De Bello Gallico 3.2

3.2.1Cum diēs hībernōrum complūrēs trānsīssent frūmentumque eō comportārī iussisset, subitō per explōrātōrēs certior factus est ex eā parte vīcī, quam Gallīs concesserat, omnēs noctū discessisse montēsque quī impendērent ā maximā multitūdine Sedūnōrum et Veragrōrum tenērī.

When several days of winter quarters had passed and he had ordered grain to be brought there, he was suddenly informed by scouts that everyone had left in the night from the part of the village he had granted to the Gauls, and that the mountains overhanging it were held by a very large number of Seduni and Veragri.

3.2.2Id aliquot dē causīs acciderat, ut subitō Gallī bellī renovandī legiōnisque opprimendae cōnsilium caperent: prīmum, quod legiōnem neque eam plēnissimam dētrāctīs cohortibus duābus et complūribus singillātim, quī commeātūs petendī causā missī erant, absentibus propter paucitātem dēspiciēbant;

This had happened for several reasons, so that the Gauls suddenly formed a plan to renew the war and crush the legion: first, because they looked down on the legion for its small numbers, since it was not even at full strength, two cohorts having been taken away and a number of men being absent one by one, who had been sent to fetch supplies;

Note. bellī renovandī legiōnisque opprimendae cōnsilium: gerundives in the genitive, 'a plan of renewing the war and crushing the legion'.

3.2.4tum etiam, quod propter inīquitātem locī, cum ipsī ex montibus in vallem dēcurrerent et tēla coicerent, nē prīmum quidem impetum suum posse sustinērī exīstimābant.

then also because, given the unevenness of the ground, when they themselves ran down from the mountains into the valley and hurled their weapons, they thought not even their first charge could be withstood.

3.2.5Accēdēbat quod suōs ab sē līberōs abstractōs obsidum nōmine dolēbant, et Rōmānōs nōn sōlum itinerum causā sed etiam perpetuae possessiōnis culmina Alpium occupāre cōnārī et ea loca fīnitimae prōvinciae adiungere sibi persuāsum habēbant.

Besides, they resented that their children had been taken from them under the name of hostages, and they were convinced that the Romans were trying to seize the heights of the Alps not only for the sake of the routes but to hold them permanently, and to join those places to the neighbouring Province.

Note. Accēdēbat quod: 'there was the further fact that'. sibi persuāsum habēbant: 'they had it firmly fixed in their minds'.