← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
On Things at Home III — The Bedroom
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Salvēte, discipulī cārissimī! In lectiōnibus praecēdentibus domum intrāvimus et interiōra eius vīdimus — laquear et fenestrās, hypocaustum et receptācula. Nunc ad cubiculum prōgredimur — locum quiētis et somnī! Post labōrem diēī, corpus requiēscit; post studium, mēns dormit. Discāmus ergō dē lectīs et pulvīnāribus!
Greetings, dearest students! In the preceding lessons we entered the house and saw its interior — the ceiling and windows, the heating room and containers. Now we proceed to the bedroom — the place of rest and sleep! After the labor of the day, the body rests; after study, the mind sleeps. Let us therefore learn about beds and cushions!
Hodiē dē cubiculō discēmus. In cubiculō lectī sunt pulvīnāribus strātī. Cervīcal cervīcī subdimus ut caput molliter iaceat. Tegitibus nōs integimus — supīnī vel prōnī cubantēs. Haec sunt necessāria vītae — nam sine somnō nēmō vīvere potest!
Today we shall learn about the bedroom. In the bedroom there are beds covered with cushions. We place a pillow under the neck so that the head may lie softly. We cover ourselves with coverlets — lying on our backs or on our stomachs. These are necessities of life — for without sleep no one can live!
Ē tenebrīs Lēšnēnsibus, Iōannēs Āmos Comēnius
In in cubiculō the bedroom sunt there are lectī beds pulvīnāribus with cushions strātī. covered. Cervīcal a pillow subdimus we place under cervīcī. the neck. Tegitibus with coverlets nōs ourselves integimus, we cover, cubantēs lying supīnī on our backs vel or prōnī. on our stomachs. Mātula a chamber pot est is prō for ūrīnā urine et and sēcessus a privy prō for alvō the belly levandā. to be relieved. Excrēmenta excrements foetent. smell bad.
In cubiculō sunt lectī pulvīnāribus strātī — In (in) the bedroom (cubiculō) there are (sunt) beds (lectī) covered (strātī) with cushions (pulvīnāribus). Cubiculum is the sleeping chamber. Pulvīnar (or pulvīnus) is a cushion or pillow. Sternō means “to spread, cover” — hence strātus, “spread, covered.”
Cervīcal subdimus cervīcī — We place under (subdimus) a pillow (cervīcal) [under] the neck (cervīcī). Cervīcal (from cervīx, neck) is a neck-pillow. Subdō means “to place under.”
Tegitibus nōs integimus, cubantēs supīnī vel prōnī — We cover (integimus) ourselves (nōs) with coverlets (tegitibus), lying (cubantēs) on our backs (supīnī) or (vel) on our stomachs (prōnī). Teges is a mat or coverlet. Supīnus means “face up”; prōnus means “face down.”
Mātula est prō ūrīnā et sēcessus prō alvō levandā — A chamber pot (mātula) is (est) for (prō) urine (ūrīnā) and (et) a privy (sēcessus) for (prō) the belly (alvō) to be relieved (levandā). The gerundive levandā expresses purpose.
Excrēmenta foetent — Excrements (excrēmenta) smell bad (foetent). Foeteō means “to stink, smell badly.”
In cubiculō sunt lectī pulvīnāribus strātī. In the bedroom there are beds covered with cushions.
Cervīcal subdimus cervīcī. We place a pillow under the neck.
Tegitibus nōs integimus, cubantēs supīnī vel prōnī. We cover ourselves with coverlets, lying on our backs or on our stomachs.
Mātula est prō ūrīnā et sēcessus prō alvō levandā. A chamber pot is for urine and a privy for relieving the belly.
Excrēmenta foetent. Excrements smell bad.
In cubiculō sunt lectī pulvīnāribus strātī. Cervīcal subdimus cervīcī. Tegitibus nōs integimus, cubantēs supīnī vel prōnī. Mātula est prō ūrīnā et sēcessus prō alvō levandā. Excrēmenta foetent.
These adjectives describe body position:
Vocābulum Significātiō Imāgō supīnus, -a, -um lying face up, on one’s back looking at ceiling prōnus, -a, -um lying face down, on one’s stomach looking at floor
From supīnus comes English “supine” (both the position and the grammatical term!).
Sternō, sternere, strāvī, strātum means “to spread, cover, lay out”:
Forma Significātiō lectus strātus a made/covered bed via strāta a paved road (from which “street”) sternere mēnsam to set a table
The gerundive with prō + ablative expresses purpose:
Exemplum Significātiō prō alvō levandā for the belly to be relieved prō rēbus abscondendīs for things to be hidden prō aquā hauriendā for water to be drawn
The cubiculum (from cubō, to lie down) was the Roman bedroom. Related words:
Vocābulum Significātiō cubō, cubāre to lie down, recline cubīle, -is (n.) bed, couch cubiculum, -ī (n.) bedroom incubō to lie upon accubō to recline at (table)
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō cubiculum, -ī (n.) nōmen bedroom lectus, -ī (m.) nōmen bed, couch pulvīnar, pulvīnāris (n.) nōmen cushion, pillow sternō, sternere, strāvī, strātum verbum to spread, cover cervīcal, cervīcālis (n.) nōmen pillow (for neck) cervīx, cervīcis (f.) nōmen neck subdō, subdere, subdidī, subditum verbum to place under teges, tegetis (f.) nōmen mat, coverlet integō, integere, intēxī, intēctum verbum to cover cubō, cubāre, cubuī, cubitum verbum to lie down supīnus, -a, -um adiectīvum face up, on one’s back prōnus, -a, -um adiectīvum face down, on one’s stomach mātula, -ae (f.) nōmen chamber pot ūrīna, -ae (f.) nōmen urine sēcessus, -ūs (m.) nōmen privy, toilet alvus, -ī (f.) nōmen belly, bowels levō, levāre, levāvī, levātum verbum to relieve, lighten excrēmentum, -ī (n.) nōmen excrement foeteō, foetēre verbum to smell bad, stink
Ōlim once rēx a king quīdam certain dīvitissimus most rich erat was quī who lectum a bed aureum golden habēbat. had. Lectus the bed pulvīnāribus with cushions mollissimīs most soft strātus covered erat. was. Cervīcal the pillow erat was plūmīs with feathers ōlōrum of swans refertum. stuffed. Tegitēs the coverlets erant were purpureī purple et and sēricī. silken.
Sed but rēx the king dormīre to sleep nōn not poterat! was able! Tōtās whole noctēs nights vigilābat. he used to lie awake. Nunc now supīnus on his back iacēbat, he used to lie, nunc now prōnus on his stomach — sed — but somnus sleep nōn not veniēbat! was coming!
Ōlim one day pauper a poor man quīdam certain ad to rēgiam the palace vēnit. came. Rēx the king eum him rogāvit asked quōmodo how dormiret. he slept. Pauper the poor man rīsit. laughed.
Dīxit he said sē himself optimē best dormīre. to sleep. Dīxit he said lectum a bed suum his esse to be dūrum hard — sed — but somnum sleep suum his esse to be dulcem! sweet! Dīxit he said sē himself caput his head saxō on a stone subdere to place under — sed — but statim immediately obdormīre! to fall asleep!
Rēx the king mīrātus having marveled est. was. Rogāvit he asked quōmodo how hoc this fierī to be done posset. was able.
Pauper the poor man respondit: answered: “Tū “you tōtum the whole diem day in in sellā a chair sedēs. sit. Ego I tōtum the whole diem day in in agrīs the fields labōrō! work! Tū “you corpus your body numquam never fatīgās. tire out. Ego I corpus my body omnī every diē day fatīgō! tire out! Corpus the body fatīgātum tired out dormīre to sleep cupit. desires. Corpus the body ōtiōsum idle vigilāre to lie awake cupit!” desires!”
Rēx the king dīū for a long time cōgitāvit. thought. Tandem at last dīxit he said sē himself intellegere. to understand. Postrīdiē on the next day in into agrōs the fields exiit. he went out. Tōtum the whole diem day cum with agricolīs the farmers labōrāvit. he worked. Vesperī in the evening domum home rediit he returned — fessus — tired sed but laetus. happy.
Illā that nocte night in on lectō the bed aureō golden obdormīvit he fell asleep — et — and usque until ad to aurōram dawn dormīvit! he slept!
Haec this fābula fable docet: teaches: Lectus a bed mollis soft sine without labōre work nōn not iuvat! helps! Somnus sleep dulcis sweet nōn not ā from pulvīnāribus cushions venit comes — sed — but ā from labōre work honestō! honest! Quī he who labōrat, works, dormit. sleeps. Quī he who ōtiōsus idle est, is, vigilat! lies awake!
Ōlim rēx quīdam dīvitissimus erat quī lectum aureum habēbat. Once there was a certain most rich king who had a golden bed.
Lectus pulvīnāribus mollissimīs strātus erat. Cervīcal erat plūmīs ōlōrum refertum. The bed was covered with most soft cushions. The pillow was stuffed with feathers of swans.
Tegitēs erant purpureī et sēricī. The coverlets were purple and silken.
Sed rēx dormīre nōn poterat! Tōtās noctēs vigilābat. But the king was not able to sleep! He used to lie awake whole nights.
Nunc supīnus iacēbat, nunc prōnus — sed somnus nōn veniēbat! Now he used to lie on his back, now on his stomach — but sleep was not coming!
Ōlim pauper quīdam ad rēgiam vēnit. Rēx eum rogāvit quōmodo dormiret. One day a certain poor man came to the palace. The king asked him how he slept.
Pauper rīsit. Dīxit sē optimē dormīre. The poor man laughed. He said that he slept best.
Dīxit lectum suum esse dūrum — sed somnum suum esse dulcem! He said that his bed was hard — but his sleep was sweet!
Dīxit sē caput saxō subdere — sed statim obdormīre! He said that he placed his head on a stone — but immediately fell asleep!
Rēx mīrātus est. Rogāvit quōmodo hoc fierī posset. The king marveled. He asked how this was able to be done.
Pauper respondit: “Tū tōtum diem in sellā sedēs. Ego tōtum diem in agrīs labōrō!” The poor man answered: “You sit the whole day in a chair. I work the whole day in the fields!”
“Tū corpus numquam fatīgās. Ego corpus omnī diē fatīgō!” “You never tire out your body. I tire out my body every day!”
“Corpus fatīgātum dormīre cupit. Corpus ōtiōsum vigilāre cupit!” “The tired body desires to sleep. The idle body desires to lie awake!”
Rēx dīū cōgitāvit. Tandem dīxit sē intellegere. The king thought for a long time. At last he said that he understood.
Postrīdiē in agrōs exiit. Tōtum diem cum agricolīs labōrāvit. On the next day he went out into the fields. He worked the whole day with the farmers.
Vesperī domum rediit — fessus sed laetus. In the evening he returned home — tired but happy.
Illā nocte in lectō aureō obdormīvit — et usque ad aurōram dormīvit! That night he fell asleep on the golden bed — and slept until dawn!
Haec fābula docet: Lectus mollis sine labōre nōn iuvat! This fable teaches: A soft bed without work does not help!
Somnus dulcis nōn ā pulvīnāribus venit — sed ā labōre honestō! Sweet sleep does not come from cushions — but from honest work!
Quī labōrat, dormit. Quī ōtiōsus est, vigilat! He who works, sleeps. He who is idle, lies awake!
Ōlim rēx quīdam dīvitissimus erat quī lectum aureum habēbat. Lectus pulvīnāribus mollissimīs strātus erat. Cervīcal erat plūmīs ōlōrum refertum. Tegitēs erant purpureī et sēricī.
Sed rēx dormīre nōn poterat! Tōtās noctēs vigilābat. Nunc supīnus iacēbat, nunc prōnus — sed somnus nōn veniēbat!
Ōlim pauper quīdam ad rēgiam vēnit. Rēx eum rogāvit quōmodo dormiret. Pauper rīsit. Dīxit sē optimē dormīre. Dīxit lectum suum esse dūrum — sed somnum suum esse dulcem! Dīxit sē caput saxō subdere — sed statim obdormīre!
Rēx mīrātus est. Rogāvit quōmodo hoc fierī posset. Pauper respondit: “Tū tōtum diem in sellā sedēs. Ego tōtum diem in agrīs labōrō! Tū corpus numquam fatīgās. Ego corpus omnī diē fatīgō! Corpus fatīgātum dormīre cupit. Corpus ōtiōsum vigilāre cupit!”
Rēx dīū cōgitāvit. Tandem dīxit sē intellegere. Postrīdiē in agrōs exiit. Tōtum diem cum agricolīs labōrāvit. Vesperī domum rediit — fessus sed laetus.
Illā nocte in lectō aureō obdormīvit — et usque ad aurōram dormīvit!
Haec fābula docet: Lectus mollis sine labōre nōn iuvat! Somnus dulcis nōn ā pulvīnāribus venit — sed ā labōre honestō! Quī labōrat, dormit. Quī ōtiōsus est, vigilat!
Dē Argūmentō:
This fable contrasts the rich king who cannot sleep despite his luxurious bed with the poor laborer who sleeps soundly on a stone. The moral is practical wisdom: physical work produces good sleep. Luxury without effort is hollow.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Ōrātiō oblīqua: Dīxit sē optimē dormīre — acc. + inf. -
Superlatives: dīvitissimus, mollissimīs -
Indirect question: quōmodo dormiret, quōmodo fierī posset -
Deponent mīror: mīrātus est — “he marveled”
Vocabula Fābulae:
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō aureus, -a, -um adiectīvum golden mollis, -e adiectīvum soft plūma, -ae (f.) nōmen feather ōlor, ōlōris (m.) nōmen swan refertus, -a, -um participium stuffed, filled purpureus, -a, -um adiectīvum purple sēricus, -a, -um adiectīvum silken vigilō, vigilāre verbum to lie awake, stay awake somnus, -ī (m.) nōmen sleep obdormiō, obdormīre verbum to fall asleep fatīgō, fatīgāre verbum to tire out, exhaust ōtiōsus, -a, -um adiectīvum idle, at leisure agricola, -ae (m.) nōmen farmer fessus, -a, -um adiectīvum tired, weary aurōra, -ae (f.) nōmen dawn
DISCIPULUS: Magister, master, cūr why “supīnus” “supine” et and “prōnus” “prone” dīcimus? do we say? Unde from where hae these vōcēs words veniunt? come?
MAGISTER: Bona a good quaestiō! question! Supīnus supine venit comes ā from sub under — quī — he who supīnus supine iacet, lies, tergum his back sub under sē himself habet! has! Faciem the face supra above habet! he has!
DISCIPULUS: Et and prōnus? prone?
MAGISTER: Prōnus prone venit comes ā from prō forward — quī — he who prōnus prone iacet, lies, in on faciem the face suam his prōlābitur! falls forward! Tergum the back supra above habet! he has!
DISCIPULUS: Intellegō! I understand! Et and cervīcal a pillow — ā — from cervīce the neck venit? comes?
MAGISTER: Ita so vērō! indeed! Cervīx neck est is pars the part corporis of the body inter between caput the head et and umerōs. the shoulders. Cervīcal pillow est is pulvīnus a cushion quī which cervīcī under the neck subdītur! is placed under!
DISCIPULUS: Rōmānīne did the Romans in on lectīs beds mollibus soft dormiēbant? used to sleep?
MAGISTER: Dīvitēs the rich — ita! — yes! Pauperēs the poor autem however saepe often in on strāmentīs straw aut or in on dūrīs hard grabbātīs cots dormiēbant. used to sleep. Sed but — ut — as fābula the fable docet teaches — saepe — often melius better dormiēbant they used to sleep quam than dīvitēs! the rich!
DISCIPULUS: Quia because labōrābant! they used to work!
MAGISTER: Ita! yes! Corpus the body labōre by work fatīgātum tired requiem rest dēsīderat. desires. Corpus the body ōtiō by leisure corruptum corrupted requiem rest fugit! flees! Hoc this est is paradoxon the paradox somnī! of sleep!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, cūr “supīnus” et “prōnus” dīcimus? Unde hae vōcēs veniunt? Master, why do we say “supine” and “prone”? From where do these words come?
MAGISTER: Bona quaestiō! Supīnus venit ā sub — quī supīnus iacet, tergum sub sē habet! Faciem supra habet! A good question! “Supine” comes from “under” — he who lies supine, has his back under himself! He has his face above!
DISCIPULUS: Et prōnus? And “prone”?
MAGISTER: Prōnus venit ā prō — quī prōnus iacet, in faciem suam prōlābitur! Tergum supra habet! “Prone” comes from “forward” — he who lies prone, falls forward onto his face! He has his back above!
DISCIPULUS: Intellegō! Et cervīcal — ā cervīce venit? I understand! And a pillow — it comes from the neck?
MAGISTER: Ita vērō! Cervīx est pars corporis inter caput et umerōs. Cervīcal est pulvīnus quī cervīcī subdītur! So indeed! The “neck” is the part of the body between the head and the shoulders. A “pillow” is a cushion which is placed under the neck!
DISCIPULUS: Rōmānīne in lectīs mollibus dormiēbant? Did the Romans used to sleep in soft beds?
MAGISTER: Dīvitēs — ita! Pauperēs autem saepe in strāmentīs aut in dūrīs grabbātīs dormiēbant. The rich — yes! The poor however often used to sleep on straw or on hard cots.
Sed — ut fābula docet — saepe melius dormiēbant quam dīvitēs! But — as the fable teaches — often they used to sleep better than the rich!
DISCIPULUS: Quia labōrābant! Because they used to work!
MAGISTER: Ita! Corpus labōre fatīgātum requiem dēsīderat. Corpus ōtiō corruptum requiem fugit! Hoc est paradoxon somnī! Yes! The body tired by work desires rest. The body corrupted by leisure flees rest! This is the paradox of sleep!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, cūr “supīnus” et “prōnus” dīcimus? Unde hae vōcēs veniunt?
MAGISTER: Bona quaestiō! Supīnus venit ā sub — quī supīnus iacet, tergum sub sē habet! Faciem supra habet!
DISCIPULUS: Et prōnus?
MAGISTER: Prōnus venit ā prō — quī prōnus iacet, in faciem suam prōlābitur! Tergum supra habet!
DISCIPULUS: Intellegō! Et cervīcal — ā cervīce venit?
MAGISTER: Ita vērō! Cervīx est pars corporis inter caput et umerōs. Cervīcal est pulvīnus quī cervīcī subdītur!
DISCIPULUS: Rōmānīne in lectīs mollibus dormiēbant?
MAGISTER: Dīvitēs — ita! Pauperēs autem saepe in strāmentīs aut in dūrīs grabbātīs dormiēbant. Sed — ut fābula docet — saepe melius dormiēbant quam dīvitēs!
DISCIPULUS: Quia labōrābant!
MAGISTER: Ita! Corpus labōre fatīgātum requiem dēsīderat. Corpus ōtiō corruptum requiem fugit! Hoc est paradoxon somnī!
Dē Argūmentō Paedagōgicō:
This colloquium explores the etymology of supīnus (from sub, under — back under) and prōnus (from prō, forward — face forward), as well as cervīcal (from cervīx, neck). It concludes with the paradox of sleep: work brings rest, leisure brings restlessness.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Etymology from prepositions: supīnus ← sub; prōnus ← prō -
Question with -ne: Rōmānīne dormiēbant? -
Ablative of cause: labōre fatīgātum, ōtiō corruptum
Fill in the blank: -
Quī faciem supra habet, __________ iacet. -
Quī tergum supra habet, __________ iacet. -
Quī in stellās spectat, __________ iacet. -
Quī in pavīmentum spectat, __________ iacet.
Match each word with its meaning:
Vocābulum Significātiō 1. lectus a. pillow 2. pulvīnar b. coverlet 3. cervīcal c. bedroom 4. teges d. bed 5. cubiculum e. cushion
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In the bedroom there are beds covered with cushions. -
We place a pillow under the neck. -
We cover ourselves with coverlets. -
He who works, sleeps. -
A soft bed without work does not help.
-
In cubiculō sunt lectī pulvīnāribus strātī. -
Cervīcal subdimus cervīcī. -
Tegitibus nōs integimus, cubantēs supīnī vel prōnī. -
Corpus fatīgātum dormīre cupit. -
Somnus dulcis ā labōre honestō venit.
Complete with the correct form of sternō: -
Lectus pulvīnāribus __________ est. (was covered) -
Mappā mēnsam __________. (we cover) -
Via lapidibus __________ erat. (was paved)
Memorize these sentences: -
In cubiculō sunt lectī pulvīnāribus strātī. In the bedroom there are beds covered with cushions. -
Cervīcal subdimus cervīcī. We place a pillow under the neck. -
Tegitibus nōs integimus, cubantēs supīnī vel prōnī. We cover ourselves with coverlets, lying on our backs or on our stomachs. -
Mātula est prō ūrīnā et sēcessus prō alvō levandā. Excrēmenta foetent. A chamber pot is for urine and a privy for relieving the belly. Excrements smell bad. -
Quī labōrat, dormit. Quī ōtiōsus est, vigilat! He who works, sleeps. He who is idle, lies awake!
-
supīnus -
prōnus -
supīnus -
prōnus
-
d (lectus = bed) -
e (pulvīnar = cushion) -
a (cervīcal = pillow) -
b (teges = coverlet) -
c (cubiculum = bedroom)
-
In cubiculō sunt lectī pulvīnāribus strātī. -
Cervīcal cervīcī subdimus. -
Tegitibus nōs integimus. -
Quī labōrat, dormit. -
Lectus mollis sine labōre nōn iuvat.
-
In the bedroom there are beds covered with cushions. -
We place a pillow under the neck. -
We cover ourselves with coverlets, lying on our backs or on our stomachs. -
The tired body desires to sleep. -
Sweet sleep comes from honest work.
-
strātus -
sternimus -
strāta
In proximā lectiōne dē mundō corporis discēmus! Vidēbimus quōmodo tūre suffīmus, quōmodo faciem cotīdiē lavēmus, quōmodo in balneō sudēmus. Audiēmus dē tōnsōre quī crīnēs tondet et comam pectit! Tūre suffīmus. Faciem lavāmus cotīdiē. In balneō sudāmus. Sudāriīs tergimus nōs. Tōnsor tondet crīnēs. Pectit comam pectine.
In the next lesson we shall learn about cleanliness of the body! We shall see how we perfume with frankincense, how we wash the face daily, how we sweat in the bath. We shall hear about the barber who cuts the hair and combs the locks! We perfume with frankincense. We wash the face daily. We sweat in the bath. We wipe ourselves with napkins. A barber cuts the hair. He combs the locks with a comb.
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Comēniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
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