De Bello Gallico 7.86

7.86.1Hīs rēbus cognitīs Caesar Labiēnum cum cohortibus sex subsidiō labōrantibus mittit: imperat, sī sustinēre nōn posset, dēductīs cohortibus ēruptiōne pugnāret;

When he learns this, Caesar sends Labienus with six cohorts to help those in difficulty; he orders him, if he cannot hold out, to draw off the cohorts and fight his way out by a sally;

Note. imperat, sī … nōn posset, … pugnāret: an indirect command with ut left out.

7.86.2id nisi necessāriō nē faciat.

but not to do this unless he must.

Note. nē faciat: indirect command depending on imperat, 'not to do it'. nisi necessāriō: 'unless of necessity'.

7.86.3Ipse adit reliquōs, cohortātur nē labōrī succumbant;

He himself goes to the rest and urges them not to give way under the strain;

7.86.3omnium superiōrum dīmicātiōnum frūctum in eō diē atque hōrā docet cōnsistere.

he tells them that the fruit of all their earlier battles depends on that day and hour.

7.86.4Interiōrēs dēspērātīs campestribus locīs propter magnitūdinem mūnītiōnum loca praerupta ex ascēnsū temptant: hūc ea quae parāverant cōnferunt.

The men inside, despairing of the ground on the plain because of the size of the fortifications, try the steep places from below; there they bring what they had prepared.

7.86.5Multitūdine tēlōrum ex turribus prōpugnantēs dēturbant, aggere et crātibus fossās explent, falcibus vallum ac lōrīcam rescindunt.

With a mass of missiles they drive the defenders from the towers, fill in the trenches with earth and hurdles, and tear down the rampart and the breastwork with hooks.