Bello Gallico book 7

coniuro, coniurare, coniuravi, coniuratus

swear, conspire

dilectus, dilectus m.

selection; levy

affingo, affingere, affinxi, affictus

to add to, attach

silverstris

wooded,wild, remote

recido, recidere, reccidi

to fall back

praesto, praestare, praestiti, praestitum

to excel; exhibit, show, offer, supply, furnish

recipero, reciperare, reciperavi, reciperatus

regain, recover

Quieta Gallia Caesar, ut constituerat, in Italiam ad conventus agendos proficiscitur.

When Gaul was quiet Caesar set out for Italy, as he had determined, to hold the assizes

ibi cognoscit de Clodii caede [de] senatusque consulto certior factus, ut omnes iuniores Italiae coniurarent, delectum tota provincia habere instituit.

There he heard of the murder of Clodius and having been informed of the Senate's decree that all the younger men of military age in Italy should be sworn in, he decided to hold a levy throughout his province.

Eae res in Galliam Transalpinam celeriter perferuntur.

These events were speedily reported to Transalpine Gaul

Addunt ipsi et adfingunt rumoribus Galli, quod res poscere videbatur, retineri urbano motu Caesarem neque in tantis dissensionibus ad exercitum venire posse

The Gauls added to the reports a circumstance of their own invention, which the occasion seemed to require, that Caesar was detained by the commotion at Rome and, in view of discords so serious, could not come to the army.

Hac impulsi occasione, qui iam ante se populi Romani imperio subiectos dolerent liberius atque audacius de bello consilia inire incipiunt.

Such an opportunity served as a stimulus to those who even before were chafing at their subjection to the sovereignty of Rome, and they began with greater freedom and audacity to make plans for a campaign.

Indictis inter se principes Galliae conciliis silvestribus ac remotis locis queruntur de Acconis morte;

The chiefs of Gaul summoned conventions by mutual arrangement in remote spots and complained of the death of Acco

posse hunc casum ad ipsos recidere demonstrant:

They pointed out that his fate might fall next upon themselves;

omnibus pollicitationibus ac praemiis deposcunt qui belli initium faciant et sui capitis periculo Galliam in libertatem vindicent.

by all manner of promises and rewards they called for men to start the campaign and at the risk of their own life to champion the liberty of Gaul.

miserantur communem Galliae fortunam:

they expressed pity for the common lot of Gaul;

In primis rationem esse habendam dicunt, priusquam eorum clandestina consilia efferantur, ut Caesar ab exercitu intercludatur.

First and foremost, they said, they must devise means, before ever their secret designs got abroad, to shut Caesar off from the army.

Id esse facile, quod neque legiones audeant absente imperatore ex hibernis egredi, neque imperator sine praesidio ad legiones pervenire possit

It was an easy task, because the legions would not dare to march out of cantonments in the absence of the commander-in‑chief, nor could the latter without a strong escort reach the legions.

Postremo in acie praestare interfici quam non veterem belli gloriam libertatemque quam a maioribus acceperint recuperare.

Finally, it was better, they urged, to be slain in battle than to fail of recovering their old renown in war and the liberty which they had received from their forefathers.

praesens, praesentis

present, in person

sancio, sancire, sanxi, sanctum

make sacred, make irrevocable, sanction

caerimonia, caerimoniae, f.

ceremony; sacred rite/ritual/usage; holy dread, reverence, worship; sanctity

his rebus agitatis profitentur Carnutes se nullum periculum communis salutis causa recusare principesque ex omnibus bellum facturos pollicentur

When these subjects had been discussed, the Carnutes declared that there was no hazard they refused for the general welfare, and promised that they would be the first of all to make war;

et, quoniam in praesentia obsidibus cavere inter se non possint ne res efferatur, ut iureiurando ac fide sanciatur, petunt, collatis militaribus signis, quo more eorum gravissima caerimonia continetur, ne facto initio belli ab reliquis deserantur

since in the present circumstances they could not give one another security by means of hostages, for fear the matter should get abroad, they asked for the sanction of an oath of honour before the assembled war‑standards — the formality which represents their most solemn ritual — to make sure that after beginning the campaign they should not be abandoned by the rest.

Tum collaudatis Carnutibus, dato iureiurando ab omnibus qui aderant, tempore eius rei constituto ab concilio disceditur.

Thereupon all present praised the Carnutes with one accord and gave their oath, and after appointing a season for the enterprise departed.

diripio, diripere, diripui, direptus

to plunder, ransack

Carnutes, Carnutum (m.)

(plural) A tribe living in central Gaul (southwest of the Belgae) on both sides of the River Liger (Loire)

Cotuatus

a leader of the Carnutes when they attacked Cenabum in 52 BC

deinceps (adv)

one after the other, in turn, successively

Oriens, Orientis, m.

the rising sun, the East

Ubi ea dies venit, Carnutes Cotuato et Conconnetodumno ducibus, desperatis hominibus, Cenabum signo dato concurrunt civesque Romanos, qui negotiandi causa

When the day came, the Carnutes, under the leadership of two desperate men, Cotuatus and Conconnetodumnus, rushed at a given signal on Cenabum, put to the sword the Roman citizens who had established themselves there for trading purposes

ibi constiterant in his Gaium Fufium Citam, honestum equitem Romanum, qui rei frumentariae iussu Caesaris praeerat, interficiunt bonaque eorum diripiunt.

among them Gaius Fufius Cita, a Roman knight of distinction, who by Caesar's order was in charge of the cornº-supply — and plundered their goods.

Celeriter ad omnes Galliae civitates fama perfertur.

speedily the report thereof was carried to all the states of Gaul

Nam ubicumque maior atque illustrior incidit res, clamore per agros regionesque significant; hunc alii deinceps excipiunt et proximis tradunt, ut tum accidit.

As a matter of fact, whenever any event of greater note or importance occurs, the Gauls shout it abroad through fields and districts and then others take it up in turn and pass it on to their next neighbours; as happened on this occasion.

Nam quae Cenabi oriente sole gesta essent, ante primam confectam vigiliam in finibus Arvernorum audita sunt, quod spatium est milium passuum circiter centum LX

For deeds done at Cenabum at sunrise were heard of before the end of the first watch in the borders of the Arverni, a distance of about •one hundred and sixty miles.

principatus, principatus m.

leadership

patruus, -i, m.

paternal uncle

perduco, perducere, perduxi, perductus

to extend, prolong

copia, copiae, f.

abundance, supply

obtestor, obtestari, obtestatus sum

call to witness; beseech, entreat

obsideo, obsidere, obsedi, obsessus

besiege, blockade

equitatus, equitatus, m.

cavalry, horsemen

studeo, studere, studui

to be eager for

diligentia, diligentiae, f.

industry, hard work

commissum, commissi

fault, crime

delictum, delicti

fault, offence

tormentum, tormenti

catapult; torture; (pl) artillery

auris, auris, f.

ear

deseco, desecare, desecui, desectus

sever; cut off; cut/carve from/out/away; cut/reap/mow

simili ratione ibi Vercingetorix, Celtilli filius, Arvernus, summae potentiae adulescens, cuius pater principatum Galliae totius obtinuerat

There in like fashion Vercingetorix, son of Celtillus, an Arvernian youth of supreme influence (whose father had held the chieftainship of all Gaul

et ob eam causam, quod regnum appetebat, ab civitate erat interfectus, convocatis suis clientibus facile incendit.

and consequently, because he aimed at the kingship, had been put to death by his state), summoned his own dependents and easily fired their spirit.

Cognito eius consilio ad arma concurritur

Directly his design was known there was a general rush to arms

Prohibetur ab Gobannitione, patruo suo, reliquisque principibus, qui hanc temptandam fortunam non existimabant;

Gobannitio, his uncle, and the rest of the chiefs, who did not think this adventure should be hazarded, sought to prevent him;

expellitur ex oppido Gergovia; non destitit tamen atque in agris habet dilectum egentium ac perditorum.

he was cast out of the town of Gergovia, but he did not give up for all that; and in the fields he held a levy of beggars and outcasts

Hac coacta manu, quoscumque adit ex civitate ad suam sententiam perducit hortatur ut communis libertatis causa arma capiant,

Then, having got together a body of this sort, he brought over to his own way of thinking all the members of his state whom he approached, urging them to take up arms for the sake of general liberty;

magnisque coactis copiis adversarios suos a quibus paulo ante erat eiectus expellit ex civitate.

he cast out of the state his opponents by whom he had been expelled a short time before

Rex ab suis appellatur.

He was greeted as "King" by his follower

Dimmittit quoque versus legationes; obtestatur ut in fide maneant.

He sent out deputations in every direction, adjuring the tribesmen to remain loyal to him.

Celeriter sibi Senones, Parisios, Pictones, Cadurcos, Turonos, Aulercos, Lemovices, Andos reliquosque omnes qui Oceanum attingunt adiungit:

He speedily added to his side the Senones, Parisii, Pictones, Cadurci, Turoni, Aulerci, Lemovices, Andi, and all the other maritime tribes;

omnium consensu ad eum defertur imperium.

by consent of all, the command was bestowed upon him

Qua oblata potestate omnibus his civitatibus obsides imperat, certum numerum militum ad se celeriter adduci iubet,

In virtue of the power thus conferred he made requisition of hostages on all these states, and ordered a certain number of soldiers to be brought to him speedily

armorum quantum quaeque civitas domi quodque ante tempus efficiat constituit; in primis equitatui studet.

He determined what amount of arms, and by what date, each state should manufacture⁠5 at home, and he paid especial attention to the cavalry

summae diligentiae summam imperi severitatem addit; magnitudine supplici dubitantes cogit

To the utmost care he added the utmost strictness of command, compelling waverers by severity of punishment.

Nam maiore commisso delicto igni atque omnibus tormentis necat, leviore de causa auribus desectis aut singulis effossis oculis domum remittit, ut sint reliquis documento et magnitudine poenae perterreant alios.

Indeed for the commission of a greater offence he put to death with fire and all manner of tortures; for a lesser case he sent a man home with his ears cut off or one eye gouged out, to point the moral to the rest and terrify others by the severity of the penalty.

supplicium, supplicii, n.

punishment, penalty

peditatus, -us, m.

foot soldiers, infantry

equitatus, -us, m.

cavalry, horsemen

renuntio, renuntiare, renuntiavi, renuntiatum

report, bring back word (of)

vereor, vereri, veritus sum

to be afraid, fear

circumsisto, circumsistere, circumsteti

to take a stand around; to surround

propono, proponere, proposui, propositus

put forward, propose

His suppliciis celeriter coacto exercitu Lucterium Cadurcum, summae hominem audaciae, cum parte copiarum in Rutenos mittit; ipse in Bituriges proficiscitur.

By enforcing punishments of this sort he speedily raised an army, and he despatched Lucterius, a Cadurcan of the utmost intrepidity, with a part of the forces into the land of the Ruteni, while he himself started forth against the Bituriges

Eius adventu Bituriges ad Aeduos, quorum erant in fide, legatos mittunt subsidium rogatum, quo facilius hostium copias sustinere possint.

At his coming the Bituriges sent envoys to the Aedui, in whose allegiance they were, to ask for succour, so as to enable them the easier to withstand the enemy's forces.

Aedui de consilio legatorum, quos Caesar ad exercitum reliquerat, copias equitatus peditatusque subsidio Biturigibus mittunt.

Acting on the advice of the deputies left by Caesar with the army, the Aedui sent a force of horse and foot to the support of the Bituriges.

Qui cum ad flumen Ligerim venissent, quod Bituriges ab Aeduis dividit, paucos dies ibi morati neque flumen transire ausi domum revertuntur legatisque nostris renuntiant se Biturigum perfidiam veritos revertisse,

When they were come to the river Loire, which parts the Bituriges from the Aedui, they halted there for a few days; and, not venturing to cross the river, they returned home, and reported to the Roman deputies that

quibus id consili fuisse cognoverint, ut, si flumen transissent, una ex parte ipsi, altera Arverni se circumsisterent.

their return was due to fear of treachery on the part of the Bituriges, who, they learnt, had planned that, if the Aedui crossed the river, they themselves should surround them on the one side, and the Arverni on the other.

Id eane de causa, quam legatis pronuntiarunt, an perfidia adducti fecerint, quod nihil nobis constat, non videtur pro certo esse proponendum.

As we have no clear knowledge whether they acted as they did for the reason which they declared to the deputies, or from motives of treachery, it does not seem proper to state it as a certainty.

Bituriges eorum discessu statim cum Arvernis iunguntur.

Upon their departure the Bituriges at once joined the Arverni.

commodus, commoda, commodum

suitable, convenient

arcesso, arcessere, arcessivi, arcessitus

summon, send for

dimico, dimicare, dimicavi, dimicatus

fight, struggle

rectus, -a, -um

right, proper

His rebus in Italiam Caesari nuntiatis, cum iam ille urbanas res virtute Cn. Pompei commodiorem in statum pervenisse intellegeret, in Transalpinam Galliam profectus est

When these matters were reported to Caesar in Italy, he had already received intelligence that affairs in Rome had been brought by the energy of Gnaeus Pompeius into a more satisfactory state, and he therefore set out for Transalpine Gaul.

Eo cum venisset, magna difficultate adficiebatur, qua ratione ad exercitum pervenire posset.

Upon arrival there he was confronted with a great difficulty, as to the means whereby he could reach the army.

Nam si legiones in provinciam arcesseret, se absente in itinere proelio dimicaturas intellegebat;

For if he should summon the legions to the Province, he realised that on the march they might have to fight an action without his presence

si ipse ad exercitum contenderet, ne eis quidem eo tempore qui quieti viderentur suam salutem recte committi videbat.

if, on the other hand, he himself pressed on to the army, he saw that it was a mistake to entrust his personal safety at that time even to the tribes which appeared to be at peace

concilio, conciliare, conciliavi, conciliatus

win over, unite

obses, obsidis

hostage, pledge, security

anteverto, antevertere, anteverti, anteversum

to anticipate

confirmo, confirmare, confirmavi, confirmatus

make firm, encourage, establish

provincialis, -is, -e

provincial

finitimus, a, um

neighboring, next

contingo, contingere, contigi, contactus

to touch, reach, make contact with

interim Lucterius Cadurcus in Rutenos missus eam civitatem Arvernis conciliat.

Meanwhile Lucterius the Cadurcan, who had been sent into the country of the Ruteni, united that state with the Arverni.

progressus in Nitiobriges et Gabalos ab utrisque obsides accipit et magna coacta manu in provinciam Narbonem versus eruptionem facere contendit.

He then advanced into the land of the Nitiobriges and the Gabali, and received hostages from both tribes; and so, having collected a large force, he made an effort to overrun the Province in the direction of Narbo.

Qua re nuntiata Caesar omnibus consiliis antevertendum existimavit, ut Narbonem proficisceretur.

On report of this Caesar thought that he should proceed to Narbo in preference to any other plan

Eo cum venisset, timentes confirmat, praesidia in Rutenis provincialibus, Volcis Arecomicis, Tolosatibus circumque Narbonem, quae loca hostibus erant finitima, constituit;

When he was come thither he put new strength into timorous hearts by posting garrisons among the Ruteni of the Province, the Volcae Arecomici, the Tolosates, and around Narbo — all localities adjacent to the enemy;

partem copiarum ex provincia supplementumque, quod ex Italia adduxerat, in Helvios, qui fines Arvernorum contingunt, convenire iubet.

and he ordered a part of the forces of the Province, and the supplementary levy which he had brought with him from Italy, to assemble in the territory of the Helvii, which touches the borders of the Arverni.

reprimo, reprimere, repressi, repressus

press back, check, restrain

periculosus, periculosa, periculosum

dangerous, perilous