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85.1 Fortis brave vir man patriam country dēfendit defends
85.2 Senātōrēs senators hunc this virum man laudant praise
85.3 Ille that vir man magnā with great virtūte virtue pugnat fights
85.4 Virī men fortēs brave urbem city servāvērunt saved
85.5 Dux leader virōs men ad to proelium battle dūcit leads
85.6 Omnēs all virī men arma arms capiunt take up
85.7 Sapientī to wise virō man librum book dedī I gave
85.8 Aurum gold virī of man in in templō temple est is
85.9 Eī those virī men bellum war timent fear
85.10 Cum with bonō good virō man ambulābam I was walking
85.11 Fīlius son huius of this virī man mīles soldier est is
85.12 Templum temple ā by virīs men aedificātum built est was
85.13 Virō to man sapientiā with wisdom clārō famous crēdimus we believe
85.14 Inter among virōs men iuvenis young man sedēbat was sitting
85.15 Virōrum of men fortium brave factīs by deeds gaudet rejoices populus people
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85.1 Fortis vir patriam dēfendit. A brave man defends his country.
85.2 Senātōrēs hunc virum laudant. The senators praise this man.
85.3 Ille vir magnā virtūte pugnat. That man fights with great courage.
85.4 Virī fortēs urbem servāvērunt. Brave men saved the city.
85.5 Dux virōs ad proelium dūcit. The leader leads the men to battle.
85.6 Omnēs virī arma capiunt. All men take up arms.
85.7 Sapientī virō librum dedī. I gave the book to the wise man.
85.8 Aurum virī in templō est. The man's gold is in the temple.
85.9 Eī virī bellum timent. Those men fear war.
85.10 Cum bonō virō ambulābam. I was walking with a good man.
85.11 Fīlius huius virī mīles est. The son of this man is a soldier.
85.12 Templum ā virīs aedificātum est. The temple was built by men.
85.13 Virō sapientiā clārō crēdimus. We believe the man famous for wisdom.
85.14 Inter virōs iuvenis sedēbat. Among the men sat a youth.
85.15 Virōrum fortium factīs gaudet populus. The people rejoice in the deeds of brave men.
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85.1 Fortis vir patriam dēfendit.
85.2 Senātōrēs hunc virum laudant.
85.3 Ille vir magnā virtūte pugnat.
85.4 Virī fortēs urbem servāvērunt.
85.5 Dux virōs ad proelium dūcit.
85.6 Omnēs virī arma capiunt.
85.7 Sapientī virō librum dedī.
85.8 Aurum virī in templō est.
85.9 Eī virī bellum timent.
85.10 Cum bonō virō ambulābam.
85.11 Fīlius huius virī mīles est.
85.12 Templum ā virīs aedificātum est.
85.13 Virō sapientiā clārō crēdimus.
85.14 Inter virōs iuvenis sedēbat.
85.15 Virōrum fortium factīs gaudet populus.
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The noun "vir" has several important features for English speakers to understand: -
Form and Declension: -
Second declension masculine noun -
Nominative singular: vir -
Genitive singular: virī -
Base vir- in all cases -
Regular second declension endings -
Complete Declension: Singular: -
Nominative: vir -
Genitive: virī -
Dative: virō -
Accusative: virum -
Ablative: virō
Plural: -
Nominative: virī -
Genitive: virōrum -
Dative: virīs -
Accusative: virōs -
Ablative: virīs -
Common Uses: -
Subject (vir pugnat) -
Direct object (virum laudant) -
With prepositions (cum virō) -
As possessor (virī fīlius) -
Modified by adjectives (fortis vir) -
Special Features: -
Often implies "adult male" vs. "homo" (human being) -
Frequently used with adjectives of character -
Important in phrases about courage and virtue -
Base for derived words like "virtūs"
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For English speakers, understanding "vir" requires cultural context: -
Social Meaning: -
Implied manly virtue and courage -
Distinguished from "puer" (boy) and "senex" (old man) -
Associated with citizenship and public duty -
Important in political and military contexts -
Roman Values: -
Connected to "virtūs" (manliness, courage) -
Key concept in Roman honor system -
Important for political reputation -
Central to military leadership -
Literary Usage: -
Common in historical works -
Important in epic poetry -
Used in political speeches -
Found in epitaphs and inscriptions -
Modern Relevance: -
Source of English "virile" -
Influences gender concepts -
Important in classical education -
Affects legal and formal language
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From Sallust's "Bellum Catilinae" (54.6):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Caesar Caesar beneficiīs by kindnesses ac and mūnificentiā by generosity māgnus great habēbātur was considered, integritāte by integrity vītae of life Catō Cato. Ille the former mansuētūdine by gentleness et and misericordiā by mercy clārus famous factus became, huic to the latter sevēritās strictness dignitātem dignity addiderat had added.
Caesar beneficiīs ac mūnificentiā māgnus habēbātur, integritāte vītae Catō. Ille mansuētūdine et misericordiā clārus factus, huic sevēritās dignitātem addiderat.
Caesar was considered great through kindnesses and generosity, Cato through integrity of life. The former became famous through gentleness and mercy, to the latter strictness had added dignity.
Sallust contrasts two types of great men (virī) through their different qualities. The parallel structure emphasizes how different virtues can lead to greatness in Roman society.
-
Ablatives of means (beneficiīs, mūnificentiā) -
Demonstrative pronouns (ille, huic) for contrast -
Perfect passive participle (factus) -
Pluperfect active (addiderat) -
Dative of reference (huic)
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85.16 Fortissimī bravest virī men castra camp hostium of enemies oppugnant attack
85.17 Dux leader virōs men in into trēs three partēs parts dīvīsit divided
85.18 Mīlle thousand virī men per through silvam forest prōcessērunt advanced
85.19 Virōrum of men fortitūdō bravery hostēs enemies terruit terrified
85.20 Omnēs all virī men ad at arma arms conclāmāvērunt shouted
85.21 Inter among virōs men magnae great virtūtis of courage erat was centuriō centurion
85.22 Virī men castrōrum of camp portas gates claudunt close
85.23 Multī many virī men in in proeliō battle cecidērunt fell
85.24 Dux leader virīs to men praemia rewards prōmīsit promised
85.25 Virōs men fortiōrēs braver numquam never vīdimus we have seen
85.26 Virī men ex from omnibus all partibus parts conveniunt gather
85.27 Centuriō centurion virōs men suōs his cohortātur encourages
85.28 Virōrum of men audācium bold virtūs courage laudāta praised est was
85.29 Cum with paucīs few virīs men urbem city cēpimus we captured
85.30 Virī men victōrēs victorious domum homeward redeunt return
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85.16 Fortissimī virī castra hostium oppugnant. The bravest men attack the enemy camp.
85.17 Dux virōs in trēs partēs dīvīsit. The leader divided the men into three parts.
85.18 Mīlle virī per silvam prōcessērunt. A thousand men advanced through the forest.
85.19 Virōrum fortitūdō hostēs terruit. The bravery of the men terrified the enemies.
85.20 Omnēs virī ad arma conclāmāvērunt. All the men shouted to arms.
85.21 Inter virōs magnae virtūtis erat centuriō. Among men of great courage was a centurion.
85.22 Virī castrōrum portas claudunt. The men close the gates of the camp.
85.23 Multī virī in proeliō cecidērunt. Many men fell in battle.
85.24 Dux virīs praemia prōmīsit. The leader promised rewards to the men.
85.25 Virōs fortiōrēs numquam vīdimus. We have never seen braver men.
85.26 Virī ex omnibus partibus conveniunt. Men gather from all parts.
85.27 Centuriō virōs suōs cohortātur. The centurion encourages his men.
85.28 Virōrum audācium virtūs laudāta est. The courage of the bold men was praised.
85.29 Cum paucīs virīs urbem cēpimus. With few men we captured the city.
85.30 Virī victōrēs domum redeunt. The victorious men return home.
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85.16 Fortissimī virī castra hostium oppugnant.
85.17 Dux virōs in trēs partēs dīvīsit.
85.18 Mīlle virī per silvam prōcessērunt.
85.19 Virōrum fortitūdō hostēs terruit.
85.20 Omnēs virī ad arma conclāmāvērunt.
85.21 Inter virōs magnae virtūtis erat centuriō.
85.22 Virī castrōrum portas claudunt.
85.23 Multī virī in proeliō cecidērunt.
85.24 Dux virīs praemia prōmīsit.
85.25 Virōs fortiōrēs numquam vīdimus.
85.26 Virī ex omnibus partibus conveniunt.
85.27 Centuriō virōs suōs cohortātur.
85.28 Virōrum audācium virtūs laudāta est.
85.29 Cum paucīs virīs urbem cēpimus.
85.30 Virī victōrēs domum redeunt.
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In military contexts, "vir" appears in several distinctive constructions: -
Military Commands and Actions: -
As subject of military verbs: "Virī oppugnant" (men attack) "Virī prōcessērunt" (men advanced) -
As direct object with military leaders: "Dux virōs dīvīsit" (the leader divided the men) "Centuriō virōs cohortātur" (the centurion encourages the men) -
Case Usage in Military Context: a) Nominative for Active Subjects: -
"Virī claudunt" (men close) -
"Virī victōrēs redeunt" (victorious men return)
b) Accusative for Direct Objects: -
"Per virōs fortiōrēs" (through braver men) -
"Inter virōs" (among men)
c) Genitive for Possession and Description: -
"Virōrum fortitūdō" (bravery of men) -
"Virōrum audācium" (of bold men)
d) Dative for Indirect Objects: -
"Virīs praemia prōmīsit" (promised rewards to the men)
e) Ablative for Accompaniment: -
"Cum paucīs virīs" (with few men) -
Common Military Phrases: a) With Numbers: -
"Mīlle virī" (a thousand men) -
"Trēs partēs" (three parts)
b) With Military Terms: -
"Ad arma" (to arms) -
"In proeliō" (in battle) -
"Castra hostium" (enemy camp) -
Adjective Agreement: a) Quality Descriptors: -
"Fortissimī virī" (bravest men) -
"Audācēs virī" (bold men)
b) Quantity Descriptors: -
"Multī virī" (many men) -
"Paucī virī" (few men)
c) Military Status: -
"Virī victōrēs" (victorious men) -
Position and Word Order in Military Context: a) Beginning of Sentence for Emphasis: -
"Virī castrōrum portas claudunt" -
"Virōrum fortitūdō hostēs terruit"
b) After Military Officers: -
"Dux virōs" -
"Centuriō virōs"
c) With Prepositions: -
"Inter virōs" -
"Cum virīs" -
"Ex omnibus partibus" -
Common Military Verbs Used with "vir": -
oppugnō (attack) -
prōcēdō (advance) -
cadō (fall) -
conveniō (gather) -
claudō (close) -
cohortōr (encourage) -
Special Military Constructions: a) Collective Actions: -
"Omnēs virī conclāmāvērunt" -
"Virī conveniunt"
b) Military Results: -
"Multī virī cecidērunt" -
"Urbem cēpimus"
c) Military Honors: -
"Virtūs laudāta est" -
"Praemia prōmīsit" -
Temporal Sequence in Military Reports: -
Perfect tense for completed actions (dīvīsit, prōcessērunt) -
Present tense for current situations (oppugnant, claudunt) -
Perfect passive for results (laudāta est)
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