Caesar De Bello Gallico 5 43 Course Notes

Latin III:  Caesar, De Bello Gallico

Instructor:  James Ransom

May 7, 2014

Caesar DBG 5:43

Course Notes
© 2014 James Ransom, M.A., J.D.

[43]          1         Septimo oppugnationis die maximo coorto vento ferventes fusili ex argilla glandes fundis et fervefacta iacula in casas, quae more Gallico stramentis erant tectae, iacere coeperunt.          2         Hae celeriter ignem comprehenderunt et venti magnitudine in omnem locum castrorum distulerunt. 3 Hostes maximo clamore sicuti parta iam atque explorata victoria turres testudinesque agere et scalis vallum ascendere coeperunt.          4         At tanta militum virtus atque ea praesentia animi fuit, ut, cum undique flamma torrerentur maximaque telorum multitudine premerentur suaque omnia impedimenta atque omnes fortunas conflagrare intellegerent, non modo demigrandi causa de vallo decederet nemo, sed paene ne respiceret quidem quisquam, ac tum omnes acerrime fortissimeque pugnarent. 5         Hic dies nostris longe gravissimus fuit; sed tamen hunc habuit eventum, ut eo die maximus numerus hostium vulneraretur atque interficeretur, ut se sub ipso vallo constipaverant recessumque primis ultimi non dabant. 6 Paulum quidem intermissa flamma et quodam loco turri adacta et contingente vallum tertiae cohortis centuriones ex eo, quo stabant, loco recesserunt suosque omnes removerunt, nutu vocibusque hostes, si introire vellent, vocare coeperunt; quorum progredi ausus est nemo.  7         Tum ex omni parte lapidibus coniectis deturbati, turrisque succensa est.

[43]             1            Septimo oppugnationis die maximo coorto vento  On the seventh day of the siege a gale arose; “coorto” is participle in ablative absolute construction of the deponent coorior, cooriri, coortus sum, “to arise, break out.” 

ferventes fusili ex argilla glandes fundis et fervefacta iacula in casas, quae more Gallico stramentis erant tectae, iacere coeperunt and they began to hurl clods of glowing-hot clay and blazing missiles onto our huts, which were thatched with straw in the Gallic custom; “coeperunt” is third perfect plural perfect indicative active of the defective coepi, coepisse, coeptum.  “iacere” is present infinitive of iaceo, iacere, ieci, iactum.  “erant” is third person plural imperfect indicative active of sum, esse, fui, futurus.  “ferventes” is present participle of ferveo, fervere, ferbui, fervitum, “to glow hot.” 

2            Hae celeriter ignem comprehenderunt et venti magnitudine in omnem locum castrorum distulerunt These soon burst into flame, which the strength of the wind swiftly carried to every corner of the camp; “distulerunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of differo, differre, distuli, dilatum, “to spread, carry, disperse.”  “comprehenderunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of comprehendo, comprehendere, comprehendi, comprehensum. 

3 Hostes maximo clamore sicuti parta iam atque explorata victoria turres testudinesque agere et scalis vallum ascendere coeperunt Then the enemy, with a blood-curdling cry, as if victory had already been won lock and key, began to roll forward their siege-towers and protective gear, and started to scale the wall; “coeperunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of coepi.  “ascendere” is present infinitive of ascendo, ascendere, ascendi, ascensum.  “agere” is present infinitive of ago, agere, egi, actum.  “explorata” is perfect passive participle of exploro, explorare, exploravi, exploratum, “to test, investigate.” 

4            At tanta militum virtus atque ea praesentia animi fuit But so great was the courage of our troops, and so constant their purpose…; “fuit” is third person plural perfect indicative active of sum, esse, fui, futurus. 

ut, cum undique flamma torrerentur maximaque telorum multitudine premerentur that, though they were inundated in flames and pelted with dense showers of missiles…”premerentur” is third person plural imperfect subjunctive passive of premo, premere, pressi, pressum “to press, pursue.”  “torrerentur” is third person plural imperfect subjunctive passive of torreo, torrere, torrui, tostum, “to scorch, burn, parch.”

suaque omnia impedimenta atque omnes fortunas conflagrare intellegerent and knew that all their own baggage, indeed all they possessed, was now ablaze…; “intellegerent” is third person plural imperfect subjunctive active of intellego, intellegere, intellexi, intellectum.  “conflagrare” is present infinitive of conflagro,  conflagrare, conflagravi, conflagratum, “to be on fire, to be in flames.” 

non modo demigrandi causa de vallo decederet nemo not only did no man leave the wall to desert the fighting…; “decederet” is third perfect singular imperfect subjunctive active of decedo, decedere, decessi, decessum, “to withdraw, desert, abandon.”  “demigrandi”:  see Steadman’s note.

sed paene ne respiceret quidem quisquam, ac tum omnes acerrime fortissimeque pugnarent but hardly a man so much as glanced behind him; to the contrary, every man fought with the maximum concentration and courage on that day. 

5            Hic dies nostris longe gravissimus fuit This day was by far the most critical for our side;  “fuit” is third person singular perfect indicative active of sum, esse, fui, futurus.

sed tamen hunc habuit eventum, ut eo die maximus numerus hostium vulneraretur atque interficeretur but in the event, the enemy suffered greater casualties, counting both those who were wounded and slain, on that day than any other; “interficeretur” is third person singular imperfect subjunctive passive of interficio, interficere, interfeci, interfectum.  “vulteraretur” is third person singular imperfect subjunctive passive of vulnero, vulnerare, vulneravi, vulneratum, “to wound, injure.” “habuit” is third person singular perfect indicative active of habeo, habere, habui, habitum.  

ut se sub ipso vallo constipaverant recessumque primis ultimi non dabant as they had pressed right up to the wall, and the front ranks had been crushed into it by the rear, affording them no escape; “dabant” is third person plural imperfect indicative active of do, dare, dedi, datum.  “constipaverant” is third person plural pluperfect indicative active of constipo, constipare, constipavi, constipatum, “to crowd or press together.” 

6 Paulum quidem intermissa flamma et quodam loco turri adacta et contingente vallum When the flames had died down a little, at one point a siege-tower was moved up flush with the wall; “adacta” is perfect passive participle of adigo, adigere, adegi, adactum, “to drive to, force to.”  “intermissa flamma”:  ablative absolute.

tertiae cohortis centuriones ex eo, quo stabant, loco recesserunt suosque omnes removerunt centurions of the Third Cohort moved back from their positions with their men; “removerunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of removeo, removere, removi, remotum.  “recesserunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of recedo, recedere, recessi, recessum, “to fall back, give ground.”  “stabant” is third person plural imperfect indicative active of sto, stare, steti, statum. 

nutu vocibusque hostes, si introire vellent, vocare coeperunt; quorum progredi ausus est nemo and then began to taunt the enemy, inviting them to come in if they wished; but none one of them dared take up the challenge; “progredi ausus est”:  see Steadman’s notes.  “coeperunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of the defective coepi, coepisse, coeptum. “vellent” is third person plural imperfect subjunctive active of volo, velle, volui.  “introire” is present infinitive of introeo, introire, introii, introitum, “to enter, go in.” 

7            Tum ex omni parte lapidibus coniectis deturbati, turrisque succensa est Then they were routed by showers of stones from every side, and their tower was set on fire;  “succensa” is perfect passive participle of succendo, succendere, succendi, succensum, “to kindle, to set on fire.”  “deturbati (sunt)”: see Steadman’s note.