De Bello Gallico 3.24

3.24.1Prīmā lūce prōductīs omnibus cōpiīs duplicī aciē īnstitūtā, auxiliīs in mediam aciem coniectīs, quid hostēs cōnsiliī caperent expectābat.

At first light he led out all his forces, drew up a double line with the auxiliaries placed in the middle, and waited to see what plan the enemy would adopt.

3.24.2Illī, etsī propter multitūdinem et veterem bellī glōriam paucitātemque nostrōrum sē tūtō dīmicātūrōs exīstimābant, tamen tūtius esse arbitrābantur obsessīs viīs commeātū interclūsō sine vulnere victōriā potīrī, et sī propter inopiam reī frūmentāriae Rōmānī sē recipere coepissent, impedītōs in agmine et sub sarcinīs īnfirmiōrēs animō adorīrī cōgitābant.

They, although they thought they could fight safely because of their numbers, the old glory of their warfare and the small number of our men, still judged it safer to block the roads, cut off our supplies and win the victory without bloodshed; and if the Romans began to withdraw for lack of grain, they planned to attack them while they were hampered on the march and weighed down by their packs and less resolute.

Note. etsī … tamen: 'although … still'. sē tūtō dīmicātūrōs: future infinitive in indirect statement (esse is left out).

3.24.4Hōc cōnsiliō probātō ab ducibus, prōductīs Rōmānōrum cōpiīs, sēsē castrīs tenēbant.

This plan was approved by the leaders, and when the Romans led out their forces, they kept to their camp.

3.24.5Hāc rē perspectā Crassus, cum suā cūnctātiōne atque opīniōne timōris hostēs nostrōs mīlitēs alacriōrēs ad pugnandum effēcissent atque omnium vōcēs audīrentur expectārī diūtius nōn oportēre quīn ad castra īrētur, cohortātus suōs omnibus cupientibus ad hostium castra contendit.

Seeing this, since the enemy by their own hesitation and show of fear had made our soldiers keener to fight, and everyone was saying that there should be no further waiting before they attacked the camp, Crassus encouraged his men and, as they were all eager, hurried to the enemy's camp.