De Bello Gallico 5.28

5.28.1Arpinēius et Iūnius, quae audiērunt, ad lēgātōs dēferunt.

Arpineius and Junius report what they have heard to the legates.

5.28.1Illī repentīnā rē perturbātī, etsī ab hoste ea dīcēbantur, tamen nōn neglegenda exīstimābant maximēque hāc rē permovēbantur, quod cīvitātem ignōbilem atque humilem Eburōnum suā sponte populō Rōmānō bellum facere ausam vix erat crēdendum.

Thrown into confusion by the sudden turn of events, they thought that, although these things were said by an enemy, they should still not be ignored; and they were especially moved by this, that it was hardly to be believed that the obscure and weak state of the Eburones had dared on its own initiative to make war on the Roman people.

Note. nōn neglegenda: gerundive of obligation, 'not to be ignored'. vix erat crēdendum: 'it was hardly to be believed'.

5.28.2Itaque ad cōnsilium rem dēferunt magnaque inter eōs exsistit contrōversia.

So they refer the matter to a council, and a great dispute arises among them.

5.28.3Lūcius Aurunculeius complūrēsque tribūnī mīlitum et prīmōrum ōrdinum centuriōnēs nihil temerē agendum neque ex hībernīs iniussū Caesaris discēdendum exīstimābant: quantāsvīs magnās cōpiās etiam Germānōrum sustinērī posse mūnītīs hībernīs docēbant: rem esse testimōniō, quod prīmum hostium impetum multīs ultrō vulneribus illātīs fortissimē sustinuerint: rē frūmentāriā nōn premī;

Lucius Aurunculeius and several military tribunes and centurions of the first ranks thought that nothing should be done rashly and that they should not leave winter quarters without Caesar's order: they argued that forces of the Germans too, however great, could be held off in a fortified winter camp; the proof was that they had very bravely withstood the enemy's first attack and had even inflicted many wounds; they were not short of corn;

Note. nihil temere agendum … discēdendum: impersonal gerundives, with esse understood. reī testimōniō: 'served as proof', a dative of purpose.

5.28.3intereā et ex proximīs hībernīs et ā Caesare conventūra subsidia: postrēmō quid esse levius aut turpius, quam auctōre hoste dē summīs rēbus capere cōnsilium?

in the meantime help would come both from the nearest winter camps and from Caesar; finally, what was more foolish or more shameful than to take a decision on matters of the highest importance on the advice of an enemy?

Note. quid esse levius: a rhetorical question in indirect speech goes into the infinitive. auctōre hoste: ablative absolute, 'on the advice of an enemy'.