The Druids' Last Stand

Question 1

Suetonius igitur Monam insulam, incolis validam et receptaculum perfugarum, aggredi parat:

Answer 1

Suetonius therefore prepared to attack Anglesey, an island well-supplied with inhabitants and a refuge for escapees:

Question 2

navibus pedites, equites vado secuti aut adantes equis transierunt.

Answer 2

the infantry crossed over in boats, the cavalry following in the shallow water or swimming alongside their horses .

Question 3

stabat pro litore diversa acies, densa armis vivisque, intercursantibus feminis:

Answer 3

Standing on the shore was a hostile battle-line, massed with arms and men and with women running about among them;

Question 4

quae in modum Furiarum veste ferali, crinibus delectis faces praeferebant;

Answer 4

these latter were in black clothing in the manner of the Furies, with their hair dishevelled and brandishing torches.

Question 5

… Druidesque circum, preces diras sublatis ad caelum manibus fundentes,

Answer 5

The Druids round them, pouring forth dreadful prayers with their hands raised to the sky,

Question 6

novitate aspectus perculerunt milites ut quasi herentibus membris immobile corpus vulneribus praeberent.

Answer 6

struck terror into our soldiers by the strangeness of their appearance so that, as if their limbs were paralysed, they exposed their motionless bodies to wounds.

Question 7

deinde hortante duce et se ipsi stimulantes ne muliebre et fanaticum agmen timerent, inferunt signa sternuntque obvios et igni suo involvunt.

Answer 7

Then, with their leader encouraging them, and urging each other on not to be afraid of a band of raving women, they carried the standards onwards, cut down those in their way and enveloped them in their own fire.

Question 8

Praesidium posthac impositum est victis excisque sunt luci saevis superstitionibus sacri:

Answer 8

After this, a garrison was placed over the conquered, and the groves dedicated to their cruel rites were cut down:

Question 9

nam Druides cruore captivo adolere aras et hominum fibris consulere deos fas habebant.

Answer 9

for the Druids thought it right to make offerings at their altars using the blood of the captured and to consult their gods by the entrails of human beings.