Language focus: accusative and infinitive
NOTE: none of these review posts explore the accusative-infinitive construction in depth, but merely identify and highlight the usage; for every post there is [1] a link to all the previous posts on this topic, and [2] links to specific aspects of the topic that are shown in each passage.
Lēgātī igitur ab Helvētiīs ad Dumnorigem Aeduūm sunt missī. Dumnorix erat amīcus et Sēquanīs et Helvētiīs, quod ex eā cīvitāte Orgetorigis fīliam in mātrimōnium dūxerat: cupiditāte rēgnī adductus novīs rēbus* studēbat. Itaque rem suscēpit.
[1] Sēquanī sē Helvētiōs per suōs fīnēs īre sitūrōs esse dīxērunt. [2] Caesarī nūntiātur Helvētiōs in animō habēre per agrōs Sēquanōrum et Aeduōrum iter in Santonum fīnēs facere; hī nōn longē ā Tolōsātium fīnibus absunt, quae cīvitās est in prōvinciā. [3] Id Caesar putāvit futūrum esse magnō cum perīculō prōvinciae.
* novae rēs: rēs is not always straightforward to translate, and its basic meaning can appear vague (e.g. here, “new things / matters”). Since the passage refers to a desire for power, the phrase can be rendered as “political change” or “a new state of affairs.”
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Therefore envoys were sent by the Helvetii to Dumnorix the Aeduan. Dumnorix was friendly both to the Sequani and to the Helvetii, because he had taken in marriage the daughter of Orgetorix from that state; driven by desire for royal power, he was striving for political change. And so he undertook the matter.
[1] The Sequani said that they would allow the Helvetii to go through their territory. [2] It is reported to Caesar that the Helvetii have it in mind to make a route through the lands of the Sequani and the Aedui into the territory of the Santones. These are not far from the borders of the Tolosates, which is a state in the province. [3] Caesar thought that this would be with great danger to the province.
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[1]
Sēquanī ¦ (1) sē ¦ Helvētiōs per suōs fīnēs īre (2) sitūrōs esse ¦ dīxērunt.
The Sequani said ¦ [that] (1) they (2) would allow ¦ the Helvetii to go through their territory.
[2]
Caesarī nūntiātur ¦ (1) Helvētiōs in animō (2) habēre ¦ per agrōs Sēquanōrum et Aeduōrum iter in Santonum fīnēs facere.
It is reported to Caesar ¦ [that] (1) the Helvetii (2) have it in mind ¦ to make a route through the lands of the Sequani and the Aedui into the territory of the Santones.
[3]
(1) Id ¦ Caesar putāvit ¦ (2) futūrum esse ¦ magnō cum perīculō prōvinciae.
Caesar thought ¦ [that] (1) this (2) would be ¦ with great danger to the province.
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LINKS
All posts: https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/indirect%20statement
[1] and [3]: future active infinitive
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/020226-level-3-indirect-statement.html
[2] present active infinitive:
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/10/311225-level-3-indirect-statement.html
