← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
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Salvēte, discipulī cārissimī! In lectiōnibus praecēdentibus dīdicimus quōmodo cibus parātur. Hodiē discēmus quōmodo mercēs per terrās moventur — dē aurīgā quī equōs iungit et currum agit.
Greetings, dearest students! In the preceding lessons we learned how food is prepared. Today we shall learn how goods are moved through lands — about the carter who yokes horses and drives the cart.
Aurīga est opifex necessārius. Sine eō, mercēs ā locō ad locum portārī nōn possent. Frūmentum ab agrīs ad urbem, vīnum ā vīneīs ad tabernās — haec omnia aurīga vehit.
The carter is a necessary workman. Without him, goods could not be carried from place to place. Grain from fields to city, wine from vineyards to shops — all these things the carter conveys.
Ē tenebrīs Lēšnēnsibus, Iōannēs Āmos Comēnius
Aurīga the carter iungit yokes equōs. horses. Exungit he greases rotās. the wheels. Et and proficīscitur; he sets out; subitō suddenly in in caenō the mud autem however haeret, he sticks, cum when vehit he carries onera burdens currū by cart aut or trahā. by sledge.
Aurīga iungit equōs — The carter (aurīga) yokes (iungit) horses (equōs). An aurīga is one who drives a vehicle pulled by horses — a carter or charioteer. The verb iungō means “to join, yoke together.”
Exungit rotās — He greases (exungit) the wheels (rotās). The verb exungō (from ex- + ungō, to anoint) means to grease or lubricate. Wooden wheels on wooden axles needed regular greasing to turn smoothly and quietly.
Et proficīscitur — And (et) he sets out (proficīscitur). The deponent verb proficīscor means “to set out, depart.” Though passive in form, it is active in meaning.
Subitō in caenō autem haeret — Suddenly (subitō) however (autem) he sticks (haeret) in (in) the mud (caenō). The verb haereō means “to stick, be stuck, cling.” Roads in ancient times were often unpaved and became treacherous mud in wet weather.
Cum vehit onera currū aut trahā — When (cum) he carries (vehit) burdens (onera) by cart (currū) or (aut) by sledge (trahā). A currus is a wheeled cart or chariot; a traha is a sledge or drag used on rough or soft terrain where wheels would sink.
Aurīga iungit equōs. The carter yokes horses.
Exungit rotās. He greases the wheels.
Et proficīscitur. And he sets out.
Subitō in caenō autem haeret. Suddenly however he sticks in the mud.
Cum vehit onera currū aut trahā. When he carries burdens by cart or by sledge.
Aurīga iungit equōs. Exungit rotās. Et proficīscitur; subitō in caenō autem haeret, cum vehit onera currū aut trahā.
Proficīscor (to set out, depart) is a deponent verb — passive in form but active in meaning:
Partēs Prīncipālēs proficīscor, proficīscī, profectus sum
Tempus Forma Significātiō Praesēns proficīscitur he sets out Perfectum profectus est he has set out Futūrum proficīscētur he will set out
The ablative without a preposition expresses the means or instrument:
Latīnē Anglicē currū vehit he carries by cart trahā vehit he carries by sledge
Nōmen Gen. Sing. Genus Dēclīnātiō Significātiō currus, -ūs currūs m. 4th cart, chariot traha, -ae trahae f. 1st sledge, drag rota, -ae rotae f. 1st wheel
Note: Currus is fourth declension (like manus, domus).
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō aurīga, -ae (m.) nōmen carter, charioteer iungō, iungere, iūnxī, iūnctum verbum to yoke, join exungō, exungere, —, exūnctum verbum to grease rota, -ae (f.) nōmen wheel proficīscor, proficīscī, profectus sum verbum (dep.) to set out subitō adverbium suddenly caenum, -ī (n.) nōmen mud, mire haereō, haerēre, haesī, haesum verbum to stick vehō, vehere, vēxī, vectum verbum to carry, convey onus, oneris (n.) nōmen burden, load currus, -ūs (m.) nōmen cart, chariot traha, -ae (f.) nōmen sledge, drag
Aurīga a carter quīdam certain currum a cart suum his onere with a load gravī heavy implēverat. had filled. Equōs the horses iūnxit; he yoked; rotās the wheels exūnxit; he greased; et and profectus having set out est. he did.
Sed but via the road lūtōsa muddy erat. was. Subitō suddenly currus the cart in into caenum the mud profundum deep dēscendit sank et and haesit. stuck.
Aurīga the carter equōs the horses urgēbat: was urging: “Agite! “go! Trahite!” pull!” Sed but equī the horses trahere to pull nōn not poterant could — onus — the load nimis too grave heavy erat. was.
Tum then aurīga the carter ad to caelum heaven clāmāvit: cried: “Iuppiter! “Jupiter! Adiuvā help mē!” me!”
Vōx a voice ē from caelō heaven respondit: answered: “Prīmum “first tū you ipse yourself tē yourself adiuvā! help! Onus the load levā! lighten! Rotās the wheels ē from caenō the mud fodē! dig! Equōs the horses hortāre! encourage! Tum then ego I adiuvābō!” will help!”
Aurīga the carter erubuit. blushed. Partem a part oneris of the load dēposuit. he put down. Rotās the wheels ē from caenō the mud fōdit. he dug. Equōs the horses hortātus having encouraged est. he did.
Et and ecce behold — currus — the cart ē from caenō the mud exiit! came out!
Haec this fābula fable docet: teaches: Dī the gods eōs those adiuvant help quī who sē themselves ipsōs themselves adiuvant. help.
Aurīga quīdam currum suum onere gravī implēverat. A certain carter had filled his cart with a heavy load.
Equōs iūnxit; rotās exūnxit; et profectus est. He yoked the horses; he greased the wheels; and he set out.
Sed via lūtōsa erat. But the road was muddy.
Subitō currus in caenum profundum dēscendit et haesit. Suddenly the cart sank into deep mud and stuck.
Aurīga equōs urgēbat: “Agite! Trahite!” The carter was urging the horses: “Go! Pull!”
Sed equī trahere nōn poterant — onus nimis grave erat. But the horses could not pull — the load was too heavy.
Tum aurīga ad caelum clāmāvit: “Iuppiter! Adiuvā mē!” Then the carter cried to heaven: “Jupiter! Help me!”
Vōx ē caelō respondit: “Prīmum tū ipse tē adiuvā!” A voice from heaven answered: “First help yourself!”
“Onus levā! Rotās ē caenō fodē! Equōs hortāre! Tum ego adiuvābō!” “Lighten the load! Dig the wheels from the mud! Encourage the horses! Then I will help!”
Aurīga erubuit. The carter blushed.
Partem oneris dēposuit. Rotās ē caenō fōdit. Equōs hortātus est. He put down part of the load. He dug the wheels from the mud. He encouraged the horses.
Et ecce — currus ē caenō exiit! And behold — the cart came out from the mud!
Haec fābula docet: Dī eōs adiuvant quī sē ipsōs adiuvant. This fable teaches: The gods help those who help themselves.
Aurīga quīdam currum suum onere gravī implēverat. Equōs iūnxit; rotās exūnxit; et profectus est.
Sed via lūtōsa erat. Subitō currus in caenum profundum dēscendit et haesit.
Aurīga equōs urgēbat: “Agite! Trahite!” Sed equī trahere nōn poterant — onus nimis grave erat.
Tum aurīga ad caelum clāmāvit: “Iuppiter! Adiuvā mē!”
Vōx ē caelō respondit: “Prīmum tū ipse tē adiuvā! Onus levā! Rotās ē caenō fodē! Equōs hortāre! Tum ego adiuvābō!”
Aurīga erubuit. Partem oneris dēposuit. Rotās ē caenō fōdit. Equōs hortātus est.
Et ecce — currus ē caenō exiit!
Haec fābula docet: Dī eōs adiuvant quī sē ipsōs adiuvant.
Dē Argūmentō:
This is based on Aesop’s famous fable “Hercules and the Wagoner.” The moral — dī eōs adiuvant quī sē ipsōs adiuvant — teaches self-reliance: divine help comes to those who first make their own effort.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Pluperfect indicative: implēverat — “he had filled.” -
Deponent hortor: hortātus est — “he encouraged” (deponent, so passive form with active meaning). -
Imperatives: adiuvā, levā, fodē, hortāre — commands (note hortāre is deponent imperative). -
Reflexive with ipse: tū ipse tē adiuvā, sē ipsōs adiuvant — emphatic reflexive “yourself/themselves.”
Vocabula Fābulae:
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō impleō, implēre, implēvī verbum to fill lūtōsus, -a, -um adiectīvum muddy profundus, -a, -um adiectīvum deep urgeō, urgēre verbum to urge trahō, trahere verbum to pull, drag levō, levāre verbum to lighten, lift fodiō, fodere, fōdī verbum to dig hortor, hortārī, hortātus sum verbum (dep.) to encourage erubēscō, erubēscere, erubuī verbum to blush dēpōnō, dēpōnere verbum to put down
DISCIPULUS: Magister, master, cūr why aurīga the carter rotās the wheels exungit? greases?
MAGISTER: Rota a wheel lignea wooden in on axe the axle ligneō wooden vertitur. turns. Sī if siccae dry sunt, they are, male badly vertuntur they turn et and strepunt. squeak. Unguentum grease eās them lūbricās slippery facit makes ut so that facilius more easily vertantur. they may turn.
DISCIPULUS: Quid what accidit happens sī if currus the cart in in caenō the mud haeret? sticks?
MAGISTER: Rotae the wheels in into caenum the mud dēscendunt sink et and movērī to be moved nequeunt! cannot! Tum then aurīga the carter onus the load levāre to lighten dēbet, must, aut or rotās the wheels fodere, to dig out, aut or auxilium help petere. to seek.
DISCIPULUS: Quid what interest is the difference inter between currum a cart et and traham? a sledge?
MAGISTER: Currus a cart rotās wheels habet has — in — on viīs roads dūrīs hard et and siccīs dry bene well it. it goes. Traha a sledge rotās wheels nōn not habet has — super over terram the ground trahitur. it is dragged. In in terrā ground mollī soft aut or nivōsā, snowy, traha the sledge melior better est is quam than currus, the cart, quia because nōn not in into caenum the mud dēscendit. it sinks.
DISCIPULUS: Est is -ne it labor the work aurīgae of the carter difficilis? difficult?
MAGISTER: Ita yes vērō! indeed! Per through omnēs all tempestātēs weathers labōrat he works — per — through aestum, heat, per through frīgus, cold, per through pluviam. rain. Equōs the horses cūrāre to care for dēbet; he must; currum the cart reficere; to repair; viās the roads difficilēs difficult superāre. to overcome. Sed but sine without aurīgīs, carters, mercēs goods ad to nōs us venīre to come nōn not possent! could!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, cūr aurīga rotās exungit? Master, why does the carter grease the wheels?
MAGISTER: Rota lignea in axe ligneō vertitur. A wooden wheel turns on a wooden axle.
Sī siccae sunt, male vertuntur et strepunt. If they are dry, they turn badly and squeak.
Unguentum eās lūbricās facit ut facilius vertantur. Grease makes them slippery so that they may turn more easily.
DISCIPULUS: Quid accidit sī currus in caenō haeret? What happens if the cart sticks in the mud?
MAGISTER: Rotae in caenum dēscendunt et movērī nequeunt! The wheels sink into the mud and cannot be moved!
Tum aurīga onus levāre dēbet, aut rotās fodere, aut auxilium petere. Then the carter must lighten the load, or dig out the wheels, or seek help.
DISCIPULUS: Quid interest inter currum et traham? What is the difference between a cart and a sledge?
MAGISTER: Currus rotās habet — in viīs dūrīs et siccīs bene it. A cart has wheels — it goes well on hard and dry roads.
Traha rotās nōn habet — super terram trahitur. A sledge does not have wheels — it is dragged over the ground.
In terrā mollī aut nivōsā, traha melior est quam currus, quia nōn in caenum dēscendit. In soft or snowy ground, the sledge is better than the cart, because it does not sink into the mud.
DISCIPULUS: Est-ne labor aurīgae difficilis? Is the work of the carter difficult?
MAGISTER: Ita vērō! Yes indeed!
Per omnēs tempestātēs labōrat — per aestum, per frīgus, per pluviam. He works through all weathers — through heat, through cold, through rain.
Equōs cūrāre dēbet; currum reficere; viās difficilēs superāre. He must care for the horses; repair the cart; overcome difficult roads.
Sed sine aurīgīs, mercēs ad nōs venīre nōn possent! But without carters, goods could not come to us!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, cūr aurīga rotās exungit?
MAGISTER: Rota lignea in axe ligneō vertitur. Sī siccae sunt, male vertuntur et strepunt. Unguentum eās lūbricās facit ut facilius vertantur.
DISCIPULUS: Quid accidit sī currus in caenō haeret?
MAGISTER: Rotae in caenum dēscendunt et movērī nequeunt! Tum aurīga onus levāre dēbet, aut rotās fodere, aut auxilium petere.
DISCIPULUS: Quid interest inter currum et traham?
MAGISTER: Currus rotās habet — in viīs dūrīs et siccīs bene it. Traha rotās nōn habet — super terram trahitur. In terrā mollī aut nivōsā, traha melior est quam currus, quia nōn in caenum dēscendit.
DISCIPULUS: Est-ne labor aurīgae difficilis?
MAGISTER: Ita vērō! Per omnēs tempestātēs labōrat — per aestum, per frīgus, per pluviam. Equōs cūrāre dēbet; currum reficere; viās difficilēs superāre. Sed sine aurīgīs, mercēs ad nōs venīre nōn possent!
Dē Argūmentō Paedagōgicō:
This colloquium explains practical aspects of carting: why wheels need greasing, what happens when carts get stuck, and the difference between wheeled carts and sledges. The comparison of vehicles teaches vocabulary while conveying practical knowledge.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Purpose clause: ut facilius vertantur — “so that they may turn more easily.” -
Defective verb nequeō: movērī nequeunt — “they cannot be moved.” -
Impersonal interest: quid interest inter... — “what is the difference between...” -
Contrary-to-fact: venīre nōn possent — “could not come” (imperfect subjunctive).
Give the meaning: -
iungō = __________ -
exungō = __________ -
haereō = __________ -
vehō = __________ -
proficīscor = __________
Give the nominative and genitive singular: -
cart = __________, __________ -
wheel = __________, __________ -
sledge = __________, __________ -
load = __________, __________
Translate: -
currū vehit = __________ -
trahā vehit = __________
-
The carter yokes horses. -
He greases the wheels. -
He sets out. -
He sticks in the mud. -
He carries burdens by cart.
-
Aurīga iungit equōs. -
Subitō in caenō haeret. -
Cum vehit onera currū aut trahā. -
Dī eōs adiuvant quī sē ipsōs adiuvant.
-
Aurīga iungit equōs. The carter yokes horses. -
Exungit rotās. He greases the wheels. -
Subitō in caenō haeret. Suddenly he sticks in the mud. -
Dī eōs adiuvant quī sē ipsōs adiuvant. The gods help those who help themselves.
-
iungō = to yoke, join -
exungō = to grease -
haereō = to stick -
vehō = to carry, convey -
proficīscor = to set out, depart
-
cart = currus, currūs -
wheel = rota, rotae -
sledge = traha, trahae -
load = onus, oneris
-
currū vehit = he carries by cart -
trahā vehit = he carries by sledge
-
Aurīga equōs iungit. -
Rotās exungit. -
Proficīscitur. -
In caenō haeret. -
Onera currū vehit.
-
The carter yokes horses. -
Suddenly he sticks in the mud. -
When he carries burdens by cart or by sledge. -
The gods help those who help themselves.
In proximā lectiōne dē nautīs et fluviīs discēmus! Nauta nāvigat nāvī. Nauclerus gubernat. Rēmigēs rēmigant. Per fluviōs vādāmus, aut ūtimur scaphīs. Ab aurīgīs ad nautās trānsībimus — quōmodo hominēs per aquās moventur!
In the next lesson we shall learn about sailors and rivers! The sailor sails in a ship. The pilot steers. The rowers row. We wade through rivers, or we use boats. We shall cross from carters to sailors — how people move through waters!
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Comēniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
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