[21] Caesar, necessariis rebus imperatis, ad cohortandos milites, quam [in] partem fors obtulit, decucurrit et ad legionem decimam devenit. Milites non longiore oratione cohortatus quam uti suae pristinae virtutis memoriam retinerent neu perturbarentur animo hostiumque impetum fortiter sustinerent, quod non longius hostes aberant quam quo telum adigi posset, proelii committendi signum dedit.
Eng: After giving necessary orders, Caesar quickly rushed to encourage the soldiers and ended up with the Tenth Legion. He did not deliver a lengthy speech, but urged them to remember their past bravery, stay steadfast, and courageously withstand the enemy's attack since the enemy was so close that a javelin could reach them. With that, he gave the signal for the battle to begin.
华文: 凯撒下达必要的命令后，他赶紧跑到一个机缘巧合的地方，前往第十军团。他对士兵们的鼓励不过是简短的几句话，让他们铭记过去的英勇事迹，保持冷静，勇敢地抵挡敌人的冲击，因为敌人离得不远，投掷武器的距离已经够了，他便下令开始战斗。
Commentary: Caesar doesn't rely on lengthy speeches but instead delivers concise and impactful messages, leveraging the soldiers' previous experiences and instilling confidence in their abilities.
The Latin usage in the passage highlights the importance of context and word order. For example, "quam [in] partem fors obtulit" means "in whichever direction chance offered." The word "quam" is used in conjunction with "partem" to convey the idea of an indeterminate direction or opportunity. Additionally, the phrase "neu perturbarentur animo" shows the use of the conjunction "neu" to mean "and not" or "nor," emphasizing the importance of maintaining composure in the face of the enemy's attack.
Atque in alteram item cohortandi causa profectus pugnantibus occurrit. Temporis tanta fuit exiguitas hostiumque tam paratus ad dimicandum animus ut non modo ad insignia accommodanda sed etiam ad galeas induendas scutisque tegimenta detrahenda tempus defuerit. Quam quisque ab opere in partem casu devenit quaeque prima signa conspexit, ad haec constitit, ne in quaerendis suis pugnandi tempus dimitteret.
Eng: The urgency of the situation and the readiness of the enemy to fight were so great that there was not enough time not only to adjust their military insignia but even to put on helmets and take off the covers from their shields. Each soldier, as they happened to arrive from their work, immediately took up their position at the first sight of their own standard, so as not to waste time searching for their unit during the battle.
华文: 随后，他又前往另一支军团以鼓励战斗中的士兵。时间是如此紧迫，敌人如此迅速地准备战斗，以至于他们不仅来不及整理战旗，还来不及戴上头盔和脱下盾牌的保护。每个士兵都在发现自己所属的军团和他们所在的位置后，立刻停下来，以免浪费战斗的时间。
Commentary: "Quam quisque ab opere in partem casu devenit" emphasises the element of chance or happenstance. It means "Each one by chance arrived at the part of the battlefield," suggesting that the Nervii soldiers happened to end up in various positions on the battlefield due to the fast-paced nature of the battle.
Furthermore, the phrase "ne in quaerendis suis pugnandi tempus dimitteret" demonstrates the use of "ne" to convey a negative purpose. It means "so as not to waste time in seeking their own [companions] for the purpose of fighting." Here, "ne" serves to express the idea of avoiding a certain action, in this case, wasting time searching for fellow soldiers amidst the chaos of the battle.
[22] Instructo exercitu magis ut loci natura [deiectusque collis] et necessitas temporis quam ut rei militaris ratio atque ordo postulabat, cum diversae legiones aliae alia in parte hostibus resisterent saepibusque densissimis, ut ante demonstravimus, interiectis prospectus impediretur, neque certa subsidia conlocari neque quid in quaque parte opus esset provideri neque ab uno omnia imperia administrari poterant. Itaque in tanta rerum iniquitate fortunae quoque eventus varii sequebantur.
Eng: With the army deployed more out of necessity due to the terrain and the steepness of the hill, and the urgency of the situation rather than following a strategic military plan, the legions were scattered in different places to face the enemy, with dense hedges, as previously mentioned, obstructing the view and making it difficult to provide specific support or anticipate the needs in each area. As a result, there was no possibility of organizing definite reinforcements, and it was impossible for one person to manage all the commands. In such an unequal and challenging situation, the outcomes of the battle varied and were subject to the whims of fortune.
华文: 在这样紧急的情况下，由于地形的特殊性和陡峭的山丘，以及时间的限制，军队的部署更多地依靠现场的状况，而不是严格遵循军事原则和有序的排兵布阵。不同的军团分散在不同的位置，由于茂密的树篱，视线受到阻碍，如前所述，无法确保稳固的支援位置，无法预先计划在每个地方所需的应对措施，也无法由一人来统筹所有指挥。因此，在这样复杂的局势中，各种不同的命运也导致了不同的战斗结果。
Commentary: "in tanta rerum iniquitate fortunae quoque eventus varii sequebantur" highlights the word "iniquitate," which means "unfavorable circumstances" or "difficulties." Caesar conveys that the battle's course was influenced not only by the tactical decisions but also by the unfavorable conditions and unforeseen events that arose during the engagement. The word "varii" emphasizes the varying and unpredictable nature of the outcomes.
[23] Legionis VIIII. et X. milites, ut in sinistra parte aciei constiterant, pilis emissis cursu ac lassitudine exanimatos vulneribusque confectos Atrebates (nam his ea pars obvenerat) celeriter ex loco superiore in flumen compulerunt et transire conantes insecuti gladiis magnam partem eorum impeditam interfecerunt.
Eng: The soldiers of the 9th and 10th legions, stationed on the left side of the battle line, exhausted from running and fighting and weakened by their wounds, were quickly forced by the Atrebates (as they had been assigned this part) from their higher position into the river. Pursuing them as they tried to cross the river, the Atrebates killed a large number of them who were hindered by the difficult terrain and unable to defend themselves properly.
华文: 第9和第10军团的士兵，站在战线的左侧，由于投掷标枪和长时间的奔跑，已经筋疲力尽并受了伤，而阿特雷拜人（因为他们是他们对阵的敌人）迅速从较高的位置把他们赶到了河流中，追击那些试图过河的人，并用剑杀死了他们中的很大一部分，使他们陷入困境。
Commentary: "cursu ac lassitudine exanimatos vulneribusque confectos" illustrates the use of ablatives of cause or means to describe the condition of the Roman soldiers. It means "exhausted from running and weariness and exhausted by wounds." The ablative "cursu" and "lassitudine" show the cause of the exhaustion, while "vulneribus" indicates the means by which the soldiers were worn out.
The Atrebates were a prominent Belgic tribe that inhabited the territory corresponding to modern-day northeastern France and southern Belgium during the late Iron Age and Roman period. They were one of the many Gallic tribes living in the area known as Gaul.
The Atrebates were significant players in the political and military landscape of the region. They were known for their skilled warriors and had a formidable presence in the Belgic Confederation, a loose alliance of tribes in northern Gaul. Their name, "Atrebates," is derived from the Celtic word "atrebates," meaning "inhabitants of the waterside."
Throughout history, the Atrebates tribe had both cooperative and adversarial interactions with the Roman Republic and later the Roman Empire. During Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars in the 1st century BCE, the Atrebates, like many other Belgic tribes, resisted Roman expansion into their territories. They were involved in several battles against Caesar's forces, including the one described in the passage you provided.
Over time, the Atrebates and other Gallic tribes gradually came under Roman influence and control. With the Roman conquest of Gaul completed by Caesar and his successors, the Atrebates and their territories became part of the Roman province of Gallia Belgica.
Ipsi transire flumen non dubitaverunt et in locum iniquum progressi rursus resistentes hostes redintegrato proelio in fugam coniecerunt. Item alia in parte diversae duae legiones, XI. et VIII., profligatis Viromanduis, quibuscum erant congressae, ex loco superiore in ipsis fluminis ripis proeliabantur.
Eng: The two other legions, the 11th and 8th, stationed on the opposite side, routed the Viromandui with whom they had engaged in combat, and then proceeded to fight from a higher position on the very banks of the river itself. With a renewed effort, they drove the enemy into retreat once again.
华文: 他们自己毫不犹豫地穿过河流，前进到不利的地方，再次与顽强的敌人展开战斗，将他们赶逐得四处奔逃。同样，在另一边，另外两支军团，第11和第8军团，击败了与他们交战的维罗曼迪人，在河岸的高地上进行着战斗。
Commentary: Caesar's use of participles and relative clauses efficiently conveys the sequence of events and actions during the battle. The Latin verbs such as "profligatis," "rursus," and "redintegrato" add intensity and dynamism to the narration, capturing the rapid developments of the battle.
At totis fere castris a fronte et a sinistra parte nudatis, cum in dextro cornu legio XII. et non magno ab ea intervallo VII. constitisset, omnes Nervii confertissimo agmine duce Boduognato, qui summam imperii tenebat, ad eum locum contenderunt; quorum pars ab aperto latere legiones circumvenire, pars summum castrorum locum petere coepit.
Eng: The Nervii, taking advantage of the situation where most of our camps were exposed from the front and the left side, advanced in a dense column under the leadership of Boduognatus, who held supreme authority among them. Some of them tried to encircle the legions from the open flank, while others aimed for the highest point of our camp. At the same time, the 12th legion and the 7th, which was not far from it, were stationed on the right wing.
华文: 然而，整个军营几乎在前方和左侧都暴露无防，而在右翼，第12军团和不远处的第7军团已经部署好。所有的纳尔维人都以密集的队伍，由掌握最高权力的博杜奈图领导，急速前往那个位置。其中一部分试图从侧面包抄军团，另一部分则试图攻占军营的最高位置。
Commentary: "confertissimo agmine" emphasize the tightly packed and disciplined formation of the Nervii warriors as they advanced towards the Roman camp