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Julius Caesar · Gallic War §4.37.1-4.37.4

Attack of the Morini on Roman Troops and Cavalry Rescue

Passage 155 of 404 · Latin

Summary

About three hundred landed Roman soldiers were attacked by the Morini, but they defended themselves in a circle until Caesar's cavalry arrived and routed the enemy.

§4.37.1Quibus ex navibus cum essent expositi milites circiter CCC atque in castra contenderent, Morini, quos Caesar in Britanniam proficiscens pacatos reliquerat, spe praedae adducti primo non ita magno suorum numero circumsteterunt ac, si sese interfici nollent, arma ponere iusserunt.
When about three hundred soldiers had been landed from these ships and were hastening to the camp, the Morini, whom Caesar, when setting out for Britain, had left in a pacified state, inspired by the hope of booty, surrounded them at first with a not very large number of their own men, and ordered them to lay down their arms if they did not wish to be killed.
§4.37.2Cum illi orbe facto sese defenderent, celeriter ad clamorem hominum circiter milia VI convenerunt.
While they, having formed a circle, were defending themselves, about six thousand men quickly assembled at the shouting.
Qua re nuntiata, Caesar omnem ex castris equitatum suis auxilio misit.
This circumstance being reported, Caesar sent all the cavalry from the camp to the relief of his men.
§4.37.3Interim nostri milites impetum hostium sustinuerunt atque amplius horis IIII fortissime pugnaverunt et paucis vulneribus acceptis complures ex iis occiderunt.
In the meantime, our soldiers withstood the onset of the enemy, and fought most courageously for more than four hours, and, having received only a few wounds, slew many of them.
§4.37.4Postea vero quam equitatus noster in conspectum venit, hostes abiectis armis terga verterunt magnusque eorum numerus est occisus.
But as soon as our cavalry came into sight, the enemy threw down their arms and fled, and a great number of them were slain.

Notes

  1. §4.37.1Quibus ex navibus — The relative pronoun `Quibus` at the beginning of the sentence functions as a relative connection (connecting relative), referring back to the two transport ships (`onerariae duae`) mentioned at the end of the previous section (4.36.4).
  2. §4.37.1si sese interfici nollent — `sese` (an emphasized form of `se`) is a reflexive pronoun referring to the subject of the conditional clause (the Roman soldiers, the subject of `nollent`). `interfici` is a present passive infinitive, meaning 'if they did not wish themselves to be killed.'
  3. §4.37.2orbe facto — Ablative absolute consisting of the noun `orbe` and the participle `facto`, meaning 'a circle having been formed' or 'forming a circle.' The `orbis` (circle) was a defensive tactical formation adopted by Roman soldiers when surrounded by a superior force.
  4. §4.37.2suis auxilio — A 'double dative' construction: `suis` is the dative of reference/interest ('for his men'), and `auxilio` is the dative of purpose ('as an aid' or 'for a help'). Combined with the verb `misit`, it means 'sent as a help to his men.'
  5. §4.37.3amplius horis IIII — The comparative adverb `amplius` ('more') is followed by the ablative of comparison `horis` ('hours'). `IIII` represents the Roman numeral four. The phrase means 'for more than four hours.'

Cite this passage

Julius Caesar, Gallic War §4.37.1-4.37.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0448.phi001.humanitext-lat2:4.37.1-4.37.4

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