPP, add the noun quās vaga moverat aura: which..; relative
parvō curvāmine: i.e. the curvature we see clause modifying plūmās in 198
in the wings when a bird is flying towards us 198 captābat: kept catching; iterative impf. or
195 ut…imitētur: so that…may…; purpose with conative impf., “tried to catch”
pres. subj.; imitor is deponent
2
Ovid’s Metamorphoses: Icarus and Daedalus
adūrō, -ere, -ussī, -ustus: set on fire, burn instruō, -ere, -strūxī, -structum: build, equip
ait: he/she says lībrō (1): balance, make balance
āla, -ae f.: wing, 3 limes, līmitis m.: path; limit, boundary
aura, aurae f.: breeze, 3 lūsus, -ūs m.: play, game
Boötes, -ae f.: Boötes (“herdsman,” a mīrābilis, -e: amazing, remarkable, wonderful
constellation) molliō, mollīre, mollīvī, mollitus: soften, 2
celsus, -a, -um: high, lofty moneō, monēre, monuī: warn, advise
coepī, coepisse, coeptum: begin, 3 nātus, -ī m.: son, 3
currō, -ere, cucurrī: run, rush, fly opifex, opificis m.: craftsman (work-maker)
dēmissus, -a, -um: low pendō, -ere, pependī, pensum: hang
eō, īre, īvī: go, come, 2 ultimus, -a, -um: last
geminus, -a, -um: twin; two unda, -ae f.: wave, 3
gravō (1): weigh down, make heavy uterque, utra-, utrum-: each (of two), both
impediō, -īre: hinder, delay, impede volō (1): to fly, 4
impōnō, -ere, -posuī, -positus: place on (dat.)
199 mollībat: kept…; another iterative impf., verbs īnstruit and ait
alternative form for molliēbat mediō…ut līmite currās moneō: I advise
lūsō suō: with…; abl. of means that…; an ind. command with pres. subj.
mīrābile: neuter 3rd decl. adj. with neuter opus governed by moneō
200 impediēbat: kept…; iterative impf. (in) mediō līmite: abl. place where
manus ultima: equivalent to the expression 204 nē…gravet…adūrat..: lest…; a fearing
“the final touch” in English clause with pres. subj. verbs
coeptō: on the undertaking; “on the thing sī…ībis: fut. eō; translate in English in the
begun” substantive (PPP used as a noun) and present tense (with future sense)
dat. of compound verb (remove prefix im- on dēmissior…celsior: too low…too high…;
imposita and make it the preposition with comparative adjs. can express excess (i.e. lower
coeptō) than usual); a nom. adj. in Latin will often
201 opifex…ipse: i.e. Daedalus translate as an adv. in English
202 motāque: et mōtā…; PPP with aurā; -que 205 (et) sī celsior (ībis): and if…; supply verb
joins the two verbs lībrāvit and pependit 206 volā: imperative
203 et: also; adv. Boōtēn: a Greek accusative;
‘mediō’ que…ait: and says…; -que joins the
3
Ovid’s Metamorphoses: Icarus and Daedalus
accommodō (1): to fit, adapt, adjust Ōrīōn, -ōnis m.: Orion (a constellation)
āēr, āeris m.: air (āera – greek acc. sg.), 2 pariter: equally
āla, -ae f.: wing, 3 patrius, -a, -um: of the father, 2
āles, ālis m/f: bird penna, -ae f.: feather; wing, 5
aut: or; aut…aut, either…or, 2 praeceptum, -ī n.: lesson
carpō, -ere: to seize, take; pluck, 2 prōdūcō, -ere, -duxī, -ductum: lead forth
comes, -itis m/f: companion prōles, -is m/f: offspring
ēnsis, -is m.: sword repetō, petere, petīvī: seek again, repeat
gena, -ae f.: cheek senīlis, -e: of the old (man)
Helicē, -ēs f.: Helice (‘Great Bear,’ constellation) stringō, -ere, strinxī, trictum: draw, pull
ignōtus, -a, -um: unknown, unaccustomed, 2 tenerus, -a, -um: tender, fragile, weak, young
iterum: again trādō, -dere, -didī: give over, hand down
levō (1): lift, lighten, relieve tremō, -ēre, tremuī: to tremble, shake
madescō, -ēre, maduī: moisten, become wet umerus, -ī m.: shoulder
monitus, -ūs m.: warning, advice velut: just as
nātus, -ī m.: son, 3 volō (1): fly, 4
nīdus, -ī m.: nest
207 Helicēn: Greek acc., object of spectāre (“cut off”) to –ēre in poetry
iubeō: governs an acc. + inf.; here, tē spectāre 211 patriae: nom. pl. adjective with fem manūs
strīctumque: et strīctum; PPP with ēnsem; tremuēr(unt): syncopated, 3p pf.
the constellation is called “Orion’s sword" nātō…suō: dat. ind. object of dedit
208 mē duce: with me (being) guide; abl. abs.; 212 repetenda: to be repeated; “going to be
since Latin has no pple for the verb sum repeated” a gerundive (fut. passive pple);
carpe viam: sg. imperative foreshadowing the events that follow
volandī: gen. of a gerund (-ing); a gerund is a 213 comitīque: and for his companion: dat. of
verbal noun interest; the –que joins the two main verbs
209 trādit…timet: Daedalus is subject velut āles…quae: just as a bird which…; a
umerīs: to his…; a dat. of compound verb; simile; āles is fem. nom. sg.
make the prefix -ad the preposition preceding ab altō…nīdō: translate together within the
umerīs relative clause; the separation of this phrase by
210 maduēr(unt): grew wet; syncopated, 3p pf. so many words is called hyperbaton.
verb; the ending –ērunt is often syncopated 214 in āëra: into…; a Greek acc. sg.
4
Ovid’s Metamorphoses: Icarus and Daedalus
aethēr, -eris (Grk acc. –a) m.: upper air, sky innītor, innītī, innixum: lean on, support, (abl)
āla, -ae f.: wing, 3 Iūnōnius, -a, -um: of Juno, Junonian, 1
aliquis, aliquid: someone, something laevus, -a, -um: left
arātor, -ōris m.: plowman Lebinthos -ī f.: Lebinthus (island off Asia Minor)
ars, artis f.: art, craft, skill, 3 mel, mellis n.: honey
aut: or; aut…aut, either…or, 2 nātus, -ī m.: son, 3
baculum, -ī n.: staff obstipeō, -ēre, -uī: stand agape, be astonished
Calymnē, -ēs f.: Calymne (mid-Aegean island) Paros, -ī f.: Paros (island north of Crete)
carpō, -ere: seize, take; pluck, 2 pastor, -oris m.: shepherd
credō, -ere, crēdidī: believe, trust (+ dat.) piscis, -is m/f: fish
damnōsus, -a, -um: harmful, ruinous relinquō, -ere, reliquī, relictum: abandon, leave
Dēlos, -ī f.: Delos (mid-Aegean island) behind
dum: while, as long as, until respiciō, -ere, -spēxī, -spectum: look back at
ērudiō, -īre: teach, instruct Samos, -ī f.: Samos (mid-Aegean island)
fecundus, -a, -um: fertile stīva, -ae f.: plow handle
harundo, -inis f.: fishing pole, rod, reed tremulus, -a, -um: trembling, quivering
hortor, -ārī, hortātus sum: encourage, urge ve: or
iam: already, now, 2
215 hortātur (Īcārum): pres. dep.; supply the stīvāve: aut stīvā: abl. means with innīxus; see
object note above
sequī: pres. dep. inf. 219 vīdit et obstipuit…: with disjunctions (aut,
216 movet ipse suās (ālās): he himself…; supply -ve) the 3s verbs agree with all three subjects
an extra acc. ālās quīque…possent: and (those) who were able…
217 hōs: these (two); acc. obj. of vīdit and impf. subj. possum: subj. of a subordinate verb
obstipuit; hōs is in an emphatic position at the in ind. disc.; the missing antecedent is subject
beginning of the line of esse below
aliquis dum…: dum aliquis… esse deōs: that (those)…; ind. disc.
aliquis…pastor…arātor: all three subjects are 221 Iunōnia Samos (erat): add verb
joined with the disjunctions “or,” which allows laevā parte: on…; abl. place where
Ovid to use a 3s verbs in agreement fuerant…relictae: relictae erat; alternative
harundine: abl. of mean form for plpf. pass.
218 pastor baculō (innīxus): add PPP innixus, 222 dextra…erat: the right (side) was…
which can mean “supported” or “leaning on” melle: in…; acc. of respect qualifying fecunda
and governs an abl. of means
5
Ovid’s Metamorphoses: Icarus and Daedalus
agō, agere, ēgī, āctum: drive, lead, do molliō, mollīre, mollīvī, mollitus: to soften, 2
audāx, -ācis: bold, audacious nūdus, -a, -um: bare, naked
aura, aurae f.: breeze, 3 odōrātus, -a, -um: fragrant, sweet-smelling
caeruleus, -a, -um: blue-green patrius, -a, -um: of the father, 2
careō, -ēre, -uī: to lack, be without (abl) penna, -ae f.: feather; wing, 5
cēra, -ae f.: wax, 4 percipiō, -ere: to catch; perceive
clāmō (1): shout, scream quatō, -ere: to flap, shake
coepī, coepisse, coeptum: begin, 3 rēmigium, -ī n.: set of oars; oarage,
cupīdō, cupīdinis m.: desire, longing tabeō, tabēre, tabuī: to melt, drip away
dēserō, -ere, -uī, desertum: abandon, forsake ūllus, -a, -um: any
excipiō, -ere , -cēpī: receive, welcome vīcīnia, -ae f.: closeness, vicinity
gaudeō, -ēre, gravīsus sum: rejoice, enjoy (abl) vinculum, -ī n.: bond, chain
lacertus, -ī m.: arm, upper arm volō (1): to fly, 4
223 cum…coepit: when…; cum with indicative 228 remigiō carēns: lacking from oarage; pres.
expresses definite time: “at the moment when” pple, careō governs an abl. of separation; Ovid
audācī…volātū: abl. object of gaudēre; likens the wings in the air to oars in the water
audācī is a 3rd decl. i-stem abl. adj. 229 ōra: this neuter plural of ōs is either (1) “his
224 dēseruitque…caelīque…ēgit: both…and…; mouth” a poetic plural, which we may translate
the two conjunctions –que join dēseruit and ēgit in the sg. in English or (2) “the faces,” which
as the main verbs refer to the expressions Icarus makes as he
caelī: for…; objective gen. with cupīdine descends into the water
tractus: PPP, trahō caeruleā…aquā: abl. of means
225 altius: neuter comparative adj. with iter clāmantia: neuter pl. pres. pple with a 3rd decl.
ēgit: drove; i.e. flew i-stem neuter pl. ending (-ia)
rapidī sōlis: of the…; rapidus can mean 230 nōmen (suum): (it’s)…; as often, English
“swift” but comes from rapere, “snatch,” and prefers to have a possessive where Latin has
also means “consuming” “grasping” or “fierce” none
pennārum vincula: acc. in apposition to trāxit: derived; “drew,” the sea is called the
odōrātās cērās: translate after cērās “Icarian Sea”
227 tābuerant: the plpf. emphasizes that it was ab illō: i.e. from Icarus
already too late to change course
6
Ovid’s Metamorphoses: Icarus and Daedalus
ars, artis f.: art, craft, skill, 3 penna, -ae f.: feather; wing, 5
aspiciō, -ere, aspēxī: look at, look for regiō, -ōnis f.: region, district
at: but; mind you; but, you say requirō, -ere: to seek, look for
condō, -ere, condidī: bury, hide; found sepeliō, -īre, sepelī, sepultum: to bury
dēvovō, -ere, -vovī: disavow; curse, pray not to sepulcrum, -ī n.: grave
iam: already, now, 2 tellūs, -ūris f.: earth, ground
infēlīx (-icis): unlucky, unfortunate unda, -ae f.: wave, 3
231 nec iam: Readers often laugh at this remark feathers abruptly stops Daedalus from
because Ovid appears to state something and calling out.
then correct himself unexpectedly. Ovid often 234 que…que…et…: three conjunctions joining
uses wit when relating grim and violent four verbs. Be sure to translate the conjunction
narratives in the Metamorphoses. before the noun to which it is attached: “et
232 (In) quā regiōne: in what.…?; quā is an dēvōvit” and “et corpus.”
interrogative adj.; abl.. of place where 234 sepulchrō: in…; abl. place where
requīram: either (1) a 1s future (will I…?) or 235 ā nōmine: from…; abl. of source/origin
more likely (2) a 1s pres. deliberative subj. (am dicta (est): 3s pf. passive dīcō, “call” or
I to…?). This subj. is employed to express "name;’ the island where Icarus was buried is
open-ended questions that have not been still called Icaria and lies near the Icarian sea
resolved. off of Asia Minor
234 dicēbat: he kept…; iterative impf.; Note the 235 sepultī: of the (one)…; i.e. Icarus; a
juxtaposition of impf. dicēbat with pf. aspēxit substantive formed rom the PPP sepeliō
with pennās in the middle: the sight of the
7
Alphabetized Core Vocabulary