Lesson 31. Certain Special Constructions. 1. READ carefully §§ 332. c, and 274 (Exclamatory clauses); 332. d (tantum abest ut, etc.); 332. e, comparing 288. ƒ (facere ut); 332. g, and 319. c, d (quin, quominus); 292. c (Perfect Participle with habeo); 317. c, with Remark (disguised Purpose); 211, with a, b, d (Double Questions); 308. b, c, d; 307. d; 311. c (Indicative used in conditions instead of the Subjunctive). 2. Some constructions which belong logically under the preceding heads have special idiomatic uses in Latin. Such are the following: a. The English exclamations, "The idea that!" "To think that!" "That!" and the like, referring to something which has actually happened, are expressed by the Accusative and Infinitive, usually with the enclitic ne. When referring to something anticipated or to a mere idea, by ut with the subjunctive, usually also with -ne as, 1. To think that you should have fallen into such grief for me! te in tantas aerumnas propter me incidisse ! 2. What! I interrupt you? egone ut te interpellem ? b. English expressions, like "Far from," or "So far from," with a following clause, are rendered in Latin by tantum abest, followed by two clauses with ut. The former clause is always the subject of abest, which has not a personal subject, as in English ; the latter clause is always one of Result, not an independent clause, as it often is in English (see examples in Grammar). manage to," c. Such phrases as "To allow one's self to," " "act in any way in doing a thing," are expressed in Latin by facere or committere, with an ut-clause as object. So also where verbs want the future infinitive, fore (futurum esse) ut is used. d. Expressions implying Hindrance, usually (but not always) followed in English by FROM with the participial noun, take in Latin a subjunctive clause with quominus (rarely ne). If the hindering is NEGATIVED, quin may be used instead. The same construction is used in Latin with verbs of refusing. Expressions like "Not to doubt THAT (but that)" are regularly followed by quin. The accusative with infinitive is to be avoided. "To doubt whether," introduces an Indirect Question, and is so to be treated. "To hesitate " is expressed by the same verb (dubito), but with a different construction the simple Infinitive. e. The English HAVE, with a participle, is sometimes a mere auxiliary, corresponding to the Perfect in Latin. Sometimes, however, it retains a slight notion of possession, and is then to be translated literally, with habeo or teneo. Thus 1. I have guarded the prisoners, captivos custodii. But2. I have the prisoners guarded (under guard), captivos habeo custoditos. f. Parenthetical expressions, like "To be brief," "To say no more,' ," "So to speak," are really expressions of Purpose, and are to be so treated in Latin: as, Not to be tedious, the enemy were beaten and put to flight, ne longus sim, hostes pulsi et fugati sunt. N. B. As this expression is elliptical, the sequence of tenses is disregarded. g. For the treatment of Double or Alternative Questions, consult the forms in the Grammar (§ 211). h. In stating the propriety, possibility, and the like, of a future action, or one that has not been performed at all, Latin employs the Indicative, expressing it (as it were) as a general truth, where English uses the Potential, treating it as a particular case. For example 1. It would be tedious to follow up the matter, longum est rem persequi. 2. It would befit us to mourn (but we do not), nos decebat lugere. 3. How much better would it have been! Quanto melius fuerat! 1 Exercise 30. 1. I do not doubt that you fully agree with me regarding the motives and the consequences of Cæsar's murder. I, for my part, cannot avoid feeling both sorrow and indignation, whether 1 I consider the victim or the assassins in that great crime. Whatever may have been the ambitions or the vices of his earlier public or private life, they cannot prevent us from regarding his death at this time as the most serious calamity to the Roman people, or from condemning and execrating the infamous conspiracy that slew him. Not to speak of the glory and empire won to Rome by his victories, he was the first conqueror in civil war who refused to make it an occasion. of massacre and revenge. Far from following the example of violence which the partisans of Pompey had threatened, he had 2 disciplined and controlled his forces, so as effectually to check the fury of slaughter or the lust of plunder. At least, his mercy to his enemies, after the victory at Pharsalia, should have forbidden all thoughts of private resentment. [To think] that Marcus Brutus, whom he not only had spared on the field of battle and in the hostile. camp, but even called his son, should strike the deadliest blow against him! that Cicero, who had so lately extolled with fulsome praise his pardon 5 of Marcellus, should with yet greater fervor have gloried in the manner of his death! Was it the hope of real liberty, or was it jealousy of his more vigorous genius and more dazzling glory? 2. But the death of Cæsar could not cause1 true and lasting freedom to exist in a city which had beheld the murder of Gracchus, the massacres of Marius, the proscriptions of Sulla, the profligacy of Catiline, the violence of Clodius! The wicked act2 of his enemies did not hinder Rome from becoming subject to the tyranny of a Cæsar; it did prevent it from enjoying a firm peace and an enlightened rule under the ancient forms of the commonwealth. It kindled again the fury of civil war. It destroyed the remnant of those ancient families and the authority of the Senate, which had made the glory of Rome. It extinguished the freedom of debate, and all confidence among men. It committed the destiny of the Republic to the hands of Mark Antony and Octavianus. It removed the mighty Julius, to prepare the way for Tiberius, Caligula, and Nero. 'Lit. “bring it to pass that," &c. ⚫ facinus. VOCABULARY. NOTE. In using this Vocabulary, it should be borne in mind that the Latin terms here given are not in all cases the best or even the ordinary equivalent of the English words, but such as appear to be best suited to the passages where these occur. They need not, therefore, prevent the use of such other terms as may be preferred. In selecting the right word, where several are given, it will often be necessary to consult the Latin lexicon. For numerals, reference should be had to the Grammar. Where numbers occur, they may be written in Roman numerals, but should always be read in full, as Latin words. The small figures mark the conjugations of the verbs. In general, the gender only of the less usual forms of nouns is given, and in verbs only those principal parts which are required. Adjectives in us, when not otherwise marked, are to be declined like bonus. A. A, an, usually omitted; a cer- abode, to make, habito.1 [circa. |