Reading Passage 8 – Leo in silva

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(The Lion in the Forest)
Theme: Courage and Strength
Grammar Focus: 3rd Person Verbs; Subject–Object Order
Vocabulary: Wild animals, body, verbs of motion

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Latin Text

1. In alta silva habitat leo magnus et fortis.
2. Leoni crines longi sunt et oculi fulgent.
3. Cervus timidus prope rivum aquam bibit.
4. Leo cervum videt et lente appropinquat.
5. Cervus audit sonum frondium et fugit.
6. Leo currit celeriter sed cervus iam longe est.
7. Leo rugit voce terribili et bestiae silent.
8. In caelo avis volat et omnia spectat.
9. Sol ardet et umbrae crescunt in silva.
10. Leo fessus sub arbore recumbit et dormit.

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Literal English Translation

1. In the tall forest lives a great and strong lion.
2. The lion has long hair and his eyes shine.
3. A timid deer drinks water near the stream.
4. The lion sees the deer and approaches slowly.
5. The deer hears the sound of leaves and flees.
6. The lion runs quickly but the deer is already far away.
7. The lion roars with a terrible voice and the beasts fall silent.
8. In the sky a bird flies and looks at everything.
9. The sun burns and shadows grow in the forest.
10. The tired lion lies down under a tree and sleeps.

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Word Notes

Latin	Meaning	Grammar Note
leo, leonis	lion	3rd declension, m.
magnus, -a, -um	great, large	adjective
fortis, -e	strong, brave	adjective
crinis, crinis	hair	3rd declension, m.
longus, -a, -um	long	adjective
oculus, -i	eye	2nd declension, m.
fulget	shines	3rd sg. present of fulgere
cervus, -i	deer	2nd declension, m.
timidus, -a, -um	timid	adjective
rivus, -i	stream	2nd declension, m.
bibit	drinks	3rd sg. present of bibere
videt	sees	3rd sg. present of videre
appropinquat	approaches	3rd sg. present of appropinquare
audit	hears	3rd sg. present of audire
sonus, -i	sound	2nd declension, m.
frons, frondis	leaf, foliage	3rd declension, f.
fugit	flees	3rd sg. present of fugere
currit	runs	3rd sg. present of currere
celeriter	quickly	adverb
longe	far away	adverb
rugit	roars	3rd sg. present of rugire
vox, vocis	voice	3rd declension, f.
terribilis, -e	terrible	adjective
bestia, -ae	wild animal	1st declension, f.
silent	are silent	3rd pl. present of silere
ardet	burns	3rd sg. present of ardere
umbra, -ae	shadow	1st declension, f.
crescit	grows	3rd sg. present of crescere
recumbit	lies down	3rd sg. present of recumbere
dormit	sleeps	3rd sg. present of dormire

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Grammar Focus

3rd Person Verbs (Present Tense)

Person	Ending	Example (amare)	Translation
3rd sg	-at / -et / -it	amat / videt / audit	he/she/it loves, sees, hears
3rd pl	-ant / -ent / -unt	amant / vident / audiunt	they love, see, hear

Examples:

• Leo currit. – The lion runs.
• Cervus fugit. – The deer flees.
• Bestiae silent. – The beasts are silent.

Subject–Object Order

In Latin, subject–object–verb is normal:

• Leo cervum videt → The lion sees the deer.
• Cervus leonem timet → The deer fears the lion.

Word endings, not order, show meaning.

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Study Exercise

A. Translate into Latin:

1. The lion runs in the forest.
2. The deer hears the lion and flees.
3. The lion roars with a terrible voice.
4. The beasts are silent in the forest.
5. The lion sleeps under the tree.

B. Translate into English:

1. Leo cervum videt.
2. Sol ardet in caelo.
3. Bestiae in umbra latent.
4. Leo fessus dormit.
5. Cervus timidus aquam bibit.

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Answer Key

A.

1. Leo in silva currit.
2. Cervus leonem audit et fugit.
3. Leo voce terribili rugit.
4. Bestiae in silva silent.
5. Leo sub arbore dormit.

B.

1. The lion sees the deer.
2. The sun burns in the sky.
3. The beasts hide in the shadow.
4. The tired lion sleeps.
5. The timid deer drinks water.

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