In this lesson, we will study a second epistle from Cicero to his wife, Terentia. To complete the objectives of this lesson, complete the following tasks:
1. Study the lesson below, carefully and completely.
2. Read the instructions for translation exercises.
3. Complete translation exercises.
4. Memorize all lesson vocabulary.
5. Work to earn a perfect score on your lesson exam.
Latin Text
This is the second epistle of the collection of Sturmius.
M.T.C. Terentiae S.P.D.
Si vales, bene est: Ego valeo. Da operam ut convalescas: quod opus erit, ut res tempusque postulat, provideas, atque administres: et ad me de omnibus rebus quam saepissime litteras mittas.
Exposition
The following notes are provided to guide you through the translation of this reading. If you have any questions, please post them on the course support forum.
- Marcus Tullius Cicero Terentiae S.P.D.
- Marcus Tullius Cicero: the name of Cicero in the nominative case.
- Terentiae: Terentiae, the dative case of Terentia, the name of Cicero’s wife.
- S.P.D.
- Salutem: substantive, feminine, singular, accusative: “health”
- Plurimam: adjective, feminine, singular, accusative: “much”
- Dicit: verb, present, active, indicative, singular, 3rd: “(he) says”
- Si vales, bene est: Ego valeo.
- si: conjunction, “if”
- vales: verb, present, active, indicative, singular, 2nd: “you are well”
- bene: adverb, “well”
- est: verb, present, active, indicative, singular, 3rd: “(it) is”
- ego: pronoun, 1st person, masculine, singular, nominative: “I”
- valeo: verb, present, active, indicative, singular, 1st: “I am well”
- Da operam ut convalescas:
- da: verb, present, active, imperative, singular, 2nd: “give”.
- operam: substantive noun, feminine, singular, accusative: “care”.
- ut: conjunction: “so that”, expressing the purpose of the action
- convalescas: verb, present, subjunctive, 2nd singular: “you may be well”
- …quod opus erit, ut res tempusque postulat…
- quod: relative pronoun: neuter, singular, accusative: “what”
- opus: substantive noun, feminine, singular, nominative: “necessity”
- erit:: verb, future, active, indicative, singular, 3rd person: “shall be”
- ut: conjunction, “as”
- res tempusque = res et tempus. This is an expression that means “circumstances”, but which is literally “events and time”
- res: substantive noun, feminine, plural, nominative: “events”
- tempus: substantive noun, neuter, singular, nominative: “time”
- -que: conjunction, “and”
- postulat: verb, present, active, indicative, 3rd person, singular: “requires”
- …provideas, atque administres…
- provideas: verb, present, active, subjunctive, 2nd person, singular, “you should provide [for]”
- atque: conjunction: “and”
- administres: verb, present, active, subjunctive, 2nd person, singular, “you should administer”
- …et ad me de omnibus rebus…
- et: conjunction, “and”
- ad: preposition governing accusative case: “to”
- me: pronoun, masculine, singular, accusative: “me”
- de: preposition governing ablative case: “about”
- omnibus: adjective noun, feminine, plural, ablative: “all”
- rebus: substantive noun, feminine, plural, ablative: “events”
- …quam saepissime litteras mittas.
- quam saepissime (potes): expression meaning “as often as possible”
- quam: adverb, “as”
- saepissime: superlative adjective noun, neuter, singular, ablative: “most frequently”
- potes: verb, present, active, indicative, 2nd person, singular, “you are able”
- litteras: substantive noun, feminine, plural, accusative: “letters”
- mittas: verb, present, active, subjunctive, 2nd person, singular: “you should send”
Translation
In translating, try to make as little change to the Latin as possible. Do not change word order or merely “paraphrase”. Work to translate the Latin words as they are and think in the original Latin rather than your own English.
Marcus Tullius Cicero to Terentia much health says.
If you are well, well it is: I am well. Give care that you may be well: what [a] necessity shall be, as circumstances require, you should provide, and administer [them]: and to me, concerning all affairs, as most frequently (as you can) letters you should send.
