“I don’t see what else you can make of it.”
“It is a conjunction, and means ‘when,’ ‘Cæsar’ being the subject of the sentence. Then there is another mistake. Hibernis means winter-quarters, not winter. The clause is to be translated, ‘When Cæsar was in winter-quarters in hither Gaul.’ Proceed.”
“Ita uti supra demonstravimus,” continued John; “so have we shown to be used above.”
“Do you think that makes good sense, Mr. Wall?”
“I didn’t quite understand it,” John condescended to acknowledge.
“Uti,” explained the teacher, “is not from the verb utor, as you appear to have taken it, and, if it were, could not be translated passively. It means ‘as’ here. Translate, ‘just as we have shown above.’”
John continued: “Crebri ad eum rumores afferebantur--frequent persons brought rumors to him.”
“I am afraid, Mr. Wall, I must correct you again,” said the teacher. “Crebri agrees with rumores, and the verb is passive. How, then, will you translate the clause?”
“Frequent rumors were brought to him,” answered John, correctly, for a wonder.
“Literisque item Labieni certior fiebat--and letters made the same Labienus more sure.”