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.

Level 3+ (review); a Second Latin Reader (Vincent) [23]: The advance against the Belgae

Hīs nuntiīs litterīsque mōtus Caesar duās legiōnēs in citeriōre Galliā novās cōnscrīpsit atque Quintum Pedium lēgātum mīsit quī in interiōrem Galliam dūceret. Ipse, ubi prīmum frūmentī cōpia esse coepit, ad exercitum vēnit. Dat imperāta Senonibus reliquīsque Gallīs, quī fīnitimī Belgīs erant, ut cognōscant atque sē dē hīs rēbus certiōrem faciant. Hī omnēs nuntiāvērunt manūs cōgī, exercitum in ūnum locum dūcī. Rē frūmentāriā comparātā castra movet et diēbus quindecim ad fīnēs Belgārum pervenit. Rēmī, quī proximī Galliae ex Belgīs sunt, ad eum lēgātōs mīsērunt, quī dīcerent sē imperāta Caesaris esse factūrōs.

[1] subjunctive usage

(1) purpose:

quī + subjunctive; when the focus is on a person who is to perform the action

… Quintum Pedium lēgātum mīsit quī in interiōrem Galliam dūceret.

… and sent Quintus Pedius, his envoy, to lead [literally: who would lead] (them) into interior Gaul.

ad eum lēgātōs mīsērunt, quī dīcerent …

… (they) sent envoys to him to say [literally: who would say]

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2026/02/180526-level-3-subjunctive-38-dependent.html

(2) indirect command:

Dat imperāta Senonibus reliquīsque Gallīs … ut cognōscant atque sē … certiōrem faciant.

He gives orders to the Senones and the remaining Gauls … to find out [literally: in order that they may find out…] and to inform him [literally: in order that they may make him more certain]

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2026/02/050526-level-3-subjunctive-32-dependent.html

[2] indirect statement

(1) Hī omnēs [i] nuntiāvērunt ¦ [ii] manūs [iii] cōgī, ¦ [ii] exercitum in ūnum locum [iii] dūcī.

They all [i] reported ¦ that [ii] bands (of men) [iii] were being collected ¦ (and) that [ii] an army [iii] was being led into one place.

06.01.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [7]; the present passive infinitive

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/10/060126-level-3-indirect-statement.html

(2) ad eum lēgātōs mīsērunt, [i] quī dīcerent ¦ [ii] sē imperāta Caesaris [iii] esse factūrōs

… (they) sent envoys to him [i] to say ¦ [ii] that they [iii] would do / were going to do Caesar’s commands

02.02.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [18]; future active infinitive

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/020226-level-3-indirect-statement.html

02.02.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [19]; future active infinitive: practice (1)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/020226-level-3-indirect-statement_14.html

05.02.26: Level 3; indirect statement; the accusative-infinitive [20]; future active infinitive: practice (2)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/050226-level-3-indirect-statement.html

[3] ablative absolute

rē frūmentāriā comparātā | with the grain supply having been procured

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/ablative%20absolute

____________________

Moved by these reports and letters, Caesar enrolled two new legions in hither Gaul, and sent Quintus Pedius, his envoy, to lead them into interior Gaul. He himself, as soon as a supply of grain began to be available, came to the army. He gives orders to the Senones and the remaining Gauls, who were neighbours to the Belgae, to find out and (to) inform him about these matters. They all reported that bands of men were being collected and that an army was being led into one place. After the grain supply has been procured, he moves camp and within fifteen days arrives at the borders of the Belgae. The Remi, who are the closest of the Belgae to Gaul, sent envoys to him to say that they would do Caesar's commands.

Level 4; literature; Mediaeval; Gesta Rōmānōrum; Dē sequendā ratiōne [2]

[3]

At illa: "Nōlō, et hoc per tālem ratiōnem probō. Cum autem quis iūrāmentō est obligātus, tenētur adimplēre. Ego iūrāvī virō meō, quod prō eius amōre mē ipsam occīderem. Ideō nōn dēlīquī, sī iūrāmentum implēre volō; ergō extrā societātem tuam nōn dēbeō expellī. Item nūllus dēbet pūnīrī prō eō, quod est commendābile. Sed cum vir et uxor sint ūnum in carne secundum deum, commendābile est, quod uxor prō amōre virī suī moriātur.

[i] In what order are the following statements first made?

a praiseworthy action

details of the oath itself

has done no wrong

husband and wife united before god

obligation to fulfil an oath

refusal to agree

should not be exiled

should not be punished

[ii] Translate: Sed cum vir et uxor sint ūnum in carne secundum deum, commendābile est, quod uxor prō amōre virī suī moriātur.

[iii] What type of word are both expellī and pūnīrī?

[4]

“Unde in Indiā aliquandō erat lēx, quod uxor post mortem virī suī prae dolōre et amōre sē ipsam combūrere dēbēret, vel vīva cum eō in sepulcrum pōnī. Et ideō, ut mihi vidētur, nōn dēlīquī, quandō mē ipsam interficiō propter amōrem virī meī."

“Et ideō, ut mihi vidētur, nōn dēlīquī, quandō mē ipsam interficiō propter amōrem virī meī.”

What explanation does she give for this?

____________________

[3]

[i]

a praiseworthy action [7]

details of the oath itself [3]

has done no wrong [4]

husband and wife united before god [8]

obligation to fulfil an oath [2]

refusal to agree [1]

should not be exiled [5]

should not be punished [6]

[ii] But since husband and wife are one flesh according to God, it is praiseworthy for a wife to die out of love for her husband.

[iii] present passive infinitives

[4]

In India there was once a law requiring a wife, after her husband's death, either to burn herself out of grief and love or to be placed alive with him in the tomb.

____________________

[3]

But she said: “I do not wish to [agree], and I prove this by the following reasoning. When, however, someone is bound by an oath, he is obliged to fulfil it. I swore to my husband that I would kill myself out of love for him. Therefore, I have done no wrong, if I wish to fulfil my oath; therefore, I should not be expelled from your community. Likewise, no one should be punished for that which is praiseworthy. But since husband and wife are one flesh according to God, it is praiseworthy that a wife should die out of love for her husband.”

[4]

“Concerning this, at one time in India there was a law that a wife, after the death of her husband, should burn herself because of grief and love, or be placed alive with him in the tomb. And therefore, as it seems to me, I have done no wrong when I kill myself because of my love for my husband.”

Topic / Level 4; transport [16]; on water [vi] vocabulary review; parts of a ship

[1] Match the English and the Latin

[2] Label the images:

āncora, -ae [1/f]

antenna, -ae [1/f]

aplustre, -is [3/n]

carīna, -ae [1/f]

forus, -ī [2/m]

fūnis, -is [3/m]

gubernāculum, -ī [2/n]

mālus, -ī [2/n]

prōra, -ae [1/f]

puppis, -is [3/f]

rēmus, -ī [2/m]

rōstrum, -ī [2/n]

vēlum, -ī [2/n]

vēxillum, -ī [2/n]

____________________