De Bello Gallico 6.40

6.40.1Cālōnēs in proximum tumulum prōcurrunt.

The camp servants ran forward onto the nearest mound.

6.40.1Hinc celeriter dēiectī sē in signa manipulōsque coniciunt: eō magis timidōs perterrent mīlitēs.

Quickly driven off from there, they threw themselves among the standards and companies, and so frightened the timid soldiers all the more.

Note. eō magis: 'all the more', eō being the ablative of degree of difference.

6.40.2Aliī cuneō factō ut celeriter perrumpant cēnsent, quoniam tam propinqua sint castra, et sī pars aliqua circumventa ceciderit, at reliquōs servārī posse cōnfīdunt;

Some proposed forming a wedge and breaking through quickly, since the camp was so near, and were confident that even if some part were surrounded and fell, the rest could be saved;

Note. The plan is reported after cēnsent with an ut-clause, and the second half after cōnfīdunt with an accusative and infinitive. at after sī means 'at least'.

6.40.3aliī, ut in iugō cōnsistant atque eundem omnēs ferant cāsum.

others, that they should take a stand on the ridge and all share the same fate.

6.40.4Hoc veterēs nōn probant mīlitēs, quōs sub vēxillō ūnā profectōs docuimus.

The veteran soldiers, who as we said had set out with them under one banner, did not approve this.

6.40.4Itaque inter sē cohortātī duce Gāiō Trebōniō, equite Rōmānō, quī eīs erat praepositus, per mediōs hostēs perrumpunt incolumēsque ad ūnum omnēs in castra perveniunt.

So, encouraging one another, under the leadership of Gaius Trebonius, a Roman knight, who had been put in command of them, they broke through the middle of the enemy and reached the camp safe, every last man.

Note. ad ūnum omnēs: 'every last one'.

6.40.5Hōs subsecūtī cālōnēs equitēsque eōdem impetū mīlitum virtūte servantur.

The camp servants and cavalry followed them in the same rush and were saved by the soldiers' courage.

6.40.6At eī quī in iugō cōnstiterant, nūllō etiam nunc ūsū reī mīlitāris perceptō neque in eō quod probāverant cōnsiliō permanēre, ut sē locō superiōre dēfenderent, neque eam quam prōdesse aliīs vim celeritātemque vīderant imitārī potuērunt, sed sē in castra recipere cōnātī inīquum in locum dēmīsērunt.

But those who had taken a stand on the ridge, having still gained no experience of warfare, could neither keep to the plan they had approved, of defending themselves from the higher ground, nor imitate the force and speed which they had seen help the others, but, trying to get back into the camp, they came down onto unfavorable ground.

Note. neque … permanēre … neque … imitārī potuērunt: both infinitives depend on potuērunt at the end. eam quam … vim: the relative is drawn into the clause before its noun.

6.40.7Centuriōnēs, quōrum nōnnūllī ex īnferiōribus ōrdinibus reliquārum legiōnum virtūtis causā in superiōrēs erant ōrdinēs huius legiōnis trāductī, nē ante partam reī mīlitāris laudem āmitterent, fortissimē pugnantēs concidērunt.

The centurions, some of whom had been moved up for their courage from the lower ranks of other legions to the higher ranks of this legion, fell fighting most bravely so as not to lose the military glory they had won before.

6.40.8Mīlitum pars hōrum virtūte summōtīs hostibus praeter spem incolumis in castra pervēnit, pars ā barbarīs circumventa periit.

Part of the soldiers, the enemy having been driven back by these men's courage, reached the camp safe beyond their hopes; part were surrounded by the barbarians and died.