LATN101: SCHOLA DE HOSTIBUS ROMANORUM
Commentariolum Prō Fabulā Ab Urbe Condita: Lucrētia, Brūtus, and Sextus Tarquinius (I)
1 comes: nom. sg.
eīs: dative indirect object < is, ea, id; i.e. Titus and Arruns
2 nātus: Perfect passive participle < nascor
eius: genitive sg. < is, ea, id
hōc modō: ablative of manner
4 Hic: this one; i.e. Brutus
ut...vītāret: purpose clause with the imperfect subjunctive
stultitiam imitātus: Brutus pretends that he is dimwitted and therefore is not a threat to the king. The
nickname ‘Brutus’ means dull or dimwitted.
5 bona: The neuter plural, bona, is a substantive than means ‘goods,’ ‘property,’ or ‘possessions’
passus est: perfect deponent < patior, “he allowed”
6 Tarquiniīs: i.e. by the two sons
Delphōs: accusative of place to which; the plural refers to the people of the single town
lūdibrium: in apposition to is (i.e. Brutus)
vērius: comparative adverb
quam: an adverb introducing a clause of comparison (verb is often missing)
7 Tulit: perfect < irregular ferō, ferre, tulī
aureum: in apposition to dōnum
inclūsum: Perfect passive participle < inclūdō
8 tamquam: as if… (tam + quam)
ingeniī suī: objective genitive limiting effigiem
9 mandāta: ‘things having been ordered’ => commands or orders
statuērunt: “they took a stand” => they decided
10 ad quem...ventūrum esset: indirect question with subjunctive; here a periphastic future subjunctive
(fut. participle + imperfect subjunctive of sum).
eōrum: i.e. the two sons; this partitive genitive limits quem
11 quī...: (he) who...; the subject of the main clause must be supplied
vestrum: of you, among you; partitive genitive plural of vōs (not the possessive vester)
12 ō iuvenēs: vocative
Tarquiniī: i.e. the two sons of Tarquin
ipsī: intensive modifies Tarquiniī
13 iūs: the right or priviledge
mātris ōsculandae: literally ‘of the mother (going) to be kissed’; consider more natural or idiomatic ways
of expressing the same thought in English.
Rōmae: locative
sortī: dative indirect object, your lot is life is your fate
aliō modō: in...; ablative of manner
15 quod: because...; causal quod clause
ea: this (one); the subject, referring to terra
rediērunt: 3p perfect < redeō
17 Paulō: a little or by a little; dative of degree of difference modifying post => ‘afterwards’
iam dūdum: already for a long time; often as one word: iamdūdum
18 ferēbant: ferō can mean ‘carry’ or ‘endure’
ita...concitātī sunt: were so stirred up...; ita intensifies the main verb
scelere quōdam: ablative of means; the crime will be revealed below.
ut...statuerent: a result clause with imperfect subjunctive
21 sorore: ablative of source
nātus: perfect participle < nascor
22 rēgiōrum: modifies genitive plural iuvenum
Ardeae: locative
cum forte: ablative as adverb, when by chance
liberiōre: comparative can suggest excess: ‘more free (than usual),’ => too free(ly); the tentmates have
had too much to drink.
23 ūnus quisque: subject of the clause
placuit: impersonal, perfect placet, it was pleasing…
equīs: ablative means, on horseback
Rōmam and Collātiam: accusatives of place to which
25 ea: she; i.e. Lucretia
pudīcissima: predicate nominative with iūdicātur