Friday, January 3, 2014

Caesar De Bello Gallico I.3 Course Notes

Latin III
Instructor:  James Ransom
January 3, 2014

Caesar, DBG 1:3
Course Notes
© 2014 James Ransom, M.A., J.D.

[3]        1      His rebus adducti et auctoritate Orgetorigis permoti constituerunt ea quae ad proficiscendum pertinerent comparare, iumentorum et carrorum quam maximum numerum coemere, sementes quam maximas facere, ut in itinere copia frumenti suppeteret, cum proximis civitatibus pacem et amicitiam confirmare.
   His rebus adducti et auctoritate Orgetorigis permoti constituerunt ea quae ad proficiscendum pertinerent comparare Mindful of these considerations, and at Orgetorix’s instigation, the Helvetii decided to get ready everything they thought was needed for a migration; “comparare” is present infinitive of comparo, comparare, comparavi, comparatum, “to prepare, place together.”  “pertinerent” is third person plural imperfect subjunctive active of pertineo, pertinere, pertinui, to pertain or relate to.  “profiscendum” is gerund of the deponent verb proficiscor, proficisci, profectus sum, “to set out, depart, leave.””constituerunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of constituo, constituere, constitui, constitutum, “to decide, resolve, confirm.”  “Orgetorigis”=genitive. 
iumentorum et carrorum quam maximum numerum coemere, sementes quam maximas facere, ut in itinere copia frumenti suppeteret buy up as many pack animals and wagons as they could, sow as much seed as possible to ensure a supply of corn on the journey; “coemere” is present infinitive of coemo, coemere, coemi, coemptum, “to buy up.”  “suppeteret” is third person singular imperfect subjunctive active of suppeto, suppetere, suppetivi, suppetitum, “suffice, be at hand.”  “frumenti”= plural of frumento, m., “grain, corn, wheat.” 
cum proximis civitatibus pacem et amicitiam confirmare and to establish peaceful relations with neighboring states; “confirmare” is present infinitive active of confirmo, confirmare, confirmavi, confirmatum, “to establish, strengthen, confirm.”
2          Ad eas res conficiendas biennium sibi satis esse duxerunt; in tertium annum profectionem lege confirmant.
Ad eas res conficiendas biennium sibi satis esse duxerunt They considered that two years would suffice for these preparations; “duxerunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of duco, ducere, duxi, ductum.  “conficiendas” is the future passive participle (i.e., gerundive) of conficio, conficere, confeci, confectum, “to prepare, accomplish, complete.”  “eas res”=the preparations just enumerated in the previous sentence. 
in tertium annum profectionem lege confirmant and passed a law confirming their decision to migrate in the third year; “profectionem” is accusative singular of the third declension noun profectio, profectionis, f., “departure.” 
 3                   Ad eas res conficiendas Orgetorix deligitur. Is sibi legationem ad civitates suscipit. In eo itinere persuadet Castico, Catamantaloedis filio, Sequano, cuius pater regnum in Sequanis multos annos obtinuerat et a senatu populi Romani amicus appellatus erat, ut regnum in civitate sua occuparet, quod pater ante habuerit;
Ad eas res conficiendas Orgetorix deligitur. Is sibi legationem ad civitates suscipit. Orgetorix was put in charge of organizing the migration, and on his own initiative undertook a diplomatic mission to the neighboring states; “suscepit is third person singular perfect indicative active of suscipio, suscipere, suscepi, susceptum “to undertake.”  “conficiendas” is the future passive participle (=gerundive) of conficio.  “deligitur” is third person singular present indicative passive of deligo, deligare, deligavi, deligatum, “to select.” 
In eo itinere persuadet Castico, Catamantaloedis filio, Sequano, cuius pater regnum in Sequanis multos annos obtinuerat et a senatu populi Romani amicus appellatus erat In the course of his mission he persuaded the Sequani Casticus, son of Catamantaloedis (who had held reign over the Sequani for many years, and had been named a friend of the Roman people by the Senate); “appellatus erat” is third person singular pluperfect indicative passive of appello, appellare, appellavi, appellatus“obtinuerat” is  third person singular pluperfect indicative active of obtineo, obtinere, obtinui, obtentum, “to hold, possess.” 
ut regnum in civitate sua occuparet, quod pater ante habuerit to seize the rule in his own right which his father had held before him; “habuerit” is third person singular perfect subjunctive active of habeo, habere, habui, habitum.  “occuparet” is third person singular imperfect subjunctive active of occupo, occupare, occupavi, occupatum

   4 itemque Dumnorigi Haeduo, fratri Diviciaci, qui eo tempore principatum in civitate obtinebat ac maxime plebi acceptus erat, ut idem conaretur persuadet eique filiam suam in matrimonium dat.
____________________________________________________    itemque Dumnorigi Haeduo, fratri Diviciaci, qui eo tempore principatum in civitate obtinebat ac maxime plebi acceptus erat and he likewise persuaded the Aeduan Dumnorix, brother of Diviciacus, who at that time ruled the Aeduans and enjoyed wide popularity;  “eo tempore”=ablative of time.  “obtinebat”  is third person singular imperfecct indicative active of obtineo, obtinere, obtinui, obtentum, “to obtain, hold, possess, maintain.”  “acceptus” is perfect passive participle of accipio, accipere, accepi, acceptum,  “to receive, accept.”  “plebi”: dative of interest.
ut idem conaretur persuadet eique filiam suam in matrimonium dat and further attempting to persuade Dumnorix, Orgetorix gave him his daughter in marriage; “conaretur” is third person singular imperfect subjunctive active of the deponent verb conor, conari, conatus, “to attempt, try”; subjunctive of purpose after “ut.”  “suam” is feminine accusative singular of the possessive adjective suus, sua, suum.  “suam” agrees in gender and number with “filiam.”  “persuadet”:  historical present.  “eique”= “ei”+”que.”  “dat” is third person singular present indicative active of do, dare, dedi, datum.  Historical present. 
   5       Perfacile factu esse illis probat conata perficere, propterea quod ipse suae civitatis imperium obtenturus esset:    6       non esse dubium quin totius Galliae plurimum Helvetii possent; se suis copiis suoque exercitu illis regna conciliaturum confirmat.
    Perfacile factu esse illis probat conata perficere, He told them they would succeed in the attempt with the utmost ease, [“He”= Orgetorix; them=Dumnorix and Casticis (see sentence 3 above); “illis…conata=“their goal”=the plot to seize power in their respective states which Oregetorix is urging upon Dumnorix and Casticis]  “factu”=ablative of specification qualifying “perfacile”; “very easy to do.” “illis”: i.e., Casticus and Dumnorix; dative of indirect object after “probat.”  “probat” is third person singular present indicative active of probo, probare, probavi, probatum; historical present.  “conata” is accusative plural of the noun conatum, conati, n., lit. “the things attempted.” “perficere” is present active infinitive of perficio, perficere, perfeci, perfectum, “to achieve, carry out, perform.” 
propterea quod ipse suae civitatis imperium obtenturus esset because he himself was about to seize power in his own state; [“ipse”=he=Oregtorix; “suae civitatis imperium”= “his own state”=Oregorix’s people, the Helvetians].  “obtenturus esset” is third person singular imperfect subjunctive active of obtineo, obtinere, obtinui, obtentum, “to obtain, hold, possess, maintain.”   Subjunctive as a subordinate clause in indirect discourse. 
non esse dubium quin totius Galliae plurimum Helvetii possent There was no doubt that the Helvetians were the most powerful people in the whole of Gaul; “dubium” is accusative singular of the adjective dubius, dubia, dubium; controlled by the infinitive “esse.”  The conjunction “quin” after the negative non = “that.”  “possent” is third person plural imperfecti subjunctive active of possum, posse, potui.  Edwards:  “the quin-clause of the text is equivalent to:  quin omnium Gallorum Helvetii potentissimi essent.” 
se suis copiis suoque exercitu illis regna conciliaturum confirmat and he pledged that with his own military resources and army he would win them their kingdoms; “exercitu”=ablative of means.  “illis”=Casticus and Dumnorix.  “regna”:  accusative plural of regnum, regni, n.  “conciliaturum” is future indicative active of concilio, conciliare, conciliavi, conciliatum.  “confirmat” is third person singular present indicative active of confirmo, confirmare, confirmavi, confirmatum
7 Hac oratione adducti inter se fidem et ius iurandum dant et regno occupato per tres potentissimos ac firmissimos populos totius Galliae sese potiri posse sperant.
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Hac oratione adducti inter se fidem et ius iurandum dant Convinced by this speech, they exchanged guarantees and swore an oath; “Hac oratione”:  ablative of cause.  “adducti” is masculine nominative plural of the perfect passive participle of adduco, adducere, adduxi, adductum, agreeing with “ei” understood, i.e., the trio of Orgetorix, Casticus, and Dumnorix.  “dant” is third person plural present indicative active of do, dare, dedi, datum.

et regno occupato per tres potentissimos ac firmissimos populos totius Galliae sese potiri posse sperant and they hoped that when they had seized power they would be able, through the efforts of its three most powerful and indefatigable peoples, to seize control throughout Gaul; [the three peoples are the Sequani, the Aeduani, and the Helvetii].  “regno oppucato”:  ablative absolute, denoting time when:  “when they had seized power.”  “potentissimos” and “firmissimos”: superlatives.  Galliae:  genitive singular of Gallia, Galliae, f.  “sese”:  accusative plural, reduplication of the reflexive pronoun “se”; subject of “posse.”  “potiri” is present infinitive of the deponent verb  potior, potiri, potitus, “get possession of, gain,” completing the meaning of “posse.”  “sperant” is third person plural present indicative active of spero, sperare, speravi, speratum, i.e., the collective hopes of Orgetorix, Casticus and Dumnorix.  

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