De Bello Gallico 8.3

8.3.1Repentīnō adventū Caesaris accidit, quod imparātīs disiectīsque accidere fuit necesse, ut sine timōre ūllō rūra colentēs prius ab equitātū opprimerentur quam cōnfugere in oppida possent.

As a result of Caesar's sudden arrival there happened what was bound to happen to men unprepared and scattered: people working the fields without any fear were overwhelmed by the cavalry before they could flee into the towns.

Note. quod imparātīs … accidere fuit necesse: 'what was bound to happen to the unprepared'. rūra colentēs: 'men working the fields'. prius … quam … possent: 'before they could'.

8.3.2Namque etiam illud vulgāre incursiōnis hostium signum, quod incendiīs aedificiōrum intellegī cōnsuēvit, Caesaris erat interdictō sublātum, nē aut cōpia pābulī frūmentīque, sī longius prōgredī vellet, dēficerētur, aut hostēs incendiīs terrērentur.

For even the usual signal of an enemy raid, which is generally recognised by the burning of buildings, had been removed by Caesar's order, so that he should not run short of fodder and grain if he wished to advance further, and so that the enemy should not be alarmed by the fires.

Note. Caesar banned the usual burning of farms so that his own troops would find food and the enemy would get no warning. Caesaris … interdictō: 'by Caesar's ban'. sublātum erat: from tollō, 'had been removed'.

8.3.3Multīs hominum mīlibus captīs perterritī Biturīgēs;

With many thousands of men captured, the Bituriges were terrified;

Note. A very short sentence; sunt is understood with perterritī.

8.3.3quī prīmum adventum potuerant effugere Rōmānōrum, in fīnitimās cīvitātēs aut prīvātīs hospitiīs cōnfīsī aut societāte cōnsiliōrum cōnfūgerant.

those who had been able to escape the first arrival of the Romans had fled to neighbouring states, trusting either in private ties of hospitality or in a shared plan.

Note. quī … potuerant: the antecedent is 'those Bituriges' understood. aut prīvātīs hospitiīs cōnfīsī aut societāte cōnsiliōrum: 'trusting either in private guest-friendships or in a shared plan'. cōnfīsī: perfect participle of the semi-deponent cōnfīdō, active in meaning.

8.3.4Frūstrā: nam Caesar magnīs itineribus omnibus locīs occurrit nec dat ūllī cīvitātī spatium dē aliēnā potius quam dē domesticā salūte cōgitandī;

In vain: for Caesar met them everywhere by forced marches and gave no state time to think about the safety of others rather than its own;

Note. Frūstrā: one word, for effect: 'In vain'. magnīs itineribus: 'by forced marches'. dē aliēnā potius quam dē domesticā salūte cōgitandī: 'of thinking about the safety of others rather than its own', a gerund with its objects in dē phrases.

8.3.4quā celeritāte et fidēlēs amīcōs retinēbat et dubitantēs terrōre ad condiciōnēs pācis addūcēbat.

by this speed he kept his loyal friends and brought the waverers by fear to terms of peace.

Note. quā celeritāte: a connecting relative, 'by this speed'. dubitantēs: 'those who were wavering'.

8.3.5Tālī condiciōne prōpositā Biturīgēs, cum sibi vidērent clēmentiā Caesaris reditum patēre in eius amīcitiam fīnitimāsque cīvitātēs sine ūllā poenā dedisse obsidēs atque in fidem receptās esse, idem fēcērunt.

When this offer was made, the Bituriges, seeing that by Caesar's mercy the way back into his friendship lay open to them, and that the neighbouring states had given hostages without any punishment and had been received into his protection, did the same.

Note. Tālī condiciōne prōpositā: ablative absolute. cum … vidērent: causal cum. reditum patēre: 'that the way back lay open'. in fidem receptās esse: 'had been received into his protection'.