Liscus Reveals Obstruction of Grain Supplies — Julius Caesar, Gallic War Book 1 (1.17.1–1.17.6), Latin & English

§1.17.1

Tum demum Liscus oratione Caesaris adductus quod antea tacuerat proponit: esse non nullos, quorum auctoritas apud plebem plurimum valeat, qui privatim plus possint quam ipsi magistratus.

Then at last, Liscus, induced by Caesar’s speech, discloses what he had previously kept secret: that there are some whose influence with the people is very great, and who, though private individuals, have more power than the magistrates themselves.

§1.17.2

Hos seditiosa atque improba oratione multitudinem deterrere, ne frumentum conferant quod debeant:

That these, by seditious and unprincipled language, deter the multitude from bringing in the corn which they ought to contribute;

§1.17.3

praestare,¹ si iam principatum Galliae obtinere non possint, Gallorum quam Romanorum imperia perferre, neque dubitare [debeant] quin, si Helvetios superaverint Romani, una cum reliqua Gallia Haeduis² libertatem sint erepturi.

that, if they can no longer obtain the supremacy of Gaul, it is better to endure the dominion of the Gauls than that of the Romans, and that they ought not to doubt but that, if the Romans should conquer the Helvetii, they will deprive the Haedui of liberty, together with the rest of Gaul.

§1.17.5

Ab isdem nostra consilia quaeque³ in castris gerantur hostibus enuntiari; hos a se coerceri non posse.

That by these same persons our plans, and whatever is done in the camp, are disclosed to the enemy; and that they cannot be restrained by him.

§1.17.6

Quin etiam, quod necessariam rem coactus Caesari enuntiarit, intellegere sese quanto id cum periculo fecerit, et ob eam causam quam diu potuerit tacuisse.

Nay, more, that he is aware with how great danger he has done that, in having under compulsion disclosed this necessary matter to Caesar, and that for this reason he had kept silent as long as he could.

Syntax notes3 items

1.17.3praestare
Infinitive of the impersonal verb praestat ('it is better'). The following infinitive perferre ('to endure') functions as its subject.
1.17.4Haeduis
Dative of separation (dativus separationis) used with the verb eripere ('to take away'). It is translated as 'from the Haedui.'
1.17.5quaeque
This is not the neuter form of the pronoun quisque, but the relative pronoun quae (neuter plural nominative, functioning as the subject of gerantur) combined with the conjunction -que ('and').

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)

2026-09-21 AI review — note 1

urn:cts:latinLit:phi0448.phi001.humanitext-lat2:1.17.1-1.17.6