Summary: B) "Si tu et Tullia, lux nostra, valetis, ego et suavissimus Cicero valemus. Pr. Idus Oct. Athenas venimus ../.. velim cures, si auctio ante meum adventum fiet, ut Pomponius aut, si is minus poterit, Camillus nostrum negotium curet" (Ad Fam. XIV,5,1-2) Point out the verbs in Cicero's first part ../ here and their subjects: At this early point in your Latin career, you can certainly reverse: "valetis"= But you could have choices in the reverse of "valeMUS" which are they? If "AthenAS" and "curES" are verbs then their subject is: ________ reversed: If in your experience: "AthenaS" turns out to be a noun, and "cureS" a verb then what does the naked ending "S" really tell a stranger-observer? If "velim" is a verb, then its reversed must be: ________ and the form for "they" must be ________ and "he-she-it" must be ________, you ________, ye ________ When you spot Latin verbs in a sentence like: "fiet...poterit...curet", what kind of possible subject will you naturally attach to them? What will the "we" forms be for those three verbs of Cicero? How will you decide on the definite subject in any sentence? Two ways: Here Cicero is writing to his wife Terentia, and mentions Tullia=26 years old, and Cicero Jr.=15 years old. The following is a literal translation, of which you can use the first sentence on your next postcard home!! "If you and Tullia, our light, are well, I and most sweet Cicero are well. On the day before the ides of October (Oct. 14) We came to Athens ../.. I would like you take care, if the auction before my arrival will be done, that Pomponius or, if he less will-be-able, Camillus our business may-care-for". Now take your pen and rewrite the sentence modifying only the verbs and a few words to read in your perfect Latin after one class (keep Cicero's word order!!!): "If Marcus and Tullia are well today-(cf. DICT.), Terentia, you are certainly-(cf. DICT.) well. When-(cf. DICT.) did you come (use **form) to Athens? Marcus would-like we take care that [ut] Camillus and Tullia our business may-care-for." As a general principle, what do the endings of Latin words indicate-do? When will this fact cease to exist-be valid in your Latin life?
