Vice
versa. —
common expression
The other way around.
More literally: The situation (having been) reversed.
Vice is the ablative singular form of vicis (3f—a strange word with no nominative form; vicis is genitive singular): turn; change, vicissitude; situation. Versā is the feminine ablative singular form of versus/versa/versum (1/2), the perfect passive participle of vertō, vertere, vertī, versum (3): to turn around, reverse.
With things to be changed having been changed.
Alt. : With necessary changes having been made.
(As when two contracts or other documents are the same except for names and other particulars that needed changing.) Mūtātīs is the m/f/n ablative plural form of mūtātus/mūtāta/mūtātum (1/2), the perfect passive participle mūtō, mūtāre, mūtāvī, mūtātum (1): to change. Mūtandīs is the m/f/n (here n) ablative plural form of mūtandus/mūtanda/mutandum (1/2), the gerundive (to be changed) of mūtō, mūtāre, mūtāvī, mūtātum (1): to change.
E
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And when he had spoken thus, he departed.
More literally: And with these things having been said, he went away.
Et (conj.): and. Hīs is the m/f/n (here n) ablative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Dictīs is the m/f/n ablative plural form of dictus/dicta/dictum (1/2), the perfect passive participle of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say. Abiit is the third person singular perfect form of abeō, abīre, abiī, abitum (irreg.): to depart, go away.
Then he suddenly gave the signal and launched his attack.
More literally: Then suddenly, the signal having been given, he attacks the enemies (or the enemy collectively; but the Latin word is plural).
Dein (adv. , more often deinde): then, next. Repente (adv.): suddenly. Signō is the ablative singular form of signum, signī (2n): sign; signal. Datō is the m/n ablative singular form of datus/data/datum (1/2), the perfect passive participle of dō, dare, dedī, datum (1, irreg.): to give. Hostīs is the accusative plural form (also hostēs) of hostis, hostis (3m/f): enemy. Invādit is the third person singular form of invādō, invādere, invāsī, invāsum (3): to invade, attack.
Why are you laughing? Change the name, and the story is told about you.
More literally: Why do you laugh? With the name changed, the story is told about you.
Quid (interrog. adv.): why? Rīdēs is the second person singular form of rīdeō, rīdēre, rīsī, rīsum (2): to laugh; ridicule. Mūtātō is the m/n ablative singular form of mūtātus/mūtāta/mūtātum (1/2), the perfect passive participle of mūtō, mūtāre, mūtāvī, mūtātum (1): to change, transform. Nōmine is the ablative singular form of nōmen, nōminis (3n): name. Dē (prep.): from, down from; about, concerning (takes the ablative). Tē is the ablative form of tū: you. Fābula, fābulae (1f): story. Nārrātur is the third person singular passive form of nārrō, nārrāre, nārrāvī, nārrātum (1): to narrate, tell.
Hortensius came to me just as I had written my letter.
More literally: Hortensius came to me (my/the) letter (having been) written.
Hortēnsius /Hortēnsia/Hortēnsium (1/2): family name. Ad (prep.): to (takes the accusative). Mē the accusative form of ego. Vēnit is the third person singular perfect form of veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum (4): to come. Scrīptā is the feminine ablative singular form of scrīptus/scrīpta/scrīptum (1/2), the perfect passive participle of scrībō, scrībere, scrīpsī, scrīptum (3): to write. Epistulā is the ablative singular form of epistula, epistulae (1f—also epistola): letter.
And so, all the senate having been killed, he sold the rest into slavery.
Alt. : Therefore, all the Senate (having been) slaughtered, he sold the other citizens with chaplets on their heads. (Trollope tr.)
Trollope’s comment: “The pithy brevity, the unapologetic dignity of the sentence, as he pronounced it and tells it to us, is heartrending, but, at this distance of time, delightful also.”
(Chaplets were how Romans marked captives in war who were intended for sale.) Itaque (adv.): and so, therefore. Omnī is the m/f/n ablative singular form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): all; every. Senātū is the ablative singular form of senātus, senātūs (4m): senate. Necātō is the m/n ablative singular form of necātus/necāta/necātum (1/2), the perfect passive participle of necō, necāre, necāvī, necātum (1): to kill. Reliquōs is the masculine accusative plural form of reliquus/reliqua/reliquum (1/2): remaining, that is left. Sub (prep.): (with abl.) under (as a location); (with acc.) under (as a direction), toward and under. Corōnā is the ablative singular form of corōna, corōnae (1f): chaplet (a wreath made of leaves). Vēndidit is the third person singular perfect form of vēndō, vēndere, vēndidī, vēnditum (3): to sell. Sub corōnā vēndere was an established expression: to sell into slavery.
After his death, the disturbances centering around the Board of Three blazed up more fiercely.
More literally: He having died, triumviral dissensions blazed up more fiercely.
(The Periochae —“summaries”—are an anonymous synopsis of Livy’s History of Rome.) Dēfūnctō is the m/n ablative singular form of dēfūnctus/dēfūncta/dēfūnctum, the perfect active participle of dēfungor, dēfungī, dēfūnctus sum (3, deponent): to finish, have done with; die. Eō is the m/n ablative singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Ācrius (adv.) is the comparative form of ācriter (adv.): sharply, fiercely. Sēditiōnēs is the nominative plural form of sēditiō, sēditiōnis (3f): political dissension, insurrection, mutiny; strife. Triumvirālēs is the m/f nominative plural form of triumvirālis/triumvirālis/triumvirāle (3): triumviral, of or associated with the triumvirs. Exārsērunt is the third person plural perfect form of exārdēscō, exārdēscere, exārsī, exārsum (2): to catch fire, blaze up, flare up.
Many having slipped away, a few remained.
Dīlāpsīs is the m/f/n ablative plural form of dīlāpsus/dīlāpsa/dīlāpsum, the perfect active participle of dīlābor, dīlābī, dīlāpsus sum (3, deponent): to flow away; dissolve; slip away; scatter. Plūribus is the m/f/n (here m) ablative form of plūrēs/plūrēs/plūra (3—usually plural when it’s an adjective): more numerous, more (in number); the greater number; many. Paucī is the masculine nominative plural form of paucus/pauca/paucum (1/2): (in sg. , rare) little; (in pl. , the more frequent usage) few. Remānsērunt is the third person plural perfect form of remaneō, remanēre, remānsī, remānsum (2): to remain, stay behind, stay without moving; endure.
Pending the lawsuit.
(A name given to a court order made while litigation is pending; the order typically gives temporary relief to one of the parties while the final outcome of the case is awaited.) Pendente is the m/f/n ablative singular form of pendēns, pendentis (3), the present active participle (hanging, pending) of pendeō, pendēre, pependī, — (2): to be suspended, hang; depend; be pending. Līte is the ablative singular form of līs, lītis (3f): lawsuit, litigation.
The reason for a law ceasing, the law itself ceases.
More literally: The rationale of the law ceasing, the law itself ceases.
Cessante is the m/f/n ablative singular form of cessāns, cessantis (3), the present active participle of cessō, cessāre, cessāvī, cessātum (1): to cease; delay. Ratiōne is the ablative singular form of ratiō, ratiōnis (3f): reason, rationale. Lēx, lēgis (3f): law. Cessat is the third person singular form of cessō, cessāre, cessāvī, cessātum (1): to cease; delay. Ipse/ ipsa /ipsum (adj.): himself/herself/itself/oneself/myself/etc. ; in person; the very. Lēx, lēgis (3f): law.
Tears like these fall by a forcing-out process, against our will.
More literally: These tears fall through a forcing out with us unwilling.
Hae is the feminine nominative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (adj.): this. Lacrimae is the nominative plural form of lacrima, lacrimae (1f): tear. Per (prep.): through, by (takes the accusative). Ēlīsiōnem is the accusative singular form of ēlīsio, ēlīsiōnis (3f): a striking out, forcing out. Cadunt is the third person plural form of cadō, cadere, cecidī, cāsum (3): to fall. Nōlentibus is the m/f/n ablative plural form of nōlēns, nōlentis (3), the present active participle of nōlō, nōlle, nōluī, — (irreg.): to not want, be unwilling, refuse. Nōbīs is the ablative form of nōs: we.
Just make a start, with good auspices and with the gods themselves lending a hand.
More literally: Just enter (it)/take the first steps (on it), with good auspices and the gods themselves assisting well.
(He’s talking about how to get started with the good life. The implied it —the object of inīte —is the path to that life, mentioned in the previous clause.) Inīte is the plural imperative form of ineō, inīre, iniī, initum (irreg.): to enter; begin; take the first steps on (a path). Modo (adv.): just, only. Bonīs is the m/f/n ablative plural form of bonus/bona/bonum (1/2): good. Auspiciīs is the ablative plural form of auspicium, auspiciī (2n): omen, auspice. Ipsīsque: ipsīs is the m/f/n ablative plural form of ipse/ipsa/ipsum (adj.): himself/herself/itself/oneself/myself/etc. ; in person; the very (the enclitic conjunction –que adds and). Dīs is the ablative plural form of deus, deī (2m, irreg.): god. Bene (adv.): well. Iuvantibus is the m/f/n ablative plural form of iuvāns, iuvantis (3), the present active participle (helping, aiding) of iuvō, iuvāre, iūvī, iūtum (1): to help, aid.
The Consulars are seething, Favonius at their head.
More literally: The Consulars, Favonius (being their) leader, are grumbling.
Cōnsulārēs is the nominative plural form of cōnsulāris, cōnsulāris (3m): a consular, a man who has been a consul (a substantive use of cōnsulāris/cōnsulāris/cōnsulāre (3): consular, belonging or relating to a consul, or having been a consul). Duce is the ablative singular form of dux, ducis (3m/f): leader. Favōniō is the m/n (here m) ablative singular form of the family name Favōnius/Favōnia/Favōnium (1/2). Fremunt is the third person plural form of fremō, fremere, fremuī, fremitum (3): to rumble, roar, growl, mutter, grumble; complain.
I am not worth the price, if I may judge.
More literally: I am not of so much (worth), with me (being) the judge.
(Atalanta, remarking on a suitor who risked his life to marry her.) Nōn: not. Sum: I am. Mē is the ablative form of ego. Iūdice is the ablative singular form of iūdex, iūdicis (3m/f): judge, juror. Tantum, tantī (2n): such an amount, so much. Mē iūdice is a typical way of saying in my opinion. Remember that Latin also uses the genitive to talk about price or value (so it is of 10 denarii = it is worth 10 denarii). Tantī esse is a common phrase meaning to be worth it.
In the consulship of Q. Marcius and Cn. Servilius, Ennius died.
More literally: Q. Marcius (and) Cn. Servilius (being) consuls, Ennius met death.
The construction shown here was a standard way for the year to be referred to in Latin: during the consulship of X, expressed with the ablative absolute.
Q. stands for the name Quīntus, Quīntī (2m)—the full form used here would have been the ablative singular Quīntō. Mārciō is the m/n (here m) ablative singular form of Mārcius/Mārcia/Mārcium (1/2): family name. Cn. stands for the name Gnaeus, Gnaeī (2m—alternatively spelled Cnaeus, it’s customarily abbreviated to the first two letters of that variant)—the full form used here would have been the ablative singular Gnaeō. Servīliō is the m/n (here m) ablative singular form of Servīlius/Servīlia/Servīlium (1/2): Servīlius. Cōnsulibus is the ablative plural form of cōnsul, cōnsulis (3m): consul. Mortem is the accusative singular form of mors, mortis (3f): death. Obiit is the third person singular perfect form of obeō, obīre, obiī/obīvī, obitum (irreg.): to meet, arrive at; (especially) to meet death, die (mortem may or may not be explicitly stated); to take on (a task, responsibility, etc.). Ennius /Ennia/Ennium (1/2): family name; here, as often, it refers to the famous Ennius, a mid-Republican poet who survives to us only in fragments (he was one of Cicero’s favorites).
If they begin without the acquiescence of reason, they will continue without it.
More literally: If they will have begun with reason (being) unwilling, they will continue with (it being) unwilling.
(He’s talking about emotions.) Sī (conj.): if. Invītā is the feminine ablative singular form of invītus/invīta/invītum (1/2): unwilling. Ratiōne is the ablative singular form of ratiō, ratiōnis (3f): reason. Coeperint is the third person plural future perfect form of coepī, coepisse, coeptum (defective; usually occurs only in the perfect, pluperfect and future perfect tenses): to begin. Persevērābunt is the third person plural future form of persevērō, persevērāre, persevērāvī, persevērātum (1): to persevere, continue.
As long as Teucer is your leader and Teucer watches over you, there is no need for despair.
More literally: Nothing to be despaired of (or one must not despair), with Teucer (being) leader and Teucer (being) protector.
Nīl (short for nihil): nothing; (acc. used adverbially) in no respect, not, not at all (here nīl is probably accusative used adverbially with an impersonal desperandum; but it’s also possible to read it as a nominative subject, in which case desperandum would modify it and not be impersonal). Dēspērandus/dēspēranda/ dēspērandum (1/2) is the gerundive (to be despaired) of dēspērō, dēspērāre, dēspērāvī, dēspērātum (1): to despair (of). Teucrō is the ablative singular form of Teucer, Teucrī (2m): Teucer—a Trojan war hero. Duce is the ablative singular form of dux, ducis (3m/f): leader. Et (conj.): and. Auspice is the ablative singular form of auspex, auspicis (3m): augur; founder; protector.