← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
On Workmen V — Sailors and Rivers
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Salvēte, discipulī cārissimī! In lectiōne praecēdentī dē aurīgā dīdicimus — quōmodo mercēs per terrās vehuntur. Hodiē ad aquās trānsīmus: dē nautīs quī nāvēs per maria gubernant, et dē modīs quibus fluviōs trānsīmus.
Greetings, dearest students! In the preceding lesson we learned about the carter — how goods are conveyed through lands. Today we cross to the waters: about the sailors who steer ships through seas, and about the ways by which we cross rivers.
Mare et fluviī hominēs dīvidunt — sed etiam coniungunt! Nauta mercēs trāns maria portat; per fluviōs vādāmus aut scaphīs ūtimur. Aqua et obstāculum est et via.
The sea and rivers divide people — but also join them! The sailor carries goods across seas; through rivers we wade or use boats. Water is both obstacle and road.
Ē tenebrīs Lēšnēnsibus, Iōannēs Āmos Comēnius
Nauta the sailor nāvigat sails nāvī. in a ship. Nauclerus the pilot gubernat. steers. Rēmigēs the rowers rēmigant. row. Per through fluviōs rivers vādāmus, we wade, aut or ūtimur we use scaphīs. boats.
Nauta nāvigat nāvī — The sailor (nauta) sails (nāvigat) in a ship (nāvī). Note the figura etymologica: nauta, nāvigat, and nāvī all share the root nāv-. The ablative nāvī expresses the means of travel.
Nauclerus gubernat — The pilot (nauclerus) steers (gubernat). A nauclerus (from Greek ναύκληρος) is the ship’s master or pilot who steers the vessel and determines the course. Our English word “govern” comes from gubernō.
Rēmigēs rēmigant — The rowers (rēmigēs) row (rēmigant). Another figura etymologica: rēmigēs and rēmigant share the root rēm- (from rēmus, oar). In ancient ships, rowers provided the main motive power when there was no wind.
Per fluviōs vādāmus — Through (per) rivers (fluviōs) we wade (vādāmus). The verb vādō means “to go, walk, wade.” One could wade across shallow rivers on foot.
Aut ūtimur scaphīs — Or (aut) we use (ūtimur) boats (scaphīs). The deponent verb ūtor takes the ablative. A scapha is a small boat or skiff, used for crossing rivers or as a ship’s tender.
Nauta nāvigat nāvī. The sailor sails in a ship.
Nauclerus gubernat. The pilot steers.
Rēmigēs rēmigant. The rowers row.
Per fluviōs vādāmus. We wade through rivers.
Aut ūtimur scaphīs. Or we use boats.
Nauta nāvigat nāvī. Nauclerus gubernat. Rēmigēs rēmigant. Per fluviōs vādāmus, aut ūtimur scaphīs.
This lesson is rich in etymological figures:
Nōmen Verbum Rādīx nauta nāvigat, nāvī nāv- (ship) rēmigēs rēmigant rēm- (oar)
Ūtor (to use) is a deponent verb that takes the ablative:
Partēs Prīncipālēs ūtor, ūtī, ūsus sum
Exemplum Significātiō Ūtimur scaphīs We use boats Ūtor nāvī I use a ship Ūsus est currū He used a cart
Opifex Opera Significātiō nauta nāvigat sails nauclerus gubernat steers rēmex rēmigat rows
Nōmen Gen. Sing. Genus Significātiō nāvis, -is nāvis f. ship scapha, -ae scaphae f. boat, skiff rēmus, -ī rēmī m. oar fluvius, -ī fluviī m. river mare, maris maris n. sea
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō nauta, -ae (m.) nōmen sailor nāvigō, nāvigāre verbum to sail nāvis, -is (f.) nōmen ship nauclerus, -ī (m.) nōmen pilot, ship-master gubernō, gubernāre verbum to steer, govern rēmex, rēmigis (m.) nōmen rower rēmigō, rēmigāre verbum to row rēmus, -ī (m.) nōmen oar fluvius, -ī (m.) nōmen river vādō, vādere verbum to go, wade ūtor, ūtī, ūsus sum verbum (dep.) to use (+ abl.) scapha, -ae (f.) nōmen boat, skiff
Nāvis a ship quaedam certain per through mare the sea nāvigābat. was sailing. Nauta a sailor iuvenis young nauclerum the pilot senem old rogāvit: asked: “Cūr “why tam so lentē slowly nāvigāmus? are we sailing? Ventus the wind bonus good est; is; vēla the sails plēna full sunt!” are!”
Nauclerus the pilot respondit: answered: “Caelum “the sky videō. I see. Nūbēs clouds nigrās black in in occidente the west cernō. I perceive. Tempestās a storm venit. is coming. Melius better est it is lentē slowly nāvigāre to sail quam than in into tempestātem the storm celeriter quickly ruere.” to rush.”
Nauta the sailor rīsit: laughed: “Nūbēs “clouds semper always in in caelō the sky sunt! are! Tū you nimis too timidus fearful es, are, senex!” old man!”
Sed but post after ūnam one hōram, hour, tempestās a storm magna great orta having arisen est. did. Ventī winds saevī savage flābant; were blowing; undae waves altae high nāvem the ship quatiēbant. were shaking.
Nauta the sailor territus terrified clāmāvit: cried: “Perībimus! “we shall perish! Quid what faciāmus?” shall we do?”
Nauclerus the pilot tranquillē calmly respondit: answered: “Nunc “now rēmigēs the rowers rēmigent! let them row! Vēla the sails dēmittantur! let them be lowered! Nāvem the ship ad to lītus the shore gubernābō!” I shall steer!”
Et and ita so fēcit. he did. Nāvis the ship ad to lītus the shore tūtum safe pervēnit. arrived.
Nauta the sailor nauclerum the pilot rogāvit: asked: “Quōmodo “how tam so tranquillus calm manēre to remain potuistī?” could you?”
Nauclerus the pilot respondit: answered: “Quia “because multās many tempestātēs storms iam already vīdī. I have seen. Quī he who mare the sea cognōvit, has known, et both perīcula dangers eius its et and remedia remedies nōvit.” knows.”
Haec this fābula fable docet: teaches: Experientia experience magistra the teacher est. is. Quī he who multa many things vīdit, has seen, multa many things prōvidēre to foresee potest. can.
Nāvis quaedam per mare nāvigābat. A certain ship was sailing through the sea.
Nauta iuvenis nauclerum senem rogāvit: A young sailor asked the old pilot:
“Cūr tam lentē nāvigāmus? Ventus bonus est; vēla plēna sunt!” “Why are we sailing so slowly? The wind is good; the sails are full!”
Nauclerus respondit: “Caelum videō. Nūbēs nigrās in occidente cernō.” The pilot answered: “I see the sky. I perceive black clouds in the west.”
“Tempestās venit. Melius est lentē nāvigāre quam in tempestātem celeriter ruere.” “A storm is coming. It is better to sail slowly than to rush quickly into the storm.”
Nauta rīsit: “Nūbēs semper in caelō sunt! Tū nimis timidus es, senex!” The sailor laughed: “Clouds are always in the sky! You are too fearful, old man!”
Sed post ūnam hōram, tempestās magna orta est. But after one hour, a great storm arose.
Ventī saevī flābant; undae altae nāvem quatiēbant. Savage winds were blowing; high waves were shaking the ship.
Nauta territus clāmāvit: “Perībimus! Quid faciāmus?” The terrified sailor cried: “We shall perish! What shall we do?”
Nauclerus tranquillē respondit: “Nunc rēmigēs rēmigent!” The pilot calmly answered: “Now let the rowers row!”
“Vēla dēmittantur! Nāvem ad lītus gubernābō!” “Let the sails be lowered! I shall steer the ship to shore!”
Et ita fēcit. Nāvis ad lītus tūtum pervēnit. And so he did. The ship arrived at safe shore.
Nauta nauclerum rogāvit: “Quōmodo tam tranquillus manēre potuistī?” The sailor asked the pilot: “How could you remain so calm?”
Nauclerus respondit: “Quia multās tempestātēs iam vīdī.” The pilot answered: “Because I have already seen many storms.”
“Quī mare cognōvit, et perīcula eius et remedia nōvit.” “He who has known the sea knows both its dangers and its remedies.”
Haec fābula docet: Experientia magistra est. This fable teaches: Experience is the teacher.
Quī multa vīdit, multa prōvidēre potest. He who has seen many things can foresee many things.
Nāvis quaedam per mare nāvigābat. Nauta iuvenis nauclerum senem rogāvit: “Cūr tam lentē nāvigāmus? Ventus bonus est; vēla plēna sunt!”
Nauclerus respondit: “Caelum videō. Nūbēs nigrās in occidente cernō. Tempestās venit. Melius est lentē nāvigāre quam in tempestātem celeriter ruere.”
Nauta rīsit: “Nūbēs semper in caelō sunt! Tū nimis timidus es, senex!”
Sed post ūnam hōram, tempestās magna orta est. Ventī saevī flābant; undae altae nāvem quatiēbant.
Nauta territus clāmāvit: “Perībimus! Quid faciāmus?”
Nauclerus tranquillē respondit: “Nunc rēmigēs rēmigent! Vēla dēmittantur! Nāvem ad lītus gubernābō!”
Et ita fēcit. Nāvis ad lītus tūtum pervēnit.
Nauta nauclerum rogāvit: “Quōmodo tam tranquillus manēre potuistī?”
Nauclerus respondit: “Quia multās tempestātēs iam vīdī. Quī mare cognōvit, et perīcula eius et remedia nōvit.”
Haec fābula docet: Experientia magistra est. Quī multa vīdit, multa prōvidēre potest.
Dē Argūmentō:
This original fable illustrates the value of experience through the contrast between the young sailor (bold but ignorant) and the old pilot (cautious but wise). The moral — experientia magistra est — teaches that knowledge comes from experience.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Jussive subjunctive: rēmigēs rēmigent, vēla dēmittantur — “let the rowers row,” “let the sails be lowered.” -
Deliberative subjunctive: quid faciāmus? — “what shall we do?” -
Deponent orior: tempestās orta est — “a storm arose.” -
Comparative with quam: melius est... quam — “it is better... than.” -
Perfect infinitive implied: cognōvit... nōvit — gnomic perfects expressing general truth.
Vocabula Fābulae:
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō tempestās, -ātis (f.) nōmen storm, weather ventus, -ī (m.) nōmen wind vēlum, -ī (n.) nōmen sail nūbēs, -is (f.) nōmen cloud occidēns, -entis (m.) nōmen the west unda, -ae (f.) nōmen wave quatiō, quatere verbum to shake lītus, lītoris (n.) nōmen shore tranquillē adverbium calmly dēmittō, dēmittere verbum to lower experientia, -ae (f.) nōmen experience prōvideō, prōvidēre verbum to foresee
DISCIPULUS: Magister, master, quōmodo how nauta the sailor ā from nauclerō the pilot differt? differs?
MAGISTER: Nauta a sailor est is quīvīs anyone quī who in on nāvī a ship labōrat. works. Nauclerus the pilot est is quī he who nāvem the ship gubernat steers — quī — who cursum the course dēligit chooses et and nāvem the ship in into portum harbor tūtum safe dūcit. leads.
DISCIPULUS: Et and rēmigēs? the rowers?
MAGISTER: Rēmigēs rowers sunt are quī those who rēmīs with oars nāvem the ship impellunt. drive. Cum when ventus the wind nōn not flat, blows, rēmigēs the rowers labōrant labor ut so that nāvis the ship movētur. may move.
DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo how fluvium a river trānsīmus? do we cross?
MAGISTER: Tribus by three modīs! ways! Prīmō: first: sī if fluvius the river nōn not altus deep est, is, vādāre to wade possumus we can — per — through aquam the water pedibus on foot ambulāmus. we walk. Secundō: second: scaphīs with boats ūtī to use possumus we can — parvīs — small nāviculīs boats quae which nōs us trāns across aquam the water ferunt. carry. Tertiō: third: pontem a bridge struere to build possumus we can — sed — but hoc this dē about proximā the next lectiōne lesson discēmus! we shall learn!
DISCIPULUS: Est is -ne it perīculōsum dangerous vādāre? to wade?
MAGISTER: Potest it can esse! be! Sī if aqua the water altior deeper est is quam than putābās, you thought, in into perīculum danger venīs. you come. Sī if fluvius the river rapidus swift est, is, tē you auferre to carry away potest. it can. Ideō therefore sapiēns a wise man prīmum first aquam the water probat tests antequam before vādat! he wades!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, quōmodo nauta ā nauclerō differt? Master, how does the sailor differ from the pilot?
MAGISTER: Nauta est quīvīs quī in nāvī labōrat. A sailor is anyone who works on a ship.
Nauclerus est quī nāvem gubernat — quī cursum dēligit et nāvem in portum tūtum dūcit. The pilot is he who steers the ship — who chooses the course and leads the ship into safe harbor.
DISCIPULUS: Et rēmigēs? And the rowers?
MAGISTER: Rēmigēs sunt quī rēmīs nāvem impellunt. Rowers are those who drive the ship with oars.
Cum ventus nōn flat, rēmigēs labōrant ut nāvis moveātur. When the wind does not blow, the rowers labor so that the ship may move.
DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo fluvium trānsīmus? How do we cross a river?
MAGISTER: Tribus modīs! By three ways!
Prīmō: sī fluvius nōn altus est, vādāre possumus — per aquam pedibus ambulāmus. First: if the river is not deep, we can wade — we walk through the water on foot.
Secundō: scaphīs ūtī possumus — parvīs nāviculīs quae nōs trāns aquam ferunt. Second: we can use boats — small boats which carry us across the water.
Tertiō: pontem struere possumus — sed hoc dē proximā lectiōne discēmus! Third: we can build a bridge — but we shall learn about this in the next lesson!
DISCIPULUS: Est-ne perīculōsum vādāre? Is it dangerous to wade?
MAGISTER: Potest esse! It can be!
Sī aqua altior est quam putābās, in perīculum venīs. If the water is deeper than you thought, you come into danger.
Sī fluvius rapidus est, tē auferre potest. If the river is swift, it can carry you away.
Ideō sapiēns prīmum aquam probat antequam vādat! Therefore a wise man first tests the water before he wades!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, quōmodo nauta ā nauclerō differt?
MAGISTER: Nauta est quīvīs quī in nāvī labōrat. Nauclerus est quī nāvem gubernat — quī cursum dēligit et nāvem in portum tūtum dūcit.
DISCIPULUS: Et rēmigēs?
MAGISTER: Rēmigēs sunt quī rēmīs nāvem impellunt. Cum ventus nōn flat, rēmigēs labōrant ut nāvis moveātur.
DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo fluvium trānsīmus?
MAGISTER: Tribus modīs! Prīmō: sī fluvius nōn altus est, vādāre possumus — per aquam pedibus ambulāmus. Secundō: scaphīs ūtī possumus — parvīs nāviculīs quae nōs trāns aquam ferunt. Tertiō: pontem struere possumus — sed hoc dē proximā lectiōne discēmus!
DISCIPULUS: Est-ne perīculōsum vādāre?
MAGISTER: Potest esse! Sī aqua altior est quam putābās, in perīculum venīs. Sī fluvius rapidus est, tē auferre potest. Ideō sapiēns prīmum aquam probat antequam vādat!
Dē Argūmentō Paedagōgicō:
This colloquium explains the roles aboard ship (sailor, pilot, rowers) and three ways to cross rivers (wading, boats, bridges — the last to be covered in the next lesson). The warning about wading teaches practical prudence.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Deponent ūtor + ablative: scaphīs ūtī possumus — “we can use boats.” -
Purpose clause: ut nāvis moveātur — “so that the ship may move.” -
Comparative with quam: altior... quam putābās — “deeper than you thought.” -
Temporal antequam + subjunctive: antequam vādat — “before he wades.”
Match each workman with his work:
Opifex Opera 1. nauta a. gubernat nāvem 2. nauclerus b. rēmīs impellit 3. rēmex c. nāvigat nāvī
Complete the pairs: -
nauta, nāvigat, __________ (ship) -
rēmex, rēmigat, __________ (oar)
Translate using ūtor: -
We use boats = __________ -
He uses a ship = __________ -
They used oars = __________
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The sailor sails in a ship. -
The pilot steers. -
The rowers row. -
We wade through rivers. -
Or we use boats.
-
Nauta nāvigat nāvī. -
Rēmigēs rēmigant. -
Per fluviōs vādāmus aut ūtimur scaphīs. -
Experientia magistra est.
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Nauta nāvigat nāvī. The sailor sails in a ship. -
Nauclerus gubernat. The pilot steers. -
Rēmigēs rēmigant. The rowers row. -
Per fluviōs vādāmus aut ūtimur scaphīs. We wade through rivers or we use boats. -
Experientia magistra est. Experience is the teacher.
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c (nauta — nāvigat nāvī) -
a (nauclerus — gubernat nāvem) -
b (rēmex — rēmīs impellit)
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nauta, nāvigat, nāvis -
rēmex, rēmigat, rēmus
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We use boats = Scaphīs ūtimur -
He uses a ship = Nāvī ūtitur -
They used oars = Rēmīs ūsī sunt
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Nauta nāvī nāvigat. -
Nauclerus gubernat. -
Rēmigēs rēmigant. -
Per fluviōs vādāmus. -
Aut scaphīs ūtimur.
-
The sailor sails in a ship. -
The rowers row. -
We wade through rivers or we use boats. -
Experience is the teacher.
In proximā lectiōne dē pontibus et viātōribus discēmus! Aut struimus pontēs et ponticulōs. Viātor it per sēmitam. Et cavet nē erret aut cadat in foveam. Ā fluviīs ad pontēs et viās trānsībimus!
In the next lesson we shall learn about bridges and travelers! Or we build bridges and little bridges. The traveler goes along the path. And he takes care lest he wander or fall into a ditch. We shall cross from rivers to bridges and roads!
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Comēniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
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