THE ENEMY BESIEGING THE CAMP ARE REPULSED
Cum iam sex hōrās pugnātum esset ac
nōn sōlum vīrēs sed etiam tēla Rōmānōs dēficerent, atque hostēs ācrius instārent,
et vāllum scindere fossamque complēre incēpissent, Caesar, vir reī
mīlitāris perītissimus, suīs imperāvit ut proelium paulisper intermitterent,
et, signō datō, ex castrīs ērumperent. Quod iussī sunt faciunt,
et subitō ex omnibus portīs ērumpunt. Atque tam celeriter mīlitēs
concurrērunt et tam propinquī erant hostēs ut spatium pīla
coniciendī nōn darētur. Itaque reiectīs pīlīs comminus gladiīs
pugnātum est. Diū et audācter hostēs restitērunt et in extrēmā spē salūtis tantam
virtūtem praestitērunt ut ā dextrō cornū vehementer multitūdine suōrum
aciem Rōmanam premerent. Id imperātor cum animadvertisset,
Pūblium adulēscentem cum equitātū mīsit quī labōrantibus auxilium
daret. Eius impetum sustinēre nōn potuērunt hostēs et omnēs terga
vertērunt. Eōs in fugam datōs Pūblius subsecūtus est ūsque ad flūmen
Rhēnum, quod ab eō locō quīnque mīlia passuum aberat. Ibi paucī salūtem sibi
repperērunt. Omnibus reliquīs interfectīs, Pūblius et equitēs in castra
sēsē recēpērunt. Dē hāc calamitāte fīnitimae gentēs cum certiōrēs factae
essent, ad Caesarem lēgātōs mīsērunt et sē suaque omnia dēdidērunt.
(1) review: subjunctive usage
[1] cum-clauses: circumstantial
Id imperātor cum animadvertisset, … | When
/ since the commander had noticed this, …
fīnitimae gentēs cum certiōrēs factae essent
… | When the neighbouring tribes had been made aware …
[2] purpose
Pūblium … mīsit quī …auxilium daret. | He sent …
Publius … to give help
[3] result
[i] tantam virtūtem praestitērunt ut … aciem Rōmanam premerent.
(they) showed such great courage that … they
were pressing the Roman line
[ii] In this sentence, two phrases introduce a result clause:
Atque (1) tam celeriter mīlitēs concurrērunt et (2) tam
propinquī erant hostēs ut spatium pīla coniciendī nōn darētur.
And the soldiers ran together (1) so quickly and the
enemy were (2) so close that no space was given for
throwing javelins.
[4] This text gives examples of lengthier sentences containing
multiple clauses, a common feature of Classical Latin literature:
The first sentence of the text uses multiple subjunctive forms;
look out for the conjunctions that introduce subordinate clauses, in this case
[A] cum and [B] ut
[A] Cum iam sex hōrās pugnātum esset ac nōn
sōlum vīrēs sed etiam tēla Rōmānōs dēficerent, atque hostēs ācrius instārent,
et vāllum scindere fossamque complēre incēpissent, Caesar, vir reī
mīlitāris perītissimus, suīs imperāvit [B] ut proelium paulisper intermitterent,
et, signō datō, ex castrīs ērumperent.
[A] All four subjunctive verbs are dependent upon cum
(circumstantial) i.e. cum does not need to be repeated.
Cum iam sex hōrās (1) pugnatum
esset ac nōn sōlum vīrēs sed etiam tēla Rōmānōs (2) dēficerent,
atque hostēs ācrius (3) instārent, et vāllum scindere fossamque complēre
(4) incēpissent, …
When (1) the fighting had already gone on for six
hours, and not only strength but also weapons (2) were failing the
Romans, and the enemy (3) were pressing on more fiercely, and (4) had
begun to tear apart the rampart and fill in the ditch …
[B] Both verbs are dependent upon ut (introducing
purpose clauses) i.e. ut does not need to be repeated
… Caesar, vir reī mīlitāris perītissimus, suīs imperāvit ut
proelium paulisper (1) intermitterent, et, signō datō, ex castrīs (2) ērumperent.
Caesar, a man most skilled in military affairs, gave orders to
his men that (1) they should pause the battle for a short time and, once
the signal had been given, (2) burst out from the camp.
(2) review: participial constructions
Translate the following extracts focussing on the constructions
in bold:
[i] Pūblium … mīsit quī labōrantibus auxilium daret.
[ii] Eōs in fugam datōs Pūblius subsecūtus est
[iii] signō datō
[iv] Itaque reiectīs pīlīs comminus gladiīs pugnātum
est.
[v] omnibus reliquīs interfectīs
____________________
When they had already been fighting for six hours, and not
only their strength but also their weapons were failing the Romans, and the
enemy were pressing more fiercely and had begun to cut through the rampart and
fill up the ditch, Caesar, a man most skilled in military affairs, ordered his
men to suspend the battle for a short time and, when the signal was given,
to burst out from the camp.
They do what they have been commanded, and suddenly break out
from all the gates. And the soldiers ran together so quickly and the enemy were
so close that no space was given for throwing javelins. Therefore, the
javelins having been thrown aside, they fought hand-to-hand with swords.
For a long time and bravely the enemy held their ground and,
in their final hope of safety, showed such great courage that from their right
wing they were strongly pressing the Roman line with a multitude of their own
men.
When the commander had noticed this, he sent the young Publius
with the cavalry to give help to those who were struggling. The enemy
were not able to withstand his charge and all turned in flight. Publius pursued
them, after they had been put to flight, as far as the River Rhine,
which was five miles distant from that place. There few found safety for
themselves. All the rest having been killed, Publius and the cavalry
returned into the camp.
When the neighbouring tribes had been made aware of this
disaster, they sent envoys to Caesar and surrendered themselves and all their
possessions.
