Kerbogah Tries to Retake Antioch
[9.26.3] Itaque Turcī habitantēs in castellō, intrā urbem bellābant nōbīscum diē noctūque, et nihil aliud dissēparābat nōs nisi arma. Videntēs hoc, nostrī—quod nōn possent diū haec patī, quoniam, quī habēbat pānem, nōn licēbat eī mandūcāre, et quī habēbat aquam, nōn licēbat bibere—fēcērunt mūrum inter nōs et ipsōs petrā et calce, et aedificāvērunt castellum et māchinās, ut sēcūrī essent. Pars autem Turcōrum remānsit in castellō, agendō nōbīscum bellum, alia vērō pars hospitāta erat, prope castellum, in ūnā valle.
notes
(June 1096) The Turks in the citadel keep attacking, and the crusaders are either short of food and water or have no time to eat or drink, so they build a defensive wall, and also siege equipment. Kerbogah's army is divided between the citadel and a valley near the citadel.
nihil aliud dissēparābat nōs nisi arma: “nothing else kept us apart (from the Turks) except our weapons.” I assume this means they were fighting hand to hand.
quī habēbat pānem, nōn licēbat eī mandūcāre = nōn licēbat eī quī habēbat panem mandūcāre.
inter nōs et ipsōs = inter nōs et Turcōs.
aedificāvērunt castellum: i.e., they built a siege tower.
alia vērō pars hospitāta erat, prope castellum, in ūnā valle: presumably Kerbogah's army was so large that it could not camp within the citadel.
vocabulary
petra –ae, f: rock
calx calcis, f. (m.): limestone, quicklime (used as mortar)
