Over in comments they are discussing how to translate the ablative absolutes of Tacitus...
[Brian is writing graffiti on the palace wall. The Centurion catches him in the act]
Centurion: What's this, then? 'Romanes eunt domus'? People called Romanes, they go, the house?
Brian: It says, 'Romans go home. '
Centurion: No it doesn't ! What's the latin for 'Roman'? Come on, come on !
Brian: Er, 'Romanus' !
Centurion: Vocative plural of 'Romanus' is?
Brian: Er, er, 'Romani' !
Centurion: [Writes 'Romani' over Brian's graffiti] 'Eunt'? What is 'eunt'? Conjugate the verb, 'to go' !
Brian: Er, 'Ire'. Er, 'eo', 'is', 'it', 'imus', 'itis', 'eunt'.
Centurion: So, 'eunt' is...?
Brian: Third person plural present indicative, 'they go'.
Centurion: But, 'Romans, go home' is an order. So you must use...?
[He twists Brian's ear]
Brian: Aaagh ! The imperative !
Centurion: Which is...?
Brian: Aaaagh ! Er, er, 'i' !
Centurion: How many Romans?
Brian: Aaaaagh ! Plural, plural, er, 'ite' !
Centurion: [Writes 'ite'] 'Domus'? Nominative? 'Go home' is motion towards, isn't it?
Brian: Dative !
[the Centurion holds a sword to his throat]
Brian: Aaagh ! Not the dative, not the dative ! Er, er, accusative, 'Domum' !
Centurion: But 'Domus' takes the locative, which is...?
Brian: Er, 'Domum' !
Centurion: [Writes 'Domum'] Understand? Now, write it out a hundred times.
Brian: Yes sir. Thank you, sir. Hail Caesar, sir.
Centurion: Hail Caesar ! And if it's not done by sunrise, I'll cut your balls off.
"
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