IS: Lesson - Listening for Participles

Listening for Participles

Participle Listening Activity Handout Links to an external site. - complete this document using the audio passage.

Please be sure you have completed the handout before moving ahead in the course.

While we focus a lot of attention of reading Latin, it is important to take some time to listen occasionally. After listening, use what you heard to check your understanding of Latin infinitives and indirect statements. The passage for this assignment occurs between the two parts of the Sight Passage from this module. Livia, still angry from her conversation with Tiberius, seeks out her spy, Hermanes. Spies in ancient Rome were called little birds and rich Romans were known to whisper their secrets to little birds, who would fly that information back to their powerful masters and matrons. The painting to the right shows a wealthy woman whispering to a bird - could it be a metaphor?

How will Livia handle Hermanes' actions? What plans might emerge from the meeting between matron and spy?

Audio Passage

Please listen to the narration of the Latin passage to help in completing the handout.

Nota Bene - the title of the painting reveals that this is actually a reference to Roman poetry. It is called Lesbia et son moineau (Lesbia and her Sparrow) and was painted in 1907 by Sir Edward John Poynter. The Roman poet Catullus had a passionate affair with a woman he called Lesbia. The nickname is a reference to the Greek poet Sappho who was from the island of Lesbos. One of his most famous poems involves him wishing that he were Lesbia's sparrow, so he could spend all day with her.

**Catullus Poem 2**
Latin	English
Passer, deliciae meae puellae, quicum ludere, quem in sinu tenere, cui primum digitum dare appetenti et acris solet incitare morsus, cum desiderio meo nitenti carum nescio quid lubet iocari et solaciolum sui doloris, credo ut tum gravis acquiescat ardor: tecum ludere sicut ipsa possem et tristis animi levare curas!	Sparrow, favorite of my girl, with whom she is accustomed to play, whom she is accustomed to hold in her lap, for whom, seeking greedily, she is accustomed to give her index finger and to provoke sharp bites. When it is pleasing for my shining desire to make some kind of joke and a relief of her grief. I believe, so that her heavy passion may become quiet. If only I were able to play with you yourself, and to lighten the sad cares of your mind.