← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
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Salvēte, discipulī cārissimī! In lectiōnibus praecēdentibus dē rēbus domī dīdicimus — dē cubiculō et balneō, dē vestīmentīs et mēnsā, dē candēlīs et ministrīs. Nunc ad rem māximī mōmentī prōgredimur — ad familiam ipsam! Domus enim sine familiā vacua est. Familia autem ā nūptiīs incipit — ā coniugiō virī et mulieris!
Greetings, dearest students! In the preceding lessons we learned about things at home — about the bedroom and bath, about clothing and the table, about candles and servants. Now we proceed to a matter of greatest importance — to the family itself! For a house without a family is empty. But the family begins from marriage — from the union of man and woman!
Hodiē dē nūptiīs discēmus. Vidēbimus quōmodo vir et mulier coniugēs fīant, quōmodo viduus virginem dūcat, quōmodo spōnsus spōnsam habeat. Nūptiae enim sunt fundāmentum societātis hūmānae!
Today we shall learn about marriage. We shall see how man and woman become spouses, how a widower marries a maiden, how a bridegroom has a bride. For marriage is the foundation of human society!
Ē tenebrīs Lēšnēnsibus, Iōannēs Āmos Comēnius
Vir a man et and mulier a woman sunt are coniugēs. spouses. Viduus a widower dūcit marries interdum sometimes virginem. a maiden. Spōnsus a bridegroom habet has spōnsam. a bride. Post after nūptiās, the wedding, marītus a husband marītam. (has) a wife.
Vir et mulier sunt coniugēs — A man (vir) and (et) a woman (mulier) are (sunt) spouses (coniugēs). Coniux (or coniūnx) means “spouse” — literally “one yoked together” (from con- + iugum, yoke). Can refer to either husband or wife.
Viduus dūcit interdum virginem — A widower (viduus) marries (dūcit) sometimes (interdum) a maiden (virginem). Viduus is a widower (masculine); vidua is a widow (feminine). Dūcō with uxōrem (wife) means “to marry” (of the man). Virgō is a maiden, unmarried girl.
Spōnsus habet spōnsam — A bridegroom (spōnsus) has (habet) a bride (spōnsam). Spōnsus/spōnsa are the betrothed couple — from spondeō (to promise solemnly).
Post nūptiās, marītus marītam — After (post) the wedding (nūptiās), a husband (marītus) [has] a wife (marītam). Nūptiae (plural only) means “wedding, marriage.” After the wedding, spōnsus/spōnsa become marītus/marīta.
Vir et mulier sunt coniugēs. A man and a woman are spouses.
Viduus dūcit interdum virginem. A widower sometimes marries a maiden.
Spōnsus habet spōnsam. A bridegroom has a bride.
Post nūptiās, marītus marītam. After the wedding, a husband (has) a wife.
Vir et mulier sunt coniugēs. Viduus dūcit interdum virginem. Spōnsus habet spōnsam. Post nūptiās, marītus marītam.
Latin has precise terminology for different stages of marriage:
Ante Nūptiās Post Nūptiās spōnsus (bridegroom) marītus (husband) spōnsa (bride) marīta (wife) virgō (maiden) uxor (wife)
Coniux can be used at any stage for either spouse.
The man “leads” (dūcit) a wife:
Exemplum Significātiō uxōrem dūcit he marries a wife virginem dūcit he marries a maiden viduam dūcit he marries a widow
The woman “is given in marriage” (nūbit + dative):
Exemplum Significātiō virō nūbit she marries a man Mārcō nūbit she marries Marcus
Vocābulum Significātiō viduus, -ī (m.) widower vidua, -ae (f.) widow viduō, viduāre to deprive of (a spouse) viduus, -a, -um widowed; deprived of
Nūptiae, -ārum (f. pl.) means “wedding, marriage” — always plural:
Exemplum Significātiō nūptiās celebrāre to celebrate a wedding post nūptiās after the wedding diēs nūptiārum the wedding day
From nūbō (to veil oneself; to marry — of the woman).
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō vir, virī (m.) nōmen man, husband mulier, mulieris (f.) nōmen woman, wife coniux, coniugis (m./f.) nōmen spouse viduus, -ī (m.) nōmen widower vidua, -ae (f.) nōmen widow dūcō, dūcere, dūxī, ductum verbum to lead; to marry (of man) interdum adverbium sometimes virgō, virginis (f.) nōmen maiden, virgin spōnsus, -ī (m.) nōmen bridegroom, fiancé spōnsa, -ae (f.) nōmen bride, fiancée nūptiae, -ārum (f. pl.) nōmen wedding, marriage marītus, -ī (m.) nōmen husband marīta, -ae (f.) nōmen wife uxor, uxōris (f.) nōmen wife nūbō, nūbere, nūpsī, nūptum verbum to marry (of woman) + dat.
Ōlim once vir a man quīdam certain et and mulier a woman coniugēs spouses erant. were. Vir the man dīves rich erat; was; mulier the woman pauper poor fuerat had been ante before nūptiās. the wedding. Vir the man saepe often dīcēbat used to say sē himself mulierem the woman ē from paupertāte poverty ērīpuisse. to have snatched. Dīcēbat he used to say eam her sibi to himself grātiam thanks dēbēre. to owe.
Mulier the woman tacēbat used to be silent — sed — but dolēbat. used to grieve. Ōlim one day amīcō to a friend suō her cōnfessa having confessed est. she was. Dīxit she said sē herself infelīcem unhappy esse. to be. Dīxit she said marītum her husband suum her eam her nōn not amāre to love — sed — but possidēre! to possess!
Amīca the friend respondit: answered: “Nōnne “does not ille he tē you alit? feed? Nōnne does he not domum a house tibi for you praebet? provide? Nōnne does he not vestīmenta clothes tibi for you emit?” buy?”
Mulier the woman lacrimāvit. wept. “Ita,” “yes,” inquit, she said, “haec “these things omnia all facit. he does. Sed but — numquam — never mē me audit! he hears! Numquam never mēcum with me loquitur! he speaks! Numquam never quid what sentiam I feel rogat! he asks! Coniux a spouse nōn not est is sōlum only quī one who alit feeds — sed — but quī one who amat! loves! Amor love autem however nōn not in in rēbus things est is — sed — but in in verbīs words et and animō!” soul!”
Amīca the friend tacuit. was silent. Deinde then dīxit: she said: “Verba “words tua your vēra true sunt. are. Coniugium marriage nōn not est is negōtium a business — sed — but amīcitia! friendship! Coniugēs spouses nōn not sunt are dominus a master et and serva a slave — sed — but duo two sociī partners aequālēs!” equal!”
Mulier the woman domum home rediit. returned. Marītō to her husband suō her omnia everything dīxit. she said. Marītus the husband prīmum at first īrātus angry erat. was. Sed but paulātim gradually intellēxit. he understood.
Dīxit he said sē himself errāvisse. to have erred. Dīxit he said sē himself uxōrem his wife nōn not ut as rem a thing — sed — but ut as hominem a person tractātūrum about to treat esse. to be. Ex from illō that diē, day, melius better coniugēs spouses factī made sunt they were — quia — because melius better amīcī friends factī made sunt! they were!
Haec this fābula fable docet: teaches: Coniugēs spouses iugō by a yoke iungī to be joined dēbent ought — sed — but iugō by a yoke amōris, of love, nōn not servitūtis! of slavery! Vir a man uxōrem a wife dūcit leads — sed — but nōn not ut as dominus a master servam! a slave! Melius better est is parī with an equal nūbere to marry quam than dīvitī with a rich man servīre! to serve!
Ōlim vir quīdam et mulier coniugēs erant. Once a certain man and woman were spouses.
Vir dīves erat; mulier pauper fuerat ante nūptiās. The man was rich; the woman had been poor before the wedding.
Vir saepe dīcēbat sē mulierem ē paupertāte ērīpuisse. The man often used to say that he had snatched the woman from poverty.
Dīcēbat eam sibi grātiam dēbēre. He used to say that she owed thanks to him.
Mulier tacēbat — sed dolēbat. The woman used to be silent — but used to grieve.
Ōlim amīcae suae cōnfessa est. Dīxit sē infelīcem esse. One day she confessed to her friend. She said that she was unhappy.
Dīxit marītum suum eam nōn amāre — sed possidēre! She said that her husband did not love her — but possessed her!
Amīca respondit: “Nōnne ille tē alit? Nōnne domum tibi praebet? Nōnne vestīmenta tibi emit?” The friend answered: “Does he not feed you? Does he not provide a house for you? Does he not buy clothes for you?”
Mulier lacrimāvit. “Ita,” inquit, “haec omnia facit.” The woman wept. “Yes,” she said, “he does all these things.”
“Sed — numquam mē audit! Numquam mēcum loquitur! Numquam quid sentiam rogat!” “But — he never hears me! He never speaks with me! He never asks what I feel!”
“Coniux nōn est sōlum quī alit — sed quī amat!” “A spouse is not only one who feeds — but one who loves!”
“Amor autem nōn in rēbus est — sed in verbīs et animō!” “But love is not in things — but in words and soul!”
Amīca tacuit. Deinde dīxit: “Verba tua vēra sunt.” The friend was silent. Then she said: “Your words are true.”
“Coniugium nōn est negōtium — sed amīcitia!” “Marriage is not a business — but friendship!”
“Coniugēs nōn sunt dominus et serva — sed duo sociī aequālēs!” “Spouses are not a master and slave — but two equal partners!”
Mulier domum rediit. Marītō suō omnia dīxit. The woman returned home. She said everything to her husband.
Marītus prīmum īrātus erat. Sed paulātim intellēxit. The husband was angry at first. But gradually he understood.
Dīxit sē errāvisse. Dīxit sē uxōrem nōn ut rem — sed ut hominem tractātūrum esse. He said that he had erred. He said that he would treat his wife not as a thing — but as a person.
Ex illō diē, melius coniugēs factī sunt — quia melius amīcī factī sunt! From that day, they became better spouses — because they became better friends!
Haec fābula docet: Coniugēs iugō iungī dēbent — sed iugō amōris, nōn servitūtis! This fable teaches: Spouses ought to be joined by a yoke — but a yoke of love, not of slavery!
Vir uxōrem dūcit — sed nōn ut dominus servam! A man leads a wife — but not as a master a slave!
Melius est parī nūbere quam dīvitī servīre! It is better to marry an equal than to serve a rich man!
Ōlim vir quīdam et mulier coniugēs erant. Vir dīves erat; mulier pauper fuerat ante nūptiās. Vir saepe dīcēbat sē mulierem ē paupertāte ērīpuisse. Dīcēbat eam sibi grātiam dēbēre.
Mulier tacēbat — sed dolēbat. Ōlim amīcae suae cōnfessa est. Dīxit sē infelīcem esse. Dīxit marītum suum eam nōn amāre — sed possidēre!
Amīca respondit: “Nōnne ille tē alit? Nōnne domum tibi praebet? Nōnne vestīmenta tibi emit?”
Mulier lacrimāvit. “Ita,” inquit, “haec omnia facit. Sed — numquam mē audit! Numquam mēcum loquitur! Numquam quid sentiam rogat! Coniux nōn est sōlum quī alit — sed quī amat! Amor autem nōn in rēbus est — sed in verbīs et animō!”
Amīca tacuit. Deinde dīxit: “Verba tua vēra sunt. Coniugium nōn est negōtium — sed amīcitia! Coniugēs nōn sunt dominus et serva — sed duo sociī aequālēs!”
Mulier domum rediit. Marītō suō omnia dīxit. Marītus prīmum īrātus erat. Sed paulātim intellēxit.
Dīxit sē errāvisse. Dīxit sē uxōrem nōn ut rem — sed ut hominem tractātūrum esse. Ex illō diē, melius coniugēs factī sunt — quia melius amīcī factī sunt!
Haec fābula docet: Coniugēs iugō iungī dēbent — sed iugō amōris, nōn servitūtis! Vir uxōrem dūcit — sed nōn ut dominus servam! Melius est parī nūbere quam dīvitī servīre!
Dē Argūmentō:
This fable explores the nature of marriage as partnership rather than possession. The wife’s complaint — that her husband provides materially but not emotionally — leads to a transformative conversation about love, respect, and equality in marriage.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Ōrātiō oblīqua: Dīcēbat sē mulierem ērīpuisse, eam sibi grātiam dēbēre -
Deponent cōnfiteor: cōnfessa est — “she confessed” -
Future active periphrastic: tractātūrum esse — “about to treat, going to treat” -
Indirect question: quid sentiam — “what I feel”
Vocabula Fābulae:
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō paupertās, -tātis (f.) nōmen poverty ēripiō, ēripere, ēripuī, ēreptum verbum to snatch away, rescue doleō, dolēre verbum to grieve, feel pain cōnfiteor, cōnfitērī, cōnfessus sum verbum (dep.) to confess īnfēlīx, īnfēlīcis adiectīvum unhappy possideō, possidēre verbum to possess negōtium, -ī (n.) nōmen business amīcitia, -ae (f.) nōmen friendship socius, -ī (m.) nōmen partner, companion aequālis, -e adiectīvum equal paulātim adverbium gradually tractō, tractāre verbum to treat, handle iugum, -ī (n.) nōmen yoke servitūs, -tūtis (f.) nōmen slavery
DISCIPULUS: Magister, master, quōmodo how Rōmānī the Romans nūptiās a wedding celebrābant? used to celebrate?
MAGISTER: Nūptiae a wedding Rōmānae Roman multōs many rītūs rites habēbant! used to have! Prīmum first — spōnsālia. — the betrothal. Spōnsus the bridegroom spōnsae to the bride ānulum a ring dabat. used to give. Hic this ānulus ring in on digitō the finger quārtō fourth sinistrae of the left manūs hand gerēbātur was worn — quia — because vēna a vein ab from hōc this digitō finger ad to cor the heart īre to go putābātur! was thought!
DISCIPULUS: Pulcher a beautiful mōs! custom! Et and diēs the day nūptiārum of the wedding ipse? itself?
MAGISTER: Spōnsa the bride flammeum a flame-colored veil gerēbat used to wear — velum — a veil aurantiacum. orange. Prōnuba a matron of honor — mulier — a woman ūnīvira, once-married, id est that is quae who ūnum one sōlum only marītum husband habuerat had had — manūs the hands spōnsī of the bridegroom et and spōnsae of the bride iungēbat. used to join.
DISCIPULUS: Et and post after rītūs? the rites?
MAGISTER: Spōnsa the bride ad to domum the house spōnsī of the bridegroom dūcēbātur. was led. Māter the mother spōnsae of the bride lacrimābat used to weep — sed — but lacrimīs with tears gaudī, of joy, nōn not dolōris! of grief! In at līmine the threshold domūs of the house novae, new, spōnsa the bride ā by spōnsō the bridegroom in into domum the house ferēbātur was carried — nē — lest pedem her foot offenderet! she strike!
DISCIPULUS: Cūr why in into domum the house ferēbātur? was she carried?
MAGISTER: Ōmen the omen malum bad erat was sī if spōnsa the bride in on līmine the threshold offenderet! stumbled! Ergō therefore marītus the husband eam her super over līmen the threshold ferēbat used to carry — et — and sīc thus in in novam the new vītam life intrābant they used to enter — coniugēs — spouses factī! having become!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, quōmodo Rōmānī nūptiās celebrābant? Master, how did the Romans used to celebrate a wedding?
MAGISTER: Nūptiae Rōmānae multōs rītūs habēbant! Prīmum — spōnsālia. A Roman wedding used to have many rites! First — the betrothal.
Spōnsus spōnsae ānulum dabat. The bridegroom used to give a ring to the bride.
Hic ānulus in digitō quārtō sinistrae manūs gerēbātur — quia vēna ab hōc digitō ad cor īre putābātur! This ring was worn on the fourth finger of the left hand — because a vein was thought to go from this finger to the heart!
DISCIPULUS: Pulcher mōs! Et diēs nūptiārum ipse? A beautiful custom! And the wedding day itself?
MAGISTER: Spōnsa flammeum gerēbat — velum aurantiacum. The bride used to wear a flame-colored veil — an orange veil.
Prōnuba — mulier ūnīvira, id est quae ūnum sōlum marītum habuerat — manūs spōnsī et spōnsae iungēbat. A matron of honor — a once-married woman, that is, who had had only one husband — used to join the hands of the bridegroom and bride.
DISCIPULUS: Et post rītūs? And after the rites?
MAGISTER: Spōnsa ad domum spōnsī dūcēbātur. Māter spōnsae lacrimābat — sed lacrimīs gaudī, nōn dolōris! The bride was led to the house of the bridegroom. The mother of the bride used to weep — but with tears of joy, not of grief!
In līmine domūs novae, spōnsa ā spōnsō in domum ferēbātur — nē pedem offenderet! At the threshold of the new house, the bride was carried into the house by the bridegroom — lest she strike her foot!
DISCIPULUS: Cūr in domum ferēbātur? Why was she carried into the house?
MAGISTER: Ōmen malum erat sī spōnsa in līmine offenderet! It was a bad omen if the bride stumbled on the threshold!
Ergō marītus eam super līmen ferēbat — et sīc in novam vītam intrābant — coniugēs factī! Therefore the husband used to carry her over the threshold — and thus they used to enter into the new life — having become spouses!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, quōmodo Rōmānī nūptiās celebrābant?
MAGISTER: Nūptiae Rōmānae multōs rītūs habēbant! Prīmum — spōnsālia. Spōnsus spōnsae ānulum dabat. Hic ānulus in digitō quārtō sinistrae manūs gerēbātur — quia vēna ab hōc digitō ad cor īre putābātur!
DISCIPULUS: Pulcher mōs! Et diēs nūptiārum ipse?
MAGISTER: Spōnsa flammeum gerēbat — velum aurantiacum. Prōnuba — mulier ūnīvira, id est quae ūnum sōlum marītum habuerat — manūs spōnsī et spōnsae iungēbat.
DISCIPULUS: Et post rītūs?
MAGISTER: Spōnsa ad domum spōnsī dūcēbātur. Māter spōnsae lacrimābat — sed lacrimīs gaudī, nōn dolōris! In līmine domūs novae, spōnsa ā spōnsō in domum ferēbātur — nē pedem offenderet!
DISCIPULUS: Cūr in domum ferēbātur?
MAGISTER: Ōmen malum erat sī spōnsa in līmine offenderet! Ergō marītus eam super līmen ferēbat — et sīc in novam vītam intrābant — coniugēs factī!
Dē Argūmentō Paedagōgicō:
This colloquium describes Roman wedding customs: the betrothal ring worn on the fourth finger (the “vein to the heart” tradition still observed today), the orange veil (flammeum), the prōnuba who joins hands, and carrying the bride over the threshold.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Passive imperfect: gerēbātur, dūcēbātur, ferēbātur -
Negative purpose clause: nē offenderet — “lest she stumble” -
Ablative of description: lacrimīs gaudī — “with tears of joy”
Match the Latin with its meaning:
Vocābulum Significātiō 1. coniux a. bridegroom 2. spōnsus b. widow 3. spōnsa c. spouse 4. marītus d. bride 5. vidua e. husband
Classify each term:
Vocābulum Ante Nūptiās Post Nūptiās spōnsus marītus spōnsa marīta
-
A man and a woman are spouses. -
A widower sometimes marries a maiden. -
A bridegroom has a bride. -
After the wedding, a husband (has) a wife. -
Marriage is friendship, not business!
-
Vir et mulier sunt coniugēs. -
Viduus dūcit interdum virginem. -
Spōnsus habet spōnsam. -
Post nūptiās, marītus marītam. -
Coniugēs iugō amōris iungī dēbent.
Complete with the correct verb: -
Vir uxōrem __________. (dūcit / nūbit) -
Mulier virō __________. (dūcit / nūbit) -
Viduus virginem __________. (dūcit / nūbit)
Memorize these sentences: -
Vir et mulier sunt coniugēs. A man and a woman are spouses. -
Viduus dūcit interdum virginem. A widower sometimes marries a maiden. -
Spōnsus habet spōnsam. A bridegroom has a bride. -
Post nūptiās, marītus marītam. After the wedding, a husband (has) a wife. -
Coniugium nōn est negōtium — sed amīcitia! Marriage is not a business — but friendship!
-
c (coniux = spouse) -
a (spōnsus = bridegroom) -
d (spōnsa = bride) -
e (marītus = husband) -
b (vidua = widow)
Vocābulum Ante Nūptiās Post Nūptiās spōnsus ✓ marītus ✓ spōnsa ✓ marīta ✓
-
Vir et mulier sunt coniugēs. -
Viduus interdum virginem dūcit. -
Spōnsus spōnsam habet. -
Post nūptiās, marītus marītam (habet). -
Coniugium est amīcitia, nōn negōtium!
-
A man and a woman are spouses. -
A widower sometimes marries a maiden. -
A bridegroom has a bride. -
After the wedding, a husband (has) a wife. -
Spouses ought to be joined by a yoke of love.
-
dūcit (man “leads” a wife) -
nūbit (woman “marries” + dative) -
dūcit (widower “leads” a maiden)
In proximā lectiōne dē līberīs et hērēditāte discēmus! Vidēbimus quōmodo puerpera puerum pariat, quōmodo nūtrīx eum osculētur et foveat. Et dē hērēdibus audiēmus — fīlius est hērēs, fīlia accipit dōtem! Puerpera peperit puerum. Hunc osculātur nūtrīx, fovetque in gremiō. Fīlius est hērēs, fīlia accipit dōtem.
In the next lesson we shall learn about children and inheritance! We shall see how a mother gives birth to a child, how the nurse kisses him and cherishes him. And we shall hear about heirs — a son is an heir, a daughter receives a dowry! A mother has given birth to a child. The nurse kisses him and cherishes him in her lap. A son is an heir, a daughter receives a dowry.
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Comēniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
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