De Bello Gallico 3.5

3.5.1Cum iam amplius hōrīs sex continenter pugnārētur, ac nōn sōlum vīrēs sed etiam tēla nostrōs dēficerent, atque hostēs ācrius īnstārent languidiōribusque nostrīs vallum scindere et fossās complēre coepissent, rēsque esset iam ad extrēmum perducta cāsum, P. Sextius Baculus, prīmī pīlī centuriō, quem Nervicō proeliō complūribus cōnfectum vulneribus dīximus, et item C. Volusēnus, tribūnus mīlitum, vir et cōnsiliī magnī et virtūtis, ad Galbam accurrunt atque ūnam esse spem salūtis docent, sī ēruptiōne factā extrēmum auxilium experīrentur.

When there had been continuous fighting for more than six hours, and not only strength but also weapons were failing our men, and the enemy were pressing harder and, as our men weakened, had begun to tear down the rampart and fill in the ditches, and the situation had reached the last extremity, Publius Sextius Baculus, the chief centurion, who we said was disabled by several wounds in the battle with the Nervii, and also Gaius Volusenus, a military tribune, a man of great judgement and courage, ran to Galba and told him there was one hope of safety: to make a sally and try the last resort.

Note. prīmī pīlī centuriō: the chief centurion of the legion. Nervicō proeliō: the battle with the Nervii, described in Book 2.

3.5.3Itaque convocātīs centuriōnibus celeriter mīlitēs certiōrēs facit, paulisper intermitterent proelium ac tantum modo tēla missa exciperent sēque ex labōre reficerent, post datō signō ex castrīs ērumperent, atque omnem spem salūtis in virtūte pōnerent.

So he called the centurions together and quickly told the soldiers to stop fighting for a little while, only catching the weapons thrown at them and recovering from their exertion; then, when the signal was given, they were to burst out of the camp and place all their hope of safety in their courage.

Note. intermitterent, exciperent, reficerent, ērumperent: commands reported in indirect speech after certiōrēs facit.