Helps to Latin Translation at Sight Part 84

13-14. +spoliare cupientem+ = (him, i.e. Ducarius) _wis.h.i.+ng to spoil_ (the consul).

14. +triarii obiectis scutis arcuere+ = _the triarii_ (veterans) _thrusting their s.h.i.+elds in the way kept off_.

This pa.s.sage is quite simple, but it will serve to show you how you may with practice learn to +take the thought in the Latin order+, and to grasp the writer's meaning. All that now remains for you to do is to write out a translation in good English, using short coordinate sentences, each complete in itself, in place of the more involved structure of the original. The following version by the late Professor Jebb will serve as a model:--

They fought for about three hours, and everywhere with desperation.

Around the consul, however, the fight was peculiarly keen and vehement.

He had the toughest troops with him; and he himself, whenever he saw that his men were hard pressed, was indefatigable in coming to the rescue. Distinguished by his equipment, he was a target for the enemy and a rallying-point for the Romans. At last a Lombard trooper, named Ducario, recognising the person as well as the guise of the consul, cried out to his people, 'Here is the man who cut our legions to pieces and sacked our city--now I will give this victim to the shades of our murdered countrymen.' Putting spurs to his horse, he dashed through the thick of the foe. First he cut down the armour-bearer, who had thrown himself in the way of the onset. Then he drove his lance through the consul. He was trying to despoil the corpse, when some veterans screened it with their s.h.i.+elds.

APPENDIX VI

SHORT LIVES OF ROMAN AUTHORS

DECIMUS MAGNUS AUSONIUS, 309-392 A.D.

1. Life.

[Sidenote: AUSONIUS.]

Born at Burdigala (_Bordeaux_), and carefully educated. At the age of thirty appointed professor of rhetoric in his native University, where he became so famous that he was appointed tutor to Gratian, son of the Emperor Valentinian (364-375 A.D.), and was afterwards raised to the highest honours of the State (Consul, 379 A.D.). Theodosius (Emperor of the East, 378-395 A.D.) gave him leave to retire from court to his native country, where he closed his days in an honoured literary retirement.

2. Works.

A very voluminous writer both in prose and verse.

1. Prose: The only extant specimen is his _Gratiarum Actio_ to Gratia.n.u.s for the Consuls.h.i.+p.

2. Verse: Of this we have much: it has little value as poetry, but in point of contents and diction it is interesting and valuable. Some of his _Epigrammata_ and _Epitaphia_ are worth preserving, but his claim to rank as a poet rests on his _Mosella_, a beautiful description of the R.

Moselle, which is worthy to be compared with Pliny's description of the R. c.l.i.tumnus (_Ep._ viii. 8).

'In virtue of this poem Ausonius ranks not merely as the last, or all but the last, of Latin, but as the first of French poets.' --Mackail.

GAIUS JULIUS CAESAR, 102 (or 100?)-44 B.C.

1. Important Events in Caesar's Life.

[Sidenote: CAESAR.]

B.C. 102. Gaius Julius Caesar, nephew of Marius, born July 12th.

83. Marries Cornelia, daughter of Cinna, the friend of Marius.

81-78. Served with distinction in Asia.

76. Studies oratory at Rhodes.

68. Begins his political career as Quaestor, partly at Rome, partly in Spain.

65. Curule Aedile. Incurs enormous debts by his splendid shows.

61. Propraetor in Spain: conquers Lusitanians: ama.s.ses wealth.

60. Coalition of Pompeius, Caesar, and Cra.s.sus: First Triumvirate.

59. Consul. The Leges Iuliae.

58-50. Subjugation of Gaul and two invasions of Britain (55 and 54).

56. Meeting of Triumvirate at Luca.

50. The trouble with Pompeius begins.

49. Crosses the Rubicon. Civil war with Pompeius. Dictator a first time.

48. Pharsalus. Defeats Pompeius. Dictator a second time.

46. Thapsus. Defeats Scipio, Sulla, and Afranius. Declared Dictator for ten years.

45. Munda. Defeats Gn. Pompeius and Labienus. Dictator and Imperator for life.

44. a.s.sa.s.sinated in the Senate House on the Ides of March.

2. Works.

(1) +THE DE BELLO GALLICO.+--This work describes Caesar's operations in Gaul, Germany, and Britain during the years 58-52 B.C., the events of each year occupying a separate Book.

BOOK I. B.C. 58. The Helvetii and Ariovistus the German defeated.

II. 57. The Nervii, the bravest Belgian tribe, almost exterminated.

III. 56. Conquest of the coast tribes of Brittany (Veneti, &c.) and of the South-West (Aquitani).

IV. 55. Inroad of Germans into Northern Gaul repulsed.

Caesar crosses the Rhine a first time. First invasion of Britain.

V. 54. Second invasion of Britain. Fresh risings of the Gauls put down by Labienus and Q. Cicero.

VI. 53. Caesar crosses the Rhine a second time. Northern Gaul reduced to peace.

VII. 52. Uprising of the Gauls under Vercingetorix.

Siege and capture of Alesia. Surrender of Vercingetorix. He is taken in chains to Rome, to adorn Caesar's triumph.

VIII. 51 (added by HIRTIUS). Final subjugation of Gaul.

Caesar's object was threefold:--

(i) To provide materials for professed historians.

(ii) To justify the conquest he describes.

(iii) To vindicate in the eyes of the world his opposition to the Senate and the Government.

(2) +DE BELLO CIVILI.+--This work, in three Books, is similar in plan to the _De Bello Gallico_. It describes the events of the Civil War during the years 49-48 B.C. Book III. ends abruptly with the words:

_Haec initia belli Alexandrini fuerunt._

BOOK I. B.C. 49. Caesar crosses the Rubicon. Follows Pompeius to Brundusium and conquers Afranius in Spain.

II. 49. Caesar takes Ma.s.silia. Submission of Varro in Further Spain. Defeat and death of Curio before Utica.

III. 48. Caesar follows Pompeius into Illyria. The lines of Dyrrachium and the Battle of Pharsalus. The beginning of the Alexandrine War.

(3) +OTHER WORKS.+--All Caesar's other writings (Speeches, Poems, &c.) have been lost, with the exception of a few brief Letters to Cicero.

3. Style.

Remarkable for brevity, directness, and simplicity. The simplest facts told in the simplest way. _Ars est celare artem._