De Bello Gallico 8.9

8.9.1Cum repente īnstrūctās velut in aciē certō gradū legiōnēs accēdere Gallī vidērent, quōrum erant ad Caesarem plēna fīdūciae cōnsilia perlāta, sīve certāminis perīculō sīve subitō adventū sīve exspectātiōne nostrī cōnsilī cōpiās īnstruunt prō castrīs nec locō superiōre dēcēdunt.

When the Gauls, whose bold plans had been reported to Caesar, suddenly saw the legions drawn up as if for battle approaching at a steady pace, whether from fear of the risk of a fight, or because of our sudden arrival, or waiting to see our plan, they draw up their forces in front of the camp and do not come down from the higher ground.

Note. quōrum … cōnsilia: 'whose plans', referring to the Gauls. sīve … sīve … sīve: 'whether … or … or'. locō superiōre: 'from the higher ground'.

8.9.2Caesar, etsī dīmicāre optāverat, tamen admīrātus tantam multitūdinem hostium valle intermissā magis in altitūdinem dēpressā quam lātē patente castra castrīs hostium cōnfert.

Although Caesar had wanted to fight, he was nevertheless surprised at the great number of the enemy, and he places his camp facing the enemy's camp, with a valley between them that was deep rather than wide.

Note. admīrātus: from the deponent admīror, 'wondering at'. magis in altitūdinem dēpressā quam lātē patente: describing the valley, 'sunk deep rather than spreading wide'. castra castrīs … cōnfert: 'places his camp facing the enemy's camp'.

8.9.3Haec imperat vallō pedum XII mūnīrī, lōrīculam prō hāc ratiōne eius altitūdinis inaedificārī;

He orders the camp to be fortified with a rampart twelve feet high, and a small breastwork to be built on top in proportion to that height;

Note. Here begin the orders, all passive infinitives after imperat: mūnīrī, inaedificārī, dēprimī, excitārī, coniungī. vallō pedum XII: ablative of description, 'with a rampart of twelve feet'.

8.9.3fossam duplicem pedum dēnum quīnum lateribus dēprimī dīrēctīs;

and a double ditch fifteen feet wide to be dug, with vertical sides;

Note. fossam duplicem pedum dēnum quīnum: 'a double ditch of fifteen feet', using distributive numerals (dēnī quīnī = 15 each). lateribus dēprimī dīrēctīs: 'to be dug with vertical sides'.

8.9.3turrēs excitārī crēbrās in altitūdinem trium tabulātōrum, pontibus trāiectīs cōnstrātīsque coniungī, quōrum frontēs vīmineā lōrīculā mūnīrentur;

and many towers to be raised, three storeys high, joined by bridges laid across and floored, whose fronts were to be protected by a wickerwork parapet;

Note. trium tabulātōrum: 'of three storeys'. pontibus trāiectīs cōnstrātīsque: 'by bridges laid across and floored'. quōrum frontēs … mūnīrentur: relative clause of purpose.

8.9.3ut ab hostibus duplicī fossā, duplicī prōpugnātōrum ōrdine dēfenderentur, quōrum alter ex pontibus, quō tūtior altitūdine esset, hōc audācius longiusque permitteret tēla, alter, quī propior hostem in ipsō vallō collocātus esset, ponte ab incidentibus tēlīs tegerētur.

so that they would be defended from the enemy by a double ditch and a double line of defenders, one of which, standing on the bridges, the safer it was because of its height, the more boldly and further it could throw its weapons, while the other, placed nearer the enemy on the rampart itself, would be protected by the bridge from falling weapons.

Note. quō tūtior … hōc audācius: 'the safer … the more boldly'; quō and hōc are ablatives of degree of difference. prōpior hostem: prōpior can take the accusative, like prope.

8.9.4Portīs forēs altiōrēsque turrēs imposuit.

He put doors on the gates and higher towers.

Note. Portīs: dative with imposuit, 'he put doors on the gates'.