- 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-lat2:8.10.1-8.10.4
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-11-03
Caesar explains the double purpose behind his strong fortifications, describes the frequent skirmishes across the marsh between the camps, and notes how the Gauls were encouraged by the arrival of Commius and his cavalry.
Huius munitionis duplex erat consilium. Namque et operum magnitudinem et timorem suum1 sperabat fiduciam barbaris allaturum,2 et cum pabulatum frumentatumque longius esset proficiscendum, parvis copiis castra munitione ipsa videbat posse defendi.
There was a double purpose in this fortification. For Caesar hoped both that the magnitude of the works and his own apparent fear would inspire the barbarians with confidence, and he saw that when it was necessary to go further for foraging and gathering corn, the camp could be defended by the fortification itself with a small force.
Interim crebro paucis utrimque procurrentibus inter bina castra palude interiecta contendebatur; quam tamen paludem nonnumquam aut nostra auxilia Gallorum Germanorumque transibant acriusque hostes insequebantur, aut vicissim hostes eadem transgressi nostros longius summovebant.
Meanwhile, skirmishes were frequently fought between the two camps, where a marsh lay between them, with a few men rushing forward from both sides; nevertheless, our Gallic and German auxiliaries sometimes crossed this marsh and pursued the enemy more vigorously, or in turn, the enemy, having crossed the same, drove our men back to a greater distance.
Accidebat autem cotidianis pabulationibus (id quod accidere erat necesse, cum raris disiectisque ex aedificiis pabulum conquireretur), ut impeditis locis dispersi pabulatores circumvenirentur;
It happened, moreover, in the course of the daily foraging (which was bound to happen, since the forage had to be sought from scattered and isolated buildings), that the foragers, dispersed in difficult places, were surrounded;
quae res, etsi mediocre detrimentum iumentorum ac servorum nostris adferebat, tamen stultas cogitationes incitabat barbarorum, atque eo magis, quod Commius, quem profectum3 ad auxilia Germanorum arcessenda docui, cum equitibus venerat; qui, tametsi numero non amplius erant quingenti, tamen Germanorum adventu barbari nitebantur.4
this circumstance, although it brought a moderate loss of beasts of burden and slaves to our men, yet encouraged the foolish thoughts of the barbarians, and the more so because Commius, whom I have mentioned as having set out to summon German auxiliaries, had arrived with cavalry; and although these were no more than five hundred in number, yet the barbarians relied on the arrival of the Germans.
- 8.10.1timorem suum
Refers to Caesar's own 'fear', but in this context, it indicates a feigned or simulated fear designed to make the enemy overconfident, rather than actual dread.
- 8.10.1allaturum
The future active infinitive allaturum esse with esse omitted, forming an accusative with infinitive clause as the object of the main verb sperabat. Its subject accusative is et operum magnitudinem et timorem suum.
- 8.10.4quem profectum
An accusative with infinitive clause with esse omitted (quem profectum esse), serving as the object of the verb docui ('whom I have mentioned to have set out'). The relative pronoun quem refers back to Commius.
- 8.10.4Germanorum adventu barbari nitebantur
The verb nitor (to rely on, depend on) here takes the ablative of cause or means adventu, meaning that the barbarians were supported or encouraged by the arrival of the Germans.