4A(Text pp.126–33)
Testing shows that the change in register from colloquial Latin in dialogue form to a continuous prose narrative causes problems, especially as more complex syntax begins to be introduced. So, although we have in this second edition begun continuous prose narrative in Section 3, we nonetheless continue with a literal translation in Latin word-order throughout Section 4. A more idiomatic translation is also available in the Text volume for those passages we have selected for ‘quick reading’.
In these four passages, we introduce one new tense ‘I was —ing’ (the imperfect of active and deponent verbs). You will also meet two new infinitive forms: (1) ‘to have —ed’ (perfect active and deponent); (2) ‘to be going to …’ (future infinitive active and deponent). The central feature of the texts, though, is the introduction of the Latin for ‘that’ clauses after verbs like ‘I say’, ‘I deny’ etc. (indirect statement), which Latin does with accusative and infinitive. Two little words (iste ‘that of yours’, or ‘the defendant’, quidam ‘a’) complete the package.
From now on, all references are to Text unless otherwise indicated. NB these notes are no longer separated by page number.
Notes for 4A(i)
4 seruos quosdam: ‘some slaves’. Latin does not have a word for ‘a’. But quidam (like qui GE 29) does duty for it when indefiniteness is emphasised. Other examples are in lines 11 and 11–12.
6 expugnabant: ‘[they] began to storm’. This is the first example of the new tense, the imperfect, which is introduced in this section. Note the marker, after the stem, -eba- or -aba-, to which the personal endings are added. The continuousness of the action is here contrasted with the ‘finished’ action concurrerunt (‘they charged and began storming’). Other imperfects in this section are: conabantur (line 7); commouebant (line 9); percrebrescebat (line 9); fiebat (line 16).
6 clamauere: remember that this is an alternative 3 pl. perfect active form, for clamauerunt. You will find several more examples in 4A(ii). Note the stem very carefully (clamau-) so as to avoid mistaking these forms for infinitives of 2nd conjugation verbs (e.g. commouēre below at line 12).
9 erat: ‘was’. This is the first example of the imperfect tense of sum, which is irregular. See GE 89 Notes 4 for the full forms.
Review the options below to login to check your access.
Log in with your Cambridge Aspire website account to check access.
If you believe you should have access to this content, please contact your institutional librarian or consult our FAQ page for further information about accessing our content.