“Hic
est”
inquam
“pater
quem
vobis
laudaveram.”
—
Seneca the Elder, Controversies
1.7.7
“This is,” I said, “the father whom I had praised to you.”
Hic /haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Est: is. Inquam (irreg. and defective): I say, I said. Pater, patris (3m): father. Quem is the masculine accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Vōbīs is the dative form of vōs: you (pl.). Laudāveram is the first person singular pluperfect form of laudō, laudāre, laudāvī, laudātum (1): to praise.
You had tainted even your killing of a tyrant.
Etiam (particle): even; also; still. Tyrannicīdium is the accusative singular form of tyrannicīdium, tyrannicīdiī (2n): tyrannicide, killing of a tyrant. Inquināverās is the second person singular pluperfect form of inquinō, inquināre, inquināvī, inquinātum (1): to defile, stain, contaminate.
This is what the ravisher had not told you.
Alt. : The ravisher had not told you these things.
Haec is the neuter accusative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Tibi is the dative form of tū: you. Raptor, raptōris (3m): ravisher. Nōn: not. Nārrāverat is the third person singular pluperfect form of nārrō, nārrāre, nārrāvī, nārrātum (1): to narrate, tell.
E
e
And we found that it was nothing other than what we had thought.
Alt. : And nothing other than that which we had thought, we found.
Et (conj.): and. Nihil (n, indeclinable, nom. or acc. only—here acc.): nothing. Aliud is the neuter accusative singular form of alius/alia/aliud (1/2, irreg.): other. Quam (rel. adv.): than. Id is the neuter accusative singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Quod is the neuter accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Putāverāmus is the first person plural pluperfect form of putō, putāre, putāvī, putātum (1): to suppose, think. Invēnimus is the first person plural perfect form of inveniō, invenīre, invēnī, inventum (4): to find; invent; discover.
Perhaps more wisely, you departed from the city that you had liberated.
Vōs: you (pl.). Fortasse (adv.): perhaps. Sapientius is the comparative form of sapienter (adv.): wisely. Excessistis is the second person plural perfect form of excēdō, excēdere, excessī, excessum (3): to leave, depart. Urbe is the ablative singular form of urbs, urbis (3f): city. Eā is the feminine ablative singular form of is/ea/id (adj.): this, that. Quam is the feminine accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Līberārātis (contracted from līberāverātis) is the second person plural pluperfect form of līberō, līberāre, līberāvī, līberātum (1): to free, liberate, release; absolve.
They had, moreover, armed the adult slaves.
(The actual authorship is uncertain.) Servōs is the accusative plural form of servus, servī (2m): slave. Praetereā (adv.): moreover. Pūberēs is the m/f accusative plural form of pūbes, pūberis (3, adj.): adult. Armāverant is the third person plural pluperfect form of armō, armāre, armāvī, armātum (1): to arm, equip.
I had feared something larger.
Maius is the neuter accusative singular form of maior/maior/maius (3): larger—the comparative form of magnus/magna/magnum (1/2): large. Aliquid is the neuter accusative singular form of aliquis/aliqua/aliquid (pron.): someone, something. Timueram is the first person singular pluperfect form of timeō, timēre, timuī, — (2): to fear, be afraid.
What you had commanded is done.
Alt. : What you had ordered was done.
Quod is the neuter accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Iusserās is the second person singular pluperfect form of iubeō, iubēre, iussī, iussum (2): to order, command. Factum est is the third person neuter singular perfect passive form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make.
He had opposed twice and failed twice.
More literally: Twice already he had opposed, twice he had not prevailed.
Bis (adv.): twice. Iam (adv.): already; now; soon. Contrādīxerat is the third person singular pluperfect form of contrādīcō, contrādīcere, contrādīxī, contrādictum (3): to speak against, contradict, oppose. Nōn: not. Tenuerat is the third person singular pluperfect form of teneō, tenēre, tenuī, tentum (2): to hold; keep; gain, prevail.
Just lately we had feared a massacre.
Modo (adv.): only, just; just now, just lately, recently. Caedem is the accusative singular form of caedēs, caedis (3f): killing, slaughter, massacre, murder. Timuerāmus is the first person plural pluperfect form of timeō, timēre, timuī, — (2): to fear, be afraid.
Did you think that I’d be satisfied with the dinner which you’d seen on the cover of the tray?
More literally: Do you think me to be content with that dinner which you had seen on the cover of the tray?
(A dinner had been served in which the food matched images on the tray used to deliver it.) Mē is the accusative form of ego. Putātis is the second person plural form of putō, putāre, putāvī, putātum (1): to suppose, think, believe, regard (as). Illā is the feminine ablative singular form of ille/illa/illud (adj.): that. Cēnā is the ablative singular form of cēna, cēnae (1f): dinner. Esse: to be. Contentum is the m/n accusative singular form of contentus/contenta/contentum (1/2): content, satisfied. Quam is the feminine accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on; (with acc.) into. Thēcā is the ablative singular form of thēca, thēcae (1f): cover, case. Repositōrium, repositōriī (2n): tray; repository, cabinet. Vīderātis is the second person plural pluperfect form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see.
Men had never seen or heard the like before.
More literally: They had seen nothing of the kind, they had heard nothing (of the kind).
Nihil (n, indeclinable, nom. or acc. only—here acc.): nothing. Tāle is the neuter accusative singular form of tālis/tālis/tāle (3): such, of such a kind. Vīderant is the third person plural pluperfect form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see. Audierant is the third person plural pluperfect form of audiō, audīre, audīvī/audiī, audītum (4): to hear; listen to.
I had planted them myself.
(He’s talking about plane trees: platanus, platanī (2f).) Ego: I (adds the emphasis suggested by myself). Illās is the feminine accusative plural form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she, it; the former. Posueram is the first person singular pluperfect form of pōnō, pōnere, posuī, positum (3): to place, put.
You had understood, right?
Alt. : You had understood, of course?
Intellēxerās is the second person singular pluperfect form of intellegō, intellegere, intellēxī, intellēctum (3—also intelligō): to understand. Nempe (particle): indeed; truly; of course.
He had memorized them while he had written them.
(He’s describing an orator who did not need to memorize the speeches that he wrote.) Ēdidicerat is the third person singular pluperfect form of ēdiscō, ēdiscere, ēdidicī, — (3): to learn thoroughly; learn by heart commit to memory. Illa is the neuter accusative plural form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she, it; the former. Cum (conj.): when; since; while; although. Scrīpserat is the third person singular pluperfect form of scrībō, scrībere, scrīpsī, scrīptum (3): to write.
We who had endured everything fled this.
Quī is the masculine nominative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Omnia is the neuter accusative plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): every; all—an adjective used substantively (all things, everything). Tulerāmus is the first person plural pluperfect form of ferō, ferre, tulī, lātum (3, irreg.): to carry, bear; endure. Hoc is the neuter accusative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Fūgimus is the first person plural perfect form of fugiō, fugere, fūgī, fugitūrus (3, –iō): to flee, run away.
He granted a third consulship to men of your choosing.
More literally: A third time he made consuls those whom you had chosen.
Tertiō (adv.): for the third time; thirdly. Cōnsulēs is the accusative plural form of cōnsul, cōnsulis (3m): consul. Fēcit is the third person singular perfect form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make. Quōs is the masculine accusative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Vōs: you (pl.). Ēlēgerātis is the second person plural pluperfect form of ēligō, ēligere, ēlēgī, ēlēctum (3): to choose, elect.
They had made peace with the Samnites.
Pācem is the accusative singular form of pāx, pācis (3f): peace. Cum (prep.): with (takes the ablative). Samnītibus is the ablative plural form of Samnīs, Samnītis (3m/f): Samnite. Fēcerant is the third person plural pluperfect form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make.
I had arrived home.
Pervēneram is the first person singular pluperfect form of perveniō, pervenīre, pervēnī, perventum (4): to come (all the way to a place), arrive. Domum is the accusative singular form of domus, domūs (2/4f): home. (Ordinarily the preposition ad or in would be used in a sentence like this before the name of the place where he arrived. But domus is one of a few words that convey such a meaning in the accusative case without need for a preposition.)
What had you seen, what had you perceived, what had you heard?
Quid is the neuter accusative singular form of quis/quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Vīderās is the second person singular pluperfect form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see. Sēnserās is the second person singular pluperfect form of sentiō, sentīre, sēnsī, sēnsum (4): to feel; perceive; think. Audierās is the second person singular pluperfect form of audio, audīre, audīvī/audiī, audītum (4): to hear; listen to.
By now the whole house and household were sunk in their first sleep.
More literally: Already the first rest had put the whole house and household to sleep.
Iam (adv.): already; now; soon. Tōtam is the feminine accusative singular form of tōtus/tōta/tōtum (1/2, irreg.): whole, entire. Domum is the accusative singular form of domus, domūs (2/4f): home. Atque/ ac (conj.): and. (Only the form atque is used before vowels or h. The shortened form ac doesn’t occur there in good Latin. Most consonants can be preceded by either atque or ac.) Familiam is the accusative singular form of familia, familiae (1f): body of slaves; household; family. Quiēs, quiētis (3f): rest, quiet; sleep. Prīmus/ prīma /prīmum (1/2): first; foremost. Sōpīverat is the third person singular pluperfect form of sōpiō, sōpīre, sōpīvī/sōpiī, sōpītum (4): to put to sleep; deprive of feeling; settle.
We had come cheerfully to the assessing.
More literally: We had come cheerful. . .
(That is, to the court proceedings to assess damages; but the plaintiff then demanded death for the defendant.) Vēnerāmus is the first person plural pluperfect form of veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum (4): to come. Hilarēs is the m/f nominative plural form of hilaris/hilaris/hilare (3): cheerful, merry. Ad (prep.): to (takes the accusative). Aestimātiōnem is the accusative singular form of aestimātiō, aestimātiōnis (3f): valuation; estimation, appraisal.
E
e
You had heard that he was sick.
More literally: You had heard him weakened.
Audierātis is the second person plural pluperfect form of audiō, audīre, audīvī/audiī, audītum (4): to hear. Illum is the masculine accusative singular form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she, it. Īnfirmātum is the m/n accusative singular form of īnfirmātus/īnfirmāta/īnfirmātum (1/2) is the perfect passive participle (weakened) of īnfirmō, īnfirmāre, īnfirmāvī, īnfirmātum (1): to weaken; the verb (esse) is implied.
They had prepared horses and arms.
Equōs is the accusative plural form of equus, equī (2m): horse. Armaque: arma is the accusative form of arma, armōrum (2n, plural only): arms, weapons (the enclitic conjunction – que adds and). Expedierant is the third person plural pluperfect form of expediō, expedīre, expedīvī/expediī, expedītum (4): to untie, extricate; be expedient; make ready, prepare.
I am not who I was before.
More literally: I am not who I had been.
(That is, who I had been before falling for Cynthia.) Nōn: not. Sum: I am. Ego: I. Quī /quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Fueram is the first person singular pluperfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be.
You had a place in the battle line at Pharsalia.
More literally: You had been a front-ranker in the Pharsalian battle.
Fuerās is the second person singular pluperfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. In (prep.): in (takes the ablative in this sense). Aciē is the ablative singular form of aciēs, aciēī (5f): sharp edge; line, rank; army in battle formation; army engaged in battle; battle. Pharsālicā is the feminine ablative singular form of Pharsālicus/Pharsālica/Pharsālicum (1/2): Pharsalian, of Pharsalus (in Thessaly). Antesignānus, antesignānī (2m): one who fights before (ante) the standard (signum); i.e., in the front rank; (figuratively) a leader in a battle.
It was, or rather had been, a boat.
Erat is the third person singular imperfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. Nāvigium, nāvigiī (2n): ship, boat. Immō (particle): nay, rather, actually (qualifying or contradicting what was just said). Fuerat is the third person singular pluperfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be.
We who once were five books of Naso are now three.
More literally: We who had just been five books of Naso, are three.
(The opening lines; the text is speaking about itself.) Quī is the masculine nominative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Modo (adv.): just, only; just, just now, recently. Nāsō, Nāsōnis (3m): Roman personal name, here of the poet Publius Ovidius Naso (Ovid). Fuerāmus the first person plural pluperfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. Quīnque (indeclinable): five. Libellī is the nominative plural form of libellus, libellī (2m): (little) book. Trēs /trēs/tria (3): three. Sumus: we are.
You had been untouched birds.
Intāctae is the feminine nominative plural form of intāctus/intācta/intāctum (1/2): untouched; uninjured; virgin. Fuerātis is the second person plural pluperfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. Avēs is the nominative plural form of avis, avis (3f): bird.
There had never been any consuls.
Cōnsulēs is the nominative plural form of cōnsul, cōnsulis (3m): consul. Nunquam (adv.): never (also written as numquam). Fuerant is the third person plural pluperfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be.
I had been captured with you.
Tēcum: with you (tē = you; cum = with). Ego: I. Captus eram is the first person masculine singular pluperfect passive form of capiō, capere, cēpī, captum (3, –iō): to take, seize, capture.
You had been asked not to record it.
More literally: You had been asked that you not record (it).
(He’s speaking of a debt and why it was written down where it was.) Rogātus erās is the second person masculine singular pluperfect passive form of rogō, rogāre, rogāvī, rogātum (1): to ask, request. Nē (conj. , with subjunctive): lest, that not. Referrēs is the second person singular imperfect subjunctive form of referō, referre, rettulī, relātum (3, irreg.): to bring back; give back; report, register, record.
Excess has ruined all that had been won by virtue.
Alt. : All that had been won by virtue was ruined by excess.
Quisquis/ quidquid (rel. pron. ; the neuter form is also spelled quicquid): whoever, whatever; everyone who, everything that. Virtūte is the ablative singular form of virtūs, virtūtis (3f): virtue, moral excellence; courage, valor. Partum erat is the third person neuter singular pluperfect passive form of pariō, parere, peperī, partum (3, –iō): to give birth to; beget; gain, acquire. Intemperantiā is the ablative singular form of intemperantia, intemperantiae (1f): intemperance, excess. Corruit is the third person singular perfect form of corruō, corruere, corruī, corrutum (3): to fall, fall down, collapse; be ruined, fail; overthrow, ruin. (You can also read intemperantia as nominative and read the verb in the last senses mentioned in the definition— to overthrow, ruin —but those meanings are less frequent. There’s also a nicer parallelism between the two parts of the sentence if intemperantiā is an ablative noun mirroring virtūte.)
We had been taken captive and destroyed.
Captī (erāmus) is the first person masculine plural pluperfect passive form of capiō, capere, cēpī, captum (3, –iō): to take, seize, capture. Et (conj.): and. Dēlētī erāmus is the first person masculine plural pluperfect passive form of dēleō, dēlēre, dēlēvī, dēlētum (2): to destroy.
E
e
It was now dark.
Alt. : Already it had become dark.
More literally: Darkness already had been made.
Tenebrae, tenebrārum (1f, plural only): darkness. Iam (adv.): already; now; soon. Factae erant is the third person feminine plural pluperfect passive form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make (in the passive voice it often means to become or to happen).
Even the camp had been lost.
Castra is the nominative plural form of castrum, castrī (2n): fortified place; (in the plural only) camp. Quoque (adv.): also, too; even. Āmissa erant is the third person neuter plural pluperfect passive form of āmittō, āmittere, āmīsī, āmissum (3): to let go of; lose.
Scarcely had I said these things:
Vix (adv.): with difficulty; barely, hardly, scarcely. Ea is the neuter accusative plural form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Fātus eram is the first person masculine singular pluperfect form of for, fārī, fātus sum (1, deponent): to speak, say (a “defective” verb because some forms it might have taken weren’t used).
King Agis had died.
Mortuus erat is the third person masculine singular pluperfect form of morior, morī, mortuus sum (3, –ior, deponent): to die. Āgis, Āgidis (3m): the name of many kings of Sparta. Rēx, rēgis (3m): king.
They inquired where he was whose rule and authority they had followed.
Ubi (interrog. adv.): where? Ille /illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she, it. Esset is the third person singular imperfect subjunctive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). Cuius is the m/f/n genitive singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Imperium is the accusative singular form of imperium, imperiī (2n): power, authority, rule; command, order; empire. Auspicium is the accusative singular form of auspicium, auspiciī (2n): divination; auspices; command, authority. Secūtī erant is the third person masculine plural pluperfect form of sequor, sequī, secūtus sum (3, deponent): to follow. Requīrēbant is the third person plural imperfect form of requīrō, requīrere, requīsīvī/requīsiī, requīsītum (3): to look for, seek; ask, inquire; want; need.