AP Latin › Context-Based Meaning of Words and Phrases in Poetry Passages
Vivamus mea Lesbia, atque amemus,
rumoresque senum severiorum
omnes unius aestimemus assis!
soles occidere et redire possunt:
nobis cum semel occidit brevis lux, 5
nox est perpetua una dormienda.
da mi basia mille, deinde centum,
dein mille altera, dein secunda centum,
deinde usque altera mille, deinde centum.
dein, cum milia multa fecerimus, 10
conturbabimus illa, ne sciamus,
aut ne quis malus invidere possit,
cum tantum sciat esse basiorum.
"Aestimemus"translates as __________.
Let us estimate
We heat
We will consider
We were considering
"Aestimemus"is the first-person, plural, present-tense, active, subjunctive form of the verb "aestimo,""aestimare."Therefore, the correct translation is let us estimate.
Rumor in ambiguo est; aliis violentior aequo
visa dea est, alii laudant dignamque severa
virginitate vocant: pars invenit utraque causas.
sola Iovis coniunx non tam, culpetne probetne,
eloquitur, quam clade domus ab Agenore ductae 5
gaudet et a Tyria collectum paelice transfert
in generis socios odium; subit ecce priori
causa recens, gravidamque dolet de semine magni
esse Iovis Semelen; dum linguam ad iurgia solvit,
'profeci quid enim totiens per iurgia?' dixit, 10
'ipsa petenda mihi est; ipsam, si maxima Iuno
rite vocor, perdam, si me gemmantia dextra
sceptra tenere decet, si sum regina Iovisque
et soror et coniunx, certe soror. at, puto, furto est
contenta, et thalami brevis est iniuria nostri. 15
concipit--id derat-- manifestaque crimina pleno
fert utero et mater, quod vix mihi contigit, uno
de Iove vult fieri: tanta est fiducia formae.
fallat eam faxo; nec sum Saturnia, si non
ab Iove mersa suo Stygias penetrabit in undas.' 20
The word "aequo" in line 1 should be translated as ___________.
than just
on the sea
on the land
even
The word "aequo" comes from "aequus," "a," "um,"which can mean level or just. In this sentence, it is being paired with the a comparative adjective. More violent than even/the sea/the land does not make much sense in this context. These words are being used here to describe action without thought or fairness.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 3.253-273)
Vallis erat piceis et acuta densa cupressu,
nomine Gargaphie succinctae sacra Dianae,
cuius in extremo est antrum nemorale recessu
arte laboratum nulla: simulaverat artem
ingenio natura suo; nam pumice vivo 5
et levibus tofis nativum duxerat arcum;
fons sonat a dextra tenui perlucidus unda,
margine gramineo patulos incinctus hiatus.
hic dea silvarum venatu fessa solebat
virgineos artus liquido perfundere rore. 10
quo postquam subiit, nympharum tradidit uni
armigerae iaculum pharetramque arcusque retentos,
altera depositae subiecit bracchia pallae,
vincla duae pedibus demunt; nam doctior illis
Ismenis Crocale sparsos per colla capillos 15
colligit in nodum, quamvis erat ipsa solutis.
The word "hic" in line 9 should be translated _____________.
here
this
he
it
The word "hic" should be translated as here in this sentence. Often, forms of the word "hic" and "ille" are used to indicate spatial concepts. The most common are "hic" - here, "huc" _- from here, "_huic" - to here, "ille" - there, "illuc" - from there, and"illic" - to there.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 3.155-171)
Cenabis bene, mi Fabulle, apud me
paucis, si tibi di favent, diebus,
si tecum attuleris bonam atque magnam
cenam, non sine candida puella
et vino et sale et omnibus cachinnis. 5
haec si, inquam, attuleris, venuste noster,
cenabis bene; nam tui Catulli
plenus sacculus est aranearum.
sed contra accipies meros amores
seu quid suavius elegantiusve est: 10
nam unguentum dabo, quod meae puellae
donarunt Veneres Cupidinesque,
quod tu cum olfacies, deos rogabis,
totum ut te faciant, Fabulle, nasum.
How does "ut" in line 14 translate?
As
That
So that
Just
The construnction of these last few lines can be a bit confusing. While it is true that "ut" is followed by a subjunctive verb (which normally indicates a subjunctive ut clause), reading closely shows that it makes no sense for there to be an ut clause in this area: there is no explanation of purpose and there is no cause and effect. In fact, what we have here is a cum temporal clause. "Cum"in the previous line does not have a direct object. That it is followed by a subjunctive verb ("faciant") indicates a temporal clause.
There is a word missing from this sentence: "est." As usual, Latin authors often leave out this word, but we know that it must be present here because of the succession of accusative words. We do not have multiple direct objects here, but instead a set of appositives. The word "te"is being described as "totum nasum." The line translates as: When you will smell (it), they (the gods) will make you like/as your entire nose.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 13," ln.1-14)
Cenabis bene, mi Fabulle, apud me
paucis, si tibi di favent, diebus,
si tecum attuleris bonam atque magnam
cenam, non sine candida puella
et vino et sale et omnibus cachinnis. 5
haec si, inquam, attuleris, venuste noster,
cenabis bene; nam tui Catulli
plenus sacculus est aranearum.
sed contra accipies meros amores
seu quid suavius elegantiusve est: 10
nam unguentum dabo, quod meae puellae
donarunt Veneres Cupidinesque,
quod tu cum olfacies, deos rogabis,
totum ut te faciant, Fabulle, nasum.
How should "candida"in line 4 be translated?
Pure
White
Truthful
Bright
While the word "candida" literally means white, the poet is not talking about the color of this girl's skin (not something the Romans would have cared much about). Just like today in Western Culture, the color whiteis often associated with innocence and purity.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 13," ln.1-14)
at non Hectoreis dubitavit cedere flammis,
quas ego sustinui, quas hac a classe fugavi.
tutius est igitur fictis contendere verbis,
quam pugnare manu, sed nec mihi dicere promptum,
nec facere est isti: quantumque ego Marte feroci 5
inque acie valeo, tantum valet iste loquendo.
nec memoranda tamen vobis mea facta, Pelasgi,
esse reor: vidistis enim; sua narret Ulixes,
quae sine teste gerit, quorum nox conscia sola est!
praemia magna peti fateor; sed demit honorem 10
aemulus: Aiaci non est tenuisse superbum,
sit licet hoc ingens, quicquid speravit Ulixes;
iste tulit pretium iam nunc temptaminis huius,
quod, cum victus erit, mecum certasse feretur.
The word "dubitavit" in line 1 should be translated _____________.
he hesitated
he doubted
he decided
he pondered
The word "dubitavit" comes from "dubito, dubitare,"which usually translates as to doubt; however, due to the context of this sentence, a better translation is: he hesitated.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 8.7-21)
Consedere duces et vulgi stante corona
surgit ad hos clipei dominus septemplicis Aiax,
utque erat inpatiens irae, Sigeia torvo
litora respexit classemque in litore vultu
intendensque manus 'agimus, pro Iuppiter!' inquit 5
'ante rates causam, et mecum confertur Ulixes!
The word "corona" (line 1) is referring to __________.
the "duces" (line 1)
a crown
"Aiax" (line 2)
the king of a country
The word "corona" comes from "corona, coronae,"which normally translates as a crown or ring, but here the word is being used with the word "vulgi" (line 1) to describe the ring of men sitting around and discussing matters in the passage.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 8.1-6)
Aurea prima sata est aetas, quae vindice nullo,
sponte sua, sine lege fidem rectumque colebat.
poena metusque aberant, nec verba minantia fixo
aere legebantur, nec supplex turba timebat
iudicis ora sui, sed erant sine vindice tuti. 5
nondum caesa suis, peregrinum ut viseret orbem,
montibus in liquidas pinus descenderat undas,
nullaque mortales praeter sua litora norant;
nondum praecipites cingebant oppida fossae;
non tuba derecti, non aeris cornua flexi, 10
non galeae, non ensis erat: sine militis usu
mollia securae peragebant otia gentes.
The word "ut"in line 6 is translated __________.
that
as
like
so that
The word "ut"in this line accompanied by the subjunctive verb "viseret." Therefore, the translation possibilities are limited to that or so that, based on how the word is being used. There is no purpose being mentioned here; in other words, something is not happening so that something else may happen. What we have here is a result clause_,_showing that men were able to visit the world because there was nothing stopping them. The best translation is that.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 1. 89-101)
Tertia post illam successit aenea proles,
saevior ingeniis et ad horrida promptior arma,
non scelerata tamen; de duro est ultima ferro.
protinus inrupit venae peioris in aevum
omne nefas: fugere pudor verumque fidesque; 5
in quorum subiere locum fraudesque dolusque
insidiaeque et vis et amor sceleratus habendi.
vela dabant ventis nec adhuc bene noverat illos
navita, quaeque prius steterant in montibus altis,
fluctibus ignotis insultavere carinae, 10
communemque prius ceu lumina solis et auras
cautus humum longo signavit limite mensor.
nec tantum segetes alimentaque debita dives
poscebatur humus, sed itum est in viscera terrae,
quasque recondiderat Stygiisque admoverat umbris, 15
effodiuntur opes, inritamenta malorum.
The word "vela" in line 8 should be translated __________.
sails
hides
concealed
coverings
The word "vela" comes from the word "velum," "veli," which means a hide and can be used to refer to coverings. Here, however, it means a sail. In Latin literature, the sails of a ship are often referred to as "vela." Additionally, we have words that are associated with sailing in this sentence like "navita." In the same clause itself, you have the phrase "dabant ventis" - they give them to the winds. There would be no purpose in giving a hide or covering to the wind, literally.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1.125-141)
Quaeris, quot mihi basiationes
tuae, Lesbia, sint satis superque.
quam magnus numerus Libyssae harenae
lasarpiciferis iacet Cyrenis
oraclum Iovis inter aestuosi 5
et Batti veteris sacrum sepulcrum;
aut quam sidera multa, cum tacet nox,
furtivos hominum vident amores:
tam te basia multa basiare
vesano satis et super Catullo est, 10
quae nec pernumerare curiosi
possint nec mala fascinare lingua.
The word "mihi" (line 1) is best translated as ___________.
from me
for me
with me
me
The word "mihi" is in the dative case, but often in Latin, the dative case is used to show agency or origination. The correct translation in the context of this poem is from me.
(Passage adapted from "Poem II" by Gaius Valerius Catullus, 1-10)