Caesar De Bello Gallico 5 25 Course Notes

Latin III:  Caesar, De Bello Gallico

Instructor:  James Ransom

March 22, 2014

Caesar, DBG 5:25

Course Notes

© 2014 James Ransom, M.A., J.D.

[25]          1         Erat in Carnutibus summo loco natus Tasgetius, cuius maiores in sua civitate regnum obtinuerant.         2         Huic Caesar pro eius virtute atque in se benevolentia, quod in omnibus bellis singulari eius opera fuerat usus, maiorum locum restituerat.          3         Tertium iam hunc annum regnantem inimici, multis palam ex civitate eius auctoribus, eum interfecerunt.         4         Defertur ea res ad Caesarem. Ille veritus, quod ad plures pertinebat, ne civitas eorum impulsu deficeret, Lucium Plancum cum legione ex Belgio celeriter in Carnutes proficisci iubet ibique hiemare quorumque opera cognoverat Tasgetium interfectum, hos comprehensos ad se mittere.         5         Interim ab omnibus legatis quaestoreque, quibus legiones tradiderat, certior factus est in hiberna perventum locumque hibernis esse munitum.

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[25]             1            Erat in Carnutibus summo loco natus Tasgetius, cuius maiores in sua civitate regnum obtinuerant. There was among the Carnutes a chieftain named Tasgetius, whose forefathers had in days past held a tight grip on rule in their kingdom; “obtinuerant” is third person plural pluperfect indicative active of obtineo obtinere, obtinui, obtentum, “to have possess, keep, persist in.” 

2            Huic Caesar pro eius virtute atque in se benevolentia, quod in omnibus bellis singulari eius opera fuerat usus, maiorum locum restituerat.  This man had been a unique asset to Caesar throughout many campaigns, and in return, Caesar had restored Tasgetius to the eminence of his ancestors.  “restituerat” is third person singular pluperfect indicative active of restituo, restituere, restitui, restitutum, “to restore revive.”  “fuerat” is third person singular luperfect indicative active of sum, esse, fui, futurus.  “usus” is perfect passive participle of the deponent utor, uti, usus sum, “to use, employ.”

3            Tertium iam hunc annum regnantem inimici, multis palam ex civitate eius auctoribus, eum interfecerunt But in the third year of his reign, his enemies assassinated Tasgetius, with the brazen complicity of many of his own citizens; “interfecerunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of interficio, interficere, interfeci, interfectum, “to kill, destroy.” 

4            Defertur ea res ad Caesarem. Ille veritus, quod ad plures pertinebat, ne civitas eorum impulsu deficeret This news was reported to Caesar.  He began to fear that, given the large numbers involved, the assassins might goad the masses to revolt;  “deficeret” is third person singular imperfect subjunctive active of deficio, deficere, defeci, defectum, “to forsake, desert, abandon.”  “impulsu”:  see Steadman’s note.  “pertinebat” is third person plural imperfect indicative active of pertineo, pertinere, pertinui, “to belong to, relate to.”  “veritus”:  see Steadman’s note.  Perfect participle of  the deponent vereor, vereri, veritus sum, “to fear, dread.”

Lucium Plancum cum legione ex Belgio celeriter in Carnutes proficisci iubet ibique hiemare so he ordered Lucius Plancus with his legion out of Belgium on a forced march to the Carnutes district to winter there;  “hiemare” is present infinitive of hiemo, hiemare, hiemavi, hiematum, “to winter, pass the winter.”  “iubet” is third person singular present indicative active of iubeo, iubere, iussi, iussum.  “proficisci” is present infinitive of the deponent proficiscor, proficisci, profectus sum, “to set out, depart, leave.” 

quorumque opera cognoverat Tasgetium interfectum, hos comprehensos ad se mittere and moreover, to arrest the known assassins and send them to Caesar; “mittere” is present infinitive of mitto, mittere, misi, missum.  “comprehensos” is perfect passive participle of comprehendo, comprehendere, comprehendi, comprehensum, “to seize, detain, apprehend.”  “cognoverat” is third person singular pluperfect indicative active of cognosco, cognoscere, cognovi, cognitum, “to know, recognize.” 

5            Interim ab omnibus legatis quaestoreque, quibus legiones tradiderat, certior factus est in hiberna perventum locumque hibernis esse munitum In the interim, all the legates and quaestors to whom Caesar had entrusted legions reported that they had established and made secure their winter quarters.  “munitum” is perfect passive participle of munio, munire, munivi, munitum, “to fortify, secure, safeguard.” “esse” is present infinitive of sum, esse, fui, futurus.  “perventum” is impersonal perfect passive infinitive in indirect discourse of pervenio, pervenire, perveni, perventum, “to arrive, reach, attain.” See Steadman’s note.  “certior factus est”:  see Steadman’s note.  “tradiderat” is third perfect singular pluperfect indicative active of trado, tradere, tradidi, traditum.