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A First Latin Reader/119

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Lesson 119
Curio gains an Initial Advantage
1912
 118. Operations about Utica 120. He maintains his Army’s Loyalty to Caesar 
LESSON 119
Curio gains an Initial Advantage

Interim equitēs cum hostibus proelium commisērunt et, priusquam legiōnēs plānē explicārī possent, tōta auxilia rēgis, quae nūllō ordine et sine metū iter faciēbant, in fugam coniecta sunt. Equitēs hostium per lītus in oppidum properāvērunt, peditum autem magnus numerus interfectus est.

Proximā nocte centuriōnēs du ex castrīs Cūriōnis cum manipulāribus suīs duōbus et vīgintī ad Attium Vārum perfugiunt; cuī cōnfīrmant tōtīus exercitūs animōs alienōs esse ā Cūriōne, multōsque facultāte datā libenter esse trānsitūrōs. Qua ōrātiōne adductus Vārus posterō diē māne legiōnēs ex castrīs ēdūcit. Facit idem Cūriō, atque ūnā valle nōn magnā interpositā suās uterque cōpiās īnstruit.

Erat in exercitū Vārī lēgātus quīdam, cuī nōtī erant multī Cūriōnis mīlitēs. Hanc ille nactus appellātiōnis causam, circumīre aciem Cūriōnis atque omnēs hortārī coepit, ut Vārum sequerentur; quīn etiam praemium pollicitus est, sī quī ad eum trānsīre voluissent. Hīs verbīs audītīs, nūllam in partem ab exercitū Cūriōnis fit sīgnificātiō, atque ita suas uterque cōpiās redūcit.

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