Cambridge Latin Course Unit 1 Stage 8 Gladiatores Translation May 2026

Duo gladiātōrēs in arēnā stābant. Spectātōrēs, quī in amphitheātrō sedēbant, clāmābant, “Fēlīx! Pollux!” Fēlīx circum arēnam properābat et Pollūcem ferōciter petēbat. Pollux tamen scutō sē defendēbat. Diū pugnābant. Subitō, Fēlīx gladium suum in ārēnā iacēbat. Pollux gladiō magnō Fēlīcem vulnerāvit. Fēlīx in ārēnā cecidit. Pollux īnstitit. Spectātōrēs clāmābant, “Fēlīx surgit!”

Diē quādam, Fēlīx in amphitheātrō Pompeiīs pugnābat. Adversārius Fēlīcis erat gladiātor Samnis, nomine Pollux. Samnitēs gladium magnum et scutum magnum habent. Quod Samnitēs armātī erant, Thraecēs vix superāre poterant. Duo gladiātōrēs in arēnā stābant

Fēlīx, quamquam vulnerātus erat, surrēxit. Gladium parvum sustulit et Pollūcis scutum percussit. Pollux gravis erat et tardus. Fēlīx celeriter circum Pollūcem movēbat. Tum, Fēlīx, armīs Pollūcis dēceptīs, Pollūcem interfēcit. Spectātōrēs plausērunt et Fēlīcī pecūniam dedērunt. Fēlīx ab amphitheātrō cum magnā pecūniā discessit. There was a certain gladiator named Felix. Felix used to train in the training school every day. Because he was very strong, he often fought and always won. Many Pompeians praised Felix. Felix was a Thracian gladiator. Thracians have a small sword and a small shield (a small shield). Pollux tamen scutō sē defendēbat

Fēlīx quīdam erat gladiātor. Fēlīx in palaestrā cottīdiē exercēbat. Quod validissimus erat, saepe pugnābat et semper vincēbat. Multī pompēiānī Fēlīcem laudābant. Fēlīx erat gladiātor Thraex. Thraecēs gladium parvum et parmam (clipeum parvum) habent. Pollux gladiō magnō Fēlīcem vulnerāvit

One day, Felix was fighting in the amphitheater at Pompeii. Felix’s opponent was a Samnite gladiator, named Pollux. Samnites have a large sword and a large shield. Because the Samnites were heavily armed, the Thracians were scarcely able to overcome them.

The two gladiators were standing in the arena. The spectators, who were sitting in the amphitheater, were shouting, “Felix! Pollux!” Felix was hurrying around the arena and was furiously attacking Pollux. Pollux, however, was defending himself with his shield. They were fighting for a long time. Suddenly, Felix threw his sword down onto the arena floor. Pollux wounded Felix with his large sword. Felix fell in the arena. Pollux pressed his advantage. The spectators shouted, “Felix is getting up!”