De Bello Gallico 6.35

6.35.1Haec in omnibus Eburōnum partibus gerēbantur, diēsque appetēbat septimus, quem ad diem Caesar ad impedīmenta legiōnemque revertī cōnstituerat.

This was going on in all parts of the land of the Eburones, and the seventh day was approaching, by which day Caesar had decided to return to the baggage and the legion.

Note. diēs is masculine here (septimus, quem), as usual when it means a particular day. quem ad diem: 'by which day'.

6.35.2Hīc quantum in bellō fortūna possit et quantōs adferat cāsūs cognōscī potuit.

Here one could see how much fortune can do in war and how great are the chances it brings.

6.35.3Dissipātīs ac perterritīs hostibus, ut dēmōnstrāvimus, manus erat nūlla quae parvam modo causam timōris adferret.

With the enemy scattered and terrified, as we have shown, there was no force that could cause even a slight reason for fear.

6.35.4Trāns Rhēnum ad Germānōs pervēnit fāma, dīripī Eburōnēs atque ultrō omnēs ad praedam ēvocārī.

Across the Rhine to the Germans came the report that the Eburones were being plundered, and that all were even being invited to the plunder.

6.35.5Cōgunt equitum duo mīlia Sugambrī, quī sunt proximī Rhēnō, ā quibus receptōs ex fugā Tencterōs atque Usipetēs suprā docuimus.

The Sugambri, who live nearest the Rhine, gathered two thousand horsemen; it was by them, as we showed above, that the Tencteri and Usipetes were taken in after their flight.

Note. ā quibus receptōs … docuimus: Caesar refers back to Book 4, where the Sugambri took in the defeated cavalry of the Tencteri and Usipetes.

6.35.6Trānseunt Rhēnum nāvibus ratibusque trīgintā mīlibus passuum īnfrā eum locum, ubi pōns erat perfectus praesidiumque ab Caesare relictum: prīmōs Eburōnum fīnēs adeunt;

They crossed the Rhine in boats and rafts thirty miles below the place where the bridge had been built and the garrison left by Caesar; they came first to the borders of the Eburones;

6.35.6multōs ex fugā dispersōs excipiunt, magnō pecoris numerō, cuius sunt cupidissimī barbarī, potiuntur.

they picked up many who had scattered in flight, and got possession of a great number of cattle, of which the barbarians are very greedy.

6.35.7Invītātī praedā longius prōcēdunt.

Lured on by plunder, they went further.

6.35.7Nōn hōs palūs in bellō latrōciniīsque nātōs, nōn silvae morantur.

Neither marsh nor forest held back these men, born to war and raiding.

Note. Nōn hōs palūs … nōn silvae morantur: the repeated nōn and the early hōs throw weight on the Germans' toughness.

6.35.7Quibus in locīs sit Caesar ex captīvīs quaerunt;

They asked their prisoners where Caesar was;

6.35.7profectum longius reperiunt omnemque exercitum discessisse cognōscunt.

they found out that he had gone far away, and learned that the whole army had left.

6.35.8Atque ūnus ex captīvīs "Quid vōs," inquit, "hanc miseram ac tenuem sectāminī praedam, quibus licet iam esse fortūnātissimōs?

And one of the prisoners said, "Why are you chasing this poor, thin plunder, when you could already be very rich?

6.35.9Tribus hōrīs Aduatucam venīre potestis: hūc omnēs suās fortūnās exercitus Rōmānōrum contulit: praesidī tantum est, ut nē mūrus quidem cingī possit, neque quisquam ēgredī extrā mūnītiōnēs audeat." Oblātā spē Germānī quam nactī erant praedam in occultō relinquunt;

In three hours you can reach Aduatuca: there the army of the Romans has gathered all its wealth; the garrison is so small that it cannot even man the wall, and no one dares to go outside the fortifications." Offered this hope, the Germans hid the plunder they had taken;

Note. praesidī tantum est, ut nē mūrus quidem cingī possit: 'there is so little garrison that not even the wall can be manned'; tantum is used scornfully, 'only so much'. The edition's full stop after audeat falls inside this entry.

6.35.10ipsī Aduatucam contendunt ūsī eōdem duce, cuius haec indiciō cognōverant.

they themselves hurried to Aduatuca, using as guide the same man by whose information they had learned this.