The Story of Cincinnatus

Cum Cincinnatus, senex, agros coleret, nuntii ex Romae ei appropinquati erunt. Cincinnatum postulaverunt ut oriretur et vestiret togam, quia senatores Cincinnati volebat. Senatores dixerunt eum servaturum patriae esse. Cum incertus esset, Cincinnatus eos interrogavit, si omnia sint bona. Cum non esse indignus vellet, Cincinnatus fidelem uxorem iussit ut togam ex domo referret. Post Senatores deis pro patriae bona oraverant, illi Cincinnato dixerunt quale periculum esse Romae. Cognovit quomodo Roma in periculum accideret et acta non verba esse agenda. Adhuc Cincinnatus interrogabat cur a Senatoribus se lectus sit, petitionem recepit ne Roma in caedibus sit accida. Cum negotium in publicis spatiis vetuisset, Cincinnatus imperavit ut tabernas ubique esset clausas, honestos viros poposcit ut ad proelium progressi essent. Denique, victoria ita celeris erat ut pax cum hostibus confecta esset. Post bello, Cincinnatus ad villam rediit ut non adoraretur.

Cincinnatus, an old man, plowed his field and was approached (perfect passive) by messengers from Rome. After mutual greetings, they commanded (indirect command) that he get up and put on his toga so that (ut clause purpose) he could hear the wishes of the senators. He said yes (deponent). They said (indirect statement) the Senate would take care of him and his country. Since he was uneasy (cum clause), he asked if all was well. He asked his faithful wife to bring him his toga quickly from their home so that he would not be indecent (ut non clause). After the Senate prayed to the divine gods for the good of the fatherland, they told him what danger was to Rome. He knew how they were in trouble (indirect question) and knew they needed actions not words. Cincinnatus, still asking why he had been chosen, accepted the request and set out for battle to avoid catastrophe (ne clause). When he had forbidden business in public spaces in the town and ordered shops everywhere to be closed (cum clause), he requested worthy men to march to battle. Finally, victory was so swift that (ut clause result) a peace with the enemy was accomplished.

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