clxii

Theme for the remainder of the month: Alphabet Soup

immo (adv)

Definition: on the contrary, no indeed, by no means, nay rather, rather

Sententia: Martial, epigrammaton liber 3, number 47, lines 13-15

Nec feriatus ibat ante carrucam,

Sed tuta faeno cursor ova portabat.

Urbem petebat Bassus? immo rus ibat.

Nor idle he was going before a carriage, but the runner was carrying eggs safe in hay. Was Bassus seeking the city? Nay rather, he was going to the country.

Martial is known for his epigrams, and this poem comes from his book of epigrams, though at 15 lines, this is much longer than most of his. These last two lines sum it up well, though. The first 12 detail the setting to which Bassus is going and all the food he is bringing. This is an attack on the productivity of Bassus' farm, for if he is going to his farm in the country, he shouldn't have to bring food from the city! The full text can be found at http://la.wikisource.org/wiki/Epigrammaton_liber_III#XLVII.

Vergil uses this word twice, in Books 1 and 11, both times off syllabus. However, it is a great word, a synonym of "quin," which Vergil does use. Its etymological roots are unknown.