Caesar plans to come to the aid of Cicero (2)

Question 1

quanto erat in dies gravior atque asperior oppugnatio,

Answer 1

The attack became much more serious and rougher by the day,

Question 2

et maxime quod magna parte militum confecta vulneribus

Answer 2

and very much so because a large part of the soldiers had been exhausted by their wounds

Question 3

res ad paucitatem defensorum pervenerat,

Answer 3

The matter had resulted in (arrived at) a small number of defenders,

Question 4

tanto crebriores litterae nuntiique ad Caesarem mittebantur

Answer 4

and so much more frequent letters and messengers were being sent to Caesar;

Question 5

quorum pars deprehensa in conspectu nostrorum militum

Answer 5

some of them were caught in sight of our soldiers

Question 6

cum cruciatu necabatur.

Answer 6

and were killed by torture.

Question 7

erat unus intus Nervius nomine Vertico, loco natus honesto,

Answer 7

There was one (man) inside (the camp), a Nervian named Verticus, born in a high-ranking position,

Question 8

qui a prima obsidione ad Ciceronem perfugerat,

Answer 8

who had escaped to Cicero at the start of the siege,

Question 9

suamque ei fidem praestiterat.

Answer 9

and had shown his loyalty to him.

Question 10

hic servo spe libertatis magnisque persuadet praemiis

Answer 10

He (Verticus) persuaded* a slave with hope of freedom and great rewards

Question 11

ut litteras ad Caesarem deferat

Answer 11

to take a letter to Caesar.

Question 12

has ille in iaculo inligatas effert et Gallus inter Gallos

Answer 12

He carried* it tied to a javelin, and moving about* (as) a Gaul among Gauls

Question 13

sine ulla suspicione versatus* ad Caesarem pervenit.

Answer 13

He reached Caesar without any suspicion.

Question 14

ab eo de periculis Ciceronis legionisque cognoscitur.

Answer 14

From him they learned* of the dangers to Cicero and the legion.

Question 15

venit magnis itineribus in Nerviorum fines.

Answer 15

He came from his great journey into the territory of the Nervi.

Question 16

ibi ex captivis cognoscit quae apud Ciceronem gerantur,

Answer 16

There he found out from the captives what was happening in Cicero’s camp/ with Cicero,

Question 17

quantoque in* periculo res sit.

Answer 17

and how dangerous the matter was.

Question 18

tum cuidam ex equitibus Gallis magnis praemiis persuadet

Answer 18

Then he persuaded one of the Gallic cavalry with great rewards

Question 19

uti ad Ciceronem epistolam deferat.

Answer 19

to take a letter to Cicero.

Question 20

hanc Graecis conscriptam litteris mittit,

Answer 20

He sent it written in Greek letters,

Question 21

ne intercepta epistola nostra ab hostibus consilia cognoscantur.

Answer 21

so that (our) plans would not be found out by the enemy if our letter was intercepted.

Question 22

si adire non possit, monet ut tragulam cum epistola

Answer 22

If he could not arrive there, he advised (him) to throw a spear with the letter

Question 23

ad ammentum deligata intro munitionem castrorum abiciat.

Answer 23

fastened to a strap inside the fortifications of the camp.

Question 24

in litteris scribit se cum legionibus profectum celeriter adfore

Answer 24

He wrote in his letter* that he would be there quickly, having set out with his legions;

Question 25

hortatur ut pristinam virtutem retineat.

Answer 25

He encouraged (him) to keep his former bravery.

Question 26

Gallus periculum veritus, ut erat praeceptum, tragulam mittit.

Answer 26

The Gaul, fearing the danger, threw the spear as he had been ordered.

Question 27

haec* casu ad turrim adhaesit neque ab nostris

Answer 27

By chance the spear* stuck to the tower, nor was it sighted

Question 28

biduo animadversa tertio die a quodam milite conspicitur

Answer 28

for two days, but it was noticed by a certain soldier on the third day,

Question 29

dempta ad Ciceronem defertur.

Answer 29

it was taken down and brought to Cicero.

Question 30

ille perlectam in conventu militum recitat,

Answer 30

He (Cicero) read out the report in the assembly of soldiers,

Question 31

maximaque omnes laetitia adficit.

Answer 31

and inspired everyone with the greatest happiness.

Question 32

tum fumi incendiorum procul videbantur,

Answer 32

Then the smoke of fires was seen from afar,

Question 33

quae res omnem dubitationem adventus legionum expulit.

Answer 33

This event drove away all doubt of the legions’ arrival.