by adrianus » Mon Mar 29, 2010 12:41 pm
eorum habetur liberi, quo primum virgo quaeque deducta est
= eorum habentur liberi, quo primum virgo quaeque deducta est
"the children are considered to belong to those [/of those, masculini generis pluraliter], by whom [masculini generis singulariter] whatever woman was taken first [in marriage] as a virgin."
The sense can override agreement about number [and gender]. He's talking about the responsibilities of each (singularly) in a group (of several).
Sensus concordantiam numeri [et generis] superare potest. Caesar curas singulis in grege (plurum) proprias tractat.
See Allen & Greenough, §280a, on construing by sense.
De constructione ad sensum, vide A&G §280a.
I'm writing in Latin hoping for correction, and not because I'm confident in how I express myself. Latinè scribo ut ab omnibus corrigar, non quod confidenter me exprimam.