De Bello Gallico 5.43

5.43.1Septimō oppugnātiōnis diē maximō coortō ventō ferventēs fūsilī ex argillā glandēs fundīs et fervefacta iacula in casās, quae mōre Gallicō strāmentīs erant tēctae, iacere coepērunt.

On the seventh day of the siege a very strong wind sprang up, and they began to hurl red-hot sling-bullets of softened clay and heated javelins onto the huts, which in the Gallic fashion were thatched with straw.

5.43.2Hae celeriter ignem comprehendērunt et ventī magnitūdine in omnem locum castrōrum distulērunt.

These quickly caught fire, and by the force of the wind spread it to every part of the camp.

5.43.3Hostēs maximō clāmōre sīcutī partā iam atque explōrātā victōriā turrēs testūdinēsque agere et scālīs vallum ascendere coepērunt.

The enemy, with a great shout, as if victory were already won and assured, began to move up their towers and sheds and to climb the rampart with ladders.

5.43.4At tanta mīlitum virtūs atque ea praesentia animī fuit, ut, cum undique flammā torrērentur maximāque tēlōrum multitūdine premerentur suaque omnia impedīmenta atque omnēs fortūnās cōnflagrāre intellegerent, nōn modo dēmigrandī causā dē vallō dēcēderet nēmō, sed paene nē respiceret quidem quisquam, ac tum omnēs ācerrimē fortissimēque pugnārent.

But such was the courage of the soldiers and such their presence of mind that, although they were scorched on every side by the flames and pressed by a huge number of missiles, and knew that all their baggage and all their possessions were burning, not only did no one leave the rampart to get away, but hardly anyone even looked back, and at that time they all fought most fiercely and bravely.

Note. tanta … ut: 'so great … that', a result clause. nōn modo … nēmō, sed paene nē … quidem quisquam: 'not only did no one …, but hardly anyone even …'. After a negative, quisquam means 'anyone'.

5.43.5Hic diēs nostrīs longē gravissimus fuit;

This day was by far the hardest for our men;

5.43.5sed tamen hunc habuit ēventum, ut eō diē maximus numerus hostium vulnerārētur atque interficerētur, ut sē sub ipsō vallō cōnstīpāverant recessumque prīmīs ultimī nōn dabant.

but still it had this result, that on that day a very great number of the enemy were wounded and killed, since they had packed themselves close together under the rampart itself and those at the back gave the ones in front no room to retreat.

Note. hunc habuit ēventum, ut …: the ut clause explains hunc, 'this outcome, that …'. The second ut (ut sē … cōnstīpāverant) has the indicative and means 'since, as'.

5.43.6Paulum quidem intermissā flammā et quōdam locō turrī adāctā et contingente vallum tertiae cohortis centuriōnēs ex eō, quō stābant, locō recessērunt suōsque omnēs remōvērunt, nūtū vōcibusque hostēs, sī introīre vellent, vocāre coepērunt;

When the flames had died down a little, and at one place a tower had been pushed up and was touching the rampart, the centurions of the third cohort drew back from the place where they were standing and withdrew all their men, and began to invite the enemy by gestures and shouts to come in if they wanted;

Note. intermissā flammā … turrī adāctā et contingente vallum: two ablatives absolute set the scene. sī introīre vellent: in a dependent clause of the centurions' invitation, so subjunctive.

5.43.6quōrum prōgredī ausus est nēmō.

not one of them dared to advance.

5.43.7Tum ex omnī parte lapidibus coniectīs dēturbātī, turrisque succēnsa est.

Then they were driven off by stones thrown from every side, and the tower was set on fire.