Humanitext Reader

Julius Caesar · Gallic War §7.70.1-7.70.7

Cavalry Battle on the Plain of Alesia and Gallic Rout

Passage 328 of 404 · Latin

Summary

A fierce cavalry battle begins in the plain before Alesia; Caesar reinforces his struggling troops with German cavalry and positions his legions. Terrified, the Gauls collapse and flee to their fortifications and the town, prompting Vercingetorix to order the gates shut.

§7.70.1Opere instituto fit equestre proelium in ea planitie, quam intermissam collibus tria milia passuum in longitudinem patere supra demonstravimus.
The work having been begun, a cavalry battle takes place in that plain, which we have shown above to be interrupted by hills and to extend three miles in length.
Summa vi ab utrisque contenditur.
The battle is fought by both sides with the greatest vigor.
§7.70.2Laborantibus nostris Caesar Germanos summittit legionesque pro castris constituit, ne qua subito irruptio ab hostium peditatu fiat.
Caesar sends the Germans to our struggling men, and draws up the legions in front of the camp, lest any sudden onset should be made by the enemy's infantry.
§7.70.3Praesidio legionum addito nostris animus augetur: hostes in fugam coniecti se ipsi multitudine impediunt atque angustioribus portis relictis coacervantur.
By adding the protection of the legions, the courage of our men is increased; the enemy, thrown into flight, obstruct themselves by their own numbers, and are crowded together at the gates which had been left too narrow.
§7.70.4Germani acrius usque ad munitiones secuntur.
The Germans pursue them more vigorously even to their fortifications.
§7.70.5Fit magna caedes: nonnulli relictis equis fossam transire et maceriam transcendere conantur. Paulum legiones Caesar quas pro vallo constituerat promoveri iubet.
A great slaughter ensues; some, having abandoned their horses, attempt to cross the ditch and climb over the stone wall. Caesar orders the legions, which he had drawn up in front of the rampart, to advance a little.
§7.70.6Non minus qui intra munitiones erant perturbantur Galli: veniri ad se confestim existimantes ad arma conclamant; nonnulli perterriti in oppidum irrumpunt.
The Gauls who were within the fortifications are no less terrified; thinking that the enemy were coming against them immediately, they cry 'to arms!' and some in their panic rush into the town.
§7.70.7Vercingetorix iubet portas claudi, ne castra nudentur.
Vercingetorix orders the gates to be shut, lest the camp should be left undefended.
Multis interfectis, compluribus equis captis Germani sese recipiunt.
Many having been slain, and several horses taken, the Germans retreat.

Notes

  1. §7.70.1intermissam collibus — A participle modifying the relative pronoun `quam` (whose antecedent is `planitie`), which acts as the subject of the infinitive clause `patere`. It literally means 'interrupted by hills,' describing the topographical feature of the plain lying between the hills.
  2. §7.70.1Summa vi ab utrisque contenditur — An impersonal passive construction using the third-person singular passive `contenditur` of the verb `contendere` (to fight, strive). Together with the agent `ab utrisque` (by both sides), it literally means 'it was fought by both sides with the greatest vigor,' meaning that both sides fought with maximum effort.
  3. §7.70.2Laborantibus nostris — A dative phrase consisting of the participle `laborantibus` and the possessive `nostris`, functioning as the indirect object (or dative of disadvantage/reference) of the verb `summittit` (sends as reinforcement). It means 'to our struggling men.' While it could theoretically be interpreted as an ablative absolute ('since our men were struggling'), the dative interpretation is more natural given the transitive syntax of `summittere`.
  4. §7.70.3angustioribus portis relictis — An ablative absolute construction. The comparative `angustioribus` (narrower, too narrow) is used as an absolute comparative, indicating a degree greater than what was appropriate or needed ('too narrow for the fleeing multitude'). It means 'since the gates had been left too narrow.'
  5. §7.70.6veniri ad se confestim existimantes — In the accusative-and-infinitive clause serving as the object of `existimantes` (thinking), the passive infinitive `veniri` of the intransitive verb `venire` is used impersonally. It means 'that it was being come to them,' i.e., 'that the enemy were immediately coming against them (`ad se`).'

Cite this passage

Julius Caesar, Gallic War §7.70.1-7.70.7. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0448.phi001.humanitext-lat2:7.70.1-7.70.7

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