← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
On the Circumstances of Things VI — Play and Holidays
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Salvēte, discipulī cārissimī! In lectiōne praecēdentī dē affirmātiōne et dubitātiōne dīdicimus. Hodiē dē rē iūcundissimā discēmus — dē lūdō et fēriīs!
Greetings, dearest students! In the preceding lesson we learned about affirmation and doubt. Today we shall learn about a most pleasant thing — about play and holidays!
Labor bonus est, sed etiam requiēs necessāria est. Post labōrem, lūdus; post studia, fēriae. Deus ipse septimō diē requiēvit! Discāmus quōmodo Latīnē dē lūdō et ōtiō loquāmur!
Work is good, but rest also is necessary. After work, play; after studies, holidays. God Himself rested on the seventh day! Let us learn how to speak in Latin about play and leisure!
Ē tenebrīs Lēšnēnsibus, Iōannēs Āmos Comēnius
Nē do not clāmā, shout, atquī but indeed sumus we are sōlī. alone. Quōmodo how lūdēmus? shall we play? Pilā; with a ball; quamdiū? how long? Tōtum the whole diem; day; huī, alas, nimium too much est. it is. Atquī but indeed sunt there are fēriae. holidays.
Nē clāmā, atquī sumus sōlī — Do not (nē) shout (clāmā), but indeed (atquī) we are (sumus) alone (sōlī). The imperative nē clāmā is the negative command (prohibition). The conjunction atquī means “but indeed, and yet” — here reassuring that shouting is unnecessary since they’re alone.
Quōmodo lūdēmus? — How (quōmodo) shall we play (lūdēmus)? The deliberative subjunctive lūdēmus asks “how shall we...?” (considering options).
Pilā; quamdiū? — With a ball (pilā); how long (quamdiū)? The ablative pilā indicates the means or manner of playing. Quamdiū is an interrogative adverb of time duration.
Tōtum diem; huī, nimium est — The whole (tōtum) day (diem); alas (huī), it is (est) too much (nimium). The accusative tōtum diem expresses duration of time. The interjection huī (or hui) expresses surprise or dismay.
Atquī sunt fēriae — But indeed (atquī) there are (sunt) holidays (fēriae). The plural fēriae means “festival days, holidays” — a justification for extended play.
Nē clāmā, atquī sumus sōlī. Do not shout, but indeed we are alone.
Quōmodo lūdēmus? How shall we play?
Pilā; quamdiū? With a ball; how long?
Tōtum diem; huī, nimium est. The whole day; alas, that is too much.
Atquī sunt fēriae. But indeed there are holidays.
Nē clāmā, atquī sumus sōlī. Quōmodo lūdēmus? Pilā; quamdiū? Tōtum diem; huī, nimium est. Atquī sunt fēriae.
In classical Latin, negative commands use nē + imperative (or nōlī + infinitive):
Forma Significātiō Nē clāmā! Don’t shout! Nē timeās! Don’t fear! Nōlī clāmāre! Don’t shout! (alternative) Nōlīte īre! Don’t go! (plural)
The deliberative subjunctive asks “what should we do?” or “how shall we...?”:
Latīnē Anglicē Quōmodo lūdēmus? How shall we play? Quid faciāmus? What should we do? Quō eāmus? Where should we go?
Duration of time uses the accusative without a preposition:
Latīnē Anglicē tōtum diem the whole day multōs annōs for many years trēs hōrās for three hours
Quamdiū asks “how long?” (duration):
Interrogātiō Respōnsum Quamdiū lūdēmus? Tōtum diem / Ūnam hōram Quamdiū mānsistī? Paucōs diēs
Compare: quandō = “when?” (point in time) vs. quamdiū = “how long?” (duration)
Fēriae, -ārum (f. pl.) means “festival days, holidays”:
Latīnē Anglicē fēriae sunt there are holidays fēriīs lūdimus we play during holidays fēriās agere to keep/celebrate holidays
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō clāmō, clāmāre verbum to shout atquī coniūnctiō but indeed, and yet sōlus, -a, -um adiectīvum alone lūdō, lūdere, lūsī, lūsum verbum to play pila, -ae (f.) nōmen ball quamdiū adverbium interr. how long? tōtus, -a, -um adiectīvum whole, entire huī interiectiō alas! oh! nimium adverbium too much fēriae, -ārum (f. pl.) nōmen holidays, festival days
Puer a boy quīdam certain scholam school nōn not amābat. loved. Semper always fēriās holidays exspectābat. he was expecting.
“Ō “oh sī if semper always fēriae holidays essent!” were!” suspitrābat. he was sighing. “Ō “oh sī if numquam never ad to scholam school īre to go dēbērem!” I had to!”
Fāta the fates eum him audiērunt. heard. Ūnus one ex of dīs the gods eī to him appāruit appeared et and dīxit: said: “Dēsīderium “the desire tuum your tibi to you concēdō. I grant. Ab from hōc this diē, day, semper always fēriae holidays erunt! will be! Numquam never ad to scholam school ībis!” you will go!”
Puer the boy laetissimus most happy fuit! was! Prīmā on the first hebdomade week lūsit, he played, cucurrit, he ran, nātāvit. he swam. Secundā on the second hebdomade week lūsit, he played, sed but minus less laetē. happily. Tertiā on the third hebdomade week taedēre to weary eum him coepit. it began.
“Quid “what faciāmus should we do hodiē?” today?” rogāvit he asked amīcōs. his friends.
“Lūdāmus “let us play pilā!” with a ball!”
“Herī “yesterday lūsimus. we played. Et and nūdius the day tertius. before yesterday. Et and ante before — semper — always lūdimus!” we play!”
Amīcī his friends discessērunt. departed. Eīs for them quoque also taedēbat. it was wearisome.
Puer the boy sōlus alone sēdit. sat. “Huī!” “alas!” inquit. he said. “Nimium “too much est! it is! Lūdere to play sine without fīne end — hoc — this nōn not est is lūdere, to play, hoc this est is labōrāre!” to labor!”
Ad to deum the god clāmāvit: he cried: “Dēsīderium “my desire meum my mūtō! I change! Scholam school mīlī to me redde! give back! Fēriae holidays bonae good sunt are — sed — but post after labōrem! work! Sine without labōre, work, fēriae holidays nihil nothing valent!” are worth!”
Deus the god rīsit laughed et and dēsīderium the desire concessit. granted.
Haec this fābula fable docet: teaches: Fēriae holidays dulcēs sweet sunt are quia because labōrem work sequuntur. they follow. Ōtium leisure perpetuum perpetual nōn not est is ōtium leisure — est — it is tormēntum! torture!
Puer quīdam scholam nōn amābat. A certain boy did not love school.
Semper fēriās exspectābat. He was always expecting holidays.
“Ō sī semper fēriae essent!” suspīrābat. “Oh if only there were always holidays!” he was sighing.
“Ō sī numquam ad scholam īre dēbērem!” “Oh if only I never had to go to school!”
Fāta eum audiērunt. Ūnus ex dīs eī appāruit et dīxit: The fates heard him. One of the gods appeared to him and said:
“Dēsīderium tuum tibi concēdō. Ab hōc diē, semper fēriae erunt!” “I grant your desire to you. From this day, there will always be holidays!”
“Numquam ad scholam ībis!” “You will never go to school!”
Puer laetissimus fuit! The boy was most happy!
Prīmā hebdomade lūsit, cucurrit, nātāvit. In the first week he played, ran, swam.
Secundā hebdomade lūsit, sed minus laetē. In the second week he played, but less happily.
Tertiā hebdomade taedēre eum coepit. In the third week it began to weary him.
“Quid faciāmus hodiē?” rogāvit amīcōs. “What should we do today?” he asked his friends.
“Lūdāmus pilā!” “Herī lūsimus. Et nūdius tertius. Et ante — semper lūdimus!” “Let us play with a ball!” “Yesterday we played. And the day before yesterday. And before — we always play!”
Amīcī discessērunt. Eīs quoque taedēbat. His friends departed. For them too it was wearisome.
Puer sōlus sēdit. “Huī!” inquit. “Nimium est!” The boy sat alone. “Alas!” he said. “It is too much!”
“Lūdere sine fīne — hoc nōn est lūdere, hoc est labōrāre!” “To play without end — this is not to play, this is to labor!”
Ad deum clāmāvit: “Dēsīderium meum mūtō!” He cried to the god: “I change my desire!”
“Scholam mihi redde! Fēriae bonae sunt — sed post labōrem!” “Give me back school! Holidays are good — but after work!”
“Sine labōre, fēriae nihil valent!” “Without work, holidays are worth nothing!”
Deus rīsit et dēsīderium concessit. The god laughed and granted the desire.
Haec fābula docet: Fēriae dulcēs sunt quia labōrem sequuntur. This fable teaches: Holidays are sweet because they follow work.
Ōtium perpetuum nōn est ōtium — est tormēntum! Perpetual leisure is not leisure — it is torture!
Puer quīdam scholam nōn amābat. Semper fēriās exspectābat. “Ō sī semper fēriae essent!” suspīrābat. “Ō sī numquam ad scholam īre dēbērem!”
Fāta eum audiērunt. Ūnus ex dīs eī appāruit et dīxit: “Dēsīderium tuum tibi concēdō. Ab hōc diē, semper fēriae erunt! Numquam ad scholam ībis!”
Puer laetissimus fuit! Prīmā hebdomade lūsit, cucurrit, nātāvit. Secundā hebdomade lūsit, sed minus laetē. Tertiā hebdomade taedēre eum coepit.
“Quid faciāmus hodiē?” rogāvit amīcōs.
“Lūdāmus pilā!” “Herī lūsimus. Et nūdius tertius. Et ante — semper lūdimus!”
Amīcī discessērunt. Eīs quoque taedēbat.
Puer sōlus sēdit. “Huī!” inquit. “Nimium est! Lūdere sine fīne — hoc nōn est lūdere, hoc est labōrāre!”
Ad deum clāmāvit: “Dēsīderium meum mūtō! Scholam mihi redde! Fēriae bonae sunt — sed post labōrem! Sine labōre, fēriae nihil valent!”
Deus rīsit et dēsīderium concessit.
Haec fābula docet: Fēriae dulcēs sunt quia labōrem sequuntur. Ōtium perpetuum nōn est ōtium — est tormēntum!
Dē Argūmentō:
This fable explores the paradox of leisure — that rest is only restful in contrast to work. Perpetual holiday becomes its own form of tedium. The boy learns to appreciate the rhythm of work and rest.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Optative subjunctive: ō sī fēriae essent — “oh if only there were holidays” (wish). -
Impersonal taedet: taedēre eum coepit — “it began to weary him.” -
Deliberative subjunctive: quid faciāmus? — “what should we do?” -
Ablative of time: prīmā hebdomade — “in the first week.”
Vocabula Fābulae:
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō suspīrō, suspīrāre verbum to sigh fātum, -ī (n.) nōmen fate appāreō, appārēre verbum to appear concēdō, concēdere verbum to grant hebdomas, hebdomadis (f.) nōmen week currō, currere, cucurrī verbum to run natō, natāre, natāvī verbum to swim nūdius tertius idiōma the day before yesterday discēdō, discēdere verbum to depart ōtium, -ī (n.) nōmen leisure perpetuus, -a, -um adiectīvum perpetual tormēntum, -ī (n.) nōmen torture, torment
DISCIPULUS: Magister, master, quōmodo how dīcimus do we say “don’t shout”? “don’t shout”?
MAGISTER: Duōbus in two modīs! ways! “Nē “do not clāmā!” shout!” ūtitur uses imperātīvō the imperative cum with nē. nē. “Nōlī “do not want clāmāre!” to shout!” ūtitur uses nōlī do not want cum with īnfīnītīvō. the infinitive. Uterque each modus way rēctus correct est. is.
DISCIPULUS: Quid what significat signifies atquī? but indeed?
MAGISTER: Atquī but indeed est is coniūnctiō a conjunction quae which contrādīcit contradicts — sed — but cum with ēmphasī! emphasis! “Nē “do not clāmā” shout” — “sed — “but sumus we are sōlī” alone” — “atquī — “but indeed sumus we are sōlī!” alone!” Fortius more strongly est it is quam than simplex simple sed. but.
DISCIPULUS: Quid what interest is the difference inter between quamdiū how long et and quandō? when?
MAGISTER: Quandō when interrogat asks dē about pūnctō the point temporis: of time: “Quandō “when vēnistī?” did you come?” “Herī.” “yesterday.” Quamdiū how long interrogat asks dē about dūrātiōne: duration: “Quamdiū “how long lūdēmus?” shall we play?” “Trēs “for three hōrās.” hours.”
DISCIPULUS: Cūr why fēriae holidays bonae good sunt? are?
MAGISTER: Quia because corpus the body et and mēns the mind requiētem rest postulant! demand! Post after labōrem work longum, long, dēfessī weary sumus. we are. Fēriae holidays nōs us recreant refresh ut so that ad to labōrem work renovātī renewed redeāmus. we may return. Sed but — ut — as fābula the fable docet teaches — nimiae — too many fēriae holidays ipsae themselves labōriōsae laborious fīunt! become!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, quōmodo dīcimus “don’t shout”? Master, how do we say “don’t shout”?
MAGISTER: Duōbus modīs! In two ways!
“Nē clāmā!” ūtitur imperātīvō cum nē. “Don’t shout!” uses the imperative with nē.
“Nōlī clāmāre!” ūtitur nōlī cum īnfīnītīvō. “Don’t shout!” uses “don’t want” with the infinitive.
Uterque modus rēctus est. Each way is correct.
DISCIPULUS: Quid significat atquī? What signifies “but indeed”?
MAGISTER: Atquī est coniūnctiō quae contrādīcit — sed cum ēmphasī! “But indeed” is a conjunction which contradicts — but with emphasis!
“Nē clāmā” — “sed sumus sōlī” — “atquī sumus sōlī!” “Don’t shout” — “but we are alone” — “but indeed we are alone!”
Fortius est quam simplex sed. It is stronger than simple “but.”
DISCIPULUS: Quid interest inter quamdiū et quandō? What is the difference between “how long” and “when”?
MAGISTER: Quandō interrogat dē pūnctō temporis: “Quandō vēnistī?” “Herī.” “When” asks about the point of time: “When did you come?” “Yesterday.”
Quamdiū interrogat dē dūrātiōne: “Quamdiū lūdēmus?” “Trēs hōrās.” “How long” asks about duration: “How long shall we play?” “For three hours.”
DISCIPULUS: Cūr fēriae bonae sunt? Why are holidays good?
MAGISTER: Quia corpus et mēns requiētem postulant! Because the body and mind demand rest!
Post labōrem longum, dēfessī sumus. After long work, we are weary.
Fēriae nōs recreant ut ad labōrem renovātī redeāmus. Holidays refresh us so that we may return renewed to work.
Sed — ut fābula docet — nimiae fēriae ipsae labōriōsae fīunt! But — as the fable teaches — too many holidays themselves become laborious!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, quōmodo dīcimus “don’t shout”?
MAGISTER: Duōbus modīs! “Nē clāmā!” ūtitur imperātīvō cum nē. “Nōlī clāmāre!” ūtitur nōlī cum īnfīnītīvō. Uterque modus rēctus est.
DISCIPULUS: Quid significat atquī?
MAGISTER: Atquī est coniūnctiō quae contrādīcit — sed cum ēmphasī! “Nē clāmā” — “sed sumus sōlī” — “atquī sumus sōlī!” Fortius est quam simplex sed.
DISCIPULUS: Quid interest inter quamdiū et quandō?
MAGISTER: Quandō interrogat dē pūnctō temporis: “Quandō vēnistī?” “Herī.” Quamdiū interrogat dē dūrātiōne: “Quamdiū lūdēmus?” “Trēs hōrās.”
DISCIPULUS: Cūr fēriae bonae sunt?
MAGISTER: Quia corpus et mēns requiētem postulant! Post labōrem longum, dēfessī sumus. Fēriae nōs recreant ut ad labōrem renovātī redeāmus. Sed — ut fābula docet — nimiae fēriae ipsae labōriōsae fīunt!
Dē Argūmentō Paedagōgicō:
This colloquium explains the negative imperative (nē + imperative, nōlī + infinitive), the emphatic conjunction atquī, the difference between quandō (point in time) and quamdiū (duration), and the purpose of holidays.
Give two ways to say “Don’t run!”: -
Nē __________ ! -
Nōlī __________ !
Which question word? -
__________ vēnistī? (asking point in time) -
__________ lūsistī? (asking duration)
-
Don’t shout! -
How shall we play? -
The whole day. -
There are holidays.
-
Nē clāmā, atquī sumus sōlī. -
Quōmodo lūdēmus? Pilā. -
Tōtum diem; huī, nimium est. -
Fēriae dulcēs sunt quia labōrem sequuntur.
-
Nē clāmā! / Nōlī clāmāre! Don’t shout! -
Quōmodo lūdēmus? How shall we play? -
Quamdiū? — Tōtum diem. How long? — The whole day. -
Fēriae dulcēs sunt quia labōrem sequuntur. Holidays are sweet because they follow work.
-
Nē curre! -
Nōlī currere!
-
Quandō vēnistī? (point in time) -
Quamdiū lūsistī? (duration)
-
Nē clāmā! / Nōlī clāmāre! -
Quōmodo lūdēmus? -
Tōtum diem. -
Fēriae sunt.
-
Don’t shout, but indeed we are alone. -
How shall we play? With a ball. -
The whole day; alas, that is too much. -
Holidays are sweet because they follow work.
In proximā lectiōne novam partem incipimus: Praepositiōnēs! Ad nōs trahimus, ā nōbīs trūdimus. Cum nōbīs dūcimus, ante nōs pellimus, pōne nōs raptāmus. Discēmus hās vōculās parvās quae rērum positiōnem et mōtum exprimunt!
In the next lesson we begin a new part: Prepositions! We draw towards us, we push from us. We lead with us, we drive before us, we drag behind us. We shall learn these little words which express the position and motion of things!
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Comēniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
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