Chapter 25

ev. 12-20-05
Chapter 25
OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this lesson students should be able to:
1. Define and explain the basic functions of an “infinitive.”
2. Recognize, form, and translate the six infinitives of regular Latin verbs
3. Define, recognize, and translate the “indirect statement” construction.
N.B.: macrons are used below only in the English-to-Latin Practice and Review Sentences; macrons for all other Latin
sentences and passages appear in the textbook itself. Parentheses ( ) are used within the English translations for words
that are supplied (other than articles and possessives) as well as for alternate, usually more idiomatic renderings;
square brackets [ ] indicate words that can be omitted for more natural English idiom. Parentheses in the Latin
translations from English indicate some alternate options.
PRACTICE AND REVIEW
[For the sake of getting these translations posted as quickly as possible, only minimal notes are provided in this and following
chapters; once all the translations through Ch. 40 are online, I’ll return to adding explanatory notes and other commentary. R.A.L.]
1. “Quisque,” inquit, “semper putat suas res esse magnas.”
“Each person,” he says, “always thinks that his own affairs (circumstances) are
important.” (The ind. state. could here be translated more lit., “considers his own
affairs to be important.”)
2. Postea audivimus servos donorum causa laboravisse, ut milites fideles heri
narraverant.
Afterwards we heard that the slaves had worked for the sake of gifts (benefits), as the loyal
soldiers had reported (told us) yesterday. (The perf. inf. indicates an action that
occurred before that of the main vb.; if the main vb. is a past tense, then the inf.
must be translated as pluperf., as indicated in Wheelock, p. 165-66.)
3. Vicini nostri vim ignis magna virtute dehinc averterunt, quod laudem atque dona
cupiverunt.
Our neighbors then diverted the force of the fire with great courage, because they desired
praise and gifts (rewards).
4. Hoc signum periculi totam gentem nostram tanget, nisi hostem ex urbe excipere ac ab
Italia pellere poterimus.
This sign of danger will touch (affect) our entire nation, unless we will be able to (unless
we can) take the enemy out of (remove the enemy from) the city and drive him out of
Italy.
5. Duce feroci Carthaginis expulso, spes fidesque virorum magnanimorum rem publicam
continebunt.
When the fierce leader of Carthage has been expelled, the hope and faith (loyalty) of
courageous men will hold the republic together.
TEACHER’S GUIDE and ANSWER KEY for WHEELOCK’S LATIN: Chapter 25 1

6. Cur iucundus Horatius culpas humanas in saturis semper ostendebat atque ridebat?
Why was the pleasant Horace constantly pointing out and laughing at (ridiculing) human
faults in his satires?
7. Credimus fidem antiquam omnibus gentibus iterum alendam esse.
We believe that ancient faith (the trustworthiness/loyalty of earlier times) should again be
fostered by all nations. (Use of the pass. periphrastic inf. was common in ind. state.)
8. Dux, ad senatum missus, imperium accepit et imperator factus est.
The leader, having been (when he had been) dispatched to the Senate, received the power
(military command) and was made (appointed) general.
9. Res publica, ut ait, libellis huius modi tolli potest.
The Republic, as he says, can be destroyed by little volumes (pamphlets) of this sort.
(Political pamphleteering was common in ancient Rome; cf. Eng. “libel.”)
10. Aliqui negant hostes victos servitute umquam opprimendos esse.
Some men say that the conquered enemy should never be oppressed by slavery. (Hostis
was often used in the pl. to refer to “the enemy” in a collective sense.)
11. Credunt magistram sapientem veritatem patefacturam esse.
They believe that the wise teacher will reveal the truth.
12. Quisquis veritatem recipiet bene educabitur.
Whoever shall receive (embrace) the truth will be well educated.
13. We thought that your sisters were writing the letter.
Put�vimus (c�git�vimus) sor�r�s (tu�s/vestr�s) litter�s scr�bere. (This and the three
following Eng.-to-Lat. sents., each using a form of scr�b�, provide simple practice
with each of the three inf. tenses.)
14. They will show that the letter was written by the brave slavegirl.
Ostendent (d�m�nstr�bunt) litter�s � serv� fort� scr�pt�s esse.
15. He said that the letter had never been written.
D�xit litter�s numquam scr�pt�s esse.
16. We hope that the judge’s wife will write those two letters tomorrow.
Sp�r�mus ux�rem i�dicis ill�s du�s litter�s cr�s scr�pt�ram esse.
SENTENTIAE ANTIQUAE
1. Id factum esse tum non negavit.
He did not then deny that it (this) had been done.
2. His rebus pronuntiatis, igitur, eum esse hostem scivisti.
When these things had been announced, therefore, you knew that he was an enemy.
3. Eum ab hostibus exspectari nunc sentis.
You now feel (you are now aware) that he is being looked for (is expected) by the enemy.
4. Vidi eos in urbe remansisse et nobiscum esse.
I saw that they had remained in the city and were with us.
5. Itaque aeternum bellum cum malis civibus a me susceptum esse cerno.
And so I perceive (am aware) that an eternal war with evil citizens has been undertaken
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y me.
6. Idem credo tibi faciendum esse.
I believe that the same thing must be done by you (that you should do the same thing).
7. Te enim esse fidelem mihi sciebam.
For I knew that you were loyal to me.
8. Hostibus se in civitatem vertentibus, senatus Cincinnato nuntiavit eum factum esse
dictatorem.
With the enemy turning [themselves] against the state, the Senate announced to
Cincinnatus that he had been made dictator.
9. Dico te, Pyrrhe, Romanos posse vincere.
I say, Pyrrhus, that you are able to defeat the Romans.
10. Dic, hospes, Spartae te nos hic iacentes vidisse, patriae fideles.
Say to (tell) Sparta, stranger, that you saw us lying here, loyal to our fatherland.
11. Socrates putabat se esse civem totius mundi.
Socrates used to suppose that he was (considered himself to be) a citizen of the whole
world.
12. Illi magistri negant quemquam virum esse bonum nisi sapientem.
Those teachers say (assert) that not any man (no man) is good unless he is wise (except
the wise man). (A tenet of ancient Stoicism: only the wise man can be truly virtuous.)
13. Negavi, autem, mortem timendam esse.
I have said, however, that death must not be feared (I denied, moreover, that death was
to be feared).
14. Credo deos immortales sparsisse spiritus in corpora humana.
I believe that the immortal gods have scattered souls into human bodies.
15. Adulescens sperat se diu victurum esse; senex potest dicere se diu vixisse.
A young man hopes that he will live for a long time; an old man can say that he has lived
for a long time.
16. Aiunt enim multum legendum esse, non multa.
For they say that much must be read, not many things. (I.e., one ought to read, not a lot
of books, but important books.)
THE DEATH OF LAOCOON . . . AND TROY
Hic alius magnus timor (O fabula misera!) animos caecos nostros terret. Laocoon,
sacerdos Neptuni fortuna factus, acrem taurum ad aram in litore mactabat. Tum gemini
serpentes potentes, mare prementes, ab insula ad litora currunt. Iamque agros tenebant et,
oculis igne ardentibus, ora linguis sibilis lambebant.
Nos omnes fugimus; illi via certa Laocoonta filiosque eius petunt. Primum parva
corpora duorum puerorum capiunt et lacerant necantque devorantque. Tum patrem fortem,
ad filios miseros currentem, rapiunt et magnis spiris tenent et superant. Nec se a vulneribus
defendere nec fugere potest, et ipse, ut taurus saucius ad aram, clamores horrendos ad
caelum tollit. Eodem tempore serpentes fugiunt, petuntque perfugium in arce Minervae acris.
TEACHER’S GUIDE and ANSWER KEY for WHEELOCK’S LATIN: Chapter 25 3

Quod Laocoon in equum Minervae hastam iecerat, nos putavimus eum erravisse et
poenas dedisse; veritatem acerbam nescivimus. Portas patefacimus et admittimus istum
equum in urbem; atque pueri puellaeque—O patria, O di magni, O Troia!—eum tangere
gaudent. Et quoque gaudemus nos miseri, quibus ille dies fuit ultimus ac quibus numquam
erit ullum solacium.
Here another great fear (oh pitiable tale!) terrifies our blind (unseeing/unsuspecting)
hearts. Laocoon, [having been] made priest of Neptune by fortune (fate), was sacrificing a fierce
bull at an altar on the shore. Then, powerful twin serpents, pressing on the sea, rush from the
island toward the shore. And already they were taking hold of the fields, and, their eyes burning
with fire, they were licking their mouths with hissing tongues.
We all (all of us) flee; those (serpents) aim at Laocoon and his sons by (on) a determined
course. First, they seize the small bodies of the two boys, and they tear at, and slay, and devour
(them). Then, they seize the courageous father, running (as he rushes) to his poor sons, and they
hold him with their gigantic coils and overpower him. He is able neither to defend himself from
the wounds, nor to escape; and he himself, just as a bull wounded (like the wounded bull) at the
altar, raises up terrible screams to heaven. At the same time, the serpents rush away, and they
seek refuge in the citadel of savage Minerva.
Because Laocoon had hurled his spear into Minerva’s horse, we thought that he had erred
and paid the penalty; we did not know the bitter truth. We open up the gates and admit that
(terrible) horse into our city; and the boys and girls– oh fatherland, oh great gods, oh
Troy!– rejoice to touch it. And we too rejoice, wretched ones, for whom that day was the last and
for whom there will never be any comfort. (Ask students to answer the comprehension questions
on this passage in the Lectiones B section of the Workbook; remember that an answer key to the
Workbook is available to instructors online at www.harperacademic.com.)
4 TEACHER’S GUIDE and ANSWER KEY for WHEELOCK’S LATIN: Chapter 25