De Bello Gallico 1.22

1.22.1Prīmā lūce, cum summus mōns ā Lūciō Labiēnō tenērētur, ipse ab hostium castrīs nōn longius mīlle et quīngentīs passibus abesset neque, ut posteā ex captīvīs comperit, aut ipsīus adventus aut Labiēnī cognitus esset, Cōnsidius equō admissō ad eum accurrit, dīcit montem, quem ā Labiēnō occupārī voluerit, ab hostibus tenērī: id sē ā Gallicīs armīs atque īnsignibus cognōvisse.

At first light, when the top of the hill was held by Labienus, and Caesar himself was not more than a mile and a half from the enemy camp, and, as he later learned from prisoners, neither his own approach nor that of Labienus had been discovered, Considius gallops up to him and says that the hill which Caesar had wanted Labienus to seize was held by the enemy: he had recognised this from the Gallic arms and insignia.

Note. equō admissō: 'at full gallop', literally 'with his horse let go'.

1.22.3Caesar suās cōpiās in proximum collem subdūcit, aciem īnstruit.

Caesar withdraws his forces to the nearest hill and draws up his battle line.

1.22.3Labiēnus, ut erat eī praeceptum ā Caesare nē proelium committeret, nisi ipsīus cōpiae prope hostium castra vīsae essent, ut undique ūnō tempore in hostēs impetus fieret, monte occupātō nostrōs expectābat proeliōque abstinēbat.

Labienus, as he had been instructed by Caesar not to engage unless Caesar's own forces were seen near the enemy camp, so that the enemy could be attacked from all sides at once, held the hill and waited for our men, and kept out of battle.

1.22.4Multō dēnique diē per explōrātōrēs Caesar cognōvit et montem ā suīs tenērī et Helvētiōs castra mōvisse et Cōnsidium timōre perterritum quod nōn vīdisset prō vīsō sibi renūntiāvisse.

At last, late in the day, Caesar learned from scouts that the hill was held by his own men, that the Helvetii had moved camp, and that Considius, panic-stricken, had reported to him as seen what he had not seen.

Note. Multō diē: 'late in the day'. prō vīsō: 'as seen'.

1.22.4Eō diē quō cōnsuērat intervallō hostēs sequitur et mīlia passuum tria ab eōrum castrīs castra pōnit.

That day he follows the enemy at his usual distance and pitches camp three miles from their camp.