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Welcome to Lesson 18 of the Neo-Latin Colloquia series. In this lesson, we turn to Petrus Mosellanus (1493–1524), the brilliant German humanist who taught Greek at the University of Leipzig and won the admiration of both Erasmus and Luther. His Paedologia (”Training of Youth,” 1518) became one of the most widely used Latin conversation manuals of the Renaissance, reprinted in nearly 80 editions over two centuries.
Today’s dialogue, De Librīs (”On Books”), captures the scholarly culture of Renaissance students: their love of classical texts, the lending and borrowing of precious manuscripts, and the vocabulary of book ownership. The dialogue emphasizes the genitive case—Latin’s way of expressing possession, authorship, and relationship. When Renaissance students said liber Cicerōnis (”the book of Cicero” or “Cicero’s book”), they were using the same construction that Cicero himself had used fifteen centuries earlier.
What is this lesson about? This lesson teaches the genitive case through an authentic Renaissance school dialogue about books. You will learn how Latin expresses ownership, authorship, and descriptive relationships without prepositions, and acquire vocabulary for discussing literature, lending, and scholarly exchange.
Course index: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
Key Takeaways: The genitive case indicates possession, authorship, and various relationships. Latin places the genitive after the noun it modifies (unlike English possessives). Renaissance students valued books as treasures and lending them was a sign of scholarly friendship.
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Mosellanus wrote in the standard humanist Latin of early sixteenth-century Germany. The spelling conventions include: ae for the classical diphthong (some early prints use ę or e), v distinguished from u in most editions, and occasional ij for final -iī. The text below follows the normalized orthography of Hermann Michel’s 1906 critical edition, with original spellings noted where significant.
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18.1a Salvē, hail Paule! Paul [VOC] Quid what agis do-you hodiē? today [INT]
18.1b Salvē (SAL-vay) hail Paule (POW-lay) Paul quid (kwid) what agis (AH-jis) do-you hodiē (ho-DI-ay) today
18.2a Bene well mē myself habeō, I-have grātiās thanks [ACC] tibi. to-you [DAT] Et and tū? you [INT]
18.2b Bene (BE-nay) well mē (may) myself habeō (HA-bay-o) I-have grātiās (GRA-tsi-as) thanks tibi (TI-bi) to-you et (et) and tū (too) you
18.3a Satis sufficiently bene. well Sed but dīc tell [IMP] mihi— to-me [DAT] habesne have-you? librōs books [ACC] Cicerōnis? of-Cicero [GEN-POSS]
18.3b Satis (SA-tis) sufficiently bene (BE-nay) well sed (sed) but dīc (deek) tell mihi (MI-hi) to-me habesne (HA-bes-nay) have-you librōs (LI-bros) books Cicerōnis (Chi-che-RO-nis) of-Cicero
18.4a Habeō I-have complūrēs. several [ACC] Cuius of-which [GEN-INT] operis of-work [GEN] librōs books [ACC] quaeris? do-you-seek [INT]
18.4b Habeō (HA-bay-o) I-have complūrēs (com-PLU-rays) several cuius (CU-yus) of-which operis (O-pe-ris) of-work librōs (LI-bros) books quaeris (KWAE-ris) do-you-seek
18.5a Dē concerning Officiīs, Offices [ABL] sī if habēs. you-have Magister master [NOM] enim for noster our eum it [ACC] legī to-be-read [INF-PASS] iussit. ordered [SOV]
18.5b Dē (day) concerning Officiīs (of-FI-chi-ees) Offices sī (see) if habēs (HA-bays) you-have magister (ma-JI-ster) master enim (E-nim) for noster (NO-ster) our eum (E-um) it legī (LE-jee) to-be-read iussit (YUS-sit) ordered
18.6a Est there-is mihi to-me [DAT] ūnus one codex codex [NOM] Officiōrum of-the-Offices [GEN-TITLE] pulcherrimē most-beautifully scrīptus. written [EF]
18.6b Est (est) there-is mihi (MI-hi) to-me ūnus (OO-nus) one codex (CO-dex) codex Officiōrum (of-fi-chi-O-rum) of-the-Offices pulcherrimē (pul-CHER-ri-may) most-beautifully scrīptus (SCRIP-tus) written
18.7a Ō! oh Commodāsne will-you-lend? mihi to-me [DAT] eum it [ACC] ad for paucōs few [ACC] diēs? days [INT]
18.7b Ō (oh) oh commodāsne (com-mo-DAS-nay) will-you-lend mihi (MI-hi) to-me eum (E-um) it ad (ad) for paucōs (POW-cos) few diēs (DI-ays) days
18.8a Libenter gladly id that [ACC] faciam, I-will-do sī if tū you quoque also tuōs your [ACC] mihi to-me librōs books commodābis. will-lend
18.8b Libenter (li-BEN-ter) gladly id (id) that faciam (FA-chi-am) I-will-do sī (see) if tū (too) you quoque (KWO-kway) also tuōs (TU-os) your mihi (MI-hi) to-me librōs (LI-bros) books commodābis (com-mo-DA-bis) will-lend
18.9a Certē! certainly Habeō I-have volūmen volume [ACC] Terentiī, of-Terence [GEN-POSS] sī if id that [ACC] cupis. you-desire
18.9b Certē (CHER-tay) certainly habeō (HA-bay-o) I-have volūmen (vo-LU-men) volume Terentiī (te-REN-tsi-ee) of-Terence sī (see) if id (id) that cupis (CU-pis) you-desire
18.10a Optimē! excellently Amor love [NOM] litterārum of-letters [GEN-OBJ] nōs us [ACC] coniungit. unites
18.10b Optimē (OP-ti-may) excellently amor (A-mor) love litterārum (lit-te-RA-rum) of-letters nōs (nos) us coniungit (con-YUN-jit) unites
18.11a Vērum true dīcis. you-speak Studiōsīs to-those-devoted [DAT] linguae of-language [GEN-OBJ] Latīnae Latin librī books [NOM] sunt are thēsaurus. treasure [SVO]
18.11b Vērum (VAY-rum) true dīcis (DI-chis) you-speak studiōsīs (stu-di-O-sees) to-those-devoted linguae (LIN-gwae) of-language Latīnae (la-TI-nae) Latin librī (LI-bree) books sunt (sunt) are thēsaurus (thay-SOW-rus) treasure
18.12a Accipe receive [IMP] ergō therefore hunc this [ACC] codicem. codex Sed but cautē carefully tractā— handle [IMP] est it-is enim for pretiōsus! precious
18.12b Accipe (AC-chi-pay) receive ergō (ER-go) therefore hunc (hunk) this codicem (CO-di-chem) codex sed (sed) but cautē (COW-tay) carefully tractā (TRAK-ta) handle est (est) it-is enim (E-nim) for pretiōsus (pre-tsi-O-sus) precious
18.13a Grātiās thanks [ACC] maximās greatest tibi to-you [DAT] agō! I-give Eum it [ACC] tibi to-you reddam I-will-return proximā next hebdomade. week [ABL]
18.13b Grātiās (GRA-tsi-as) thanks maximās (MAX-i-mas) greatest tibi (TI-bi) to-you agō (A-go) I-give eum (E-um) it tibi (TI-bi) to-you reddam (RED-dam) I-will-return proximā (PROX-i-ma) next hebdomade (heb-DO-ma-day) week
18.14a Valē, farewell [IMP] amīce, friend [VOC] et and bene well studē! study [IMP]
18.14b Valē (VA-lay) farewell amīce (a-MI-chay) friend et (et) and bene (BE-nay) well studē (STU-day) study
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18.1 Salvē, Paule! Quid agis hodiē? [INT] Hello, Paul! How are you doing today?
18.2 Bene mē habeō, grātiās tibi. Et tū? I’m doing well, thank you. And you?
18.3 Satis bene. Sed dīc mihi—habesne librōs Cicerōnis? [GEN-POSS] Well enough. But tell me—do you have books of Cicero?
18.4 Habeō complūrēs. Cuius operis librōs quaeris? [GEN-INT] I have several. Which work’s books are you looking for?
18.5 Dē Officiīs, sī habēs. Magister enim noster eum legī iussit. [SOV] On Duties, if you have it. For our teacher ordered it to be read.
18.6 Est mihi ūnus codex Officiōrum pulcherrimē scrīptus. [EF] I have one codex of the Offices, most beautifully written.
18.7 Ō! Commodāsne mihi eum ad paucōs diēs? [INT] Oh! Will you lend it to me for a few days?
18.8 Libenter id faciam, sī tū quoque tuōs mihi librōs commodābis. I will gladly do that, if you also will lend your books to me.
18.9 Certē! Habeō volūmen Terentiī, sī id cupis. [GEN-POSS] Certainly! I have a volume of Terence, if you want that.
18.10 Optimē! Amor litterārum nōs coniungit. [GEN-OBJ] Excellent! Love of literature unites us.
18.11 Vērum dīcis. Studiōsīs linguae Latīnae librī sunt thēsaurus. [GEN-OBJ] [SVO] You speak truly. For those devoted to the Latin language, books are a treasure.
18.12 Accipe ergō hunc codicem. Sed cautē tractā—est enim pretiōsus! Therefore receive this codex. But handle it carefully—for it is precious!
18.13 Grātiās maximās tibi agō! Eum tibi reddam proximā hebdomade. I give you the greatest thanks! I will return it to you next week.
18.14 Valē, amīce, et bene studē! Farewell, friend, and study well!
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Salvē, Paule! Quid agis hodiē? -
Bene mē habeō, grātiās tibi. Et tū? -
Satis bene. Sed dīc mihi—habesne librōs Cicerōnis? -
Habeō complūrēs. Cuius operis librōs quaeris? -
Dē Officiīs, sī habēs. Magister enim noster eum legī iussit. -
Est mihi ūnus codex Officiōrum pulcherrimē scrīptus. -
Ō! Commodāsne mihi eum ad paucōs diēs? -
Libenter id faciam, sī tū quoque tuōs mihi librōs commodābis. -
Certē! Habeō volūmen Terentiī, sī id cupis. -
Optimē! Amor litterārum nōs coniungit. -
Vērum dīcis. Studiōsīs linguae Latīnae librī sunt thēsaurus. -
Accipe ergō hunc codicem. Sed cautē tractā—est enim pretiōsus! -
Grātiās maximās tibi agō! Eum tibi reddam proximā hebdomade. -
Valē, amīce, et bene studē!
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These are the grammar rules for this text:
THE GENITIVE CASE: Latin’s Relationship Marker
The genitive case is one of Latin’s most powerful and versatile tools. Where English uses the preposition “of” or an apostrophe-s (’s), Latin simply changes the ending of the noun. This lesson focuses on four main uses of the genitive:
1. Possessive Genitive (ownership or authorship) This is the most common use. The genitive shows who owns or created something.
librōs Cicerōnis — “books of Cicero” (= Cicero’s books) volūmen Terentiī — “volume of Terence” (= Terence’s volume)
Notice that the genitive typically follows the noun it modifies, unlike English possessives which precede: “Cicero’s books” vs. librōs Cicerōnis (literally “books of-Cicero”).
2. Objective Genitive (object of an emotion or action) When a noun expresses an action or feeling, the genitive can show what the action is directed toward.
amor litterārum — “love of letters” (letters are the object of the love) studiōsīs linguae Latīnae — “to those devoted to the Latin language”
3. Title/Content Genitive Works of literature often have their content expressed in the genitive.
codex Officiōrum — “codex of the Offices” (the codex containing De Officiis)
4. Interrogative Genitive The interrogative cuius (”of which?” “whose?”) is itself a genitive form.
Cuius operis librōs quaeris? — “Of which work do you seek the books?”
GENITIVE ENDINGS BY DECLENSION
First Declension (mostly feminine): singular -ae, plural -ārum puella → puellae (of the girl) → puellārum (of the girls) littera → litterae → litterārum
Second Declension (mostly masculine/neuter): singular -ī, plural -ōrum liber → librī (of the book) → librōrum (of the books) officium → officiī → officiōrum
Third Declension (mixed gender): singular -is, plural -um/-ium codex → codicis (of the codex) → codicum (of the codices)
DATIVE OF POSSESSION
An important alternative to the genitive appears in this dialogue: Est mihi codex — literally “There is to-me a codex” (= I have a codex)
This construction uses the dative case (mihi “to me”) with the verb esse to express possession. It emphasizes the possession itself rather than the possessor.
Word Order Analysis
This dialogue demonstrates several Neo-Latin word order patterns. Questions use the enclitic -ne attached to the verb: Habesne? “Do you have?” The genitive modifier typically follows its head noun: librōs Cicerōnis not Cicerōnis librōs. In more complex sentences, the verb often comes at the end (SOV pattern): Magister noster eum legī iussit — “Our teacher it to-be-read ordered.”
Common Mistakes
Using a preposition with the genitive is unnecessary and incorrect. English speakers often want to say liber dē Cicerōne (”book about/of Cicero”), but simple liber Cicerōnis is correct for “Cicero’s book.” Only use dē with the ablative when you mean “concerning” or “about” as a topic: Dē Officiīs means “Concerning Duties” (the topic of the work).
Confusing genitive singular and nominative plural is common in the second declension since both can end in -ī: librī Cicerōnis means “the books of Cicero” (nominative plural + genitive singular), while liber Cicerōnis is “the book of Cicero.”
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accipere (accipiō, accipere, accēpī, acceptum) — to receive, accept; imperative: accipe; from ad- + capere “to take toward oneself”; cf. English “accept”
amīcus, amīcī (m) — friend; vocative: amīce; from amāre “to love”; cf. “amicable”
amor, amōris (m) — love; genitive amōris; cf. “amorous”
cautē (adv) — carefully, cautiously; from cautus “wary”; cf. “caution”
Cicerō, Cicerōnis (m) — Cicero, the Roman orator (106–43 BCE); genitive Cicerōnis; his Dē Officiīs (”On Duties”) was a standard Renaissance school text
codex, codicis (m) — codex, manuscript book; accusative codicem; originally “tree trunk,” then “wooden writing tablet,” then “bound book”; cf. “code”
commodāre (commodō, commodāre) — to lend, loan; future: commodābis; from com- + modus “measure”; literally “to make convenient”
complūrēs, complūra (adj) — several, a good many; accusative plural
coniungere (coniungō, coniungere) — to join together, unite; from con- + iungere; cf. “conjunction”
cupere (cupiō, cupere, cupīvī, cupītum) — to desire, wish for; cf. “Cupid”
diēs, diēī (m/f) — day; accusative plural diēs; cf. “diary”
ergō (conj) — therefore, consequently
grātiās agere — to give thanks; grātiās is accusative plural of grātia “grace, thanks”; cf. “gratitude”
hebdomas, hebdomadis (f) — week; from Greek hebdomas “group of seven”; ablative hebdomade
liber, librī (m) — book; genitive plural librōrum; distinct from līber “free”; cf. “library”
libenter (adv) — gladly, willingly; from libēns “willing”
lingua, linguae (f) — language, tongue; genitive linguae; cf. “linguistics”
littera, litterae (f) — letter (of alphabet); plural litterae often means “literature, letters, learning”; genitive plural litterārum; cf. “literal”
magister, magistrī (m) — master, teacher; cf. “magistrate,” “master”
officium, officiī (n) — duty, office; genitive officiī, plural officiōrum; Cicero’s Dē Officiīs was a treatise on moral duties
opus, operis (n) — work, literary work; genitive operis; cf. “opus,” “opera”
pretiōsus, -a, -um (adj) — precious, valuable; from pretium “price”; cf. “precious”
proximus, -a, -um (adj) — next, nearest; ablative proximā (with hebdomade); cf. “proximate”
quaerere (quaerō, quaerere) — to seek, ask for, look for; cf. “query”
reddere (reddō, reddere) — to return, give back; from red- + dare; future reddam; cf. “render”
studiōsus, -a, -um (adj) — devoted to, eager for; takes genitive: studiōsus linguae Latīnae “devoted to the Latin language”; cf. “studious”
Terentius, Terentiī (m) — Terence, the Roman comic playwright (c. 190–159 BCE); genitive Terentiī; his plays were standard school reading
thēsaurus, thēsaurī (m) — treasure, treasury; from Greek thēsauros; cf. “thesaurus” (originally “treasury of words”)
tractāre (tractō, tractāre) — to handle, treat; imperative tractā; frequentative of trahere “to drag”; cf. “tractor”
volūmen, volūminis (n) — scroll, volume; from volvere “to roll”; cf. “volume”
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This version uses simpler vocabulary and shorter sentences while maintaining the dialogue structure:
MAR. Salvē! Habesne librōs bonōs? PAU. Habeō. Habeō librōs Cicerōnis. MAR. Dā mihi ūnum librum! PAU. Libenter. Sed redde mihi librum! MAR. Reddam. Grātiās tibi agō. PAU. Valē!
MAR. Hello! Do you have good books? PAU. I do. I have books of Cicero. MAR. Give me one book! PAU. Gladly. But return the book to me! MAR. I will return it. I give you thanks. PAU. Farewell!
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Based on Petrus Mosellanus, Paedologia (Leipzig, 1518), Dialogus De Librīs, as edited by Hermann Michel (Berlin: Weidmann, 1906), lines 81–94:
MARCVS. Salue Paule! Quid agis hodie? PAVLVS. Bene me habeo gratias tibi. Et tu? MAR. Satis bene. Sed dic mihi habesne libros Ciceronis? PAV. Habeo complures. Cuius operis libros quaeris? MAR. De Officijs si habes. Magister enim noster eum legi iussit. PAV. Est mihi vnus codex Officiorum pulcherrime scriptus. MAR. O! Commodasne mihi eum ad paucos dies? PAV. Libenter id faciam si tu quoque tuos mihi libros commodabis. MAR. Certe! Habeo volumen Terentij si id cupis. PAV. Optime! Amor literarum nos coniungit. MAR. Verum dicis. Studiosis linguae Latinae libri sunt thesaurus. PAV. Accipe ergo hunc codicem. Sed caute tracta est enim pretiosus! MAR. Gratias maximas tibi ago! Eum tibi reddam proxima hebdomade. PAV. Vale amice et bene stude!
Orthographic notes: ij for iī, u for v in some positions, ae sometimes printed as e in early editions.
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A Colloquium in a Modern University Setting
Two university students, ANNA and LUCIA, discuss digital and physical books.
18B.1 ANNA: Salvē, Lucia! Quid legis in telephōnō tuō?
18B.2 LUCIA: Salvē! Legō librum Tolkieniī—”Dominum Ānulōrum.”
18B.3 ANNA: Estne liber ēlectronicus? Ego librōs chartāceōs mālō.
18B.4 LUCIA: Ita, est ēlectronicus. Sed cōpia librōrum in ūnō instrūmentō mē dēlectat.
18B.5 ANNA: Intellegō. Sed amor chartae antīquae mē tenet.
18B.6 LUCIA: Tū es studiōsa bibliothēcārum! Habesne multōs librōs domī?
18B.7 ANNA: Habeō centum ferē. Pretium eōrum est magnum, sed gaudium maius!
18B.8 LUCIA: Commodāsne mihi librum favōrītum tuum?
18B.9 ANNA: Libenter! Habeō volūmen poētārum Latīnōrum. Horātiī carmina sunt optima.
18B.10 LUCIA: Ō, grātiās! Ego tibi fasciculum librōrum ēlectronicōrum mittam.
18B.11 ANNA: Mīrābile! Amor litterārum nōs coniungit—sīve in chartā sīve in scrīniō!
18B.12 LUCIA: Vērum dīcis. In saeculō nostrō, multae viae ad sapientiam dūcunt.
18B.1 ANNA: Hello, Lucia! What are you reading on your phone?
18B.2 LUCIA: Hello! I’m reading Tolkien’s book—”The Lord of the Rings.”
18B.3 ANNA: Is it an electronic book? I prefer paper books.
18B.4 LUCIA: Yes, it’s electronic. But the abundance of books in one device delights me.
18B.5 ANNA: I understand. But love of ancient paper holds me.
18B.6 LUCIA: You are devoted to libraries! Do you have many books at home?
18B.7 ANNA: I have about a hundred. Their price is great, but the joy is greater!
18B.8 LUCIA: Will you lend me your favorite book?
18B.9 ANNA: Gladly! I have a volume of Latin poets. The songs of Horace are excellent.
18B.10 LUCIA: Oh, thank you! I will send you a bundle of electronic books.
18B.11 ANNA: Wonderful! Love of literature unites us—whether on paper or on screen!
18B.12 LUCIA: You speak truly. In our age, many paths lead to wisdom.
telephōnum, -ī (n) — telephone, smartphone (Neo-Latin coinage from Greek) ēlectronicus, -a, -um — electronic (modern Latin formation) chartāceus, -a, -um — made of paper; from charta “papyrus, paper” instrūmentum, -ī (n) — device, instrument bibliothēca, -ae (f) — library (from Greek) favōrītus, -a, -um — favorite (modern Latin from English/French) fasciculus, -ī (m) — bundle, collection, file scrīnium, -ī (n) — screen, display (adapted from classical “writing case”) saeculum, -ī (n) — age, century, generation
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The Latinum Institute has been developing materials for independent Latin learners since 2006. Our approach emphasizes learning through authentic texts and extensive listening and reading practice. The Neo-Latin Colloquia series draws on the rich tradition of Renaissance conversational Latin, bringing these texts to modern learners with full grammatical support and cultural context.
For reviews of Latinum materials, see: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
These lessons are designed for autodidacts—self-directed learners who want to develop genuine reading ability in Latin through systematic, text-based study. The dialogue format mirrors how Latin was actually taught and learned in Renaissance schools, making conversation and practical expression the gateway to the treasures of Latin literature.
Next Lesson Preview: Lesson 19 will continue with Mosellanus’s Paedologia, turning to Dē Magistrō (On the Teacher), exploring vocabulary and expressions for discussing teachers, instruction, and academic hierarchy in the Renaissance classroom.
Previous Lesson Connection: In Lesson 17, we examined Dē Studiō (On Study), introducing hortatory subjunctives and study vocabulary. The genitive constructions in today’s lesson build on that foundation, as expressions like studiōsīs linguae Latīnae combine both concepts.
Source: Petrus Mosellanus, Paedologia, ed. Hermann Michel (Berlin: Weidmann, 1906). Available at Archive.org: https://archive.org/details/paedologiahrsgvo00moseuoft
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