Investigation into the Ambitions and Plots of Dumnorix — Julius Caesar, Gallic War Book 1 (1.18.1–1.18.10), Latin & English

§1.18.1

Caesar hac oratione Lisci Dumnorigem, Diviciaci fratrem, designari sentiebat, sed, quod pluribus praesentibus eas res iactari nolebat, celeriter concilium dimittit, Liscum retinet.

Caesar perceived that Dumnorix, the brother of Diviciacus, was pointed at by this speech of Liscus; but, as he was unwilling that those matters should be discussed while so many were present, he speedily dismisses the council, and retains Liscus.

§1.18.2

Quaerit ex solo ea quae in conventu dixerat. Dicit liberius atque audacius. Eadem secreto ab aliis quaerit; reperit esse vera:

He inquires of him when alone about those things which he had said in the meeting. He speaks more freely and boldly. He inquires about the same things privately from others; he finds that they are true:

§1.18.3

ipsum esse Dumnorigem, summa audacia, magna apud plebem propter liberalitatem gratia, cupidum rerum novarum. Complures annos portoria reliquaque omnia Haeduorum vectigalia parvo pretio redempta habere,¹ propterea quod illo licente contra liceri audeat nemo.

that Dumnorix himself is the person, a man of the utmost audacity, in great favor with the common people on account of his liberality, and eager for a revolution; that for several years he had purchased the customs and all the other taxes of the Haedui at a low price, because, when he bid, no one dared to bid against him.

§1.18.4

His rebus et suam rem familiarem auxisse et facultates ad largiendum magnas comparasse;

That by these means he had both increased his private fortune and acquired great resources for giving largesses;

§1.18.5

magnum numerum equitatus suo sumptu semper alere et circum se habere, neque solum domi, sed etiam apud finitimas civitates largiter posse, atque huius potentiae causa matrem in Biturigibus homini illic nobilissimo ac potentissimo conlocasse;

that he always maintained a large number of cavalry at his own expense, and kept them about his person; and that he was very powerful not only at home, but even among the neighboring states; and that for the sake of this influence he had married his mother among the Bituriges to a man there of the most noble and powerful family;

§1.18.7

ipsum ex Helvetiis uxorem habere, sororem ex matre et propinquas suas nuptum² in alias civitates conlocasse.

that he himself had taken a wife from among the Helvetii, and had married his half-sister by the mother’s side and his other female relations into other states;

§1.18.8

Favere et cupere Helvetiis³ propter eam adfinitatem, odisse etiam suo nomine Caesarem et Romanos, quod eorum adventu potentia eius deminuta et Diviciacus frater in antiquum locum gratiae atque honoris sit restitutus.

that he favored and wished well to the Helvetii on account of that connection, and hated Caesar and the Romans on his own account also, because by their arrival his power was weakened, and his brother Diviciacus restored to his former position of influence and honor.

§1.18.9

Si quid accidat Romanis, summam in spem per Helvetios regni obtinendi venire; imperio populi Romani non modo de regno, sed etiam de ea quam habeat gratia desperare.

That, if anything should happen to the Romans, he entertained the greatest hope of obtaining the sovereignty by means of the Helvetii; but under the government of the Roman people he despaired not only of kingship, but even of that influence which he already possessed.

§1.18.10

Reperiebat etiam in quaerendo Caesar, quod proelium equestre adversum paucis ante diebus esset factum,⁴ initium eius fugae factum a Dumnorige atque eius equitibus (nam equitatui, quem auxilio Caesari Haedui miserant, Dumnorix praeerat): eorum fuga reliquum esse equitatum perterritum.

Caesar discovered also, on inquiry, that in the unsuccessful cavalry engagement which had taken place a few days before, the commencement of that flight had been made by Dumnorix and his cavalry (for Dumnorix commanded the cavalry which the Haedui had sent for aid to Caesar); and that by their flight the rest of the cavalry was dismayed.

Syntax notes4 items

1.18.3redempta habere
The combination of the perfect participle redempta and the infinitive habere. Unlike the simple perfect redemisse, it emphasizes the continuation and possession of the state of having purchased the taxes. This structure is a precursor to the perfect tense in Romance languages (have + past participle).
1.18.7nuptum
The accusative supine of the intransitive verb nubo (to marry, of a bride). It is used with conlocasse (a verb of placing/moving) to express the purpose ("in order to marry them off").
1.18.8cupere Helvetiis
The verb cupere usually takes an accusative direct object, but here it governs the dative Helvetiis (favored by the parallel verb favere, which also takes the dative), meaning "to wish well to the Helvetii" or "to desire their welfare."
1.18.10quod proelium equestre adversum paucis ante diebus esset factum
A relative clause introduced by the relative pronoun quod. The logical antecedent proelium equestre adversum is attracted into the relative clause (antecedent incorporation). The entire phrase limits the circumstance of initium eius fugae ("the commencement of that flight") in the main clause, meaning "in that unsuccessful cavalry engagement which had taken place a few days before."

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-22)

2026-09-22 AI review — source 1

urn:cts:latinLit:phi0448.phi001.humanitext-lat2:1.18.1-1.18.10