De Bello Gallico 8.36

8.36.1Rē bene gestā Canīnius ex captīvīs comperit partem cōpiārum cum Drappete esse in castrīs ā mīlibus longē nōn amplius XII. Quā rē ex complūribus cognitā, cum intellegeret fugātō duce alterō perterritōs reliquōs facile opprimī posse, magnae fēlīcitātis esse arbitrābātur nēminem ex caede refūgisse in castra quī dē acceptā calamitāte nūntium Drappetī perferret.

After this success Caninius learned from prisoners that part of the enemy's forces was with Drappes in a camp no more than twelve miles away. When he had confirmed this from several men, he realized that with one of the two leaders put to flight, the rest, in their panic, could easily be crushed, and he thought it a great piece of luck that no one had escaped from the slaughter to the camp to carry the news of the disaster to Drappes.

Note. Rē bene gestā: ablative absolute, 'the affair having gone well'. a mīlibus … nōn amplius XII: Caesar's idiom for distance, 'at no more than twelve miles' (ā here marks the distance away). magnae fēlīcitātis esse: genitive of characteristic, 'that it was (a mark) of great good luck'. quī … perferret: relative clause of purpose/result, 'to carry the news'.

8.36.3Sed in experiendō cum perīculum nūllum vidēret, equitātum omnem Germānōsque peditēs, summae vēlōcitātis hominēs, ad castra hostium praemittit;

But since he saw no danger in making the attempt, he sent ahead all his cavalry and the German infantry, men of the greatest speed, to the enemy camp;

Note. in experiendō: gerund, 'in making the attempt'. summae vēlōcitātis hominēs: genitive of quality in apposition, 'men of the greatest speed'. praemittit: historic present, common in Caesar for vivid narrative.

8.36.3ipse legiōnem ūnam in trīna castra distribuit, alteram sēcum expedītam dūcit.

he himself distributed one legion among the three camps and led the other with him in light order.

Note. trīna castra: trīnī is the distributive numeral used with nouns that have only a plural (castra), so 'three camps'. sēcum = cum sē. expedītam: 'unencumbered', without heavy baggage, ready to fight.

8.36.4Cum propius hostēs accessisset, ab explōrātōribus quōs praemīserat cognōscit castra eōrum, ut barbarōrum ferē cōnsuētūdō est, relictīs locīs superiōribus ad rīpās flūminis esse dēmissa;

When he had come nearer the enemy, he learned from the scouts he had sent ahead that their camp, as is generally the custom of barbarians, had left the higher ground and come down to the banks of the river,

Note. propius hostēs: propius takes an accusative like a preposition, 'nearer the enemy'. castra … esse dēmissa: indirect statement after cognōscit; dēmittere castra, 'to bring the camp down' from high ground.

8.36.4at Germānōs equitēsque imprūdentibus omnibus dē imprōvīsō advolāsse proeliumque commīsisse.

but that the Germans and the cavalry had swooped down unexpectedly on men who were all off guard and had joined battle.

Note. Still indirect statement: advolāsse is the contracted perfect infinitive of advolō (= advolāvisse), 'had flown at'. imprūdentibus omnibus: ablative absolute, 'when all were off guard'. dē imprōvīsō: 'unexpectedly'.

8.36.5Quā rē cognitā legiōnem armātam īnstrūctamque addūcit.

On learning this he brought up the legion, armed and drawn up for battle.

Note. Quā rē cognitā: the connecting relative, 'when this was learned'. armātam īnstrūctamque: the legion is armed and in battle order.

8.36.5Ita repente omnibus ex partibus signō datō loca superiōra capiuntur.

So suddenly, at a given signal, the high ground was seized on every side.

Note. signō datō: ablative absolute. loca superiōra capiuntur: the impersonal passive keeps the focus on the action, not the agents.

8.36.6Quod ubi accidit, Germānī equitēsque signīs legiōnis vīsīs vehementissimē proeliantur.

When this happened, the Germans and the cavalry, seeing the standards of the legion, fought with the greatest fury.

Note. Quod ubi accidit: quod is a connecting relative, 'when this happened'. signīs legiōnis vīsīs: the sight of the legion's standards tells the cavalry that infantry support has arrived.

8.36.6Cōnfestim cohortēs undique impetum faciunt omnibusque aut interfectīs aut captīs magnā praedā potiuntur.

At once the cohorts charged from all sides, and when all the enemy had been killed or captured, they took a great deal of plunder.

Note. omnibus … interfectīs aut captīs: ablative absolute. potior takes the ablative: magnā praedā potiuntur, 'they gained possession of great plunder'.

8.36.6Capitur ipse eō proeliō Drappēs.

Drappes himself was captured in that battle.

Note. Capitur ipse … Drappēs: the verb first and the name last give weight to the climax.