De Bello Gallico 7.50

7.50.1Cum ācerrimē comminus pugnārētur, hostēs locō et numerō, nostrī virtūte cōnfīderent, subitō sunt Aeduī vīsī ab latere nostrīs apertō, quōs Caesar ab dextrā parte aliō ascēnsū manūs distinendae causā mīserat.

While the fighting was very fierce at close quarters, the enemy trusting in position and numbers, our men in courage, suddenly the Aedui were seen on our exposed flank; Caesar had sent them up by another ascent on the right side to draw off the enemy's forces.

7.50.2Hī similitūdine armōrum vehementer nostrōs perterruērunt, ac tametsī dextrīs humerīs exsertīs animadvertēbantur, quod īnsigne pactum esse cōnsuērat, tamen id ipsum suī fallendī causā mīlitēs ab hostibus factum exīstimābant.

These badly alarmed our men by the likeness of their arms, and although they were seen to have their right shoulders bare, which had been the agreed sign, still the soldiers thought that this very thing had been done by the enemy to deceive them.

Note. dextrīs humerīs exsertīs: 'with right shoulders bared', the sign agreed on for allied troops. suī fallendī causā: 'to deceive them', with the gerundive in the masculine singular as in sentence 52.

7.50.3Eōdem tempore Lūcius Fabius centuriō quīque ūnā mūrum ascenderant circumventī atque interfectī mūrō praecipitābantur.

At the same time Lucius Fabius the centurion and those who had climbed the wall with him were surrounded, killed, and thrown down from the wall.

7.50.4Mārcus Petrōnius, eiusdem legiōnis centuriō, cum portam excīdere cōnātus esset, ā multitūdine oppressus ac sibi dēspērāns multīs iam vulneribus acceptīs manipulāribus suīs, quī illum secūtī erant, "Quoniam," inquit, "mē ūnā vōbīscum servāre nōn possum, vestrae quidem certē vītae prōspiciam, quōs cupiditāte glōriae adductus in perīculum dēdūxī.

Marcus Petronius, a centurion of the same legion, after trying to cut down a gate, was overwhelmed by a crowd and, despairing of his life, having already received many wounds, said to the men of his maniple who had followed him: "Since I cannot save myself along with you, I will at least look out for your lives, since I led you into danger out of desire for glory.

Note. sibi dēspērāns: 'despairing for himself', dative of the person concerned. vestrae … vītae prōspiciam: prōspiciō with the dative, 'look out for'.

7.50.5Vōs datā facultāte vōbīs cōnsulite." Simul in mediōs hostēs irrūpit duōbusque interfectīs reliquōs ā portā paulum summōvit.

Seize your chance and look after yourselves." At the same time he burst into the middle of the enemy, killed two, and drove the rest back a little from the gate.

7.50.6Cōnantibus auxiliārī suīs "Frūstrā," inquit, "meae vītae subvenīre cōnāminī, quem iam sanguis vīrēsque dēficiunt.

When his men tried to help him, he said, "You are trying in vain to save my life; my blood and strength are already failing me.

Note. Cōnantibus auxiliārī suīs: dative after inquit, 'to his men trying to help'. quem … sanguis vīrēsque dēficiunt: dēficiō here takes an accusative, 'whom blood and strength are failing'.

7.50.6Proinde abīte, dum est facultās, vōsque ad legiōnem recipite." Ita pugnāns post paulum concīdit ac suīs salūtī fuit.

So get away while there is a chance, and fall back to the legion." So, fighting on, he fell a little later and was the saving of his men.

Note. suīs salūtī fuit: a double dative, 'he was a means of safety for his men'.