De Bello Gallico 8.52

8.52.1Cum omnēs regiōnēs Galliae togātae Caesar percucurrisset, summā celeritāte ad exercitum Nemetocennam rediit legiōnibusque ex omnibus hībernīs ad fīnēs Trēverōrum ēvocātīs eō profectus est ibique exercitum lūstrāvit.

When Caesar had gone through all the districts of Cisalpine Gaul, he returned with the greatest speed to the army at Nemetocenna, summoned the legions from all their winter quarters to the territory of the Treveri, went there, and there held a review of the army.

Note. Galliae togātae: Cisalpine Gaul, whose people wore the Roman toga. exercitum lūstrāvit: a lūstrātiō was a religious purification and review of the army.

8.52.2T. Labiēnum Galliae togātae praefēcit, quō maiōre commendātiōne conciliārētur ad cōnsulātūs petītiōnem.

He put Titus Labienus in charge of Cisalpine Gaul, so that he might be better recommended for his candidacy for the consulship.

Note. T. Labiēnum Galliae togātae praefēcit: Labienus, Caesar's chief legate in Gaul, would go over to Pompey in 49 BC. quō maiōre commendātiōne conciliārētur: purpose clause with comparative.

8.52.2Ipse tantum itinerum faciēbat, quantum satis esse ad mūtātiōnem locōrum propter salūbritātem exīstimābat.

He himself marched only as much as he thought enough for a change of place for the sake of health.

Note. tantum itinerum … quantum: 'only as much travelling as'. propter salūbritātem: 'for his health', i.e. the army's.

8.52.3Ibi quamquam crēbrō audiēbat Labiēnum ab inimīcīs suīs sollicitārī certiorque fīēbat id agī paucōrum cōnsiliīs, ut interpositā senātūs auctōritāte aliquā parte exercitūs spoliārētur, tamen neque dē Labiēnō crēdidit quidquam neque contrā senātūs auctōritātem ut aliquid faceret potuit addūcī.

There, although he often heard that Labienus was being tampered with by his enemies, and was told that a few men were planning to have part of his army taken from him by a decree of the senate, he still neither believed anything against Labienus nor could be brought to do anything against the authority of the senate.

Note. Labiēnum … sollicitārī: indirect statement, 'that Labienus was being tampered with'. ut … aliquā parte exercitūs spoliārētur: the aim of his enemies. neque … crēdidit quicquam neque … potuit addūcī: Caesar trusts Labienus and respects the senate, Hirtius' picture of his loyalty.

8.52.3Iūdicābat enim līberīs sententiīs patrum cōnscrīptōrum causam suam facile obtinērī.

For he judged that, if the senators could vote freely, his cause would easily prevail.

Note. līberīs sententiīs patrum cōnscrīptōrum: 'if the senators could vote freely'. patrēs cōnscrīptī is the formal title of the senators.

8.52.4Nam C. Cūriō, tribūnus plēbis, cum Caesaris causam dignitātemque dēfendendam suscēpisset, saepe erat senātuī pollicitus, sī quem timor armōrum Caesaris laederet, et quoniam Pompēī dominātiō atque arma nōn minimum terrōrem forō īnferrent, discēderet uterque ab armīs exercitūsque dīmitteret: fore eō factō līberam et suī iūris cīvitātem.

For Gaius Curio, tribune of the plebs, having taken up the defence of Caesar's cause and standing, had often promised the senate that if anyone was troubled by fear of Caesar's arms, then, since Pompey's domination and arms were causing no small terror in the forum, both should lay down their arms and disband their armies: once that was done, the state would be free and its own master.

Note. C. Cūriō: tribune of 50 BC, bought over by Caesar. sī quem: indefinite after sī. discēderet uterque ab armīs: Curio's famous proposal that both Caesar and Pompey disarm. fore … līberam et suī iūris cīvitātem: fore = futūram esse, 'the state would be free and independent'.

8.52.5Neque hoc tantum pollicitus est, sed etiam per sē discessiōnem facere coepit;

And he did not only promise this, but even began to call a division of the senate on his own initiative;

Note. discessiōnem facere: to call a division, a vote taken by senators moving to one side or the other.

8.52.5quod nē fieret cōnsulēs amīcīque Pompēī iussērunt atque ita rem morandō discussērunt.

the consuls and Pompey's friends stopped this from happening, and so, by delaying matters, broke it up.

Note. quod nē fieret: connecting relative with a negative purpose clause, 'and to stop this happening'. rem morandō discussērunt: 'by delay broke the matter up'.