Latin Chapter 5 trabslations

“Primis annis civitas, ubi Decemviri potestatem habuerant. Diu leges Romanorum, memoria hominum retentae, non scriptae erant.

“Primis annis civitas, ubi Decemviri potestatem habuerant. Diu leges Romanorum, memoria hominum retentae, non scriptae erant.

In the early years of the state, when the Decemviri held power, the laws of the Romans, preserved in the memory of men, had not been written down for a long time.

Sed a populo Romano scriptae leges petitae sent, quod multae graves iniuriae ab hominibus verba legum non scientibus acceptae erant.

But written laws were sought by the Roman people because many serious injustices had been suffered by those who did not know the words of the laws.

Consillo clarissimorum hominum civitatis petito, hic modus optimus inventus est: tres viri clari in Graeciam missi sunt, ubi leges Graecorum cognoverunt.

After seeking the counsel of the most distinguished men of the state, this best method was found: three famous men were sent to Greece, where they studied the laws of the Greeks.

Alii ad Hermodorum Graecum in Italia habitantem missi sunt.

Others were sent to Hermodorus, a Greek living in Italy.

Etiam nunc statua Hermodori, a Romanis posita, in Comitio stat.

Even now, the statue of Hermodorus, erected by the Romans, stands in the Comitium.

Tum summa potestas civitatis decem viris data est, qui iussi sunt leges Romanas describere.

Then supreme power in the state was given to ten men, who were ordered to write down the Roman laws.

Ubi hi decem viri diu laboraverunt, magnum opus confectum est.

When these ten men had worked for a long time, a great work was completed.

Leges in tabulis duodecem sciptae in Foro positae sunt

The laws, written on twelve tablets, were placed in the Forum.

Ibi ab omnibus per multos annos visae sunt, et ibi nunc videntur.

There they were seen by all for many years, and even now they are seen there.