Helps to Latin Translation at Sight
Chapter 12 : There are several points in which this rendering must be improved.Thus:-- (a) _Affair_

There are several points in which this rendering must be improved.

Thus:--

(a) _Affair_ for +res+ is too vague. You will remember what was said about +res+ in Sentence I. of Part I. pp. 33, 34.

(b) You must try to express more strongly the contrast in generals.h.i.+p between Hannibal and a mere centurion. Thus:--

'_The +result+ was not doubtful, considering that the contest was between a general such as Hannibal and a (mere) centurion; and between two armies, the one grown old in victory, the other consisting entirely of raw recruits, and for the most part undrilled and half-armed._'

+II.+ +Ut conspecta inter se agmina sunt, et neutra pars detrectavit pugnam, extemplo instructae acies.+

(i.) _Vocabulary._--

+neuter+ = ne + uter (+uter = eu-ter+ or +quo-ter-us+ = comparative in form of +quis+), _neither of two_.

+detrectavit+ = _declined_ (+de + traho+, draw-off).

+extemplo+ = _immediately_. +Ex + templum+ (dimin. +tempulum+).

+templum+ v+tem+ = cut; cf. t??? = prop. a _section_. So

(a) a _s.p.a.ce marked_ out, a consecrated place, a _temple_.

(b) a _portion of time_; cf. _extempore_.

(ii.) _Translation._--This sentence again is quite simple (in form very similar to Sentence I.), consisting of one main statement, +extemplo instructae acies+, and an introductory subordinate statement of _time_ introduced by +ut+ = _when_.

_'When the armies came in sight of each other, and neither side declined battle, the ranks were at once drawn up in fighting order.'_

[14]+III.+ +Pugnatum tamen, ut in nulla pari re, duas amplius horas, concitata et, donec dux stetisset, Romana acie.+

[Footnote 14: Weissenborn and Muller read:--Pugnatum tamen, ut in nulla pari re, _diu_: duas amplius horas con_st.i.tit pugna spe con_citante, donec dux stet.i.t, Romana_m_ acie_m_.]

(i.) _Vocabulary._--

+concitata+ = _stirred-up_, _roused_. +con + ci-eo+; cf. _+ex-cite+_, _+incite+_, +ci-tus+ = _put in motion_, _swift_, &c.

(ii.) _Translation._--This sentence is not quite so simple and needs care. Notice--

(a) +Pugnatum (est).+ The Impersonal Pa.s.s. serves as the princ.i.p.al subject and predicate.

(b) +ut in nulla pari re.+ +ut+ is here not a _conjunction_ but a relative _adverb_ of manner, referring the a.s.sertion +pugnatum duas amplius horas+ to the particular circ.u.mstance--_i.e._ of a battle fought under very unequal conditions. This use of +ut+ = _considering_ occurs frequently--_e.g._ +consultissimus vir ut in illa quisquam esse aetate poterat+ (Livy). Cf. also p. 124, l. 19. [[Selection C17, "ut in re trepida"]]

(c) +concitata Romana acie+ is clearly ablative absolute. To make quite sure that you understand the logical connection of the thought conveyed by this sentence, you may consult the detailed a.n.a.lysis on page 47.

_In spite of its being such an unequal match, the battle was maintained for more than two hours; the Roman army (as well as [+et+] the enemy's) being roused (to great exertions) so long as their leader survived._

+IV.+ +Postquam is non pro vetere fama solum, sed etiam metu futuri dedecoris, si sua temeritate contractae cladi superesset, obiectans se hostium telis cecidit, fusa extemplo est Romana acies.+

(i.) _Vocabulary._--

+dedecoris+ = of _dis-grace_, for +de+ in composition = separation, and so _removal_ of the fundamental idea. Cf. _un-_, _dis-_, _e.g._ +dis-par+ = _un_-equal.

+contractae+ = _brought on_, _caused_. +con + traho+ = _bring about_, _cause_.

(ii.) _Translation._--The meaning of this sentence should be quite plain to you if you notice carefully that

(a) the princ.i.p.al verb is +fusa est+, and the princ.i.p.al subject +Romana acies+, and

(b) that +Postquam ... cecidit+ is a subordinate clause of _time_ modifying the action of the princ.i.p.al verb +fusa est+.

It would perhaps be well to translate at first literally:--

_After that he, not only out of regard for_ (+pro+) _his old fame, but also from fear of future disgrace, if he should survive a disaster brought about by his own rashness, exposing himself to the weapons of the enemy fell, the Roman army was at once routed._

You will see that this rendering, though verbally correct, is not English, and must be considerably altered before it can be called a good translation. Thus:--

(a) _It is too long._ You can remedy this by taking +postquam ...

cecidit+ as one complete sentence, and +fusa ... acies+ as another.

(b) _Exposing himself._ Better _exposed himself to ... and_. Notice here the strictly accurate use of the Pres. participle in Latin.

(c) '+future+' may be omitted, as tautological[15] in English. Cf. our inexact idiom '_he promised to come_' (Lat. '_that he would come_').

[Footnote 15: _i.e._ needless repet.i.tion (ta?t? ???e?? = to say the same thing).]

_At last, both for the sake of his old renown and from the fear of disgrace should he survive a disaster brought on by his own rashness, he threw himself among the enemy's darts and was slain. The Roman army was routed in a moment._ --Church and B.

+V.+ +Sed adeo ne fugae quidem iter patuit omnibus viis ab equite insessis, ut ex tanta mult.i.tudine vix mille evaserint, ceteri pa.s.sim alii alia peste absumpti sint.+

(i.) _Vocabulary._--

+patuit+ = _was open_. Cf. +pate-facio+ = _to make open_; +pat-ulus+ = _open_, _spread out_; +pat-era+ = _a broad, flat dish_. English, _patent_.

+insessis+ = _occupied_; +in + sed-eo+ = _sit upon_--so, _occupy_.

+pa.s.sim+ = _hither and thither_, _far and wide_, formed from +pa.s.sus+ (+pando+), _expand_.

(ii.) _Translation._--This sentence resembles in form Sentence IV., with one princ.i.p.al verb +patuit+, and a princ.i.p.al subject +iter+, and a subordinate clause of _result_, +ut ... absumpti sint+, modifying the action of the princ.i.p.al verb +patuit+. You may conveniently break up this sentence into two, by beginning a new sentence with +Ceteri+.

Thus:--

_So completely closed against them was every chance of escape, all the roads being beset by cavalry, that out of so numerous a host hardly a thousand escaped. The rest perished as they fled, some by one death and some by another._

Before laying aside these two pa.s.sages, you should pay attention to the following points:--

(i.) _Vocabulary._--Besides carefully noticing _new_ words, try to form groups of _cognates_ (i.e. _related words_). One of the best ways to enlarge your vocabulary is to group together _words of common origin_, and to add to each, where you can, derivative and cognate English words.

To take a few examples from this pa.s.sage:--

Word. Meaning. English Derivative.