De Bello Gallico 7.63

7.63.1Dēfectiōne Aeduōrum cognitā bellum augētur.

When the revolt of the Aedui became known, the war grew.

7.63.1Lēgātiōnēs in omnēs partēs circummittuntur: quantum grātiā, auctōritāte, pecūniā valent, ad sollicitandās cīvitātēs nītuntur;

Embassies were sent round in every direction; as far as they could prevail by influence, prestige and money, they strove to stir up the states;

Note. quantum … valent: 'as far as they are strong', with the ablatives grātiā, auctōritāte, pecūniā saying in what.

7.63.3nactī obsidēs, quōs Caesar apud eōs dēposuerat, hōrum suppliciō dubitantēs territant.

having got hold of the hostages whom Caesar had left with them, they terrified those who hesitated by threatening to execute them.

Note. hōrum suppliciō: 'with the punishment of these', i.e. by threatening to execute the hostages.

7.63.4Petunt ā Vercingetorīge Aeduī ut ad sē veniat ratiōnēsque bellī gerendī commūnicet.

The Aedui asked Vercingetorix to come to them and share with them his plans for running the war.

7.63.5Rē impetrātā contendunt ut ipsīs summa imperī trādātur, et rē in contrōversiam dēductā tōtīus Galliae concilium Bibracte indīcitur.

When this was granted, they insisted that the supreme command be handed to them, and when the matter was disputed a council of all Gaul was called at Bibracte.

7.63.5Eōdem conveniunt undique frequentēs.

They gathered there in great numbers from every side.

7.63.6Multitūdinis suffrāgiīs rēs permittitur: ad ūnum omnēs Vercingetorīgem probant imperātōrem.

The decision was left to the votes of the people: to a man they approved Vercingetorix as commander.

7.63.7Ab hōc conciliō Rēmī, Lingonēs, Trēverī āfuērunt: illī, quod amīcitiam Rōmānōrum sequēbantur;

The Remi, the Lingones and the Treveri were absent from this council: the first two because they were keeping up their friendship with Rome;

Note. illī means the Remi and Lingones, the first two named; the Treveri get their own reason in the next sentence.

7.63.7Trēverī, quod aberant longius et ab Germānīs premēbantur, quae fuit causa quārē tōtō abessent bellō et neutrīs auxilia mitterent.

the Treveri because they lived further off and were hard pressed by the Germans, which was the reason why they stayed out of the whole war and sent help to neither side.

Note. neutrīs: 'to neither side'; neuter is used in the plural for two sides.

7.63.8Magnō dolōre Aeduī ferunt sē dēiectōs prīncipātū, queruntur fortūnae commūtātiōnem et Caesaris indulgentiam in sē requīrunt, neque tamen susceptō bellō suum cōnsilium ab reliquīs sēparāre audent.

The Aedui took it very bitterly that they had been thrown out of the leadership; they complained of the change in their fortune and missed Caesar's kindness towards them, and yet, having taken up the war, they did not dare to separate their policy from the rest.

7.63.9Invītī summae speī adulēscentēs Eporēdorīx et Viridomārus Vercingetorīgī pārent.

Unwillingly the young men of the highest hopes, Eporedorix and Viridomarus, obeyed Vercingetorix.