Tacitus : Inspiration for the flight

Question 1

Boudica curru filias ^{<span><em>Raped by romans</em></span><span><em>= </em></span><span><em>highlights importance as in the first clause- symbol of what Romans did </em></span>} prae se vehens, ut quamquam nationem accesserat, solitum quidem Britannis feminarum ductu bellare testabatur de tunc non ut ^tricolon:tantis¹ maioribus ortam² regnum et opes, verum ut unam e vulgo^{<em>Declaring herself as common person</em>} libertatem amissam, confectum verberibus^{<span>Brutal torture-whipped by Romans </span>} corpus, contretractam³ filiarum pudicitiam ulcisci(senectam). eo provectas Romanorum cupidines ut non corpora, ne senectam^{Repeats herself- romans are stealing virginity}quidem aut virginitatem impollutam relinquant.

Answer 1

Boudica, carrying her daughters before her in her chariot, as she approached each tribe delclared that it was indeed unusual for Britons to fight a war under the leadership of women. But now, she said, it was not as one born from such great ancestors that she was avenging her kingdom and wealth, but as one woman among the common people avenging her lost liberty, her body exhausted by scourging, and the outraged chastity of her daughters. The lusts of the Romans are so far advanced that not our bodies, not even our old age or virginity do they leave unpolluted.

Question 2

adesse tamen ^{<em>however = hope</em>} deos justae ^{just vengeance} vindictae:

cecidisse¹ legionem, quae proelium ausa sit; ceteros castris occltari²

aut fugam circumspicere.³ ne strepidum quidem^{tautology needless repetition}

et clamorem tot milium nedum impetus et manus ^blows prelaturos; si

copias armatorum, si causas belli secum expenderent, vincendum illa

acie vel cadendum esse. id mulierri destinatum: viverent viri et

servirent.^{you men can live and be slaves}

Answer 2

However, the gods are there for just vengeance: the legion that dared battle has been slain; the rest are hidden in their camp or looking around for means of flight.They will not bear even the din and shout of so many thousands, still less our charge and blows.If they consider in their hearts the forces of armed men, if the causes of war in this battle-line they must either conquer or fall. that is what is determined for this woman: let men live and be slaves.

Question 3

{Suetonius Paulinus }

Ne Suetonius quidem in tanto discrimine^crisis silebat. quamquam confideret virtuti, tamen exhortationes et preces miscebat ut sperenernt^{<em>Disrespect</em>} sonores barbarorum et ianes minas: plus illic feminarum^{<em>Gen. Pl.</em>} quam iuventutis^{<em>Singular-lack of enemy/young men.</em>}aspici. {imbelles inermes}^{<em>Asyndeton</em>} cessuros statim ubi ferrum virtutemque vincentium toties fusi adgnovissent.

Answer 3

Nor indeed was Suetonius silent in such a moment of crisis. although he trusted their valour,he nevertheless mixed encouragements and prayers that they should scorn the noises of the barbarians and the empty threats: more women than young men were to be seen over there. Unwarlike and unarmed they would immediately give way when they regocnised the iron and valour of their conquerors, having been put to flight so often.

Question 4

Etiam in multis legionibus^{<em>Roman </em> Plosive:}paucos qui proelia profligarent; ^{<em>at the front gives it emphasis</em>}gloriaeque eorum accessurum qoud modica manus universi exceritus famam adipiscerentur. conferti tantum et pilis emissis post umbonibus et gladiis stragem caedem_que^{<em>tautology</em>}_ continuarent, praede immemores: parta victoria cuncta ipsis cessura. is ardor^{1<em>oratio obliqua (indirect) reported speech ends.</em>} verba ducis^{<em>Suetonius</em>} sequebatur, ita se ad intorquenda pila expediaret_²_ vetus ^{<em>Soldiery- they all act as one-why its sing.</em>}miles et multa proeliorum experientia_^{3 tricolon}_ ut^{<em><strong>>>result</strong></em>} certus eventus Suetonius daret pugnae signum.

Answer 4

Even among many legions it was a few men who decided the battle; it would be more to their glory that a small band of men obtained the reputation of a whole army. Only densley packed, when the spears have been thrown, were they to continue the destruction and slaughter behind their sheilds and with their swords, not thinking of plunder: once victory was procured, everythign would yeild to them. Such desired enthusiasm followed up the words of their leader, so did the veteran soldiery, with their considerable experience of battles, prepare themselves to hurl their spears, that Suetonius, confident in the outcome, gave the signal for battle.

Question 5

^{Emphaticly placed after ending of last para.}ac primum legio gradu immota^{<em>discipline- normally should be nervous pre battle but they were motionless so they should win</em>} et angustias loci pro munimento retinens, postquam in propius suggressos hostes certo iactu tela exhauserat, velut cuneo erupit. idem auxiliarium impetus; et eques protentis hastis perfringit quod obvium et validum erat. ceteri terga praebuere, difficili effugio, quia circumiecta vehicula saepserant abitus. et milites ne mulierium^{<em>mulier-negative connotations=wench (whereas femina=lady)</em>} quidem neci temperabat, confixaque telis^{<em>graphic</em>} etiam iumenta corporum cumulum^{<em>echoing alliteration=haunting</em>} auxerant.

Answer 5

And the first legion in their unmoved position and keeping to the narrows of the place as a defence, after they had discharged their weapons with a sure throw into the more closely approahing enemy, burst in wedge formation. The attack of the auxilliaries was the same, and the cavalry with stratched out spears smashed through what was their way and strong. the rest turned their backs in flight, but their escape was difficult because the waggons which had been placed around had blocked their retreat. and the soldiery did not indeed excercise restraint over the deaths of women, and even the baggage animals, pierced through with weapons had increased the heap of bodies.

Question 6

^{<em>heaps of bodies<<</em>}clara et antiquis victoriis par ea die laus parta: quippe sunt qui paulo minus quam octoginta milia Britannorum cecidisse tradant, militum quadringentis ferme interfecis nec^{<em>Phenomenal imbalance of Romans alive 2 Britons dead</em>} multo amplius vulneratis. Boudicca^{<em>pass of Boudicca without any desc.- comment on patriac. society</em>} vitam veneno finivit. et _P_oenius _P_ostumus, _p_raefectus castrorum secundae legionis, cognitis quartadecimanorum vicesmanorumque prosperis rebus, quia pari gloria legionem suam fraudaverat abnueratque contra ritum militae iussa ducis, _>>se ipse gladio transegit._<<^{<em>_{short statement.}</em>}

Answer 6

Illustrious glory, and equal to that of our old victories, was won on that day: for there are those who say that little less than eighty thousand Britons fell, with about four hundred of our soldiers killed, and not many more wounded. Boudicca ended her life with poison. And Poenius Postumus, commander of the camp of the Second Legion, when the success of the men of the Fourteenth and Twentieth was learnt, because he had cheated his legion of their share of the glory, and had refused, contrary to military law, the orders of his leader, ran himself through with a sword.