16.08.26: Level 3+; Comenius (1658); CXL; The Camps

The Camps │ Castra

Expeditiōne susceptā, castra locantur et tentōria linteīs vel strāmentīs pāxillīs figuntur; eaque, sēcūritātis grātiā, aggeribus et fossīs circumdantur; excubiae constituuntur et explōrātōrēs ēmittuntur; excursiōnēs fiunt pābulātiōnis et praedae causā, ubi saepius cōnflīgitur cum hostibus vēlitandō; tentōrium summī imperātōris est in mediō castrōrum.

When a campaign has been undertaken, the camp is set up and the tents of canvas or straw are fastened with stakes; they are surrounded, for the sake of security, with earthworks and ditches. Sentinels are posted and scouts are sent out. Raids are made for the sake of foraging and plunder, where they often clash by skirmishing [ = in skirmishes] with the enemy. The commander’s pavilion* is in the middle of the camp.

*Engl. pavilion: an ‘ornate’ tent i.e. (in this context) one that stands out as being of greater importance

agger, -is [3/m]: earthwork, especially defensive ramparts, dykes, dams, causeways, and piers

castra, -ōrum [2/n/pl]: camp; Latin uses a plural noun to express the idea

castrum, -ī [2/n] i.e. the singular noun is a fort, fortress or castle; more common is castellum, -ī [2/n]

excubiae, -ārum [1/f/pl]: the ‘guard’ i.e. a group of people keeping watch

fossa, -ae [1/f]: ditch

linteum, -ī [2/n]: linen; canvas; bedsheet; (naval) sail

pāxillus, -ī [2/m]: small stake; peg; pin

praeda, -ae [1/f]: [i] plunder, booty, spoils of war [ii] prey, game (in a hunt)

strāmentum, -ī [2/n]: straw

tentōrium, -ī [2/n]: tent

also: tabernāculum, -ī [2/n]: tent; the Biblical term ‘tabernacle’ refers to the portable tent used before the construction of the temple

• mēnse prīmō diē prīmā mēnsis ērigēs tabernāculum testimōniī (Vulgate) │ The first month, the first day of the month, you shall set up the tabernacle of the testimony
• circumdabisque ātrium tentōriīs (Vulgate) │ And you shall surround the court with hangings

vēlitor, -ārī, vēlitātus sum [1/dep]: skirmish

Notes:

[1] a brief reminder: while not all 3^rd declension nouns have regular stem changes, there are certain endings which do have patterns:

[i] -tās > -tātis

• sēcūritās, sēcūritātis

[ii] -(s/t)iō > -(s/t)iōn¦is

• excursiō, excursiōnis [3/f]: sally; sortie; raid
• expedītiō, expedītiōnis [3/f]: expedition; military campaign
• pābulātiō, pābulātiōnis [3/f]: foraging; gathering fodder

crēbrās ex oppidō excursiōnēs faciēbant (Caesar) │ They were making frequent sallies from the town.

Omnīs nostrās pābulātiōnēs frūmentātiōnēsque observābat (Caesar) │ He was watching all our foraging and grain-gathering operations.

[iii] -tor > -tōr¦is

• explōrātor, explōrātōris [3/m]: scout; explorer; spy
• imperātor, imperātōris [3/m]: commander

[2]

cōnflīgō, -ere, cōnflīxī, cōnflīctus [3]: strike together; contend; combat

saepius cōnflīgitur │  ‘they’ often clash

This is an example of an impersonal passive that can be used to focus on the action rather than the people who are performing it. More information is given here:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/120126-level-3-language-review-labours.html

English can convey a similar impersonal idea although in a different way from Latin: there’s a fight / fighting going on outside; ‘people’ are fighting outside.

From Comenius:

In sphaeristēriō lūditur pilā │ in a tennis court they play with a ball

Ergō ex omnibus locīs urbis in forum curritur (Livy) │ Therefore, from all parts of the city people are running into the forum

Macte novā virtūte, puer: Sīc ītur ad astra (Vergil) │ Be blessed in your new courage, boy; this is the way to the stars / one goes to … [literally: In this way it is being gone …]

[3] expeditiōne ¦ susceptā; ablative absolute; literally: with a campaign ¦ having been undertaken = When a campaign has been undertaken

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/ablative%20absolute