Tuesday, September 29, 2026

02.05.27: Level 3+ (review); a Second Latin Reader (Vincent) [21]: Caesar and Ariovistus

His responsīs datīs Caesar lēgātōs ad Ariovistum mittit: primum nē diūtius mīlitēs trans Rhēnum in Galliam trādūcat; deinde obsidēs omnēs reddat; nē bellum contrā Aeduōs gerat; nē oppida sociōrum oppugnet.

Quibus nuntiīs acceptīs Ariovistus sē imperāta Caesaris nōn factūrum esse respondit. Illō tempore lēgātī ab Aeduīs et Trēverīs ad Caesarem veniēbant. Quibus rēbus mōtus Caesar magnīs itineribus contrā Ariovistum contendit.

Language focus: subjunctive

Subjunctive usage: jussive subjunctive (2)

The jussive subjunctive, apart from meaning “let (somebody do something)” may also express what somebody should or should not do:

[1] jussive subjunctive; affirmative i.e. what somebody should do

obsidēs omnēs reddat | he should return all the hostages

[2] nē + present subjunctive; negative jussive i.e. what somebody should not do

nē diūtius mīlitēs trans Rhēnum in Galliam trādūcat

nē bellum contrā Aeduōs gerat | he should not wage war against the Aedui

nē oppida sociōrum oppugnet | he should not attack the towns of the allies

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2026/01/030426-level-3-subjunctive-11.html

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After these replies had been given, Caesar sends envoys to Ariovistus: first, that he should not lead any more soldiers across the Rhine into Gaul; next, that he should return all the hostages; that he should not wage war against the Aedui; and that he should not attack the towns of the allies.

When these messages had been received, Ariovistus replied that he would not do the things ordered by Caesar. At that time envoys from the Aedui and the Treveri were coming to Caesar. Moved by these events, Caesar advanced against Ariovistus by forced marches.