Caesar De Bello Gallico 4:28 Course Notes

Latin III:  Caesar, De Bello Gallico

Instructor:  James Ransom

February 20, 2014

DBG 4:28

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

[28]         1          His rebus pace confirmata, post diem quartum quam est in Britanniam ventum naves XVIII, de quibus supra demonstratum est, quae equites sustulerant, ex superiore portu leni vento solverunt.         2         Quae cum adpropinquarent Britanniae et ex castris viderentur, tanta tempestas subito coorta est ut nulla earum cursum tenere posset, sed aliae eodem unde erant profectae referrentur, aliae ad inferiorem partem insulae, quae est propius solis occasum, magno suo cum periculo deicerentur;          3         quae tamen ancoris iactis cum fluctibus complerentur, necessario adversa nocte in altum provectae continentem petierunt.

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1            His rebus pace confirmata Peace having been secured by such measures; "pace confirmata":  ablative absolute with the perfect passive participle of confirmo, confirmare, confirmavi, confirmatium, "make firm, establish." 

post diem quartum quam est in Britanniam ventum four days after [the ships'] arrived in Britain; "ventum est" is impersonal passive of venio; use an active translation (see Steadman's note). 

naves XVIII...quae equites sustulerant... the 18 ships which had ferried the cavalry;  "sustulerant" is third person plural pluperfect indicative active of tollere, tollere, sustuli, sublatum. ...ex superiore portu leni vento solverunt set sail on a light wind from the more distant port [i.e., near Dover].  See  maps at http://www.michiganwarstudiesreview.com/2008/downloads/salinas/book4/image17.htm

http://www.michiganwarstudiesreview.com/2008/downloads/salinas/book4/image22.htm

"solverunt" is third person plural perfect indicative active of solvo, solvere, solvi, solutum, "to set sail." 

2            Quae cum adpropinquarent Britanniae et ex castris viderentur  But just as they loomed close and were seen from our fort on the British coast; "viderentur" is third person plural imperfect subjunctive passive of video, videre, vidi, visum.  "adpropinquarent" is third person plural imperfect subjunctive passive of adpropinquo, adpropinquare, adpropinquavi, adpropinquatum, "to approach, draw near to."

tanta tempestas subito coorta est ut nulla earum cursum tenere posset there suddenly broke such a storm that not a ship could hold its course;  "posset" is third person singular imperfect subjunctive active of the irregular possum, posse, potui.  "tenere":  complementary infinitive with "posset."  "coorta est": of the deponent coorior, cooriri, coortus sum, "to arise, spring forth." 

sed aliae eodem unde erant profectae referrentur, aliae ad inferiorem partem insulae but some were blown back to port, others swept south down the island; "referrentur" is third person plural imperfect passive subjunctive of refero, referre, rettuli, relatum. "to bear, bring, drive, or carry back."  quae est propius solis occasum --or more precisely, southwest--  See the southwesterly direction of the coastal shoreline at

http://www.michiganwarstudiesreview.com/2008/downloads/salinas/book4/image22.htm

magno suo cum periculo deicerentur being cast about on the waves in grave danger [lit. "to themselves"]; "deicerentur" is third person plural imperfect subjunctive active of deicio, deicere, deieci, deiectum, "throw, cast, hurl."

3            quae tamen ancoris iactis cum fluctibus complerentur,  though anchors were dropped, they were being overwhelmed by the waves;  "complerentur" is third person plural imperfect subjunctive active of compleo, complere, complevi, completum, "to fill up, overwhelm."  "iactis" is plural perfect passive participle of iacio, iacere, ieci, iactum.

necessario adversa nocte in altum provectae continentem petierunt.  and so [the ships] were compelled by necessity to brave the night on the high seas and seek safe harbor back in Gaul; "petierunt" is third person plural present indicative active of peto, petire, petivi, petitum.  "provectae" is plural perfect passive participle of proveho, provehere, provexi, provectum, "proceed, advance, move forward."