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7.10. ea legione, with that legion （abl. of instrum.）. In this sentence observe how all the qualifying clauses come first and the direct objects,murum, fossam, come next before the leading verb perducit （§ 596 and a (343); B. 348, 349; G. 674; H. 664 (560); cf. H-B. 623）; while each relative belongs to the verb which comes next after it unless another relative intervenes, — a very convenient rule in analyzing a long and difficult sentence. 7.13.

milia: acc. of extent of space; cf. 3 4 （§ 425 (257); B. 181. 1; G. 335; H. 417 (379); H-B. 387）. — decem novem, nineteen: following the windings of the river （see note on 5 8）. — murum: this rampart, or earthwork, was on the south side of the river, leaving the passage undisputed along the northern bank.

The banks of the Rhone in this part are generally rugged and steep, with sharp ravines; there are only five short reaches — a little over three miles in all — requiring defences. The current is in general quite rapid. Some remains of Caesar's works can still be traced, according to the French engineers who surveyed the ground under the orders of Napoleon III. According to Caesar's statement, the work was continuous （this is the meaning of perducit）. This undoubtedly means that, after the five accessible points were strengthened by artificial defences, the entire left bank of the Rhone, from Geneva to Pas-de-l'Ecluse （17 1/2 English miles）, formed a continuous barrier against the Helvetians. The construction of any one of the fortifications may be described as follows: Along the crest of the ridge facing the river the slope was cut so as to be vertical, or nearly so, and then a trench was hollowed. The earth dug out was partly thrown up to increase the height of the wall, and quite likely in part thrown down the hill. At all events, it seems probable that the measure of 16 feet is the distance from the bottom of the ditch to the top of the wall. Thus the work formed really little more than a trench with scarp higher than the counterscarp. Then the crest was fortified with a breastwork of palisades, behind which the soldiers were protected while hurling their missiles at the enemy. This entire series of works, with the force at Caesar's command, could not have occupied more than two or three days. See Map, p. 5. 7.14.

pedum: § 345. b (215. b); B. 203. 2; G. 365; H. 440. 3 (396. V); H-B. 355. 7.15.

castella （lit. "little fortifications"）, redoubts. （See treatise on military affairs, V）. In them were stationed guards （praesidia）. The redoubts were sufficiently numerous so that the guard from one or another could quickly reach any point in the lines that might be threatened. — quo facilius … posset, that he may the more easily: the usual construction where a comparative is to be used; without the comparative it would be ut … posset （§ 531. a (317. b); B. 282. 1. a; G. 545. 2; H. 568. 7 (497. ii. 2); H-B. 502. 2 and b）. 7.16.

se invito （abl. abs.）, against his will: se is used because this is a part of what Caesar had in his mind （§ 300 (196. a. 2); B. 244. ii. a; G. 521; H. 504 (449. 1); H-B. 262. 2）. — conarentur … posset: note the sequence of tenses after the historical presents disponit and communit. 7.17.

ubi … vēnit: notice the difference between this clause and those above noted with cum and the subj. This one expresses a real time and not circumstance like the others. You cannot render it by "upon the coming" or any similar phrase. 7.18.

negat se … posse, says he cannot, etc. His words would be: More et exemplo populi Romani non possum iter ulli per provinciam dare; si vim facere conabimini, prohibebo. — more et exemplo, according to the custom and precedents: always constituting the ruleof conduct with the conservative Romans. 7.19.

si … conentur: future condition in indir. disc.; see the direct as given in note to l. 18. 7.20.

prohibiturum [esse]: sc. sē subject and eōs object. — deiecti, cast down: de in composition generally has the meaning down. 7.22.

non numquam, sometimes （§ 326 and a (150 and a); B. 347. 2; G. 449 and R. 4; H. 656. 1 (553. 1); H-B. 298. 2）. 7.23.

si … possent: practically an indir. quest. （§ 576. a (334. f); B. 300. 3; G. 601, 460. 1 (b); H. 649. ii. 3 (529. II. 1, N. 1); H-B. 298. 2）, depending on conati, trying if （whether） they could break through. 7.24.

conatu: abl. of separation, following destiterunt （§ 400 (243); B. 214; G. 390. 2; H. 462 (414); H-B. 408. 2）.


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 (16):
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 300
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 326
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 345
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 400
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 425
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 531
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 576
    • A. A. Howard, Benj. L. D'Ooge, G. L. Kittredge, J. B. Greenough, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, 596
    • Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, 335
    • Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, 365
    • Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, 390
    • Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, 449
    • Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, 521
    • Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, 545
    • Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, 601
    • Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek, 674
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