De Bello Gallico 7.45

7.45.1Hāc rē cognitā Caesar mittit complūrēs equitum turmās;

On learning this, Caesar sends several squadrons of horsemen;

7.45.1eīs dē mediā nocte imperat, ut paulō tumultuōsius omnibus locīs vagārentur.

he orders them at midnight to roam about all over the area somewhat more noisily than usual.

7.45.2Prīmā lūce magnum numerum impedīmentōrum ex castrīs mūlōrumque prōdūcī dēque hīs strāmenta dētrahī mūliōnēsque cum cassidibus equitum speciē ac simulātiōne collibus circumvehī iubet.

At first light he orders a large number of pack animals and mules to be brought out of the camp, their packsaddles taken off, and the muleteers, with helmets on, to ride around the hills looking like horsemen.

Note. mūliōnēs … equitum speciē ac simulātiōne: 'the muleteers in the guise and pretence of horsemen'. The whole show is a feint to draw the Gauls to the far side of the town.

7.45.3Hīs paucōs addit equitēs quī lātius ostentātiōnis causā vagārentur.

He adds a few horsemen to these, to range more widely for the sake of show.

7.45.3Longō circuitū eāsdem omnēs iubet petere regiōnēs.

He orders them all to make for the same area by a long roundabout route.

7.45.4Haec procul ex oppidō vidēbantur, ut erat ā Gergoviā dēspectus in castra, neque tantō spatiō certī quid esset explōrārī poterat.

These things were seen from the town far off, since from Gergovia there was a view down into the camp, but at so great a distance it could not be made out for certain what it was.

Note. ut erat … dēspectus in castra: ut with the indicative, 'as there was a view down onto the camp'. certī quid esset: 'what was certain', with certī a partitive genitive after quid.

7.45.5Legiōnem ūnam eōdem iugō mittit et paulum prōgressam īnferiōre cōnstituit locō silvīsque occultat.

He sends one legion along the same ridge, and when it had advanced a little he stations it on lower ground and hides it in the woods.

7.45.6Augētur Gallīs suspīciō, atque omnēs illō ad mūnītiōnem cōpiae trādūcuntur.

The suspicion of the Gauls grows, and all their forces are moved over there to the fortification.

7.45.7Vacua castra hostium Caesar cōnspicātus tēctīs īnsignibus suōrum occultātīsque signīs mīlitāribus rārōs mīlitēs, nē ex oppidō animadverterentur, ex maiōribus castrīs in minōra trādūcit lēgātīsque, quōs singulīs legiōnibus praefēcerat, quid fierī velit ostendit: in prīmīs monet ut contineant mīlitēs, nē studiō pugnandī aut spē praedae longius prōgrediantur;

Caesar, seeing the enemy's camp empty, covered the insignia of his men and hid the military standards, and moved soldiers in small groups from the larger camp to the smaller, so that they should not be noticed from the town; and he shows the lieutenants whom he had put in command of each legion what he wants done: above all he warns them to keep the soldiers in hand, so that they do not advance too far out of eagerness to fight or hope of plunder;

Note. tēctīs īnsignibus … occultātīs signīs: two ablatives absolute; the crests and standards that would have betrayed the legions were hidden. rārōs mīlitēs: 'soldiers a few at a time'.

7.45.9quid inīquitās locī habeat incommodī prōpōnit: hoc ūnā celeritāte posse mūtārī;

he sets out what disadvantage the unevenness of the ground holds: this can be overcome by speed alone;

7.45.9occāsiōnis esse rem, nōn proelī.

it is a matter for a surprise stroke, not for a battle.

Note. occāsiōnis esse rem: genitive of characteristic, 'that it was a matter of a surprise stroke'.

7.45.10Hīs rēbus expositīs signum dat et ab dextrā parte aliō ascēnsū eōdem tempore Aeduōs mittit.

Having explained this, he gives the signal, and at the same time sends the Aedui up by another ascent on the right side.