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Julius Caesar · Gallic War §3.3.1-3.3.4

Galba's Council of War and Decision to Hold the Camp

Passage 92 of 404 · Latin

Summary

Upon receiving news of the unexpected danger, Galba quickly calls a council of war. Although some advise abandoning their baggage and breaking through to retreat, the majority decides to hold and defend the camp for the time being.

§3.3.1His nuntiis acceptis Galba, cum neque opus hibernorum munitionesque plene essent perfectae neque de frumento reliquoque commeatu satis esset provisum quod deditione facta obsidibusque acceptis nihil de bello timendum existimaverat, consilio celeriter convocato sententias exquirere coepit.
Having received these messages, Galba, since the works of the winter quarters and the fortifications were not fully completed, nor had sufficient provision been made for grain and the rest of the supplies, because he had thought that, since a surrender had been made and hostages received, nothing was to be feared regarding war, quickly called a council and began to ask for their opinions.
§3.3.2Quo in consilio, cum tantum repentini periculi praeter opinionem accidisset ac iam omnia fere superiora loca multitudine armatorum completa conspicerentur neque subsidio veniri neque commeatus supportari interclusis itineribus possent, §3.3.3prope iam desperata salute non nullae eius modi sententiae dicebantur, ut impedimentis relictis eruptione facta isdem itineribus quibus eo pervenissent ad salutem contenderent.
In this council, when so great a sudden danger had occurred contrary to expectation, and already almost all the higher places were seen to be filled with a multitude of armed men, and neither could assistance come nor could provisions be brought up since the routes were blocked, safety being now almost despaired of, several opinions of this kind were being expressed, that they should abandon their baggage, make a sally, and hasten to safety by the same routes by which they had arrived there.
§3.3.4Maiori tamen parti placuit, hoc reservato ad extremum casum consilio interim rei eventum experiri et castra defendere.
It pleased the majority, however, to reserve this plan for the last extremity, and in the meantime to await the outcome of the event and defend the camp.

Notes

  1. §3.3.1nihil de bello timendum — timendum is a gerundive (future passive participle) forming an infinitive clause with esse omitted, serving as the object of existimaverat ("that nothing was to be feared concerning war").
  2. §3.3.2subsidio veniri — veniri is the impersonal passive of the intransitive verb venire ("to come"), meaning "that assistance could come" or "coming for assistance," dependent on possent. subsidio is a dative of purpose ("for assistance").
  3. §3.3.3ut ... contenderent — An ut clause of result or noun-explaining clause that details the content of the pronominal phrase eius modi ("of such a kind, namely that they should...").
  4. §3.3.4Maiori tamen parti placuit — The verb placuit is used impersonally ("it pleased / was decided") taking the dative Maiori parti ("the majority") with the infinitives experiri and defendere acting as the subject.

Cite this passage

Julius Caesar, Gallic War §3.3.1-3.3.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0448.phi001.humanitext-lat2:3.3.1-3.3.4

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