De Bello Gallico 4.4

4.4.1In eādem causā fuērunt Usipetēs et Tencterī, quōs suprā dīximus;

In the same situation were the Usipetes and Tencteri, whom we mentioned above;

4.4.1quī complūrēs annōs Suēbōrum vim sustinuērunt, ad extrēmum tamen agrīs expulsī et multīs locīs Germāniae triennium vagātī ad Rhēnum pervēnērunt, quās regiōnēs Menapiī incolēbant.

they withstood the might of the Suebi for several years, but in the end were driven from their lands, and after wandering for three years through many parts of Germany they reached the Rhine, in the districts where the Menapii lived.

Note. triennium: accusative of duration of time. quās regiōnēs: the antecedent is drawn into the relative clause, 'to the districts which'.

4.4.2Hī ad utramque rīpam flūminis agrōs, aedificia vīcōsque habēbant;

The Menapii had fields, buildings and villages on both banks of the river;

4.4.3sed tantae multitūdinis adventū perterritī ex iīs aedificiīs quae trāns flūmen habuerant dēmigrāverant, et cis Rhēnum dispositīs praesidiīs Germānōs trānsīre prohibēbant.

but, alarmed by the arrival of so great a host, they had moved out of the buildings they had had across the river, and by placing guards on this side of the Rhine they were trying to stop the Germans from crossing.

4.4.4Illī omnia expertī, cum neque vī contendere propter inopiam nāvium neque clam trānsīre propter custōdiās Menapiōrum possent, revertī sē in suās sēdēs regiōnēsque simulāvērunt et trīduī viam prōgressī rūrsus revertērunt atque omnī hōc itinere ūnā nocte equitātū cōnfectō īnsciōs inopinantēsque Menapiōs oppressērunt, quī dē Germānōrum discessū per explōrātōrēs certiōrēs factī sine metū trāns Rhēnum in suōs vīcōs remigrāverant.

The Germans tried everything, and since they could neither force their way for lack of ships nor cross secretly because of the Menapian guards, they pretended to go back to their homes and districts; and after advancing three days' march they came back again, and, covering this whole distance in one night with their cavalry, they fell upon the Menapii, who were unaware and not expecting it, and who, informed by scouts of the Germans' departure, had moved back without fear into their villages across the Rhine.

Note. reverti sē … simulāvērunt: 'pretended that they were going back'. trīduī viam: 'a three days' journey'.

4.4.7Hīs interfectīs nāvibusque eōrum occupātīs, prius quam ea pars Menapiōrum quae citrā Rhēnum erat certior fieret, flūmen trānsiērunt atque omnibus eōrum aedificiīs occupātīs reliquam partem hiemis sē eōrum cōpiīs aluērunt.

They killed them and seized their ships, and before the part of the Menapii on this side of the Rhine could learn of it, they crossed the river, seized all their buildings, and fed themselves on their supplies for the rest of the winter.