Word Patterns in Roman Authors
Chiasmus is a crossed pair, A B B A. Alliteration repeats a first sound.
How It Works
| Figure | Latin | Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| chiasmus | novissimi primi, et primi novissimi | last first, first last |
| chiasmus | sabbatum propter hominem ... homo propter sabbatum | sabbath, man, man, sabbath |
| alliteration | veni, vidi, vici | three words that start with v |
| alliteration | pulchra puella ad portum properat | four words that start with p |
Horace's line multa petentibus desunt multa is a frame: multa begins and ends the phrase, and petentibus and desunt stand between the two.
These patterns make a line easy to remember. They help you see which words belong together, and they help the sentence stick in your head.
Examples (5)
- Sic erunt novissimi primi, et primi novissimi.
So the last will be first, and the first last.
Matthew 20:16. Novissimi primi, then primi novissimi: a perfect cross.
- Sabbatum propter hominem factum est, et non homo propter sabbatum.
The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.
Mark 2:27. The Sabbath and the man swap places in the second half.
- Multa petentibus desunt multa.
Those who ask for much lack much.
Horace, Odes 3.16.42-43. Multa stands at both ends of the phrase, with petentibus and desunt between them.
- Veni, vidi, vici.
I came, I saw, I conquered.
Alliteration: all three words start with v, which sounds like w in classical Latin and like v in church Latin.
- Pulchra puella ad portum properat.
The pretty girl hurries to the harbor.
Alliteration of p in four words.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Chiasmus and alliteration are patterns of word order and sound, so poetic word order comes first.
Related Patterns
Practice Word Patterns in Roman Authors in Bubblegum
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