Chapter 5.39

Itaque cōnfestim dīmissīs nūntiīs ad Ceutrōnēs, Grūdiōs, Lēvācōs, Pleumoxiōs, Geidumnōs, quī omnēs sub eōrum imperiō sunt, quam māximās manūs possunt cōgunt et dē imprōvīsō ad Cicerōnis hīberna advolant nōndum ad eum fāmā dē Titūrī morte perlātā. Huic quoque accidit, quod fuit necesse, ut nōn nūllī mīlitēs, quī līgnātiōnis mūnītiōnisque causā in silvās discessissent, repentīnō equitum adventū interciperentur. Eīs circumventīs māgnā manū Ebūrōnēs, Nerviī, Aduātucī atque hōrum omnium sociī et clientēs legiōnem oppūgnāre incipiunt. Nostrī celeriter ad arma concurrunt, vāllum cōnscendunt. Aegrē is diēs sustentātur, quod omnem spem hostēs in celeritāte pōnēbant atque hanc adeptī victōriam in perpetuum sē fore victōrēs cōnfīdēbant.

    The attack begins.

    Ceutrones, etc.: These tribes are not mentioned elsewhere. Apparently they were dependents of the Nervii (Gaisser).

    quam maximas manus: 'the greatest possible forces' (Gaisser) ( A&G 291.c).

    de improviso: 'unexpectedly' (Gaisser) ( A&G 221.10).

    huic quoque: i.e. to Cicero, as well as to Sabinus and Cotta. (Hodges)

    quod: The antecedent is the idea in the previous clause (Gaisser).

    lignationis: 'gathering wood'; like munitionis, genitive with causa, 'for the sake (of)' (Gaisser) ( A&G 359.b).

    munitionis: 'material for building defenses'. (Hodges)

    lignationis munitionisque: lignationis is explained by munitionisque. The wood was required, at all events in part, for the purpose of fortification. (Holmes)

    sustentatur: ‘They hold out.’ Supply a nostris (Anthon) ( A&G 208.d)

    adepti: conditional, 'if they should gain'. The accusative case agreeing with se might have been expected instead of the nominative. (Hodges) ( A&G 589)

    se fore: accusative and infinitive with confidebant (Gaisser) ( A&G 459).

    confestim adv.: promptly, with all haste

    dīmitto, -mittěre, -mīsi, -missum: to send out, to send forth

    imprōvīsus, -a, -um: unexpectedly, without notice

    hībernus, -a, -um: referring to winter; hīberna, -ōrum n.: winter quarters

    advŏlo, -āre: fly to, move with great rapidity

    perfĕro, perferre, pertǔli, perlātum: to endure; to bear or carry through; to report, convey

    lignātĭo, -ōnis f.: a procuring of wood

    mūnītǐo, -ōnis f.: a defending, fortifying, fortification

    rĕpentīnus, -a, -um: sudden

    adventus, -ūs m.: a coming, an approach, arrival

    intercĭpĭo, -ĕre, -cēpi, -ceptum: intercept

    circumvěnǐo, - venire, -vēni, ventum: to come around, encircle

    clǐens, clientis m.: client, retainer, follower

    oppugnō, -āre, -āvi, -ātum: to attack, assail, assault

    concurro, -ěre, curri, cursum: to run together, assemble in multitude

    vallum, i n.: earthworks, ramparts, palisade

    conscendo, -ĕre, -ndi, -nsum: mount, climb up

    sustento, -āre: hold out, maintain oneself; endure

    cělěrǐtas, -ātis f.: swiftness, quickness, speed, celerity

    ădĭpiscor, -i, -eptus: achieve

    confīdo,-fīděre, -fīsus, -sum: to have complete trust, rely in

    Text Read Aloud
    Article Nav
    Previous
    English
    Chinese version
    Christopher Francese, Caesar: Selections from the Gallic War. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College Commentaries, 2011, revised and enlarged 2018. ISBN: 978-1-947822-02-3. https://dcc.dickinson.edu/caesar/book-5/chapter-5-39