The Road to Antioch
[4.10.4] Intereā coepimus intrāre in terram optimam, plēnam corporālibus alimentīs et dēliciīs omnibusque bonīs; ac deinceps appropinquāvimus Ycōniō. Habitātōrēs vērō terrae illīus suādēbant et ammonēbant nōs, nōbīscum ferre utrēs plēnōs aquā, quia illīc in itinere diēī ūnīus est maxima pēnūria aquae. Nōs vērō ita fēcimus, dōnec pervēnimus ad quoddam flūmen, ibique hospitātī sumus per duōs diēs. Coepērunt autem cursōrēs nostrī ante īre, dōnec pervēnērunt ad Erachiam, in quā erat Turcōrum nimia congregātiō, exspectāns et īnsidiāns, quōmodo posset Chrīstī mīlitēs nocēre. Quōs Turcōs Deī omnipotentis mīlitēs invenientēs audācter invāsērunt. Superātī itaque sunt inimīcī nostrī in illā diē, tamque celeriter fugiēbant quam sagitta fugit, ēmissa ictū validō chordae et arcūs. Nostrī igitur intrāvērunt statim in cīvitātem, ibique mānsimus per quātuor diēs.
notes
(August–September 1097) The crusaders finally reach more fertile land. The inhabitants advise them about traveling in the desert. At Heraclea the crusaders rout an army of Turks.
Ycōniō: Iconium, modern Konya.
flūmen: according to Dass this is the Çarşamba-Su, "the only substantial body of water near Konya"; I can't find this on Google maps.
Erachium: Heraclea Cybistra, modern Eregli (province of Konya), 149 km east of Konya.
posset: the subject is Turcorum nimia congregatio.
tamque celeriter fugiēbant quam sagitta fugit: "they were fleeing as swiftly as an arrow flees."
vocabulary
intereā: meanwhile (CL); at last (ML)
uter utris m.: leather bag
illīc: there
cursor –ōris, m.: runner (CL); scout (ML)
arcus arcūs, m. : bow
chorda –ae, f.: string on a musical instrument (CL); bowstring (ML)
