De Bello Gallico 7.40

7.40.1Magnā adfectus sollicitūdine hōc nūntiō Caesar, quod semper Aeduōrum cīvitātī praecipuē indulserat, nūllā interpositā dubitātiōne legiōnēs expedītās quattuor equitātumque omnem ex castrīs ēdūcit;

Caesar was greatly troubled by this news, because he had always shown special favour to the state of the Aedui; without any hesitation he leads four legions in light marching order and all the cavalry out of the camp;

7.40.2nec fuit spatium tālī tempore ad contrahenda castra, quod rēs posita in celeritāte vidēbātur;

nor was there time at such a moment to draw the camps together, because the matter seemed to depend on speed;

Note. ad contrahenda castra: gerundive phrase of purpose. Caesar had two camps at Gergovia, a large one and a small one (see sentence 58), and had no time to bring them together.

7.40.2Gāium Fabium lēgātum cum legiōnibus duābus castrīs praesidiō relinquit.

he leaves Gaius Fabius, his lieutenant, with two legions to guard the camp.

7.40.3Frātrēs Litaviccī cum comprehendī iussisset, paulō ante reperit ad hostēs fūgisse.

When he had ordered the brothers of Litaviccus to be arrested, he finds that they had fled to the enemy a little before.

7.40.4Adhortātus mīlitēs, nē necessāriō tempore itineris labōre permoveantur, cupidissimīs omnibus prōgressus mīlia passuum XXV agmen Aeduōrum cōnspicātus immissō equitātū iter eōrum morātur atque impedit interdīcitque omnibus nē quemquam interficiant.

He urges the soldiers not to be troubled by the toil of the march at a time of need, and, with all of them very eager, he advances twenty-five miles, catches sight of the column of the Aedui, sends in the cavalry, and delays and blocks their march; and he forbids everyone to kill anyone.

Note. nē … permoveantur: a negative purpose clause after adhortātus, 'urging them not to be put off'. cupidissimīs omnibus: ablative absolute without a participle, 'all being very eager'.

7.40.4Eporēdorīgem et Viridomārum, quōs illī interfectōs exīstimābant, inter equitēs versārī suōsque appellāre iubet.

He orders Eporedorix and Viridomarus, whom they believed to have been killed, to ride among the horsemen and call out to their people.

7.40.6Hīs cognitīs et Litaviccī fraude perspectā Aeduī manūs tendere, dēditiōnem significāre et prōiectīs armīs mortem dēprecārī incipiunt.

When these were recognized and the deceit of Litaviccus seen through, the Aedui begin to stretch out their hands, to signal surrender, and to throw down their arms and beg for their lives.

7.40.7Litaviccus cum suīs clientibus, quibus mōre Gallōrum nefās est etiam in extrēmā fortūnā dēserere patrōnōs, Gergoviam profūgit.

Litaviccus, with his clients, for whom it is a sin by Gallic custom to desert their patrons even in the worst fortune, flees to Gergovia.

Note. quibus … nefās est … dēserere patrōnōs: 'for whom it is a sin to desert their patrons'. Caesar describes the Gallic bond between a noble and his clients in VI.13 and VI.15.