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Julius Caesar · Gallic War §6.3.1-6.3.6

Subjugation of the Nervii and the Council at Lutetia

Passage 217 of 404 · Latin

Summary

Caesar surprised and subdued the Nervii before the end of winter; in spring, seeing the absence of certain tribes as a sign of rebellion, he moved the Gallic council to Lutetia and marched against the Senones.

§6.3.1Itaque nondum hieme confecta proximis quattuor coactis legionibus de improviso in fines Nerviorum contendit et, §6.3.2priusquam illi aut convenire aut profugere possent, magno pecoris atque hominum numero capto atque ea praeda militibus concessa vastatisque agris in deditionem venire atque obsides sibi dare coegit.
Therefore, before the winter was yet ended, having assembled the four nearest legions, he marched unexpectedly into the territories of the Nervii, and, before they could either assemble or escape, having captured a large number of cattle and people, and having granted that booty to the soldiers and wasted their fields, he compelled them to surrender and to give him hostages.
§6.3.3Eo celeriter confecto negotio rursus in hiberna legiones reduxit.
Having speedily completed this business, he led the legions back again into winter quarters.
§6.3.4Concilio Galliae primo vere, ut instituerat, indicto, cum reliqui praeter Senones, Carnutes Treverosque venissent, initium belli ac defectionis hoc esse arbitratus, ut omnia postponere videretur, concilium Lutetiam Parisiorum transfert.
Having appointed a council of Gaul at the beginning of spring, as he had determined, when the others had come except the Senones, the Carnutes, and the Treveri, thinking this to be the beginning of war and defection, that he might appear to postpone all other matters, he transfers the council to Lutetia of the Parisii.
§6.3.5Confines erant hi Senonibus civitatemque patrum memoria coniunxerant, sed ab hoc consilio afuisse existimabantur.
These were neighboring to the Senones, and had united their state with them in the memory of their fathers, but were thought to have held aloof from this design.
§6.3.6Hac re pro suggestu pronuntiata eodem die cum legionibus in Senones proficiscitur magnisque itineribus eo pervenit.
This matter having been pronounced from the tribunal, on the same day he sets out with the legions against the Senones, and arrives there by forced marches.

Notes

  1. 6.3.1nondum hieme confecta proximis quattuor coactis legionibus — Two ablative absolute clauses are placed in parallel. `nondum hieme confecta` expresses time ("before winter was yet ended"), while `proximis quattuor coactis legionibus` expresses means or attendant circumstance ("having assembled the four nearest legions").
  2. 6.3.2in deditionem venire atque obsides sibi dare coegit — `coegit` (compelled) takes the infinitives `venire` and `dare`. The accusative subject of these infinitives (here, `Nervios` "the Nervii") is omitted as it is clear from the context of `fines Nerviorum` and `illi`.
  3. 6.3.4initium belli ac defectionis hoc esse arbitratus — `hoc` is the subject of the accusative-with-infinitive construction, referring back to the fact of the absence of the Senones, Carnutes, and Treveri from the council.
  4. 6.3.4ut omnia postponere videretur — The `ut` clause can be interpreted either as a clause of purpose ("in order that he might appear to postpone all other matters," showing the extreme urgency of the issue) or as a clause of result. Here, it is best understood as a purposeful action by Caesar to demonstrate his resolve to others.

Cite this passage

Julius Caesar, Gallic War §6.3.1-6.3.6. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0448.phi001.humanitext-lat2:6.3.1-6.3.6

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