Reus videt iudicem severum esse et voce timida respondet.

Because reus is the subject of the main verb videt and also of respondet. In Latin, the subject of a finite verb is normally put in the nominative case.

Here, reus means the defendant or the accused man.

Because Latin is using an accusative-and-infinitive construction after videt.

Instead of saying something like the defendant sees that the judge is severe with a full that-clause, Latin often says:

• videt = he sees
• iudicem ... esse = the judge to be ...

So iudicem is the subject of esse, but in this kind of construction that subject goes into the accusative, not the nominative.

Because severum agrees with iudicem.

Since iudicem is accusative singular masculine, the adjective describing it must also be:

• accusative
• singular
• masculine

So:

• iudex severus = the severe judge as a nominative phrase
• iudicem severum = the severe judge as an accusative phrase

In this sentence, both words belong to the accusative-and-infinitive construction after videt.

Because this is not a separate finite clause like the judge is severe. Instead, Latin uses an infinitive clause after videt:

• iudicem severum esse = that the judge is severe / the judge to be severe

So esse is the infinitive to be, not the finite verb is.

This is one of the most common Latin patterns after verbs of saying, thinking, knowing, and often perceiving.

Yes. It is the standard Latin pattern usually called an indirect statement.

The structure is:

• a main verb: videt
• an accusative subject: iudicem
• an infinitive: esse

English often translates this with that:

• Reus videt iudicem severum esse = The defendant sees that the judge is severe

Latin does not normally use a separate word meaning that here.

Because it is an ablative phrase describing the manner or means of responding:

• voce = with a voice
• timida = timid, agreeing with voce

So voce timida respondet literally means he responds with a timid voice, which in smoother English becomes he responds in a timid voice or he responds timidly.

This is a very common Latin way of expressing manner.

It could use an adverb in some contexts, but here Latin chooses a noun phrase instead.

There is a difference in feel:

• timide respondet = he responds timidly
• voce timida respondet = he responds with a timid voice

The ablative phrase is a bit more vivid and concrete. It focuses on the voice itself, not just the general manner.

With an ablative of manner, Latin often uses cum, especially when there is no adjective:

• cum voce = with a voice
• cum timore = with fear

But when the noun has an adjective, Latin often leaves cum out:

• voce timida
• magna cura
• summa celeritate

So voce timida without cum is completely normal.

Et connects the two main actions of the subject reus:

• videt
• respondet

So the sentence has one subject, reus, doing two things:

1. he sees that the judge is severe
2. he responds in a timid voice

Because Latin does not need to repeat the subject if it is clear from context.

After reus videt, the sentence continues with et voce timida respondet, and the subject is still understood to be reus.

Also, the verb ending -et in respondet already tells you the verb is third person singular: he/she/it responds.

Respondet is:

• third person singular
• present tense
• active voice
• indicative mood

from the verb respondeo, respondere, meaning to answer or to respond.

So respondet means he responds or he answers.

Yes, depending on context, videt can mean more than simple physical sight.

It can mean:

• sees
• perceives
• realizes
• understands

In a sentence like this, the meaning may be either literal or mental: the defendant may literally see the judge’s severity, or he may recognize it.

Latin often leaves that nuance to context.

Yes, Latin word order is much freer than English word order because the endings show the grammatical relationships.

This order is perfectly natural:

• Reus videt iudicem severum esse et voce timida respondet.

But other orders are possible, for example to emphasize different words.

The current order is useful because:

• Reus comes first to introduce the subject
• videt comes early as the main verb
• iudicem severum esse stays together as the idea being perceived
• voce timida comes before respondet to color the manner of the response

So the order is not random, but it is more flexible than in English.