De Bello Gallico 4.33

4.33.1Genus hoc est ex essedīs pugnae.

Their way of fighting from chariots is this.

4.33.1Prīmō per omnēs partēs perequitant et tēla coiciunt atque ipsō terrōre equōrum et strepitū rotārum ōrdinēs plērumque perturbant, et cum sē inter equitum turmās īnsinuāvērunt, ex essedīs dēsiliunt et pedibus proeliantur.

First they drive about in all directions and throw missiles, and by the mere terror of the horses and the noise of the wheels they generally throw the ranks into confusion; and when they have worked their way in among the troops of cavalry, they leap down from the chariots and fight on foot.

Note. cum … īnsinuāvērunt: cum with the indicative, 'whenever'. The description of chariot fighting is in the present tense: Caesar describes the Britons' regular practice.

4.33.2Aurīgae interim paulātim ex proeliō excēdunt atque ita currūs conlocant ut, sī illī ā multitūdine hostium premantur, expedītum ad suōs receptum habeant.

Meanwhile the charioteers withdraw a little way from the battle and place the chariots so that, if the fighters are hard pressed by a large number of the enemy, they have an easy line of retreat to their own side.

4.33.3Ita mōbilitātem equitum, stabilitātem peditum in proeliīs praestant, ac tantum ūsū cōtīdiānō et exercitātiōne efficiunt utī in dēclīvī ac praecipitī locō incitātōs equōs sustinēre et brevī moderārī ac flectere et per tēmōnem percurrere et in iugō īnsistere et sē inde in currūs citissimē recipere cōnsuērint.

So in battle they display the mobility of cavalry and the steadiness of infantry, and by daily practice and training they achieve so much that they are accustomed to hold in their galloping horses on a steep slope, to control and turn them quickly, to run along the pole, stand on the yoke, and from there get back into the chariots very quickly.

Note. tantum … efficiunt utī … cōnsuērint: result clause. brevī: 'in a short space', i.e. quickly. The tēmō is the chariot pole, the iugum the yoke over the horses' necks.