Reading Passage 7 – Avis et serpens

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(The Bird and the Serpent)
Theme: Fable / Conflict
Grammar Focus: Simple Clauses with et, sed, quia
Vocabulary: Opposites, action verbs, emotion

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Latin Text

1. Avis parva in arbore cantat et alas movet.
2. Sub arbore serpens longus latet in herba.
3. Serpens esurit quia per totum diem nihil cepit.
4. Avis cibum invenit et granum in rostro tenet.
5. Serpens ascendit lente et avem spectat.
6. Avis videt serpentem et timet.
7. Cito volat super arborem et clamat voce alta.
8. Serpens iratus est sed nihil capit.
9. Avis libera ridet quia in caelo est.
10. Serpens manet solus in umbra tristis.

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Literal English Translation

1. A small bird sings in a tree and moves its wings.
2. Under the tree a long serpent lies hidden in the grass.
3. The serpent is hungry because all day it has caught nothing.
4. The bird finds food and holds a grain in its beak.
5. The serpent climbs slowly and looks at the bird.
6. The bird sees the serpent and is afraid.
7. It flies quickly above the tree and cries out in a loud voice.
8. The serpent is angry but catches nothing.
9. The bird laughs, free, because it is in the sky.
10. The serpent remains alone in the sad shade.

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Word Notes

Latin	Meaning	Grammar Note
avis, avis	bird	3rd declension, f.
parvus, -a, -um	small	adjective
arbor, arboris	tree	3rd declension, f.
ala, -ae	wing	1st declension, f.
movet	moves	3rd sg. present of movere
serpens, serpentis	serpent, snake	3rd declension, m./f.
longus, -a, -um	long	adjective
latet	lies hidden	3rd sg. present of latere
herba, -ae	grass	1st declension, f.
esurit	is hungry	3rd sg. present of esurire
quia	because	conjunction
totus, -a, -um	whole, entire	adjective
nihil	nothing	indeclinable noun
capit	catches, takes	3rd sg. present of capere
invenit	finds	3rd sg. present of invenire
granum, -i	grain	2nd declension, n.
rostrum, -i	beak	2nd declension, n.
ascendit	climbs	3rd sg. present of ascendere
spectat	looks at	3rd sg. present of spectare
timet	fears	3rd sg. present of timere
cito	quickly	adverb
super (+ acc.)	above	preposition
clamat	shouts	3rd sg. present of clamare
vox, vocis	voice	3rd declension, f.
iratus, -a, -um	angry	adjective
ridet	laughs	3rd sg. present of ridere
liber, libera, liberum	free	adjective
caelum, -i	sky	2nd declension, n.
manet	remains	3rd sg. present of manere
umbra, -ae	shade, shadow	1st declension, f.
tristis, -e	sad	adjective

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Grammar Focus

Simple Conjunctions

Latin	Meaning	Example	Translation
et	and	Avis cantat et volat.	The bird sings and flies.
sed	but	Serpens esurit sed nihil capit.	The serpent is hungry but catches nothing.
quia	because	Avis ridet quia libera est.	The bird laughs because it is free.

These small words join ideas into fuller sentences — essential for storytelling.

Word Order

Latin is flexible but tends toward subject–object–verb:

Serpens avem videt → “The serpent sees the bird.”
(literally “Serpent bird sees.”)

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Study Exercise

A. Translate into Latin:

1. The serpent lies in the grass.
2. The bird sings and flies.
3. The serpent is angry but the bird is free.
4. The bird flies quickly above the tree.
5. The serpent remains in the shade.

B. Translate into English:

1. Avis parva cantat quia laeta est.
2. Serpens longus sub arbore latet.
3. Serpens ascendit sed avis fugit.
4. Granum in rostro est.
5. Avis ridet in caelo.

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Answer Key

A.

1. Serpens in herba latet.
2. Avis cantat et volat.
3. Serpens iratus est sed avis libera est.
4. Avis cito super arborem volat.
5. Serpens in umbra manet.

B.

1. The small bird sings because it is happy.
2. The long serpent hides under the tree.
3. The serpent climbs but the bird flees.
4. A grain is in the beak.
5. The bird laughs in the sky.

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