De Bello Gallico 1.3

1.3.1Hīs rēbus adductī et auctōritāte Orgetorīgis permōtī cōnstituērunt ea quae ad proficīscendum pertinērent comparāre, iūmentōrum et carrōrum quam maximum numerum coemere, sēmentēs quam maximās facere, ut in itinere cōpia frūmentī suppeteret, cum proximīs cīvitātibus pācem et amīcitiam cōnfirmāre.

Moved by these things and stirred by the influence of Orgetorix, they decided to get ready what was needed for setting out: to buy up as many pack animals and wagons as possible, to sow as much grain as possible so that there would be enough food on the march, and to secure peace and friendship with the nearest states.

Note. constituērunt governs a string of infinitives: comparāre, coemere, facere, cōnfirmāre. quam maximum numerum: quam with a superlative means 'as … as possible'.

1.3.2Ad eās rēs cōnficiendās biennium sibi satis esse dūxērunt;

They reckoned that two years were enough for them to complete these things;

1.3.2in tertium annum profectiōnem lēge cōnfirmant.

they fix their departure by law for the third year.

1.3.3Ad eās rēs cōnficiendās Orgetorīx dēligitur.

Orgetorix is chosen to complete these arrangements.

1.3.3Is sibi lēgātiōnem ad cīvitātēs suscipit.

He takes on himself an embassy to the states.

1.3.3In eō itinere persuādet Casticō, Catamantaloedis fīliō, Sēquanō, cuius pater regnum in Sēquanīs multōs annōs obtinuerat et ā senātū populī Rōmānī amīcus appellātus erat, ut regnum in cīvitāte suā occupāret, quod pater ante habuerit;

On this journey he persuades Casticus, son of Catamantaloedes, a Sequanian, whose father had held the kingship among the Sequani for many years and had been called a friend by the Senate of the Roman people, to seize the kingship in his own state, which his father had held before;

Note. persuādeō takes a dative (Casticō) and an ut clause for what the person is persuaded to do. quod pater ante habuerit: the subjunctive shows this is part of Orgetorix's argument.

1.3.4itemque Dumnorīgī Haeduō, frātrī Dīviciācī, quī eō tempore prīncipātum in cīvitāte obtinēbat ac maximē plēbī acceptus erat, ut idem cōnārētur persuādet eīque fīliam suam in mātrimōnium dat.

and he likewise persuades Dumnorix the Haeduan, brother of Diviciacus, who at that time held the leading position in his state and was very popular with the common people, to attempt the same thing, and he gives him his daughter in marriage.

1.3.5Perfacile factū esse illīs probat cōnāta perficere, proptereā quod ipse suae cīvitātis imperium obtentūrus esset: nōn esse dubium quīn tōtīus Galliae plūrimum Helvētiī possent;

He proves to them that it is very easy to accomplish these undertakings, because he himself was going to gain power over his own state: there was no doubt that the Helvetii were the most powerful people in all Gaul;

Note. perfacile factū: factū is a supine in the ablative, 'very easy to do'. nōn esse dubium quīn … possent: 'there was no doubt that …', quīn + subjunctive after a negative expression of doubt.

1.3.6sē suīs cōpiīs suōque exercitū illīs regna conciliātūrum cōnfirmat.

he assures them he will win kingdoms for them with his own resources and his own army.

Note. sē … conciliātūrum: future infinitive (esse is left out), 'that he would win'.

1.3.7Hāc ōrātiōne adductī inter sē fidem et iūs iūrandum dant et regnō occupātō per trēs potentissimōs ac firmissimōs populōs tōtīus Galliae sēsē potīrī posse spērant.

Persuaded by this speech, they give each other a pledge and an oath, and they hope that, once they have seized royal power, through three very powerful and very strong peoples they can gain control of all Gaul.

Note. regnō occupātō is an ablative absolute: 'once royal power was seized'.