De Bello Gallico 1.18

1.18.1Caesar hāc ōrātiōne Liscī Dumnorīgem, Dīviciācī frātrem, dēsignārī sentiēbat, sed, quod plūribus praesentibus eās rēs iactārī nōlēbat, celeriter concilium dīmittit, Liscum retinet.

Caesar sensed that this speech of Liscus pointed to Dumnorix, the brother of Diviciacus, but because he did not want these matters discussed with many present, he quickly dismisses the council and keeps Liscus back.

1.18.2Quaerit ex sōlō ea quae in conventū dīxerat.

He asks him alone about what he had said in the meeting.

1.18.2Dīcit līberius atque audācius.

Liscus speaks more freely and boldly.

1.18.2Eadem sēcrētō ab aliīs quaerit;

Caesar asks others the same questions in private;

1.18.2reperit esse vēra: ipsum esse Dumnorīgem, summā audāciā, magnā apud plēbem propter līberālitātem grātiā, cupidum rērum novārum.

he finds that it is true: Dumnorix himself is the man, of the greatest boldness, with great popularity among the people because of his generosity, and eager for revolution.

1.18.3Complūrēs annōs portōria reliquaque omnia Haeduōrum vectīgālia parvō pretiō redēmpta habēre, proptereā quod illō licente contrā licērī audeat nēmō.

For many years he had bought up the tolls and all the other taxes of the Haedui at a low price, because when he bid, no one dared bid against him.

Note. illō licente: ablative absolute, 'when he bid'.

1.18.4Hīs rēbus et suam rem familiārem auxisse et facultātēs ad largiendum magnās comparāsse;

In this way he had both increased his own wealth and built up large means for bribery;

1.18.5magnum numerum equitātūs suō sūmptū semper alere et circum sē habēre, neque sōlum domī, sed etiam apud fīnitimās cīvitātēs largiter posse, atque huius potentiae causā mātrem in Biturīgibus hominī illīc nōbilissimō ac potentissimō conlocāsse;

he kept a large body of cavalry at his own expense and had it around him, and his influence was great not only at home but also among the neighbouring states; and to gain this influence he had married his mother to a man of the highest rank and power among the Bituriges;

1.18.7ipsum ex Helvētiīs uxōrem habēre, sorōrum ex mātre et propinquās suās nūptum in aliās cīvitātēs conlocāsse.

he himself had a wife from the Helvetii, and he had married his half-sister on his mother's side and his female relatives into other states.

Note. nūptum: supine of purpose, 'to marry', after collocāsse.

1.18.8Favēre et cupere Helvētiīs propter eam adfīnitātem, ōdisse etiam suō nōmine Caesarem et Rōmānōs, quod eōrum adventū potentia eius dēminūta et Dīviciācus frāter in antīquum locum grātiae atque honōris sit restitūtus.

He favoured the Helvetii and wished them well because of this marriage tie; he also hated Caesar and the Romans on his own account, because their arrival had reduced his power and restored his brother Diviciacus to his old position of influence and honour.

1.18.9Sī quid accidat Rōmānīs, summam in spem per Helvētiōs regnī obtinendī venīre;

If anything happened to the Romans, he had the highest hopes of gaining the kingship through the Helvetii;

1.18.9imperiō populī Rōmānī nōn modo dē regnō, sed etiam dē eā quam habeat grātiā dēspērāre.

under the rule of the Roman people he despaired not only of kingship but even of the influence he had.

1.18.10Reperiēbat etiam in quaerendō Caesar, quod proelium equestre adversum paucīs ante diēbus esset factum, initium eius fugae factum ā Dumnorīge atque eius equitibus (nam equitātuī, quem auxiliō Caesarī Haeduī mīserant, Dumnorīx praeerat): eōrum fugā reliquum esse equitātum perterritum.

Caesar also found out in his inquiries that in the unsuccessful cavalry battle a few days before, the flight had been started by Dumnorix and his horsemen (for Dumnorix commanded the cavalry which the Haedui had sent to help Caesar): by their flight the rest of the cavalry had been thrown into panic.

Note. in quaerendō: gerund, 'in making inquiries'. auxiliō Caesarī: a double dative, 'as a help to Caesar'.