Chapter 5.38 | Dickinson College Commentaries

Hāc vīctōriā sublātus Ambiorīx statim cum equitātū in Aduātucōs, quī erant ēius rēgnō fīnitimī, proficīscitur; neque noctem neque diem intermittit peditātumque sēsē subsequī iubet. Rē dēmōnstrātā Aduātucīsque concitātīs, posterō diē in Nerviōs pervenit hortāturque nē suī in perpetuum līberandī atque ulcīscendī Rōmānōs prō eīs quās accēperint iniūriīs occāsiōnem dīmittant; interfectōs esse lēgātōs *duo* māgnamque partem exercitūs interīsse dēmōnstrat; nihil esse negōtī subitō oppressam legiōnem quae cum Cicerōne hiemet interficī; sē ad eam rem profitētur adiūtōrem. Facile hāc ōrātiōne Nerviīs persuādet.

notes

Ambiorix incites the Aduatuci and Nervii to attack Cicero's camp.

Aduatucos: a Belgic tribe earlier defeated by Caesar (Gaisser).

neque noctem neque diem intermittit: Ambiorix marched only one night and one day. (Allen & Judson)

postero die: 'on the next day' (Gaisser) (A&G 423).

Nervios: one of the most powerful of the Belgic tribes (Gaisser).

ne...occasionem dimittant: 'not to miss the opportunity' (Gaisser) (A&G 563).

sui liberandi, ulciscendi: dependent upon occasionem. (Hodges)(A&G 504.c).

pro eis...iniuriis: The prepositional phrase, as often, includes or frames a subordinate idea, here the relative clause quas acceperint (Gaisser).

interfectos esse legatos: accusative and infinitive governed by demonstrat (Gaisser)(A&G 393).

nihil esse negotii: 'it was no trouble.' negotii is partitive genitive: 'nothing of trouble' (Gaisser); 'that it was an easy matter' (Anthon); 'that it was a matter of no difficulty' (Allen & Greenough) (A&G 346.a).

oppressam…interfici: render by two verbs, 'to be surprised and slain' (Allen & Judson); accusative and infinitive governed by nihil esse negotii (Gaisser) (A&G 452).

esse: the subject is legionem…interfici. (Hodges)

vocabulary

ěquǐtātus, ūs m.: a riding; cavalry

fīnǐtǐmus, -a, -um: bordering upon, adjoining, neighboring

intermitto, -mittěre, mīsi, missum: to leave off, intermit, omit, neglect

pĕdĭtātus, -ūs m.: infantry

subsěquor, -sěqui, -secūtus: to follow close after; to succeed, follow

dēmonstrō, -āre, -āvi, -ātum: to point out, to show, to explain

concĭto, -āre: rouse, arouse, cause to rise

liběrō, -āre, -āvi, -ātum: to set free, to liberate

ulciscor, -i, -ultus: punish, revenge oneself upon

occāsǐo, ōnis f.: opportunity, fit time, convenient season