De Bello Gallico 5.37

5.37.1Sabīnus quōs in praesentiā tribūnōs mīlitum circum sē habēbat et prīmōrum ōrdinum centuriōnēs sē sequī iubet et, cum propius Ambiorīgem accessisset, iussus arma abicere imperātum facit suīsque ut idem faciant imperat.

Sabinus orders the military tribunes he had about him at the time and the centurions of the first ranks to follow him, and when he had come nearer to Ambiorix and been ordered to throw down his arms, he does as he is told and orders his men to do the same.

Note. imperātum facit: 'he does what was ordered'; imperātum is the perfect participle used as a noun.

5.37.2Interim, dum dē condiciōnibus inter sē agunt longiorque cōnsultō ab Ambiorīge īnstituitur sermō, paulātim circumventus interficitur.

Meanwhile, while they are discussing terms among themselves and a rather long talk is deliberately drawn out by Ambiorix, he is gradually surrounded and killed.

5.37.3Tum vērō suō mōre victōriam conclāmant atque ululātum tollunt impetūque in nostrōs factō ōrdinēs perturbant.

Then indeed, in their usual way, they shout out 'victory' and raise a war-cry, and charging at our men they throw the ranks into confusion.

5.37.4Ibi Lūcius Cotta pugnāns interficitur cum maximā parte mīlitum.

There Lucius Cotta is killed fighting, with the greater part of the soldiers.

5.37.4Reliquī sē in castra recipiunt unde erant ēgressī;

The rest retreat into the camp from which they had come out;

5.37.5ex quibus Lūcius Petrosidius aquilifer, cum magnā multitūdine hostium premerētur, aquilam intrā vallum prōiēcit;

one of them, Lucius Petrosidius the eagle-bearer, when he was hard pressed by a great crowd of the enemy, threw the eagle inside the rampart;

5.37.5ipse prō castrīs fortissimē pugnāns occīditur.

he himself is killed fighting very bravely in front of the camp.

5.37.5Illī aegrē ad noctem oppugnātiōnem sustinent;

The others barely hold off the attack until nightfall;

5.37.6noctū ad ūnum omnēs dēspērātā salūte sē ipsī interficiunt.

in the night, having given up hope of rescue, they kill themselves, to the last man.

Note. ad ūnum omnēs: 'all to a man'. They chose suicide rather than capture.

5.37.7Paucī ex proeliō lāpsī incertīs itineribus per silvās ad Titum Labiēnum lēgātum in hīberna perveniunt atque eum dē rēbus gestīs certiōrem faciunt.

A few who slipped away from the battle reach the legate Titus Labienus in his winter camp by uncertain paths through the woods, and inform him of what has happened.