Chapter 4.27 | Dickinson College Commentaries

Hostēs proeliō superātī, simul atque sē ex fugā recēpērunt, statim ad Caesarem lēgātōs dē pāce mīsērunt; obsidēs datūrōs quaeque imperāsset sēsē factūrōs pollicitī sunt. Ūnā cum hīs lēgātīs Commius Atrebās vēnit, quem suprā dēmōnstrāveram ā Caesare in Britanniam praemīssum. Hunc illī ē nāvī ēgressum, cum ad eōs ōrātōris modō Caesaris mandāta dēferret, comprehenderant atque in vincula coiēcerant: tum proeliō factō remīsērunt. In petendā pāce ēius reī culpam in multitūdinem coiēcērunt et propter imprūdentiam ut īgnōscerētur petīvērunt. Caesar questus quod, cum ūltrō in continentem lēgātīs mīssīs pācem ab sē petīssent, bellum sine causā intulissent, īgnōscere imprūdentiae dīxit obsidēsque imperāvit; quōrum illī partem statim dedērunt, partem ex longīnquiōribus locīs arcessītam paucīs diēbus sēsē datūrōs dīxērunt. Intereā suōs remigrāre in agrōs iussērunt, prīncipēsque undique convenīre et sē cīvitātēsque suās Caesarī commendāre coepērunt.

notes

The Britons sue for peace.

simul atque: ‘as soon as’ (Allen & Greenough)

quaeque: = quae + que, ‘and . . . (the things) which’

imperāsset: = imperavisset, pluperf. subj.

Ūnā cum: ‘along with’

Atrĕ-bas, ătis, m.: an Atrebatian. Commius of the Atrebates was a Gallic leader who supported Caesar for most of the Gallic War, before switching sides and taking part in the final revolt under Vercingetorix.

cum: ‘although’ (Walker) ( A&G 549).

oratoris modo: modo = 'in the capacity of', 'as' (Walker). oratoris does not mean here 'an orator' but 'an envoy'. Caesar's point is that Commius presented himself to the Britons as his accredited envoy, and therefore that they committed an outrage in seizing him (Rice Holmes). ‘in the character of an envoy’ (Kelsey) ( A&G 412.b)

imprudentiam: ‘lack of knowledge’ (Kelsey); 'imprudence, want of foresight or forethought, ignorance, indiscretion' (Walker).

ignosceretur: ‘that [this thing] might be pardoned’ (Allen & Judson)( A&G 531)

questus quod: 'having complained that'

bellum...intulissent: these barbarous people might be pardoned for mistaking Caesar's expedition as an invasion! (Allen and Greenough)

ignoscere: supply se (Rice Holmes).

arcessitam: ‘for whom they had sent.’ (Walker)

remigrare: 'to move back' (Allen and Greenough)

in agros: 'to their farms' (Walker)

principes: principes, as the context shows, here means chiefs who were magistrates. (Rice Holmes).

vocabulary

obses, -sĭdis m/f.: a hostage

pollĭcĕor, -cēri, -cĭtus sum: make an offer; offer, proffer, promise; declare

Atrĕ-bas, ătis, m.: an Atrebatian, member of the Belgic tribe the Atrebates.

dēmonstro, -āre: indicate, point out, show clearly

Britannia, -ae, f.: modern day Britain

praemitto, -ere, -mīsi, -missum: to send forward or before, to dispatch in advance

ōrātor, -ōris m.: a speaker; spokesman, envoy; orator

mandātum, -i n.: commission, charge, order

comprĕhendo, -ere, -di, -sum: lay hold of something on all sides, seize, attack

cōicio, -ere, -iēci, -iectum: to throw or bring together

rĕmitto, -ĕre: send back, send again; relax; yield to; throw back to

imprudentia, -ae f.: want of foresight or of knowledge, inconsiderateness, imprudence

ignosco, -ĕre, -nōvi, -nōtum: overlook, forgive, pardon

quĕror, quĕri, questus sum: complain

ultrō: (adv.) of one's own accord, on one's own initiative, spontaneously

longinquus, -a, -um: long; distant, far, remote

arcessō, -ere, -īvī, -ītus: to cause to come; send for, summon

intĕrĕā: adv. meanwhile, in the mean time

rĕmīgro, -āre: wander back, come back, return

commendo, -āre: commit to one’s care, commend to

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