03.01.27: Level 3+ (review); Dooge LXXV [7] (1) impersonal passive; (2) connecting relative; (3) participial constructions; (4) subjunctive; (5) indirect statement

CIVIL WAR BREAKS OUT BETWEEN CÆSAR AND POMPEY; THE BATTLE OF PHARSALIA [2]

Plūribus leviōribus proeliīs factīs, tandem cōpiae adversae ad Pharsālum in Thessaliā sitam castra posuērunt. Cum Pompeī exercitus esset bis tantus quantus Caesaris, tamen erant multī quī veterānās legiōnēs quae Gallōs et Germānōs superāverant vehementer timēbant. Quōs ante proelium commissum Labiēnus lēgātus, quī ab Caesare nūper dēfēcerat, ita adlocūtus est: “Nōlīte exīstimāre hunc esse exercitum veterānōrum mīlitum. Omnibus interfuī proeliīs neque temerē incognitam rem prōnūntiō. Perexigua pars illīus exercitūs quī Gallōs superāvit adhūc superest. Magna pars occīsa est, multī domum discessērunt, multī sunt relictī in Italiā. Hae cōpiae quās vidētis in citeriōre Galliā nūper cōnscrīptae sunt.” Haec cum dīxisset, iūrāvit sē nisi victōrem in castra nōn reversūrum esse. Hoc idem Pompēius et omnēs reliquī iūrāvērunt, et magnā spē et laetitiā, sīcut certam ad victōriam, cōpiae ē castrīs exiērunt.

Item Caesar, animō ad dīmicandum parātus, exercitum suum ēdūxit et septem cohortibus praesidiō castrīs relictīs cōpiās triplicī aciē īnstrūxit. Tum, mīlitibus studiō pugnae ārdentibus, tubā signum dedit. Mīlitēs prōcurrērunt et pīlīs missīs gladiōs strīnxērunt. Neque vērō virtūs hostibus dēfuit. Nam et tēla missa sustinuērunt et impetum gladiōrum excēpērunt et ōrdinēs cōnservāvērunt. Utrimque diū et ācriter pugnātum est nec quisquam pedem rettulit. Tum equitēs Pompēī aciem Caesaris circumīre cōnātī sunt. Quod ubi Caesar animadvertit, tertiam aciem, quae ad id tempus quiēta fuerat, prōcurrere iussit. Tum vērō integrōrum impetum dēfessī hostēs sustinēre nōn potuērunt et omnēs terga vertērunt. Sed Pompēius dē fortūnīs suīs dēspērāns sē in castra equō contulit, inde mox cum paucīs equitibus effūgit.

(1) review: impersonal passive

Utrimque diū et ācriter pugnātum est | on both sides there was a long and fierce battle

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/impersonal%20passive

pugnō, -āre: fight; it is an intransitive verb, meaning that it cannot take a direct object. Other examples of intransitive verbs include:

currō, -ere: run

dormiō, -īre: sleep

eō, īre: go

veniō, -īre: come

Intransitive verbs cannot have passive forms with a subject e.g. *he has been slept*, *they were being run*. However, passive forms of intransitive verbs without a subject are used to convey impersonal ideas.

pugnātum est | literally: it was fought

Translations will vary but focus not on who performed the action, but on the action itself:

> There was fighting going on / people were fighting / ‘they’ fought / a battle was taking place

Pugnātum est ab utrīsque ācriter (Caesar)

• There was fierce fighting on both sides [ literally: ‘it’ was fought bitterly …]

Ea mē spectātum tulerat per Dionȳsia. postquam illō ventum est, iam, ut mē collocāverat, exorītur ventus turbō (Plautus)

• She had taken me to see (the show) at the Dionysiac festival. After we’d arrived there, just as she had settled me, a storm wind arose.

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 …]

Ad arma conclāmātum est (Livy)

• The cry ‘to arms!’ was raised.

Et Rōmam inde frequenter migrātum est, ā parentibus maximē ac propinquīs raptārum (Livy)

• And from there, there was frequent migration to Rome, especially by the parents and relatives of those / the women who had been abducted.

Magnīs opibus dormītur in urbe (Juvenal)

• Only with great wealth is it possible to sleep / do people sleep in the city.

(2) review: connecting relative pronouns

[i] Quōs … Labiēnus lēgātus … ita adlocūtus est:

[ii] Quod ubi Caesar animadvertit, …

(3) review: participial constructions

[i] Pompēius dē fortūnīs suīs dēspērāns …

[ii] mīlitibus studiō pugnae ārdentibus …

[iii] plūribus leviōribus proeliīs factīs, …

[iv] septem cohortibus … relictīs …

[v] pīlīs missīs gladiōs strīnxērunt …

[vi] tēla missa sustinuērunt …

(4) review: subjunctive

[i] Haec cum dīxisset, …

[ii] Cum Pompeī exercitus esset bis tantus quantus Caesaris, tamen erant multī …

(5) review: indirect statement

[i] Nōlīte exīstimāre hunc esse exercitum veterānōrum mīlitum

[ii] iūrāvit sē … in castra nōn reversūrum esse

____________________

After several lighter engagements had been fought, at last the opposing forces pitched camp at Pharsalus, situated in Thessaly. Although Pompey’s army was twice as large as Caesar’s, there were nevertheless many who greatly feared the veteran legions that had defeated the Gauls and the Germans. Before the battle was joined, Labienus, the lieutenant who had recently defected from Caesar, addressed them as follows:

“Do not suppose that this is an army of veteran soldiers. I have been present at all the battles, and I do not rashly pronounce on a matter I do not know. A very small part of that army which defeated the Gauls still survives. A large part has been killed; many have gone home; many have been left behind in Italy. These forces which you see in Cisalpine Gaul have recently been levied.”

When he had said this, he swore that he would not return to camp unless as victor. Pompey himself and all the rest swore the same, and with great hope and joy, as though victory were certain, the troops marched out from the camp.

Caesar likewise, his mind prepared for battle, led out his army and, seven cohorts having been left behind to guard the camp, drew up his forces in a triple line. Then, as the soldiers were burning with eagerness to fight, he gave the signal with the trumpet. The soldiers charged forward and once the javelins had been thrown, drew their swords. Nor indeed did courage fail the enemy: they both withstood the missiles that had been hurled, met the assault of the swords, and kept their ranks. On both sides the fighting went on long and fiercely, and no one gave ground. Then Pompey’s cavalry tried to outflank Caesar’s line. When Caesar noticed this, he ordered the third line, which up to that time had been at rest, to charge. Then indeed the exhausted enemy could not withstand the attack of fresh troops, and all turned their backs. But Pompey, despairing of his fortunes, made his way on horseback to the camp, and soon afterwards fled from there with a few horsemen.

20.12.26: Level 3+ (review); Dooge LXXIV [3] indirect statements

THE CITY IS TAKEN; THE CAPTIVES ARE QUESTIONED [2]

This text compares direct and indirect statements and questions, the commander talking to the prisoners through an interpreter.

Complete what the intepreter says and what the captives say at the end of the dialogue by using the words listed below; one word is used several times.

• lorica, -ae [1/f]: coat of mail; breastplate; cuirass
• paludāmentum, -ī [2/n]: cloak
• praetōrium, -ī [2/n]: general’s tent; headquarters

Postrīdiē eius diēī, hōc oppidō expugnātō, captīvōrum quī nōbilissimī sunt ad imperātōrem ante praetōrium addūcuntur. Ipse, lōrīcā aurātā et paludāmentō purpureō īnsignis, captīvōs per interpretem in hunc modum interrogat…

Imperātor: Vōs quī estis?

Interpres: [The commander asks who you are.]

Rogat imperātor (1) __________  (2) __________.

Captīvī: Fīliī rēgis sumus.

Interpres: [They say that they are the king’s sons.]

Dīcunt (3) __________ fīliōs (4) __________ rēgis.

Imperātor: Cūr mihi tantās iniūriās intulistis?

Interpres: [He asks why you have inflicted such great injuries on him.]

Rogat cūr (5) __________ tantās iniūriās (6) __________.

Captīvī: Iniūriās eī nōn intulimus sed prō patriā bellum gessimus. Semper voluimus Rōmānīs esse amīcī, sed Rōmānī sine causā nōs domō patriāque expellere cōnātī sunt.

Interpres:

[They deny that they have inflicted injuries on you, but (say that they) have waged war for their country.]

Negant (7) __________ iniūriās tibi (8) __________, sed prō patriā bellum (9) __________.

[(They say) that they have always wanted to be friends to the Romans, …]

Semper (10) __________ (11) __________ amīcōs Rōmānīs esse, …

[…but that the Romans have tried without cause to expel them from their home and homeland.]

… sed Rōmānōs sine causā sē domō patriāque expellere (12) __________.

Imperātor: Manēbitisne in reliquum tempus in fidē, hāc rebelliōne condōnātā?

[Then indeed the captives, with many tears, swore that they would remain loyal, and Caesar sent them home unharmed.]

Tum vērō captīvī multīs cum lacrimīs iūrāvērunt (13) __________ in fidē (14) __________, et Caesar eōs incolumīs domum dīmīsit.

cōnātōs esse; esse; gessisse; intuleritis; intulisse; mānsūrōs esse; quī; sē; sibi; sītis; voluisse

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/indirect%20statement

____________________

Rogat imperātor (1) quī (2) sītis.

Dīcunt (3) sē fīliōs (4) esse rēgis.

Rogat cūr (5) sibi tantās iniūriās (6) intuleritis.

Negant (7) sē iniūriās tibi (8) intulisse, sed prō patriā bellum (9) gessisse.

Semper (10) sē (11) voluisse amīcōs Rōmānīs esse,

sed Rōmānōs sine causā sē domō patriāque expellere (12) cōnātōs esse.

Tum vērō captīvī multīs cum lacrimīs iūrāvērunt (13) sē in fidē (14) mānsūrōs esse,

et Caesar eōs incolumīs domum dīmīsit.

____________________

The next day, after this town had been captured, the most noble of the prisoners are brought before the commander in front of the headquarters. He himself, distinguished by a golden cuirass and a purple cloak, questions the prisoners through an interpreter in the following way:

Interpreter: The commander asks who you are.

Captives: We are the king’s sons.

Interpreter: They say that they are the king’s sons.

Commander: Why have you inflicted such great injuries on me?

Interpreter: He asks why you have inflicted such great injuries on him.

Captives: We did not inflict injuries on him, but we waged war for our country. We have always wanted to be friends to the Romans, but the Romans have tried without cause to expel us from our home and homeland.

Interpreter: They deny that they have inflicted injuries on you, but that they have waged war for their country. They say that they have always wanted to be friends to the Romans, but that the Romans have tried without cause to expel them from their home and homeland.

Commander: Will you remain faithful for the rest of time, now that this rebellion has been pardoned?

Then indeed the captives, with many tears, swore that they would remain loyal, and Caesar sent them home unharmed.

16.12.26: Level 3+ (review); Dooge LXXIII [3] (1) subjunctive; (2) indirect statement; (3) participial constructions

THE STORMING OF A CITY

Pūblius plūrīs diēs in Germāniā morātus in Galliam rediit, et ad Caesaris castra sē contulit. Ille quia molestē ferēbat Gallōs eius regiōnis obsidēs dare recūsāvisse et exercituī frūmentum praebēre nōluisse, cōnstituit eīs bellum īnferre. Agrīs vāstātīs, vīcīs incēnsīs, pervēnit ad oppidum validissimum quod et nātūrā et arte mūnītum erat. Cingēbātur mūrō vīgintī quīnque pedēs altō. Ā lateribus duōbus situm, praeruptō fastīgiō ad plānitiem vergēbat; ā quārtō tantum latere aditus erat facilis. Hoc oppidum oppugnāre, cum opus esset difficillimum, tamen cōnstituit Caesar. Et castrīs mūnītīs Pūbliō negōtium dedit ut rēs ad oppugnandum necessāriās parāret.

Rōmānōrum autem oppugnātiō est haec. Prīmum turrēs aedificantur quibus mīlitēs in summum mūrum ēvādere possint; vīneae fīunt quibus tēctī mīlitēs ad mūrum succēdant; pluteī parantur post quōs mīlitēs tormenta administrent; sunt quoque arietēs quī mūrum et portās discutiant. Hīs omnibus rēbus comparātīs, deinde agger ab eā parte ubi aditus est facillimus exstruitur et cum vīneīs ad ipsum oppidum agitur. Tum turris in aggere prōmovētur; arietibus quī sub vīneīs conlocātī erant mūrus et portae discutiuntur; ballistīs, catapultīs, reliquīsque tormentīs lapidēs et tēla in oppidum coniciuntur. Postrēmō cum iam turris et agger altitūdinem mūrī adaequant et arietēs moenia perfrēgērunt, signō datō mīlitēs inruunt et oppidum expugnant.

(1) review: subjunctive

Translate the following extracts focussing on the constructions in bold:

[i] Hoc oppidum oppugnāre, cum opus esset difficillimum, tamen cōnstituit Caesar.

[ii] Pūbliō negōtium dedit ut rēs ad oppugnandum necessāriās parāret.

[iii] Prīmum turrēs aedificantur quibus mīlitēs in summum mūrum ēvādere possint;

[iv] vīneae fīunt quibus tēctī mīlitēs ad mūrum succēdant

[v] pluteī parantur post quōs mīlitēs tormenta administrent;

[vi] sunt quoque arietēs quī mūrum et portās discutiant

(2) review: indirect statement

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/indirect%20statement

Translate the following extract. Remember that the grammatical term indirect statement may not refer exclusively to what somebody said, but, here, what somebody thought or felt:

Ille quia molestē ferēbat Gallōs eius regiōnis obsidēs dare recūsāvisse et exercituī frūmentum praebēre nōluisse, …

(3) review: participial constructions

Translate the following extracts focussing on the constructions in bold:

[i] Pūblius plūrīs diēs in Germāniā morātus in Galliam rediit, …

[ii] Agrīs vāstātīs, vīcīs incēnsīs, pervēnit ad oppidum …

[iii] Et castrīs mūnītīs Pūbliō negōtium dedit

[iv] Hīs omnibus rēbus comparātīs, …

[v] signō datō mīlitēs inruunt …

____________________

Publius, after staying / having stayed for several days in Germany, returned to Gaul and made his way to Caesar’s camp. Caesar, because he was displeased that the Gauls of that region had refused to give hostages and had been unwilling to supply grain to the army, decided to make war upon them.

After the fields had been laid waste and the villages burned, he came to a very strongly fortified town, which was defended both by nature and by workmanship. It was surrounded by a wall twenty-five feet high. On two sides it was situated on a slope, with a steep incline falling down to the plain; from the fourth side alone was access easy.

Although it was a most difficult task to attack this town, Caesar nevertheless decided to undertake it. And, after the camp had been fortified, he assigned Publius the task of preparing [lit: so that he might prepare] the things necessary for the attack.

The Roman method of attack, however, is as follows. First, towers are built by which the soldiers may be able to climb up onto the top of the wall; mantlets are made by which the soldiers, being covered, may approach the wall; screens are prepared behind which the soldiers may operate the engines; there are also battering rams which may smash the wall and the gates.

When all these things have been prepared, then a rampart is built from that side where the approach is easiest and is pushed forward with the mantlets right up to the town. Then a tower is moved forward on the rampart; by means of the rams, which had been placed under the mantlets, the wall and gates are battered down; by ballistae, catapults, and the other engines, stones and missiles are hurled into the town.

Finally, when the tower and ramp now match the height of the wall and the rams have broken through the defences, the signal having been given, the soldiers rush in and capture the town.

07.12.26: Level 3+ (review); Dooge LXXII [3] (1) subjunctive; (2) indirect statement; (3) participial constructions

PUBLIUS GOES TO GERMANY; ITS GREAT FORESTS AND STRANGE ANIMALS 

Initā aestāte Caesar litterīs certior fīēbat et per explōrātōrēs cognōscēbat plūrīs cīvitātēs Galliae novīs rēbus studēre et contrā populum Rōmānum coniūrāre obsidēsque inter sē dare atque cum hīs Germānōs quōsdam quoque sēsē coniūnctūrōs esse. Hīs litterīs nūntiīsque commōtus Caesar cōnstituit quam celerrimē in Gallōs proficīscī, ut eōs inopīnantīs opprimeret, et Labiēnum lēgātum cum duābus legiōnibus peditum et duōbus mīlibus equitum in Germānōs mittere. Itaque rē frūmentāriā comparātā castra mōvit. Ab utrōque rēs bene gesta est; nam Caesar tam celeriter in hostium fīnīs pervēnit ut spatium cōpiās cōgendī nōn darētur; et Labiēnus dē Germānīs tam grave supplicium sūmpsit ut nēmō ex eā gente in reliquum tempus Gallīs auxilium dare audēret.

Hoc iter in Germāniam Pūblius quoque fēcit et, cum ibi morārētur, multa mīrābilia vīdit. Praesertim vērō ingentem silvam mīrābātur, quae tantae magnitūdinis esse dīcēbātur ut nēmō eam trānsīre posset, nec quisquam scīret aut initium aut fīnem. Quā dē rē plūra cognōverat ā mīlite quōdam quī ōlim captus ā Germānīs multōs annōs ibi incoluit. Ille dē silvā dīcēns, “Īnfīnītae magnitūdinis est haec silva,” inquit; “nec quisquam est huius Germāniae quī initium eius sciat aut ad fīnem adierit. Nāscuntur illīc multa tālia animālium genera quālia reliquīs in locīs nōn inveniuntur. Sunt bovēs quī ūnum cornū habent; sunt etiam animālia quae appellantur alcēs. Hae nūllōs crūrum articulōs habent. Itaque, sī forte concidērunt, sēsē ērigere nūllō modō possunt. Arborēs habent prō cubīlibus; ad eās sē applicant atque ita reclīnātae quiētem capiunt. Tertium est genus eōrum quī ūrī appellantur. Hī sunt paulō minōrēs elephantīs. Magna vis eōrum est et magna vēlōcitās. Neque hominī neque ferae parcunt.”

(1) review: subjunctive

[i] cum-clauses: circumstantial

cum ibi morārētur, …

• while he was lingering / remained there, …

[ii] purpose

Caesar cōnstituit … proficīscī, ut eōs … opprimeret, …

• Caesar decided to set out, in order to overwhelm them ...

[iii] result

nam Caesar tam celeriter in hostium fīnīs pervēnit ut spatium cōpiās cōgendī nōn darētur;

• for Caesar reached the enemy’s territory so quickly that no time was given for mustering forces.

… quae tantae magnitūdinis esse dīcēbātur (1) ut nēmō eam trānsīre posset, nec quisquam (2) scīret aut initium aut fīnem.

• … which was said to be of such great size (1) that no one could cross it, (2) nor would anyone know either its beginning or its end.

et Labiēnus dē Germānīs tam grave supplicium sūmpsit ut nēmō … dare audēret.

And Labienus inflicted such severe punishment on the Germans that no one … dared … to give …

• [iv] characteristic

nec quisquam est huius Germāniae (1) quī initium eius sciat aut ad fīnem (2) adierit.

• Nor is there anyone in this Germany (1) who knows its beginning or (2) has reached its end.

(2) review: indirect statement

[1] Two principal clauses with constructions that regularly signal indirect statements:

… Caesar litterīs (1) certior fīēbat ¦ et per explōrātōrēs (2) cognōscēbat | Caesar (1) was informed by letter(s) and (2) learned from scouts …

[2] 4 indirect statements all dependent upon the principal clauses:

plūrīs cīvitātēs Galliae novīs rēbus (1) studēre … | (that) several states of Gaul were eager for revolution

et contrā populum Rōmānum (2) coniūrāre … | and were conspiring against the Roman people

obsidēsque inter sē (3) dare … | and were giving hostages among themselves

atque cum hīs Germānōs quōsdam quoque sēsē (4) coniūnctūrōs esse. | and (that) certain Germans as well were going to join themselves with them.

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/indirect%20statement

(3) review: participial constructions

Translate the following extracts focussing on the constructions in bold:

[i] Ille dē silvā dīcēns, … inquit;

[ii] Caesar cōnstituit … proficīscī, ut eōs inopīnantīs opprimeret, …

[iii] Hīs litterīs nūntiīsque commōtus Caesar cōnstituit …

[iv] ā mīlite quōdam quī ōlim captus ā Germānīs

[v] … atque ita reclīnātae quiētem capiunt.

[vi] Itaque rē frūmentāriā comparātā …

____________________

At the beginning of summer, Caesar was being informed by letters and was learning through scouts that several states of Gaul were eager for revolution, were conspiring against the Roman people, were giving hostages among themselves, and that certain Germans as well were going to join themselves with them. Moved by these letters and reports, Caesar decided to set out against the Gauls as quickly as possible, in order to crush them while they were unprepared, and to send the legate Labienus into Germany with two legions of infantry and two thousand cavalry.

Accordingly, after the grain supplies had been arranged, he moved camp. The operation succeeded well on both sides; for Caesar reached the enemy’s territory so rapidly that no time was given for assembling forces; and Labienus inflicted such severe punishment on the Germans that no one of that people dared thereafter to give assistance to the Gauls.

This journey into Germany was also made by Publius, and while he stayed there he saw many remarkable things. He especially admired a vast forest, which was said to be of such great size that no one could cross it, nor did anyone know either its beginning or its end.

On this matter he had learned more from a certain soldier who, having been captured by the Germans at one time, lived there for many years. Speaking about the forest, he said: “This forest is of infinite extent; and there is no one in this part of Germany who knows its beginning or has reached its end.

Many kinds of animals are born there which are not found in other places. There are oxen which have a single horn; there are also animals called elks. These have no joints in their legs. Therefore, if by chance they fall down, they cannot by any means get up again. They use trees as resting places; they lean against them and, thus supported, take their rest.

There is a third kind of animal called urus. These are slightly smaller than elephants. They are very powerful and very fast. They spare neither man nor wild beast.”