De Bello Gallico 1.46

1.46.1Dum haec in conloquiō geruntur, Caesarī nūntiātum est equitēs Ariovistī propius tumulum accēdere et ad nostrōs adequitāre, lapidēs tēlaque in nostrōs coicere.

While these things were going on at the meeting, Caesar was told that Ariovistus' horsemen were coming closer to the mound, riding up to our men and throwing stones and weapons at them.

Note. Dum haec … geruntur: dum with the present indicative, 'while this was going on'.

1.46.2Caesar loquendī fīnem fēcit sēque ad suōs recēpit suīsque imperāvit nē quod omnīnō tēlum in hostēs rēicerent.

Caesar ended the talk, withdrew to his own men, and ordered them not to throw a single weapon back at the enemy.

1.46.3Nam etsī sine ūllō perīculō legiōnis dēlēctae cum equitātū proelium fore vidēbat, tamen committendum nōn putābat ut, pulsīs hostibus, dīcī posset eōs ab sē per fidem in conloquiō circumventōs.

For although he saw that a battle between his picked legion and the cavalry would be without any danger, he still thought he should not fight, so that after the enemy were beaten it could not be said that they had been trapped by him during a meeting held in good faith.

Note. committendum nōn putābat: gerundive of obligation, 'he did not think he ought to fight'. per fidem: 'under a pledge of good faith'.

1.46.4Posteā quam in vulgus mīlitum ēlātum est quā arrogantiā in conloquiō Ariovistus ūsus omnī Galliā Rōmānīs interdīxisset, impetumque in nostrōs eius equitēs fēcissent, eaque rēs conloquium ut dirēmisset, multō maior alacritās studiumque pugnandī maius exercituī iniectum est.

After it spread among the rank and file with what arrogance Ariovistus had spoken at the meeting, forbidding the Romans all of Gaul, and how his cavalry had attacked our men and this had broken off the meeting, the army became much more eager and keener to fight.

Note. Posteā quam = postquam. quā arrogantiā … ūsus: 'with what arrogance'; ūtor takes the ablative. multō maior: 'much greater'.