- 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-lat2:7.70.1-7.70.7
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-02
A fierce cavalry battle begins in the plain before Alesia; Caesar reinforces his struggling troops with German cavalry and positions his legions. Terrified, the Gauls collapse and flee to their fortifications and the town, prompting Vercingetorix to order the gates shut.
Opere instituto fit equestre proelium in ea planitie, quam intermissam collibus1 tria milia passuum in longitudinem patere supra demonstravimus. Summa vi ab utrisque contenditur.2
The work having been begun, a cavalry battle takes place in that plain, which we have shown above to be interrupted by hills and to extend three miles in length. The battle is fought by both sides with the greatest vigor.
Laborantibus nostris3 Caesar Germanos summittit legionesque pro castris constituit, ne qua subito irruptio ab hostium peditatu fiat.
Caesar sends the Germans to our struggling men, and draws up the legions in front of the camp, lest any sudden onset should be made by the enemy’s infantry.
Praesidio legionum addito nostris animus augetur: hostes in fugam coniecti se ipsi multitudine impediunt atque angustioribus portis relictis4 coacervantur.
By adding the protection of the legions, the courage of our men is increased; the enemy, thrown into flight, obstruct themselves by their own numbers, and are crowded together at the gates which had been left too narrow.
Germani acrius usque ad munitiones secuntur.
The Germans pursue them more vigorously even to their fortifications.
Fit magna caedes: nonnulli relictis equis fossam transire et maceriam transcendere conantur. Paulum legiones Caesar quas pro vallo constituerat promoveri iubet.
A great slaughter ensues; some, having abandoned their horses, attempt to cross the ditch and climb over the stone wall. Caesar orders the legions, which he had drawn up in front of the rampart, to advance a little.
Non minus qui intra munitiones erant perturbantur Galli: veniri ad se confestim existimantes5 ad arma conclamant; nonnulli perterriti in oppidum irrumpunt.
The Gauls who were within the fortifications are no less terrified; thinking that the enemy were coming against them immediately, they cry ‘to arms!’ and some in their panic rush into the town.
Vercingetorix iubet portas claudi, ne castra nudentur. Multis interfectis, compluribus equis captis Germani sese recipiunt.
Vercingetorix orders the gates to be shut, lest the camp should be left undefended. Many having been slain, and several horses taken, the Germans retreat.
- 7.70.1intermissam collibus
A participle modifying the relative pronoun quam (whose antecedent is planitie), which acts as the subject of the infinitive clause patere. It literally means 'interrupted by hills,' describing the topographical feature of the plain lying between the hills.
- 7.70.1Summa vi ab utrisque contenditur
An impersonal passive construction using the third-person singular passive contenditur of the verb contendere (to fight, strive). Together with the agent ab utrisque (by both sides), it literally means 'it was fought by both sides with the greatest vigor,' meaning that both sides fought with maximum effort.
- 7.70.2Laborantibus nostris
A dative phrase consisting of the participle laborantibus and the possessive nostris, functioning as the indirect object (or dative of disadvantage/reference) of the verb summittit (sends as reinforcement). It means 'to our struggling men.' While it could theoretically be interpreted as an ablative absolute ('since our men were struggling'), the dative interpretation is more natural given the transitive syntax of summittere.
- 7.70.3angustioribus portis relictis
An ablative absolute construction. The comparative angustioribus (narrower, too narrow) is used as an absolute comparative, indicating a degree greater than what was appropriate or needed ('too narrow for the fleeing multitude'). It means 'since the gates had been left too narrow.'
- 7.70.6veniri ad se confestim existimantes
In the accusative-and-infinitive clause serving as the object of existimantes (thinking), the passive infinitive veniri of the intransitive verb venire is used impersonally. It means 'that it was being come to them,' i.e., 'that the enemy were immediately coming against them (ad se).'