Caesar Gallic Wars 5.35-37

[5.35-37]
1 Quō praeceptō ab eīs dīligentissimē observatō, cum
2 quaepiam cohors ex orbe excesserat atque impetum fēcerat,
3 hostēs vēlōcissimē refugiēbant. Interim eam partem nūdārī
4 necesse erat et ab latere apertō tēla recipī. Rūrsus cum in eum
5 locum unde erant ēgressī revertī coeperant, et ab eīs quī cesserant
6 et ab eīs quī proximī steterant circumveniēbantur; sīn autem
7 locum tenēre vellent, nec virtūtī locus relinquēbātur, neque ab tantā
8 multitūdine coniecta tēla confertī vītāre poterant.

With which instruction having been observed most carefully by these, when any cohort had withdrawn from the ring and had made an attack, the enemies were retreating most swiftly. Meanwhile it was necessary that this part be exposed and [it was necessary] that the weapons be received from the exposed side. Again when they began to turn back into that place from where they came out, they were surrounded both by those who had yielded and those who had stood nearest; but if, however, they were wanting to hold their place, neither was a place left for bravery, nor were they, crowded together, able to avoid weapons thrown by such a great crowd.

9 Tamen tot incommodīs cōnflīctātī, multīs vulneribus acceptīs
10 resistēbant et magnā parte diēī cōnsūmptā, cum ā prīmā
11 lūce ad hōram octāvam pugnārētur, nihil quod ipsīs esset
12 indignum committēbant.

Nevertheless the men, having been distressed by so many troubles, with many wounds having been received were resisting, and with a great part of the day having been consumed, although it was fought from the first light to the eighth hour, they were doing nothing which was unworthy for themselves.

13 Tum Titō Balventiō, quī superiōre annō prīmum pīlum dūxerat,
14 virō fortī et magnae auctōritātis, utrumque femur trāgulā
15 trāicitur; Quīntus Lūcānius, eiusdem ōrdinis, fortissimē
16 pugnāns, dum circumventō filiō subvenit, interficitur; Lucius
17 Cotta lēgātus omnēs cohortēs ōrdinēsque adhortāns in adversum
18 ōs fundā vulnerātur.

Then for Titus Balventius, who in the previous year had led the first century [of the legion], a brave man and of great authority, each thigh is pierced with a javelin; Quintus Lucianus of the same rank, fighting very bravely while he aids his son having been surrounded, is killed; Lucius Cotta the envoy, encouraging all the cohorts and ranks, is wounded by a slingshot, hit right in his face.

1 His rēbus permōtus Quīntus Titūrius, cum procul
2 Ambiorīgem suōs cohortantem cōnspexisset, interpretem
3 suum Gnaeum Pompēium ad eum mittit rogātum ut sibi
4 mīlitibusque parcat. Ille appellātus respondit: sī velit sēcum
5 colloquī, licēre; spērāre ā multitūdine impetrārī posse, quod ad
6 mīlitum salūtem pertineat; ipsī vērō nihil nocitum īrī, inque eam
7 rem sē suam fidem interpōnere.

Quintus Titurius, having been influenced, because of these matters, when he had seen from afar Ambiorix encouraging his own men, sends his mediator Gnaeus Pompeius to him to ask that he not harm him and the soldiers. That one, having been called, answered, if he should wish to speak with him, it is permitted, that [he] hopes that permission can be gained from the crowd which extends to the safety of the soldiers; that truly no harm would be done to himself, and that he gave his pledge into this matter.

8 Ille cum Cottā sauciō commūnicat, sī videātur, pugnā ut
9 excēdant et cum Ambiorīge ūnā colloquantur: spērāre ab eō dē
10 suā ac mīlitum salūte impetrārī posse. Cotta sē ad armātum
11 hostem itūrum negat atque in eō perseverat.

He communicates with wounded Cotta whether it seemed appropriate to withdraw from battle and talk with Ambiorix together, that he hoped it could be granted about his own safety and [the safety] of his soldiers. Cotta says that he will not go to an armed enemy, and persists in that.

1 Sabīnus quōs in praesentiā tribūnōs mīlitum circum
2 sē habēbat et primōrum ordinum centuriōnēs sē sequī iubet et,
3 cum propius Ambiorīgem accessisset, iussus arma abicere
4 imperātum facit suīsque ut idem faciant imperat. Interim, dum
5 dē condicionibus inter sē agunt longiorque cōnsultō ab
6 Ambiorīgē īnstituitur sermō, paulātim circumventus interficitur.

Sabinus orders which tribunes of the soldiers he was holding around himself, and the centurions of the first ranks to follow himself and, when he had approached Ambiorix nearer, having been ordered to throw down the weapons he does the order, and he orders his own [men] to do the same thing.Meanwhile they speak about the conditions among themselves, and by plan a longer speech is set up by Ambiorix, having been surrounded little by little, he [Sabinus] is killed.

7 Tum vērō suō morē victōriam conclāmant atque ululātum
8 tollunt impetūque in nostrōs factō ōrdinēs perturbant. Ibi
9 Lūcius Cotta pugnāns interficitur cum maximā parte militum.
10 Reliquī sē in castra recipiunt unde erant ēgressi. Ex quibus
11 Lūcius Petrosidius aquilifer, cum magnā multitūdine hostium
12 premerētur, aquilam intrā vāllum prōiecit; ipse prō castrīs
13 fortissimē pugnāns occīditur.

Then truly they call victory by their own custom and they raise up a shout and with an attack having been made against our men they throw the ranks into confusion. There, Lucius Cotta fighting, is killed with a very great part of the soldiers, the rest retreat into the camp from where they had departed. Out of these men, standard bearer Lucius Petrosidius, because he was pressed by a great number of enemies, threw his eagle inside the rampart, he himself is cut down very bravely fighting for the camp.

14 Illī aegrē ad noctem oppugnātiōnem sustinent; noctū ad ūnum
15 omnēs dēspērātā salūte sē ipsī interficiunt. Paucī ex proeliō ēlapsī
16 incertīs itineribus per silvās ad Titum Labiēnum lēgātum in
17 hīberna perveniunt atque eum dē rēbus gestīs certiōrem faciunt.

Those men sustained the attack weakly to night; at night with safety having been despaired to a man they themselves all kill themselves. A few from battle having escaped by uncertain roads through the woods come to the delegate, Titus Labineus, at his winter camp and they make him more certain about the matters having been done.