Karbuqa Tries to Retake Antioch
[9.28.3] Hīs dictīs, recessērunt nūntiī, vēnēruntque ad profānum collēgium, dīcentēs omnia missa verba Curbaram et aliīs, ita: “Satis multumque mīrantur nostrī māiōrēs et seniōrēs quamobrem temere ac superbissimē in Chrīstiānōrum introistis terram et illōrum. Putāmus forsitan et crēdimus, quia ideō hūc vēnistis, quoniam per omnia vultis efficī Chrīstiānī; aut proptereā igitur hūc vēnistis, ut per omnia Chrīstiānōs afficiātis? Rogant vōs igitur omnēs pariter nostrī māiōrēs, ut vēlōciter recēdātis ā terrā Deī et Chrīstiānōrum, quam beātus Petrus apostolus iam dūdum praedīcandō ad Chrīstī cultūram convertit. At illī permittunt adhūc vōbīscum dēdūcī omnia vestra, scīlicet equōs et mūlōs, et asinōs et camēlōs; ovēs quoque et bovēs, et omnia alia ōrnāmenta permittunt vōbīscum quōcumque voluerītis ferre.”
notes
(June 1098) The ambassadors go to the Turks and ask them (rhetorically) why they have come. They demand that the Turks withdraw from a city that was (they say) converted to Christianity by St. Peter, but will let them to take away all their possessions.
Hīs dictīs: i.e., having received their instructions from the leaders.
ad profānum collēgium: “to the heathen assembly” (the Turkish army).
Curbaram: Kerbogah, here dative.
Satis multumque: this seemingly illogical phrase just means "very much."
in Chrīstiānōrum introistis terram et illōrum: "you have entered the land of the (local) Christians and of them (the leaders)."
per omnia: “in any way possible” or “no matter what” (twice).
quam beātus Petrus apostolus ... convertit: Christian tradition held that St. Peter was the first bishop of Antioch; see on 4.11.7.
vocabulary
temere: recklessly
afficiō afficere affēcī affectum: to harm (OLD 5)
ōrnāmentum –ī, n: equipment, possession
