phalange = phalanx. If you learn Greek, you will readily think of the famous Macedonian phalanx.
impetus = attacks = in + peto (= aim at). Cf. our impetus, impetuous.
(ii.) Translation.—This sentence contains only one finite verb, the principal one.
EXCEPERUNT = (they) received. Who received? Clearly
GERMANI = the Germans. Received what?
IMPETUS = the attacks. impetūs must be Acc. Plur.
All you now have to do is to assign to their proper places the words and phrases that remain. Of these
| 1. celeriter 2. ex consuetudine sua 3. phalange facta | modify the action of exceperunt, telling us when andhow they received, and |
| 4. gladiorum belongs to impetūs. | |
Now translate the whole sentence. But the Germans quickly formed into a phalanx, as was their custom, and received the attacks of the swords (i.e. of the Romans with drawn swords).