Re: Examples wanted: How do you say this?

--- In conlang@yahoogroups.com, Ray Brown <ray.brown@F...> wrote:

>Example:
>eo     imperium  tenente,               euentum timeo
>he-ABL power-ACC hold-PRES.PART-ABL
>With him holding power, I fear the outcome
>There was, however, no present participle for "to be" in Classical
>Latin, so the two nouns were just put in the ablative, for example:
>  Caesare   duce,    nihil timebimus.
>Caesar-ABL leader-ABL
>With Caesar being leader, we shall fear nothing.
I notice that, in the two examples you give, the topic of the
absolute construction is not the same as the subject of the main
clause.  Is it correct to say that this is the rule with absolute
constructions?  Thus, one couldn't say: With me holding power, I fear
the outcome, or With Caesar being leader, he shall fear nothing.

Have I understood this correctly?

P.S. I hope I used the word "topic" correctly.

Charlie
http://wiki.frath.net/user:caeruleancentaur

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