The Camps │ Castra
Expeditiōne susceptā, castra locantur et tentōria linteīs vel strāmentīs pāxillīs figuntur; eaque, sēcūritātis grātiā, aggeribus et fossīs circumdantur; excubiae constituuntur et explōrātōrēs ēmittuntur; excursiōnēs fiunt pābulātiōnis et praedae causā, ubi saepius cōnflīgitur cum hostibus vēlitandō; tentōrium summī imperātōris est in mediō castrōrum.
When a campaign has been undertaken, the camp is set up and the tents of canvas or straw are fastened with stakes; they are surrounded, for the sake of security, with earthworks and ditches. Sentinels are posted and scouts are sent out. Raids are made for the sake of foraging and plunder, where they often clash by skirmishing [ = in skirmishes] with the enemy. The commander’s pavilion* is in the middle of the camp.
*Engl. pavilion: an ‘ornate’ tent i.e. (in this context) one that stands out as being of greater importance
agger, -is [3/m]: earthwork, especially defensive ramparts, dykes, dams, causeways, and piers
castra, -ōrum [2/n/pl]: camp; Latin uses a plural noun to express the idea
castrum, -ī [2/n] i.e. the singular noun is a fort, fortress or castle; more common is castellum, -ī [2/n]
excubiae, -ārum [1/f/pl]: the ‘guard’ i.e. a group of people keeping watch
fossa, -ae [1/f]: ditch
linteum, -ī [2/n]: linen; canvas; bedsheet; (naval) sail
pāxillus, -ī [2/m]: small stake; peg; pin
praeda, -ae [1/f]: [i] plunder, booty, spoils of war [ii] prey, game (in a hunt)
strāmentum, -ī [2/n]: straw
tentōrium, -ī [2/n]: tent
also: tabernāculum, -ī [2/n]: tent; the Biblical term ‘tabernacle’ refers to the portable tent used before the construction of the temple
- mēnse prīmō diē prīmā mēnsis ērigēs tabernāculum testimōniī (Vulgate) │ The first month, the first day of the month, you shall set up the tabernacle of the testimony
- circumdabisque ātrium tentōriīs (Vulgate) │ And you shall surround the court with hangings
vēlitor, -ārī, vēlitātus sum [1/dep]: skirmish
Notes:
[1] a brief reminder: while not all 3rd declension nouns have regular stem changes, there are certain endings which do have patterns:
[i] -tās > -tātis
- sēcūritās, sēcūritātis
[ii] -(s/t)iō > -(s/t)iōn¦is
- excursiō, excursiōnis [3/f]: sally; sortie; raid
- expedītiō, expedītiōnis [3/f]: expedition; military campaign
- pābulātiō, pābulātiōnis [3/f]: foraging; gathering fodder
crēbrās ex oppidō excursiōnēs faciēbant (Caesar)
Omnīs nostrās pābulātiōnēs frūmentātiōnēsque observābat (Caesar)
[iii] -tor > -tōr¦is
- explōrātor, explōrātōris [3/m]: scout; explorer; spy
- imperātor, imperātōris [3/m]: commander
[2]
cōnflīgō, -ere, cōnflīxī, cōnflīctus [3]:
saepius cōnflīgitur │ ‘they’ often clash
This is an example of an impersonal passive that can be used to focus on the action rather than the people who are performing it. More information is given here:
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/120126-level-3-language-review-labours.html
English can convey a similar impersonal idea although in a different way from Latin: there’s a fight / fighting going on outside; ‘people’ are fighting outside.
From Comenius:
In sphaeristēriō lūditur pilā │ in a tennis court they play with a ball
Ergō ex omnibus locīs urbis in forum curritur (Livy) │ Therefore, from all parts of the city people are running into the forum
Macte novā virtūte, puer: Sīc ītur ad astra (Vergil) │ Be blessed in your new courage, boy; this is the way to the stars / one goes to … [literally: In this way it is being gone …]
[3] expeditiōne ¦ susceptā; ablative absolute; literally: with a campaign ¦ having been undertaken = When a campaign has been undertaken
https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/ablative%20absolute
