Lesson 45

Part A (Interleaved English-Latin Text)

45.1 Caesar Caesar dē about bellō war cōgitat thinks

45.2 Multī many dē from templō temple veniunt come

45.3 Senātor senator dē about lēgibus laws loquitur speaks

45.4 Dē down from collibus hills aqua water fluit flows

45.5 Pater father dē about fīliō son sollicitus worried est is

45.6 Mīles soldier dē down from mūrō wall cadit falls

45.7 Orator orator dē about virṭūte virtue dīcit speaks

45.8 Magister teacher dē about litterīs literature docet teaches

45.9 Agricola farmer dē about agrīs fields cōgitat thinks

45.10 Dē from vīllā villa vertunt they turn ad to viam road

45.11 Mercātor merchant dē about pretiīs prices dīcit speaks

45.12 Legiō legion dē down from montibus mountains dēscendit descends

45.13 Poēta poet dē about amōre love cantat sings

45.14 Puellae girls dē about flōribus flowers gaudent rejoice

45.15 Philosophus philosopher dē about vītā life disputat discusses

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Part B (Complete Sentences)

45.1 Caesar dē bellō cōgitat. Caesar thinks about war.

45.2 Multī dē templō veniunt. Many come from the temple.

45.3 Senātor dē lēgibus loquitur. The senator speaks about the laws.

45.4 Dē collibus aqua fluit. Water flows down from the hills.

45.5 Pater dē fīliō sollicitus est. Father is worried about his son.

45.6 Mīles dē mūrō cadit. The soldier falls from the wall.

45.7 Orator dē virtūte dīcit. The orator speaks about virtue.

45.8 Magister dē litterīs docet. The teacher teaches about literature.

45.9 Agricola dē agrīs cōgitat. The farmer thinks about the fields.

45.10 Dē vīllā vertunt ad viam. They turn from the villa to the road.

45.11 Mercātor dē pretiīs dīcit. The merchant speaks about prices.

45.12 Legiō dē montibus dēscendit. The legion descends from the mountains.

45.13 Poēta dē amōre cantat. The poet sings about love.

45.14 Puellae dē flōribus gaudent. The girls rejoice about the flowers.

45.15 Philosophus dē vītā disputat. The philosopher discusses about life.

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Part C (Latin Only)

45.1 Caesar dē bellō cōgitat.

45.2 Multī dē templō veniunt.

45.3 Senātor dē lēgibus loquitur.

45.4 Dē collibus aqua fluit.

45.5 Pater dē fīliō sollicitus est.

45.6 Mīles dē mūrō cadit.

45.7 Orator dē virtūte dīcit.

45.8 Magister dē litterīs docet.

45.9 Agricola dē agrīs cōgitat.

45.10 Dē vīllā vertunt ad viam.

45.11 Mercātor dē pretiīs dīcit.

45.12 Legiō dē montibus dēscendit.

45.13 Poēta dē amōre cantat.

45.14 Puellae dē flōribus gaudent.

45.15 Philosophus dē vītā disputat.

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Part D (Grammar Explanation)

The preposition "dē" is important for English speakers to understand because it can express several different but related concepts: -

Physical Meaning: -

Movement downward from something -

Separation or departure from something -

Always takes the ablative case -

Abstract Meaning: -

"About" or "concerning" a topic -

"Regarding" or "with respect to" -

Similar to English "about" but more formal -

Case Usage: -

Always requires the ablative case -

The noun following "dē" must be in the ablative -

Examples: -

templum → dē templō -

mūrus → dē mūrō -

collis → dē colle -

Common Combinations: -

With verbs of speaking (dīcere, loquī) -

With verbs of thinking (cōgitāre) -

With verbs of movement (venīre, cadere) -

Word Order: -

Usually comes directly before its object -

Can be separated for emphasis -

Often starts the phrase it governs

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Part E (Cultural Context)

Understanding "dē" requires cultural context from Roman life: -

Social Communication: -

Romans frequently discussed topics formally -

Public speaking was highly valued -

Formal discussions often began with "dē" -

Physical Space: -

Roman architecture featured many levels -

Movement down from buildings was common -

Hills and elevation were important in Rome -

Abstract Thought: -

Romans loved philosophical discussion -

Topics were often introduced with "dē" -

Writing treatises "dē" subjects was common -

Modern Connections: -

Still used in academic titles -

Example: "De Bello Gallico" -

Influences formal English usage

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Part F (Literary Citation)

Part F-A (Interleaved Text)

45.1 Caesar-us about de war-o think-at 45.2 many-i about de temple-o come-unt 45.3 senator-us about de law-ibus speak-itur 45.4 about de hill-ibus water-a flow-it 45.5 father-us about de son-o worried-us be-t 45.6 soldier-us about de wall-o fall-it 45.7 orator-us about de virtue-e say-it 45.8 teacher-us about de letter-is teach-et 45.9 farmer-a about de field-is think-at 45.10 about de villa-a turn-unt to ad road-am 45.11 merchant-us about de price-is say-it 45.12 legion-o about de mountain-ibus descend-it 45.13 poet-a about de love-e sing-at 45.14 girl-ae about de flower-ibus rejoice-ent 45.15 philosopher-us about de life-a discuss-at

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Part F-B (Complete Translation)

Dē officiīs ad tē scrībō. I write to you about duties.

Part F-C (Literary Analysis)

This opening shows how Romans introduced topics in formal writing. The preposition "dē" signals the subject matter of the entire work.

Part F-D (Grammatical Notes)

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"dē" takes ablative "officiīs" -

Word order emphasizes topic -

Direct and formal style -

Typical of Roman philosophical writing

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Genre Section: Philosophical Writing

Part A (Interleaved Text)

Part F-A (Interleaved Text)

From Cicero's "Dē Officiīs" (1.1):

Dē about officiīs duties ad to tē you scrībō I write

Part B (Complete Sentences)

45.16 Philosophus dē sapientiae rēbus scrībit. The philosopher writes about matters of wisdom.

45.17 Multī dē immortālitāte animī disputant. Many discuss about the immortality of the soul.

45.18 Senex dē virtūte iuvenēs docet. The old man teaches the young men about virtue.

45.19 Dē dīvīnīs rēbus saepe meditāmur. We often meditate about divine matters.

45.20 Sapientēs dē nātūrā deōrum loquuntur. The wise men speak about the nature of the gods.

45.21 Magister dē summō bonō discipulōs interrogat. The teacher questions the pupils about the highest good.

45.22 Dē fātō graviter philosophī cōgitant. The philosophers think seriously about fate.

45.23 Scrīptor dē vītae fīne librum componit. The writer composes a book about the purpose of life.

45.24 Discipulī dē iūstitiā et lēgibus disputant. The students discuss about justice and laws.

45.25 Dē amīcitiā multī veterēs scrīpsērunt. Many ancient writers wrote about friendship.

45.26 Philosophus dē animō et corpore disserit. The philosopher discourses about mind and body.

45.27 Sapientēs dē vēritāte semper quaerunt. The wise men always seek concerning truth.

45.28 Dē mōribus hominēs doctī scrībunt. Learned men write about customs.

45.29 Magister dē pulchrō et bonō explicat. The teacher explains about beauty and goodness.

45.30 Dē sapientiae studiō multī librī sunt. There are many books about the pursuit of wisdom.

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Part C (Latin Only)

45.16 Philosophus dē sapientiae rēbus scrībit.

45.17 Multī dē immortālitāte animī disputant.

45.18 Senex dē virtūte iuvenēs docet.

45.19 Dē dīvīnīs rēbus saepe meditāmur.

45.20 Sapientēs dē nātūrā deōrum loquuntur.

45.21 Magister dē summō bonō discipulōs interrogat.

45.22 Dē fātō graviter philosophī cōgitant.

45.23 Scrīptor dē vītae fīne librum componit.

45.24 Discipulī dē iūstitiā et lēgibus disputant.

45.25 Dē amīcitiā multī veterēs scrīpsērunt.

45.26 Philosophus dē animō et corpore disserit.

45.27 Sapientēs dē vēritāte semper quaerunt.

45.28 Dē mōribus hominēs doctī scrībunt.

45.29 Magister dē pulchrō et bonō explicat.

45.30 Dē sapientiae studiō multī librī sunt.

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Part D (Grammar Explanation)

In philosophical writing, the preposition "dē" takes on special importance: -

Technical Usage: -

Introduces philosophical topics -

Often appears in work titles -

Links abstract concepts -

Common Philosophical Combinations: -

dē sapientiae (about wisdom) -

dē animō (about the soul/mind) -

dē virtūte (about virtue) -

dē vēritāte (about truth) -

dē bonō (about the good) -

Sentence Structures: -

Often opens sentences for emphasis -

Frequently paired with verbs of: -

Speaking (dīcere, loquī) -

Writing (scrībere) -

Thinking (cōgitāre) -

Teaching (docēre) -

Discussing (disputāre) -

Case Usage in Philosophy: -

Abstract nouns in ablative -

Often modified by adjectives -

Can be followed by genitive of specification -

Multiple topics linked with et -

Word Order Patterns: -

Topic introduction: Dē + ablative at start -

Mid-sentence for subordinate points -

Multiple dē phrases possible -

Can separate dē from its noun for emphasis

These sentences demonstrate how Roman philosophical writing used "dē" to structure complex discussions of abstract topics.

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