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Julius Caesar · Gallic War §4.23.1-4.23.6

Caesar's Arrival in Britain and Search for a Landing Site

Passage 141 of 404 · Latin

Summary

Caesar sets sail for Britain but, deeming the landing site unsuitable due to steep cliffs and enemy forces, waits at anchor for his fleet to assemble. After instructing his officers, he moves to a more favorable open shore to station his ships.

§4.23.1His constitutis rebus, nactus idoneam ad navigandum tempestatem III. fere vigilia solvit equitesque in ulteriorem portum progredi et naves conscendere et se sequi iussit.
These matters having been settled, having obtained weather suitable for sailing, he set sail about the third watch, and ordered the cavalry to proceed to the further harbor, embark, and follow him.
§4.23.2A quibus cum paulo tardius esset administratum, ipse hora diei circiter IIII. cum primis navibus Britanniam attigit atque ibi in omnibus collibus expositas hostium copias armatas conspexit.
Since action was taken by them somewhat too slowly, he himself reached Britain with the first ships about the fourth hour of the day, and there beheld the armed forces of the enemy drawn up on all the hills.
§4.23.3Cuius loci haec erat natura atque ita montibus angustis mare continebatur, uti ex locis superioribus in litus telum adigi posset.
The nature of this place was such, and the sea was so confined by steep mountains, that a missile could be cast from the higher places onto the shore.
§4.23.4Hunc ad egrediendum nequaquam idoneum locum arbitratus, dum reliquae naves eo convenirent ad horam nonam in ancoris expectavit.
Judging this place to be by no means suitable for landing, he waited at anchor until the ninth hour for the remaining ships to assemble there.
§4.23.5Interim legatis tribunisque militum convocatis et quae ex Voluseno cognovisset et quae fieri vellet ostendit monuitque, ut rei militaris ratio, maximeque ut maritimae res postularent, ut, cum celerem atque instabilem motum haberent, ad nutum et ad tempus omnes res ab iis administrarentur.
Meanwhile, having called together the lieutenants and military tribunes, he showed them both what he had learned from Volusenus and what he wished to be done, and warned them that, as the principles of military discipline and especially as maritime affairs required—since they have a rapid and unstable motion—all things should be performed by them at a beck and on the instant.
§4.23.6His dimissis et ventum et aestum uno tempore nactus secundum, dato signo et sublatis ancoris, circiter milia passuum VII ab eo loco progressus aperto ac plano litore naves constituit.
Having dismissed them, and having obtained both a favorable wind and tide at the same time, the signal was given and the anchors raised, and having advanced about seven miles from that place, he stationed his ships on an open and flat shore.

Notes

  1. §4.23.2A quibus cum paulo tardius esset administratum — 'A quibus' is a relative connection referring to the 'equites' in the preceding sentence. The 'cum' clause expresses concession or circumstance and employs the impersonal passive 'administratum esset' (literally 'it was administered'), meaning 'although action was taken by them somewhat too slowly.'
  2. §4.23.3montibus angustis — The adjective 'angustus' usually means 'narrow,' but here it describes the position of the mountains pressing closely upon the sea, meaning 'steep,' 'precipitous,' or 'confining.'
  3. §4.23.4dum reliquae naves eo convenirent — The subjunctive 'convenirent' (imperfect subjunctive) after the conjunction 'dum' is used with the main verb 'expectavit' to express purpose, anticipation, or expectation ('waiting for the remaining ships to assemble').
  4. §4.23.5monuitque, ut ... administrarentur — The core of the object clause of command dependent on the main verb 'monuit' is 'ut ... administrarentur' (that all things should be performed) at the end. The intermediate clauses 'ut rei militaris ratio, maximeque ut maritimae res postularent' use 'ut' in the sense of 'as' (manner). The clause 'cum ... haberent' is a causal 'cum' clause ('since they have...'), whose subject is 'maritimae res'.

Cite this passage

Julius Caesar, Gallic War §4.23.1-4.23.6. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0448.phi001.humanitext-lat2:4.23.1-4.23.6

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