De Bello Gallico 7.4

7.4.1Similī ratiōne ibi Vercingetorīx, Celtillī fīlius, Arvernus, summae potentiae adulēscēns, cuius pater prīncipātum Galliae tōtīus obtinuerat et ob eam causam, quod regnum appetēbat, ab cīvitāte erat interfectus, convocātīs suīs clientibus facile incendit.

In the same way there Vercingetorix, son of Celtillus, an Arvernian, a young man of the greatest power, whose father had held the leadership of all Gaul and for that reason, because he was aiming at kingship, had been killed by his state, called together his dependents and easily roused them.

Note. This is Vercingetorix's first appearance. incendit has the clients as its understood object: 'stirred them up'.

7.4.2Cognitō eius cōnsiliō ad arma concurritur.

When his plan became known, there was a rush to arms.

7.4.2Prohibētur ab Gobannitiōne, patruō suō, reliquīsque prīncipibus, quī hanc temptandam fortūnam nōn exīstimābant;

He is checked by Gobannitio, his uncle, and the other leading men, who thought this venture should not be tried;

Note. hanc temptandam fortūnam: gerundive with esse understood, 'that this venture ought to be tried'.

7.4.2expellitur ex oppidō Gergoviā;

he is driven out of the town of Gergovia;

7.4.3nōn dēstitit tamen atque in agrīs habet dīlēctum egentium ac perditōrum.

yet he did not give up, and in the countryside he holds a levy of the needy and the desperate.

7.4.3Hāc coāctā manū, quōscumque adit ex cīvitāte ad suam sententiam perdūcit;

With this band gathered, he brings over to his view whomever in the state he approaches;

7.4.4hortātur ut commūnis lībertātis causā arma capiant, magnīsque coāctīs cōpiīs adversāriōs suōs ā quibus paulō ante erat ēiectus expellit ex cīvitāte.

he urges them to take up arms for the sake of common freedom, and having gathered large forces he drives from the state his opponents, by whom he had been thrown out a little before.

7.4.5Rēx ab suīs appellātur.

He is hailed as king by his followers.

7.4.5Dīmittit quōqueversus lēgātiōnēs;

He sends embassies in every direction;

Note. quōqueversus: 'in every direction' (the edition prints it as two words, quōque versus); quōque is the ablative of quisque, not the adverb quoque 'also'.

7.4.5obtestātur ut in fidē maneant.

he implores them to stay loyal.

7.4.6Celeriter sibi Senonēs, Parīsiōs, Pictonēs, Cadurcōs, Turonōs, Aulercōs, Lemovīcēs, Andōs reliquōsque omnēs quī Ōceanum attingunt adiungit: omnium cōnsēnsū ad eum dēfertur imperium.

Quickly he wins over the Senones, Parisii, Pictones, Cadurci, Turoni, Aulerci, Lemovices, Andes and all the others who border on the Ocean: by the consent of all the supreme command is given to him.

7.4.7Quā oblātā potestāte omnibus hīs cīvitātibus obsidēs imperat, certum numerum mīlitum ad sē celeriter addūcī iubet, armōrum quantum quaeque cīvitās domī quodque ante tempus efficiat cōnstituit;

Given this power, he orders hostages from all these states, commands a fixed number of soldiers to be brought to him quickly, and determines how many arms each state is to make at home and by what time;

7.4.8in prīmīs equitātuī studet.

above all he concentrates on the cavalry.

7.4.9Summae dīligentiae summam imperī sevēritātem addit;

To the greatest diligence he adds the greatest strictness of command;

7.4.9magnitūdine supplicī dubitantēs cōgit.

by the severity of his punishments he forces the waverers.

7.4.10nam maiōre commissō dēlictō ignī atque omnibus tormentīs necat, leviōre dē causā auribus dēsectīs aut singulīs effossīs oculīs domum remittit, ut sint reliquīs documentō et magnitūdine poenae perterreant aliōs.

For when a greater offence has been committed he kills with fire and every kind of torture; for a lighter cause he cuts off the ears or gouges out one eye and sends the man home, so that they may be a warning to the rest and terrify others by the severity of the penalty.

Note. igni atque omnibus tormentīs necat: 'puts to death by fire and every torture'. ut sint reliquīs documentō: double dative, 'to be a lesson to the rest'.