CaesarBG5Notes

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subductis navibus: ‘The ships being drawn on shore.’ (Anthon)

Samarobrivae: locative, the chief town of the Ambiani, whose name is found in the modern Amiens. (Allen & Greenough) satellite image

frumentum angustius provernerat: 'grain had been produced in less quantities than usual' i.e. the crop had partially failed, or there was a scarcity of grain. (Anthon)

aliter ac: i.e. not where supplies were most abundant, but where there was chief danger of disturbance. (Allen & Judson)

legiones distribuere: yet not in the west of France the loca maxime frumentaria of 1.10, but evidently in the parts where he expected a rebellion to arise. (Moberly)

in plures civites: 'among a greater number of states', i.e. than had before been customary. (Anthon)

Map of Gallic tribes

tactical map

ducendam: gerundive expressing purpose (Allen & Greenough)

Q. Ciceroni: the younger brother of the orator, and a man of tougher fibre and of great military and executive ability. He had joined Caesar's army that very year and had taken part in the expedition to Britain. Quintus, like his brother Marcus, sided with Pompey in the Civil War, and met a similar fate in the same year (B.C. 43) at the command of the triumvirs (Allen & Greenough). Brother of the orator. He was Caesar's legatus several years. Some of his letters written from Gaul and Britain are mentioned in the extant collection of Cicero's correspondence. (Hodges)

Belgis: By Belgium is here meant a part of Gallia Belgica, not the whole. It comprehended the territory of the Bellovaci, Atrebates, and Ambiani (Anthon).

M. Crassum: son of the celebrated Roman millionaire (Rice Holmes). An older brother of the P. Crassus mentioned in Bk. I, Chap. LII (Hodges)

Unam legionem: object of misit. This is a new legion, recently levied north of the Po (trans Padum) (Harkness). This legion was perhaps enrolled in the spring of this year, and was probably numbered XV. Caesar therefore should have had nine legions. Only eight and one half are here accounted for. One explanation is that the five cohorts mentioned belonged to XIV, and that the other five cohorts of XIV were used to fill gaps in other legions (Hodges).

Padus, -i m.: the Po river. Mosa, -ae f.: the Meuse river. (Sihler) Rhenum, -i m.: the Rhine. (Sihler)

Eburones, -um m. pl.: the Eburones, a Belgic people of Celtic or German descent.

inopiae: dat. with mederi (Allen & Greenough).

centum: If the reader will ponder these words, he will see that they can only mean that none of the camps was more than 100 miles from any other. If Caesar really wrote C, he made a mistake, for it is certain that Atuatuca, the camp of Sabinus and Cotta, was much more than 100 miles from Samarobriva (Amiens), where one of the legions encamped. (Rice Holmes)

munitaque hiberna: Permanent camps, intended to be occupied throughout the winter, were of course fortified more elaborately than the temporary camps which were constructed at the end of each day's march (Rice Holmes).

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tactical map

Carnutes Carnutum, m. pl.: the Carnutes, who lived in the vicinity of Chartres (Allen & Greenough).

Tasgetius, -i m. One of his coins.

summo loco natus: 'born in the highest station', i. e., of a royal family (Harkness). loco is abl. of source, or origin (Hodges).

Huic: indir. obj. of restituerat. This act of restoring chiefs exiled by the democracy of the tribes was peculiarly odious to the Gauls, as here appears (Allen & Greenough).

in se: 'toward him', i. e., toward Caesar (Harkness).

hunc annum regnantem: 'in this year, which was the third of his reign' (Moberly).

palam multis ex civitate auctoribus: ‘in the presence and with the consent of a large number of the people’ (Moberly); 'with the avowed sanction of many of the citizens' (Rice Holmes). The text given here is that of Rice Holmes. The OCT preserves and obelizes the unintelligible reading of manuscript a: inimicis iam multis palam ex civitate et eis auctoribus eum.

quod ad plures pertinebat: 'because several persons were concerned.' Literally, 'because it pertained to more persons than one' (Anthon)

impulsus, -us m.: instigation. (Sihler)

deficio, -ere, -feci, -fectum: revolt from, forsake, desert. (Sihler)

quorum: the antecedent is hos. (Allen & Greenough)

perventum: impersonal passive. Supply esse (Harkness).

in hiberna perventum etc.: 'that they had reached their respective quarters, and that a place for wintering in had been fortified by each' (Anthon).

hibernis: dat. (Hodges).

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tactical map with possible location of Sabinus and Cotta's camp

Diebus . . . quibus: 'about fifteen days after' (Harkness).

praesto: 'in attendance upon', as obedient subjects. (Allen & Judson)

Cum praesto fuissent: ‘although they had presented themselves’ (Moberly); 'had met', i.e. in a cordial manner. (Harkness)

finis: here evidently means ‘frontier’ (Rice Holmes).

Indutiomari: for the bitter offence given him by Caesar, see above, ch. 4 (Allen & Greenough). Indutiomarus had been obliged a few months before to give Caesar 200 hostages, among whom were all his own kinsmen (4, §§ 1-2); but we may infer from vi, 2, § 1 (Interfecto Indutiomaro . . . ad eius propinquos a Treveris imperium defertur) that Caesar, after he returned from Britain, had thought it best to restore them. When one reads v, 22, § 4 one finds it hard to conceive why he did so (Rice Holmes).

ad castra oppugnatum venerunt: ‘came to the camp to attack it’ (Stock).

subitoque etc.: 'and after suddenly surprising the wood-cutters'. (Allen & Greenough)

vallum, -i n.: earthworks, rampart. (Sihler)

aliqui: the usual form is aliquis (Allen & Greenough). aliqui is usually an adjective, and the pronominal form is aliquis (Hodges).

de re communi: 'relative to their common interest' (Anthon).

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eques: a knight, a member of the equestrian order, the commercial aristocracy of Rome (Allen & Greenough).

Q. Tituri: = Quinti Titurii Sabini, called simply Sabinus above, and Titurius at 5.29, below (Harkness).

qui...consuerat: Evidently Ambiorix had made himself useful to Caesar as a political agent, and the acts of kindness for which he professed gratitude were presumably the reward which he received for his services (Rice Holmes).

missu Caesaris: equivalent to mittente Caesare, 'being despatched for this purpose by Caesar' (Anthon).

plurimum ... debere: 'acknowledged he was under very great obligations to him' (Anthon). 'that he owed very much to him', i. e., to Caesar (Harkness).

stipendium, -i n.: tribute. (Sihler)

stipendio liberatus esset: 'he had been liberated from tribute', i. e., freed from the payment of it.

Aduatuci: subj. of tenuissent (Allen & Greenough)

de oppugnatione castrorum: 'as regards the attack on our camp' (Anthon). oppugnatio, -ionis f.: storming, assault, attack. (Sihler)

suaque esse imperia...multitudinem: 'and that his authority was of such a nature, that the people at large had no less power over him than he had over them' (Anthon). imperia: 'sovereignty' (Allen & Judson). esse eiusmodi: 'was of such a nature' (Harkness). non minus iuris: 'no less authority' (Harkness)

civitati porro: 'to the state in their turn' (Moberly).

ex humilitate sua: ‘From his own weakness' (Anthon).

sit . . . confidat: the present was used because the subjunctives were preceded by a present infinitive, posse (Rice Holmes).

Sed esse Gallia commune consilium: 'But that it was tho common design of Gaul," i. e., that it was a common and preconcerted plan on the part of the whole nation (Anthon).

Non…potuisse: 'that the Gauls could not easily say ‘no’ to Gauls' (Allen & Greenough). ‘That it was no easy matter for Gauls to give a refusal to Gauls’ (Anthon).

Quibus quoniam...Caesaris: 'that since he had satisfied them, as far as duty to his country was concerned, so now he had respect to the claims of duty, as regarded the favours bestowed upon him by Caesar,' i. e., as he had discharged his duty to his country, he would now discharge that which he owed to Caesar in return for his numerous kindnesses (Anthon).

pietate: The term pietas among the Roman writers has a very extensive meaning, denoting the duty which we owe to our parents, relations, friends, country, and the Deity. The reference in the present passage is to country merely (Anthon).

pro hospitio: 'in consideration of the ties of hospitality' (Anthon).

conductam Rhenum transisse: 'having been hired for the purpose, had crossed the Rhine' (Anthon).

hanc: 'that this band' (Anthon).

ipsorum esse consilium: 'it was for them [the Roman generals] to decide' (Rice Holmes); 'that it belonged to them to consider' (Harkness).

paulo: adv. abl.: a little (= by a little). (Sihler)

quod cum faciat...referre: 'that in doing this, he was both consulting for the good of his own state, in its being freed from the burden of winter quarters, and was making a proper return to Caesar for his acts of kindness towards him’ (Anthon); quod cum faciat: 'in so doing' (Allen & Greenough); 'while he does this' (Harkness). quod levetur: because it would be relieved (Hodges).

hibernis: i.e. the burden of providing grain for the soldiers (Allen & Greenough).

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ausam [esse]: with civitatem (Allen & Greenough).

ad consilium rem deferunt: 'they lay the matter before a council of war' (Anthon). consilium: as the two legates had one and one-half legions under their command, the council of war contained, besides the legates, nine military tribunes, and either nine or six centurions, according as the half legion did or did not include the first cohort. Thus there were in the council either twenty or seventeen persons (Allen & Greenough).

Existit: 'arises' (Anthon).

Rem esse testimonio: 'that the fact spoke for itself' (Anthon). testimonium, -i n.: proof; dat. + esse: to serve as proof. (Sihler)

quod . . . sustinuerint: in apposition with rem.

multis ultro...sustinuerint: 'many wounds having been inflicted upon the latter, without any being received in return.' Compare the explanation of Lemaire: 'nam Romani intulerant hostibus vulnera; ipsi vero non acceperant.' (Anthon).

impetus, -us m.: charge, attack, onslaught. (Sihler)

re frumentaria non premi: 'that they were not distressed for corn [i.e. grain]' (Anthon).

levius aut turpius: ‘weaker or more cowardly’ (Anthon).

auctore hoste...consilium.: ‘To deliberate concerning matters of the utmost importance when an enemy was the author of the step’ (Anthon); auctore hoste: 'on the advice of the enemy' (Allen & Greenough).

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sero facturos, cum: 'that they would act too late, when', i. e., that it would be too late to act, when (Harkness).

Proximis: close at hand. (Allen & Judson)

Proximis: nearest. This camp was farthest off from the main body, and hence if the nearest camps should be taken, the forces could not easily withdraw in safety. (Allen & Greenough)

Calamitas, -atis f.: disaster. (Sihler)

Fuisse capturos: the direct discourse would have cepissent, and for ‘venturos esse,’ venirent. (Allen & Judson)

Fuisse capturos: direct, cepissent; apodosis of a condition contrary to fact (unreal), the protasis of which is contained in the adverb aliter. (Hodges)

Neque…fuisse capturos: that otherwise the Carnutes would not have adopted. (Harkness)

Nostri: obj. gen. (Allen & Greenough)

Neque Eburones venturos esse: ‘not would the Eburones have come.’ (Moberly)

Venturos esse: for venirent of the dir., the apodosis of a pres. condition contrary to fact. We should expect venturos fuisse. (Allen & Greenough)

Auctorem: as the informant. (Allen & Judson)

Hostem auctorem: information derived from the enemy… (Moberly)

Sese…spectare: ‘It was not to the enemy that he looked for guidance, but to facts.’ (Holmes)

Ariovisti mortem: he had, however, escaped after the battle. (Allen & Greenough)

Ardere: is in a blaze. (Allen & Judson)

Ardere: was ablaze. (Hodges)

Tot contumeliis acceptis redactam: because it had been reduced after such a series of disasters, and after losing all their former military reputation. (Moberly)

Tutus, -a, -um: safe. (Sihler)

In utramque partem: on each side. (Harkness)

Si nil sit durius: ‘If no greater difficulty came in their way,’ i.e. if no attack were made by the Gauls. (Anthon)

Longinquus, -a, -um: distant, remote; lasting, long, protracted. (Sihler)

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ex vobis: instead of part. Gen. after gravissime. (Allen & Greenough)

hi: i.e. the magna pars militum who were listening. (Allen & Greenough)

perendino die: i.e. tertio die, the day after to-morrow. (Hodges)

hi sapient: ‘the men will understand the matter.’ (Moberly)

sustineant: &c., ‘would certainly bear only their share along with their comrades of the impending danger, and certainly would not die like outcast and banished men, far away from their friends.’ (Moberly)

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dat manus: (a formal sign of surrender), gives in. (Allen & Judson)

dat manus: yields; originally manus dare meant offer one’s hands to be bound. Probably Cotta had been directed by Caesar, in the event of a difference, to yield to Sabinus. (Hodges)

quare…augeatur: why they could not remain without peril, and the peril would be increased, etc. (Hodges)

ut quibus: etc., as if they were convinced that. (Allen & Greenough)

sic ut quibus esset persuasum: as men who had been convinced. The subj. is characteristic. (Hodges)

non ab hoste Ambiorige consilium datum: that Ambiorix who had given the advice was not an enemy, but their very near and dear friend. (Moberly)

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tactical map

battle snapshot, Gallic perspective

tactical diagram

bipertito: ‘at two points'. (Moberly)

nostris: dat. with inquissimo. (Hodges)

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ut…viderentur: freely, so that it was plain he had lost all presence of mind. (Hodges)

in ipso negotio: in the midst of action. (Hodges)

imperatoris: depends upon officia. (Hodges)

possent: the subj. is Cotta and Titurius. (Allen & Greenough)

per se omnia obire: attend personally to everything. (Hodges)

accidit…ut: etc., this clause is divided into three parts with the verbs discederent, properaret, complerentur, the first two being connected by –que (quaeque). (Allen & Greenough)

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quotiens procurrerat…cadebat: a general condition referring to past time. (Allen & Greenough)

levitate…posse: a declarative sentence in indirect discourse, inserted parenthetically. The dative his refers to the Eburones (vobis in the mouth of Ambiorix). (Hodges)

levitate armorum: &c., that from the lightness of their arms, &c., it must result that no harm would be done them. (Moberly)

ad signa recipients: the standards were fixed in the ground, thus indicating the alignment of the circle. (Allen & Judson)

rursus…insequantur: and that they should follow them when they again fell back (se recipientis) to their standards. (Hodges)

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vellent: not contrary to fact, but a future condition thrown into the past. (Allen & Greenough)

sin…vellent: contrasted with cum reverti coeperant. The subjunctive is occasionally used to denote repeated action in a subordinate clause, instead of the more usual imperfect or pluperfect indicative. (Hodges)

sin, conj.: but if. (Sihler)

primum pilum: from pilus. Apparently Balventius was no longer primipilus, and presumably he was serving as evocatus. (Hodges)

primum pilum duxerat: ‘Had been chief centurion’. (Anthon)

pilum duxerat: that is, had been ‘primipili centurio,’ the first centurion of the first cohort, ‘Superiore anno.’ The choice of these officers was in the hands of the ‘tribuni,’ subject to the commander-in-chief. A successor was therefore not bound by the appointments of those who preceded him. A ‘primipili centurio’ therefore might hold a lower post: and (up to B.C. 341) a tribune might afterwards have to serve as a centurion. (Moberly)

In adversum os: right in the face. (Hodges)

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quod…pertineat: subject of posse. (Hodges)

ipsi vero: etc., that to him, certainly no harm will be done; nihil is acc. of specif. and nocitum iri impers. Instead of the latter we should expect fore ut noceatur. (Allen & Greenough)

ipsi…iri: but no harm would be done to him, i.e. to Sabinus. (Hodges)

suam fidem interponere: pledged his word. (Hodges)

ut excedant: depends upon communicat – proposes that they should withdraw, etc., if it should seem best. (Harkness)

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condicionibus: i.e. of surrender. (Allen & Greenough)

longiorque consulto: &c. ‘And a discourse longer than ordinary is designedly begun by Ambiorix’ i.e., and the conference is designedly protracted by Ambiorix. (Anthon)

ululatum: such a yell of triumph is described by Ammianus (XVI.12,43): ‘It began with a low humming, growing gradually louder and louder, until it was like the thunder of he waves, when they crash on a rocky shore.’ (Allen & Judson)

tactical diagram

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neque noctem neque diem intermittit: Ambiorix marched only one night and one day. More than that would have been expressed by ‘nocturnis diurnisque itineribus.’ (Allen & Judson)

sui liberandi, ulciscendi: dependent upon occasionem. (Hodges)

oppressam…interfici: render by two verbs, to be surprised and slain. (Allen & Judson)

nihil esse negoti: ‘That it was an easy matter’. (Anthon)

nihil esse negoti: 'that it was a matter of no difficulty'. (Allen & Greenough)

esse: the subject is legionem…interfici. (Hodges)

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tactical map

huic quoque: i.e. to Cicero, as well as to Sabinus and Cotta. (Hodges)

munitionis: material for building defenses. (Hodges)

lignationis munitionisque: lignationis is explained by munitionisque. The wood was required, at all events in part, for the purpose of fortification. (Holmes)

sustenatur: ‘They hold out.’ Supply a nostris. (Anthon)

adepti: conditional, if they should gain. The accusative case agreeing with se might have been expected instead of the nominative. (Hodges)

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pertulissent: for the fut. perf., implied ind. disc. (Allen & Greenough)

tactical diagram

perustae sudes: heavy stakes or piles of wood, sharpened at the end, and charred to harden the point. They were hurled by the tormenta. (Allen & Greenough) It appears…that these improvised weapons were intended to be thrown. We often hear of them in ancient warfare. (Stock)

muralium pilorum: long pikes, to defend the wall. (Allen & Judson)

contabulantur: floored with plank. Possibly also the towers were connected by galleries, one for each story. (Allen & Judson)

pinnae loricaeque: ‘battlements and breastworks’. (Stock)

concursu ac vocibus: = by the spontaneous movement and entreaties. (Allen & Greenough)

sibi: dat., depending on parcere. (Hodges)

ultro militum concursu…cogeretur: ‘he was compelled by the spontaneous pressure and expostulation of the soldiers.’ (Moberly)

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causam amicitiae: grounds of friendship. (Hodges)

sermonis aditum: The meaning is, ‘any means of addressing themselves to Cicero.’ (Moberly)

Suis rebus: their own safety. (Hodges)

Nihil…recusent: i.e. they will be friends, but not subjects; they only refuse to admit a standing military force. (Allen & Judson)

Ut nihil nisi…recusent: ‘that what they absolutely refused was the use of their country for winter-quarters.’ (Moberly)

Incolumibus: in agreement with illis. (Hodges)

Se adiutore utantur: 'they may use him as an advocate'. (Allen & Greenough)

Se: subject of sperare. (Hodges)

42=

tactical diagram

manibus sagulisque…exhaurire: to dig out with their hands and [carry] in their cloaks. (Allen & Greenough); A case of zeugma (Allen & Judson)

ad: ad here…means ‘in proportion to,’ not ‘up to,’ for the towers would have been useless unless they had been higher than the rampart. (Rice Holmes)

testudines: sappers' huts, used for protecting soldiers when they were filling up ditches, undermining walls, &c. (Rice Holmes)

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ferventes . . . glandes: 'red-hot balls of clay' (Allen & Greenough). The ordinary meaning of fusilis is 'molten '; but clay cannot be melted. Fusili ex argilla must therefore mean 'of softened (or plastic) clay'. (Rice Holmes)

casas: the huts of the encampment, thatched with straw (Allen & Greenough)

distulerunt: sc. ignem (Allen & Greenough)

parta atque explorata: gained and decided. (Hodges)

ut se . . . constipaverant: 'in as much as they had concentrated themselves'

turri: this advance of a tower was quite in the manner of Roman attack. (Allen & Greenough)

vellent: implied indir. disc; in their words, si . . . vultis (Allen & Greenough).

nutus, -us m.: nod, beck; gestures, gesticulations. (Sihler)

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appropinquarent: To bring out the consecutive force of the subjunctive in English is not easy. Here is my attempt:—'In this legion there were two centurions. . . who, by dint of extraordinary courage, were getting close,' &c. (Rice Holmes)

de locis: 'for promotion or rank'. (Allen & Greenough)

quem locum: 'what opportunity'

Ne Vorenus quidem: Ne..quidem evidently does not mean 'Not even', but 'of course ... not'. One might translate by 'Vorenus of course did not keep inside the rampart'.

sese vallo continet: 'remain within the wall' (Allen & Greenough)

scutum: drawing of a scutum (Towle & Jenks)

hic casus: etc., i.e. the javelin, piercing his sword belt, twisted the scabbard of his sword out of reach. (Allen & Greenough)

comminus, adv.: at close quarters, in hand to hand conflict. (Sihler)

locum: opportunity. (Allen & Judson)

in locum deiectus etc.: 'slipping into a hollow, he fell' (Allen & Greenough). ‘He slipped down a place where there was a slight drop.’ In this whole story we may suspect that Caesar is using a little rhetorical artifice to contrast the vigour of the privates with the slackness of Cotta and Sabinus; and, in particular, to show how personal rivalry spurred the former to deeds of valour, and disabled the latter. (Moberly)

ambo: 'both' (Hodges)

In contentione: 'in their rivalry' (Allen & Greenough)

versavit: How is one to express the meaning—'moved [them] about'—in English? I should say '(Thus Fortune) made them her puppets', &c. (Rice Holmes)

in contentione: 'in their rivalry' (Allen & Greenough)

utrumque: 'each' (Hodges)

anteferendus videretur: seemed superior (to be preferred). (Hodges)

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Quanto gravior - tanto crebriores: the more severe – the more frequent. (Harkness)

Res…pervenerat: the garrison had been reduced (lit., the thing had come) to a small number of defenders. (Harkness)

a prima obsidione: 'immediately after the beginning of the blockade' (Rice Holmes).

magnis praemiis: 'by the promise of large rewards' (Rice Holmes)

in iaculo: i.e. the shaft of the spear was probably hollow and the letter was inserted in it (Allen & Greenough). In must mean 'on': for if the letter was inserted in the hollowed shaft of a javelin, lashing (illigatas) was obviously both superfluous and impossible. The letter could easily have been concealed by lashing twine over it, as if the javelin had been spliced. (Rice Holmes)

versatus: 'going about' (Allen & Greenough).

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tactical map

hora undecima: i.e. about five or six o'clock. In this chapter and the following note the wonderful celerity of Caesar's movements and the quick obedience of his officers. (Allen & Greenough)

aberant ab eo: 'were distant from his own headquarters,' at Samarobriva (or Amiens); Crassus was at Montdidier. (Moberly)

cum nuntio: cum nuntio does not mean 'along with the messenger' (that, if it were true, would be a superfluous piece of information), but 'on the arrival of the messenger' (Rice Holmes).

in Atrebatium fines: he was to march from the neighbourhood of Boulogne by way of Tournay and Bavai to the Sambre, where Cicero was. (Moberly)

sciebat: Caesar is the subject. (Hodges)

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antecursoribus: the vanguard of Crassus’s cavalry or his scouts. (Allen & Greenough)

litteras publicas: 'the public records' (Moberly)

quos…sciret: 'since he knew that they'. (Hodges). = cum eos sciret. (Allen & Judson)

consido, -ere, -sedi, -sessum: take position. (Sihler)

tactical map

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opinione: 'expectation'. (Allen & Judson)

opinione trium legionum deiectus &c.: ‘although he was disappointed in his expectation of three legions, and found himself reduced to only two.’ (Moberly)

duas: Caesar thus had only his own legion and that of Fabius, - a very small force to face the multitude of the enemy. (Allen & Greenough)

Graecis…litteris: we must understand this to mean ‘in the Greek language,’ as we know from Caesar himself (1.29, 6.14) that the Greek characters were well understood in Gaul. (Stock)

Graecis litteris: i.e. 'in Greek letters'. The Guals were well acquainted with the Greek characters. According to Polyaenus (8.23.6) the dispatch contained merely the words, “Caesar to Cicero. Be of good courage. Expect aid.” (Allen & Judson)

intercepta epistola: 'should the letter be intercepted'; the ablative absolute here stands in place of a conditional sentence.[1]

ammentum: The amentum was a small strap fastened to the middle of a light spear, in some cases, at any rate, giving it a whirling motion, like the rifle-ball of modern times. By its use the spear could be thrown twice as far and with better aim than without it, as has been proved by experiment. (Allen & Greenough)

adfore: adsum, adesse, adfui: to be present, be at hand; to be near at hand. (Sihler)

pristinus, -a, -um: previous; former; tried, oldtime. (Sihler)

perlectam...recitat: 'after perusing it he read it aloud in an assembly of the soldiers'. [2]