De Bello Gallico 7.66

7.66.1Intereā, dum haec geruntur, hostium cōpiae ex Arvernīs equitēsque quī tōtī Galliae erant imperātī conveniunt.

Meanwhile, while this was going on, the enemy forces from the Arverni and the cavalry which had been demanded from all Gaul came together.

7.66.2Magnō hōrum coāctō numerō, cum Caesar in Sēquanōs per extrēmōs Lingonum fīnēs iter faceret, quō facilius subsidium prōvinciae ferrī posset, circiter mīlia passuum decem ab Rōmānīs trīnīs castrīs Vercingetorīx cōnsēdit convocātīsque ad concilium praefectīs equitum vēnisse tempus victōriae dēmōnstrat.

When a large number of these had been gathered, as Caesar was marching into the Sequani through the edge of the Lingones' territory, so that he could more easily bring help to the Province, Vercingetorix encamped in three camps about ten miles from the Romans; he called the cavalry commanders to a council and pointed out that the time for victory had come.

7.66.3Fugere in prōvinciam Rōmānōs Galliāque excēdere.

The Romans, he said, were fleeing into the Province and leaving Gaul.

Note. Fugere … excēdere: still indirect speech, with Rōmānōs as subject: 'the Romans were fleeing … and leaving Gaul'.

7.66.4Id sibi ad praesentem obtinendam lībertātem satis esse;

That was enough for them to keep their freedom for the present;

7.66.4ad reliquī temporis pācem atque ōtium parum prōficī: maiōribus enim coāctīs cōpiīs reversūrōs neque fīnem bellandī factūrōs.

but it did little for peace and quiet in the future: for they would gather larger forces, come back, and never make an end of the war.

7.66.4Proinde agmine impedītōs adorīrentur.

So they should attack them while they were hampered on the march.

Note. adorīrentur: in indirect speech a command becomes a subjunctive, 'they should attack'.

7.66.5Sī peditēs suīs auxilium ferant atque in eō morentur, iter facere nōn posse;

If the infantry brought help to their comrades and were held up doing so, they could not continue their march;

7.66.5sī, id quod magis futūrum cōnfīdat, relictīs impedīmentīs suae salūtī cōnsulant, et ūsū rērum necessāriārum et dignitāte spoliātum īrī.

if, as he was confident was more likely to happen, they abandoned the baggage and looked to their own safety, they would be stripped both of the things they needed and of their honour.

Note. id quod magis futūrum cōnfīdat: 'which he was confident was more likely to happen'. spoliātum īrī is the future passive infinitive, made from the supine and the passive infinitive of eō.

7.66.6Nam dē equitibus hostium, quīn nēmō eōrum prōgredī modo extrā agmen audeat, et ipsōs quidem nōn dēbēre dubitāre, et quō maiōre faciant animō, cōpiās sē omnēs prō castrīs habitūrum et terrōrī hostibus futūrum.

For as to the enemy's cavalry, they themselves ought not to doubt that not one of them would dare even to advance outside the column; and so that they might attack with greater spirit, he would keep all his forces in front of the camp and be a terror to the enemy.

Note. quīn nēmō … audeat depends on nōn dēbēre dubitāre, 'they ought not to doubt that no one would dare'. quō maiōre … animō: quō introduces a purpose clause containing a comparative.

7.66.7Conclāmant equitēs sānctissimō iūreiūrandō cōnfirmārī oportēre, nē tēctō recipiātur, nē ad līberōs, nē ad parentēs, ad uxōrem aditum habeat, quī nōn bis per agmen hostium perequitāsset.

The cavalry shouted together that they should bind themselves by a most sacred oath that no man who had not ridden twice through the enemy's column should be received under a roof, or have access to his children, his parents, or his wife.

Note. nē … recipiātur, nē … habeat give the terms of the oath; their subject is the man described in quī nōn bis … perequitāsset.