De Bello Gallico 7.56

7.56.1Quibus rēbus cognitīs Caesar mātūrandum sibi cēnsuit, sī esset in perficiendīs pontibus perīclitandum, ut prius quam essent maiōrēs eō coāctae cōpiae dīmicāret.

When he learned of this, Caesar decided that he must make haste, so that, if he had to take risks in building bridges, he might fight before larger forces were gathered there.

Note. mātūrandum sibi and perīclitandum are impersonal gerundives of obligation: 'that he must make haste', 'if he had to take risks'. prius quam … dīmicāret: subjunctive because it expresses what Caesar intended.

7.56.2Nam ut commūtātō cōnsiliō iter in prōvinciam converteret, id nē metū quidem necessāriō faciendum exīstimābat;

For as to changing his plan and turning his march towards the Province, he did not think that should be done even out of necessary fear;

Note. nē metū quidem necessāriō: 'not even out of necessary fear'; nē … quidem frames the stressed words.

7.56.2cum īnfāmia atque indignitās reī et oppositus mōns Cevenna viārumque difficultās impediēbat, tum maximē quod abiūnctō Labiēnō atque eīs legiōnibus quās ūnā mīserat vehementer timēbat.

both the disgrace and shame of it, and the Cevennes range in the way and the difficulty of the roads, prevented it, and above all he was deeply anxious for Labienus, who was cut off, and for the legions he had sent with him.

Note. cum … tum: 'both … and above all'. The singular impediēbat goes with the nearest of its several subjects.

7.56.3Itaque admodum magnīs diurnīs nocturnīsque itineribus cōnfectīs contrā omnium opīniōnem ad Ligerem vēnit vadōque per equitēs inventō prō reī necessitāte opportūnō, ut brachia modo atque humerī ad sustinenda arma līberī ab aquā esse possent, dispositō equitātū quī vim flūminis refringeret, atque hostibus prīmō aspectū perturbātīs, incolumem exercitum trādūxit frūmentumque in agrīs et pecoris cōpiam nactus replētō hīs rēbus exercitū iter in Senonēs facere īnstituit.

So, after very long marches by day and night, he reached the Loire against everyone's expectation; a ford was found by the cavalry that was suitable for the emergency, so that the men's arms and shoulders could be clear of the water for holding up their weapons; he stationed the cavalry to break the force of the current, and since the enemy were thrown into confusion at the first sight of him, he led the army across safely; he found grain in the fields and plenty of cattle, refreshed the army with these, and began his march into the territory of the Senones.

Note. ut … līberī … esse possent is a clause of result: the ford was just shallow enough for the soldiers to keep their arms and shoulders out of the water.