CHAPTER VI

pueri prope ianuam stant; magister <licit: Quintus ser6 advenit; magister <licit: 'cur
'intrate, pueri, et sedete!' ser6 advenis, Quinte? intra celeriter et
sede.'

pueri in ~µbselliis sed~nt; magister <licit: Decimus litteras male scribit; magister
'tacete, pueriA.et audite!' dicit: 'veni hue, Decime, et litteras
qv.4 '\ iterum scribe.'
0 Imperatives ~\-\ e>.>
Imperatives are the part of the verb used to give orders;
orders may be given to one person (Coine here, boy!) or
to more than one (Come here, boys!); and so Latin has
different forms for singular and plural

1 2 3 4
singular amalove! mone advise! rege rule! audihear!
plural amate monete regite audite

39
 Exercise 6.1

Translate
1 intrate, pueri, et sedetel
*NB Words ending in
2 responde, Maree* l cur non dicis? -us change to -e when
3 ubi est Argus? quaere canem, Quintel the person is being
4 redit_e ad agrum, pueri, et patrem iuvatel addressed or called to
5 veni hue, Quinte, et matrem salutal ( vocative case)

Exercise 6.2

Translate into Latin

1 Come here, friends, and look at Quintus.
2 Hurry, Quintus; we are arriving late:
3 Answer, boys. Why are you silent? are you silent tacetis
. 4 Run to the field, Quintus, and call Flaccus to dinner.
5 Work hard, friends; the master is coming. hard dDigenter

0 The third declension

Nouns are divided into groups, called declensions. You have already
met nouns of the first declension: nominative -a, accusative -am; and
nouns of the second declension: nominative -us or -er, accusative -um,
e.g. iili-us, fili-um; pu-er, puer-um.
The nominative singular of the third declension has various forms,
e.g. rex, nivis, urbs; the accusative singular ends -em; the nominative
and accusative plural end -es (the same ending for both cases).

,.

nominative singular urbs city re:x:king Divis ship

accusative singular urb-em reg-em Div-em

nominative plural · urb-es reg-es niv-es

accusative plural urb-es reg'!'es nav-es

Some words ending -er in nominative singular belong to the third

declension, e.g.

nominative pater father mater mother frater brother

. accusative patrem miitrem fritrem

40
 Thfi~d _declension adjectives have the same endings for masculine and
em1mne, e.g. .

nominative singular omnis all tristis sad fortis brave

accusative singular omnem trlstem fortem
nominative plural omnes trlstls fortes
accusative plural omnes trlstls fortes

FLAVIUS'S STORY:
THE DEATH OF HECTOR
postridie pueri ad liidum accedunt. Decimus sero postridie the next day
advenit. amicos vocat: 'manete, amici; exspectate me.'
amici manent et Decimum exspectant. sed magister e
i~nua exit et eos vocat: 'festinate, pueri; intrate
celeriter et sedete.'
itaque intrant pueri celeriter et sedent in sellis, sed sellls chairs
1... non laborant. magisteriratus est; 'laborate, pueri,'
inquit; 'litteras scribite.'
sed Decimus non laborat;·puellam spectat, quae in quae who
via ambulat. magister valde iratus est. 'Decime,' inquit, ambulat is walking
'cur non laboras? veni hiic.' Decimus ad magistrum adit
et dicit: 'erras, magister. ego Iaboro. vide litteras.' erras you're wrong
magister litteras spectat et 'Decime,' inquit, 'litteras
male scribis. asinus es. dnigenter laborayecimus ad
sellam redit. dTiigenter laborat. omnes pueri diligenter dfligenter hard
laborant. tandem Marcus 'magister,' inquit, 'omnes omnes all
diligenter laboramus et litteras bene scribimus. itaque tandem at last
narra nobis fabulam.' bene well; itaque and so
magister 'ita ver6,' inquit. 'iam vos omnes narra nobis tell us
diligenter laboratis. boni pueri estis. iam ego fabulam ita veto certainly
vobis narr6. attendite et me audite.' vobis to you

Agamemnon, rex Mycenarum, omnes principes Mycenarum of Mycenae;

Graecorum convocat; nam bellum in Troian6s parat. principes Graecorum princes
frater eius, Menelaus, adest; Achilles venit e Thessalia; of the Greeks
bellum war; in against
adest Ulixes ex Ithaca, et multi ali!:finagnum exercitum
frater eius his brother
colligunt et multas naves parant. ad Troiam navigant et exercitum army
urbem oppugnant. colligunt collect

41
 ITH.-\CA
~'v p?
I) C, Q

c:;,'b Ii"
c!l.,~
l:i ..

R~

The Lion Gate at Mycenae

sed Troiani fortiter urbem defendunt. saepe in defendunt defend

pugna Graeci Troianos vincunt sed urbem non capiunt. saepe often
decem annos Troiam obsident. tandem Agamemnon decem annos for ten years
Achillem insultat; ille valde iratus est; non diiitius obsident besiege
insultat insults; diiitius any
pugnat sed prope naves manet et cessat. tum Troiani longer
- Graecos.viQcunt
•,
et pellunt ad naves. .
Agamemnon amicos' ad Achillem mittit et
prope near; cessat rests
tum then
auxilium petit; illi dicunt: 'Achilles, rroiani nos vincunt pellunt drive
et pellunt ad naves.(in magno periculq sumus. itaque auxilium help; nos us
periculo danger
amicos iuva; redi act' pugnam.' sed ille iram 1non
compescit check, abate
compescit neque ad pugnam redit~ sed manet prope neque nor, and not
naves et cessat.
iam Troiani naves oppugnant et incendunt. tum incendunt set fire to
amicus Achillis, Patroclus, 'Achilles,' inquit, 'Troiani amicus Achillis Achilles's friend
iam naves incendunt. amicos iuva. si tii iram non si if
compescis, mitte me in pugnam.' Achilles invitus invitus unwilling(ly)
Patroclum in pugnam mittit. ille arma Achillis induit et anna Achillis the arms of
comites. in pugnam ducit. Achilles; induit puts on
comites comrades
volat hasta per auram et Hectoris gulam percutit.
\/VV\'
 . Troiani,~ bi eos vid_ent in p~gnam r~~ntes~ valde ruentes rushing
timent et fug1unt. Patroclus fort1ter curnt m eos et
mu_lt~s i1~terficit. sed Hector, lfortissimus Troianorum j interficit kills; fortissimus
res1st1t qt Patroclum in pugnam vocat. hastam iacit et Troianorum bravest of the
Patroclum interficit. Trojans
Achilles, ubi hoc cognosdt, valde tristis est et resistit stands firm
amicum luget. iram in Hectorem vertit. redit ad hastam spear
hoc this; cognoscit learns
pugnam et comites in Troianos diicit. illi territi in Uiget mourns; vertit turns
urbem fugiunt et portas claudunt. Hector solus extra claudunt shut; solus alone
miiros manet et Achillem exspectat. extra miiros outside the walls
pater Priamus, rex Troiae, eum videt e miiris et rex Troiae king of Troy
clamat: 'urbem intra, Hector; Achilles te petit. festina; te petit is after you
I .
portas aperimus. in magno periculo es.' sed Hector aperimus we are opening
urbem non intrat. Troianos vocat et dicit: 'portas
claudite, Troiani; festinate. ego solus maneo extra
portas et pro patria pugno.' pro patria for my country
~ toiani portas claudunt et Hector Achillem propius nearer
exspectat. ille propius accedit et hastam vibrat. tum vibrat brandishes
Hector valde tiniet; tergum vertit et fugit. tergum back

I I • ,I 1'

Achilles fights Hector.

\ Ati;illes celeriter currit et Hectorem petit, sed non

capit eum. ter circum miiros urbis fugit Hector; tandem ter three times; circum round
re~istift ~e vertit et Achillem in pugnam vocat. Achilles se vertit turns round
pr6cedit et hastam vibrat. conicit hastam in Hectorem. procedit advances
sed Hector hastam videt et vitat. tum Hector hastam conicit hurls
conicit et Achillis sciitum percutit. sed Achilles tutus vitat avoids
est; nam sciitum eurG'p rotegit. Achillis sciitum Achilles's
shield; percutit hits
deinde Achilles &opius accedit; ha~tam summa vi protegit protects
conicit; volat hasta p;},auram et Hectons gulam
deinde then; summa vi with
percutit. ille ad terram cadit mortuus. all his might

. \ \#2' I\&"'
volat flies; auram air
Hectoris gulam Hector's throat
cadit falls
~\
\,-µv . 43

7
0 pugno (1) I fight mortuus-a dead \I i.. l ~ 1
"'"'

.oppugno ( 1) I attack multus-a much, many \ I 1- \

navigo (1) I sail fortis brave
vinco (3) I conquer fortiter bravely
raa.mn_2 I am present omnis -
trlstis
all
sad
C7 ille illa he, she
tandem at length, at last

NB The gender of nouns is given thus: m. masculine;/. feminine.

porta,/. gate Divis,/. ship
pugna,/. fight, battle rex, m. king
ira,f. anger orbs,/. city
terra,/. land, earth princeps, m. chief, leader

NB Many third decleqsion adjectives form adverbs by addi_!}g -ter to

the stem - ·· -

fortis brave forti~r-/< -- bray~l~~~J~/)>: -

celer quick celeriter~· - · qwcld~ ~~:C/ · - ·
diligens careful dili~nter :' car_~fully;/ -· -. ·

iercise6.3 Exercise 6.4

Add the correct ending to the nouns and Analyse and translate
adjectives ending- and translate
1 pater filium ad navem diicit.
1 Quintus patr- exspectat. 2 rex omnes principes ad urbem vocat.
2 Graeci nav- ascendunt. 3 puella fratrem diii. in via exspectat.
3 pueri matr- si;iltitant. 4 quid facitis, amici? festinate ad
4 omn- pueri et omn- puellae diligenter urbem.
laborant. 5 ciir navem ascendis, Maree? mane et
5 pater puerum fort- laudat. m~ exspecta.
6 mater filiam trist- consolat.
' -=
7 magister omn- pueros laudat.
8 puella reg- diii. exspectat.
consolat comforts

44
 Exercise 6. 5

Translate into Latin

1 Why are you waiting? Run quickly to 5 The king prepares many ships and
the ship. sails to Troy.
2 Fight bravely, friends, and take the 6 Hurry to the woods, Quintus, and
city.
look for Argus.
3 All the boys are sitting in the school 7 The master praises the brave boys.
and working. 8 What are you doing, friends? Come
4 Mother is sad; for (her) daughter is
not here.
t to the city.
. 'tnJ~,1 1~c\
Exercise 6.6

Translate the first paragraph and answer the questions below on the
second and third paragraphs
Hector in terra iacet mortuus. Achilles accurrit et dirum facinus terrible deed
dirum facinus facit. Hectorem mortuum ad currum currum chariot
alligat et circum mfi.ros trahit, pater et mater e miiris alligat ties
spectant, territi. mater damat: '6 Achilles,' inquit,
'tandem iram compesce; fili~m redde.' sed Achilles
compesce check; redde give
Hectorem ad naves trahit; ibi eum relinquit in terra back
iacentem. '{,1 ~ relinquit leaves
r-:;;;;::---;::~~~--:::::=---.::::::--;i~~r------;~-, iacentem lying

Achilles Hectorem mortuum ad

currum alligat et circum m0r6s
trahit.

diu Priamus filium mortuum luget. tandem, ubi liiget mourns for
nox venit, ex urbe exit et solus ad Graecorum naves solus alone
procedit. ad Achillis tabemaculum venit; intrat; _a d Graecorum of the Greeks
terram procuxµbft et misericordiam rogat. '6 Achilles,' Achillis tabemaculum
inquit, 'tu victor es. tandem iram compesce et filium Achilles's tent
mortuum ad matrem remitte.' procumbit bows
misericordiam pity

45
 ubi Achilles Priamum videt, attonitus est. . m1'nd·• tollit raises
misericordia animum vincit. Priamum e terra tollit, anunum
filium mortuum reddit et patrem ad urbem Troiam
tiitum remittit.
1What does Priam do when night comes?
2What does he say to Achilles?
Y3 How does Achilles behave when he sees Priam in his tent?
/\ 4How does his behaviour make you reassess his character?
SGive one example each from these two paragraphs of: a compound
verb, an imperative, a preposition with the ablative.
6 Give the nominative singular of the following words: Cilium ( 1.8),
naves (1.9) , terram (1.11).

HOMER AND THE ILIAD-1 :"' '• .r.

•· I ;:-
The first, and some would say the greatest,
poet of Western literature is a Greek
who probably lived before 700 sc. His
f~ /

/ '-4'. , .
f~{Jt:-..
;' .
name was Homer. We know almost
nothing about him. He came from Ionia
(see map), and according to tradition he
; -1 tr·
i .'· , '
was blind. Most scholars now think that 1.,,

he composed both the Iliad and the ':';{

'
Odyssey, the great poems which have '•

come down to us under his name, but

even that is uncertain. The Iliad is the
tragic story of the terrible events which
led up to the sack of Troy, a city in north-
west Turkey, by the Greeks. The Odyssey
tells of Odysseus's return from Troy to
Greece and his recovery of his kingdom,
and the adventures and dangers he met
in the process.

..... ....
1r
·, ~;_ :..
Homer
- '

• """ . . .,4 . .:.. . .,._.· !

46
 In this chapter the schoolmaster tells the story of the Iliad. We
now summarize the events which come before the action of Homer's
poem f Achl~
o
gods held a great wedding feast to celebrate the marriage of
eleus anq_Thetis. The goddess Strife, however, had not been invited .
.,,:t Furious at thisinsult, she stormed into the hall where the feast was
taking place and flung down a golden apple. Inscribed upon this were
the words 'For the most beautiful'.
As Strife had planned, the apple was going to prove the cause of
terrible troubles. The obvious candidates for the title of most
beautiful goddess were Juno, Minerva and Venus. Understandably,
none of the gods was prepared to make the decision between them.
The judge would have to face the anger of the two losers, whichever
of the three won! Jupiter therefore decided that a mortal must settle
the matter, and his choice fell on the Trojan prince Paris. He was
extremely good-looking and seemed likely to be highly experienced in
such matters. ·
So the goddesses flew down to Mount Ida near Troy where Paris
was tending his flocks. After he had overcome his astonishment and
realized what was expected of him, all three of them tried to bribe him
to give them the apple. Juno offered him a vast kingdom, Minerva
promised him military glory, and Venus said that she would give him
the most beautiful woman in the world. This was Helen, the wife of
Menelaus, king of Sparta in Greece. Venus's offer seemed the most
attractive to Paris and he presented the apple to her.
Paris now went to stay with Menelaus in Sparta. Here he and
Helen fell in love with each other and they ran off back to Troy.
Menelaus joined with his brother Agamemnon, king of Mycenae, to
lead a huge expedition of Greeks against Troy in order to bring the
faithless wife home again. Helen's face 'launched a thousand ships'.
But the war that took place around the walls of Troy did not go
well for the Greeks. Homer's Iliad begins by telling of the disastrous
quarrel which arose when King Agamemnon took from Achilles, the
greatest of the Greek warriors, a slave girl who had been given to
Achilles by the army. This was a devastating blow, not only to the
emotions of Achilles, who was very fond of the girl, but far more
importantly to his honour. Horace's schoolmaster relates to his pupils
the dreadful results of Agamemnon's foolish insult to Achilles.
1
• f) If you had been in Paris's position, which choice would you have
I · made?
f) Consider the behaviour of Achilles described in this chapter as a
whole. What Hualities does he show? The Greeks admired him: do
you?.

47
 Minerva

(' '

:
..
. .:l-1
·
.
'·,

r
t .
.... .
. .. .

Neptune, Apollo, Diana

PS (post scriptum) In this chapter you

have met some of the gods of the ancient
world. The greatest of these were:
Jupiter, god of the sky; Juno, his wife,
goddess of women; Neptune, god of the
sea; Ceres, goddess of the crops;
Minerva, goddess of wisdom and
handicraft; Diana, goddess of hunting
and childbirth; Venus, goddess oflove;
Apollo, god of light, music, and
prophecy; Mars, god of war; Vulcan,
god of fire; Bacchus, god of wine.

,
/

48