A First Latin Reader/120

by Herbertus Chester Nutting

Herbert Chester Nutting

A First Latin Reader

Lesson 120
He maintains his Army’s Loyalty to Caesar

1912

fons: librum vide

119. Curio gains an Initial Advantage	121. The Pompeians suffer a Second Reverse

LESSON 120

He maintains his Army’s Loyalty to Caesar

At in castrīs Cūriōnis animī omnium sollicitī^[1] erant; quisque enim ad id, quod^[2] ab aliō audierat, aliquid suī^[3] timōris addēbat.

Cōnsiliō convocātō, duae sententiae dictae sunt. Erant quī castra Vārī statim oppugnanda cēnsērent^[4]; alterī^[5] autem optimum factū^[6] exīstimābant in Castra Cornēlia legiōnēs redūcere, ut maiōre^[7] spatiō temporis interpositō mīlitum mentēs sānārentur^[8], simul ut exercitus, sī proeliō victus esset, in Siciliam facile trānsportārī posset. Cūriō tamen “Neutrum^[9] cōnsilium^[10],” inquit, “probō; neque enim tantī sum animī, ut castra tam mūnīta temerē oppugnanda cēnseam, neque tantī timōris, ut spem statim dīmittam, atque omnia prius^[11] experienda arbitror.”

Quārē, dīmissō cōnsiliō, cōntiōnem^[12] advocat mīlitum; quōrum animōs verbīs cōnfīrmat, docetque quid sit causae^[13], cūr sibi Caesarīque fidēlēs sint^[14]. Quā ōrātiōne permōtī mīlitēs eum^[15] etiam dīcentem interpellābant, discēdentem vērō ex cōntiōne^[16] ūniversī cohortantur ut magnō sit animō neve dubitet proelium committere et suam fidem^[17] virtūtemque experīrī^[18].

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1. sollicitī: sollicitus, -a, -um: unsettled.
2. ad id, quod: freely, to what.
3. suī: cf. suum, p. 11, l. 6; for syntax of the gen. phrase, cf. glōriae, p. 107, l. 17.
4. cēnsērent: cf. the note on erant quī, p. 109, l. 5.
5. alterī: m, i.e. the other party.
6. factū: cf. p. 126, l. 17; omit here in translating.
7. maiōre: absol. compar., mentēs: mēns, mentis, F., feeling, lit. mind.
8. sānārentur: sānō, 1: pass., become normal, heal, simul: i.e. furthermore.
9. neutrum: neuter, -tra, -trum: neither (of two).
10. cōnsilium: n, contrast the meaning here and on p. 149, l. 15.
11. prius: adv., i.e. before giving up hope, experienda: experior, 4, expertus sum, try.
12. cōntiōnem: f, assembly, advocat: advocō, 1, call together.
13. quid causae: for syntax of the gen., cf. suī timōris, p. 149, l. 13, what grounds, verbīs: sc. suīs.
14. sint: lit. they should be; translate the clause freely.
15. eum: i.e. Cūriōnem, etiam dīcentem: translate this and the following part by clauses; interpellābant: kept interrupting; discēdentem: sc. eum.
16. cōntiōne: f, the meeting, ūniversī: freely, one and all; magnō . . . animō: for syntax, cf. the note on p. 135, l. 2; neve: and not to (nē + ve); cf. neque (in sense = nōn + que).
17. fidem: f, cf. fidēlēs, l. 11, loyalty.
18. experīrī: cf. l. 7, make trial of.