Latin translation activity (for a 13‑year‑old)
Two slightly different manuscript versions of the same passage are given. This page gives: (1) a careful word‑by‑word gloss and literal translation; (2) a smooth English translation; (3) a comparison of the two manuscript variants; (4) a printable two‑page student handout (ready to copy/print) with an answer key; (5) three short formative assessment questions with model answers mapped to a simple rubric; (6) a short homeschool report in an Ally McBeal cadence.
Original Latin passages (cleaned and aligned)
Translation 1 (manuscript A, punctuation modernized):
Quoniam de civitatis utriusque terrenae scilicet et caelestis, debitis finibus deinceps mihi uideo disputandum; prius exponenda sunt quantum operis huius terminandi ratio patitur, argumenta mortalium, quibus sibi ipsi beatitudinem facere in huius vitae infelicitate moliti sunt, ut ab eorum rebus vanis spes nostra quid differat quam Deus nobis dedit; et res ipsa hoc est vera beatitudo quam dabit, non tantum auctoritate divina, sed adhibita etiam ratione qualem propter infideles possumus adhibere, clarescat.
Translation 2 (manuscript B, variant spellings/punctuation):
Quoniam de civitatis utriusque terrene scilicet et caelestis, debitis finibus deinceps mihi uideo disputandum; prius exponenda sunt quantum operis huius terminandi facio patitur, argumenta mortalium, quibus sibi ipsi beatitudinem facere in huius vite infelicitate moliti sunt, ut ab eorum rebus vanis spes nostra quid differat quam Deus nobis dedit; et res ipsa hoc est vera beatitudo quam dabit non tantum auctoritate divina, sed adhibita etiam racione qualem propter infideles possumus (adhibere) clarescat.
1) Word‑by‑word annotated gloss (line‑by‑line literal gloss)
Below each word is given a short gloss: part of speech and a one‑word or short phrase meaning. This is literal — not smooth English.
Sentence start: 'Quoniam de civitatis utriusque terrenae scilicet et caelestis...'
| Quoniam | because / since (conjunction) |
| de | about / concerning (preposition + abl.) |
| civitatis | of the city (gen. sing. of civitas) |
| utriusque | of both / of each of the two (gen. sing. of utriusque) |
| terrenae | earthly / of the earthly (adj., gen. sing. agreeing with civitatis) |
| scilicet | namely / that is (parenthetical) |
| et | and |
| caelestis | heavenly / of the heavenly (adj., gen. sing.) |
Next phrase: 'debitis finibus deinceps mihi uideo disputandum'
| debitis | due / owed / proper (abl. pl. of debitus; here 'debited' = 'appropriate') |
| finibus | boundaries / limits (abl. pl. of finis) |
| deinceps | from now on / next / hereafter |
| mihi | to me / for me (dat. sing.) |
| uideo | I see / I think it proper (1st sg. present of uideo + infinitive construction) |
| disputandum | to discuss / a discussion (gerund or gerundive sense: 'that must be discussed') |
'prius exponenda sunt quantum operis huius terminandi ratio patitur'
| prius | first / before |
| exponenda | to be set forth / to be explained (gerundive; neuter pl. agreeing with 'argumenta' later or with implied matters) |
| sunt | are |
| quantum | how much / as much as |
| operis | of the work / of the task (gen. sing. of opus) |
| huius | of this (gen. sing.) |
| terminandi | of ending / of finishing (gerundive: 'of completing') |
| ratio | reason / measure / plan |
| patitur | permits / allows / suffers (3rd sg. present of patior - 'allows') |
'argumenta mortalium, quibus sibi ipsi beatitudinem facere in huius vitae infelicitate moliti sunt'
| argumenta | arguments / proofs / reasons (nom. pl.) |
| mortalium | of mortals / human (gen. pl. of mortalis) |
| quibus | by which / with which / in which (dat./abl. pl. relative/pronoun) |
| sibi | to themselves / for themselves (dat. refl.) |
| ipsi | themselves (emphatic; dat. pl.) |
| beatitudinem | blessedness / happiness (acc. sing.) |
| facere | to make / to create / to obtain (infinitive) |
| in | in / during |
| huius | of this |
| vitae | life (gen. sing. of vita) |
| infelicitate | unhappiness / misfortune (abl. sing.) |
| moliti sunt | attempted / endeavoured (perfect of molior; they strove) |
'ut ab eorum rebus vanis spes nostra quid differat quam Deus nobis dedit'
| ut | how / so that / in what way (introduces a question or result clause) |
| ab | from / by (prep. with abl.) |
| eorum | their / of them (gen. pl.) |
| rebus | things / matters (abl. pl. of res) |
| vanis | vain / empty (abl. pl. adj.) |
| spes | hope (nom. sing.) |
| nostra | our (nom. sing. f. agreeing with spes) |
| quid | what / how (interrogative or relative) |
| differat | differs / is different (subjunctive/present, here 'differs from') |
| quam | than / how (comparative particle) |
| Deus | God (nom. sing.) |
| nobis | to us / for us (dat. pl.) |
| dedit | gave (perfect of do - he gave) |
'et res ipsa hoc est vera beatitudo quam dabit'
| et | and |
| res | thing / reality / the matter itself (nom. sing.) |
| ipsa | itself / itself (emphatic) |
| hoc | this (demonstrative) |
| est | is |
| vera | true / real (adj.) |
| beatitudo | blessedness / true happiness (nom. sing.) |
| quam | which / that (relative) |
| dabit | wil give / will bestow (future of do) |
'non tantum auctoritate divina, sed adhibita etiam ratione...'
| non | not |
| tantum | only |
| auctoritate | by authority / authority (abl. sing.) |
| divina | divine (abl. sing. agreeing with auctoritate) |
| sed | but |
| adhibita | applied / used (abl. fem. sing. or passive participle, 'having been applied') |
| etiam | also / even |
| ratione | reason / reasoning (abl. sing. of ratio) |
| qualem | such as / what kind of (acc. sing. fem./masc. depending on sense) |
| propter | on account of / because of |
| infideles | unbelievers / the faithless (acc./nom. pl. depending on syntax) |
| possumus | we can / we are able |
| adhibere | to apply / to use (infinitive) — sometimes in manuscript B in parentheses |
| clarescat | may be made clear / may be clarified (subjunctive: 'let it become clear') |
2) Literal (line‑by‑line) rendering into English
(Keep close to the Latin word order — this is a literal, not smooth, translation.)
Because about the city of both, the earthly indeed and the heavenly, with due limits, hereafter to me it seems to be discussed; first to be set forth are how much of the work of this finishing reason allows, arguments of mortals, by which to themselves they themselves happiness to make in this life's misfortune endeavoured they have been, so that from their vain things our hope how it differs than God to us gave; and the thing itself this is true blessedness which will give, not only by authority divine, but applied also by reason such as on account of unbelievers we can apply, may be made clear.
3) Smooth natural English translation (two versions, matching the two manuscripts)
Natural translation (preferred, smooth English):
Since I must now discuss the two cities — the earthly and the heavenly — and their proper limits, I first need to explain how far reason allows me to complete this task. I will examine the arguments of human beings, who have tried to make themselves blessed amid the misfortunes of this life, and show how our hope in their empty things differs from what God has given us. The thing itself — true blessedness, which he will give — should be made clear not only by divine authority but also by the kind of reasoning we may use for the sake of unbelievers.
Notes on the two manuscript variants:
- Manuscript B contains variant spellings (terrene for terrenae, vite for vitae) and slightly different punctuation. The main difference is small scribal variation, and one place where the verb form in the clause about the work is printed as 'facio patitur' in B (probably a copying error) while A has 'ratio patitur' — the sense is that 'reason permits' or 'the measure of reason allows'.
- Both manuscripts express the same meaning: Augustine (or the author) says he will treat both cities and their limits, will first explain how much reason allows him to do, will examine human arguments for making themselves happy in misery, will contrast vain hopes with God's gift, and will clarify true blessedness by divine authority and by reason adapted for unbelievers.
4) Two‑page printable student handout (copy/print on two A4 pages)
Below is a 'student handout' arranged to fill two A4 pages when printed (use regular margins, 12pt readable font). Page breaks are indicated. Cut or paste into a document and print as two pages.
Page 1 (Student page)
Activity title: Literal glosses and smooth translation — Comparing two manuscript variants
Instructions: Read the Latin passage. For each word in the left column, write a short gloss (one word) in the right column. Then use the literal glosses to write a smooth English translation of the whole passage.
Latin text (student copy):
Quoniam de civitatis utriusque terrenae scilicet et caelestis, debitis finibus deinceps mihi uideo disputandum; prius exponenda sunt quantum operis huius terminandi ratio patitur, argumenta mortalium, quibus sibi ipsi beatitudinem facere in huius vitae infelicitate moliti sunt, ut ab eorum rebus vanis spes nostra quid differat quam Deus nobis dedit; et res ipsa hoc est vera beatitudo quam dabit non tantum auctoritate divina, sed adhibita etiam ratione qualem propter infideles possumus adhibere, clarescat.
Task A (word gloss): In the table below, write a one‑word gloss next to each Latin word (use the word list from the passage). Try to keep the part of speech in mind.
| Latin word | Your gloss (one word) |
|---|---|
| Quoniam | |
| de | |
| civitatis | |
| utriusque | |
| terrenae | |
| scilicet | |
| et | |
| caelestis | |
| debitis | |
| finibus | |
| deinceps | |
| mihi | |
| uideo | |
| disputandum | |
| prius | |
| exponenda | |
| sunt | |
| quantum | |
| operis | |
| huius | |
| terminandi | |
| ratio | |
| patitur |
Task B (sentence gloss and translation): Underline the clause 'argumenta mortalium...moliti sunt' and write a literal gloss for that clause. Then write a smooth English translation of the whole passage (3–5 sentences).
Space to write your translation:
Page 2 (Teacher/Answer key page)
Answer key — Word glosses (model)
| Latin word | Gloss |
|---|---|
| Quoniam | since / because |
| de | about / concerning |
| civitatis | of the city |
| utriusque | of both |
| terrenae | earthly |
| scilicet | namely |
| et | and |
| caelestis | heavenly |
| debitis | proper / due |
| finibus | limits |
| deinceps | from now on |
| mihi | to me |
| uideo | I think / I see |
| disputandum | to be argued / to be discussed |
| prius | first |
| exponenda | to be explained |
| sunt | are |
| quantum | how much |
| operis | of the work |
| huius | of this |
| terminandi | of finishing |
| ratio | reason / measure |
| patitur | allows / permits |
Model literal gloss for the clause: 'argumenta mortalium, quibus sibi ipsi beatitudinem facere in huius vitae infelicitate moliti sunt' — 'arguments of mortals, by which to themselves they themselves happiness to make in this life's misfortune attempted are'.
Model smooth translation (answer):
Because I am going to discuss, from now on, the two cities — the earthly and the heavenly — and their proper limits, I must first explain how far reason permits me to finish this work. I will consider the arguments of human beings who have tried to make themselves happy despite the miseries of this life, and show how our hope in their vain things differs from what God has given us. The thing itself, true blessedness which God will give, should be made clear not only by divine authority but also by the kind of reason we can use for the sake of unbelievers.
Teacher note on manuscript differences: Small spelling variants (terrene/vitae etc.) do not change the meaning. If a student renders the part about 'ratio patitur' as 'reason permits' (or 'the limits of reason allow') give full credit.
5) Three short formative assessment questions (with model answers) — mapped to a simple rubric
Rubric levels (simple):
- Developing: partial or uncertain understanding; errors in key words or grammar.
- Proficient: correct literal glosses and a clear smooth translation with accurate main ideas.
- Exemplary: correct literal glosses, smooth translation, plus explanation of tricky grammar and manuscript differences.
Question 1 (Knowledge — literal understanding): Translate literally: 'civitatis utriusque terrenae scilicet et caelestis'.
Model answer: 'of the city of both, namely the earthly and the heavenly' (literal). Rubric: Developing: 'of both cities' only (partial); Proficient: full literal phrase as above; Exemplary: literal phrase + short note that 'scilicet' means 'namely'.
Question 2 (Comprehension — clause meaning): What does 'argumenta mortalium, quibus sibi ipsi beatitudinem facere...moliti sunt' mean in smooth English? Summarize in one sentence.
Model answer: 'It refers to the arguments of human beings who have tried to make themselves blessed (happy) during the miseries of this life.' Rubric: Developing: identifies 'arguments of mortals' but misses 'tried to make themselves blessed'; Proficient: correct sentence as above; Exemplary: adds that 'moliti sunt' means 'they attempted/strived'.
Question 3 (Application — compare): Why does the author say both divine authority and reason are needed? Give a short answer.
Model answer: 'Because true blessedness must be shown by God's authority, but we also need reasoning that can be used to persuade unbelievers — so both are necessary.' Rubric: Developing: partial idea that both are mentioned; Proficient: correct reason as above; Exemplary: links this to the purpose of limiting what reason alone can do (e.g., 'to show what can be proved to those who do not accept divine authority').
6) Short homeschool report — 'Proficient/Exemplary' outcome in an Ally McBeal cadence
(Delightfully rhythmic and characterful — read with a little theatrical bounce, like Ally McBeal might narrate)
Oh — bravo! You tackled the Latin like a champ: you parsed 'quoniam' (because), you found 'civitatis utriusque' (both cities), and you smoothed the whole passage into clear, modern English — precise, tidy, and thoughtful. You didn’t just translate — you explained why reason can only go so far and how divine authority and human reasoning work together to show true blessedness. That is Proficient — and leaning into Exemplary (yes, a little dramatic flourish!). Keep this curiosity alive (snap) — your Latin detective work is on a roll!
Printer note: To make two A4 pages, copy the content under 'Page 1 (Student page)' into the first page of your document and the content under 'Page 2 (Teacher/Answer key page)' into the second page. Use single‑column layout, 12pt font (e.g., Times New Roman), 1.15 line spacing. Remove instruction boxes if you want a cleaner handout for students.