Caesar, De Bello Gallico 4:33 Course Notes

Latin III:  Caesar, De Bello Gallico
Instructor:  James Ransom
March 2, 2014

Caesar, DBG 4:33

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

[33]      1        Genus hoc est ex essedis pugnae. Primo per omnes partes perequitant et tela coiciunt atque ipso terrore equorum et strepitu rotarum ordines plerumque perturbant, et cum se inter equitum turmas insinuaverunt, ex essedis desiliunt et pedibus proeliantur. 2 Aurigae interim paulatim ex proelio excedunt atque ita currus conlocant ut, si illi a multitudine hostium premantur, expeditum ad quos receptum habeant.      3       Ita mobilitatem equitum, stabilitatem peditum in proeliis praestant, ac tantum usu cotidiano et exercitatione efficiunt uti in declivi ac praecipiti loco incitatos equos sustinere et brevi moderari ac flectere et per temonem percurrere et in iugo insistere et se inde in currus citissime recipere consuerint.

1   Genus hoc est ex essedis pugnae This is their way of fighting from chariots: 

Primo per omnes partes perequitant et tela coiciunt atque ipso terrore equorum et strepitu rotarum ordines plerumque perturbant First they ride through and around their foe, hurling missiles and sowing terror and confusion through the horses and the noise of the chariot wheels;  “perturbant” is present participle of perturbo, perturbare, perturbavi, perturbatum, “to alarm, throw into confusion.”  “coiciunt” is third person plural present indicative active of coicio, coicere, coieci, coiectum, “throw, hurl.”  “perrequitant” is third person plural present indicative active of perequito, perequitare, perequitavi, perequitatum, “to ride through or around.” 

et cum se inter equitum turmas insinuaverunt, ex essedis desiliunt et pedibus proeliantur. And once the charioteers have snaked into position between their squadrons of cavalry, their men jump down from the chariots and fight as infantry; “proeliantur” is third person plural present indicative active of the deponent proelior, proeliari, proeliatus sum, “to fight [in battle].”  “desiliunt” is third person plural present indicative active of desilio, desilere, desilui, desultum, “to jump down, dismount.”  “insinuaverunt” is third person plural present indicative active of insinuo, insinuare, insinuavi, insinuatum, “to make ones way through winding and turning.” 

2 Aurigae interim paulatim ex proelio excedunt Meanwhile, the charioteers gradually withdraw from the battle; “excedunt” is third person plural present indicative active of excedo, excedere, excessi, excessum, “retire, withdraw.” 

atque ita currus conlocant ut, si illi a multitudine hostium premantur, expeditum ad quos receptum habeant and so situate their vehicles that, if hard-pressed by overwhelming numbers, they may have an easy route back to their own line.    “habeant” is third person plural present subjunctive active of habeo, habere, habui, habitum.  “receptum”is perfect passive participle of recipio, recipere, recepi, receptum, “to take back, receive.”  “premantur” is third person plural present subjunctive passive of premo, premere, pressi, pressum, “to press or pursue.”  “conlocant” is third person plural present indicative active of conloco, conlocare, conlocavi, conlocatum, “to put, place, set.” 

3  Ita mobilitatem equitum, stabilitatem peditum in proeliis praestant Thus they brings to the battle both the mobility of cavalry and the stamina of infantry; “praestant” is third person plural present indicative active of praesto, praestare, praestiti, praestatum, “to provide, supply stand out.”    

ac tantum usu cotidiano et exercitatione efficiunt uti in declivi ac praecipiti loco incitatos equos sustinere et brevi moderari ac flectere and by practice of daily drill, they achieve the skill even on precipitious slopes to spur on or rein in  their horses, and control and turn them swiftly; “flectere” is present infinitive active of flecto, flectere, flexi, flexum, “to turn, bend. “moderari” is present infinitive active of the deponent moderor, moderari, moderatus sum, “to manage, regulate.”  “sustinere” is present infinitive active of sustineo, sustinere, sustinui, sustentum, “hold, maintain, preserve.”  “incitatos” is perfect passive participle of incito, incitare, incitavi, incitatum, “to spur, hasten.”  “efficiunt” is third person plural present indicative active of efficio, efficere, effeci, effectum, “to accomplish.” 

et per temonem percurrere et in iugo insistere and run along the beam and stand on the yoke; “insistere” is present infinitive active of insisto, insistere, institi, “to set foot on, stand on.”  “percurrere” is present infinitve active of percurro, percurrere, percucurri, percursum, “to traverse, run over or along.”  

et se inde in currus citissime recipere consuerint and from there they manage to get back to the chariot with amazing speed;  “consuerint” is third person plural future perfect indicative active of consuo, consuere, consui, consutum, “to sew together, devise, plan.”  “recipere” is present infinitive active of recipio, recipere, recepi, receptum, “to take back, regain possession.”