# Prīmus et Secundus Annus, Capita 31–35

Puer Romanus

Dē cervīs; Dolus piscātōrum; Lūdī magister scelerātissimus; Physiōgnōmōn; Advena

Source: https://1732studios.com/courses/la/15. Data: https://1732studios.com/courses/la/15.json.

## Dē cervīs (Puer Rōmānus 31)

**1** Haec mihi mīrantī vīlicus ille de cervīs pergit.  
While I was wondering at this, the bailiff goes on about the deer.

**2** ‘Cervae quoque, aestīvō tempore, pāscendī causā, ex Siciliā Rhēgium trānsmīttunt; quī cum nōn exiguus sit trāiectus, fit tandem ut dēficiant, aegrēque suprā aquam capita tollant.  
'The deer too, in summertime, cross over from Sicily to Rhegium for the sake of pasture; and since the crossing is not a short one, it comes about at last that they give out and can hardly lift their heads above the water.

**3** Ergō hoc excōgitāvērunt remedium.  
So they have thought out this remedy.

**4** Singillātim omnēs natant ōrdine, ut alteram sequātur altera, nōn aliter quam bene īnstrūctus prōcēdit exercitus.  
They all swim one by one in a line, so that one follows another, just as a well-drawn-up army advances.

**5** Sequentis enim caput priōris incumbit laterī, atque ita natant dōnec dēfatīgētur prīma quae āgmen dūcit.  
For the head of the one behind rests on the side of the one in front, and so they swim until the first, which leads the column, is worn out.

**6** Quod cum fit, illa in tergō locātur, et alia prīmum tenet locum.’  
When that happens, she is placed at the back, and another takes the first place.'

**7** Utrum haec fābula vēra sit necne, nesciō, sed cum vīlicum offendere nōllem, mē crēdere simulāvī.  
Whether this story is true or not, I do not know, but since I did not want to offend the bailiff, I pretended to believe it.

**8** Deinde tot rēbus spectātīs dēfessus ad novum meum cubiculum abīvī.  
Then, tired out with looking at so many things, I went off to my new bedroom.

**9** Posterō diē, māne experrēctus, ad flūmen, quod fundum nostrum praeterit, vīlicō comitante, piscandī causa ambulāvī.  
The next day, waking in the morning, I walked to the river which runs past our farm, with the bailiff for company, to fish.

**10** Neque piscium cōpia dēerat, et dum apud rīpam sedēmus ‘Nōn eādem, quā Canius’ inquit vīlicus ‘fortūnā ūtimur’.  
There was no lack of fish, and while we sit on the bank the bailiff said, 'We are not having the same luck as Canius.'

**11** ‘Deinde mihi rogantī quid eī accidisset hanc nārrāvit fābulam.  
Then, when I asked what had happened to him, he told me this story.

**12** Cūr Rhēgium trānsmīttunt cervae ex Siciliā?  
Why do the deer cross over to Rhegium from Sicily?

**13** Cūr accidit ut dēficiant?  
Why does it come about that they give out?

**14** Quāle igitur remedium excōgitant?  
What remedy, then, do they think out?

**15** Quid faciunt cum prīma cerva dēfatīgātur?  
What do they do when the first deer is worn out?

**16** Cūr simulāvī mē vīlicō crēdere?  
Why did I pretend to believe the bailiff?

**17** Quid posterō diē fēcī?  
What did I do the next day?

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| cervīs | doe, hind, from cerva |
| trānsmīttunt | send across, from transmitto |
| exiguus | small |
| trāiectus | transfer, from traicio |
| aegrēque | sick, from aeger |
| excōgitāvērunt | think out, from excogito |
| remedium | remedy, cure |
| Singillātim | one by one, singly |
| īnstrūctus | construct, build, from instruo |
| dēfatīgētur | tire, exhaust, from defatigo |
| offendere | offend, give offense, from offendo |
| praeterit | be in charge, from praetero |
| vīlicō | perform duties of farm overseer |
| piscandī | fish, from piscor |
| Canius | kind of wild nettle |
| dēfatīgātur | tire, exhaust |

## Dolus piscātōrum (Puer Rōmānus 32)

**18** C. Canius, eques Rōmānus, cum sē Syrācūsās ōtiandī (ut ipse dīcere solēbat) nōn negōtiandī causā, contulisset, dīctitābat sē hortulōs aliquōs velle emere, quō invītāre amīcōs, et ubi sē oblectāre sine interpellātiōnibus posset.  
'Gaius Canius, a Roman knight, when he had taken himself to Syracuse to be at leisure (as he himself used to say) and not on business, kept saying that he wanted to buy some gardens, to which he might invite his friends and where he might enjoy himself without interruptions.

**19** Quod cum percrēbuisset, Pȳthius eī quīdam, quī argentāriam faceret Syrācūsīs, dīxit vēnālēs quidem sē hortōs nōn habēre, sed licēre ūtī Caniō, sī vellet, ut suīs; et simul ad cēnam hominem in hortōs invītāvit in posterum diem.  
When this had got about, one Pythius, who was a banker at Syracuse, told him that he had no gardens for sale, but that Canius might use his as his own, if he wished; and at the same time he invited the man to dinner in the gardens on the next day.

**20** Cum ille prōmīsisset, tum Pȳthius, quī esset, ut argentārius, apud omnēs ōrdinēs grātiōsus, piscātōrēs ad sē convocāvit, et ab hīs petīvit ut ante suōs hortulōs postrīdiē piscārentur; dīxitque quid eōs facere vellet.  
When he had accepted, Pythius, who as a banker was in favour with every rank, called the fishermen together to him and asked them to fish the next day in front of his gardens; and he told them what he wanted them to do.

**21** Ad cēnam tempore vēnit Canius; opiparē ā Pȳthiō apparātum convīvium; cymbārum ante oculōs multitūdō; prō sē quisque quod cēperat, afferēbat; ante pedēs Pȳthiī piscēs abiciēbantur.  
Canius came to dinner at the right time; a splendid banquet had been got ready by Pythius; a multitude of boats before their eyes; each man brought forward what he had caught; the fish were thrown down before Pythius' feet.

**22** Tum Canius ‘Quaesō’ inquit, ‘quid est hoc, Pȳthī, tantumne piscium, tantumne cymbārum?’  
Then Canius said, 'Tell me, Pythius, what is this, so many fish, so many boats?'

**23** Et ille ‘Quid mīrum?’ inquit ‘hōc locō est, Syrācūsīs quidquid est piscium; haec aquātiō; hāc vīllā istī carēre nōn possunt’.  
And he said, 'What is the wonder? In this place is all the fish there is at Syracuse; this is their watering place; those men cannot do without this house.'

**24** Incēnsus Canius cupiditāte, contendit ā Pȳthiō ut venderet.  
Canius, set on fire with longing, pressed Pythius to sell.

**25** Quid multa?  
Why say more?

**26** Impetrat; emit tantī, quantī Pȳthius voluit, et emit īnstrūctōs; nōmina facit, negōtium cōnficit.  
He gets his way; he buys at the price Pythius wanted, and buys them fully furnished; he draws up the accounts and completes the business.

**27** Invītat Canius postrīdiē familiārēs suōs; venit ipse mātūrē.  
The next day Canius invites his friends; he comes himself early.

**28** Scalmum nūllum videt; quaerit ex proximō vīcīnō num fēriae quaedam piscātōrum essent, quod eōs nūllōs vidēret.  
He sees not a single rowlock; he asks the nearest neighbour whether it was some fishermen's holiday, since he saw none of them.

**29** ‘Nūllae, quod sciam,’ inquit ille, ‘sed hīc piscārī nūllī solent; itaque herī mīrābar quid accidisset!’  
'None that I know of,' said the man, 'but no one usually fishes here; and so yesterday I wondered what had happened!'

**30** Stomachābātur Canius; sed quid faceret?  
Canius was angry; but what could he do?

**31** Cūr Syrācūsās sē contulit Canius?  
Why did Canius take himself to Syracuse?

**32** Cūr voluit hortōs emere?  
Why did he want to buy gardens?

**33** Quis erat Pȳthius?  
Who was Pythius?

**34** Quid fēcit cum audiisset Canium velle hortōs emere?  
What did he do when he had heard that Canius wanted to buy gardens?

**35** Cūr ad sē vocāvit piscātōrēs?  
Why did he call the fishermen to him?

**36** Quid postrīdiē vīdit Canius in hortīs?  
What did Canius see in the gardens the next day?

**37** Quid igitur voluit facere?  
What then did he want to do?

**38** Quantī ēmit hortōs?  
For how much did he buy the gardens?

**39** Quid posterō diē fēcit?  
What did he do the next day?

**40** Deinde quid accidit?  
What then happened?

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| ōtiandī | be at leisure, enjoy a, from otior |
| negōtiandī | carry on business, from negotior |
| dīctitābat | repeat, from dictito |
| oblectāre | delight, please, from oblecto |
| interpellātiōnibus | interruption in speaking, from interpellatio |
| percrēbuisset | become very frequent, become very, from percrebesco |
| argentāriam | bank, from argentaria |
| vēnālēs | for sale, from venalis |
| argentārius | pertaining to silver or money |
| grātiōsus | agreeable, enjoying favor |
| piscātōrēs | fisherman, from piscator |
| opiparē | splendidly, richly |
| cymbārum | skiff, small boat, from cymba |
| abiciēbantur | throw, from abicio |
| Quaesō | beg, ask |
| aquātiō | fetching |
| Incēnsus | unassessed, not assessed |
| cupiditāte | enthusiasm, from cupiditas |
| Impetrat | obtain, from impetro |
| cōnficit | make, construct, from conficio |
| mātūrē | quickly |
| Scalmum | thole-pin, rowlock, from scalmus |
| vīcīnō | neighbor, from vicinum |
| sciam | cognizant, possessing knowledge, from scius |
| piscārī | fish-, from piscarius |
| Stomachābātur | be angry, boil with rage, from stomachor |

## Lūdī magister scelerātissimus (Puer Rōmānus 33)

**41** Quae cum vīlicus ille mihi nārrāvisset ego aliquid in memoriam revocāre cōnābar quod eī nārrārem.  
When the bailiff had told me this, I tried to call to mind something that I might tell him.

**42** In mentem vēnit fābula quam apud Līvium ōlim in lūdō recitāvimus.  
There came into my mind a story which we once read out from Livy at school.

**43** Hunc igitur in modum incēpī.  
So I began in this way.

**44** Ut tū multa scīs dē piscibus, cervīs, gruibus, cēterīsque animālibus, ita ego multa dē lūdōrum magistrīs, quōrum dē scelerātissimō nunc audī fābulam:  
As you know many things about fish, deer, cranes and other animals, so I know many about schoolmasters, and now hear a story about the wickedest of them:

**45** ‘Mōs erat Faliscīs eōdem magistrō līberōrum et comite ūtī, simulque plūrēs puerī ūnius cūrae dēmandābantur.  
'It was the custom among the Falisci to use the same man as the teacher and the attendant of their children, and several boys at once were entrusted to the care of one man.

**46** Prīncipum līberōs, sīcut ferē fit, quī scientiā vidēbātur praecellere, ērudiēbat.  
The children of the leading men were taught, as generally happens, by the man who seemed to excel in learning.

**47** Is cum in pāce īnstituisset puerōs ante urbem lūsūs exercendīque causā prōdūcere, nihil eō mōre per bellī tempus intermīssō, modo breviōribus, modo longiōribus spatiīs trahendō eōs ā portā lūsū sermōnibusque variātīs, longius solitō, ubi rēs dedit, prōgrēssus inter statiōnēs hostium, castraque inde Rōmāna (Rōmānī tunc oppidum obsidēbant) in praetōrium ad Camillum eōs perdūxit.  
He had made a practice in peacetime of taking the boys outside the city for play and exercise, and he did not break off this custom at all in time of war, but drawing them away from the gate, now for shorter, now for longer distances, with play and varied talk, he went further than usual when the chance offered, and led them through the enemy's outposts and from there into the Roman camp (the Romans were then besieging the town), into the general's quarters, to Camillus.

**48** Ibi scelestō facinorī scelestiōrem sermōnem addit; Faleriōs sē in manūs Rōmānīs dedisse, quando eōs puerōs quōrum parentēs capita ibi rērum sint, in potestātem dēdiderit.  
There he added to his wicked deed a still more wicked speech: that he had given Falerii into the hands of the Romans, since he had handed over into their power those boys whose parents were the chief men there.

**49** Quae ubi Camillus audīvit “Nōn ad similem” inquit, “tuī nec populum nec imperātōrem scelestus ipse cum scelestō mūnere vēnistī.  
When Camillus heard this he said, 'It is not to a people or a general like yourself that you have come, wicked man with your wicked gift.

**50** Nōbīs cum Faliscīs, quae pāctō fit hūmānō, societās nōn est; quam ingenerāvit nātūra utrīsque, est eritque.  
Between us and the Falisci there is no alliance made by human agreement; but the alliance which nature has bred in us both is there and will be.

**51** Sunt et bellī sīcut pācis iūra, iūstēque ea nōn minus quam fortiter didicimus gerere.  
There are laws of war as of peace, and we have learnt to wage it justly no less than bravely.

**52** Arma habēmus nōn adversus eam aetātem, cuī etiam captīs urbibus parcitur, sed adversus armātōs et ipsōs, quī, nec laesī nec lacessītī ā nōbīs, castra Rōmāna ad Vēiōs oppūgnārunt.  
We carry arms not against that age which is spared even when cities are taken, but against men who are themselves armed, who, neither hurt nor provoked by us, attacked the Roman camp at Veii.

**53** Eōs tū, quantum in tē fuit, novō scelere vīcistī; ego Rōmānīs artibus, virtūte opere armīs, sīcut Vēiōs, vincam”.  
Them you have beaten, as far as in you lay, by a new kind of crime; I shall beat them by Roman arts, by courage, by siege-works and by arms, as I beat Veii.'

**54** Dēnūdātum deinde eum, manibus post tergum illigātīs, redūcendum Falēriōs puerīs trādidit, virgāsque eīs, quibus prōditōrem agerent in urbem verberantēs, dedit.’  
Then he had the man stripped and his hands tied behind his back, and handed him over to the boys to be taken back to Falerii, and gave them rods with which to drive the traitor into the city, beating him.'

**55** Quā recitātā fābulā ‘Tālia quidem’ inquam ‘hodiē numquam accidunt.  
When this story had been told I said, 'Such things never happen today.

**56** Sed et apud nōs, nostrō in lūdō, mīra quaedam nōnnumquam accidunt’.  
But among us too, in our school, some strange things sometimes happen.'

**57** Quid solēbant Falīscī facere dē puerīs ēducandīs?  
What did the Falisci usually do about the education of their boys?

**58** Quis ērudiēbat prīncipum līberōs?  
Who taught the children of the leading men?

**59** Cūr solēbat puerōs ante urbem prōdūcere?  
Why did he usually take the boys outside the city?

**60** Quōmodo inter hostium statiōnēs prōgrēssus est?  
How did he get through the enemy's outposts?

**61** Quid Camillō dīxit?  
What did he say to Camillus?

**62** Quid respondit Camillus?  
What did Camillus answer?

**63** Quid puerīs dedit?  
What did he give the boys?

**64** Cūr hās rēs puerīs dedit?  
Why did he give the boys these things?

**65** Quālis societās erat inter Rōmānōs et Falīscōs?  
What sort of alliance was there between the Romans and the Falisci?

**66** Adversus quōs habēbant Rōmānī arma?  
Against whom did the Romans carry arms?

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| recitāvimus | read aloud, recite |
| scelerātissimō | criminal, wicked |
| Faliscīs | of, from Faliscus |
| dēmandābantur | entrust, hand over, from demando |
| sīcut | just as, as if |
| praecellere | surpass, from praecello |
| ērudiēbat | educate, teach, from erudio |
| lūsūs | plague, pestilence |
| exercendīque | exercise, train |
| intermīssō | interrupt, from intermitto |
| variātīs | mark with contrasting colors, variegate, from vario |
| castraque | camp, military camp, from castra |
| Camillum | handmaiden, from Camillus |
| perdūxit | lead, guide, from perduco |
| hūmānō | make human |
| societās | society |
| ingenerāvit | implant, from ingenero |
| nātūra | nature |
| iūstēque | justice, from justum |
| armātōs | armed, from armatus |
| Dēnūdātum | strip, denude, from denudo |
| illigātīs | bind, fasten, from illigo |
| virgāsque | twig, sprout |
| prōditōrem | traitor, from proditor |
| verberantēs | beat, strike, from verbero |
| Falīscī | rack in a manger |

## Physiōgnōmōn (Puer Rōmānus 34)

**67** ‘Nam postrēmō annō physiōgnōmōn quīdam, Zōpyrus nōmine, Rōmam vēnit, quī sē nātūram cūiusque ex fōrmā perspicere profitēbātur.  
'For last year a certain reader of faces, Zopyrus by name, came to Rome, who claimed that he could see each man's nature from his shape.

**68** Hic quondam ad lūdum nostrum vēnit, ōrāvitque magistrum ut sibi licēret puerōrum mōrēs nātūrāsque ex corpore vultū oculīs expōnere.  
One day he came to our school and begged the master to let him set out the characters and natures of the boys from their bodies, faces and eyes.

**69** Magister igitur nōbīs imperāvit ut ōrdine stārēmus et capita advenae pertractanda adhibērēmus.  
So the master ordered us to stand in a row and to offer our heads to the stranger to be felt.

**70** At ille, mīrābile dictū, capite cūiusque manibus pertractātō, omnium nātūrās rēctē exposuit, et nōs omnēs “Macte” exclāmāvimus; etiam magister, quī plērumque sē trīstissimum praestat, nōn facere potuit quīn hominī grātulārētur.  
And he, wonderful to say, when he had felt each one's head with his hands, set out all our natures correctly, and we all cried, 'Well done'; even the master, who is usually as grim as can be, could not help congratulating the man.

**71** Quibus laudibus ērēctus physiōgnōmōn magistrō quoque persuāsit ut sibi licēret et ipsīus pertractāre caput; et dum pertractat, pariter āc nōbīscum anteā fēcit, mōrēs expōnēbat; tam submīssā vōce tamen loquēbātur ut nōs reliquī vix audīre possēmus; ego autem vīdī magistrum rubēre animōque plānē perturbārī.  
Lifted up by this praise, the reader of faces persuaded the master too to let him feel his head as well; and while he feels it, just as he had done with us before, he was setting out his character; but he spoke in so low a voice that the rest of us could hardly hear; and I saw the master blush and become plainly upset.

**72** Itaque ā tergō clam appropinquāvī ut quid dīceret Zōpyrus audīrem; quid vērō dīxisset non invenīre poteram; nam simul atque ego tacitō gradū ad eōs pervēnī, magister summā īrā commōtus, correptā ferulā, caput Zōpyrī ingentī ictū pulsāvit et “Accipe” inquit “tū quoque tumōrem capitis ut omnēs sciant tē stultissimum esse”.  
So I came up secretly from behind to hear what Zopyrus was saying; but what he had said I could not find out; for as soon as I reached them with silent step, the master, stirred by the greatest anger, snatched up his cane, struck Zopyrus' head a huge blow and said, 'Take a swelling of the head yourself, so that everyone may know that you are an utter fool.'

**73** Quō dictō hominem tot verberibus onustum ē lūdō expulit.  
With these words he drove the man out of the school, loaded with blows.

**74** Nōs discipulī īrae ēius nōn oblītī, sī quando molestiam eī posteā volēbāmus afferre, semper rogābāmus num rē vērā animī nātūra ē corporis fōrmā posset cōgnōscī.’  
We pupils did not forget his anger, and if ever afterwards we wanted to annoy him, we always asked whether the nature of the mind could really be known from the shape of the body.'

**75** Quibus nārrātīs iam tempus erat ad vīllam redīre.  
When this had been told it was now time to go back to the farmhouse.

**76** Quid facere potest physiōgnōmōn?  
What can a reader of faces do?

**77** Quid magistrum nostrum ōrāvit Zōpyrus?  
What did Zopyrus beg our master?

**78** Quid nōbīs imperāvit magister?  
What did the master order us to do?

**79** Cūr nōn facere potuit magister quīn Zōpyrō grātulārētur?  
Why could the master not help congratulating Zopyrus?

**80** Quid deinde Zōpyrus magistrō persuāsit?  
What did Zopyrus then persuade the master to do?

**81** Cūr nōn potuī audīre quid dīceret dum caput magistrī pertractat?  
Why could I not hear what he was saying while he feels the master's head?

**82** Quid igitur fēcī?  
What then did I do?

**83** Cūr nōn invēnī quid dīxisset?  
Why did I not find out what he had said?

**84** Quid deinde fēcit magister?  
What did the master do next?

**85** Quid semper rogābāmus magistrum quotiēns molestiam eī volēbāmus afferre?  
What did we always ask the master whenever we wanted to annoy him?

**86** Quid facit argentārius?  
What does a banker do?

**87** Quid est cymba?  
What is a small boat?

**88** Quālēs sunt hortī īnstrūctī?  
What are fully furnished gardens?

**89** Quid sīgnificat nōmina faciō?  
What does 'I draw up the accounts' mean?

**90** Cūr opus est scalmīs in cymbā?  
Why are rowlocks needed in a boat?

**91** Quid agimus fēriīs?  
What do we do on holidays?

**92** Cūr nautīs opus est saburrā?  
Why do sailors need ballast?

**93** Quid sīgnificat macte?  
What does macte mean?

**94** Quālis est physiōgnōmōn?  
What is a reader of faces like?

**95** Quālis est trīstis magister?  
What is a grim master like?

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| physiōgnōmōn | physiognomist, one who reads character |
| perspicere | see through, from perspicio |
| profitēbātur | declare, from profiteor |
| pertractanda | draw or drag through or, from pertracto |
| Macte | of the Gods, worshiped, from mactus |
| exclāmāvimus | exclaim, shout |
| submīssā | allow to grow long, from submitto |
| plānē | clearly, plainly |
| clam | secretly, in secret |
| īrā | wrath, anger |
| tumōrem | swollen or distended condition, swelling, from tumor |
| onustum | laden, from onustus |
| scalmīs | thole-pin, rowlock |

## Advena (Puer Rōmānus 35)

**96** Quō cum rediissem invēnī amīcum patris meī ad vīllam pervēnisse ut apud nōs aliquot diēs dēgeret.  
When I had got back there I found that a friend of my father's had come to the farmhouse to spend some days with us.

**97** Centuriō est quī bellīs multīs interfuit.  
He is a centurion who has taken part in many wars.

**98** Contrā Germānōs, Britannōs, multās aliās nātiōnēs pūgnāvit.  
He has fought against the Germans, the Britons and many other nations.

**99** Nōn semel bisve sed saepe in proeliō est vulnerātus.  
Not once or twice but often he has been wounded in battle.

**100** Ōlim cum commīlitō quīdam ab hostibus oppressus in eō erat ut interficerētur, centuriō illī summā virtūtē succurrit, et vītā amīcī cōnservātā ipse graviter factus est saucius.  
Once, when a fellow soldier had been overpowered by the enemy and was on the point of being killed, the centurion came to his help with the greatest courage, and, having saved his friend's life, was himself badly wounded.

**101** Ō centuriōnem fortissimum! quam vellem et ipse mīles essem, ut contrā hostēs patriae meae strēnuē pūgnārem!  
What a brave centurion! How I wish I were a soldier myself, to fight hard against the enemies of my country!

**102** Nōmen centuriōnī est Sulpiciō, Gādibus in Hispāniā nātō annīs abhinc quīnquāginta.  
The centurion's name is Sulpicius, and he was born at Gades in Spain fifty years ago.

**103** Quam dīves hominum nōn modo fortium sed etiam ingeniōsōrum est et fuit terra illa Hispānia!  
How rich that land of Spain is and has been in men not only brave but also gifted!

**104** Lucānus poēta, Seneca philosophus, Quīntiliānus rhētōr, Mārtiālis poēta, hī inter aliōs in Hispāniā nātī posteā Rōmam vēnērunt.  
Lucan the poet, Seneca the philosopher, Quintilian the teacher of rhetoric, Martial the poet, these among others were born in Spain and afterwards came to Rome.

**105** Multa pater meus et centuriō post cēnam inter sē collocūtī sunt, quibus sermōnibus ego quoque interfuī.  
My father and the centurion talked together about many things after dinner, and I too took part in their conversation.

**106** Cum satis diū dē bellō Britannicō nārrāvissent, ‘Ō pater’ inquam ‘cūr necesse est bella tam longinqua gerant Rōmānī?  
When they had talked long enough about the British war, I said, 'Father, why must the Romans wage wars so far away?

**107** Nōnne satis māgnum est imperium nostrum?’  
Is our empire not big enough?'

**108** ‘Satis sānē’ inquit pater ‘plūs quidem quam satis, ut arbitrantur nōnnūllī.  
'Quite big enough,' said my father, 'more than enough indeed, as some think.

**109** Sed Sulpicius noster melius quam ego hīs dē rēbus tibi potest dīcere’.  
But our friend Sulpicius can tell you about these matters better than I can.'

**110** Cuī Sulpicius subrīdēns, ‘Libēns faciam’ inquit ‘quod rogās; negōtiīs enim aliīs vacō, et fīlius tuus scientiae cupidus vidētur.  
Sulpicius smiled at him and said, 'I shall gladly do what you ask; for I have no other business, and your son seems eager for knowledge.

**111** Multīs in regiōnibus nostrī bella gerere cōguntur, nōn ut imperium augeant sed ut fīnēs imperiī fīrmātī sint atque dēfēnsī.  
In many regions our men are forced to wage war, not to enlarge the empire but so that its borders may be made firm and defended.

**112** Quōmodo enim incolae longinquārum prōvinciārum sēcūrī possunt vīvere, sī semper eīs timendum est nē irrumpant barbarī, omnia rapiant, hominēs interficiant?  
For how can the people of distant provinces live in safety, if they must always be afraid that the barbarians will break in, seize everything and kill men?

**113** Nōn aliēna cupimus, sed nostra nostrōsque dēfendere.  
We do not want what belongs to others, but to defend what is ours and those who are ours.

**114** Nōnnumquam tamen fit ut nostra dēfendere nōn possīmus nisi contrā aliōs populōs bellum ultrō gerāmus.  
Sometimes, though, it happens that we cannot defend what is ours unless we go to war against other peoples of our own accord.

**115** Itaque et Britannōs oppūgnāvit Gāius Iūlius Caesar, quia Gallīs auxilium praebēbant.  
And so Gaius Julius Caesar attacked the Britons too, because they were giving help to the Gauls.

**116** Mihi quidem vidētur nihil magis reī pūblicae prōdesse quam ut prōvinciae dēfendantur, etiam sī bella longinqua gerere cōgimur.’  
To me at least nothing seems to do the state more good than that the provinces be defended, even if we are forced to wage distant wars.'

**117** Cuī ego ‘Grātiās agō’ inquam ‘quod haec omnia tam clārē exposuistī.  
I said to him, 'I thank you for setting all this out so clearly.

**118** Quam velim dē prīscīs Rōmānōrum factīs mihi aliquid nārrēs’.  
How I should like you to tell me something about the deeds of the Romans of old.'

**119** ‘Crās fortāsse’ respondit ‘nārrābō’.  
'Tomorrow, perhaps,' he answered, 'I shall tell you.'

**120** ‘Pergrātum’ inquam ‘faciēs’.  
'You will do me a great kindness,' I said.

**121** Postrīdiē igitur ego, frāter, sorōrēs (omnēs enim Sulpicium audīre cupiēbāmus) vesperī ad eum convēnimus.  
So the next day my brother, my sisters and I (for we all wanted to hear Sulpicius) gathered round him in the evening.

**122** Quibus vīsīs subrīdēns ‘Nōn modo discipulōs’ inquit ‘sed etiam discipulās, ut vidētur, doctūrus sum.  
When he saw us he smiled and said, 'Not only pupils, it seems, but girl pupils too I am going to teach.

**123** Strēnuē mihi rēs est agenda, ut omnibus placeam.’  
I must set about the thing with a will, to please everyone.'

**124** Tum frāter, ‘Nōlī timēre,’ inquit, ‘nē nōbīs displiceās; nam et historiās amāmus et tē ipsum, quī fortissimum in proeliandō tē praestiteris.  
Then my brother said, 'Do not be afraid of displeasing us; for we love both histories and yourself, who have shown yourself so brave in fighting.

**125** Scrīptōrēs rērum plērīque multa quidem scrībunt, ipsī agunt nihil.  
Most writers of history write a great deal, but do nothing themselves.

**126** Audītōrēs habēbis nōn incūriōsōs.’  
You will have listeners who are not without interest.'

**127** ‘Quod poterō’ respondet ‘faciam’.  
'I shall do what I can,' he answers.

**128** Cum ad vīllam rediissem quid invēnī?  
When I had got back to the farmhouse, what did I find?

**129** Cūr vēnerat advena?  
Why had the stranger come?

**130** Quālis erat ille?  
What was he like?

**131** Quid ōlim fēcit cum nōn multum abesset quīn commīlitō quīdam interficerētur?  
What did he once do when a fellow soldier was close to being killed?

**132** Cūr voluī esse mīles?  
Why did I want to be a soldier?

**133** Quid post cēnam rogāvī patrem?  
What did I ask my father after dinner?

**134** Quid respondit pater?  
What did my father answer?

**135** Cūr bella longinqua gerere cōguntur nostrī?  
Why are our men forced to wage distant wars?

**136** Cūr Britannōs oppūgnāvit C. Iūlius Caesar?  
Why did Gaius Julius Caesar attack the Britons?

**137** Quid māximē reī pūblicae interest?  
What matters most to the state?

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| nātiōnēs | nation, people, from natio |
| semel | one |
| bisve | twice, from bis |
| commīlitō | fellow soldier |
| succurrit | run to the aid of, from succurro |
| graviter | heavily, severely |
| strēnuē | active, vigorous |
| Sulpiciō | Sulpician, from Sulpicius |
| Gādibus | cod, from Gades |
| abhinc | since, ago |
| ingeniōsōrum | clever, ingenious, from ingeniosus |
| Quīntiliānus | Quintilius |
| Britannicō | British, from Britannicus |
| nārrāvissent | tell, tell about |
| longinqua | remote, distant, from longinquus |
| arbitrantur | think, judge, from arbitror |
| subrīdēns | smile, from subrideo |
| cupidus | eager |
| augeant | increase, enlarge, from augeo |
| irrumpant | invade |
| aliēna | foreigner, from alienum |
| auxilium | help, aid |
| pūblicae | public, belonging to the state, from publicus |
| clārē | make visible, from clareo |
| Pergrātum | very agreeable or pleasant, from pergratus |
| faciēs | shape, face |
| discipulās | female pupil |
| proeliandō | fight, from proelio |
| Audītōrēs | listener, hearer, from auditor |
| incūriōsōs | careless, from incuriosus |