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44.1 Servus the slave magna great onera burdens fert carries
44.2 Mīles the soldier arma weapons graviter heavily fert bears
44.3 Fortiter bravely labōrem labor ferimus we bear
44.4 Auxilium help amīcīs to friends ferre to bring debet he ought
44.5 Puer the boy librum book ad to scholam school fert carries
44.6 Nautae the sailors mercem merchandise ad to portum port ferunt carry
44.7 Vir the man epistulam letter ad to senātum senate fert carries
44.8 Agricola the farmer frūmentum grain in into urbem city fert carries
44.9 Ferre to bear dolōrem pain fortis brave virī of a man est is
44.10 Equī horses currum chariot per through viam road ferunt carry
44.11 Puella the girl aquam water ā from fonte fountain fert carries
44.12 Multōs many annōs years labōrem labor tulī I have borne
44.13 Ferēbant they were carrying spolia spoils ex from proeliō battle
44.14 Mater mother cibum food līberīs to children fert brings
44.15 Tempus time omnēs all rēs things fert carries away
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44.1 Servus magna onera fert. The slave carries great burdens.
44.2 Mīles graviter arma fert. The soldier heavily bears his weapons.
44.3 Fortiter labōrem ferimus. We bravely bear the labor.
44.4 Amīcīs auxilium ferre debet. He ought to bring help to his friends.
44.5 Puer librum ad scholam fert. The boy carries a book to school.
44.6 Nautae mercem ad portum ferunt. The sailors carry merchandise to the port.
44.7 Vir epistulam ad senātum fert. The man carries a letter to the senate.
44.8 Agricola frūmentum in urbem fert. The farmer carries grain into the city.
44.9 Ferre dolōrem fortis virī est. To bear pain is characteristic of a brave man.
44.10 Equī currum per viam ferunt. Horses carry the chariot through the road.
44.11 Puella aquam ā fonte fert. The girl carries water from the fountain.
44.12 Multōs annōs labōrem tulī. I have borne labor for many years.
44.13 Ferēbant spolia ex proeliō. They were carrying spoils from battle.
44.14 Mater cibum līberīs fert. Mother brings food to the children.
44.15 Tempus omnēs rēs fert. Time carries away all things.
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44.1 Servus magna onera fert.
44.2 Mīles graviter arma fert.
44.3 Fortiter labōrem ferimus.
44.4 Amīcīs auxilium ferre debet.
44.5 Puer librum ad scholam fert.
44.6 Nautae mercem ad portum ferunt.
44.7 Vir epistulam ad senātum fert.
44.8 Agricola frūmentum in urbem fert.
44.9 Ferre dolōrem fortis virī est.
44.10 Equī currum per viam ferunt.
44.11 Puella aquam ā fonte fert.
44.12 Multōs annōs labōrem tulī.
44.13 Ferēbant spolia ex proeliō.
44.14 Mater cibum līberīs fert.
44.15 Tempus omnēs rēs fert.
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For English speakers, "ferō" is a particularly important irregular verb to master. Here's what you need to know: -
Principal Parts: -
ferō (present) -
ferre (infinitive) -
tulī (perfect) -
lātum (supine) -
Present System Forms: -
ferō (I carry) -
fers (you carry) -
fert (he/she/it carries) -
ferimus (we carry) -
fertis (you all carry) -
ferunt (they carry) -
Key Uses: -
Physical carrying (like English "carry" or "bear") -
Metaphorical bearing (enduring, tolerating) -
Bringing or taking to a place (with directional phrases) -
Idiomatic expressions about time -
Important for English Speakers: -
Unlike English, can take direct objects without prepositions -
Often used with abstract concepts (like "bearing pain") -
Frequently combines with prepositions to show direction
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For English speakers, understanding "ferō" requires cultural context: -
Physical Labor: -
Slaves and workers carried heavy loads -
Important in Roman commerce and construction -
Essential part of military life -
Social Meaning: -
"Bearing" hardship was a Roman virtue -
Connected to ideas of duty and endurance -
Important in political and military contexts -
Literary Use: -
Common in epic poetry for heroic deeds -
Used in historical writing for carrying news -
Important in philosophical discussions of endurance -
Modern Relevance: -
Similar to English idioms about "bearing" difficulties -
Helps understand Roman attitudes toward duty -
Reveals aspects of daily Roman life
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Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
From Vergil's "Aeneid" (Book 2.708):
Tū you genitor father cape take sacra sacred things manū in hand patriōsque and ancestral penātēs household gods mē me bellō from war tantō so great dīgressum having withdrawn et and caede slaughter recentī recent attrectāre to touch nefās it is wrong dōnec until mē myself flūmine in river vīvō living abluērō I shall have washed
"Tū, genitor, cape sacra manū patriōsque penātēs; mē bellō tantō dīgressum et caede recentī attrectāre nefās, dōnec mē flūmine vīvō abluērō."
You, father, take in your hand the sacred objects and household gods of our fathers; for me, having withdrawn from such great war and recent slaughter, it would be sacrilege to touch them until I have washed myself in running water.
This passage shows Aeneas speaking to his father Anchises during the fall of Troy. The verb "cape" (take) is related to "ferō" in meaning and shows the importance of carrying sacred objects in Roman religion. The passage demonstrates the Roman concern with ritual purity and proper handling of sacred items.
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"cape" is imperative singular of capiō -
"manū" is ablative of means -
"attrectāre" is complementary infinitive with "nefās" -
"abluērō" is future perfect tense -
Note the careful arrangement of words for poetic effect
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44.16 Mīlitēs the soldiers arma weapons ad to castra camp ferunt carry
44.17 Nūntius messenger litterās letters ā from duce leader ad to cōnsulem consul fert carries
44.18 Centuriō centurion signa standards in into proelium battle fert carries
44.19 Auxiliārēs auxiliary troops tēla missiles et and sagittās arrows ferēbant were carrying
44.20 Lēgātus lieutenant mandata orders imperātōris of the commander ad to legiōnēs legions fert carries
44.21 Equitēs cavalry celeriter swiftly nūntium message ad to castra camp tulērunt carried
44.22 Impedīmenta baggage exercitūs of the army servī slaves ferunt carry
44.23 Veterānī veterans multōs many labōrēs hardships bellī of war fortiter bravely ferunt endure
44.24 Aquilifer eagle-bearer aquilam eagle legiōnis of the legion magnā with great dignitate dignity fert carries
44.25 Tribūnus tribune nova new mandāta orders ad to cohortēs cohorts fert brings
44.26 Mīlitēs soldiers vulnerātōs wounded ex from aciē battle line ferunt carry
44.27 Explōrātōrēs scouts nūntium news victōriae of victory ad to urbem city ferunt carry
44.28 Dux leader ipse himself vexillum banner in into hostēs enemies fert carries
44.29 Sagittāriī archers pharētrās quivers plēnās full sagittārum of arrows ferunt carry
44.30 Tribūnī tribunes graviter heavily clādem disaster exercitūs of the army ferunt bear
44.16 Mīlitēs arma ad castra ferunt. The soldiers carry weapons to the camp.
44.17 Nūntius litterās ā duce ad cōnsulem fert. The messenger carries letters from the leader to the consul.
44.18 Centuriō signa in proelium fert. The centurion carries the standards into battle.
44.19 Auxiliārēs tēla et sagittās ferēbant. The auxiliary troops were carrying missiles and arrows.
44.20 Lēgātus mandata imperātōris ad legiōnēs fert. The lieutenant carries the commander's orders to the legions.
44.21 Equitēs celeriter nūntium ad castra tulērunt. The cavalry swiftly carried the message to the camp.
44.22 Impedīmenta exercitūs servī ferunt. Slaves carry the army's baggage.
44.23 Veterānī multōs labōrēs bellī fortiter ferunt. The veterans bravely endure many hardships of war.
44.24 Aquilifer aquilam legiōnis magnā dignitate fert. The eagle-bearer carries the legion's eagle with great dignity.
44.25 Tribūnus nova mandāta ad cohortēs fert. The tribune brings new orders to the cohorts.
44.26 Mīlitēs vulnerātōs ex aciē ferunt. The soldiers carry the wounded from the battle line.
44.27 Explōrātōrēs nūntium victōriae ad urbem ferunt. The scouts carry news of victory to the city.
44.28 Dux ipse vexillum in hostēs fert. The leader himself carries the banner against the enemies.
44.29 Sagittāriī pharētrās plēnās sagittārum ferunt. The archers carry quivers full of arrows.
44.30 Tribūnī graviter clādem exercitūs ferunt. The tribunes heavily bear the disaster of the army.
44.16 Mīlitēs arma ad castra ferunt.
44.17 Nūntius litterās ā duce ad cōnsulem fert.
44.18 Centuriō signa in proelium fert.
44.19 Auxiliārēs tēla et sagittās ferēbant.
44.20 Lēgātus mandata imperātōris ad legiōnēs fert.
44.21 Equitēs celeriter nūntium ad castra tulērunt.
44.22 Impedīmenta exercitūs servī ferunt.
44.23 Veterānī multōs labōrēs bellī fortiter ferunt.
44.24 Aquilifer aquilam legiōnis magnā dignitate fert.
44.25 Tribūnus nova mandāta ad cohortēs fert.
44.26 Mīlitēs vulnerātōs ex aciē ferunt.
44.27 Explōrātōrēs nūntium victōriae ad urbem ferunt.
44.28 Dux ipse vexillum in hostēs fert.
44.29 Sagittāriī pharētrās plēnās sagittārum ferunt.
44.30 Tribūnī graviter clādem exercitūs ferunt.
In military contexts, "ferō" shows several specialized uses: -
Physical Carrying: -
Weapons and equipment (arma ferre) -
Military standards (signa ferre) -
Messages and orders (mandāta ferre) -
Important Military Phrases: -
signa ferre (to carry standards = to advance) -
auxilium ferre (to bring help) -
spolia ferre (to carry spoils) -
nūntium ferre (to bring news) -
Metaphorical Uses: -
Bearing hardship (labōrēs ferre) -
Enduring defeat (clādem ferre) -
Supporting military duty (onus ferre) -
Key Grammatical Points for Military Usage: -
Often takes accusative of thing carried -
Uses directional prepositions (ad, in, ex) -
Frequently appears with adverbs like "fortiter" and "graviter" -
Perfect tense (tulī) common in battle reports -
Word Order in Military Commands: -
Object often precedes verb for emphasis -
Direction terms usually follow object -
Subject often first for clarity of command
This specialized military vocabulary shows how "ferō" was essential to Roman military communication, describing everything from tactical movements to strategic messages.
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