DI: Lesson - Reading Passage, Part 2

A silhouette of AnnaDolus Imperialis, Part 2 and Conclusion

The story continues. Before continuing, a reminder that you can use the DI Reading Help Links to an external site.. handout to access the full Latin text along with notes on vocabulary and grammar. 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.

Remember back to the previous story section: Selene reported to Pseudolus the things which she heard at the funeral, including someone mentioning poison. It's now up to Pseudolus to decide how to act upon that information.

Chapter 6: Dolus Imperialis, part 2: Where is Maecenas?

After Pseudolus had finished his conversation with Selene, he sent a quick note to Maecenas. That man (ille - Maecenas) had information which he (hic - Pseudolus) wanted, but the situation called for caution. The message read: "M - an unknown slave connected a certain matron to poison. This matron's name is known to me. If you can, meet with me. -P." The message was a bit obscure, but Pseudolus trusted Maecenas to understand it.

Latin Portion I
Pseudolus sends a message to Maecenas and waits for the response. Someone left a strange book in his study with a secret message.

Paucos dies, Pseudolus responsum exspectabat, nec audivit nec accepit. Secundas litteras scripsit, quod Pseudolus erat anxius. Dum hic venena varia inspicit, paucos libros ammixtos animadvertit. Unus ex libris ad eum non appertinuit. Magister vetus libros suos cognoverat, sed quid erat ille? Unde venerat? Pseudolus librum alienum ex ceteris diligentissime detraxit. Erat liber pulchrior, inscriptus cum imaginibus vegetis. Pseudolus verba in extremo legit: NOVUS LIBER VERGILII. Statim Pseudolus erat conscius significantiae: Maecenas nuntium, quem diligenter in libro posuerat, miserat. "Nunc," putavit, "necesse est mihi nuntium celatum invenire."

Pseudolus librum tarde volvit, nam aliquid amittere non cupivit. Ibi, sub elegante imagine iuvenis pulchri, nuntium celatum vidit. Erat enigma quod verba ab iuvene venire apparuerunt: "Quod admiro, tecum conveniam. Idibus, vespere, in Theatro meo, sit magna dea numquam conscia nostri congressum." Maecenas suggestionem claram relinquerat: secundo die, qui Idibus erat, Maecenatem vespere in Theatro Marcello, aedificio in vicino collis Capitolini, conventurus erat.

Notes:

  • Paucos dies: accusative of time – For a few days
  • nec…nec: but neither…nor
  • audivit…accepit: the implied object is responsum. Latin often leaves off a repeated object when the meaning is clear.
  • cognoverat: knew. The perfect system of cognosco is used for knowing. Perfect = know (to know something is to have fully understood it). Pluperfect = knew (to have understood previously)
  • liber pulchrior: a rather lovely volume
  • librum…volvit: unrolled the book. Remember that Roman "books" were all scrolls, so to read it, you would have to unroll it.
  • iuvenis pulchri: handsome youth – who is the handsome youth supposed to represent?
  • Idibus, vespere: ablative of time when: on the Ides, in the evening.
  • sit magna dea numquam: may the great goddess never be... Who is the great goddess in the coded message?
  • secondo die: remember that secundus can mean "the following". on the following day…
  • qui Idibus erat – which was on the Ides
  • aedificio in vicino collis Capitolini: a building in the vicinity of the Capitoline Hill. aedificio is appositive, modifying Theatro Marcello, which is why it is in the ablative case.
  • conventurus erat: he was going to meet. We will learn more about this construction soon – note the use of -ur + form of sum

On the next day, Pseudolus, who kept looking around, traveled to the theater cautiously. The building, not yet complete, was already large and grand: soon a huge crowd of would was going to enjoy games here. However, for now, Pseudolus hoped to learn something from Maecenas. When he reached the site, Pseudolus carefully looked around but saw no one.

Latin Portion II
A strange figure looks on.

Erat autem forma celata in umbra. Haec forma, quae diligenter audiebat, placidissime remansit. Erat servus, Hermanes. Hic se cum Livia redimere temptabat. Liviae de fama dixerat: de congressu tacito huc audiverat et nunc in ipso loco erat magister imperialis! Certe ob hanc informationem Livia vitae parsura erat. Ipso tempore, persona nova appropinquavit: poteratne esse? Num erat Anna, ancilla Maecenatis?

Notes:

  • parsura erat: was going to spare. The verb parcere takes a dative object (vitae)
  • Ipso tempore: at that very moment
  • Num: this particle expects a no answer: Surely it wasn't...

Guiding Questions

Use the following context clues to help read the final paragraphs correctly. Also, don't forget to check your reading log for additional notes on vocabulary and grammar, if you need any help!

  1. Where does Pseudolus go at the start of the passage?
  2. Why is Pseudolus going to this place?
  3. Pseudolus doesn’t see anyone when he arrives, but someone is there. Who is it?
  4. Is the person Pseudolus was expecting show up to the meeting? If not, who did?

Chapter 6: Dolus Imperialis, conclusion

Pseudolus "Eheu," quiete inquit, "Anna, estne tu? Quid huc facis?" Anna quae tremebat dicere vix poterat, "Mihi, Pseudole, necesse erat te invenire! Dominus meus…" Pseudolus, dum ancillam exspectat, patienter audivit.

Illa extendit, "Livia dominum meum ad suum atrium advocavit, sed hic non iam reddidit. Me tibi dicere iussit, 'Quamquam non praesum, sta cursum. Haec matrona est periculosissima: cave! Mox magis sciam. Simul atque de re cognovi, Annam cum nuntio mittam.' Pessimum, magister, timeo!"

Pseudolus multum contemplare habuit: ubi erat Maecenas nunc? Cur Livia eum advocaverat? Postquam uterque alterum bene cupivit, Anna et Pseudolus discesserunt.

Notes:

  • non iam: not yet.
  • uterque alterum bene cupivit: each wished the other well

Investigation Notes: Part 2 and Conclusion

Pseudolus and Maecenas arrange to meet. Pseudolus goes to the meeting, but Maecenas does not show up!

  1. Why does Pseudolus send the letter to Maecenas? What is he anxious about?
  2. Where does Pseudolus find Maecenas’ response to his letter? Who does the youth in the riddle represent?
  3. Pseudolus goes to the meeting place to meet Maecenas. Two people show up: one seen and one unseen. Who are the other people?
  4. What news does Anna share with Pseudolus? Is this good news or bad news?
  5. Livia is an incredibly important woman. She is the wife of the emperor and has a large amount of control over the imperial household as the matron. What are Livia’s main motivations? Consider how the passage depicts her behavior and her decisions. Consider the information you read from Part 1 to answer the question.
  6. In Part 2 of the passage, Pseudolus is fully involved in his role as a spy and investigator, sending and receiving secret messages. Is he good in this role? Has he, thus far, been successful in discovering information about the death of Marcellus? Do you think he will follow through on his suspicions?

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