[*] 20.5. diei: § 359. b (214. g); B. 201. 3. a; G. 360; H. 446. 5 (398. 5); H-B. 380. c; making postridie more formal and precise. — omnino, in all (i.e. only). [*] 20.6.
cum, within which, a common Latin idiom. — metiri cf. 14 2 and note. — Bibracte, the modern Mont Beuvray, a considerable hill, about ten miles west of Autun (Augustodunum). The place afterwards became a Roman colony, and contains numerous Roman remains. [*] 20.8.
milibus: cf. 19 3 and note. — rei frumentariae (dat.), the supply of corn. [*] 20.9.
prospiciendum: impers.; sc. esse. — itaque words in Italics are conjectural readings. — avertit: towards the north, as the Helvetii were travelling westward to reach the Loire. [*] 20.10.
fugitivos, runaways, i.e. fugitive slaves. [*] 20.11.
decurionis: see chapter on military affairs, I. 2. [*] 20.12.
existimarent: the subjv. is here used idiomatically because Caesar was not sure of the real reason (see § 540 (321); B. 286. 1; G. 541; H. 518.ii (516. ii); H-B. 535. 2. a). [*] 20.13.
eo magis: cf. note on 2 17,all the more. — superioribus, etc.: concessive, i.e. though they had gained an advantageous position, still they did not attack the Helvetii. [*] 20.14.
commisissent: see note on existimarent above, l. 12. — eo quod, etc.,for this reason, because they felt sure that they (the Romans) could be cut off from their supplies; eo is abl. of cause, not different in sense from eo (magis) above, though its origin is different. — re: abl. of separation. [*] 20.15.
itinere converso: i.e. instead of continuing on their way, by which they might have reached the coast, their vain confidence led them to return and give Caesar the chance that he had been waiting for.