IS: Lesson - Reading Passage, Part 1

Io, Saturnalia! 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 shows a portrait bust, cast in bronze, of Livia.

Reading Passage Help Handout

Download the IS 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 Seven: Io, Saturnalia! part 1: The events that followed

At Pseudolus' house:

After meeting with Anna, Pseudolus tried to find any new information concerning Maecenas. He was waiting for a messenger who would soon summon him to Livia's house.

Livia was so powerful and so clever. Everyone knew about her cruelty, and yet Pseudolus still believed in himself. He was also clever, so he was going to try to persuade Livia. He wasn't ready to die, and knew this one thing: Livia was going to want to hear a useful plan.

At Livia's house:

Livia said, "Thank you, Maecenas. You will be home soon. My slave, Hermanes, has just returned and is going to share some information. As soon as we have heard from him, we can finish our conversation. Now you can speak, Hermanes." Maecenas nodded and waited for the slave who was about to talk.

Latin Portion I

Hermanes shares what he learned at the secret meeting between Anna and Pseudolus.

Hermanes, “Tu,” inquit, “Domina, es certa? Cum eo hic?” Livia annuente, servus extendit, “Ita. Ad locum convenientem ante ceteros adveni et me in umbris celavi. Spectavi duos appropinquantes: magistrum imperialem Pseudolum et ancillam Maecenatis Annam. Breviter narraverunt: linguam obscuram adhibuerunt sed interpretationem clare intellexi! De domina mea dicebant et hanc verbis eorum accusabant.” Notes: Livia annuente: ablative absolute. Literally: With Livia nodding,… Could also be: As soon as/When Livia nodded,… Ad locum…adveni: Latin will often use a preposition, repeating the verb's prefix, even when English wouldn't: I reached the place me…celavi: the verb celare is required to have a direct object in Latin. You do not have to translate the me: I hid… (however, you can use it: I hid myself…) duos: two people linguam obscuram: coded language – Pseudolus and Anna spoke using false names, etc.

Livia and Maecenas were silent. Finally, Maecenas said, "I sent her. Pseudolus was stubborn: he (felt) he had to investigate Marcellus' death. At least, that's what I thought. Therefore, I told him, 'I will help you.' However, in truth, I just wanted to keep an eye on him. Several clues had been pointing to Agrippa but I could not suffer that. I never expected this! For him to accuse you! However, I had to do something, to say something. So, I sent Anna to meet him. I was going to speak to him myself, but then you summoned me."

Livia, unsmiling, said, "Did you tell him about there being poison found in the body? Did you point out any extremely famous poisoners who happened to be women? Surely not, right?"

Maecenas responded, "Yes, I told him about the poison. But I never pointed to anyone."

Livia said, "Hermanes, send a messenger. Summon Pseudolus to me."

Latin Portion II

Anna waits for Maecenas, praying.

Domo Maecenatis: Anna Maecenatem exspecaverat. Situs ei periculosius crescebat. Anna, quamquam domino credidit, de situ eius ignovit. Necesse quoque erat ei domum ante Saturnalia parare. Orare constituit: fortasse dei eam adiuvare poterant. Prece coepto, forma obscura, in umbris celata, domum intravit. Forma in triclinium, in quo Maecenas vinum retentuit, silenter repsit. Crumina herbae venenatae parva in vinum deposita, forma non visa per portam silenter excessit. Interim Anna, cuius sitis crescebat, precem suam complevit. Intrans triclinium, Anna poculum vini fudit et bibit. Primo tussire coepit. Mox autem anhelabat: in solum cecidit, non iam potis aspirare. Anna ob venenum in vino periverat. Notes: Prece coepto: ablative absolute. After her prayer had begun forma non visa: an unseen figure cuius sitis crescebat: who was getting thirsty (literally: whose thirst was growing) potis: this adjective is indeclinable. Here, it agrees with the subject (she - cecidit): ...no longer able to...

Investigation Notes: Part 1

The first part of this story takes place in three different locations.

1. Pseudolus:
   • Where does the story begin?
   • What does Pseudolus worry about?
2. Livia:
   • Where does the next section take place?
   • Who is with Livia?
   • How does Livia treat her guest?
3. Anna:
   • Where does the final section of part 1 of the story occur?
   • What happened to Anna?
4. Thought Exercise: How does what happens to Anna change your view of the original crime?