De Bello Gallico 7.81

7.81.1Ūnō diē intermissō Gallī atque hōc spatiō magnō crātium, scālārum, harpagōnum numerō effectō mediā nocte silentiō ex castrīs ēgressī ad campestrēs mūnītiōnēs accēdunt.

After one day's interval, during which the Gauls made a great number of hurdles, ladders and grappling hooks, they leave their camp silently in the middle of the night and approach the fortifications on the plain.

7.81.2Subitō clāmōre sublātō, quā significātiōne quī in oppidō obsidēbantur dē suō adventū cognōscere possent, crātēs prōicere, fundīs, sagittīs, lapidibus nostrōs dē vallō prōturbāre reliquaque quae ad oppugnātiōnem pertinent parant administrāre.

Raising a sudden shout, so that by this signal those besieged in the town might learn of their arrival, they begin to throw hurdles, to drive our men from the rampart with slings, arrows and stones, and to carry out everything else that belongs to an assault.

Note. quā significātiōne: a relative clause of purpose, 'so that by this signal'. The infinitives prōicere, prōturbāre and administrāre depend on parant.

7.81.3Eōdem tempore clāmōre exaudītō dat tuba signum suīs Vercingetorīx atque ex oppidō ēdūcit.

At the same moment, hearing the shout, Vercingetorix gives the signal to his men with the trumpet and leads them out of the town.

7.81.4Nostrī, ut superiōribus diēbus, ut cuique erat locus attribūtus, ad mūnītiōnēs accēdunt;

Our men go to the fortifications as on earlier days, where each had been assigned his place;

7.81.4fundīs lībrīlibus sudibusque quās in opere disposuerant ac glandibus Gallōs prōterrent.

with slings, pound stones and stakes which they had laid out along the works, and with sling bullets, they drive back the Gauls.

Note. lībrīlibus: one-pound stones thrown by hand or sling; glandēs were lead sling bullets.

7.81.5Prōspectū tenebrīs adēmptō multa utrimque vulnera accipiuntur.

Since the darkness took away their view, many wounds are received on both sides.

7.81.5Complūra tormentīs tēla coniciuntur.

Many missiles are hurled by the artillery.

7.81.6At Mārcus Antōnius et Gāius Trebōnius lēgātī, quibus hae partēs ad dēfendendum obvēnerant, quā ex parte nostrōs premī intellēxerant, hīs auxiliō ex ulteriōribus castellīs dēductōs summittēbant.

But Marcus Antonius and Gaius Trebonius, the legates to whom the defense of these parts had fallen, brought men drawn from the forts farther off to help wherever they had seen our men hard pressed.

Note. quibus hae partēs ad dēfendendum obvēnerant: 'to whom these parts had fallen to defend'. hīs auxiliō: double dative, 'as help to them'.