De Bello Gallico 4.32

4.32.1Dum ea geruntur, legiōne ex cōnsuētūdine ūnā frūmentātum missā, quae appellābātur VII., neque ūlla ad id tempus bellī suspīciōne interpositā, cum pars hominum in agrīs remanēret, pars etiam in castra ventitāret, iī quī prō portīs castrōrum in statiōne erant Caesarī nūntiāvērunt pulverem maiōrem quam cōnsuētūdō ferret in eā parte vidērī quam in partem legiō iter fēcisset.

While this was going on, one legion, called the Seventh, had been sent out to get grain as usual, and no suspicion of war had arisen up to that time, since some of the people were staying in the fields and some were even coming often to the camp; then the men on guard in front of the gates of the camp reported to Caesar that a greater cloud of dust than usual was being seen in the direction in which the legion had gone.

Note. frūmentātum: supine of purpose, 'to get grain'. quam cōnsuētūdō ferret: 'than was usual'. in eā parte … quam in partem: the antecedent is repeated inside the relative clause.

4.32.2Caesar— id quod erat— suspicātus aliquid novī ā barbarīs initum cōnsiliī, cohortēs quae in statiōne erant sēcum in eam partem proficīscī, ex reliquīs duās in statiōnem succēdere, reliquās armārī et cōnfestim sēsē subsequī iussit.

Caesar suspected what was in fact the case, that some new plan had been set on foot by the natives; he ordered the cohorts on guard to set out with him in that direction, two of the others to take over the guard, and the rest to arm and follow him at once.

Note. id quod erat: 'as was the case'. aliquid novī … cōnsiliī: partitive genitives, 'some new plan'.

4.32.3Cum paulō longius ā castrīs prōcessisset, suōs ab hostibus premī atque aegrē sustinēre et cōnfertā legiōne ex omnibus partibus tēla coicī animadvertit.

When he had gone a little way from the camp, he noticed that his men were being hard pressed by the enemy and were barely holding out, and that missiles were being thrown from every side at the legion, which was crowded together.

4.32.4Nam quod omnī ex reliquīs partibus dēmessō frūmentō pars ūna erat reliqua, suspicātī hostēs hūc nostrōs esse ventūrōs noctū in silvīs dēlituerant;

For since the grain had been cut everywhere else and one part was left, the enemy had suspected that our men would come there and had hidden in the woods during the night;

Note. omnī ex reliquīs partibus dēmessō frūmentō: ablative absolute. dēlituerant from dēlitēscō.

4.32.5tum dispersōs dēpositīs armīs in metendō occupātōs subitō adortī paucīs interfectīs reliquōs incertīs ōrdinibus perturbāverant, simul equitātū atque essedīs circumdederant.

then they had suddenly attacked our men while they were scattered, with their arms laid aside and busy reaping, killed a few, thrown the rest into confusion before they could form ranks, and at the same time surrounded them with cavalry and chariots.