De Bello Gallico 3.15

3.15.1Dēiectīs, ut dīximus, antemnīs, cum singulās bīnae ac ternae nāvēs circumsteterant, mīlitēs summā vī trānscendere in hostium nāvēs contendēbant.

When the yards had been torn down, as we have said, and two or three of our ships had surrounded each one of theirs, the soldiers strove with all their might to climb across into the enemy's ships.

Note. Dēiectīs … antemnīs is an ablative absolute. singulās bīnae ac ternae nāvēs: distributive numerals, 'two or three ships to each one'.

3.15.2Quod postquam barbarī fierī animadvertērunt, expugnātīs complūribus nāvibus, cum eī reī nūllum reperīrētur auxilium, fugā salūtem petere contendērunt.

When the barbarians saw this happening, and several ships had been taken, since no remedy could be found for it, they tried to seek safety in flight.

3.15.3Ac iam conversīs in eam partem nāvibus quō ventus ferēbat, tanta subitō malacia ac tranquillitās extitit ut sē ex locō movēre nōn possent.

And when they had already turned their ships in the direction the wind was carrying them, such a sudden dead calm came on that they could not move from the spot.

3.15.4Quae quidem rēs ad negōtium cōnficiendum maximae fuit oportūnitātī: nam singulās nostrī cōnsectātī expugnāvērunt, ut perpaucae ex omnī numerō noctis interventū ad terram pervenīrent, cum ab hōrā ferē IIII usque ad sōlis occāsum pugnārētur.

This circumstance was indeed a great help in finishing the business: for our men chased the ships one by one and took them, so that very few out of the whole number reached land when night came on, since the fighting went on from about the fourth hour until sunset.

Note. ad negōtium cōnficiendum: gerundive of purpose. maximae fuit opportūnitātī: double-dative idea, 'was of the greatest advantage'. The text prints per venīrent for pervenīrent.