← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
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Salvēte, discipulī cārissimī! In lectiōne praecēdentī dē artibus textīlibus dīdicimus — quōmodo vestīmenta nostra fiunt. Hodiē dē aliīs opificibus discēmus quī manibus suīs rēs ūtilēs faciunt — dē pelliōne, restiōne, figulō, scrīnāriō, et fabrō.
Greetings, dearest students! In the preceding lesson we learned about the textile arts — how our garments are made. Today we shall learn about other workmen who make useful things with their hands — about the furrier, the ropemaker, the potter, the joiner, and the smith.
Hī artificēs māteriam crūdam — pellēs, cannabim, argillam, lignum, ferrum — in rēs ūtilēs trānsformant. Manūs et ingenium eōrum cīvitātem sustentant.
These craftsmen transform raw material — skins, hemp, clay, wood, iron — into useful things. Their hands and skill sustain the community.
Ē tenebrīs Lēšnēnsibus, Iōannēs Āmos Comēnius
Pelliō the furrier ē from pellibus skins pellīcea. fur coats (makes). Restiō the ropemaker torquet twists restim. a rope. Figulus the potter fingit shapes fidēliās. jugs. Scrīnārius the joiner sua his scrīnāria cabinets glūtinat. glues. Faber the smith cūdit. beats.
Pelliō ē pellibus pellīcea — The furrier (pelliō) (makes) fur coats (pellīcea) from (ē) skins (pellibus). Note the figura etymologica: pelliō, pellibus, and pellīcea all share the root pell- (skin). The verb “makes” is understood.
Restiō torquet restim — The ropemaker (restiō) twists (torquet) a rope (restim). Another figura etymologica: restiō and restim share the root rest-. The verb torqueō means “to twist, turn.”
Figulus fingit fidēliās — The potter (figulus) shapes (fingit) jugs (fidēliās). Yet another figura etymologica: figulus, fingit, and fidēliās share the root fig-/fid- (to shape). The verb fingō means “to shape, mold, form.”
Scrīnārius sua scrīnāria glūtinat — The joiner (scrīnārius) glues (glūtinat) his (sua) cabinets (scrīnāria). A scrīnārius makes scrīnia — boxes, cabinets, desks — by joining pieces of wood with glue.
Faber cūdit — The smith (faber) beats (cūdit). A faber is a craftsman, especially a smith who beats metal. The verb cūdō means “to beat, strike, hammer.”
Pelliō ē pellibus pellīcea. The furrier (makes) fur coats from skins.
Restiō torquet restim. The ropemaker twists a rope.
Figulus fingit fidēliās. The potter shapes jugs.
Scrīnārius sua scrīnāria glūtinat. The joiner glues his cabinets.
Faber cūdit. The smith beats.
Pelliō ē pellibus pellīcea. Restiō torquet restim. Figulus fingit fidēliās. Scrīnārius sua scrīnāria glūtinat. Faber cūdit.
This lesson is exceptionally rich in etymological figures:
Opifex Verbum/Prōductum Rādīx pelliō pellis, pellīcea pell- (skin) restiō restis rest- (rope) figulus fingit, fidēlia fig-/fid- (shape) scrīnārius scrīnāria scrīn- (box)
Verbum Partēs Prīncipālēs Significātiō torqueō torqueō, torquēre, torsī, tortum to twist, turn fingō fingō, fingere, fīnxī, fīctum to shape, mold glūtinō glūtinō, glūtināre to glue cūdō cūdō, cūdere, cūdī, cūsum to beat, strike
Opifex Gen. Sing. Māteriae Opera pelliō, -ōnis pelliōnis pellēs pellīcea (fur coats) restiō, -ōnis restiōnis cannabis restis (rope) figulus, -ī figulī argilla fidēlia (jug) scrīnārius, -ī scrīnāriī lignum scrīnārium (cabinet) faber, fabrī fabrī ferrum varia (various)
Nōmen Gen. Sing. Genus Significātiō pellis, -is pellis f. skin, hide cannabis, -is cannabis f. hemp argilla, -ae argillae f. clay lignum, -ī lignī n. wood ferrum, -ī ferrī n. iron glūten, glūtinis glūtinis n. glue
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō pelliō, pelliōnis (m.) nōmen furrier pellis, pellis (f.) nōmen skin, hide pellīceum, -ī (n.) nōmen fur coat restiō, restiōnis (m.) nōmen ropemaker torqueō, torquēre, torsī verbum to twist restis, restis (f.) nōmen rope figulus, -ī (m.) nōmen potter fingō, fingere, fīnxī, fīctum verbum to shape, mold fidēlia, -ae (f.) nōmen jug, pot argilla, -ae (f.) nōmen clay scrīnārius, -ī (m.) nōmen joiner, cabinet-maker scrīnārium, -ī (n.) nōmen cabinet, desk glūtinō, glūtināre verbum to glue glūten, glūtinis (n.) nōmen glue faber, fabrī (m.) nōmen smith, craftsman cūdō, cūdere, cūdī, cūsum verbum to beat, strike ferrum, -ī (n.) nōmen iron
Figulus a potter quīdam certain fidēliās jugs pulcherrimās most beautiful fingēbat. was shaping. In in tōtā the whole regiōne region nōtus known erat he was propter on account of artem his skill suam. his.
Diē on a day quōdam certain discipulus a student eius his fidēliam a jug frēgit. broke. Discipulus the student valde greatly timēbat: was fearing: “Magister “master mē me pūniet!” will punish!” inquit. he said.
Sed but figulus the potter nōn not īrātus angry erat. was. “Vidē,” “see,” inquit, he said, “quid what acciderit. has happened. Fidēlia the jug frācta broken est. is. Num surely not lacrimīs with tears tuīs your eam it reficere to repair potes? can you? Num surely not īrā with anger meā? my? Minimē!” not at all!”
“Quid “what ergō therefore faciendum to be done est?” is?
Discipulus the student respondit: answered: “Nesciō, “I do not know, magister.” master.”
Figulus the potter rīsit: laughed: “Argillam “clay novam new sūme! take! Fidēliam a jug novam new finge! shape! Errōrēs errors praeteritī past nōs us docent, teach, sed but nōs us impedīre to hinder nōn not dēbent. ought. Ex from fragmentīs fragments veteribus old nihil nothing novī new fit; is made; ex from argillā clay novā new omnia all things possibilia possible sunt!” are!”
Discipulus the student argillam clay sūmpsit took et and labōrāre to work coepit. he began. Post after multās many hōrās hours fidēliam a jug etiam even pulchriōrem more beautiful fīnxit he shaped quam than ea that quae which frācta broken erat! was!
Haec this fābula fable docet: teaches: Errōrem an error dēplōrāre to bewail inūtile useless est. is. Melius better est it is dē from novō new incipere to begin et and melius better facere! to do!
Figulus quīdam fidēliās pulcherrimās fingēbat. A certain potter was shaping most beautiful jugs.
In tōtā regiōne nōtus erat propter artem suam. He was known in the whole region on account of his skill.
Diē quōdam discipulus eius fidēliam frēgit. On a certain day his student broke a jug.
Discipulus valde timēbat: “Magister mē pūniet!” inquit. The student was greatly fearing: “The master will punish me!” he said.
Sed figulus nōn īrātus erat. But the potter was not angry.
“Vidē,” inquit, “quid acciderit. Fidēlia frācta est.” “See,” he said, “what has happened. The jug is broken.”
“Num lacrimīs tuīs eam reficere potes? Num īrā meā? Minimē!” “Surely you cannot repair it with your tears? Nor with my anger? Not at all!”
“Quid ergō faciendum est?” “What therefore is to be done?”
Discipulus respondit: “Nesciō, magister.” The student answered: “I do not know, master.”
Figulus rīsit: “Argillam novam sūme! Fidēliam novam finge!” The potter laughed: “Take new clay! Shape a new jug!”
“Errōrēs praeteritī nōs docent, sed nōs impedīre nōn dēbent.” “Past errors teach us, but they ought not hinder us.”
“Ex fragmentīs veteribus nihil novī fit; ex argillā novā omnia possibilia sunt!” “From old fragments nothing new is made; from new clay all things are possible!”
Discipulus argillam sūmpsit et labōrāre coepit. The student took clay and began to work.
Post multās hōrās fidēliam etiam pulchriōrem fīnxit quam ea quae frācta erat! After many hours he shaped a jug even more beautiful than that which was broken!
Haec fābula docet: Errōrem dēplōrāre inūtile est. This fable teaches: To bewail an error is useless.
Melius est dē novō incipere et melius facere! It is better to begin anew and do better!
Figulus quīdam fidēliās pulcherrimās fingēbat. In tōtā regiōne nōtus erat propter artem suam.
Diē quōdam discipulus eius fidēliam frēgit. Discipulus valde timēbat: “Magister mē pūniet!” inquit.
Sed figulus nōn īrātus erat. “Vidē,” inquit, “quid acciderit. Fidēlia frācta est. Num lacrimīs tuīs eam reficere potes? Num īrā meā? Minimē!”
“Quid ergō faciendum est?”
Discipulus respondit: “Nesciō, magister.”
Figulus rīsit: “Argillam novam sūme! Fidēliam novam finge! Errōrēs praeteritī nōs docent, sed nōs impedīre nōn dēbent. Ex fragmentīs veteribus nihil novī fit; ex argillā novā omnia possibilia sunt!”
Discipulus argillam sūmpsit et labōrāre coepit. Post multās hōrās fidēliam etiam pulchriōrem fīnxit quam ea quae frācta erat!
Haec fābula docet: Errōrem dēplōrāre inūtile est. Melius est dē novō incipere et melius facere!
Dē Argūmentō:
This original fable teaches resilience and forward-looking optimism. When something is broken, lamenting is useless — the wise response is to begin anew with fresh materials.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Passive periphrastic: quid faciendum est — “what is to be done?” -
Partitive genitive: nihil novī — “nothing new.” -
Comparative: pulchriōrem... quam — “more beautiful than.” -
Indirect question: quid acciderit — “what has happened” (perfect subjunctive).
Vocabula Fābulae:
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō frangō, frangere, frēgī, frāctum verbum to break frāctus, -a, -um participium broken pūniō, pūnīre verbum to punish lacrima, -ae (f.) nōmen tear reficiō, reficere verbum to repair fragmentum, -ī (n.) nōmen fragment dēplōrō, dēplōrāre verbum to bewail inūtilis, -e adiectīvum useless
DISCIPULUS: Magister, master, quid what facit does pelliō? the furrier?
MAGISTER: Pelliō the furrier pellēs skins animālium of animals praeparat prepares et and ex from eīs them vestēs garments calidās warm facit makes — pellīcea — fur coats quae which hieme in winter corpus the body calefaciunt. keep warm. Pellēs the skins purgat, he cleans, mollit, he softens, consuit. he sews together.
DISCIPULUS: Et and restiō? the ropemaker?
MAGISTER: Restiō the ropemaker fūnēs ropes et and restēs cords facit makes ex from cannabī hemp aut or aliīs other fībrīs. fibers. Fībrās the fibers torquet he twists et and inter among sē themselves nectit he binds ut so that fūnis the rope fortis strong fīat. may become. Sine without fūnibus ropes nautae sailors nāvigāre to sail nōn not possent! could!
DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo how figulus the potter fidēliās jugs fingit? shapes?
MAGISTER: Figulus the potter argillam clay mollem soft sūmit takes et and in on rotā the wheel figulārī potter’s pōnit. places. Rota the wheel vertitur; turns; figulus the potter manibus with his hands argillam the clay format shapes — et — and ecce behold fidēlia a jug fit! is made! Tum then fidēliam the jug in in fornāce the furnace coquit he fires ut so that dūra hard fīat. it may become.
DISCIPULUS: Et and faber? the smith?
MAGISTER: Faber the smith ferrum iron in in igne the fire calefacit heats dōnec until rutilum glowing fīat. it becomes. Tum then malleō with a hammer cūdit he beats et and in into fōrmam shape quam which vult he wants format. he shapes. Faber the smith clāvōs, nails, ferrāmenta, iron tools, gladiōs, swords, et and multa many alia other things facit. makes. Sine without fabrō, the smith, nec neither agricola the farmer arāre to plow nec nor mīles the soldier pugnāre to fight posset! could!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, quid facit pelliō? Master, what does the furrier do?
MAGISTER: Pelliō pellēs animālium praeparat et ex eīs vestēs calidās facit. The furrier prepares skins of animals and from them makes warm garments.
Pellīcea quae hieme corpus calefaciunt. Fur coats which keep the body warm in winter.
Pellēs purgat, mollit, consuit. He cleans, softens, sews together the skins.
DISCIPULUS: Et restiō? And the ropemaker?
MAGISTER: Restiō fūnēs et restēs facit ex cannabī aut aliīs fībrīs. The ropemaker makes ropes and cords from hemp or other fibers.
Fībrās torquet et inter sē nectit ut fūnis fortis fīat. He twists the fibers and binds them among themselves so that the rope may become strong.
Sine fūnibus nautae nāvigāre nōn possent! Without ropes sailors could not sail!
DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo figulus fidēliās fingit? How does the potter shape jugs?
MAGISTER: Figulus argillam mollem sūmit et in rotā figulārī pōnit. The potter takes soft clay and places it on the potter’s wheel.
Rota vertitur; figulus manibus argillam format — et ecce fidēlia fit! The wheel turns; the potter shapes the clay with his hands — and behold a jug is made!
Tum fidēliam in fornāce coquit ut dūra fīat. Then he fires the jug in the furnace so that it may become hard.
DISCIPULUS: Et faber? And the smith?
MAGISTER: Faber ferrum in igne calefacit dōnec rutilum fīat. The smith heats iron in the fire until it becomes glowing.
Tum malleō cūdit et in fōrmam quam vult format. Then he beats it with a hammer and shapes it into the form which he wants.
Faber clāvōs, ferrāmenta, gladiōs, et multa alia facit. The smith makes nails, iron tools, swords, and many other things.
Sine fabrō, nec agricola arāre nec mīles pugnāre posset! Without the smith, neither could the farmer plow nor the soldier fight!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, quid facit pelliō?
MAGISTER: Pelliō pellēs animālium praeparat et ex eīs vestēs calidās facit — pellīcea quae hieme corpus calefaciunt. Pellēs purgat, mollit, consuit.
DISCIPULUS: Et restiō?
MAGISTER: Restiō fūnēs et restēs facit ex cannabī aut aliīs fībrīs. Fībrās torquet et inter sē nectit ut fūnis fortis fīat. Sine fūnibus nautae nāvigāre nōn possent!
DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo figulus fidēliās fingit?
MAGISTER: Figulus argillam mollem sūmit et in rotā figulārī pōnit. Rota vertitur; figulus manibus argillam format — et ecce fidēlia fit! Tum fidēliam in fornāce coquit ut dūra fīat.
DISCIPULUS: Et faber?
MAGISTER: Faber ferrum in igne calefacit dōnec rutilum fīat. Tum malleō cūdit et in fōrmam quam vult format. Faber clāvōs, ferrāmenta, gladiōs, et multa alia facit. Sine fabrō, nec agricola arāre nec mīles pugnāre posset!
Dē Argūmentō Paedagōgicō:
This colloquium explains the work of four craftsmen: the furrier prepares skins, the ropemaker twists fibers, the potter shapes clay on a wheel and fires it, and the smith heats and hammers iron.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Purpose clause: ut fūnis fortis fīat, ut dūra fīat — “so that the rope may become strong,” “so that it may become hard.” -
Temporal dōnec + subjunctive: dōnec rutilum fīat — “until it becomes glowing.” -
Contrary-to-fact: possent, posset — “could” (imperfect subjunctive).
Match:
Opifex Māteria 1. pelliō a. argilla 2. restiō b. ferrum 3. figulus c. pellēs 4. faber d. cannabis
Complete the pairs: -
pelliō : pellis = figulus : __________ -
restiō : restis = faber : __________
Give the meaning: -
torqueō = __________ -
fingō = __________ -
glūtinō = __________ -
cūdō = __________
-
The furrier makes fur coats from skins. -
The ropemaker twists a rope. -
The potter shapes jugs. -
The smith beats.
-
Pelliō ē pellibus pellīcea. -
Figulus fingit fidēliās. -
Faber cūdit. -
Melius est dē novō incipere et melius facere.
-
Restiō torquet restim. The ropemaker twists a rope. -
Figulus fingit fidēliās. The potter shapes jugs. -
Faber cūdit. The smith beats. -
Ex argillā novā omnia possibilia sunt. From new clay all things are possible.
-
c (pelliō — pellēs) -
d (restiō — cannabis) -
a (figulus — argilla) -
b (faber — ferrum)
-
pelliō : pellis = figulus : fingō -
restiō : restis = faber : fabrica (workshop)
-
torqueō = to twist -
fingō = to shape, mold -
glūtinō = to glue -
cūdō = to beat, strike
-
Pelliō ē pellibus pellīcea facit. -
Restiō restim torquet. -
Figulus fidēliās fingit. -
Faber cūdit.
-
The furrier (makes) fur coats from skins. -
The potter shapes jugs. -
The smith beats. -
It is better to begin anew and do better.
In proximā lectiōne dē lignāriō et aedificātiōne discēmus! Lignārius asciat secūrī et aedificat aedificium. Pōnit fundāmentum, ērigit parietēs, operit tēctō. Ab artificibus ad aedificātōrēs trānsībimus — quōmodo domūs nostrās aedificāmus!
In the next lesson we shall learn about the carpenter and building! The carpenter hews with an axe and builds a building. He lays the foundation, raises the walls, covers with a roof. We shall cross from craftsmen to builders — how we build our houses!
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Comēniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
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