Grammar, Syntax, and Scansion in Poetry
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AP Latin › Grammar, Syntax, and Scansion in Poetry
Ni te plus oculis meis amarem,
iucundissime Calve, munere isto
odissem te odio Vatiniano:
nam quid feci ego quidve sum locutus,
cur me tot male perderes poetis? 5
isti di mala multa dent clienti,
qui tantum tibi misit impiorum.
quod si, ut suspicor, hoc novum ac repertum
munus dat tibi Sulla litterator,
non est mi male, sed bene ac beate, 10
quod non dispereunt tui labores.
di magni, horribilem et sacrum libellum!
quem tu scilicet ad tuum Catullum
misti, continuo ut die periret,
Saturnalibus, optimo dierum! 15
non non hoc tibi, false, sic abibit.
nam si luxerit ad librariorum
curram scrinia, Caesios, Aquinos,
Suffenum, omnia colligam venena.
ac te his suppliciis remunerabor. 20
vos hinc interea valete abite
illuc, unde malum pedem attulistis,
saecli incommoda, pessimi poetae.
What type of use of the subjunctive is represented by "amarem" in line 1?
Potential
Jussive
Purpose
Causal
Explanation
The verb "amarem"should be translated with the word "should" or "may."It is indicating the possibility of loving or not loving. This independent use of the subjunctive is called "potential" because it indicates the potential of something to happen or not happen.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 14," ln.1-23)
Ni te plus oculis meis amarem,
iucundissime Calve, munere isto
odissem te odio Vatiniano:
nam quid feci ego quidve sum locutus,
cur me tot male perderes poetis? 5
isti di mala multa dent clienti,
qui tantum tibi misit impiorum.
quod si, ut suspicor, hoc novum ac repertum
munus dat tibi Sulla litterator,
non est mi male, sed bene ac beate, 10
quod non dispereunt tui labores.
di magni, horribilem et sacrum libellum!
quem tu scilicet ad tuum Catullum
misti, continuo ut die periret,
Saturnalibus, optimo dierum! 15
non non hoc tibi, false, sic abibit.
nam si luxerit ad librariorum
curram scrinia, Caesios, Aquinos,
Suffenum, omnia colligam venena.
ac te his suppliciis remunerabor. 20
vos hinc interea valete abite
illuc, unde malum pedem attulistis,
saecli incommoda, pessimi poetae.
What type of use of the subjunctive is represented by "amarem" in line 1?
Potential
Jussive
Purpose
Causal
Explanation
The verb "amarem"should be translated with the word "should" or "may."It is indicating the possibility of loving or not loving. This independent use of the subjunctive is called "potential" because it indicates the potential of something to happen or not happen.
(Passage adapted from "Catullus 14," ln.1-23)
Lesbia mi praesente viro mala plurima dicit:
haec illi fatuo maxima laetitia est.
mule, nihil sentis? si nostri oblita taceret,
sana esset: nunc quod gannit et obloquitur,
non solum meminit, sed, quae multo acrior est res, 5
irata est. hoc est, uritur et loquitur.
What is the case of "mala" in line 1?
Accusative
Nominative
Ablative
Vocative
Explanation
The word "mala" is an adjective describing the word "plurima" in this sentence. Identifying the case of this word is a bit tricky, since "plurima"is a substantive (an adjective acting as a noun), therefore, the case is a bit dubious. It is common, however, for Latin authors to use the neuter form of an adjective when using it as a substantive. This is the case here, which means that "plurima" has to be accusative plural, since the subject is in the singular.
Passage adapted from "Carmen 83" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
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!
How should "consedere" in line 1 be translated?
They sat down
To sit
To stop
You are stopped
Explanation
The word "consedere" comes from "consido, considere, consedi, concessus," which means to sit down together (to make a decision or hold a conference). "Consedere" is the syncopated form of "consederunt," which translates as they sat down. The syncopated form can be recognized because the infinitive-looking ending ("-ere") is on the end of the perfect stem (_"_consed-").
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 8.1-6)
Dignane, cui grates ageret, cui turis honorem
ferret, Adoni, fui? nec grates inmemor egit,
nec mihi tura dedit. subitam convertor in iram,
contemptuque dolens, ne sim spernenda futuris,
exemplo caveo meque ipsa exhortor in ambos: 5
templa, deum Matri quae quondam clarus Echion
fecerat ex voto, nemorosis abdita silvis,
transibant, et iter longum requiescere suasit;
illic concubitus intempestiva cupido
occupat Hippomenen a numine concita nostro. 10
luminis exigui fuerat prope templa recessus,
speluncae similis, nativo pumice tectus,
religione sacer prisca, quo multa sacerdos
lignea contulerat veterum simulacra deorum;
hunc init et vetito temerat sacraria probro. 15
The -ne at the end of "digna" in line 1 means .
indicates a question
nothing
or
not
Explanation
The ending "-ne" is often added to the end of a word (usually the first or last word in a sentence) in order to indicate a question.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 10.681-696)
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!
How should "consedere" in line 1 be translated?
They sat down
To sit
To stop
You are stopped
Explanation
The word "consedere" comes from "consido, considere, consedi, concessus," which means to sit down together (to make a decision or hold a conference). "Consedere" is the syncopated form of "consederunt," which translates as they sat down. The syncopated form can be recognized because the infinitive-looking ending ("-ere") is on the end of the perfect stem (_"_consed-").
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 8.1-6)
Dignane, cui grates ageret, cui turis honorem
ferret, Adoni, fui? nec grates inmemor egit,
nec mihi tura dedit. subitam convertor in iram,
contemptuque dolens, ne sim spernenda futuris,
exemplo caveo meque ipsa exhortor in ambos: 5
templa, deum Matri quae quondam clarus Echion
fecerat ex voto, nemorosis abdita silvis,
transibant, et iter longum requiescere suasit;
illic concubitus intempestiva cupido
occupat Hippomenen a numine concita nostro. 10
luminis exigui fuerat prope templa recessus,
speluncae similis, nativo pumice tectus,
religione sacer prisca, quo multa sacerdos
lignea contulerat veterum simulacra deorum;
hunc init et vetito temerat sacraria probro. 15
The -ne at the end of "digna" in line 1 means .
indicates a question
nothing
or
not
Explanation
The ending "-ne" is often added to the end of a word (usually the first or last word in a sentence) in order to indicate a question.
(Passage adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses 10.681-696)
Lesbia mi praesente viro mala plurima dicit:
haec illi fatuo maxima laetitia est.
mule, nihil sentis? si nostri oblita taceret,
sana esset: nunc quod gannit et obloquitur,
non solum meminit, sed, quae multo acrior est res, 5
irata est. hoc est, uritur et loquitur.
What is the case of "mala" in line 1?
Accusative
Nominative
Ablative
Vocative
Explanation
The word "mala" is an adjective describing the word "plurima" in this sentence. Identifying the case of this word is a bit tricky, since "plurima"is a substantive (an adjective acting as a noun), therefore, the case is a bit dubious. It is common, however, for Latin authors to use the neuter form of an adjective when using it as a substantive. This is the case here, which means that "plurima" has to be accusative plural, since the subject is in the singular.
Passage adapted from "Carmen 83" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Lesbia mi praesente viro mala plurima dicit:
haec illi fatuo maxima laetitia est.
mule, nihil sentis? si nostri oblita taceret,
sana esset: nunc quod gannit et obloquitur,
non solum meminit, sed, quae multo acrior est res, 5
irata est. hoc est, uritur et loquitur.
What is the use of "praesente" in line 1?
Describing manner
Describing means
Describing an instrument
Describing an accompaniment
Explanation
The word "praesente"is being used to describe the manner in which the subject of "dicit" is speaking; that is - presently.
Passage adapted from "Carmen 83" by Gaius Valerius Catullus
Arma gravi numero violentaque bella parabam
edere, materia conveniente modis.
par erat inferior versus—risisse Cupido
dicitur atque unum surripuisse pedem.
'Quis tibi, saeve puer, dedit hoc in carmina iuris?
Pieridum vates, non tua turba sumus.
quid, si praeripiat flavae Venus arma Minervae,
ventilet accensas flava Minerva faces?
quis probet in silvis Cererem regnare iugosis,
lege pharetratae Virginis arva coli?
crinibus insignem quis acuta cuspide Phoebum
instruat, Aoniam Marte movente lyram?
sunt tibi magna, puer, nimiumque potentia regna;
cur opus adfectas, ambitiose, novum?
an, quod ubique, tuum est? tua sunt Heliconia tempe?
What is the role of the underlined word "arma"in line 1?
Direct object of "parabam" (line 1)
Subject of "parabam"(line 1)
Describes "bella"(line 1)
Ablative of instrument
Explanation
The word "arma" comes from "armum,""armi," meaning that "arma"is the nominative or accusative plural form of this word. Since the verb does not take a plural subject, it must be in the accusative. In fact, it is the direct object of "parabam."
(Passage adapted from Amores by Ovid, I.1–15)