5.41
(First half… up to sese)
At that time, the leaders and chiefs of the Nervii who have some access of conversation and a cause of friendship with Cicero say [that] they wish to converse. With the possibility having been made, they state the same [things] which Ambiorix had discussed with Titurius: [that] all Gaul was in arms, [that] the Germans crossed the the Rhine, [that] the camps of Caesar’s other men wer attacked. They add also about the death of Sabinus. They show Ambiorix for the sake of creating credibility.
They say that these men [Romans] are mistaken if they hope anything of help from them [the Romans], who despair from their affairs; that they, however, are with this mind towards Cicero and the Roman people, [such] that they reject nothing except the winter camps and do not wish that this custom become ingrained: that it is permitted to them [the Romans] to depart unhurt from the winter quarters through themselves and to set out into whatever region they wish without fear.
To these Cicero replies just once: [that] it is not a habit of the Roman people to accept from the armed enemy any condition: if they wish to withdraw from weapons, they may use him as a helper and they may send legates to Caesar; that he hopes that in accordance with his [Caesar’s] justice that they would obtain those things which they sought.
5.42
Having been repelled/disappointed from this hope, the Nervii encompass the winter-camp with a wall of 9 feet (high) and with a trench of 15 feet (deep). They had learned these things from us by the custom of previous years, and were instructed by those whom they were taking secretly as captives from the army; but with no supply of an iron tool which was fit for this need/use, they were compelled to cut around the sod with a sword, [and] to empty the land with hands and with a small coat.
From which matter indeed the multitude of men was able to be known: for in less than 3 hours they completed the fortification 15 miles in circumference; and in the remaining days they began to prepare and make towers to the height of the wall, hooks and tortoises, which the same captives had taught.
5.43
On the seventh day of the assault, with a very great wind having risen, they began to hurl hot balls of molten clay from slings and heated javelins upon the huts, which in accordance to Gallic custom had been covered with straw. These quickly seize fire and by the violence of the wind they spread it into every part of the camp.
The enemies with a very great shout, as if having already won and victory having been found, began to advance the towers and tortoises and to ascend the rampart with ladders. But so great was the courage of the soldiers, and [such] was the presence of [their] mind that, although they were burned on all sides by fire/flame and were oppressed by a great multitude of weapons, and understood that all [their] baggage and fortune were burning, not only did no one depart the rampart for the cause of stepping away, but almost no one even looked back, and then all fought most sharply and most bravely. This day was by far the most severe for our men; but nevertheless it had this outcome, that on that day the greatest number of enemies was wounded and was slain, as they had crowded themselves under the very rampart and the farthest men were not giving retreat to the first men. The flames indeed having ceased for a little and a tower having been thrusted in a certain place and touching the rampart, the centurions of the third cohort went back from that place where they were standing, and withdrew all their men; they began to call the enemies by command and by voices, to enter if they wished; no one of them/which dared to advance. Then they (the enemies) were dislodged by the stones that had been thrown from all parts, and (their) tower set on fire below.
5.44
There were in this legion very brave men, the centurions Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus, who approached the first rank. These [men] used to have continuous arguments with one another, as to which should be preferred to the other, and in all the years they were fighting in respect to [their] rank. From these [men] Pullo, since he was fighting most sharply against the ramparts, says, ” Vorenus, why do you hesitate? Or what opportunity do you wait for for proving your virtue? This day will decide our arguments.” When he had said this, he advanced beyond the fortifications and he rushed into that part of the enemy which seemed thickest. Not even Vorenus them kept himself in the ramparts, but having feared the opinion of everyone followed closely. Then, with a little space left, Pullo directs the pike against the enemies and it pierces one [who was] charging from the multitude; with this [man] having been struck and killed, they protect him with shields, all together they hurl weapons against the enemy and they do not give opportunity for retreating. The shield of Pullo is pierced and the spear is driven in [his] sword belt. This circumstance turns aside his scabbard and obstructs his right hand from attempting to draw his sword, and the enemies stand around him.
[His personal] enemy Vorenus runs to help that man and goes to help the laboring man. The entire multitude immediately turns itself from Pullo to this man; they consider to kill him with a spear. Vorenus carries the fight hand to hand with a sword and with one man killed he put to flight the little remaining; while he threatens more eagerly, he falls cast down into a lower place. Again Pullo brings help to the one who had been surrounded, and they both recover themselves within the fortifications unharmed with the highest praise with several [enemies] killed. Fortune turned for each in the dispute and combat in such a way, that one enemy was safety and assistance to the other, and it was not able to be decided, which of the two seemed to be preferred.
5.45
The more serious and severe the attack became day by day, (and especially because, as a great number of the soldiers were exhausted with wounds, the matter had come to a small number of defenders) the more frequent the letters and messages were sent to Caesar; a part of whom having been caught were put to death in the sight of our soldiers with torture.
There was one within the Nervi by the name Vertico, having been born from a honorable place, who had retreated from the first siege to Cicero, had shown his allegiance to him. This man persuades a slave with hope of freedom and with great rewards, to bring the letters to Caesar. That man (servant) carries these things attached on a spear and the Gaul having been dealt with arrives to Caesar without any suspicion among the Gauls, it is known from him (servant) about the dangers of Cicero and the legion.
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