20.12.26: Level 3+ (review); Dooge LXXIV [1] comprehension

THE CITY IS TAKEN; THE CAPTIVES ARE QUESTIONED [1]

Omnibus rēbus necessāriīs ad oppugnandum ā Pūbliō comparātīs, dēlīberātur in conciliō quod cōnsilium oppidī expugnandī ineant. Tum ūnus ex centuriōnibus, vir reī mīlitāris perītissimus, “Ego suādeō,” inquit, “ut ab eā parte, ubi aditus sit facillimus, aggerem exstruāmus et turrim prōmoveāmus atque ariete admōtō simul mūrum discutere cōnēmur.” Hoc cōnsilium cum omnibus placēret, Caesar concilium dīmīsit. Deinde mīlitēs hortātus ut priōrēs victōriās memoriā tenērent, iussit aggerem exstruī, turrim et arietem admovērī. Neque oppidānīs cōnsilium dēfuit. Aliī ignem et omne genus tēlōrum dē mūrō in turrim coniēcērunt, aliī ingentia saxa in vīneās et arietem dēvolvērunt. Diū utrimque ācerrimē pugnātum est. Nē vulnerātī quidem pedem rettulērunt. Tandem, dē tertiā vigiliā, Pūblius, quem Caesar illī operī praefēcerat, nūntiāvit partem mūrī ictibus arietis labefactam concidisse. Quā rē audītā Caesar signum dat; mīlitēs inruunt et magnā cum caede hostium oppidum capiunt.

• labefaciō, -ere, labefēcī, labefactus [3-iō]: shake; weaken

[1] “Omnibus rēbus … admovērī.”

[i] What took place before the plans for attack were discussed? (1)

[ii]

[a] What did the centurion propose? (5)

[b] Why would this have been convincing?

[iii] How did Caesar encourage the soldiers? (1)

[iv] How do we know that Caesar had taken the earlier advice of the centurion? (1)

[2] “Neque … dēvolvērunt.”

How did the townspeople respond? (4)

[3] “Diū utrimque ācerrimē pugnātum est. Nē vulnerātī quidem pedem rettulērunt.”

What impression is given of the battle? (4)

[4] Tandem, dē tertiā vigiliā, Pūblius, quem Caesar illī operī praefēcerat, nūntiāvit partem mūrī ictibus arietis labefactam concidisse. Quā rē audītā Caesar signum dat; mīlitēs inruunt et magnā cum caede hostium oppidum capiunt.

[i] Did these events happen [A] in the morning [B] during the day [C] in the early evening [D] at night? (1)

[ii] What precisely had happened to the wall? (2)

[iii] How did Caesar react to the news and what was the outcome?

____________________

[1]

[i] all siege preparations had already been completed by Publius

[ii]

[a] build a rampart (1) where the approach is easiest (1)

move the (siege) tower forward (1)

bring up a battering ram (1)

try to break through the wall at the same time (1)

[b] very experienced in military matters

[iii] told them to remember past victories

[iv] he implemented the centurion’s proposals

[2]

Some threw fire and every type of missile (1) from the wall onto the tower (1)

Others rolled down huge stones (1) onto the mantlets and the battering ram (1)

[3] Both sides (utrimque) were equally determined (1) resulting in prolonged (diū) (1) and very fierce (ācerrimē) fighting (1). That not even the wounded retreated (Nē vulnerātī quidem pedem rettulērunt) emphasises the resolve (1).

[4]

[i] [D] at night

[ii] part of the wall collapsed (1) weakened by the blows from the battering ram (1)

[iii]

He gave the signal (1); soldiers charged in (1); town was captured (1); with great slaughter of the enemy (1)