De Bello Gallico 5.48

5.48.1Caesar cōnsiliō eius probātō, etsī opīniōne trium legiōnum dēiectus ad duās redierat, tamen ūnum commūnis salūtis auxilium in celeritāte pōnēbat.

Caesar approved his decision, and although he had been disappointed in his expectation of three legions and was reduced to two, he still placed the one hope of saving everyone in speed.

Note. opīniōne trium legiōnum dēiectus: 'disappointed in his expectation of three legions'. Labienus could not come, so Caesar has only two (Crassus' and Fabius').

5.48.1Venit magnīs itineribus in Nerviōrum fīnēs.

He comes by forced marches into the territory of the Nervii.

5.48.2Ibi ex captīvīs cognōscit, quae apud Cicerōnem gerantur, quantōque in perīculō rēs sit.

There he learns from prisoners what is happening at Cicero's camp and how great the danger is.

5.48.3Tum cuidam ex equitibus Gallīs magnīs praemiīs persuādet utī ad Cicerōnem epistolam dēferat.

Then by great rewards he persuades one of the Gallic horsemen to carry a letter to Cicero.

5.48.4Hanc Graecīs cōnscrīptam litterīs mittit, ne interceptā epistolā nostra ab hostibus cōnsilia cognōscantur.

He sends it written in Greek letters, so that if the letter is intercepted our plans may not be learned by the enemy.

Note. Graecīs … litterīs: in Greek letters, so that a captured message could not easily be read by the Gauls. nē … cognōscantur: a negative purpose clause.

5.48.5Sī adīre nōn possit, monet ut tragulam cum epistolā ad āmentum dēligātā intrā mūnītiōnem castrōrum abiciat.

If he cannot get in, he advises him to throw a spear, with the letter tied to its throwing-strap, inside the fortification of the camp.

Note. tragulam … ad āmentum dēligātā: the letter is tied to the throwing-strap of the spear. abiciat depends on monet ut, 'he advises that he throw'.

5.48.6In litterīs scrībit sē cum legiōnibus profectum celeriter adfore;

In the letter he writes that he has set out with the legions and will soon be there;

Note. sē … profectum celeriter adfore: indirect statement, 'that he had set out and would soon be there'. adfore is a future infinitive of adsum (= adfutūrum esse).

5.48.6hortātur ut prīstinam virtūtem retineat.

he urges Cicero to keep up his old courage.

5.48.7Gallus perīculum veritus, ut erat praeceptum, tragulam mittit.

The Gaul, fearing danger, throws the spear as he had been instructed.

5.48.8Haec cāsū ad turrim adhaesit neque ab nostrīs bīduō animadversa tertiō diē ā quōdam mīlite cōnspicitur, dēmpta ad Cicerōnem dēfertur.

By chance it stuck in a tower, and after going unnoticed by our men for two days, on the third day it is seen by a soldier, taken down, and brought to Cicero.

Note. biduō: 'for two days'. dēmpta: 'taken down', from dēmō. The sentence moves from the perfect adhaesit to the historic presents cōnspicitur and dēfertur.

5.48.9Ille perlēctam in conventū mīlitum recitat maximāque omnēs laetitiā adficit.

Cicero reads it through and then reads it aloud to an assembly of the soldiers, and fills everyone with the greatest joy.

5.48.10Tum fūmī incendiōrum procul vidēbantur;

Then the smoke of fires was seen in the distance;

5.48.10quae rēs omnem dubitātiōnem adventūs legiōnum expulit.

and this removed all doubt that the legions were coming.