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1.1 Ōlim once in in parvō small vīcō village Britannicō British
mulier woman paupercula poor nōmine by name Margarīta Margaret habitābat lived
1.2 Nocte at night quādam certain hiemālī wintry aliquis someone iānuam door eius her vehementer violently pulsāvit knocked
1.3 Cum when aperuisset she had opened vir man parvus small sed but pulcher handsome in in līmine threshold stābat was standing
1.4 Rogāvit he asked num whether Margarīta Margaret obstetrīx midwife esset was quae who mulieribus to women parturientibus giving birth auxilium help ferre to bring posset could
1.5 Illa she respondisse to have replied fertur is said sē herself quidem indeed obstetrīcem midwife esse to be sed but noctem night tam so frīgidam cold timēre to fear
1.6 Vir man autem however ōrāvit begged ut that sēcum with him venīret she would come nam for uxor wife sua his magnō in great dolōre pain versārētur was involved
1.7 Tandem finally Margarīta Margaret persuāsa persuaded pallium cloak suum her induit put on et and virum man secūta having followed est is
1.8 Per through silvam forest obscūram dark ambulantēs walking ad to collem hill viridem green pervēnērunt they arrived quī which lūnā by moon illūstrābātur was illuminated
1.9 Subitō suddenly collis hill apertus opened est was et and in into aulam hall subterrāneam underground splendidissimam most splendid intrāvērunt they entered
1.10 Omnēs all parietēs walls aurō with gold et and gemmīs gems ōrnātī decorated erant were et and lūx light mīrābilis wonderful undique from everywhere fulgēbat was shining
1.11 In in lectō bed pretiosō precious fēmina woman pulcherrima most beautiful iacēbat was lying quae who dolōribus with pains partūs of birth torquēbātur was being tortured
1.12 Margarīta Margaret statim immediately opus work suum her incēpit began et and post after hōrās hours multās many īnfantem infant sānum healthy in into lūcem light ēdidit brought forth
1.13 Pater father laetus happy parvulam little pyxidem box eburneam ivory prōtulit brought forth in in quā which unguentum ointment viride green continēbātur was contained
1.14 Imperāvit he commanded ut that Margarīta Margaret oculōs eyes īnfantis of infant hōc with this unguentō ointment ungeret would anoint sed but cavēret would beware nē lest suōs her own oculōs eyes tangeret she would touch
1.15 Dum while parvulum little one cūrābat she was caring for digitus finger eius her cāsū by chance oculum eye dextrum right tetigit touched adhūc still unguentō with ointment madidus wet
1.16 Statim immediately oculō with eye dextrō right vīdit she saw omnēs all quī who in in aulā hall aderant were present nōn not hominēs humans sed but fātās fairies esse to be
1.17 Terrōre with terror commōta moved tamen however vultum face placidium calm servāvit preserved nē lest suspīciōnem suspicion movēret she would arouse
1.18 Opus work perfectō having been completed vir man eam her domum home redūxit led back et and marsuppium purse aurī of gold plēnum full dedit gave
1.19 Margarīta Margaret domī at home oculō with eye sinistrō left nihil nothing extrāordinārīum extraordinary vidēbat was seeing sed but dextrō with right fātās fairies ubīque everywhere cernēbat was perceiving
1.20 Post after hebdomadās weeks aliquot several in in forō market virum man illum that parvum small agnōvit recognized quī who pomum apple ā from mercātōre merchant fūrābātur was stealing
1.21 Sine without cōgitātiōne thought clāmāvit she shouted ecce behold fūrem thief et and virum man digitō with finger monstrāvit pointed out
1.22 Vir man statim immediately intellēxit understood eam her oculō with eye dextrō right sē himself vidēre to see posse to be able et and īrātus angry appropinquāvit approached
1.23 In into oculum eye eius her dextrum right sufflāvit he blew et and statim immediately Margarīta Margaret facultātem ability fātās fairies videndī of seeing āmīsit lost
1.24 Numquam never iterum again mundum world magicum magical vīdit she saw sed but memoriam memory eius of it semper always retinuit retained
1.25 Fīliīs to children suīs her narrāre to tell solēbat she was accustomed quōmodo how semel once rēgnum kingdom fātārum of fairies vīdisset she had seen
1.26 Sed but nēmō no one eī her crēdēbat was believing praeter except nepōtem grandson parvulum little quī who oculōs eyes magnōs big habēbat had
1.27 Hic this puer boy saepe often sub under arbore tree antīquā ancient sedēbat was sitting spērans hoping sē himself quoque also fātās fairies vīsūrum about to see esse to be
1.28 Āviam grandmother interrogābat he was questioning dē about unguentō ointment magicō magical et and quōmodo how id it obtinērī to be obtained posset could
1.29 Illa she autem however monēbat was warning eum him perīculōsum dangerous esse to be arcāna secrets fātārum of fairies cognōscere to know
1.30 Sīc thus fābula story dē about unguentō ointment magicō magical per through generātiōnēs generations trādita handed down est was
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1.1 Ōlim in parvō vīcō Britannicō mulier paupercula nōmine Margarīta habitābat. Once upon a time, a poor woman named Margaret lived in a small British village.
1.2 Nocte quādam hiemālī aliquis iānuam eius vehementer pulsāvit. One winter night, someone knocked violently at her door.
1.3 Cum aperuisset, vir parvus sed pulcher in līmine stābat. When she opened it, a small but handsome man stood on the threshold.
1.4 Rogāvit num Margarīta obstetrīx esset quae mulieribus parturientibus auxilium ferre posset. He asked whether Margaret was a midwife who could help women in childbirth.
1.5 Illa respondisse fertur sē quidem obstetrīcem esse sed noctem tam frīgidam timēre. She is said to have replied that she was indeed a midwife but feared such a cold night.
1.6 Vir autem ōrāvit ut sēcum venīret nam uxor sua magnō dolōre versārētur. But the man begged her to come with him, for his wife was in great pain.
1.7 Tandem Margarīta persuāsa pallium suum induit et virum secūta est. Finally, Margaret was persuaded, put on her cloak, and followed the man.
1.8 Per silvam obscūram ambulantēs ad collem viridem pervēnērunt quī lūnā illūstrābātur. Walking through the dark forest, they came to a green hill illuminated by the moon.
1.9 Subitō collis apertus est et in aulam subterrāneam splendidissimam intrāvērunt. Suddenly the hill opened and they entered a most splendid underground hall.
1.10 Omnēs parietēs aurō et gemmīs ōrnātī erant et lūx mīrābilis undique fulgēbat. All the walls were decorated with gold and gems, and wonderful light shone from everywhere.
1.11 In lectō pretiōsō fēmina pulcherrima iacēbat quae dolōribus partūs torquēbātur. In a precious bed lay a most beautiful woman who was tortured by labor pains.
1.12 Margarīta statim opus suum incēpit et post hōrās multās īnfantem sānum in lūcem ēdidit. Margaret immediately began her work and after many hours brought forth a healthy infant.
1.13 Pater laetus parvulam pyxidem eburneam prōtulit in quā unguentum viride continēbātur. The happy father brought out a small ivory box containing green ointment.
1.14 Imperāvit ut Margarīta oculōs īnfantis hōc unguentō ungeret sed cavēret nē suōs oculōs tangeret. He commanded Margaret to anoint the infant's eyes with this ointment but to beware of touching her own eyes.
1.15 Dum parvulum cūrābat, digitus eius cāsū oculum dextrum tetigit adhūc unguentō madidus. While caring for the little one, her finger, still wet with ointment, accidentally touched her right eye.
1.16 Statim oculō dextrō vīdit omnēs quī in aulā aderant nōn hominēs sed fātās esse. Immediately with her right eye she saw that all present in the hall were not humans but fairies.
1.17 Terrōre commōta tamen vultum placidum servāvit nē suspīciōnem movēret. Though moved by terror, she kept a calm face lest she arouse suspicion.
1.18 Opus perfectō, vir eam domum redūxit et marsuppium aurī plēnum dedit. When the work was completed, the man led her home and gave her a purse full of gold.
1.19 Margarīta domī oculō sinistrō nihil extrāordinārīum vidēbat sed dextrō fātās ubīque cernēbat. At home, Margaret saw nothing extraordinary with her left eye but perceived fairies everywhere with her right.
1.20 Post hebdomadās aliquot in forō virum illum parvum agnōvit quī pomum ā mercātōre fūrābātur. After several weeks, she recognized that small man in the market stealing an apple from a merchant.
1.21 Sine cōgitātiōne clāmāvit "Ecce fūrem!" et virum digitō monstrāvit. Without thinking, she shouted "Behold the thief!" and pointed at the man.
1.22 Vir statim intellēxit eam oculō dextrō sē vidēre posse et īrātus appropinquāvit. The man immediately understood that she could see him with her right eye and angrily approached.
1.23 In oculum eius dextrum sufflāvit et statim Margarīta facultātem fātās videndī āmīsit. He blew into her right eye and immediately Margaret lost the ability to see fairies.
1.24 Numquam iterum mundum magicum vīdit sed memoriam eius semper retinuit. Never again did she see the magical world, but she always retained the memory of it.
1.25 Fīliīs suīs narrāre solēbat quōmodo semel rēgnum fātārum vīdisset. She used to tell her children how she had once seen the fairy kingdom.
1.26 Sed nēmō eī crēdēbat praeter nepōtem parvulum quī oculōs magnōs habēbat. But no one believed her except her little grandson who had big eyes.
1.27 Hic puer saepe sub arbore antīquā sedēbat spērans sē quoque fātās vīsūrum esse. This boy often sat under an ancient tree hoping that he too would see fairies.
1.28 Āviam interrogābat dē unguentō magicō et quōmodo id obtinērī posset. He questioned his grandmother about the magical ointment and how it could be obtained.
1.29 Illa autem monēbat eum perīculōsum esse arcāna fātārum cognōscere. But she warned him that it was dangerous to know the secrets of fairies.
1.30 Sīc fābula dē unguentō magicō per generātiōnēs trādita est. Thus the story of the magical ointment was handed down through generations.
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Ōlim in parvō vīcō Britannicō mulier paupercula nōmine Margarīta habitābat. Nocte quādam hiemālī aliquis iānuam eius vehementer pulsāvit. Cum aperuisset, vir parvus sed pulcher in līmine stābat. Rogāvit num Margarīta obstetrīx esset quae mulieribus parturientibus auxilium ferre posset. Illa respondisse fertur sē quidem obstetrīcem esse sed noctem tam frīgidam timēre. Vir autem ōrāvit ut sēcum venīret nam uxor sua magnō dolōre versārētur. Tandem Margarīta persuāsa pallium suum induit et virum secūta est. Per silvam obscūram ambulantēs ad collem viridem pervēnērunt quī lūnā illūstrābātur. Subitō collis apertus est et in aulam subterrāneam splendidissimam intrāvērunt. Omnēs parietēs aurō et gemmīs ōrnātī erant et lūx mīrābilis undique fulgēbat. In lectō pretiōsō fēmina pulcherrima iacēbat quae dolōribus partūs torquēbātur. Margarīta statim opus suum incēpit et post hōrās multās īnfantem sānum in lūcem ēdidit. Pater laetus parvulam pyxidem eburneam prōtulit in quā unguentum viride continēbātur. Imperāvit ut Margarīta oculōs īnfantis hōc unguentō ungeret sed cavēret nē suōs oculōs tangeret. Dum parvulum cūrābat, digitus eius cāsū oculum dextrum tetigit adhūc unguentō madidus. Statim oculō dextrō vīdit omnēs quī in aulā aderant nōn hominēs sed fātās esse. Terrōre commōta tamen vultum placidum servāvit nē suspīciōnem movēret. Opus perfectō, vir eam domum redūxit et marsuppium aurī plēnum dedit. Margarīta domī oculō sinistrō nihil extrāordinārīum vidēbat sed dextrō fātās ubīque cernēbat. Post hebdomadās aliquot in forō virum illum parvum agnōvit quī pomum ā mercātōre fūrābātur. Sine cōgitātiōne clāmāvit "Ecce fūrem!" et virum digitō monstrāvit. Vir statim intellēxit eam oculō dextrō sē vidēre posse et īrātus appropinquāvit. In oculum eius dextrum sufflāvit et statim Margarīta facultātem fātās videndī āmīsit. Numquam iterum mundum magicum vīdit sed memoriam eius semper retinuit. Fīliīs suīs narrāre solēbat quōmodo semel rēgnum fātārum vīdisset. Sed nēmō eī crēdēbat praeter nepōtem parvulum quī oculōs magnōs habēbat. Hic puer saepe sub arbore antīquā sedēbat spērans sē quoque fātās vīsūrum esse. Āviam interrogābat dē unguentō magicō et quōmodo id obtinērī posset. Illa autem monēbat eum perīculōsum esse arcāna fātārum cognōscere. Sīc fābula dē unguentō magicō per generātiōnēs trādita est.
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This fairy tale introduces several important Latin constructions:
1. Indirect Statement (Ōrātiō Oblīqua) -
Line 1.5: "respondisse fertur" - she is said to have replied (passive construction with infinitive) -
Line 1.14: "Imperāvit ut...ungeret sed cavēret" - indirect command using ut + subjunctive
2. Ablative Absolute -
Line 1.18: "Opus perfectō" - the work having been completed -
A compact way to express time or circumstance
3. Purpose Clauses -
Line 1.14: "ut...ungeret" - so that she might anoint (positive purpose) -
Line 1.17: "nē suspīciōnem movēret" - lest she arouse suspicion (negative purpose)
4. Temporal Clauses -
Line 1.3: "Cum aperuisset" - when she had opened (cum + pluperfect subjunctive) -
Line 1.15: "Dum parvulum cūrābat" - while she was caring (dum + imperfect)
5. Relative Clauses -
Line 1.11: "quae dolōribus partūs torquēbātur" - who was being tortured by labor pains -
Shows agreement of relative pronoun with antecedent
6. Participles -
Line 1.7: "persuāsa" - having been persuaded (perfect passive participle) -
Line 1.8: "ambulantēs" - walking (present active participle) -
Line 1.17: "commōta" - moved (perfect passive participle agreeing with subject)
7. Subjunctive Uses -
Indirect questions: "num...esset" (whether she was) -
Result clauses: implicit in the narrative structure -
Wishes and potentiality: "vīsūrum esse" (would see)
8. Varied Word Order -
SOV: "Margarīta facultātem...āmīsit" (basic order) -
VSO: "vīdit omnēs" (emphasis on action) -
OSV: "arcāna fātārum cognōscere" (emphasis on secrets)
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