Chapter 5.32

At hostēs, posteā quam ex nocturnō fremitū vigiliīsque dē profectiōne eōrum sēnsērunt, collocātīs īnsidiīs bipertītō in silvīs opportūnō atque occultō locō ā mīlibus passuum circiter duōbus Rōmānōrum adventum exspectābant et, cum sē māior pars āgminis in māgnam convallem dēmīsisset, ex utrāque parte ēius vallis subitō sē ostendērunt, novīssimōsque premere et prīmōs prohibēre ascēnsū atque inīquissimō nostrīs locō proelium committere coepērunt.

    Ambiorix's forces attack the column in a defile.

    bipertito: ‘at two points' (Moberly); 'in two divisions' (Gaisser).

    a milibus passuum circiter duobus: 'about two miles away' (Gaisser) ( A&G 425.b).

    se: object of demisisset: 'had let itself down,' i.e., 'had descended' (Gaisser).

    novissimos: 'the last ones,' 'those in the rear' (Gaisser).

    primos: 'the first ones,' 'the vanguard' (Gaisser).

    nostris: dat. with iniquissimo. (Hodges)( A&G 383)

    proelium committere: 'to join battle,' 'to engage' (Gaisser).

    frĕmĭtus, -ūs m.: din, noise

    vǐgǐlǐa, ae f.: wakefulness, sleeplessness

    prŏfectĭo, -ōnis f.: setting out, departure

    collǒcō, -āre, -āvi, -ātum: to place together, to arrange, to station

    insǐdǐae, -ārum f.: an ambush, snare, trap

    bipertītō adv.: in two parts, corps

    opportūnus, -a, -um: fit, convenient, suitable, opportune

    passus, ūs m.: a step, pace

    circǐter: round about, on every side

    convallis, -is f.: valley (surrounded on all sides)

    dēmitto, dēmittěre, dēmīsi, dēmissum: to send down; to drop; bring down 

    valls, -is f.: valley

    ascensus, -ūs m.: upward movement

    ĭnīquus, -a, -um: unfavorable, unfair, unjust

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    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-5-32