De Bello Gallico Book 5 (45–58)

[45] 

1. Quanto erat in dies gravior atque asperior oppugnatio, et maxime quod magna parte militum confecta vulneribus res ad paucitatem defensorum pervenerat, tanto crebriores litterae nuntiique ad Caesarem mittebantur; quorum pars deprehensa in conspectu nostrorum militum cum cruciatu necabatur. 

1. The more severe and arduous the siege became day by day, and especially because a large part of the soldiers were incapacitated by wounds and the matter had come to a scarcity of defenders, so much more frequently were letters and messengers sent to Caesar; a part of whom, when intercepted, were tortured and killed in the sight of our soldiers. 

2. Erat unus intus Nervius nomine Vertico, loco natus honesto, qui a prima obsidione ad Ciceronem perfugerat suamque ei fidem praestiterat. 

2. There was one Nervian inside named Vertico, born of an honorable family, who had deserted to Cicero from the beginning of the siege and had shown him his loyalty. 

3. Hic servo spe libertatis magnisve persuadet praemiis, ut litteras ad Caesarem deferat. 

3. This man persuaded a slave, with the hope of freedom and great rewards, to deliver letters to Caesar. 

4. Has ille in iaculo illigatas effert et Gallus inter Gallos sine ulla suspicione versatus ad Caesarem pervenit. 

4. He carried these, tied to a javelin, and moving among the Gauls without any suspicion, reached Caesar. 

5. Ab eo de periculis Ciceronis legionisque cognoscitur. 

5. From him, Caesar learned of the dangers facing Cicero and his legion. 

 Discoverlatin

[46] 

1. Caesar acceptis litteris hora circiter XI diei statim nuntium in Bellovacos ad M. Crassum quaestorem mittit, cuius hiberna aberant ab eo milia passuum XXV; 

1. Caesar, having received the letters around the eleventh hour of the day, immediately sent a messenger into the territory of the Bellovaci to Marcus Crassus the quaestor, whose winter quarters were twenty-five miles distant from him; 

2. iubet media nocte legionem proficisci celeriterque ad se venire. 

2. he ordered the legion to set out in the middle of the night and come to him quickly. 

3. Exit cum nuntio Crassus. Alterum ad Gaium Fabium legatum mittit, ut in Atrebatium fines legionem adducat, qua sibi iter faciendum sciebat. 

3. Crassus set out with the messenger. Caesar sent another messenger to Gaius Fabius the legate, to lead his legion into the territory of the Atrebates, knowing that he would have to march that way. 

4. Scribit Labieno, si rei publicae commodo facere posset, cum legione ad fines Nerviorum veniat. Reliquam partem exercitus, quod paulo aberat longius, non putat exspectandam; equites circiter quadringentos ex proximis hibernis colligit. 

4. He wrote to Labienus, if he could do so without detriment to the republic, to come with his legion to the borders of the Nervii. He did not think the remaining part of the army, because it was a little farther away, should be waited for; he collected about four hundred cavalry from the nearest winter quarters. 

 [47] 

1. Hora circiter tertia ab antecursoribus de Crassi adventu certior factus eo die milia passuum XX procedit. 

1. Around the third hour, having been informed by his advance guard of Crassus's arrival, he proceeded twenty miles that day. 

2. Crassum Samarobrivae praeficit legionemque attribuit, quod ibi impedimenta exercitus, obsides civitatum, litteras publicas frumentumque omne quod eo tolerandae hiemis causa devexerat relinquebat. 

2. He put Crassus in command at Samarobriva and assigned him a legion, because he was leaving there the army's baggage, the hostages of the states, public documents, and all the grain he had brought there for tolerating the winter. 

3. Fabius, ut imperatum erat, non ita multum moratus in itinere cum legione occurrit. 

3. Fabius, as ordered, having delayed not very much, met him on the march with his legion. 

4. Labienus interitu Sabini et caede cohortium cognita, cum omnes ad eum Treverorum copiae venissent, veritus, si ex hibernis fugae similem profectionem fecisset, ut hostium impetum sustinere posset, praesertim quos recenti victoria efferri sciret, litteras Caesari remittit, quanto cum periculo legionem ex hibernis educturus esset; rem gestam in Eburonibus perscribit; docet omnes equitatus peditatusque copias Treverorum tria milia passuum longe ab suis castris consedisse. 

4. Labienus, having learned of the destruction of Sabinus and the slaughter of the cohorts, since all the forces of the Treveri had come to him, fearing that if he made a departure resembling flight from winter quarters, he would not be able to withstand the enemy's attack, especially knowing how elated they were by their recent victory, sent letters back to Caesar describing with what great danger he would lead the legion out of winter quarters; he fully described the event in the territory of the Eburones; he informed him that all the cavalry and infantry forces of the Treveri had encamped three miles away from his camp. 

[48] 

1. Caesar consilio eius probato, etsi opinione trium legionum deiectus ad duas redierat, tamen unum communis salutis auxilium in celeritate ponebat. Venit magnis itineribus in Nerviorum fines. 

1. Caesar, approving of his plan, although disappointed from the expectation of three legions, having been reduced to two, nevertheless placed his only hope for common safety in speed. He came by forced marches into the territory of the Nervii. 

2. Ibi ex captivis cognoscit, quae apud Ciceronem gerantur, quantoque in periculo res sit. 

2. There he learned from captives what was happening at Cicero's camp, and how great the danger was. 

3. Tum cuidam ex equitibus Gallis magnis praemiis persuadet uti ad Ciceronem epistolam deferat. 

3. Then he persuaded one of the Gallic cavalry, with great rewards, to deliver a letter to Cicero. 

4. Hanc Graecis conscriptam litteris mittit, ne intercepta epistola nostra ab hostibus consilia cognoscantur. 

4. He sent this written in Greek letters, so that if the letter were intercepted, our plans would not be discovered by the enemy. 

5. Si adire non possit, monet ut tragulam cum epistola ad amentum deligata intra munitionem castrorum abiciat. 

5. If he could not approach, he advised him to throw a javelin, with the letter tied to its thong, inside the fortification of the camp. 

6. In litteris scribit se cum legionibus profectum celeriter adfore; hortatur ut pristinam virtutem retineat. 

6. In the letter he wrote that he had set out with the legions and would quickly be there; he urged him to maintain his former valor. 

7. Gallus periculum veritus, ut erat praeceptum, tragulam mittit. 

7. The Gaul, fearing the danger, as he had been instructed, threw the javelin. 

8. Haec casu ad turrim adhaesit neque ab nostris biduo animadversa tertio die a quodam milite conspicitur, dempta ad Ciceronem defertur. 

8. By chance, it stuck to a tower and, not being noticed by our men for two days, was seen by a soldier on the third day, taken down, and delivered to Cicero. 

9. Ille perlectam in conventu militum recitat maximaque omnes laetitia adficit. 

9. He read it aloud in an assembly of the soldiers and filled everyone with the greatest joy. 

10. Tum fumi incendiorum procul videbantur; quae res omnem dubitationem adventus legionum expulit. 

10. Then the smoke of fires was seen in the distance; this sight dispelled all doubt about the arrival of the legions. 

 [49] 

1. Galli re cognita per exploratores obsidionem relinquunt, ad Caesarem omnibus copiis contendunt. Hae erant armata circiter milia LX. 

1. The Gauls, having learned of the situation through their scouts, abandoned the siege and marched with all their forces towards Caesar. These numbered about sixty thousand armed men. 

2. Cicero data facultate Gallum ab eodem Verticone, quem supra demonstravimus, repetit, qui litteras ad Caesarem deferat; hunc admonet, iter caute diligenterque faciat: 

2. Cicero, having been granted the opportunity, again requested the Gaul from the same Vertico, whom we mentioned above, to deliver letters to Caesar; he warned him to make the journey cautiously and diligently: 

3. perscribit in litteris hostes ab se discessisse omnemque ad eum multitudinem convertisse. 

3. he fully explained in the letters that the enemy had departed from him and had turned all their forces towards Caesar. 

4. Quibus litteris circiter media nocte Caesar adlatis suos facit certiores eosque ad dimicandum animo confirmat. 

4. With these letters delivered around midnight, Caesar informed his men and encouraged them for battle. 

5. Postero die luce prima movet castra et circiter milia passuum quattuor progressus trans vallem et rivum multitudinem hostium conspicatur. 

5. On the next day, at first light, he moved camp and, having advanced about four miles, caught sight of a multitude of the enemy across a valley and a stream. 

6. Erat magni periculi res tantulis copiis iniquo loco dimicare; tum, quoniam obsidione liberatum Ciceronem sciebat, aequo animo remittendum de celeritate existimabat: 

6. It was a matter of great danger to fight with such small forces in an unfavorable position; then, since he knew Cicero was freed from the siege, he thought he could calmly reduce his haste: 

7. consedit et quam aequissimo loco potest castra communit atque haec, etsi erant exigua per se vix hominum milium septem praesertim nullis cum impedimentis, tamen angustiis viarum quam maxime potest contrahit, eo consilio, ut in summam contemptionem hostibus veniat. 

7. He encamped and fortified his camp in the most favorable place he could, and although it was small in itself, scarcely for seven thousand men, especially with no baggage, he nevertheless contracted it as much as possible by narrowing the approaches, with the intention of bringing himself into the greatest contempt among the enemy. 

8. Interim speculatoribus in omnes partes dimissis explorat quo commodissime itinere vallem transire possit. 

8. Meanwhile, sending scouts in all directions, he explored by what route he could most conveniently cross the valley. 

[50] 

1. Eo die parvulis equestribus proeliis ad aquam factis utrique sese suo loco continent: 

1. On that day, after small cavalry skirmishes by the water, both sides kept themselves in their respective positions: 

2. Galli, quod ampliores copias, 

2. The Gauls, because they were expecting larger forces, 

3. quae nondum convenerant, exspectabant; Caesar, si forte timoris simulatione hostes in suum locum elicere posset, 

3. which had not yet arrived; Caesar, if he could perhaps entice the enemy into his position by a feigned fear, 

4. ut citra vallem pro castris proelio contenderet, si id efficere non posset, ut exploratis itineribus minore cum periculo vallem rivumque transiret. Prima luce hostium equitatus ad castra accedit proeliumque cum nostris equitibus committit. 

4. so that he might fight in front of the camp on this side of the valley, if he could not achieve that, then to cross the valley and stream with less danger by exploring the routes. At first light, the enemy's cavalry approached the camp and engaged in battle with our cavalry. 

5. Caesar consulto equites cedere seque in castra recipere iubet, simul ex omnibus partibus castra altiore vallo muniri portasque obstrui atque in his administrandis rebus quam maxime concursari et cum simulatione agi timoris iubet. 

5. Caesar intentionally ordered his cavalry to retreat and withdraw into the camp, and at the same time ordered the camp to be fortified with a higher rampart on all sides, and the gates to be blocked, and in managing these matters, to rush about as much as possible and act with a show of fear. 

 [51] 

1. Quibus omnibus rebus hostes invitati copias traducunt aciemque iniquo loco constituunt, 

1. Invited by all these circumstances, the enemy led their forces across and drew up their battle line in an unfavorable position, 

2. nostris vero etiam de vallo deductis propius accedunt et tela intra munitionem ex omnibus partibus coniciunt praeconibusque circummissis pronuntiari iubent, seu quis Gallus seu Romanus velit ante horam tertiam ad se transire, sine periculo licere; post id tempus non fore potestatem: 

2. and when our men were even withdrawn from the rampart, they approached closer and threw darts inside the fortification from all sides, and sending heralds around, ordered it to be proclaimed that if any Gaul or Roman wished to cross over to them before the third hour, it was allowed without danger; after that time, there would be no opportunity: 

3. ac sic nostros contempserunt, ut obstructis in speciem portis singulis ordinibus caespitum, quod ea non posse introrumpere videbantur, alii vallum manu scindere, alii fossas complere inciperent. 

3. and thus they so despised our men that, after blocking the gates seemingly with single layers of sod, because they seemed unable to break through there, some began to tear down the rampart by hand, others to fill the ditches. 

4. Tum Caesar omnibus portis eruptione facta equitatuque emisso celeriter hostes in fugam dat, sic uti omnino pugnandi causa resisteret nemo, magnumque ex eis numerum occidit atque omnes armis exuit. 

4. Then Caesar, making a sally from all gates and sending out his cavalry, quickly put the enemy to flight, so that no one at all resisted for the sake of fighting, and he killed a great number of them and stripped them all of their arms. 

 [52] 

1. Longius prosequi veritus, quod silvae paludesque intercedebant neque etiam parvulo detrimento illorum locum relinqui videbat, omnibus suis incolumibus copiis eodem die ad Ciceronem pervenit. 

1. Fearing to pursue too far, because woods and marshes lay between, and he did not see that any place was left where they might suffer even a small loss, with all his forces unharmed, he reached Cicero on the same day. 

2. Institutas turres, testudines munitionesque hostium admiratur; legione producta cognoscit non decimum quemque esse reliquum militem sine vulnere: 

2. He admired the towers, siege shelters, and fortifications constructed by the enemy; with the legion brought forth, he learned that not one in ten soldiers remained without a wound: 

3. ex his omnibus iudicat rebus, quanto cum periculo et quanta cum virtute res sint administratae. 

3. From all these things he judged with how much danger and how much valor the operations had been conducted. 

4. Ciceronem pro eius merito legionemque collaudat; centuriones singillatim tribunosque militum appellat, quorum egregiam fuisse virtutem testimonio Ciceronis cognoverat. De casu Sabini et Cottae certius ex captivis cognoscit. 

4. He highly praised Cicero for his merit and the legion; he individually called out the centurions and military tribunes whose outstanding valor he had learned of from Cicero's testimony. He learned more certainly about the fate of Sabinus and Cotta from captives. 

5. Postero die contione habita rem gestam proponit, milites consolatur et confirmat: 

5. On the next day, having held an assembly, he explained what had happened, and consoled and encouraged the soldiers:  

6. quod detrimentum culpa et temeritate legati sit acceptum, hoc aequiore animo ferendum docet, quod beneficio deorum immortalium et virtute eorum expiato incommodo neque hostibus diutina laetatio neque ipsis longior dolor relinquatur. 

6. That the loss, which had been incurred by the fault and rashness of the legate, ought to be borne with more equanimity, because by the favor of the immortal gods and their own valor, the misfortune having been atoned for, neither lasting joy would be left to the enemy nor prolonged grief to themselves.

[53] 

1. Interim ad Labienum per Remos incredibili celeritate de victoria Caesaris fama perfertur, ut, cum ab hibernis Ciceronis milia passuum abesset circiter LX, eoque post horam nonam diei Caesar pervenisset, ante mediam noctem ad portas castrorum clamor oreretur, quo clamore significatio victoriae gratulatioque ab Remis Labieno fieret. 

1. Meanwhile, the report of Caesar's victory was carried to Labienus through the Remi with incredible speed, so that, although he was about sixty miles distant from Cicero's winter quarters, and Caesar had arrived there after the ninth hour of the day, before midnight a shout arose at the gates of the camp, by which shout a sign of victory and congratulation from the Remi was conveyed to Labienus. 

2. Hac fama ad Treveros perlata Indutiomarus, qui postero die castra Labieni oppugnare decreverat, noctu profugit copiasque omnes in Treveros reducit. 

2. This report having reached the Treveri, Indutiomarus, who had decided to attack Labienus's camp on the next day, fled during the night and led all his forces back into the territory of the Treveri. 

3. Caesar Fabium cum sua legione remittit in hiberna, ipse cum tribus legionibus circum Samarobrivam trinis hibernis hiemare constituit et, quod tanti motus Galliae exstiterant, totam hiemem ipse ad exercitum manere decrevit. 

3. Caesar sent Fabius back to winter quarters with his legion; he himself decided to winter with three legions around Samarobriva in three separate winter quarters, and, because such great commotions had arisen in Gaul, he decreed to remain with the army for the entire winter. 

4. Nam illo incommodo de Sabini morte perlato omnes fere Galliae civitates de bello consultabant, nuntios legationesque in omnes partes dimittebant et quid reliqui consili caperent atque unde initium belli fieret explorabant nocturnaque in locis desertis concilia habebant. 

4. For, with that misfortune concerning Sabinus's death having been reported, almost all the states of Gaul were deliberating about war, sending messengers and embassies in all directions, and exploring what remaining plans they should adopt and from where the war should begin, and they held nocturnal councils in deserted places. 

5. Neque ullum fere totius hiemis tempus sine sollicitudine Caesaris intercessit, quin aliquem de consiliis ac motu Gallorum nuntium acciperet. 

5. And almost no time during the entire winter passed without Caesar's anxiety, without his receiving some report concerning the plans and uprising of the Gauls. 

6. In his ab Lucio Roscio, quem legioni tertiae decimae praefecerat, certior factus est magnas Gallorum copias earum civitatum, quae Armoricae appellantur, oppugnandi sui causa convenisse 

6. Among these, he was informed by Lucius Roscius, whom he had placed in command of the Thirteenth Legion, that large forces of Gauls from those states which are called Armorican had assembled for the purpose of attacking him,  

7. neque longius milia passuum octo ab hibernis suis afuisse, sed nuntio allato de victoria Caesaris discessisse, adeo ut fugae similis discessus videretur. 

7. and had been no more than eight miles from his winter quarters, but, with the report of Caesar's victory having arrived, they had departed, so much so that their departure seemed like a flight. 

 [54] 

1. At Caesar principibus cuiusque civitatis ad se evocatis alias territando, cum se scire quae fierent denuntiaret, alias cohortando magnam partem Galliae in officio tenuit. 

1. But Caesar, having summoned the chiefs of each state to himself, partly by terrifying them, when he declared that he knew what was happening, and partly by encouraging them, kept a large part of Gaul loyal. 

2. Tamen Senones, quae est civitas in primis firma et magnae inter Gallos auctoritatis, Cavarinum, quem Caesar apud eos regem constituerat, cuius frater Moritasgus adventu in Galliam Caesaris cuiusque maiores regnum obtinuerant, interficere publico consilio conati, cum ille praesensisset ac profugisset, usque ad fines insecuti 

2. Nevertheless, the Senones, which is a state especially strong and of great authority among the Gauls, having tried by public counsel to kill Cavarinus, whom Caesar had established as king among them, whose brother Moritasgus at Caesar's arrival in Gaul, and whose ancestors had held the kingship, when he perceived it and fled, pursued him to their borders 

3. regno domoque expulerunt et, missis ad Caesarem satisfaciendi causa legatis, cum is omnem ad se senatum venire iussisset, dicto audientes non fuerunt. 

3. and drove him from his kingdom and home, and having sent envoys to Caesar to make satisfaction, when he had ordered their entire senate to come to him, they were not obedient to his command. 

4. Tantum apud homines barbaros valuit esse aliquos repertos principes inferendi belli tantamque omnibus voluntatum commutationem attulit, ut praeter Aeduos et Remos, quos praecipuo semper honore Caesar habuit, alteros pro vetere ac perpetua erga populum Romanum fide, alteros pro recentibus Gallici belli officiis, nulla fere civitas fuerit non suspecta nobis. 

4. Such was the power among barbaric peoples when some leaders were found who were willing to wage war, and such a great change of will it brought to all, that apart from the Aeduans and Remi, whom Caesar always held in special honor—the former for their ancient and perpetual loyalty towards the Roman people, the latter for their recent services in the Gallic War—scarcely any state was not suspected by us. 

5. Idque adeo haud scio mirandumne sit, cum compluribus aliis de causis, tum maxime quod ei, qui virtute belli omnibus gentibus praeferebantur, tantum se eius opinionis deperdidisse ut a populo Romano imperia perferrent gravissime dolebant. 

5. And I hardly know whether this should be wondered at, considering several other reasons, but especially because those who were preferred to all nations in military valor, grieved most bitterly that they had so lost that reputation as to endure commands from the Roman people. 

[55] 

1. Treveri vero atque Indutiomarus totius hiemis nullum tempus intermiserunt, quin trans Rhenum legatos mitterent, civitates sollicitarent, pecunias pollicerentur, magna parte exercitus nostri interfecta multo minorem superesse dicerent partem. 

1. The Treveri and Indutiomarus indeed let no time of the entire winter pass without sending envoys across the Rhine, inciting states, promising money, and saying that a much smaller part of our army remained after a large part had been killed. 

2. Neque tamen ulli civitati Germanorum persuaderi potuit, ut Rhenum transiret, cum se bis expertos dicerent, Ariovisti bello et Tencterorum transitu: non esse amplius fortunam temptaturos. Hac spe lapsus Indutiomarus nihilo minus copias cogere, 

2. Yet no German state could be persuaded to cross the Rhine, as they said they had twice experienced it, in the war with Ariovistus and in the crossing of the Tencteri: they would not tempt fortune further. Disappointed in this hope, Indutiomarus nevertheless began to gather forces, 

3. exercere, a finitimis equos parare, exules damnatosque tota Gallia magnis praemiis ad se allicere coepit. 

3. to train them, to procure horses from his neighbors, and to entice exiles and condemned persons from all over Gaul to himself with great rewards. 

4. Ac tantam sibi iam his rebus in Gallia auctoritatem comparaverat ut undique ad eum legationes concurrerent, gratiam atque amicitiam publice privatimque peterent. 

4. And he had now acquired so much authority for himself in Gaul by these means that embassies converged on him from everywhere, seeking his favor and friendship publicly and privately. 

 [56] 

1. Ubi intellexit ultro ad se veniri, altera ex parte Senones Carnutesque conscientia facinoris instigari, altera Nervios Aduatucosque bellum Romanis parare, neque sibi voluntariorum copias defore, si ex finibus suis progredi coepisset, armatum concilium indicit. Hoc more Gallorum est initium belli, 

1. When he understood that people were coming to him of their own accord, on one hand the Senones and Carnutes were being incited by the consciousness of their crime, on the other hand the Nervii and Aduatuci were preparing for war against the Romans, and that he would not lack voluntary forces if he began to advance from his territory, he proclaimed an armed council. This, according to the custom of the Gauls, is the beginning of war, 

2. quo lege communi omnes puberes armati convenire consuerunt; qui ex eis novissimus convenit, in conspectu multitudinis omnibus cruciatibus affectus necatur. 

2. by which common law all adult males were accustomed to assemble armed; whoever of them came last, was put to death with all tortures in the sight of the multitude. 

3. In eo concilio Cingetorigem, alterius principem factionis, generum suum, quem supra demonstravimus Caesaris secutum fidem ab eo non discessisse, hostem iudicat bonaque eius publicat. 

3. In that council, he declared Cingetorix, the leader of the other faction, his own son-in-law, whom we demonstrated above to have followed Caesar's protection and not departed from him, to be an enemy and confiscated his goods publicly. 

4. His rebus confectis, in concilio pronuntiat arcessitum se a Senonibus et Carnutibus aliisque compluribus Galliae civitatibus; 

4. With these matters concluded, he announced in the council that he had been summoned by the Senones and Carnutes and several other states of Gaul; 

5. huc iturum per fines Remorum eorumque agros populaturum ac, priusquam id faciat, castra Labieni oppugnaturum. Quae fieri velit praecipit. 

5. that he would go there through the territory of the Remi and plunder their lands, and that before he did that, he would attack Labienus’s camp. He instructed what he wanted done. 

[57] 

1. Labienus, cum et loci natura et manu munitissumis castris sese teneret, de suo ac legionis periculo nihil timebat; ne quam occasionem rei bene gerendae dimitteret, cogitabat. 

1. Labienus, since he was holding himself in a camp most strongly fortified both by nature of the place and by hand, feared nothing for himself or the legion; he considered how he might not miss any opportunity for a successful operation. 

2. Itaque a Cingetorige atque eius propinquis oratione Indutiomari cognita, quam in concilio habuerat, nuntios mittit ad finitimas civitates equitesque undique evocat: his certum diem conveniendi dicit. 

2. Therefore, having learned of Indutiomarus's speech, which he had delivered in the council, from Cingetorix and his relatives, he sent messengers to the neighboring states and summoned cavalry from all sides: to these he named a certain day for assembling. 

3. Interim prope cotidie cum omni equitatu Indutiomarus sub castris eius vagabatur, alias ut situm castrorum cognosceret, alias colloquendi aut territandi causa: equites plerumque omnes tela intra vallum coniciebant. 

3. Meanwhile, almost daily, Indutiomarus wandered with all his cavalry beneath Labienus's camp, sometimes to learn the layout of the camp, sometimes for the purpose of parleying or terrifying: the cavalry for the most part all threw weapons inside the rampart. 

4. Labienus suos intra munitionem continebat timorisque opinionem, quibuscumque poterat rebus, augebat. 

4. Labienus kept his men within the fortification and increased the impression of fear by whatever means he could. 

 [58] 

1. Cum maiore in dies contemptione Indutiomarus ad castra accederet, nocte una intromissis equitibus omnium finitimarum civitatum quos arcessendos curaverat, tanta diligentia omnes suos custodiis intra castra continuit, ut nulla ratione ea res enuntiari aut ad Treveros perferri posset. 

1. As Indutiomarus approached the camp with increasing contempt day by day, Labienus, having brought in during one night the cavalry of all the neighboring states whom he had arranged to be summoned, kept all his men under guard within the camp with such diligence that by no means could this matter be divulged or reported to the Treveri. 

2. Interim ex consuetudine cotidiana Indutiomarus ad castra accedit atque ibi magnam partem diei consumit; equites tela coniciunt et magna cum contumelia verborum nostros ad pugnam evocant. 

2. Meanwhile, as was his daily custom, Indutiomarus approached the camp and spent a large part of the day there; his cavalry threw weapons and with great verbal insult challenged our men to battle. 

3. Nullo ab nostris dato responso, ubi visum est, sub vesperum dispersi ac dissipati discedunt. 

3. No response being given by our men, when it seemed good, towards evening they departed scattered and dispersed. 

4. Subito Labienus duabus portis omnem equitatum emittit; praecipit atque interdicit, proterritis hostibus atque in fugam coniectis (quod fore, sicut accidit, videbat) unum omnes peterent Indutiomarum, neu quis quem prius vulneret, quam illum interfectum viderit, quod mora reliquorum spatium nactum illum effugere nolebat; magna proponit eis qui occiderint praemia; 

4. Suddenly Labienus sent out all the cavalry from two gates; he commanded and forbade them, when the enemy were put to flight and routed (which he saw would happen, as it did), that they should all aim for Indutiomarus alone, and that no one should wound anyone else before they saw him killed, because he did not want him to escape, having gained time from the delay of the others; he offered great rewards to those who killed him; 

5. summittit cohortes equitibus subsidio. 

5. he sent cohorts as reinforcements to the cavalry. 

6. Comprobat hominis consilium fortuna, et cum unum omnes peterent, in ipso fluminis vado deprehensus Indutiomarus interficitur, caputque eius refertur in castra: redeuntes equites quos possunt consectantur atque occidunt. 

6. Fortune approved the man's plan, and since all aimed for one man, Indutiomarus, caught in the very ford of the river, was killed, and his head was brought back to the camp: the returning cavalry pursued and killed as many as they could. 

7. Hac re cognita omnes Eburonum et Nerviorum quae convenerant copiae discedunt, pauloque habuit post id factum Caesar quietiorem Galliam. 

7. This matter being known, all the forces of the Eburones and Nervii that had assembled dispersed, and after that event, Caesar had Gaul somewhat quieter.