Caesar De Bello Gallico 5:28 Course Notes

Latin III:  Caesar, De Bello Gallico

Instructor:  James Ransom

March 29, 2014

DBG 5:28

Course Notes
© 2014 James Ransom, M.A., J.D.

[28] 1         Arpineius et Iunius, quae audierunt, ad legatos deferunt. Illi repentina re perturbati, etsi ab hoste ea dicebantur, tamen non neglegenda existimabant maximeque hac re permovebantur, quod civitatem ignobilem atque humilem Eburonum sua sponte populo Romano bellum facere ausam vix erat credendum.        2       Itaque ad consilium rem deferunt magnaque inter eos exsistit controversia.   3    Lucius Aurunculeius compluresque tribuni militum et primorum ordinum centuriones nihil temere agendum neque ex hibernis iniussu Caesaris discedendum existimabant: quantasvis [magnas] copias etiam Germanorum sustineri posse munitis hibernis docebant: rem esse testimonio, quod primum hostium impetum multis ultro vulneribus illatis fortissime sustinuerint: re frumentaria non premi; interea et ex proximis hibernis et a Caesare conventura subsidia: postremo quid esse levius aut turpius, quam auctore hoste de summis rebus capere consilium?

[28]      1          Arpineius et Iunius, quae audierunt, ad legatos deferunt Arpinius and Junius relayed back what they had learned to the legates; “deferunt” is third person plural present indicative active of the irregular defero, deferre, detuli, delatum, “to bear or bring a report of, report.”  “audierunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of audio, audire, audivi, auditum. 

Illi repentina re perturbati, etsi ab hoste ea dicebantur, tamen non neglegenda existimabant Cotta and Sabinus were puzzled by this latest 180-degree turn, which they decided could not be dismissed, even though it came straight from the mouth of the enemy; “existimabant” is third person plural imperfect indicative active of existimo, existimare, existimavi, existimatum, “to estimate, judge, consider.”  “neglegenda” is passive periphrastic (gerundive + sum [supply esse]) of neglego, neglegere, neglexi, neglectum, “to neglect, ignore”; see Steadman’s note.  “dicebantur” is third person plural imperfect indicative passive of dico, dicere, dixi, dictum.  “perturbati” is perfect passive participle of perturbo, perturbare, perturbavi, perturbatum, “to confuse, trouble, alarm.” “repentina”:  adjective used substantively. 

maximeque hac re permovebantur, quod civitatem ignobilem atque humilem Eburonum sua sponte populo Romano bellum facere ausam vix erat credendum and the one thing that was troubling them most was this:  it just strained credulity that an insignificant and contemptible tribe like the Eburones had dared to make war on Rome all by themselves;  “vix erat credendum”:  “hardly was to be believed”;  another passive periphrastic: see Steadman’s note.  “ausam (esse)”:  had dared.  See Steadman.  “facere” is present infinitive of facio, facere, feci, factum.  “permovebantur” is third person plural imperfect passive indicative of permoveo, permovere, permovi, permotum, “to shake up, agitate.”

2          Itaque ad consilium rem deferunt magnaque inter eos exsistit controversia So they, in turn, referred the matter to a meeting. There, a sharp division emerged between two camps.   “exsistit” is third person singular present indicative active of exsisto, exsistere, exstiti, exstitum, “to appear, arise, emerge.”   “deferunt”:  see above at line 1.

 

3    Lucius Aurunculeius compluresque tribuni militum et primorum ordinum centuriones nihil temere agendum…existimabant Cotta, supported by several military tribunes and senior centurions, argued against any hasty change of plans; “existimabant”:  see above at line 1. “nihil…agendum (esse)”: passive periphrastic.   

 neque ex hibernis iniussu Caesaris discedendum and specifically against abandoning winter quarters absent an order from Caesar; “discedendum (esse)”:  passive periphrastic; future passive participle (gerundive) of discedo, discedere, discessi, discessum, “to leave, depart.”  “iniussu”:  indeclinable adverb, “without command.” 

 quantasvis magnas copias etiam Germanorum sustineri posse munitis hibernis docebant they explained that even a powerful German force could be repelled by reinforced winter bunkers; “docebant” is third person plural imperfect indicative active of doceo, docere, docui, doctum, “to teach, instruct, demonstrate.”  “sustineri,” controlled by “posse,” is present passive infinitive of sustineo, sustinere, sustinui, sustentum, “to withstand, hold out.”  “posse” is present infinitive of the irregular possum, posse, potui. 

rem esse testimonio, quod primum hostium impetum multis ultro vulneribus illatis fortissime sustinuerint For proof, they went on, look no further than the recent battle: they had routed the first enemy assault in the most decisive manner, while moreover inflicting numerous casualties; “sustinuerint” is third person plural perfect subjunctive active of sustineo.  “illatis”:  dative masculine plural of the perfect passive participle of infero, inferre, intuli, inlatum; construe with “multis vulneribus.”  “rem esse testimonio”:  see  Steadman’s note.   

re frumentaria non premi; interea et ex proximis hibernis et a Caesare conventura subsidia  They had plenty of supplies; and meanwhile reinforcements would soon arrive, both from adjacent forts and from Caesar himself;  “conventura” is future active participle of convenio, convenire, conveni, conventum, “about to convene or assemble.” 

postremo quid esse levius aut turpius, quam auctore hoste de summis rebus capere consilium? And finally: what could be more irresponsible—or more shameful--than to take “friendly advice” from our enemy in such a crucial matter?  “capere” is present infinitive of capio, capere, capui, captum.