Apuleius, Metamorphoses 1.16

Here you can discuss all things Latin. Use this board to ask questions about grammar, discuss learning strategies, get help with a difficult passage of Latin, and more.
Post Reply
Tugodum
Textkit Enthusiast
Posts: 562
Joined: Fri Jun 16, 2017 7:15 am

Apuleius, Metamorphoses 1.16

Post by Tugodum »

"restim, qua erat intextus, aggredior expedire"--How does masculine "intextus" fit here?

Aetos
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 1041
Joined: Sat May 19, 2018 6:04 pm

Re: Apuleius, Metamorphoses 1.16

Post by Aetos »

I think intextus actually goes with grabatulus in the previous sentence. He's attempting to unravel the rope (restim), with which (qua) the cot(grabatulus)was made (by interweaving)(erat intextus).

User avatar
seneca2008
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 2006
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2015 1:48 pm
Location: Londinium

Re: Apuleius, Metamorphoses 1.16

Post by seneca2008 »

The previous lines are: Iam iam, grabatule,’ inquam ‘animo meo carissime, qui mecum tot aerumnas exanclasti conscius et arbiter quae nocte gesta sunt, quem solum in meo reatu testem innocentiae citare possum, tu mihi ad inferos festinanti sumministra telum salutare.’

The subject of intextus is grabulatus.

So "qua (sc. grabulatus) erat intextus" "which was laced (weaved) into the (mean) couch".

Edit: cross post
Persuade tibi hoc sic esse, ut scribo: quaedam tempora eripiuntur nobis, quaedam subducuntur, quaedam effluunt. Turpissima tamen est iactura, quae per neglegentiam fit. Et si volueris attendere, maxima pars vitae elabitur male agentibus, magna nihil agentibus, tota vita aliud agentibus.

Tugodum
Textkit Enthusiast
Posts: 562
Joined: Fri Jun 16, 2017 7:15 am

Re: Apuleius, Metamorphoses 1.16

Post by Tugodum »

qua (sc. grabulatus) ... "which was..."
But "grabatulus" is masculine, so, on this reading, "qua" should be taken, rather, as an ablative of means, agreeing with "restim," right?
Strangely, the Loeb translation still seems to have taken the subject of "intextus" to be "restis": "With these words I set to work unravelling the rope which was laced into the cot-frame."

Aetos
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 1041
Joined: Sat May 19, 2018 6:04 pm

Re: Apuleius, Metamorphoses 1.16

Post by Aetos »

This is the translator putting the Latin sentence into idiomatic English. The sense is still the same - he set about unravelling the rope from the cot. In the Latin sentence, restim (note it's in the accusative)is the object of expedire. grabatulus is the implied subject of erat intextus. "qua (sc. grabatulus)erat intextus" is a subordinate clause that helps define restim. You could remove this clause and the sentence would still make sense.

User avatar
Constantinus Philo
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 1404
Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2019 1:04 pm

Re: Apuleius, Metamorphoses 1.16

Post by Constantinus Philo »

I think qua is the abl instrumentalis of quae agreeing with restim
Semper Fidelis

Aetos
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 1041
Joined: Sat May 19, 2018 6:04 pm

Re: Apuleius, Metamorphoses 1.16

Post by Aetos »

It's certainly not the nominative. Qua is indeed an ablative of means (instrumentalis) which is being used to introduce the subordinate clause (...erat intextus)

Tugodum
Textkit Enthusiast
Posts: 562
Joined: Fri Jun 16, 2017 7:15 am

Re: Apuleius, Metamorphoses 1.16

Post by Tugodum »

Thanks to all who responded! It makes perfect sense now.

Post Reply