24.09.24: Level 2; Ora Maritima [24] and [25] (3); lines 12 – 23 (1); questions

Sed iam ad locum adventāverāmus, et patruus meus “Spectāte puerī” inquit; “hīc campus apertus est; scopulī dēsunt, et locus idōneus est ad cōpiās explicandās. Illīc fortasse, ubi scaphās piscātōriās spectātis, Gāius Iūlius nāvigia Rōmāna ad ancorās [line 15] dēligāverat. Hīc Britannī cōpiās suās collocāverant, et equōs in aquam incitāverant. Nōnne potestis tōtam pugnam animō spectāre? Sed reliqua narrābō. Dum Rōmānī undīs sē dare dubitant, aquilifer ‘Ad aquilam vōs congregāte,’ inquit* ‘nisi ignāvī estis. Ego certē officium meum praestābō.’

Et cum aquilā undīs sē dedit. Iam ūniversī Rōmānī ad aquiliferum sē congregāverant, et [line 20] cum Britannīs in undīs impigrē pugnābant. Confūsa et aspera fuit pugna. Prīmō labōrābant Rōmānī; sed tandem Britannōs prōpulsāvērunt et terram occupāvērunt. Ante vesperum Britannī sē fugae dederant. Numquam anteā cōpiae Rōmānae in solō Britannicō steterant. Audācia aquiliferī laudanda erat.”

*Note that inquit can be present or perfect i.e. (s)he says / said.

[1] lines 12-18

[i] “hīc campus apertus est; scopulī dēsunt, et locus idōneus est ad cōpias explicandās.” Why would this be a suitable place to deploy troops? [2 points]

[ii] “Illīc fortasse, ubi scaphās piscātōriās spectātis …” What is the uncle pointing to? [1 point]

[iii] “Nōnne potestis tōtam pugnam animō spectāre?” What does he ask the boys to do? [2 points]

[iv] “Dum Rōmānī undīs sē dare dubitant, …” What were the Romans reluctant to do? [1 point]

[v] What did the standard-bearer say to them? [4 points]: ‘[i] Ad aquilam [ii] vōs congregāte,’ inquit ‘[iii] nisi ignāvī estis. [iv] Ego certē officium meum praestābō.’

[2] Lines 19 – 23

The second question here is a good example of where a test paper may want detailed answers; note the words in italics.

[i] How did the standard-bearers actions in line 19 show his loyalty to Caesar? [2 points]

[ii] How did the troops react? [6 points]: Iam [i] ūniversī Rōmānī [ii] ad aquiliferum sē congregāverant, et [iii] cum Britannīs [iv] in undīs [v] impigrē [vi] pugnābant.

[iii] How is the battle described? [2 points]

[iv] “Prīmō … sē fugae dederant.” Give four details about the battle. [4 points]

[v] Why was this battle a significant event in the history of both the Romans the Britons? [3 points]