De Bello Gallico 7.35

7.35.1Cum uterque utrimque exīsset exercitus, in cōnspectū ferēque ē regiōne castrīs castra pōnēbant dispositīs explōrātōribus, nēcubi effectō ponte Rōmānī cōpiās trādūcerent.

When each army had come out on its own side, they pitched camp within sight of each other and almost opposite, and scouts were posted so that the Romans might not build a bridge anywhere and lead their forces across.

Note. nēcubi … trādūcerent: 'so that the Romans might not lead their forces across anywhere'. nēcubi is nē with (a)licubi, 'anywhere'.

7.35.1Erat in magnīs Caesaris difficultātibus rēs, nē maiōrem aestātis partem flūmine impedīrētur, quod nōn ferē ante autumnum Elaver vadō trānsīrī solet.

Caesar was in great difficulties for fear of being held up by the river for most of the summer, because the Elaver cannot usually be forded before the autumn.

7.35.2Itaque, nē id accideret, silvestrī locō castrīs positīs ē regiōne ūnīus eōrum pontium, quōs Vercingetorīx rescindendōs cūrāverat, posterō diē cum duābus legiōnibus in occultō restitit;

So, to prevent this from happening, he pitched camp in a wooded place opposite one of the bridges that Vercingetorix had had broken down, and the next day stayed behind in hiding with two legions;

7.35.3reliquās cōpiās cum omnibus impedīmentīs, ut cōnsuēverat, mīsit, apertīs quibusdam cohortibus, utī numerus legiōnum cōnstāre vidērētur.

he sent on the rest of the forces with all the baggage as usual, after spreading out certain cohorts, so that the number of legions should seem unchanged.

Note. Caesar sends four legions on with the baggage to keep Vercingetorix following them, while he hides with two. The phrase apertīs quibusdam cohortibus is uncertain in the manuscripts; Caesar is spreading out the cohorts so that six legions still appear to be marching.

7.35.4Hīs quam longissimē possent ēgredī iussīs, cum iam ex diēī tempore coniectūram cēperat in castra perventum, īsdem sublicīs, quārum pars īnferior integra remanēbat, pontem reficere coepit.

He ordered these to advance as far as they could, and when, from the time of day, he guessed that they had reached camp, he began to rebuild the bridge on the same piles, whose lower part remained intact.

Note. quam longissimē possent: 'as far as they could'. quam with a superlative means 'as … as possible'.

7.35.5Celeriter effectō opere legiōnibusque trāductīs et locō castrīs idōneō dēlēctō reliquās cōpiās revocāvit.

The work was quickly finished, the legions led across and a suitable place chosen for a camp, and he called back the rest of the forces.

7.35.6Vercingetorīx rē cognitā, nē contrā suam voluntātem dīmicāre cōgerētur, magnīs itineribus antecessit.

Vercingetorix, when he learned of this, went on ahead by forced marches so as not to be compelled to fight against his will.