De Bello Gallico 7.76

7.76.1Huius operā Commī, ut anteā dēmōnstrāvimus, fidēlī atque ūtilī superiōribus annīs erat ūsus in Britanniā Caesar;

Caesar, as we have shown before, had made use of this Commius' loyal and useful service in Britain in earlier years;

Note. Huius operā … erat ūsus: ūtor takes the ablative, 'he had made use of his service'. Commius had helped Caesar in Britain (Book IV).

7.76.1quibus ille prō meritīs cīvitātem eius immūnem esse iusserat, iūra lēgēsque reddiderat atque ipsī Morinōs attribuerat.

in return for these services Caesar had ordered his state to be free of tribute, had given back its rights and laws, and had placed the Morini under him.

7.76.2Tamen tanta ūniversae Galliae cōnsēnsiō fuit lībertātis vindicandae et prīstinae bellī laudis recuperandae, ut neque beneficiīs neque amīcitiae memoriā movērentur, omnēsque et animō et opibus in id bellum incumberent.

Yet so great was the agreement of all Gaul to win back its freedom and recover its old glory in war that they were moved neither by kindnesses nor by the memory of friendship, and all threw themselves into that war with heart and resources.

Note. lībertātis vindicandae … laudis recuperandae: gerundive phrases in the genitive depending on cōnsēnsiō, 'agreement in winning back freedom and recovering glory'. tanta … ut: a result clause.

7.76.3Coāctīs equitum VIII mīlibus et peditum circiter CCL haec in Aeduōrum fīnibus recēnsēbantur, numerusque inībātur, praefectī cōnstituēbantur.

Eight thousand cavalry and about two hundred and fifty thousand infantry were gathered; these were reviewed in the territory of the Aedui, a count was taken, and officers were appointed.

7.76.4Commiō Atrebātī, Viridomarō et Eporēdorīgī Aeduīs, Vercassivellaunō Arvernō, cōnsobrīnō Vercingetorīgis, summa imperī trāditur.

The supreme command is handed to Commius the Atrebatian, Viridomarus and Eporedorix the Aeduans, and Vercassivellaunus the Arvernian, a cousin of Vercingetorix.

7.76.4Hīs dēlēctī ex cīvitātibus attribuuntur, quōrum cōnsiliō bellum administrārētur.

To these are assigned men chosen from the states, by whose advice the war was to be run.

7.76.5Omnēs alacrēs et fīdūciae plēnī ad Alesiam proficīscuntur, neque erat omnium quisquam quī aspectum modo tantae multitūdinis sustinērī posse arbitrārētur, praesertim ancipitī proeliō, cum ex oppidō ēruptiōne pugnārētur, forīs tantae cōpiae equitātūs peditātūsque cernerentur.

All set out for Alesia eager and full of confidence; and there was no one of them all who thought that even the sight of so great a multitude could be withstood, especially in a battle on two fronts, when there would be fighting from the town in a sally and outside such great forces of cavalry and infantry would be seen.

Note. quisquam quī … arbitrārētur: a relative clause of characteristic after a negative, 'no one who thought'. ancipitī proeliō: 'in a two-sided battle', with fighting both from the town and from outside.