De Bello Gallico 3.23

3.23.1Armīs obsidibusque acceptīs, Crassus in fīnēs Vocātium et Tarusātium profectus est.

After receiving weapons and hostages, Crassus set out into the territory of the Vocates and Tarusates.

3.23.2Tum vērō barbarī commōtī, quod oppidum et nātūrā locī et manū mūnītum paucīs diēbus quibus eō ventum erat expugnātum cognōverant, lēgātōs quōqueversus dīmittere, coniūrāre, obsidēs inter sē dare, cōpiās parāre coepērunt.

Then indeed the barbarians were alarmed, because they had learned that a town strongly defended both by nature and by hand had been taken within a few days of the Romans' arrival; they began to send envoys in every direction, to swear alliances, to give each other hostages and to prepare forces.

Note. quōque versus: 'in every direction'. paucīs diēbus quibus eō ventum erat: 'within a few days of their arrival', ventum erat is an impersonal passive.

3.23.3Mittuntur etiam ad eās cīvitātēs lēgātī quae sunt citeriōris Hispāniae fīnitimae Aquītāniae: inde auxilia ducēsque arcessuntur.

Envoys are also sent to the states of Nearer Spain that border on Aquitania: from there auxiliaries and leaders are brought in.

3.23.4Quōrum adventū magnā cum auctōritāte et magnā cum hominum multitūdine bellum gerere cōnantur.

With their arrival they try to wage war with great authority and a great number of men.

3.23.5Ducēs vērō iī dēliguntur quī ūnā cum Q. Sertōriō omnēs annōs fuerant summamque scientiam reī mīlitāris habēre exīstimābantur.

As leaders, men are chosen who had served all those years with Quintus Sertorius and were thought to have the greatest knowledge of warfare.

Note. Sertorius had led a revolt in Spain against Rome until 72 BC, so his old officers knew Roman methods.

3.23.6Hī cōnsuētūdine populī Rōmānī loca capere, castra mūnīre, commeātibus nostrōs interclūdere īnstituunt.

Following the practice of the Roman people, these men begin to seize positions, fortify camps and cut our men off from supplies.

3.23.7Quod ubi Crassus animadvertit, suās cōpiās propter exiguitātem nōn facile dīdūcī, hostem et vagārī et viās obsidēre et castrīs satis praesidiī relinquere, ob eam causam minus commodē frūmentum commeātumque sibi supportārī, in diēs hostium numerum augērī, nōn cūnctandum exīstimāvit quīn pugnā dēcertāret.

When Crassus noticed this — that his forces could not easily be split up because they were few, that the enemy were both roaming about and blocking the roads and also leaving a strong enough guard in their camp, that for this reason grain and supplies were being brought to him less easily, and that the enemy's numbers were growing day by day — he thought he must not delay fighting a decisive battle.

Note. nōn cūnctandum … quīn pugnā dēcertāret: 'that there must be no delay in fighting it out'.

3.23.8Hāc rē ad cōnsilium dēlāta, ubi omnēs idem sentīre intellēxit, posterum diem pugnae cōnstituit.

When he put this to his council and saw that everyone thought the same, he fixed the next day for the battle.