Chapter 5.30

The advice considered in a council of war.

primis ordinibus: the chief centurions. Caesar says 'by the first ranks' (Gaisser).

resisteretur: impersonal passive: 'a resistance was being put up' (Gaisser) ( A&G 208.d).

qui ... terrear: '[the sort of man] who is terrified'; relative clause of characteristic (Gaisser)( A&G 535).

ex vobis: instead of part. Gen. after gravissime. (Allen & Greenough)( A&G 346.c)

hi: i.e. the magna pars militum who were listening. (Allen & Greenough)

hi sapient: ‘the men will understand the matter.’ (Moberly)

si gravius quid: 'if something (more) serious'; quid is used for aliquid after si (Gaisser) ( A&G 310.a).

abs te rationem reposcent: 'they will demand an accounting from you' (Gaisser).

si per te liceat: literally, 'if it should be allowed by you,' i.e., 'if you should allow it.' Introduces a future less vivid condition (Gaisser) ( A&G 516.b).

perendino die: i.e. 'tertio die, the day after tomorrow' (Hodges); 'in two days’ time' (Gaisser)

sustineant: &c., ‘would certainly bear only their share along with their comrades of the impending danger, and certainly would not die like outcast and banished men, far away from their friends.’ (Moberly)