De Bello Gallico 7.80

7.80.1Caesar omnī exercitū ad utramque partem mūnītiōnum dispositō, ut, sī ūsus veniat, suum quisque locum teneat et nōverit, equitātum ex castrīs ēdūcī et proelium committī iubet.

Caesar posts the whole army on both sides of the fortifications, so that, if need arises, each man may hold and know his own place, and orders the cavalry to be led out of camp and battle to be joined.

Note. ut … suum quisque locum teneat et nōverit: a purpose clause; nōverit is perfect of nōscō with present meaning, 'know'.

7.80.2Erat ex omnibus castrīs, quae summum undique iugum tenēbant, dēspectus, atque omnēs mīlitēs intentī pugnae prōventum exspectābant.

From all the camps, which held the ridge on every side, there was a view down, and all the soldiers were intently awaiting the outcome of the fight.

7.80.3Gallī inter equitēs rārōs sagittāriōs expedītōsque levis armātūrae interiēcerant, quī suīs cēdentibus auxiliō succurrerent et nostrōrum equitum impetūs sustinērent.

The Gauls had placed archers and light-armed skirmishers here and there among their cavalry, to come to the aid of their men if they gave way and to withstand the charges of our cavalry.

Note. quī … succurrerent: a relative clause of purpose, 'to come to the help'. suīs cēdentibus: dative, 'their men when they gave way'.

7.80.3Ab hīs complūrēs dē imprōvīsō vulnerātī proeliō excēdēbant.

Many of our men, wounded unexpectedly by these, were withdrawing from the battle.

7.80.4Cum suōs pugnā superiōrēs esse Gallī cōnfīderent et nostrōs multitūdine premī vidērent, ex omnibus partibus et eī quī mūnītiōnibus continēbantur et hī quī ad auxilium convēnerant clāmōre et ululātū suōrum animōs cōnfirmābant.

When the Gauls were confident that their men were winning the fight and saw ours hard pressed by numbers, from every side both those who were shut in by the fortifications and those who had come to help encouraged the spirits of their men with shouting and yelling.

7.80.5Quod in cōnspectū omnium rēs gerēbātur neque rēctē ac turpiter factum cēlārī poterat, utrōsque et laudis cupiditās et timor ignōminiae ad virtūtem excitābant.

Since the action was taking place in sight of all, and no deed, brave or shameful, could be hidden, both sides were roused to courage by the desire for praise and the fear of disgrace.

Note. neque rēctē ac turpiter factum: 'no deed, whether brave or shameful'. utrōsque: 'both sides'.

7.80.6Cum ā merīdiē prope ad sōlis occāsum dubiā victōriā pugnārētur, Germānī ūnā in parte cōnfertīs turmīs in hostēs impetum fēcērunt eōsque prōpulērunt;

When the fighting had gone on from noon almost until sunset with victory in doubt, the Germans, in close-packed squadrons, charged the enemy at one point and drove them back;

Note. dubiā victōriā: ablative absolute without a participle, 'with victory in doubt'.

7.80.7quibus in fugam coniectīs sagittāriī circumventī interfectīque sunt.

when these had been put to flight, the archers were surrounded and killed.

7.80.8Item ex reliquīs partibus nostrī cēdentēs usque ad castra īnsecūtī suī colligendī facultātem nōn dedērunt.

Likewise on the other sides our men pursued the retreating enemy right up to their camp and gave them no chance to rally.

7.80.9At eī quī ab Alesiā prōcesserant maestī prope victōriā dēspērātā sē in oppidum recēpērunt.

But those who had come out from Alesia, downcast and almost despairing of victory, went back into the town.