De Bello Gallico 1.4

1.4.1Ea rēs est Helvētiīs per indicium ēnūntiāta.

This plot was reported to the Helvetii by an informer.

1.4.1Mōribus suīs Orgetorīcem ex vinculīs causam dīcere coēgērunt;

Following their customs they forced Orgetorix to plead his case in chains;

Note. ex vinculīs causam dīcere: 'to plead his case in chains', literally 'from chains'.

1.4.1damnātum poenam sequī oportēbat, ut ignī cremārētur.

if condemned, the penalty that had to follow was to be burned alive.

Note. damnātum poenam sequī oportēbat: 'the penalty had to follow him if condemned'. ut ignī cremārētur explains the penalty.

1.4.2Diē cōnstitūtā causae dictiōnis Orgetorīx ad iūdicium omnem suam familiam, ad hominum mīlia decem, undique coēgit, et omnēs clientēs obaerātōsque suōs, quōrum magnum numerum habēbat, eōdem condūxit;

On the day fixed for the hearing Orgetorix gathered at the court his whole household, about ten thousand men, from every side, and he brought there all his clients and debtors, of whom he had a great number;

1.4.2per eōs nē causam dīceret sē ēripuit.

through them he got himself away so as not to plead his case.

Note. nē causam dīceret: 'so as not to plead his case', a negative purpose clause.

1.4.3Cum cīvitās ob eam rem incitāta armīs iūs suum exequī cōnārētur multitūdinemque hominum ex agrīs magistrātūs cōgerent, Orgetorīx mortuus est;

While the state, angered by this, was trying to enforce its rights by arms, and the magistrates were gathering a large number of men from the countryside, Orgetorix died;

1.4.4neque abest suspīciō, ut Helvētiī arbitrantur, quīn ipse sibi mortem cōnscīverit.

and there is some suspicion, as the Helvetii believe, that he took his own life.

Note. sibi mortem cōnscīverit: 'inflicted death on himself', that is, took his own life.