Posted by Ed Kiser on July 06, 2004 at 17:57:03 from 205.188.116.8 user Kisered.
In Reply to: Re: Naze Experts Wanted posted by Robert Hill on July 06, 2004 at 00:16:01:
Perhaps the reason that the Roman invasion of Britannia around 55 BC is that Julius Caesar wrote of that invasion himself. There is also the reason that Caesar's "Gaulic Wars", in which that invasion is documented, is the required reading of First Year LATIN Students (or it was, back in the late '40's, when I was in High School, USA), so we got to read about it in the words of the commander himself.
To me, it was a very moving occasion, worthy of my having to dig it out of that original Latin.
He told of the many vessels with the Romans crossing the Channel to make a landing in the southeast part of Britannia. As they approached the shore, the local inhabitants had seen the slowly arriving fleet, and quickly put out the hue and cry to gather the defenders. The Britons were arrayed there on the shore, beating their shields with their battle axes with a loud clangor, shouting their defiance. They also displayed an awsome weapon, a "scythe chariot", which had sharp curved blades fixed on the axle of the chariot on both sides, place at about knee level. The Romans, when they saw these chariots charging up and down the beach, understood immediately the effect that would have upon their massed ranks, and so were somewhat dismayed at the prospects. Caesar gave the order to disembark into the surf, form their battle lines, and move forward to take the attack to the enemy. Caesar himself was in a ship carrying the lead elements of the Tenth Legion, Caesar's favorite. But when the order was given, no one seemed to want to go over the side to obey. He gave the order again, but this time, the Standard Bearer of the Tenth Legion, the man that carried that noble symbol of the tenth, with its big "X" upon it, stood up beside Caesar and spoke to his friends.
The remarkable thing about this speech is that this is the only time in this book that Caesar used the Direct Quotation to record speech. He gave the words of that stardard bearer a great distinction by actually quoting him.
"Jump down with me fellow comrades, unless you want this standard to fall into the hands of the enemy. I certainly will do my duty to my country and to my commander."
With these words, he went over the side, and by himself, carrying that standard with the big "X", began wading through the surf towards the defiant enemy on the shore.
His friends were shamed by his example, and went over the side to stand by him. The other ships, seeing the Tenth forming their battle lines, also felt their shame, and also went over the side, formed their lines, and advanced to the foe.
This is a magnificent story of DUTY, and how the courage of one man and his willingness to accept that Duty did so much to change the outcome. Caesar, by quoting this man, gave his words a place of honor that lives through the two thousand years that have followed, yet he does not record the NAME of that brave soldier, only his words.
"Ego certe meum officium facio."
It is a story worthy of retelling on those patriotic anniversaries, a story of courage, of bravery, of dedication, of obedience to do one's duty.
"Duty calls: 'Thou must!' Youth replies, 'I can.'"
I am glad for the privilege of reading those words of Caesar, as he wrote them, and seeing this story from his own hand. In this day with the fading of accepting the importance of Latin in our educational systems, I feel sad that the new generations will not get to be so moved by getting to read this wonderful account on their own.
John Nichols, I hope I got that Latin quote properly done, as it is done strictly from memory of what was read back in 1949. Where there may be fault in it, may their also be forgiveness for the damage of time to the memory.
Ed Kiser, South Florida