Liber IV Cap XXI

[cinefactus]

Ad haec cognōscenda, prius quam perīculum faceret, idōneum esse arbitrātus C. Volusēnum cum nāvī longā praemittit.

I am sure I have missed the blindingly obvious here, but why is it not praemitteret?

 

[Dantius]

Because it's the main verb:
"having thought he/it was suitable, he sends C. Volusenus ahead with a warship."

 

[cinefactus]

OK, so arbitratus goes with ad haec cognoscenda

Thanks

 

[Pacifica]

I actually take ad haec cognoscenda to go with the main verb ("he sends Volusenus to investigate these things") rather than with arbitratus ("thinking that he was suitable for investigating these things"). I guess the latter isn't impossible, but the former interepretation somehow comes more naturally to me.

 

[cinefactus]

Interesting, thanks Pacifica.