- Source
- Julius Caesar. Aulus Hirtius. C. Iuli Commentarii Rerum in Gallia Gestarum VII A. Hirti Commentarius VII. Holmes, T. Rice (Thomas Rice), editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1914.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:latinLit:phi0448.phi001.humanitext-lat2:5.48.1-5.48.10
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-29
Caesar advances rapidly, learns of Cicero's situation, and sends a secret letter written in Greek characters tied to a spear into the besieged camp. The letter successfully reaches Cicero and, along with distant smoke, reassures the soldiers of the relief army's approach.
Caesar consilio eius probato, etsi opinione trium legionum deiectus1 ad duas redierat, tamen unum communis salutis auxilium in celeritate ponebat. Venit magnis itineribus in Nerviorum fines.
Caesar, having approved of his advice, although disappointed in his expectation of three legions and reduced to two, nevertheless placed the only aid for their common safety in speed. He came into the territories of the Nervii by forced marches.
Ibi ex captivis cognoscit, quae apud Ciceronem gerantur, quantoque in periculo res sit.
There he learned from the prisoners what was going on in Cicero’s quarters, and in how great danger the situation was.
Tum cuidam ex equitibus Gallis magnis praemiis persuadet uti ad Ciceronem epistolam deferat.
Then he persuaded one of the Gallic horsemen with great rewards to carry a letter to Cicero.
Hanc Graecis conscriptam litteris2 mittit, ne intercepta epistola nostra ab hostibus consilia cognoscantur.
He sent this written in Greek characters, lest, if the letter were intercepted, our plans should be discovered by the enemy.
Si adire non possit, monet ut tragulam cum epistola ad amentum deligata3 intra munitionem castrorum abiciat.
He advised him, if he could not approach, to throw a spear, with the letter fastened to the thong, inside the fortification of the camp.
In litteris scribit se cum legionibus profectum celeriter adfore; hortatur ut pristinam virtutem retineat.
In the letter he wrote that he had set out with the legions and would quickly be there; he exhorted him to maintain his former courage.
Gallus periculum veritus, ut erat praeceptum, tragulam mittit.
The Gaul, fearing the danger, threw the spear as he had been instructed.
Haec casu ad turrim adhaesit neque ab nostris biduo4 animadversa tertio die a quodam milite conspicitur, dempta ad Ciceronem defertur.
This by chance stuck in a tower and, not being noticed by our men for two days, was seen on the third day by a certain soldier, and being taken down, was carried to Cicero.
Ille perlectam in conventu militum recitat maximaque omnes laetitia adficit.
He, having read it through, read it aloud in an assembly of the soldiers, and filled everyone with the greatest joy.
Tum fumi incendiorum procul videbantur; quae res omnem dubitationem adventus legionum expulit.
Then the smoke of fires was seen in the distance, an event which banished all doubt of the arrival of the legions.
- 5.48.1opinione trium legionum deiectus
opinione is an ablative of separation meaning 'expectation' or 'hope'. Combined with deiectus (perfect participle of deicere, 'cast down'), it means 'disappointed in his expectation of having three legions'.
- 5.48.4Graecis conscriptam litteris
litteris refers to 'letters/characters' rather than 'language' (sermone). Thus, it means 'written in Greek characters' (using the Greek alphabet to write Latin as a code) rather than 'written in the Greek language' to prevent the Gauls, who might know Latin, from reading it.
- 5.48.5tragulam cum epistola ad amentum deligata
deligata is ablative feminine singular, agreeing in gender, number, and case with epistola (governed by the preposition cum), not with the accusative tragulam. Thus, the structure is 'a spear with the letter bound to its thong'.
- 5.48.8biduo
An ablative of time within which (or duration of time), meaning 'for the space of two days' or 'during two days' (without being noticed).