| HOMER – « The Odyssey » | Caesar - « Commentaries on the Gallic war » |
| Book 17 | Book 7 |
| Meanwhile before the palace of Odysseus the suitors were making merry, throwing the discus and the hunting-spear upon the level pavement, holding riot as of old. | There was a lull of a gentle ascent from the bottom ; a dangerous and impassable marsh, not more than fifty feet broad, begirt it on 'almost every side. The Gauls, having broken down the bridges, posted themselves ou this hill, in confidence of their position |
| the shepherds leading who were wont to lead,— then Medon spoke; a man most loved of all the pages, one who was ever present at their feasts : « Now, lads, since all your hearts are cheered with sports, come to the house and let us lay the table. One’s dinner at the proper time is no bad thing. | Caesar clearly points out to his soldiers (...) "with how great loss and the death of how many gallant men the victory would necessarily be purchased |
| He spoke, and up they sprang and went to heed his words. And entering the stately buildings, | Having thus consoled his soldiers, he leads them back on the same day to the Camp |
| « … but of him I stand in fear and awe, lest he hereafter chide me. Hard is a master’s censure. » | Vercingetorix, when he had returned to his men, was accused of treason … all these circumstances could not have happened accidentally or without design |
| There are you carrying that glutton, you good-for-nothing swineherd, that nasty beggar to make mischief at our feasts? A man to stand and rub his back on many doors and tease for scraps of food, but not for swords and caldrons. | He produces some camp-followers to these Roman soldiers whom he had surprised on a foraging expedition some days before, and had tortured by famine and confinement. They being previously instructed in what answers they should make when examined, say, "That they were legionary soldiers, that, urged by famine and want, they had recently gone forth from the camp, [to see] if they could find any corn or cattle in the fields; that the whole army was distressed by a similar scarcity, nor had any one now sufficient strength, |
| But do not linger long, or somebody may spy you at the door and throw a stone or strike you. | impeded the working of them by stakes bent and sharpened at the ends, and boiling pitch, and stones of very great weight, |
| Stanch is my soul; for many dangers have I borne from waves and war. To those let this be added. Yet I cannot disregard a gnawing belly, the pest which brings so many ills to Men. | ? |
| He sat down on the ash-wood threshold just within the door, leaning against the cypress post which long ago the carpenter had smoothed with skill and leveled to the line. | But this is usually the form of all the Gallic walls. Straight beams, connected lengthwise and two feet distant from each other at equal intervals, are placed together on the ground ; these are mortised on the inside, and covered with plenty of earth. But the intervals which we have mentioned, are closed up in front by large stones. These being thus laid and cemented together, another row is added above, in such a manner, that the same interval may be observed, |
