CI: Lesson - Reading Passage, Part 2

Caedes Intellecta Part 2 and Conclusion

The story continues. Before continuing, a reminder that you can use the CI 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: Pseudolus met with both Selene and Juba after their "honeymoon" to Numidia. Selene convinces Pseudolus to meet with Juba again (claiming that Juba wanted to meet). Juba met with Pseudolus and explained a very important new detail: Marcellus had not been in Campania the night before his death, instead returning to Rome. Could this one final detail be the key that unlocks the case? Juba shares his interpretation: do you think Pseudolus will agree? Could Juba's information have been the key to unlock the mystery at the heart of our story?

Chapter 10: Caedes Intellecta, part 2: The end of things

Again and again Pseudolus considered Juba's words in his mind. While he fully believed Juba, there were things which he still couldn't understand. Importantly, why had Anna and Hermanes been murdered? There would have been no reason - if Marcellus had not had a killer. Additionally, why had Selene not told him about Marcellus' visit? Certainly, he would not have given up without seeing her. Meanwhile, Selene had known all the information about the murder and had helped him. Why would she not share this most important information? He tried desperately to hold back the truth from himself. Surely, he told himself, there was a good reason for all of this.

That night, Selene entered Pseudolus' study while he read. Selene began, "The poets say, 'The play has ended, applaud!' Do you sense that this play has ended? Juba told me that you spoke and that everything has been settled. It seems that our dear friend Marcellus loved me. When I didn't return his affections, he killed himself. How sad, no?"

**Latin Portion I**
Pseudolus talks to Juba about the death of Marcellus
Pseudolus, "Irrideasne," respondit, "mortem eius? Credisne vere huic fabulae? Non. Informationem amplam abstinuisti. Cur mihi non dixisti eum venisse te Roma abducturum? Mihi non etiam dixisti Marcellum te adoravisse! Cur has res celavisti? Nonne pollicitus sum te protegereris?" Selene, ignorans verba Pseudoli, respondit, "Donum tuli. Est in mensa." Vere, erat liber, nove scriptus, in fistula. "Est signum gratiae meae tibi - tu, qui me protexisti...eheu, a quo me protexisti? Roma? Non - me et Alexandrum hic reliquisti. Qua de causa? Romani nos irrident. Nostra cum turpitudine cotidie vivimus. Omne cornu resonans meum cor ipsum cum tanto dolore fixit: saepe putavi me interfecturam esse. Sed non. Hoc modo, Roma vincat. Aperi donum tuum." Pseudolus territus fistulam spectavit. Cum diligentia eam aperuit: fistula aperta, tenuis aspis atra manum eius verberavit. In dolore clamavit. Selene statim extendit, "Agnoscisne hanc aspidem? Est idem genus serpentis quod matrem meam necavit! Est dignum te mori hoc modo - te, meum parentem ceterum. Ne Roma meum secretum sciat - tecum morietur." Notes: nonne: introduces a question expecting a yes answer – Surely I did...didn’t I? nove scriptus: newly written eheu, a quo me protexisti?: but wait, what did you protect me from? Qua de causa?: For what? fistula aperta: ablative absolute: Once the tube was opened Ne Roma…sciat: Let Rome not know… Imperative subjunctive, negative. morietur: let it die. Imperative subjunctive, positive.

Pseudolus wept. "Why, dearest, why? I would have protected you!" His voice was growing weak, but he kept his eyes on Selene. Selene, feeling a mixture of pity and anger, looked down at Pseudolus.

**Latin Portion II**
Juba responds
Iterum dixit, "Marcellum necavi: Augustum, interfectorem matris meae, nocere cupivi. Annam et Hermanem necavi quod tibi veritatem aperirent. "Nunc omnem Romam puniam. Haec aspis omnem unum in famila devota mordeat. Omnes eundem dolorem quem mater mea sentivit communicent. Roma spernatur! Utinam nemo in corpore perdito spectet et lacrimet. Te, Pseudole, lacrimem, sed his populis Romanis me indicavisti. Utinam meum amorem tibi et odium meum in fine sentias. Utinam affectus filialis meus dolorem veneni mulceat dum auram ultimam aspires." Notes: quod…aperirent: because they might have revealed. Potential subjunctive. puniam: is it future or subjunctive? How definite do you think Selene is being with this statement? mordeat…communicant…spernatur: Selene lists out a series of imperative subjunctives, laying out her desires: Let this snake bite…Let everyone share…Let…be hated. Utinam…spectet et lacrimet: May…see…and weep. Selene shifts from imperative subjunctives to a wish lacrimem: I may cry. And now, Selene shifts again, this time to a potential subjunctive Utinam…sentias. Utinam...mucleat: May you feel... and May…soothe. Optative subjunctives aspires: this is a special use of the subjunctive. Anytime a subjunctive is used in Latin, if there is another dependent clause, you will see another subjunctive. Here, aspires is in the dependent clause starting with dum following the optative subjunctive clauses.

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!

How does Selene express her feelings about the investigation?
What does Pseudolus say to Selene to express his concern about her secrecy?
What does Selene give Pseudolus?
Why is Selene angry with Pseudolus?
What was in the tube? What happens when Pseduolus opens the tube?

Chapter 10: Caedes Intellecta Conclusion

Selene flexit: Pseudolum cecidisse confirmare voluit. Non autem vidit aspidem prope hostiam suam mansum esse. Dum Pseudolum confirmas, dolorem basii aspidis acrem sentivit. Horror et dolor faciem pulchram torsit. Primo vix animadversit: mater eius pro ea stetit, umbra certe. Imago Cleopatrae lacrimavit, "Roma," loquens, "amata Selene mea, numquam morietur. Ea semper vincit. Veni mecum et liberari ab ea in perpetuo potes." Selene sentivit se stare, sed vidit corpus suum in terra adhuc iacere. Dissimilis matri, non lacrimavit: risit, nam cornua Romae non iam audire poterat. Selene, in morte, pacem invenerat quam in vita habere numquam potuerat.

Mane servi corpora Pseudoli et Selenes invenerunt. Fama mortium eorum celerrime tetendit: multi fabulam audiverunt servos atram aspidem invenisse et necavisse. Ubi Livia certior facta est, statim haec quae acciderat intellexit. Volens famam et sententias Iubae protegere, veritatem numquam communicavit. Pseudolus et Selene extra vallos Romae una sepeliebantur, prope sepulchrum Marcelli. Livia putavit id esse dignam poenam criminibus Selenes sed Pseudoli muneri praemium dignum. Interim, Roma, urbs aeterna, vigere extendit.

Notes:

dolorem basii aspidis acrem: acrem describes dolorem, while the genitives provide additional details – the sharp pain of the snake’s kiss
in perpetuo: forever
Dissimilis matri: dissimilis takes a dative – unlike her mother...
certior facta est: idiom – was informed (certior fieri – to be made more sure = to be informed)
dignam poenam...praemium dignum: this is called chiasmus – the criss-cross pattern. Romans were fond of this style in which you have the elements go: AB-BA. It's a bit harder to replicate in English. You could try something like: ...it was an appropriate punishment for Selene’s crimes but for Pseudolus' service, an apt reward.

Investigation Notes: Part 2 and Conclusion

The story concludes. Who killed Marcellus?

Did Pseudolus believe Juba’s claim of innocence? Does he agree with Juba’s theory on Marcellus’ death?
How does Selene act when she comes to see Pseudolus? Describe both her physical behavior and her tone.
How does Pseudolus react to Selene’s behavior?
What realization do you think has dawned on Pseudolus at this point? When he says he would have protected Selene, what is he implying?
What kind of gift has Selene brought Pseudolus? Does it contain what it appears to?
Who killed Marcellus? Why? What does Selene claim that Pseudolus did wrong?
What happens at the end of the meeting between Selene and Pseudolus? Who lives and who dies?
How does Livia handle the situation? Whom does she honor? Whom does she condemn?
Who killed Marcellus? Why did they do it? Provide as many specific details as you can to explain the situation.
What happened to Pseudolus at the end of the story? Did he find the truth? If so, did it bring him satisfaction?
What was the role of justice in this story? Would a god or goddess of justice be satisfied with the ending of the story? What did Livia contribute to ensuring that justice was served?