De Bello Gallico 5.16

5.16.1Tōtō hōc in genere pugnae, cum sub oculīs omnium ac prō castrīs dīmicārētur, intellēctum est nostrōs propter gravitātem armōrum, quod neque īnsequī cēdentēs possent neque ab signīs discēdere audērent, minus aptōs esse ad huius generis hostem, equitēs autem magnō cum perīculō proeliō dīmicāre, proptereā quod illī etiam cōnsultō plērumque cēderent et, cum paulum ab legiōnibus nostrōs remōvissent, ex essedīs dēsilīrent et pedibus disparī proeliō contenderent.

In this whole kind of fighting, since the battle took place under everyone's eyes and in front of the camp, it was clear that our infantry, because of the weight of their armour, were not well suited to an enemy of this kind, since they could neither pursue men who gave way nor dared to leave their standards; and that the cavalry fought at great risk, because the enemy often retreated on purpose and, when they had drawn our men a little away from the legions, jumped down from their chariots and fought on foot, an unequal fight.

Note. intellēctum est: impersonal, 'it was understood'. It introduces two indirect statements: nostrōs … minus aptōs esse and equitēs … dīmicāre.

5.16.3Equestris autem proelī ratiō et cēdentibus et īnsequentibus pār atque idem perīculum īnferēbat.

And the cavalry way of fighting brought the same danger to those retreating and to those pursuing.

5.16.4Accēdēbat hūc ut numquam cōnfertī sed rārī magnīsque intervallīs proeliārentur statiōnēsque dispositās habērent, atque aliōs aliī deinceps exciperent, integrīque et recentēs dēfetīgātīs succēderent.

There was also the fact that they never fought in close order but scattered and with wide gaps, and had reserves posted, so that they took over from one another in turn, and fresh, rested men replaced the tired.

Note. Accēdēbat hūc ut: 'there was added to this the fact that', a noun clause of result.