| linguae |
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QUESTIONS ARISING FROM 125th. MEETING – 28/7/21
(the record of earlier meetings can be downloaded from the main Circulus page as can the version of Ciceronis Filius with illustrations added. The illustrated text of Genesis is available on the Genesis page, of Kepler's Somnium on the Somnium page and of Nutting's Ad Alpes on the Ad Alpes page)
The regular meeting was preceded by a session using Orberg’s direct method textbook Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata: Familia Romana, which was organised by Eugene, with Tanya, Sam, Ollie, Kay and Jesse also participating and Keon joining them to eat. Later arrivals were Zhang Wei, Stuart, Lily, Monica, Chris Coetzee, who was attending after a long absence, Luisa and John.
Food consumed included batātae cum brassicā Pompēiānā (alu gobi), spīnachiā cum caseō (saag paneer), squillae arōmaticae (prawn masala) orȳza arōmatica (biryani), agnīna acerrima (lamb vindaloo), iūs lentium (daal), cicera arōmatica (chana masala) with the usual pain orȳza and pānis Persicus (naan). This was washed down with vīnum rubrum, whilst one member drank oxygalactīnam (a yoghurt drink) and another cervisia (beer)
Lily asked what the connection was between Pompeii and the cauliflower, for which the usual Latin name is brassica Pompēiāna. This term was discused at the October 2018 meeting and its history set out exhaustingly, if not exhaustively, at https://linguae.weebly.com/conventus-oct-2018.html, to which the masochistically inclined are referred. For the rest, a brief summary is offered here.
The term brassica seems to have referred to any variety of the Linnaean species Brassica oleacea, which covers cauliflowers as well as brussel sprouts, broccoli and kale. However the modern cauliflower was probably not known in classical times and the word Pompeiānum, used by Pliny the Elder (Naturalis Historia, 19.41) in the 1st century A.D., seems to have referred to a type of kale. The Dutch botanist Rembert Dodoens, whose 1554 Cruydtboeck (`Book of Herbs’) was a standard reference across Europe for two centuries, appears to have misunderstood the Roman author and adopted brassica Pompeiāna as the name for the cauliflower. Because this misnomer has been sanctified by centuries of neo-Latin usage, it seems best to retain it, rather than adopt alternatives such as cauliflōra, caulis flōridus (`flowery cabbage’) or brassica botryōdēs (`cabbage shaped like a grape-cluster’).
Food consumed included batātae cum brassicā Pompēiānā (alu gobi), spīnachiā cum caseō (saag paneer), squillae arōmaticae (prawn masala) orȳza arōmatica (biryani), agnīna acerrima (lamb vindaloo), iūs lentium (daal), cicera arōmatica (chana masala) with the usual pain orȳza and pānis Persicus (naan). This was washed down with vīnum rubrum, whilst one member drank oxygalactīnam (a yoghurt drink) and another cervisia (beer)
Lily asked what the connection was between Pompeii and the cauliflower, for which the usual Latin name is brassica Pompēiāna. This term was discused at the October 2018 meeting and its history set out exhaustingly, if not exhaustively, at https://linguae.weebly.com/conventus-oct-2018.html, to which the masochistically inclined are referred. For the rest, a brief summary is offered here.
The term brassica seems to have referred to any variety of the Linnaean species Brassica oleacea, which covers cauliflowers as well as brussel sprouts, broccoli and kale. However the modern cauliflower was probably not known in classical times and the word Pompeiānum, used by Pliny the Elder (Naturalis Historia, 19.41) in the 1st century A.D., seems to have referred to a type of kale. The Dutch botanist Rembert Dodoens, whose 1554 Cruydtboeck (`Book of Herbs’) was a standard reference across Europe for two centuries, appears to have misunderstood the Roman author and adopted brassica Pompeiāna as the name for the cauliflower. Because this misnomer has been sanctified by centuries of neo-Latin usage, it seems best to retain it, rather than adopt alternatives such as cauliflōra, caulis flōridus (`flowery cabbage’) or brassica botryōdēs (`cabbage shaped like a grape-cluster’).
Rembert Dodoens (1517-1585), `Father of Botany’
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rembert_Dodoens00.jpg
To encourage use of Latin during the meal, the following phrase list was distributed. The handout itself (latin_at_table.doc), together with other vocabularies prepared by Eugene, can be downloaded from https://linguae.weebly.com/circulus-latinus-honcongensis.html Note that the nouns are given in their accusative form to fit into the sentence frameworks given at the start.
LATIN AT TABLE
Mihi ________ dā/trāde, quaesō/tē amābō
Give/pass me the _________ , please
Requīrisne ___________?
Do you need some/the
Insert as appropriate:
pānem bread
(pānem) tostum toast
būtȳrum butter
carnem meat
batātās potatoes
acētāria salad
brassicam cabbage
brassicam Pompēiānam cauliflower
aquam water
cervisiam beer
vīnum wine
theam tea
caffeam coffee
lac milk
saccharum sugar
holera ācria kimchi
cultellum knife
furcillam fork
bacillōs chopsticks
Vīsne plūs________ ? (with genitive of a singular noun, e.g. pānis, būtȳrī
carnis, aquae, cervisiae, vīnī. brassicae, brassicae Pompēiānae, theae, caffeae, lactis, saccharī
Vīsne plūrēs________? (with accusative plural of a masculine or feminine noun,
e.g. batātās,)
Vīsne plūra________? (with accusative plural of a neuter noun, e.g. acētāria, holera
ācria)
Do you want some more________?
There was some confusion over the reading from Ad Alpes because John had mis-read his record file, presumably looking at his email after the May rather than the June meeting, and recently told people we would be reading from, the start of chapter XXXVI. We had in fact already got to XXXVI.113 and we read from there to line 10 in chapter XXXVII.
This section included an account of Hannibal’s victory over the Romans at the River Trebia, a south bank tributary of the Po, in December 218. The conventional interpretation of the ancient sources, illustrated by the map below, is that the main Roman force was encamped to the east of the Trebia , crossed the river to attack the Carthaginian infantry but were then attacked from behind by the enemy cavalry, after which around 10,000 Romans were able to break through the enemy lines and to retreat to Placentia (modern Piacenza). The problem here is that breaking out of the encirclement in this way would have left the main Carthaginian force between the Romans and Placentia (modern Piacenza). One scholar has tried to remove the difficulty by arguing that Placentia was originally situated west of the Terebia and only later rebuilt in its present situation. Some of us thought that the Romans must have broken out by turning round and fighting their way through the cavalry but the use of the word aciēs (battle line) would normally imply an infantry array rather than horsemen. For more details of the campaign and links to futher infomation see the footnotes to the Ad Alpes extract below,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rembert_Dodoens00.jpg
To encourage use of Latin during the meal, the following phrase list was distributed. The handout itself (latin_at_table.doc), together with other vocabularies prepared by Eugene, can be downloaded from https://linguae.weebly.com/circulus-latinus-honcongensis.html Note that the nouns are given in their accusative form to fit into the sentence frameworks given at the start.
LATIN AT TABLE
Mihi ________ dā/trāde, quaesō/tē amābō
Give/pass me the _________ , please
Requīrisne ___________?
Do you need some/the
Insert as appropriate:
pānem bread
(pānem) tostum toast
būtȳrum butter
carnem meat
batātās potatoes
acētāria salad
brassicam cabbage
brassicam Pompēiānam cauliflower
aquam water
cervisiam beer
vīnum wine
theam tea
caffeam coffee
lac milk
saccharum sugar
holera ācria kimchi
cultellum knife
furcillam fork
bacillōs chopsticks
Vīsne plūs________ ? (with genitive of a singular noun, e.g. pānis, būtȳrī
carnis, aquae, cervisiae, vīnī. brassicae, brassicae Pompēiānae, theae, caffeae, lactis, saccharī
Vīsne plūrēs________? (with accusative plural of a masculine or feminine noun,
e.g. batātās,)
Vīsne plūra________? (with accusative plural of a neuter noun, e.g. acētāria, holera
ācria)
Do you want some more________?
There was some confusion over the reading from Ad Alpes because John had mis-read his record file, presumably looking at his email after the May rather than the June meeting, and recently told people we would be reading from, the start of chapter XXXVI. We had in fact already got to XXXVI.113 and we read from there to line 10 in chapter XXXVII.
This section included an account of Hannibal’s victory over the Romans at the River Trebia, a south bank tributary of the Po, in December 218. The conventional interpretation of the ancient sources, illustrated by the map below, is that the main Roman force was encamped to the east of the Trebia , crossed the river to attack the Carthaginian infantry but were then attacked from behind by the enemy cavalry, after which around 10,000 Romans were able to break through the enemy lines and to retreat to Placentia (modern Piacenza). The problem here is that breaking out of the encirclement in this way would have left the main Carthaginian force between the Romans and Placentia (modern Piacenza). One scholar has tried to remove the difficulty by arguing that Placentia was originally situated west of the Terebia and only later rebuilt in its present situation. Some of us thought that the Romans must have broken out by turning round and fighting their way through the cavalry but the use of the word aciēs (battle line) would normally imply an infantry array rather than horsemen. For more details of the campaign and links to futher infomation see the footnotes to the Ad Alpes extract below,
Battle of the Trebia, 18 December 2018 B.C.. showing the Roman attack across the Trebia river
south of the Po.
https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2015/11/14/battle-of-the-trebia-river/
There was a brief discussion of how to translate a rather long T-shirt slogan that Ollie had devised:`We are all meat bags but some bags but some of us know Latin.’ This could perhaps be rendered Omnēs saccī carnis sumus sed aliqui nostrum Latinam scīmus.
Luisa suggested that for a future meeting we might look at Historia Langobardorum, an account by an 8th century writer, Paul the Deacon,.of the history of the Lombards, a Germanic people who conquered most of Italy in the 6th century and gave their name to the Lombardy region. A PDF of the work was subsequently sent to all Circulus members and a copy can also be downladed from https://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/04z/z_0720-0800__Paulus_Diaconus__Historia_Langobardorum__LT.pdf.html
We also briefly considered between Mao and other leaders, Zhang Wei suggesting he could be compared with China’s own First Emperor as well being, in Russian terms, a combination of Lenin and Stalin.
In addition, we discussed a number of well-known Chinese phrases, including天下大勢, 分久必合, 合久必分 (`Under heaven [there is] great tendency – a long period of division is followed by unity, a long period of unity by division. This sentence, from the introduction to the 14th centrury historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三國演義), encapsulates a recurring pattern in Chinese history. John uses it in his INTRODUCTION TO LATIN to highlight the contrast with Europe, where, although, as in China, there is a substantial degree of cultural unity, in the political sphere disunity has been the norm since the fall of the Roman Empire. Chris is currently planning to include the novel in his teaching and is reading both an English translation and the original Chinese.. He was surprised by how popular the book was in many parts of Asia beyond China, and Zhang Wei said that this was particularly true of Japan, where the book was drawn upon for things like anime productions.
south of the Po.
https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2015/11/14/battle-of-the-trebia-river/
There was a brief discussion of how to translate a rather long T-shirt slogan that Ollie had devised:`We are all meat bags but some bags but some of us know Latin.’ This could perhaps be rendered Omnēs saccī carnis sumus sed aliqui nostrum Latinam scīmus.
Luisa suggested that for a future meeting we might look at Historia Langobardorum, an account by an 8th century writer, Paul the Deacon,.of the history of the Lombards, a Germanic people who conquered most of Italy in the 6th century and gave their name to the Lombardy region. A PDF of the work was subsequently sent to all Circulus members and a copy can also be downladed from https://www.documentacatholicaomnia.eu/04z/z_0720-0800__Paulus_Diaconus__Historia_Langobardorum__LT.pdf.html
We also briefly considered between Mao and other leaders, Zhang Wei suggesting he could be compared with China’s own First Emperor as well being, in Russian terms, a combination of Lenin and Stalin.
In addition, we discussed a number of well-known Chinese phrases, including天下大勢, 分久必合, 合久必分 (`Under heaven [there is] great tendency – a long period of division is followed by unity, a long period of unity by division. This sentence, from the introduction to the 14th centrury historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三國演義), encapsulates a recurring pattern in Chinese history. John uses it in his INTRODUCTION TO LATIN to highlight the contrast with Europe, where, although, as in China, there is a substantial degree of cultural unity, in the political sphere disunity has been the norm since the fall of the Roman Empire. Chris is currently planning to include the novel in his teaching and is reading both an English translation and the original Chinese.. He was surprised by how popular the book was in many parts of Asia beyond China, and Zhang Wei said that this was particularly true of Japan, where the book was drawn upon for things like anime productions.
China and Europe contrasted (from introducing_latin.ppt)
https://linguae.weebly.com/latin--greek.html
Another very useful saying is 一講曹操, 曹操就到 (yāt gong Chouh Choū, Chouh Choū jauh dou , `Speak of the devil!’). His account of how this was indelibly impressed upon his memory over 20 yeats ago at CUHK can be read at https://linguae.weebly.com/conventus-sep-2019.html
The final phrase discussed was神憎鬼厭 (sàhn jàng gwaí yim, `gods hate, ghosts detest’), used to describe something truly abominable. John finds this comes in very handy when referring to his own pronunciation of Cantonese
Chris, who also revealed that he had read all of Cicero’s extant works, whilst working on his thesis on the author, is currently engaged in setting up a primary and secondary school with flexible teaching methods to match individual’s learning styles. His now being his own master is good news for us as it is again possible for him to attend Circulus meetings.
AD ALPĒS, CAPUT XXXVI (contd.)
Tum Cornēlius, quī ipse vix rīsum continēre potuerat: "Facētus certē est," inquit; "sed, ut
Then Cornelius who himself scarcely laughter refrain-from was-able Funny certainly he-is he-said but as
saepe iam dīxī, maximē 115 metuō nē quandō in aliquod malum magnum incidat. Nam haud
often already I-have-said greatly I-fear lest some-time into some trouble great he-may-fall for not
omnēs tam toleranter eius argūtiās ferent."
all so tolerantly his fooling-around will-bear
Haec ubi sunt dicta, omnēs libenter ēgressī sunt in hortum, ubi subsellia complūra
These-things when were said all gladly went-out into garden where benches several
collocāta erant; nam tempestās erat serēna. 120
placed had-been for weather was calm
Cum ibi cōnsēdissent, patrī Sextus: "Utinam," inquit, "Cremōnae adeundae facultās
When there they-had-sat-down to-father Sextus If-only he-said of-Cremona going-to opportunity
darētur! Ego enim urbem ignī dēlētam numquam vīdī."
was-given I for city by-fire destroyed never have-seen
"Metuō nē tū in errōrem magnum incideris[1], mī fīlī," inquit Cornēlius. "Nam post
I-fear that you into error great have-fallen my son said Cornelius for after
incendium imperātor Vespasiānus ut 125 Cremōnā restituerētur hortātus est, et mūnicipia[2]
fire emperor Vespasian that Cremona be-restored urged and country-towns
fīnitima omnibus modīs adiūvērunt oppidānōs, quī domōs et templa reficere volēbant. Sīc
neighbouring by-all means helped townspeople who homes and temples to-repair wanted thus
NOTES
[1] From its context and use in a clause of fearing, incideris is clearly perfect subjunctive, not future perfect. The alternative form, inciderīs, which is unambiguously perfect subjunctive, is the older one and was sometimes used in poetry in the classical period but the vowel was regularly short in ordinary conversation.
[2] A mūnicipium was a self-governing urban centre whose inhabitants had some or all of the rights of Roman citizens. After Caracalla extended Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants of the empire in 212, the term simply meant a town with its own local government.
factum est ut urbs brevī dēnuō flōrēret."[1]
it-came-about that city soon again was-flourishing
"Nōnne etiam secundō bellō Pūnicō quaedam in hīs regiōnibus ācta sunt?" inquit
Not-? also in-second war Punic certain-things in these regions done were asked
Pūblius. 130
Publius
"Maximē vērō," inquit Cornēlius. "Quīn etiam Placentia ipsa tum Rōmānīs aliquamdiū
Very-much indeed said Cornelius Indeed even Placentia itself then for-Romans for-some-time
erat sēdēs bellī, atque hūc sē recēpit Scīpiō vulnerātus, cum ad flūmen Tīcīnum[2] equestrī
was base for-war and to-here self brought-back Scīpiō wounded when at river Ticinus in-cavalry
proeliō victus esset."
fight defeated he-had-been
"Quid deinde ā nostrīs factum est?" inquit Sextus. 135
What then by our-men done was said Sextus
"Cum cōpiae Hannibalis quoque Padum transīssent," inquit pater, "Scīpiō obviam iit
When troops of-Hannibal also Po had-crossed said father Scipio to-meet went
usque ad flūmen Trebiam, quod hinc minus quīnque mīlia passuum abest. Ibi castra posuit,
up to river Trebia which from-here lees-than five thousand paces is-away there camp he-placed
ut adventum Semprōnī,[3] collēgae suī, exspectāret. 140
so-that arrival of-Sempronius colleague his he-could-await
NOTES
[1] Although the city was indeed quickly rebuilt, it probably never returned to its full former prosperity.
[2] The battle was fought in November 218 B.C. north of the Po by the river Ticinus (now the Ticino), near the town of Ticinum (modern Pavia). The Roman commander, Publius Cornelius Scipio had to be rescued by his son the future Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, who was to defeat Hannibal decisively in Africa at Zama in 202. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ticinus
[3] Tiberius Sempronius Longus, Scipio’s fellow consul for 218, had to travel north from Sicily, where he had been campaigning when news of Hannibal’s arrival in Italy was received.
"Collēga, cum pervēnisset, coniūnctīs cōpiīs statim dēcertāre voluit; Scīpīō autem,
Colleague when he-had-arrived having-been-combined forces at-once to-have-decisive-fight wanted Scipio however
quī modo equestrī proeliō victus et vulnerātus esset, ut bellum traherētur hortātus est.
who just-before in-cavalry battle defeated and wounded had-been that war be-dragged-out urged
"Hiems erat et tempestās perfrīgida. Sed subitō manē equitēs Numidae flūmen
Winter it-was and weather very-cold but suddenly in-morning cavalry Numidian river
trānsgressī, ad castra Rōmānōrum accessērunt, 145 sī forte nostrōs ad pugnam ēlicere possent.
having-crossed to camp of-Romans came-up if by-chance our-troops into battle to-entice they-could
"Tum Semprōnius, morae impatiēns et cupiditāte pugnandī ēlātu, cōnsiliō collēgae
Then Sempronius of-delay impatient and by-eagerness for-fighting carried-away with-advice of-colleague
repudiātō, mīlitēs ē castrīs ēdūxit; cumque cōnsultō Numidae cessissent et aquam
rejected soldiers from camp led-out and-when deliberately Numidians had-withdrawn and water
ingressī essent, omnibus cōpiīs ille secūtus est. 150
entered had with-all troops he followed
"Vīs frīgoris tanta erat, ut nostrīs, cum ē flūmine ēmersissent, manūs gelū rigidae arma
Intensisty of-cold so-great was that for-our-men when out-of river they-had-emerged hands from-cold stiff weapons
vix tenēre possent. Nihilōminus refugientēs Numidās cōnstanter īnsequēbantur, cum subitō
scarcely to-hold they-were-able nevertheless fleeing Nunidians constsntly they-kept-pursuing when suddenly
occurrit maior pars hostium, quae adhūc quiēta exspectāverat.
appeared greater part of-enemy who till-then quietly had-been-waiting
"Cum hīs quoque Rōmānī congressī fortiter pugnāvērunt. 155 Sed iam ex lateribus
With these also Romans having-met bravely fought but already from sides
equitēs hostium fēcērunt impetum; ac Māgō,[1] quī in īnsidiīs collocātus erat, ā tergō quoque
cavalry of-enemy made attack and Mago who in ambush stationed had-been from rear also
NOTE
[1] Mago was Hannibal’s brother.
aggressus, maximum tumultum ac terrōrem intulit. Quibus rēbus nostrī in orbem
having-attacked greatest confusion and terror brought in-this situation our-men in circular-formation
pugnāre coāctī sunt.
to-fight forced were
"Postrēmō circiter decem mīlia, impetū ācerrimō factō, per 160 mediam aciem
Finally around ten thousand with-attack most-furious made through middle of-battle-line
perrūpērunt hostium, ac Placentiam sē recēpērunt. Multī in proeliō iam perierant ; aliī autem
broke of-enemy and to-Placentia themselves took-back many in battle already had-perished others however
aut aquā haustī sunt aut in rīpīs flūminis ab hostibus oppressī. [1]
either by-water swallowed-up were or on banks of-river by enemy overwhelmed
"Poenī tamen dīcuntur in castra sua tam torpentēs gelū rediisse, ut vix laetitiam victōriae
The Carthaginians are-said into camp own so numb from-cold to-have-returned that scarcely joy of-victory
sentīrent. Rōmānī dissipātī, quī ex proeliō supererant, Padum trānsvectī, ā Scīpīōne 165
they-felt Romans scattered who from battl e survived Po brought-across by Scipio
Cremōnam dēductī sunt, nē duōrum exercituum hībernīs ūna urbs premerētur."
To-Cremona brought were lest of-two armies with winter-quarters one city might-be-burdened
Cum tandem nox tenebrās suās attulisset, māter līberōs hortāta est ut cubitum īrent, quod
When at-last night darkness its had-brought mother children urged that to-bed they-go because
NOTES
[1] The movements of forces before and after the battle and the location of camps are uncertain: see the complex account at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Trebia Many of the Gallic inhabitants of the Po Valley, resentful over the colonies that the Romans were establishing in the region, went over to Hannibal and Scipio had had to withdraw to the hills south of Placentia. When Sempronius arrived he apparently pitched his own camp nearer the Po but it is unclear whether all of Scipio’s forces joined him there and whether this camp was on the east bank of the Trebia, as assumed at https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2015/11/14/battle-of-the-trebia-river/ In addition to the ten thousand Roman troops (out of a total force of around 40,000) who broke out of encirclement and reached Placentia, Scipio may have still had a separate force of his own, which would explain why he had one army to put in winter quarters at Placentia and another at Cremona. It has also even been suggested (at https://www.jstor.org/stable/296005) that Placentia itself was originally west of the Trebia!
pater posterō diē māne abitūrus esset; illī autem ōrāvērunt ut sibi hāc nocte ultimā 170 diūtius
father on-next day early going-to-leave was they however begged that to-them on-this night last longer
morārī licēret. Potestāte factā, ad multam noctem tempus sermōne variō trahēbātur;
to-delay it-might-be-allowed with-permission granted till late-at night time with-talking various was-spent
tum omnēs sē quiētī dedērunt.
Then all themselves to-rest gave
CAPUT XXXVII
Prīmā lūce Cornēlius, cum mandāta ultima Pūbliō dedisset, uxōrem lībērōsque
At-first light Cornelius when instructions final to-Publius he-had-given wife and-children
amplexūs, in raedam cum Onēsimō ēscendit, ac celeriter profectus est; nec Drūsilla aut
having-embraced into wagon with Onesimus climbed-up and quickly set off and-not Drusilla or
Cornēlia lacrimīs eum abeuntem prōsequī prius dēstitit quam omnīnō ē cōnspectū discessit.5
Cornelia with-tears him going-away to-follow earlier ceased than[when] completely out-of sight he-departed
Tum Pūblius, suā auctōritāte īnsolitā laetus, tabellāriō Cōmum[1] citō equō ad patruum
Then Publius with-own authority unaccustomed happy with-courier to-Comum on-swift horse to uncle
praemissō, in raedās omnēs ēscendere iussit, atque ex oppidō cursum dīrēxit. Cui Sextus, dum
sent-ahead into wagons all to-climb ordered and out-of town journey directed to-whom Sextus while
flūmen Padum ponte trānseunt: "Quō nunc tendimus, 10 frāter?" inquit. "Quam longē abest
river Po by-bridge they-crossed where now are-we-heading brother asked how far is-away
Cōmum et patruī vīlla?"
Comum and uncle’s villa
NOTE
[1] Comum (modern Como), formally known as Novum Comum as it was founded by Julius Caesar in 59 B.C. to replace an earlier hilltop settlement, is situated at the south-west end of Lake Como (ancient Larius Lacus), near the modern Swiss border. It was the birthplace of Pliny the Elder (c 23-79 A.D.) and his nephew, Pliny the Younger,(c.61-113 A.D.) whose benefactions to the city are recorded in a famous inscription. See https://comocompanion.com/2017/02/28/novum-comum-roman-como/ for details of the city’s Roman heritage, and also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Como
https://linguae.weebly.com/latin--greek.html
Another very useful saying is 一講曹操, 曹操就到 (yāt gong Chouh Choū, Chouh Choū jauh dou , `Speak of the devil!’). His account of how this was indelibly impressed upon his memory over 20 yeats ago at CUHK can be read at https://linguae.weebly.com/conventus-sep-2019.html
The final phrase discussed was神憎鬼厭 (sàhn jàng gwaí yim, `gods hate, ghosts detest’), used to describe something truly abominable. John finds this comes in very handy when referring to his own pronunciation of Cantonese
Chris, who also revealed that he had read all of Cicero’s extant works, whilst working on his thesis on the author, is currently engaged in setting up a primary and secondary school with flexible teaching methods to match individual’s learning styles. His now being his own master is good news for us as it is again possible for him to attend Circulus meetings.
AD ALPĒS, CAPUT XXXVI (contd.)
Tum Cornēlius, quī ipse vix rīsum continēre potuerat: "Facētus certē est," inquit; "sed, ut
Then Cornelius who himself scarcely laughter refrain-from was-able Funny certainly he-is he-said but as
saepe iam dīxī, maximē 115 metuō nē quandō in aliquod malum magnum incidat. Nam haud
often already I-have-said greatly I-fear lest some-time into some trouble great he-may-fall for not
omnēs tam toleranter eius argūtiās ferent."
all so tolerantly his fooling-around will-bear
Haec ubi sunt dicta, omnēs libenter ēgressī sunt in hortum, ubi subsellia complūra
These-things when were said all gladly went-out into garden where benches several
collocāta erant; nam tempestās erat serēna. 120
placed had-been for weather was calm
Cum ibi cōnsēdissent, patrī Sextus: "Utinam," inquit, "Cremōnae adeundae facultās
When there they-had-sat-down to-father Sextus If-only he-said of-Cremona going-to opportunity
darētur! Ego enim urbem ignī dēlētam numquam vīdī."
was-given I for city by-fire destroyed never have-seen
"Metuō nē tū in errōrem magnum incideris[1], mī fīlī," inquit Cornēlius. "Nam post
I-fear that you into error great have-fallen my son said Cornelius for after
incendium imperātor Vespasiānus ut 125 Cremōnā restituerētur hortātus est, et mūnicipia[2]
fire emperor Vespasian that Cremona be-restored urged and country-towns
fīnitima omnibus modīs adiūvērunt oppidānōs, quī domōs et templa reficere volēbant. Sīc
neighbouring by-all means helped townspeople who homes and temples to-repair wanted thus
NOTES
[1] From its context and use in a clause of fearing, incideris is clearly perfect subjunctive, not future perfect. The alternative form, inciderīs, which is unambiguously perfect subjunctive, is the older one and was sometimes used in poetry in the classical period but the vowel was regularly short in ordinary conversation.
[2] A mūnicipium was a self-governing urban centre whose inhabitants had some or all of the rights of Roman citizens. After Caracalla extended Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants of the empire in 212, the term simply meant a town with its own local government.
factum est ut urbs brevī dēnuō flōrēret."[1]
it-came-about that city soon again was-flourishing
"Nōnne etiam secundō bellō Pūnicō quaedam in hīs regiōnibus ācta sunt?" inquit
Not-? also in-second war Punic certain-things in these regions done were asked
Pūblius. 130
Publius
"Maximē vērō," inquit Cornēlius. "Quīn etiam Placentia ipsa tum Rōmānīs aliquamdiū
Very-much indeed said Cornelius Indeed even Placentia itself then for-Romans for-some-time
erat sēdēs bellī, atque hūc sē recēpit Scīpiō vulnerātus, cum ad flūmen Tīcīnum[2] equestrī
was base for-war and to-here self brought-back Scīpiō wounded when at river Ticinus in-cavalry
proeliō victus esset."
fight defeated he-had-been
"Quid deinde ā nostrīs factum est?" inquit Sextus. 135
What then by our-men done was said Sextus
"Cum cōpiae Hannibalis quoque Padum transīssent," inquit pater, "Scīpiō obviam iit
When troops of-Hannibal also Po had-crossed said father Scipio to-meet went
usque ad flūmen Trebiam, quod hinc minus quīnque mīlia passuum abest. Ibi castra posuit,
up to river Trebia which from-here lees-than five thousand paces is-away there camp he-placed
ut adventum Semprōnī,[3] collēgae suī, exspectāret. 140
so-that arrival of-Sempronius colleague his he-could-await
NOTES
[1] Although the city was indeed quickly rebuilt, it probably never returned to its full former prosperity.
[2] The battle was fought in November 218 B.C. north of the Po by the river Ticinus (now the Ticino), near the town of Ticinum (modern Pavia). The Roman commander, Publius Cornelius Scipio had to be rescued by his son the future Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, who was to defeat Hannibal decisively in Africa at Zama in 202. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ticinus
[3] Tiberius Sempronius Longus, Scipio’s fellow consul for 218, had to travel north from Sicily, where he had been campaigning when news of Hannibal’s arrival in Italy was received.
"Collēga, cum pervēnisset, coniūnctīs cōpiīs statim dēcertāre voluit; Scīpīō autem,
Colleague when he-had-arrived having-been-combined forces at-once to-have-decisive-fight wanted Scipio however
quī modo equestrī proeliō victus et vulnerātus esset, ut bellum traherētur hortātus est.
who just-before in-cavalry battle defeated and wounded had-been that war be-dragged-out urged
"Hiems erat et tempestās perfrīgida. Sed subitō manē equitēs Numidae flūmen
Winter it-was and weather very-cold but suddenly in-morning cavalry Numidian river
trānsgressī, ad castra Rōmānōrum accessērunt, 145 sī forte nostrōs ad pugnam ēlicere possent.
having-crossed to camp of-Romans came-up if by-chance our-troops into battle to-entice they-could
"Tum Semprōnius, morae impatiēns et cupiditāte pugnandī ēlātu, cōnsiliō collēgae
Then Sempronius of-delay impatient and by-eagerness for-fighting carried-away with-advice of-colleague
repudiātō, mīlitēs ē castrīs ēdūxit; cumque cōnsultō Numidae cessissent et aquam
rejected soldiers from camp led-out and-when deliberately Numidians had-withdrawn and water
ingressī essent, omnibus cōpiīs ille secūtus est. 150
entered had with-all troops he followed
"Vīs frīgoris tanta erat, ut nostrīs, cum ē flūmine ēmersissent, manūs gelū rigidae arma
Intensisty of-cold so-great was that for-our-men when out-of river they-had-emerged hands from-cold stiff weapons
vix tenēre possent. Nihilōminus refugientēs Numidās cōnstanter īnsequēbantur, cum subitō
scarcely to-hold they-were-able nevertheless fleeing Nunidians constsntly they-kept-pursuing when suddenly
occurrit maior pars hostium, quae adhūc quiēta exspectāverat.
appeared greater part of-enemy who till-then quietly had-been-waiting
"Cum hīs quoque Rōmānī congressī fortiter pugnāvērunt. 155 Sed iam ex lateribus
With these also Romans having-met bravely fought but already from sides
equitēs hostium fēcērunt impetum; ac Māgō,[1] quī in īnsidiīs collocātus erat, ā tergō quoque
cavalry of-enemy made attack and Mago who in ambush stationed had-been from rear also
NOTE
[1] Mago was Hannibal’s brother.
aggressus, maximum tumultum ac terrōrem intulit. Quibus rēbus nostrī in orbem
having-attacked greatest confusion and terror brought in-this situation our-men in circular-formation
pugnāre coāctī sunt.
to-fight forced were
"Postrēmō circiter decem mīlia, impetū ācerrimō factō, per 160 mediam aciem
Finally around ten thousand with-attack most-furious made through middle of-battle-line
perrūpērunt hostium, ac Placentiam sē recēpērunt. Multī in proeliō iam perierant ; aliī autem
broke of-enemy and to-Placentia themselves took-back many in battle already had-perished others however
aut aquā haustī sunt aut in rīpīs flūminis ab hostibus oppressī. [1]
either by-water swallowed-up were or on banks of-river by enemy overwhelmed
"Poenī tamen dīcuntur in castra sua tam torpentēs gelū rediisse, ut vix laetitiam victōriae
The Carthaginians are-said into camp own so numb from-cold to-have-returned that scarcely joy of-victory
sentīrent. Rōmānī dissipātī, quī ex proeliō supererant, Padum trānsvectī, ā Scīpīōne 165
they-felt Romans scattered who from battl e survived Po brought-across by Scipio
Cremōnam dēductī sunt, nē duōrum exercituum hībernīs ūna urbs premerētur."
To-Cremona brought were lest of-two armies with winter-quarters one city might-be-burdened
Cum tandem nox tenebrās suās attulisset, māter līberōs hortāta est ut cubitum īrent, quod
When at-last night darkness its had-brought mother children urged that to-bed they-go because
NOTES
[1] The movements of forces before and after the battle and the location of camps are uncertain: see the complex account at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Trebia Many of the Gallic inhabitants of the Po Valley, resentful over the colonies that the Romans were establishing in the region, went over to Hannibal and Scipio had had to withdraw to the hills south of Placentia. When Sempronius arrived he apparently pitched his own camp nearer the Po but it is unclear whether all of Scipio’s forces joined him there and whether this camp was on the east bank of the Trebia, as assumed at https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2015/11/14/battle-of-the-trebia-river/ In addition to the ten thousand Roman troops (out of a total force of around 40,000) who broke out of encirclement and reached Placentia, Scipio may have still had a separate force of his own, which would explain why he had one army to put in winter quarters at Placentia and another at Cremona. It has also even been suggested (at https://www.jstor.org/stable/296005) that Placentia itself was originally west of the Trebia!
pater posterō diē māne abitūrus esset; illī autem ōrāvērunt ut sibi hāc nocte ultimā 170 diūtius
father on-next day early going-to-leave was they however begged that to-them on-this night last longer
morārī licēret. Potestāte factā, ad multam noctem tempus sermōne variō trahēbātur;
to-delay it-might-be-allowed with-permission granted till late-at night time with-talking various was-spent
tum omnēs sē quiētī dedērunt.
Then all themselves to-rest gave
CAPUT XXXVII
Prīmā lūce Cornēlius, cum mandāta ultima Pūbliō dedisset, uxōrem lībērōsque
At-first light Cornelius when instructions final to-Publius he-had-given wife and-children
amplexūs, in raedam cum Onēsimō ēscendit, ac celeriter profectus est; nec Drūsilla aut
having-embraced into wagon with Onesimus climbed-up and quickly set off and-not Drusilla or
Cornēlia lacrimīs eum abeuntem prōsequī prius dēstitit quam omnīnō ē cōnspectū discessit.5
Cornelia with-tears him going-away to-follow earlier ceased than[when] completely out-of sight he-departed
Tum Pūblius, suā auctōritāte īnsolitā laetus, tabellāriō Cōmum[1] citō equō ad patruum
Then Publius with-own authority unaccustomed happy with-courier to-Comum on-swift horse to uncle
praemissō, in raedās omnēs ēscendere iussit, atque ex oppidō cursum dīrēxit. Cui Sextus, dum
sent-ahead into wagons all to-climb ordered and out-of town journey directed to-whom Sextus while
flūmen Padum ponte trānseunt: "Quō nunc tendimus, 10 frāter?" inquit. "Quam longē abest
river Po by-bridge they-crossed where now are-we-heading brother asked how far is-away
Cōmum et patruī vīlla?"
Comum and uncle’s villa
NOTE
[1] Comum (modern Como), formally known as Novum Comum as it was founded by Julius Caesar in 59 B.C. to replace an earlier hilltop settlement, is situated at the south-west end of Lake Como (ancient Larius Lacus), near the modern Swiss border. It was the birthplace of Pliny the Elder (c 23-79 A.D.) and his nephew, Pliny the Younger,(c.61-113 A.D.) whose benefactions to the city are recorded in a famous inscription. See https://comocompanion.com/2017/02/28/novum-comum-roman-como/ for details of the city’s Roman heritage, and also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Como
