De Bello Gallico 1.42

1.42.1Cognitō Caesaris adventū Ariovistus lēgātōs ad eum mittit: quod anteā dē conloquiō postulāsset, id per sē fierī licēre, quoniam propius accessisset sēque id sine perīculō facere posse exīstimāret.

When he learned of Caesar's arrival, Ariovistus sends envoys to him: what he had earlier asked for about a meeting could now take place as far as he was concerned, since Caesar had come nearer and he thought he could do it without danger.

Note. Cognitō Caesaris adventū is an ablative absolute: 'when Caesar's arrival was known'. The rest is Ariovistus' message in indirect speech: id per sē fierī licēre, 'that it could happen as far as he was concerned'.

1.42.2Nōn respuit condiciōnem Caesar iamque eum ad sānitātem revertī arbitrābātur, cum id quod anteā petentī dēnegāsset ultrō pollicērētur, magnamque in spem veniēbat prō suīs tantīs populīque Rōmānī in eum beneficiīs cognitīs suīs postulātīs fore utī pertināciā dēsisteret.

Caesar did not reject the offer, and he began to think that Ariovistus was coming back to his senses, since he was now offering of his own accord what he had refused when asked before; and he came to have high hopes that, in view of the great kindnesses he and the Roman people had shown him, Ariovistus would give up his stubbornness once he learned Caesar's demands.

Note. petentī: present participle in the dative, 'to him (Caesar) when he asked'. fore utī … dēsisteret: 'that it would come about that he would give up', a common way to express a future in indirect speech.

1.42.4Diēs conloquiō dictus est ex eō diē quīntus.

The fifth day from that day was set for the meeting.

1.42.5Interim saepe cum lēgātī ultrō citrōque inter eōs mitterentur, Ariovistus postulāvit nē quem peditem ad conloquium Caesar addūceret: verērī sē nē per īnsidiās ab eō circumvenīrētur;

Meanwhile, as envoys were often being sent back and forth between them, Ariovistus demanded that Caesar bring no foot soldier to the meeting: he was afraid of being trapped by him in an ambush;

Note. ultrō citrōque: 'back and forth'. nē quem peditem: after nē, quem means 'any'. verērī sē nē … circumvenīrētur: a fear clause, 'he was afraid that he would be trapped'.

1.42.5uterque cum equitātū venīret: aliā ratiōne sēsē nōn esse ventūrum.

each should come with cavalry: on any other terms he would not come.

1.42.6Caesar, quod neque conloquium interpositā causā tollī volēbat neque salūtem suam Gallōrum equitātuī committere audēbat, commodissimum esse statuit omnibus equīs Gallīs equitibus dētrāctīs eō legiōnāriōs mīlitēs legiōnis X., cui quam maximē cōnfīdēbat, impōnere, ut praesidium quam amīcissimum, sī quid opus factō esset, habēret.

Caesar did not want the meeting to be called off on some pretext, nor did he dare trust his safety to the Gallic cavalry; so he decided the most convenient course was to take all the horses from the Gallic horsemen and put on them legionary soldiers of the tenth legion, which he trusted most of all, so that he would have as loyal a guard as possible if there were any need for action.

Note. sī quid opus factō esset: 'if there were any need for action'; opus est takes the ablative of a participle.

1.42.7Quod cum fieret, nōn inrīdiculē quīdam ex mīlitibus X. legiōnis dīxit: plūs quam pollicitus esset Caesarem facere;

While this was being done, one of the soldiers of the tenth legion said, rather wittily, that Caesar was doing more than he had promised:

1.42.7pollicitum sē in cohortis praetōriae locō X. legiōnem habitūrum ad equum rescrībere.

he had promised to treat the tenth legion as his bodyguard, and now he was enrolling it in the cavalry.

Note. The joke: equum can mean 'horse' and 'cavalry rank'. The tenth legion, mounted on Gaulish horses, had been 'promoted' to the cavalry, the higher social order (equitēs).