Topic / Level 4; transport [21]; on water [xi] Caesar Dē Bellō Cīvīle (3)

Again, we will consider the two stages of translation.  It is not a question of whether [i] is ‘wrong’ because the first versions still convey the meaning. The focus is, at this level, the skill of achieving greater fluency when necessary and retaining the pace and aggression of the narrative while retaining the meaning. The second translations are subjective i.e. there are other styles or adjustments you may personally prefer.

(5) neque vērō coniūnctī Albīcī comminus pugnandō dēficiēbant neque multum cēdēbant virtūte nostrīs.

[i] Nor indeed did the Albici, (having been) united with them, fail in hand-to-hand fighting, nor did they yield much to ours in valour.

[ii] And the Albici, who had joined them, were neither inadequate in close combat nor far less courageous than our own men.

(6) simul ex minōribus nāvibus magna vīs ēminus missa tēlōrum multa nostrīs dē imprōvīsō imprūdentibus atque inpedītīs vulnera īnferēbant.

[i] At the same time, from the smaller ships, a great force of weapons sent from a distance was inflicting many wounds upon our men unexpectedly, off their guard, and entangled.

[ii] At the same time a great assault of long-range weapons hurled from the smaller vessels suddenly inflicted many wounds on our men – caught off guard and pinned down.

(7) cōnspicātaeque nāvēs trirēmēs duae nāvem D. Brūtī, quae ex īnsignī facile agnōscī poterat, duābus ex partibus sēsē in eam incitāverant.

[i] And two ships with three banks of oars, having spotted the ship of Decimus Brutus, which was able to be easily recognized from its flag, had driven themselves into it from two sides.

[ii] And two triremes, having spotted the ship of Decimus Brutus – easily recognisable by its flag – had charged at it from both sides.  

(8) sed tantum rē prōvīsā Brūtus celeritāte nāvis ēnīsus est ut parvō mōmentō antecēderet.

[i] But with the matter having been foreseen, Brutus, by the swiftness of his ship, so greatly extricated himself that he got ahead for a little moment.

[ii] But Brutus had anticipated this and, thanks to the speed of the ship, made such a great effort to force his way out that, momentarily, he got ahead of them.

(9) illae adeō graviter inter sē incitātae cōnflīxērunt, ut vehementissimē utraque ex concursū labōrārent, altera vērō praefrāctō rōstrō tōta conlabefieret.

[i] Those ships, having been driven forward, collided with each other so heavily that each was very severely afflicted by the impact, and one indeed, with its ram having been broken off, was completely shattered.

[ii] Those ships which had been rapidly moved forward collided so violently with each other that each was very severely damaged from the crash, and one, in fact, its ram broken off, was completely shattered.

(10) quā rē animadversa, quae proximae eī locō ex Brūtī classe nāvēs erant, in eās inpedītās impetum faciunt celeriterque ambās dēprimunt.

[i] With this thing having been noticed, the ships from Brutus's fleet which were closest to that place make an attack upon those hindered ships and quickly sink both.

[ii] And having observed this incident, the ships from Brutus’ fleet which were nearest to that position, launched an attack on those disabled ships, quickly sinking them both.

____________________

And the Albici, who had joined them, were neither inadequate in close combat nor far less courageous than our own men. At the same time a great assault of long-range weapons hurled from the smaller vessels suddenly inflicted many wounds on our men – caught off guard and pinned down. And two triremes, having spotted the ship of Decimus Brutus – easily recognisable by its flag – had charged at it from both sides.  But Brutus had anticipated this and, thanks to the speed of the ship, made such a great effort to force his way out that, momentarily, he got ahead of them. Those ships which had been rapidly moved forward collided so violently with each other that each was very severely damaged from the crash, and one, in fact, its ram broken off, was completely shattered. And having observed this incident, the ships from Brutus’ fleet which were nearest to that position, launched an attack on those disabled ships, quickly sinking them both.

Topic / Level 4; transport [20]; on water [x] Caesar Dē Bellō Cīvīle (2)

The passage continues:

neque vērō coniūnctī Albīcī comminus pugnandō dēficiēbant neque multum cēdēbant virtūte nostrīs. simul ex minōribus nāvibus magna vīs ēminus missa tēlōrum multa nostrīs dē imprōvīsō imprūdentibus atque inpedītīs vulnera īnferēbant. cōnspicātaeque nāvēs trirēmēs duae nāvem D. Brūtī, quae ex īnsignī facile agnōscī poterat, duābus ex partibus sēsē in eam incitāverant. sed tantum rē prōvīsā Brūtus celeritāte nāvis ēnīsus est ut parvō mōmentō antecēderet. illae adeō graviter inter sē incitātae cōnflīxērunt, ut vehementissimē utraque ex concursū labōrārent, altera vērō praefrāctō rōstrō tōta conlabefieret. quā rē animadversa, quae proximae eī locō ex Brūtī classe nāvēs erant, in eās inpedītās impetum faciunt celeriterque ambās dēprimunt.

[i]

concursus, -us [4/m]: collision; crash; impact

īnsigne, -is [3/n]: insignia; standard; distinguishing mark

rōstrum, -ī [2/n]: ram; battering ram; beak of a ship

trirēmis, -is [3/f]: trireme; warship with three banks of oars

[ii]

conflīgō, conflīgere, conflīxī, conflīctus [3]: to collide; clash; strike together

conlabefīō, conlabefierī, conlabefactus sum [3]: to be completely shattered; break down; collapse

dēprimō, dēprimere, dēpressī, dēpressus [3]: to weigh down; sink

ēnītor, ēnītī, ēnīsus sum [3/dep]: to strain; force one's way out; struggle

coniūnctus, -a, -um: joined together; acting in concert; united

[iii]

imprūdēns, imprūdentis: off guard; unaware; unsuspecting

inpedītus, -a, -um: pinned down; hampered; disabled; entangled

praefrāctus, -a, -um: broken off in front; shattered

[iv]

comminus: at close quarters; hand-to-hand

ēminus: from a distance; from afar; at long range

dē imprōvīsō: unexpectedly; suddenly

(5) neque vērō coniūnctī Albīcī comminus pugnandō dēficiēbant neque multum cēdēbant virtūte nostrīs.

(6) simul ex minōribus nāvibus magna vīs ēminus missa tēlōrum multa nostrīs dē imprōvīsō imprūdentibus atque inpedītīs vulnera īnferēbant.

(7) cōnspicātaeque nāvēs trirēmēs duae nāvem D. Brūtī, quae ex īnsignī facile agnōscī poterat, duābus ex partibus sēsē in eam incitāverant.

(8) sed tantum rē prōvīsā Brūtus celeritāte nāvis ēnīsus est ut parvō mōmentō antecēderet.

(9) illae adeō graviter inter sē incitātae cōnflīxērunt, ut vehementissimē utraque ex concursū labōrārent, altera vērō praefrāctō rōstrō tōta conlabefieret.

(10) quā rē animadversa, quae proximae eī locō ex Brūtī classe nāvēs erant, in eās inpedītās impetum faciunt celeriterque ambās dēprimunt.

Identify the sections of the passage (5) – (10) which refer to:

a shattered ship _____

a specific type of ship _____

a violent collision _____

anticipating actions _____

attacking from two sides _____

broken battering ram _____

catching sight of a ship _____

caught off guard _____

close combat _____

displays of courage _____

identifying a ship by its standard _____

long-range weapons _____

many wounded men _____

nearby ships _____

sinking ships _____

smaller vessels _____

using the speed of the ship _____

____________________

a shattered ship: 9; tōta conlabefieret

a specific type of ship: 7; nāvēs trirēmēs

a violent collision: 9; graviter inter sē … cōnflīxērunt

anticipating actions: 8; rē prōvīsā

attacking from two sides: 7; duābus ex partibus sēsē in eam incitāverant

broken battering ram: 9; praefrāctō rōstrō

catching sight of a ship: 7;  cōnspicātaeque … nāvem

caught off guard: 6; imprūdentibus

close combat: 5; comminus pugnandō

displays of courage: 5;  neque multum cēdēbant virtūte

identifying a ship by its standard:  7; ex īnsignī … agnōscī poterat

long-range weapons: 6; … ēminus missa tēlōrum

many wounded men: 6;  multa nostrīs … vulnera īnferēbant

nearby ships: 10;  proximae eī locō … nāvēs erant

sinking ships: 10;  ambās dēprimunt

smaller vessels: 6;  ex minōribus nāvibus

using the speed of the ship: 8;  celeritāte nāvis

Topic / Level 4; transport [19]; on water [ix] Caesar Dē Bellō Cīvīle (1)

This excerpt from Caesar’s Dē Bellō Cīvīle is a good example of the ‘two stages’ of translation:

dīductīsque nostrīs paulātim nāvibus et artificiō gubernātōrum et mōbilitātī nāvium locus dabātur, et sīquandō nostrī facultātem nactī ferreīs manibus iniectīs nāvem religāverant, undique suīs labōrantibus succurrēbant.

[i] begin with as literal a translation as possible even if that first stage is clumsy

[ii] then picture in your mind what exactly is happening and rework the Latin so that it still retains the meaning but reads fluently in your own language; the translations marked [ii] are suggested because there can be various ways in which the meaning can be conveyed.

(1) dīductīsque nostrīs paulātim nāvibus

[i] ablative absolute; literally: with our ships having been gradually separated

> [ii] our ships being / since our ships were at some distance from each other

(2) et artificiō gubernātōrum et mōbilitātī nāvium locus dabātur,

[i] and ‘opportunity’ was given both to the skill of the pilots and the mobility of the ships;

• Some translations translate locus as ‘opportunity’ which is a possible meaning. However, Caesar is describing the advantage of the ships’ physical location:

[ii] room was allowed for both the skill of their pilots and the maneuvering of their ships

• i.e. now that the ships are physically apart, they are no longer in danger of fouling each other's oars or colliding with friendly vessels, which is exactly what allows the pilots to display their skill.

(3) et sīquandō nostrī ¦ facultātem nactī ¦ ferreīs manibus iniectīs ¦ nāvem religāverant, …

[i] and if ever ours, ¦ having obtained the opportunity, ¦ with iron hands having been cast in, ¦ had bound a ship fast …

[ii] and if at any time our men, once they had gained an advantage and had laid hold of a ship by casting iron grappling hooks on board …

• manus, -ūs [4/f]: although the most immediate rendering of the noun is ‘hand’, Wiktionary, for example, lists seventeen possible translations depending upon context, one of which is “(military, nautical) grappling hooks used to snare enemy vessels”.
• ‘laid hold’ arguably conveys a greater sense of aggression and capture

(4) undique suīs labōrantibus succurrēbant.

[i] from all sides they were running to help their own struggling.

[ii] they would run / they would start running from every direction to help their own men who were in distress

• Bear in mind that the imperfect tense in Latin can convey more than “was / were doing something”:

(a) frequentative: an action that happened repeatedly

(b) inceptive: the beginning of an action

Therefore, succurēbant could translate here as: “They would start running …” which reflects both the frequentative and inceptive ideas.

In a sense, a final ‘pass’ is less about the Latin but rather the way in which the passage reads in your own language. You may even at that stage consider alternative expressions.

Since our ships were at some distance from each other, room was allowed [or: there was enough room] for both the skill of their pilots and the maneuvering of their ships, and if at any time our men, once they had gained an advantage and laid hold of [or: snared] a ship by casting iron grappling hooks on board, they would start running from every direction to help their own men who were in distress.

Level 3+ (review); a Second Latin Reader (Vincent) [24]: Caesar at Bibrax

Ab hīs castrīs oppidum Rēmōrum Bibrax aberat octō mīlia passuum. Id ex itinere magnō impetū Belgae oppugnāre coepērunt. Gallōrum eadem atque Belgārum oppugnātiō est haec: circumiēctā multitūdine hominum tōtīs moenibus undique in mūrum lapidēs iaciēbantur, et mūrus dēfēnsōribus nūdābātur; testūdine factā portās succēdunt mūrumque subruunt. Quod tum facile fīēbat. Iccius igitur, quī tum oppidō praefuerat, ad Caesarem nuntium mīsit, quī auxilium peteret.

[1] connecting relative

Quod tum facile fīēbat | (and) this was easily done at that time; quod refers back to the content of the previous sentence and not to a specific noun

24.12.26: Level 3+ (review); Dooge LXXV [2] connecting relative

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2026/06/241226-level-3-review-dooge-lxxv-2.html

[2] ablative of separation

mūrus dēfēnsōribus nūdābātur | the wall was stripped of its defenders

17.06.25: Level 3;  summary of the uses of the ablative case [15]: the ablative of separation

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/170625-level-3-summary-of-of-uses-of.html

[3] verbs with the dative case

quī tum oppidō praefuerat | who had been in command of the town at that time

13.04.25: Level 3; Verbs with the dative case [1]: compound verbs

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/130425-level-3-verbs-with-dative-case-1.html

[4] Translate the full phrases and identify the constructions in bold.

[a]

circumiēctā multitūdine hominum tōtīs moenibus

testūdine factā portās succēdunt

[b]

ad Caesarem nuntium mīsit, quī auxilium peteret

[5] What is a testūdō?

____________________

[4]

[a]

Once a large number of men had been placed around all the fortifications …; ablative absolute

After a testudo formation has been made, they advance towards the gates; ablative absolute

[b] (he) sent a messenger to Caesar to seek help; subjunctive of purpose

[5] Roman military tactic involving a formation of soldiers using shields to form a tortoise-shell-like protection against enemy weapons

Bibrax, a town of the Remi, was eight miles away from this camp. The Belgae began to storm it directly from their march with a powerful assault. The method of attack used by both the Gauls and the Belgae is the same, as follows: once a large number of men had been placed around all the fortifications, stones were being hurled onto the wall from all sides, and the wall was being stripped of defenders; then, once a testudo formation has been formed, they advance toward the gates and undermine the wall. And this was easily done at that time. Therefore Iccius, who had been in command of the town at that time, sent a messenger to Caesar to seek help.

Topic / Level 4; transport [18]; on water [viii] Cicero on the interpretation of maritime law (2)

PART ONE

[1] Duo quīdam, cum iam in altō nāvigārent, [subjunctive: circumstantial]

• Two men, when they were sailing on the open sea

[2] et cum eōrum alterīus nāvis, alterīus onus esset, [subjunctive: circumstantial]

• and when the ship belonged to one of them and the cargo to another,

[3] naufragum quendam natantem et manūs ad sē tendentem animum advertērunt [present active participles];

• noticed a (certain) shipwrecked man swimming and holding out his hands to them;

[4] misericordiā commōtī  [perfect passive participle]

• (Having been) moved by pity …

[5] … nāvem ad eum adplicārunt,  [adplicārunt: syncopated verb form = adplicāvērunt]

• they brought the ship alongside him

[6] hominem ad sē sustulērunt.

• (and) took the man aboard [literally: they raised the man up to themselves]

PART TWO

In the following section two subjunctive types are being used:

[7] posteā aliquantō ipsōs quoque tempestās vehementius iactāre coepit,

• A little afterwards the storm also began to toss them about very violently

[8] usque adeō, ut dominus nāvis,

• to such a degree that the owner of the ship,

usque adeō, ut … introduces clauses of result; in Cicero’s scenario those results extend over several clauses (in italics) i.e. the acts of [A] taking refuge, [B] attempting to steer the ship and [C] falling upon the sword were results of the storm

[9] cum īdem gubernātor esset,

• since he was also the pilot,

The subjunctive clause here is a separate statement not related to result but to circumstances.

[10] in scapham cōnfugeret [A]

• took refuge in a little boat

[11] et inde fūniculō,

• and from there, by a rope,

[12] quī ā puppī religātus scapham adnexam trahēbat,

• which towed the little boat (that was) tied to the stern,

[13] nāvī, quod posset, moderārētur, [B]

• he guided the ship as best he could,

[14] ille autem, cuius mercēs erant,

• but the man to whom the cargo belonged,

[15] in gladium in nāvī ibīdem incumberet. [C]

• threw himself upon his sword right there on the ship.

PART THREE

[16] hīc ille naufragus ad gubernāculum accessit  

• Then the shipwrecked man went to the steering-oar / helm

[17] et nāvī, quod potuit, est opitulātus.

• and assisted the ship as best he could.

[18] Sēdātis autem flūctibus [ablative absolute; literally: with the waves having been calmed]

• But after the waves had subsided,

[19] et tempestāte iam commūtātā [ablative absolute; literally: with the storm having now been changed]

• and the storm had passed over,

[20] nāvis in portum pervehitur.

• The ship was brought into harbour.

[21] ille autem, quī in gladium incubuerat,

• But the man who had fallen on his sword,

[22] leviter saucius

• (was) slightly wounded,

[23] facile ex vulnere est recreātus.

• easily recovered from his wound.

[24] nāvem cum onere hōrum trium suam quisque esse dīcit.

• Each one of these three men said that the ship with the cargo was his own.

Cicero introduces the scenario with a legal statute. In reality, however, he constructs the case so that all three men may have a plausible claim to the ship and its cargo.

The key issue in the law is abandonment.

[1] Did the owner of the ship technically abandon it? He took refuge in a small boat which was attached to the ship and, from there, attempted to guide it. In other words, could the scapha itself be considered part of the ship?

[2] The owner of the cargo attempted to commit suicide, thereby effectively abandoning any responsibility for the control of the vessel. Does that mean that he forfeited his claim?

[3] The rescued man remained on the ship itself, took the helm and steered the vessel safely into harbour. Does that mean that he became its legal owner?

The beauty of the exercise is that none of these questions has an obvious answer. The case is not really about maritime law at all; it is a demonstration that legal outcomes often depend not on disputed facts, but on disputed definitions of words.

Topic / Level 4; transport [17]; on water [vii] Cicero on the interpretation of maritime law (1)

Cicero: dē inventiōne

Here, Cicero is discussing a law:

QUĪ IN ADVERSĀ TEMPESTĀTE NĀVEM RELĪQUERINT, OMNIA ĀMITTUNTŌ; EŌRUM NĀVIS ET ONERA SUNTŌ, QUĪ IN NĀVE REMĀNSERINT.

Whoever in a severe tempest desert their ship shall forfeit all of their property; the ship and the cargo shall belong to those men who remain on the ship.

āmittuntō and suntō are examples of future active imperatives:

In a sense, the term ‘future active imperative’ is a misnomer since, by its very nature, a command has not yet happened and, therefore, must happen in the future. However, the idea behind this imperative is reference to an action to be done distinctly in the future as opposed to, for example, dā mihi pecūniam │ give me the money, where the command is referring to now. Equally, the future active imperative can refer to something in general that should always be done. The key point is that neither action is immediately fulfilled. English has no equivalent of these imperatives, but it can convey a difference: “Send him that message” (now), as opposed to “Make sure you get that message sent” (at some point).

This imperative form is appropriate here since Cicero is referring to a law which is not ordering anyone to lose his property now; rather, it prescribes what is to happen whenever the stated condition is fulfilled.

3.10.25: Level 3; Artayctēs [3]; [i] syncopated verbs forms; [ii] the future active imperative

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/07/131025-level-3-artayctes-3-i-syncopated.html

Cicero discusses the way in which that law can be interpreted by different interested parties:

Duo quīdam, cum iam in altō nāvigārent, et cum eōrum alterīus nāvis, alterīus onus esset, naufragum quendam natantem et manūs ad sē tendentem animum advertērunt; misericordiā commōtī nāvem ad eum adplicārunt, hominem ad sē sustulērunt. posteā aliquantō ipsōs quoque tempestās vehementius iactāre coepit, usque adeō, ut dominus nāvis, cum īdem gubernātor esset, in scapham cōnfugeret et inde fūniculō, quī ā puppī religātus scapham adnexam trahēbat, nāvī, quod posset, moderārētur, ille autem, cuius mercēs erant, in gladium in nāvī ibīdem incumberet. hīc ille naufragus ad gubernāculum accessit et nāvī, quod potuit, est opitulātus. Sēdātis autem flūctibus et tempestāte iam commūtātā nāvis in portum pervehitur. ille autem, quī in gladium incubuerat, leviter saucius facile ex vulnere est recreātus. nāvem cum onere hōrum trium suam quisque esse dīcit.

altum, -ī [2/n]: the open sea

dominus, -ī [2/m]: owner; master

flūctus, -ūs [4/m]: wave

fūniculus, -ī [2/m]: rope; cord

gubernāculum, -ī [2/n]: steering-oar; rudder

gubernātor, -ōris [3/m]: pilot; helmsman

merx, mercis [3/f]: merchandise; goods; cargo

naufragus, -ī [2/m]: shipwrecked man

nāvis, -is [3/f]: ship

onus, oneris [3/n]: load; cargo

portus, -ūs [4/m]: harbour; port

scapha, -ae [1/f]: small boat; skiff

tempestās, -ātis [3/f]: storm

(an-) adnectō, -ere, adnexuī, adnexus [3] bind / tie to

(ap-) adplicō, -āre, adplicāvī / adplicuī, adplicātus / applicitus: (here) bring nearer

natō, -āre [1]: swim

iactō, -āre [1]: toss about

religō, -āre [1]: tie; fasten

moderor, -ārī [1/dep]: guide; steer

opitulor, -ārī [1/dep]: assist; help

Exercise

Three men are referred to in this scenario:

A: the owner of the ship

B: the owner of the cargo

C: a shipwrecked man

To which of these men do the following statements refer? Tick A, B or C. Some may refer to more than one man.

____________________

(1) A; (2) C; (3) A, B, C; (4) C; (5) A, B; (6) B; (7) B; (8) A; (9) C; (10) A; (11) B; (12) C

Level 4; literature; Mediaeval; Gesta Rōmānōrum; Dē sequendā ratiōne [3]

[5]

Ait pater: "Quandō prius dīxistī, quod obligāta iūrāmentō fuistī etc., tāle obligāmentum nōn valet, quia praetendit ad malum fīnem, scīlicet ad mortem. Iūrāmentum semper dēbet esse ratiōnābile et ideō iūrāmentum tuum nūllum est.

Ad aliam ratiōnem, quandō dīxistī, quod istud est commendābile, quod uxor moriātur prō virō, nōn valet, quia, licet sint ūnum in corpore per carnālem affectiōnem, tamen in animā duo sunt, quae abinvicem reāliter differunt. Et ideō nōn valet, quod allēgāstī." Puella haec audiēns nōn poterat ulterius arguere, sed dictīs patris adhaesit, nec ulterius sē ipsam praecipitāre volēbat, nec amplius virō suō cōpulārī.

(1) “Ait pater … nūllum est.”

[a] Why does her father reject her view of an oath?

[b] What is his interpretation?

(2) “Ad aliam … cōpulārī.”

[i]

[a] Translate: … licet sint ūnum in corpore per carnālem affectiōnem, tamen in animā duo sunt, …

[b] Explain the use of the subjunctive.

[ii] Et ideō nōn valet, quod allēgāstī

The word in bold is an example of a syncopated verb form. Explain the meaning of the term.

[iii] dictīs patris adhaesit:

Identify the case of the noun in bold and explain why it is being used here.

____________________

[5]

(1)

[a] it is directed towards an evil end, namely death.

[b] an oath must always be reasonable

 

(2)

[i]

[a] Although they are one in body through physical affection, nevertheless they are two in soul.

[b] concessive clause introduced by licet [ = although]

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/subjunctive%3A%20concessive%20clauses

[ii] a syncopated form is one where letters or syllables have been omitted; allēgāstī is shortened from allēgāvistī

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/syncopated%20verb%20forms

[iii] dative plural; adhaereō takes the dative; she adhered to [ = accepted] her father’s words

____________________

[5]

The father said: “Since you said earlier that you were bound by an oath, etc., such an obligation is not valid, because it tends towards an evil end, namely death. An oath must always be reasonable, and therefore your oath is invalid.

As for the other argument, when you said that it is praiseworthy that a wife should die for her husband, it is not valid, because, although they are one in body through physical affection, nevertheless in soul they are two, which differ from one another in reality. And therefore what you have argued is not valid.”

The girl, hearing this, could no longer argue further, but she adhered to her father’s words; and she no longer wished either to throw herself down again or to be united with her husband.