Caesar plans to come to the aid of Cicero (2) Flashcards
quanto erat in dies gravior atque asperior oppugnatio,
The attack became much more serious and rougher by the day,
et maxime quod magna parte militum confecta vulneribus
and very much so because a large part of the soldiers had been exhausted by their wounds
res ad paucitatem defensorum pervenerat,
The matter had resulted in (arrived at) a small number of defenders,
tanto crebriores litterae nuntiique ad Caesarem mittebantur
and so much more frequent letters and messengers were being sent to Caesar;
quorum pars deprehensa in conspectu nostrorum militum
some of them were caught in sight of our soldiers
cum cruciatu necabatur.
and were killed by torture.
erat unus intus Nervius nomine Vertico, loco natus honesto,
There was one (man) inside (the camp), a Nervian named Verticus, born in a high-ranking position,
qui a prima obsidione ad Ciceronem perfugerat,
who had escaped to Cicero at the start of the siege,
suamque ei fidem praestiterat.
and had shown his loyalty to him.
hic servo spe libertatis magnisque persuadet praemiis
He (Verticus) persuaded* a slave with hope of freedom and great rewards
ut litteras ad Caesarem deferat
to take a letter to Caesar.
has ille in iaculo inligatas effert et Gallus inter Gallos
He carried* it tied to a javelin, and moving about* (as) a Gaul among Gauls
sine ulla suspicione versatus* ad Caesarem pervenit.
He reached Caesar without any suspicion.
ab eo de periculis Ciceronis legionisque cognoscitur.
From him they learned* of the dangers to Cicero and the legion.
venit magnis itineribus in Nerviorum fines.
He came from his great journey into the territory of the Nervi.
ibi ex captivis cognoscit quae apud Ciceronem gerantur,
There he found out from the captives what was happening in Cicero’s camp/ with Cicero,
quantoque in* periculo res sit.
and how dangerous the matter was.
tum cuidam ex equitibus Gallis magnis praemiis persuadet
Then he persuaded one of the Gallic cavalry with great rewards
uti ad Ciceronem epistolam deferat.
to take a letter to Cicero.
hanc Graecis conscriptam litteris mittit,
He sent it written in Greek letters,
ne intercepta epistola nostra ab hostibus consilia cognoscantur.
so that (our) plans would not be found out by the enemy if our letter was intercepted.
si adire non possit, monet ut tragulam cum epistola
If he could not arrive there, he advised (him) to throw a spear with the letter
ad ammentum deligata intro munitionem castrorum abiciat.
fastened to a strap inside the fortifications of the camp.
in litteris scribit se cum legionibus profectum celeriter adfore
He wrote in his letter* that he would be there quickly, having set out with his legions;
hortatur ut pristinam virtutem retineat.
He encouraged (him) to keep his former bravery.
Gallus periculum veritus, ut erat praeceptum, tragulam mittit.
The Gaul, fearing the danger, threw the spear as he had been ordered.
haec* casu ad turrim adhaesit neque ab nostris
By chance the spear* stuck to the tower, nor was it sighted
biduo animadversa tertio die a quodam milite conspicitur
for two days, but it was noticed by a certain soldier on the third day,
dempta ad Ciceronem defertur.
it was taken down and brought to Cicero.
ille perlectam in conventu militum recitat,
He (Cicero) read out the report in the assembly of soldiers,
maximaque omnes laetitia adficit.
and inspired everyone with the greatest happiness.
tum fumi incendiorum procul videbantur,
Then the smoke of fires was seen from afar,
quae res omnem dubitationem adventus legionum expulit.
This event drove away all doubt of the legions’ arrival.
