§404. Uses of the Ablative Proper

The Ablative (with or without a preposition) is used to express Cause:—¹

• neglegentiā plectimur (Lael. 85), we are chastised for negligence.
• gubernātōris ars ūtilitāte nōn arte laudātur (Fin. 1.42), the pilot s skill is praised for its service, not its skill.
• certīs dē causīs, for cogent reasons.
• ex vulnere aeger (Rep. 2.38), disabled by (from) a wound.
• mare ā sōle lucet (Acad. 2.105), the sea gleams in the sun (from the sun).

a. The Ablative of Cause without a preposition is used with labōrō (also with ex), exsiliō, exsultō, triumphō, lacrimō, ārdeō:—

• doleō tē aliīs malīs labōrāre (Fam. 4.3), I am sorry that you suffer with other ills. [Cf. ex aere aliēnō labōrāre (B. C. 3.22), to labor under debt (from another's money).]
• exsultāre laetitiā, triumphāre gaudiō coepit (Clu. 14), she began to exult in gladness, and triumph in joy.
• exsiluī gaudiō (Fam. 16.16), I jumped for joy. [Cf. lacrimō gaudiō (Ter. Ad. 409), I weep for joy.]
• ārdēre dolōre et īrā (Att. 2.19.5), to be on fire with pain and anger.

For gaudeō and glōrior, see § 431.

b. The motive which influences the mind of the person acting is expressed by the ablative of cause; the object exciting the emotion often by ob ² or propter with the accusative:—

• nōn ob praedam aut spoliandī cupīdine (Tac. H. 1.63), not for booty or through lust of plunder.
• amīcitia ex sē et propter sē expetenda (Fin. 2.83), friendship must be sought of and for itself.

c. The ablatives causā and grātiā, for the sake of, are used with a genitive preceding, or with a pronoun in agreement:—

• eā causā, on account of this; quā grātiā; (Ter. Eun. 99), for what purpose?
• meā causā, for my sake; meā grātiā; (Plaut.), for my sake.
• ex meā et reī pūblicae causā, for my own sake and the republic's.
• praedictiōnis causā; (N. D. 3.5), by way of prophecy.
• exemplī grātiā; (verbī grātiā), for example.
• suī pūrgāndī grātiā, for the sake of clearing themselves.

Ablative of Agent