Vergil, The Aeneid, Book Six: Latin Text, with an Introduction, Notes, Latin and English Prose Versions, and Vocabularies (Aeneid Prose Versions)

This edition of Aeneid VI contains the following: The Latin text in a large and attractive format; An Introduction, covering themes and scansion, among much else; A full set of notes; A list of all names and places mentioned in the text; A vocabulary of all the words found in the text; A separate vocabulary of words used more than eight times in the text; A rewriting of the text as Latin prose; A translation of the text into English prose. The main object of the edition is to make Aeneid VI more accessible to anyone who wants to read Vergil, but whose Latin, though good, is not ready for the challenge. For this object, perhaps its main distinguishing feature is a Latin prose version. Words are reordered into a sequence more natural to English eyes. Many words are replaced with more natural alternatives. Pronouns and verbs and prepositions are supplied that are left out in the original for metrical or stylistic reasons. Paragraphs are broken up, and speech marks are given as if in a novel. The advantage is that the result is still Latin. It is Latin that can be read without too much looking in a dictionary – and not too much head-scratching thereafter. Unlike any English version, it is obviously related to the original, and is a fair key to understanding the original. Sample of the Content Original hinc via Tartarei quae fert Acherontis ad undas. turbidus hic caeno vastaque voragine gurges aestuat atque omnem Cocyto eructat harenam. portitor has horrendus aquas et flumina servat terribili squalore Charon, cui plurima mento canities inculta iacet, stant lumina flamma, sordidus ex umeris nodo dependet amictus. ipse ratem conto subigit velisque ministrat et ferruginea subvectat corpora cumba, iam senior, sed cruda deo viridisque senectus. Interpretation Inde incipit iter quod ducit ad aquas Acherontis inferni. Ille gurges turbidus coeno et vasta voragine, exundat, et exonerat omnem arenam in Cocytum. Charon, vector tremendus horribili squalore tenet has aquas et hos fluvios: huic multa est in mento canities neglecta, oculi pleni sunt igne, vestis sordida nodo ligata pendet ex humeris. Ipse impellit cymbam pertica, et adiuvat vehis, et transportat umbras corporum nigra cymba, iam senex: sed senectus robusta et vegeta est, utpote Deo. Other Classical Texts by Sean Gabb on Amazon: Acts of the Apostles: A Parallel Text – Greek, Latin, English Aeneid XI: Text with Latin Prose Version Ars Grammatica Stories from Paul the Deacon Stories from the Life of Christ From the Amazon Reviews: This text is a great collection of passages from the life of Christ that perfectly fills the need for an intermediate reader, and has a great selective dictionary at the end with just the words used in the texts, so it is quick to use. This suited my level perfectly as the passages were not too complex, but beyond beginner level, and include enough repetition in the stories and dialogue to help memory retention. (Stories from the Life of Christ) [G]oing from Latin lessons to real Latin texts is a huge jump. Here the author has chosen later texts written by Paul the Deacon…. The Latin is simpler as a result and it makes the book a very useful stepping stone…. [My Latin has now] gone rusty, and this book looks an ideal way for me to recapture some of that lost prowess. Also it has a vocabulary…. Yes I have a Latin dictionary, but experience… has shown me the value of having a vocabulary or dictionary at the back. (Stories from Paul the Deacon)