"Uterque obtulit dona Domino: Cainus quidem fructus terrae" (Epitome Historiae Sacrae, Prima Aetas, 8)

(As Ørberg’s Sermones have words altered from the original, I decided to just read other texts made for beginners. If I am to read original authors, let me read their own words!)

In “Uterque [Cainus et Abel] obtulit dona Domino: Cainus quidem fructus terrae; Abel autem oves egregias“, that quidem does not seem to mean “too“ nor “yet“ nor any of the meanings of Lewis and Short. Now, I know Donatus called it “expletiva”; is it, then, just continuing thought, more or less like the Greek δέ? Or can it work like a “scilicet“, and the meaning would be “Both gave the Lord their offerings; namely, Cain gave the fruits of the earth, while Abel gave his best sheep“?

Actually quidem is usually used to translate μέν and autem for δέ.

So “quidem…autem“ would mean “on one hand…on the other hand“? “Cain, on one hand, gave the fruits of the earth; Abel, on the other hand, gave his best sheep.“

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Yes, that is what it means.

I found the same construction in a commentary of the Catena Aurea, btw: Quare autem non sufficiebat dicere illum filium Abrahae solius, aut David solius? Quia ad ambos de Christo nascituro ex eis promissio fuerat facta: ad Abraham quidem sic: et in semine tuo benedicentur omnes gentes terrae; ad David autem ita: de fructu ventris tui ponam super sedem tuam.

Much thanks, Bedwere!

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