De Bello Gallico 1.7

1.7.1Caesarī cum id nūntiātum esset, eōs per prōvinciam nostram iter facere cōnārī, mātūrat ab urbe proficīscī et quam maximīs potest itineribus in Galliam ulteriōrem contendit et ad Genavam pervenit.

When it was reported to Caesar that they were trying to make their way through our Province, he hurries to leave Rome, presses on into Further Gaul by the longest marches he can, and reaches Geneva.

Note. quam maximīs potest itineribus: 'by the greatest marches he can', that is, forced marches.

1.7.2Prōvinciae tōtī quam maximum potest mīlitum numerum imperat (erat omnīnō in Galliā ulteriōre legiō ūna), pontem, quī erat ad Genavam, iubet rescindī.

He orders the whole Province to supply as many soldiers as possible (there was only one legion in Further Gaul altogether), and orders the bridge at Geneva to be broken down.

1.7.3Ubi dē eius adventū Helvētiī certiōrēs factī sunt, lēgātōs ad eum mittunt nōbilissimōs cīvitātis, cuius lēgātiōnis Nammēius et Verucloetius prīncipem locum obtinēbant, quī dīcerent sibi esse in animō sine ūllō maleficiō iter per prōvinciam facere, proptereā quod aliud iter habērent nūllum: rogāre ut eius voluntāte id sibi facere liceat.

When the Helvetii learned of his arrival, they send to him as envoys the noblest men of their state, Nammeius and Verucloetius leading the embassy, to say that they intended to march through the Province without doing any harm, because they had no other route: they asked to be allowed to do this with his consent.

Note. In the envoys' message, sibī esse in animō … facere means 'they had it in mind to make'. rogāre ut … liceat: still indirect speech, 'they asked that they be allowed'.

1.7.3Caesar, quod memoriā tenēbat L. Cassium cōnsulem occīsum exercitumque eius ab Helvētiīs pulsum et sub iugum missum, concēdendum nōn putābat;

Caesar, because he remembered that the consul Lucius Cassius had been killed and his army routed by the Helvetii and sent under the yoke, did not think it should be allowed;

Note. sub iugum missum: defeated soldiers were made to pass under a 'yoke' of spears as a sign of submission. concēdendum nōn putābat: 'he thought it should not be granted'; the gerundive expresses obligation.

1.7.4neque hominēs inimīcō animō, datā facultāte per prōvinciam itineris faciundī, temperātūrōs ab iniūriā et maleficiō exīstimābat.

nor did he think that men of hostile mind, if given the chance to march through the Province, would keep from wrongdoing and harm.

1.7.5Tamen, ut spatium intercēdere posset dum mīlitēs quōs imperāverat convenīrent, lēgātīs respondit diem sē ad dēlīberandum sūmptūrum: sī quid vellent, ad Īd. Aprīl. reverterentur.

Still, to let time pass until the soldiers he had called up could assemble, he answered the envoys that he would take time to consider: if they wanted anything, they should come back on 13 April.

Note. ad Īd. Aprīl.: ad Īdūs Aprīlēs, 'by the Ides of April', 13 April.