De Bello Gallico 5.41

5.41.1Tunc ducēs prīncipēsque Nerviōrum quī aliquem sermōnis aditum causamque amīcitiae cum Cicerōne habēbant colloquī sēsē velle dīcunt.

Then the leaders and chiefs of the Nervii who had some ground for speech and friendship with Cicero say they wish to talk with him.

5.41.2Factā potestāte eadem quae Ambiorīx cum Titūriō ēgerat commemorant: omnem esse in armīs Galliam;

When leave had been given, they recount the same things that Ambiorix had put to Titurius: all Gaul was in arms;

5.41.3Germānōs Rhēnum trānsīsse;

the Germans had crossed the Rhine;

5.41.3Caesaris reliquōrumque hīberna oppugnārī.

the winter camps of Caesar and the others were under attack.

5.41.4Addunt etiam dē Sabīnī morte: Ambiorīgem ostentant fideī faciendae causā.

They add the news of Sabinus' death too: they point to Ambiorix to make themselves believed.

5.41.5Errāre eōs dīcunt, sī quidquam ab hīs praesidī spērent, quī suīs rēbus diffīdant;

They say the Romans are mistaken if they hope for any help from those who are in despair about their own position;

5.41.5sēsē tamen hōc esse in Cicerōnem populumque Rōmānum animō, ut nihil nisi hīberna recūsent atque hanc inveterāscere cōnsuētūdinem nōlint: licēre illīs incolumibus per sē ex hībernīs discēdere et quāscumque in partēs velint sine metū proficīscī.

they themselves, however, felt such goodwill toward Cicero and the Roman people that they objected to nothing except the winter camps and did not want this practice to become settled: the Romans were free to leave the winter camps unharmed as far as they were concerned and to set out without fear in whatever direction they wished.

Note. per sē: 'as far as they were concerned'. quāscumque in partēs: 'in whatever direction'.

5.41.7Cicerō ad haec ūnum modo respondit: nōn esse cōnsuētūdinem populī Rōmānī accipere ab hoste armātō condiciōnem: sī ab armīs discēdere velint, sē adiūtōre ūtantur lēgātōsque ad Caesarem mittant;

To this Cicero made only one answer: it was not the custom of the Roman people to accept terms from an armed enemy: if they were willing to lay down their arms, they should use him as their helper and send envoys to Caesar;

5.41.8spērāre prō eius iūstitiā, quae petierint, impetrātūrōs.

he hoped that, in keeping with his justice, they would obtain what they asked.

Note. petierint: perfect subjunctive in indirect speech. impetrātūrōs: future infinitive with esse understood.