Caesar DBG 5:30 Course Notes

Latin III:  Caesar, De Bello Gallico

Instructor:  James Ransom

Caesar DBG 5:30

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

[30]  1       Hac in utramque partem disputatione habita, cum a Cotta primisque ordinibus acriter resisteretur, "Vincite," inquit, "si ita vultis," Sabinus, et id clariore voce, ut magna pars militum exaudiret;                 2       "neque is sum," inquit, "qui gravissime ex vobis mortis periculo terrear: hi sapient; si gravius quid acciderit, abs te rationem reposcent,          3       qui, si per te liceat, perendino die cum proximis hibernis coniuncti communem cum reliquis belli casum sustineant, non reiecti et relegati longe ab ceteris aut ferro aut fame intereant."

[30]      1          Hac in utramque partem disputatione habita The opposing sides each having stated their case; “habita” is perfect passive participle (in an ablative absolute construction) of habeo, habere, habui, habitum. cum a Cotta primisque ordinibus acriter resisteretur Sabinus’ position was sharply rejected by Cotta and the senior officers; “resisteretur” is third person singular imperfect subjunctive passive of resisto, resistere, restiti, “to resist, oppose.”  “cum” introduces the causal (or temporal) clause. 

"Vincite," inquit, "si ita vultis," Sabinus, et id clariore voce, ut magna pars militum exaudiret “Have it your way then, if that’s what you want!” cried Sabinus, in a still louder voice in order that the greater part of the rank-and-file could hear every word; “exaudiret” is third person singular imperfect subjunctive (in a purpose clause controlled by “ut”) active of exaudio, exaudire, exaudivi, exauditum, “to hear clearly.”  “Vincite”:  imperative, “Take the victory,” “You win.” 

2          "neque is sum," inquit, "qui gravissime ex vobis mortis periculo terrear: Of the whole lot of you I’m not the one most terrified by the danger of death! Sabinus’ syntax is somewhat involuted, possibly conveying his agitation, but he appears to attempt the rhetorical trope of litotes.  “terrear” is first person singular present subjunctive passive of terreo, terrere, terrui, territum, “to frighten, terrify.” 

hi sapient; si gravius quid acciderit, abs te rationem reposcent these men will know who to blame, though:  if worse comes to worst, they’ll call you out demanding answers; “reposcent” is third person plural future indicative active of the defective verb reposco, reposcere, “to demand back.”  “acciderit” is third person singular perfect subjunctive active of accido, accidere, accidi, to happen, to occur, take place. Subjunctive controlled by “si.”  See Steadman’s note and his chart on page 59 of the text. “sapient” is third person plural future indicative active of sapio, sapere, sapivi, “to discern, to see through.”

3          qui, si per te liceat, perendino die cum proximis hibernis coniuncti communem cum reliquis belli casum sustineant these men, who if only you would allow, could within 48 hours find safety at the nearby camp and face the hazards of battle with their comrades;  “sustineant” is third person plural present subjunctive active of sustineo, sustinere, sustinui, sustentum, “to withstand, hold out, undergo, endure.” “liceat” is present subjunctiv eof the impersonal licet, licere, licuit, licitum, “it is allowed, it is permitted.” 

non reiecti et relegati longe ab ceteris aut ferro aut fame intereant not stranded and left to perish by starvation or slaughter, far from any rescue force; “intereant” is third person singular present subjunctive active of the irregular intereo, interire, interii, interitum, “to die, perish.” “relegati” is perfect passive participle of relego, relegere, relegi, relectum, “dispatched, relegated, sent away.” “reiecti” is perfect passive participle of reicio, reicere,reieci, reiectum, “to cast off, throw back, reject.”