De Bello Gallico 6.34

6.34.1Erat, ut suprā dēmōnstrāvimus, manus certa nūlla, nōn oppidum, nōn praesidium, quod sē armīs dēfenderet, sed in omnēs partēs dispersa multitūdō.

There was, as we showed above, no regular force, no town, no garrison which could defend itself with arms, but a multitude scattered in every direction.

6.34.2Ubi cuique aut vallēs abdita aut locus silvestris aut palūs impedīta spem praesidī aut salūtis aliquam offerēbat, cōnsēderat.

Wherever a hidden valley or a wooded place or a marsh hard to cross offered any hope of protection or safety, there each man had settled.

Note. Ubi … cōnsēderat: ubi here is 'wherever', and the subject of cōnsēderat is the cuique of the same clause: 'each man had settled wherever …'.

6.34.3Haec loca vīcīnitātibus erant nōta, magnamque rēs dīligentiam requīrēbat nōn in summā exercitūs tuendā (nūllum enim poterat ūniversīs ā perterritīs ac dispersīs perīculum accidere), sed in singulīs mīlitibus cōnservandīs;

These places were known to those who lived nearby, and the matter required great care, not in protecting the army as a whole (for no danger could befall them all together from men frightened and scattered), but in keeping the individual soldiers safe;

Note. nōn in summā exercitūs tuendā … sed in singulīs mīlitibus cōnservandīs: two gerundive phrases set against each other, 'not in protecting the army as a whole, but in keeping individual soldiers safe'.

6.34.3quae tamen ex parte rēs ad salūtem exercitūs pertinēbat.

and yet this in part concerned the safety of the army.

6.34.4Nam et praedae cupiditās multōs longius ēvocābat, et silvae incertīs occultīsque itineribus cōnfertōs adīre prohibēbant.

For the desire for plunder was drawing many too far away, and the forests with their uncertain and hidden paths kept them from approaching in close order.

6.34.5Sī negōtium cōnficī stirpemque hominum scelerātōrum interficī vellet, dīmittendae plūrēs manūs dīdūcendīque erant mīlitēs;

If he wanted the business finished and the stock of these wicked men destroyed, more bands had to be sent out and the soldiers spread apart;

Note. dīmittendae … erant: the gerundive with sum expresses necessity, 'had to be sent out'. The plural plūrēs manūs is nominative, 'more bands'.

6.34.6sī continēre ad signa manipulōs vellet, ut īnstitūta ratiō et cōnsuētūdō exercitūs Rōmānī postulābat, locus ipse erat praesidiō barbarīs, neque ex occultō īnsidiandī et dispersōs circumveniendī singulīs dēerat audācia.

if he wanted to keep the companies with their standards, as the established method and custom of the Roman army required, the place itself was a protection to the barbarians, and individuals did not lack the boldness to lie in ambush from hiding and to surround men who had scattered.

6.34.7Ut in eiusmodī difficultātibus, quantum dīligentiā prōvidērī poterat prōvidēbātur, ut potius in nocendō aliquid praetermitterētur, etsī omnium animī ad ulcīscendum ārdēbant, quam cum aliquō mīlitum dētrīmentō nocērētur.

In difficulties of this kind, such precautions were taken as could be taken by care, so that, even though everyone's spirits burned for revenge, they would rather pass up some chance of doing harm than do harm with some loss to the soldiers.

Note. potius … quam: 'rather … than', with the parenthesis etsī … ārdēbant between the two halves. nocērētur is impersonal passive, 'harm should be done'.

6.34.8Dīmittit ad fīnitimās cīvitātēs nūntiōs Caesar: omnēs ad sē vocat spē praedae ad dīripiendōs Eburōnēs, ut potius in silvīs Gallōrum vīta quam legiōnārius mīles perīclitētur, simul ut magnā multitūdine circumfūsā prō tālī facinore stirps ac nōmen cīvitātis tollātur.

Caesar sent messengers to the neighboring states: he called them all to him with the hope of plunder to loot the Eburones, so that the life of Gauls rather than of legionary soldiers might be put at risk in the forests, and at the same time so that, with a great multitude poured around them, the stock and name of that state might be wiped out in return for so great a crime.

Note. ut potius … perīclitētur … simul ut … tollātur: two purpose clauses. Caesar is open about his aim: let Gallic lives, not Roman ones, be put at risk.

6.34.9Magnus undique numerus celeriter convenit.

A large number quickly gathered from every side.