pane egeo jam mellitis potiore placentis (Hor. Ep. i. 10), I want bread better than honey-cakes.

REMARK. Quam is never used in this construction with relative pronouns having a definite antecedent.

b. Particularly the idiomatic ablatives opinione, spe, solito, dicto, aequo, credibili, and justo, are used instead of a clause : as, celerius opinione (Fam. iv. 23), faster than one would think. amnis solito citatior (Liv. xxii. 19), a stream swifter than its

wont.

c. Plus, minus, amplius, longius, are often used with words of measure or number without affecting their case (being in a kind of apposition): as,

plus septingenti capti (Liv. xli. 12), more than 700 were taken. plus tertiâ parte interfectâ (Cæs.), more than a third part being slain.

spatium non amplius sexcentorum pedum (id.), a space of not more than 600 feet.

NOTE. Alius is used by the poets with the ablative, perhaps in imitation of the Greek; but the construction is found also in Sanskrit, and is probably original: as, alium sapienti bonoque (Hor. Ep. i. 16). Under comparatives belong the adverbs antea, antidea, postilla, postea, præterea, earlier than this, &c. (see § 56, 3).

[For Ablative of Difference, see below, 6, e.]

6. Ablative of Means. The ablative is used to denote accompaniment, means, or instrument: as,

vultu Milonis perterritus (Mil. 15), scared by the face of Milo. animum appellat novo nomine (Tusc. i. 10), he calls the mind by a new name.

probabilia conjecturâ sequens (id. 9), following probabilities by conjecture.

excultus doctrinâ (id. 2), thoroughly trained in learning. fidibus canere (id.), to sing to the lyre.

Fauno immolare agnâ (Hor. Od. i. 4), to sacrifice to Faunus with a ewe-lamb.

pol pudere quam pigere præstat totidem literis (Plaut. Trin. 345), by Pollux better shame than blame, although the letters count the same [lit. with as many letters].

a. The ablative of accompaniment regularly takes cum (except sometimes in military phrases, and a few isolated expressions, especially in the early writers): as,

cum funditoribus sagittariisque flumen transgressi (B. G. ii. 19), having crossed the river with the slingers and archers. subsequebatur omnibus copiis (ib.), he followed close with all his forces.

[out.

hoc præsidio profectus est (Verr. ii. 34), with this convoy he set

REMARK.- Misceo and jungo, with their compounds, may take the ablative of accompaniment, without cum, or sometimes the dative.

b. Words of contention require cum (but often take the dative in poetry): as,

armis cum hoste certare (Cic.), to fight with the enemy in arms. est mihi tecum certamen (id.), I have a controversy with you. solus tibi certat Amyntas (Ecl. v. 8), Amyntas alone vies with you.

c. The ablative of means is used with words of filling, abounding, and the like: as,

Deus bonis omnibus explevit mundum (Univ. 3), God has filled the world with all good things.

dialecticis imbutus (Tusc. i. 7), tinctured with logic.

circumfusi caligine (id. 19), overspread with darkness. opimus prædâ (Verr. i. 50), rich with spoil.

vita plena et conferta voluptatibus (Sext. 10), a life full and crowded with delights.

Forum Appî differtum nautis (Hor. Sat. i. 5), Forum Appii crammed with bargemen.

REMARK. These verbs and adjectives take the genitive in the poets by a Greek idiom: as,

terra scatet ferarum (Lucr. v. 41), the land abounds in wild

creatures.

explere ultricis flammæ (Æn. ii. 586), fill with avenging flame. Compleo, impleo, and plenus, often take the genitive in prose.

d. The deponents utor, fruor, fungor, potior, vescor, with several of their compounds, govern the ablative: as,

utar vestrâ benignitate (Cic.), I will avail myself of your kindness.

Numidæ plerumque lacte et ferinâ carne vescebantur (Jug. 88), the Numidians fed mostly on milk and game.

Potior also takes the genitive, as always in the phrase potiri rerum, to get the power. In early Latin, the accusative is sometimes found with these verbs.

e. The ablative is used with comparatives and words implying comparison, to denote the degree of difference: as,

duobus milibus plures, more numerous by 2000.

quinque milibus passuum distat (Liv.), it is five miles distant.

REMARKS. This use is especially frequent with the ablatives .quo; quanto... tanto (see § 22, c): as,

eo...

quo minus cupiditatis eo plus auctoritatis (Liv. xxiv. 28), the less greed the more weight.

7. Ablative of Quality.

The ablative is used, with an

adjective or limiting genitive, to denote manner and quality: as,

animo meliore, of better mind.

more hominum, after the manner of men.

non quæro quantâ memoriâ fuisse dicatur (Tusc. i. 24), I do not ask how great a memory he is said to have had.

a. The ablative of description (with adjectives) is always used to denote physical characteristics (other qualities may be in the genitive, § 50, 1, g): as,

vultu sereno, of calm face.

capillo sunt promisso (B. G. v. 14), they have long hanging locks.

b. The ablative of manner more commonly takes cum, unless it has a modifying adjective: as,

minus cum curâ (Plaut.), less carefully.

hoc onus feram studio et industriâ (Rosc. Am. 4), I will bear this burden with pains and diligence.

But words of manner, modo, ratione, viā, &c. with such expressions as silentio, in silence, injuriā, wrongfully-hardly ever have cum.

8. Ablative of Price. The price of a thing (or that which is given in exchange) is put in the ablative: as,

agrum vendidit sestertiûm sex milibus, he sold the field for 6000 sesterces.

exsilium patriâ sede mutavit (Q.C. iii. 8), he exchanged his native land for exile.

a. Certain genitives of Quantity are used to denote indefinite value. Such genitives are magni, parvi, tanti, quanti, pluris, minoris: as,

est mihi tanti (Cat. ii. 7), it is worth my while.

meâ magni interest, it is of great consequence to me.

REMARK. With verbs of buying and selling, the ablative of price (magno, &c.) must be used, except the following genitives: tanti, quanti, pluris, minoris.

b. The genitive of certain nouns is used in the same way: as, non flocci faciunt (Pl. Trin.), they care not a straw.

The genitives so used are nihili, nothing; assis, a farthing; flocci, a lock of wool, and a few others (see § 50, 1, i).

[For the Ablative of Penalty, see § 50, 4, b, Rem.]

9. Ablative of Specification.

The ablative denotes

that in respect to which anything is said to be or be done, or in accordance with which anything happens: as,

virtute præcedunt (B. G. i. 1), they excel in courage. incluta bello monia (En. ii. 24), walls famous in war. claudus altero pede (Nep. Ages.), lame of one foot.

linguâ hæsitantes, voce absoni (De Or. i.), hesitating in speech,

harsh in voice.

tanta caritas patriæ est, ut eam non sensu nostro sed salute ipsius metiamur (Tusc. i. 37), such is our love of country, that we measure it not by our own feeling, but by her own welfare. 10. Locative Ablative. The ablative of the place where is retained in many figurative expressions: as,

jure peritus, skilled in law [compare Sanskrit usages]. pendemus animis (Tusc. i. 40), we are in suspense of mind. socius periculis vobiscum adero (Jug. 85), I will be present with you a companion in dangers.

premit altum corde dolorem (En. i. 209), he keeps down the pain deep in his heart.

confertâ legione (B. G. iv. 33), as they were in close order. pedibus præliantur (id. 34), they fight on foot.

quibus rebus (id. 35), under these circumstances.

a. The verbs acquiesco, delector, laetor, gaudeo, glorior, nitor, sto, maneo, fido (confido), consisto, contineor,—with the verbals fretus, contentus, laetus, are followed by the ablative: as,

spe niti (Att. iii. 9), to rely on hope.

-

prudentiâ fidens (Off. i. 33), trusting in prudence. İætari bonis rebus (Læl. 13), to rejoice in good things.

REMARK. The above verbs also take the preposition in.

b. Ablative Absolute. A noun or pronoun, with a participle, is put in the ablative, to define the time or circumstances of an action (compare § 72). An adjective, or another noun, may take the place of the participle.

vocatis ad se undique mercatoribus (B. G. iv. 20), having called to him the traders from all quarters.

exiguâ parte æstatis reliquâ (id.), when but a small part of the summer was left.

M. Messalâ et M. Pisone consulibus (id. i. 2), in the consulship of Messala and Piso.

NOTE. In this use the noun is equivalent to the Subject, and the participle to the Predicate, of a subordinate clause; and so they should

generally be translated. But, as the copula esse has no participle in Latin, a noun or adjective is often found alone as predicate, while the participle is found, in this construction, in Sanskrit and Greek. The noun originally denotes circumstance, considered as place or time (locative); then, being modified by a participle, it becomes fused with it into a single idea, equivalent to that contained in a subordinate clause (compare ab urbe condita, lit. from the city built).

c. Sometimes a participle or adjective (under the construction of the ablative absolute) is put in agreement with a phrase or clause, or is used adverbially: as,

incerto quid peterent, since it was uncertain what they sought. auspicato (Tac. H. i. 84), after taking the auspices [the auspices having been taken].

consulto et cogitato (Off i. 8), on purpose and with reflection [the matter having been deliberated and thought on]. sereno (Liv. xxxi. 12), under a clear sky.

d. The ablative is often used to denote the place where, or the time when (see § 55, 1; 3,ƒ).

[For the government of the Ablative by Prepositions, see § 56.]

55. TIME AND PLACE.

1. Time. Time when (or within which) is put in the Ablative; time how long in the Accusative: as,

constitutâ die, on the set day.

quotâ horâ? at what o'clock?

tribus proxumis annis (Jug. 11), within the last three years. dies continuos triginta, for a month together.

paucis post diebus (or paucos post dies), after a few days. [Here diebus is the ablative of difference (§ 54, 6, e), and post an adverb (§ 56, 2, d).]

NOTE. The ablative of time is locative; the accusative is the same as that of extent of space (see below, 3, d).

a. The use of a preposition gives greater precision and clear

ness: as,

in diebus proximis decem (Sall.), within the next ten days. ludi per decem dies (Cat. iii. 8), games lasting ten days.

b. The ablative is rarely used to express duration of time: as, milites quinque horis prælium sustinuerant (B. C. i. 47), the men had sustained the fight five hours. [This use is locative.]