Up to the present we have had to deal with adjectives which have three different endings to suit the three different genders, which are called adjectives of Three terminations (Cap. VIII.)

Here we see an adjective which uses the same form to

suit the masculine and feminine genders, and one separate form to suit the neuter. This is therefore called an adjective of Two terminations.

Just as we noticed with bonus,-that the masculine, feminine, and neuter are declined like masculine, feminine, and neuter substantives of the First and Second declensions,- -so here with dulcis we notice that the masculine and feminine are like hostis (Cap. xx.) The neuter is like rete (Cap. xx.); but remember when the Nominative neuter of an adjective ends in e, the Ablative singular always ends in i.

N.B.-In old-fashioned English, such as that of the Bible for instance, we do not find such a sentence as 'He is like me,' but 'He is like unto me,' or 'He is like to me.' Just in the same way in Latin we must put in the Dative case the word which comes next after like in English.

(1) Socer genero servum similem ministro dabat. (2) Dux novem milites similes peditibus in urbem hostium mittit.

(3) Vates taurum gladio mucroni simili trucidat.

(4) Octo viri fabris similes pueros flagellis castigabant. (5) Minister crudelis caprum miserum gravi saxo

lacerat.

(6) Ancillæ crudeles, lacerum equum jaculis vulneratis. (7) Macrum suem gladio acuto transfigemus.

(1) The workmen were building a house like a temple. (2) The women were freeing the boy from the sailor. (3) He was sending into the temple a sad old man like a prophet.

(4) Sweet water, indeed, delights boys, but old men love slaves and servants.

(5) You and I will free the poor soldier from the heavy chain.

(6) A cruel dog, like a wolf, was tearing the sheep.

(7) She was giving the flowers to a young man like a horse-soldier.

(8) The general will put on his garments and lead the foot-soldiers into the enemy's town.

(1) Pueri crudeles passeres parvos saxis lædunt. (2) Judex improbus insontem senem damnabat. (3) Senem insontem improbo judice liberamus. (4) Ingens templum fabri in oppido ædificabunt. (5) Stulti pueri, ingentia dona petitis. (6) Agros insulæ prosperæ hostes vastant. (7) Præstantia dona vobis, servis fidelibus, dabo. (8) Dux militem servo domini similem defendet. (9) Duce feroci senem insontem liberabamus. (10) Dulcem aquam in carcere miseri servi petent.

(1) The faithful slave defends the lord's sheep in the
fields.

(2) In summer, indeed, sparrows lead their offspring
into the fields, but in winter into the towns.
(3) The savage wolves were tearing the offspring of the
dogs.

(4) You, O maidservants, are asking for the lord's money.
(5) You and I will lay waste fields and towns of the

enemy.

(6) Sage young men we educate; haughty boys we chastise.

(7) The wild boars lay waste fruitful fields with teeth. (8) I was putting on the master's hat in the temple of

Liber.

(9) Books indeed delight old men, but little boys they terrify.

(10) The brave soldiers will ask for the keys of the town.

CHAPTER XXVI.

IF I say 'He is a tall man,' I say something about the man, and do not mention or make those who hear me think of anyone else. But if I say 'He is a taller man than I am,' the adjective taller' compares him with me, and is therefore said to be comparative, or in the Comparative degree. Again, if I say 'He is the tallest man of them all,' the adjective tallest compares him with more than one other person, and is said to be superlative, or in the Superlative degree. Hence we learn the following facts about adjectives :

(1) They have three different forms, which are called degrees of comparison.

(2) An adjective in the Positive degree describes a substantive without making us think of anything else but that substantive.

(3) An adjective in the Comparative degree describes a substantive by comparing it with some one other thing.

(4) An adjective in the Superlative degree describes a substantive by comparing it with more than one other thing.

N.B. With regard to agreement,' exactly the same rules apply to all adjectives of whatever degree of comparison.