8.34.1Quod cum animadverterent oppidānī miserrimāque Alesiae memoriā sollicitī similem cāsum obsessiōnis verērentur, maximēque ex omnibus Lucterius, quī fortūnae illīus perīculum fēcerat, monēret frūmentī ratiōnem esse habendam, cōnstituunt omnium cōnsēnsū parte ibi relictā cōpiārum ipsī cum expedītīs ad importandum frūmentum proficīscī.When the townspeople noticed this, troubled by the memory of the misery of Alesia and fearing a similar outcome of a siege, and when Lucterius above all, who had had experience of that fate, warned them that they must take thought for grain, by common consent they decide to leave part of their forces there and to set out themselves with light-armed troops to bring in grain.Note. Alesiae memoriā: the siege of Alesia (Book VII), where Vercingetorix's army was starved into surrender. fortūnae illīus perīculum fēcerat: 'had made trial of that fate', had lived through it. frūmentī ratiōnem esse habendam: 'that they must take thought for grain'. 8.34.2Eō cōnsiliō probātō proximā nocte duōbus mīlibus armātōrum relictīs reliquōs ex oppidō Drappēs et Lucterius ēdūcunt.When this plan had been approved, on the following night, leaving two thousand armed men, Drappes and Lucterius lead the rest out of the town.Note. Eō cōnsiliō probātō: ablative absolute. duōbus mīlibus armātōrum relictīs: 'leaving two thousand armed men'. 8.34.3Hī paucōs diēs morātī ex fīnibus Cadurcōrum, quī partim rē frūmentāriā sublevāre eōs cupiēbant, partim prohibēre quō minus sūmerent nōn poterant, magnum numerum frūmentī comparant, nōnnumquam autem expedītiōnibus nocturnīs castella nostrōrum adoriuntur.After staying a few days, they gather a great quantity of grain from the territory of the Cadurci, some of whom were eager to help them with supplies, while others could not stop them from taking it; and sometimes they attack our men's forts in night raids.Note. partim … partim: 'some … others'. quō minus sūmerent: 'from taking (it)', after a verb of preventing.
8.34.4Quam ob causam Gāius Canīnius tōtō oppidō mūnītiōnēs circumdare morātur, nē aut opus effectum tuērī nōn possit aut plūrimīs in locīs īnfirma dispōnat praesidia.For this reason Gaius Caninius delays putting siege works round the whole town, in case he either could not defend the work once finished or would post weak garrisons in very many places.Note. Quam ob causam: 'for this reason'. nē aut … aut …: 'in case he should either … or…'.