Caesar De Bello Gallico 5 36 Course Notes

Latin III:  Caesar, De Bello Gallico

Instructor:  James Ransom

April 29, 2014

Caesar DBG 5:36

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

[36]          1         His rebus permotus Quintus Titurius, cum procul Ambiorigem suos cohortantem conspexisset, interpretem suum Gnaeum Pompeium ad eum mittit rogatum ut sibi militibusque parcat.          2         Ille appellatus respondit: si velit secum colloqui, licere; sperare a multitudine impetrari posse, quod ad militum salutem pertineat; ipsi vero nihil nocitum iri, inque eam rem se suam fidem interponere. Ille cum Cotta saucio communicat,          3         si videatur, pugna ut excedant et cum Ambiorige una colloquantur: sperare ab eo de sua ac militum salute impetrari posse. Cotta se ad armatum hostem iturum negat atque in eo perseverat.

1            His rebus permotus Quintus Titurius All these things this drove Sabinus into a panic; “permotus “ is perfect passive participle of permoveo, permovere, permovi, permotum, “to stir profoundly, upset.”  cum procul Ambiorigem suos cohortantem conspexisset when having spied Ambiorix exhorting his troops; “conspexisset” is third person singular pluperfect active subjunctive of conspicio, conspicere, conspexi, conspectum, “to notice, catch sight of.”  interpretem suum Gnaeum Pompeium ad eum mittit rogatum ut sibi militibusque parcat he sent Gaius Pompeius to him to beg mercy for himself and his soldiers;  “parcat” is third person singular present subjunctive active of parco, parcere, peperci, parsum, “to spare, be lenient to.”  “rogatum” (see Steadman’s note) is perfect passive participle of rogo, rogare, rogavi, rogatum, “to ask, request.”  “mittit” is third person singular present indicative active of mitto, mittere, misi, missum. 

2            Ille appellatus respondit: si velit secum colloqui, licere Ambiorix replied to this petition that if Sabinus wished to sue for peace he was free to do so; “licere” is present infinitive of the impersonal licet, licere, licuit, licitum, “it is allowed; one is permitted.” 

sperare a multitudine impetrari posse, quod ad militum salutem pertineat he professed optimism that he could bring his men around to agreeing to the safety of Sabinus’ force; “pertineat” is third person singular present subjunctive active of pertineo, pertinere, pertinui, “to extend, stretch out, pertain.”  “posse” is present infinitive of possum, posse, potui.  “impetrari” is present passive infinitive of impetro, impetrare, impetravi, impetratrum, “to obtain, procure.” 

ipsi vero nihil nocitum iri, inque eam rem se suam fidem interponere and as to the safety of Sabinus himself, Ambiorix pledged on his honor that no harm should befall him; “interponere” is present infinitive of interpono, interponere, interposui, interpositum, “to pledge.”  “iri” is present passive infinitive of eo, ire, ii, itum, “to go, to happen.”