Humanitext Reader

Julius Caesar · Gallic War §7.74.1-7.74.2

Construction of Outer Fortifications and Stocking Supplies

Passage 332 of 404 · Latin

Summary

Caesar constructs an outer line of similar fortifications, fourteen miles in circumference and facing outward, to defend against external forces, and orders all soldiers to stock thirty days' worth of provisions.

§7.74.1His rebus perfectis regiones secutus quam potuit aequissimas pro loci natura quattuordecim milia passuum complexus pares eiusdem generis munitiones, diversas ab his, contra exteriorem hostem perfecit, ut ne magna quidem multitudine, si ita accidat, munitionum praesidia circumfundi possent; §7.74.2ac ne cum periculo ex castris egredi cogatur, dierum triginta pabulum frumentumque habere omnes convectum iubet.
Having completed these works, Caesar, following the most level ground he could according to the nature of the area, and encompassing fourteen miles, completed similar fortifications of the same kind, facing the opposite way from these, against the external enemy, so that not even by a great multitude, if it should so happen, could the garrisons of the fortifications be surrounded; and lest he should be compelled to go out of the camp with danger, he ordered everyone to have thirty days' forage and corn brought together.

Notes

  1. §7.74.1regiones secutus quam potuit aequissimas — The past participle secutus, from the deponent verb sequor (to follow), has an active meaning: "having followed" or "following". The phrase quam potuit aequissimas modifies regiones, with quam + potuit ("as ... as he could") strengthening the superlative aequissimas ("most level").
  2. §7.74.1diversas ab his — The adjective diversas here means "facing in the opposite direction" rather than simply "different." The pronoun his refers to the inner fortifications described in the previous chapter (7.73) which faced the town; these new outer fortifications faced outward, in the opposite direction, to defend against an external relief army.
  3. §7.74.2habere omnes convectum — The logical subject of the infinitive habere is the accusative omnes ("everyone"). The perfect passive participle convectum agrees in gender, number, and case with the compound object pabulum frumentumque, indicating a completed state of action: "to have [forage and corn] brought together/stored up."

Cite this passage

Julius Caesar, Gallic War §7.74.1-7.74.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0448.phi001.humanitext-lat2:7.74.1-7.74.2

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