De Bello Gallico 8.47

8.47.1Ibi cognōscit Commium Atrebātem proeliō cum equitātū suō contendisse.

There he learned that Commius the Atrebatian had fought a battle with his cavalry.

Note. Commium Atrebatem: Commius the Atrebatian, once Caesar's ally, later a leader at Alesia (Book VII).

8.47.2Nam cum Antōnius in hīberna vēnisset, cīvitāsque Atrebātum in officiō esset, Commius, quī post illam vulnerātiōnem, quam suprā commemorāvī, semper ad omnēs mōtūs parātus suīs cīvibus esse cōnsuēsset, nē cōnsilia bellī quaerentibus auctor armōrum duxque dēesset, pārente Rōmānīs cīvitāte cum suīs equitibus latrōciniīs sē suōsque alēbat īnfestīsque itineribus commeātūs complūrēs, quī comportābantur in hīberna Rōmānōrum, intercipiēbat.

For when Antony had arrived in winter quarters and the state of the Atrebates was loyal, Commius, who ever since that wound I mentioned above had always been ready for any rising among his fellow citizens, so that those planning war should not lack a man to start the fighting and lead it, now that his state was obeying the Romans, kept himself and his men by brigandage with his horsemen, made the roads dangerous, and intercepted many convoys that were being brought to the Romans' winter quarters.

Note. illam vulnerātiōnem, quam suprā commemorāvī: Hirtius told in 8.23 how Labienus had tried to have Commius killed at a parley, and Commius was badly wounded in the head. nē … dēesset: purpose clause. pārente Rōmānīs cīvitāte: ablative absolute, 'since his state was obeying the Romans'. latrōciniīs: 'by banditry'.