Humanitext Reader

Julius Caesar · Gallic War §6.9.1-6.9.8

Caesar's Second Rhine Crossing and the Suebi

Passage 223 of 404 · Latin

Summary

Caesar decides to cross the Rhine again by building a bridge for two reasons, accepts the explanation of the Ubii, and investigates the routes to the Suebi who had actually sent the auxiliary troops.

§6.9.1Caesar, postquam ex Menapiis in Treveros venit, duabus de causis Rhenum transire constituit; quarum una erat, quod auxilia contra se Treveris miserant, §6.9.2altera, ne ad eos Ambiorix receptum haberet.
Caesar, after he came from the Menapii into the country of the Treveri, determined to cross the Rhine for two reasons; of which one was, because they had sent assistance to the Treveri against him, the other, lest Ambiorix should have a retreat to them.
§6.9.3His constitutis rebus paulum supra eum locum quo ante exercitum traduxerat facere pontem instituit.
Having determined on these matters, he resolved to build a bridge a little above that place where he had previously led his army over.
§6.9.4Nota atque instituta ratione magno militum studio paucis diebus opus efficitur.
The work was completed in a few days, through the great enthusiasm of the soldiers, by a method that was well known and already established.
§6.9.5Firmo in Treveris ad pontem praesidio relicto, ne quis ab his subito motus oreretur, reliquas copias equitatumque traducit.
A strong guard having been left at the bridge in the territory of the Treveri, lest any sudden uprising should arise from them, he leads over the remaining forces and the cavalry.
§6.9.6Vbii, qui ante obsides dederant atque in deditionem venerant, purgandi sui causa ad eum legatos mittunt, qui doceant neque auxilia ex sua civitate in Treveros missa neque ab se fidem laesam: §6.9.7petunt atque orant ut sibi parcat, ne communi odio Germanorum innocentes pro nocentibus poenas pendant; si amplius obsidum vellet, dare pollicentur.
The Ubii, who had previously given hostages and had come into submission, send ambassadors to him for the purpose of clearing themselves, to inform him that neither had assistance been sent from their state to the Treveri, nor had loyalty been violated by them; they beg and entreat that he would spare them, lest, from a common hatred of the Germans, the innocent should pay the penalty for the guilty; if he wished for a greater number of hostages, they promise to give them.
§6.9.8Cognita Caesar causa reperit ab Suebis auxilia missa esse; Vbiorum satisfactionem accipit, aditus viasque in Suebos perquirit.
Caesar, having investigated the matter, found that the assistance had been sent by the Suebi; he accepts the apology of the Ubii, and inquires into the approaches and routes into the territory of the Suebi.

Notes

  1. §6.9.1quarum una erat, quod auxilia contra se Treveris miserant — quarum is a partitive genitive referring to duabus de causis ("two reasons"). The quod clause with the indicative mood (miserant) is used to state a fact as an objective reality from the author's viewpoint, explaining the first reason.
  2. §6.9.2altera, ne ad eos Ambiorix receptum haberet — causa erat is omitted after altera. The ne clause containing the imperfect subjunctive haberet functions as a negative clause of purpose, detailing the second reason ("lest Ambiorix should have...").
  3. §6.9.6purgandi sui causa — purgandi is the genitive of the gerundive. sui is the genitive of the reflexive pronoun, which in this idiom takes the singular form regardless of the plural reference (the Ubii as a group), with the gerundive agreeing with it in gender and number.
  4. §6.9.7communi odio Germanorum — Germanorum is an objective genitive dependent on odio ("hatred"), meaning "the common hatred felt [by the Romans] toward the Germans." communi implies that this feeling is shared generally.

Cite this passage

Julius Caesar, Gallic War §6.9.1-6.9.8. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0448.phi001.humanitext-lat2:6.9.1-6.9.8

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