← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
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Salvēte, discipulī cārissimī! In lectiōnibus praecēdentibus dē familiā dīdicimus — dē nūptiīs et līberīs, dē servīs et cognātīs. Nunc ē domō ēgredimur et urbem intrāmus! Caput sextum Vestibulī nostri incipit: DĒ RĒBUS IN URBE ET REGIŌNE — dē rēbus in cīvitāte et rūre!
Greetings, dearest students! In the preceding lessons we learned about the family — about marriage and children, about servants and relatives. Now we go out from the house and enter the city! The sixth chapter of our Vestibulum begins: ON THINGS IN THE CITY AND COUNTRY — about things in the state and countryside!
Hodiē dē urbe ipsā discēmus — dē moeniīs quae urbem mūniunt, dē portīs et plāteīs, dē forō et aedificiīs. Urbs enim est domus magna multōrum hominum!
Today we shall learn about the city itself — about the walls that fortify the city, about gates and streets, about the forum and buildings. For a city is a great house of many people!
Ē tenebrīs Lēšnēnsibus, Iōannēs Āmos Comēnius
Urbs a city mūnītur is fortified moeniīs. with walls. Nec and also nōn not vallō with a rampart et and fossā. a ditch. Porta the gate habet has valvās. folding doors. Abhinc hence eunt go plāteae. the streets. In in forō the forum solent are wont esse to be cīsternae. cisterns. Aedificia buildings sunt are pūblica public aut or prīvāta. private. Nam for quod what nōn not ūnī to one proprium proper est, is, est is commūne. common.
Urbs mūnītur moeniīs — A city (urbs) is fortified (mūnītur) with walls (moeniīs). Mūniō means “to fortify, build walls.” Moenia (neuter plural) are city walls.
Nec nōn vallō et fossā — And also (nec nōn) with a rampart (vallō) and (et) a ditch (fossā). Nec nōn = “and also, likewise.” Vallum is a palisade or rampart; fossa is a ditch or trench.
Porta habet valvās — The gate (porta) has (habet) folding doors (valvās). Valvae (plural) are folding or double doors that swing open.
Abhinc eunt plāteae — Hence (abhinc) go (eunt) the streets (plāteae). From the gate, streets radiate into the city. Plātea (from Greek plateia) is a broad street.
In forō solent esse cīsternae — In (in) the forum (forō) cisterns (cīsternae) are wont (solent) to be (esse). Forum is the marketplace and civic center. Cīsterna is a cistern for water storage.
Aedificia sunt pūblica aut prīvāta — Buildings (aedificia) are (sunt) public (pūblica) or (aut) private (prīvāta). Aedificium is a building (from aedificō, to build).
Nam quod nōn ūnī proprium est, est commūne — For (nam) what (quod) is (est) not (nōn) proper (proprium) to one (ūnī), is (est) common (commūne). A philosophical definition: if something doesn’t belong to one person, it belongs to all.
Urbs mūnītur moeniīs. A city is fortified with walls.
Nec nōn vallō et fossā. And also with a rampart and ditch.
Porta habet valvās. The gate has folding doors.
Abhinc eunt plāteae. Hence go the streets.
In forō solent esse cīsternae. Cisterns are wont to be in the forum.
Aedificia sunt pūblica aut prīvāta. Buildings are public or private.
Nam quod nōn ūnī proprium est, est commūne. For what is not proper to one is common.
Urbs mūnītur moeniīs. Nec nōn vallō et fossā. Porta habet valvās. Abhinc eunt plāteae. In forō solent esse cīsternae. Aedificia sunt pūblica aut prīvāta. Nam quod nōn ūnī proprium est, est commūne.
Mūniō, mūnīre, mūnīvī, mūnītum — to fortify, build walls:
Forma Significātiō mūnītur it is fortified mūnīta est it was/has been fortified mūnienda est it must be fortified
Cognates: moenia (walls), mūnīmentum (fortification), mūnītiō (fortifying).
Nec nōn (also neque nōn) = “and also, likewise, as well”:
Exemplum Significātiō moeniīs, nec nōn vallō with walls, and also with a rampart laudāvit, nec nōn praemiāvit he praised, and also rewarded
Two negatives create an emphatic positive.
Soleō, solēre, solitus sum — to be accustomed, be wont (semi-deponent):
Forma Significātiō solet esse it is wont to be solent esse they are wont to be solitus est he was accustomed
Takes complementary infinitive: solent esse = “they are accustomed to be.”
A Roman legal distinction:
Vocābulum Significātiō proprium one’s own, private property commūne common, shared by all
Quod nōn ūnī proprium est, est commūne — philosophical definition of public goods.
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō urbs, urbis (f.) nōmen city mūniō, mūnīre, mūnīvī, mūnītum verbum to fortify moenia, -ium (n. pl.) nōmen city walls nec nōn coniūnctiō and also vallum, -ī (n.) nōmen rampart, palisade fossa, -ae (f.) nōmen ditch, trench porta, -ae (f.) nōmen gate valvae, -ārum (f. pl.) nōmen folding doors abhinc adverbium hence, from here plātea, -ae (f.) nōmen street (broad) forum, -ī (n.) nōmen forum, marketplace soleō, solēre, solitus sum verbum to be wont cīsterna, -ae (f.) nōmen cistern aedificium, -ī (n.) nōmen building pūblicus, -a, -um adiectīvum public prīvātus, -a, -um adiectīvum private proprius, -a, -um adiectīvum one’s own, proper commūnis, -e adiectīvum common, shared
Ōlim once urbs a city quaedam certain duōs two mūrōs walls habēbat. had. Prīmus the first mūrus wall antīquus ancient erat was — ā by māiōribus ancestors aedificātus. built. Lapidibus with stones māgnīs great cōnstrūctus constructed erat. was. Centum a hundred annōs years steterat. it had stood.
Secundus the second mūrus wall novus new erat. was. Ā by cīvibus the citizens praesentibus present aedificātus built erat. was. Sed but celeriter quickly et and neglegenter carelessly cōnstrūctus constructed erat. was.
Ōlim one day hostēs enemies vēnērunt. came. Urbem the city oppūgnāvērunt. they attacked.
Prīmus the first mūrus wall fortiter bravely resistēbat. was resisting. Lapidēs stones eius its firmī firm manēbant. were remaining. Hostēs the enemies hunc this mūrum wall trānsgredī to cross nōn not poterant. were able.
Secundus the second mūrus wall autem however celeriter quickly cecidit. fell. Lapidēs stones eius its disiēctī scattered sunt. were. Per through hunc this mūrum wall hostēs the enemies intrāvērunt! entered!
Cīvēs the citizens lacrimāvērunt. wept. Dīxērunt they said mūrum the wall novum new malum bad fuisse. to have been.
Sed but senex an old man quīdam certain dīxit: said: "Mūrus the wall nōn not malus bad erat was — sed but vōs you malī bad fuistis! were! Mūrum the wall novum new celeriter quickly aedificāvistis you built — quia because labōrem work nōn not amābātis! you loved! Mūrum the wall novum new neglegenter carelessly aedificāvistis you built — quia because futūrum the future nōn not cōgitābātis! you were thinking about! Māiōrēs ancestors nostrī our mūrum the wall antīquum ancient lentē slowly et and dīligenter carefully aedificāvērunt built — quia because nepōtēs grandchildren suōs their amābant!" they loved!"
Haec this fābula fable docet: teaches: Quod what celeriter quickly aedificātur, is built, celeriter quickly cadit. falls. Quod what dīligenter carefully aedificātur, is built, diū for a long time stat! stands! Mūrī walls urbis of the city — sīcut just as mōrēs the customs cīvium of the citizens — tempore by time et and labōre work fīrmī firm fiunt! become!
Ōlim urbs quaedam duōs mūrōs habēbat. Once a certain city had two walls.
Prīmus mūrus antīquus erat — ā māiōribus aedificātus. The first wall was ancient — built by ancestors.
Lapidibus māgnīs cōnstrūctus erat. Centum annōs steterat. It was constructed with great stones. It had stood for a hundred years.
Secundus mūrus novus erat. Sed celeriter et neglegenter cōnstrūctus erat. The second wall was new. But it was constructed quickly and carelessly.
Ōlim hostēs vēnērunt. Urbem oppūgnāvērunt. One day enemies came. They attacked the city.
Prīmus mūrus fortiter resistēbat. Hostēs hunc mūrum trānsgredī nōn poterant. The first wall was resisting bravely. The enemies were not able to cross this wall.
Secundus mūrus autem celeriter cecidit. Per hunc mūrum hostēs intrāvērunt! The second wall however fell quickly. Through this wall the enemies entered!
Senex quīdam dīxit: “Mūrus nōn malus erat — sed vōs malī fuistis!” A certain old man said: “The wall was not bad — but you were bad!”
“Māiōrēs nostrī mūrum antīquum lentē et dīligenter aedificāvērunt — quia nepōtēs suōs amābant!” “Our ancestors built the ancient wall slowly and carefully — because they loved their grandchildren!”
Haec fābula docet: Quod celeriter aedificātur, celeriter cadit. Quod dīligenter aedificātur, diū stat! This fable teaches: What is built quickly falls quickly. What is built carefully stands for a long time!
Ōlim urbs quaedam duōs mūrōs habēbat. Prīmus mūrus antīquus erat — ā māiōribus aedificātus. Lapidibus māgnīs cōnstrūctus erat. Centum annōs steterat.
Secundus mūrus novus erat. Ā cīvibus praesentibus aedificātus erat. Sed celeriter et neglegenter cōnstrūctus erat.
Ōlim hostēs vēnērunt. Urbem oppūgnāvērunt. Prīmus mūrus fortiter resistēbat. Lapidēs eius firmī manēbant. Hostēs hunc mūrum trānsgredī nōn poterant.
Secundus mūrus autem celeriter cecidit. Lapidēs eius disiēctī sunt. Per hunc mūrum hostēs intrāvērunt!
Cīvēs lacrimāvērunt. Dīxērunt mūrum novum malum fuisse.
Sed senex quīdam dīxit: “Mūrus nōn malus erat — sed vōs malī fuistis! Mūrum novum celeriter aedificāvistis — quia labōrem nōn amābātis! Mūrum novum neglegenter aedificāvistis — quia futūrum nōn cōgitābātis! Māiōrēs nostrī mūrum antīquum lentē et dīligenter aedificāvērunt — quia nepōtēs suōs amābant!”
Haec fābula docet: Quod celeriter aedificātur, celeriter cadit. Quod dīligenter aedificātur, diū stat! Mūrī urbis — sīcut mōrēs cīvium — tempore et labōre fīrmī fiunt!
Dē Argūmentō:
This fable contrasts quick, careless work with slow, careful craftsmanship. The ancient wall (built by ancestors who loved their descendants) stands; the new wall (built hastily by the present generation) falls. The moral: good work requires time, care, and thinking of the future.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Perfect passive participles: aedificātus, cōnstrūctus, disiēctī -
Ablative of means: lapidibus māgnīs, tempore et labōre -
Pluperfect: steterat — “it had stood” -
Indirect statement: Dīxērunt mūrum malum fuisse — “They said that the wall had been bad”
DISCIPULUS: Magister, master, cūr why urbēs cities antīquae ancient moeniīs with walls mūniēbantur? were fortified?
MAGISTER: Propter on account of hostēs! enemies! Urbs a city sine without moeniīs walls facile easily oppūgnārī to be attacked poterat. was able. Mūrī walls et and fossae ditches urbem the city dēfendēbant used to defend ab from hostibus. enemies.
DISCIPULUS: Et and portae the gates — quālis of what kind erant? were?
MAGISTER: Portae the gates māgnae great et and fortēs strong erant! were! Valvās folding doors habēbant they had quae which noctū at night claudēbantur. were closed. Interdiū during the day apertae open erant they were — ut — so that mercātōrēs merchants et and cīvēs citizens intrāre to enter et and exīre to go out possent! might be able!
DISCIPULUS: Et and forum the forum — quid what erat? was it?
MAGISTER: Forum the forum erat was cor the heart urbis! of the city! Ibi there cīvēs citizens conveniēbant. used to gather. Ibi there negōtia business agēbant. they used to conduct. Ibi there magistrātūs magistrates ōrātiōnēs speeches habēbant. used to make. Forum the forum erat was locus the place pūblicus public per by excellentiam! excellence!
DISCIPULUS: Ergō therefore forum the forum erat was aedificium a building pūblicum? public?
MAGISTER: Nōn not aedificium a building — sed — but locus a place apertus! open! In in forō the forum nūllum no tēctum roof erat was — sed — but sub under dīvō the sky omnia all things agēbantur! were done! Circum around forum the forum autem however multa many aedificia buildings stābant used to stand — templa, — temples, basilicae, basilicas, tabernae! shops!
Match each Latin word with its meaning:
Vocābulum Significātiō 1. moenia a. ditch 2. vallum b. gate 3. fossa c. walls 4. porta d. rampart 5. forum e. marketplace
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A city is fortified with walls. -
The gate has folding doors. -
Hence go the streets. -
Buildings are public or private.
-
Urbs mūnītur moeniīs. -
In forō solent esse cīsternae. -
Quod nōn ūnī proprium est, est commūne. -
Quod dīligenter aedificātur, diū stat.
1-c, 2-d, 3-a, 4-b, 5-e
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Urbs moeniīs mūnītur. -
Porta valvās habet. -
Abhinc eunt plāteae. -
Aedificia sunt pūblica aut prīvāta.
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A city is fortified with walls. -
Cisterns are wont to be in the forum. -
What is not proper to one is common. -
What is built carefully stands for a long time.
In proximā lectiōne dē cīvibus et incolis discēmus! Vidēbimus quōmodo cīvēs cīvitātem incolant, quōmodo rūsticī in pāgō habitent. Et dē cūriā audiēmus — ubi Senātus congregātur, ubi Cōnsul praecedit et Senātōrēs sequuntur! Cīvēs et incolae incolunt cīvitātem. Rūsticī habitant in pāgō. In cūriā congregātur Senātus.
In the next lesson we shall learn about citizens and inhabitants! We shall see how citizens inhabit the state, how countrymen dwell in the village. And we shall hear about the Senate house — where the Senate gathers, where the Consul goes before and Senators follow! Citizens and inhabitants people a city. Countrymen dwell in the village. The Senate is gathered in the Senate house.
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Comēniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
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