CaesarBG5Notes
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5.24
- subductis navibus: ‘The ships being drawn on shore.’ (Anthon)
- Samarobrivae: locative (A&G 43.c), 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)
- ducendam: gerundive expressing purpose (A&G 500)
- 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 (A&G 367.b)).
- 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).
5.25
- summo loco natus: 'born in the highest station', i. e., of a royal family (Harkness). loco is abl. of source, or origin (Hodges)(A&G 403.a).
- 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)
- quorum: the antecedent is hos. (Allen & Greenough)
- perventum: impersonal passive. Supply esse (Harkness)(A&G 208.d).
- 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)(A&G 382).
5.26
- Diebus . . . quibus: 'about fifteen days after' (Harkness)(A&G 424.f).
- 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)
- fines: 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); oppugnatum: supine (A&G 509).
- subitoque etc.: 'and after suddenly surprising the wood-cutters'. (Allen & Greenough)
- 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).
5.27
- 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).
- 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).
- 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)(A&G 585).
- Sed esse Gallia commune consilium: 'But that it was the 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)(A&G 221.16).
- 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)(A&G 343.b).
- paulo: adv. abl.: a little (= by a little). (Sihler)(A&G 414b)
- 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).
5.28
- sua sponte: 'of their own accord,' 'spontaneously'; a common idiom (Gaisser).
- 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).
- L. Aurunculeius: Lucius Aurunculeius Cotta, one of Caesar’s legati in Gaul. Caesar refers to him by his praenomen and nomen here. Elsewhere he uses his cognomen, Cotta (Gaisser).
- primorum ordinum centuriones: 'centurions of the first ranks': the most senior non-commissioned officers, probably the 6 centurions of the first cohort (Gaisser).
- agendum: Supply esse. Infinitive in indirect statement (Gaisser)(A&G 580).
- iniussu: 'without the orders [of]' (Gaisser).
- Rem esse testimonio: 'that the fact spoke for itself' (Anthon). predicate dative: '[for a] proof' (Gaisser)(A&G 382).
- 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).
- re frumentaria non premi: 'that they were not distressed for corn [i.e. grain]' (Anthon). re frumentaria: 'the matter pertaining to grain,' i.e., 'grain supply,' 'food' (Gaisser).
- 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); auctore hoste: ablative absolute, 'with the enemy as the advisor' (Gaisser) (A&G 419).
5.29
- Titurius: Quintus Titurius Sabinus, one of Caesar’s legati in Gaul. Caesar refers to him by his nomen here. Elsewhere he uses his cognomen, Sabinus (Gaisser).
- sero facturos, cum: 'that they would act too late, when', i. e., that it would be too late to act, when (Harkness); facturos [esse]: Supply se as subject. The indirect statement governed by clamitabat continues through the whole paragraph (Gaisser).
- proximis: 'close at hand' (Allen & Judson); '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)
- Caesarem: subject of profectum [esse]. This indirect statement depends on se arbitrari (Gaisser).
- neque…fuisse capturos: 'that otherwise the Carnutes would not have adopted' (Harkness). The direct discourse would have cepissent, and for venturos esse, venirent (Allen & Judson). Apodosis of a condition contrary to fact (unreal), the protasis of which is contained in the adverb aliter. (Hodges) (A&G 589.b)
- Carnutes: a Celtic tribe living between the Loire and the Seine. They began the revolt by killing their king, Tasgetius, a client of Caesar’s (Gaisser).
- interficiendi Tasgeti: 'of killing Tasgetius' (A&G 504.c).
- ille: i.e., Caesar. ille is often used to refer to the most important person in a situation (Gaisser)(A&G 297.b).
- nostri: objective genitive with contemptione: 'of us' (Gaisser). (A&G 348)
- neque Eburones venturos esse: ‘nor would the Eburones have come.’ (Moberly)
- venturos esse: for venirent in direct discourse, the apodosis of a pres. condition contrary to fact. We should expect venturos fuisse. (A&G 517)
- Non…spectare: ‘It was not to the enemy that he looked for guidance, but to facts.’ (Holmes)
- magno ... dolori: predicate dative '[for] a great sorrow' (Gaisser)(A&G 382).
- Ariovisti: leader of a German tribe that had invaded Gaul in 71. Caesar drove him out of Gaul in 58 and he died or was killed soon afterwards (Gaisser).
- superiores: here, 'earlier' (Gaisser).
- ardere: 'is in a blaze' (Allen & Judson); '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); contumeliis acceptis: ablative absolute (Gaisser) (A&G 419).
- hoc: object of persuaderet. We would say, 'who would persuade himself of this?' (Gaisser)
- in utramque partem: 'on each side' (Harkness); 'in either event' (Gaisser).
- perventuros: The subject (the Romans) is not expressed (Gaisser).
- si nihil esset durius: ‘If no greater difficulty came in their way,’ i.e. if no attack were made by the Gauls. (Anthon)
5.30
- primis ordinibus: the chief centurions. Caesar says 'by the first ranks' (Gaisser).
- resisteretur: impersonal passive: 'a resistance was being put up' (Gaisser) (A&G 208.d).
- qui ... terrear: '[the sort of man] who is terrified'; relative clause of characteristic (Gaisser)(A&G 535).
- ex vobis: instead of part. Gen. after gravissime. (Allen & Greenough)(A&G 346.c)
- hi: i.e. the magna pars militum who were listening. (Allen & Greenough)
- hi sapient: ‘the men will understand the matter.’ (Moberly)
- si gravius quid: 'if something (more) serious'; quid is used for aliquid after si (Gaisser) (A&G 310.a).
- abs te rationem reposcent: 'they will demand an accounting from you' (Gaisser).
- si per te liceat: literally, 'if it should be allowed by you,' i.e., 'if you should allow it.' Introduces a future less vivid condition (Gaisser) (A&G 516.b).
- perendino die: i.e. 'tertio die, the day after tomorrow' (Hodges); 'in two days’ time' (Gaisser)
- 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)
5.31
- Consurgitur: impersonal passive. 'They got up' (Gaisser) (A&G 208.d).
- dat...manus: (a formal sign of surrender), 'gives in' (Allen & Judson); '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)
- Pronuntiatur: impersonal passive: 'the announcement is made' (Gaisser).
- ituros [esse]: Supply eos as subject of the indirect statement (Gaisser).
- sua: accusative plural neuter: 'his own things' (Gaisser).
- quare…augeatur: 'why they could not remain without peril, and the peril would be increased,' etc. (Hodges)(A&G 574)
- sic...ut quibus esset persuasum: 'as men who had been convinced'. The subj. is characteristic. (Hodges) 'since they had been convinced'; relative causal clause; governs indirect statement (Gaisser); ut quibus, etc.: 'as if they were convinced that (Allen & Greenough) (A&G 535.e).
- non ab hoste...consilium datum: 'that Ambiorix who had given the advice was not an enemy, but their very near and dear friend'. (Moberly)
5.32
- bipertito: ‘at two points' (Moberly); 'in two divisions' (Gaisser).
- a milibus passuum circiter duobus: 'about two miles away' (Gaisser) (A&G 425.b).
- se: object of demisisset: 'had let itself down,' i.e., 'had descended' (Gaisser).
- novissimos: 'the last ones,' 'those in the rear' (Gaisser).
- primos: 'the first ones,' 'the vanguard' (Gaisser).
- nostris: dat. with iniquissimo. (Hodges)(A&G 383)
- proelium committere: 'to join battle,' 'to engage' (Gaisser).
5.33
- qui...providisset: relative causal clause: 'because he had anticipated' (Gaisser)(A&G 540.c).
- trepidare...concursare...disponere: historical infinitives. Translate as simple past tense: 'he bustled about,' 'he ran in every direction,' 'he lined up.' Historical infinitives are very common in an excited or fast-paced narrative (Gaisser) (A&G 463).
- haec tamen ipsa: Supply something like faciebat: 'but he (was doing) these very things' (Gaisser).
- ut…viderentur: freely, 'so that it was plain he had lost all presence of mind' (Hodges) (A&G 537).
- quod: The antecedent is the general confusion described in the previous sentence: 'And this' (Gaisser).
- in ipso negotio: 'in the midst of action'. (Hodges)
- qui cogitasset: relative causal clause. cogitasset = cogitavisset (Gaisser).
- et...et: 'both...and'; qualifies imperatoris and militis: 'of both a commander and a soldier' (Gaisser) (A&G 323.e).
- imperatoris: depends upon officia. (Hodges)
- quid ... faciendum esset: indirect question: 'what was to be done' (Gaisser) (A&G 574).
- possent: the subject is Cotta and Titurius. (Allen & Greenough)
- omnia per se obire: 'attend personally to everything'. (Hodges)
- Quod consilium: connecting relative: '[but] this plan' (Gaisser) (A&G 308.f).
- 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) (A&G 569).
- quod fieri necesse erat: i.e., '[a thing] which was inevitable' (Gaisser).
- quaeque: 'and [the things] which' (Gaisser).
5.34
- ne quis: 'that no one' (Gaisser) (A&G 310.a).
- quotiens... procurrerat... cadebat: a general condition referring to past time. (A&G 518.b)
- levitate…posse: a declarative sentence in indirect discourse, inserted parenthetically. The dative his refers to the Eburones (vobis in the mouth of Ambiorix). (Hodges) (A&G 580)
- Qua re animadversa: ablative absolute. Qua is a connecting relative (Gaisser) (A&G 308.f).
- propius: 'closer,' i.e., 'too close' (Gaisser) (A&G 291.a).
- 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)
5.35
- Quo praecepto...observato: ablative absolute. Quo is connecting relative (Gaisser) (A&G 308.f).
- ab latere aperto: 'on their open flank;' the right side, which was not covered by the shield each soldier carried with his left arm' (Hammond).
- 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); vellent: not contrary to fact, but a future condition thrown into the past. (A&G 516.f)
- ad horam octavam: i.e., until between 2 and 3 p.m. The Romans divided the period of daylight into 12 hours, which varied in length depending on the time of year (Gaisser) (A&G 424.e).
- T. Balventio: dative of disadvantage. (You’ll soon see why.) (Gaisser) (A&G 376).
- primum pilum duxerat: ‘Had been chief centurion’. (Anthon)
- in adversum os: 'right in the face' (Gaisser).
- funda: '(a missile sent by) a sling'; ablative of means (Gaisser) (A&G 409).
5.36
- rogatum: 'to ask'; supine used to express purpose (Gaisser) (A&G 509).
- Ille: Ambiorix. ille is often used, as here, to indicate a change of subject (Gaisser) (A&G 297.b).
- quod…pertineat: subject of posse. (Hodges)
- ipsi: i.e., Titurius Sabinus; dative with nociturum iri: future passive infinitive(A&G 164.c). This is an extremely rare form. Translate: 'he himself would not be harmed' (Gaisser); 'that to him, certainly no harm will be done'; nihil is accusative of specification and nocitum iri impersonal. Instead of the latter we should expect fore ut noceatur. (A&G 397.b, 208.d)
- suam fidem interponere: 'pledged his word' (Hodges); 'gave his word' (Gaisser).
- pugna: ablative with excedant (Gaisser) (A&G 402).
- ut excedant: depends upon communicat – 'proposes that they should withdraw', etc., 'if it should seem best'. (Harkness)
- impetrari posse: impersonal passive: '(their request) could be granted' (Gaisser) (A&G 208.d).
5.37
- in praesentia: 'at the moment' (Gaisser).
- de condicionibus … agunt: 'they were discussing terms (of surrender)' (Gaisser).
- 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)
- suo more: 'according to their custom' (Gaisser) (A&G 418.a).
- 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)
- aquilifer: 'the standard-bearer' of the legion. The legion would have several standards, but its principal one was the 'eagle' (aquila) a silver eagle carried on a long pole. This was a sacred sign of the legion, and its loss was always considered a great disgrace (Gaisser).
- ad unum: 'to the last man' (Gaisser) (A&G 221.2).
- desperata salute: ablative absolute (Gaisser) (A&G 419).
- T. Labienum: Caesar’s ablest and most trusted legatus in Gaul (Gaisser).
- certiorem faciunt: < certiorem facio, 'inform' (Gaisser).
5.38
- Atuatucos: a Belgic tribe earlier defeated by Caesar (Gaisser).
- 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)
- postero die: 'on the next day' (Gaisser) (A&G 423).
- Nervios: one of the most powerful of the Belgic tribes (Gaisser).
- ne ... occasionem dimittant: 'not to miss the opportunity' (Gaisser) (A&G 563).
- sui liberandi, ulciscendi: dependent upon occasionem. (Hodges)(A&G 504.c).
- pro eis ... iniuriis: The prepositional phrase, as often, includes or frames a subordinate idea, here the relative clause quas acceperint (Gaisser).
- interfectos esse legatos: accusative and infinitive governed by demonstrat (Gaisser)(A&G 393).
- nihil esse negotii: 'it was no trouble.' negotii is partitive genitive: 'nothing of trouble' (Gaisser); 'that it was an easy matter' (Anthon); 'that it was a matter of no difficulty' (Allen & Greenough) (A&G 346.a).
- oppressam…interfici: render by two verbs, 'to be surprised and slain' (Allen & Judson); accusative and infinitive governed by nihil esse negotii (Gaisser) (A&G 452).
- esse: the subject is legionem…interfici. (Hodges)
5.39
- Ceutrones, etc.: These tribes are not mentioned elsewhere. Apparently they were dependents of the Nervii (Gaisser).
- quam maximas manus: 'the greatest possible forces' (Gaisser) (A&G 291.c).
- de improviso: 'unexpectedly' (Gaisser) (A&G 221.10).
- huic quoque: i.e. to Cicero, as well as to Sabinus and Cotta. (Hodges)
- quod: The antecedent is the idea in the previous clause (Gaisser).
- lignationis: 'gathering wood'; like munitionis, genitive with causa, 'for the sake (of)' (Gaisser) (A&G 359.b).
- 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) (A&G 589)
- se fore: accusative and infinitive with confidebant (Gaisser) (A&G 459).
5.40
- pertulissent: for the fut. perf., implied ind. disc. (Allen & Greenough)(A&G 592); the subject is unexpressed, but we should understand something like 'messengers' or 'couriers' (Gaisser).
- fossam: 'ditch.' Each Roman camp was fortified by a palisade (vallum) and a deep v-shaped ditch (fossa).
- eadem ratione qua: 'in the same way as' (Gaisser).
- Quaecumque … opus sunt: 'whatever things were necessary' (Gaisser).
- 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).
- turres: Here a light movable tower used for defensive purposes. They might be several storeys high. From them missiles could be thrown down on the enemy (Gaisser).
- contabulantur: floored with plank. Possibly also the towers were connected by galleries, one for each story. (Allen & Judson)
- pinnae loricaeque: ‘battlements and breastworks’. (Stock)
- cum: 'although' (Gaisser) (A&G 549).
- ultro militum concursu…cogeretur: ‘he was compelled by the spontaneous pressure and expostulation of the soldiers.’ (Moberly)
- concursu ac vocibus: = by the spontaneous movement and entreaties. (Allen & Greenough)
- sibi: dat., depending on parcere. (Hodges)(A&G 367)
5.41
- sermonis aditum: The meaning is, ‘any means of addressing themselves to Cicero.’ (Moberly).
- causam amicitiae: grounds of friendship. (Hodges)
- quicquam … praesidi: 'any protection'; praesidii is partitive genitive (Gaisser) (A&G 346).
- suis rebus: their own safety. (Hodges)
- diffidunt: 'lack confidence (in),' 'are worried (about)'; + dative (Gaisser).
- hoc esse … animo: 'were of this mind'; hoc animo is ablative of description. We might say: 'felt this way' (Gaisser) (A&G 415).
- 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)
- per se: 'as far as they were concerned' (Gaisser).
- se adiutore utantur: 'they may use him as an advocate'. (Allen & Greenough)
- se: subject of sperare. (Hodges) (A&G 397.e)
- pro: here 'in view of' (Gaisser) (A&G 221.16).
- impetraturos (esse): The accusative subject is omitted. Supply eos (Gaisser).
5.42
- vallo pedum X et fossa pedum XV: The palisade and the earth rampart on which it was erected were 10 Roman feet high; the ditch was 15 feet wide (Gaisser) (A&G 425).
- nulla … copia: ablative of cause: 'because of no supply' (Gaisser) (A&G 404).
- 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); an appropriate term for a Roman siege maneuver. The soldiers would move forward in a closely-packed group, those in the center holding their shields over their heads, and those on the outside holding theirs upright. A similar effect could be achieved with a wooden cover mounted on wheels, which is probably meant here. The group was thus protected like a tortoise in its shell. The Gauls had learned this device from the Romans (Gaisser).
5.43
- 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)
- fervefacta iacula: 'heated javelins' (Gaisser).
- casas: the huts of the encampment, thatched with straw (Allen & Greenough).
- more Gallico: in the Gaulish fashion (Gaisser) (A&G 418.a).
- stramentis: The huts had thatched roofs (Gaisser).
- distulerunt: sc. ignem (Allen & Greenough)
- parta atque explorata: gained and decided (Hodges); ablative absolute (A&G 419). parta < pario, here 'win' (Gaisser).
- ne... quidem: 'not even' (Gaisser).
- ut se . . . constipaverant: 'in as much as they had concentrated themselves'; here, ut means 'since' with the indicative (Gaisser) (A&G 543).
- intermissa flamma … contingente vallum: a long ablative absolute (Gaisser) (A&G 419).
- 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 (A&G 592).
5.44
- primis ordinibus appropinquarent: i.e., The two centurions each hoped to become centurions of the first cohort, and hence the senior centurions of the legion (Gaisser).
- 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) (A&G 537)
- quinam anteferretur: 'as to which should be preferred to the other'; indirect question.
- de locis: 'for promotion or rank'. (Allen & Greenough)(A&G 221.10)
- pugnaretur: impersonal passive (Gaisser) (A&G 208.d).
- quem locum: 'what opportunity'
- pars: logically the antecedent of quae. We would expect it to be in a prepositional phrase (in partem) after irrumpit, 'breaks into,' but it has been 'attracted' into the case of the relative (Gaisser) (A&G 307.b).
- 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)
- quo percusso et exanimato: ablative absolute (A&G 419). quo is connecting relative: '(and) when he' (Gaisser) (A&G 308.f).
- scutum: drawing of a scutum (Towle & Jenks)
- Pulloni: dative of disadvantage. But translate: 'Pullo’s shield' (Gaisser).
- hic casus: etc., i.e. the javelin, piercing his sword belt, twisted the scabbard of his sword out of reach. (Allen & Greenough)
- conanti: 'for him as he was trying;' dative of disadvantage (Gaisser) (A&G 376).
- inimicus: an excellent illustration of the difference between hostis and inimicus. Vorenus and Pullo are old inimici, both fighting a common hostis (Gaisser).
- hunc: Vorenus (Gaisser).
- cupidius: 'too eagerly' (Gaisser) (A&G 291.a).
- 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)
- 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)
- utrumque: 'each' (Hodges)
- alter alteri: 'one to the other'; alteri is dative of reference (Gaisser) (A&G 376).
- auxilio salutique: dative of purpose or predicate dative: '(for) assistance and safety' (Gaisser) (A&G 382).
- uter utri: 'which (of the two) to the other' (Gaisser).
- anteferendus videretur: seemed superior (to be preferred). (Hodges)
5.45
- Quanto gravior - tanto crebriores: 'the more severe – the more frequent' (Harkness); quanto and tanto are ablative of degree of difference (Gaisser). (A&G 414.a)
- in dies: 'day by day,' 'each day' (Gaisser) (A&G 424.e).
- magna parte … confecta: ablative absolute (Gaisser) (A&G 419).
- Res…pervenerat: the garrison had been reduced (lit., the thing had come) to a small number of defenders. (Harkness)
- pars: 'a part,' 'some.' Caesar does not say what happened to the messengers not caught by the enemy. Evidently they did not get through (Gaisser).
- loco: 'place or position' in society. Cf. 'know your place' in English (Gaisser).
- a prima obsidione: 'immediately after the beginning of the blockade' (Rice Holmes); 'from the beginning of the siege' (Gaisser) (A&G 221.1.b).
- fidem praestiterat: 'had showed his loyalty' (Gaisser).
- servo: dative with persuadet (A&G 367). The well-born Nervius persuaded his slave to go with a message to Caesar (Gaisser).
- magnis praemiis: 'by the promise of large rewards' (Rice Holmes)
- ille: i.e., the slave (Gaisser).
- 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); 'moving about' (Gaisser).
5.46
- hora undecima: i.e. about five or six o'clock (A&G 423). In this chapter and the following note the wonderful celerity of Caesar's movements and the quick obedience of his officers (Allen & Greenough); probably around 5 p.m., i.e., not long before dark in early winter. Since the period of daylight was divided into 12 hours, the eleventh hour was almost too late for any productive activity. (Hence our expression, 'at the eleventh hour.') (Gaisser).
- Bellovacos: a Belgic tribe living between the Seine and the Somme rivers. One of Caesar’s legions was quartered in their territory (Gaisser).
- M. Crassum: Crassus was in command of the legion quartered among the Bellovaci (Gaisser).
- aberant ab eo: 'were distant from his own headquarters,' at Samarobriva (or Amiens); Crassus was at Montdidier (Moberly) (A&G 401).
- 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) (A&G 221.9.b).
- Alterum: 'a second' messenger (Gaisser).
- C. Fabium: Fabius’ legion was quartered among the Morini. Caesar wanted him to move his legion south to the territory of the Atrebates, so that he and Caesar could join forces (Gaisser).
- 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)
- iter faciendum (esse): accusative and infinitive with sciebat (Gaisser) (A&G 459)
- sciebat: Caesar is the subject. (Hodges)
- T. Labienum: Labienus’ legion was quartered to the south among the Remi (Gaisser).
- rei publicae commodo: 'with advantage of the state'; i.e., without detriment to Rome’s interests (Gaisser) (A&G 376).
- paulo … longius: 'a little too far away,' 'a little more distant.' paulo is ablative of degree of difference (Gaisser) (A&G 414).
5.47
- antecursoribus: the vanguard of Crassus’s cavalry or his scouts. (Allen & Greenough)
- certior factus: 'having been informed' (Gaisser).
- Samarobrivae: locative (A&G 427). The message had come to Caesar at Samarobriva (modern Amiens), the winter quarters of one of his legions (Gaisser).
- litteras publicas: 'the public records' (Moberly).
- eo: 'to that place' (Gaisser).
- Treverorum: Treveri, a Germano-Celtic tribe whose territory was next to that of the Remi, where Labienus had his winter quarters. Since the Treveri were now in full force around his camp, Labienus thought it was more prudent to stay where he was and not to risk being attacked on the march (Gaisser).
- quos…sciret: 'since he knew that they' (Hodges); = cum eos sciret (Allen & Judson); relative causal clause (Gaisser) (A&G 535.e).
- quanto cum periculo: introduces indirect question. We might say 'how dangerous it would be (for him to, etc.)' (Gaisser) (A&G 573).
- rem gestam: literally 'the thing done,' i.e., 'what had happened' (the loss of Sabinus and Cotta and their legion) (Gaisser).
- equitatus peditatusque: 'of cavalry and infantry' (Gaisser).
5.48
- opinione... deiectus: 'disappointed in his expectation' (Gaisser).
- 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)
- magnis itineribus: 'by long marches.' Caesar was in a hurry (Gaisser) (A&G 409).
- 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] (A&G 420)
- tragulam: a heavy Celtic spear (Gaisser).
- 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)
- perlectam...recitat: 'after perusing it he read it aloud in an assembly of the soldiers'. [2]
