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Julius Caesar · Gallic War §1.50.1-1.50.4

Ariovistus's Skirmish and the Prophecy of the New Moon

Passage 50 of 404 · Latin

Summary

Caesar offers battle to the Germans, but they decline to fight, and only minor skirmishes occur. Upon inquiring, Caesar learns from prisoners that German matrons prophesied defeat if they fought before the new moon.

§1.50.1Proximo die instituto suo Caesar ex castris utrisque copias suas eduxit paulumque a maioribus castris progressus aciem instruxit hostibusque pugnandi potestatem fecit.
On the next day, according to his custom, Caesar led his forces out of both camps, and having advanced a little from the larger camp, drew up his battle line and gave the enemy an opportunity of fighting.
§1.50.2Ubi ne tum quidem eos prodire intellexit, circiter meridiem exercitum in castra reduxit.
When he perceived that they did not even then come forth, he led his army back into camp around noon.
Tum demum Ariovistus partem suarum copiarum, quae castra minora oppugnaret, misit.
Then at last Ariovistus sent a part of his forces to attack the smaller camp.
Acriter utrimque usque ad vesperum pugnatum est.
A sharp fight was maintained on both sides until evening.
Solis occasu suas copias Ariovistus multis et inlatis et acceptis vulneribus in castra reduxit.
At sunset, Ariovistus led his forces back into camp, many wounds having been both inflicted and received.
§1.50.3Cum ex captivis quaereret Caesar quam ob rem Ariovistus proelio non decertaret, hanc reperiebat causam, quod apud Germanos ea consuetudo esset ut matres familiae eorum sortibus et vaticinationibus declararent utrum proelium committi ex usu esset necne; eas ita dicere: §1.50.4non esse fas Germanos superare, si ante novam lunam proelio contendissent.
When Caesar inquired of the prisoners why Ariovistus did not contend in a decisive battle, he discovered this reason: that it was a custom among the Germans for their matrons to declare by lots and prophecies whether it was advantageous to engage in battle or not; and that they said: that it was not the will of heaven for the Germans to conquer, if they should engage in battle before the new moon.

Notes

  1. §1.50.2quae castra minora oppugnaret — The relative clause introduced by `quae` with the subjunctive imperfect `oppugnaret` expresses purpose ('in order to attack the smaller camp').
  2. §1.50.2pugnatum est — Impersonal passive of the intransitive verb `pugno`, indicating that the action itself took place ('a battle was fought' or 'they fought').
  3. §1.50.2multis et inlatis et acceptis vulneribus — Ablative absolute. `et... et...` means 'both... and...'. `inlatis` (perfect passive participle of `infero`, 'inflicted') and `acceptis` (perfect passive participle of `accipio`, 'received') modify `vulneribus`, meaning 'many wounds having been both inflicted and received.'
  4. §1.50.3eas ita dicere — Accusative with infinitive in indirect discourse (oratio obliqua). The governing verb of saying (such as `dicebant`) is omitted, or it continues the report introduced by `consuetudo esset`. The accusative `eas` refers to the `matres familiae`.
  5. §1.50.4non esse fas Germanos superare — Accusative with infinitive construction depending on the impersonal `non esse fas` ('it is not the will of heaven'). `Germanos` is the subject accusative of the infinitive `superare`, which is used here intransitively to mean 'to conquer' or 'to be victorious.'

Cite this passage

Julius Caesar, Gallic War §1.50.1-1.50.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0448.phi001.humanitext-lat2:1.50.1-1.50.4

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