De Bello Gallico 8.12

8.12.1Quod cum cōtīdiē fieret ac iam cōnsuētūdine dīligentia minuerētur, quod plērumque accidit diūturnitāte, Bellovacī dēlēctā manū peditum cognitīs statiōnibus cōtīdiānīs equitum nostrōrum silvestribus locīs īnsidiās dispōnunt eōdemque equitēs posterō diē mittunt, quī prīmum ēlicerent nostrōs, deinde circumventōs aggrederentur.

When this happened every day and carefulness was already being lessened by habit, as usually happens over time, the Bellovaci, having learned the daily positions of our cavalry, set an ambush with a picked band of infantry in wooded places, and the next day send cavalry to the same place to lure our men out first and then attack them when surrounded.

Note. Quod cum: connecting relative + cum, 'when this'. dēlēctā manū peditum: 'with a picked band of infantry'. eōdem: adverb, 'to the same place'. circumventōs aggrederentur: 'attack them once surrounded'.

8.12.3Cuius malī sors incidit Rēmīs, quibus ille diēs fungendī mūneris obvēnerat.

The lot of this misfortune fell on the Remi, to whom that day had fallen the duty of serving.

Note. Cuius malī sors: 'the lot of this misfortune'. fungendī mūneris: gerundive, 'of performing the duty'; the cavalry squadrons took turns.

8.12.3Namque hī, cum repente hostium equitēs animadvertissent ac numerō superiōrēs paucitātem contempsissent, cupidius īnsecūtī peditibus undique sunt circumdatī.

For when they suddenly caught sight of the enemy cavalry and, being superior in numbers, despised their small force, they pursued too eagerly and were surrounded on all sides by infantry.

Note. numerō superiōrēs: 'superior in number'. cupidius: comparative adverb, 'too eagerly'.

8.12.4Quō factō perturbātī celerius quam cōnsuētūdō fert equestris proelī sē recēpērunt āmissō Vertiscō, prīncipe cīvitātis, praefectō equitum;

Thrown into confusion by this, they retreated faster than is usual in a cavalry battle, having lost Vertiscus, a leading man of their state and commander of the cavalry;

Note. celerius quam cōnsuētūdō fert equestris proelī: 'faster than the custom of a cavalry fight allows', i.e. in a disorderly rush.

8.12.5quī cum vix equō propter aetātem posset utī, tamen cōnsuētūdine Gallōrum neque aetātis excūsātiōne in suscipiendā praefectūrā ūsus erat neque dīmicārī sine sē voluerat.

although he could scarcely sit a horse because of his age, still, by the custom of the Gauls, he had neither used his age as an excuse in taking up the command nor wished a battle to be fought without him.

Note. Vertiscus is an admirable old warrior. vix … posset ūtī: ūtor takes the ablative (equō). neque … ūsus erat … neque … voluerat: 'had neither made use of … nor wanted'. dīmicārī sine sē: impersonal passive, 'a battle to be fought without him'.

8.12.6Īnflantur atque incitantur hostium animī secundō proeliō, prīncipe et praefectō Rēmōrum interfectō, nostrīque dētrīmentō admonentur dīligentius explōrātīs locīs statiōnēs dispōnere ac moderātius cēdentem īnsequī hostem.

The enemy's spirits are puffed up and excited by the successful fight, with the chief and commander of the Remi killed; and our men are warned by the loss to place their outposts after reconnoitring the ground more carefully and to pursue a retreating enemy with more restraint.

Note. Īnflantur atque incitantur: two passive verbs placed first for emphasis. nostrīque dētrīmentō admonentur … dispōnere … īnsequī: 'our men are warned by the loss to post … and to pursue'.