5.28

Arpineius and Junius, report to the legates (those things), which they have heard. Those men, disturbed by the sudden affair, although these things were said  by an enemy, nevertheless were reckoning that [these things were] not to be disregarded and were especially moved by this thing, because it was hardly to be believed that the undistinguished and weak state of the Eburones dared to make war with the Roman people of their own accord. Therefore they report the matter to the council and a great dispute arises between them.

Lucius Aurunculeius [Cotta] and several military tribunes and the centurions of the first rank were reckoning that nothing should be done rashly and [they should not depart] from the winter quarters without Caesar’s orders: they were explaining that even forces of the Germans as great as you wish might be sustained by fortified winter camps: the thing was for proof, because they had very bravely withstood the first attack of the enemy with many wounds furthermore having been inflicted: that (they) were not pressed by grain supply; that meanwhile help would assemble from both the nearest winter camp and from Caesar: finally what could be more inconstant or more shameful, than to adopt a plan on the authority of an enemy regarding the highest matters?

NOTA BENE: This long chapter in indirect speech is broken down into sense units to make things easier for students, and the indirect statements dependent on locūtus est are marked in small capitals.

DOWNLOAD the PDF: 5-27_sense_units

5.27

G. Arpineius, a Roman knight, an acquaintaince of Quintus Titurus, is sent to them for the sake of a conversing, and Quintus Iunius a certain man from Spain, who previously had already been accustomed to visit(ing) Ambiorix by the sending of Caesar; among them Ambiorisx spoke to this manner: that he confessed that he in return for Caesar’s favor toward him owed very much to him, because he had been freed from a tax by his {Caesar’s} works/efforts, which he {Ambiorix} had been accustomed to pay to Aduatuci, his own neighbors…

and because both his son and his brother’s son had been sent back by Caesar,  whom having been sent in the number of hostages the Aduatuci had held among them in slavery and chains; and not that, which he did concerning the attack of the camps, he had done either by decision or by his own consent, but by the compulsion of the state, and that his commands are of such a kind that the population did not have less authority over him than he himself over the population. For the state furthermore this was the cause of war, because he was not able to withstand the the sudden conspiracy of the Gauls.

[Ambiorix said that] he can prove this easily from his own humility/lowness, because he is not so inexperienced in affairs that {would} believe that the Roman people can be conquered by his own forces; but that [this] was the common plan of Gaul: this day was established for {the purpose of} attacking all the winter camps of Caesar, so that not any legion may be able to come for the aid of another legion; that the Gauls could not easily deny the Gauls, especially when a plan appeared to have been started/formed regarding/for recovering common freedom.

Since now he had apologized to these [men] for loyalty, [he/Ambiorix, said] that now he has a consideration of duty for the favors of Caesar: that he advises [and] beseeches Titurius for [his] hospitality to consider his own and the soldiers’ safety. [He also said] that a great assembled force of Germans had crossed the Rhine River, that this [band] would be present within two days.

[He also said] that the plan was of themselves [i.e., it was up to the Romans], whether they wish (before the neighboring [peoples] realize that the soldiers had been led down from the winter camps) to lead [them] either to Cicero or to Labienus, one of which was nearly 50 miles away, the other was slightly farther away from them. That this he promised and by confirming with oath that he would give [them] a safe passage through [their] borders.

When he [Ambiorix] does this, he was both considering his own state, because it would be relieved from the winter camps and he was making a requital to Caesar for his favors. Ambiorix departed with this speech having been delivered.

5.26

in about 15 days, in which (days) it was come into winter quarters, the beginning of a tumultuous insurrection/uprising and revolt/desertion has begun by Ambiorix and Catuvulcus; who, although they had met with Sabinus and Cotta near the territory of their kingdom and had collected grain into the winter quarters, having been influenced by the messages of the Indutiomarus the Treveran, they stirred up their people and suddenly with the wood gatherers having been attacked they came to the camp with a great gang to attack.

Since our men had seized arms quickly and had ascended the entrenchments and after the Spanish calvary had been sent out from one side/part, [our men] had been greater in the battle of cavalry, the enemy with the matter given up drew back their men from the siege. Then they shouted according to their custom, so that the some of our men would go forward to the conference: [they shouted] that they had [things] that they wished to say about the general matter, by means of which matters they hoped the conflicts could be lessened.