9.26.1 | Dickinson College Commentaries

Kerbogah Tries to Retake Antioch

[9.26.1] Turcī, dēnique, quī erant seorsum in castellō, undique tam mīrābiliter coangustābant nōs ut, quādam diē, inclūserint trēs mīlitēs ex nostrīs in turrim quae erat ante castellum. Exierant namque gentīlēs et irruerant super illōs tam ācriter ut nequīrent sufferre pondus eōrum. Duo ex mīlitibus exiērunt dē turrī, vulnerātī, et tertius per tōtum diem virīliter dēfendēbat sē dē Turcōrum invāsiōne, tam prūdenter ut in ipsā diē duōs Turcōs strāverit super aditum mūrī, caesīs hastīs. Nam trēs hastae dētruncātae sunt illī, illā diē, in manibus suīs. Illī vērō accēpērunt capitālem sententiam. Erat nōmen illī Hugō Īnsānus, dē exercitū Gosfredī dē Monte Scabiōsō.

notes

(June 1098) Meanwhile the Turks attack from the citadel. Three knights are caught in one of the towers: two are wounded and leave; the third, Hugh the Beserk, defends the tower all day, and kills two Turks.

in castellō: in the citadel.

super illōs = super illōs (trēs mīlitēs).

in ipsā diē: CL would be eādem diē.

super aditum mūrī: “at the entrance of the wall.”

trēs hastae dētruncātae sunt illī: illī = tertiō mīlitī, dative of disadvantage.

Illī vērō accēpērunt capitālem sententiam: "but those (two Turks) were killed."

Hugō Īnsānus: Hugh the Berserk, not otherwise known.

Gosfredī dē Monte Scabiōsō: Godfrey or Humphrey of Monte Scaglioso; he had died on the way to Antioch (3.9.7)

vocabulary

seorsum: separately

coangustō: to confine, restrict (CL); to hem in, attack (ML)

caedō caedere cecidī caesum: to strike; destroy (OLD 6)