Notes to Confessiones 9.9.19

plenus, -a, -um
mature; complete; full; translate with annis, ablative of description.
nubilis, -e
of an age suitable for marriage (used in reference to a woman only); the unexpressed subject is Monica, Augustine's mother, who remains unnamed throughout the passage.
fio, fieri, facta/us sum
become; happen; the unexpressed subject is Monica.
trado, -ere, -didi, -ditum
hand over; marry (used in reference to a woman only); the perfect passive participle modifies Monica.
vir, viri m.
husband; man; hero; dative following both tradita and servavit. This double use of viro anticipates Monica's advice below.
servio, -ire, -ivi, -itum
serve, minister to; followed by the dative viro.
veluti adverb
as if; as it were.
dominus, -i m.
master; lord.
satago, -agere. –egi, -actum
busy one's self; bustle about; take the trouble (=satis + ago).
lucror (1 deponent)
gain, win; the direct object eum is Monica's husband. The indirect object tibi is Augustine's God, to whom he speaks in the second person singular.
loquor, loqui, locutus/a sum
mention, speak of; talk, say; a present participle, the direct object te is Augustine's God. The indirect object illi is Monica's husband, as yet unnamed.
mos, moris m.
practice; (pl.) habitual conduct, character; ablative of means, modified by suis, a reflexive pronoun referring to the subject of the verb loquens.
reverenter adverb
respectfully; reverently.
amabilis, -e
loveable.
mirabilis, -e
remarkable, extraordinary, causing wonder; viro is the indirect object.
ita . . . ut adverb
to such an extent . . . that; introducing a result clause with its verb in the subjunctive (haberet).
autem conjunction
moreover, now, and; indeed; postpositive: translate ita.
tolero (1)
endure, sustain.
cubilis , -e n.
bed, bedroom; genitive after iniurias.
iniuria, -ae f.
insult; injury;injustice. This refers obliquely to her husband's sexual behavior, perhaps affairs with other women.
umquam adverb
ever, at any time; note the emphasis of nullam umquam simultatem.
simultas, -tatis f.
quarrel, feud; modified by nullam, which is placed earlier for emphasis.
exspecto (1)
hope for, look forward to; followed by a subjunctive clause (ut . . . castificaretur).
misericordia , -ae f.
mercy; sympathy; translate with tuam (Augustine's God).
super preposition + accusative
on, over; eum is Monica's husband.
credo, -ere, -didi, -ditum
trust, have confidence in, believe; present participle modifying Monica's husband.
castifico (1)
make pure; act chaste; imperfect passive subjunctive in a purpose clause (the subject is Monica's husband).
vero adverb
but in fact; certainly.
praeterea adverb
besides, moreover.
sicut . . .ita
just as . . . so.
benivolentia = benevolentia , -ae f.
kindness, good-will; ablative of description.
praecipuus , -a, -um
distinguished, eminent.
fervidus , -a, -um
hot, impetuous, vehement; followed by ablative of description (ira).
nosco -ere, novi, notum
learn; come to know; know (in the perfect tense); the subject is haec.
resisto , -ere, -stiti
oppose one's self to; resist; halt; followed by the dative (irato viro).
iratus, -a, -um
angry, furious.
non tantum … sed ne … quidem conjunction
not only … but also.
factum, -i n.
deed, action; ablative of means.
iam adverb
directly, very soon; now; therefore; followed by temporal cum.
refringo, -ere, -fractus, -fractum
check (in anger); understand eum (Monica's husband).
quietus, -a, -um
calm, mild.
opportunus, -a, -um
favorably situated; timely; convenient; suitable. The adjective modifies the unexpressed virum, in apposition with refractum. . . quietum; translate as an adverb with viderat.
ratio, -onis f.
explanation, reason; understanding; followed by the genitive facti sui (suus refers to the subject of the verb).
reddo, -ere, -didi, -ditum
give, supply; the object is rationem.
forte adverb
by chance, perhaps.
inconsideratius adverb
rather thoughtlessly; comparative form of inconsideratus.
commotus, -a, -um
upset, agitated.
denique adverb
in short; precisely; here Augustine turns to the abusive treatment of other matronae from which Monica was spared because of her manner.
mansuetus, -a, -um
mild, gentle; comparative adjective modifying viri (the point of comparison is Monica's husband).
plaga , -ae f.
blow (of a fist or whip).
vestigium, -i n.
trace; scar.
etiam adverb
even, also, actually.
dehonesto (1)
dishonor; perfect passive participle modifying facie.
facies, -ei f.
face; ablative after gero.
gero, -ere, gessi, gestum
have in/on; reveal; carry; wear; imperfect subjunctive in a temporal cum clause.
amicus, -a, -um
friendly; modifies conloquia, object of the preposition inter.
con/lloquium, -i n.
conversation; talk.
arguo, -ere, -ui, -utum
accuse, blame, denounce; prove; the subject is illae [matronae].
maritus, -i m.
husband.
vita, -ae f.
manner of life; life.
lingua, -ae f.
tongue; tale; it is the object of the verb arguebat (understood from the prior clause), whose subject is haec (Monica).
iocus, -i m.
joke, jest.
graviter adverb
seriously, with dignity.
admoneo, -ere, -ui, -itum
remind, suggest; followed by two indirect clauses with verbs in the accusative (debuisse, oportere).
ex quo = ex quo tempore
tabulae, -arum f. pl.
agreements; contract; object of audissent (contracted form of audivissent).
matrimonialis, -e
matrimonial; pertaining to marriage; object of vocantur.
recito (1)
read aloud; passive infinitive after audissent.
tamquam conjunction
as, just like, as if. Monica tells the matronae how they should think of the tabulae in the previous clause.
instrumentum, -i n.
means; tool.
ancilla, -ae f.
slave woman, female servant; Monica's perception no doubt shocked her fellow matronae, who saw themselves as citizen women by virtue of their marriage contract.
deputo (1)
consider, regard, count as; complementary infinitive following debuisse (perfect infinitive of debeo).
proinde conjunction
accordingly, therefore; this introduces the second infinitive clause dependent upon admonens above.
memor, -oris + genitive
mindful (of), aware; understand matronae.
condicio, -ionis f.
situation, condition (here, as wives).
superbo, -ire
be arrogant; infinitive following oportere.
adversus preposition + accusative
towards.
oportet, -ere, -uit (impersonal)
ought, should; infinitive following admonens above.
cum adverb
since, as, when; introduces two clauses in the imperfect subjunctive: mirarentur and below quaererent.
miror (1)
wonder at; the subject is illae [matronae].
scio, -ire, -ivi, itum
know, have skill in; know how to; present participle modifying the unexpressed matronae.
quam interrogative adverb
how, to what extent; modifies sustineret.
ferox, -ocis
violent, short-tempered; modifies coniugem.
coniunx, -iugis f. m.
husband, wife; spouse.
sustineo, -ere, -tinui, -tentum
endure, put up with; imperfect subjunctive in indirect question introduced by quam (the subject is Monica).
numquam adverb
never.
auditus, -us m.
hearsay; accusative subject of the perfect infinitive fuisse, in a clause of indirect statement following mirarentur.
indicium, -i n.
sign, indication; evidence.
claresco, -ere, clarui
become obvious. This is alternate (aut) evidence to fuisse auditum. The perfect infinitve, used impersonally (understand a pronoun like id), is also in indirect statement after mirarentur.
quod conjunction
that; following verbs of perceiving (fuisse auditum . . .claruisse) it introduces clauses in indirect statement with their verbs in the subjunctive ceciderit . . . dissenserint.
caedo, –ere, cecidi, caesum
strike, beat; kill the subject is Patricius, Monica's husband at last named.
invicem adverb
in turn; se refers to both Monica and Patricius, the subjects of the plural verb dissenserint.
lis, litis f.
strife, quarrel.
dissentio, -ire,-si, -sum
differ, disagree (with each other). The phrase vel unum diem indicates the term of lack of dissent.
familiariter adverb
in the manner of a close friend; intimately.
quaero, -ere, -sivi, -situm
ask, question; seek; imperfect subjunctive parallel with mirarentur in the clause introduced at the beginning of the sentence by cum. The subject is illae [matronae]).
institutum, -i n.
rule, practice, principle.
supra adverb
above.
memoro (1)
mention; the object of the verb is quod, whose antecedent is institutum.
observo (1)
take heed, pay attention to; the antecedant of the verb's subject quae is illae matronae.
experior, -iri, expertus/a sum
test, attempt, make trial of.
gratulor (1 deponent)
give thanks.
subicio, -icere, -ieci, -iectum
subject; expose; subordinate.
vexo (1)
attack, injure; distress.


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