Chapter 4.33

Genus hoc est ex essedīs pūgnae. Prīmō per omnēs partēs perequitant et tēla cōiciunt atque ipsō terrōre equōrum et strepitū rotārum ōrdinēs plērumque perturbant et, cum sē inter equitum turmās īnsinuāvērunt, ex essedīs dēsiliunt et pedibus proeliantur. Aurīgae interim paulātim ex proeliō excēdunt atque ita currūs collocant ut, sī illī ā multitūdine hostium premantur, expedītum ad suōs receptum habeant. Ita mōbilitātem equitum, stabilitātem peditum in proeliīs praestant, āc tantum ūsū cotīdiānō et exercitātiōne efficiunt utī in dēclīvī āc praecipitī locō incitātōs equōs sustinēre et brevī moderārī āc flectere et per tēmōnem percurrere et in iugō īnsistere et sē inde in currūs citissimē recipere cōnsuērint.

How the Britons used their war-chariots in battle.

perequito, -are: ride about, ride through or around (Walker)

equorum: 'caused by the horses' (Walker)

turma, -ae f.: troop or squadron of about thirty cavalrymen (Walker)

ex essedis: with pugnae (Kelsey)

cum se insinuaverunt: 'when they have worked themselves among' (Allen & Judson)

illi: the warriors, who had alighted (Walker)

expeditum receptum: ‘a ready retreat’ (Allen & Judson)

ac tantum...consuerint: 'they become so efficient from constant practice and training that they will drive their horses at full gallop, keeping them well in hand, down a steep incline, check and turn them in an instant' etc. (Rice Holmes).

stabilitatem: ‘steadiness’ (Kelsey)

citissime: ‘with the utmost quickness.’ (Kelsey)

praestant: ‘display’ (Walker); 'exhibit'. Caesar was much struck with the efficiency of the German and British horse, and made it the basis of important changes in the Roman army. (Allen & Judson)

tantum...efficiunt: ‘they are so skilful’ (Towle & Jenks)

incitatos: 'when at full speed' (Towle & Jenks).

per temonem percurrere: this feat, as certain coins suggest, was performed not to show off, but in order to throw missiles at shorter range.

incitatos equos sustinere: 'to check their horses in full gallop' (Allen & Judson).

cōnsuērint: 'are accustomed', perfect subjunctive from consuesco. 

essedum, -i n.: war chariot

pĕrĕquĭto, -are: ride through, drive

cōicio, -ere, -iēci, -iectum: to throw or bring together

terror, ōris, m.: great fear, dread, alarm

strĕpĭtus, -ūs m.: din, clatter

rota, -ae f.: wheel

perturbo, -āre: throw into confusion or disorder, confuse, disturb

turma, -ae f.: squadron

insĭnŭo, -āre: work one’s way

dēsĭlĭo, -ire, -ŭi, -itum: leap down

aurīga, -ae m.: charioteer

paulātim adv.: little by little, by degrees, gradually 

collŏco, -āre: place together, arrange, station

mōbĭlĭtas, -ātis f.: nimbleness, agility, fickleness

stăbĭlĭtas, stabilitātis f.: steadfastness, firmness, durability, immovability, stability

pĕdes, -itis m.: foot-soldier, infantryman

cotīdĭānus, -a, -um: daily

exercĭtātĭo, -ōnis f.: training

dēclīvis, -e: sloping downward

incĭto, -āre: set in rapid motion, hasten, urge forward; incite, encourage, rouse 

mŏdĕror, -āri: check, control

flecto, -ere, -xi, xum: bend, bow, curve, turn

tēmo, -ōnis m.: wagon-pole

percurro, -ere, -cŭcurri, -cursum: run through, hasten through, traverse 

insisto, -ere, -stĭti: set foot on, tread, step, press upon

consuesco, -ere, consuēvī, consuētum: to accustom one's self; (frequently used in the perfect tense) to have accustomed one's self, i. e., to be accustomed, to do habitually

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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-4/chapter-4-33