Nōmen: ___________________________
Diēs: ___________________________
Latī na IIa
R: _____
Term 2, Unit 2: ABLATIVE ABSOLUTES
Annotate and translate the following sentence:
grātiā neglectā, vertor in ī ram, contemptū dolens.

What case is the participle in this sentence in?

Now consider WHY it is in that case…
grātia neglecta vertor in ī ram, contemptū dolens.

Consider what this sentence looks like when the participle is no longer in the ablative
case. What problem do we have with the sentence now?
ABLATIVE ABSOLUTE (AA)- a phrase in the _____________________________case which consists of
both a
and a
. It is called an ‘absolute’ because it is
‘loosened’ or ‘released’ (absolvō, absolvere to release, free) from the grammatical content of the
rest of the sentence, although it does relate to the rest of the sentence contextually.
MEDITĀTIO
Now translate the sentence using each clausal phrasing we’ve learned, then put a √ or an ‘x’ next
to your translation depending on whether or not the clausal translation sounds like a good
English translation.
grātiā neglectā, vertor in ī ram, contemptū dolens.

Strict/adjectival: (With)

Temporal:

Relative:

Causal:

Concessive:
Which translation does NOT work for Ablative Absolutes?
EXERCITATIO
Directions: Translate the following sentences based off of previous passages. Bracket off the
[ablative absolute] in each one, and translate them with the clausal phrasing indicated.
1. deā irascāntī Arachnē in araneam mutāta est.
Nōmen: ___________________________
Latī na IIa
Diēs: ___________________________
a. What type of participle is in the AA?
R: _____
PAP / P3
b. Translate the AA as a causal clause:
2. cacūmine super vultūs crescentī , Baucis Philemonque ‘valē’ invicem
dī xērunt.
(invicem in turn, mutually)
a. What type of participle is in the AA?
PAP / P3
b. Translate the AA as a temporal clause:
3. Atalantā ā multī s pressā procī currendō superāre conāntur.
(premō, premere, pressī , pressus to pursue, oppress conor, conārī , conātus sum to try,
attempt)
a. What type of participle is in the AA?
PAP / P3
b. Translate the AA as a concessive clause:
STATIM
Directions: Translate the ablative absolute using W/A/S.
deī s vetantibus the goose is not killed. [vetō, -āre forbid]
...........................................................................................................................................................
Mantū monentī Niobe rejected Latona. [moneō, -ēre warn, advise]
...........................................................................................................................................................
Pluto, Proserpinā in nemore flōrēs carpentī , is struck by Cupid’s arrow.
Nōmen: ___________________________
Latī na IIa
Diēs: ___________________________
R: _____
...........................................................................................................................................................
The goddess puellā texendō superantī became angry. [texō, -ere weave]
...........................................................................................................................................................
NOTES:
Nōmen: ___________________________
Latī na IIa
Diēs: ___________________________
R: _____
ATALANTA PART II or “Cat-astrophe” or “The Lion Fling” or “Fervent Preyers”
Among the spectators at the race, Hippomenes mocked the competitors at first, blaming the young men for an excess of
passion. But when he saw Atalanta, he recanted and fell deeply in love as she sped past. Undeterred, even after the
losers in the race paid with their lives, Hippomenes challenged the beautiful maiden. In reply, Atalanta, flustered by the
handsome youth and inexperienced at love, tried to scare him off but professed her desire at the same time.
The race is on. Hippomenes prays fervently to Venus, who hears his pleas and appears to him alone, bearing three
golden apples and instructions on how to use them. As the two race, the infatuated Atalanta toys with her competition,
letting him pass her to gaze at him, but each time she does, the youth throws an apple, prompting the maiden to stray
from the course and collect it. In this way Hippomenes won the race and the hand of Atalanta.
1
Meanwhile Venus witnessed these events and observed:
‘digna sum grātiī s. nec grātiās ēgit nec mihi tūra dedit. grātiā neglectā, vertor in ī ram,
2
contemptū dolens. mē ipsa, nūmine laesō, exhortor in ambōs:
3
Matris deōrum templa, nemorōsī s abdita silvī s, transī bant et hī c, membrī s fatī gātī s,
4
requiētem habuēre. statim, nūmine meō concī tante, intempestī va cupī do cum coniuge
5
concumbendī occupat Hippomenen.
6
simulācra deōrum posuerant. haec, duobus ingressī s, temerāta probrō vetitō est. prī mō
7
Matre mergendō in undā mortem dubitante, poena levior visa est; ergo fulvae colla iubae
8
vēlant, digitī curvantur in unguēs.
prope templa erat spelunca, in quā sacerdotēs
in pectora, lacertī s in armōs vertentibus, totum
pondus it...
and their tails sweep the sands. From their fierce faces roars sound in place of speech and live their married life in
the forests, fearsome to all but to the Mother herself, for whom they are tame.
abdō, -ere, -didī , -ditus conceal
levior = lighter
ambō, ambae, ambo both
Mater, Matris f. Magna Mater/Cybele (a goddess)
armus, -ī , m. foreleg
mergō, -ere dip; submerge, drown
collum, -ī n. neck
mors, mortis f. death
concī tō (1) stir up, excite
neglegō, -ere, -lexī , -lectus slight, neglect
concumbō, -ere lie with
nemorōsus, -a, -um woody; bushy, shady
contemptus, -ūs, m. contempt, scorn
nūmen, nūminis n. divinity; god
cupī dō, -inis, f. desire, wish, eagerness
occupō (1) to seize, overtake, gain
curvō (1) to bend, curve
pectus, pectoris n. chest, heart
dignus, -a, -um worth (of) [w.abl.]
pondus, ponderis, n. weight
doleō, -ēre, -uī , -itus suffer pain, be in pain
prī mō at first
dubitō (1) consider
probrum, -ī , n. shameful deed
requies, requietis f. rest, break
duobus = 2
eō, ī re, ivī /iī , itus to go
sacerdos, sacerdotis m. priest
exhortor, exhortārī , exhortātus sum to encourage,
simulācrum, -ī , n. likeness, figure, statue
incite
spelunca, -ae, f. cave
fatī gō (1) weary, tire, fatigue; vex, harass
temerō (1) defile, pollute, profane
fulvus, -a, -um reddish yellow, golden, tawny
templum, -ī n. temple
gratia, -ae f. favor, kindness, gratitude; thanks (pl.)
transeō, -ī re, -iī , -itum go over or across, pass by
hī c here
tūs, tūris, n. incense
Hippomenem = Hippomenes (acc. sg.)
unguis, unguis m. nail, claw
intempestī vus, -a, -um untimely, inopportune
vēlō (1) cover (up), envelop
iuba, -ae, f. mane
vertō, vertere, versī , versus to turn
lacertus, -ī m. upper arm, arm
vetō, -are, -uī , -itus forbid
laedō, -ere, -sī , -sus hurt, wound, injure, damage
laedō, laedere, laesī , laesus to offend, injure
4