← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
On Workmen VI — Bridges and Travelers
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Salvēte, discipulī cārissimī! In lectiōne praecēdentī dē nautīs et fluviīs dīdicimus — quōmodo aquās vādandō aut scaphīs trānsīmus. Hodiē dē tertiō modō discēmus: dē pontibus quōs struimus ut fluviōs facilius trānseāmus. Et dē viātōre quī per sēmitās ambulat.
Greetings, dearest students! In the preceding lesson we learned about sailors and rivers — how we cross waters by wading or with boats. Today we shall learn about the third way: about bridges which we build so that we may cross rivers more easily. And about the traveler who walks along paths.
Via per terrās nōn semper facilis est. Fluviī obstant; foveae perīculōsae sunt; viātor errāre potest. Sapiēns viātor cavet et prūdenter prōgreditur.
The road through lands is not always easy. Rivers obstruct; ditches are dangerous; the traveler can wander astray. A wise traveler takes care and proceeds prudently.
Ē tenebrīs Lēšnēnsibus, Iōannēs Āmos Comēnius
Aut or struimus we build pontēs bridges et and ponticulōs. little bridges. Viātor the traveler it goes per along sēmitam. the path. Et and cavet he takes care nē lest erret he wander aut or cadat fall in into foveam. a ditch. Cēdit he goes retrō back ubi where nequit he cannot pergere. proceed.
Aut struimus pontēs et ponticulōs — Or (aut) we build (struimus) bridges (pontēs) and (et) little bridges (ponticulōs). The verb struō means “to build, construct.” Note the diminutive: ponticulus (little bridge) from pōns (bridge).
Viātor it per sēmitam — The traveler (viātor) goes (it) along (per) the path (sēmitam). Note the figura etymologica: viātor (traveler) derives from via (road). A sēmita is a narrow path or footway, smaller than a via.
Et cavet nē erret aut cadat in foveam — And (et) he takes care (cavet) lest (nē) he wander (erret) or (aut) fall (cadat) into (in) a ditch (foveam). The verb caveō with nē + subjunctive expresses caution: “to take care that... not.”
Cēdit retrō ubi nequit pergere — He goes (cēdit) back (retrō) where (ubi) he cannot (nequit) proceed (pergere). The verb cēdō means “to go, yield, withdraw.” Nequeō is a defective verb meaning “to be unable” — conjugated like eō.
Aut struimus pontēs et ponticulōs. Or we build bridges and little bridges.
Viātor it per sēmitam. The traveler goes along the path.
Et cavet nē erret. And he takes care lest he wander.
Aut cadat in foveam. Or fall into a ditch.
Cēdit retrō ubi nequit pergere. He goes back where he cannot proceed.
Aut struimus pontēs et ponticulōs. Viātor it per sēmitam. Et cavet nē erret aut cadat in foveam. Cēdit retrō ubi nequit pergere.
Latin forms diminutives with the suffix -ulus/-ula/-ulum:
Nōmen Dēminūtīvum Significātiō pōns, pontis ponticulus little bridge via, viae vicula little road fīlius, fīliī fīliolus little son
The verb caveō (to take care, beware) with nē + subjunctive expresses caution:
Latīnē Anglicē Cavet nē erret He takes care lest he wander Cavet nē cadat He takes care lest he fall Cavē nē errēs! Take care that you don’t wander!
Nequeō (to be unable) is conjugated like eō (to go):
Persōna Praesēns Significātiō nequeō I cannot nequīs you cannot nequit he/she cannot nequīmus we cannot nequītis you (pl.) cannot nequeunt they cannot
Compare with possum (I can) and queō (I am able — rare).
Nōmen Significātiō Rādīx via road, way vi- viātor traveler vi- + -ātor sēmita path, footway sē- + mīta
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō struō, struere, strūxī, strūctum verbum to build pōns, pontis (m.) nōmen bridge ponticulus, -ī (m.) nōmen little bridge viātor, viātōris (m.) nōmen traveler eō, īre, iī/īvī, itum verbum to go sēmita, -ae (f.) nōmen path, footway caveō, cavēre, cāvī, cautum verbum to take care, beware errō, errāre verbum to wander, err cadō, cadere, cecidī, cāsum verbum to fall fovea, -ae (f.) nōmen ditch, pit cēdō, cēdere, cessī, cessum verbum to go, yield retrō adverbium back, backward nequeō, nequīre verbum (def.) to be unable pergō, pergere, perrēxī, perrēctum verbum to proceed, continue
Viātor a traveler quīdam certain ad to trivium a crossroads pervēnit arrived ubi where trēs three sēmitae paths dīvidēbantur. were dividing.
Prīma the first sēmita path lāta wide erat was et and plāna. level. Senex an old man ibi there sedēns sitting dīxit: said: “Haec “this sēmita path in into palūdem a swamp dūcit. leads. Facile easily incipis, you begin, sed but in in caenō the mud haerēbis!” you will stick!”
Secunda the second sēmita path angusta narrow erat was et and saxōsa. rocky. Senex the old man dīxit: said: “Haec “this via road dūra hard est is sed but tūta. safe. Cavē take care nē lest in into foveam a ditch cadās you fall — sed — but ad to fīnem the end perveniēs.” you will arrive.”
Tertia the third sēmita path per through silvam a forest obscūram dark dūcēbat. was leading. Senex the old man dīxit: said: “Dē “about hāc this viā road nihil nothing scīre to know possum. I can. Nēmō no one quī who eam it iniit has entered rediit.” has returned.”
Viātor the traveler cōgitāvit. thought. “Prīmam “the first sēmitam path vītābō I shall avoid — nōlō — I do not want haerēre! to stick! Tertiam the third quoque also vītābō I shall avoid — nimis — too perīculōsa dangerous est. it is. Secundam the second ēligam I shall choose — etiam — even sī if dūra hard est, it is, tūta safe est!” it is!”
Per through multās many hōrās hours labōriōsē laboriously ambulāvit. he walked. Saepe often cavēre to take care dēbuit he had to nē lest in into foveās ditches caderet. he fall. Ubi where saxum a rock magnum great viam the way obstruēbat, was blocking, retrō back cēdere to go et and circumīre to go around dēbuit. he had to.
Sed but tandem at last ad to oppidum the town tūtum safe pervēnit. he arrived.
Haec this fābula fable docet: teaches: Via the road facilis easy saepe often fallax deceptive est. is. Via the road dūra hard sed but tūta safe melius better ēligitur. is chosen. Et and sī if pergere to proceed nequīs, you cannot, nōn not pudeat let it shame retrō back cēdere! to go!
Viātor quīdam ad trivium pervēnit ubi trēs sēmitae dīvidēbantur. A certain traveler arrived at a crossroads where three paths were dividing.
Prīma sēmita lāta erat et plāna. The first path was wide and level.
Senex ibi sedēns dīxit: “Haec sēmita in palūdem dūcit.” An old man sitting there said: “This path leads into a swamp.”
“Facile incipis, sed in caenō haerēbis!” “You begin easily, but you will stick in the mud!”
Secunda sēmita angusta erat et saxōsa. The second path was narrow and rocky.
Senex dīxit: “Haec via dūra est sed tūta.” The old man said: “This road is hard but safe.”
“Cavē nē in foveam cadās — sed ad fīnem perveniēs.” “Take care lest you fall into a ditch — but you will arrive at the end.”
Tertia sēmita per silvam obscūram dūcēbat. The third path was leading through a dark forest.
Senex dīxit: “Dē hāc viā nihil scīre possum. Nēmō quī eam iniit rediit.” The old man said: “About this road I can know nothing. No one who has entered it has returned.”
Viātor cōgitāvit. The traveler thought.
“Prīmam sēmitam vītābō — nōlō haerēre!” “I shall avoid the first path — I do not want to stick!”
“Tertiam quoque vītābō — nimis perīculōsa est.” “I shall also avoid the third — it is too dangerous.”
“Secundam ēligam — etiam sī dūra est, tūta est!” “I shall choose the second — even if it is hard, it is safe!”
Per multās hōrās labōriōsē ambulāvit. Through many hours he walked laboriously.
Saepe cavēre dēbuit nē in foveās caderet. Often he had to take care lest he fall into ditches.
Ubi saxum magnum viam obstruēbat, retrō cēdere et circumīre dēbuit. Where a great rock was blocking the way, he had to go back and go around.
Sed tandem ad oppidum tūtum pervēnit. But at last he arrived at a safe town.
Haec fābula docet: Via facilis saepe fallax est. This fable teaches: The easy road is often deceptive.
Via dūra sed tūta melius ēligitur. The hard but safe road is better chosen.
Et sī pergere nequīs, nōn pudeat retrō cēdere! And if you cannot proceed, let it not shame you to go back!
Viātor quīdam ad trivium pervēnit ubi trēs sēmitae dīvidēbantur.
Prīma sēmita lāta erat et plāna. Senex ibi sedēns dīxit: “Haec sēmita in palūdem dūcit. Facile incipis, sed in caenō haerēbis!”
Secunda sēmita angusta erat et saxōsa. Senex dīxit: “Haec via dūra est sed tūta. Cavē nē in foveam cadās — sed ad fīnem perveniēs.”
Tertia sēmita per silvam obscūram dūcēbat. Senex dīxit: “Dē hāc viā nihil scīre possum. Nēmō quī eam iniit rediit.”
Viātor cōgitāvit. “Prīmam sēmitam vītābō — nōlō haerēre! Tertiam quoque vītābō — nimis perīculōsa est. Secundam ēligam — etiam sī dūra est, tūta est!”
Per multās hōrās labōriōsē ambulāvit. Saepe cavēre dēbuit nē in foveās caderet. Ubi saxum magnum viam obstruēbat, retrō cēdere et circumīre dēbuit.
Sed tandem ad oppidum tūtum pervēnit.
Haec fābula docet: Via facilis saepe fallax est. Via dūra sed tūta melius ēligitur. Et sī pergere nequīs, nōn pudeat retrō cēdere!
Dē Argūmentō:
This fable uses the journey as a metaphor for life choices. Three paths represent three approaches: the easy way (leading to trouble), the hard but safe way, and the unknown way (too risky). The traveler wisely chooses difficulty over danger.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Negative purpose clause: nē caderet — “lest he fall” (imperfect subjunctive in secondary sequence). -
Impersonal pudeat: nōn pudeat retrō cēdere — “let it not shame [you] to go back.” -
Conditional: etiam sī dūra est — “even if it is hard.” -
Relative clause: nēmō quī eam iniit rediit — “no one who has entered it has returned.”
Vocabula Fābulae:
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō trivium, -ī (n.) nōmen crossroads (three-way) palūs, palūdis (f.) nōmen swamp, marsh angustus, -a, -um adiectīvum narrow saxōsus, -a, -um adiectīvum rocky tūtus, -a, -um adiectīvum safe vītō, vītāre verbum to avoid obstruō, obstruere verbum to block circumeō, circumīre verbum to go around fallax, fallācis adiectīvum deceptive
DISCIPULUS: Magister, master, cūr why pontēs bridges struimus? do we build?
MAGISTER: Ut so that fluviōs rivers facilius more easily trānseāmus! we may cross! Vādāre to wade perīculōsum dangerous esse to be potest can sī if aqua the water alta deep aut or rapida swift est. is. Scaphīs boats ūtī to use lentum slow est. is. Pōns a bridge autem however facile easy et and celerem quick trānsitum passage praebet. provides.
DISCIPULUS: Quid what interest is the difference inter between pontem a bridge et and ponticulum? a little bridge?
MAGISTER: Ponticulus a little bridge parvus small est is — fortasse — perhaps trāns across rīvum a stream parvum small aut or fossam. a ditch. Pōns a bridge autem however magnus great est is — trāns across fluvium a river lātum. wide. Rōmānī the Romans pontēs bridges magnōs great et and fortēs strong aedificābant were building quī which adhūc still stant! stand!
DISCIPULUS: Quārē why viātor the traveler cavēre to take care dēbet ought nē lest erret? he wander?
MAGISTER: Quia because sī if ā from viā the road rēctā straight aberrat, he wanders, perdī to be lost potest! he can! In in silvīs forests aut or in in locīs places ignōtīs, unknown, viātor the traveler quī who errat wanders saepe often viam the way invenīre to find nequit. cannot. Ideō therefore prūdēns a prudent man viātor traveler sēmitam the path nōtam known sequitur. follows.
DISCIPULUS: Et and cūr why retrō back cēdit does he go sī if pergere to proceed nequit? he cannot?
MAGISTER: Quia because melius better est it is retrō back cēdere to go quam than in into perīculum danger prōgredī! to advance! Sī if saxum a rock viam the road obstruit, blocks, sī if fluvius a river sine without ponte a bridge trānsīrī to be crossed nequit, cannot, sapiēns a wise man aliam another viam road quaerit. seeks. Stultus a fool autem however pergere to proceed temptat tries et and saepe often perit! perishes!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, cūr pontēs struimus? Master, why do we build bridges?
MAGISTER: Ut fluviōs facilius trānseāmus! So that we may cross rivers more easily!
Vādāre perīculōsum esse potest sī aqua alta aut rapida est. Wading can be dangerous if the water is deep or swift.
Scaphīs ūtī lentum est. Using boats is slow.
Pōns autem facile et celerem trānsitum praebet. A bridge however provides easy and quick passage.
DISCIPULUS: Quid interest inter pontem et ponticulum? What is the difference between a bridge and a little bridge?
MAGISTER: Ponticulus parvus est — fortasse trāns rīvum parvum aut fossam. A little bridge is small — perhaps across a small stream or a ditch.
Pōns autem magnus est — trāns fluvium lātum. A bridge however is great — across a wide river.
Rōmānī pontēs magnōs et fortēs aedificābant quī adhūc stant! The Romans were building great and strong bridges which still stand!
DISCIPULUS: Quārē viātor cavēre dēbet nē erret? Why ought the traveler to take care lest he wander?
MAGISTER: Quia sī ā viā rēctā aberrat, perdī potest! Because if he wanders from the straight road, he can be lost!
In silvīs aut in locīs ignōtīs, viātor quī errat saepe viam invenīre nequit. In forests or in unknown places, the traveler who wanders often cannot find the way.
Ideō prūdēns viātor sēmitam nōtam sequitur. Therefore a prudent traveler follows the known path.
DISCIPULUS: Et cūr retrō cēdit sī pergere nequit? And why does he go back if he cannot proceed?
MAGISTER: Quia melius est retrō cēdere quam in perīculum prōgredī! Because it is better to go back than to advance into danger!
Sī saxum viam obstruit, sī fluvius sine ponte trānsīrī nequit, sapiēns aliam viam quaerit. If a rock blocks the road, if a river cannot be crossed without a bridge, a wise man seeks another road.
Stultus autem pergere temptat et saepe perit! A fool however tries to proceed and often perishes!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, cūr pontēs struimus?
MAGISTER: Ut fluviōs facilius trānseāmus! Vādāre perīculōsum esse potest sī aqua alta aut rapida est. Scaphīs ūtī lentum est. Pōns autem facile et celerem trānsitum praebet.
DISCIPULUS: Quid interest inter pontem et ponticulum?
MAGISTER: Ponticulus parvus est — fortasse trāns rīvum parvum aut fossam. Pōns autem magnus est — trāns fluvium lātum. Rōmānī pontēs magnōs et fortēs aedificābant quī adhūc stant!
DISCIPULUS: Quārē viātor cavēre dēbet nē erret?
MAGISTER: Quia sī ā viā rēctā aberrat, perdī potest! In silvīs aut in locīs ignōtīs, viātor quī errat saepe viam invenīre nequit. Ideō prūdēns viātor sēmitam nōtam sequitur.
DISCIPULUS: Et cūr retrō cēdit sī pergere nequit?
MAGISTER: Quia melius est retrō cēdere quam in perīculum prōgredī! Sī saxum viam obstruit, sī fluvius sine ponte trānsīrī nequit, sapiēns aliam viam quaerit. Stultus autem pergere temptat et saepe perit!
Dē Argūmentō Paedagōgicō:
This colloquium explains why bridges are built, the difference between bridges and small footbridges, why travelers must stay on the path, and the wisdom of retreating when one cannot proceed.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Purpose clause: ut trānseāmus — “so that we may cross.” -
Comparative with quam: melius est... quam — “it is better... than.” -
Passive infinitive: perdī, trānsīrī — “to be lost,” “to be crossed.”
Translate these clauses: -
cavet nē erret = __________ -
cavet nē cadat = __________ -
cavē nē cadās = __________
Conjugate nequeō in the present tense:
Persōna Praesēns ego __________ tū __________ is/ea/id __________
Give the diminutive: -
pōns → __________ -
via → __________
-
We build bridges. -
The traveler goes along the path. -
He takes care lest he fall into a ditch. -
He goes back where he cannot proceed.
-
Aut struimus pontēs et ponticulōs. -
Viātor it per sēmitam. -
Cēdit retrō ubi nequit pergere. -
Via dūra sed tūta melius ēligitur.
-
Viātor it per sēmitam. The traveler goes along the path. -
Cavet nē erret aut cadat in foveam. He takes care lest he wander or fall into a ditch. -
Cēdit retrō ubi nequit pergere. He goes back where he cannot proceed. -
Via dūra sed tūta melius ēligitur. The hard but safe road is better chosen.
-
cavet nē erret = he takes care lest he wander -
cavet nē cadat = he takes care lest he fall -
cavē nē cadās = take care lest you fall
Persōna Praesēns ego nequeō tū nequīs is/ea/id nequit
-
pōns → ponticulus -
via → vicula
-
Pontēs struimus. -
Viātor per sēmitam it. -
Cavet nē in foveam cadat. -
Retrō cēdit ubi pergere nequit.
-
Or we build bridges and little bridges. -
The traveler goes along the path. -
He goes back where he cannot proceed. -
The hard but safe road is better chosen.
In proximā lectiōne dē mercātōribus discēmus! Mercātor tractat mercēs. Metuit damnum, quaerit lucrum. Monēta gestātur in crumēnā. Ā viīs et pontibus ad commercium trānsībimus — quōmodo hominēs emunt et vēndunt!
In the next lesson we shall learn about merchants! The merchant handles wares. He fears loss, he seeks profit. Money is carried in a purse. We shall cross from roads and bridges to commerce — how people buy and sell!
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Comēniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
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