5.30

This discussion having been considered into either region/side, when it was being resisted fiercely by Cotta and the first ranks, “Prevail/Win,” Sabinus said, “if you wish thus,” and this with a rather clear voice, so that a great part of the soldiers might hear “nor am I someone,” he says, “**who from among you is very seriously terrified by the danger of death: these (soldiers) will understand/know; if something more serious will have occured, they will demand an account from you, [these men] who, if it might be allowed through you, having been joined together on the day after tomorrow with the next winter camps, would endure the common fortune of war with the rest, [and] not cast out and removed far from the test, would perish either by the sword or by hunger”

** relative clause of characteristic

5.31

There is a rising up from the meeting/council; they grab each and beg, that they not bring the situation into the highest danger by their disagreement or stubbornness: that the matter was easy, whether they remain or they proceed, if only they all notice and approve the same thing; on the other hand they saw no safety in dissension/disagreement. The matter is prolonged by discussion to midnight.

Finally Cotta, upset, gives hands (surrenders); the opinion of Sabinus remains. It is announced that they will go at dawn. The remaining part of the night is spent watching [i.e., without sleep], since each soldier examined his things, what he might be able to carry with himself, [and] what of the equipment of the winter quarters he might be forced to leave behind.

All things are devised, why they would stay without danger and [by what means] the danger is increased by the weakness of the soldiers and by [their] watching [i.e., sleeplessness]. They set out at dawn from the camp in such a way as to whom it had been persuaded not by the enemy but by advice given by the very friendly man Ambiorix, in a very long column and with very great baggage.