Fabulae Faciles 4

4.1Perseus ubi haec audīvit, ex īnsulā discessit, et postquam ad continentem vēnit, Medūsam quaesīvit.

When Perseus heard this, he left the island, and after he came to the mainland, he looked for Medusa.

Note. When both clauses share a subject, Latin often puts it first: Perseus ubi … 'When Perseus …'.

4.2Diū frūstrā quaerēbat; namque nātūram locī ignōrābat.

For a long time he searched in vain, for he did not know the nature of the place.

Note. namque: 'for'. The imperfect quaerēbat means he kept on searching.

4.3Tandem Apollō et Minerva viam dēmōnstrāvērunt.

At last Apollo and Minerva showed him the way.

4.4Prīmum ad Graeās, sorōrēs Medūsae, pervēnit.

First he came to the Graeae, the sisters of Medusa.

Note. The Graeae were three old women who shared a single eye and tooth.

4.5Ab hīs tālāria et galeam magicam accēpit.

From them he received winged shoes and a magic helmet.

Note. Ab hīs: 'from them'. The magic helmet made its wearer invisible.

4.6Apollō autem et Minerva falcem et speculum dedērunt.

Apollo and Minerva gave him a sickle and a mirror.

4.7Tum postquam tālāria pedibus induit, in āera ascendit.

Then, after he put the winged shoes on his feet, he rose into the air.

Note. pedibus: 'on his feet'. āera is a Greek form, the accusative of āēr, 'air'.

4.8Diū per āera volābat; tandem tamen ad eum locum vēnit ubi Medūsa cum cēterīs Gorgonibus habitābat.

For a long time he flew through the air; at last, however, he came to the place where Medusa lived with the other Gorgons.

Note. volābat comes from volō, volāre, 'fly', not volō, velle, 'want'.

4.9Gorgonēs autem mōnstra erant speciē horribilī; capita enim eārum anguibus omnīnō contēcta erant.

The Gorgons were monsters of horrible appearance, for their heads were completely covered with snakes.

4.10Manūs etiam ex aere factae erant.

Their hands, too, were made of bronze.

Note. aes, aeris: bronze.