TEM: Lesson - Sight Reading Passage - Vesuvius Erupts, Part 2

The image shows an illustration of a Roman temple.

Sight Reading Passage - Vesuvius Erupts, Part 2

It is time to complete our story. Read Part 2 below.

Once you have read through the story, please use the Templum Sight Passage Reading Guide Links to an external site. to take a closer look at the passage. The Reading Guide contains several vocabulary and grammar notes to help you understand what you are reading more clearly. The reading guide will help prepare you for the module test.

If you would like additional practice with the sight passage, please download the Templum Sight Passage Work File Links to an external site.. It contains questions and exercises about the content and grammar found in the passage. Join Decimus at the dinner party and discover Roman hospitality.

Sight Passage Part 2

Please listen to the narration of the Latin passage as you read along with the text below.

Sight Passage, Part 2 - Mons Vesuvius
Latin Text Notes and Vocabulary Help

Note: words/phrases that are in bold are explained in the Notes section

Mox Decimus ad villam Plinii reportavit. Inquit, "Epistulam de aquaductu extra Pompeios habeo. Murum novum aedificavi et nunc aquaductus bene laborat. Balneae et fontes aquam iterum habent. Hic est nuntium meum." Plinius Decimo respondit, "Optime, Decime. Cur servo epistulam non dedisti?" Decimus inquit, "Publius Cornelius mihi imperavit."
  • Mox - Soon (note: this is an adverb)
  • de aquaductu - about the aqueduct
  • novum - new (note: this is an adjective)
  • nunc - now (note: this is an adverb)
  • bene - well (note: this is an adverb)
  • iterum - again (note: this is an adverb)
  • Hic - Here (note: this is an adverb)
  • Cur - Why?

Plinius respondit, "Vidistine, miser Decime, fortasse non montem?" Plinius ad fenestram movit. Decimo montem monstravit. Magna nubes fumi et cineris caelum super montem complevit. Mons Vesuvius eruperat. Decimus susurravit, "O di immortales!"
  • miser Decime - poor Decimus (note: this is vocative)
  • fortasse - perhaps (note: this is an adverb)
  • Magna nubes fumi et cineris - Great clouds of smoke and ash...
  • O di immortales! - O immortal gods!

Subito nuntius villam intravit. Nuntius magna cum celeritate renuntiavit, "Adiuva, Admiralis! Pompeii et cives sunt in periculo. Festina! Serva Pompeium!" Decimus statim timuit! Putavit, "Vae, Flavia! Vae, Gaius Saturninus et Cassia! Eheu!" Decimus Plinio inquit, "Tecum ibi statim festinabo. Amicos in urbe habeo. Adiuvabo et multos populos servabimus!"
  • magna cum celeritate - with great haste (this could also be translated "quickly")
  • statim - immediately (note: this is an adverb)
  • Vae - Alas! (this could also be translated "Oh, no!")
  • Eheu - Oh, dear!
  • Tecum - with you

Plinius autem respondit, "Nonne, Decime, es faber? Remane hic: para hodie viros et materias et naves. Quoque cura et serva meam familiam. Cives Pompeiorum sunt iam magno in periculo. Cras festina trans mare. In hoc modo, cives Pompeiorum adiuvabitis. Tibi impero! Pare mihi. Ora salutatem meam; vestram orabo!"
  • Nonne, Decime, es faber? - Decimus, you are a military engineer, aren't you? (note: nonne is used to set up a question with a "yes" answer)
  • Quoque - Also (note: this is an adverb)
  • iam - already
  • magno in periculo - in great danger
  • In hoc modo - In this way
  • Tibi...mihi - These are both dative forms: you...me
  • meam salutatem...vestram - my health...your health (note: the noun salutatem is being implied in the second clause: Pray for...I will pray for...)

Practice Activity