Caesar 4.33-36.1

1. Caesar 4.33-36.1

2. [33] Genus hoc est ex essedispugnae. Primo per omnespartesperequitant et telacoiciuntatque ipso terroreequorum et strepiturotarumordinesplerumqueperturbant, et cum se inter equitumturmasinsinuaverunt, ex essedisdesiliunt et pedibusproeliantur. The type of fighting from the chariots is this. At first they ride through all the areas and hurl weapons and generally disturb/terrify/confuse the ranks with the horses’ terror itself and with the commotion of the wheels, and whenever they penetrated the troops/squadrons of the cavalry, they jump down from their chariots and engage in battle on foot.

3. Aurigae interim paulatim ex proelioexceduntatqueitacurruscollocantut, siilli a multitudinehostiumpremantur, expeditum ad quos receptumhabeant. The charioteers, meanwhile, withdraw from the battle a little and place their chariots thus in order that, if those men are overpowered by a large number of enemies, they have a speedy/ready retreat for their own men.

4. Itamobilitatemequitum, stabilitatempeditum in proeliispraestant, ac tantumusucotidiano et exercitationeefficiuntuti in declivi ac praecipiti loco incitatosequossustinere et brevimoderariac flectere et per temonempercurrere et in iugoinsistere et se inde in curruscitissimerecipereconsuerint. Thus they exhibit mobility/speed of cavalry and stability of infantry, and they accomplish so much by daily use and by training that they have been trained (made accustomed) to manage horses having been spurred on slopes or in a steep place and to control (the horses) in a short time and to direct/turn (them) and to run along through the pole and to stand on the yoke and to betake themselves (i.e. return) into the chariots very/most quickly.

5. [34] Quibus rebus perturbatisnostris, novitatepugnae, tempore oportunissimo Caesar auxiliumtulit: namqueeiusadventuhostesconstiterunt, nostri se ex timorereceperunt. By these things, our men having been disturbed, by the novelty/newness of the fight, at the most opportune time Caesar brought help: for at his arrival the enemy stopped, our men recovered themselves from fear.

6. Quo facto, ad lacessendumhostem et committendumproeliumalienumesse tempus arbitratussuo se loco continuit et brevi tempore intermisso in castralegionesreduxit. This thing having been done, having judged that the time was unfavorable for the purpose of attacking the enemy and for the purpose of beginning battle he kept himself in his place and, a short time having intervened, he led his legions back to camp.

7. Dum haecgeruntur, nostris omnibus occupatis qui erant in agrisreliquidiscesserunt. Secutaesuntcontinuoscomplures dies tempestates, quae et nostros in castriscontinerent et hostem a pugnaprohiberent. While these things are being done, all our men having been occupied (with the battle), the remaining (enemy) who were in the fields, departed. All day for many days thunderstorms followed, which kept our men in camp and prevented the enemy from battle.

8. Interim barbarinuntios in omnespartesdimiseruntpaucitatemquenostrorummilitumsuispraedicaveruntet quanta praedaefaciendaeatque in perpetuum sui liberandifacultasdaretur, siRomanoscastrisexpulissent, demonstraverunt. His rebus celeriter magna multitudinepeditatusequitatusquecoacta ad castravenerunt. The barbarians meanwhile sent messengers into all areas, and proclaimed to their (people) the small number of our soldiers and they explained what a great opportunity was granted of making (i.e. earning) plunder and of liberating themselves for all time, if they drove the Romans from their camp. By means of these things (arguments) a great number of infantry and cavalry having been collected quickly, they came to our camp.

9. [35] Caesar, etsi idem quod superioribusdiebusacciderat fore videbat, ut, siessenthostespulsi, celeritatepericulumeffugerent, tamennactusequitescirciter XXX, quos CommiusAtrebas, de quo ante dictum est, secumtransportaverat, legiones in acie pro castrisconstituit. Caesar, although he saw that the same thing would be (i.e. happen) that on previous days had occurred, with the result that, if the enemy had been driven back, they would escape danger by means of speed, nevertheless, having found around thirty cavalry, whom CommiusAtrebas (concerning whom it was described earlier) had conveyed with himself, arrayed the legions in battle formation in front of the camp. Battle having been engaged, the enemy could not for very long endure the attack of our soldiers and they turned their backs.

10. Commissoproeliodiutiusnostrorummilitumimpetumhostesferre non potuerunt ac tergaverterunt. Quos tantospatiosecuti quantum cursu et viribusefficerepotuerunt, complures ex iisocciderunt, deinde omnibus longelatequeaedificiisincensis se in castrareceperunt. And having followed them for as great a distance as they (our men) could accomplish by running and strength, they killed very many of them, then, all the buildings having been burned far and wide, they betook themselves into camp.

11. [36] Eodem die legati ab hostibus missi ad Caesarem de pace venerunt. On the same day ambassadors sent by the enemy came to Caesar concerning a peace treaty.