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I am currently having trouble working through a line from Caesar's De Bello Gallico

Cottae quidem atque eorum, qui dissentirent, consilium quem habere exitum?

Currently, I have this as "Indeed what result was the advice of Cotta and of those who disagreed?".
However, this does not seem quite correct to me. Any suggestions?

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This is part of an accusativus cum infinitivo, indirect speech depending on a previous finite verb. What makes it difficult to translate is the direct question converted into an a.c.i. Your translation is close.

Indeed, that the advice of Cotta—and of those who disagreed—had what result?

You could translate it more liberally and convert the a.c.i. into direct speech:

The advice of Cotta, indeed, and of those who disagreed—what result would it have?

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  • The finite verb in question, in case the OP is unsure, is at the beginning of the chapter: "Contra ea Titurius clamitabat..." Thus: "Titurius exclaimed that the advice of Cotta...etc."
    – brianpck
    Mar 28, 2017 at 13:44
  • @brianpck: Yeah I had also looked it up. The problem is that the construction is still pretty untranslatable!
    – Cerberus ♦
    Mar 28, 2017 at 14:32

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