Question: Chapter 6, P&R #11

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Kimble
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Question: Chapter 6, P&R #11

Post by Kimble »

I have a question regarding Practice & Review #11.

Therefore, we cannot always see the real vices of a tyrant.

My translation of this is:
Non semper videre possumus, igitur, vera vitia tyranni.

I found this translation online at ancienthistory.about.com:
Non possumus igitur vitia vera tyranni semper videre.

Assuming the online answer is correct, why wouldn't semper videre come before the postpositive conjuntion with possumus as a complimentary infinitive?

Rob Carignan
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benissimus
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Post by benissimus »

I believe the answers are identical, with the only difference in word order. The finite verb doesn't have to go at the end (fluid Latin word order), but videre is still a complementary infinitive regardless of where you place it. The position of igitur in your translation is a bit prolonged; igitur usually comes second or very near the beginning of a sentence.
flebile nescio quid queritur lyra, flebile lingua murmurat exanimis, respondent flebile ripae

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