Latin 5.28-5.32

Arpineius et Iunius quae audierunt ad legatos deferunt.

Arpineius et Iunius quae audierunt ad legatos deferunt.

Arpineius and Iunius reported tot he envoys what they heard.

Illi repentina re perturbati, etsi ab hoste ea dicebantur, tamen non neglegenda existimabant maximeque hac re permovebantur, quod civitatem ignobilem atque humilem Eburonum sua sponte populo Romano bellum facere ausam vix erat credendum.

They, disturbed by the sudden turn of events, although these things were said by the enemy, nevertheless judged that these things should not be disregarded, and they were influenced greatly by this matter, that it was scarcely to be believed that the obscure and humble tribe of the Eburoni of their own accord had dared to make war on the Roman people.

Itaque ad consilium rem deferunt magnaque inter eos exsistit controversia.

Therefore they reported the matter to the council and a great controversy arose among them.

L. Aurunculeius compluresque tribuni militum et primorum ordinum centuriones nihil temere agendum neque ex hibernis iniussu Caesaris discedendum existimabant: quantavis etiam magnas copias Germanorum sustineri posse munitis hibernis docebant: rem esse testimonio, quod primum hostium impetum multis ultro vulneribus inlatis fortissime sustinuerint: re frumentaria non premi; interea et ex proximis hibernis et a Caesare conventura subsidia: postremo quid esset levius aut turpius, quam auctore hoste de summis rebus capere consilium?

L. Aurunculeis and several army officers and centurions of the first rank judged that nothing ought to be done recklessly and they must not depart from the winter quarters without an order of Caesar: they informed that however many troops, even many troops of the Germans were able to be withstood, with the winter quarter having been fortified: this fact was proof, that they will have very bravely withstood the first attack of the enemy, furthermore with many wounds having been inflicted; that they were not pressed upon by the grain supply; that meanwhile help would come from both the nearby winter quarters and from Caesar, at last, what is more unreliable or disgraceful than to form a plan about the highest matters on the advice of an enemy?

Contra ea Titurius sero facturos clamitabat, cum maiores manus hostium adiunctis Germanis convenissent aut cum aliquid calamitatis in proximis hibernis esset acceptum.

Against these things, Titurius shouted repeatedly that they were about to do these things too late, since rather large bands of the enemy had come with the Germans or since some disaster had been endured in nearby winter quarters.

Brevem consulendi esse occasionem.

That the occasion of considering was brief.

Caesarem arbitrari profectum in Italiam; neque aliter Carnutes interficiendi Tasgeti consilium fuisse capturos, neque Eburones, si ile adesset, tanta contemptione nostri ad castra venturos esse.

That he thought that Caesar had set out into Italy; and in no other way would the Carnutes have formed a plan of killing Tasgetius, nor would the Eburones have come to the camp with such great contempt of us, if he had been present.

Non hostem auctorem, sed rem spectare: subesse Rhenum; magno esse Germanis dolori Ariovisti mortem et superiores nostra victorias; ardere Galliam tot contumeliis acceptis sub populi Romani imperium redactam, superiore gloria rei militaris exstincta.

That he regarded not the enemy as the instigator but the situation: that the Rhine was close by; that the death pf Ariovistus and our previous victories were of great pain to the Germans; that Gaul was inflamed having been reduced under the power of the Roman people with so many dignites having been received, with its previous glory in military matters having been extinguished.

Postremo quis hoc sibi persuaderet, sine certa re Ambiorigem ad eiusmodi consilium discendisse?

In the end who would persuade himself of this, that Ambiorix had resorted to a plan of this sort without the matter being certain?

Suam sententiam in utramque partem esse tutam: si nihil esset durius, nullo cum periculo ad proximam legionem perventuros: si Gallia omnis cum Germanis consentiret, unam esse in celeritate positam salutem.

That his own feeling on each side was safe: if nothing was too unfortunate, they would come to the nearest legion with no danger; if all Gaul were united with the Germans, the only safety would be depending on spped.

Cottae quidem atque eorum, qui dissentiret consilium quem habere exitum, in quo si prarsens periculum non, at certe longinqua obsidione fames esset timenda?

Indeed what outcome would the plan of Cotta and those who disagreed have, in which if there was danger present, then certainly a famine from a prolonged siege was to be feared?

Hac in utramque partem disputatione habita, cum a Cotta primisque ordinibus acriter resisteretur, “Vincite,” inquit, “si ita vultis,” Sabinus, et, id clariore voce, ut magna pars militum exaudiret: “Neque is sum,” inquit, “qui gravissime ex vobis mortis periculo terrear: hi sapient; si gravius quid acciderit, abs te rationem reposcent qui, si per te liceat, perendino die cum proximis hibernis coniuncti communem cum reliquis elli casum sustineant, non reiecti et relegati longe ab ceteris aut ferro aut fame intereant.”

“With this dispute having been had on both sides, when it was bitterly resisted by Cotta and the centurions of the first rank, Sabinus said, “Prevail if you so wish,” and he said it in a rather loud voice, so that a large part of the soldiers would overhear: “And I’m not the one,” he said, “who would be very seriously scared among you by the danger of death: these people will be wise; if anything rather serious happens, they will require a reason from you, these people who, if it should be permitted by you, having been joined together on the day after tomorrow with the nearest winter quarters, would withstand the common disaster of war with the rest, and not having been thrown out and banished far from the rest, would die by either iron or famine.”

Consurgitur ex consilio; comprehendunt utramque et orant, ne sua dissensione et pertinacia rem in summum preiculum deducant: facilem esse rem, seu maneant, seu proficiscantur, si modo unum omnes sentiant ac probent; contra in dissensione nullam se salutem perspicere.

They rise from the council; they grasp their hands and beg not to bring the matter into the highest danger by means of their stubborness and disagreement: that it would be easy whether to stay or to set out, if only they could all agree and approve one plan; that they perceive no safety in disgreement.

Res disputatione ad mediam noctem perducitur.

The matter is extended to the middle of the night because of the disagreement.

Tandem dat Cotta permotus manus: superat sententia Sabini.

Finally, having been persuaded, Cotta yields, and Sabinus’ opinion prevails.

Pronuntiatur prima luce ituros.

They announced that they would leave at dawn.

Consumiter vigiliis reliqua pars noctis, cum su quisque miles circumspiceret, quid secum portare posset, quid ex instrumento hibernorum relinquere cogeretur.

The remaining part of the night is consumed in wakefulness, since each soldier was looking around for his things, wondering what he might be able to carry with him, also wondering what out of the equipment of the winter quarters he would be forced to leave behind.

Omnia exocogitantur, quare nec sine periculo maneatur, et vigiliis periculum augeatur.

They invent all sorts of reasons, why they were not able to stay without danger, and the danger would be increased by the weariness of the soldiers and by the sleeplessness of the night watch.

Prima luce sic ex castris proficiscuntur, ut quibus esset persuasum non ab hoste, sed ab homine amicissimo Ambiorige consilium datum, longissimo agmine maximisque impedimentis.

At dawn they set out from the camp, in a very long line of march and with a very great amount of baggage, in this way advice had been given to whom it had been perished by not the enemy, but by a very friendly person Ambiorix.

At hostes, postea quam ex nocturno fremitu vigiliisque de profectione eorum senserunt, collocatis insidiis bipertito in silvis opportuno atque occulto loco a milibus passuum circiter duobus Romanorum adventum exspectabant, et, cum se maior pars agminis in magnam convallem demisisset, ex utraque parte eius vallius subito se ostenderunt, novissimosque premere et primos prohibere ascensu atque inquissimo nostris loco proelium commitere coeperunt.

But the enemy, after they noticed their departure from the uproar and wakefulness at night, with ambushes in two divisions having been placed in an advantageous place in the woods at a distance of around 2 miles, waited for the arrival of the Romans, and, when a rather great part of the line of march had descended into the deep valley, from each part of this valley they suddenly showed themselves and began to press upon the rear guards and prevent the front from ascending and engaged a battle on our men in a most unfavorable position.