The Ablative (with or without a preposition) is used to express Cause:—
The
cause
, in the ablative, is originally
source
, as is shown by the use of
ab
,
dē
,
ex;
but when the accusative with
ad
,
ob
, is used, the idea of cause arises from
nearness.
Occasionally it is difficult to distinguish between
cause
and
means
(which is the old Instrumental case) or
circumstance
(which is either the Locative or the Instrumental).
-
neglegentiā
plectimur
(Lael. 85)
,
we are chastised for negligence.
-
gubernātōris ars
ūtilitāte
nōn
arte
laudātur
(Fin. 1.42)
,
the pilot s skill is praised for its service, not its skill.
-
certīs dē causīs
,
for cogent reasons.
-
ex vulnere
aeger
(Rep. 2.38)
,
disabled by
(from)
a wound.
-
mare
ā sōle
lucet
(Acad. 2.105)
,
the sea gleams in the sun
(from the sun).
The Ablative of Cause without a preposition is used with
labōrō
(also with
ex
),
exsiliō
,
exsultō
,
triumphō
,
lacrimō
,
ārdeō
:—
-
doleō tē
aliīs malīs
labōrāre
(Fam. 4.3)
,
I am sorry that you suffer with other ills.
[Cf.
ex aere aliēnō
labōrāre
(B. C. 3.22)
,
to labor under debt
(from another's money).]
-
exsultāre
laetitiā
, triumphāre
gaudiō
coepit
(Clu. 14)
,
she began to exult in gladness
,
and triumph in joy.
-
exsiluī
gaudiō
(Fam. 16.16)
,
I jumped for joy.
[Cf.
lacrimō gaudiō
(Ter. Ad. 409)
,
I weep for joy.
]
-
ārdēre
dolōre
et
īrā
(Att. 2.19.5)
,
to be on fire with pain and anger.
For
gaudeō
and
glōrior
, see §
431
.
The
motive
which influences the mind of the person acting is expressed by the ablative of cause; the
object
exciting the emotion often by
ob
Originally a mercantile use: cf.
ob decem minās
,
for the price of ten minæ.
or
propter
with the accusative:—
-
nōn
ob praedam
aut spoliandī
cupīdine
(Tac. H. 1.63)
,
not for booty or through lust of plunder.
-
amīcitia
ex sē
et
propter sē
expetenda
(Fin. 2.83)
,
friendship must be sought of and for itself.
But these constructions are often confused: as,
—pārēre lēgibus propter metum
(Par. 34)
,
to obey the laws on account of fear.
[Here
metum
is almost equivalent to “the terrors of the law,” and hence
propter
is used, though the ablative would be more natural.]
The ablatives
causā
and
grātiā
,
for the sake of
, are used with a genitive preceding, or with a pronoun in agreement:—
-
eā
causā
,
on account of this;
quā
grātiā
;
(
Ter. Eun. 99
),
for what purpose?
-
meā
causā
,
for my sake;
meā
grātiā
;
(Plaut.),
for my sake.
-
ex meā et reī pūblicae causā
,
for my own sake and the republic's.
-
praedictiōnis causā
;
(
N. D. 3.5
),
by way of prophecy.
-
exemplī grātiā
;
(
verbī grātiā
),
for example.
-
suī pūrgāndī grātiā
,
for the sake of clearing themselves.
But
grātiā
with possessives in this use is rare.
Ablative of Agent
[XML File](XML\Chapter-404.xml)