present contrary to fact conditional clause /  by Anthony Gibbins

What to make of all the ridiculous grammatical terms we encounter when studying a language? If I were in charge, they would all be outlawed! ‘If I were in charge’, for example, is a present contrary to fact conditional clause.  Conditional, because they would only be outlawed under the condition that I was in charge. Contrary to fact, because I’m not. And so they’re not either.

There is a contrary to fact conditional on today’s page, but it is called ‘mixed’ rather than ‘present’ because it crosses time-zones (so to speak). The narrator says si possem (if I were [now] able), te certiorem faciam (I would [in the future] make you more certain). certiorem facere (to make more certain), by the way, is the Latin expression that best means ‘inform’.

Without a doubt you wish to know what this suitcase holds inside (intus). Believe me – if I was able, I would tell you.

nondum /  by Anthony Gibbins

nondum is a very powerful and positive word. The same is probably true of the expression ‘not yet’ in English, but it became more obvious to me when I began to speak Latin. Perhaps that was because I was surrounded by positive people, or it may have more to do with how good the word feels in the mouth. Try saying it out loud. nondum, nondum, nondum. Now try the same with ‘not yet’. Am I wrong? Doesn’t nondum just feel a whole lot better?

But why is it so positive? Imagine a Latin learner who desperately wishes to read Virgil’s Aeneid in the original Latin. They are asked, potesne Virgilium legere?, ‘Are you able to read Virgil?’. One possible answer is non possum, ‘I am not able’. It is definite and final. Another is nondum. It is full of promise and hope for the future, of plans that may well come to fruition.

Which reminds me of a wonderful book by William Fitzgerald, Professor of Latin at King’s College London. The title is ‘How to Read a Latin Poem: If You Can’t Read Latin Yet’. The italics are his. If you can’t read Latin yet (or not as well as you would like), that is fine. It is a long and enjoyable journey.

But first, today a certain sailor, not yet know to you, arrived at the town. This sailor is carrying a suitcase (sarcinam) in his right hand.

Claudia /  by Anthony Gibbins

If Claudia was a real person, I think she’d be pretty cool. We don’t know much about her as Legonium pars quarta opens, but we do know that she shoots pool, has an amica called Miranda and likes talking about ancient monuments. We learn quite a bit more about her in par quarta, more from what she does that what is said about her. She is thoughtful of others, smiles at a joke, and is maybe a bit of a peace keeper. She has other adventures ahead – including an overseas trip – but I really shouldn’t say too much about that.

The narrator, on the other hand, is a bit more eager to please. I guess she reflects that part of me that hopes that these stories are well received. She rejoices because you are back to hear more. I rejoice whenever I get the sense that these stories are being enjoyed. So, thank you for coming back and enjoying them!

Hello reader. I rejoice because you have returned to hear more of my story. Today I want to narrate to you more about Claudia.

he recites poetry and has an appreciation for art /  by Anthony Gibbins

It is November 1st, and Legonium pars quarta can now be read on the Legonium.com website. I really hope that you’ll not only check it out, but also let me know what you think of the story so far. If you have any ideas, I’d love to hear them.

For those of you who know the Cambridge Latin Course, I hope the visit to the tonstrina will give you a laugh. tonsor est occupatus. senex in sella sedet.

I’ll be back in a few days to start daily blogging.

Thanks for reading!

Anthony 

Pico verus /  by Anthony Gibbins

The is a picture of the REAL Pico, taken on lazy Sunday afternoon. You can almost make out his eyes rolling.

In memory of our Pico, both an excellent cat and companion.

the end of episode 3 (well, almost) /  by Anthony Gibbins

And with the return of our narrator, we reach the end of Legonium pars tertia. Well, almost. On the next page, the back cover if you will, you will see a picture of the real Pico. Such an awesome cat. in pace requiescat.

Like the narrator, I hope that you have enjoyed Legonium pars tertia. And I hope that you will continue the journey with Legonium pars quarta, which will be released on the Kalends of November. Bell well!

I hope that it pleased you to hear about a day in the life of Pico. But who are those people conversing in that room? Soon I will return to narrate more of the story to you. Be well!

DRACO DORMIENS NUNQUAM TITILLANDUS /  by Anthony Gibbins

While we are on the subject of dragons, you may be familiar with the Hogwarts School Motto, DRACO DORMIENS NUNQUAM TITILLANDUS. It means, as many a Harry Potter fan can tell you, ‘Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon’. Let’s take a look at the grammar.

The easy part is DRACO DORMIENS, ‘a sleeping dragon’. We have seen quite a few Participles like dormiens as we have read through Pico, and here is another. It is a form of the verb dormio, dormire, dormivi, dormitum, to sleep.

TITILLANDUS is a wonderful example of a grammatical feature with a wonderful name; a Gerundive.  This particular Gerundive is a Gerundive of Obligation, meaning it expresses a need to do (or not do). We use a handful of Gerundives of Obligation that have snuck into English, perhaps without even realising it. For example;

femina amanda est. The woman [is] ought to be loved. From amare, to love.

officia agenda sunt. The duties [are] ought to be done. From agere, to do.

consilia propaganda sunt. The plans [are] ought to be propagated or we should spread the plans. From propagare, to propagate.

So, DRACO DORMIENS TITILLANDUS EST means The sleeping dragon [is] ought to be tickled. From titillare, to tickle or titillate. We can drop the EST of the end without anybody really minding - especially in a motto.

Finally, NUNQUAM is an adverb meaning ‘never’. And so we end up where we began - A sleeping dragon is never to be tickled OR Never tickle a sleeping dragon.

And, if I may, I should like to give a huge shout out to my god-daughter Rosie, who lent me the dragon you'll see below. tibi maximas gratias ago, Rosalina. You are awesome.

This evening our Pico imagines himself to be a huge dragon, the protector of his town. For Pico loves his town very-much (valde).

 

in animo fingere /  by Anthony Gibbins

The word fingere is a one-word celebration of creativity. Take a look at the meanings suggested by the Oxford Classical Dictionary; to make by shaping (from clay, wax, molten metal, etc.), to mold or knead (materials) into shape, to form out of original matter, to create, to make a likeness of, to arrange or tidy (the hair), to transform (one’s self), to modify (one’s expression), to guide or influence (a person’s character or behavior), to compose (literary works), to coin (a word or phrase), to contrive (a plan of action), to invent or fabricate (a story, excuse or accusation), to utter (an insincerity), to forge (a will).

Or to form a mental picture of, to conjure up in the mind, to visualize.

Is it this last that Pico does every evening as he stands* upon the roof of Marcellus’ cenaculum. He conjures up in his mind (in animo) something (aliquid) pleasing or delightful (iucundum).

On the very next page we will discover what fictum he is conjuring today.

Every day in the evening it pleases Pico to stand here and conjure something delightful in his mind. Perhaps you are asking what Pico is conjuring today.

* that little plastic figure refuses to sit