De Bello Gallico 8.7

8.7.1Hīs cōpiīs coāctīs ad Bellovacōs proficīscitur castrīsque in eōrum fīnibus positīs equitum turmās dīmittit in omnēs partēs ad aliquōs excipiendōs ex quibus hostium cōnsilia cognōsceret.

With these forces gathered he sets out against the Bellovaci, and having pitched camp in their territory he sends squadrons of cavalry in every direction to capture some people from whom he might learn the enemy's plans.

Note. ad aliquōs excipiendōs: gerundive of purpose, 'to catch some people'. ex quibus … cognōsceret: relative clause of purpose, 'from whom he could learn'.

8.7.2Equitēs officiō fūnctī renūntiant paucōs in aedificiīs esse inventōs, atque hōs, nōn quī agrōrum colendōrum causā remānsissent (namque esse undique dīligenter dēmigrātum), sed quī speculandī causā essent remissī.

The cavalry, having done their duty, report that a few people had been found in the buildings, and these had not stayed behind to farm the fields (for everyone had carefully moved out from everywhere), but had been sent back to spy.

Note. officiō fūnctī: fungor takes the ablative, 'having performed their duty'. esse undique dēmigrātum: impersonal passive in indirect statement, 'that people had moved out from everywhere'. speculandī causā: gerund with causā, 'for the purpose of spying'.

8.7.3Ā quibus cum quaereret Caesar quō locō multitūdō esset Bellovacōrum quodve esset cōnsilium eōrum, inveniēbat Bellovacōs omnēs quī arma ferre possent in ūnum locum convēnisse, itemque Ambiānōs, Aulercōs, Caletōs, Veliocassēs, Atrebātās;

When Caesar asked them where the host of the Bellovaci was and what their plan was, he found that all the Bellovaci who could bear arms had gathered in one place, and also the Ambiani, Aulerci, Caleti, Veliocasses and Atrebates;

Note. quō locō … quodve … cōnsilium: indirect questions with interrogative adjectives (quī, quae, quod). The -ve on quodve means 'or'. The peoples named are Belgic neighbours of the Bellovaci.

8.7.4locum castrīs excelsum in silvā circumdatā palūde dēlēgisse, impedīmenta omnia in ulteriōrēs silvās contulisse.

that they had chosen a high place for their camp in a wood surrounded by a marsh, and had brought all their baggage into the forests further off.

Note. All the infinitives continue the prisoners' report (indirect statement): dēlēgisse, contulisse.

8.7.5Complūrēs esse prīncipēs bellī auctōrēs, sed multitūdinem maximē Correō obtemperāre, quod eī summō esse odiō nōmen populī Rōmānī intellēxissent.

Several chiefs were the leaders of the war, but the people obeyed Correus most of all, because they had learned that he hated the name of the Roman people most bitterly.

Note. The report continues: complūrēs esse prīncipēs. eī summō esse odiō: double dative, 'to be an object of the greatest hatred to him', i.e. he hated the Roman name most of all.

8.7.6Paucīs ante diēbus ex hīs castrīs Atrebātem Commium discessisse ad auxilia Germānōrum addūcenda;

A few days before, Commius the Atrebatian had left this camp to bring help from the Germans;

Note. Paucīs ante diēbus: 'a few days before'. ad auxilia Germānōrum addūcenda: gerundive of purpose. Commius had once been Caesar's ally (Books IV-V) but became a leader of the great revolt.

8.7.6quōrum et vīcīnitās propinqua et multitūdō esset īnfīnīta.

whose nearness was close and whose numbers were endless.

Note. quōrum: the Germans. esset: subjunctive because it is part of the reported speech.

8.7.7Cōnstituisse autem Bellovacōs omnium prīncipum cōnsēnsū, summā plēbis cupiditāte, sī, ut dīcerētur, Caesar cum tribus legiōnibus venīret, offerre sē ad dīmicandum, nē miseriōre ac dūriōre posteā condiciōne cum tōtō exercitū dēcertāre cōgerentur;

Moreover, the Bellovaci had decided, with the agreement of all the chiefs and to the great eagerness of the common people, that if, as was said, Caesar came with three legions, they would offer battle, so as not to be forced later to fight it out with his whole army on worse and harder terms;

Note. Cōnstituisse … offerre sē: 'had decided to offer themselves' (for battle). ut dīcerētur: 'as was said'. nē … cōgerentur: purpose clause. miseriōre ac dūriōre … condiciōne: comparatives, 'on worse and harder terms'.

8.7.8sī maiōrēs cōpiās addūceret, in eō locō permanēre quem dēlēgissent, pābulātiōne autem, quae propter annī tempus cum exigua tum disiecta esset, et frūmentātiōne et reliquō commeātū ex īnsidiīs prohibēre Rōmānōs.

if he brought larger forces, they would stay in the place they had chosen and from ambush keep the Romans from foraging, which because of the time of year was both scanty and scattered, and from gathering grain and from other supplies.

Note. The other half of the plan: if Caesar came with more troops, they would wait and ambush his foragers. cum exigua tum disiecta: 'both scanty and scattered'. prohibēre takes an accusative of the person and an ablative of the thing: 'to keep the Romans from foraging'.