Chap. 1,
line 2. certior fīēbat: he was made more certain = he was informed.
fīēbat: the passive of facio. Review the forms. 142; H. 294.
4. Coniūrandi: pronounce the i of the second syllable like y.
5. verēbantur: the subject is Belgae, understood; supply the same subject for sollicitābantur.
ad se: refers to the subject of verēbantur.
6. Germānos: subject-accusative of versāri; that the Germans should remain.
8. exercitum: subject-accusative of hiemāre and inveterāscere.
inveterāscere: get a foothold; but what is its primary meaning from its derivation?
10. imperiis: 227 e, 3; H. 385.
11. iis: supply mentally ab before it.
13. qui: and these, referring to potentiōres, etc.
eam rem: read again the preceding sentence, and you will see to what eam rem refers.
imperio nostro: under our (i.e. Roman) rule. The ablative implies condition, and the meaning is, if we should get the sovereignty. 255, d, 4; H. 431, 2, (3).
Page 23,
1. ita uti: as.
3. Labiēni: Cæsar’s lieutenant was now in the country of the Sequani. See a map of Gallia.
4. quam: whose country. We might expect quos referring to Belgas, but the relative is made to agree with the predicate noun partem.
6. has esse causas: depending on rūmōres adferēbantur, like Belgas ... coniūrāre and obsides ... dare. 272; H.
7. omni ... Gallia: all except their country.
pācāta: the Romans, with cruel humor, called a country “pacified” when they had enslaved it.
8. partim qui: some of whom.
9. ut ... ita: as ... so.
11. partim qui: others of whom.
12. ab nōnnūllis etiam: these, then, are the third class by whom it is said, Belgae sollicitābantur: first, the conservative and patriotic; second, the restless and dissatisfied; third, the selfish and ambitious.
Chap. 2,
line 2. interiōrem Galliam: the interior of Gaul; that is, Gaul beyond the Alps. Refer constantly to a map.
3. qui ... dēdūceret: qui refers to Q. Pedium, and the clause qui ... dēdūceret denotes purpose, to lead.
4. Ipse: supply Caesar.
6. Ea = eas res, as shown by rēbus following.
8. manus cōgi: that parties of men were gathering. The construction is the same as Belgas ... coniūrāre, in chap. 1.
9. condūci: was mustering; a very different meaning in chap. 1.
quīn ... proficīscerētur: to march. What literally?
Page 23,
18. inita aestāte: when summer had begun = at the beginning of summer; marks the time of dēdūceret, not of mīsit.
Page 24,
1. Dat negōtium: he charges. What literally?
2. uti (same as ut) ... cōgnōscant: to find out; the clause depends on dat negōtium.
3. se: refers to Caesar.
certiōrem faciant: compare the passive form in chap. 1.
5. dubitandum: in full the sentence would be, Caesar dubitandum esse sibi nōn exīstimāvit; and the word for word rendering, Cæsar did not think an-obligation-of-hesitating to be to himself. Translate, he ought to hesitate.
Chap. 3,
line 1. Eo: that is, ad fīnes Belgārum. See the end of chap. 2.
3. se ... permittere: here se is the subject-accusative of permittere.
in fidem: to the protection.
6. Caesaris imperāta facere: to do what Cæsar required. Literally what?
7. oppidis recipere: in meaning = in oppida recipere.
cēteris: not other, but all other. Their submission is abject.
9. sēse: not different from se.
10. Suessiōnes: the object of dēterrēre.
12. iūre: constitution.
īsdem: oftener written iīsdem, 101, c.
Page 24,
9. omni opīniōne: than any one could expect. 247, b; H. 417.
10. ex Belgis = Belgārum, or inter Belgas.
12. qui dīcerent: compare qui dēdūceret, p. 23, l. 19, and note on simplified text.
se: the object (with sua omnia = their all) of permittere. Another se must be mentally supplied as the subject of permittere.
18. incolant: why not incolunt, for it must be translated as if it were incolunt? Because the clause qui ... incolant depends on the clause Germānos ... coniūnxisse. It is therefore a dependent clause of indirect discourse, and as such must have the subjunctive. Thoroughly master this, the most important principle of Latin syntax. Mark how the descriptive clause, qui ... incolant, is framed into the main clause.
line 19. furōrem: the politic or cowardly Remi considered the love of liberty and independence of their brother Belgæ blind passion.
20. qui ... ūtantur: though they ... enjoyed. qui, then, must sometimes be rendered though he, though they, etc., but only when the subjunctive follows.
21. ūtantur: supply immediately following atque.
22. ipsis: refers to Rēmi.
23. quīn ... cōnsentīrent: from ... uniting. Compare quīn ... proficīscerētur, p. 24, l. 6, and note on simplified text.
Chap. 4,
line 1. quantae: refers to extent of country and population.
in armis essent: connect with quae cīvitātes: what states were in arms, and how powerful they were.
2. quid in bello possent: a literal translation, what they could (do) in war, does not convey the meaning. Render, what force they could bring into the field.
4. ibi: cis Rhēnum.
6. ex re: equivalent to ex causa.
7. fīēbat: it was coming about. The Remi said, in direct discourse, fit; and below, sūmant.
spīritus: means in the singular air, and is here used just as we use “airs,” in the phrase “to put on airs.”
8. omnia ... explōrāta: full information.
9. Quantam quisque: notice the order. Quisque likes to stand after quantus, quotus, se, and suus; here it means each nation.
11. Plūrimum ... valēbant: about equivalent to plūrimum poterant, had the most power.
18. cum ... tum: not only ... but also.
19. Britanniae: “the first mention of Britain by a Roman author.”
Page 24,
27. propter fertilitātem: to be connected with cōnsēdisse.
28. incolerent: why not incolēbant? See note on p. 24, l. 18, qui ... incolant.
29. memoria: within the memory; but two lines below, because of the memory.
Page 25,
10. nostra etiam memoria: compare patrum nostrōrum memoria, p. 24, l. 29.
13. obtinuerit: held, not obtained, which is usually expressed by adsecūtus est, cōnsecūtus est, or adeptus est.
15. omnium voluntāte: with the assent of all.
23. arbitrāri: that is, Rēmos arbitrāri.
Chap. 5,
line 2. obsides: as hostages, in apposition with līberos. What would have been the fate of these, if the chieftains had broken their pledges?
4. Rēi pūblicae interest: it concerns the (Roman) republic. The real subject of interest, represented in English by it, is manus hostium distinēri.
manus: the subject-accusative of distinēri, to be kept from uniting.
6. ne ... cōnflīgendum sit: that it may not be necessary to fight.
7. intrōdūxerint: the Roman way of speaking is: this can be done, if that shall be done, or shall have been done; hence the future perfect. But mark that such a future or future perfect is often best rendered by a present.
9. coāctas ... venīre: having been assembled ... to be coming = had assembled ... and were coming.
10. vīdit = intellēxit.
neque iam = et iam nōn.
iis: take with explōrātōribus.
13. quae res: that is, his crossing the river and fixing his camp there.
14. post eum quae essent = ea quae post eum essent, his rear. What should you expect in place of eum?
tūta: goes with the whole expression, post eum quae essent.
16. portāri: to be brought down the river to him.
19. in altitūdinem: to the height.
20. duodēvīginti pedum: that is, in lātitūdinem, in width.
Page 25,
24. līberāliterque ōrātiōne prōsecūtus: līberāliter means in a generous or kindly manner; ōrātiōne indicates in what sense prōsecūtus is to be taken, accompanying with words; finally, prōsequor has its common meaning of accompany, but with the meaning unusually applied: Cæsar had encouraged the Remi, and he accompanies the encouragement with kind words. Translate, Cæsar encouraging the Remi and adding kind words.
29. commūnis salūtis: by the common interests Cæsar means those of the Ædui and the Romans.
30. cōnflīgendum sit: compare dubitandum (esse) p. 24, l. 5, and read the note. Here, as there, sibi, referring to Cæsar and the Ædui, must be mentally supplied, showing for whom the duty or necessity of action (hesitating, fighting) exists.
31. Id fieri posse: depends upon docet. To what does id refer?
Page 26,
1. Postquam ... vīdit ... cōgnōvit, ... mātūrāvit: when he saw ... and found out, (then) ... he hastened.
3. neque ... cōgnōvit: and from those scouts, etc., found out that they (the Belgæ) were now not far distant.
8. et connects reddēbat and efficiēbat, which have the same subject, quae res. The order makes this sentence difficult. Cæsar might have written: et efficiēbat ut commeātus ab Rēmis reliquīsque cīvitātibus sine perīculo ad eum portāri posset. The order is so perplexed and perplexing because Cæsar wrote in haste, and because he began with the word which was uppermost in his mind, commeātus.
Chap. 6,
line 2. ex itinere: immediately after their march.
3. sustentātum est: the Remi held out. What literally?
4. Gallōrum ... oppūgnātio: the mode of attacking towns common to the Gauls and Belgæ.
5. tōtis moenibus: dative, though by some thought to be an ablative, all around the walls. 228; H. 386, 2.
7. testūdine facta: forming a testudo. What the soldiers did was to lap their shields over their heads.
8. cum: since. What mode follows cum in this sense?
11. nūntium ... mittit: one of the expressions that are followed by the accusative and infinitive; here, sēse ... posse. Compare in chapter 1, certior fīēbat, followed by Belgas ... coniūrāre; in chap. 4, reperiēbat, followed by Belgas ortos esse, in complete text.
Iccius Rēmus: Iccius, a Remian.
13. sēse: subject-accusative of posse.
Page 26,
19. moenibus ... mūrum ... mūrus ... mūrum: Cæsar’s haste in writing is often manifest.
20. coepti sunt: it may seem strange that the passive should be used instead of the active, coepērunt; but see 143, a; H. 297, 1.
22. Quod: how is a relative after a period often best rendered? For an example, see note on qui, chap. 1, l. 13, simplified text.
24. nūlli: mark the emphasis from the position. Many similar cases occur, notwithstanding A. & G., p. 389, Rem.
oppūgnandi = oppūgnātiōnis.
25. summa nōbilitāte et grātia: a descriptive ablative; a man of the highest rank and popularity.
26. praefuerat: render as if an imperfect. The meaning is, he had been placed in command and was then in command.
ex iis: the same as eōrum.
27. lēgāti: as envoys. Compare the use of obsides as an appositive, p. 25, l. 26.
28. submittātur: can you make out the force of the sub?
Chap. 7,
line 2. subsidio oppidānis: to aid the people in the town. But what literally? For the construction, see 233, a; H. 390.
3. quōrum adventu: in consequence of their coming.
5. contendērunt: the subject is hostes, suggested by hostībus in the preceding sentence.
6. ab: distant, off, away; so used chiefly with numerals.
ab mīlibus passuum minus duōbus: a word for word rendering would be, distant thousands of paces less than two; that is, less than two miles distant.
Page 26,
3. neque ... cōgnōvit: and learned from those scouts whom he had sent and from the Remi that they were now not far distant.
30. īsdem ducibus: the same persons as guides. Compare qui lēgāti, p. 26, l. 27, and note on simplified text.
Page 27,
3. apud oppidum: ad is more usual.
4. agros ... dēpopulāti—vīcis aedificiīsque ... incēnsis: literally, having laid waste the fields—the villages and buildings having been burned. Mark how the construction changes for want of a deponent verb in place of incendo.
9. in lātitūdinem: compare in altitūdinem, p. 26, l. 13.
Chap. 8,
line 2. eximiam ... virtūtis: their eminent reputation for valor.
3. quid virtūte posset: what their real eminence in valor was. Compare quid in bello possent, chap. 4, l. 2.
7. tantum ... patēbat quantum loci: render as if loci depended on tantum instead of quantum, extended over as much space as.
adversus: facing the enemy; adversus an adjective, agreeing with collis.
in lātitūdinem: laterally. Compare chap. 7, l. 8.
8. ex utrāque parte lateris = ex utrōque latere: on, not from, both sides; so ab, below, l. 10.
10. ad plānitiem redībat: gradually resumed (impf.) a level. Cæsar describes a hill over against the enemy, having steep sides, and a front only broad enough for his army when arranged for battle. In front the hill rose with a gentle ascent, and at the top blended with the plain. It is possible that lēniter fastīgātus means, as the dictionaries define this passage and as many editors say, gently sloping down; in which case, ad plānitiem redībat would mean sank down gradually to the level at its base. This attributes an improbable meaning to fastīgātus.
12. extrēmas fossas: at the ends of the trenches; compare in chap. 2, l. 2, interiōrem Galliam, the interior of Gaul.
castella: there were, then, four.
17. ēductas īnstrūxerant: to make good English, render as if ēductas were a verb followed by et; so, very often, when a perfect participle and verb are closely connected.
Page 27,
10. et ... et: we do not say both ... and so frequently as we find et ... et in Latin; accordingly it will generally be found better to omit in translation the first et, and render the second and also.
11. proelio ... proeliis: a decisive battle ... skirmishes.
14. loco: ablative absolute, as there was a place.
21. obdūxit: Cæsar elsewhere commonly uses perdūco of running a wall or trench. Why obdūco here? Because the fossae were dug against the enemy, or to cover his position.
24. cum ... īnstrūxisset: Cæsar’s thought was, according to Latin idiom, when I shall have drawn up, īnstrūxero; but such a future perfect of direct speech becomes pluperfect subjunctive in narration, after a past tense in the principal clause.
24. quod ... poterant: because they were so strong in numbers. Find two other similar uses of possum.
27. si quo opus esset: if there should be need of them anywhere; not, if there should be need of any thing.
28. subsidio: in meaning and construction like subsidio, p. 26, l. 32.
Chap. 9,
line 2. si ... trānsīrent: to see if our men would cross this (hanc).
3. contendēbātur: there was fighting. Compare chap. 6, l. 3, sustentātum est.
4. neutri: neither of the two armies.
5. secundiōre ... nostris: as the cavalry skirmish proved rather favorable to our men.
9. castellum: read over again the last half of chap. 5. Cæsar makes no mention there of a castellum.
10. potuissent: the thought was, according to the Latin idiom, “if we shall not have been able” (potuerimus); but such a future perfect of direct speech becomes a pluperfect subjunctive in narration after a past tense.
Page 28,
1. nostri autem, etc.: a difficult sentence; but treat it as directed in the Introductory Note, p. 43, only observing that si has its usual meaning of if, and impedītos, when they should get stuck fast, agrees with hostes understood.
2. ut ... adgrederentur: expresses the purpose of parāti in armis erant.
9. eo cōnsilio: with this design; explained by ut castellum ... expūgnārent.
possent: they said to themselves, if we shall be able, poterimus; but if we shall not have succeeded, si minus potuerimus; hence potuissent, when related. See note on īnstrūxisset, p. 27, l. 24.
12. nōbis ūsui: compare subsidio oppidānis, p. 26, l. 32.
Chap. 10,
line 3. pūgnātum est: contains its own subject, there was fierce fighting. See contendēbātur, chap. 9, l. 3, and note.
4. impedītos: while they were struggling.
6. circumventos interfēcērunt: they surrounded and killed. Read again the note on ēductas īnstrūxerant, chap. 8, l. 17.
7. spem: subject-accusative of fefellisse; but translate, that they were disappointed in the hope.
neque: take the negative part with prōgredi.
8. ipsos: that is, se ipsos, namely, hostes.
10. quemque: subject-accusative of reverti. See also note on chap. 4, l. 9.
11. quōrum ... ad eos: you will very often find the relative clause preceding the antecedent. In almost all such cases the English way of speaking requires us to render the antecedent clause first.
13. Quod: this, referring to the last two sentences.
eo cōnsilio: with this design, explained by the following clause.
16. Hīs persuādēri: depends on nōn poterat. Why did not Cæsar write, Hi persuādēri ... nōn poterant, since he means, these could not be persuaded? 230; H. 301, 1.
Page 28,
19. reliquos ... cōnantes: the rest ... while they were trying.
21. Hostes: subject of cōnstituērunt, l. 25, while a pronoun referring to hostes may be mentally supplied as subject of intellēxērunt and vīdērunt. This sentence illustrates an important principle of Latin order, attention to which will be of great aid in translation. When the verb of the principal clause and that of the dependent clause have the same subject, it is commonly expressed in the principal, and left out in the dependent, clause. In English we do the opposite. We often begin with the dependent clause; the Latin frames it into the principal clause.
21. ubi: repeat mentally with vīdērunt and coepit.
28. ad eos dēfendendos: illustrates a very common way of expressing a purpose.
Chap. 11,
line 1. ea re: that is, to disperse to their homes; chap. 10, l. 10.
2. ēgressi: the subject is Belgae, understood.
3. cōnsimilis: altogether like. What is the force of con?
4. Caesar: as the subject of veritus and continuit, Caesar seems strangely placed in the grip of the ablative absolute; but the position shows by whom the knowledge was got. Caesar getting wind of this movement immediately through his spies.
5. veritus: try always to render a participle so as to show its logical relation to the main verb, whether of time, cause, contrast, or what not; here, because he feared.
castris: substantially equivalent to in castris.
6. qui ... morārētur: compare qui dēdūceret, chap. 2, l. 3, and note.
10. ventum erat: they had come. Compare sustentātum est, chap. 6, l. 3; contendēbātur, chap. 9, l. 3.
11. priōres: those in advance.
15. sub: towards. The idea of place being transferred to that of time.
Page 29,
5. quisque: see p. 25, l. 3, and note on simplified text.
prīmum itineris locum: the first place on the road.
8. qua ... discēderent: following quod ... perspēxerat.
16. cum ... cōnsisterent: since the enemy, at the very extremity of the rear, kept making a stand.
18. priōres: et understood; while those in advance.
quod: carry on also into the next clause; and because they were not held together (continērentur).
21. sine ūllo perīculo: two ways of expressing “without any” in this chapter; for above we have nūllo certo ōrdine, without any definite order.
23. quantum ... spatium: how great a space of time (diēi) there was; that is (they killed as great a number) as the length of the time allowed.
24. sēque in castra ... recēpērunt: and they and their pitiless commander probably slept well that night.
Chap. 12,
line 3. ex itinere: see chap. 6, l. 2, and note.
oppūgnāre: means here carry by assault.
5. omnis ... multitūdo: notice that an adjective and a noun are often separated by words depending on the noun. Here ex fuga from the position is almost equivalent to fugientium.
6. vīneis: wooden frames with sloping roof and covered with hides, to protect a number of besiegers.
7. āctis: from ago, brought up; the vīneae were often moved on wheels.
aggere iacto: when earth had been thrown up for a mound. This was done so that wooden towers could be brought up near the walls.
10. ut cōnservārentur: mark how often a dependent clause precedes the one on which it depends. Attention to this will often help in unravelling a long sentence. Now see qui ... dēdūceret, chap. 2, l. 3; quid ... posset et ... audērent, chap. 8, ll. 3, 4; qui ... morārētur, chap. 11, l. 6.
Page 29,
32. paucis dēfendentibus: though the defenders were few.
Page 30,
1. Castris mūnītis: after making a fortified camp. The first and most important thing, after selecting the site of a camp, was to intrench it. That may be all that is meant in this instance.
vīneas agere: depends on coepit.
quaeque ... comparāre: and to get ready whatever.
2. ūsui: compare subsidio, p. 26, l. 32.
5. quae: the like of which.
Chap. 13,
line 1. obsidibus acceptis: after receiving hostages.
armis ... trāditis: it was Cæsar’s practice to disarm his conquered enemies.
3. Qui cum: the relative is in the right place in Latin, but we cannot translate in this order. The natural place for both words is at the beginning of a clause; but when they come together, the relative takes precedence.
5. circiter ... quīnque: only about five miles.
6. abesset: governed by cum.
māiōres nātu: elders; seniōres would not do.
7. sēse ... venīre: they surrendered to him unconditionally.
9. pueri: children, as homines often means men and women.
Page 30,
9. atque: and besides, or and in particular.
17. neque ... contendere: and that they were not in arms.
20. passis manibus: pitiful!
Chap. 14,
line 1. facit verba: intercedes.
2. in fide ... fuērunt: have been faithful and friendly.
4. perferre: were enduring. For the tense, see 336, A.
5. ēius cōnsili prīncipes: the prime movers in this plan: prīncipes = auctōres, authors.
6. in Britanniam profūgērunt: as lately Boulanger and others have done.
8. clēmentia: said of one who has power to exercise the opposite, sevēritas, crūdēlitas.
mānsuētūdine: said of one who is humane and gentle, opposed to feritas.
9. fēceris ... amplificābis: we say, ‘if you do this, you will add to’; in Latin, ‘if you shall have done this, you will add to.’
10. qua: 105, d.; H. 190, 1.
si qua bella, etc.: by whose aid and resources they (the Ædui) are accustomed to bear the burden of whatever wars befall them.
Page 30,
26. perferre ... dēfēcisse: were enduring ... had revolted.
28. quod intellegerent: seeing.
31. sua: emphatic; his own, that is, his well-known.
32. quod si fēcerit: if he should do this; the subjunctive of the future perfect, for which there is no separate form; hence the form of the perfect subjunctive is borrowed. If the tense is named by its form, it will be called perfect subjunctive; if by its meaning, future perfect subjunctive.
Page 31,
1. amplificātūrum (esse): the subject must be inferred from the subject of fēcerit.
Chap. 15,
line 1. honōris ... causa: out of regard to Divitiacus.
3. māgna ... auctōritāte: one of great influence; a predicate ablative of description; such an ablative must always have a modifier, as here, māgna. The genitive may be used in the same way, as below, māgnae virtūtis. On the order, see note, chap. 12, l. 5.
6. quōrum, etc.: translate closely in the order of the Latin; about their character and customs, Cæsar, on inquiry; so, generally, do your best to keep close to the Latin order. Read again the Introductory Note, p. 43.
12. qui ... dēdissent: for having surrendered; what would be the meaning of qui ... dēdiderant?
Page 31,
6. hominum ... praestābat: was the most populous; what is it literally?
12. pati: that they permitted. Supply eos, referring to Nervii, as the subject of pati, esse, increpitāre, and cōnfirmāre.
13. quod ... exīstimārent: observe in the simplified text quod ... exīstimābant; why the difference?
16. qui ... dēdissent ... prōiēcissent: for having surrendered and renounced; literally, since they had surrendered.
17. sēse: subject-accusative of mīssūros.
Chap. 16,
line 1. trīduum: for three days, accusative of duration.
2. Sabim: now called the Sambre.
6. quīque: equivalent to et eos qui, and all such as.
per aetātem: by reason of their age; that is, whether too old or too young.
7. in eum locum ... quo: into a place to which. The idea of the Latin fully expressed would be, into a place of such a character (eum) that to it (quo) there would be no access for an army. 319, 2 and note; H. 500, I. Compare qui ... vidērentur, immediately preceding.
8. exercitui: for an army, not necessarily, for Cæsar’s army.
Page 31,
19. Cum ... fēcisset: a temporal cum clause is not always best rendered by when, etc.: after marching for three days.
24. hīs ... persuāserant: observe on p. 29, l. 1, an example of the impersonal construction of persuādeo in the passive: hīs persuādēri ... nōn poterat, it was not possible for these to be persuaded.
27. cōniēcisse: the verb implies hurried action, and so differs from dēpōno, which Cæsar uses in Book IV., 19, of putting women and children in a place of safety.
Chap. 17,
line 2. qui ... dēligant: compare qui dēdūceret, chap. 2, l. 3, and note; qui ... morārētur, chap. 11, l. 6.
Cum: since. See note on chap. 6, l. 8.
5. dēmōnstrārunt: shortened from dēmōnstrāvērunt, 128, a, 1; H. 235.
inter singulas: between each two; the same mistake, “between each,” is common in English.
6. neque ... negōti: and it was a matter of no difficulty at all.
7. cum ... vēnisset: when the first legion should reach the camping ground. In the direct form, vēnerit, shall have reached; then regularly such a future perfect is changed to the pluperfect subjunctive in indirect discourse after a past tense. See note on chap 9, l. 10.
8. sarcinis: “Besides his arms, the Roman soldier carried stakes (vālli), used for the palisades of the camp, food and utensils, a saw, a spade, a chain for his prisoners, and other things. He was loaded like a mule.” —Long.
qua pulsa: if this legion were beaten.
futūrum (esse): depends on dēmōnstrārunt; the result would be.
9. Nervii autem: now the Nervii. Nervii is the subject of effēcerant. This long sentence is not so difficult as it at first seems. Follow closely the Latin order to discover the sense, render quo in order that, effēcerant had caused, and īnstar like.
11. teneris ... ēnātis: by lopping the trees when young, and intertwining the branches which grew out thick in a lateral direction; ēnātis from ēnāscor.
12. interiectis: it does not appear possible to take this word in the sense given to it in the dictionaries, thrown or stuffed in. So Moberly translates, “by throwing in brambles and thorns for the present occasion.” But is it to be supposed that this was done everywhere? If not, how would the Nervii know where to do it? Moreover, what they had done was done antīquitus, from of old. Translate, therefore, by planting among them.
14. quo nōn modo nōn ... sed ne ... quidem: this formula, or (without second nōn) nōn modo ... sed ne ... quidem, is usually awkwardly rendered, not only not, but not even. Instead, translate as if the first member were complete in itself (suppressing modo), followed by nay, nor even, thus: which it was not possible to pass through, nay, nor even see through.
15. Hīs rēbus: by these obstacles.
16. nōn ... cōnsilium: they ought not to disregard the advice.
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4. impedīmentōrum: here, baggage animals; impedīmentis, below, baggage.
9. Adiuvābat: the subject is the long sentence following, Nervii ... effēcerant. Translate, this circumstance favored the advice of those who reported the intelligence, that (quod).
10. nihil ... possent: compare quid in bello possent, p. 24, l. 25; quid virtūte posset, p. 27, l. 12.
11. neque enim: and in fact ... not. Observe that enim here does not mean for.
12. pedestribus valent cōpiis: compare virtūte ... valēre, p. 25, l. 5. The ablative is ablative of means.
13. ad eos: that is, the Nervii.
Chap. 18,
line 1. quem locum: I mean the place which.
3. Ab eo flūmine: that is, on the other side.
4. pari adclīvitāte collis: a hill of similar upward slope; a descriptive ablative.
ab superiōre parte: in the upper part. Ab not seldom means on, in, at, by, because the idea of removal (from) implies previous contact or nearness, and the latent idea is sometimes the most important.
5. ut: may be considered as referring to an ita suppressed with silvestris; so thickly wooded that.
nōn ... posset: one could not easily see within. Impersonal expressions, like perspici potest, are common in Latin. Mark the mode of translation.
7. secundum: along, properly following, from sequor.
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24. adversus huic et contrārius: corresponding to this and right opposite.
25. passus ... apertus: clear of woods for about two hundred paces up from its base.
īnfimus: ab īnferiōre parte.
Chap. 19,
line 1. omnibus cōpiis: Cæsar often uses cum omnibus cōpiis.
2. cōnsuētūdine: according to custom; just as frequently ex cōnsuētūdine.
4. conlocārat: for conlocāverat. See dēmōnstrārunt, chap. 17, l. 5, and note.
6. praesidiōque impedīmentis: compare subsidio oppidānis, chap. 7, l. 2, and note.
11. opere dīmēnso: after laying out the work; the expression refers to marking off the ground preparatory to trenching, making a rampart, etc.
castra mūnīre: to make a camp.
17. in manibus nostris: close upon us.
18. ad: towards; repeat it mentally before eos.
adverso colle: straight up the hill; literally, with the hill before them; so perhaps strictly neither an ablative absolute nor an ablative of the “way by which.”
Page 32,
32. ratio ōrdōque āgminis: the plan and the order of marching.
aliter ... āc: otherwise than, different from what; this strange idiom looks like an abridged, colloquial expression; probably it was, fully expressed, aliter āc aliter, one way and another way. The order of march was one way and the Belgæ had reported it another way. So I have heard a child say, “This is different and that is different,” meaning “this is different from that.”
Page 33,
8. cum: while; to be repeated mentally with facerent.
10. neque ... cēdentes īnsequi audērent: and while our men were hesitating to pursue them when they retreated.
quem ad fīnem: translate as if it were ad fīnem ad quem, to the line to which the level, clear ground extended.
15. ut ... cōnfirmāverant: as they had arranged their order of battle and ranks within the woods, and as they had encouraged each other to do.
Chap. 20,
line 2. sīgnum tuba dandum (erat): in order to call the men to take their places in the ranks. Some might not see the flag.
3. sīgnum dandum: this time the signal is for the charge, or perhaps to get ready for a charge.
5. subsidio: dative of end or service, but render as if a nominative, which might have been used, a help.
7. commode: modifies praescrībere.
ipsi sibi praescrībere ... poterant: they could direct themselves without any orders (ipsi).
11. nihil: not ... at all; stronger than nōn.
12. per se: on their own responsibility.
quae vidēbantur: whatever seemed best.
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27. qui: does not refer to mīlites, but to ii understood.
aggeris petendi causa: for the purpose of seeking materials for a rampart. Mark the position of causa, always following the genitive depending on it.
30. hīs difficultātibus: in this strait; but the words are in the dative with subsidio. Find two other instances of this construction of two datives.
32. quid fieri oportēret: the object of praescrībere.
Chap. 21,
line 1. necessāriis rēbus imperātis: when you meet with res, ask yourself exactly what it means, and then find a proper rendering. Translate, after giving the necessary orders.
4. prīstinae: this word is often used of what was formerly and still continues.
neu ... animo: and not lose presence of mind.
6. quod ... aberant: gives the reason of the following, not the preceding, clause.
8. pūgnantibus occurrit: he finds them fighting.
8. Temporis: mark how the important word comes first. Take this sentence in thought almost without change in the order of the words, then translate.
tanta ... exiguitas: so great was the littleness = such was the shortness. Translate, so short was the time.
10. īnsīgnia: “the crests, feathers red and black, and other decorations which the soldiers had.... On the march the helmet was not carried on the head. The shields had leather coverings when they were not in use.” —Long.
12. Quam ... dēvēnit: to whatever part of the army each one happened to come.
ab opere: that is, making the camp; see chap. 19, l. 11.
13. quaeque ... cōnspēxit: and whatever standards he caught sight of first.
Page 34,
13. quo ... posset: whither a javelin could be hurled = a javelin throw.
19. Quam ... in partem: compare the second line of the chapter. quisque seems oddly placed, but it is crowded out of the first place, where it would like to stand, by quam.
Chap. 22,
line 2. rei mīlitāris ... ōrdo: military science and arrangement.
3. fiēbat: the result was.
aliae ... parte: in this idiom the second part only of the thought is expressed. ‘Other legions were fighting in another part’ implies ‘some were fighting in one part of the field.’ So claudus altero pede, lame in the other foot, implies one foot sound.
5. interiectis: to be taken with saepibus.
6. ut: so that. conlocāri: depends on possent.
7. in: of reason, because of or owing to.
8. inīquitāte: usually translated unfavorable condition, or by some similar phrase, and such is the common meaning of inīquitas; but the context shows that the meaning here is closer to the original sense, that of unevenness; hence we may translate, owing to such inequality in the condition of things.
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25. cum: since, governs impedīrētur as well as resisterent.
dīversis legiōnibus: dīversus means turned different ways, not with united line; hence here, disjoined. Translate, since, owing to the legions being separated.
28. neque certa subsidia: here begins the statement of the result; certa subsidia: subject of poterant.
neque quid, etc.: nor was it possible to foresee what was needed everywhere. After prōvidēri supply mentally poterat, of which the whole preceding clause is the grammatical subject.
Chap. 23,
line 1. ut: since. Would the mode of cōnstiterant have been the same, if cum had been used in place of ut?
2. acie: an old form of the genitive for aciēi.
Atrebates: object of compulērunt.
6. Ipsi: refers to the subject of interfēcērunt; that is, legiōnis nōnae et decimae mīlites.
8. dīversae = aliae; what should it mean from its derivation?
10. a frōnte: along the front. See chap. 18, l. 4, and note.
11. ab sinistra parte: on the left. Compare ā frōnte, preceding line, and ab superiōre parte, chap. 18, l. 4, and note.
nūdātis castris: as the camp was left unguarded.
13. aperto latere: on their (the legions’) exposed flank.
14. summum ... locum: the summit occupied by the camp; castrōrum is a possessive genitive.
Page 35,
3. exanimātos ... cōnfectos: breathless and exhausted by wounds.
hīs: the ninth and tenth legions.
4. ea pars: that is, ea pars hostium.
5. cōnantes: accusative, agreeing with Atrebates understood, or a pronoun referring to Atrebates.
8. resistentes hostes: object of cōniēcērunt.
16. summam imperi: chief command.
Chap. 24,
line 2. cum ... reciperent: as they were returning.
5. cum respēxissent: on looking back. A cum clause is not always best translated by a full clause.
6. praecipites ... mandābant: ran away as fast as they could. What literally?
7. eōrum: depends on clāmor fremitusque.
8. ferēbantur: began to rush. Observe the imperfects followed by perfects. The imperfect paints, the perfect describes.
10. auxili causa: for the purpose of rendering aid = as auxiliaries.
11. cum: since. See note, chap. 6, l. 8.
complēri: this and the following infinitives depend on vīdissent.
13. vīdissent: the subject is equites Trēveri.
14. rēbus: fortunes. How might a clause be substituted here in Latin for the ablative absolute?
15. pulsos superātōsque: supply esse.
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21. pulsos: supply esse.
22. adversis hostibus occurrēbant: came straight against the enemy. What literally?
23. cālōnes ... āc summo iugo: the porta decumāna was the rear gate of the camp, opposite the porta praetōria. It appears from this passage that the place for the cālōnes was at the back of the camp, and that in this instance the camp was partly on sloping ground.
30. virtūtis opīnio: reputation for valor.
Page 36,
2. dīversos dissipātōsque: running in different directions and scattered.
5. hostes: subject-accusative of potītos (esse).
Chap. 25,
line 2. suos urgēri: that his men were hard pressed; the infinitive depends on vīdit.
3. cōnfertos mīlites: that the soldiers by being crowded together.
sibi ... impedīmento: hindered one another.
8. ut ... posset: so that he could no longer stand.
9. Hīs rēbus: for these reasons.
tardiōres: were losing heart.
12. subeuntes intermittere: cease mounting the hill.
12. ab utrōque latere: on both flanks. Compare ab superiōre parte, chap. 18, l. 4.
13. rem ... angusto: that the situation was critical. What literally?
14. ūni: a peculiar use of ūnus, quite equivalent to a; not to be imitated in writing Latin.
17. sīgna ... iūssit: he ordered them to advance and at the same time to open out their ranks.
Page 36,
7. Caesar: subject of prōcessit, fifteen lines below. This first sentence extending through eighteen lines looks very formidable; but if it is taken in accordance with the Introductory Note, p. 43, the meaning will be evident. To translate the sentence is more difficult. In translating, repeat “and saw” before the words quartae cohortis, and render the ablative absolutes by clauses, thus: and saw that all the captains of the fourth cohort were killed. Then, reliquos esse tardiōres, that the rest (in consequence) were losing heart.
8. sīgnīsque ... conlātis: and since the standards were brought together. Try constantly to make out the relation in thought expressed by participles; that is, whether the idea is that of time, when, while, etc.; of cause, as, since; of concession, though, notwithstanding; or of condition, accompanying circumstances, etc., to be variously rendered.
16. ab novissimis: in the rear. So below, l. 21. Compare ab sinistra parte, p. 35, l. 13. In both places in this chapter it would be easy to make the mistake of taking ab in the sense of ex, as a substitute for the partitive genitive.
27. operam nāvāre cuperet: “wished to do his best.” What literally?
Chap. 26,
line 3. ut ... coniungerent: for the legions gradually to draw together.
7. proelio nūntiāto: on the report of the battle.
cursu incitāto: quickening their speed. The participle following is causal; they began to run because of the report of the battle.
10. qui: refers to decimam legiōnem. What is the grammatical irregularity, and how is it to be accounted for?
cum: to be taken with cōgnōvissent.
quo in loco res esset: what the situation was. What literally? Account for the subjunctive.
12. nihil ... fēcērunt: left nothing undone in the way of speed. What literally?
reliqui: neuter of reliquus. A partitive genitive depending on nihil. Find a similar construction in chap. 15.
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31. conversa sīgna: the object of īnferrent, but most conveniently rendered as coördinate with it, to face about and charge. It is thought that by this movement the twelfth and the seventh legions formed a circle or a square.
Page 37,
1. neque timērent: repeat cum mentally from the preceding clause; and since they (no longer) feared.
āversi: literally, being turned away; translate, from their rear being unguarded.
Chap. 27,
line 2. vulneribus cōnfecti: badly wounded. What literally?
prōcubuissent: from prōcumbo.
3. vēro: emphasizes equites, but is better left untranslated; say, while the cavalry.
4. se ... praeferrent: thrust themselves before; a result clause, dependent on tanta ... est facta.
5. in extrēma spe salūtis: “when all hope of saving themselves was at an end.” Here a literal translation would be meaningless or misleading.
7. proximi ... īnsistēbant: those nearest would stand upon their prostrate companions.
8. hīs deiēctis: when these (in turn) were thrown down.
10. intercepta remittēbant: would catch and hurl back. See ēductas īnstrūxerant, chap. 8, l. 17, and note.
11. ut, etc.: so that one ought to judge that it was not without cause that men of such valor. On iūdicāre dēbēret, compare perspici posset, chap. 18, l. 5, and note.
13. quae ... difficillimis: things which, most difficult in themselves.
facilia: a predicate adjective with redēgerat.
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15. innīxi: from innītor, agrees with nostri.
perterritos: supply esse; the subject-accusative is hostes.
16. inermes: agrees with cālōnes, even though unarmed.
23. qui superessent: the survivors. Supply ii as antecedent of qui.
ut: as. So used p. 34, l. 23.
24. cōnicerent: dependent on tantam virtutem ... ut; (so that) those who survived (qui superessent) kept hurling.
Chap. 28,
line 1. prope: modifies ad, not redācto.
2. redācto: see the last word of the preceding chapter.
māiōres nātu: see chap. 13, l. 6, and note.
3. pueris: see chap. 13, l. 9, and note.
4. cōnsēnsu ... supererant: with the consent of all the survivors.
7. vix ad: to barely; for ad vix, as some say.
8. in: towards; erga might have been used.
9. vidērētur: not that he might seem, but that he might be seen.
11. se ... prohibērent: refrain and keep their dependents from; prohibēre is appropriate to suos, but hardly to se.
Page 37,
31. aestuāria: “the country lying to the north (the modern Zealand) is low and marshy, cut up with tidewater inlets and bays.” —Allen & Greenough.
32. cum vīctōribus, etc.: since they thought there was no obstacle for the victors, no safety for the vanquished.
Page 38,
4. mīlibus LX.: they had promised fifty thousand; see chap. 4. It was natural that they should exaggerate their losses.
Chap. 29,
line 1. auxilio Nerviis: compare subsidio oppidānis, chap. 7, l. 2, and note. Find other examples of this construction.
4. ūnum oppidum: supposed to be at the junction of the Sambre and Meuse.
5. ex omnibus in circuitu partibus: simply, all round.
9. conlocābant: there is a reading, conlocārant. If that is the true reading, tum in the preceding line would mean besides.
Page 38,
10. cum: while. Four lines below cum means though.
16. aditus ... pedum: an approach of two hundred feet in breadth, not more; pedum depends on aditus.
21. iis impedīmentis: take with dēpositis, two lines below.
22. agere āc portāre: drive or carry.
24. ūna: with it; that is, the plunder.
25. cum alias, etc.: since they carried on now aggressive now defensive war. What literally?
Chap. 30,
line 1. prīmo adventu = cum prīmum advēnisset, as soon as our army had got there.
3. pedum XII.: that is, in altitūdinem, which is expressed, chap. 5, l. 19.
4. oppido: might have been in oppido. Cf. castris, chap. 11, l. 5.
5. vīneis āctis: āctis from ago; see chap. 12, l. 6, and note.
aggere exstrūcto: an embankment of timber, stones, and earth was begun at a distance from the walls of a town, wide enough to roll one or more towers upon, and was carried forward by soldiers working under the shelter of the vīneae up to the defensive works.
6. cōnstitui: being raised.
7. ab tanto spatio: so far away. Compare ab mīlibus, chap. 7, l. 6, and note.
8. quibusnam manibus: with what hands, pray; nam added for emphasis, to point their sarcasm.
10. conlocāre: strangely used for conlocātūros (esse). The Aduatuci may have thought that the Romans intended to hoist the tower upon their wall, or they may have been joking. Which is more likely?
Page 39,
5. hominibus ... contemptui: another pair of datives. Find other examples. The Italians of the present time do not strike one as conspicuously shorter than the Germans.
māgnitūdine: being contrasted with brevitas, is used in the sense of altitūdine.
Chap. 31,
line 1. movēri: moving. This word here has suggested a change of conlocāre, in the last line of the preceding chapter, to mōtūros, a very plausible conjecture, but it spoils the joke of the Aduatuci.
5. qui: since they. Compare qui ... dēdidissent, chap. 15, l. 12, and note.
8. pro sua clēmentia: according to his well-known clemency. See chap. 14, l. 8, and note. What did they think of his clemency when he sold 53,000 of them into slavery?
11. trāditis armis = si arma trādidissent, if they should surrender their arms.
13. per cruciātum interfici: to be tortured to death. What literally?
Page 39,
16. statuisset: not had decided, but should decide. No mistake is oftener made by beginners than in the rendering of a pluperfect subjunctive of indirect discourse representing a future perfect of direct discourse. Such a subjunctive is to be rendered by the auxiliary should, not had. To tell whether a pluperfect subjunctive represents a future perfect, think what form a speaker’s words would take, remembering that the Romans commonly used the future or future perfect of things really future, while we very often use the present.
Chap. 32,
line 1. cōnsuētūdine: ablative of cause.
3. aries: “a long, strong beam of wood, furnished with an iron head in the form of a ram’s head. It was suspended from a framework by a strong chain or ropes, and worked by men, who drove it against the wall.” —Long.
4. in Nerviis: in the case of the Nervii; a common meaning of in with names of persons.
5. ne quam ... īnferant: not to do any harm to those who had surrendered to the Roman people.
7. facere: one would expect the future with subject-accusative, se factūros (esse). Compare conlocāre, for conlocātūros esse, chap. 30, l. 10.
9. prope ... adaequārent: came up almost to the very top; summam with altitūdinem. What literally?
12. pāce sunt ūsi = conquiēvērunt, kept quiet.
Chap. 33,
line 3. nostros: our commanders, subject-accusative of dēductūros and servātūros (esse).
praesidia: men stationed in the castella; see below.
4. dēductūros ... servātūros: observe how frequently esse is omitted with the future participle.
dēnique: at any rate. What is its usual meaning?
5. tertia vigilia: the Romans divided the night into four equal divisions, watches, of about three hours each.
9. eo concursum est: the soldiers hurried thither. What literally? Find similar constructions in chaps. 6, 9, 10, 11.
10. in extrēma spe salūtis: compare chap. 27, l. 5, and note. The context shows, however, that the meaning is not quite the same here. Translate, as their last chance of saving themselves.
14. nēmo: observe the emphasis from its position. Compare in English, “Silver and gold have I none.” nēmo and nūllus are often so placed. Cf. nūlli, chap. 6, l. 10.
16. ab iis qui ēmerant = ab emptōribus: by the purchasers, who were the mercātōres, traders who followed the army as hungry sharks follow a ship.
capitum: we say “souls.” It depends on quīnquāginta trium.
17. quīnquāginta trium: 53,000 captives, probably chained in gangs and sent to be sold in the Province and in Italy; a source of great gain to the general.
Page 40,
4. mīlites ... mīlitibus: another evidence of haste. See p. 26, l. 19, and note.
5. ne quam ... iniūriam: see p. 39, l. 28, and note.
9. iis: with armis. Observe the order of the words.
10. vīminibus intextis: repeat mentally ex before these words. Some supply factis.
16. pūgnātumque, etc.: translate as if hostibus and viris were subjects.
17. ut ... dēbuit: as brave men ought to fight. What literally?
18. iacerent: the subjunctive shows that the remark is a general one. The indicative would have a limiting force. The difference can hardly be brought out in translation. In the former case we may render, against men who could throw; in the latter, against those who were throwing.
20. ad = circiter.
Chap. 34,
line 2. mīserat: had sent, that is, before the defeat of the Aduatuci.
5. diciōnem: under the sway; in some texts, in dēditiōnem. If that reading is correct, the meaning would be, were brought to surrender.
Chap. 35,
line 1. pācāta: see p. 23, l. 7, and note.
4. qui ... pollicērentur: compare p. 23, l. 19, qui ... dēdūceret; p. 29, l. 12, qui ... morārētur; p. 31, l. 30, qui ... dēligant.
6. inita proxima aestāte: see p. 23, l. 18, and note.
10. ex litteris: in consequence of the letters.
11. supplicātio: a public, religious festival of thanksgiving, decreed by the senate. “The fifteen days’ rejoicing marks the constant fear of the Gauls which had haunted the Romans ever since the ‘dies Alliensis.’ Kraner remarks that the longest ‘supplicatio’ till this had been one of twelve days, for Pompeius’ success against Mithridates.” —Moberly.
nūlli: see p. 40, l. 22; also p. 26, l. 24, and note.