De Bello Gallico 1.52

1.52.1Caesar singulīs legiōnibus singulōs lēgātōs et quaestōrem praefēcit, utī eōs testēs suae quisque virtūtis habēret;

Caesar put a legate and the quaestor in charge of each legion, so that each man would have them as witnesses of his courage;

Note. singulīs legiōnibus singulōs lēgātōs: 'one legate to each legion'. testēs: officers who would see and report each man's courage.

1.52.2ipse ā dextrō cornū, quod eam partem minimē firmam hostium esse animadverterat, proelium commīsit.

he himself began the battle on the right wing, because he had noticed that this part of the enemy was the weakest.

1.52.3Ita nostrī ācriter in hostēs signō datō impetum fēcērunt itaque hostēs repente celeriterque prōcurrērunt, ut spatium pīla in hostēs coiciendī nōn darētur.

So when the signal was given our men attacked the enemy so fiercely, and the enemy ran forward so suddenly and quickly, that there was no time to throw javelins at them.

Note. Ita … ut … nōn darētur: a result clause, 'so fast that there was no chance'.

1.52.4Relictīs pīlīs comminus gladiīs pugnātum est.

The javelins were dropped and they fought hand to hand with swords.

1.52.4At Germānī celeriter ex cōnsuētūdine suā phalange factā impetūs gladiōrum excēpērunt.

But the Germans quickly formed a phalanx, as was their custom, and took the sword attacks on it.

1.52.5Repertī sunt complūrēs nostrī quī in phalanga īnsilīrent et scūta manibus revellerent et dēsuper vulnerārent.

Several of our men were found who leapt onto the phalanxes, tore the shields from the enemy's hands and wounded them from above.

Note. in phalanga: Greek accusative plural of phalanx, 'onto the phalanxes'.

1.52.6Cum hostium aciēs ā sinistrō cornū pulsa atque in fugam coniecta esset, ā dextrō cornū vehementer multitūdine suōrum nostram aciem premēbant.

While the enemy's line on the left wing had been beaten and put to flight, on the right wing they were pressing our line hard with their great numbers.

1.52.7Id cum animadvertisset P. Crassus adulēscēns, quī equitātuī praeerat, quod expedītior erat quam iī quī inter aciem versābantur, tertiam aciem labōrantibus nostrīs subsidiō mīsit.

When young Publius Crassus, who commanded the cavalry, noticed this, since he was freer to move than those who were engaged in the line, he sent the third line to help our men who were in difficulty.

Note. Publius Crassus was the son of Marcus Crassus, the Roman general. expedītior: 'less tied down', freer to move.