Text: Juan Luis Vives, Convivium (The Banquet) Source: Linguae Latinae Exercitatio (1539), Dialogue XVII Setting: A formal dinner party in Renaissance Flanders Characters: SCOPAS (host), SIMONIDES, CRITO, DEMOCRITUS, POLAEMON
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Welcome to Lesson 14 of our Neo-Latin Colloquia series. Having journeyed through Erasmus’s greeting formulas, health dialogues, and farewells (Lessons 1-5), and Cordier’s school-life conversations (Lesson 6), we now turn to a different master of Renaissance dialogue: Juan Luis Vives (1492-1540).
Vives was a Spanish humanist who lived most of his adult life in Bruges and served as tutor to Princess Mary of England (later Queen Mary I). His Linguae Latinae Exercitatio (1539) presents twenty-five dialogues covering every aspect of Tudor and Renaissance life—from waking in the morning to philosophical disputations at dinner.
The Convivium (Banquet) dialogue is particularly rich. Renaissance intellectuals saw the dinner party as the ideal setting for philosophical exchange, following classical models like Plato’s Symposium and Xenophon’s Symposium. In this excerpt, we witness guests arriving for a dinner hosted by Scopas, named after the wealthy Thessalian patron who famously commissioned the poet Simonides.
FAQ: What is this dialogue about? This lesson teaches formal banquet conversation in Neo-Latin, including how to greet arriving guests, make witty observations, and engage in philosophical wordplay appropriate to educated Renaissance company.
Key Takeaways: -
Superlative adjectives for formal address -
The dative of interest construction -
Ablative of separation with verbs of freeing -
Comparative constructions with quam -
Periodic sentence structure for philosophical observations
Course Index:
https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
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14.1a Ubi nobis Simonides? [INT]
14.1b Ubi (OO-bee) where nobis (NOH-bees) for-us Simonides (see-MOH-nee-days) Simonides
14.2a Illico dixerat se venturum, simul ac convenisset debitorem apud forum. [SOV]
14.2b Illico (IL-lee-koh) immediately dixerat (DEEK-say-raht) he-had-said se (say) himself venturum (ven-TOO-room) about-to-come simul ac (SEE-mool ahk) as-soon-as convenisset (kon-vay-NEES-set) he-had-met debitorem (day-bee-TOH-rem) debtor apud (AH-pood) at forum (FOH-room) forum
14.3a Recte habet. [SVO]
14.3b Recte (REK-tay) rightly habet (HAH-bet) it-goes
14.4a A debitore facilius se extricavit quam a creditore. [SVO]
14.4b A (ah) from debitore (day-bee-TOH-ray) debtor facilius (fah-KEEL-ee-oos) more-easily se (say) himself extricavit (eks-tree-KAH-veet) he-extricated quam (kwahm) than a (ah) from creditore (kray-dee-TOH-ray) creditor
14.5a Qui isthuc? [INT]
14.5b Qui (kwee) how isthuc (IS-took) that
14.6a Sicut in victoria belli condiciones fert victor, non victus. [PER]
14.6b Sicut (SEE-koot) just-as in (een) in victoria (veek-TOH-ree-ah) victory belli (BEL-lee) of-war condiciones (kon-dee-tsee-OH-nays) terms fert (fert) dictates victor (VEEK-tor) victor non (nohn) not victus (VEEK-toos) vanquished
14.7a Nam a debitore, quum ipse idem volet; a creditore, quum alter. [PER]
14.7b Nam (nahm) for a (ah) from debitore (day-bee-TOH-ray) debtor quum (koom) when ipse (IP-say) he-himself idem (EE-dem) the-same volet (VOH-let) will-wish a (ah) from creditore (kray-dee-TOH-ray) creditor quum (koom) when alter (AHL-ter) the-other
14.8a Sed convenistisne omnes ut erat condictum? [INT]
14.8b Sed (sed) but convenistisne (kon-vay-NIS-tis-nay) have-you-gathered-? omnes (OM-nays) all ut (oot) as erat (AY-raht) it-was condictum (kon-DEEK-toom) agreed
14.9a Relicta domi severitate, afferentes vobiscum hilaritatem, lepores, venustates, gratias? [EF]
14.9b Relicta (ray-LIK-tah) having-left domi (DOH-mee) at-home severitate (say-vay-ree-TAH-tay) seriousness afferentes (ahf-fay-REN-tays) bringing vobiscum (voh-BEES-koom) with-you hilaritatem (hee-lah-ree-TAH-tem) cheerfulness lepores (lay-POH-rays) charms venustates (vay-noo-STAH-tays) graces gratias (GRAH-tee-ahs) pleasantries
14.10a Plane ita spero, et erimus, sicut monet M. Varro, belli homines. [SVO]
14.10b Plane (PLAH-nay) certainly ita (EE-tah) so spero (SPAY-roh) I-hope et (et) and erimus (AY-ree-moos) we-shall-be sicut (SEE-koot) as monet (MOH-net) advises M. (Marcus) Varro (VAHR-roh) Varro belli (BEL-lee) charming homines (HO-mee-nays) people
14.11a Reliqua meae curae sunto. [HORT]
14.11b Reliqua (ray-LEE-kwah) the-rest meae (MAY-ay) my curae (KOO-ray) care sunto (SOON-toh) let-them-be
14.12a Ecce tibi Simonides. [EF]
14.12b Ecce (EK-kay) behold tibi (TIB-ee) for-you Simonides (see-MOH-nee-days) Simonides
14.13a Feliciter! [SVO]
14.13b Feliciter (fay-LEE-chee-ter) good-fortune!
14.14a Et vobis fauste! [SVO]
14.14b Et (et) and vobis (VOH-bees) to-you fauste (FOWS-tay) auspiciously
14.15a Exspectatissime! [EF]
14.15b Exspectatissime (eks-pek-tah-TEES-see-may) most-awaited-one
14.16a Plane rusticane. [SVO]
14.16b Plane (PLAH-nay) quite rusticane (roo-stee-KAH-nay) boorishly
14.17a Nam ad prandendum eram invitatus, non ad exspectandum. [PER]
14.17b Nam (nahm) for ad (ahd) to prandendum (prahn-DEN-doom) dining eram (AY-rahm) I-was invitatus (in-vee-TAH-toos) invited non (nohn) not ad (ahd) to exspectandum (eks-pek-TAHN-doom) being-awaited
14.18a Sed quaeso, fui vobis diu in mora? [INT]
14.18b Sed (sed) but quaeso (KWAY-soh) I-ask fui (FOO-ee) was-I vobis (VOH-bees) for-you diu (DEE-oo) long in (in) in mora (MOH-rah) delay
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14.1 Ubi nobis Simonides? [INT] “Where is Simonides for us?” (i.e., “What about our Simonides?”)
14.2 Illico dixerat se venturum, simul ac convenisset debitorem apud forum. [SOV] “He had said immediately that he would come, as soon as he had met with the debtor at the forum.”
14.3 Recte habet. [SVO] “That’s fine.” / “All is well.”
14.4 A debitore facilius se extricavit quam a creditore. [SVO] “He extricated himself more easily from a debtor than from a creditor.”
14.5 Qui isthuc? [INT] “How so?” / “What do you mean?”
14.6 Sicut in victoria belli condiciones fert victor, non victus. [PER] “Just as in a victory of war, the victor dictates terms, not the vanquished.”
14.7 Nam a debitore, quum ipse idem volet; a creditore, quum alter. [PER] “For (one escapes) from a debtor when he himself wishes; from a creditor, when the other wishes.”
14.8 Sed convenistisne omnes ut erat condictum? [INT] “But have you all gathered as was agreed?”
14.9 Relicta domi severitate, afferentes vobiscum hilaritatem, lepores, venustates, gratias? [EF] “Having left seriousness at home, bringing with you cheerfulness, wit, grace, and pleasantries?”
14.10 Plane ita spero, et erimus, sicut monet M. Varro, belli homines. [SVO] “I certainly hope so, and we shall be, as M. Varro advises, charming fellows.”
14.11 Reliqua meae curae sunto. [HORT] “Let the rest be my concern.”
14.12 Ecce tibi Simonides. [EF] “Behold, Simonides is here for you!”
14.13 Feliciter! [SVO] “Good fortune!” (greeting)
14.14 Et vobis fauste! [SVO] “And auspiciously to you!” (response)
14.15 Exspectatissime! [EF] “Most awaited one!”
14.16 Plane rusticane. [SVO] “Quite boorishly [I have acted].”
14.17 Nam ad prandendum eram invitatus, non ad exspectandum. [PER] “For I was invited to dine, not to be awaited.”
14.18 Sed quaeso, fui vobis diu in mora? [INT] “But I ask, was I long a delay for you?”
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14.1 Ubi nobis Simonides?
14.2 Illico dixerat se venturum, simul ac convenisset debitorem apud forum.
14.3 Recte habet.
14.4 A debitore facilius se extricavit quam a creditore.
14.5 Qui isthuc?
14.6 Sicut in victoria belli condiciones fert victor, non victus.
14.7 Nam a debitore, quum ipse idem volet; a creditore, quum alter.
14.8 Sed convenistisne omnes ut erat condictum?
14.9 Relicta domi severitate, afferentes vobiscum hilaritatem, lepores, venustates, gratias?
14.10 Plane ita spero, et erimus, sicut monet M. Varro, belli homines.
14.11 Reliqua meae curae sunto.
14.12 Ecce tibi Simonides.
14.13 Feliciter!
14.14 Et vobis fauste!
14.15 Exspectatissime!
14.16 Plane rusticane.
14.17 Nam ad prandendum eram invitatus, non ad exspectandum.
14.18 Sed quaeso, fui vobis diu in mora?
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These are the grammar rules for this text.
1. Superlative Adjectives as Vocatives
The superlative degree in Latin serves not only to express “most X” but also as a form of emphatic address. Scopas greets Simonides with Exspectatissime! (”Most awaited one!”), using the vocative singular of the superlative adjective.
Formation: BASE + -issim- + vocative ending (-e for masculine singular)
exspectatus → exspectatissimus → exspectatissime (vocative)
This pattern is extremely common in formal Renaissance address and continues from classical Latin epistolary conventions.
2. The Dative of Interest
When a dative pronoun appears with an intransitive expression where no indirect object is grammatically required, Latin uses the “dative of interest” to indicate the person for whose concern or advantage something matters.
Ubi nobis Simonides? — “Where is Simonides [to our concern/for us]?”
Fui vobis diu in mora? — “Was I long in delay [for you/to your inconvenience]?”
The dative nobis and vobis here do not receive anything—they express affected interest.
3. Ablative of Separation
Verbs meaning “to free,” “to release,” or “to disentangle” take the ablative of separation, often with the preposition a/ab.
A debitore facilius se extricavit — “He extricated himself from a debtor...”
The reflexive se is accusative (direct object), while a debitore and a creditore are ablatives of separation expressing what one is freed from.
4. Comparative Constructions with quam
Latin expresses “more X than Y” using the comparative adjective/adverb followed by quam:
facilius... quam — “more easily... than”
Both elements of the comparison appear in the same case: a debitore (ablative) ... quam a creditore (ablative)
5. The Future Imperative (Third Person)
The archaic future imperative sunto (third person plural of sum) appears in formal or legal contexts:
Reliqua meae curae sunto — “Let the remaining things be my concern”
This is equivalent to the more common third-person subjunctive hortatory construction (sint) but carries a more formal, even legalistic tone appropriate to a host’s pronouncement.
6. Ablative Absolute
Relicta domi severitate — “With seriousness having been left at home”
This ablative absolute (participle + noun in ablative) expresses attendant circumstance. The perfect passive participle relicta agrees with severitate.
Common Mistakes to Avoid: -
Do not confuse the dative of interest with the dative indirect object. The former indicates personal involvement, the latter indicates the recipient of an action. -
Recte habet is an idiom meaning “it’s all right” or “that’s fine”—do not translate literally as “rightly it has.” -
The comparative adverb facilius (more easily) should not be confused with the adjective facilior (easier).
Word Order Analysis:
This dialogue demonstrates several characteristic Neo-Latin word order patterns. Interrogative words (ubi, qui, quaeso) naturally front their sentences [INT]. Philosophical observations use periodic structure [PER], with the main point delayed until the end for rhetorical effect. The host’s instructions use emphatic fronting [EF], placing key nouns at the beginning for emphasis.
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affero, afferre, attuli, allatum (v. irr.) — to bring, carry to. Compound of ad + fero; cf. English “transfer,” “refer.”
alter, altera, alterum (pron./adj.) — the other (of two). Cf. English “alternate,” “alter ego.”
apud (prep. + acc.) — at, near, in the presence of. Common in legal and formal contexts.
bellus, -a, -um (adj.) — charming, fine, handsome. Different from bellum (war); cf. Italian “bello,” French “belle.”
condicio, -onis (f.) — terms, condition, agreement. Cf. English “condition.”
condico, -ere, -dixi, -dictum (v. 3) — to agree, arrange. Compound of con- + dico.
convenio, -ire, -veni, -ventum (v. 4) — to come together, meet. Cf. English “convene,” “convention.”
creditor, -oris (m.) — creditor, lender. From credo “to trust/lend”; cf. English “credit.”
cura, -ae (f.) — care, concern, responsibility. Cf. English “cure,” “curator.”
debitor, -oris (m.) — debtor, one who owes. From debeo “to owe”; cf. English “debt.”
diu (adv.) — for a long time. Comparative: diutius.
domus, -us/-i (f.) — home, house. Locative: domi = “at home.” Cf. English “domestic.”
ecce (interj.) — behold! look! Demonstrative particle for emphasis.
extrico, -are, -avi, -atum (v. 1) — to extricate, disentangle, free. Cf. English “extricate.”
fauste (adv.) — auspiciously, favorably. From faustus; cf. “Faust” (the lucky one).
feliciter (adv.) — fortunately, successfully. Standard greeting formula. Cf. “felicity.”
fero, ferre, tuli, latum (v. irr.) — to bear, carry, bring forth, dictate. Cf. English “transfer,” “relate.”
forum, -i (n.) — forum, marketplace, public square. Center of Roman commercial and legal life.
gratia, -ae (f.) — favor, grace, pleasantness, thanks. Cf. English “grace,” “gratitude.”
hilaritas, -atis (f.) — cheerfulness, merriment. Cf. English “hilarity.”
illico (adv.) — immediately, on the spot. Contracted from in loco.
invito, -are, -avi, -atum (v. 1) — to invite. Cf. English “invitation.”
lepos, leporis (m.) — charm, wit, pleasantness. Related to lepidus “charming.”
moneo, -ere, -ui, -itum (v. 2) — to advise, warn, remind. Cf. English “admonish,” “monitor.”
mora, -ae (f.) — delay, hindrance. Cf. English “moratorium.”
plane (adv.) — clearly, certainly, quite. Emphatic affirmative.
prandeo, -ere, prandi, pransum (v. 2) — to eat lunch, dine. The main meal of the day.
quaeso (v. defective) — I ask, I beg, please. Polite request formula.
recte (adv.) — rightly, correctly, properly. From rectus “straight.”
relinquo, -ere, -liqui, -lictum (v. 3) — to leave behind, abandon. Cf. English “relinquish,” “reliquary.”
reliquus, -a, -um (adj.) — remaining, the rest. Cf. English “relics.”
rusticane (adv.) — boorishly, in a rustic manner. Self-deprecating term for arriving late.
severitas, -atis (f.) — seriousness, severity, sternness. Cf. English “severity.”
sicut (conj.) — just as, as. Introduces comparisons.
simul ac/atque (conj.) — as soon as. Triggers subjunctive in past sequence.
venustas, -atis (f.) — grace, elegance, beauty. From Venus; social charm.
victoria, -ae (f.) — victory. Cf. English “victory.”
victor, -oris (m.) — victor, winner. Cf. English “victor.”
victus, -a, -um (adj./noun) — conquered, vanquished one. Past participle of vinco.
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Here is a simplified version of the dialogue suitable for beginners:
SCOPAS: Ubi est Simonides?
CRITO: Dixit se venturum. Apud forum est.
SCOPAS: Bene. Facile venit a debitore. Difficile venit a creditore.
CRITO: Cur?
SCOPAS: Victor dicit conditiones, non victus. Debitor solvit quando vult. Creditor exspectat.
SCOPAS: Sed estisne omnes parati? Habetisne laetitiam? Reliquistisne curas domi?
CRITO: Ita speramus. Erimus boni amici.
SCOPAS: Bene. Cetera mihi curae sunt.
CRITO: Ecce! Simonides venit!
SCOPAS: Salve, Simonides!
SIMONIDES: Et vobis salve!
SCOPAS: Carissime amice!
SIMONIDES: Male feci. Non debuistis me exspectare. Ad cenam vocatus sum, non ad exspectandum.
SIMONIDES: Sed quaero—fuine diu in mora?
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From Juan Luis Vives, Linguae Latinae Exercitatio (1539), Dialogue XVII: Convivium
Personae: SCOPAS, SIMONIDES, CRITO, DEMOCRITUS, POLAEMON
SCOP. Ubi nobis Simonides? CRIT. Illico dixerat se venturum, simul ac convenisset debitorem apud forum. SCOP. Recte habet; a debitore facilius se extricavit quam a creditore. CRIT. Qui isthuc? SCOP. Sicut in victoria belli condiciones fert victor, non victus; nam a debitore, quum ipse idem volet, a creditore, quum alter. Sed convenistisne omnes ut erat condictum, relicta domi severitate afferentes vobiscum hilaritatem, lepores, venustates, gratias? CRIT. Plane ita spero, et erimus, sicut monet M. Varro, belli homines. SCOP. Reliqua meae curae sunto. CRIT. Ecce tibi Simonides. SCOP. Feliciter. SIM. Et vobis fauste. SCOP. Exspectatissime. SIM. Plane rusticane; nam ad prandendum eram invitatus, non ad exspectandum: sed quaeso, fui vobis diu in mora?
Source: https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_KAGNTa5BL0AC
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Setting: A professional conference dinner in a modern hotel Characters: MARCUS (host/organizer), JULIA, ANDREAS, HELENA, PETRUS (arriving late)
MARCUS: Ubi nobis Petrus?
JULIA: Dixit se mox venturum. Adhuc in telephonio conferentiali est.
MARCUS: Recte habet. A telephonio conferentiali facilius se extricas quam ab electronico nuntio.
ANDREAS: Qui isthuc?
MARCUS: Nam e telephonio excedis quando vis; nuntios electronicos numquam omnes legis.
HELENA: Convenistisne omnes ut erat constitutum, relictis domi laboribus, afferentes vobiscum bonam voluntatem?
ANDREAS: Ita spero. Erimus, ut dicunt, “in modo relaxationis.”
MARCUS: Reliqua mihi curae sunt. Vinum iam paratum est.
JULIA: Ecce tibi Petrus!
MARCUS: Tandem venis! Feliciter!
PETRUS: Et vobis bene! Ignosce mihi—sero venio.
MARCUS: Exspectatissime! Diu te desideravimus.
PETRUS: Plane rusticane me gessi. Ad cenandum eram invitatus, non ad exspectandum.
HELENA: Noli sollicitari. Vinum nondum hausimus.
PETRUS: Sed quaeso, fui vobis diu impedimento?
MARCUS: Minime! Sede mecum. Cras de negotiis loquemur—hodie de amicitia tantum.
ANDREAS: Sapientissime! Ut Varro olim monuit, simus belli homines.
PETRUS: Gratias vobis ago. Nunc demum relaxor!
Translation:
MARCUS: Where is Petrus for us?
JULIA: He said he would come soon. He’s still on a conference call.
MARCUS: That’s fine. You extricate yourself from a conference call more easily than from email.
ANDREAS: How so?
MARCUS: For you leave a phone call when you want; you never read all your emails.
HELENA: Have you all gathered as was arranged, having left work at home, bringing goodwill with you?
ANDREAS: I hope so. We’ll be, as they say, “in relaxation mode.”
MARCUS: The rest is my concern. The wine is already prepared.
JULIA: Look, here’s Petrus!
MARCUS: You’ve finally come! Good fortune!
PETRUS: And well to you! Forgive me—I’m coming late.
MARCUS: Most awaited one! We’ve missed you a long time.
PETRUS: I’ve acted quite boorishly. I was invited to dine, not to be awaited.
HELENA: Don’t worry. We haven’t drunk the wine yet.
PETRUS: But I ask, was I long a hindrance to you?
MARCUS: Not at all! Sit with me. Tomorrow we’ll talk about business—today only about friendship.
ANDREAS: Most wisely! As Varro once advised, let us be charming people.
PETRUS: I thank you all. Now at last I relax!
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This lesson is part of the Neo-Latin Colloquia series produced by the Latinum Institute, which has been creating Latin language learning materials since 2006. The course follows a text-based autodidact approach using authentic Renaissance dialogues to teach practical, conversational Latin.
The Neo-Latin colloquia tradition—represented by masters like Erasmus, Vives, and Cordier—offers an unparalleled resource for learning Latin as a living language. These dialogues were designed specifically to teach students to speak Latin, not merely to translate it, and their pedagogical genius remains as effective today as it was five centuries ago.
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Next Lesson Preview: Lesson 15 will continue with Vives’s Convivium, exploring table manners, wine service, and philosophical conversation at the Renaissance dinner table.
Previous Lessons Recap: -
Lessons 1-2: Erasmian greeting formulas -
Lessons 3-4: Health dialogues -
Lesson 5: Farewell formulas -
Lesson 6: Cordier’s morning routine -
Lessons 7-13: School vocabulary, classroom dialogue, daily routines
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© Latinum Institute. For educational use.
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