2.12.1Postrīdiē eius diēī Caesar, prius quam sē hostēs ex terrōre ac fugā reciperent, in fīnēs Suessiōnum, quī proximī Rēmīs erant, exercitum dūxit et magnō itinere cōnfectō ad oppidum Noviodūnum contendit.The next day, before the enemy could recover from their terror and flight, Caesar led his army into the territory of the Suessiones, who were neighbours of the Remi, and after a long march hurried to the town of Noviodunum.Note. prius quam … reciperent: subjunctive, because Caesar acted to prevent their recovery. 2.12.2Id ex itinere oppugnāre cōnātus, quod vacuum ab dēfēnsōribus esse audiēbat, propter lātitūdinem fossae mūrīque altitūdinem paucīs dēfendentibus expugnāre nōn potuit.He tried to take it by assault straight from the march, because he heard it was empty of defenders, but because of the width of the ditch and the height of the wall he could not take it, though only a few were defending it. 2.12.3Castrīs mūnītīs vīneās agere quaeque ad oppugnandum ūsuī erant comparāre coepit.After fortifying the camp he began to bring up sheds and to prepare whatever was useful for a siege.Note. vīneae were movable sheds that let besiegers work at a wall under cover. 2.12.4Interim omnis ex fugā Suessiōnum multitūdō in oppidum proximā nocte convēnit.Meanwhile the whole mass of the Suessiones gathered into the town from their flight the following night.
2.12.5Celeriter vīneīs ad oppidum āctīs, aggere iactō turribusque cōnstitūtīs, magnitūdine operum, quae neque vīderant ante Gallī neque audierant, et celeritāte Rōmānōrum permōtī lēgātōs ad Caesarem dē dēditiōne mittunt et petentibus Rēmīs ut cōnservārentur impetrant.When the sheds had quickly been brought up to the town, a ramp thrown up and towers set in place, the Gauls, alarmed by the size of the siege works, such as they had never seen or heard of before, and by the speed of the Romans, send envoys to Caesar about surrender, and at the request of the Remi they obtain their lives.Note. petentibus Rēmīs: ablative absolute, 'at the request of the Remi'.