Caesar De Bello Gallico 4:27 Course Notes

Latin III:  Caesar, De Bello Gallico

Instructor:  James Ransom

February 18, 2014

DBG 4: 27

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

[27]  1        Hostes proelio superati, simul atque se ex fuga receperunt, statim ad Caesarem legatos de pace miserunt; obsides sese daturos quaeque imperasset facturos polliciti sunt.       2       Una cum his legatis Commius Atrebas venit, quem supra demonstraveram a Caesare in Britanniam praemissum. 3    Hunc illi e navi egressum, cum ad eos oratoris modo Caesaris mandata deferret, comprehenderant atque in vincula coniecerant; 4     tum proelio facto remiserunt et in petenda pace eius rei culpam in multitudinem contulerunt et propter imprudentiam ut ignosceretur petiverunt. 5         Caesar questus quod, cum ultro in continentem legatis missis pacem ab se petissent, bellum sine causa intulissent, ignoscere se imprudentiae dixit obsidesque imperavit; 6 quorum illi partem statim dederunt, partem ex longinquioribus locis arcessitam paucis diebus sese daturos dixerunt.   7       Interea suos in agros remigrare iusserunt, principesque undique convenire et se civitatesque suas Caesari commendare coeperunt.

1           Hostes proelio superati The enemy had been beaten in battle; “superati” is perfect passive participle of supero, superare, superavi, superatum, “to overcome, conquer, subdue.” simul atque se ex fuga receperunt as soon as they recovered from this defeat; “receperunt” is third person plural present indicative active of recipio, recipere, recepi, receptum, “to take back, regain.”  statim ad Caesarem legatos de pace miserunt they hurriedly sent attachés to Caesar to sue for peace; “miserunt” is third person plural present indicative active of mitto, mittere, misi, missum.  obsides sese daturos quaeque imperasset facturos polliciti sunt They promised to provide hostages and to obey whatever orders he might give; “polliciti sunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of the deponent pollicior, polliceri, pollicitus sum, “promise, guarantee.”  “facturos” is future active participle of facio, facere, feci, factum.  “imperasset” is third person singular pluperfect subjunctive active of impero, imperare, imperavi, imperatum, “to command, give orders to.” “daturos” is future active participle of do, dare, dedi, datum. 

2          Una cum his legatis Commius Atrebas venit together with these legates came Commius of Atrebati; “venit” is third person singular present indicative active of venio, venire, veni, ventum. quem supra demonstraveram a Caesare in Britanniam praemissum  who, as described above, had been sent ahead by Caesar into Britain; “praemissum” is perfect passive participle of praemisso, praemittere, praemisi, praemissum.  “demonstraveram” is first person singular pluperfect indicative active of demonstro, demonstrare, demonstravi, demonstratum, “to show, demonstrate, draw attention to.”

3          Hunc illi e navi egressum Once he disembarked; cum ad eos oratoris modo Caesaris mandata deferret and had as emissary delivered to them Caesar’s demands; “deferret” is third person singular imperfect subjunctive active of defero, deferre, detuli, delatum, “to bear, bring report.”    comprehenderant atque in vincula coniecerant they had seized him and thown him in shackles; “coniecerant” is third person plural pluperfect subjunctive active of conicio, conicere, conieci, coniactum, “to throw, hurl.”  “comprehenderant” is third person plural pluperfect indicative active of comprehendo, comprehendere, comprehendi, comprehensum, “to seize in a hostile manner.” 

4          tum proelio facto remiserunt but in the aftermath of the battle they sent him back; “remiserunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of remitto, remittere, remisi, remissum, “to send back.”  et in petenda pace eius rei culpam in multitudinem contulerunt and in their petition for peace cast blame for their violation on the mob; “contulerunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of confero, conferre, contuli, collatum.  “petenda” is future passive participle (gerundive) of peto, petere, petivi, petitum, “to seek, beg, petition.”  et propter imprudentiam ut ignosceretur petiverunt and asked Caesar’s forgiveness for their poor judgment; “petiverunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of peto. 

5          Caesar questus quod, cum ultro in continentem legatis missis pacem ab se petissent Caesar objecteed that, though they had voluntarily sent ambassadors to Gaul to sue for peace; “petissent” is third person plural pluperfect subjunctive active of peto.  “missis” is perfect passive participole of mitto. “questus” is perfect participle of the deponent queror, questi, questus sum, “to complain, lament.” bellum sine causa intulissent they had then started an unprovoked war; “intulissent” is third person plural pluperfect subjunctive active of infero, “to attack, bear standards against the enemy.”  ignoscere se imprudentiae dixit obsidesque imperavit then pronounced pardon for their lack of judgment, but demanded hostages; “imperavit” is third person singular perfect indicative active of impero. 

6 quorum illi partem statim dederunt A number of these were given up promptly; partem ex longinquioribus locis arcessitam paucis diebus sese daturos dixerunt others were summoned from more distant parts and, they assured, would be delivered in a few days; “daturus”  future active participle of do. 

7          Interea suos in agros remigrare iusserunt Meanwhile they ordered their men to return to their lands; “iusserunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of iubeo, iubere, iussi, iussum, “to command, order.”  “remigrare” present infinitive active of remigro, remigrare, remigravi, remigratum. 

principesque undique convenire et se civitatesque suas Caesari commendare coeperunt. And the chieftains began to assemble from all corners, and to render up themselves and their kingdoms to Caesar; “coeperunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of the defective verb coepi, coepisse, coeptum, “to begin.”  “commendare” is present infinitive of commendo, commendare, commendavi, commendatum, “to entrust to, commit.”  “convenire” is present infinitive of convenio.