← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
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Salvēte, discipulī cārissimī.
Ab elementīs quae per caelum agunt—igne, ventō, plūviā, nive—nunc ad aquam ipsam dēscendimus. Aqua est simplēx rēs, sed multīs modīs sē movet. Fluit, mānat, salit, hauritur. Quattuor verba prō ūnō elementō! Vidēte quōmodo Latīna lingua singulās rēs subtīliter dēscrībat.
From the elements which act through the sky—fire, wind, rain, snow—we now descend to water itself. Water is a simple thing, but it moves itself in many ways. It flows, it seeps, it leaps, it is drawn. Four verbs for one element! See how the Latin language describes individual things with subtlety.
Hodiē etiam novam rem discētis: vōcem passīvam. Nōn sōlum aqua agit, sed etiam ab hominibus agitur. Hauritur—trahitur—ab hominibus ē puteō. Rēs enim nōn sōlum agunt, sed etiam patiuntur.
Today you will also learn a new thing: the passive voice. Not only does water act, but it is also acted upon by people. Hauritur—it is drawn—by people from a well. For things do not only act, but also are acted upon.
Ē tenebrīs Lēšnēnsibus, Iōannēs Āmos Comēnius
Aqua Water in on plānō the level ground fluit. flows. Ex Out of vāse a vessel mānat. it seeps. Ē Out of fonte a fountain salit. it leaps. Ē Out of puteō a well hauritur. it is drawn.
In plānō: in + ablātīvus = “on” (location). plānum, -ī (n.) is the neuter adjective plānus used as a noun, meaning “level ground, flat surface.”
Ex vāse: ex + ablātīvus = “out of.” vās, vāsis (n.) is an irregular noun—3rd declension in the singular (vās, vāsis, vāsī, vās, vāse), but 2nd declension in the plural (vāsa, vāsōrum, vāsīs). The ablative singular is vāse.
Ē fonte: ē is a variant of ex, used before consonants. fōns, fontis (m.) = fountain, spring. Ablative: fonte.
Ē puteō: puteus, -ī (m.) = well, pit. Ablative: puteō.
Hauritur: the passive voice of hauriō (I draw water). The -tur ending means “it is drawn” — someone draws it, but the sentence focuses on the water, not the person.
Aqua in plānō fluit. Water flows on the level ground.
Ex vāse mānat. It seeps out of a vessel.
Ē fonte salit. It leaps from a fountain.
Ē puteō hauritur. It is drawn from a well.
Aqua in plānō fluit. Ex vāse mānat. Ē fonte salit. Ē puteō hauritur.
Three prepositions appear in this passage, all governing the ablative case:
in + ablātīvus = “on, in” (location, place where) -
in plānō = on the level ground -
in fonte = in the fountain
ex + ablātīvus = “out of, from” (motion out of) -
ex vāse = out of a vessel -
ex puteō = out of a well
ē + ablātīvus = same meaning as ex, typically used before consonants -
ē fonte = from a fountain -
ē puteō = from a well
Note: in + ablative = location (”on, in”). In later lessons you will meet in + accusative = motion toward (”into”). The case changes the meaning entirely.
Latin uses four distinct verbs where English might simply say “water moves”:
Verbum Coniugātiō Significātiō Mōtus fluō, fluere, flūxī, flūxum 3rd flow steady horizontal movement mānō, mānāre, mānāvī, mānātum 1st seep, drip, trickle slow downward oozing saliō, salīre, saluī, saltum 4th leap, spring, gush upward bursting hauriō, haurīre, hausī, haustum 4th draw out, scoop pulled upward by effort
Each verb paints a different picture of how water moves. This is the precision Comenius loves: one thing (aqua), four actions (fluere, mānāre, salīre, haurīre).
Of these four verbs, three are active (the water acts) and one is passive (the water is acted upon):
Āctīva Significātiō fluit it flows (by itself) mānat it seeps (by itself) salit it leaps (by itself)
Passīva Significātiō hauritur it is drawn (by someone)
The passive ending -tur (3rd person singular) means “he/she/it is ___ed.” Compare: -
haurit = he/she draws → hauritur = it is drawn -
videt = he/she sees → vidētur = it is seen -
audit = he/she hears → audītur = it is heard
The passive voice shifts the focus from the doer to the thing receiving the action. Aqua hauritur focuses on the water; homō haurit would focus on the person.
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō aqua, -ae (f.) nōmen water plānus, -a, -um adiectīvum level, flat, even plānum, -ī (n.) nōmen level ground, plain fluō, fluere, flūxī, flūxum verbum (3) flow vās, vāsis (n.) nōmen vessel, container mānō, mānāre, mānāvī, mānātum verbum (1) seep, drip, trickle fōns, fontis (m.) nōmen fountain, spring, source saliō, salīre, saluī, saltum verbum (4) leap, spring, jump puteus, -ī (m.) nōmen well, pit hauriō, haurīre, hausī, haustum verbum (4) draw (water), scoop out
In In oppidō the town Tūsculānō of Tusculum vīvēbat there lived aquārius a water-engineer quī who aquam the water tōtīus of the whole oppidī town cūrābat. managed. Nōmen The name eī to him erat was Mārcus. Marcus.
Ōlim Once puer a boy nōmine by the name of Titus Titus ad to Mārcum Marcus vēnit came et and eum him rogāvit asked num whether sē he (Marcus) docēre to teach dē about aquā water vellet. was willing.
Mārcus Marcus rīsit smiled et and puerō to the boy dīxit said sē [that] he libenter gladly doctūrum esse. would teach [him]. Dīxit He said tamen however aquam [that] water nōn not ūnō in one sōlō single modō way sē itself movēre, to move, sed but multīs in many [ways]. “Venī mēcum,” “Come with me,” inquit, he said, “et “and vidēbis.” you will see.”
Prīmum First Mārcus Marcus Titum Titus dūxit led ad to aquaeductum the aqueduct quī which extrā outside oppidum the town erat. was. Mōnstrāvit He showed aquam water in on plānō the level surface fluere. flowing. Dīxit He said aquam [that] water, cum when in on plānō level [ground] esset, it was, semper always lēniter gently et and aequāliter evenly fluere. to flow. “Aquaeductūs,” “The aqueduct,” inquit, he said, “plānus “flat et and rēctus straight esse to be dēbet, ought, ut so that aqua the water bene well fluat.” may flow.”
Titus Titus aquam the water spectāvit watched quae which lēniter gently in on plānō the flat surface fluēbat. was flowing. Nūllum No sonitum sound faciēbat, it made, nūllam no festīnātiōnem haste mōnstrābat. it showed. Dīxit He said sē [that] he (Titus) numquam never aquam water tam so quiētam quiet anteā before vīdisse. to have seen.
Deinde Next Mārcus Marcus Titum Titus in into oppidum the town dūxit, led, ubi where vāsa vessels fīctilia of clay in in ūsū use erant. were. Ex Out of vāse a vessel quod which rīmam a crack habēbat had aqua water lēniter slowly mānābat. was seeping. Mārcus Marcus explicāvit explained aquam [that] water, cum when per through rīmam a crack exīret, it went out, nōn not fluere to flow sed but mānāre. to seep. “Fluere,” “To flow,” inquit, he said, “est “is celeriter swiftly et and līberē freely sē itself movēre. to move. Mānāre To seep autem however est is lentē slowly et and guttātim drop by drop exīre.” to go out.”
Titus Titus digitum his finger sub under rīmam the crack posuit placed et and guttam a drop cēpit. caught. Dīxit He said sē [that] he nunc now intellegere to understand quid what inter between fluere flowing et and mānāre seeping interesset. the difference was.
Tum Then ad to fontem the fountain in in mediō the middle forō of the forum iērunt. they went. Aqua Water ē from fonte the fountain sursum upward saliēbat was leaping et and in into āera the air altē high surgēbat. was rising. Guttae Drops in in sōle the sun micābant were glittering et and puerī boys circum around fontem the fountain lūdēbant. were playing.
Mārcus Marcus dīxit said aquam [that] water in in fonte a fountain nōn not fluere to flow neque nor mānāre, to seep, sed but salīre— to leap— id est, that is, sursum upwards per through vim force ērumpere. to burst forth. “Aqua “Water ē from monte the mountain dēscendit,” descends,” inquit. he said. “Pressūra “The pressure eam it sursum upward per through fistulam the pipe cōgit forces et and aqua the water salīre to leap vidētur.” seems.”
Dēnique Finally ad to puteum the well vēnērunt they came quī which prope near portam the gate oppidī of the town erat. was. Mārcus Marcus situlam a bucket fūne by a rope dēmīsit lowered et and aquam water ē from puteō the well hausit. drew.
“Hīc,” “Here,” inquit, he said, “aqua “water nōn not fluit, flows, nōn not mānat, seeps, nōn not salit. leaps. Aqua The water sub under terrā the earth quiēscit. rests. Nōs We eam it haurīre to draw dēbēmus. must. Aqua Water igitur therefore hauritur— is drawn— nōn not ā by sē itself, sed but ab by hominibus.” people.”
Titus Titus haustum the drawn water bibit drank et and dīxit said aquam [that] water ē from puteō a well haustam drawn frīgidissimam the coldest et and optimam the best esse. to be.
Mārcus Marcus adnuit. nodded. “Nunc “Now tū you quattuor the four modōs ways aquae of water nōstī,” you know,” inquit. he said. “Fluit “It flows in on plānō. flat ground. Mānat It seeps ex from vāse. a vessel. Salit It leaps ē from fonte. a fountain. Hauritur It is drawn ē from puteō. a well. Ūna One rēs, thing, quattuor four verba. verbs. Hoc This est is cōpia the richness linguae of the language Latīnae!” Latin!”
In oppidō Tūsculānō vīvēbat aquārius quī aquam tōtīus oppidī cūrābat. In the town of Tusculum there lived a water-engineer who managed the water of the whole town.
Nōmen eī erat Mārcus. His name was Marcus.
Ōlim puer nōmine Titus ad Mārcum vēnit et eum rogāvit num sē docēre dē aquā vellet. Once a boy named Titus came to Marcus and asked whether he was willing to teach him about water.
Mārcus rīsit et puerō dīxit sē libenter doctūrum esse. Marcus smiled and told the boy that he would gladly teach him.
Dīxit tamen aquam nōn ūnō sōlō modō sē movēre, sed multīs. He said, however, that water moved not in one way alone, but in many.
“Venī mēcum,” inquit, “et vidēbis.” “Come with me,” he said, “and you will see.”
Prīmum Mārcus Titum dūxit ad aquaeductum quī extrā oppidum erat. First Marcus led Titus to the aqueduct which was outside the town.
Mōnstrāvit aquam in plānō fluere. He showed that water flowed on level ground.
Dīxit aquam, cum in plānō esset, semper lēniter et aequāliter fluere. He said that water, when it was on level ground, always flowed gently and evenly.
“Aquaeductus,” inquit, “plānus et rēctus esse dēbet, ut aqua bene fluat.” “The aqueduct,” he said, “ought to be flat and straight, so that the water may flow well.”
Titus aquam spectāvit quae lēniter in plānō fluēbat. Titus watched the water which was flowing gently on the flat surface.
Nūllum sonitum faciēbat, nūllam festīnātiōnem mōnstrābat. It made no sound, it showed no haste.
Dīxit sē numquam aquam tam quiētam anteā vīdisse. He said that he had never seen water so quiet before.
Deinde Mārcus Titum in oppidum dūxit, ubi vāsa fīctilia in ūsū erant. Next Marcus led Titus into the town, where clay vessels were in use.
Ex vāse quod rīmam habēbat aqua lēniter mānābat. From a vessel which had a crack, water was slowly seeping.
Mārcus explicāvit aquam, cum per rīmam exīret, nōn fluere sed mānāre. Marcus explained that water, when it went out through a crack, did not flow but seeped.
“Fluere,” inquit, “est celeriter et līberē sē movēre. Mānāre autem est lentē et guttātim exīre.” “To flow,” he said, “is to move swiftly and freely. To seep, however, is to go out slowly and drop by drop.”
Titus digitum sub rīmam posuit et guttam cēpit. Titus placed his finger under the crack and caught a drop.
Dīxit sē nunc intellegere quid inter fluere et mānāre interesset. He said that he now understood the difference between flowing and seeping.
Tum ad fontem in mediō forō iērunt. Then they went to the fountain in the middle of the forum.
Aqua ē fonte sursum saliēbat et in āera altē surgēbat. Water was leaping upward from the fountain and rising high into the air.
Guttae in sōle micābant et puerī circum fontem lūdēbant. Drops were glittering in the sun and boys were playing around the fountain.
Mārcus dīxit aquam in fonte nōn fluere neque mānāre, sed salīre—id est, sursum per vim ērumpere. Marcus said that water in a fountain did not flow nor seep, but leaped—that is, it burst forth upward by force.
“Aqua ē monte dēscendit,” inquit. “Pressūra eam sursum per fistulam cōgit et aqua salīre vidētur.” “Water descends from the mountain,” he said. “The pressure forces it upward through the pipe and the water seems to leap.”
Dēnique ad puteum vēnērunt quī prope portam oppidī erat. Finally they came to the well which was near the gate of the town.
Mārcus situlam fūne dēmīsit et aquam ē puteō hausit. Marcus lowered a bucket by a rope and drew water from the well.
“Hīc,” inquit, “aqua nōn fluit, nōn mānat, nōn salit. Aqua sub terrā quiēscit.” “Here,” he said, “water does not flow, does not seep, does not leap. The water rests under the earth.”
“Nōs eam haurīre dēbēmus. Aqua igitur hauritur—nōn ā sē, sed ab hominibus.” “We must draw it. The water, therefore, is drawn—not by itself, but by people.”
Titus haustum bibit et dīxit aquam ē puteō haustam frīgidissimam et optimam esse. Titus drank the drawn water and said that water drawn from a well was the coldest and the best.
Mārcus adnuit. Marcus nodded.
“Nunc tū quattuor modōs aquae nōstī,” inquit. “Now you know the four ways of water,” he said.
“Fluit in plānō. Mānat ex vāse. Salit ē fonte. Hauritur ē puteō.” “It flows on flat ground. It seeps from a vessel. It leaps from a fountain. It is drawn from a well.”
“Ūna rēs, quattuor verba. Hoc est cōpia linguae Latīnae!” “One thing, four verbs. This is the richness of the Latin language!”
In oppidō Tūsculānō vīvēbat aquārius quī aquam tōtīus oppidī cūrābat. Nōmen eī erat Mārcus.
Ōlim puer nōmine Titus ad Mārcum vēnit et eum rogāvit num sē docēre dē aquā vellet. Mārcus rīsit et puerō dīxit sē libenter doctūrum esse. Dīxit tamen aquam nōn ūnō sōlō modō sē movēre, sed multīs. “Venī mēcum,” inquit, “et vidēbis.”
Prīmum Mārcus Titum dūxit ad aquaeductum quī extrā oppidum erat. Mōnstrāvit aquam in plānō fluere. Dīxit aquam, cum in plānō esset, semper lēniter et aequāliter fluere. “Aquaeductus,” inquit, “plānus et rēctus esse dēbet, ut aqua bene fluat.”
Titus aquam spectāvit quae lēniter in plānō fluēbat. Nūllum sonitum faciēbat, nūllam festīnātiōnem mōnstrābat. Dīxit sē numquam aquam tam quiētam anteā vīdisse.
Deinde Mārcus Titum in oppidum dūxit, ubi vāsa fīctilia in ūsū erant. Ex vāse quod rīmam habēbat aqua lēniter mānābat. Mārcus explicāvit aquam, cum per rīmam exīret, nōn fluere sed mānāre. “Fluere,” inquit, “est celeriter et līberē sē movēre. Mānāre autem est lentē et guttātim exīre.”
Titus digitum sub rīmam posuit et guttam cēpit. Dīxit sē nunc intellegere quid inter fluere et mānāre interesset.
Tum ad fontem in mediō forō iērunt. Aqua ē fonte sursum saliēbat et in āera altē surgēbat. Guttae in sōle micābant et puerī circum fontem lūdēbant.
Mārcus dīxit aquam in fonte nōn fluere neque mānāre, sed salīre—id est, sursum per vim ērumpere. “Aqua ē monte dēscendit,” inquit. “Pressūra eam sursum per fistulam cōgit et aqua salīre vidētur.”
Dēnique ad puteum vēnērunt quī prope portam oppidī erat. Mārcus situlam fūne dēmīsit et aquam ē puteō hausit.
“Hīc,” inquit, “aqua nōn fluit, nōn mānat, nōn salit. Aqua sub terrā quiēscit. Nōs eam haurīre dēbēmus. Aqua igitur hauritur—nōn ā sē, sed ab hominibus.”
Titus haustum bibit et dīxit aquam ē puteō haustam frīgidissimam et optimam esse. Mārcus adnuit.
“Nunc tū quattuor modōs aquae nōstī,” inquit. “Fluit in plānō. Mānat ex vāse. Salit ē fonte. Hauritur ē puteō. Ūna rēs, quattuor verba. Hoc est cōpia linguae Latīnae!”
Tusculum was a real hill town near Rome, famous for its water supply. The aquārius (water-engineer) was an important figure in Roman towns, responsible for maintaining aqueducts, fountains, and wells.
Indirect Statement (Ōrātiō Oblīqua) — The fable uses indirect speech throughout, as Comenius’s method requires. Key examples: -
dīxit sē libenter doctūrum esse — he said that he would gladly teach (future active infinitive) -
dīxit aquam nōn ūnō sōlō modō sē movēre — he said that water moved not in one way alone -
mōnstrāvit aquam in plānō fluere — he showed that water flowed on level ground -
dīxit sē numquam aquam tam quiētam vīdisse — he said he had never seen water so quiet (perfect infinitive) -
dīxit aquam ē puteō haustam frīgidissimam esse — he said that water drawn from a well was the coldest
Indirect Question — rogāvit num sē docēre vellet — he asked whether he was willing to teach him. Note num introducing the indirect question and vellet in the subjunctive.
Purpose Clause — ut aqua bene fluat — so that the water may flow well. Note ut + subjunctive.
Temporal Clause — cum in plānō esset — when it was on level ground. Note cum + subjunctive (circumstantial cum).
Vocābulum Significātiō aquārius, -ī (m.) water-engineer aquaeductus, -ūs (m.) aqueduct rīma, -ae (f.) crack, fissure gutta, -ae (f.) drop guttātim (adv.) drop by drop fōrum, -ī (n.) forum, marketplace pressūra, -ae (f.) pressure fistula, -ae (f.) pipe, tube situla, -ae (f.) bucket fūnis, -is (m.) rope haustus, -ūs (m.) a drawing (of water); a draught
DISCIPULUS: Magister, Teacher, hodiē today novum a new verbum word audīvī: I heard: “hauritur.” “hauritur.” Cētera The other verba verbs intellegō: I understand: fluit, it flows, mānat, it seeps, salit. it leaps. Sed But quid what significat does mean “hauritur”? “hauritur”?
MAGISTER: Bona A good quaestiō! question! Verbum The verb “haurit” “haurit” significat means “he draws.” “he draws.” Sī If homō a man aquam water ē from puteō a well trahit, draws, dīcimus we say “homō “the man haurit.” draws.” Sed But sī if dē about aquā the water ipsā itself loquimur, we speak, dīcimus we say “aqua “the water hauritur”— is drawn”— id est, that is, “aqua “the water trahitur is drawn ab by homine.” a man.”
DISCIPULUS: Ergō Therefore “haurit” “haurit” est is cum when homō the man agit. acts. “Hauritur” “Hauritur” est is cum when aqua the water patitur? is acted upon?
MAGISTER: Prōrsus! Exactly! Hoc This est is discrīmen the distinction inter between vōcem the voice āctīvam active et and vōcem the voice passīvam. passive. In In vōce the voice āctīvā, active, subiectum the subject agit. acts. In In vōce the voice passīvā, passive, subiectum the subject patitur. is acted upon.
DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo How faciō do I make vōcem the voice passīvam? passive?
MAGISTER: Mūtā Change terminātiōnem! the ending! Ubi Where in in vōce the voice āctīvā active habēs you have “-t,” “-t,” in in vōce the voice passīvā passive habēs you have “-tur.” “-tur.” Haurit He draws → → hauritur: it is drawn: ecce behold vōx the voice passīva. passive.
DISCIPULUS: Possumusne Can we id it cum with aliīs other verbīs verbs facere? do?
MAGISTER: Certē! Certainly! Spectā Look at verba the verbs quae which iam already nōvistī: you know: “Videt” “He sees” → → “vidētur:” “it is seen:” “it is seen.” “it is seen.” “Audit” “He hears” → → “audītur:” “it is heard:” “it is heard.” “it is heard.” “Capit” “He catches” → → “capitur:” “it is caught:” “it is caught.” “it is caught.”
DISCIPULUS: Quid What dē about verbō the verb “fluit”? “fluit”? Estne Is there “fluitur”? “fluitur”?
MAGISTER: Āh! Ah! Quaestiō A question quae which mē me dēlectat! delights! Nōn Not omnia all verba verbs vōcem the voice passīvam passive habēre to have possunt. are able. “Fluō” “I flow” significat means rem a thing quae which sē itself movet. moves. Nēmō No one aquam water “fluit.” “flows.” Aqua Water ipsa itself fluit. flows. Ergō Therefore nūlla no vōx voice passīva passive est. is.
DISCIPULUS: Intellegō! I understand! “Hauritur” “It is drawn” quia because aliquis someone haurit. draws. “Fluit” “It flows” quia because aqua the water ipsa itself fluit— flows— nēmō nobody eam it “fluit.” “flows.”
MAGISTER: Optimē! Excellent! Nunc Now dīc tell mihi: me: cūr why Comēnius Comenius haec these quattuor four verba verbs ēlēgerit chose prō for aquā? water?
DISCIPULUS: Quia Because quattuor the four verba verbs quattuor four modōs ways mōnstrant? show? Fluere To flow est is in on plānō. level ground. Mānāre To seep est is per through rīmam. a crack. Salīre To leap est is sursum. upward. Haurīre To draw est is... ab by homine! a person!
MAGISTER: Prōrsus. Exactly. Et And vīdēsne do you see quōmodo how ultimum the last verbum verb ā from cēterīs the rest differat? differs? Tria Three prīma first dēscrībunt describe quid what aqua the water ipsa itself agat. does. Ultimum The last dēscrībit describes quid what hominēs people aquae to the water faciant. do. Hoc This est is discrīmen the distinction inter between āctīvum active et and passīvum. passive.
DISCIPULUS: Nunc Now plānē clearly videō! I see! Grātiās Thanks tibi to you agō, I give, magister. teacher.
MAGISTER: Etiam Also “plānē” “plānē” vīdēsne? do you see? “Plānē” “Plānē” venit comes ā from “plānus”— “plānus”— quod which hodiē today in in lectiōne the lesson didicistī! you learned! “Plānus” “Plānus” significat means “level.” “level.” “Plānē” “Plānē” significat means “clearly”— “clearly”— quasi as if “on “on level level ground, ground, without without obstacles.” obstacles.” Vidē See quōmodo how ūnum one verbum word multa many things doceat! teaches!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, hodiē novum verbum audīvī: “hauritur.” Teacher, today I heard a new word: “hauritur.”
Cētera verba intellegō: fluit, mānat, salit. Sed quid significat “hauritur”? I understand the other verbs: it flows, it seeps, it leaps. But what does “hauritur” mean?
MAGISTER: Bona quaestiō! Verbum “haurit” significat “he draws.” Good question! The verb “haurit” means “he draws.”
Sī homō aquam ē puteō trahit, dīcimus “homō haurit.” If a man draws water from a well, we say “the man draws.”
Sed sī dē aquā ipsā loquimur, dīcimus “aqua hauritur”—id est, “aqua trahitur ab homine.” But if we speak about the water itself, we say “the water is drawn”—that is, “the water is drawn by a man.”
DISCIPULUS: Ergō “haurit” est cum homō agit. “Hauritur” est cum aqua patitur? So “haurit” is when the man acts. “Hauritur” is when the water is acted upon?
MAGISTER: Prōrsus! Hoc est discrīmen inter vōcem āctīvam et vōcem passīvam. Exactly! This is the distinction between the active voice and the passive voice.
In vōce āctīvā, subiectum agit. In vōce passīvā, subiectum patitur. In the active voice, the subject acts. In the passive voice, the subject is acted upon.
DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo vōcem passīvam faciō? How do I make the passive voice?
MAGISTER: Mūtā terminātiōnem! Ubi in vōce āctīvā habēs “-t,” in vōce passīvā habēs “-tur.” Change the ending! Where in the active voice you have “-t,” in the passive voice you have “-tur.”
Haurit → hauritur: ecce vōx passīva. He draws → it is drawn: behold the passive voice.
DISCIPULUS: Possumusne id cum aliīs verbīs facere? Can we do it with other verbs?
MAGISTER: Certē! Spectā verba quae iam nōvistī. Certainly! Look at verbs you already know.
“Videt” → “vidētur:” “it is seen.” “Audit” → “audītur:” “it is heard.” “Capit” → “capitur:” “it is caught.” “He sees” → “it is seen.” “He hears” → “it is heard.” “He catches” → “it is caught.”
DISCIPULUS: Quid dē verbō “fluit”? Estne “fluitur”? What about the verb “fluit”? Is there “fluitur”?
MAGISTER: Āh! Quaestiō quae mē dēlectat! Ah! A question which delights me!
Nōn omnia verba vōcem passīvam habēre possunt. Not all verbs can have the passive voice.
“Fluō” significat rem quae sē movet. Nēmō aquam “fluit.” Aqua ipsa fluit. “I flow” means a thing which moves itself. No one “flows” water. Water itself flows.
Ergō nūlla vōx passīva est. Therefore there is no passive voice.
DISCIPULUS: Intellegō! “Hauritur” quia aliquis haurit. “Fluit” quia aqua ipsa fluit—nēmō eam “fluit.” I understand! “It is drawn” because someone draws. “It flows” because water itself flows—nobody “flows” it.
MAGISTER: Optimē! Nunc dīc mihi: cūr Comēnius haec quattuor verba ēlēgerit prō aquā? Excellent! Now tell me: why did Comenius choose these four verbs for water?
DISCIPULUS: Quia quattuor verba quattuor modōs mōnstrant? Because the four verbs show four ways?
Fluere est in plānō. Mānāre est per rīmam. Salīre est sursum. Haurīre est... ab homine! To flow is on level ground. To seep is through a crack. To leap is upward. To draw is... by a person!
MAGISTER: Prōrsus. Et vīdēsne quōmodo ultimum verbum ā cēterīs differat? Exactly. And do you see how the last verb differs from the rest?
Tria prīma dēscrībunt quid aqua ipsa agat. Ultimum dēscrībit quid hominēs aquae faciant. The first three describe what the water itself does. The last describes what people do to the water.
Hoc est discrīmen inter āctīvum et passīvum. This is the distinction between active and passive.
DISCIPULUS: Nunc plānē videō! Grātiās tibi agō, magister. Now I see clearly! Thank you, teacher.
MAGISTER: Etiam “plānē” vīdēsne? “Plānē” venit ā “plānus”—quod hodiē in lectiōne didicistī! Do you see “plānē” as well? “Plānē” comes from “plānus”—which you learned in today’s lesson!
“Plānus” significat “level.” “Plānē” significat “clearly”—quasi “on level ground, without obstacles.” “Plānus” means “level.” “Plānē” means “clearly”—as if “on level ground, without obstacles.”
Vidē quōmodo ūnum verbum multa doceat! See how one word teaches many things!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, hodiē novum verbum audīvī: “hauritur.” Cētera verba intellegō: fluit, mānat, salit. Sed quid significat “hauritur”?
MAGISTER: Bona quaestiō! Verbum “haurit” significat “he draws.” Sī homō aquam ē puteō trahit, dīcimus “homō haurit.” Sed sī dē aquā ipsā loquimur, dīcimus “aqua hauritur”—id est, “aqua trahitur ab homine.”
DISCIPULUS: Ergō “haurit” est cum homō agit. “Hauritur” est cum aqua patitur?
MAGISTER: Prōrsus! Hoc est discrīmen inter vōcem āctīvam et vōcem passīvam. In vōce āctīvā, subiectum agit. In vōce passīvā, subiectum patitur.
DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo vōcem passīvam faciō?
MAGISTER: Mūtā terminātiōnem! Ubi in vōce āctīvā habēs “-t,” in vōce passīvā habēs “-tur.” Haurit → hauritur: ecce vōx passīva.
DISCIPULUS: Possumusne id cum aliīs verbīs facere?
MAGISTER: Certē! Spectā verba quae iam nōvistī: “Videt” → “vidētur.” “Audit” → “audītur.” “Capit” → “capitur.”
DISCIPULUS: Quid dē verbō “fluit”? Estne “fluitur”?
MAGISTER: Āh! Quaestiō quae mē dēlectat! Nōn omnia verba vōcem passīvam habēre possunt. “Fluō” significat rem quae sē movet. Nēmō aquam “fluit.” Aqua ipsa fluit. Ergō nūlla vōx passīva est.
DISCIPULUS: Intellegō! “Hauritur” quia aliquis haurit. “Fluit” quia aqua ipsa fluit—nēmō eam “fluit.”
MAGISTER: Optimē! Nunc dīc mihi: cūr Comēnius haec quattuor verba ēlēgerit prō aquā?
DISCIPULUS: Quia quattuor verba quattuor modōs mōnstrant? Fluere est in plānō. Mānāre est per rīmam. Salīre est sursum. Haurīre est... ab homine!
MAGISTER: Prōrsus. Et vīdēsne quōmodo ultimum verbum ā cēterīs differat? Tria prīma dēscrībunt quid aqua ipsa agat. Ultimum dēscrībit quid hominēs aquae faciant. Hoc est discrīmen inter āctīvum et passīvum.
DISCIPULUS: Nunc plānē videō! Grātiās tibi agō, magister.
MAGISTER: Etiam “plānē” vīdēsne? “Plānē” venit ā “plānus”—quod hodiē in lectiōne didicistī! “Plānus” significat “level.” “Plānē” significat “clearly”—quasi “on level ground, without obstacles.” Vidē quōmodo ūnum verbum multa doceat!
This colloquium introduces the passive voice through one of its simplest manifestations: the third-person singular ending -tur. The student discovers the key principle: only transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object) can be made passive. Since nobody “flows” water (water flows by itself), fluō has no passive. But someone draws water, so hauriō can become hauritur.
The four water verbs divide neatly:
Intransitive (no direct object possible): fluō, mānō, saliō Transitive (takes a direct object): hauriō
This is why only hauriō appears in the passive voice in Comenius’s text.
The dialogue ends with a lovely etymological observation: the adverb plānē (”clearly”) derives from plānus (”flat, level”). The metaphor is spatial—to see clearly is to see as if on flat ground, with no obstacles blocking the view. This connects the lesson’s vocabulary to everyday Latin usage.
Fill in the blank with the appropriate water verb (fluit, mānat, salit, hauritur): -
Aqua ē fonte sursum ___________. -
Aqua in plānō lēniter ___________. -
Aqua ex vāse fīctilī per rīmam ___________. -
Aqua ē puteō ___________. -
Flūmen per campum ___________. -
Sanguis ē vulnere lentē ___________.
State whether each verb is active or passive, then translate: -
haurit -
hauritur -
videt -
vidētur -
fluit -
capitur
Transform each active sentence into a passive one: -
Homō aquam haurit. → Aqua ab homine ___________. -
Puer guttam capit. → Gutta ā puerō ___________. -
Magister discipulum docet. → Discipulus ā magistrō ___________. -
Fēmina panem coquit. → Pānis ā fēminā ___________.
Fill in the correct preposition (in, ex, ē): -
Aqua ___ plānō fluit. -
Aqua ___ vāse mānat. -
Aqua ___ fonte salit. -
Aqua ___ puteō hauritur. -
Mārcus ___ oppidō vīvēbat. -
Puerī circum fontem ___ forō lūdēbant.
-
Water flows on level ground. -
It seeps from a vessel. -
It leaps from a fountain. -
It is drawn from a well. -
The boy said that water was drawn by people. -
Marcus showed that water flowed gently.
-
Aqua in plānō fluit. — Water flows on level ground. -
Ex vāse mānat. — It seeps from a vessel. -
Ē fonte salit. — It leaps from a fountain. -
Ē puteō hauritur. — It is drawn from a well. -
Ūna rēs, quattuor verba: hoc est cōpia linguae Latīnae. — One thing, four verbs: this is the richness of the Latin language. -
In vōce āctīvā subiectum agit; in passīvā patitur. — In the active voice the subject acts; in the passive it is acted upon.
-
salit (leaps upward from a fountain) -
fluit (flows on level ground) -
mānat (seeps through a crack) -
hauritur (is drawn from a well) -
fluit (a river flows through a field) -
mānat (blood seeps slowly from a wound)
-
haurit — active — “he/she draws (water)” -
hauritur — passive — “it is drawn” -
videt — active — “he/she sees” -
vidētur — passive — “it is seen” (or “it seems”) -
fluit — active — “it flows” (intransitive; no passive possible) -
capitur — passive — “it is caught/captured”
-
Aqua ab homine hauritur. -
Gutta ā puerō capitur. -
Discipulus ā magistrō docētur. -
Pānis ā fēminā coquitur.
-
in plānō (location: on) -
ex vāse (out of a vessel) -
ē fonte (out of a fountain) -
ē puteō (out of a well) -
in oppidō (location: in) -
in forō (location: in)
-
Aqua in plānō fluit. -
Ex vāse mānat. -
Ē fonte salit. -
Ē puteō hauritur. -
Puer dīxit aquam ab hominibus haurīrī. (Note: haurīrī = passive infinitive) -
Mārcus mōnstrāvit aquam lēniter fluere.
Ab aquā nunc ad plantās prōgredimur. In proximā lectiōne Comēnius nōbīs ostendet quōmodo herba crēscat, folium vireat, flōs flōreat, et frūctus mātūrēscat. Vidēbimus etiam pīra, prūna, et cerasa—frūctūs quōs carpimus ē rāmīs. Nūx nucleum continet, rosa bene olet, sed urtīca—cavēte!—ūrit. Ā rēbus quae fluunt ad rēs quae crēscunt: hic est ōrdō nātūrae.
From water we now proceed to plants. In the next lesson Comenius will show us how a herb grows, a leaf is green, a flower flourishes, and fruit ripens. We shall also see pears, plums, and cherries—fruits which we pick from branches. A nut contains a kernel, a rose smells well, but a nettle—beware!—stings. From things which flow to things which grow: this is the order of nature.
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Comēniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
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