Download - Medieval Latin Stories for Practice
Medieval Latin Tales
Medieval Latin Stories
Two Tales from the Middle Ages
in Latin
Edited by Eugene R. Moutoux
~ The Proud Emperor ~
De Superbia et Arrogantia Imperatoris Ioviniani
The following story is the fifty-ninth tale of the Gesta Romanorum, a 13th-century collection of tales. Drawn from various sources, these tales inspired many later writers including Shakespeare and Mark Twain. This particular tale of a fictitious emperor reappears as a Hindu fairy tale, as a French morality play, and as "Robert of Sicily" in Longfellow's Tales of a Wayside Inn.
- Source of the above information: Latin Fundamentals, by Ernest L Hettich and A. G. C. Maitland, 3rd ed. New York: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1950
Go to The Proud Emperor - Part 1
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Go to The Proud Emperor - Part 5
Go to The Proud Emperor - Part 6
Go to The Proud Emperor - Part 7
Go to The Proud Emperor- Part 8
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Medieval Latin Tales
~ The Clever Thief ~
De Thesauro et Fure Astuto
This story is taken from a medieval collection by Johannes de Alta Silva, who may have been a monk in England around the year 1200. The origin of the story is thought to be India. It has been widely translated.
- Source of the above information: Latin Fundamentals, by Ernest L Hettich and A. G. C. Maitland, 3rd ed. New York: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1950
Go to The Clever Thief, Part 1
Go to The Clever Thief, Part 2
Go to The Clever Thief, Part 3
Go to The Clever Thief, Part 4
Go to The Clever Thief, Part 5
Go to The Clever Thief, Part 6
Go to The Clever Thief: Part 7
Go to The Clever Thief: Part 8
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The Proud Emperor: Part 1
Medieval Latin Tales
~ The Proud Emperor ~
De Superbia et Arrogantia Imperatoris Ioviniani
Part 1
Important Words
calor, caloris, m. - heat, warmth
cibus, -i, m. - food
cogito, cogitare, cogitavi, cogitatus - think
cor, cordis, n. - heart
credo, credere, credidi, creditus - believe
equito, equitare, equitavi, equitatus - ride (on a horse)
imperator, imperatoris, m. - emperor
miles, militis, m. - soldier; (in this story) knight
morior, mori, mortuus sum - die
pergo, pergere, perrexi, perrectus - go
on, proceed, hasten
possum, posse, potui - be able
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The Proud Emperor: Part 1
potens, (gen.) potentis - powerful
quia - because
sui, (gen.), sibi (dat.), se (acc.), se (acc.) - (3rd person reflexive pro noun) himself, herself, itself, them- selves
sumo, sumere, sumpsi, sumptus - take
Iovinianus imperator regnavit potens valde. Qui cum olim in lecto suo iaceret, elevatum est cor eius ultra quam credi potest, et dicebat in corde suo: "Estne alter Deus quam sum ego?" His cogitatis, dormivit. Mane vero surrexit, vocavit milites suos ac ceteros et ait: "Carissimi, bonum est cibum sumere, quia hodie ad venandum volo pergere." Illi vero parati erant eius voluntatem implere. Cibo sumpto ad venandum perrexerunt. Dum vero imperator equitat, calor intolerabilis arripuit eum, ita ut videretur sibi moriturus esse nisi in aqua frigida posset balneari. Respexit, procul vidit aquam latam. Dixit militibus suis: "Hic remanete dum ad vos veniam." Percussit equum calcaribus et ad aquam festinanter equitavit. De equo descendit, omnia vestimenta deposuit, aquam intravit et tamdiu ibidem remansit, dum ex toto refrigeratus esset.
Dum vero ibidem exspectat, venit quidam ei omnibus similis, et vultu et gestu, et induit se vestimentis eius, equum eius ascendit et ad milites equitavit. Ab omnibus sicut persona imperatoris est receptus, quia nullam suspicionem de eo habebant, nisi quod dominus suus esset, quia omnibus ei similis erat. Ludebant; finito ludo, ad palatium cum militibus equitabat.
regnavit: reigned / valde: very / qui cum olim: once when he / lecto: bed / iaceret (imperfect subjunctive): was lying / ultra quam: beyond what / credi : (present passive infinitive) / quam: as / his cogitatis: (ablative absolute) having thought this / dormivit: he slept / mane: in the morning / vero: now; but / surrexit: he arose / ac ceteros: and others / ait: said / carissimi: beloved / ad venandum: (gerund) hunting / volo: I want / illi: they / parati: ready / voluntatem: will / implere: to fulfill / cibo sumpto (past partic. of sumo): ablative absolute / dum: while / equitat (pres. tense with dum): was riding / calor: heat / arripuit: seized / ita ut videretur sibi: so that it seemed to him / moriturus esse: (future active infinitive of morior) / nisi: unless / posset (imperfect subjunctive of possum): was able / balneari: to bathe / respexit: he looked back / procul: at a distance / percussit: struck hard / calcaribus: with his spurs / festinanter: hastily / deposuit: took off / tamdiu: so long / ibidem: there / ex toto: entirely / refrigeratus esset: had cooled off / quidam: someone / omnibus: (ablative of respect) / et vultu et gestu: both in looks and in posture / induit se: dressed himself / nisi quod: save that / ludo finito: (abl.
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The Proud Emperor: Part 1
absolute) when the game was finished
Both suus, sua, suum and eius mean "his" (or "her"); the difference is that the former is reflexive, i.e., the "his" refers to the subject of the sentence, whereas eius is not reflexive and refers to someone other than the subject of the sentence. Memorize the following forms of is, ea, id (he, she, it, they; this, that, these, those):
is ea id ei eae ea
eius eius eius eorum earum eorum
ei ei ei eis eis eis
eum eam id eos eas ea
eo ea eo eis eis eis
In addition to eius, the masculine singular forms in bold type occur often in this story and mean "him."
Memorize the forms of ille, illa, illud (that; those; he, she it, they):
ille illa illud illi illae illa
illius illius illius illorum illarum illorum
illi illi illi illis illis illis
illum illam illud illos illas illa
illo illa illo illis illis illis
Ille (he) and illi (they) occur often in this tale.
In the verb phrase refrigeratus esset, the imperfect subjunctive of the helping verb sum is used with the past participle to form the pluperfect passive subjunctive. We have already met three other imperfect subjunctive forms in the first few lines of this story: iaceret (from iaceo, iacere), videretur (from video, videre), and posset (from possum, posse). Note that all imperfect subjunctives are formed by adding the personal endings to the present active infinitive (i.e., to the second principal part) . Subjunctive forms are used in ut-clauses of purpose and result, in cum-circumstantial, cum-causal, and cum-concessive clauses, and in indirect questions. When the main verb is in any past tense, the imperfect subjunctive is used to express time contempory with or subsequent to the main verb, while the pluperfect subjunctive expresses prior time.
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The Proud Emperor: Part 2
Medieval Latin Tales
~ The Proud Emperor ~
De Superbia et Arrogantia Imperatoris Ioviniani
Part 2
Important Words
admiror, admirari, admiratus sum - be astonished, marvel
dominus, -i, m. - master
dum - while; until
exeo, exire, exii, exitus - go out, get out
intro, I, enter
ludo, ludere, lusi, lusus - play
ludus, -i, m. - game, play; school
nemo, neminis, common gender - no one, nobody
palatium, palati, n. - palace
prope - near
quomodo - how
sic - thus
sicut - as, just as
tandem - finally
valde - very
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The Proud Emperor: Part 2
vero - now; but
vestimentum, -i, n. - clothing, a garment
Post haec Iovinianus ex aqua exiit, nec vestes neque equum invenit. Admirabatur; contristatus est valde, quia nudus erat et neminem vidit. Cogitabat intra se: "Quid faciam ego? Misere sum ministratus." Tandem ad se reversus dicebat: "Hic prope manet miles quem ad militiam promovi. Pergam ad eum et vestimenta habebo et equum, et sic ad palatium meum ascendam et videbo quomodo et a quo ita sim confusus."
Iovinianus ex toto nudus solus ad castrum militis iit; ianuam pulsavit. Ianitor causam pulsationis quaesiit. At ille: "Ianuam aperi et vide quis sim ego." Ille ianuam aperuit, et cum videsset eum, ait: "Quis es tu?" Et ille: "Ego sum Iovinianus imperator. Vade ad dominum tuum et impera ei ut mihi vestes mittat, quia casu vestes et equum perdidi." Qui ait: "Mentiris, pessime ribalde. Paulo ante te dominus meus imperator Iovinianus ad palatium suum cum militibus equitavit, et dominus meus cum eo equitavit et rediit et iam in mensa sedet. Sed quia imperatorem te nominas, domino meo denuntiabo." Ianitor intravit et domino suo verba eius annuntiavit. Ille haec audiens praecepit ut introduceret. Et sic factum est. Miles cum eum vidisset nullam notitiam eius habebat; sed imperator eum peroptime cognovit. Ait ei miles: "Dic mihi, quis es tu, et quod est tibi nomen?" At ille: "Imperator sum et Iovinianus dicor et te ad militiam promovi tali die et tali tempore." At ille: "O ribalde pessime, qua audacia audes te ipsum imperatorem nominare? Iam dominus meus, imperator Iovinianus, ante te ad palatium cum militibus equitavit, et ego per viam eram ei associatus et sum reversus. Verum est me tali die et hora factum esse militem a domino meo
haec: (from hic, haec, hoc; acc. pl. neuter) / vestes: clothes / invenit: he found / contristatus est: he was saddened / neminem: (accusative of nemo) / Misere sum ministratus: I have been wretchedly served / reversus: having returned / quem: whom / militiam: knighthood / promovi: I promoted / a quo: by whom / ita: so / sim: (present subjunctive of sum, used here in an indirect question) / confusus: embarrassed / castrum: castle / iit - went / ianitor: doorkeeper / quaesiit: asked / aperi et vide: (sing. imperatives) open and see / quis: (interrogative pronoun) who / vade: go / casu: by chance / pessime ribalde: (vocative) miserable joker / sedet: is sitting / denuntiabo: announce / praecepit: gave orders / peroptime: very well / cognovit: knew / dic: tell / dicor: I am called / tali die: on such a day / audes: do you dare / ipsum: (intensifying pronoun) yourself / eram ... associatus: accompanied / sum reversus: I returned / me ... factum esse: (subject acc. with infin.) that I was made / tantam: so great / devenisti: come / impune: unpunished / transibis: you
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The Proud Emperor: Part 2
imperatore. Quia ad tantam praesumptionem devenisti ut te ipsum imperatorem nomines, impune non transibis." Et statim iussit eum egregie verberari et postea expelli.
will ... pass by / statim: immediately / iussit: he ordered / egregie: soundly / verberari : (pres. pass. infin.) to be beaten / postea: afterwards / expelli: (pres. pass. infin.) to be thrown out
Memorize the forms of hic, haec, hoc (this, these; he, she, it, they):
hic haec hoc hi hae haec
huius huius huius horum harum horum
huic huic huic his his his
hunc hanc hoc hos has haec
hoc hac hoc his his his
The singular imperative is formed by dropping the -re from the present active infinitive: aperi (from aperire), vide (from videre), and vade (from vadere).
Note the present subjunctive forms of sum:
sim simus
sis sitis
sit sint
Four third-conjugation verbs have irregular singular imperative forms: dic, duc, fac, and fer.
The verb eo (iro, ii, iturus) is conjugated as follows in the present, imperfect, future, and perfect tenses:
Present Imperfect Future Perfect
eo imus ibam ibamus ibo ibimus ii iimus
is itis ibas ibatis ibis ibitis isti istis
it eunt ibat ibant ibit ibunt iit ierunt
Three compounds, redeo, transeo, and exeo, also used in this story, are conjugated similarly.
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The Proud Emperor: Part 3
Medieval Latin Tales
~ The Proud Emperor ~
De Superbia et Arrogantia Imperatoris Ioviniani
Part 3
Important Words
audeo, audere, ausus sum - dare
aperio, aperire, aperui, apertus - open; uncover
ianitor, ianitoris, m. - doorkeeper
ianua, -ae, f. - door
impero, I - command
iubeo, iubere, iussi, iussus - order
mensa, -ae, f. - table
mentior, mentiri, mentitus sum - lie
notitia, -ae, f. - knowledge, familiarity
paulo - a little, by a little
perdo, perdere, perdidi, perditus - lose
postea - after this, afterwards, later
pulso, I - knock
redeo, redire, redii, rediturus - return
revertor, reverti, reversus sum - come back, return
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The Proud Emperor: Part 3
statim - immediately
talis, -e - such
tantus, -a, -um - so great, such
vado, vadere, --, -- - go
Ille vero sic verberatus et expulsus flevit amare et ait: "O mi deus, quid hoc esse potest quod miles, quem ad militiam promovi notitiam mei non habet et praeterea me graviter verberavit? Hic prope est quidam dux consiliarius meus. Ad eum pergam et necessitatem meam ei ostendam; per quem potero indui et ad palatium meum pergere." Cum vero ad ianuam ducis venisset, pulsabat. Ianitor, pulsatione audita, ostium aperuit, et cum hominem nudum vidisset, admirabatur et ait: "Quis es tu et quare sic ex toto nudus advenisti?" At ille: "Rogo te, fac negotium meum cum duce. Ego sum imperator et casu vestimenta et equum perdidi et ideo ad eum veni, ut mihi in hac necessitate succurrat." Ianitor cum verba eius audisset admirabatur, intravit et domino suo adnuntiavit quendam hominem nudum in porta esse qui diceret se imperatorem esse et introitum peteret. Ait dux: "Cito eum introduc, ut videamus quis sit qui praesumat se imperatorem nominare." Ianitor vero ostium aperuit ac hominem introduxit. Imperator notitiam ducis peroptime habebat, sed ille eius notitiam nullam. Ait ei dux: "Quis es tu?" Et ille: "Ego sum imperator et te ad honores et ad ducatum promovi et consiliarium meum inter alios constitui." Ait dux: "Insanis miser; paulo ante te perrexi cum domino meo imperatore versus palatium et reversus sum; et quia talem gradum tibi arrogavisti, impune non transibis." Iussit eum incarcerari et aliquos dies pane et aqua sustentari. Deinde e carcere eum extraxit et usque ad effusionem sanguinis egregie verberari eum iussit et e sua terra eum eiecit.
amare: bitterly / quid: how / quod: (conj.) that / mei: of me / graviter: severely / consiliarius meus: member of my ducal council / indui: to be clothed / fac negotium meum cum duce: take my concern to the duke / succurrat: help / quendam: (from quidam) a certain / diceret: (the subjunctive is used in subordinate clauses within indirect discourse) / introitum: entrance /introduc: (imperative) lead in / ducatum: dukedom / versus: towards / arrogavisti: claimed / aliquos: some / sustentari: to be sustained / carcere: prison / extraxit: took out / usque ad: up to / effusionem - shedding
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The Proud Emperor: Part 3
Memorize theset indicative forms of the verb possum:
Present Imperfect Future Perfect
possum poteram potero potui
potes poteras poteris potuisti
potest poterat poterit potuit
possumus poteramus poterimus potuimus
potestis poteratis poteritis potuistis
possunt poterant poterunt potuerunt
Indirect statement is used often in this tale; this means, of course, that infinitives are used often, too. Here is a brief review of infinitives:
Present Active Present Passive Future Active Perfect Active Perfect Passive
portare portari portaturus esse portavisse portatus esse
docere doceri docturus esse docuisse doctus esse
ponere poni positurus esse posuisse positus esse
capere capi capturus esse cepisse captus esse
audire audiri auditurus esse audivisse auditus esse
Gradus is a 4th declension noun, while dies belongs to the 5th declension. These nouns are declined as follows:
gradus gradus dies dies
gradus graduum diei dierum
gradui gradibus diei diebus
gradum gradus diem dies
gradu gradibus die diebus
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The Proud Emperor: Part 4
Medieval Latin Tale
~ The Proud Emperor ~
De Superbia et Arrogantia Imperatoris Ioviniani
Part 4
Important Words
advenio, advenire, adveni, adventus - arrive, come to
cito - quickly
constituo, constituere, constui, consituttus - appoint; determine
fleo, flere, flevi, fletus - weep
ideo - therefore
ostendo, ostendere, ostendi, ostentus - show
ostium, osti, n. - door
peto, petere, petivi, petitus - seek
praeterea - moreover
quare - why
quidam, quaedam, quoddam - a certain, a certain one, someone
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The Proud Emperor: Part 4
Ille sic deiectus ultra quam credi potest gemitus et suspiria emittebat et ait intra se: "Heu mihi. Quid faciam? Confusus sum. Sum enim opprobrium hominum et abiectio plebis. Melius est me ad palatium meum pergere, et mei de curia notitiam mei habebunt. Si non illi, saltem domina uxor mea notitiam mei habebit per certa signa." Solus ad palatium ex toto nudus accessit, ianuam pulsavit. Audita pulsatione, ianitor ianuam aperuit. Quem cum vidisset ait: "Dic mihi, quis est tu?" Et ille: "Numquid non novisti me?" Qui ait: "In nullo." At ille: "De hoc admiror quia portas meas vestes." Qui ait: "Mentiris, quia vestes domini mei imperatoris porto." Et ille: "Ego sum ille. In signum huius rogo te dei amore, ut ad imperatricem pergas et ei de adventu meo dicas, ut mihi celeriter vestes mittat, quia aulam intrare volo. Si vero dictis tuis non credet, impera ei ut per ista signa et ista, quae nemo novit nisi nos duo, tibi per omnia credat!" Ait ianitor: "Non dubito quin sis insanus, quia iam dominus meus in mensa sedet et imperatrix iuxta eum. Verumtamen, quia dicis te imperatorem esse, imperatrici nuntiabo et sine dubio graviter propter hoc punieris."
Ianitor ad imperatricem perrexit, flexis genibus omnia ei rettulit. Illa non modice contristata ad dominum suum conversa, iuxta quem sedebat, ait: "O domine mi, audite mirabilia! Signa privata inter nos saepius acta quidam ribaldus per ianitorem mihi recitat et dicit se imperatorem esse et dominum meum." Ipse cum hoc audisset, praecepit ianitori ut eum introduceret in conspectum omnium.
gemitus et suspiria: groans and sighs / Heu mihi: Woe is me (alas!) / opprobrium: reproach / abiectio: outcast / melius: better / mei de curia: from my courtiers / quem: (translate after cum) him / numquid non: not at all / in nullo: not at all / portas: you are wearing / dei amore: for the love of God / adventu: arrival / aulam: court / dictis: (dat. w/ credo) words / ista signa et ista: particular signs / quin: (w/ verbs of doubting) that / verumtamen: nevertheless / sine dubio: without a doubt / flexis genibus: kneeling / retullit: related / non modice: (not a little) greatly / contrista: saddened / conversa: turned (toward); facing / saepius: rather often / acta: exchanged / praecepit: instructed / conspectum: sight
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The Proud Emperor: Part 4
English relative pronouns are who, (whom, whose), which, and that. Latin has only one relative pronoun, which is declined as follows:
qui quae quod qui quae quae
cuius cuius cuius quorum quarum quorum
cui cui cui quibus quibus quibus
quem quam quod quos quas quae
quo qua quo quibus quibus quibus
Punieris is in the future tense, passive voice. Here are the future-tense passive forms of representative verbs of all four conjugations:
portabor docebor ponar audiar
portaberis doceberis poneris audieris
portabitur docebitur ponetur audietur
portabimur docebimur ponemur audiemur
portabimini docebimini ponemini audiemini
portabuntur docebuntur ponentur audientur
The future form poneris differs from the present form poneris in the length of the e and, consequently, in its accented syllable; the future poneris has a long e and is accented on the second-last syllable, whereas the present poneris has a sort e, which causes the accent to revert to the third-last syllable.
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The Proud Emperor: Part 5
Medieval Latin Tales
~ The Proud Emperor ~
De Superbia et Arrogantia Imperatoris Ioviniani
Part 5
Important Words
accedo, accedere, accessi, accessurus - go to, draw near, approach
adventus, adventus, m. - arrival; approach
dies, diei, m. - day
deinde - then, next
dubito, dubitare, dubitavi, dubitatus - doubt
domina, dominae, f. - mistress
enim - (conj.) for
gradus, gradus, m. - rank
nisi - except; unless
nosco, noscere, novi, notus - know
nullus, -a, -um - (declined like unus) no, none, not any
panis, panis, m. - bread
plebs, plebis, f. - the common people
revertor, reverti, reversus sum - return
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The Proud Emperor: Part 5
saltem- at least
sanguis, sanguinis, n. - blood
uxor, uxoris, f. - wife
Qui cum introductus esset ex totus nudus, canis quidam, qui antea eum multum dilexit, ad guttur saltavit, ut eum occideret, sed ab hominibus prohibitus est eum laedere. Item quendam falconem habebat in pertica, qui cum eum videret, ligaturum fregit et extra aulam volvavit. Ait imperator omnibus in aula, sedentibus in mensa, sive stantibus: "Carissimi," ait, "audite mea verba, quae isti dicam! Dic mihi, carissime, quis es tu et ob quam causam huc venisti?" At ille: "Domine, imperator sum istius imperii et dominus istius loci; et ideo huc veni ut loquar cum imperatrice." Ait imperator omnibus circumstantibus: "Dicite mihi per iuramentum quod fecistis, quis nostrum est imperator et dominus?" At ille: O domine, ista est quaestio mirabilis. Per iuramentum quod fecimus, numquam illum nequam vidimus, quod scimus; sed tu es dominus noster et imperator, quem a iuventute habuimus. Et ideo rogamus ut puniatur, ut omnes exemplum capiant." Imperator ille conversus ad imperatricem et ait: "Dic, domina, mihi per fidem qua teneris, nosti tu istum hominem, qui dicit se imperatorem et dominum tuum esse?" At illa: "O bone domine, cur talia a me quaeris? Nonne plus quam XXX annis in societate tua steti et prolem per te habui? Sed unum est quod miror, quomodo ribaldus ille pervenit ad nostra secreta inter nos perpetrata." Imperator ille dixit ei: "Quia tam audax fuisti ut te imperatorem nomines, do pro iudicio ut ad caudam equi hodie sis tractus. Et si iam nunc talia audes affirmare, turpissima morte te condemnabo!" Vocavit satellites, praecepit eis ut eum ad caudam equi traherent, ita tamen, ut non occideretur. Et sic factum est.
antea: (adv.) before / guttur: throat / saltavit: jumped / laedere: hurt / pertica: long pole / ligaturum: binding / extra aulam: outside of the palace / sedentibus: to those sitting / sive: as well as / isti: (dat. sing.) to this man / ob quam causam: for what reason / istius imperii: of this very empire / iuramentum - oath / nostrum: (gen. pron.) of us / iuramentum - oath / nostrum: (gen. pron.) of us / nequam: good for nothing person / quod: as far as / iuventute: youth / rogamus: we ask / conversus: turned / nosti (contracted form): do you know / talia: such things / prolem: offspring / perpetrata: done / tam audax: so bold caudam: tail / sis tractus: you be dragged / iam nunc: henceforth / turpissima: most vile / satellites: attendants / praecepit: he ordered
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The Proud Emperor: Part 5
The comparative degree of a Latin adjective is formed by adding -ior (m. and f.) and -ius (n.) to the stem of the positive degree. The comparative degree is declined like a third-declension noun., as follows: (from turpis, -e, ugly)
turpior turpior turpius
turpioris turpioris turporis
turpiori turpiori turpiori
turpiorem turpiorem turpius
turpiore turpiore turpiore
...and so on for the plural. The superlative degree is formed by adding -issimus (m.), -issima (f.), -issimum (n.) to the positive stem; it is declined like a first- and second-declension adjective, as follows:
turpissimus turpissima turpissimum
turpissimi turpissimae turpissimi
turpissimo turpissimae turpissimo
turpissimum turpissimam turpissimum
turpissimo turpissima turpissimo
...and so on for the plural.
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The Proud Emperor: Part 6
Medieval Latin Tales
~ The Proud Emperor ~
De Superbia et Arrogantia Imperatoris Ioviniani
Part 6
Important Words
audeo, audere, ausus sum - dare
cogito, I - think
doleo, dolere, dolui, doliturus - suffer, grieve
fides, fidei, f. - faith
iste, ista, istud - this, that, he, she
uramentum, -i, n. - oath
miror, mirari, miratus sum - wonder, be amazed
nascor, nasci, natus sum - be born
occido, occidere, occidi, occisus - kill
pervenio, pervenire, perveni, perventus - arrive
quaero, quaerere, quaesivi, quaesitus - seek, ask
recedo, recedere, recessi, recessus - withdraw, go back
tamen - nevethteless
traho, trahere, traxi, tractus - drag
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The Proud Emperor: Part 6
Post haec vero ultra quam credi potest dolebat et quasi desperatus de se ipso ait intra se: "Pereat dies, qua natus sum! A me amici recesserunt; uxor mea nec filii noverunt me." Dum haec dicit, cogitabat: "Hic prope manet eremita, confessor meus. Vadam ad eum: forte ipse notitiam mei habebit, quia saepius confessionem meam audivit." Perrexit ad eremitam et fenestram cellae eius pulsavit. At ille: "Quis est, qui ibi pulsat?" Qui dixit: "Ego sum Iovinianus imperator. Aperi mihi fenestram, ut loquar tecum!" Ille vero cum vocem eius audivisset, aperuit fenestram, et cum eum vidisset, statim cum impetu fenestram clausit et ait: "Discede a me, maledicte!" Tu non es imperator, sed diabolus in specie hominis." Ille haec audiens ad terram prae dolore cecidit, crines capitis traxit et barbae, et lamentationes usque ad caelum dedit et dixit: "Heu mihi, quid faciam? Heu ego!" Hoc dicto recordatus est quomodo quadam nocte in stratu suo elevatum est cor eius et dixit: "Estne alter deus quam ego?" Pulsavit iterum fenestram eremitae et dixit: "Amore illius qui pependit in cruce, audi confessionem meam! Saltem, si nonvis fenestram aperire, clausa audias tamen, quousque finiero!" At ille: "Mihi bene placet." Tunc de tota vita sua est confessus, et praecipue, quomodo se contra Deum erexisset negans se credere alium deum esse quam se ipsum.
quasi desperatus: in a sort of despair / pereat dies: may the day perish / eremita: hermit / forte: perhaps / saepius: quite often / cellae: cell / tecum: with you / impetu: force / maledicte: accursed one / diabolus: devil / specie: appearance / prae: because of / crines: hair(s) / barbae: beard / usque ad: even to / heu mihi: woe is me / heu ego: alas / recordatus est: he remembered / stratu: bed / pependit in cruce: hung on a cross / quousque finiero: until I have finished / est confessus: he confessed / praecipue: especially / erexisset: had raised / negans: denying
The present active participle is formed by adding -ns to the present stem, e.g., portans ("carrying"), docens ("teaching"), ponens ("placing"). With fourth-conjugation verbs and io-verbs of the third-conjugation, ie replaces the single vowel at the end of the stem, e.g., audiens ("hearing"), capiens ("taking"). The present active participle is declined as follows:
masc./fem. sing. neuter sing. masc./fem. pl. neuter pl.
ponens ponens ponentes ponentia
ponentis ponentis ponentium ponentium
ponenti ponenti ponentibus ponentibus
ponentem ponens ponentes ponentia
ponente (-i) ponente (-i) ponentibus ponentibus
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The Proud Emperor: Part 6
The i-ending is used in the ablative singular when the participle is used simply as an adjective.
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The Proud Emperor: Part 7
Medieval Latin Tales
~ The Proud Emperor ~
De Superbia et Arrogantia Imperatoris Ioviniani
Part 7
Important Words
amor, amoris, m. - love
dolor, doloris, m. - sorrow, suffering
cado, cadere, cecidi, casurus - fall
claudo, claudere, clausi, clausus - close
discedo, discedere, discessi, discessus - depart
ipse, ipsa, ipsum - himself, herself, itself
iterum - again
pauci, paucae, pauca - few, a few
placeo - placere, placui, placitus - please, be pleasing (to)
quidam, quaedam, quoddam - a certain (one)
saltem - at least
satis - enough
vestis, vestis, f. - clothes, clothing
vox, vocis, f. - voice
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The Proud Emperor: Part 7
Facta confessione et absolutione, eremita fenestram aperuit et statim notitiam eius habebat et ait: "Benedictus Altissimus! Iam notitiam tui habeo. Paucas vestes hic habeo; cito indue te et ad palatium tuum perge! Ut spero, omnes notitiam tui habebunt." Imperator induit se et ad palatium perrexit. Ianuam pulsavit. Ianitor ostium aperuit et eum satis honorifice salutavit. At ille: "Numquid notitiam mei habetis?" Qui ait: "Etiam, domine, peroptime. Sed miror quod tota die hic steti nec vidi vos exire." Ille vero aulam intravit, et ecce omnes capita inclinabant. Sed alius imperator erat cum domina in camera. Quidam autem miles e camera exiit et eum intime respexit, in cameram rediit et ait: "Domine mi, est quidam homo in aula cui omnes honorem faciunt, qui ita assimilatur tibi omnibus, ut quis vestrum sit imperator penitus ignoremus." Imperator, hoc audito, ait imperatrici: "Carissima domina, exi foras et mihi dic si notitiam eius habeas, et mihi renuntia!" Illa vero foras exiit, et cum eum vidisset admirabatur. Statim cameram intravit et ait: "O domine, in periculo animae meae vobis unum dico, me quis vestrum sit dominus meus penitus ignorare." At ille: "Quae cum ita sint, foras pergam et veritatem discutiam."
benedictus: blessed / cito indue te: dress quickly
honorifice: respectfully / numquid: (like num, expects a negative answer) / etiam: yes indeed / peroptime: very well
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The Proud Emperor: Part 8
Medieval Latin Tales
~ The Proud Emperor ~
De Superbia et Arrogantia Imperatoris Ioviniani
Part 8
Cum aulam intrasset, eum per manum accepit et iuxta se stare iussit et vocavit omnes nobiles qui in aula tunc erant cum imperatrice et ait: "Per iuramentum quod fecistis, dicite quis nostrum est imperator?" Imperatrix primo respondit: "Domine, mihi incumbit primo respondere. Testis est mihi Deus in caelis, quis vestrum sit dominus meus penitus ignoro!" Et sic omnes dixerunt. Tunc ait ille qui de camera exiit: "Audite me! Iste homo est imperator vester et dominus; nam aliquo tempore se contra Deum erexit, unde omnis notitia hominum ab eo recessit, quousque satisfactionem Deo fecit. Ego vero sum angelus eius, custos animae eius, qui imperium eius custodivi, quamdiu paenitentiam sustinuit. Iam paenitentia est completa et pro delictis suis satisfecit quia, ut vidistis, illum ad caudam equi trahi iussi." His dictis ait, "Iam nunc este ei obedientes. Ad Deum vos recommendo." Statim ab oculis eorum disparuit. Imperator vero gratias Deo reddidit et post haec omne tempus vitae suae in bona pace vixit et spiritum Deo tradidit.
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The Clever Thief: Part 1
Medieval Latin Tales
~The Clever Thief ~
De Thesauro et Fure Astuto
~ Part 1 ~adulescens, adulescentis - young, maturingargentum, argenti, n. - silveraurum, auri, n. - goldcingo, cingere, cinxi, cinctus - to surround; girdclavis, clavis, f. - keycomparo, comparare, comparavi, comparatus - to prepare; get, procurecupidus, cupida, cupidum - desirousdebilitas, debilitatis, f. - feebleness, weaknessdivitiae, divitiarum, f. - riches, wealthemo, emere, emi, emptus - to buyexpendo, expendere, expendi, expensus - to spendexperior, experiri, expertus sum - to try, testfidelis, fidele - faithfulfrango, frangere, fregi, fractus - to breakiterum - againlargus, larga, largum - abundantlicentia, licentiae, f. - freedom; license; permissionmaestus, maesta, maestum - sadmagis - (adv.) moreminuo, minuere, minui, minutus - to lessen, diminishnimis - excessivelyparco, parcere, peperci, parsus - to spare (w/ dat.)quidam, quaedam, quiddam - (a) certain (one)repleo, replere, replevi, repletus - to fill upsenectus, senectutis, f. - old agesino, sinere, sivi, situs - permit, allow, letstudeo, studere, studui, ---, - to be eager, desirethesaurus, thesauri, m. - treasureturris, turris, f. - towerutor, uti, usus sum - to use (w/ abl.)vero: indeed
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The Clever Thief: Part 1
Fuit antiquo tempore rex quidam magnus et potens. Qui, colligendi thesauros cupidissimus, magnae altitudinis latitudinisque turrim auro, argento pretiosisque omnibus rebus usque ad summum repleverat. Habebat autem hic militem quem in multis fidelem expertus erat, cui et claves sui commisit thesauri. At miles thesaurum servandum suscipiens, cum iam multis annis evolutis labore et senectute fractus esset nec posset iam tumultum curamque curiae sustinere, regem rogabat ut suae debilitati senectutique parcens, claves thesauri reciperet seque sineret propriam redire domum liceretque sibi inter filios reliquum vitae suae tempus quietum agere et iucundum. Rex vero, cum militem optime de se meritum iudicaret, eum magnis donatum muneribus maestus tamen abire sivit. Receptis igitur clavibus, thesaurum iterum alii commisit servandum. Miles autem domum veniens curam sibi suaeque familiae sollicitus impendebat. Habebat hic multos filios, quorum primogenitus militari iam balteo cingebatur. Quem cum pater nimis tenere diligeret, omnes ei exposuit divitias iussitque large expendentem famam sibi et amicos divitiis comparare. Ipse vero, ex licentia paternis liberius largiusque utens rebus, equos, arma, vestes, ceteraque quibus magis adulescentium aetas delectari solet studuit comparare, amicos multos muneribus emens facile post munera ab amicitia recessuros. Brevi ergo tempore loculos patris minuit; exhausta pecunia, ad patrem redit dicitque se pecunias defecisse.
collegendi: of acquiring turrim: acc. s. of turris usque ad summum - to the top thesaurum servandum suscipiens: who undertook the job of guarding the treasure multis annis evolutis: (ablative absolute) after many years had passed curiae: of the (king's) court liceret sibi: he be allowed iucundum: pleasant optime de se meritum: deserved the best from him curam . . . sollicitus impendebat: gave full attention to primogenitus: first-born balteo: belt tenere: tenderly recessuros: who would withdraw loculos: money boxes
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The Clever Thief: Part 2
Medieval Latin Stories
~The Clever Thief ~
De Thesauro et Fure Astuto
~ Part 2 ~adeo, adire, adii, aditurus - to go to, approach ait - he, she saysambo, ambae, ambo - bothcerno, cernere, crevi, cretus - to separate; discern, seedeficio, deficere, defeci, defectus - to fail, run shortdemum - at lastdepereo, deperire, deperii, deperiturus - to perish, be lostdesum, deesse, defui, defuturus - to be wanting, failevanesco, evanescere, evanui - to disappearferreus, ferrea, ferreum - ironflos, floris, m. - flowerinquit - he, she saysiuvenis, iuvenis, m. and f. - young man; young womaniuventus, iuventutis, f. - youth, the prime of lifeobscurus, obscura, obscurum - darkobstruo, obstruere, obstruxi, obstructus - to block, stop upops, opis, f. - aid; pl. wealthprius - beforequamvis - althoughquandocumque - wheneverquisquis, quicquid - whoever, whateverquoniam - sincerefugio, refugere, refugi - to avoid, run away fromsubdo, subdere, subdidi, subditus - to put under; subjectsubeo, subire, subii, subitus - to go under; enter; undergosupersum, superesse, superfui, superfuturus - to remain, be leftsustento, sustentare, sustentavi, sustentavus - to hold up, supporttantum - onlyunde - whence
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The Clever Thief: Part 2
Tunc demum pater recogitans secum paenitensque facti: "Quoniam," inquit, "te, fili, nimis et stulte dilexi, quicquid habebam tuae subdidi potestati. At tu cernens frenum tibi laxatum, temperantiae immemor ita omnia consumpsisti, ut nihil mihi praeter solam domum reliqueris. Quid ergo tibi magis faciam? Doleo quidem quod fama nomenque tuum in flore iuventutis deperit, sed unde te sustentem non habeo. Hoc tantum unum superest consilii, sed periculosum, ut si ea largitate qua prius vivere vis, turrim in qua regis positi sunt thesauri sub obscurae noctis silentio adeamus." Audito hoc filius: "Nullum," ait, "pater, quamvis grave sit periculum tecum subire refugio, modo ne desint divitiae, ne si illae defecerint, nominis quoque mei gloria evanescat." Consurgunt igitur ambo nocte, turrim adeunt, perforant malleis ferreis murum; intrat pater sublataque magna parte thesauri exit obstruitque foramen. Revertuntur domum onusti opibus alienis, et iuvenis iterum sua utitur largitate. Quandocumque iterum opus erat opibus ad thesaurum sibi notum revertebantur.
paenitensque facti: regretting what he had done frenum . . . laxatum: loose reins reliqueris: (perfect subjunctive) sustentem: (present subjunctive) ea largitate qua prius: with the same liberality as before vis: you wish turrim: (acc. sing. of turris) modo: if only perforant: they break through malleis: with hammers foramen: the hole onusti: laden opus erat: there was need
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The Clever Thief: Part 3
Medieval Latin Tales
~The Clever Thief ~
De Thesauro et Fure Astuto
~ Part 3 ~
aliquando - at some time; sometimes; formerly arcesso, arcessere, arcessivi, arcessitus - to send for, summon calor, caloris, m. - heat circumeo, circumire, circumii, circumitus - to go around, walk around cito - quickly claudo, claudere, clausi, clausus - to close decrepitus, decrepita, decrepitum - very old, decrepit disco, discere, didici - to learn egredior, egredi, egressus - to go out famosus, famosa, famosum - famous; notorious fumus, fumi, m. - smoke herba, herbae, f. - grass impleo, implere, implevi, impletus - to fill; complete, fulfill infero, inferre, intuli, inlatus - to bring in, introduce latro, latronis, m. - robber, bandit ostium, osti, n. - door perdo, perdere, perdidi, perditus - to lose praebeo, praebere, praebui, praebitus - to offer; supply quaero, quaerere, quaesivi, quaesitus - to seek, look for; ask senex, senis, m. - old man tacitus, tacita, tacitum - silent talis, tale - such; the following tollo, tollere, sustuli, sublatus - to lift, raise; carry off viridis, viride - green
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The Clever Thief: Part 3
Contigit autem ut rex thesaurum videre vellet, arcessito custode intrat turrim videtque magnam thesauri partem sublatam esse. Furore ergo repletus, dissumulans tamen egreditur venitque ad decrepitum quendam senem, consilium quaesiturus. Fuerat hic senex aliquando famosissimus latro quem conprehensum rex oculis privaverat eique de mensa sua cotidianos comparabat cibos. Hic regi consilium saepe bonum et utile praebebat, utpote qui multa viderat et audierat suaque experientia didicerat multa. Narrat ei rex damnum suum quaeritque quomodo perdita recuperare possit. Cui senex tale dat consilium: "Si," inquit, "o rex, novisse cupis quis hoc an tuus custos an alius egerit, iube fasciculum herbae viridis in turrim inferri supponique ignem. Tu autem, clauso ostio, turrim iterum circumeas, et videas si per aliquam muri rimulam fumum egredi videris. Hoc facto, ad me redeas consilium accepturus quid post haec tibi agendum sit." Rex autem dictum senis cito impleri iubens, clausit ostium et coepit tacitus turris ambitum circumire. Ecce autem calore ignis viridisque materiae humore fumus permaxime excitatus totam usque ad tectum replevit turrim. Qui cum aliud spiraculum non haberet, per locum foraminis illius, eo quod lapide tantum sine caemento obstructum erat, egreditur.
contigit: it happened vellet: (imperfect subjunctive) utpote qui: inasmuch as he audierat: audiverat damnum: loss possit: (present subjunctive) an . . . an: whether . . . or (indirect question) egerit: (perfect subjunctive) fasciculum: a small bundle circumeas: (present subjunctive) rimulam: crack coepit: began ambitum: revolution humore: by the moisture excitatus: produced permaxime: in very great quantity spiraculum: vent
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The Clever Thief: Part 4
Medieval Latin Tales
~The Clever Thief ~
De Thesauro et Fure Astuto
~ Part 4 ~
adhuc - thus far, up to this time, still admiror, admirari, admiratus sum - to wonder at, admire adstringo, adstringere, adstrinxi, adstrictus - to tighten, bind aliqui, aliqua, aliquod - (adj.) some, any ars, artis, f. - way; skill astutus, astuta, astutum - clever at - but aufero, auferre, abstuli, ablatus - to take away autem - however caleo, calere, calui - to be hot conor, conari, conatus sum - to try, attempt culter, cultri, m. - knife discurro, discurrere, discucurri (also: discurri), discursus - to run about dissimulo, dissimulare, dissimulavi, dissimulatus - to conceal donec - until ecce - behold exhaurio, exhaurire, exhausi, exhaustus - to remove; empty out facies, faciei, f. - appearance; face fervens, ferventis - boiling hot fors. fortis, f. - chance, luck fur, furis, m. - thief heri - yesterday igitur - therefore; then incautus, incauta, incautum - careless infelix, infelicis - unhappy, miserable interim - meanwhile macula, maculae, f. - spot, stain metuo, metuere, metui - to fear, be afraid mos, moris, m. - way, habit, manner nescio, nescire, nescivi, nescitus - not to know nex, necis, f. - death, murder oppono, opponere, opposui, oppositus - to place opposite or before repente - suddenly, unexpectedly
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The Clever Thief: Part 4
salio, salire, salui, saltus - to jump, leap soleo, solere, solitus sum - to be accustomed turris, turris (acc. s.: turrim), f. - tower -ve - or vestio, vestire, vestivi, vestitus - to dress, clothe
Quibus visis, rex properavit ad senem; ea quae viderat narravit. Hoc audito, senex: "Scias," ait, "rex, fures tibi tuos per locum ubi fumus egriditur abstulisse thesauros; quos nisi aliqua arte ceperis, quod superest asportabunt. Non enim cessabunt, quippe quibus adhuc prospere cessit res, donec totum thesaurum exhauserint. Meo igitur usus consilio damnum dissimula et preme silentio, ne, rumore hoc per aures populi discurrente, tuum furibus studium innotescat. Et tu interim cupam latam et profundam calenti imple bitumine, resa, pice et glutine, quam foramini introrsus opponas, ut dum fur more solito securus nullam deceptionem suspicans ad assuetum thesaurum recurrit, repente in cupam corruat captusque et colligatus glutine se tibi, velit nolit, cras manifestet." Admiratus rex astutum senis consilium cupam ilico ferventi impletam glutine opponit foramini serratoque ostio abscedit. Ecce autem fatalis illa dies, quae neminem bonum malumve praeterit, miserum patrem cum filio eadem nocte ad turrim adduxit, remotoque a foramini lapide, intrat pater nihil de praetensis laqueis suspicatus, dumque festinat ut heri et nudius tertius in pavimentum salire, incautus miser, ut erat vestitus calceatusque, in cupam mento tenus insilit, statimque vallatus glutine redditur immobilis, ita ut nec manum nec pedem movere posset, excepta lingua quae tantum ab hac iniuria libera remanserat. Ingemiscens igitur infelix filium advocat, narrat quibus laqueis teneatur adstrictus, orat ut sibi cito, antequam aliquis superveniat, caput amputet et abscedat, ne forte per caput cognitus aeternam suo generi maculam inferat et iacturam. At vero filius totis viribus patrem conatus extrahere, cum laborem suum frustrari videret, coepit anxiari et haesitare quid de duobus ageret; hinc etenim horrebat suas nece patris cruentare manus, hinc vero metuebat per faciem patris deprehendi. Cum ergo eum a nece retraheret amor, timor et necessitas urgeret, nesciens quid utilius ad tempus ageret, caput patris cultro abscisum fugiens asportavit.
asportabunt: will carry off cessabunt: will leave off quippe: indeed prospere: favorably damnum: loss preme: suppress innotescat: become known cupam: cask; barrel bitumine, resa, pice et glutine: asphalt, resin, pitch, and glue introrsus - on the inside assuetum: (from adsoleo) accustomed colligatus: held fast velit nolit: whether he wants to or not (willy nilly) ilico: immediately serrato: notched praeterit: passes by praetensis laqueis: the trap placed in front of (the hole) nudius tertius: the day before yesterday pavimentum : pavement calceatus: wearing shoes mento tenus: up to his chin insilit: jumps in vallatus: enveloped redditur: he is rendered ingemiscens: groaning iacturam: damage, loss frustrari: was useless anxiari: to be troubled haesitare: to be at a loss (about) hinc ... hinc: on the one hand ... on the other hand
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The Clever Thief: Part 4
etenim: for, because horrebat: he trembled cruentare: to bloody deprehendi: to be detected urgeret: pressed, drove ad tempus: at that point in time abscisum: which he had cut off
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The Clever Thief: Part 5
Medieval Latin Stories
~The Clever Thief ~
De Thesauro et Fure Astuto
~ Part 5 ~
amputo, amputare, amputavi, amputatus - to cut off, remove aspectus, aspectus, m. - sight astutia, astutiae, f. - astuteness, cunning cadaver, cadaveris, n. - dead body cauda, caudae, f. - tail (of an animal) deprehendo, deprehendere, deprehendi, deprehensus - to detect, observe festino, festinare, festinavi, festinatus - to hurry, hasten lacrimo, lacrimare, lacrimavi, lacrimatus - to weep miror, mirari, miratus sum - to be astonished, be amazed mutilo, mutilare, mutilavi, mutilatus - to cut off, cut short, mutilate postridie - on the next day prodo, prodere, prodidi, proditus - to betray quoque - also recupero, recuperare, recuperavi, recuperatus - to regain, get back, recover sanguis, sanguinis, m. - blood subrideo, subridere, subrisi, subrisus - to smile subsequor, subsequi, subsecutus sum - to follow surgo, surgere, surrexi, surrectus - to rise
Postridie autem rex prima luce de lectulo surgens intravit turrim cucurritque ad cupam invenitque murum perforatum et totam illam bituminis superficiem infectam sanguine, furem quoque suum, sed truncato capite deprehendit. Festinans ergo ad suum recurrit consiliarium, illum videlicet senem, annuntians captum quidem furem sed capite mutilatum. Quod hoc audisset senex, parumper subridens: "Miror," ait, "huius latronis astutiam. Quia enim nobilis erat nec voluit se vel genus suum prodere, idcirco a socio sibi caput amputari iussit. Unde et difficile videtur mihi te posse aut thesaurum recuperare aut cognoscere furem." Tunc rex vehementer urgebat senem ut daret consilium, minime de thesauro perdito aiens se curare, si tantummodo furem quis fuerit agnovisset. Cui senex: "Fac illum," inquit, "abstractum de cupa, caudae equi fortissimi alligari trahique per plateas et
lectulo: bed superficiem: surface bituminis: asphalt infectam: stained consiliarium: adviser videlicet: namely parumper: for a little while quia: because idcirco: therefore aiens: saying minime: very little tantummodo: only agnovisset: knew alligari: be bound plateas: streets
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The Clever Thief: Part 5
vicos civitatum regni tui. Porro milites armati subsequantur, capientes si quos viderint viros vel mulieres ad aspectum cadaveris lacrimare tibique eos praesentent. Et si fuerint ibi socius aut uxor aut filii, nequaquam poterunt a lacrimis temperare."
vicos: districts porro: then praesentent: (from the medieval Latin word praesentare) show, present nequaquam: by no means temparare: to refrain
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The Clever Thief: Part 6
Medieval Latin Stories
~The Clever Thief ~
De Thesauro et Fure Astuto
~ Part 6 ~
adligo (alligo), adligare, adligavi, adligatus - to bind to audeo, audere, ausus sum - to dare aufero, auferre, abstuli, ablatus - to take away; steal capillus, capilli, m. - hair ceterus, cetera, ceterum, remaining, rest confiteor, confiteri, confessus sum - to confess contingo, contingere, contigi, contactus - to touch; happen debilito, debilitare, debilitavi, debilitatus - to maim, disable deludo, deludere, delusi, delusus - to deceive, delude devenio, devenire, deveni, deventus - to arrive doleo, dolere, dolui, doliturus - to suffer; grieve effundo, effundere, effudi, effusus - to pour out, shed erumpo, erumpere, erupi, eruptus - to burst forth festinanter: quickly, hastily furtum, furti, n. - theft, robbery ideo - for that reason ilico: immediately metus, metus, m. - fear nefastus. nefasta, nefastum - wicked, unholy; unlucky os, oris, n. - mouth; face pollex, pollicis, m. - thumb polliceor, polliceri, pollicitus sum - to promise reddo, reddere, reddidi, redditus - to give back scelus, sceleris, n. - crime similitudo, similtudinis, f. - likeness
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The Clever Thief: Part 6
Bonum rex ratus senis consilium iubet festinanter truncum equo fortissimo pedibus alligatum cum armatis militibus trahi per proximam civitatem. Qui dum miser trahitur, contigit eum ante fores domus suae devenire. Stabat autem ille filius eius major, qui et ei in furto fuerat socius, ante ipsas fores. Qui cum videret patrem sic miserabiliter trahi, flere quidem non audens, sed nec valens lacrimas prohibere, occasione reperta, cultellum lignum arripit, quasi aliquid incisurus, sinistraeque manus pollicem de industria sibi amputat. Tunc vero sub occasione pollicis vocem emittit luctuosam, erumpunt lacrimae, accurrit mater, fratres et sorores dilacerant manibus vestes oraque et capillos, in persona fili patris miseriam lamentantes. Affuerunt ilico milites qui eos caperent ducerentque ad regem. At vero rex maximo adfectus gaudio, sperans se perdita recuperare posse, pollicebatur illis vitam et gratiam suam, si scelus confiterentur redderentque thesauros suos. Iuvenis autem ille ex metu et necessitate audaciam sumens: "Non ideo," ait, "o serenissime rex, ego aut mei, quia hic miser truncus ad nos aliquid pertineat, lacrimas effundimus, sed quia hic dies nefastus mihi sinistrae manus pollicem abstulit. Ob hoc ergo lacrimae effusae, exaratae facies, capilli evulsi, quia ego adhuc iuvenis hodie uno et potiore membro debilitatus sum." Rex vero pollicem adhuc fluentem sanguine certissimum veritatis argumentum fore ratus, motus misericordia propter fortunam iuvenis: "Non est," ait, "mirum si dolet cui male contigit. Vade in pace et hunc diem male ominatum de cetero praecaveto." Sic ergo ille astutia sua se suosque liberans domum rediit, et rex similitudine delusus veritatis redit ad senem consilium accepturus.
ratus: certain truncum: trunk (body without a head) fores: door cultellum lignum: little wooden knife arripit: he seizes incisurus: about to cut into luctuosam: mournful accurrit: runs to (him) dilacerant: tear, rend lamentantes: lamenting (weeping over) serenissime: fairest aliquid: in any respect exaratae: gouged evulsi: torn out potiore: rather useful fore: (futurum esse) vade: go male ominatum: of evil omen praecaveto: guard against de cetero: henceforth accepturus: to get
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The Clever Thief: Part 7
Medieval Latin Stories
~The Clever Thief ~
De Thesauro et Fure Astuto
~ Part 7 ~
antea - (adv.) before calliditas, calliditatis, f. - cleverness, skill, cunning cingo, cingere, cinxi, cinctus - to surround, encircle clam - secretly cohaereo, cohaerere, cohaesi, cohaesus - to consist of; hold togather, remain demitto, demittere, demisi, demissus - to send down, let down, lower dimitto, dimittere, dimisi, dimissus - to send away, dismiss dolor, doloris, m. - suffering, sorrow immo - on the contrary iuro, iurare, iuravi, iuratus - to swear lacrimosus, lacrimosa, lacrimosum - tearful membrum, membri, n. - limb; part of the body misereor, misereri, miseritus sum - to have pity odium, odi, n. - hatred opera, operae, f. - effort, work os, ossis, n. - bone pectus, pectoris, n. - breast; chest; heart, soul persequor, persequi, persecutus sum - to follow relentlessly porro - at a distance; formerly; then privo, privare, privavi, privatus - to deprive, rob proicio, proicere, proieci, proiectus - to throw out, throw down prosum, prodesse, profui - to be useful, benefit requiro, requirere, requisivi, requisitus - to search for; ask sanus, sana, sanum - sound, healthy suadeo, suadere, suasi, suasus - to recommend, advise vix - scarcely vultus, vultus, m. - countenance, look, face
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The Clever Thief: Part 7
Senex vero affirmabat regem vix posse invenire quod quaereret, suadebat autem ut cadaver iterum per eandem traheretur civitatem. Quod et factum est. Cumque ut prius ventum esset ad domum eius, filius, internum animi dolorem non ferens, filium parvulum in puteum qui pro foribus erat clam proiecit, tuncque vultum unguibus carpens voce lacrimosa populum quasi ad liberandum filium convocat. Accurit iterum mater cum filiis, cingunt puteum, lacrimantur, aliique funibus ad extrahendum puerulum in puteum se demittunt et alii eos iterum sursum trahunt. Quid plura? Capitur iterum ille solus duciturque ad regem et interim cadaver per alias civitates frustra tractum ad regem vix ossibus et nervis cohaerens reducitur. Porro rex videns hunc iterum captum quem antea dimiserat et nimium admiratus: "Quid prosunt," ait, "tibi callidae deceptiones? Dii summi te produnt, furta tua et scelera te accusant. Redde ergo thesaurum et iuro tibi per meam magnique Iovis potentiam nec te vita nec aliquo me privaturum membro, sed sanum et integrum liberumque dimissurum." Tunc latro calliditate sua utens, producta primo suspiria ab imo pectoris trahit, dehinc talem emittit vocem: "O me, omnium infelicissimum hominum, quem tanto dii odio persequuntur, ut nec solum mihi diem sine doloribus et cruciatibus corporis et animi transire permittant! Heri mihi dies infelix pollicem abstulit; hic hodie infelicior filium unicum demersit in puteum, et ecce de thesauro regis requiror." Tunc etiam lacrimis falsis, immo verissimis perfusus, "Magnum," ait, "o rex, beneficium solaciumque praestiteris misero, si me ab hac vita quae omni tormento, omni morte mihi gravior videtur, subtraxeris." Rex autem cum iuvenem crebris perfundi lacrimis mortemque loco beneficii quaerere videret audiretque eum vere ipso die filium perdidisse hesternoque die pollicem, miseratus hominem abire sivit, centum ei argenti marcas pro solacio tribuens. Sic iterum rex deceptus consiliarium suum adiit, aiens se frustra operam insumpsisse.
ventum esset: (passive, impersonal) they had come puteum: well, pit parvulum: very small foribus: door unguibus: fingernails carpens: tearing at funibus: ropes puerulum: little boy sursum: up quid: (interrogative adverb) frustra: in vain nervis: tendons nimium: exceedingly callidae: clever dii: (alternate form of dei) suspiria: sighs imo: bottom dehinc: and theme: (exclamatory accusative) cruciatibus: torments demersit: plunged perfusus: drenched solacium: solace, comfort praestiteris: you will show subtraxeris: you will remove crebris: abundant perfundi: was drenched hestero die: the day before tribuens: giving marcas: marks (coins) insumpsisse: had expended
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The Clever Thief: Part 8
Medieval Latin Stories
~The Clever Thief ~
De Thesauro et Fure Astuto
~ Part 8 ~armo, armare, armavi, armatus - to arm, equip confusus, confusa, confusum - perplexed, confused depono, deponere, deposui, depositus - to put aside, place, deposit despero, desperare, desperavi, desperatus - to have no hope, despair of eligo, eligere, elegi, electus - pick out, choose furtim - by stealth ingenium, ingeni, n. - natural ability luceo, lucere, luxi - to shine malo, malle, malui - to prefer morior, mori, mortuus sum - to die ordino, ordinare, ordinavi, ordinatus - to arrange patior, pati, passus sum - to suffer, allow pendeo, pendere, pependi - to hang quia - because scilicet - namely subtilis, subtile - keen; unadorned turpis, turpe - ugly, repulsive
Sed senex ad regem: "Unum," ait, "adhuc superest agendum, quo nisi furem superstitem ceperis, iam frustra ad alia te convertes: elige tibi milites fortissimos quadraginta, quorum viginti nigris armis nigrisque equis muniantur aliique viginti albis equis armisque eiusdem coloris sint armati. Hisque cadaver ligno pedibus suspensum nocte ac die custodiendum committas, viginti albis hinc, inde viginti nigris circa ipsum ordinatis. Hi profecto si vigilanter custodierint, tuum capient furem quia non patietur ipse diutius pendere socium, etiam si sciat se mortem protinus subiturum." Rex autem, prout dixerat senex, milites nigris albisque munitos armis circa suspensum cadaver ordinavit. At vero fur ille, suum patrisque oppobrium ferre non valens malensque semel mori quam diu infeliciter vivere, consilium cepit quo aut patrem turpi ludibrio subtraheret aut ipse cum eo pariter moreretur. Subtili ergo ingenio arma partita fabricat, tota scilicet ab una parte alba et nigra ab altera. Quibus armatus
agendum: to be done superstitem: remaining ligno: tree custodiendum: to be watched hinc: on one side inde: on the other side profecto: indeed protinus: immediately prout: just as non valens: unable semel: once for all quo: whereby
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The Clever Thief: Part 8
equum hinc albo, inde nigro panno coopertum ascendit, sicque lucente luna per medios transit milites, ut nigra pars armorum eius viginti albos deluderet et alba pars deciperet nigros, putarentque nigri unum esse ex albis et albi unum ex nigris esse. Sic ergo pertransiens venit ad patrem depositumque a ligno asportavit. Facto autem mane, milites videntes furem furtim sublatum sibi, confusi redierunt ad regem, narrantes quomodo se miles albis nigrisque armis partitis decepisset. Desperans ergo iam rex posse recuperari perdita, et furem et thesaurum cessavit quaerere.
ludbrio: mockery subtraheret: removes pariter: in like manner partita: divided panno: piece of cloth coopertum: covered facto mane: when morning arrived sublatum sibi: had escaped decepisset: had deceived
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