Caesar De Bello Gallico 5 26 Course Notes

Latin III:  Caesar, De Bello Gallico

Instructor:  James Ransom

March 26, 2014

Caesar, DBG 5:26

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

[26]          1         Diebus circiter XV, quibus in hiberna ventum est, initium repentini tumultus ac defectionis ortum est ab Ambiorige et Catuvolco;         2         qui, cum ad fines regni sui Sabino Cottaeque praesto fuissent frumentumque in hiberna comportavissent, Indutiomari Treveri nuntiis impulsi suos concitaverunt subitoque oppressis lignatoribus magna manu ad castra oppugnatum venerunt.          3         Cum celeriter nostri arma cepissent vallumque adscendissent atque una ex parte Hispanis equitibus emissis equestri proelio superiores fuissent, desperata re hostes suos ab oppugnatione reduxerunt.         4         Tum suo more conclamaverunt, uti aliqui ex nostris ad colloquium prodiret: habere sese, quae de re communi dicere vellent, quibus rebus controversias minui posse sperarent.

1            Diebus circiter XV, quibus in hiberna ventum est, initium repentini tumultus ac defectionis ortum est ab Ambiorige et Catuvolco Roughly 15 days after they [i.e., Caesar’s troops] had settled into winter quarters, Ambiorix and Catuvolcus instigated a sudden outburst of riot and rebellion; “ortum est” is a neuter perfect of the deponent orior, orire, ortus, “to rise up, spring up.”  Literally, “tumult and revolt rose up from Ambiorix and Catuvolco.”  “ventum est” is an impersonal passive; literally, “during which it was come into winter quarters,” which is unintelligible. 

2            qui, cum ad fines regni sui Sabino Cottaeque praesto fuissent frumentumque in hiberna comportavissent These two, though they had paid honor to Sabinus and Cotta at the border of their kingdom and had brought grain to the winter camp; “comportavissent” is third person plural pluperfect subjunctive active of comporto, comportare, comportavi, comportatum, “to carry, transport, convey.”  “fuissent” is third person plural pluperfect subjunctive active of sum, esse, fui, futurus.  “praesto fuissent”:  see Steadman’s note.  “cum”is concessive. 

Indutiomari Treveri nuntiis impulsi suos concitaverunt having been goaded on by messengers from Indutiomarus of the Treveri, they whipped up their own tribe; “concitaverunt” is third person plural perfect active indicative of concito, concitare, concitavi, concitatum, “to rouse or agitate.”

subitoque oppressis lignatoribus magna manu ad castra oppugnatum venerunt and  they suddenly attacked a wood-gathering detail, and then many men converged to storm the camp; “venerunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of venio, venire, veni, ventum, “to come, approach.” “oppugnatum” is perfect passive participle of oppugno, oppugnare, oppugnavi, oppugnatum, “to attack, assault, storm, besiege”; see Steadman’s note.  “oppressis” is perfect passive participle (in an ablative absolute construction) of opprimo, opprimere, oppressi, oppressum, “to press down upon, take by surprise.” 

3            Cum celeriter nostri arma cepissent vallumque adscendissent But once our men had swiftly armed and manned the rampart; “adscendissent” is third person plural pluperfect subunctive active of adscendo, adscendere, adscendi, adscensum, “to climb up, ascend.” 

“cepissent” is third person plural pluperfect subjunctive active of capio, capere, cepi, captum, “to seize, take up.” 

atque una ex parte Hispanis equitibus emissis equestri proelio superiores fuissent and the Spanish cavalry had been ordered to the attack as one column and had been victorious in a clash with the mounted enemy force; “fuissent” is third person plural pluperfect subjunctive active of sum, esse, fui, futurus.  “emissis”: participle in ablative absolute construction, “sent forth.”  “una ex parte”=literally, “from one side.”

desperata re hostes suos ab oppugnatione reduxerunt the enemy abandoned all hope and withdrew its men from the siege ; “reduxerunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of reduco, reducere, reduxi, reductum, “to withdraw, retreat.” 

4            Tum suo more conclamaverunt, uti aliqui ex nostris ad colloquium prodiret Then, as is their typical tactic, they hollered out demanding that someone from our camp come out and parley; “prodiret” is third person singular imperfect subjunctive active of prodio, prodire, prodii, proditum, “come forth, appear.”  “conclamaverunt” is third person plural perfect indicative active of conclamo, conclamare, conclamavi, conclamatum, “to shout or cry out.”  

habere sese, quae de re communi dicere vellent, quibus rebus controversias minui posse sperarent protesting that they had a plan of mutual advantage that they hoped might clear up any misunderstandings; “sperarent” is third person plural imperfect subjunctive active of spero, sperare, speravi, speratum, “to hope, expect.” “vellent” is third person plural imperfect subjunctive active of volo, velle, volui, “to wish, want, intend.”  “dicere” is present infinitive of dico, dicere, dixi, dictum.  “habere” is present infinitive of habeo, habere, habui, habitum.  “habere sese”:  see Steadman’s note.