De Bello Gallico 8.4

8.4.1Caesar mīlitibus prō tantō labōre ac patientiā, quī brūmālibus diēbus itineribus difficillimīs, frīgoribus intolerandīs studiōsissimē permānserant in labōre, ducēnōs sēstertiōs, centuriōnibus tot mīlia nummum praedae nōmine condōnanda pollicētur legiōnibusque in hīberna remissīs ipse sē recipit diē XXXX Bibracte.

To the soldiers, who in the days of midwinter, on very hard marches and in unbearable cold, had kept at their work most eagerly, Caesar promises two hundred sesterces each, and to the centurions as many thousand sesterces, to be given as booty, for such great toil and endurance; and after sending the legions back into winter quarters, he himself returns to Bibracte on the fortieth day.

Note. ducēnōs sēstertiōs: distributive, '200 sesterces each'. tot mīlia nummum: 'as many thousand sesterces' (nummum is an old genitive plural). praedae nōmine: 'by way of booty', a bonus paid instead of plunder. diē XXXX: 'on the fortieth day' after setting out.

8.4.2Ibi cum iūs dīceret, Biturīgēs ad eum lēgātōs mittunt auxilium petītum contrā Carnutēs, quōs intulisse bellum sibi querēbantur.

While he was holding court there, the Bituriges send envoys to him to ask for help against the Carnutes, who they complained had made war on them.

Note. ius dīceret: 'was holding court', i.e. hearing legal cases as governor. auxilium petītum: supine of purpose after a verb of motion, 'to ask for help'.

8.4.3Quā rē cognitā, cum diēs nōn amplius decem et octō in hībernīs esset morātus, legiōnēs XIIII et VI ex hībernīs ab Arare ēdūcit, quās ibi collocātās explicandae reī frūmentāriae causā superiōre commentāriō dēmōnstrātum est: ita cum duābus legiōnibus ad persequendōs Carnutēs proficīscitur.

When he learned this, although he had stayed no more than eighteen days in winter quarters, he brings the fourteenth and sixth legions out of winter quarters on the Arar, where they had been stationed to arrange the grain supply, as was shown in the previous commentary: and so he sets out with two legions to pursue the Carnutes.

Note. diēs nōn amplius decem et octō: accusative of duration, 'for no more than eighteen days'. superiōre commentāriō: Book VII, where the legions were placed on the Arar (the Saône) to secure grain. dēmōnstrātum est: impersonal, 'it has been shown'.