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A First Latin Reader/83

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Lesson 83
An Intrepid Commander
1912
 82. A Succussful Ambuscade 84. Burned at the Stake 
LESSON 83
An Intrepid Commander

Eōdem bellō[1] quīdam colōnī in scaphīs ōlim eō cōnsiliō profectī sunt, ut cum Indīs fīnitimīs aut pācem facerent, aut eīs[2] indīcerent bellum, sī Philippum adiūvāre persevērārent. Ē scaphīs ēgressī, per agrōs contendēbant colōnī, cum subitō ululātus audītus est, et barbarī impetū[3] repentīnō mīlitēs ad lītus sē recipere coēgērunt: nam in eō quoque proeliō Indī numerō erant multō superiōrēs; dux enim colōnōrum quīndecim tantum mīlitēs sēcum tum habēbat.

Is autem, vir summae cōnstantiae, locum[4] idōneum nactus, suōs hortātus est nē sē animō[5] dēmitterent, et ipse ācriter dīmicāvit. Dum rēs sīc geritur, animadvertit forte[6] ūnum ē comitibus ita territum, ut nūllō modō pugnāre posset. Quō vīsō, hominem iussit lapidēs[7] comportāre, quī prō[8] mūnitiōne ūsuī[9] essent[10]: quod cum iste[11] faceret, sagitta subitō lapidem percussit, quem manibus[12] ferēbat; quō mīrāculō[13] permōtus (nam vītam ā dīs ita servātam esse exīstimābat), animōs[14] homō resūmpsit[15], summāque virtūte ūnā cum cēterīs pugnāvit.

Brevī tēla colōnōrum dēficere coepērunt; sed nāvis adventū opportūnō servātī sunt. Dux tamen, cum nōllet[16] Indōs putāre sē timōre[17] discessisse, etiam tum in agrīs paulum morātus est ad petasum[18] petendum, quem ad fontem paulō ante reliquerat.

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  1. eōdem bellō: for syntax, cf. prīmō bellō, p. 62, l. 15.
  2. eīs: cf. the note on Britannīs, p. 92, l. 7.
  3. impetū: toward.
  4. locum: position.
  5. animō: for syntax, cf. the more familiar phrase, animō dēmissus.
  6. forte: cf. the note on p. 85, l. 12.
  7. lapidēs: lapis, -idis: M., stone.
  8. prō: as, or for.
  9. ūsuī: cf. p. 89, l. 8.
  10. essent: note the mood.
  11. iste: the soldier.
  12. manibus: cf. p. 7, l. 9.
  13. mīrāculō: mīrāculum, -ī: N., providence, lit. strange happening.
  14. animōs: courage.
  15. resūmpsit: resūmō, 3, -sūmpsī, -sūmptus: recover.
  16. cum nōllet: translate by a particip. phrase.
  17. timōre: abl. of cause.
  18. petasum: petasus, -ī: M., broad-brimmed hat.