← Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
### ROMANS WEARING TOGAS
107.1 Rēx king bellum war īrāe of anger causā for sake gessit waged
107.2 Causam cause mortis of death medicus doctor quaerit seeks
107.3 Multae many causae causes nōs us ad to pugnam battle dūcunt lead
107.4 Glōriae of glory causā for sake mīlitēs soldiers fortiter bravely pugnant fight
107.5 Iūdex judge omnēs all causās cases audīre to hear dēbet ought
107.6 Sine without causā reason puer boy flēbat was crying
107.7 Ob on account of hanc this causam reason domum home revertimur we return
107.8 Pecūniae of money causā for sake mercātor merchant longē far nāvigat sails
107.9 Vēra true causa cause clam secretly manet remains
107.10 Propter because of parvam small causam reason magna great bella wars oriuntur arise
107.11 Salūtis of safety causā for sake cīvēs citizens urbem city relīquērunt left
107.12 Philosophī philosophers causās causes rērum of things investigant investigate
107.13 Meā on my causā account nōlī don't timēre fear
107.14 Nūlla no causa reason satis enough bona good est is
107.15 Exemplī of example causā for sake haec these things dīcō I say
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107.1 Rēx bellum īrāe causā gessit. The king waged war for the sake of anger.
107.2 Causam mortis medicus quaerit. The doctor seeks the cause of death.
107.3 Multae causae nōs ad pugnam dūcunt. Many causes lead us to battle.
107.4 Glōriae causā mīlitēs fortiter pugnant. The soldiers fight bravely for the sake of glory.
107.5 Iūdex omnēs causās audīre dēbet. The judge ought to hear all cases.
107.6 Sine causā puer flēbat. The boy was crying without reason.
107.7 Ob hanc causam domum revertimur. We are returning home on account of this reason.
107.8 Pecūniae causā mercātor longē nāvigat. The merchant sails far for the sake of money.
107.9 Vēra causa clam manet. The true cause remains hidden.
107.10 Propter parvam causam magna bella oriuntur. Great wars arise because of a small reason.
107.11 Salūtis causā cīvēs urbem relīquērunt. The citizens left the city for the sake of safety.
107.12 Philosophī causās rērum investigant. Philosophers investigate the causes of things.
107.13 Meā causā nōlī timēre. Don't fear on my account.
107.14 Nūlla causa satis bona est. No reason is good enough.
107.15 Exemplī causā haec dīcō. I say these things for the sake of example.
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107.1 Rēx bellum īrāe causā gessit.
107.2 Causam mortis medicus quaerit.
107.3 Multae causae nōs ad pugnam dūcunt.
107.4 Glōriae causā mīlitēs fortiter pugnant.
107.5 Iūdex omnēs causās audīre dēbet.
107.6 Sine causā puer flēbat.
107.7 Ob hanc causam domum revertimur.
107.8 Pecūniae causā mercātor longē nāvigat.
107.9 Vēra causa clam manet.
107.10 Propter parvam causam magna bella oriuntur.
107.11 Salūtis causā cīvēs urbem relīquērunt.
107.12 Philosophī causās rērum investigant.
107.13 Meā causā nōlī timēre.
107.14 Nūlla causa satis bona est.
107.15 Exemplī causā haec dīcō.
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For English speakers learning Latin, "causa" presents several important grammatical features: -
Declension Pattern: -
First declension feminine noun -
Nominative: causa -
Genitive: causae -
Dative: causae -
Accusative: causam -
Ablative: causā -
Plural follows regular first declension pattern -
Special Construction: Genitive + causā: -
"For the sake of" = genitive + causā (ablative) -
Examples: -
īrāe causā = "for the sake of anger" -
glōriae causā = "for the sake of glory" -
pecūniae causā = "for the sake of money" -
The genitive precedes causā in this construction -
Prepositional Uses: -
ob + accusative causam = "on account of the reason" -
propter + accusative causam = "because of the reason" -
sine + ablative causā = "without reason" -
Multiple Meanings: -
"Cause" (as in origin or source) -
"Reason" (as in rationale) -
"Case" (as in legal case) -
"Sake" (in the construction genitive + causā) -
Word Order Variations: -
Initial position for emphasis: "Causam mortis medicus quaerit" -
Final position for closure: "Rēx bellum īrāe causā gessit" -
Medial position for flow: "Ob hanc causam domum revertimur"
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For English speakers, understanding "causa" requires appreciating its role in Roman thought and society: -
Legal Context: -
Romans were highly legalistic -
"Causa" meant "legal case" in court -
Every citizen could bring a causa before a judge -
The phrase "sine causā" meant "without legal grounds" -
Philosophical Usage: -
Central to Stoic philosophy -
Romans investigated "causae rērum" (causes of things) -
Distinguished between immediate and ultimate causes -
Influenced medieval scholastic thought -
Rhetorical Importance: -
Orators needed to establish causa for their arguments -
"Exemplī causā" (for example's sake) was a teaching device -
Understanding causation was crucial for persuasion -
Modern English Derivatives: -
"Cause" (direct borrowing) -
"Because" (by + cause) -
"Causal" (relating to cause) -
Legal term "cause of action" -
Cultural Values: -
Romans valued rational explanation -
Everything should have a causa -
Acting "sine causā" was seen as irrational -
Honor (glōria) and safety (salūs) were worthy causae
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From Cicero's De Officiis 1.7.22:
107.1 King-Ø king war-um war anger-ae of-anger sake-ā for-sake wage-it waged
107.2 Cause-am cause death-is of-death doctor-Ø doctor seek-it seeks
107.3 Many-ae many cause-ae causes us-Ø us to-Ø to battle-am battle lead-unt lead
107.4 Glory-ae of-glory sake-ā for-sake soldier-ēs soldiers brave-iter bravely fight-ant fight
107.5 Judge-ex judge all-ēs all case-ās cases hear-re to-hear ought-et ought
107.6 Without-e without reason-ā reason boy-Ø boy cry-ēbat was-crying
107.7 Account-Ø on-account-of this-c this reason-am reason home-um home return-imur we-return
107.8 Money-ae of-money sake-ā for-sake merchant-or merchant far-ē far sail-at sails
107.9 True-a true cause-a cause secret-Ø secretly remain-et remains
107.10 Because-er because-of small-am small reason-am reason great-a great war-a wars arise-untur arise
107.11 Safety-is of-safety sake-ā for-sake citizen-ēs citizens city-em city leave-ērunt left
107.12 Philosopher-ī philosophers cause-ās causes thing-um of-things investigate-ant investigate
107.13 My-ā on-my account-ā account don't-ī don't fear-ēre fear
107.14 No-a no reason-a reason enough-Ø enough good-a good is-t is
107.15 Example-ī of-example sake-ā for-sake these-c these-things say-ō I-say
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Honestum autem id quod exquīrimus, aliud est per sē ipsum laudābile, aliud autem, quod propter frūctum aliquem petītur. Virtūtis enim causā haec facere dēbēmus, nōn ūtilitātis.
Moreover, the honorable thing which we seek is of two kinds: one is praiseworthy through itself, another, however, is sought because of some profit. For we ought to do these things for the sake of virtue, not utility.
Honestum autem id quod exquīrimus, aliud est per sē ipsum laudābile, aliud autem, quod propter frūctum aliquem petītur. Virtūtis enim causā haec facere dēbēmus, nōn ūtilitātis.
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virtūtis causā: Classic example of genitive + causā construction -
propter frūctum: Alternative causal expression with propter + accusative -
per sē ipsum: Emphatic reflexive construction -
dēbēmus: First person plural showing moral obligation -
Contrasts two types of motivation: intrinsic (virtue) vs. extrinsic (utility)
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Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Honestum the honorable autem moreover id that quod which exquīrimus we seek, aliud one kind est is per through sē itself ipsum very laudābile praiseworthy, aliud another autem however, quod which propter because of frūctum profit aliquem some petītur is sought. Virtūtis of virtue enim for causā for the sake haec these things facere to do dēbēmus we ought, nōn not ūtilitātis of utility.
107.16 Accūsātor dīcit gravem causam esse. The prosecutor says it is a serious case.
107.17 Reus suam causam dēfendit. The defendant defends his own case.
107.18 Testimōnium causae nocet. The testimony harms the case.
107.19 Iūstā dē causā advocātus pugnat. The advocate fights for a just reason.
107.20 Causam dīcere reus parātus est. The defendant is prepared to plead his case.
107.21 Ob falsās causās innocēns damnātur. An innocent person is condemned on account of false charges.
107.22 Iūdex utramque causam aequē audit. The judge hears each case equally.
107.23 Sine causā probātā nēmō pūnītur. No one is punished without proven cause.
107.24 Causae victōria clientī lībertātem reddit. Victory in the case returns freedom to the client.
107.25 Propter dubiam causam sententia dīlāta est. The verdict was delayed because of the doubtful case.
107.26 Crīminis causā testis falsum dīcit. The witness speaks falsehood for the sake of the crime.
107.27 Bonae causae numquam mendāciīs egent. Good cases never need lies.
107.28 Rēgis causā lēgātus vēritātem cēlat. The ambassador conceals the truth for the king's sake.
107.29 Nūlla causa est cūr lēx violētur. There is no reason why the law should be violated.
107.30 Causā cognitā iūdex sententiam prōnūntiat. With the case examined, the judge pronounces the verdict.
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107.16 Accūsātor dīcit gravem causam esse.
107.17 Reus suam causam dēfendit.
107.18 Testimōnium causae nocet.
107.19 Iūstā dē causā advocātus pugnat.
107.20 Causam dīcere reus parātus est.
107.21 Ob falsās causās innocēns damnātur.
107.22 Iūdex utramque causam aequē audit.
107.23 Sine causā probātā nēmō pūnītur.
107.24 Causae victōria clientī lībertātem reddit.
107.25 Propter dubiam causam sententia dīlāta est.
107.26 Crīminis causā testis falsum dīcit.
107.27 Bonae causae numquam mendāciīs egent.
107.28 Rēgis causā lēgātus vēritātem cēlat.
107.29 Nūlla causa est cūr lēx violētur.
107.30 Causā cognitā iūdex sententiam prōnūntiat.
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In Roman legal contexts, "causa" takes on specialized meanings: -
Legal Terminology: -
causam dīcere = "to plead one's case" -
causā cognitā = "with the case examined" (ablative absolute) -
causae victōria = "victory in the case" -
iūstā dē causā = "for a just reason" (legal justification) -
Case Types: -
gravis causa = "serious case" -
dubia causa = "doubtful case" -
bona causa = "good case" (strong legal position) -
falsa causa = "false charge" -
Legal Procedures: -
Judge must hear both sides: "utramque causam" -
Evidence must be proven: "causā probātā" -
Verdict follows examination: "causā cognitā" -
Grammatical Constructions in Legal Latin: -
Ablative absolute for procedural stages -
Genitive + causā for motivation -
Indirect statement for testimony -
Subjunctive for legal principles -
Word Order in Legal Formulas: -
Formal placement of "causa" often at phrase end -
Adjectives precede for emphasis -
Ablative absolutes typically sentence-initial
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