De Bello Gallico Book 2 (19–35)

[19] 

1 Caesar equitatu praemisso subsequebatur omnibus copiis; sed ratio ordoque agminis aliter se habebat ac Belgae ad Nervios detulerant. 

1 Caesar, having sent the cavalry ahead, followed with all his forces; but the arrangement and order of the column was different from what the Belgae had reported to the Nervii. 

2 Nam quod hostibus adpropinquabat, consuetudine sua Caesar VI legiones expeditas ducebat; 

2 For because he was approaching the enemy, Caesar, according to his custom, was leading six legions in light order; 

3 post eas totius exercitus impedimenta conlocarat; inde duae legiones quae proxime conscriptae erant totum agmen claudebant praesidioque impedimentis erant. 

3 behind them he had placed the baggage of the whole army; then the two legions which had been enlisted most recently brought up the rear of the entire column and served as a guard for the baggage. 

4 Equites nostri cum funditoribus sagittariisque flumen transgressi cum hostium equitatu proelium commiserunt. 

4 Our cavalry, together with the slingers and archers, having crossed the river, began battle with the enemy's cavalry. 

5 Cum se illi identidem in silvis ad suos reciperent ac rursus ex silva in nostros impetum facerent, neque nostri longius quam quem ad finem porrecta [ac] loca aperta pertinebant cedentes insequi auderent, interim legiones VI quae primae venerant, opere dimenso, castra munire coeperunt. 

5 Since the enemy repeatedly retreated into the woods to their own men and again charged from the woods at our troops, and our men did not dare to pursue them further than the boundary of the open ground extended, in the meantime the six legions which had arrived first, after the work had been marked out, began to fortify the camp. 

6 Ubi prima impedimenta nostri exercitus ab iis qui in silvis abditi latebant visa sunt, quod tempus inter eos committendi proelii convenerat, ut intra silvas aciem ordinesque constituerant atque ipsi sese confirmaverant, subito omnibus copiis provolaverunt impetumque in nostros equites fecerunt.  

6 When the first baggage of our army was seen by those who lay hidden in the woods, since the time agreed upon for battle had come, they suddenly rushed forward with all their forces, as they had drawn up their line and ranks within the woods and had encouraged themselves, and made an attack on our cavalry. 

7 His facile pulsis ac proturbatis, incredibili celeritate ad flumen decucurrerunt, ut paene uno tempore et ad silvas et in flumine [et iam in manibus nostris] hostes viderentur. 

7 These having been easily routed and driven back, they ran down to the river with incredible speed, so that the enemy seemed to be at the woods, in the river, and already in our hands all at the same moment. 

8 Eadem autem celeritate adverso colle ad nostra castra atque eos qui in opere occupati erant contenderunt. 

8 With the same speed, they rushed up the opposite hill toward our camp and those who were engaged in the work. 

[20] 

1 Caesari omnia uno tempore erant agenda: vexillum proponendum, quod erat insigne, cum ad arma concurri oporteret; signum tuba dandum; ab opere revocandi milites; qui paulo longius aggeris petendi causa processerant arcessendi; acies instruenda; milites cohortandi; signum dandum. Quarum rerum magnam partem temporis brevitas et incursus hostium impediebat. 

1 Caesar had to do everything at once: the standard had to be displayed, which was the signal to run to arms; the signal had to be given by trumpet; the soldiers had to be recalled from the work; those who had gone a little farther off in order to collect materials for the rampart had to be summoned; the line of battle had to be formed; the soldiers had to be encouraged; the signal had to be given. The shortness of time and the enemy's sudden charge hindered most of these tasks. 

2 His difficultatibus duae res erant subsidio, scientia atque usus militum, quod superioribus proeliis exercitati quid fieri oporteret non minus commode ipsi sibi praescribere quam ab aliis doceri poterant, et quod ab opere singulisque legionibus singulos legatos Caesar discedere nisi munitis castris vetuerat. 

2 Two things provided relief for these difficulties: the skill and experience of the soldiers, because, trained by previous battles, they could just as conveniently prescribe for themselves what needed to be done as be instructed by others, and the fact that Caesar had forbidden each legate to leave his work and his legion unless the camp was fortified. 

3 Hi propter propinquitatem et celeritatem hostium nihil iam Caesaris imperium expectabant, sed per se quae videbantur administrabant. 

3 These men, because of the nearness and swiftness of the enemy, now waited for no orders from Caesar, but managed on their own what seemed necessary. 

[21] 

1 Caesar, necessariis rebus imperatis, ad cohortandos milites, quam [in] partem fors obtulit, decucurrit et ad legionem decimam devenit. 

1 Caesar, having given the necessary orders, ran to encourage the soldiers, wherever chance brought him, and came to the tenth legion. 

2 Milites non longiore oratione cohortatus quam uti suae pristinae virtutis memoriam retinerent neu perturbarentur animo hostiumque impetum fortiter sustinerent, 

2 He encouraged the soldiers with no longer speech than to remind them to retain the memory of their former valor, not to be disturbed in spirit, and to withstand the enemy's attack bravely, 

3 quod non longius hostes aberant quam quo telum adigi posset, proelii committendi signum dedit. 

3 because the enemy were no further away than a missile could be hurled, he gave the signal to engage in battle. 

4 Atque in alteram item cohortandi causa profectus pugnantibus occurrit. 

4 And having likewise gone to another part for the purpose of encouraging, he met men already fighting. 

5 Temporis tanta fuit exiguitas hostiumque tam paratus ad dimicandum animus ut non modo ad insignia accommodanda sed etiam ad galeas induendas scutisque tegimenta detrahenda tempus defuerit. 

5 So short was the time and so prepared was the enemy’s spirit for combat that there was time neither for adjusting their standards, nor even for putting on helmets and removing the covers from their shields. 

6 Quam quisque ab opere in partem casu devenit quaeque prima signa conspexit, ad haec constitit, ne in quaerendis suis pugnandi tempus dimitteret. 

6 Each man came from his work by chance to whichever part, and wherever he first saw standards, there he took his stand, lest he lose time for fighting in seeking out his own unit. 

[22] 

1 Instructo exercitu magis ut loci natura [deiectusque collis] et necessitas temporis quam ut rei militaris ratio atque ordo postulabat, cum diversae legiones aliae alia in parte hostibus resisterent saepibusque densissimis, ut ante demonstravimus, interiectis prospectus impediretur, neque certa subsidia conlocari neque quid in quaque parte opus esset provideri neque ab uno omnia imperia administrari poterant. 

1 The army was drawn up more according to the nature of the ground [and the slope of the hill] and the necessity of time than as military discipline and order required, since different legions resisted the enemy in different places, and the view was obstructed by the very dense hedges, as we said before, so that reinforcements could not be placed with certainty, nor could what was needed in each place be foreseen, nor could all commands be managed by one person. 

2 Itaque in tanta rerum iniquitate fortunae quoque eventus varii sequebantur. 

2 Therefore, in such an unfavorable state of affairs, various outcomes of fortune also followed. 

[23] 

1 Legionis VIIII. et X. milites, ut in sinistra parte aciei constiterant, pilis emissis cursu ac lassitudine exanimatos vulneribusque confectos Atrebates (nam his ea pars obvenerat) celeriter ex loco superiore in flumen compulerunt et transire conantes insecuti gladiis magnam partem eorum impeditam interfecerunt. 

1 The soldiers of the 9th and 10th legions, as they had taken their stand on the left part of the battle line, having thrown their javelins, quickly drove the Atrebates (for that part had fallen to them), exhausted by running and fatigue and weakened by wounds, from higher ground into the river, and pursuing those trying to cross, killed a great number of them while they were hindered. 

2 Ipsi transire flumen non dubitaverunt et in locum iniquum progressi rursus resistentes hostes redintegrato proelio in fugam coniecerunt. 

2 They themselves did not hesitate to cross the river and, having advanced into a disadvantageous position, renewed the battle against the resisting enemy and put them to flight. 

3 Item alia in parte diversae duae legiones, XI. et VIII., profligatis Viromanduis, quibuscum erant congressae, ex loco superiore in ipsis fluminis ripis proeliabantur. 

3 Likewise, in another part, two other legions, the 11th and 8th, having routed the Viromandui, with whom they had engaged, were fighting from higher ground on the very banks of the river. 

4 At totis fere castris a fronte et a sinistra parte nudatis, cum in dextro cornu legio XII. et non magno ab ea intervallo VII. constitisset, omnes Nervii confertissimo agmine duce Boduognato, qui summam imperii tenebat, ad eum locum contenderunt; quorum pars ab aperto latere legiones circumvenire, pars summum castrorum locum petere coepit. 

4 But with almost the whole camp stripped bare at the front and on the left side, since on the right wing the 12th legion and, not far from it, the 7th had taken position, all the Nervii, in a very dense formation and under the command of Boduognatus, who held supreme authority, advanced to that spot; part of them began to surround the legions on the open flank, part to attack the highest point of the camp. 

[24] 

1 Eodem tempore equites nostri levisque armaturae pedites, qui cum iis una fuerant, quos primo hostium impetu pulsos dixeram, cum se in castra reciperent, adversis hostibus occurrebant ac rursus aliam in partem fugam petebant; 

1 At the same time, our cavalry and light-armed infantry, who had been with those I said were routed by the first attack of the enemy, when they were retreating to the camp, encountered the enemy face-to-face and again sought flight in another direction; 

2 et calones, qui ab decumana porta ac summo iugo collis nostros victores flumen transire conspexerant, praedandi causa egressi, cum respexissent et hostes in nostris castris versari vidissent, praecipites fugae sese mandabant. 

2 and the camp servants, who from the decuman gate and the highest ridge of the hill had seen our victorious men crossing the river and had gone out to plunder, when they looked back and saw the enemy moving about in our camp, threw themselves headlong into flight. 

3 Simul eorum qui cum impedimentis veniebant clamor fremitusque oriebatur, aliique aliam in partem perterriti ferebantur. 

3 At the same time, a shout and uproar arose among those who were coming with the baggage, and some, terrified, rushed in one direction, others in another. 

4 Quibus omnibus rebus permoti equites Treveri, quorum inter Gallos virtutis opinio est singularis, qui auxilii causa a civitate missi ad Caesarem venerant, cum multitudine hostium castra [nostra] compleri, legiones premi et paene circumventas teneri, calones, equites, funditores, Numidas diversos dissipatosque in omnes partes fugere vidissent, desperatis nostris rebus domum contenderunt: 

4 Alarmed by all these events, the Treveran cavalry—whose reputation for valor among the Gauls is exceptional—and who had come to Caesar sent by their state to give aid, when they saw that the camp was being filled by a great number of the enemy, the legions hard pressed and almost surrounded, and the camp servants, cavalry, slingers, and Numidians fleeing in all directions scattered everywhere, despaired of our situation and hastened home: 

5 Romanos pulsos superatosque, castris impedimentisque eorum hostes potitos civitati renuntiaverunt. 

5 they reported to their state that the Romans had been routed and defeated, and that the enemy had taken possession of their camp and baggage. 

[25] 

1 Caesar ab X. legionis cohortatione ad dextrum cornu profectus, ubi suos urgeri signisque in unum locum conlatis XII. legionis confertos milites sibi ipsos ad pugnam esse impedimento vidit, quartae cohortis omnibus centurionibus occisis signiferoque interfecto, signo amisso, reliquarum cohortium omnibus fere centurionibus aut vulneratis aut occisis, in his primipilo P. Sextio Baculo, fortissimo viro, multis gravibusque vulneribus confecto, ut iam se sustinere non posset, reliquos esse tardiores et non nullos ab novissimis deserto loco proelio excedere ac tela vitare, hostes neque a fronte ex inferiore loco subeuntes intermittere et ab utroque latere instare et rem esse in angusto vidit, neque ullum esse subsidium quod submitti posset, 

1 Caesar, having gone from encouraging the Tenth Legion to the right wing, saw that his men were hard pressed and that the massed soldiers of the Twelfth Legion, with their standards gathered in one place, were themselves an impediment to their own fighting; that all the centurions of the fourth cohort had been killed, and the standard-bearer slain, the standard lost, nearly all the centurions of the other cohorts either wounded or killed—among them the chief centurion Publius Sextius Baculus, a most courageous man, worn out with many severe wounds so that he could no longer stand—that the rest were becoming slower, and that some were leaving the fight at the rear, abandoning their post and avoiding the missiles; that the enemy were advancing continuously from the front from lower ground and pressing on both flanks, and that the situation was critical, and there was no reserve that could be brought forward, 

2 scuto ab novissimis [uni] militi detracto, quod ipse eo sine scuto venerat, in primam aciem processit centurionibusque nominatim appellatis reliquos cohortatus milites signa inferre et manipulos laxare iussit, quo facilius gladiis uti possent. 

2 having taken a shield from a soldier at the rear—because he himself had come there without one—he advanced into the front line and, calling the centurions by name, encouraged the rest of the soldiers and ordered them to advance the standards and to extend the maniples so that they could use their swords more easily. 

3 Cuius adventu spe inlata militibus ac redintegrato animo, cum pro se quisque in conspectu imperatoris etiam in extremis suis rebus operam navare cuperet, paulum hostium impetus tardatus est. 

3 By his arrival, hope was brought to the soldiers and their spirit renewed, since each man, in the sight of his commander, even in the direst straits, wanted to do his part: the enemy's assault was somewhat slowed. 

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[26] 

1 Caesar, cum VII. legionem, quae iuxta constiterat, item urgeri ab hoste vidisset, tribunos militum monuit ut paulatim sese legiones coniungerent et conversa signa in hostes inferrent. 

1 Caesar, when he saw that the Seventh Legion, which had stood nearby, was likewise being hard pressed by the enemy, advised the military tribunes to gradually bring the legions together and to turn their standards against the enemy. 

2 Quo facto cum aliis alii subsidium ferrent neque timerent ne aversi ab hoste circumvenirentur, audacius resistere ac fortius pugnare coeperunt. 

2 When this had been done, since they brought mutual aid and did not fear being surrounded by the enemy from the rear, they began to resist more boldly and fight more bravely. 

3 Interim milites legionum duarum quae in novissimo agmine praesidio impedimentis fuerant, proelio nuntiato, cursu incitato in summo colle ab hostibus conspiciebantur, 

3 Meanwhile, the soldiers of the two legions which had been in the rear guard protecting the baggage, when news of the battle reached them, were seen by the enemy hastening at full speed on the top of the hill, 

4 et T. Labienus castris hostium potitus et ex loco superiore quae res in nostris castris gererentur conspicatus X. legionem subsidio nostris misit. 

4 and Titus Labienus, having taken the enemy’s camp and observing from higher ground what was happening in our camp, sent the Tenth Legion to aid our men. 

5 Qui cum ex equitum et calonum fuga quo in loco res esset quantoque in periculo et castra et legiones et imperator versaretur cognovissent, nihil ad celeritatem sibi reliqui fecerunt. 

5 And when these learned from the flight of the cavalry and the camp servants in what position the affair stood and how great the danger was to the camp, the legions, and the commander, they left nothing to be desired in the way of speed. 

[27] 

1 Horum adventu tanta rerum commutatio est facta ut nostri, etiam qui vulneribus confecti procubuissent, scutis innixi proelium redintegrarent, calones perterritos hostes conspicati etiam inermes armatis occurrerent, 

1 By their arrival so great a change in affairs was effected that our men, even those who had fallen exhausted by wounds, leaning on their shields, renewed the battle; the camp servants, having seen the terrified enemy, even though unarmed, ran to meet the armed foes, 

2 equites vero, ut turpitudinem fugae virtute delerent, omnibus in locis pugnae se legionariis militibus praeferrent. 

2 and the cavalry, in order to efface the disgrace of their flight by bravery, in every part of the field placed themselves before the legionary soldiers. 

3 At hostes, etiam in extrema spe salutis, tantam virtutem praestiterunt ut, cum primi eorum cecidissent, proximi iacentibus insisterent atque ex eorum corporibus pugnarent, 

3 But the enemy, even in the last hope of safety, showed such great valor that, when the first ranks had fallen, those next to them stood upon their bodies and fought from their corpses, 

4 his deiectis et coacervatis cadaveribus qui superessent ut ex tumulo tela in nostros conicerent et pila intercepta remitterent: 

4 and when these too were struck down and the bodies heaped up, those who remained threw weapons at our men from the mound thus formed and hurled back the javelins they had intercepted: 

5 ut non nequiquam tantae virtutis homines iudicari deberet ausos esse transire latissimum flumen, ascendere altissimas ripas, subire iniquissimum locum; quae facilia ex difficillimis animi magnitudo redegerat. 

5 so that it should not be thought in vain that men of such great courage had dared to cross a very broad river, climb the highest banks, and enter a most disadvantageous position; which things the greatness of their spirit had turned from the hardest into the easiest. 

[28] 

1 Hoc proelio facto et prope ad internecionem gente ac nomine Nerviorum redacto, maiores natu, quos una cum pueris mulieribusque in aestuaria ac paludes coniectos dixeramus, hac pugna nuntiata, cum victoribus nihil impeditum, victis nihil tutum arbitrarentur, 

1 This battle having been fought, and the tribe and name of the Nervii almost annihilated, the elders, whom we said had been driven with the boys and women into estuaries and marshes, when they heard of the battle, and judged that for the victors nothing was hindered and for the vanquished nothing was safe, 

2 omnium qui supererant consensu legatos ad Caesarem miserunt seque ei dediderunt; et in commemoranda civitatis calamitate ex DC ad tres senatores, ex hominum milibus LX vix ad D, qui arma ferre possent, sese redactos esse dixerunt. 

2 with the consent of all the survivors sent envoys to Caesar and surrendered to him; and in recounting the calamity of their state, they said that of six hundred senators only three remained, and of sixty thousand men scarcely five hundred able to bear arms were left. 

3 Quos Caesar, ut in miseros ac supplices usus misericordia videretur, diligentissime conservavit suisque finibus atque oppidis uti iussit et finitimis imperavit ut ab iniuria et maleficio se suosque prohiberent. 

3 Caesar, in order to appear to have used mercy toward the wretched and suppliant, most carefully preserved them and ordered them to make use of their own territory and towns, and commanded their neighbors to refrain from injury and harm against them and their people. 

[29] 

1 Atuatuci, de quibus supra diximus, cum omnibus copiis auxilio Nerviis venirent, hac pugna nuntiata ex itinere domum reverterunt; 

1 The Atuatuci, about whom we spoke above, when they were coming with all their forces to the aid of the Nervii, on hearing of this battle, returned home from their march; 

2 cunctis oppidis castellisque desertis sua omnia in unum oppidum egregie natura munitum contulerunt. 

2 abandoning all their towns and strongholds, they brought all their possessions into one town, excellently fortified by nature. 

3 Quod cum ex omnibus in circuitu partibus altissimas rupes deiectusque haberet, una ex parte leniter acclivis aditus in latitudinem non amplius pedum CC relinquebatur; quem locum duplici altissimo muro munierant; tum magni ponderis saxa et praeacutas trabes in muro conlocabant. 

3 Since this town had on every side around it very high cliffs and steep slopes, on one side a gently sloping access of no more than 200 feet in width was left; this place they had fortified with a double wall of great height; and then they placed heavy stones and sharpened beams on the wall. 

4 Ipsi erant ex Cimbris Teutonisque prognati, qui, cum iter in provinciam nostram atque Italiam facerent, iis impedimentis quae secum agere ac portare non poterant citra flumen Rhenum depositis custodiam [ex suis] ac praesidium VI milia hominum una reliquerant. 

4 They themselves were descended from the Cimbri and Teutones, who, when they were making their way into our province and into Italy, having deposited on this side of the Rhine the baggage which they could not drive or carry with them, had left a guard and garrison of six thousand men from among their number. 

5 Hi post eorum obitum multos annos a finitimis exagitati, cum alias bellum inferrent, alias inlatum defenderent, consensu eorum omnium pace facta hunc sibi domicilio locum delegerant. 

5 These, after the death of the others, harassed for many years by their neighbors, sometimes waging war, sometimes defending against it when brought upon them, by the common consent of all, having made peace, had chosen this place as their dwelling. 

[30] 

1 Ac primo adventu exercitus nostri crebras ex oppido excursiones faciebant parvulisque proeliis cum nostris contendebant; 

1 And at the first arrival of our army, they made frequent sallies from the town and fought our men in small skirmishes; 

2 postea vallo pedum XII in circuitu quindecim milium crebrisque castellis circummuniti oppido sese continebant. 

2 afterwards, having been surrounded by a rampart twelve feet high and fifteen miles in circuit with frequent forts, they confined themselves to the town. 

3 Ubi vineis actis aggere extructo turrim procul constitui viderunt, primum inridere ex muro atque increpitare vocibus, quod tanta machinatio a tanto spatio institueretur: 

3 When they saw that, with the sheds moved up and the mound constructed, a tower was being erected at a distance, they began first to mock from the wall and taunt with cries, because such a great engine was being constructed from so far off: 

4 quibusnam manibus aut quibus viribus praesertim homines tantulae staturae (nam plerumque omnibus Gallis prae magnitudine corporum quorum brevitas nostra contemptui est) tanti oneris turrim in muro sese posse conlocare confiderent? 

4 with what hands or with what strength—especially men of such short stature (for in general all the Gauls, because of the greatness of their bodies, regard our shortness with contempt)—could they expect to be able to place a tower of such great weight upon the wall? 

[31] 

1 Ubi vero moveri et adpropinquare muris viderunt, nova atque inusitata specie commoti legatos ad Caesarem de pace miserunt, qui ad hunc modum locuti; 

1 But when they saw it moving and approaching the walls, moved by the new and unusual sight, they sent envoys to Caesar concerning peace, who spoke in this manner; 

2 non se existimare Romanos sine ope divina bellum gerere, qui tantae altitudinis machinationes tanta celeritate promovere possent; 

2 that they did not believe the Romans waged war without divine aid, who could advance machines of such great height with such speed; 

3 se suaque omnia eorum potestati permittere dixerunt. 

3 they said they surrendered themselves and all their possessions to their power. 

4 Unum petere ac deprecari: si forte pro sua clementia ac mansuetudine, quam ipsi ab aliis audirent, statuisset Atuatucos esse conservandos, ne se armis despoliaret. 

4 They asked and implored one thing: if perchance, according to his clemency and mildness, which they themselves had heard from others, he had decided that the Atuatuci should be spared, that he should not dispossess them of their arms. 

5 Sibi omnes fere finitimos esse inimicos ac suae virtuti invidere; a quibus se defendere traditis armis non possent. 

5 That almost all their neighbors were hostile to them and envied their valor; and that they could not defend themselves from these if their arms were surrendered. 

6 Sibi praestare, si in eum casum deducerentur, quamvis fortunam a populo Romano pati quam ab his per cruciatum interfici inter quos dominari consuessent. 

6 That it was better for them, if they were brought to such a plight, to suffer any fortune from the Roman people than to be killed by torture by those over whom they had been accustomed to rule. 

[32] 

1 Ad haec Caesar respondit: se magis consuetudine sua quam merito eorum civitatem conservaturum, si prius quam murum aries attigisset se dedidissent; 

1 To these things Caesar responded: that he would preserve their state more by his custom than by their merit, if they surrendered themselves before the battering ram had touched the wall; 

2 sed deditionis nullam esse condicionem nisi armis traditis. Se id quod in Nerviis fecisset facturum finitimisque imperaturum ne quam dediticiis populi Romani iniuriam inferrent. 

2 but that there was no condition for surrender unless their arms were handed over. He said that he would do what he had done to the Nervii and would order their neighbors to inflict no injury upon those who had surrendered to the Roman people. 

3 Re renuntiata ad suos illi se quae imperarentur facere dixerunt. 

3 The matter having been reported back to their people, they said that they would do what was commanded. 

4 Armorum magna multitudine de muro in fossam, quae erat ante oppidum, iacta, sic ut prope summam muri aggerisque altitudinem acervi armorum adaequarent, et tamen circiter parte tertia, ut postea perspectum est, celata atque in oppido retenta, portis patefactis eo die pace sunt usi. 

4 A great multitude of arms having been thrown from the wall into the ditch, which was in front of the town, so that the piles of arms almost equaled the top height of the wall and rampart, and yet about a third part, as was afterwards discovered, being hidden and retained in the town, they used peace that day with the gates opened. 

[33] 

1 Sub vesperum Caesar portas claudi militesque ex oppido exire iussit, ne quam noctu oppidani a militibus iniuriam acciperent. 

1 Towards evening, Caesar ordered the gates to be closed and the soldiers to leave the town, so that the townspeople might not suffer any injury from the soldiers during the night. 

2 Illi ante inito, ut intellectum est, consilio, quod deditione facta nostros praesidia deducturos aut denique indiligentius servaturos crediderant, partim cum iis quae retinuerant et celaverant armis, partim scutis ex cortice factis aut viminibus intextis, quae subito, ut temporis exiguitas postulabat, pellibus induxerant, tertia vigilia, qua minime arduus ad nostras munitiones ascensus videbatur, omnibus copiis repente ex oppido eruptionem fecerunt. 

2 They, having formed a plan beforehand, as was understood, because they had believed that, with the surrender made, our men would withdraw their garrisons or at least guard them less diligently, partly with the arms they had retained and hidden, partly with shields made of bark or woven from twigs, which they had suddenly covered with hides, as the shortness of time demanded, in the third watch, where the ascent to our fortifications seemed least difficult, suddenly made a sally from the town with all their forces. 

3 Celeriter, ut ante Caesar imperaverat, ignibus significatione facta, ex proximis castellis eo concursum est, 

3 Quickly, as Caesar had ordered before, a signal being given by fires, there was a rush to that place from the nearest redoubts, 

4 pugnatumque ab hostibus ita acriter est ut a viris fortibus in extrema spe salutis iniquo loco contra eos qui ex vallo turribusque tela iacerent pugnari debuit, cum in una virtute omnis spes consisteret. 

4 and the fighting by the enemy was so fierce that it ought to have been fought by brave men in the extreme hope of safety in an unfavorable position against those who were throwing weapons from the rampart and towers, since all hope rested on valor alone. 

5 Occisis ad hominum milibus IIII reliqui in oppidum reiecti sunt. 

5 About four thousand men having been killed, the rest were driven back into the town. 

6 Postridie eius diei refractis portis, cum iam defenderet nemo, atque intromissis militibus nostris, sectionem eius oppidi universam Caesar vendidit. 

6 The next day, with the gates broken down, when no one was now defending, and our soldiers admitted, Caesar sold the entire population of that town. 

7 Ab iis qui emerant capitum numerus ad eum relatus est milium LIII. 

7 By those who had bought them, the number of heads reported to him was 53,000. 

[34] 

1 Eodem tempore a P. Crasso, quem cum legione una miserat ad Venetos, Venellos, Osismos, Coriosolitas, Esuvios, Aulercos, Redones, quae sunt maritimae civitates Oceanumque attingunt, certior factus est omnes eas civitates in dicionem potestatemque populi Romani esse redactas. 

1 At the same time, by Publius Crassus, whom he had sent with one legion to the Veneti, Venelli, Osismi, Coriosolitae, Esuvii, Aulerci, Redones, which are maritime states and touch the Ocean, he was informed that all those states had been reduced to the dominion and power of the Roman people. 

[35] 

1 His rebus gestis omni Gallia pacata, tanta huius belli ad barbaros opinio perlata est uti ab iis nationibus quae trans Rhenum incolerent legationes ad Caesarem mitterentur, quae se obsides daturas, imperata facturas pollicerentur. 

1 These things having been accomplished and all Gaul pacified, such a great reputation of this war was carried to the barbarians that embassies were sent to Caesar by those nations who lived across the Rhine, who promised that they would give hostages and do what was commanded. 

2 Quas legationes Caesar, quod in Italiam Illyricumque properabat, inita proxima aestate ad se reverti iussit. 

2 Caesar, because he was hurrying to Italy and Illyricum, ordered these embassies to return to him at the beginning of the next summer. 

3 Ipse in Carnutes, Andes, Turonos quaeque civitates propinquae iis locis erant ubi bellum gesserat, legionibus in hiberna deductis, in Italiam profectus est. 

3 He himself, having led his legions into winter quarters in the territories of the Carnutes, Andes, and Turones, and whatever states were near those places where he had waged war, set out for Italy. 

4 Ob easque res ex litteris Caesaris dierum XV supplicatio decreta est, quod ante id tempus accidit nulli. 

4 And for these reasons, a supplication of fifteen days was decreed from Caesar's letters, which had happened to no one before that time.