Slavete grammatici,
I have a challenge for those of you who are inclined to wit and silly poetry: write a mnemonic rhyme to help remember some tricky grammatical rule. This was a very popular method for teaching grammar from the Middle Ages down to the early twentieth century, and I think it has a lot of untapped potential even for advanced readers of Latin and Greek.
I wrote the following poem long ago while studying Wheelock's Latin. It was designed to list the main ablative functions that require a preposition. I'm sure it doesn't cover ALL the ablatives that take prepositions (neither does it cover all the prepositions) but it helped me remember my notes on the first-year Latin exam. I submit it for your approval or censure, and I invite you all to do the same:
The Ablative Adventure
(or, The Preposition Mission)
For place from which use ab, ex, de;
While in and sub tell where you stay.
Use cum if you’re accompanied
Or if your manner is “with speedâ€.
Using ab when journey’s ended
Will tell by whom you were befriended;
And if some seek details from you,
Produce a treatise, de cursu!
