I’m working my way, carefully, through this chapter of LLPSI and have come across this sentence.
Solus Orontes, cui non placet vinum mixtum, merum potat, sed is Graecus est atque libertinus.
Now, I feel confident that I understand the meaning of this. My doubt is regarding the grammar. I’d like to know quite what is going on. In particular the words ‘vinum mixtum’ I think are in the accusative. Is that the case? More to the point ‘placere’ I understand is intransitive and takes the dative (indirect object?). So where, grammatically, does ‘vinum mixtum’ fit in? My learning method is very much focused on following every tiny lead I can find and this one has me foxed. I’d be very pleased if someone could help with this.
You’re right about placere taking a dative – in this sentence cui. vinum mixtum is the subject of the clause starting with cui, so it’s in the nominative, not the accusative (‘to/for whom mixed wine is not pleasing’).