De Bello Gallico 5.56

5.56.1Ubi intellēxit ultrō ad sē venīrī, alterā ex parte Senonēs Carnutēsque cōnscientiā facinoris īnstīgārī, alterā Nerviōs Aduatucōsque bellum Rōmānīs parāre, neque sibi voluntāriōrum cōpiās dēfore, sī ex fīnibus suīs prōgredī coepisset, armātum concilium indīcit.

When he understood that men were coming to him of their own accord, that on one side the Senones and Carnutes were being driven on by the awareness of their crime, and on the other the Nervii and Aduatuci were preparing war against the Romans, and that he would not lack forces of volunteers if he began to advance from his own territory, he proclaims an armed council.

Note. ultrō ad sē venīrī: impersonal passive, 'that people were coming to him of their own accord'. dēfore: future infinitive of dēsum.

5.56.1Hōc mōre Gallōrum est initium bellī, quō lēge commūnī omnēs pūberēs armātī convenīre cōnsuērunt;

By Gallic custom this is the beginning of a war; by a common law all grown men are accustomed to assemble at it in arms;

5.56.2quī ex eīs novissimus convenit, in cōnspectū multitūdinis omnibus cruciātibus affectus necātur.

whoever of them arrives last is put to death in sight of the crowd after every kind of torture.

Note. quī … novissimus convēnit: 'whoever arrives last'. novissimus, the superlative of novus, here means 'last'.

5.56.3In eō conciliō Cingetorīgem, alterīus prīncipem factiōnis, generum suum, quem suprā dēmōnstrāvimus Caesaris secūtum fidem ab eō nōn discessisse, hostem iūdicat bonaque eius pūblicat.

At this council he declares Cingetorix, the leader of the other faction and his own son-in-law, who, as we showed above, had followed Caesar's protection and not deserted him, a public enemy, and confiscates his property.

5.56.4Hīs rēbus cōnfectīs, in conciliō prōnūntiat arcessītum sē ā Senonibus et Carnutibus aliīsque complūribus Galliae cīvitātibus;

When this was done, he announces in the council that he has been summoned by the Senones, the Carnutes and several other states of Gaul;

5.56.5hūc itūrum per fīnēs Rēmōrum eōrumque agrōs populātūrum ac, priusquam id faciat, castra Labiēnī oppugnātūrum.

that he will march there through the territory of the Remi and lay waste their lands, and, before he does so, attack Labienus' camp.

Note. itūrum, populātūrum, oppugnātūrum: future infinitives with esse left out, continuing the indirect statement of pronūntiat.

5.56.5Quae fierī velit praecipit.

He gives orders for what he wants done.