AM: Lesson - Reading Passage, Part 1

Image: Pseudolus and Selene discuss the case.

Amor 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.

Reading Passage Help Handout

Download the AM 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 8: Amor Marcelli? Part 1: Pseudolus goes home.

Having waited for a long time, Selene greeted her magister as he returned to his study. She had heard the rumors: Pseudolus was summoned to Livia's house. She was so happy to see him alive. She said, "Tell me! What happened? Livia denied having killed Marcellus, didn't she? Of course she did! Where is Maecenas? Is he OK? Thank goodness, you're alive!"

Old Pseudolus sighed, saying, "Yes. She denied everything. She laid it out: Augustus had not named an heir and therefore, she had no cause to want Marcellus' death. I told her, 'I believe you.' She also promised more help in the future. However, I have terrible news: Anna has been murdered. Someone snuck into Maecenas' house and put poison in her wine. When Maecenas heard the message, he became very angry with me. I understood his anger as I also blame myself. Finally, Livia offered a suggestion: I should speak with Julia, Marcellus' wife."

Latin Portion
Pseudolus and Selene discuss plans.

Selene exclamans, "Anna," rettulit, "misera! Sed Iulia? Quid Livia putat? Scitne Iulia aliquem? Et tamen, Iulia vix dolebat, lacrimans lacrimas paucissimas Marcello. Fortasse illa serpens antiqua est callidior quam arbitrabar! Liviam nomen Iuliae offerre est optimam suggestionem. Quis cognovit? Fortasse Iulia ipsa Marcellum interfecit! Cave, Pseudole! Contempla! Livia verbis ipsis protegetur. Est semper periculum. Haec suggestio dolus sit! Tamen dic Iuliae. Interim informationem de interfectore Annae invenire conabor."

Notes:

  • quam arbitrabar: than I thought. In this case, quam is being used for comparison.
  • Liviam...offerre est: offerre is the subject of est: to offer...is. Liviam is the subject of the infinitive: For Livia to offer...is.
  • cognovit: cognoscere means to learn in the present system, but to know in the perfect system. perfect tense = know, pluperfect = knew, future perfect = will know.
  • sit: may be/could be. This is a form of the verb esse which we will learn later. It is in a new mood called the subjunctive. For now, though, just remember that "sit = may/could"

Investigation Notes, Part 1

Pseudolus returns home and talks to Selene about his conversation with Livia.

  1. Selene:
    • Describe Selene’s reaction to Pseudolus returning home.
    • Does Selene agree with Livia's suggestion at first? At the end?
  2. Anna:
    • How does Selene react to news of the death of Anna?
    • Is she more concerned with another matter?
  3. Thought Exercise: Who is the clever old snake referred to by Selene?