Lectitō › Julius Caesar › Gallic War, Book 3
De Bello Gallico 3.25
The attack on the camp
Caesar, De Bello Gallico III. Latin text with a sentence-by-sentence English translation, notes and vocabulary.
Tap any word for its meaning and grammar, save words to review, and track your reading.
Read in Lectitō3.25.1Ibi cum aliī fossās complērent, aliī multīs tēlīs coniectīs dēfēnsōrēs vallō mūnītiōnibusque dēpellerent, auxiliārēsque, quibus ad pugnam nōn multum Crassus cōnfīdēbat, lapidibus tēlīsque subministrandīs et ad aggerem caespitibus comportandīs speciem atque opīniōnem pugnantium praebērent, cum item ab hostibus cōnstanter ac nōn timidē pugnārētur tēlaque ex locō superiōre missa nōn frūstrā acciderent, equitēs circumitīs hostium castrīs Crassō renūntiāvērunt nōn eādem esse dīligentiā ab decumānā portā castra mūnīta facilemque aditum habēre.
There, while some filled in the trenches, others drove the defenders from the rampart and fortifications by throwing many missiles, and the auxiliaries, whom Crassus did not much trust in battle, by supplying stones and weapons and carrying turf to the ramp, gave the appearance and impression of fighting; and while the enemy for their part fought steadily and without fear and their weapons thrown from higher ground did not fall in vain, the cavalry rode round the enemy's camp and reported to Crassus that the camp was not fortified with the same care at the rear gate and was easy to get into.
Note. One long sentence: two cum clauses set the scene, then the main verb renūntiāvērunt brings the cavalry's report in indirect statement.
Vocabulary
| ibi, adv. | in that place, there |
| cum, conj. | when, while, after; since; although |
| alius, -a, -ud | another, other; aliī ... aliī, some ... others |
| fossa, -ae, f. | ditch, trench |
| compleō, -plēre, -plēvī, -plētus | fill full, fill up |
| multus, -a, -um | much, great; plur., many |
| tēlum, -ī, n. | missile, spear, weapon |
| coniciō, -icere, -iēcī, -iectus | throw together; throw, cast, hurl |
| dēfēnsor, -ōris m. | defender |
| vallum, -ī n. | rampart, palisade |
| mūnītiō, -ōnis f. | fortification, defence works |
| que, enclitic conj. | and |
| dēpellō, -pellere, -pulī, -pulsus | drive off or away, drive |
| auxiliāris, -e; as noun, -is m. | auxiliary; (pl.) auxiliary troops |
| quī, quae, quod, rel. pron. | who, which |
| ad, prep. with acc. | to, toward; at, near; for |
| pugna, -ae, f. | fighting, battle, combat |
| nōn, adv. | not |
| multum, -ī, n. | much |
| cōnfīdō, -ere, cōnfīsus sum | trust, be confident |
| lapis, -idis, m. | stone |
| subministrō, -āre, -āvī, -ātum | supply, furnish |
| et, conj. | and; et ... et, both ... and |
| agger, aggeris m. | mound, siege ramp |
| caespes, -itis m. | turf, sod |
| comportō, -portāre, -portāvī, -portātus | carry or bring together, collect |
| speciēs, -ēī, f. | sight, appearance, shape |
| atque, ac (conj.) | and; after comparisons: as, than (ac only before consonants) |
| opīniō, -ōnis, f. | opinion, expectation; reputation |
| pugnō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus | fight |
| praebeō, -ēre, -uī, -itus | hold forth, supply, furnish, give; show, present, exhibit |
| item | likewise, also |
| ā, ab (prep. + abl.) | away from, from; by (ā only before consonants) |
| hostis, -is, m. and f. | enemy, foe |
| cōnstanter (adv.) | steadily, consistently |
| timidē (adv.) | timidly |
| ex, ē (prep. + abl.) | out of, from; of (ē only before consonants) |
| locus, -ī, m., plur. loca, -orum, n. | place, situation |
| superior, -ius, adj. | higher; former, previous, preceding |
| mittō, mittere, mīsī, missus | send |
| frūstrā, adv. | in vain |
| accidō, -cidere, -cidī | fall to or upon; befall, happen |
| eques, equitis m. | horseman; (pl.) cavalry |
| circumeō, -īre, -iī, -itum | go around |
| castra, -ōrum, n. plur. | camp |
| renūntiō, -nūntiāre, -nūntiāvī, -nūntiātus | bring back word, report, announce |
| īdem, eadem, idem, dem. pron. | the same; sometimes to be translated likewise, also |
| sum, esse, fuī, futūrus | be |
| dīligentia, -ae, f. | care, diligence, industry |
| decumānus, -a, -um | of the tenth (porta decumāna: the rear gate of a camp) |
| porta, -ae, f. | gate; door |
| mūniō, -īre, -īvī, -ītus | fortify |
| facilis, -e (comp. facilior) | easy |
| aditus, -ūs, m. | approach, entrance |
| habeō, -ēre, -uī, -itus | have, hold; consider |