Salvēte, sodālēs.
Capitulum Tertium is - in my opinion - problematic. After two chapters in which the only verb was est and its plural sunt, this chapter introduces twelve new verbs. The book’s author - Hans H. Ørberg, has skilfully selected a range of verbs that do not take an object - cry, arrive, sleep - and a range that do take an object - see, hear, call, hit and hit repeatedly. It’s the hitting that potentially causes a problem, as it’s hard to know how comfortable or uncomfortable the material - siblings striking each other, then parents striking children - is going to make readers. I advise to precede cautiously.
from Lingua Latīna Per Sē Illustrāta, page 19
If you understand what is meant by a verb taking an object, then jump to the next paragraph. If not, I’ll explain it here. The verb eats can be used with or without an object. We can say Quintus eats. or Quintus eats an apple. In the second sentence, an apple is the object. Some verbs - like sleep and arrive - can’t take an object. You can’t sleep something or arrive something. Others, like hit, certainly can. In the illustration above, Marcus hits Julia.
Titulus Capitulī Tertiī est ‘Puer Improbus’. The puer in question is Mārcus, and once you see what kind of boy he is, you’ll know what improbus means. He is one of the three persōnae (characters) introduced in Scaena Prīma (The First Scene) of a three scene play.
rom Lingua Latīna Per Sē Illustrāta, page 19
Today we will read Capitulum Tertium, lines 1-10. The meaning of the new verbs cantat, plōrat and rīdet are cleverly shown through the sounds they make - Lalla, Uhuhu and Hahahae respectively. Pulsat is defined through the illustration in the margin (see above). The adjectives laeta and īrātus require a little more deduction, the adverb iam requires the most of all.
READ Capitulum Tertium, lines 1-10 now. After reading, you can check your understanding of the new words below.
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laetus -a - um : happy
īrātus - a - um : angry
iam : now
st/ssst : sh/shhh (be quiet)
Satis est. See you back here tomorrow.