A First Latin Reader/93

by Herbertus Chester Nutting

Herbert Chester Nutting

A First Latin Reader

Lesson 93
Colonization in Africa

1912

fons: librum vide

92. A Pirate Outdone	94. A Prize Won and Lost

LESSON 93

Colonisation in Africa

Americānī Britannīque, cum dēmum plānē coepissent cōgnōscere mala^[1], quae ab emptiōne servōrum^[2] oriuntur^[3], colōniās in Āfricam statuērunt dēdūcendās esse^[4], in quās lībertīnī^[5] mitterentur^[6]; illīsque temporibus erant etiam quī servōs ferē omnēs postrēmō sīc in patriam^[7] redūcī posse^[8] exīstimārent^[9].

Colōniae, quae prīmō sunt eō^[10] dēductae, nōn erant validae, et saepe cum incolīs Āfricānīs pugnandum erat. Sīcut ōlim, cum colōnī quīdam prōmunturiō īnsulāque emptīs oppidum parvum in lītore condidissent, nātiōnēs proximae molestē ferēbant^[11] peregrinōs illīc^[12] cōnsēdisse; verēbantur enim nē iūra sua vetera āmitterent, emptiōque servōrum (quā ex rē quaestum magnum faciēbant) mox tōta^[13] reprimerētur. Quārē, armātīs undique convocātīs, in oppidum colōnōrum repente impetum fēcērunt ācerrimum. Intrā^[14] mūnītiōnēs erant dux aeger et trīgintā quīnque tantum hominēs, quī arma ferre possent; at illī, cum^[15] in proeliō quīndecim ex ipsōrum^[16] numerō aut vulnerātī aut interfectī essent, hostēs praedā occupātōs^[17] postrēmō in fugam coniēcērunt. Paucīs autem post diēbus oppugnātiō ā barbarīs redintegrāta est; quī nē tum quidem^[18] rem bene gessērunt. Itaque, pāce iam dēmum factā, haec quidem colōnia^[19] paulātim numerō vīribus^[20]que aucta est.

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1. mala: n, as (neut.) noun; cf. the somewhat similar use of the neut. bona.
2. emptiōne servōrum: freely, traffic in slaves; lit. what?.
3. oriuntur: orior, 4, ortus sum: cf. coorior, arise.
4. in Āfricam . . . dēdūcendās esse: freely, ought to be planted in Africa.
5. lībertīnī: lībertīnus, -ī: m, freedman.
6. mitterentur: note the mood.
7. patriam: f, i.e. (their) rightful country.
8. posse: could.
9. exīstimārent: cf. the note on erant quī, p. 109, l. 5.
10. eō: adv., for meaning, cf. quō, p. 107, l. 14.
11. molestē ferēbant: i.e. were much wrought up that, etc..
12. illīc: adv., there.
13. tōta: translate as if an adv..
14. Intrā: behind.
15. cum: after.
16. ipsōrum: their.
17. occupātōs: busied.
18. nē . . . quidem: see the Vocab..
19. haec quidem colōnia: freely, this particular colony; lit. what? (Do not confuse quidem with quīdam.).
20. vīribus: contrast the meaning of vīs and vīrēs (see the Vocab.).