De Bello Gallico 8.54

8.54.1Fit deinde senātūs cōnsultum, ut ad bellum Parthicum legiō ūna ā Cn. Pompēiō, altera ā C. Caesare mitterētur;

Next the senate decreed that one legion should be sent to the Parthian war by Gnaeus Pompeius and another by Gaius Caesar;

Note. ad bellum Parthicum: after Crassus' defeat at Carrhae (53 BC) Rome feared a Parthian invasion of Syria. ā Cn. Pompeiō … ā C. Caesare: each was to supply one legion.

8.54.1neque obscūrē duae legiōnēs ūnī dētrahuntur.

and so, quite openly, two legions were taken from one man.

Note. duae legiōnēs ūnī dētrahuntur: Pompey's legion had been lent to Caesar, so both legions came out of Caesar's army.

8.54.2Nam Cn. Pompēius legiōnem prīmam, quam ad Caesarem mīserat, cōnfectam ex dēlēctū prōvinciae Caesaris, eam tamquam ex suō numerō dedit.

For Gnaeus Pompeius gave the first legion, which he had sent to Caesar and which had been raised by levy in Caesar's province, as if it were one of his own.

Note. legiōnem prīmam: the legion Pompey had lent Caesar in 53 BC. tamquam ex suō numerō: 'as if from his own forces'.

8.54.3Caesar tamen, cum dē voluntāte minimē dubium esset adversāriōrum suōrum, Pompēiō legiōnem remīsit et suō nōmine quīntam decimam, quam in Galliā citeriōre habuerat, ex senātūs cōnsultō iubet trādī.

Caesar, however, although no one could have any doubt about the intentions of his opponents, sent the legion back to Pompey, and on his own account ordered the fifteenth legion, which he had kept in Cisalpine Gaul, to be handed over as the senate had decreed.

Note. cum … minimē dubium esset: concessive cum, 'though there was no doubt at all'. quīntam decimam: the fifteenth legion.

8.54.3In eius locum tertiam decimam legiōnem in Ītaliam mittit quae praesidia tuērētur, ex quibus praesidiīs quīnta decima dēdūcēbātur.

In its place he sent the thirteenth legion into Italy to guard the posts from which the fifteenth was being withdrawn.

Note. In eius locum: 'in its place'. quae praesidia tuērētur: relative clause of purpose. ex quibus praesidiīs: the relative adjective repeats the noun for clarity.

8.54.4Ipse exercituī distribuit hīberna: C. Trebōnium cum legiōnibus quattuor in Belgiō collocat, C. Fabium cum totidem in Aeduōs dēdūcit.

He himself assigned winter quarters to the army: he stationed Gaius Trebonius with four legions in Belgium, and led Gaius Fabius with as many into the land of the Aedui.

Note. exercituī distribuit hīberna: 'assigned winter quarters to the army'. cum totidem: 'with as many (legions)'.

8.54.5Sīc enim exīstimābat tūtissimam fore Galliam, sī Belgae, quōrum maxima virtūs, Aeduī, quōrum auctōritās summa esset, exercitibus continērentur.

For he thought that Gaul would be safest if the Belgae, whose courage was the greatest, and the Aedui, whose authority was the highest, were held in check by armies.

Note. tūtissimam fore Galliam: 'that Gaul would be safest'. quōrum maxima virtūs: esset is understood from the next clause.

8.54.5Ipse in Ītaliam profectus est.

He himself set out for Italy.

Note. Ipse in Ītaliam profectus est: Caesar goes to Cisalpine Gaul to watch events at Rome.