CAP VI - struggling with ablative

Latin Learning Latin
1

. . . iam muri Romani ab eo videntur et porta Capena.
Now/already he sees the Roman walls and the Capena gate.
(Now/already the Roman walls and the Capena gate are seen by him.)

Is qui via Latina venit per portam Capenam Romam intrat.
It is he who, coming from the Via Latina, enters Rome by/through the Capena gate.
Is the “qui” added for emphasis, i.e. It is he who . . . ?

Medus Romam vocatur ab amica sua, que femina est pulchra et proba.
Medus is invited to Rome by his friend, who is a beautiful and kind woman.

I’d like to think I got it right, but could some kind soul please confirm. Thanks.

2

I’d translate it simply “He who”. I don’t see a particular emphasis.
By the way, que → quae

3

Hmm, seems I can’t even copy correctly! Nemini confidite - not even myself! :unamused:

Multas gratias tibi ago.

4

Hello there,

I would add to what bedwere has said (and would invite him to comment on my suggestion) - I think Via Latina might be an ablative of means rather than of place - ‘He, who is coming by (means of) the Via Latina…’ (along is better idiomatically though). That said, I don’t know why it would be one over the other - and doesn’t really make a huge difference to the meaning here. I am happy to be corrected - I just thought it might be another option.

If I am wrong on all this, my apologies - please ignore me. I’m in the process of reinvigorating my own Latin.

Best wishes,

Jamie

5

I think it is more accurate to translate it as “by the Via Latin”. Compare the adverb quā,eā,istāc, illac

6

Thanks to both of you. Always grateful for any suggestions which help resolve questions of grammar.

7

The text in Ørberg has viā Latīnā, clearly intended to be ablative, and ablative of means is one of the concepts being introduced. “along the Latin Road” is probably the best rendering in English.

8

Thanks, Barry. I knew I was straying a fair bit from the Latin with “coming from the Via Latina”, but was mainly concerned with getting the active/passive structures right. Having just done the Pensum A (Cap VI) I see I got everything right - except the wretched passive structures. Managed to get every single one wrong! :imp: Back to the drawing board. I now got the Teacher’s Materials book which should be a great help!