Caesar De Bello Gallico 4:34 Course Notes

Latin III: Caesar, De Bello Gallico

Instructor:  James Ransom

March 5, 2014

DBG 4:34

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

1         Quibus rebus perturbatis nostris novitate pugnae tempore  opportunissimo Caesar auxilium tulit:  namque eius adventu hostes constiterunt, nostri se ex timore receperunt. 

2         Quo facto, ad lacessendum hostem et committendum proelium alienum esse tempus arbitratus suo se loco continuit et brevi tempore intermisso in castra legiones reduxit.          3         Dum haec geruntur, nostris omnibus occupatis qui erant in agris reliqui discesserunt.          4         Secutae sunt continuos complures dies tempestates, quae et nostros in castris continerent et hostem a pugna prohiberent.        

5         Interim barbari nuntios in omnes partes dimiserunt paucitatemque nostrorum militum suis praedicaverunt et quanta praedae faciendae atque in perpetuum sui liberandi facultas daretur, si Romanos castris expulissent, demonstraverunt.  His rebus celeriter magna multitudine peditatus equitatusque coacta ad castra venerunt. 

Quibus rebus perturbatis nostris novitate pugnae tempore  opportunissimo Caesar auxilium tulit:  It was most fortunate indeed that Caesar arrived with reinforcements at that moment,  our men having been thrown into turmoil by the enemy’s novel fighting tactics; “tulit” is third person singular perfect indicative active of fero, ferre, tuli latum. “perturbatis nostris”: ablative absolute.  “novitate pugnae”:  ablative of means with “perturbatis.” 

namque eius adventu hostes constiterunt, nostri se ex timore recerunt.  For the enemy was stopped dead in its tracks, while our side recovered from its panic; “receperunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of recipio, recipere, recepi, receptum, “regain possession, take back.”  “constiterunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of consto, constare, constiti, constatum, “stand still.” 

2            Quo facto, ad lacessendum hostem et committendum proelium alienum esse tempus arbitratus After this incident [lit. “which having been done”; ablative absolute], Caesar deemed it an unfavorable time and place to  seek battle with the enemy;  “arbitratus” is perfect passive participle of the deponent arbitror, arbitrari, arbitratus sum, “to judge.”  “Arbitratus” governs the infinitive “esse.”

“committendum” is future passive participle (gerundive) of committo, committere, commisi, commissum, “to commence battle.”  “lacessendum” is future passive participle of lacesso, lacessere, lacessivi, lacessitum, “to attack or assail.” 

suo se loco continuit et brevi tempore intermisso in castra legiones reduxit so he stood his ground, and after a brief interval led his troops back to camp; “reduxit” is third person singular perfect indicative active of reduco, reducere, reduxi, reductum.  “continuit” is third person singular perfect indicative active of contineo, continere, continui, contentum, “to hold or keep together.” 

3            Dum haec geruntur, nostris omnibus occupatis qui erant in agris reliqui discesserunt Throughout this affair, all of our men were busy, and the last of those barbarians still in the fields dispersed; “discesserunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of discedo, discedere, discessi, discessum, “to leave, depart.” “erant” is third person plural imperfect indicative active of sum, esse, fui, futurus.  “occupatis” is the perfect passive participle of occupo, occupare, occupavi, occupatum, “to occupy, employ.”  “geruntur” is third person plural present indicative passive of gero, gerere, gessi, gestum, “carry on, conduct, wage.” 

4            Secutae sunt continuos complures dies tempestates   Then followed several days of stormy weather; “secutae” is the perfect participle of the deponent sequor, sequi, secutus sum.              quae et nostros in castris continerent et hostem a pugna prohiberent which kept our side confined to the camp and deterred the enemy from fighting; “prohiberent” is third person plural imperfect indicative active of prohibeo, prohibere, prohibui, prohibitum.  “continerent” is third person plural imperfect indicative active of contineo, continere, continui, contentum, “to detain, restrain, check.”

5            Interim barbari nuntios in omnes partes dimiserunt paucitatemque nostrorum militum suis praedicaverunt  Meanwhile, the barbarians sent forth word to their compatriots in all parts of the land that our soldiers were but few; “praedicaverunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of praedico, praedicare, praedicavi, praedicatum, “to proclaim, announce, make known.” “dimiserunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of dimitto, dimittere, dimisi, dimissum, “to send away, send out, dismiss.” 

et quanta praedae faciendae atque in perpetuum sui liberandi facultas daretur, si Romanos castris expulissent, demonstraverunt and to urge the rare opportunity given them of seizing booty today and securing freedom forever by driving the Romans from their camp; “demonstraverunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of demonstro, demonstrare, demonstravi, demonstratum, “to prove, point out, draw attention to.”  “expulissent” is third person plural pluperfect subjunctive active of expello, expellere, expuli, expulsum, “to drive out, expel.”  “daretur” is third person singular imperfect subjunctive passive of do, dare, dedi, datum.  “liberandi” and “faciendae”:  see Steadman’s note.  “liberandi” is future passive participle (gerundive) of libero, liberare, liberavi, liberatum.  “faciendae” is future passive participle (gerundive) of facio, facere, feci, factum.

His rebus celeriter magna multitudine peditatus equitatusque coacta ad castra venerunt. Their efforts swiftly raised a great force of infantry and cavalry which converged on the camp; “venerunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of venio, venire, veni, ventum.  “coacta” is perfect passive participle of cogo, cogere, coegi, coactum, “to collect, gather together.”