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LATIN 4B, AP VERGIL: ESSAY #2

COMPILATION

THE QUESTION

Essay #2 Topic: For the purposes on this assignment, take all the time you need to produce an analytical response.

Caesar, DBG 4.34-35

[34] Quibus rebus perturbatis nostris [novitate pugnae] tempore oportunissimo Caesar auxilium

tulit: namque eius adventu hostes constiterunt, nostri se ex timore receperunt. Quo facto, ad

lacessendum hostem et committendum proelium alienum esse tempus arbitratus suo se loco

continuit et brevi tempore intermisso in castra legiones reduxit. Dum haec geruntur, nostris

omnibus occupatis qui erant in agris

reliqui discesserunt. Secutae sunt continuos complures dies tempestates, quae et nostros in castris

continerent et hostem a pugna prohiberent. Interim barbari nuntios in omnes partes dimiserunt

paucitatemque nostrorum militum suis praedicaverunt et quanta praedae faciendae atque in

perpetuum sui liberandi facultas daretur, si Romanos castris expulissent, demonstraverunt. His

rebus celeriter magna multitudine peditatus equitatusque coacta ad castra venerunt.

[35] Caesar, etsi idem quod superioribus diebus acciderat fore videbat, ut, si essent hostes pulsi,

celeritate periculum effugerent, tamen nactus equites circiter XXX, quos Commius Atrebas, de

quo ante dictum est, secum transportaverat, legiones in acie pro castris constituit. Commisso

proelio diutius nostrorum militum impetum hostes ferre non potuerunt ac terga verterunt. Quos

tanto spatio secuti quantum cursu et viribus efficere potuerunt, complures ex iis occiderunt,

deinde omnibus longe lateque aedificiis incensis se in castra receperunt.

The beginning and end of this passage describe roughly the same behavior on the part of Caesar

and his troops, but with very different outcomes. Discuss the significance of the repetitions of

this action and, more importantly, what the passage tells us about Caesar’s use of experience in

his leadership. That is, how does past experience in this passage inform Caesar’s decisions in

later circumstances? What key quality of generalship does Caesar display here. Support your

assertions with references to the Latin text throughout the passage above. All Latin words must

be copied, or their line numbers provided, and they must be translated or paraphrased closely

enough that you demonstrate you understand the Latin.

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HOW TO EVALUATE YOUR CLASSMATES’ ESSAYS:

FIRST: Read the essays and compile a short paragraph response to each one on your home computer. Save the file.

What should you include? Read on to find out.

Only once you have prepared your short paragraph review, go here: http://www.quia.com/sv/1107054.html and

then copy/paste your comments AND fill out the evaluation for each essay besides your own. DO NOT FILL IN

ANYTHING OR RANK ANYTHING FOR YOUR OWN ESSAY!

Avoid comments regarding formatting since everyone will have dutifully followed the formatting rules OR the

wrath of your inconvenienced instructor will already be spelled out. Matters of editing and citation are fair game.

Please observe a hierarchy of ranking. Everyone should not get the highest score. ONLY the BEST essays should

receive top ranks. Provide at least ONE specific suggestion for improvement (ex. “Give us more analysis after

each Latin quote.”) Provide at least ONE specific positive remark (“I like how clearly you write, especially as you

described Vergil’s use of verb tense in this passage). .

COMPLETE THIS EVALUATION SURVEY ONLINE NO LATER THAN 7 PM APRIL 15

Keep track of your own essay # for future reference: you’ll receive your grade by essay number ONLY.

Preview: Here is the rating grid that you will use for each essay.

• Uses Latin from throughout the text assigned in the question

• Uses the most appropriate Latin, translates it accurately, and cites it well

• Uses a microscope on the Latin and explains connections rather than retells the narrative

• Stays on task (omits irrelevant information, padding)

• Overall impression

Group Asterix: please review essays 1-7 Group Anthrax: please review essays 8-15

Alan

Crash

Dzifa

Faith

Paloma

Rita

Shanti

Shivek

Adele

Calvin

Cooper

Joseph

Max

Robert

Trung

Review all essays well and earn 3 bonus points (you must notify me by email AFTER you complete all but

BEFORE the deadline – no exceptions to this rule).

Finally, failure to complete reviews will result in a 15-point essay grade deduction.

Important note: if your peers used the first version of the essay prompt (sans 35), evaluate them the

same as if they used both segments of Latin. Some had already completed their essay when the

updated prompt was sent out.

Another important note: If I have marked a deduction for an essay submission, it is for MY need

for documentation, not for YOUR need to comment upon or include in your evaluation.

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THE ESSAYS

#1

General Caesar the Great

In Caesar’s De Bello Gallico 4.34-35, Caesar defeats the Britons with his perfect timing, his

reputation, and his foresight, qualities that made him such a successful general.

Caesar has perfect timing. When his men were struggling, Caesar arrived with help tempore

oportunissimo, “at the most favorable time” (Caesar 4.34.1). Caesar uses the superlative adjective to

emphasize how perfect his timing was in this dire situation.

Caesar also uses his reputation to defeat the enemy. As soon as he arrived at the battle, Caesar

notes that constiterunt, “the enemy stood still” (4.34.2). Caesar employs the perfect tense to describe the

Britons, making them look frozen in time, as if Caesar had the power to freeze his enemies with his

reputation as a general.

Caesar also displays remarkable foresight. Caesar mentions that, even though his presence

changed the tide of the battle, he alienum esse tempus arbitratus, “though that the time was unfavorable”

for fighting (4.34.3). Caesar displays remarkable foresight here: instead of letting his emotions take

control and ordering his men to charge the shaken Britons, Caesar arbitratus, “thought” and acted

logically and correctly. His foresight saved his men from a possible defeat.

Caesar shows his correct calculations in his preparations for the next battle. He remarks that

videbat, “he kept seeing” the outcome of the battle (4.35.1). By using an imperfect verb, Caesar shows

that he saw the outcomes over and over again. Caesar also specifically chose a verb form of videre, “to

see” instead of a more uncertain verb such as cogitare, “to think” in order to show that he was certain of

the future.

Caesar highlights his foresight by contrasting it with his enemy’s lack of foresight. Caesar

mentions that the barbarians were eager to fight Caesar because of paucitatem…militum, “the fewness of

his soldiers” (4.35). Here, Caesar points out that the Britons lack foresight because they think they can

defeat Caesar who just defeated them. Additionally, Caesar specifically says that his men were militum,

“soldiers” so they are naturally hard to beat compared to barbari, “barbarians” who are less trained and

weaker (5.35.7).

Caesar’s generalship paid off in the end. Caesar writes that complures…oddicerunt, “[our men]

killed a great many enemies” (4.35.5). Caesar proves that he made all the right decisions and he is a great

general by showing the magnitude of his victory: he uses the perfect tense, oddicerunt, to make the battle

seem fast and finished and he uses a substantive adjective, complures, to replace the enemy for the

purpose of magnifying their numbers.

Caesar’s perfect timing, intimidating reputation, and remarkable foresight allowed him to defeat

the Britons in book 4 of his De Bello Gallico.

#2

Caesar’s Skill

After it is ambushed, Caesar comes to the rescue of the Seventh legion, but he does not attack the

enemy. This passage shows Caesar’s leadership skill, experience, and even-temper.

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At the beginning and end of chapter 34, Caesar refrains from attack. The first time he chooses in

action, alienum esse tempus arbitratus, “he judged that the time was unfavorable” (De Bello Gallico,

4.34.5). Caesar shows the audience his ability to accurately assess the situation from experience. Caesar

emphasizes here that he actively chose inaction here, which was favorable for him. The word arbitratus,

“judged” highlights the consideration he put into this decision and deliberateness behind it (4.34.5).

Caesar also uses alienum to put distance between himself and misfortune; since other meanings include

“foreign” and “unconnected”, this word stresses that the future inaction is unrelated and he is not

responsible for those troubles.

In the next sequence, Caesar is forced to stay put, quae nostros in castris continerent, “which

held our troops in the camp” (4.34.9). In this situation, inaction was beneficial for the Britains and Caesar

makes sure that he is not blamed for it. Since other translations of continerent are “restrain” or “limit”,

Caesar shows the reader how there was nothing he could do and his hands were tied. He shows how he

saves his troops from a disadvantageous situation rather than causing a problem himself. The repetition of

Caesar’s inaction shows his ability to choose the right moment to act.

In the next chapter, Caesar takes action, legiones in acie constituit, “he placed the legions into a

battle line” (4.35.3). This time, he commands the legions to prepare for battle. The word constituit draws

attention to Caesar’s active involvement in the defense; now that there is a successful battle, Caesar

ensures that he gets credit (4.35.3). After the previous sequences of inaction, Caesar now uses acie to

emphasize the tense battle atmosphere and that his action is at the exact right time. This also shows

Caesar’s efficiency once he decides to act.

Caesar presents himself as an imposing force on the battle field: calm, steadfast, and menacing.

Caesar says, eius adventu hostes constiterunt ”at his arrival the enemies halted” (4.34.3). Caesar shows

the Roman readers his strength, such that even his presence freezes the battle. Caesar guarantees that he is

recognized here, using the word eius to pin point the distinction on himself (4.34.3).

Caesar proves to the reader his composure in battle. Caesar fights against the Britains and his

soldiers are confused by the novitate pugnae, “unfamiliarity of fighting” (4.34.1). The chaotic scene that

occurs here displays Caesar’s composure in battle. Using novitate stresses the completely shocking nature

of this battle. The previous chapter details the speed and effectiveness of their fighting style combined

with this emphasis shows the panicking soldiers contrasting Caesar calmness in refraining from attack.

Caesar also places much of the blame for his troubles on this, implying that with this experience behind

him future battles with the Britains would be different.

When Caesar does decide to go on the offensive, he is fully committed. His troops pursued the

Britains spatio quantum cursu et viribus “as far as their speed and strength” (4.35.9). This shows how

successfully Caesar coordinate his attack, that the only limit to their victory was the stamina his men had

chasing their enemy. Using the words spatio quantum draws attention to the vast distance the were

scattered. Caesar patiently waited for just the right moment to attack and when he does, he makes sure his

victory is complete, showing his steadfastness.

Throughout this Caesar is hindered by the paucitatemque nostrorum militum, “fewness of our

soldiers” (4.34.12). Caesar shows how he is able to persevere through difficulties. He specifically says

that the Britains proclaimed this to show their confidence and his own armies vulnerability, which he

overcame. Only with his previous experience did he have the skill to use his troops so efficiently to beat

the Britains.

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To enhance his image as a protector for Rome, Caesar says that the Britains Romanos castris

expulissent, “would drive the Romans out from the camp”(4.34.17). He reminds the reader that he is

fighting for the Romans. He specifically uses Romanos to inspire feeling of protection and patriotism for

Rome in his readers (4.34.17). He connects the camp with Rome in order to show himself as its protector

Caesar tells the reader that he knew that the Britains were planning something, Caesar

idem…fore videbat “Caesar was seeing that the same thing would happen” (4.35.1). This is a primary

example of Caesar’s ability to understand the enemy from his previous experience. Caesar uses the

subjunctive fore to remind the audience that it was uncertain exactly what the Britains were going to do,

but the word idem emphasizes how accurately he did indeed assess the enemy and their actions (4.35.1).

Throughout this passage Caesar shows himself as cool and collected in crisis, drawing on past

experiences to predict the enemies actions and determine the best course of action. Caesar is able to

present his image as a skillful and committed leader and protector through careful use of words and

emphasis.

#3 {DEDUCTION FOR LATE SUBMISSION)

AP Latin Essay #2

In 5.27 of Caesar’s De Bello Gallico, Caesar recounts Ambiorix’s speech to the Roman envoys. Caesar is

not one to repeat enemy propaganda, and ultimately uses the speech to defame Ambiorix while exalting

himself in the eyes of his reader.

Caesar exploits the fact that there is no official record of the discussions between Arpineius,

Junius, and Ambiorix, the entire army of Cotta and Sabinus is wiped out by the Gauls, and thoroughly

recreates the negotiations for the reader. Caesar highlights that Arpineius and Junius are imprudently

friendly with Ambiorix, writing: Qui iam ante missu Caesaris ad Ambiorigem ventitare consuerat,

“[Junius] who already before had been habituated to venture to Ambiorix by command of Caesar,” (DBG,

5.27.2-3).

Junius’ knowledge of Ambiorix is both a blessing and a curse: Junius potentially has the

experience to spot Ambiorix’s deceit, yet he may also be overly comfortable in Ambiorix’s

presence. Likewise, Caesar says that C. Arpineius is an “intimate friend to Titurius,” familiaris Quinti

Tituri (5.27.1). Titurius later disloyally argues that Caesar has fled with his army to Italy, virtually

abandoning his commanders in Gaul, and that Sabinus and Cotta should yield to Ambiorix’ advice. By

depicting Arpineius’ intimacy with Titurius, Caesar suggests that the diplomats have ties to both the

unfaithful commanders and to Caesar, thus a prudent decision is not likely to be made.

Ironically, Ambiorix falsely convinces the Roman leaders of his goodness by restating the true

magnanimity of Caesar. Ambiorix says: Sese pro Caesaris in se beneficiis plurimum ei confiteri debere,

“He himself confessed that for the kindnesses of Caesar towards himself he is most indebted to him,”

(5). This is a true compliment from a sworn enemy. By revealing Ambiorix’s statement, Caesar shows

that even his enemies respect him and admit his generosity.

Ambiorix further states that Caesar has freed him from paying tribute to the Aduatuci (eius opera

stipendio liberatus esset), and returned “both his son and the son of his brother,” et filius et fratris filius,

who were taken by the Aduatuci as hostages for Caesar (4-7). This statement reveals that Caesar has

substantially helped Ambiorix, and also shown respect for his family by returning hostages which Caesar

had rightfully won. Caesar’s rhetoric is effective because Caesar uses the speech of an enemy to inflames

his reader’s rage and appeal to the reader’s sense of justice.

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Even though Ambiorix’ testimony regarding the kindesses (beneficiis) of Caesar is credible (5),

Ambiorix’s statement that he will give the Roman army safe passage through his land as a quid pro quo

for Caesar’s favors is highly dubious, as Ambiorix has already once attacked the camp, demonstrating his

ill will towards the Romans. Ambiorix cleverly stalls this point and inspires panic with the spurious

counterargument that his assault on the Roman camp was not done by iudicio aut voluntate suo, “his own

judgement or will,” (10) but is rather a small part of a broader uprising perpetrated “by a sudden

conspiracy of the Gauls,” repentinae Gallorum coniurationi, (12). It is noteworthy that Ambiorix

provides no evidence of a broader uprising. With indirect statement constructions in series, as well as

polysyndeton in lines 10-15, Caesar shows that Ambiorix floods the Roman ambassadors with false

information.

By depicting how the Romans fall victim to Ambiorix’s treachery and the subsequent debacle,

Caesar implies that with his own keen sense, he would not have fallen into the same trap. Caesar’s

narrative in De Bello Gallico reveals that through informed analysis, or through a simple and honorable

refusal to heed the advice of an enemy, Roman leaders could have avoided the disaster. In a short speech,

Caesar’s name is mentioned around six times (5.27). This reveals that Caesar is a tremendous figure in the

minds of both his soldiers and his enemies. Despite the number of times Caesar’s name is invoked,

Caesar is clearly absent. By showing how his absence leads to disaster, Caesar argues that he is an

indispensable leader.

#4

Repetition, Experience, and Judgment

Caesar relies on past experience to advance his present goals. Caesar displays good judgement: he

does the right thing at the right time.

Caesar assists his troops at oportunissimo, the most favorable time (De Bello Gallico, 4.34.1).

Caesar employs a superlative adjective—which conveys that Caesar made the best possible decision at the

best possible moment. Caesar also uses an Ablative of Time When, stressing the importance of his timing.

Caesar esse arbitratus, judges that the time is unfavorable (4.34.3). Caesar uses an indirect

statement, which stresses that the judgement is Caesar’s and Caesar’s alone. The participle arbitratus is

also deponent—it is always active, stressing the active, experienced nature of Caesar’s judgements.

Next, Caesar retreats tempore intermisso, after a short time had intervened (4.34.4). Caesar uses

the perfect passive participle intermisso to show, at this moment, Caesar is passive—he chooses not to

attack. Likewise, Caesar uses an ablative absolute, devoting a whole clause to his timing—which

underscores the importance of Caesar’s experience and judgement.

Caesar videbat, kept seeing, how to defeat the enemy (4.35.1). Caesar writes in the imperfect

tense, which conveys a sense of repetition—Caesar kept seeing the solution, which confirms his

knowledge and experience as a leader.

Caesar relies on what acciderat, had happened, on previous days (4.35.1). The pluperfect tense of

acciderat conveys that Caesar relies on the past, drawing on previous experience to inform his later

decisions.

Caesar anticipates that idem, the same thing, would happen again (4.35.1). Caesar uses the

demonstrative pronoun idem to emphasize his experience—Caesar has repeatedly seen the same events,

and his experience informs his judgement.

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Caesar relies on the experience of superioribus, earlier days (4.35.1). Caesar uses the comparative

adjective superioribus to show his experience, judgement, and decision-making process are rooted in the

past.

When Caesar arrives at the battle, his troops se…receperunt, recovered themselves (4.34.2).

Caesar uses the reflexive adjective se to convey the autonomy and quick recovery of his troops. In this

context, receperunt takes on a positive, stimulating connotation, demonstrating Caesar’s effective timing

and leadership.

After the battle is won, Caesar’s troops se...receperunt, retreated into their camp (4.35.6). By

repeating the phrase se...receperunt, Caesar highlights that his troops now have the luxury of retreat. By

using se...receperunt in two different ways, Caesar demonstrates the versatility of his experience and

judgment.

Caesar considers the consequences si essent, if the enemy were defeated (4.35.1). Since essent is

imperfect subjunctive, Caesar uses a Contrary-to-Fact Present conditional, and correctly predicts that the

enemy will flee. By using a Contrary-to-Fact Present conditional, Caesar demonstrates his judgement as a

general, addressing scenarios that will likely occur.

When Caesar attacks, the enemy holds out diutius, for rather long (4.35.4). Caesar uses the

comparative adverb diutius to show that his enemies are unable to defend themselves, and, unlike Caesar,

flee at a bad time.

Caesar relies on past experience to guide him as a leader. Caesar demonstrates good timing, a key

quality of his generalship.

#5

Caesar: Generalship, Reflection, and Success

In both passages, Caesar presents himself as an expert and trustworthy general. He showcases his

military intelligence and competence by recounting his troops’ responses to his actions. Through

repetition, Caesar establishes his ability to make decisions and strategies based on experiences.

Throughout both passages, Caesar displays skilled leadership. Caesar writes that he came to his

troops’ aid at the “most opportune time,” tempore oportunissimo (DBG 4.34.1). Rather than simply

saying he arrived to help his troops, he states he arrived at the “most” opportune time, employing the

superlative form of opertunus, which favorably characterizes Caesar as a heroic general who saved his

men. Moreover, this makes Caesar appear as a reliable leader during battles and in times of stress.

Caesar does not refrain from praising himself. When he arrived, he recalls that the “enemy

stopped” hostes constiterunt (4.34.2). The word constiterunt implies that the enemy not only stopped but

stood still. This dramatic image of an entire army halting their assault with the arrival of one individual —

Caesar — shows the audience the power of Caesar’s presence. Further, from this, the audience highly

regards him and gathers that his enemies are afraid of him.

Caesar also presents himself as a trustworthy general. He says, upon his arrival, “our men

recovered themselves from their alarm” nostri se ex timore receperunt (4.34.2). Caesar couples this

phrase with “the enemy stopped” to prove to his audience that he is an expert general because his

presence is comforting to his men and, in contrast, a threat to the enemy.

Caesar establishes himself as a trustworthy and sound general. In both the first and second

conflict, Caesar thinks through the current predicament before making decisions. Even if Caesar made

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snap-judgements and immediate decisions in reality, he recounts otherwise to influence the audience’s

opinion of him. In the first conflict, he recalls having “decided that it was a time unfavorable for attacking

the enemy,” ad lacessendum hostem…arbitratus (4.34.3). This phrase draws attention to Caesar’s

thorough thinking, which makes him a reliable general.

In the first event of conflict, Caesar employs a defensive strategy. He “draws back his legions into

camp” in castra legiones reduxit (4.34.4). This strategy is defensive since the legions protect the camp.

Not only does his strategy prove to be effective, but it also shows his concern for his legions. Although

Caesar does not claim that he makes his decisions in the best interest of his troops, the audience infers this

from this defensive strategy.

In the second event of conflict, Caesar employs a similar strategy. This repetition of similar

strategies shows that Caesar is an adaptable general. In past books, Caesar frequently employs successful

offensive strategies. However, in these passages, his two defensive strategies prevail, proving Caesar can

win by defense not just by offensive actions. In the second conflict, he “established the legions in front of

the camp in the battle line” legiones in acie pro castris constituit (4.35.3). With this action, Caesar shows

his versatility as a general since he takes into consideration his environment and his troops. Further, this

proves he holds many key attributes, especially reliability and adaptability, of an excellent general.

Before Caesar decides on his strategy, he reflects on the past. He directly shows how his

consideration of past conflicts informs his decisions in the present, once again proving Caesar is a

thoughtful and strategic general. Because of the past, Caesar writes that he “anticipated” what would

occur videbat (4.35.2). Here, his “anticipation” exemplifies two key aspects of Roman generalship:

military intelligence and tactics. Caesar’s decision making based on previous conflicts and scenarios

shows both his military intelligence and his ability to make sound strategies.

Additionally, when Caesar reveals his strategy, he uses hyperbaton to show the chaos and drama

that surrounded him. Caesar writes that “[he] decided” Caesar…constituit (4.35.1-3). His word placement

— his subject (himself) at the beginning and his verb (“decided”) — is suspenseful and dramatic. Here,

Caesar uses dramatic word placement add to his message that his ideas and tactics work in dramatic

situations.

Lastly, Caesar reminds the audience of his loyalty and fondness of his troops by praising them.

He recounts that his legions pursued the enemy “with speed and strength” cursu et viribus (4.35.7). This

phrase shows his praise for the effectiveness of his troops, and it subtly praises the effectiveness of

Caesar’s plan. Once again, Caesar makes clear his skilled generalship and faithful troops.

Caesar’s use of repetition in recounting the events and his thought processes serves three

purposes. First, it serves to show the audience Caesar’s competence in multiple conflicts, specifically

revealing how Caesar considers past events and actions to inform his present. Second, it shows his

development of military tactics, his intelligence, and his adaptability. Finally, he uses repetition to

showcase his success. Moreover, in both passages, Caesar’s rhetoric establishes his meticulous leadership

and generalship.

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#6

Caesar’s Carefulness and Cunning

In Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Caesar tells the events of the Gallic Wars so as to highlight his

leadership skills and the essentialness of his direction to the victories of the Romans. In chapters 34 and

35 of Book 4, Caesar displays an ability to adjust his strategy to new situations and in the end come out

victorious.

Caesar establishes the new type of the situation that he faces at the beginning of his description of

the first encounter in this passage, commenting on how his men had been disturbed by the novitate

pugnae, “the novelty of the fight” (4.34). Novitate indicates to his audience that he does not have any

previous experience with the Britons’ fighting and thus this encounter will provide him with the blueprint

of the Britons’ strategies for any further engagements.

To convey the impact of this experience, Caesar describes his arrival on the scene of the first

battle and the beginning of the second similarly. He writes that the enemy constiterunt, “halted,” upon his

arrival (4.34). This effectively resets the battle, showing that Caesar now has time to view a stable

situation and decide what his next move will be.

Caesar also adds that his men se receperunt, “recovered themselves” (4.34). This adds to the

sense of an entirely new situation from the rout that had been occurring before. In addition, se...

receperunt, combined with the fact that his readers already know that the Romans were surrounded,

makes the later situation – rested in a camp surrounded by enemy – clearly comparable.

In the other parallel situation a few days later, it is also Caesar's move to make. The enemy has

gathered to attack a paucitate[m], "scarcity," of troops (4.34). In the wheat fields, too, they had come to

attack a small number of troops, and once again the Romans are surrounded, this time in the camp. Caesar

uses these details to stress the similarities of these situations.

Lest his readers think that these two engagements are part of a greater whole, Caesar describes

the complures... dies, "several days" of storms between them (4.34). This account of the storms serves as

a strict demarcation between the two battles.

And yet, in these two parallel situations, Caesar reacts very differently. These two different

reactions show how Caesar uses his experience to achieve his victories. In the first situation, arbitratus,

"having decided" that the it would not be advisable to engage in battle, he retreats (4.34). Another

commander might have thought that recovered soldiers and a halted enemy was reason enough to

reengage battle, but Caesar is smarter. He arbitratus, decided, evaluated the situation, and decided that he

did not have the pieces necessary for the victory he wants.

Caesar also describes how, after he arrives, he pauses for a brevi tempore, "brief time" (4.34).

This period of time, which was not immediately strategically relevant, symbolizes the time that he took to

evaluate the Britons' fighting styles so that he could be prepared to defeat them the next time.

In the second situation, Caesar describes how videbat, "he saw," that unless he acted differently

the result would be idem, "the same" as it had been before (4.35). Videbat stresses how he had gained the

experience to understand this; after all, this experience came from observations like those he had made

while watching during the halt in the wheat fields. Idem also explicitely reminds his audience of the

similarities between the two engagements.

This time, however, Caesar has considered and knows that victory is attainable. Caesar scrapes

together some horsemen, which give the Romans cursu, "speed" (4.35). In the previous chapters, Caesar

described how the Romans lacked speed and how the Britons' skill with their chariots gave them speed, so

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clearly cursus is the crucial element for victory that his experience had determined that he needed and he

had found in the horsemen.

With the aid of these horsemen, Caesar's men killed complures, "many," of the enemy and causes

them to seek peace (4.35). Of course, since there were only 30 horsemen, Caesar could not have claimed

to have killed them all, but complures is a stark contrast to the very few that he had been able to hunt

down after his last victory and shows how he used his experience effectively.

In these two similar situations described in De Bello Gallico, Caesar shows how experience

informs his leadership. In the first, he does not act owing to a lack of experience and resources and

instead evaluates the Britons. In the second, he uses his accumulated experience to identify the key

ingredient for victory and decidedly defeat the Britons, resulting in them suing for peace.

#7 FORMAT DEDUCTION

AP Latin 4b Essay 2

Throughout the passages provided, Julius Caesar proves that for each new military decision he

makes, he always takes the results of previous actions into account. This serves to show his prudence and

adaptability as a general.

In his writing, Caesar always makes sure to set the stage for his future actions. This is especially

true when he uses the ablative of cause novitate pugnae, “from the newness of the fight,” to describe the

reason for his soldiers’ confusion in the opening lines (DBG, 34.1). This sense of the word novitas

implies an unfamiliarity, which could be reasonably expected of soldiers who had just landed in Britain.

Even though he and his men were not successful in the first engagement, this one line from

Caesar tells the reader that the same result is not likely to happen again: idem quod superioribus diebus

acciderat fore videbat, “he saw that the same thing which had occurred on the previous days would

happen” (35.1). Usually, a word indicating “thinking,” “considering,” or even “turning one’s mind to” is

used by Caesar in situations like this. However, Caesar uses the vivid videbat, “he was seeing,” to

indicate his firm conviction of belief. It was clear to him that the enemy would attack in the same way, so

he was able to plan accordingly.

By using his qualities of prudence and adaptability, Caesar changes several key elements of his

strategy to deal with the enemy attacks. First, he makes sure to bring equites circiter XXX, “about thirty

horsemen” (35.2). An eques, in the military sense, was an armored cavalryman, one who added a new

degree of mobility to Roman legions. In bringing cavalry to the battle, Caesar has negated one main

advantage the British warriors possessed, namely their ability to quickly enter and exit battles, thereby

avoiding excess harm from the legionaries.

A key characteristic of British fighting was the “guerilla warfare” of their attacks, something

Caesar noted in the line, qui erant in agris reliqui discesserunt, “those who were left in the fields

dispersed” (34.5-6). This specific use of the word discedo, “to disperse,” is Caesar’s way of illustrating to

the audience how the enemy would essentially go off in various directions, then reform to attack later. It

is also possible that Caesar is using this word to note the disorganized nature of British fighting as

something he could potentially exploit later on.

Caesar’s realization of the British fighting style mentioned above led him to the second case

where he took previous actions into account. Caesar claims that his soldiers only went back to camp

omnibus longe lateque aedificiis incensis, “with all (their – the British) buildings having been burned”

(35.6). His inclusion of this action is very important for two reasons. First, it meant that the British

11

soldiers were no longer able to just retreat back to their homes and fight another day. Second, it is a

deliberate effort by Caesar to show both his produce as a general and his adaptability based on past

circumstances.

Caesar uses his skill as a prose writer to frame these actions between two very similar occurances.

In the first engagement, he in castra legiones reduxit, “led his legions back into the camp,” and in the

second, his men se in castra receperunt, “withdrew themselves into camp” (34.4, 35.6). Caesar is

essentially saying the same thing twice, but in a way meant to show the different circumstances under

which it happened. In the first instance, he himself (note the third person, singular of reduxit) has to lead

his men to camp, which hints that his men were still in a state of disarray and needed his personal

command. However, in the second instance, the legions lead themselves back to camp, successful and

confident from their great victory. In this small nuance, Caesar has shown the complete success of his

men due to the adjustments to his strategy

Finally, one element of Caesar’s prudence as a general not related to his adaptability to new

situations was his ability to judge the capabilities of his soldiers, and to rarely overwork them, something

which would leave his army in a compromised position. This is shown in the line, quantum cursu et

viribus efficere potuerunt, “(as great a distance) as they were able to accomplish by their speed and vigor”

(35.5). By using the word potuerunt, “they were able,” Caesar is showing that he did not overexert his

soldiers, allowing them to retain strength for future fights. This is certainly a characteristic of a good

general.

In chapters thirty-four and thirty-five from book four of his De Bello Gallico, Caesar makes it

clear that he uses experience a great deal in his leadership, whether that be by countering the enemy’s

advantages or cutting off their planned routes of escape. This ties in with his adaptability as a leader. He

also shows his prudence, especially in regulation his soldiers’ physical exertion.

#8

Same Action, Different Reasons: Caesar’s Strategies

Within this passage Caesar repeats his own actions as he twice withdraws his men and keeps

them inside the camps. Each time had a different resulting action from the Britons, with the first being

more ideal than the second. Caesar carefully explains the circumstances, reasoning used, and outcome of

the instances and his actions surrounding them to persuade the audience that his decisions were the best

options available.

Caesar subtly shows the audience that he understands the situation first as he makes his decisions

with *quibus rebus*, “under these circumstances” (DBG 4.34.1). He demonstrates that he is aware of

current circumstances and that knowledge is a vital part in his decision making process, showing the

audience that he is an attentive leader.

Knowing these circumstances, Caesar carefully plans his next action, *lacessendum hostem. . .

alienum esse tempus arbitratus*, “having thought the time was unfavorable . . . for attacking the enemy”

(4.34.4-5). This shows Caesar’s thought process as he decides what to do, effectively demonstrating to the

audience that he has thought out his plan and his actions and results are because of his own ability. He

displays that his leadership is strategic and deliberate.

After Caesar has his men stay in their camp, the rest of Britons withdrew, *reliqui discesserunt*

(4.34.8). This is a favorable result for Caesar as by choosing to not provoke the Britons he not only gave

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his men time to recover but caused the Britons to leave. With this, he convinces his audience that his

abilities in leadership and strategy are admirably successful.

When Caesar again keeps his men in the camp, the circumstances and reasons have changed and

he deliberately makes this clear. There were *tempestates quae et nostris in castris continerent*, “storms

which contained ours within the camps” (4.34.9). Caesar shows that it was because of the storms that he

and his men were forced to remain within the camps rather than his own strategy. He shifts the blame for

this action when the outcome is unfavorable to the forces outside of his control.

When speaking of the Britons next actions, he says *interim barbari*, “meanwhile the

barbarians” (4.34.11). Caesar does this to slant the narrative in his favor and prevent the audience from

blaming him for the Britons ability to prepare an attack while the Romans were unable to stop them. It

reminds the audience to think of the Britons as barbarians and emphasizes the disadvantage the Romans

are at because of the storms.

Caesar shows the audience that now, still because of events caused by storms, the Romans are

against unfavorable odds. The Romans had a “small number of our soldiers”, *paucitatemque nostris

militum* while the enemies were “with a great number”, *magna multitudine* (4.34.12, 4.34.15). Caesar

wants the audience to remember to give him every drop of credit for his skill in overcoming such odds set

against him.

Caesar makes sure his audience knows that despite the disadvantage, he is in control of the

situation and is using his own past experiences and strategic skill to actively cause favorable results. *Etsi

idem . . . fore videbat*, “although he anticipated that the same thing which had happened . . .would

happen” displays his impressive ability as a general in using his experience to predict the enemies actions

then decide his own (4.35.1-2).

Because of Caesar’s actions to repel the enemy's attack, the Britons *terga verterunt*, “turned

their backs” to retreat (4.35.6). By emphasizing that the enemy “turned their backs”, Caesar shows the

audience that the Britons fled in fear and shame (4.35.6). He shows his audience this favorable outcome,

while he has already convinced the audience that it was caused by his choices and skill. He expects his

audience to respect and admire him for this accomplishment.

Caesar and his men repeatedly stay in their camps with different results each time. Caesar

carefully emphasizes the difference in the circumstances to highlight his own strategic skill as a general.

He explains how the first time the Romans stayed in the camps it was a successful, strategic decision. The

second time, Caesar makes it clear that it was because of the storms and he handled the response from the

Britons by using his own experience to predict what they would do. He shows the audience his reasoning

for both occasions to prove to them that he is a qualified and strategic general.

#9 DEDUCTION FOR LATE, DEDUCTION FOR FORMAT

Caesar: A Skilled Tactician and Leader

In the above passages, Caesar uses the same military tactic only to receive different results. When his

military tactic fails the first time, he adjusts it slightly with successful results, demonstrating his skill as a

capable, resourceful, and quick-witted.

Caesar’s presence itself is a comfort to his soldiers, since “ namque eius advent hostes constiterunt, nostri

se ex timore receperunt” “Upon his arrival, the enemy paused, and our men recovered from their fear”

(4.34.2). Obviously, his soldiers have the ultimate trust and confidence in Caesar’s abilities as a general.

Once his soldiers have recovered, Caesar wisely chooses to stay back instead of charging into battle. His

cautiousness is demonstrated when, instead of rushing into the enemies’ ranks, he “castra legiones

13

reduxit” “drew back the legions into the camp” (4.34.4). He knows that his troops are not prepared for a

battle, and so he waits it out for when the time is right.

Caesar is then forestalled by storms for several days that hinder both his armies and the enemies troops

from progressing. While the Romans’ enemies use this as an opportunity to gather more supplies and

reinforcements, they also spread the word of “quanta praedae faciendae atque in perpetuum sui liberandi

facultas daretur, si Romanos castristas expulissent, demonstraverunt.” “how good an opportunity was

given for obtaining spoil and for liberating themselves forever, if they should only drive the Romans from

their camp”(4.34.8-10)

However, as usual, Caesar can foresee the enemy’s attempts to strike. In the second passage, he “ etsi

idem quod superioribus diebus acciderat fore videbat, ut, si essent hostes pulsi, celeritate periculum

effugerent” “anticipated that the same thing which had happened on former occasions would then occur-

that, if the enemy were routed, they would escape from danger by their speed” (4.35.1-2). As a result, he

quickly gathers his own troops and leads them to defeat the enemy soldiers quickly and mercilessly.

Caesar is not only able to learn from previous mistakes, but he also has the foresight to predict any

consequences to the tactics both he and his enemies employ. This makes him an ideal and very effective

leader.

#10

History Repeats Itself: Caesar’s Use of Experience

In book 4 of De Bello Gallico, Caesar leads his legions into the unfamiliar Britannia to scout out

its geography and its peoples. There, Caesar displays the key qualities of generalship, strategic thinking

and restraint, by learning from his past experiences to create and execute new plans, leading to his victory

over the Britons.

When the Britons first attack, Caesar notes that his men were perturbatis, “alarmed” (DBG

4.34.1). Here, the passive voice reflects how little control the men have as powerless objects of the verb,

emphasizing the direness of this experience for the soldiers. By describing the devastation of his men,

Caesar narrates a failure that he must learn from in future plans.

Eventually, the men ex timore receperunt, “recovered from fear,” as the battle turns in Caesar’s

favor (4.34.3). This change from the passive participle perturbatis to an active verb parallels the men’s

transition from being controlled to taking control in the battle (4.34.1). Caesar here asserts his dominance

over the Britons, foreshadowing his future victory.

Indeed, Caesar claims that this turn in the battle is adventu, “by his arrival” (4.34.3). The ablative

of cause here emphasizes the fact that his action is the reason for the enemy's pause, portraying himself as

an effective leader in difficult circumstances. Again, Caesar’s ability to briefly end the conflict in the

fields also foreshadows his ability to conquer the Britons once he has learned from this experience.

Still, Caesar does not allow arrogance to blind him, as he shows restraint amidst victory by not

continuing the fight. He says that quo facto, "although this was done," he retreated because the time was

not favorable (4.34.3-4). His use of the ablative absolute, grammatically separate from the rest of the

sentence, further emphasizes the fact that he considers his victory here separately from his strategic

considerations. In other words, Caesar will learn from his past failures and continue to think critically

despite his success.

Similarly, Caesar does not plan on his men’s victory, but considers the result only si essent hostes

pulsi, “if the enemy was defeated” (4.35.2). The contrary-to-fact condition emphasizes that victory may

not come considering the enemy’s previously proven strength. This thought only increases Caesar’s zeal,

14

however, as the passive voice in pulsi essent puts the emphasis on the action – defeat – that he hopes to

accomplish (4.35.2). This emphasis on action without any agent implies that Caesar is focused solely on

completing his task by any means, even though he understands from the past that nothing is guaranteed.

Caesar’s focus on action, however, does not indicate rashness – though focused on victory, he

remains cautious. When he writes that Caesar…constituit, “Caesar…placed” his battle line before the

camp, he employs hyperbaton between his subject and verb and fills that space with his strategic

considerations (4.35.1-5). By delaying his verb until he has revealed his plans, he creates suspense,

emphasizing the great thought based on the earlier battle that he puts into his tactics before coming to a

decision.

In these considerations, Caesar notes that etsi, “although” the enemy has escaped unscathed from

the previous assault, he still must prepare for another attack (4.35.1). This statement is in parallel with his

earlier statement that quo facto, “although [stopping the battle by his arrival] had been done,” he still did

not attack (4.34.3-4). Where the etsi statement displays Caesar’s strategy in planning despite defeat, the

other phrase displays Caesar’s restraint in holding back despite success (4.35.1). Thus, Caesar’s depiction

of his thought process reveals his ability to learn from past failures – the enemy escaping – and his key

qualities of generalship – strategic thinking and restraint.

Not only does Caesar plan using his past experiences, but he also executes his new plans with

better results. In describing the second battle, Caesar employs asyndeton:

potuerunt…occiderunt…receperunt, “they were able…they killed…they retreated” (4.35.8-9). The

asyndeton increases the pacing of his words, emphasizing the whirlwind of the fight where Caesar’s men

quickly crush the enemy, and underscores the number of actions the soldiers accomplish in this short

time, including pursuit, murder, and finally retreat. The verb receperunt, previously found in his

description of his men recovering from fear, now describes the soldiers returning from victorious carnage,

enhancing the comparison between the previous experience and the present success (4.34.1). Because

Caesar’s past experiences inform his decisions in this second fight, he is able to succeed despite similar

circumstances.

The difference between the two battles is especially evident in the soldiers’ pursuit of the fleeing

Britons. In the later battle, Caesar’s men pursue quos tanto spatio, “as great a distance” as they could, a

contrast to the first engagement where Caesar held back entirely (4.35.7). Having learned from his

mistakes, Caesar now enters battle prepared to pursue his enemy to a triumph.

Caesar’s use of experience here is what leads to his victory even against an unfamiliar people

wielding unfamiliar tactics. By moderating his pride with restraint and addressing each new challenge

strategically, Caesar learns from the failures of his past experiences, readies for the next battle, and

ultimately conquers.

#11 DEDUCTION FOR FORMAT

Essay 2

While continuing to talk about his conquests in the Gallic wars, Caesar aims to highlight his

qualities as an able and excellent general who all look up to. Caesar specifically focuses on his ability to

read the enemy and the status of battle, while making tactical decisions that leave him and his troops best

suited for battle against the Gauls.

15

Caesar starts off the passage by indicating that his timing is immaculate, exhibiting great

awareness as a leader. He says, tempore oportunissimo Caesar auxilium tulit “Caesar brought help at the

most opportune time” (4.34.2). The Roman troops were struggling due to the strange method of fighting

of the barbarians and would have been completely overrun if not for the perfect recovery of Caesar. The

use of oportunissimo highlights the awareness of Caesar, describing his timing to be most opportune,

implying that not one individual could do so better. This highlights Caesar’s promptness, while subtly

indicating he is the best general.

Caesar continues by showing the respect and bravery that his very presence strikes in the hearts of

his soldiers. He states Nostri se ex timore receperunt “our men recovered from their fear” (4.34.3). This

statement shows how much his troops look up to him. While timore highlights the reservations that his

troops previously had while fighting the barbarians, receperunt emphasizes that they recovered, proving

that Caesar is an inspiration and general who all look up to.

After Caesar turned up, the enemy started to question their chances of victory, and decided to

retreat. Nonetheless, Caesar made the decision not to pursue the enemy as he in castra legiones reduxit

“he led the legions back into the camp” (4.34.6). Despite the boost in morale of his troops, Caesar had

read the scenario and deemed it an unfavorable time for his troops to continue the fighting. His use of the

word reduxit enforces his leadership, indicating that all his troops trust his decision making which he has

gained from previous experiences.

After Caesar brought his troops back to the camps, the barbarians took this temporary reprieve to

their advantage. During the storms that put a pause on the battle, they aimed to get a large army barbari

nuntios in omnes partes de miserunt “the barbarians sent messengers into all parts” (4.34.11). As Caesar

had not chased after them, the barbarians were able to receive some time to shore their army up. They

could not defeat Caesar easily so they had to send messengers in omnes partes to build a powerful army.

By describing their message as being sent “in all parts”, Caesar foreshadows the magnitude and power of

the enemy.

As the barbarians all sent messengers out, their fellow tribes responded to them, agreeing to team

up to attack Caesar and reclaim their lost lands while dispelling the invaders at the same time. They state

His rebus celeriter magna multitudine peditatus equitatusque coacta “by these things having quickly got

together a large force of infantry and of cavalry” (4.34.16-17). By mentioning how quickly the enemy

was able to build up such a large army, these lines indicate that Caesar may have potentially had an error

in judgement leading to the barbarians to requip themselves for battle with a magna multitudine army.

This passage also helps Caesar glorify his eventual victory, indicating that he was able to defeat such a

large and powerful army.

As the storms began to die down and the battles began to commence, Caesar decided to improve

upon the mistakes he made last time. He had learned that the barbarians were fast at fleeing from battle,

celeritate periculum effugerent “they would flee the danger by their speed” (4.35.2). Caesar was

anticipating that barbarians would flee very swiftly (celeritate) so he decided to be prepared for the event.

To ensure that the enemy would not get away from them too fast, Caesar decided to prepare his

men to chase after the barbarians quickly. For this purpose, Caesar decided to nactus equites circiter XXX

“having got about thirty horses” (4.35.2). This action indicates Caesar’s qualities as a general. He learned

from his previous mistake of letting the barbarians go, and was thus prepared to attack them and prevent

them from retreating when the battle resumed. As his men eventually pushed back the barbarians, Caesar

indicates that due to his ability to adapt and learn from mistakes, the Romans were able to win a decisive

victory in the battle.

16

By describing how he first allowed the barbarians to escape before talking about how he learned

from his mistake and prepared his army to ensure that none of the enemy is able to flee this time, Caesar

indicates that he is a successful general whose troops all look up to him and admire him. He is able to

learn from his previous experiences, which help shape him into a better and much more successful

general as his battles proceed.

#12

Quick and Decisive

In this passage Caesar shows his quick and efficient leadership style, exemplifying the way that a

general should rely on his past knowledge while also being able to quickly adapt to the present

circumstances, and this character trait allows him to defeat the Britains.

Caesar starts off by describing how he tempore opportunissimo...auxilium tulit, “brought aid at

the most favorable time” (DBG 4.34.1-2). The use of the superlative opportunissimo, “best”, emphasizes

his skill in military affairs and begins to paint the image of an extremely tactful commander-in-chief, one

that will be fleshed out later in the passage.

Adding to this narrative of himself, Caesar then points out how, upon recognizing how he was in

a bad situation, he gets his soldiers and retreats brevi tempore intermisso, “a short time having gone

between” (4.34.4). The interjection of these three words in the middle of the sentence emphasizes how

quickly and skillfully he handled a situation that was unfavorable to him.

At the same time, Caesar also does another thing to emphasize his skillful handling of the

situation, with the run-on sentence quo facto...reduxit (4.34.2-5). The run-on style of this sentence

combined with the use of multiple conjunctions (et...et…) makes it seem like Caesar is handling

everything going on around him skillfully and efficiently, while also impressing upon Caesar’s readers

how hectic a situation like this could be.

Caesar makes use of the ablative absolute quo facto, “which thing having been done”, to stress his

authority and show his quick and efficient leadership ability (4.34.2). The ablative absolute stresses the

completion of his order, making it seem like everything is completely under Caesar’s control. This again

shows how experienced Caesar is in battle and how even in a bad situation like this he and his men stay

calm and efficient.

Later on, Caesar describes how he utilized his extensive military experience in order to defeat the

Britains. He tells the audience that he knew what accidat fore, “would happen” (4.35.1). His use of the

future participle of sum indicates how he had used his experience to his advantage in order to know what

would happen if he did something, giving him an advantage over his enemy who lacked that sort of

experience.

However, Caesar shows in this passage that he not only learns from past experiences and past

mistakes. He also adapts to the situation at hand, molding his behavior to whatever he is able to do at that

time. Caesar uses the conjunction-adverb construction etsi...tamen, “although...nevertheless” to illustrate

this principle (4.35.1-2). His use of etsi serves to begin the clause, while the adverb tamen emphasizes

how he adapts to the situation and makes use of the Spanish horsemen who Commius Atrebas had

brought with him.

This characterization of Caesar continues throughout this paragraph, emphasized through the

hyperbaton Caesar employs in the first sentence. The separation between Caesar...constituit both

17

emphasizes the content of what Caesar says between them - that he used his previous experience to his

advantage - and also emphasizes how Caesar is processing such an enormous amount of information and

using it to his advantage, adapting to his circumstances (4.35.1-3).

Caesar furthers the reader’s assessment of him as a quick and efficient leader when he describes

how the enemy diutius...ferre non potuerunt, “could no longer bear” his attacks. The use of diutius,

“longer”, coupled with its distance from the verbs on which it depends serves to highlight the contrast

between Caesar’s decisive leadership style and the Britains’ less-organized and less potent one (4.35.4).

Caesar is simply quicker.

Throughout this passage, Caesar utilizes his language to emphasize his quick and efficient

method of leadership, while also showing how he learns from past military experience to guide his actions

in the present. He shows that he has the most important trait of a leader: to be able to learn from his

mistakes and turn them into a learning experience, one that can later be applied to his benefit.

#13

The Retreat of a Genius

Note: This essay was written before DBG 4.35 was added to the prompt and will deal only with material

in 4.34. Please use all grading criteria as if they refer to the original prompt.

When Caesar is in Britain, fighting the British barbarian tribes, he retreats to the Roman camps

for a significant amount of time. At first, Caesar displays his quick and strategic decision making in the

retreat, since the well-supplied Romans can afford to wait for a better opportunity. However, after waiting

too long, the barbarians start to gain the advantage.

Caesar first decides to retreat perturbates nostris novitate “With our men having been greatly

disturbed by the newness” (DBG 4.34.1). This ablative absolute describes the circumstances that lead

Caesar to make his decision. Because his men were not in top fighting shape and had the disadvantage in

unfamiliar terrain against an unfamiliar enemy, it makes sense for Caesar to retreat to study the enemy

and the land before engaging in battle.

Also, with omnibus occupatis “with everything already having been seized” from the land around

them, Caesar’s men are well supplied and have no need to venture out (4.34.7). Plus, there are no crops

left nearby to feed the barbarians. As an experienced general, Caesar knows that supply chains are

essential for maintaining an army. In Book 1, he had to divert his course because he could no longer ship

supplies on the river. Here, Caesar is betting that he is better supplied than his enemies and that that fact

can give him a significant advantage.

Caesar displays his skill when he accurately judges both tempore oportunissimo “the most

opportune time” to bring out the reserves, and that the fight was taking place alienum tempus “the other

side’s time” (4.34.2, 4.34.5). Viewing the whole battlefield, Caesar can figure out which times and actions

are beneficial to which side. This allows him to direct his men quickly and effectively and to retreat

without losing too many men. He displays this skill consistently throughout De Bello Gallico, such as

when his men disembark into an attack in early Book 4, and when he takes part in extended battles around

Gallic strongholds in Book 7.

The situation shifts as complures dies “very many days” pass (4.34.8). Caesar no longer has the

information he needs, and the advantage slowly shifts towards the barbarians. The difference in supplies

is evened out over time, rather than starving the barbarians. Once his men’s morale is restored and the

18

land has been examined, Caesar still stays in the camp, until many of the reasons he originally retreated

for no longer apply.

During the last paragraph of the passage, the circumstances change. Now, the barbarians have

nuntios in omnes partes “messengers into every section” (4.34.11). This raises the barbarian morale and

adds to their numbers, making them a lot stronger. Caesar stays in his camp and does not intervene to

prevent this growth of strength. In this case, Caesar’s continued absence from the battlefield does not help

his side, but instead grants and opportunity to the enemy.

Earlier Caesar took the advantage by using his time wisely, but later the barbarians are the ones

using time efficiently. Internim “meanwhile,” as Caesar’s men stay in camp, the barbarians organize

celeriter “rather quickly” (4.34.11, 4.34.15). Although Caesar originally retreated because it was alienum

tempus, “the other side’s time,” it is even more so now (4.34.5). Caesar has underestimated the speed of

the barbarians and has lost the time advantage he once had.

Although Caesar has not seized the opportunity, he is still a more experienced general. He makes

decisions quickly and confidently, and puts them into action immediately. Without any hesitation or

deliberation, Caesar arbitratus “he has decided” to retreat(4.34.5). The perfect indicative verb shows that

Caesar has already decided what to do, and that he has no doubt. The ellipted est makes the action seem

even shorter and more defined. Caesar not only makes good decisions in the heat of battle, he also makes

them quickly.

In contrast, the barbarians’ decision making is: quanta…facultas daretur, si… “how great an

opportunity may be given, if…” (4.34.13-14). This is riddled with uncertainties. It’s a condition; the

opportunity only exists under specific circumstances. The verb is subjunctive, which implies possibility

and makes the condition less vivid. Finally, they don’t even know how great or what kind of opportunity

they might possibly have! While Caesar’s decisions are definite and already decided, the barbarians are

uncertain. This shows the gap in abilities between Caesar and the barbarians. Even if they currently have

the advantage, they are in no way more skilled than Caesar.

Making this point clearer, the barbarians believe they can be free in perpetuum “forever” if they

defeat those of Caesar’s men currently in Britain (4.34.13). This is a fatal error in judgement. Even if they

win and slaughter every single man there, another Roman general will come and avenge them, just as in

Book 1 Caesar took revenge against the Helvetii group that had defeated a previous general. This shows

their ignorance and inexperience and contrasts with Caesar’s and his primary audience’s superior Roman

knowledge.

The barbarians gather magna multitudine “in a huge crowd,” verses paucitatemque nostrorum

militum “the fewness of our soldiers” (4.34.15, 4.34.12). After Caesar’s delay, they have the numerical

advantage. However, the different words suggest different quality of the armies: the barbarians’

multitudine is unorganized and rowdy, like any other crowd gathered for a more casual reason (4.34.15).

They lack the organization of the cohorts, legions, and ranks of nostrorum militum (4.34.12). The

barbarians are not specialized in war like proper milites and they do not have the experience of Caesar’s

now-veteran legions.

Later, in Book 7, Caesar does learn from this experience with the British. Instead of staying

locked in combat with Vercingetorix’ armies, Caesar makes sure to keep an eye on his Aedui allies, who

repeatedly try to rebel only to join him again as soon as he sends soldiers to them. Caesar knows the value

of time, and he now knows that he cannot give his enemies time to mobilize and gather. Every time

Caesar experiences a disadvantage in battle, he learns from it, which is one quality that makes him a

formidable general.

19

Throughout Book 4, Chapter 34, Caesar stays hidden in the Roman camps. At first, the decision is

clever and timely, as is characteristic of his leadership style. However, Caesar’s continued decision to not

attack later allows the barbarians, although clearly inferior to Caesar and his army, to gain the advantage.

Caesar puts his experience to good use in the first part and learns from the second in order to improve his

skills as a general. In the context of the rest of De Bello Gallico, this incident proves Caesar to be a

decisive and adaptive leader.

#14

Caesar: Best of Generals and Best of Men

In book 4 of De Bello Gallico, Caesar describes himself fighting the Britons twice; he is caught

off guard for the first battle and retreats, but he decisively wins the second battle. Caesar juxtaposes these

two episodes to showcase his strategic thinking and confidence.

In the first encounter, the combination of the Britons’ ambush and their unusual fighting methods

surprise Caesar’s foraging soldiers. rebus perturbatis nostris “Because our men had been greatly

disturbed by their methods” (DBG, 4.34.1). Caesar uses the passive construction to emphasize how the

foraging Romans are being attacked by the Britons, not attacking them. Caesar’s usage of the ablative

absolute implies a causal relationship with his foragers’ unpreparedness and his subsequent unwillingness

to attack the Britons.

Once he has arrived at the field with reinforcements, Caesar decides that he will not be able to

defeat the enemy with only the unprepared foragers and the sentries he has gathered from the camp to

reinforce them and so he decides to retreat. alienum esse tempus arbitratus “having judged the time to be

unfavorable” (4.34.5). Caesar uses the indirect statement with esse to highlight the head verb, arbitratur,

emphasizing how he has come to a decision with a judicious evaluation of his circumstances. Caesar calls

the occasion alienum, an adjective used frequently by both Caesar and Vergil to describe unfavorable

conditions, often when describing weather for sailing, which emphasizes how his lack of sufficient forces

to battle is beyond his control.

Despite not defeating the Britons, however, Caesar mitigates the loss by claiming that the

Romans survived the ambush with few losses. Caesar recognizes that his reinforcements saved the

foragers. tempore oportunissimo Caesar auxilium tulit “Caesar brought help at the most opportune time”

(4.34.2). Caesar emphasizes tempore oportunissimo by placing it before the subject, and uses the

superlative form of oportunissimo to emphasize how he, at least, could not have made the outcome any

better. In the next episode, Caesar will defeat the Britons after learning from his experience and preparing

for an attack on the camp.

In the next encounter, before describing his battle outside of the camp, Caesar ponders his

strategy for fighting the Britons. Caesar places several clauses of deliberation before telling that he leads

his troops outside to prepare for battle. Caesar [...] constituit “Caesar set up (the legions)” (4.35.1-5).

Caesar uses the separation of the subject and the verb to make the reader wait to learn his decision. Caesar

presents his reasoning for this decision before the main clause in order to convince his reader that the

decision he has reached is logical and thought-out.

In that same sentence, he also ponders the risk of losing the battle if he fights, but concludes that

his main concern is the risk of not being able to capitalize on his victory, so he decides to defend the

camps. celeritate periculum effugerent “they would flee from danger with haste” (4.35.2). Caesar uses the

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imperfect and subjunctive verb to emphasize the likeness of the possibility that the Britons would flee.

Caesar also uses celeritate to remind the reader that the Britons’ method of fighting gives them

exceptional speed both when attacking and in retreat. Here Caesar demonstrates his confidence in his skill

at commanding soldiers and overall confidence in himself.

Caesar’s gambit pays off. After winning the battle, Caesar’s troops are able to kill many of the

fleeing enemies. complures ex iis occiderunt “they killed many of them” (4.35.8). Caesar uses an ablative

with ex in the place of the partitive genitive to emphasize how the Romans pick off the fleeing Britons

one by one. Caesar also uses the perfect active form of occiderunt to emphasize the simplicity and

inevitability of his victory.

The repetition in these passages displays Caesar’s constant evaluation of his next move. Caesar

showcases his strategic thinking and confidence to emphasize his skill as a general to the reader.

#15

The Actions of Caesar and the Britons

When Caesar rescues his soldiers from the attacking Britons, he uses similar language to describe

his and their actions. This repetition shows how the Britons are smart, but Caesar appears smarter because

of his experience and leadership qualities.

The first result of Caesar’s repetition is the impression that the Britons are smart, making them

worthy opponents. When Caesar says that “they showed” and, because of that, they “got together” men,

demonstraverunt...coacta (DBG 4.34.15 - 16), he links the Britons to Ambiorix, who also “showed” and,

because of that, “roused” his men, demonstrata...concitatis (5.38.4). By using the same word, demonstro,

and the same style, a causal verb followed by a resulting verb, he implies a similarity between the Britons

and Ambiorix, whom he has already acknowledged as a member of the “bravest” race (1.1.6).

Another result of the repetition of the military actions of the Romans and the Britons is the

assertion that Caesar, despite the Britons’ intelligence, is far smarter than them in matters of war. This is

exemplified by the fact that they “departed,” discesserunt, from the battle while the Romans were still

engaged (4.34.8). Besides the tactical error of leaving a battle in which they had the upper hand, Caesar

portrays the Britons as cowardly by using the verb discedo, which he also uses to describe treachery

(4.30) and disobeying orders (5.26 ff).

Part of the reason why Caesar appears smarter is because he emphasizes his own experience,

especially in reference to his timing. He says that he arrived tempore opportunissimo, “at the most

opportune time,” which he implies is a direct result of his own military experience (4.34.2). Caesar’s use

of the superlative opportunissimo emphasizes that this was the pinnacle of opportune times to attack,

making his skill in timing seem, at the very least, above average, if not paranormal.

Another reason that Caesar seems to be smarter than the Britons is his experience in the

avoidance of overcommitment. He only fought for a short time, brevi tempore intermisso, before

retreating into the camp, instead of fighting until he or the Britons died (4.34.5 - 6). Because he uses the

verb intermitto, which is made of inter, “between,” and mitto, “I send,” Caesar emphasizes what went

“between,” a short time, and not what he was doing during that time, fighting.

One of the leadership qualities that Caesar shows himself to have is an impressive sense of

foresight. He claims that he “anticipated,” videbat, what would happen before the battle even began

(4.35.2). Because he uses the verb video, which is a very common word in Latin, Caesar makes his

foresight seem externally normal, which convinces the reader that it is in fact not ordinary.

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Caesar uses the cavalry he has to his best advantage, thus showing that he has the quality of using

whatever he had to further his end. He knew that thirty horsemen, equites … triginta, was far below the

normal strength of his legion, three hundred (4.35.3). Nevertheless, he shows that, despite the numbers, he

coordinated the horsemen so that they could deliver the most damage while suffering the least in return.

By making the Britons seem smart, but portraying himself as smarter than them because of the

emphasis on his experience and qualities of leadership, Caesar makes his eventual victory appear more

impressive to the reader.