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Julius Caesar: De Bello Gallico
Some of the best prose of the late Republic comes from politicians concerned with
enhancing their own position in a world racked by civil conflict. In his Commentarii de bello
gallico (Commentaries on the Gallic War), Julius Caesar (100-44 B.C.) who wrote in a
straightforward and concise styleand referred himself in the third person!kept his popularity
alive by sending home year by year a diary of his military successes as he conquered Gaul (58-
51 B.C.). In the following excerpt (the opening words of this commentary), he introduces to his
Roman readers the people he will subdue and absorb into the melting pot that is soon to become
the great Roman Empire under his successor Augustus.
Text and Translation
Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres; unam partem incolunt Belgae,
All Gaul is divided into three parts; the Belgians inhabit one part, the Aquitanians
aliam Aquitani, tertiam qui ipsorum lingu Celtae, nostr Galli,
(inhabit) another (part), (those) who are called Celts in their language, in ours Gauls,
appellantur. Hi omnes lingu, instituts, legibus inter se differunt.
(inhabit) the third (part). All these differ amongst themselves in language, customs, (and) laws.
Gallos ab Aquitans Garumna flumen, a Belgs Matrona
The Garonne river (separates) the Gauls from the Aquitanians, the Marne and Seine separates
et Sequana dividit. Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae,
(the Gauls) from the Belgians. Of all these (tribes) the Belgians are the bravest,
propterea quod a cult atque humanitate provinciae longissim absunt,
for the reason that they are the furthest away from the refinement and civilization of the
Province,
minimque ad eos mercatores saepe commeant atque ea quae ad
and least (often) do the merchants often go and come to them and import those things
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effeminandos animos pertinent important, proximique sunt Germans,
which tend to weaken (mens) courage, and they are nearest to the Germans,
qui trans Rhenum incolunt, quibuscum continenter bellum gerunt.
who live across the Rhine River, with whom they regularly wage war.
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name
Worksheet - Julius Caesar: De Bello Gallico
a. The questions below pertain to the forms underlined in the passage (pp. 1-2).
b. When youre asked to change a word from one form to another, change only that form of the
word. For instance, if youre asked to change habet to the passive voice, make habet passive (i.e.
habetur) but leave it in the 3
rd
sing. present indicative.
1. Make omnis ablative. ________________________________________________________
2. Make unam dative. ___________________________________________________________
3. Make incolunt perfect. ________________________________________________________
4. Make aliam modify Belgae. ____________________________________________________
5. What case is tertiam and why? _________________________________________________
6. Change appellantur to future perfect active singular. ________________________________
7. Make Hi omnes singular. ______________________________________________________
8. Make legibus genitive. _________________________________________________________
9. Change flumen to dative plural __________________________________________________
10. What case is Belgs and why? __________________________________________________
11. Change dividit to a future passive participle modifying legibus. _______________________
12. Change Horum to accusative singular. ___________________________________________
13. Make cult genitive.__________________________________________________________
14. Change absunt to future perfect first person singular. _______________________________
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15. Make eos modify humanitate._____________________________________________
16. Make mercatores accusative. ____________________________________________
17. Change commeant to perfect passive (masc). ________________________________
18. What case is ea and why? _______________________________________________
19. What case is quae and why? _____________________________________________
20. Change pertinent to future passive. _______________________________________
21. Change important to a future active participle modifying Celtae. ________________
22. Make sunt future. ______________________________________________________
23. What case is quibus(cum) and why? _______________________________________
24. Change incolunt into a present active participle modifying bellum. _______________
25. Make gerunt pluperfect passive (feminine). _________________________________
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Notes and Vocabulary - Julius Caesar: De Bello Gallico
Line Note/ Vocabulary
1. Gallia: Gallia,-ae, f.: Gaul (modern France)
divisa: divido, -ere, divisi, divisum: divide
tres: tres, tria: three
incolunt: incolo, -ere, -ui: inhabit; live
Belgae: Belgae, -arum, m.: the Belgians; the Belgae were a tribe which inhabited
northern Gaul (France) in Caesars day
2. Aquitani: Aquitani,-orum, m.: the Aquitanians; the Aquitani were another Gallic tribe
tertiam: terius, -a, -um: third
lingua: lingua, -ae, f.: language
Celtae: Celtae, -arum, m.: Celts; another name for the Gauls
Galli: Galli, -orum, m.: Gauls
3. appellantur: appello, -are, -avi, -atum: call (by name)
instituts: institutum, -i, n.: custom
legibus: lex, legis, f.: law
differunt: differo, differe, distuli, dilatum: differ; with ab (from)
4. Garumna: Garumna, -ae, f.: the Garonne river
flumen: flumen, inis, n.: river
Matrona: Matrona, -ae, f.: the Marne river
5. Sequana: Sequana, -ae, f.: the Seine river
dividit: singular, because the two rivers are imagined to constitute one boundary
fortissimi: fortis, forte: brave; here, the superlative degree of the adjective, bravest; it
modifies Belgae as a predicate adjective
6. propterea quod: (adverb) for that reason that
cult: cultus, -s, m.: refinement
humanitate: humanitas, -tatis, f.: civilization
provinciae: provincia, -ae, f.: the Province; the only Roman settlement in Gaul before
Caesar conquered Gaul. Known now as Provene, it lies on the southern coast of France.
longissim: longus, -a, um: a long way off; here, the superlative adverb (furthest)
absum: absum, abesse, afui: be away
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6. minim(que): least of all; superlative degree of the adverb parum (little)
mercatores: mercator, -oris, m.: merchant
commeant: commeo (1): come and go
7. ad effeminandos animos: the gerundive in a prepositional phrase; translate to
weaken (mens) courage
pertinent: pertineo, -tinere, -tinui: tend; + ad (toward)
important: importo (1): import
proximi: proprior, -ius: near; here, in the superlative degree (nearest); + dative
8. Germans: Germani, -orum, m.: the Germans
Rhenum: Rhenus, -i, m.: the Rhine river
continenter: (adverb) regularly
