Chapter 9: The Passive Voice

(People of equally exalted stature do not agree.) Mōns, montis (3m): mountain. Cum (prep.): with (takes the ablative). Monte is the ablative singular form of mōns, montis (3m): mountain. Nōn: not. Miscētur is the third person singular passive form of misceō, miscēre, miscuī, mixtum/mistum (2): to mix, mingle; unite, join.

Sine (prep.): without (takes the ablative). Causā is the ablative singular form of causa, causae (1f): cause, reason. Abs is an alternative form of ab/ā (prep.): (away) from; by (takes the ablative) (abs is mostly used before the pronoun tē, where ā is also correct). Tē is the ablative form of tū: you. Accūsor is the first person singular passive form of accūsō, accūsāre, accūsāvī, accūsātum (1): to accuse, blame, reproach.

(Toward death—an argument against being fearful of it.) Ex /ē (prep.): out of, from (takes the ablative). Quō is the m/n (here n) ablative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Ex quō = from the time when, since the time that, since. Nātus es is the second person masculine singular perfect form of nāscor, nāscī, nātus sum (3, deponent): to be born. Dūceris (or dūcere) is the second person singular passive form of dūcō, dūcere, dūxī, ductum (3): to lead; (an idiomatic use relevant here) lead to execution.

Tōtus/ tōta /tōtum (1/2, irreg.): whole, entire, total, all. Ergō (particle): therefore, so, then. Pars, partis (3f): part. Iste/ ista /istud (adj.): that (of yours). Philosophia, philosophiae (1f): philosophy. Summovērī is the passive infinitive form of summoveō, summovēre, summōvī, summōtum (2): to remove; banish, send away; dispense with. Potest is the third person singular form of possum, posse, potuī, — (irreg.): to be able, can, may.

Furiōsus /furiōsa/furiōsum (1/2): mad; raging, furious. Sōlō is the m/n ablative singular form of sōlus/sōla/sōlum (1/2, irreg.): alone; only, sole. Furōre is the ablative singular form of furor, furōris (3m): madness; rage, fury. Pūnītur is the third person singular passive form of pūniō, pūnīre, pūnīvī/pūniī, pūnītum (4): to punish.

Post (prep.): after; behind (takes the accusative). Naufragium is the accusative singular form of naufragium, naufragiī (2n): shipwreck. Maria is the nominative plural form of mare, maris (3n): sea. Temptantur is the third person plural passive form of temptō, temptāre, temptāvī, temptātum (1): to test; try; attack.

Pācuī (also Pācuiī) is the m/n (here m) genitive singular form of Pācuius/Pācuia/Pācuium (1/2—also Pācuvius): a Roman family name, here referring to Roman poet Pacuvius. Discipulus, discipulī (2m): student, pupil, disciple. Dīcor is the first person singular passive form of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say; call.

Quidnī (interrog. adv.): why not? (It takes a verb in the subjunctive (here possit) and expresses a rhetorical question where why not? implies of course it’s true; here the true statement is a happy life is not able to be annulled.) Nōn: not. Possit is the third person singular subjunctive form of possum, posse, potuī, — (irreg.): to be able, can, may. Beātus/ beāta /beātum (1/2): happy; prosperous. Vīta, vītae (1f): life. Rescindī is the passive infinitive form of rescindō, rescindere, rescidī, rescissum (3): to cut off; tear open; repeal, annul, abolish.

Corporibus is the ablative plural form of corpus, corporis (3n): body; substance. Autem (particle): but, however; and, moreover. Omnis /omnis/omne (3): all; every. Obsidētur is the third person singular passive form of obsideō, obsidēre, obsēdī, obsessum (2): to occupy; besiege. Locus, locī (2m): place; space.

(A soldier cursing a river; its name is similar to that of a river of the underworld in Greek mythology: the Acheron.) Iūre is the ablative singular form of iūs, iūris (3n): right; law. Acheros: a now-lost river in Italy (the declension is uncertain as the name doesn’t appear in any other passage; but it can be assumed to be Acheros, Acherī (2m)). Vocāris (or vocāre) is the second person singular passive form of vocō, vocāre, vocāvī, vocātum (1): to call; summon.

Undique (adv.): from everywhere, from all sides. Enim (particle): for, indeed. In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on, at (denoting position); (with acc.) into, onto (or in or on with motion), at (with motion). Nōs is the accusative form of nōs: we (us). Tēla is the nominative plural form of tēlum, tēlī (2n): missile weapon (spear, javelin, etc.); weapon. Iaciuntur is the third person plural passive form of iaciō, iacere, iēcī, iactum (3, –iō): to throw.

(He’s talking about different kinds of tears: lacrima, lacrimae (1f).) Hīs is the m/f/n (here f) dative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this, this one; he, she, it; the latter. Indulgēmus is the first person plural form of indulgeō, indulgēre, indulsī, indultum (2): to indulge (takes the dative). Illīs is the m/f/n (here f) ablative plural form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that, that one; he, she, it; the former. Vincimur is the first person plural passive form of vincō, vincere, vīcī, victum (3): to conquer, defeat, overcome, subdue; surpass; win, prevail, be victorious.

Rēx, rēgis (3m): king. Ab /ā (prep.): (away) from; by (takes the ablative). Suīs: his (own)—the m/f/n (here m) ablative plural form of suus/sua/suum (1/2); here it’s used substantively to mean his men, his followers. Appellātur is the third person singular passive form of appellō, appellāre, appellāvī, appellātum (1): to address, call (a historical present—i.e., a present-tense verb used in a narration about the past).

(You weren’t born that way.) Sed (conj.): but. Ūsū is the ablative singular form of ūsus, ūsūs (4m): use; usage; practice; experience; habit, custom. Possidēminī is the second person plural passive form of possideō, possidēre, possēdī, possessum (2): to own, possess, be master of.

Circumvenior is the first person singular passive form of circumveniō, circumvenīre, circumvēnī, circumventum (4): to surround; beset, oppress; cheat, trick, circumvent. Inquit is the third person singular form of inquam (irreg. and defective): to say (inquit = he/she/it says or said). Iūdicēs is the vocative plural form of iūdex, iūdicis (3m/f): judge. Nisi (conj.): if not, unless; except. Subvenītis is the second person plural form of subveniō, subvenīre, subvēnī, subventum (4): to come to the rescue, aid, assist, relieve.

(He’s talking about Pompey.) Ibi (adv.): there. Ab /ā (prep.): (away) from; by (takes the ablative). Achillā is the ablative singular form of Achillas, Achillae (1m—from Greek; hence a couple of unusual forms): a guardian of Ptolemy XIII of Egypt. Et (conj.): and. Septimiō is the m/n (here m) ablative singular form of Septimius/Septimia/Septimium (1/2): a family name; here referring to a Roman soldier working in Egypt as a mercenary. Interficitur is the third person singular passive form of interficiō, interficere, interfēcī, interfectum (3, –iō): to kill (it’s in the historical present).

Nōn: not. Tū: you. Tantum (adv.): so much; as much; only. Terrēris is the second person singular passive form of terreō, terrēre, terruī, territum (2): to frighten, terrify, alarm. Ulixē is the vocative form of Ulixēs, Ulixis/Ulixī/Ulixeī (3—from Greek; hence some unusual forms): Ulysses. Sed (conj.): but. Fortēs is the m/f nominative plural form of fortis/fortis/forte (3): brave; strong. Etiam (particle): still; also; even. (An alternative form for the blanked word would be terrēre, but it wouldn’t fit the meter.)

Mundus, mundī (2m): universe; world. Vult is the third person singular form of volō, velle, voluī, — (irreg.): to wish, want. Dēcipī is the passive infinitive form of dēcipiō, dēcipere, dēcēpī, dēceptum (3, –iō): to deceive. Ergō (particle): therefore, so, then. Dēcipiātur is the third person singular passive subjunctive form of dēcipiō, dēcipere, dēcēpī, dēceptum (3, –iō): to deceive (subjunctive because it’s jussive).

Mūtuīs is the m/f/n ablative plural form of mūtuus/mūtua/mūtuum (1/2): borrowed, lent; mutual, reciprocal. Animīs is the ablative plural form of animus, animī (2m): mind, soul; the heart, feelings, passions. Amant is the third person plural form of amō, amāre, amāvī, amātum (1): to love. Amantur is the third person plural passive form of the same.

Nōlēbās is the second person singular imperfect form of nōlō, nōlle, nōluī, — (irreg.): to not want, refuse, be unwilling. Scīrī is the passive infinitive form of sciō, scīre, scīvī/sciī, scītum (4): to know. Dēbeō, dēbēre, dēbuī, dēbitum (2): to owe, be indebted; ought, should, must. Tibi is the dative form of tū: you. Rōscium is the m/n (here m) accusative singular form of Rōscius/Rōscia/Rōscium (1/2): a family name (here, a client of Cicero’s).

Nōn: not. Dēdiscitur is the third person singular passive form of dēdiscō, dēdiscere, dēdidicī, — (3): to unlearn. Virtūs, virtūtis (3f): virtue, moral excellence or any good quality of a person or thing; courage.

Nōn: not. Videntur is the third person plural passive form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see; (in the passive) seem, be thought, be deemed. Quī is the masculine nominative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Errant is the third person plural form of errō, errāre, errāvī, errātum (1): to err; wander; go astray. Cōnsentiō, cōnsentīre, cōnsēnsī, cōnsēnsum (4): to agree, consent.

Līberāmur is the first person plural passive form of līberō, līberāre, līberāvī, līberātum (1): to free, liberate, release; acquit, absolve. Mors, mortis (3f): death. Metū is the ablative singular form of metus, metūs (4m): fear.

Cremārī is the passive infinitive form of cremō, cremāre, cremāvī, cremātum (1): to burn to ashes; cremate. Corpora is the accusative plural form of corpus, corporis (3n): body. Iubet is the third person singular form of iubeō, iubēre, iussī, iussum (2): to order, command, bid (a historical present).