Statius - Thebaid V

How did the ancients excuse poor behaviour? Blame it on the gods of course! Deus ultor in iras apportat coeptisque favet. An avenging god brings them to our wrath and favours the work begun. Deus (god) is in the nominative singular form. Ultor (avenging) is in the nominative singular form and can also be used as an adjective or as a noun (the avenger) In (into or onto) is a preposition. Iras (anger, wrath or rage) is the accusative plural form of "ira." Apportat (brings to or carries) is the third person singular present active indicative of "apportare," meaning "to bring" or "to carry." Coeptisque (undertaking or enterprise or work begun) is in the dative plural form of "coeptum." The suffix "-que" means "and." Favet (supports or favours) is the third person singular present active indicative of "favere," meaning "to support" or "to favour."