Writing School Work and Poems

Latin Translation: Stage 10

controversia (Debate):

Quintus has a greek friend. The friend was Alexander. Quintus and Alexander were at the exercise ground, where there was a greek teacher. This teacher was Theodorus and lived near the exercise grounds. In the exercise grounds, there was a long colonnade, where Theodorus used to teach the young men. After walking around to the colonnade, Alexander and Quintus heard the teacher. The teacher announced a debate to the young men: "Greeks are better than Romans."

Quintus loudly exclaimed, "No! We Romans are better than Greeks."

Theodorus, after hearing that sentence, responded: "That is your opinion. We, however, don't look at opinions. We look for disagreements."

Then Quintus, his friend, and teacher explained their sides of the argument.

"We Romans are very fierce. We overpower fierce barbarians. We have a superior empire. We keep the peace. You Greeks always have arguments. You always are rowdy!"

"We are great architects. We also build builds and roads. Roman cities are bigger than all your city combined. "

"Finally, we Romans work smarter. Our gods, therefore, gave us a great empire. You Greeks are lazy. You do not work at all. Your gods gave you nothing."

After Quintus explained his opinion, the young men of Pompeii applauded loudly and laughed. Then Alexander got up. The young Pompeians fell silent and watched Alexander intently.

"You Romans are pathetic. You have a huge empire, but you are imitators; we Greeks are creators. We Greeks build statues, we Greeks read books, we Greeks listen to teachers. You Romans are ridiculous because only Greeks are better than Greeks!"

The young men, after Alexander finished his opinion, laughed. Then Theodorus said:

"Alexander is the winner. He gave a very good argument."

(You are just saying that because you are also Greek)

_____

Statuae (Statues):

After Theodorus applauded for Alexander, the Pompeians exited the colonnade. Alexander and Quintus walked to the house. Where Alexander and his two brothers lived. 

(You know your friendship is strong when you can argue with a friend about how patriotic you are and still be friends afterward)

Alexander looked around for his brothers because they were celebrating a birthday. 

There was a street vendor in the street selling small statues and yelling:
"Statues! Great Statues!"

Alexander bought statues for his brothers. The statues were of an old man, a young man, and a pretty girl. Alexander, after buying the statues, hurried with Quintus into the house. 

The two brothers were sitting in the garden. Diodorus was painting a picture, Thrasymachus was reading a Greek book. After Alexander and Quintus entered the house, the boys ran up to them. Diodorus saw the statue.

"Alexander, what are you holding?" he asked?

"You are lucky!" said Alexander. "I have a present for you both because today is your birthdays. See!" Alexander showed the brothers the statues. 

"That is a pretty girl!" says Diodorus. "Give me the girl." 

"No! Brother, give me the girl!" yells Thrasymachus.

The boys argue and cry.

"Oh hercules! You are very stupid boys!" yells Alexander angrily. 

"Always arguing and also crying. Go away! Go away! I am keeping the statues!"

The boys, after Alexander said that, went away. Diodorus throw the picture on the ground because he was angry. Thrasymachus throw the book in the fishpond, because he was very angry.

Then Quintus said: "Alexander, give me the statues. Thrasymachus! Diodorus! Come over here! Thrasymache, see! I am giving you this one, because the old man is a philosopher. Diodorus, I give you the young man, because the young man is a painter. I give myself the girl, because I am lonely! Are you happy?"

"We are happy!" responds the boys.

"See! Alexander," says Quintus, "You Greeks are good artists but you are rowdy. We Romans give peace between you."

"And you accept the reward," whispers Thrasymachus.

_____

Anulus Aegyptius (Egyptians Ring): 

Syphax is sitting in the shop. The innkeeper gives Syphax some wine. Syphax gives the innkeeper a ring. 

"I do not have money," He says, "Because Neptune has destroyed my ship."

The innkeeper, after accepting the ring, inspects it.

"This ring is ancient." he says

"Yes, it is ancient." Syphax responds to the innkeeper. "An Egyptian slave gave it to me. The slave found it in a pyramid." 

The innkeeper, after shutting the shop, hurried to his house. The innkeeper showed the ring to his wife. The innkeeper gave the wive the ring because the ring made her happy. 

The next day, the wive hurried to the city. Suddenly a huge slave appeared in the streets. He asked for money. The women, because she was terrified, gave the slave the money. The slave saw the ring. He asked for the ring. The woman gave the slave the ring.

The woman rans to the shop and looked around for her husband. Then she found him. The innkeeper was watching the fire. Oh dear! The shop was on fire! The woman told her husband the story. 

"The ring is unlucky." The innkeeper said. "The ring has destroyed my shop."

The huge slave, after getting the money and the ring, hurried through the city. Suddenly he saw three slaves. The slaves were his rivals. The rivals, after seeing the money, beat up the slave. The slave was fleed, but lost the ring.

Grumio was walking with Poppaea. He found the ring in the street.

"What are you looking at?" She asked.

"I see a ring," he said. " It is an Egyptian ring."

"Horray!" said Poppaea. "That ring is lucky."