I’m somewhat confused on which to use when. I thought an ablative absolute was used when the action was not related to rest of the sentence but precedes it; and that cum with subjunctive was used either when there is a sentence that sort of takes the place of an ablative absolute but is too long for an abl. abs. or when this action, unconnected to the rest of the sentence occurred at the same time as the rest of the sentence. I hope that made sense.
In N&H is the sentence:
As the people of Veii often made incursions for the sake of plunder, the Romans were scarcely able to defend their own territories.
I thought this required a cum plus subjuncive structure:
cum veientes saepe causa praedae incursiones facerent Romani vix fines suorum defendere poterant
But N&H provides:
Veientibus incursiones praedae causa factibus Romani vix fines suorum defendere poterant.
Veientibus incursiones praedae causa factibus Romani vix fines suorum defendere poterant.
Is my sentence wrong, or are they both right?
What in gods’ name is factibus?
Hmm… I must admit I missed that one actually.
Skylax, should I have used causa with a genitive gerund? I’ve notice Caesar ipse is quite fond of those.
As for the general principle, is there a certain rule (be it perhaps informal) which sets when to used abl. abs. or a cum clause or is it upto the writer?
praedandi causa (from PRAEDARI) would indeed be good Caesarian Latin
As for the general principle, is there a certain rule (be it perhaps informal) which sets when to used abl. abs. or a cum clause or is it upto the writer?
I feel Abl. abs. is used when this phrase is not to big, with not too much complements, otherwise CUM clause, which can be massive, with other subordinate clauses depending on it.
