[5] Appropinquābant ergō ad praedictam īnsulam usque dum nāvis stetit in lītore. [6] Erat illa īnsula mīrae plānitiae, in tantum ut illīs vidērētur aequālis marī, sine arboribus aut aliquid quod ā ventō movērētur. Valdē erat spatiōsa, tamen cooperta scaltīs albīs et purpureīs. [7] Ibique vīdērunt trēs turmās, sīcut vir Deī praedīxerat; nam inter turmam et turmam spatium erat quasi iactus lapidis dē fundā. [8] Et semper ībant hūc atque illūc, et ūna turma cantābat standō in ūnō locō, dīcēns “Ībunt sānctī dē virtūte in virtūtem, et vidēbunt Deum deōrum in Syon.” [9] Dum ūna turma perfīniēbat illum versiculum, alia turma stābat et incipiēbat cantāre carmen praedictum, et ita faciēbant sine cessātiōne. [10] Erat autem prīma turma puerōrum in vestibus candidissimīs, et secunda in iacinctīnīs vestibus, et tertia turma in purpureīs dalmaticīs.
notes
When they get to the island they see it is flat and treeless, and covered with white and purple berries. The three choirs stand apart from one another and take it in turns to sing a line from the Psalms. The boys are dressed in white, the young men in blue, and the old men in purple.
[5] usque dum: “until.”
[7] nam: CL would be et.
[8] standō: CL would be stans.
“Ībunt sānctī ... in Syon”: Psalm 83.8: “for the lawgiver shall give a blessing; they shall go forth from virtue to virtue; the God of gods shall be seen in Zion” (ibunt de virtute in virtutem; videbitur Deus deorum in Sion)."
[10] candidissimīs ... iacinctīnīs ... purpureīs: the colors symbolize innocence, vigor, and ripeness.
vocabulary
| appropinquō appropinquāre appropinquavī | to approach, draw near 5 |
| praedīcō praedīcere praedīxī praedictus | to say beforehand; mention |
| ūsque | until (often with ad or dum) |
| stō stāre stetī statum | to stand; to stand firm [OLD 3a] |
| mīrus –a –um | marvelous, wonderful 6 |
| plānitiēs –eī f. | level surface |
| aequālis –e | equal, of the same age |
| valdē | powerfully; intensely, exceedingly |
| spatiōsus –a –um | wide, spacious, large |
| co–operiō –operīre –operuī –opertum | to cover over |
| scaltae –ārum f.pl. | blossoms or berries (ML) |
| purpureus –a –um | purple |
| turma turmae f. | troop (of cavalry); company, choir 7 |
| praedīcō praedīcere praedīxī praedictus | to say beforehand; mention |
| spatium spati(ī) n. | space; expanse [OLD 3] |
| iactus –ūs m. | the action of throwing, a throw |
| funda –ae f. | sling |
| illic illaec illuc | there; in that place (illīc); to that place illūc) 8 |
| turma turmae f. | troop (of cavalry); company, choir |
| cantō cantāre cantāvī cantātus | to sing |
| stō stāre stetī statum | to stand; to stand firm [OLD 3a] |
| virtūs virtūtis f. | the power to perform miracles; miracle (ML; CL strength, courage, excellence) |
| Syon (or Zion) | the hill of Jerusalem; Jerusalem |
| turma turmae f. | troop (of cavalry); company, choir 9 |
| perfīniō perfīnīre perfīnīvī (perfīniī) perfīnītum | complete thoroughly |
| versiculus versiculī m. | little verse, short line |
| turma turmae f. | troop (of cavalry); company, choir |
| stō stāre stetī statum | to stand; to stand firm [OLD 3a] |
| cantō cantāre cantāvī cantātus | to sing |
| praedīcō praedīcere praedīxī praedictus | to say beforehand; mention |
| faciō facere fēcī factus | to do, make; to act, conduct oneself [OLD 28] |
| cessātiō –ōnis f. | inactivity, idleness |
| turma turmae f. | troop (of cavalry); company, choir 10 |
| iacintīnus –a –um | hyacinth-colored, bluish-purple |
| turma turmae f. | troop (of cavalry); company, choir |
| purpureus –a –um | purple |
| dalmatica –ae f. | a long garment originally of Dalmatian wool, worn by priests during Mass |