image of from the Bayeux tapestry

Week 11: Aesopus.

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Reading Overview | Reading Quiz: English
| Reading Quiz: Latin
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Reading #2b (Odo). Columbae et Dux.

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Printable version of this week's readings.

Nisus semel rapuit unam Columbam
et devoravit.
Alie Columbe
acceperunt consilium
cui conquererentur.
Et dixerunt:
Duci!

nisus: nisus accipiter, a sparrowhawk

alie columbe = aliae columbae
conquererentur: subjunctive in indirect question
duci, s.v. dux (dative)

  what problem did the doves have?
Est autem avis Dux
cum magno capite
et maior Aquila,
et ideo Columbe
conqueste sunt ei
de Niso,
quod faceret iusticiam,
quoniam sociam suam interfecit.
avis (cui nomen est) "Dux"
capite, s.v. caput
Aquila: ablative (comparison with maior)
conqueste sunt = conquestae sunt
conquestae, s.v. conqueror (takes dative)
quod = medieval Latin for ut + subjunctive
sociam suam = sociam columbarum
interfecit, s.v. interficio
  what did they want from the bird named Dux?
Audita querela,
respondit Dux
cum magna ingurgitatione:
Cloc!
audita querela: ablative absolute
cloc = "cluck"
  what did Dux say to the doves?
Quo audito,
dixerunt Columbe:
Quam bene intonuit!
Certe faciet sibi de Niso
unum morsellum.
quo audito: ablative absolute
columbe = columbae
faciet: future tense
morsellum: diminutive of morsus ("bite")
  what did the doves think about Dux?
Iterum venit Nisus,
et aliam Columbarum rapuit. Accesserunt Columbe
ad Ducem,
postulantes
quod faceret iusticiam.
Et respondit:
Cloc!
quod = medieval Latin for ut + subjunctive
  what happened when the doves asked Dux for help?
Dixerunt Columbe:
Ecce quam strenue comminatur;
optime faciet iusticiam.
Nisus terciam Columbam accepit.
comminatur, s.v. comminor
terciam = tertiam
  what problem did the doves have with the hawk?
Columbe tercio venerunt
ad Ducem,
ut vindictam acciperet.
Et ipse respondit:
Cloc!
tercio = tertio (tertio vice)
  what did the doves want Dux to do for them? what did Dux do?
Audientes dixerunt:
Quid est
quod semper dicit Cloc,
et nunquam iusticiam facit?
Recedamus a regno suo,
et infestemus eum
sicut falsum et stultum.

audientes (columbae) dixerunt
quid est quod: "why is it that..."
recedamus.. infestemus: hortatory subjunctives
recedamus a regno (nisi)
infestemus eum (nisum), sicut falsum et stultum

  what did the doves finally do to Dux?
Hinc est
quod Columbe et cetere Aves,
quando Ducem vident,
eum infestant.
hinc est quod: causal ("hence, that is why...")
columbe et cetere aves = columbae et ceterae aves
  what is the relationship between doves and the Dux bird now?

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Modern Languages 4970 / MRS 4903: Medieval Latin. Spring 2003 Online Course at the University of Oklahoma. Visit http://www.ou.edu/online/ for more info.
Laura Gibbs, University of Oklahoma - Information Technology © 2003.  laura-gibbs@ou.edu. Last updated: December 29, 2002 7:12 PM