Form VI – Latin Examination – Spring Term 1972

Read over the following passage – without writing a translation – then answer the questions below the passage:–

A FABLE

Olim equus cum asino per vias, per silvas, per montes iter faciebat. Asinus tantum onus portabat ut paene in terram imprimeretur. Equus tamen nihil nisi sua ornamenta portabat. Itaque asinus equum orabat ut se iuvaret et partem oneris portaret. Hoc audito equus risit. Asinus dixit se sine auxilio numquam ad oppidum perventurum esse, sed equum magnam partem oneris accipere nec eam etiam sentire posse. Equus iterum nolebat et verba humilis asini contempsit. Mox autem pondus factum est tam grave ut asinus in terram collapsus mortuus sit. Tum statim equus vidit se sapienter non egisse quod in suum superbum tergum non modo onus sed etiam corpus asini iacta sunt. Ex hac fabula hoc intellegi debet. In talibus rebus omnes homines omnium graduum se, alter alterum, iuvent et se fideles socios praebeant quod, ubi alter fortunae onere oppressus erit, alter omne onus accipiet.

N.B.	Imprimere, to press upon.	contemnere, to despise.
	Ornamentum, i, n. trappings.	gradus, us, m. class (here).

1. Who was making the journey?

(2)

2. Describe their route.

(3)

3. Describe the ONUS of the ASINUS.

(3)

4. Account for the mood of 'imprimeretur'.

(2)

5. What was the request of the 'asinus'?

(3)

6. What was the reaction of the 'equus'?

(1)

7. What further argument did the 'asinus' use?

(4)

8. Which word in the passage is opposite in meaning to 'humilis'? Translate this other word.

(2)

9. Explain the pun on 'humilis'.

(2)

10. To which word is 'pondus' equivalent?

(1)

11. What happened to 'asinus'?

(1)

12. Give the Principal Parts from 'mortuus sit'.

(1)

13. What did the 'equus' realise?

(1)

14. Account for this realisation.

(4) (30)

Translate the following passage into Latin - writing on ALTERNATE lines:–

Once Porsenna led an army to attack Rome, for he hoped to capture the city easily; and he would have done this, if a young soldier, Horatius by name, had not defended a certain bridge by which the river Tiber could be crossed. For he persuaded two friends to stay with him and resist the enemy while the Romans were cutting down(1) the bridge behind their backs. At length when only a small part remained(2), he bade his comrades withdraw(3) and he himself held back the enemy alone. When the work was completed(4) he jumped down into the river and saved himself by swimming(5).

N.B.	(1) rescindere, to cut down;	(2) remained = was left, survived.
	(3) withdraw = go back or away;	(4) conficere, to complete.
	(5) by swimming = Abl. of Gerund.

(32)

Translate the following passage into English – writing on ALTERNATE lines:–

The Second Invasion of Britain, B.C. 54. After an unsuccessful attack on the Roman camp by the Kentish Kings, Cassivellaunus makes terms with Caesar.

Dum haec geruntur, Cassivellaunus ad Cantium(1), quod esse ad mare supra demonstravimus, nuntios misit atque regibus imperavit ut, coactis omnibus copiis, castra navalia oppugnarent. Ei cum ad castra venissent, nostri, eruptione(2) facta, multis eorum interfectis, suos incolumes reduxerunt. Cassivellaunus, hoc proelio nuntiato, tot detrimentis(3) acceptis, legatos de deditione ad Caesarem mittit. Caesar, cum constituisset hiemare in continenti(4) neque multum aestatis superesset, obsides imperavit(5) et constituit quid vectigalis(6) in annos singulos populo Romano Britannia penderet. Obsidibus acceptis, exercitum ad mare reduxit.

(Caesar, Bella Gallica V.22)

N.B.	(1) Cantium = Kent.
	(2) Eruptio, eruptionis, f. sally, sortie.
	(3) Detrimentum, i, n. loss, damage.
	(4) Continens, continentis, f. mainland, continent.
	(5) Imperavit = postulavit (here).
	(6) Vectigal, vectigalis, n. tax, tribute.

(38)

TOTAL = 100

Probably set by JH Hayes; contributed by John Morris, November 2007
All the above was retyped by Jonathan; a few characters were unreadable and I've forgotten my Latin! Corrections are welcome from any Latin scholar...