De Bello Gallico 3.9

3.9.1Quibus dē rēbus Caesar ā Crassō certior factus, quod ipse aberat longius, nāvēs interim longās aedificārī in flūmine Ligerī, quod īnfluit in Ōceanum, rēmigēs ex prōvinciā īnstituī, nautās gubernātōrēsque comparārī iubet.

When Caesar was informed of these things by Crassus, since he himself was too far away, he ordered warships to be built meanwhile on the river Loire, which flows into the Ocean, rowers to be raised from the Province, and sailors and pilots to be gathered.

3.9.2Hīs rēbus celeriter administrātīs ipse, cum prīmum per annī tempus potuit, ad exercitum contendit.

When this had been quickly done, he himself hurried to the army as soon as the season allowed.

3.9.3Venetī reliquaeque item cīvitātēs cognitō Caesaris adventū certiōrēs factī, simul quod quantum in sē facinus admīsissent intellegēbant, lēgātōs, quod nōmen ad omnēs nātiōnēs sānctum inviolātumque semper fuisset, retentōs ab sē et in vincula coniectōs, prō magnitūdine perīculī bellum parāre et maximē ea quae ad ūsum nāvium pertinent prōvidēre īnstituunt, hōc maiōre spē quod multum nātūrā locī cōnfīdēbant.

The Veneti and the other states likewise, learning of Caesar's arrival, and at the same time realizing what a crime they had committed in detaining and putting in chains envoys, a title that had always been sacred and inviolable among all nations, begin to prepare for war on a scale matching the danger, and above all to provide what is needed for ships; they did so with all the more hope because they trusted greatly in the nature of the country.

Note. quantum … facinus admīsissent: indirect question. quod nōmen … fuisset: the title of envoy was sacred, so seizing them was a serious crime.

3.9.4Pedestria esse itinera concīsa aestuāriīs, nāvigātiōnem impedītam propter īnscientiam locōrum paucitātemque portuum sciēbant, neque nostrōs exercitūs propter inopiam frūmentī diūtius apud sē morārī posse cōnfīdēbant;

They knew that the land routes were cut by tidal inlets, and that sailing was hindered by our ignorance of the places and the scarcity of harbours, and they were confident that our armies could not stay long among them because of the shortage of grain;

3.9.6ac iam ut omnia contrā opīniōnem acciderent, tamen sē plūrimum nāvibus posse, quam Rōmānōs neque ūllam facultātem habēre nāvium, neque eōrum locōrum ubi bellum gestūrī essent vada, portūs, īnsulās nōvisse;

and even if everything turned out against their expectations, still they were far stronger in ships, while the Romans had no supply of ships and did not know the shallows, harbours and islands of the places where they would be fighting;

Note. ut omnia … acciderent: ut here means 'even if'.

3.9.7ac longē aliam esse nāvigātiōnem in conclūsō marī atque in vāstissimō atque apertissimō Ōceanō perspiciēbant.

and they saw that sailing on an enclosed sea was quite different from sailing on the vast and wide-open Ocean.

3.9.8Hīs initīs cōnsiliīs oppida mūniunt, frūmenta ex agrīs in oppida comportant, nāvēs in Venetiam, ubi Caesarem prīmum bellum gestūrum cōnstābat, quam plūrimās possunt cōgunt.

Having adopted these plans, they fortify their towns, carry the grain from the fields into the towns, and gather as many ships as they can in the land of the Veneti, where it was clear Caesar would begin the war.

3.9.10Sociōs sibi ad id bellum Osismōs, Lexoviōs, Namnetēs, Ambiliātōs, Morinōs, Diablintēs, Menapiōs adscīscunt;

They take on as allies for this war the Osismi, Lexovii, Namnetes, Ambiliati, Morini, Diablintes and Menapii;

3.9.10auxilia ex Britanniā, quae contrā eās regiōnēs posita est, arcessunt.

they send for auxiliaries from Britain, which lies opposite those regions.