Studied by 6 peopleSabinus quos in prasentia tribunos militum circum se habebat et priomorum ordinum centuriones se sequi iubet et, cum propius Ambiorigem accessisset, iussus arma abicere imperatum facit suisque ut idem faciant imperat.
Sabinus orders the tribunes of the soldiers whom he had around him at that moment and the centurions of the first ranks to follow him and, when he had approached Ambiorix more closely, having been ordered to throw down his weapons, he does that which had been ordered and orders his men to do the same.
Interim, dum de condicionibus inter se agunt longiorque consulto ab Ambiorige instituitur sermo, paulatim circumventus interficitur.
Meanwhile, while they are dealing with each other about the conditions and a deliberately rather long speech is delivered by Ambiorix, having been surrounded little by little, he is killed.
Tum vero suo more victoriam conclamant atque ululatum tollunt impetuque in nostros facto ordines perturbant.
Then they shout victory according to their custom and they raise a howl and they disturb the ranks by means of an attack made against our men.
Ibi L. Cotta pugnans interficitur cum maxima parte militum.
There L. Cotta is killed while fighting with the greatest part of the soldiers.
Reliqui se in castra recipiunt unde erant egressi.
The remaining retreat into the camp from where they had departed.
Ex quibus L. Petrosidius aquilifer, cum magna multitudine hostium premeretur, aquilam intra vallum proicit; ipse pro castris fortissime pugnans occiditur.
Out of these the aquilifer L. Petrosidius, since he was being pressed upon by a great crowd of the enemy, threw the standard inside the walls; he himself, fighting very bravely before the camp, is killed.
Illi aegre ad noctem oppugnationem sustinent; noctu ad unum omnes desperata salute se ipsi interficiunt.
Those people endure the attack with difficulty into the night; to a man they all themselves kill themselves at night, with safety lost.
Pacui ex proelio elapsi incertis itineribus per silvas ad T. Labienum legatum in hiberna perveniunt atque eum de rebus gestis certiorem faciunt.
A few, having slipped out from the battle by uncertain routes through the woods, arrive at the lieutenant T. Labienus in the winter quarters and they inform him about the done matters.
Hac victoria sublatus Ambiorix statim cum equitatu in Aduatucos, qui erant eius regno finitimi, proficiscitur; neque noctem neque diem intermittit peditatumque subsequi iubet.
Having been excited by this victory, Ambiorix immediately set out with cavalry into the territory of the Aduatuci, who were neighboring to his territory; he pauses neither at night nor at day and orders the footsoldiers to follow.
Re demonstrata Aduatucisque concitatis, postero die in Nervios pervenit hortaturque, ne sui in perpetuum liberandi atque ulciscendi Romanos pro eis quas acceperint iniuriis occasionem dimittant: interfectos esse legatos duos magnamque partem exercitus interisse demonstrat; nihil esse negoti subito oppressam legionem quae cum Cicerone hiemet interfici; se ad eam rem profitetur adiutorem.
With the situation having been shown and with the Aduatuci having been stirred up, on the following day he arrives into the territory of the Nervii and encourages them not to dismiss the opportunity of freeing themselves forever and of getting revenge on the Romans for these injuries which they received: he shows that two lieutenants were killed and that a great part of the army perished; that it was no great task that a legion which is wintering with Caesar, having been suddenly overwhelmed, be killed; he volunteers himself as an assistant to this matter.
Facile hac oratione Nerviis parsuadet.
He easily persuades the Nervii with this speech.
Itaque confestim dismissis nuntiis ad Ceutrones, Grudios, Levacos, Pleumoxios, Geidumnos, qui omnes sub eorum imperio sunt, quam maximas possunt cogunt et de improviso ad Ciceronis hiberna advolant, nondum ad eum fama de Tituri morte perlata.
And so with the messengers having been immediately sent fort to the Ceutrones, Grudii, Levaci, Pleumoxii, and Geidumni, who all are under their rule, they assemble as great a force as they are able and suddenly hasten to Cicero’s winter quarters, with the report concerning Titurius’ death having not yet been reported to him.
Huic quoque accidit, quod fuit necesse, ut non nulli milites, qui ligationis munitionisque cause in silvas discessissent, repentino equitum adventu interciperentur.
It also occurs to him, because it was necessary, that some soldiers, who had departed into the woods for the sake of wood-gathering and fortification, were intercepted by a sudden arrival of cavalry.
His circumventis magna manu, Eburones, Nervii, Aduatuci atque horum omnium socii et clientes legionem oppugnare incipiunt.
With them having been surrounded by a great band, the Eburones, Nervii, and Aduatuci and all their allies and dependants of these tribes began to attack the legion.
Nostri celeriter ad arma concurrunt, vallum conscendunt.
Our men quickly run to arms, and they climb the rampart.
Aegre is dies sustenantur, quod omnem spem hostes in celeritate ponebant atque hanc adepti victoriam in perpetuum se fore victores confidebant.
This day is endured with difficulty, because the enemy places all hope in speed and they believed that if they obtained this victory, they would forever be the victors.
Mittuntur ad Caesarem confestim ab Cicerone litterae, magnis propositis praemiis, si pertulissent; obsessis omnibus viis missi intercipiuntur.
The letters were sent to Caesar immediately from Cicero, with many rewards having been proposed if they had been brought through: with all roads having been blocked, the sent are intercepted.
Noctu ex materia, quam munitionis causa comportaverant, turres admodum CXX excitantur incredibili celeritate; quae deesse operi videbantur, perficiuntur.
At night a full 120 towers are constructed with incredible speed from timber, which they had collected for the sake of fortifying; any task which seems to be lacking is completed.
Hostes postero die multo maioribus coactis copiis castra oppugnant, fossam complent.
The next day the enemy, with much greater forces having been gathered, attack ad fill the ditch.
Eadem ratione, qua pridie, ab nostris resistitur.
By the same method which was used on the day before, it is resisted by our men.
Hoc idem reliquis deinceps fit diebus.
This same thing is done in succession on the remaining days.
Nulla pars nocturni temporis ad laborem intermittitur; non aegris, non vulneratis facultas quietis datur.
No part of the nighttime is discontinued for work; the opportunity for rest is given to neither the weak nor the wounded.
Quaecumque ad proximi diei oppugnationem opus sunt noctu comparantur: multae praeustae sudes, magnus muralium pilorum numerus instiuitur; turres contabulantur, pinnae loricaeque ex cratibus attexuntur.
Whatever things are necessary for an attack of the next day are prepared at night: many burned stakes and a great number of wall javelins are established; the towers are established and battlements and parapets are woven from wicker.
Ipse Cicero, cum tenuissima valetudine esset, ne nocturnum quidem sibi tempus ad quietem relinquebat, ut ultro militum concursu ac vocibus sibi parcere cogeretur.
Cicero himself, although he was of most delicate health, leaves not even time for himself to rest at night, such that he is forced to spare himself by the renning about and voices of the soldiers.
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