Help translating this phrase

Latin Learning Latin
1

In “Latin for Today”, by Gray and Jenkins, Second Year Course, Ed. 1934, Grinn and Comany, page 210, #252:

Rōmanīs placuit Scīpiōnī imperāre ut Hannibalem superandi causā in Āfricam trānsiret.


My interpretation: Scipio (Africanus) was pleased to be ordered by the romans to go accross to Africa to overcome Hannibal.

Thank you very much in advance for your assistance.


Torto.

2

Both placuit and imperare take the dative. I believe what you have here is an indirect command:

“It pleased the Romans to order Scipio to cross into Africa for the purpose of overcoming Hannibal.”

3

You have already posted this question. Did you read the replies you received before? Were you hoping the answer would change? :smiley:

4

Thanks Ronolio.

5

I apologize Seneca, I have seen only Ronolio´s reply, not previous ones

6

Torto,
Barry Hofstetter answered this question for you in your prior thread:
http://discourse.textkit.com/t/help-translating-this-phrase/17509/1
When placeo is used impersonally in the perfect, it often has the meaning of “resolved”, so a more idiomatic translation might be:
The Romans resolved to order Scipio to cross over to Africa to defeat (conquer, vanquish, subdue) Hannibal. ut + the subjunctive and causa + the genitive of the gerund are both ways of expressing purpose.
EDIT: Cross-posted with Seneca

7

Thanks! Now I have it clear.