Chapter 5.26

Diēbus circiter quindecim quibus in hīberna ventum est initium repentīnī tumultūs āc dēfectiōnis ortum est ab Ambiorīge et Catuvolcō; quī, cum ad fīnēs rēgnī suī Sabīnō Cottaeque praestō fuissent frūmentumque in hīberna comportāvissent, Indutiomārī Trēverī nūntiīs impulsī suōs concitāvērunt subitōque oppressīs līgnātōribus māgnā manū ad castra oppūgnātum vēnērunt. Cum celeriter nostrī arma cēpissent vāllumque ascendissent atque ūnā ex parte Hispānīs equitibus ēmīssīs equestrī proeliō superiōrēs fuissent, dēspērātā rē hostēs suōs ab oppūgnātiōne redūxērunt. Tum suō mōre conclāmāvērunt, utī aliquī ex nostrīs ad colloquium prōdīret: habēre sēsē, quae dē rē commūnī dīcere vellent, quibus rēbus contrōversiās minuī posse spērārent.

Ambiorix and Catuvolcus, kings of the Eburones, make an abortive attack on the camp [Atuatuca] of Sabinus and Cotta.

Diebus...quibus: 'about fifteen days after' (Harkness)( A&G 424.f).

praesto: 'in attendance upon', as obedient subjects. (Allen & Judson)

Cum praesto fuissent: ‘although they had presented themselves’ (Moberly); 'had met', i.e. in a cordial manner. (Harkness)

fines: here evidently means ‘frontier’ (Rice Holmes).

Indutiomari: for the bitter offence given him by Caesar, see above, ch. 4 (Allen & Greenough). Indutiomarus had been obliged a few months before to give Caesar 200 hostages, among whom were all his own kinsmen (4, §§ 1-2); but we may infer from vi, 2, § 1 (Interfecto Indutiomaro . . . ad eius propinquos a Treveris imperium defertur) that Caesar, after he returned from Britain, had thought it best to restore them. When one reads v, 22, § 4 one finds it hard to conceive why he did so (Rice Holmes).

ad castra oppugnatum venerunt: ‘came to the camp to attack it’ (Stock); oppugnatum: supine ( A&G 509).

subitoque etc.: 'and after suddenly surprising the wood-cutters'. (Allen & Greenough)

aliqui: the usual form is aliquis (Allen & Greenough). aliqui is usually an adjective, and the pronominal form is aliquis (Hodges).

de re communi: 'relative to their common interest' (Anthon).

circĭter adv.: about; near

quindĕcim: fifteen

hībernus –a –um:  referring to winter; hīberna –ōrum n. pl.: winter quarters

rĕpentīnus, -a, -um: sudden

tŭmultus, -ūs m.: noise, uproar

dēfectĭo, -ōnis f.: defection, revolt

comporto, -āre: gather, bring together, collect

impello, –pellĕre, –pŭli, –pulsum: to push, drive, strike

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

opprĭmo, -ĕre, -essi, -essum: to press against, press together; to press down

lignātor, -ōris m.: woodcutter, gatherer

manus, -ūs f.: band

oppugno, -āre: to fight against; to attack, assault

vallum, -i n.: earthworks, rampart, palisade

ēmitto, -ĕre, -mīsi, -missum: send out, send forth; let fly, let go

ĕquester, -tris, -tre: of horsemen, referring to cavalry

despēro, -āre: to be hopeless; to give up, to have no hope for

oppugnātĭo, -ōnis f.: storming, assault, attack; mode of attack or assault

rĕdūco, -ducĕre, -duxi, -ductum: to lead back, to conduct back

conclāmo, -āre: cry out loud

conloquium, -ī n.: parley, conference; conversation, talk

prōdĕo, -īre, -ĭi, -ĭtum: go forth, come out; advance

contrōversĭa, -ae f.: dispute, quarrel, feud

mĭnŭo, -ĕre, -ŭi, -ūtum: (intrans.) lessen; to decrease

Text Read Aloud
Article Nav
Previous
Chapter 5.25
Next
Chapter 5.27
English
Chinese version
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-5/chapter-5-26