Humanitext Reader

Julius Caesar · Gallic War §8.18.1-8.18.4

Correus' Ambush and Roman Cavalry Resistance

Passage 367 of 404 · Latin

Summary

The vanguard of Caesar's army (cavalry) arrives at the battlefield, knowing the enemy's ambush plan. The enemy leader Correus launches a surprise attack, but our troops firmly resist while avoiding gathering in crowds.

§8.18.1Hostes in insidiis dispositi, cum sibi delegissent campum ad rem gerendam non amplius patentem in omnes partes passibus mille, silvis undique aut impeditissimo flumine munitum, velut indagine hunc insidiis circumdederunt.
The enemy, stationed in ambush, having chosen for their operations a plain extending no more than a thousand paces in any direction, secured on all sides by woods or by a very difficult river, surrounded this place with their ambuscades as if with a hunting-net.
§8.18.2Explorato hostium consilio nostri ad proeliandum animo atque armis parati, cum subsequentibus legionibus nullam dimicationem recusarent, turmatim in eum locum devenerunt.
Having discovered the enemy's plan, our men, prepared in mind and arms for battle, since they refused no conflict as the legions were following close behind, arrived at that place by troops.
§8.18.3Quorum adventu cum sibi Correus oblatam occasionem rei gerendae existimaret, primum cum paucis se ostendit atque in proximas turmas impetum fecit.
Upon their arrival, since Correus thought that a favorable opportunity for action was offered to him, he first showed himself with a few men and made an attack on the nearest troops of cavalry.
§8.18.4Nostri constanter incursum sustinent insidiatorum neque plures in unum locum conveniunt; quod plerumque equestribus proeliis cum propter aliquem timorem accidit, tum multitudine ipsorum detrimentum accipitur.
Our men steadily withstood the onset of those in ambush, and did not gather in large numbers in one place; which is something that usually happens in cavalry engagements through some fear, and then, by their very multitude, damage is sustained.

Notes

  1. §8.18.1non amplius patentem in omnes partes passibus mille — Either 'quam' is omitted after the comparative 'amplius', or 'passibus mille' is used as an ablative of comparison. In either case, it translates as 'extending no more than a thousand paces in any direction'.
  2. §8.18.2cum subsequentibus legionibus nullam dimicationem recusarent — 'subsequentibus legionibus' is an ablative absolute ('since the legions were following'). 'cum' is a causal conjunction ('since/because') introducing a clause that modifies the main verb 'devenerunt', showing that they marched on without fearing any battle because of the following reinforcements.
  3. §8.18.4quod plerumque equestribus proeliis cum propter aliquem timorem accidit, tum multitudine ipsorum detrimentum accipitur — 'quod' is a relative pronoun whose antecedent is the preceding clause 'plures in unum locum convenire' (gathering in large numbers in one place). 'cum... tum...' is a correlative construction meaning 'both... and...' (or 'not only... but also...'). The subject of 'accidit' is also this gathering, and 'multitudine ipsorum' is an ablative of cause/means ('by their own multitude/crowding').

Cite this passage

Julius Caesar, Gallic War §8.18.1-8.18.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0448.phi001.humanitext-lat2:8.18.1-8.18.4

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.