De Bello Gallico 3.18

3.18.1Hāc cōnfirmātā opīniōne timōris idōneum quendam hominem et callidum dēligit, Gallum, ex iīs quōs auxiliī causā sēcum habēbat.

When this impression of fear was firmly established, he chose a suitable and clever man, a Gaul, from those he had with him as auxiliaries.

3.18.2Huic magnīs praemiīs pollicitātiōnibusque persuādet utī ad hostēs trānseat, et quid fierī velit ēdocet.

He persuades him with great rewards and promises to go over to the enemy, and explains what he wants done.

Note. quid fierī velit: indirect question, 'what he wants done'.

3.18.3Quī ubi prō perfugā ad eōs vēnit, timōrem Rōmānōrum prōpōnit, quibus angustiīs ipse Caesar ā Venetīs premātur docet, neque longius abesse quīn proximā nocte Sabīnus clam ex castrīs exercitum ēdūcat et ad Caesarem auxiliī ferendī causā proficīscātur.

When he came to them as a deserter, he described the Romans' fear and told them how hard pressed Caesar himself was by the Veneti, and that it would not be long before Sabinus secretly led his army out of the camp the next night and set out to help Caesar.

Note. neque longius abesse quīn …: 'it was not long before …', quīn + subjunctive after a negative.

3.18.5Quod ubi audītum est, conclāmant omnēs occāsiōnem negōtiī bene gerendī āmittendam nōn esse: ad castra īrī oportēre.

When they heard this, they all shouted that they must not lose the chance of a success: they must go and attack the camp.

Note. īrī: the impersonal present passive infinitive of eō, 'that there should be a going', i.e. 'that they should go'.

3.18.6Multae rēs ad hoc cōnsilium Gallōs hortābantur: superiōrum diērum Sabīnī cūnctātiō, perfugae cōnfirmātiō, inopia cibāriōrum, cui reī parum dīligenter ab iīs erat prōvīsum, spēs Veneticī bellī, et quod ferē libenter hominēs id quod volunt crēdunt.

Many things urged the Gauls to this plan: Sabinus' hesitation in the previous days, the deserter's assurance, their lack of food, for which they had made too little provision, their hope in the Venetic war, and the fact that men generally believe what they want to believe.

Note. ferē libenter hominēs id quod volunt crēdunt: a famous saying, 'people generally believe what they want to'.

3.18.7Hīs rēbus adductī nōn prius Viridovīcem reliquōsque ducēs ex conciliō dīmittunt quam ab iīs sit concessum arma utī capiant et ad castra contendant.

Moved by these things, they do not let Viridovix and the other leaders leave the council until they have agreed that they should take up arms and hurry to the camp.

Note. nōn prius … quam: 'not … until'.

3.18.8Quā rē concessā laetī, ut explōrātā victōriā, sarmentīs virgultīsque collēctīs, quibus fossās Rōmānōrum compleant, ad castra pergunt.

When this was granted, they were delighted, as if victory were certain, and after collecting brushwood and twigs to fill the Romans' trenches, they march on the camp.

Note. ut explōrātā victōriā: 'as if victory were assured'. quibus … compleant: a relative purpose clause.