magis accusativo...

Latin Learning Latin
1

In LLPSI Cap XXXV

Orberg (Donatus?) has:

M. ‘Super’ quam vim habet?

[‘Super’ has what effect / power / meaning]


D. Ubi locum significat, magis accusativo casui servit quam ablativo; ubi mentionem alicuius facimus, ablativo tantum, ut ‘multa super Priamo rogitans, super Hectore multa’* (Vergilius: Aeneis I.750).

When it means [towards a] location, it is more subject to the accusative case than the ablative ['subject to dative rather than the ablative?]; when we are making mention of something, the ablative only, such as ‘asking much about Priamus, much about Hector’.

  1. Is my reading / translation of locum as towards a correct?

  2. is my alternative translation of magis as rather better than more? Magis seems a bit conditional whereas I would have thought that it’s a pretty firm rule that you have accusative with motion towards…

2

1/ I’m not sure “towards” is a good rendering of super, “on/onto” seems preferable to mee. I would translate “Ubi locum significat,…” as “When it expresses location,…”

2/ “Rather” seems fine to me. “super” can be used with the ablative.

3

“magis…quam” means “rather than.” “it is subject to the accusative rather than the ablative case.”