De Bello Gallico 6.8

6.8.1Vix agmen novissimum extrā mūnītiōnēs prōcesserat, cum Gallī cohortātī inter sē, nē spērātam praedam ex manibus dīmitterent— longum esse perterritīs Rōmānīs Germānōrum auxilium exspectāre, neque suam patī dignitātem ut tantīs cōpiīs tam exiguam manum praesertim fugientem atque impedītam adorīrī nōn audeant— flūmen trānsīre et inīquō locō committere proelium nōn dubitant.

Scarcely had the rear of the column gone outside the fortifications when the Gauls, urging one another not to let the hoped-for booty slip out of their hands—it would take too long, with the Romans panic-stricken, to wait for the help of the Germans, and their dignity did not allow them, with such great forces, not to dare attack so small a band, especially one fleeing and burdened—did not hesitate to cross the river and give battle on unfavorable ground.

Note. The dash-enclosed words are the Gauls' reasoning in indirect speech: longum esse … exspectāre, neque suam patī dignitātem ut … nōn audeant. inīquō locō: 'on unfavorable ground', here because they must fight with the river behind them.

6.8.2Quae fore suspicātus Labiēnus, ut omnēs citrā flūmen ēliceret, eādem ūsus simulātiōne itineris placidē prōgrediēbātur.

Labienus had suspected this would happen, and to draw them all to this side of the river, he kept up the same pretense of a march and advanced quietly.

6.8.3Tum praemissīs paulum impedīmentīs atque in tumulō quōdam collocātīs "Habētis," inquit, "mīlitēs, quam petīstis facultātem: hostem impedītō atque inīquō locō tenētis: praestāte eandem nōbīs ducibus virtūtem, quam saepe numerō imperātōrī praestitistis, atque illum adesse et haec cōram cernere exīstimāte." Simul signa ad hostem convertī aciemque dīrigī iubet, et paucīs turmīs praesidiō ad impedīmenta dīmissīs reliquōs equitēs ad latera dispōnit.

Then, sending the baggage a little ahead and placing it on a certain hill, he said: "Soldiers, you have the chance you have asked for; you hold the enemy on hampered and unfavorable ground; show me as your leader the same courage which you have often shown your commander, and imagine that he is here and sees this with his own eyes." At the same time he ordered the standards to be turned toward the enemy and the line to be drawn up, and sending a few troops of cavalry to guard the baggage, he placed the rest of the cavalry on the wings.

Note. petīstis: syncopated form of petīvistis. nōbīs ducibus: 'with me as your leader'; Labienus uses the plural of himself. saepe numerō: 'often'. illum: Caesar.

6.8.6Celeriter nostrī clāmōre sublātō pīla in hostēs immittunt.

Our men quickly raised a shout and hurled their javelins at the enemy.

6.8.6Illī, ubi praeter spem quōs fugere crēdēbant īnfestīs signīs ad sē īre vīdērunt, impetum modo ferre nōn potuērunt ac prīmō concursū in fugam coniectī proximās silvās petiērunt.

When the enemy saw, against their expectation, the men they believed to be fleeing coming at them with standards raised for attack, they could not even bear the charge, and, put to flight at the first clash, they made for the nearest forests.

Note. praeter spem: 'contrary to expectation'. quōs is the subject of īre, with the antecedent understood: 'they saw (those) whom they believed were fleeing coming at them'.

6.8.7Quōs Labiēnus equitātū cōnsectātus, magnō numerō interfectō, complūribus captīs, paucīs post diēbus cīvitātem recēpit.

Labienus pursued them with the cavalry, killed a great number, captured many, and a few days later received the surrender of the state.

6.8.7Nam Germānī quī auxiliō veniēbant perceptā Trēverōrum fugā sēsē domum recēpērunt.

For the Germans who were coming to help went home when they learned of the flight of the Treveri.

6.8.8Cum hīs propinquī Indutiomārī, quī dēfectiōnis auctōrēs fuerant, comitātī eōs ex cīvitāte excessērunt.

With them went the relatives of Indutiomarus, who had been the authors of the revolt; they accompanied them and left the state.

6.8.9Cingetorīgī, quem ab initiō permānsisse in officiō dēmōnstrāvimus, prīncipātus atque imperium est trāditum.

Chief power and command were handed over to Cingetorix, who, as we have shown, had remained loyal from the beginning.

Note. dēmōnstrāvimus: Book V, where Cingetorix, son-in-law of Indutiomarus, sided with the Romans.