in castris gererentur, cognoscerent,
ubi se deceptos intellexerunt, omnibus copiis subsecuti ad flumen
contendunt, _but the enemy when they had sent men to learn what was
going on in camp, after discovering that they had been outwitted,
followed with all their forces and hurried to the river_.

* * * * *

CHAPTER VIII.-_Hints on Latin Style._

352. In this chapter brief consideration is given to a few features of
Latin diction which belong rather to style than to formal grammar.

NOUNS.

353. 1. Where a distinct reference to several persons or things is
involved, the Latin is frequently _much more exact in the use of the
Plural_ than is the English; as,--

domos eunt, _they go home (i.e. to their homes_);

Germani corpora curant, _the Germans care for the body_;

animos militum recreat, _he renews the courage of the soldiers_;

dies noctesque timere, _to be in a state of fear day and night_.

2. In case of Neuter Pronouns and Adjectives used substantively, the Latin
often employs the Plural where the English uses the Singular; as,--

omnia sunt perdita, _everything is lost_;

quae cum ita sint, _since this is so_;

haec omnibus pervulgata sunt, _this is very well known to all_.

3. The Latin is usually _more concrete_ than the English, and especially
_less bold in the personification_ of abstract qualities. Thus:--

a puero, a pueris, _from boyhood_;

Sulla dictatore, _in Sulla's dictatorship_;

me duce, _under my leadership_;

Romani cum Carthaginiensibus pacem fecerunt = _Rome made peace with
Carthage_;

liber doctrinae plenus = _a learned book_;

prudentia Themistoclis Graecia servata est = _Themistocles's foresight
saved Greece_.

4. The Nouns of Agency in -tor and -sor (see Sec. 147, 1) denote a _permanent_
or _characteristic activity_; as,--

accusatores, _(professional) accusers_;

oratores, _pleaders_;

cantores, _singers_;

Arminius, Germaniae liberator, _Arminius, liberator of Germany_.

a. To denote single instances of an action, other expressions are
commonly employed; as,--

Numa, qui Romulo successit, _Numa, successor of Romulus_;

qui mea legunt, _my readers_;

qui me audiunt, _my auditors_.

5. The Latin avoids the use of prepositional phrases as modifiers of a
Noun. In English we say: '_The war against Carthage_'; '_a journey thr