De Bello Gallico 7.1

7.1.1Quiētā Galliā Caesar, ut cōnstituerat, in Ītaliam ad conventūs agendōs proficīscitur.

With Gaul quiet, Caesar, as he had decided, set out for Italy to hold the assizes.

Note. Quiētā Galliā: ablative absolute, 'Gaul being quiet'. conventūs agendōs: the governor's circuit of law-courts in Cisalpine Gaul.

7.1.1Ibi cognōscit dē Clōdiī caede dē senātūsque cōnsultō certior factus, ut omnēs iūniōrēs Ītaliae coniūrārent, dēlēctum tōtā prōvinciā habēre īnstituit.

There he learned of the murder of Clodius, and being informed of the senate's decree that all the younger men of Italy should take the military oath, he began to hold a levy throughout the whole province.

Note. Clōdius was murdered in January 52 B.C.; the senate then ordered a levy throughout Italy. iūniōrēs: men of military age (17–46). The edition's text of this sentence is uncertain (cognōscit … certior factus).

7.1.2Eae rēs in Galliam Trānsalpīnam celeriter perferuntur.

These events are quickly reported in Transalpine Gaul.

7.1.2Addunt ipsī et adfingunt rūmōribus Gallī, quod rēs poscere vidēbātur, retinērī urbānō mōtū Caesarem neque in tantīs dissēnsiōnibus ad exercitum venīre posse.

The Gauls themselves add to the rumors and invent more, as the situation seemed to demand: that Caesar was being held back by the disturbance in the city and could not come to the army amid such great quarrels.

7.1.3Hāc impulsī occāsiōne, quī iam ante sē populī Rōmānī imperiō subiectōs dolērent līberius atque audācius dē bellō cōnsilia inīre incipiunt.

Spurred on by this opportunity, those who already before had resented being subject to the rule of the Roman people begin to form plans for war more freely and more boldly.

Note. quī … dolērent: relative clause of characteristic with a causal sense, 'men who resented'. sē … subiectōs: supply esse.

7.1.4Indictīs inter sē prīncipēs Galliae conciliīs silvestribus ac remōtīs locīs queruntur dē Accōnis morte;

The leading men of Gaul, having arranged councils among themselves in wooded and remote places, complain of the death of Acco;

7.1.5posse hunc cāsum ad ipsōs recidere dēmōnstrant: miserantur commūnem Galliae fortūnam: omnibus pollicitātiōnibus ac praemiīs dēposcunt quī bellī initium faciant et suī capitis perīculō Galliam in lībertātem vindicent.

they point out that this fate could fall on themselves; they lament the common fortune of Gaul; with every kind of promise and reward they call for men to begin the war and to claim Gaul for freedom at the risk of their own lives.

Note. quī bellī initium faciant: relative clause of purpose, 'men to begin the war'. suī capitis perīculō: 'at the risk of their own lives'.

7.1.6In prīmīs ratiōnem esse habendam dīcunt, priusquam eōrum clandestīna cōnsilia efferantur, ut Caesar ab exercitū interclūdātur.

Above all, they say, they must make a plan, before their secret designs leak out, for Caesar to be cut off from his army.

7.1.6Id esse facile, quod neque legiōnēs audeant absente imperātōre ex hībernīs ēgredī, neque imperātor sine praesidiō ad legiōnēs pervenīre possit;

This was easy, because the legions would not dare to leave their winter quarters while their commander was away, nor could the commander reach the legions without an escort;

Note. Reported speech: the Gauls' reasoning continues in the infinitive (esse) and subjunctives (audeant, possit). absente imperātōre: ablative absolute.

7.1.8postrēmō in aciē praestāre interficī quam nōn veterem bellī glōriam lībertātemque quam ā maiōribus accēperint recuperāre.

finally, it was better to be killed in battle than not to recover their ancient glory in war and the freedom they had received from their ancestors.

Note. praestāre … quam: 'it is better … than'. quam ā maiōribus accēperint: the second quam is the relative pronoun.