10-18-2016, 02:00 PM
Dear Melvyn Bragg,
I have been reading this thread with great interest but am a little puzzled by one thing. The phrase "deligitque locum artis faucibus et a tergo silva clausum" is variously translated as "chose a position approached by a narrow defile, closed in at the rear by a forest", "chose a position in a defile with a wood behind him" or "clinging to the narrow defile as a defence". Now I am under the impression that "faux" means ravine or gorge, not some shallow valley in the home counties. Now I only know of two gorges in southern England and one of them is a tad too damp. I am sorry I haven't a clue how they got there but the conclusion is that the battle happened at Cheddar Gorge.
Mrs Trellis,
North Wales.
I have been reading this thread with great interest but am a little puzzled by one thing. The phrase "deligitque locum artis faucibus et a tergo silva clausum" is variously translated as "chose a position approached by a narrow defile, closed in at the rear by a forest", "chose a position in a defile with a wood behind him" or "clinging to the narrow defile as a defence". Now I am under the impression that "faux" means ravine or gorge, not some shallow valley in the home counties. Now I only know of two gorges in southern England and one of them is a tad too damp. I am sorry I haven't a clue how they got there but the conclusion is that the battle happened at Cheddar Gorge.
Mrs Trellis,
North Wales.