Fabulae Faciles 96

96.1Tum Circē, quae artis magicae summam scientiam habēbat, baculō aureō quod gerēbat capita eōrum tetigit; quō factō omnēs in porcōs subitō conversī sunt.

Then Circe, who had the highest knowledge of the art of magic, touched their heads with a golden wand which she carried; when this was done, they were all suddenly changed into pigs.

96.2Intereā Eurylochus ignārus quid in aedibus agerētur ad ōstium sedēbat; postquam tamen ad sōlis occāsum ānxiō animō et sollicitō exspectāvit, sōlus ad nāvem regredī cōnstituit.

Meanwhile Eurylochus, not knowing what was going on in the house, was sitting at the door; but after he had waited with an anxious and troubled mind until sunset, he decided to go back to the ship alone.

96.3Eō cum vēnisset, sollicitūdine ac timōre tam perturbātus fuit ut quae vīdisset vix dīlūcidē narrāre posset.

When he had come there, he was so upset with anxiety and fear that he could hardly tell clearly what he had seen.

Note. quae vīdisset: the subjunctive because the clause depends on a result clause (ut … posset): 'what he had seen'.

96.4Ulixēs autem satis intellēxit sociōs suōs in perīculō versārī, et gladiō correptō Eurylochō imperāvit ut sine morā viam ad istam domum dēmōnstrāret.

But Ulysses understood well enough that his companions were in danger, and seizing his sword he ordered Eurylochus to show him the way to that house without delay.

96.5Ille tamen multīs cum lacrimīs Ulixem complexus obsecrāre coepit nē in tantum perīculum sē committeret; sī quid gravius eī accidisset, omnium salūtem in summō discrīmine futūram.

But Eurylochus, with many tears, embraced Ulysses and began to beg him not to put himself in such great danger: if anything serious happened to him, he said, the safety of them all would be in the greatest peril.

Note. From sī quid gravius onward Eurylochus' plea is in indirect speech; futūram (esse) is the future infinitive.

96.6Ulixēs autem respondit sē nēminem invītum sēcum adductūrum; eī licēre, sī māllet, in nāvī manēre; sē ipsum sine ūllō praesidiō rem susceptūrum.

But Ulysses answered that he would take no one with him against his will; Eurylochus might stay in the ship if he preferred; he himself would undertake the task without any guard.

Note. Indirect speech continues: eī licēre … sē ipsum … susceptūrum (esse).

96.7Hoc cum magnā vōce dīxisset, ē nāvī dēsiluit et nūllō sequente sōlus in viam sē dedit.

When he had said this in a loud voice, he jumped down from the ship and, with no one following, set out on the road alone.