De Ludo et Otio: A Dialogue on Play and Leisure from Juan Luis Vives’ Linguae Latinae Exercitatio (1539)
Welcome to Lesson 13 of the Neo-Latin Colloquia series. In previous lessons, we have explored morning greetings with Erasmus and the daily routines of Renaissance schoolboys with Maturinus Corderius. Now we turn to the Spanish humanist Juan Luis Vives (1492–1540), whose Linguae Latinae Exercitatio represents one of the most influential Latin conversation manuals of the sixteenth century.
This dialogue, Ludus Chartarum (The Card Game), offers a delightful window into how educated Renaissance men spent their leisure time. The interlocutors—Valdaura, Tamayus, Lupianus, Castellus, and Manricus—are based on Vives’ actual friends and family members in Bruges, where the humanist spent much of his adult life.
What is this dialogue about? Five Spanish gentlemen, driven indoors by harsh winter weather, decide to pass the time playing cards. Their conversation reveals Renaissance attitudes toward recreation, the proper balance between study and leisure, and the social dynamics of gaming among the educated classes. Along the way, we learn the Latin terminology for playing cards, betting, and the various card games popular in sixteenth-century Europe.
Key Takeaways: -
Deliberative questions with infinitives (”Quid agere?” — What to do?) -
Hortatory subjunctive for suggestions (”Ludemus” — Let us play) -
Deponent verbs expressing enjoyment (”oblector” — I delight) -
Gaming and leisure vocabulary in Neo-Latin -
Weather descriptions and indoor setting language
Course Index:
https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
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In this lesson, Renaissance Latin orthographic conventions include the occasional use of ligatures in original printings. Vives follows standard humanist conventions: ae for the diphthong (not æ), classical spelling of words like caelum rather than the medieval coelum, and j is rendered as i throughout (iudex not judex). The letters u and v are distinguished as in modern editions.
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Part I: The Weather and the Decision to Stay Indoors
13.1a Quam how asperum harsh tempus weather quam how rigens freezing et and saevum fierce caelum sky [EF] 13.1b Quam (kwahm) how asperum (AHS-peh-rum) harsh tempus (TEM-poos) weather quam (kwahm) how rigens (REE-gens) freezing et (et) and saevum (SAI-vum) fierce caelum (KAI-lum) sky
13.2a Quam how obscenum foul solum ground [EF-exclamatory] 13.2b Quam (kwahm) how obscenum (ob-SKAY-num) foul solum (SOH-lum) ground
13.3a Quid what nos us monet advises hic this caeli of-sky ac and soli of-ground habitus condition [INT] 13.3b Quid (kwid) what nos (nohs) us monet (MOH-net) advises hic (hik) this caeli (KAI-lee) of-sky ac (ahk) and soli (SOH-lee) of-ground habitus (HAH-bi-toos) condition
13.4a Non not egredi to-go-out domo from-home [SOV] 13.4b Non (nohn) not egredi (eh-GREH-dee) to-go-out domo (DOH-moh) from-home
13.5a Quid what vero then domi at-home agere to-do [INT-deliberative] 13.5b Quid (kwid) what vero (VEH-roh) then domi (DOH-mee) at-home agere (AH-geh-reh) to-doPart II: Study and Recreation
13.6a Ad at luculentum bright focum hearth studere to-study meditari to-meditate [SOV] 13.6b Ad (ahd) at luculentum (loo-koo-LEN-tum) bright focum (FOH-kum) hearth studere (stoo-DAY-reh) to-study meditari (meh-di-TAH-ree) to-meditate
13.7a cogitare to-think de about rebus matters quae which aliquid something emolumenti of-benefit adferant may-bring [PER] 13.7b cogitare (koh-gi-TAH-reh) to-think de (day) about rebus (RAY-boos) matters quae (kwai) which aliquid (AH-li-kwid) something emolumenti (eh-moh-loo-MEN-tee) of-benefit adferant (ahd-FEH-rahnt) may-bring
13.8a menti to-mind et and probis upright moribus to-character [DAT] 13.8b menti (MEN-tee) to-mind et (et) and probis (PROH-bees) upright moribus (MOH-ri-boos) to-character
13.9a Id that quidem indeed agendum must-be-done praecipue especially [EF] 13.9b Id (id) that quidem (KWEE-dem) indeed agendum (ah-GEN-dum) must-be-done praecipue (prai-KI-poo-ay) especiallyPart III: The Proposal for Games
13.10a Sed but ubi when ab from intentione concentration illa that delassatus wearied fuerit will-have-been animus mind [PER] 13.10b Sed (sed) but ubi (OO-bee) when ab (ahb) from intentione (in-ten-ti-OH-neh) concentration illa (IL-lah) that delassatus (deh-lahs-SAH-toos) wearied fuerit (FOO-eh-rit) will-have-been animus (AH-ni-moos) mind
13.11a quo where divertet will-it-turn hoc this dumtaxat only tempore time [INT] 13.11b quo (kwoh) where divertet (di-VER-tet) will-it-turn hoc (hohk) this dumtaxat (doom-TAHK-saht) only tempore (TEM-poh-reh) time
13.12a Aliis to-others quidem indeed aliae other sunt are animorum of-minds refectiones refreshments [SVO] 13.12b Aliis (AH-lee-ees) to-others quidem (KWEE-dem) indeed aliae (AH-lee-ai) other sunt (soont) are animorum (ah-ni-MOH-rum) of-minds refectiones (reh-fek-ti-OH-nays) refreshments
13.13a ego I vero truly lusu by-playing foliorum of-cards magnopere greatly oblector delight-myself [DEP] 13.13b ego (EH-goh) I vero (VEH-roh) truly lusu (LOO-soo) by-playing foliorum (foh-li-OH-rum) of-cards magnopere (mahg-NOH-peh-reh) greatly oblector (ob-LEK-tor) delight-myself
13.14a ac and recreor am-refreshed [DEP] 13.14b ac (ahk) and recreor (reh-KREH-or) am-refreshedPart IV: Setting Up for the Game
13.15a Et and haec this temporis of-time qualitas quality eo there invitat invites [SVO] 13.15b Et (et) and haec (haik) this temporis (TEM-poh-ris) of-time qualitas (kwah-LI-tahs) quality eo (EH-oh) there invitat (in-VEE-taht) invites
13.16a ut that abdamus we-hide nos ourselves in in cubiculum room bene well clausum closed [HORT] 13.16b ut (oot) that abdamus (ahb-DAH-moos) we-hide nos (nohs) ourselves in (in) in cubiculum (koo-BI-koo-lum) room bene (BEH-neh) well clausum (KLOW-sum) closed
13.17a et and obseptum blocked-off undique from-all-sides a from vento wind et and frigore cold [SOV] 13.17b et (et) and obseptum (ob-SEP-tum) blocked-off undique (OON-di-kweh) from-all-sides a (ah) from vento (VEN-toh) wind et (et) and frigore (FREE-goh-reh) cold
13.18a lucente shining camino fireplace mensa table posita placed cum with chartis cards [ABL-ABS] 13.18b lucente (loo-KEN-teh) shining camino (kah-MEE-noh) fireplace mensa (MEN-sah) table posita (POH-si-tah) placed cum (koom) with chartis (KAHR-tees) cards
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13.1 Quam asperum tempus, quam rigens et saevum caelum! [EF] How harsh the weather, how freezing and fierce the sky!
13.2 Quam obscenum solum! [EF] How foul the ground!
13.3 Quid nos monet hic caeli ac soli habitus? [INT] What does this condition of sky and ground advise us?
13.4 Non egredi domo. [SOV] Not to go out from home.
13.5 Quid vero domi agere? [INT-deliberative] What then to do at home?
13.6 Ad luculentum focum studere, meditari, cogitare de rebus, quae aliquid emolumenti adferant menti et probis moribus. [PER] At the bright hearth to study, to meditate, to think about matters which may bring some benefit to the mind and upright character.
13.7 Id quidem agendum praecipue, nec aliquid esse debet homini antiquius. [EF] That indeed must be done especially, nor ought anything be more important to a person.
13.8 Sed ubi ab intentione illa delassatus fuerit animus, quo divertet hoc dumtaxat tempore? [INT-PER] But when the mind will have been wearied from that concentration, where will it turn in this particular time?
13.9 Aliis quidem aliae sunt animorum refectiones. [SVO] For different people there are different refreshments of the mind.
13.10 Ego vero lusu foliorum magnopere oblector ac recreor. [DEP] I truly am greatly delighted and refreshed by playing cards.
13.11 Et haec temporis qualitas eo invitat, ut abdamus nos in cubiculum bene clausum et obseptum undique a vento et frigore, lucente camino, mensa posita cum chartis. [HORT-PER] And this quality of the time invites us there, that we hide ourselves in a room well closed and blocked off from all sides from wind and cold, with the fireplace shining, a table set with cards.
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13.1 Quam asperum tempus, quam rigens et saevum caelum!
13.2 Quam obscenum solum!
13.3 Quid nos monet hic caeli ac soli habitus?
13.4 Non egredi domo.
13.5 Quid vero domi agere?
13.6 Ad luculentum focum studere, meditari, cogitare de rebus, quae aliquid emolumenti adferant menti et probis moribus.
13.7 Id quidem agendum praecipue, nec aliquid esse debet homini antiquius.
13.8 Sed ubi ab intentione illa delassatus fuerit animus, quo divertet hoc dumtaxat tempore?
13.9 Aliis quidem aliae sunt animorum refectiones.
13.10 Ego vero lusu foliorum magnopere oblector ac recreor.
13.11 Et haec temporis qualitas eo invitat, ut abdamus nos in cubiculum bene clausum et obseptum undique a vento et frigore, lucente camino, mensa posita cum chartis.
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These are the grammar rules for this text.
One of the most characteristic patterns in this dialogue is the deliberative question—a question about what one should do. In Latin, these are often formed with quid (what) followed by an infinitive: -
Quid domi agere? — What to do at home? -
Quid nos monet? — What does it advise us?
This construction expresses uncertainty about a course of action. The speaker is literally asking, “What is to be done?” English tends to supply helping verbs like “should” or “ought,” but Latin achieves this simply with the infinitive.
This dialogue introduces important deponent verbs—verbs that appear passive in form but carry active meaning: -
oblector, oblectāris, oblectātus sum (1st conjugation deponent) — to delight oneself, to take pleasure in -
recreor, recreāris, recreātus sum (1st conjugation deponent) — to refresh oneself, to be restored -
meditari, meditātus sum (1st conjugation deponent) — to meditate, to practice
In the text: Ego vero lusu foliorum magnopere oblector ac recreor — “I truly am greatly delighted and refreshed by playing cards.”
Note that oblector looks passive (-or ending) but translates actively. The ablative lusu (by playing) expresses the means of delight.
Emphatic Fronting [EF]: The exclamatory opening uses quam (how) repeatedly at the start of each phrase to emphasize the harsh conditions: -
Quam asperum tempus! -
Quam rigens... caelum! -
Quam obscenum solum!
This fronting of the exclamatory particle creates rhetorical force.
Interrogative Pattern [INT]: Questions in Latin typically place the question word first: -
Quid nos monet...? (What advises us...?) -
Quo divertet...? (Where will it turn...?)
Periodic Structure [PER]: The longer sentences in this dialogue use periodic structure, building suspense by placing the main verb or main idea toward the end: -
Sed ubi ab intentione illa delassatus fuerit animus, quo divertet hoc dumtaxat tempore?
The temporal clause (ubi... fuerit) comes first, creating anticipation for the question.
The construction ut abdamus nos (that we hide ourselves) uses the present subjunctive in a purpose/result clause. The hortatory subjunctive expresses gentle commands or suggestions directed at “we”: -
abdamus — let us hide (1st person plural present subjunctive of abdō)
The phrase Id quidem agendum praecipue uses the gerundive (agendum) to express necessity or obligation: “That indeed must be done especially.”
The gerundive is a verbal adjective ending in -ndus, -nda, -ndum. Combined with forms of esse (to be), it expresses that something “must be” or “ought to be” done.
-
Confusing deponents with passives: oblector means “I delight myself” not “I am delighted by someone else.” -
Missing the deliberative force: Quid agere? is not simply “What to do?” but “What should one do? What is to be done?” -
Ablative confusion: lusu foliorum — “by playing cards” uses the ablative of means (lusu) with a genitive (foliorum). Don’t confuse ablative with dative. -
Word order expectations: Renaissance Latin still follows classical patterns, but increased SVO tendency shows vernacular influence.
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abdō, abdere, abdidī, abditum (3rd conj.) — to hide, conceal, put away. Related to English “abduct” (to lead away). Ut abdamus nos in cubiculum — that we hide ourselves in a room.
agō, agere, ēgī, āctum (3rd conj.) — to do, drive, act, conduct. Root of “agent,” “action.” Quid domi agere? — What to do at home?
animus, -ī (m.) — mind, spirit, soul. Root of “animate,” “animosity.” Animōrum refectiōnēs — refreshments of minds.
asper, aspera, asperum (adj.) — harsh, rough, bitter. Quam asperum tempus! — How harsh the weather!
caelum, -ī (n.) — sky, heaven, climate. Quam rigens caelum! — How freezing the sky!
camīnus, -ī (m.) — fireplace, furnace, hearth. From Greek κάμινος. Lucente camīnō — with the fireplace shining.
charta, -ae (f.) — paper, playing card, document. From Greek χάρτης. Mensa posita cum chartis — a table set with cards.
clausus, -a, -um (past participle) — closed, shut. From claudō. Cubiculum bene clausum — a well-closed room.
cōgitō, cōgitāre, cōgitāvī, cōgitātum (1st conj.) — to think, consider, reflect. Root of “cogitate.” Cogitāre dē rēbus — to think about matters.
cubiculum, -ī (n.) — bedroom, chamber, private room. Diminutive of cubus. In cubiculum — into a room.
dēlassō, dēlassāre, dēlassāvī, dēlassātum (1st conj.) — to weary, tire out, exhaust. Dēlassātus fuerit animus — the mind will have been wearied.
dīvertō, dīvertere, dīvertī, dīversum (3rd conj.) — to turn aside, turn away, divert. Quō dīvertet? — Where will it turn?
domī (locative adverb) — at home. Locative case of domus. Quid domī agere? — What to do at home?
ēmolumentum, -ī (n.) — benefit, profit, advantage. Aliquid ēmolumentī — something of benefit.
focus, -ī (m.) — hearth, fireplace; focus, center. Ad lūculentum focum — at the bright hearth.
folium, -ī (n.) — leaf; playing card (Renaissance usage). Lūsū foliōrum — by playing cards.
frīgus, frīgoris (n.) — cold, frost, chill. Ā ventō et frīgore — from wind and cold.
habitūs, -ūs (m.) — condition, state, appearance, disposition. Caelī ac solī habitūs — the condition of sky and ground.
intentio, intentiōnis (f.) — attention, concentration, effort. Ab intentiōne illā — from that concentration.
invītō, invītāre, invītāvī, invītātum (1st conj.) — to invite, summon, attract. Haec temporis qualitās invītat — this quality of time invites.
lūculentus, -a, -um (adj.) — bright, splendid, brilliant. Lūculentum focum — bright hearth.
lūsus, -ūs (m.) — play, playing, game. From lūdō. Lūsū foliōrum — by playing cards.
magnopere (adverb) — greatly, very much, especially. Magnopere oblector — I am greatly delighted.
meditior, meditārī, meditātus sum (1st conj. deponent) — to meditate, reflect, practice. Meditārī — to meditate.
mēns, mentis (f.) — mind, intellect, reason. Root of “mental.” Mentī et probīs mōribus — to mind and upright character.
moneō, monēre, monuī, monitum (2nd conj.) — to warn, advise, remind. Quid nōs monet? — What advises us?
mōrēs, mōrum (m.pl.) — character, customs, morals. Probīs mōribus — to upright character.
oblector, oblectārī, oblectātus sum (1st conj. deponent) — to delight, amuse, entertain oneself. Oblector ac recreor — I delight and refresh myself.
obscēnus, -a, -um (adj.) — foul, disgusting, filthy; ill-omened. Obscēnum solum — foul ground.
obsaepiō, obsaepīre, obsaepsī, obsaeptum (4th conj.) — to block off, barricade, fence in. Obseptum undique — blocked off from all sides.
praecipuē (adverb) — especially, particularly, chiefly. Agendum praecipuē — must be done especially.
probus, -a, -um (adj.) — upright, honest, good. Probīs mōribus — upright character.
quālitās, quālitātis (f.) — quality, nature, character. Temporis quālitās — the quality of time.
recreō, recreāre / recreor, recreārī (1st conj./deponent) — to refresh, restore, revive. Recreor — I am refreshed.
refectio, refectiōnis (f.) — restoration, refreshment, recovery. Animōrum refectiōnēs — refreshments of minds.
rīgens (present participle) — freezing, stiff, rigid. From rīgeō. Rīgens caelum — freezing sky.
saevus, -a, -um (adj.) — fierce, savage, cruel. Saevum caelum — fierce sky.
solum, -ī (n.) — ground, soil, floor, foundation. Obscēnum solum — foul ground.
studeō, studēre, studuī (2nd conj.) — to study, be eager for, apply oneself. Studēre — to study.
tempus, temporis (n.) — time, weather, season. Asperum tempus — harsh weather.
undique (adverb) — from all sides, on all sides, everywhere. Obseptum undique — blocked off from all sides.
ventus, -ī (m.) — wind. Ā ventō et frīgore — from wind and cold.
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A simpler version for beginning readers:
V. Tempus est malum. Caelum est frīgidum. Terra est foeda. Quid facere dēbēmus?
T. Domī manēre dēbēmus. Nōn est bonum forās īre.
V. Quid domī facere possumus?
T. Ad ignem sedēre possumus. Librōs legere possumus. Cōgitāre possumus.
V. Sed animus fessus est. Quid facere dēbeō quandō fessus sum?
T. Aliī aliīs modīs recreantur. Ego chartīs lūdere amō.
V. Eāmus in cubiculum. Clausum est et calidum. Ibi lūdere possumus.
Translation of simplified version: The weather is bad. The sky is cold. The ground is foul. What should we do? We should stay at home. It is not good to go outside. What can we do at home? We can sit by the fire. We can read books. We can think. But the mind is tired. What should I do when I am tired? Others are refreshed in other ways. I like to play cards. Let’s go into the room. It is closed and warm. There we can play.
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The authentic dialogue excerpt as written by Vives (1539):
VALDAVRA, TAMAYUS
Va. Quam asperum tempus, quam rigens et saevum caelum! Quam obscenum solum!
Ta. Quid nos monet hic caeli ac soli habitus?
Va. Non egredi domo.
Ta. Quid vero domi agere?
Va. Ad luculentum focum studere, meditari, cogitare de rebus, quae aliquid emolumenti adferant menti et probis moribus.
Ca. Id quidem agendum praecipue, nec aliquid esse debet homini antiquius. Sed ubi ab intentione illa delassatus fuerit animus, quo divertet hoc dumtaxat tempore?
Va. Aliis quidem aliae sunt animorum refectiones, ego vero lusu foliorum magnopere oblector ac recreor.
Ta. Et haec temporis qualitas eo invitat, ut abdamus nos in cubiculum bene clausum et obseptum undique a vento et frigore, lucente camino, mensa posita cum chartis.
Source: Juan Luis Vives, Linguae Latinae Exercitatio (Paris, 1539), Dialogue XXI: Ludus Chartarum.
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(The Storm and the Video Game)
An original dialogue in Vives’ style, set in the modern world
MARCUS, LUCIA, PAULUS
Ma. Quam dīra est haec tempestās! Tonitrus ingēns et plūvia vehemēns!
Lu. Quid facere dēbēmus hodiē? Nōn licet forās īre.
Ma. Domī manēbimus. Quid domī agere placet tibi?
Lu. Studia mea perficere dēbeō. Opus magnum habeō dē linguā Latīnā.
Pa. Ego quoque. Sed animus iam fessus est ab omnī labōre.
Ma. Quōmodo recreārī possumus?
Pa. Scīsne lūdum illum novum in computātrō? “Lūdus Cīvitātis” nōminātus est.
Lu. Audiō eum esse valdē oblectābilem. Num tū eum habēs?
Pa. Habeō. Estne cuīquam lūdere libenter?
Ma. Mihi maximē placet! Nōnne trēs simul lūdere possumus?
Pa. Possumus. Eāmus in cubiculum meum. Ibi computātrum est et sellas trēs habeō.
Lu. Fiat! Sed prīmum opus nostrum perficiāmus. Deinde lūdere licēbit.
Ma. Sapienter dīcis. Labor ante oblectāmentum.
Pa. Cōnsentīō. Post ūnam hōram studiī, recreātiōnem meruērimus.
Lu. Ita fīat. Ad opera nostra!
Translation:
Ma. How terrible this storm is! Huge thunder and violent rain!
Lu. What should we do today? It’s not allowed to go outside.
Ma. We’ll stay at home. What do you like to do at home?
Lu. I should finish my studies. I have a big assignment on the Latin language.
Pa. Me too. But my mind is already tired from all the work.
Ma. How can we refresh ourselves?
Pa. Do you know that new game on the computer? It’s called “City Game.”
Lu. I hear it’s very enjoyable. Do you have it?
Pa. I do. Would anyone like to play?
Ma. I’d love it! Can’t the three of us play together?
Pa. We can. Let’s go to my room. The computer is there and I have three chairs.
Lu. Done! But first let’s finish our work. Then it will be allowed to play.
Ma. You speak wisely. Work before fun.
Pa. I agree. After one hour of study, we’ll have earned recreation.
Lu. So be it. To our tasks!
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Next Lesson Preview: Lesson 14 will continue with Vives’ Linguae Latinae Exercitatio, exploring the dialogue on the Convivium (The Banquet), where we will learn vocabulary for food, dining, and social gatherings.
Previous Lessons: This lesson builds on greeting formulas (Lessons 1-5), health dialogues (Lessons 3-4), morning routines (Lesson 6), and clothing vocabulary (Lesson 7) from earlier in our series.
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