Translation and Errors in D'Ooge's Lesson LX

Textbooks Latin For Beginners by D'Ooge
1

Exercises in pg. 147 of D’Ooge’s book; answers in pg. 28 of answer key.

A quick question regarding number 4 of part I: isn’t tamen postpositive? Yet it’s the first word in the sentence. And does fere always go after the adjective it modifies? Judging by the use of fere in sentence 4 and 8 of part I that’s what I would guess. So I’m assuming that sentence 7 of part II should be translated as I did based on this first assumption of mine of the use of fere. Is there anything definite on this though? I couldn’t find anything in L&S.

Gratias tibi ago. Et demonstra mendae!

341.I

  1. Contrary to Caesar’s expectation, three of the lieutenants were afraid to travel through the enemy’s territory. 2. Who encouraged them? The general encouraged them and he tried to persuade them, but he could not. 3. What terrified the lieutenants? Either fear of the enemy, who was pressing hard from all sides, or the length of the road terrified them. 4. Nevertheless, nearly all feared Caesar much more than the enemy. 5. The bravest tribes of Gaul originated from the Germans. 6. Why (on account of what) were they so brave? Because they allowed neither wine nor other things which destroy courage to be brought to them. 7. Caesar questioned (from) the merchants about the island of Britain, but he was not able to learn anything (but he was able to learn nothing). 8. Therefore, he himself decided to seek this land, and nearly in the middle of the summer he set out with many men-of-war. 9. He completed the trip with great speed and disembarked in a very suitable spot. 10. The barbarians tried to keep him off from the island with the greatest force. 11. However, he pursued the barbarians for many miles; yet without the cavalry he was not able to overtake them.

I didn’t like the word order of the answers to part II. So those are my translations. Feel free to do as you please.

II.

  1. Hostes, contra opinionem nostram, fugerunt et equitatus eos subsecutus est.
  2. Ex omnibus partibus multitudinis clamores eorum qui vulnerabantur oriebantur.
  3. Caesar equitatum longius insequi non passus est.
  4. Equitatus prima hora profectus est et quarta hora ad castra revertebatur.
  5. Circum castra Romana erat vallum duodecim pedes altum.
  6. Propter rem frumentariam Caesar tres dies morabitur.
  7. Omnes fere legati hostes verebantur et iter morari conabantur.
2

Dēmōnstrō mendās :wink:

You are right about tamen: AG 323 j:

j. Autem, enim, and vērō are postpositive;1 also, generally, igitur and often tamen.

But who am I to teach Latin to Caesar?

As for fere, since the position varies, it’s probably a matter of emphasis. Normally the first word has the emphasis. Of course, the tone of voice would make a difference too, but we have no records of that!

3

Such a rookie mistake on my part with mendae.

And does Caesar really use tamen in the beginning of his sentences? Or was that just D’Ooge in his book? By the way, I looked it up in wiktionary.

tamen

  1. (postpositive) nevertheless, however
  2. yet, still
  3. at least

Unfortunately D’Ooge doesn’t point this out in his book. So maybe change nevertheless to yet for tamen in sentence 4 since it’s not being used as a postpositive.

4

I did a quick search in the Dē bellō Gallicō: in book I, only one tamen out of nine is at the beginning of a sentence.

(1.7.5)


In any case, tamen omnēs ferē is D’Ooge’s not Caesar’s.

Frankly, I can’t tell the difference between nevertheless and yet. L&S gives them both.

5
  1. The barbarians tried to keep him off from the island with > all their might> .

By the way, bedwere, I forgot to ask: is summis viribus an idiom best translated as you did as opposed to my translation?

6

English is my second language, but it seems more idiomatic to me.