3. There are very few verbs like 'yield' in English; that is, intransitive verbs which require a noun to complete the sense. But in Latin there are a good many such, owing to the fact of their being compounded with prepositions. Thus, impendeo is a compound verb, meaning I hang over;' and to complete the sense I must say what an object hangs over: as, Populus impendet antro, the poplar hangs over the cave.' But in English the simple verb 'hang' can be taken by itself, and does not require a noun after it to complete the sense: as, 'Grapes hang.' 4. All the instances under B. a are in Latin the same. In Latin there is no difference between cedo and pareo. Each is an intransitive verb, being followed by the dative case. But in English 'obey' is now transitive, being followed by a noun without a preposition. In translating therefore from English into Latin, great care must be taken with such verbs; that is, with verbs which are transitive in English, but in Latin are followed by the dative. See Appendix G. 5. The substantive verb Sum (XIV. C.) is followed by the dative for exactly the same reason that cedo is. 'A book is at, or by the side of, the woman;' not moving, but affecting or concerning her in other words, The woman has a book.' Note this Latin idiom for translating 'I have,' 'You have,' &c. The common rule is— 6 Sum and its compounds, except possum, are followed by the Dative case. These compounds are in Latin exactly like cedo: but they may sometimes be translated into English by intransitive verbs like yield;' sometimes by transitive, like obey:' as, præsum arci, 'I preside over the citadel,' or, 'I command the citadel.' 6. Verbs like do, 'put' or 'give,' are followed by the dative for exactly the same reason that cedo is. Only cedo, being intransitive, is followed by only one noun in the dative; whereas do, being transitive, is followed by two nouns-one in the accusative, the other in the dative. 'The lord puts the book at, or by the side of, the boy.' His action moves the book, but only affects or concerns the boy. Hence it follows that even verbs which denote 'taking away' may be followed by the dative, because the object is affected by, or concerned in, the action: as, adimo, deripio, extorqueo, &c., in B. b. These would naturally be followed by the ablative, as they denote operation from (VIII. A.), and they do often take the ablative. But with some the idea of indirect action prevails over the idea of operation from, so that they prefer the dative. In fact, adimo is always followed by the dative. Here again (3) there are many more verbs like do in Latin than in English, owing to their being compounded with prepositions. 7. For exactly the same reason Adjectives like carus, 'dear;' that is, adjectives denoting qualities which operate on, or concern an object; are followed by the dative. The lord is dear in the sight of the boy.' S. The dative is used for a noun in Apposition (XVI. A.): as, 8 a. Res domino est curæ. The matter is a care to the lord. b. Dominus paupertatem probro habet. 8. This special use of the dative should be carefully noted. It is sometimes called the dative of the purpose, sometimes the double dative; but it rather marks apposition, as in English. The matter is at, or in the light of, a care at, or in the heart of, the lord.' Example b is exactly the same, but with a transitive verb. The lord holds poverty at, or in the light of, a disgrace.' CHAPTER VI. ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS. A. The Adjective agrees with its noun in gender, number, and case: as, Bonus dominus, good lord. Boni domini, good lords. This is commonly called the Second Concord (Int. 6). B. The adjective also passes through degrees of comparison as justus, ‘just;' justior, 'juster,' or 'more just ;' justissimus, 'justest,' or 'most just,' or 'very just.' C. The Adverb passes through degrees of comparison: as, juste, justly ;' justius, 'more justly;' justissime, ' most justly,' or 'very justly' (Int. 7). As it does not pass through other changes of form, it may enter the sentence without any law, being attached chiefly to the verb, but also to an adjective, and sometimes even to another adverb: as, Egregie justus homo valde celeriter ambulat. The eminently just man walks extremely quickly. For adverbs see Int. 7; and for Conjunction-adverbs, or Conjunctions, see Int. 17. D. An adjective may be used either as an epithet, or a complement. a. It is called an Epithet ('added'), when it is added to a sentence which is complete without it: as, Bonus dominus ambulat. The good lord walks. b. It is called a Complement, when it is necessary to complete the sense: as, Dominus est bonus. The lord is good. E. a. Some adjectives denote qualities which do not operate on, or affect, objects; as, longus, 'long;' and therefore require no noun after them : as, Ver est longum. These correspond with verbs like ambulo, 'walk.' b. Some denote qualities which affect or concern objects; as, carus, 'dear;' and are therefore followed by a noun in the dative: as, Dominus carus est puero. The lord is dear to the boy. These correspond with verbs like cedo, ' yield.' S. a. Adjectives denoting order, as highest,' 'middle,' 'lowest,' &c., are sometimes so combined with a noun as to name, not the object named by the noun, but the portion of it denoted by the adjective. Thus summus mons may mean both 'the highest mountain,' and also 'the mountain where it is highest ;' that is, 'the top of the mountain :' as, Summus mons ab hostibus tenebatur. The top of the mountain was occupied by the enemy. Compare rex-interfectus, XXII. C. b. Adjectives denoting order often require in English the insertion of the copula : as, Primus Marcus flumen transiit. Marcus was the first who crossed the river; or, T. After comparative adjectives the noun is either in the same sentence and in the ablative case (VIII. A, d): or it stands, as in English, in a new sentence after the conjunctive adverb quam, 'than ;' generally, as subject-word to the copula omitted: as, Aurum gravius est argento; or, Aurum gravius est quam argentum. a. If the noun with which the comparative agrees is not in the nominative case, the noun after the comparative prefers the quam construction; unless it be a pronoun, when it prefers the ablative; as, But, Neminem vidi dulciorem quam Lælius; or, Neminem vidi dulciorem quam Lælium. I have never seen a pleasanter person than Lælius. I have seen nobody pleasanter than you. b. If the noun with which the comparative agrees does not name one of the objects compared, the quam construction should be used: as, Majores tibi sunt divitiæ quam mihi. You have greater wealth than I. V. The following constructions with adjectives implying comparison should be noted. a. When the qualities denoted by adjectives are compared, the comparative after quam is used where we use the positive: as, Homo doctior est quam pulchrior. The man is more learned than handsome. b. The comparative is used without a noun after it to imply that a quality is possessed in somewhat too great a degree: as, Homo natura est iracundior. The man is naturally passionate. So the superlative denotes that the quality is possessed in a very great degree: as, 'justissimus,' very just. c. The superlative is intensified by the addition of quam or quantus: as, Cæsar quam maximas comparat copias1; or, d. The superlative is used with quisque : as, All the nearest persons flock together. All the nearest nations flock together. See XVIII. F. e. Comparatives are combined by eo, quo; tanto, quanto; and the same meaning is obtained by ut with the superlative: as, Quo major exercitus, eo gravior clades est2 (a); or, Quanto major exercitus, tanto gravior clades (B); or, Ut quisque exercitus est maximus, ita gravissima clades (y). f. Comparatives are often followed by quam and pro: as, Cohortes pulverem majorem quam pro numero excitabant. The cohorts raised a greater dust than their numbers warranted. 6 W. Alter means 'one of two objects;' alteri, 'one of two groups of objects;' alius, 'one of more than two objects;' alii, one of more than two groups of objects.' But alter and alius are commonly repeated in a sentence: and then the second alter means 'the other,' the second alius means another:' as, a. Fratrum amo alterum, alterum odi. Of the two brothers I love one and hate the other. |