[3] His rebus adducti et auctoritate
Orgetorigis permoti constituerunt ea
quae ad proficiscendum pertinerent comparare,
In eo itinere persuadet Castico, Catamantaloedis filio, Sequano, cuius pater regnum in Sequanis multos annos obtinuerat et a senatu populi Romani amicus appellatus erat,
Perfacile factu esse illis probat conata perficere, propterea quod ipse suae civitatis imperium obtenturus esset: non esse dubium quin totius Galliae plurimum Helvetii possent; se suis copiis suoque exercitu illis regna conciliaturum confirmat. Hac oratione adducti inter se fidem et ius iurandum dant et regno occupato per tres potentissimos ac firmissimos populos totius Galliae sese potiri posse sperant. |
[1.3] Induced by these considerations, and influenced by the authority of Orgetorix, they determined to provide such things as were necessary for their expedition-to buy up as great a number as possible of beasts of burden and wagons-to make their sowings as large as possible, so that on their march plenty of corn might be in store-and to establish peace and friendship with the neighboring states. They reckoned that a term of two years would be sufficient for them to execute their designs; they fix by decree their departure for the third year. Orgetorix is chosen to complete these arrangements. He took upon himself the office of embassador to the states: on this journey he persuades Casticus, the son of Catamantaledes (one of the Sequani, whose father had possessed the sovereignty among the people for many years, and had been styled "friend" by the senate of the Roman people), to seize upon the sovereignty in his own state, which his father had held before him, and he likewise persuades Dumnorix, an Aeduan, the brother of Divitiacus, who at that time possessed the chief authority in the state, and was exceedingly beloved by the people, to attempt the same, and gives him his daughter in marriage. He proves to them that to accomplish their attempts was a thing very easy to be done, because he himself would obtain the government of his own state; that there was no doubt that the Helvetii were the most powerful of the whole of Gaul; he assures them that he will, with his own forces and his own army, acquire the sovereignty for them. Incited by this speech, they give a pledge and oath to one another, and hope that, when they have seized the sovereignty, they will, by means of the three most powerful and valiant nations, be enabled to obtain possession of the whole of Gaul. |
"permoti"
stirred to action, from permoveo, -ere, -vi, -tum move deeply,
agitate
"constituerunt"
constituo, -ere, -stitui, -stitutum determine, arrange
" ad proficiscendum"
for the emigration, from proficiscor, -i depart, set out,
proceed
"pertinerent"
pertineo, -ere, -tinui to pertain to
subjunctive = would be necessary for
"iumentorum"
iumentum, -i n. draft animals (horses, mules, oxen)
"carrorum"
carrus, -i m. wagon, cart
"coemere"
coemo, -ere, , -emi, -emptus buy up, purchase
"sementes quam maximas"
lit. as large sowings as possible
sementis, -is f. sowing, seeding
"quam maximum numerum"
the largest possible number
"itinere"
iter, itineris n. journey, march
"suppeteret"
suppeto, -petere, -petivi (or: ii), -petitus be at hand,
be available
"sementes quam maximas"
lit., as large sowings as possible
sementis, -is f. sowing, seeding
"copia frumenti"
supply of grain frumentum, -i n. grain; crops
"biennium"
biennium, -ii n. two years' time
"Ad eas res conficiendas"
passive periphrastic: lit., for those things to be accomplished
conficio, ere, -feci, -fectum complete, finish, accomplish
duco, -ere here of thought: : to reckon, estimate
"profectionem"
profectio, -ionis f. departure
"lege confirmant"
they confirmed by law
lex, legis f. law, statute
"deligitur"
deligo, -ligere, -legi, l-ectum choose, select
"Ad eas res conficiendas"
passive periphrastic; lit., for those matters to be accomplished
"legationem ad civitates"
the office of envoy to the states
legatio, -nis f. embassy; envoy; mission
"sibi ... suscipit"
he took upon himself
suscipio, -cipere -cepi, -ceptum
"itinere"
iter, itineris n. journey, march, passage
"Sequano"
dat. in apposition to Castico: (Casticus,) a Sequanian
"regnum"
regnum, i n. chief authority, power, control
"obtinuerat"
obtineo, -tinere, -tinui, -tentum hold fast, keep, retain, be
in possession of
"senatu"
(was given the title) by the senate (of the Roman People)
"multos annos"
acc. of extent of time: for many years
"ut"
purpose clause
"regnum"
power, chief authority
"occuparet"
occupo, -pare, -pavi, -patum seize, gain, capture
"itemque"
likewise, similarly, also
"eo tempore"
abl.of time: at that time
"principatum"
principatus, -i m. surpremacy, leadership, rule
"obtinebat"
obtineo, -tinere, -tinui, -tentum hold fast, keep, retain, be
in possession of
"ac"
conjunction: and, and also, and besides
"maxime"
superlative adverb: very much
"plebi"
plebs, plebis f. common people
"acceptus"
maxime acceptus = very accaptable, popular
accipio, -cipere, -cepi, -ceptum
"ut idem conaretur"
purpose clause = to attempt the same thing
"conaretur"
conor, conari deponent: to attempt, try
"probat"
probo, probare: show, test, try, prove
"factu esse"
supine in -u, denoting in what respect something is to be understood.
perfacile factu : lit., very easy in respect to the doing
= very easy to do
"conata perficere"
to accomplish their attempts
conatum, -i n. attempt, effort, attempted action
"propterea quod"
propterea for this reason
propter ea quod = because
"quin"
[old abl. qui+ne] conj., that no, but that, without;
after words expressing doubt or suspicion, that
"plurimum"
the most
"obtenturus esset"
= he was going to seize
future active ptc. + 'esset' (subj. because indir. speech, dependent
on ' probat')
"possent plurimum"
indirect speech continues (subj.) = that the Helvitians were the
most powerful
lit., that the Helvetians are able (to do, accomplish) the most
"regna"
regnum, -i n. power, control
"conciliaturum"
concilio, -are get, acquire; bring about, cause
= that he would get kingships, control, ffor them
"se suis copiis suoque exercitu"
still indirect speech: = that he with his own means and his own
armed retinue
"confirmat"
confirmo, -are to assure
"fidem"
fides, -ei f. good faith; pledge of good faith, promise
"ius iurandum"
ius iurandum [ius, iuris + gerundive of iuro] n. oath
"potentissimos"
potens, -tentis powerful
"firmissimos"
firmus, -a, -um firm, strong
"regno occupato"
abl. absolute: having seized the power
"sperant"
spero, sperare to hope
"sese potiri posse"
potior, potiri, potitum dep. obtain, become master of