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20.18. id: governed by animum advertit treated as active compound verb. The tense of the verb is perfect, as usual after postquam; cf. note on arbitrati sunt, 4 17. 20.19.

sustineret: subjv. of purpose (see § 531. 2 (317. 2); B. 282. 2; G. 630; H. 589.ii (497. i); H-B. 502. 2). 20.20.

ipse: Caesar himself as opposed to the cavalry, which he had sent elsewhere. — medio: see vocab. and cf. § 293 (193); B. 241. 1; G. 291. R. 2; H. 497. 4 (440. 2, N. 1); H-B. 244. — triplicem aciem: see chapter on military affairs, VII. 20.21.

legionum: gen. of material § 344 (214. e); B. 197; H-B. 349.The four veteran legions stood side by side, each in three lines; see plan, Fig. 16. 20.22.

summo: cf. note on medio, l. 20. — proxime: these new legions last raised (cf. 8 23) were not as yet sufficiently steady to bear the brunt of a battle, and so they were set to guard the camp. 20.23.

auxilia: see chapter on military affairs, I. 3. — [ac totum, etc.]: this clause may well be read in this connection, though many ditors omit it; cf. note on eorum, 9 17. The force of ac is and thus; see vocab. 20.24.

sarcinas: see chapter on military affairs, I. 6 and III. e, and Fig. 14. In a regular battle these were left behind in camp. So here, they were deposited in one spot, which was to be the site of the camp when made ( muniri, 21 2) by the less trustworthy troops. Nothing is said of the baggage train (impedimenta), but it probably was sent on towards Bibracte. 21.1.

eum: i.e. the spot chosen (locum, 20 24). — his: i.e. the soldiers last mentioned. — superiore: i.e. those who were at the top of the hill. — constiterant, were stationed (cf. § 476 (279. e); B. 262. a; G. 241. 3. R.; H. 538. 4 (471. 3); H-B. 487). 21.2.

cum omnibus suis carris, etc.: i.e. not sending a force of fighting men, but following with their whole train. It seems to have been the habit of these peoples to go to battle with their families and their carts for encouragement as well as for defence. 21.3.

confertissima aciephalange facta: see introductory chapter on Gaul and the Gauls. 21.4.

reiecto, etc.: the ancient cavalry were no match for any considerable number of foot-soldiers, and hence were not depended upon for themain engagement. They opened the fight, but were expected to flee as soon as the foot advanced.


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hide References (7 total)
  • Commentary references from this page (7):
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 293
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 344
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 476
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 531
    • Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, 241
    • Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, 291
    • Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, 630
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