De Bello Gallico 8.8

8.8.1Quae Caesar cōnsentientibus plūribus cum cognōsset atque ea quae prōpōnerentur cōnsilia plēna prūdentiae longēque ā temeritāte barbarōrum remōta esse iūdicāret, omnibus rēbus īnserviendum statuit, quō celerius hostis contemptā suā paucitāte prōdīret in aciem.

When Caesar learned this from several men who agreed, and judged that the plans being put forward were full of good sense and far removed from the rashness of barbarians, he decided he must do everything so that the enemy, despising his small numbers, would come out into battle the sooner.

Note. plūribus cōnsentientibus: ablative absolute, 'since several agreed'. cognōsset = cognōvisset. omnibus rēbus īnserviendum: impersonal gerundive, 'that he must serve every interest', i.e. do everything. quō celerius … prōdīret: quō introduces a purpose clause containing a comparative.

8.8.2Singulāris enim virtūtis veterrimās legiōnēs VII, VIII, VIIII habēbat, summae speī dēlēctaeque iuventūtis XI, quae octāvō iam stīpendiō tamen in collātiōne reliquārum nōndum eandem vetustātis ac virtūtis cēperat opīniōnem.

For he had the oldest legions, the seventh, eighth and ninth, of outstanding courage, and the eleventh, of the highest promise and picked young men, which, though already in its eighth year of service, had not yet won the same reputation for long service and courage as the others.

Note. Singulāris … virtūtis, summae speī: genitives of description. octāvō iam stīpendiō: 'already in its eighth year of service'. vetustātis … opīniōnem: 'a reputation for long service'.

8.8.3Itaque cōnsiliō advocātō, rēbus eīs quae ad sē essent dēlātae omnibus expositīs animōs multitūdinis cōnfirmat.

So, calling a council, he set out to them everything that had been reported to him and gave the men confidence.

Note. Itaque cōnsiliō advocātō: 'so calling a council of war'. rēbus eīs … expositīs: ablative absolute with a relative clause inside it.

8.8.4Sī forte hostēs trium legiōnum numerō posset ēlicere ad dīmicandum, agminis ōrdinem ita cōnstituit, ut legiō septima, octāva, nōna ante omnia īrent impedīmenta, deinde omnium impedīmentōrum agmen, quod tamen erat mediocre, ut in expedītiōnibus esse cōnsuēvit, cōgeret ūndecima, nē maiōris multitūdinis speciēs accidere hostibus posset quam ipsī dēpoposcissent.

In case he could perhaps lure the enemy into battle with the numbers of three legions, he arranged the order of march so that the seventh, eighth and ninth legions went in front of all the baggage, then the column of all the baggage, which was nevertheless modest, as is usual on expeditions, was brought up by the eleventh, so that the enemy should not see the appearance of a larger force than they themselves had asked for.

Note. Sī forte … posset: 'in case he might be able', a conditional expressing hope. Caesar shows only three legions in front so that the enemy will think his force small and fight; the eleventh, the least famous, marches behind the baggage.

8.8.5Hāc ratiōne paene quadrātō agmine īnstrūctō in cōnspectum hostium celerius opīniōne eōrum exercitum addūcit.

In this way, with the army drawn up almost in a square, he brings it into the enemy's sight sooner than they expected.

Note. quadrātō agmine: 'in a square column', ready to turn and fight in any direction. celerius opīniōne eōrum: 'sooner than they expected'; the ablative of comparison opīniōne replaces quam.