De Bello Gallico 7.85

7.85.1Caesar idōneum locum nactus quid quāque ex parte gerātur cognōscit;

Caesar, having found a suitable place, learns what is happening in each part;

7.85.1labōrantibus summittit.

he sends help to those in difficulty.

7.85.2Utrīsque ad animum occurrit ūnum esse illud tempus, quō maximē contendī conveniat: Gallī, nisi perfrēgerint mūnītiōnēs, dē omnī salūte dēspērant;

It occurs to both sides that this is the one moment in which they must struggle hardest: the Gauls, unless they break through the fortifications, despair of all safety;

Note. ūnum esse illud tempus quō … contendī conveniat: 'that this was the one moment at which it was right to strive'. contendī is an impersonal passive infinitive.

7.85.3Rōmānī, sī rem obtinuerint, fīnem labōrum omnium exspectant.

the Romans, if they hold their ground, expect an end of all their labors.

7.85.4Maximē ad superiōrēs mūnītiōnēs labōrātur, quō Vercassivellaunum missum dēmōnstrāvimus.

The hardest fighting is at the upper fortifications, where we have said Vercassivellaunus was sent.

7.85.4Inīquum locī ad dēclīvitātem fastīgium magnum habet mōmentum.

The unfavorable slope of the ground down toward us counts for a great deal.

7.85.5Aliī tēla coniciunt, aliī testūdine factā subeunt;

Some hurl missiles, others form a tortoise and come up close;

7.85.5dēfatīgātīs in vicem integrī succēdunt.

fresh men take the place of the exhausted in turn.

Note. dēfatīgātīs … integrī succēdunt: 'fresh men take the place of the tired', with dēfatīgātīs in the dative after succēdunt.

7.85.6Agger ab ūniversīs in mūnītiōnem coniectus et ascēnsum dat Gallīs et ea quae in terrā occultāverant Rōmānī contegit;

Earth thrown by all of them onto the fortification both gives the Gauls a way up and covers the things the Romans had hidden in the ground;

7.85.6nec iam arma nostrīs nec vīrēs suppetunt.

and our men no longer have enough weapons or strength.