Caesar De Bello Gallico 4.24 Course Notes

Latin III:  Caesar, De Bello Gallico

Instructor:  James Ransom
February 9, 2014

Caesar, DBG 4:24

Course Notes

© 2014 James Ransom, M.A., J.D.

[24]  1 At barbari, consilio Romanorum cognito praemisso equitatu et essedariis, quo plerumque genere in proeliis uti consuerunt, reliquis copiis subsecuti nostros navibus egredi prohibebant. 2 Erat ob has causas summa difficultas, quod naves propter magnitudinem nisi in alto constitui non poterant, militibus autem, ignotis locis, impeditis manibus, magno et gravi onere armorum oppressis simul et de navibus desiliendum et in fluctibus consistendum et cum hostibus erat pugnandum, 3 cum illi aut ex arido aut paulum in aquam progressi omnibus membris expeditis, notissimis locis, audacter tela coicerent et equos insuefactos incitarent. 4 Quibus rebus nostri perterriti atque huius omnino generis pugnae imperiti, non eadem alacritate ac studio quo in pedestribus uti proeliis consuerant utebantur.

[24]             1            At barbari, consilio Romanorum cognito praemisso equitatu et essedariis But the hostiles had anticipated the Roman strategy and sent their cavalry and chariots on ahead;  “praemisso” is the ablative singular participle of praemitto, praemittere, praemissi, praemissum, “to send forward or ahead.”  The participle “praemisso” controls the two ablatives, “equitatu” et “essedariis:  ablative absolute.

“The ablatives of a participle and a noun (or pronoun) are used to form a

substitute for a subordinate clause defining the circumstances or situation in which

the action of the main verb occurs. The ablatives are only loosely connected

grammatically to the remainder of the sentence, hence its name absolute

(absolütus = free or unconnected).”

  See http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/101/AblativeAbsolute.pdf

quo plerumque genere in proeliis uti consuerunt which is their standard battle tactic; “consuerunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of consuo, consuere, consui, consutum, “to devise, plan [lit., “to stitch or patch together”].  “uti” is present infinitive active of the deponent verb utor, usi, usus sum, “to use, employ.” 

reliquis copiis subsecuti nostros navibus egredi prohibebant the infantry then followed on and were preventing our troops’ efforts to disembark; “prohibebant” is third person plural imperfect indicative active of prohibeo, prohibere, prohibui, prohibitum.  “egredi” is present infinitive active of the deponent egredior, egredi, egressus sum, “march out, disembark.”  “subsecuti” is the perfect participle of the deponent subsequor, subsequi, subsecutus sum. 

2            Erat ob has causas summa difficultas, quod naves propter magnitudinem nisi in alto constitui non poterant This was the cause of a great deal of  trouble, since on account of their size, the ships could not drop anchor except in deep water;  “poterant” is third person plural imperfect indicative active of possum, posse, potui.  “constitui” is present passive infinitive of constituo, constituere, constitui, constitutum.  “causas” is accusative plural of the first declension noun causa, causae, f., “cause, reason, situation.” 

militibus autem, ignotis locis, impeditis manibus, magno et gravi onere armorum oppressis simul et de navibus desiliendum et in fluctibus consistendum et cum hostibus erat pugnandum while the landing force, unfamiliar with the terrain, impeded by their heavy armor and weaponry, had to simultaneously leap from the ships, find a foothold in the surf, and engage the enemy; "pugnandum" is the future passive participle (gerundive) of pugno, pugnare, pugnavi, pugnatum, "fight, combat, give battle, engage"; the future passive sense would literally be something like "the enemy which is to be fought," however, as Steadman suggests, an active translation is necessary.  "consistendum" and "desiliendum" are also gerundives. See Steadman's note to line 6.

"impeditis," and "oppressis" are  both dative masculine plural of perfect passive participles. 

3 cum illi aut ex arido aut paulum in aquam progressi omnibus membris expeditis, notissimis locis, audacter tela coicerent et equos insuefactos incitarent meanwhile the opposition, some on the shore and others advancing just into the surf, knew the lay of the land perfectly, fought with both hands free, and hurled their missiles and managed their trained warhorses with audacity and skill; "incitarent" is third person plural imperfect active subjunctive of incito, incitare, incitavi, incitatum, "to incite, encourage, spur on."  "coicerent: is third person plural imperfect active subjunctive of coicio, coicere, coieci, coiecutum, "to throw, hurl."  audacter:  adv., "boldly fearlessly." "expeditis" is second person plural present indicative active of expedio, expedire, expedivi, expeditum, "to expedite, deploy, gain."  "progressi" is perfect participle of the deponent progredior, progredi, progressus sum, "to advance, march forth." 

4            Quibus rebus nostri perterriti atque huius omnino generis pugnae imperiti, non eadem alacritate ac studio quo in pedestribus uti proeliis consuerant utebantur All these things swept fear through our men, who lacked the training to storm a defended shoreline, and thus did not display the same elan and intensity they typically brought to land warfare; "utebantur" is third person plural imperfect indicative active of the deponent utor, uti, usus sum, "to use, enjoy."  "consuerant" is third person plural pluperfect indicative active of consuesco, consuescere, consuescevi, consuetum, "to accustom."  "uti" is present infinitive of the deponent utor, uti, usus sum.