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5.6. erant omnino, there were in all, i.e. only. — itinera, itineribus: observe the form of this relative sentence, common in Caesar, which gives the antecedent noun in both clauses. It is usually omitted in one or the other; in English, almost always in the relative clause; in Latin, quite as often in the other （§ 307 (200); B. 251. 3; G. 615; H. 399. 5 (455. 8); H-B. 284. 4）. 5.7.

possent: subjv. in a relative clause of characteristic （§ 535 (320); B. 283; G. 631. 1; H. 591. 1 (503. 1); H-B. 521. 1）, i.e. not merely 'by which they could,' but 'of the sort by which they could.' In such clauses, which describe something by its qualities, the subjv. is regular in Latin. — Sequanos: i.e. the region now called Franche Comté, north of the Rhone. 5.8.

inter … Rhodanum: the pass now guarded by the Fort l'Ecluse, about nineteen Roman （seventeen and a half English） miles below Geneva （see note on 7 13）. The Rhone at this part was the boundary of the Roman province. The choice was either to cross the river and go through the country held by the Romans, or to proceed along its northern bank through the friendly Sequani. — vix qua, etc., where carts could scarcely be hauled in single file （§ 137. a (95. a); B. 81. 4. a; G. 97; H. 164. 1 (174. 2, 1); H-B. 133）. See Fig. 55, p. 94. 5.9.

ducerentur: the same 'characteristic subjv.' as in possent.The distinction is one that we rarely express in English; but a little study will make it appear in most cases. — autem = then again. 6.1.

possent: § 537 (319); B. 284. 1; G. 552; H. 570 (500. ii).; H-B. 521. 2. 6.2.

multo facilius （ cf. nihilo minus, 4 16）: much easier in itself; but it required them to crush the Roman legion at Geneva, and force their way through about fifty miles of territory occupied by the Roman arms. — propterea quod: see note on 1 6. 6.3.

nuper pacati erant: a rebellion "of despair" （B.C. 61） had been subdued by C. Pomptinus. 6.4.

locis: loc. abl. （§ 429. 2 (258. f); B. 228. 1. b; G. 385. N. 1; H. 485. 1 (425. ii. 2); H-B. 436）. — vado: by ford （wading, vadendo）. The bed of the Rhone must have changed somewhat since Caesar's time. There is now but one ford between Geneva and the Pas-de-l'Ecluse.

Figure 112. Gallic coin. Horse. stars, circles.

6.8.

sese persuasuros [esse] （notice that in the fut. infin., used in indir. disc., esse is usually omitted （cf. conciliaturum, 3 26）; in dir. disc. we should have persuadebimus）, they thought they should persuade; its object is Allobrogibus （cf. Rauracis, etc., 5 1）. — bono animo = well disposed （§ 415 (251); B. 224. 1; G. 400; H. 473. 2 (419. ii); H-B. 443）: five years before, their envoys in Rome had intrigued with Catiline's agents, whom they at length betrayed （see Cicero, Cat. iii. ch. 9）. 6.9.

viderentur: § 580 (336. 2); B. 314. 1; G. 650; H. 643 (524); H-B. 535. 2. 6.10.

eos: again the demonstrative to avoid ambiguity; see note on eis, 5 2. — paterentur: the subjv. with ut is the regular form of object clause after all verbs of commanding, inducing, and the like （§ 563 (331); B. 295. 1; G. 546; H. 564. 1 (498. ii); H-B. 502. 3. a）. 6.11.

diem … die: cf. itinera … itineribus, 5 6 and note. 6.12.

convenientthe subjv. is used because diem dicunt has the force of a command. The indict would mean 'on which they do assemble' ; this means 'on which they should.' Technically, the clause is a purpose clause （§ 529 (317); B. 282. 2; G. 544. ii; H. 590 (497. 1); H-B. 502. 2）. — a. d. v. Kal. Apr. （ante diem quintum Kalendas Aprilīs）: nominally March 28 （§ 631, 424. g (376, 259. e); B. 371 and 6, 372; G. App.; H. 754, 755 (642-644); H-B. 664, 667）. But the calendar was in a state of great confusion at this time, and till Caesar's reform, twelve years later. — L. Pisone, etc.: notice again the regular Roman method of giving dates; see note on Messala, 2 2. Piso was Caesar's father-in-law.


Caesar's Gallic War. J. B. Greenough, Benjamin L. D'Ooge and M. Grant Daniell. Boston. Ginn and Company. 1898.

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  • Commentary references from this page (20):
    • Cicero, Against Catiline, 3.9
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 137
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 307
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 415
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 429
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 529
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 535
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 537
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 563
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 580
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 631
    • Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, 385
    • Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, 400
    • Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, 544
    • Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, 546
    • Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, 552
    • Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, 615
    • Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, 631
    • Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, 650
    • Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, 97
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