THE ENEMY BESIEGING THE CAMP ARE REPULSED
Cum iam sex hōrās pugnātum esset ac nōn sōlum vīrēs sed etiam tēla Rōmānōs dēficerent, atque hostēs ācrius instārent, et vāllum scindere fossamque complēre incēpissent, Caesar, vir reī mīlitāris perītissimus, suīs imperāvit ut proelium paulisper intermitterent, et, signō datō, ex castrīs ērumperent. Quod iussī sunt faciunt, et subitō ex omnibus portīs ērumpunt. Atque tam celeriter mīlitēs concurrērunt et tam propinquī erant hostēs ut spatium pīla coniciendī nōn darētur. Itaque reiectīs pīlīs comminus gladiīs pugnātum est. Diū et audācter hostēs restitērunt et in extrēmā spē salūtis tantam virtūtem praestitērunt ut ā dextrō cornū vehementer multitūdine suōrum aciem Rōmanam premerent. Id imperātor cum animadvertisset, Pūblium adulēscentem cum equitātū mīsit quī labōrantibus auxilium daret. Eius impetum sustinēre nōn potuērunt hostēs et omnēs terga vertērunt. Eōs in fugam datōs Pūblius subsecūtus est ūsque ad flūmen Rhēnum, quod ab eō locō quīnque mīlia passuum aberat. Ibi paucī salūtem sibi repperērunt. Omnibus reliquīs interfectīs, Pūblius et equitēs in castra sēsē recēpērunt. Dē hāc calamitāte fīnitimae gentēs cum certiōrēs factae essent, ad Caesarem lēgātōs mīsērunt et sē suaque omnia dēdidērunt.
[1] “Cum iam … Quod iussī sunt faciunt ...”
[i] To what does sex horās refer? (1)
[ii] In what ways were the Romans at a disadvantage? (3)
[iii] What damage were the enemy causing to the Roman defensive works? (2)
[iv] Note and translate the word indicating that the enemy attack was intensifying. (1)
[v] How is Caesar described? (2)
[vi] “Quod iussī sunt faciunt, …”
What had they been ordered to do? (3)
[2] “… et subitō ex omnibus portīs …pugnātum est.”
[i] How does ex omnibus portīs make the action more dramatic? (2)
[ii] “comminus gladiīs pugnātum est”
[a] How did they have fight? (1)
[b] Why was this necessary? (3)
[3] “Diū et audācter … auxilium daret.”
[i] How does this extract convey the resilience of the enemy? (4)
[ii] “Id imperātor cum animadvertisset.”
What had the commander noticed? (3)
[iii] What action did the commander take? (2)
[4] “Eius impetum … omnia dēdidērunt.”
In which order are the following events first referred to?
awareness of the disaster _____
few survivors _____
inability to withstand the attack _____
location of the rhine _____
most killed _____
pursuit of the fleeing enemies _____
return to the camp _____
surrender _____
____________________
[1]
[i] duration of the battle
[ii] lacking in (1) strength (1), and weapons (1)
[iii] had begun to cut through the rampart (1) and fill up the ditch (1)
[iv] ācrius: more fiercely
[v] very skilled (1) in military matters (1)
[vi] stop fighting briefly (1); when the signal was given (1); suddenly sally out from the camp (1)
[2]
[i] ex omnibus portīs: from all the gates (1); the actions are simultaneous / on a large scale / coordinated (any one) (1)
[ii]
[a] hand-to-hand (at close quarters)
[b] they came together so quickly (1) and were at such close quarters (1) that there was no room to throw javelins (1)
[3]
[i] resisted for a long time (1) and boldly (1); showed great courage (1) even in extreme desparation (in the last hope of survival) (1)
[ii] the enemy were strongly pressing the Roman line (1) on the right wing (1) in large numbers (1)
[iii] Sent Publius with the cavalry (1) to give help to those in difficulty (1)
[4]
awareness of the disaster [7]
few survivors [4]
inability to withstand the attack [1]
location of the rhine [3]
most killed [5]
pursuit of the fleeing enemies [2]
return to the camp [6]
surrender [8]
