([a.]) Predicatively: capillō sunt prōmissō, 5, 14, 3, they have long hair, or let their hair grow long. singulārī fuit industriā, N. 24, 3, 1, he had unparalleled activity. animō bonō’s, Pl. Aul. 732, be of good cheer. ad flūmen Genusum, quod rīpīs erat impedītīs, Caes. C. 3, 75, 4, to the river Genusus, which had impracticable banks. (b.) Attributively: difficilī trānsitū flūmen rīpīsque praeruptīs, 6, 7, 5, a river hard to cross and with steep banks. interfectus est C. Gracchus, clārissimō patre, avō, maiōribus, C. 1, 4, Gracchus was done to death, a man with an illustrious father, grandfather, and ancestors in general ([1044]). bōs cervī figūrā, 6, 26, 1, an ox with the shape of a stag. Compare the genitive of quality ([1239]).
[The Ablative of the Route taken.]
[1376.] The instrumental ablative is used with verbs of motion to denote the route taken: as,
Aurēliā viā profectus est, C. 2, 6, he has gone off by the Aurelia Road. omnibus viīs sēmitīsque essedāriōs ex silvīs ēmittēbat, 5, 19, 2, he kept sending his chariot men out by all possible highways and byways. hīs pontibus pābulātum mittēbat, Caes. C. 1, 40, 1, by these bridges he sent foraging. frūmentum Tiberī vēnit, L. 2, 34, 5, some grain came by the Tiber. lupus Ēsquilīna portā ingressus per portam Capēnam prope intāctus ēvāserat, L. 33, 26, 9, a wolf that came in town by the Esquiline gate had got out through the Capene gate, almost unscathed. This construction gives rise to some adverbs: see [707]. The ablative of the route is sometimes used with a substantive of action ([1301]): as, nāvigātiō īnferō, Att. 9, 5, 1, the cruise by the lower sea. eōdem flūmine invectiō, Fin. 5, 70, entrance by the same river.
[(B.) THE INSTRUMENTAL PROPER.]
[The Ablative of Instrument or Means.]
[1377.] The ablative is used to denote the instrument or means: as,
pugnābant armīs, H. S. 1, 3, 103, they fought with arms. clārē oculīs videō, sum pernīx pedibus, manibus mōbilis, Pl. MG. 630, I can see distinctly with my eyes, I’m nimble with my legs, and active with my arms. iuvābō aut rē tē aut operā aut cōnsiliō bonō, Pl. Ps. 19, I’ll help thee either with my purse or hand or good advice. lacte et carne vīvunt, pellibusque sunt vestītī, 5, 14, 2, they live on milk and meat, and they are clad in skins. contentus paucīs lēctōribus, H. S. 1, 10, 74, content with readers few. centēnāque arbore flūctum verberat, V. 10, 207, and with an hundred beams at every stroke the wave he smites. Rarely with substantives denoting action ([1301]): as, gestōrēs linguīs, audītōrēs auribus, Pl. Ps. 429, reporters with their tongues and listeners with their ears. tenerīs labellīs mollēs morsiunculae, Pl. Ps. 67a, caressing bites with velvet lips.
[1378.] When the instrument is a person, the accusative with per is used: as, haec quoque per explōrātōrēs ad hostēs dēferuntur, 6, 7, 9, this too is reported to the enemy through the medium of scouts. Or a circumlocution, such as virtūte, beneficiō, benignitāte, or especially operā, with a genitive or possessive; as, deūm virtūte multa bona bene parta habēmus, Pl. Tri. 346, thanks to the gods, we’ve many a pretty penny prettily put by. meā operā Tarentum recēpistī, CM. 11, It was through me you got Tarentum back. Rarely the ablative of a person, the person being then regarded as a thing: as, iacent suīs testibus, Mil. 47, they are cast by their own witnesses.