← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
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Comēnius quīntum surgit. Mel in parvā ampullā tenet.
In the last lesson you saw — colors, shapes, beauty. Now you taste. Now you smell. Now you touch.
The world enters through the senses. This was my first principle: Nihil est in intellectū quod nōn prius fuerit in sēnsū — Nothing is in the understanding that was not first in the senses. The child learns mel (honey) not from a definition but from tasting sweetness. The child learns fēl (gall) not from a book but from the bitter face she makes.
So we proceed. Honey is sweet. Gall is bitter. Vinegar is sour. Salt is salty. Pepper is sharp. An unripe apple is harsh.
Then smell: a fragrance is pleasant, a stench is foul.
Then touch and temperature: clay is moist, dust is dry. Bones are hard, flesh is soft. Ice is slippery. A live coal is hot and glowing; a dead coal is cold and black.
These are the accidentia rērum — the qualities that things happen to have. Not what they are in essence, but how they appear to the senses. This is where all knowledge begins.
Taste the words. Smell them. Feel their texture on your tongue.
Dē Sapōribus — On Flavors
Mel Honey est is dulce. sweet. Sīcut Just as et also saccharum. sugar.
Fēl Gall [est] [is] amārum. bitter.
Acētum Vinegar [est] [is] acidum. sour.
Sāl Salt [est] [is] salsum. salty.
Piper Pepper [est] [is] ācre. sharp.
Immātūrum An unripe pōmum apple [est] [is] acerbum sour vel or austērum. harsh.
Mel est dulce. Sīcut et saccharum. Honey is sweet. Just as also sugar.
Fēl amārum. Gall is bitter.
Acētum acidum. Vinegar is sour.
Sāl salsum. Salt is salty.
Piper ācre. Pepper is sharp.
Immātūrum pōmum acerbum vel austērum. An unripe apple is sour or harsh.
Mel est dulce. Sīcut et saccharum. Fēl amārum. Acētum acidum. Sāl salsum. Piper ācre. Immātūrum pōmum acerbum vel austērum.
Neuter nouns and neuter adjectives. All the flavor words agree in gender with their subjects:
Subject (n.) Adjective (n.) Meaning mel dulce honey is sweet saccharum [dulce] sugar [is sweet] fēl amārum gall is bitter acētum acidum vinegar is sour sāl salsum salt is salty piper ācre pepper is sharp pōmum acerbum/austērum apple is sour/harsh
Third declension neuters. Several nouns here are 3rd declension neuter: -
mel, mellis (n.) — honey -
fēl, fellis (n.) — gall, bile -
sāl, salis (n./m.) — salt -
piper, piperis (n.) — pepper
The phrase sīcut et. This means “just as also” or “likewise” — connecting saccharum to mel as sharing the same quality of sweetness.
Word family: acerbus vs. acidus. Both relate to sourness but differ: -
acidus = sour, tart (like vinegar) -
acerbus = harsh, unripe, bitter-sour (like an unripe apple) -
ācre = sharp, pungent (like pepper — burns the tongue)
New vocabulary — Flavors:
Nominative Genitive Gender Meaning mel mellis n. honey saccharum saccharī n. sugar fēl fellis n. gall, bile acētum acētī n. vinegar sāl salis n./m. salt piper piperis n. pepper pōmum pōmī n. apple, fruit
New adjectives — Flavors:
Latin English Type dulcis, -e sweet 3rd decl. amārus, -a, -um bitter 1st/2nd decl. acidus, -a, -um sour, tart 1st/2nd decl. salsus, -a, -um salty 1st/2nd decl. ācer, ācris, ācre sharp, pungent 3rd decl. acerbus, -a, -um harsh, unripe, sour 1st/2nd decl. austērus, -a, -um harsh, austere 1st/2nd decl. immātūrus, -a, -um unripe 1st/2nd decl.
Dē Odōribus — On Smells
Odor A smell est is suāvis. pleasant.
Foetor A stench [est] [is] tēter. foul.
Odor est suāvis. A smell is pleasant.
Foetor tēter. A stench is foul.
Odor est suāvis. Foetor tēter.
Masculine nouns with masculine adjectives. Both odor and foetor are masculine: -
odor suāvis — a pleasant smell -
foetor tēter — a foul stench
Word distinction: odor vs. foetor. Latin distinguishes: -
odor = smell (neutral or pleasant) -
foetor = stench, bad smell (always unpleasant)
English “odor” can be neutral, but Latin foetor is always negative.
The adjective tēter. This 1st/2nd declension adjective (tēter, tētra, tētrum) means “foul, offensive, hideous” — used for disgusting smells, sights, or moral qualities.
New vocabulary — Smells:
Nominative Genitive Gender Meaning odor odōris m. smell, scent foetor foetōris m. stench, bad smell
Latin English Type suāvis, -e pleasant, sweet 3rd decl. tēter, tētra, tētrum foul, offensive 1st/2nd decl.
Dē Aliīs Qualitātibus — On Other Qualities
Lutum Clay est is ūmidum. moist. Pulvis Dust [est] [is] siccus. dry.
Ossa Bones [sunt] [are] dūra. hard. Carō Flesh [est] [is] mollis. soft.
Glaciēs Ice [est] [is] lūbrica. slippery.
Prūna A live coal est is calida hot et and candēns. glowing. Carbō A dead coal [est] [is] frīgidus cold et and āter. black.
Lutum est ūmidum. Pulvis siccus. Clay is moist. Dust is dry.
Ossa dūra. Carō mollis. Bones are hard. Flesh is soft.
Glaciēs lūbrica. Ice is slippery.
Prūna est calida et candēns. Carbō frīgidus et āter. A live coal is hot and glowing. A dead coal is cold and black.
Lutum est ūmidum. Pulvis siccus. Ossa dūra. Carō mollis. Glaciēs lūbrica. Prūna est calida et candēns. Carbō frīgidus et āter.
Contrasting pairs. This section presents opposites: -
ūmidum (moist) vs. siccus (dry) -
dūra (hard) vs. mollis (soft) -
calida (hot) vs. frīgidus (cold)
Neuter plural: ossa. The noun os, ossis (n.) — bone — appears here in the nominative plural: ossa dūra — bones are hard. With neuter plurals, the adjective also takes the neuter plural form: dūra (not dūrī).
Fifth declension: glaciēs. The word glaciēs (ice) is 5th declension feminine, like superficiēs from Lesson Three.
Participle as adjective: candēns. The word candēns (glowing, white-hot) is the present participle of candeō (I glow, I am white). Participles often function as adjectives.
Word distinction: prūna vs. carbō. Latin distinguishes: -
prūna = a live coal (still burning, glowing) -
carbō = a dead coal, charcoal (burnt out, cold)
Both are types of coal, but in different states.
New vocabulary — Other Qualities:
Nominative Genitive Gender Meaning lutum lutī n. clay, mud pulvis pulveris m. dust os ossis n. bone carō carnis f. flesh, meat glaciēs glaciēī f. ice prūna prūnae f. live coal, ember carbō carbōnis m. coal, charcoal
New adjectives — Other Qualities:
Latin English Type ūmidus, -a, -um moist, wet 1st/2nd decl. siccus, -a, -um dry 1st/2nd decl. dūrus, -a, -um hard 1st/2nd decl. mollis, -e soft 3rd decl. lūbricus, -a, -um slippery, smooth 1st/2nd decl. calidus, -a, -um hot, warm 1st/2nd decl. candēns, candentis glowing, white-hot 3rd decl. (participle) frīgidus, -a, -um cold 1st/2nd decl. āter, ātra, ātrum black, dark 1st/2nd decl.
Coquus — The Cook
In In culīnā the kitchen magnā large coquus a cook labōrat. works. Nōmen The name eius his est is Mārcus. Marcus.
Mārcus Marcus cēnam dinner parat is preparing dominō for the master suō. his. Multōs Many sapōrēs flavors in in cēnā the dinner miscēre to mix vult. he wants.
Prīmō First mel honey dulce sweet sūmit. he takes. “Mel,” “Honey,” inquit, he says, “dulcissimum “sweetest est. is. Dominus The master meus my dulcia sweet things amat.” loves.”
Deinde Then acētum vinegar acidum sour addit. he adds. “Acidum “The sour cum with dulcī the sweet bene well miscētur,” is mixed,” inquit. he says.
Piper Pepper quoque also addit. he adds. Piper Pepper ācre sharp est is — linguam the tongue mordet! it bites!
“Cavē!” “Beware!” sibi to himself dīcit. he says. “Nimium “Too much piper pepper cibum the food corrumpit.” ruins.”
Sāl Salt salsum salty quoque also addit, he adds, sed but parce. sparingly.
Nunc Now carnem meat coquit. he cooks. Carō Flesh mollis soft est is et and tenera. tender.
Sub Under carnē the meat prūnae live coals candentēs glowing sunt. are. Calidae Hot sunt they are et and rubrō with red lūmine light lūcent. they shine.
Mārcus Marcus prūnās the coals spectat. watches. “Prūnae “Live coals calidae hot carnem the meat bene well coquunt,” cook,” cōgitat. he thinks.
Post After hōram an hour carbōnēs coals frīgidī cold fiunt. become. Ātrī Black sunt they are et and sine without lūce. light.
Cēna The dinner tandem at last parāta prepared est! is! Dominus The master intrat enters et and cibum the food gustat. tastes.
“Euge!” “Excellent!” exclāmat. he exclaims. “Dulce “Sweet et and acidum sour et and salsum salty — omnēs all sapōrēs flavors in in harmoniā!” harmony!”
Mārcus Marcus rīdet. smiles. “Ars “The art coquī,” of a cook,” inquit, he says, “est “is sapōrēs flavors miscēre.” to mix.”
Dominus The master respondet: responds: “Et “And ars the art tua your optima best est!” is!”
In culīnā magnā coquus labōrat. Nōmen eius est Mārcus. In a large kitchen a cook works. His name is Marcus.
Mārcus cēnam parat dominō suō. Multōs sapōrēs in cēnā miscēre vult. Marcus is preparing dinner for his master. He wants to mix many flavors in the dinner.
Prīmō mel dulce sūmit. “Mel,” inquit, “dulcissimum est. Dominus meus dulcia amat.” First he takes sweet honey. “Honey,” he says, “is sweetest. My master loves sweet things.”
Deinde acētum acidum addit. “Acidum cum dulcī bene miscētur,” inquit. Then he adds sour vinegar. “The sour is mixed well with the sweet,” he says.
Piper quoque addit. Piper ācre est — linguam mordet! He also adds pepper. Pepper is sharp — it bites the tongue!
“Cavē!” sibi dīcit. “Nimium piper cibum corrumpit.” “Beware!” he says to himself. “Too much pepper ruins the food.”
Sāl salsum quoque addit, sed parce. He also adds salty salt, but sparingly.
Nunc carnem coquit. Carō mollis est et tenera. Now he cooks the meat. Flesh is soft and tender.
Sub carnē prūnae candentēs sunt. Calidae sunt et rubrō lūmine lūcent. Under the meat are glowing live coals. They are hot and shine with red light.
Mārcus prūnās spectat. “Prūnae calidae carnem bene coquunt,” cōgitat. Marcus watches the coals. “Hot live coals cook the meat well,” he thinks.
Post hōram carbōnēs frīgidī fiunt. Ātrī sunt et sine lūce. After an hour the coals become cold. They are black and without light.
Cēna tandem parāta est! Dominus intrat et cibum gustat. The dinner is prepared at last! The master enters and tastes the food.
“Euge!” exclāmat. “Dulce et acidum et salsum — omnēs sapōrēs in harmoniā!” “Excellent!” he exclaims. “Sweet and sour and salty — all flavors in harmony!”
Mārcus rīdet. “Ars coquī,” inquit, “est sapōrēs miscēre.” Marcus smiles. “The art of a cook,” he says, “is to mix flavors.”
Dominus respondet: “Et ars tua optima est!” The master responds: “And your art is the best!”
In culīnā magnā coquus labōrat. Nōmen eius est Mārcus. Mārcus cēnam parat dominō suō. Multōs sapōrēs in cēnā miscēre vult.
Prīmō mel dulce sūmit. “Mel,” inquit, “dulcissimum est. Dominus meus dulcia amat.” Deinde acētum acidum addit. “Acidum cum dulcī bene miscētur,” inquit.
Piper quoque addit. Piper ācre est — linguam mordet! “Cavē!” sibi dīcit. “Nimium piper cibum corrumpit.” Sāl salsum quoque addit, sed parce.
Nunc carnem coquit. Carō mollis est et tenera. Sub carnē prūnae candentēs sunt. Calidae sunt et rubrō lūmine lūcent.
Mārcus prūnās spectat. “Prūnae calidae carnem bene coquunt,” cōgitat. Post hōram carbōnēs frīgidī fiunt. Ātrī sunt et sine lūce.
Cēna tandem parāta est! Dominus intrat et cibum gustat. “Euge!” exclāmat. “Dulce et acidum et salsum — omnēs sapōrēs in harmoniā!”
Mārcus rīdet. “Ars coquī,” inquit, “est sapōrēs miscēre.” Dominus respondet: “Et ars tua optima est!”
New verbs in this story:
Latin English Note miscet mixes 3rd sing. of miscēre miscētur is mixed passive mordet bites 3rd sing. of mordēre corrumpit ruins 3rd sing. of corrumpere coquit cooks 3rd sing. of coquere lūcent they shine 3rd pl. of lūcēre fiunt they become 3rd pl. of fierī (irregular) gustat tastes 3rd sing. of gustāre
Dative of advantage. Cēnam parat dominō suō — He prepares dinner for his master. The dative dominō shows who benefits from the action.
Ablative with cum. Acidum cum dulcī bene miscētur — The sour is mixed well with the sweet. Here dulcī is ablative neuter singular (substantive use of the adjective).
Superlative: dulcissimum. The superlative of dulcis (sweet) is dulcissimus — sweetest, very sweet.
Ablative of manner without cum. Parce is an adverb (sparingly), but Latin can also use the ablative alone for manner when the noun is qualified: rubrō lūmine lūcent — they shine with red light.
New vocabulary from this story:
Latin English Note culīna kitchen f. coquus cook m. cēna dinner f. dominus master, lord m. sapor flavor, taste m. lingua tongue f. cibus food m. ars art, skill f., gen. artis harmonia harmony f. miscēre to mix verb coquere to cook verb gustāre to taste verb tener tender adj. nimius too much adj. parce sparingly adv.
Comēnius et Discipulus: Dē Sēnsibus
Discipulus: Student: Magister, Teacher, hodiē today dē about sapōribus flavors discimus? are we learning?
Comēnius: Comenius: Ita, Yes, et and dē about odōribus, smells, et and dē about aliīs other qualitātibus. qualities.
Discipulus: Student: Quot How many sapōrēs flavors sunt? are there?
Comēnius: Comenius: Multī! Many! Sed But praecipuī the chief ones sunt: are: dulce, sweet, amārum, bitter, acidum, sour, salsum, salty, ācre. sharp.
Discipulus: Student: Quid What est is dulce? sweet?
Comēnius: Comenius: Mel Honey est is dulce. sweet. Ecce Behold — gustā! taste!
Discipulus: Student: Gustat. He tastes. Mmm! Mmm! Dulcissimum Very sweet est! it is!
Comēnius: Comenius: Nunc Now hoc this gustā. taste. Acētum dat. He gives vinegar.
Discipulus: Student: Gustat. He tastes. Ugh! Ugh! Acidum Sour est! it is! Nōn Not placet! it pleases!
Comēnius: Comenius: Rīdet. He laughs. Ita! Yes! Acētum Vinegar acidum sour est. is. Nōn Not omnia all things dulcia sweet sunt. are.
Discipulus: Student: Et And quid what amārum bitter est? is?
Comēnius: Comenius: Fēl Gall amārum bitter est. is. Sed But nōlō I do not want tibi to you fēl gall dare! to give!
Discipulus: Student: Grātiās! Thanks! Et And quid what dē about odōribus? smells?
Comēnius: Comenius: Odor A smell suāvis pleasant est is sīcut like rosa. a rose. Rosam ostendit. He shows a rose. Olfac! Smell!
Discipulus: Student: Olfacit. He smells. Quam How suāvis! pleasant!
Comēnius: Comenius: Sed But foetor a stench tēter foul est is — sīcut like ōva eggs putida! rotten!
Discipulus: Student: Nōlō I do not want ōva eggs putida rotten olfacere! to smell!
Comēnius: Comenius: Rīdet. He laughs. Sapiēns Wise es! you are! Nunc Now dē about aliīs other qualitātibus. qualities. Tangē Touch hoc this lutum. clay.
Discipulus: Student: Tangit. He touches. Ūmidum Moist est! it is!
Comēnius: Comenius: Bene. Good. Nunc Now hunc this pulverem. dust.
Discipulus: Student: Tangit. He touches. Siccus Dry est. it is.
Comēnius: Comenius: Ita! Yes! Ūmidum Moist et and siccum dry — contrāria contraries sunt. are. Sīcut Just as calidum hot et and frīgidum. cold. Sīcut Just as dūrum hard et and molle. soft.
Discipulus: Student: Per Through sēnsūs the senses discimus! we learn!
Comēnius: Comenius: Rēctē! Correct! Nihil Nothing est is in in intellectū the understanding quod that nōn not prius first fuerit was in in sēnsū. the senses. Haec This est is vēritās the truth prīma first discendī. of learning.
Discipulus: Magister, hodiē dē sapōribus discimus? Student: Teacher, are we learning about flavors today?
Comēnius: Ita, et dē odōribus, et dē aliīs qualitātibus. Comenius: Yes, and about smells, and about other qualities.
Discipulus: Quot sapōrēs sunt? Student: How many flavors are there?
Comēnius: Multī! Sed praecipuī sunt: dulce, amārum, acidum, salsum, ācre. Comenius: Many! But the chief ones are: sweet, bitter, sour, salty, sharp.
Discipulus: Quid est dulce? Student: What is sweet?
Comēnius: Mel est dulce. Ecce — gustā! Comenius: Honey is sweet. Behold — taste!
Discipulus: Gustat. Mmm! Dulcissimum est! Student: He tastes. Mmm! It is very sweet!
Comēnius: Nunc hoc gustā. Acētum dat. Comenius: Now taste this. He gives vinegar.
Discipulus: Gustat. Ugh! Acidum est! Nōn placet! Student: He tastes. Ugh! It is sour! It is not pleasing!
Comēnius: Rīdet. Ita! Acētum acidum est. Nōn omnia dulcia sunt. Comenius: He laughs. Yes! Vinegar is sour. Not all things are sweet.
Discipulus: Et quid amārum est? Student: And what is bitter?
Comēnius: Fēl amārum est. Sed nōlō tibi fēl dare! Comenius: Gall is bitter. But I do not want to give you gall!
Discipulus: Grātiās! Et quid dē odōribus? Student: Thanks! And what about smells?
Comēnius: Odor suāvis est sīcut rosa. Rosam ostendit. Olfac! Comenius: A pleasant smell is like a rose. He shows a rose. Smell!
Discipulus: Olfacit. Quam suāvis! Student: He smells. How pleasant!
Comēnius: Sed foetor tēter est — sīcut ōva putida! Comenius: But a foul stench is — like rotten eggs!
Discipulus: Nōlō ōva putida olfacere! Student: I do not want to smell rotten eggs!
Comēnius: Rīdet. Sapiēns es! Nunc dē aliīs qualitātibus. Tangē hoc lutum. Comenius: He laughs. You are wise! Now about other qualities. Touch this clay.
Discipulus: Tangit. Ūmidum est! Student: He touches. It is moist!
Comēnius: Bene. Nunc hunc pulverem. Comenius: Good. Now this dust.
Discipulus: Tangit. Siccus est. Student: He touches. It is dry.
Comēnius: Ita! Ūmidum et siccum — contrāria sunt. Sīcut calidum et frīgidum. Sīcut dūrum et molle. Comenius: Yes! Moist and dry — they are contraries. Just as hot and cold. Just as hard and soft.
Discipulus: Per sēnsūs discimus! Student: Through the senses we learn!
Comēnius: Rēctē! Nihil est in intellectū quod nōn prius fuerit in sēnsū. Haec est vēritās prīma discendī. Comenius: Correct! Nothing is in the understanding that was not first in the senses. This is the first truth of learning.
Discipulus: Magister, hodiē dē sapōribus discimus? Comēnius: Ita, et dē odōribus, et dē aliīs qualitātibus. Discipulus: Quot sapōrēs sunt? Comēnius: Multī! Sed praecipuī sunt: dulce, amārum, acidum, salsum, ācre. Discipulus: Quid est dulce? Comēnius: Mel est dulce. Ecce — gustā! Discipulus: Gustat. Mmm! Dulcissimum est! Comēnius: Nunc hoc gustā. Acētum dat. Discipulus: Gustat. Ugh! Acidum est! Nōn placet! Comēnius: Rīdet. Ita! Acētum acidum est. Nōn omnia dulcia sunt. Discipulus: Et quid amārum est? Comēnius: Fēl amārum est. Sed nōlō tibi fēl dare! Discipulus: Grātiās! Et quid dē odōribus? Comēnius: Odor suāvis est sīcut rosa. Rosam ostendit. Olfac! Discipulus: Olfacit. Quam suāvis! Comēnius: Sed foetor tēter est — sīcut ōva putida! Discipulus: Nōlō ōva putida olfacere! Comēnius: Rīdet. Sapiēns es! Nunc dē aliīs qualitātibus. Tangē hoc lutum. Discipulus: Tangit. Ūmidum est! Comēnius: Bene. Nunc hunc pulverem. Discipulus: Tangit. Siccus est. Comēnius: Ita! Ūmidum et siccum — contrāria sunt. Sīcut calidum et frīgidum. Sīcut dūrum et molle. Discipulus: Per sēnsūs discimus! Comēnius: Rēctē! Nihil est in intellectū quod nōn prius fuerit in sēnsū. Haec est vēritās prīma discendī.
Stage directions in Latin. The italicized actions (Gustat, Tangit, Olfacit) are 3rd person singular verbs describing what the character does.
The verb nōlō. This irregular verb means “I do not want” (from nōn + volō): -
Nōlō tibi fēl dare — I do not want to give you gall -
Nōlō ōva putida olfacere — I do not want to smell rotten eggs
Imperatives. Commands to one person: -
Gustā! — Taste! (from gustāre) -
Olfac! — Smell! (from olfacere) -
Tangē! — Touch! (from tangere)
The philosophical maxim. Nihil est in intellectū quod nōn prius fuerit in sēnsū — Nothing is in the understanding that was not first in the senses. This is a foundational principle of Comenius’s empirical pedagogy. Note the perfect subjunctive fuerit in the relative clause.
New vocabulary from this colloquium:
Latin English Note praecipuus chief, principal adj. rosa rose f. ōvum egg n. putidus rotten, stinking adj. olfacere to smell verb tangere to touch verb intellectus understanding m. sēnsus sense m. vēritās truth f.
Practice makes the seed grow. Do not merely read — do.
Exercitātiō I: Match the flavors. Draw a line between each Latin word and its English meaning.
Latin English 1. dulce a. salty 2. amārum b. sweet 3. acidum c. sharp 4. salsum d. bitter 5. ācre e. sour
(Answers: 1-b, 2-d, 3-e, 4-a, 5-c)
Exercitātiō II: Match the qualities. Draw a line between each Latin word and its English meaning.
Latin English 1. ūmidum a. hard 2. siccum b. soft 3. dūrum c. hot 4. molle d. dry 5. calidum e. moist 6. frīgidum f. cold
(Answers: 1-e, 2-d, 3-a, 4-b, 5-c, 6-f)
Exercitātiō III: Complete the sentence. Fill each gap with the correct Latin word. -
Mel est __________ (sweet). -
Fēl est __________ (bitter). -
Acētum est __________ (sour). -
Lutum est __________ (moist). -
Pulvis est __________ (dry). -
Prūna est __________ (hot). -
Carbō est __________ (cold).
(Answers: 1. dulce, 2. amārum, 3. acidum, 4. ūmidum, 5. siccus, 6. calida, 7. frīgidus)
Exercitātiō IV: Opposites. Give the Latin opposite for each word. -
dulce (sweet) → __________ (bitter) -
ūmidum (moist) → __________ (dry) -
dūrum (hard) → __________ (soft) -
calidum (hot) → __________ (cold) -
odor suāvis (pleasant smell) → __________ (foul stench)
(Answers: 1. amārum, 2. siccum, 3. molle, 4. frīgidum, 5. foetor tēter)
Exercitātiō V: Translate into Latin. -
Honey is sweet. -
Salt is salty. -
A smell is pleasant. -
Clay is moist. -
A live coal is hot.
(Answers: 1. Mel est dulce. 2. Sāl est salsum. 3. Odor est suāvis. 4. Lutum est ūmidum. 5. Prūna est calida.)
Exercitātiō VI: Taste and describe. If you have access to the following, taste them and say in Latin what flavor they are: -
Honey → Mel dulce est! -
Lemon juice → Acidum est! -
Salt → Salsum est!
Exercitātiō VII: Touch and describe. Find objects around you and describe them: -
Something wet → Ūmidum est! -
Something dry → Siccum est! -
Something hard → Dūrum est! -
Something soft → Molle est!
A glimpse of what awaits...
In the next lesson we continue with Aliae Qualitātēs — more qualities of things:
Nōs incēdimus vestītī. Indī nūdī. We walk clothed. The Indians naked.
Ūnicornis est ferum animal. Vacca mānsuētum. The unicorn is a fierce animal. A cow is gentle.
Leō saevum. Ovis mītis. A lion is savage. A sheep is mild.
The world of creatures opens — fierce and gentle, wild and tame. And with them, the qualities of human life: a guest is merry, a place is pleasant, friendship is joyful.
The senses give way to character. The porch of Latin grows.
Prōgredere. Press on.
Fīnis Lectiōnis Quīntae
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Iōanne Amōs Comeniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
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