Mundus Latinus: A Course in Practical Latin/Lectio IV: Dē Futūrō/Model Answers

Model Answers

A. English to Latin

I will become consul and reduce all taxes.
The roads will be repaired before winter.
The people will have better wine and more frequent games.
When will you give money to the poor citizens?
The barbarians will be more civilised under my leadership.
We shall build new baths and repair the old ones.
The rain will not damage the amphitheatre any longer.
You (plural) will see many improvements in the forum.
The merchants will become honest through my new laws.
When will the new aqueduct be completed?

B. Sample Campaign Speech

Cīvēs optimī! Ego prō vōbīs pugnābō! Sub administrātiōne meā, rēs pūblica nostra flōrēbit. Forum novīs marmoribus ōrnābitur; viae lātae sternentur; porticus tōta reficiētur. Lūdī splendidī bis mēnse dabuntur, et vēnātiōnēs magnificentissimae exhibēbuntur.
Vectīgālia minuentur; frūmentum vīlius erit. Barbarī procul ā fīnibus nostrīs manēbunt - nam exercitum fortem mittēmus! Cīvēs nostrī modestī et probī fīent, nōn sīcut sub Lūciō illō, quī tabernās et popīnās multiplicārī permīsit. Hās rēs vōbīs spondeō et praestābō!

Comments on the answers:

A. Translation Notes

Variation between simple future (minuam) and periphrastic future (fīam)
Mix of active and passive forms
Key political vocabulary: cōnsul, vectīgālia, cīvēs, imperium
Common future expressions: nōn iam (no longer)
Comparative forms with future: melius, frequentiōrēs, mānsuētiōrēs

B. Speech Analysis

Opens with traditional address (Cīvēs optimī)
Mixes singular (pugnābō) and plural (mittēmus) forms
Uses passive future for public works (ōrnābitur, sternentur)
Employs standard political promises vocabulary (spondeō, praestābō)
Includes subtle criticism of predecessor (sub Lūciō illō...)
Demonstrates range of future forms:
- Simple future active (pugnābō, minuentur)
- Future passive (dabuntur, exhibēbuntur)
- Future with fīō (fīent)
- Complex constructions (multiplicārī permīsit)