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Julius Caesar · Gallic War §2.11.1-2.11.6

Disorderly Belgic Retreat and Caesar's Pursuit

Passage 65 of 404 · Latin

Summary

After the Belgic forces began a disorderly retreat at night, Caesar, cautious of a potential ambush, sent his cavalry and legions the next morning to pursue them, inflicting heavy casualties.

§2.11.1Ea re constituta, secunda vigilia magno cum, strepitu ac tumultu castris egressi nullo certo ordine neque imperio, cum sibi quisque primum itineris locum peteret et domum pervenire properaret, fecerunt ut consimilis fugae profectio videretur.
This matter having been decided, departing from the camp during the second watch with great noise and confusion, in no fixed order or under no command, since each sought for himself the foremost place on the march and hastened to reach home, they made their departure appear very like a flight.
§2.11.2Hac re statim Caesar per speculatores cognita insidias veritus, quod qua de causa discederent nondum perspexerat, exercitum equitatumque castris continuit.
Caesar, having immediately learned of this through scouts, but fearing an ambush because he had not yet clearly perceived for what reason they were departing, kept his army and cavalry in the camp.
§2.11.3Prima luce, confirmata re ab exploratoribus, omnem equitatum, qui novissimum agmen moraretur, praemisit.
At daybreak, the matter having been confirmed by the scouts, he sent ahead all the cavalry to delay the rear guard.
His Q. Pedium et L. Aurunculeium Cottam legatos praefecit; T. Labienum legatum cum legionibus tribus subsequi iussit.
Over them he placed the lieutenants Quintus Pedius and Lucius Aurunculeius Cotta; he ordered the lieutenant Titus Labienus to follow close behind with three legions.
§2.11.4Hi novissimos adorti et multa milia passuum prosecuti magnam multitudinem eorum fugientium conciderunt, cum ab extremo agmine, ad quos ventum erat, consisterent fortiterque impetum nostrorum militum sustinerent, §2.11.5priores, quod abesse a periculo viderentur neque ulla necessitate neque imperio continerentur, exaudito clamore perturbatis ordinibus omnes in fuga sibi praesidium ponerent.
These, having attacked the rear and pursued them for many miles, slew a great multitude of them as they fled, since while those at the extreme end of the line, whom our men had reached, stood their ground and bravely withstood the onset of our soldiers, those in front, because they seemed to be far from danger and were restrained by no necessity or command, upon hearing the shouting, broke their ranks and all placed their safety in flight.
§2.11.6Ita sine ullo periculo tantam eorum multitudinem nostri interfecerunt quantum fuit diei spatium; sub occasum solis sequi destiterunt seque in castra, ut erat imperatum, receperunt.
Thus without any danger our men slew as great a multitude of them as the length of the day allowed; toward sunset they ceased the pursuit and retired into the camp, as had been commanded.

Notes

  1. §2.11.1fecerunt ut consimilis fugae profectio videretur — The construction of facio followed by ut and the subjunctive (here the imperfect videretur) is a consecutive clause of result, indicating that their actions brought about a certain state of affairs.
  2. §2.11.3qui novissimum agmen moraretur — The subjunctive moraretur in the relative clause introduced by qui expresses purpose ('to delay the rear guard'). The antecedent is omnem equitatum.
  3. §2.11.4cum ab extremo agmine... consisterent..., priores... ponerent — The clause introduced by cum in §2.11.4 extends to ponerent in §2.11.5. It contrasts consisterent (the rear guard standing their ground) with ponerent (the vanguard fleeing), explaining the circumstances under which the Romans were able to kill so many.
  4. §2.11.6quantum fuit diei spatium — A comparative clause introduced by quantum, correlating with the preceding tantam. It means 'as great a multitude as the length of the day (until sunset) allowed.'

Cite this passage

Julius Caesar, Gallic War §2.11.1-2.11.6. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0448.phi001.humanitext-lat2:2.11.1-2.11.6

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