Ch 4 · Lesson 33Latin · Chapter 4 · Lesson 33 · Phrase session
Writing a Latin letter
How Cicero opened and closed a letter, and how living-Latin writers still do. Seven formulas, and Cornelius's letter from chapter 3 makes more sense.
Why these go together
A Roman letter opened with the writer's name in the nominative, the reader's in the dative, and , often cut to S. D. The next line was so standard it was abbreviated too: S. V. B. E. E. V., , ; . The letter closed with , or Cicero's warmer .
Marcus Iuliae .
Marcus sends greetings to Iulia (the opening line).
Literally: Marcus says greeting to Iulia
, ; .
I hope you are well; I am well.
Literally: if you are well, it is good; I am well
.
I have received your letter.
?
How are you getting on?
.
Write to me often.
.
Look after yourself.
Literally: take care that you are well
.
Goodbye (the last word).
Matching
0/7Match each phrase to what it means.
Fill in the blank
0/7Put the missing word back.
Marcus Iuliae dicit. (Marcus sends greetings to Iulia (the opening line).)
Si vales, est; ego valeo. (I hope you are well; I am well.)
Litteras tuas . (I have received your letter.)
Quid ? (How are you getting on?)
Scribe mihi . (Write to me often.)
ut valeas. (Look after yourself.)
. (Goodbye (the last word).)
Lesson 33 of 37 in this chapter