The foundation story of Rome can be found in Book I of Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita (From the Founding of the City)  (Literally: From the City having been founded). Thus, Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita begins with the founding of Rome and progress to his modern day. Let us attempt to translate one sentence from the work:

But it was destined, as I believe, by the fates the origin of such a great city and the beginning of the greatest power secondary/next after the power of the gods.

 

BREAKDOWN:

Sed debebatur:

Sed: “But”

debebatur is from debeo, it is a 3rd singular verb(he, she, it) imperfect and passive meaning “it was destined.” Latin verb forms can be learned here.

ut opinor:

ut: “as, how”

opinor: 1st singular meaning: “I believe, suppose or think.” (Opinor resembles English opinion.)

 fatis tantae origo urbis

fatis: From the noun fatum which is neuter (as opposed to masculine or feminine). The form is neuter plural ablative. Ablative is a case in Latin that serves many functions (as seen here); I would argue this is an ablative means. “By means of the fates” or “by the fates.” Although, it may also be a dative plural with debeo; meaning “it was owed to the fates.”

origo: is nominative feminine singular. Origio means origin or beginning. The nominative case is equivalent to the subject in English (Explanation of Latin cases may be found here). So, origo is actual the subject of debebatur: “But the origin was destined, as I believe, by the fates.”

tantae urbis= tantae is an adjective that is from tantus meaning “so great/such great.” Since it is an adjective it agrees with the form and case of the noun: urbis. Urbis is from urbs, it’s singular, feminine, genitive (as is tantae) and it means “city.” The genitive case is mainly used for possession or description. For example: origo tantae urbis :”the origin of such a great city.”

 maximique secundum deorum opes imperii principium:

Our clue that we are looking for a new subject is the “que.” Que is another way of saying “and” in Latin instead of using “et.” When one uses “que” for “and” instead of “et;” there are certain rules that must be remembered:

1. Que is always affixed to the end of a word and will usually not stand alone.
2. The que is your indicator that a new clause has begun in a sentence.
3. Most importantly, the word that que is affixed to, although it comes before the que, it is part of the que clause.

For example “maximique” is actual maximi + que. Maximi come from the adjective maximus which somewhat resembles English: maximum and thus it means “greatest.”

In regards to Rule 3: Now, if maximi went with the clause ” fatis tantae origo urbis“what does it agree with ?

NOTHING! Of course it does not, because it doesn’t go with that clause! maximi goes with: “secundum deorum opes imperii principium.” Because the “que” attaches it to this clause! Now what does the maximi look like it goes with?

maximi and imperii  are a match! However there are not our nominative/subject, but they are genitive neuter singular. They come to mean “of the greatest power.”

Principium is our nominative/subject which is a neuter noun meaning: “beginning.” So far, the translations follows: “And (que) the beginning (principium) of the greatest power (maximi + imperii).” It is important to note that principium is nominative because it is also (along with origo) the subject of debebatur. THUS: “The origin of so great a city and the beginning of the greatest power was destined, as I believe, by the fates.”

 secundum deorum opes

Secundum is another adjective that is neuter nominative agreeing with principium. However this adjective should be taken as a verbal adjective. Thus it is: ” the beginning of the greatest power that is secundum (second/ next/after)”.  The reason this has to be a verbal adjective is because a normal adjective would be translated as the “secondary/next beginning of the greatest power.” Contextually, this makes no sense.

Opes Deorum= opes is plural feminine accusative. The accusative case is the direct object in Latin. So, “the beginning of the greatest power that is second to the opes (power).” Deorum is plural masculine genitive meaning “of the gods.” THUS: “And the beginning of the greatest power second to the power of the gods.”

TRANSLATION COMPLETE FOR ONE SENTENCE.

As one can see Latin is a very complex language that has various nuances that test and train the mind to look for patterns and logical sequences in putting sentences together. It is a rewarding process that only can be achieved through practice and patience.

More on the Author: Livy:

http://youtu.be/J645ko2ILgo