DBG 5.39-41 Caesar, De Bello Gallico (DBG), Book 5.39, Lines 1-14; Book 5.40, Lines 1-17; Book 5.41, Lines 1-6 Book 5.39 [1] Itaque cōnfestim dīmīssīs nūntiīs ad Ceutrōnēs, And so with messages having been sent immediately to the Ceutrones, Grūdiōs, Lēvācōs, Pleumoxiōs, Geidumnōs, quī omnēs sub the Grudii, the Levaci, the Pleumoxii, [and] the Geidumni, who are eōrum imperiō sunt, quam māximās manūs possunt cōgunt et under their command, they collect as large bands (of men) as possible and
dē imprōvīsō ad Cicerōnis hīberna advolant nōndum ad eum unexpectedly rush to the winter quarters of Cicero, [5] fāmā dē Titūrī morte perlātā. Huic quoque accidit, quod fuit with the report about the death of Quintus Titurius Sabinus not yet having been brought to him. necesse, ut nōn nūllī mīlitēs, quī līgnātiōnis mūnītiōnisque To this man it also happened, which was necessary, that several soldiers, causā in silvās discessissent, repentīnō equitum adventū who had gone into the forest(s) for the purpose of gathering wood and building materials, interciperentur. were cut off by the sudden arrival of the (Gallic) cavalry. Hīs circumventīs māgnā manū Ebūrōnēs, Nerviī, Aduātucī atque With these men having been surrounded with a large band (of men) the Eburones, Nervii, Aduatuci [10] hōrum omnium sociī et clientēs legiōnem oppūgnāre incipiunt. and the allies and dependents of all these begin to attack the legion. Nostrī celeriter ad arma concurrunt, vāllum cōnscendunt. Our men quickly rush to arms, [and] climb the stockade. Aegrē is diēs sustentātur, quod omnem spem hostēs in celeritāte With difficulty this day is endured, since the enemy placed all its hope in speed pōnēbant atque hanc adeptī vīctōriam in perpetuum sē fore and they were confident that, having obtained this victory, they would be
vīctōrēs cōnfīdēbant. victors forever. Book 5.40 [1] Mittuntur ad Caesarem cōnfestim ab Cicerōne litterae māgnīs Letters are sent immediately to Caesar from Cicero, with great prōpositīs praemiīs, sī pertulissent: obsessīs omnibus viīs rewards having been offered, if they delivered them: with all the roads having been watched, mīssī intercipiuntur. Noctū ex māteriā quam mūnītiōnis causā those men having been sent are intercepted. During the night, from the timber, which they had comportāverant, turrēs admodum centum XX excitantur incrēdibilī brought for the sake of fortifications, a full 120 towers are raised with incredible [5] celeritāte; quae deesse operī vidēbantur perficiuntur. speed; the things which seemed to be lacking from the work are completed. Hostēs posterō diē multō māiōribus coāctīs cōpiīs castra The enemy on the following day, with much larger forces having been gathered, oppūgnant, fossam complent. Eādem ratiōne, quā prīdiē, ab attacks the camp [and] fills the ditch. By the same method, by which [they had resisted] the day before, nostrīs resistitur. Hōc idem reliquīs deinceps fit diēbus. Nūlla resistance is offered by our men. This same thing happens on the next days in succession. No
pars nocturnī temporis ad labōrem intermittitur; nōn aegrīs, part of the night time is left free from work (lit., regarding work ); not to the sick, [10] nōn vulnerātīs facultās quiētis datur. not to the wounded is an opportunity for rest given. Quaecumque ad proximī diēī oppūgnātiōnem opus sunt noctū Whatever things are needed for the next day s attack are prepared at night: compārantur; multae praeūstae sudēs, māgnus mūrālium many stakes [with their ends] hardened by burning [are prepared], a large number of wall pīlōrum numerus īnstituitur; turrēs contabulantur, pinnae spears is fabricated; towers are built, merlons lōrīcaeque ex crātibus attexuntur. Ipse Cicerō, cum tenuissimā and parapets are woven from wicker. Cicero himself, although he was in very poor [15] valētūdine esset, nē nocturnum quidem sibi tempus ad quiētem health, left not even the night time for himself for rest, relinquēbat, ut ūltrō mīlitum concursū āc vōcibus sibi parcere cōgerētur. so that he was forced in the end by the crowding around and voices of soldiers to spare himself. Book 5.41 [1] Tunc ducēs prīncipēsque Nerviōrum quī aliquem Then the commanders and chiefs of the Nervii
sermōnis aditum causamque amīcitiae cum Cicerōne habēbant who had some approach of speech and reason for friendship with Cicero colloquī sēsē velle dīcunt. Factā potestāte eadem quae Ambiorīx say that they wish to talk. With the opportunity having been made, they mentioned the same things that Ambiorix cum Titūriō ēgerat commemorant: omnem esse in armīs Galliam; had done (i.e., when negotiating) with Quintus Titurius Sabinus: that all Gaul was under arms; [5] Germānōs Rhēnum trānsīsse; Caesaris reliquōrumque hīberna that the Germans had crossed the Rhine; that the winter quarters of Caesar and the others oppūgnārī. Addunt etiam dē Sabīnī morte; Ambiorīgem were being attacked. They also add [remarks] about the death of Sabinus; ostentant fideī faciendae causā. they point out Ambiorix in order to show their good faith. Errāre eōs dīcunt, sī quicquam ab eīs praesidī spērent, quī suīs They say that they (i.e., the Romans) are mistaken, if they hope for any protection from those, who rēbus diffīdant; sēsē tamen hōc esse in Cicerōnem populumque despair of their own situation(s); however, [they say] that they are of this mind toward Cicero and [10] Rōmānum animō ut nihil nisi hīberna recūsent atque hanc the Roman people, that they reject nothing except the winter quarters and
inveterāscere cōnsuētūdinem nōlint: licēre illīs incolumibus do not wish that this custom (i.e., of wintering in Gaul) become established; it is permitted for them [as far as the Nervii are concerned] per sē ex hībernīs discēdere et quāscumque in partēs velint sine to go away safely from the winter quarters and set out into whatever parts they wish metū proficīscī. without fear. Cicerō ad haec ūnum modo respondit: nōn esse cōnsuētūdinem Cicero replied only one thing to these [words]: that it was not the custom [15] populī Rōmānī accipere ab hoste armātō condiciōnem: sī ab of the Roman people to accept term(s) from an armed enemy; if armīs discēdere velint, sē adiūtōre ūtantur lēgātōsque ad Caesarem they wish to put down their arms, they should use him as a helper and send ambassadors to Caesar; mittant; spērāre prō ēius iūstitiā, quae petierint, impetrātūrōs. he hopes that they will obtain what they asked for because of his (i.e., Caesar s) [sense of] fairness.