De Bello Gallico 6.23

6.23.1Cīvitātibus maxima laus est quam lātissimē circum sē vāstātīs fīnibus sōlitūdinēs habēre.

For the states the greatest glory is to have the land around them laid waste as widely as possible and to have empty spaces there.

Note. quam lātissimē: quam with a superlative, 'as widely as possible'.

6.23.2Hoc proprium virtūtis exīstimant, expulsōs agrīs fīnitimōs cēdere, neque quemquam prope audēre cōnsistere: simul hōc sē fore tūtiōrēs arbitrantur repentīnae incursiōnis timōre sublātō.

They think it the mark of courage that their neighbors are driven from their lands and withdraw, and that no one dares to settle near them; at the same time they believe that they will be safer in this way, with the fear of sudden attack removed.

6.23.4Cum bellum cīvitās aut inlātum dēfendit aut īnfert, magistrātūs, quī eī bellō praesint, ut vītae necisque habeant potestātem, dēliguntur.

When a state is either defending itself against war or making war, magistrates are chosen to take charge of that war, with the power of life and death.

6.23.5In pāce nūllus est commūnis magistrātus, sed prīncipēs regiōnum atque pāgōrum inter suōs iūs dīcunt contrōversiāsque minuunt.

In peacetime there is no common magistrate, but the chiefs of the districts and cantons give justice among their own people and settle disputes.

6.23.6Latrōcinia nūllam habent īnfāmiam, quae extrā fīnēs cuiusque cīvitātis fīunt, atque ea iuventūtis exercendae ac dēsidiae minuendae causā fierī praedicant.

Raids committed outside the borders of each state carry no disgrace, and they claim that they are carried out to train the young men and to keep down idleness.

6.23.7Atque ubi quis ex prīncipibus in conciliō dīxit sē ducem fore, quī sequī velint, profiteantur, cōnsurgunt eī quī et causam et hominem probant suumque auxilium pollicentur atque ab multitūdine collaudantur: quī ex hīs secūtī nōn sunt, in dēsertōrum ac prōditōrum numerō dūcuntur, omniumque hīs rērum posteā fidēs dērogātur.

And when one of the chiefs has said in an assembly that he will be the leader, and that those who wish to follow should say so, those who approve of both the enterprise and the man stand up and promise their help, and are applauded by the crowd; those of them who have not followed are counted as deserters and traitors, and afterwards they are no longer trusted in anything.

Note. quī sequī velint, profiteantur: indirect command inside the chief's speech, 'let those who wish to follow say so'. omnium … rērum fidēs dērogātur: 'trust in everything is withdrawn'.

6.23.9Hospitem violāre fās nōn putant;

They do not think it right to harm a guest;

6.23.9quī quācumque dē causā ad eōs vēnērunt, ab iniūriā prohibent, sānctōs habent, hīsque omnium domus patent vīctusque commūnicātur.

those who have come to them for whatever reason they protect from harm and hold sacred; to them every house is open and food is shared with them.