← Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
Introduction: Today we learn the conjunction "nē", which introduces negative purpose clauses ("so that...not", "lest") and indirect commands ("that...not"). This lesson will also review the subjunctive mood, which is required after nē.
46.1 Timēmus we fear nē lest hostēs the enemies urbem the city capiant capture
46.2 Pater father fīliō to the son imperat commands nē that not in into aquam water cadat he fall
46.3 Dux the leader mīlitēs the soldiers monet warns nē that not locum the place relinquant they abandon
46.4 Orat he begs nē that not pecūniam money āmittat he lose
46.5 Senātus the senate cōnsulī to the consul mandāvit ordered nē that not cōpiās forces dīvideret he divide
46.6 Cūrāte take care nē that not quid anything malī bad accidat happen
46.7 Māter mother cībum food parat prepares nē lest puerī the boys ēsuriant be hungry
46.8 Labōrāmus we work nē lest dominus the master īrātus angry sit be
46.9 Magister the teacher discipulum the student docet teaches nē that not errōrēs errors faciat he make
46.10 Agricola the farmer agrum the field colit cultivates nē lest terra the land sine without frūctū fruit sit be
46.11 Moneō I warn tē you nē that not nimium too much vīnī wine bibās you drink
46.12 Templum the temple custōdiunt they guard nē lest hostēs enemies sacra sacred things rapiant seize
46.13 Mercātor the merchant pecūniam money numerat counts nē lest fraudem fraud committātur be committed
46.14 Legātus the ambassador rogat asks nē that not bellum war renovētur be renewed
46.15 Medicus the doctor aegrum the sick man cūrat treats nē lest morbus the disease ingravēscat grow worse
46.1 Timēmus nē hostēs urbem capiant. We fear that the enemies may capture the city.
46.2 Pater fīliō imperat nē in aquam cadat. The father commands his son not to fall into the water.
46.3 Dux mīlitēs monet nē locum relinquant. The leader warns the soldiers not to abandon the place.
46.4 Orat nē pecūniam āmittat. He begs that he not lose the money.
46.5 Senātus cōnsulī mandāvit nē cōpiās dīvideret. The senate ordered the consul not to divide the forces.
46.6 Cūrāte nē quid malī accidat. Take care that nothing bad happens.
46.7 Māter cībum parat nē puerī ēsuriant. Mother prepares food so that the boys may not be hungry.
46.8 Labōrāmus nē dominus īrātus sit. We work so that the master may not be angry.
46.9 Magister discipulum docet nē errōrēs faciat. The teacher instructs the student so that he does not make mistakes.
46.10 Agricola agrum colit nē terra sine frūctū sit. The farmer cultivates the field so that the land may not be without fruit.
46.11 Moneō tē nē nimium vīnī bibās. I warn you not to drink too much wine.
46.12 Templum custōdiunt nē hostēs sacra rapiant. They guard the temple lest enemies seize the sacred objects.
46.13 Mercātor pecūniam numerat nē fraudem committātur. The merchant counts the money so that fraud may not be committed.
46.14 Legātus rogat nē bellum renovētur. The ambassador asks that the war not be renewed.
46.15 Medicus aegrum cūrat nē morbus ingravēscat. The doctor treats the sick man so that the disease may not grow worse.
46.1 Timēmus nē hostēs urbem capiant.
46.2 Pater fīliō imperat nē in aquam cadat.
46.3 Dux mīlitēs monet nē locum relinquant.
46.4 Orat nē pecūniam āmittat.
46.5 Senātus cōnsulī mandāvit nē cōpiās dīvideret.
46.6 Cūrāte nē quid malī accidat.
46.7 Māter cībum parat nē puerī ēsuriant.
46.8 Labōrāmus nē dominus īrātus sit.
46.9 Magister discipulum docet nē errōrēs faciat.
46.10 Agricola agrum colit nē terra sine frūctū sit.
46.11 Moneō tē nē nimium vīnī bibās.
46.12 Templum custōdiunt nē hostēs sacra rapiant.
46.13 Mercātor pecūniam numerat nē fraudem committātur.
46.14 Legātus rogat nē bellum renovētur.
46.15 Medicus aegrum cūrat nē morbus ingravēscat.
For English speakers, understanding "nē" requires grasping several key concepts: -
Basic Function -
"Nē" introduces negative purpose clauses ("so that...not", "lest") -
Also used for negative indirect commands ("that...not") -
Always takes the subjunctive mood -
Comparison with English -
English uses many different phrases to express what Latin says with "nē" -
"So that...not", "lest", "to prevent", "to avoid" -
In commands: "not to", "that...not" -
Syntax Rules -
Main clause uses indicative mood -
"Nē" clause always uses subjunctive -
Present subjunctive after primary tenses -
Imperfect subjunctive after secondary tenses -
Common Patterns -
After verbs of fearing (timeō, vereor) -
After verbs of commanding (imperō, mandō) -
After verbs of warning (moneō) -
In purpose clauses
Understanding "nē" requires cultural context for English speakers: -
Roman Mindset -
Romans were very concerned with preventing negative outcomes -
Many religious and social customs focused on avoiding bad luck -
Legal language often used "nē" clauses to prevent unwanted actions -
Modern Parallels -
Similar to legal language: "to prevent", "to ensure that...not" -
Used in safety warnings and instructions -
Important in diplomatic language -
Educational Value -
Shows Roman precision in expressing negative purpose -
Reflects Roman practical and preventive thinking -
Important in understanding Roman law and literature -
Historical Usage -
Common in political speeches -
Frequent in military commands -
Essential in religious formulae
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
From Cicero's "Pro Archia" (12.30):
Servāte preserve igitur therefore hunc this man nē lest spēs hope nostra our dēficiat fail
Servāte igitur hunc nē spēs nostra dēficiat. Therefore preserve this man lest our hope fail.
Cicero uses "nē" here in a powerful rhetorical appeal, combining command and purpose. The negative purpose clause emphasizes the potential loss if action isn't taken.
-
"Servāte" is imperative plural -
"Nē" introduces negative purpose -
"Dēficiat" is present subjunctive -
Word order emphasizes "spēs nostra"
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
46.16 Senātus the senate cēnsuit decreed nē that not quis anyone sine without permissū permission urbem the city relinqueret leave
46.17 Cōnsulēs the consuls ēdīxērunt proclaimed nē that not cīvēs citizens arma weapons in into forum forum ferrent carry
46.18 Lēx the law iubet orders nē that not quis anyone pecūniam money pūblicam public contrā against rem pūblicam the republic ūtātur use
46.19 Magister the magistrate prōvīdit provided nē that not frūmentum grain ex from urbe the city exportārētur be exported
46.20 Iūdex the judge mandāvit ordered nē that not testēs witnesses ante before diem the day tertium third discēderent depart
46.21 Praetor the praetor vetuit forbade nē that not quīcquam anything novī new in in causā the case statuerētur be decided
46.22 Tribūnus the tribune plēbī of the people intercessit intervened nē that not novae new tabellae debt records fierent be made
46.23 Cūria the senate house dēcrēvit decreed nē that not prīvātī private citizens pecūniam money ex from aerāriō treasury sumerent take
46.24 Cēnsōrēs the censors ēdīxērunt proclaimed nē that not equitēs knights sine without causā reason equōs horses pūblicōs public habērent have
46.25 Senātus the senate cōnsultum decree factum made est was nē that not quī any lēgātī ambassadors ad to hostēs enemies trānsīrent cross over
46.26 Imperātor the commander ēdictum edict prōposuit posted nē that not mīlitēs soldiers praedam plunder inter among sē themselves dīviderent divide
46.27 Quaestor the quaestor cavit took care nē that not pecūnia money sine without testibus witnesses numerārētur be counted
46.28 Arbitrī the arbitrators iussērunt ordered nē that not lītigantēs the litigants causam case sine without patrōnīs advocates agerent plead
46.29 Populus the people scīvit voted nē that not quī any magistrātus magistrate bis twice eundem the same honōrem office caperet take
46.30 Cōnsul the consul prōmulgāvit proclaimed nē that not servī slaves in in legiōnēs legions scrīberentur be enrolled
46.16 Senātus cēnsuit nē quis sine permissū urbem relinqueret. The senate decreed that no one should leave the city without permission.
46.17 Cōnsulēs ēdīxērunt nē cīvēs arma in forum ferrent. The consuls proclaimed that citizens should not bring weapons into the forum.
46.18 Lēx iubet nē quis pecūniam pūblicam contrā rem pūblicam ūtātur. The law orders that no one use public money against the republic.
46.19 Magister prōvīdit nē frūmentum ex urbe exportārētur. The magistrate provided that grain should not be exported from the city.
46.20 Iūdex mandāvit nē testēs ante diem tertium discēderent. The judge ordered that the witnesses should not depart before the third day.
46.21 Praetor vetuit nē quīcquam novī in causā statuerētur. The praetor forbade that anything new be decided in the case.
46.22 Tribūnus plēbī intercessit nē novae tabellae fierent. The tribune of the people intervened to prevent new debt records from being made.
46.23 Cūria dēcrēvit nē prīvātī pecūniam ex aerāriō sumerent. The senate house decreed that private citizens should not take money from the treasury.
46.24 Cēnsōrēs ēdīxērunt nē equitēs sine causā equōs pūblicōs habērent. The censors proclaimed that knights should not possess public horses without reason.
46.25 Senātus cōnsultum factum est nē quī lēgātī ad hostēs trānsīrent. A decree of the senate was made that no ambassadors should cross over to the enemies.
46.26 Imperātor ēdictum prōposuit nē mīlitēs praedam inter sē dīviderent. The commander posted an edict that soldiers should not divide the plunder among themselves.
46.27 Quaestor cavit nē pecūnia sine testibus numerārētur. The quaestor took care that money should not be counted without witnesses.
46.28 Arbitrī iussērunt nē lītigantēs causam sine patrōnīs agerent. The arbitrators ordered that the litigants should not plead their case without advocates.
46.29 Populus scīvit nē quī magistrātus bis eundem honōrem caperet. The people voted that no magistrate should hold the same office twice.
46.30 Cōnsul prōmulgāvit nē servī in legiōnēs scrīberentur. The consul proclaimed that slaves should not be enrolled in the legions.
46.16 Senātus cēnsuit nē quis sine permissū urbem relinqueret.
46.17 Cōnsulēs ēdīxērunt nē cīvēs arma in forum ferrent.
46.18 Lēx iubet nē quis pecūniam pūblicam contrā rem pūblicam ūtātur.
46.19 Magister prōvīdit nē frūmentum ex urbe exportārētur.
46.20 Iūdex mandāvit nē testēs ante diem tertium discēderent.
46.21 Praetor vetuit nē quīcquam novī in causā statuerētur.
46.22 Tribūnus plēbī intercessit nē novae tabellae fierent.
46.23 Cūria dēcrēvit nē prīvātī pecūniam ex aerāriō sumerent.
46.24 Cēnsōrēs ēdīxērunt nē equitēs sine causā equōs pūblicōs habērent.
46.25 Senātus cōnsultum factum est nē quī lēgātī ad hostēs trānsīrent.
46.26 Imperātor ēdictum prōposuit nē mīlitēs praedam inter sē dīviderent.
46.27 Quaestor cavit nē pecūnia sine testibus numerārētur.
46.28 Arbitrī iussērunt nē lītigantēs causam sine patrōnīs agerent.
46.29 Populus scīvit nē quī magistrātus bis eundem honōrem caperet.
46.30 Cōnsul prōmulgāvit nē servī in legiōnēs scrīberentur.
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Verbs of Official Action -
Common main verbs in legal texts: -
cēnseō (decree) -
ēdīcō (proclaim) -
iubeō (order) -
vetō (forbid) -
dēcernō (decree) -
prōmulgō (proclaim) -
These verbs typically take nē + subjunctive for negative commands -
Impersonal Constructions -
Passive forms common in legal language: -
factum est (it was made) -
dēcrētum est (it was decreed) -
cautum est (it was provided) -
Often followed by nē clauses -
Legal Formulae -
Standard phrases: -
nē quis (that no one) -
sine permissū (without permission) -
contrā rem pūblicam (against the republic) -
sine testibus (without witnesses) -
Sequence of Tenses -
Present/perfect in main clause → present subjunctive in nē clause -
Past tense in main clause → imperfect subjunctive in nē clause -
Examples from the text: -
cēnsuit (perfect) → relinqueret (imperfect subj.) -
iubet (present) → ūtātur (present subj.) -
Special Legal Vocabulary -
Technical terms: -
aerārium (treasury) -
tabellae (debt records) -
patrōnī (advocates) -
honōs (office, position) -
Official titles: -
cēnsōrēs (censors) -
quaestor (treasurer) -
tribūnus plēbī (tribune of the people) -
Characteristic Features -
Precise language to avoid ambiguity -
Full titles and formal terms -
Complete identification of parties involved -
Clear statement of prohibitions -
Standard formulaic expressions -
Word Order in Legal Latin -
More rigid than literary Latin -
Verb often final in both clauses -
Subject typically first -
Official titles precede actions
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
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