FM: Lesson - Reading Passage, Part 1

The illustration shows a set of professional mourners at a Roman wake.Reading Passage: Funus Marcelli, part 1

It is very important to practice reading and understanding Latin sentences. While working on the reading handout, read each sentence aloud and listen to the recitation. Be sure to look for ideas in the passage as you read: see if you can get a general sense of the story just from reading out loud. Then practice translating each sentence into English. As you encounter new vocabulary words in the story, think about English cognates and context within the sentences to help you decipher the meaning.

The image to the right depicts a set of professional mourners at a Roman funeral procession. Note that the woman in front has destroyed her garments and is in the act of tearing at her hair, a common signifier of mourning in the ancient world.

Reading Passage Help Handout

Download the FM Reading Help Links to an external site. handout. This document provides the full text of the story in Latin with additional resources to help you understand, including notes on vocabulary and grammar.

Below you will be able to read and explore the story. Parts will be in English, setting up the context, then there will be sections in Latin to fill in details. Read each section carefully to get the full story! Some additional notes will be included as well. If you see a word or phrase highlighted in bold, check below the passage for additional information.

Chapter 5: Funus Marcelli, part 1: At Marcellus' Funeral

A large crowd had gathered. It was full of many famous people. Augustus and his family (sua familia) had invited the most important people to Marcellus' funeral. Among the famous faces, there were many others: these people (hi) were professional mourners. While some of them (alii) were weeping, others, mostly women (aliae feminae), tore their hair. Outside of the crowd, many poor folks were watching. Although they had no money, they offered wine and grain.

Notes:

  • It = Ea in the Latin text, which is feminine. The 3rd personal pronoun shows the gender of the noun it references, so here, we have ea referring to turba.
  • tore their hair = capillum suum scindebant - this was a common mourning practice in the ancient world
Latin Portion I
Selene is attending the funeral.

Selene intra turbam stetit et res diligenter spectabat. Quod Selene in villa Octaviae habitabat, illa puellam invitaverat. Selene erat filia Cleopatrae et quoque erat amplior persona (somewhat important person). Subito, cornu personavit: pompa funebris incipiebat. Sonus autem cornuum Selenen alieni temporis admonuit. Haec illius temporis memoriam bene retinuit. Statim tremuit quod de triumpho Octaviani putabat. Lacrimare coepit (began).

Notes:

  • illa = Octavia (that one had invited...)
  • autem: This word is called a postpositive – it is never placed first in Latin, though we often use it first in English: However, the sound...
  • memoriam...retinuit = remembered. This construction literally means: retained the memory of... and is completed with a genitive noun phrase (illius temporis).

Octavia saw Selene, nodded and hugged her. Through tears, she said, "I have also missed him! My dear boy! At least I still have you and Alexander: you are my very own children. Please, give gifts to the spirits at Marcellus' grave." Even though Selene was not crying about Marcellus, she said, "Certainly, my second mother."

Notes:

  • very own = ipsi. Octavia, who is truly Marcellus' mother, is dealing with her grief by claiming Selene and Alexander, who are not her children, as her own. In other words, even though they are not her children, she now considers them to be all that she has left.
  • Please = Si nos amas... "Please" is a bit of an odd construction in Latin. Literally, it says "If you love us, you will..." We translate with Please + imperative.
Latin Portion II
Selene overhears a whispered conversation.

Octavia a Selena misere movit. Sed quid erat hoc? Per clamor turbae, Selene nunc susurrum (whispering) audivit. Quis susurrabat? Selenae mens cucurrit (raced) dum ad sonum curiose (carefully) movet. Tandem erat propinqua satis auscultare (to overhear): nota vox dixit, “Tace! Aliquis te audiet. Celeriter, quid mihi dicere cupivisti?”

Ignota vox respondit, “Venenum in corpore invenerunt. Livia est iratissima. Hostes Augusti eam malorum accusare amant: scis haec! Omnes sciunt: tua mater erat invida Marcelli. Ea te esse heredem (heir) Augusti cupit. Aliqui etiam putant…”

Subito nota vox: “Silens! Tace! Quis his mendaciis credere potest Abi! Noli mihi dicere amplius.”

Selene, quamquam faciem numquam vidit, notam vocem cognovit: fuerat Tiberius.

Notes:

  • nota...ignota: known...unknown. There are two people talking. Selene recognizes one of the voices (nota vox) but not the other (ignota vox).
  • te esse...cupit: she desires for you to be...

Investigation Notes: Part 1

Marcellus’ funeral procession. Selene attends and overhears a stunning rumor.

  1. Recap, using the first paragraph, the scene of Marcellus’ funeral.
    1. Who is there?
    2. What are they doing?
  2. Why is Selene in attendance? Two reasons are mentioned, please provide both.
  3. Selene hears a distinct sound at the funeral and reacts.
    1. What is the sound and what was her reaction?
    2. Why does she react in this way?
  4. Thought Exercise: If you were Selene, would you have acted the same? Was it wise for her to listen in on Tiberius’ conversation?