2.31.1Ubi vērō movērī et adpropinquāre mūrīs vīdērunt, novā atque inūsitātā speciē commōtī lēgātōs ad Caesarem dē pāce mīsērunt, quī ad hunc modum locūtī, nōn sē exīstimāre Rōmānōs sine ope dīvīnā bellum gerere, quī tantae altitūdinis māchinātiōnēs tantā celeritāte prōmovēre possent, sē suaque omnia eōrum potestātī permittere dīxērunt.But when they saw it moving and coming close to the walls, alarmed by the strange and unfamiliar sight, they sent envoys to Caesar about peace; these spoke as follows: they did not think the Romans waged war without the help of the gods, since they could move forward machines of such height with such speed; they put themselves and all their possessions in the Romans' power.Note. nōn sē exīstimāre … : indirect statement after dīxērunt at the end of the sentence. 2.31.4Ūnum petere ac dēprecārī: sī forte prō suā clēmentiā ac mānsuētūdine, quam ipsī ab aliīs audīrent, statuisset Atuatucōs esse cōnservandōs, nē sē armīs dēspoliāret.They asked and begged one thing: if by any chance, in his mercy and gentleness, of which they heard from others, he decided that the Atuatuci should be spared, he should not strip them of their arms.Note. Ūnum petere: 'they asked one thing'. nē … dēspoliāret: what they asked, 'that he should not strip them'. 2.31.5Sibi omnēs ferē fīnitimōs esse inimīcōs ac suae virtūtī invidēre;Almost all their neighbours were hostile to them and envied their courage; 2.31.5ā quibus sē dēfendere trāditīs armīs nōn possent.if they handed over their arms, they could not defend themselves against them.
2.31.6Sibi praestāre, sī in eum cāsum dēdūcerentur, quamvīs fortūnam ā populō Rōmānō patī quam ab hīs per cruciātum interficī inter quōs dominārī cōnsuēssent.If they were brought to that point, they would rather suffer any fortune whatever at the hands of the Roman people than be tortured to death by those over whom they had been accustomed to rule.Note. Sibi praestāre: 'it was better for them'. quamvīs fortūnam: 'any fortune you like'.