NotesBG4.27

notes to previous chapter

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

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 there for that they committed an outrage in seizing him (Rice Holmes). ‘in the character of an envoy’ (Kelsey)

cum: ‘although’ (Walker)

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

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

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).

notes to next chapter