[24] Eodem tempore equites nostri levisque armaturae pedites, qui cum iis una fuerant, quos primo hostium impetu pulsos dixeram, cum se in castra reciperent, adversis hostibus occurrebant ac rursus aliam in partem fugam petebant; et calones, qui ab decumana porta ac summo iugo collis nostros victores flumen transire conspexerant, praedandi causa egressi, cum respexissent et hostes in nostris castris versari vidissent, praecipites fugae sese mandabant.
Eng: At the same time, our cavalry and light-armed infantry, who had been together with those I mentioned earlier, were trying to return to the camp but were encountering the advancing enemy, and they were forced to flee in another direction. Even the camp followers, who had seen our victorious troops cross the river from the back gate and the highest point of the hill, had come out to plunder, but upon seeing the enemy inside our camps, they hurriedly fled in panic.
华文: 与此同时，我们的骑兵和轻装步兵，与之前我所描述的被敌人冲散的部队一起，当他们回到军营时，又面对着敌人，再次寻求逃离。而从后门和山顶上看到我们胜利地渡过河流的随从们，出于抢劫的目的走了出去，但当他们回头看到敌人在我们的军营中活动时，他们急速逃跑。
Commentary: The Latin phrases "omnes Nervii confertissimo agmine" (all the Nervii in a very dense formation) and "cum in dextro cornu legio XII. et non magno ab ea intervallo VII. constitisset" (when the 12th legion and the 7th, with not much distance between them, had taken their positions on the right wing) demonstrate the precision and descriptive power of Latin in conveying specific details about military formations and arrangements.
Simul eorum qui cum impedimentis veniebant clamor fremitusque oriebatur, aliique aliam in partem perterriti ferebantur. Quibus omnibus rebus permoti equites Treveri, quorum inter Gallos virtutis opinio est singularis, qui auxilii causa a civitate missi ad Caesarem venerant, cum multitudine hostium castra [nostra] compleri, legiones premi et paene circumventas teneri, calones, equites, funditores, Numidas diversos dissipatosque in omnes partes fugere vidissent, desperatis nostris rebus domum contenderunt: Romanos pulsos superatosque, castris impedimentisque eorum hostes potitos civitati renuntiaverunt.
Eng: The tumultuous noise and commotion were spreading everywhere, and each person was terrified and driven in different directions. Among them, the cavalry of the Treveri, who were known for their exceptional bravery among the Gauls and had come as auxiliaries from their tribe to support Caesar, saw the enemy overwhelming our camp, pressing the legions and almost surrounding them. Witnessing the chaos with the camp followers, cavalry, slingers, and dispersed Numidian troops fleeing in all directions, the Treveri lost all hope for our cause and hurried back to their homeland. They reported that the Romans were defeated and overpowered, and the enemy had taken control of our camps and supplies.
华文: 诸多混乱声响同时响起，带着随行物资的人们也发出呐喊和嘈杂声。一些人惊恐地四散奔逃，受到不同的影响。在这一切情况下，特里维里的骑兵感到震惊，这些在加尔人中享有独特战斗力声誉的人，作为援军派遣前来见到了凯撒。当他们看到敌人的数量充满我们的军营，压迫着军团几乎将其包围，并且听说随从、骑兵、弓箭手和诺米迪亚人四散奔逃，他们绝望地决定回家。他们向自己的城邦报告罗马人战败，被击败，敌人占领了军营和行李。
Commentary: During the intense conflict, the Treveri, renowned for their valor as a Gallic tribe and enlisted to support Caesar's forces, were confronted with a daunting sight - the enemy's overwhelming numerical superiority, the imminent peril faced by the Roman legions, and the dispersion of allied groups such as baggage handlers, cavalry, slingers, and Numidian allies.
As the hope for a Roman victory waned among the Treveri, they made a fateful decision to withdraw from the battlefield and return to their homeland. Communicating back to their people, they reported a grim outcome - the Romans had suffered defeat, with the enemy seizing their camp and supplies. This passage offers a glimpse into the dynamic and tumultuous nature of the battle and underscores the significant role played by diverse non-Roman tribes embroiled in the momentous conflict.
[25] Caesar ab X. legionis cohortatione ad dextrum cornu profectus, ubi suos urgeri signisque in unum locum conlatis XII. legionis confertos milites sibi ipsos ad pugnam esse impedimento vidit, quartae cohortis omnibus centurionibus occisis signiferoque interfecto, signo amisso, reliquarum cohortium omnibus fere centurionibus aut vulneratis aut occisis, in his primipilo P. Sextio Baculo, fortissimo viro, multis gravibusque vulneribus confecto, ut iam se sustinere non posset, reliquos esse tardiores et non nullos ab novissimis deserto loco proelio excedere ac tela vitare, hostes neque a fronte ex inferiore loco subeuntes intermittere et ab utroque latere instare et rem esse in angusto vidit, neque ullum esse subsidium quod submitti posset, scuto ab novissimis [uni] militi detracto, quod ipse eo sine scuto venerat, in primam aciem processit centurionibusque nominatim appellatis reliquos cohortatus milites signa inferre et manipulos laxare iussit, quo facilius gladiis uti possent. Cuius adventu spe inlata militibus ac redintegrato animo, cum pro se quisque in conspectu imperatoris etiam in extremis suis rebus operam navare cuperet, paulum hostium impetus tardatus est.
Eng: Caesar, having advanced from the encouragement of the Xth legion, proceeded to the right wing, where he observed that his own soldiers were being pressed. The XIIth legion was crowded together in one place, hindering each other in battle. The entire cohort of the fourth legion's centurions had been killed, the standard-bearer slain, and the standard lost. Almost all centurions of the remaining cohorts were either wounded or killed, among them the valiant P. Sextius Baculus, who was gravely wounded and unable to continue fighting. Some of the soldiers, having abandoned their position at the rear, were now slower in response, evading the enemy's weapons.
Caesar perceived that the enemy did not cease their attacks from the front, advancing from a lower position, and also pressed from both flanks. He realized that there was no immediate reinforcement that could be sent to their aid. Having had his shield taken by a soldier from the rear ranks (where he himself had come without a shield), he advanced to the forefront. Addressing the centurions by name, he encouraged the remaining soldiers to advance their standards and loosen their formations, facilitating their use of swords. His arrival brought hope to the soldiers, and their spirits were renewed.
Each man, in the sight of their commander, desired to exert themselves, even in their most desperate circumstances. As a result, the enemy's attack was slightly delayed.
华文: 凯撒从第十军团的鼓舞中转向右翼，他看到十二军团的士兵挤在一起，受到阻碍无法投入战斗，军旗也丢失了，第四丛阿里的所有百人长几乎都被杀死或受伤，其中包括英勇的首长皮布利乌斯·塞克斯特斯·巴库卢斯，他已经受了许多重伤，已经无法坚持战斗了。其他百人长也减少了，受伤或死亡，其中一些已经从最后一行退出战斗，避免被敌人击中。敌人从下面正面袭来，两侧也不停压迫，战场狭窄，没有可以派遣的援军。他从一个没有盾牌的士兵那里拿了一块盾牌，因为他自己没有带盾牌来，然后走到第一线，并呼唤出几个百人长的名字，激励其他士兵前进，散开队列，方便使用剑。在他的到来和鼓舞下，士兵们得到了希望并重振士气，每个人都希望在皇帝面前即使是在危难时刻也能尽力贡献。由于这种情况，敌人的攻势稍微减缓了一些。
Commentary: The phrase "in primam aciem processit" shows Caesar stepping forward into the first line of battle. The use of "cum pro se quisque in conspectu imperatoris etiam in extremis suis rebus operam navare cuperet" demonstrates the soldiers' desire to give their best efforts, even in the direst circumstances, in front of their commander. Additionally, the phrase "redintegrato animo" emphasizes the revival of their spirits after Caesar's intervention.
[26] Caesar, cum VII. legionem, quae iuxta constiterat, item urgeri ab hoste vidisset, tribunos militum monuit ut paulatim sese legiones coniungerent et conversa signa in hostes inferrent. Quo facto cum aliis alii subsidium ferrent neque timerent ne aversi ab hoste circumvenirentur, audacius resistere ac fortius pugnare coeperunt.
Eng: Observing that the VIIth legion, which had stood nearby, was also being pressed by the enemy, Caesar admonished the military tribunes to gradually unite the legions and to turn their formations against the foe. Once this maneuver was executed, with some offering support to others, without fear of being surrounded by the enemy if they turned their backs, they began to resist with greater boldness and fight with heightened courage.
华文: 凯撒看到第七军团也受到敌人的压力，便告诫军团军官们逐渐将军队合并，然后转向敌人发起进攻。这样做使得其他军团相互之间能够提供援助，同时不用担心被从背后包围。士兵们因此开始更加勇敢地抵抗，并更加坚决地战斗。
Commentary: "tribunos militum monuit ut paulatim sese legiones coniungerent et conversa signa in hostes inferrent" shows how Caesar directed the military tribunes to gradually unite the legions and attack the enemy by turning their formations towards them. The use of "quo facto cum aliis alii subsidium ferrent neque timerent ne aversi ab hoste circumvenirentur" demonstrates how, as the legions supported each other, they were less afraid of being surrounded or taken from behind by the enemy, and this emboldened them to resist and fight more fiercely.
Interim milites legionum duarum quae in novissimo agmine praesidio impedimentis fuerant, proelio nuntiato, cursu incitato in summo colle ab hostibus conspiciebantur, et T.Labienus castris hostium potitus et ex loco superiore quae res in nostris castris gererentur conspicatus X.legionem subsidio nostris misit. Qui cum ex equitum et calonum fuga quo in loco res esset quantoque in periculo et castra et legiones et imperator versaretur cognovissent, nihil ad celeritatem sibi reliqui fecerunt.
Eng: Meanwhile, the soldiers of the two legions, which had been stationed at the rear to guard the baggage, upon receiving news of the battle, swiftly rushed up the highest hill and were visible to the enemy. T. Labienus, having captured the enemy's camp and observing the situation in our own camp from a vantage point, sent the Tenth legion to our aid. Upon learning the extent of the danger our camp, legions, and commander were in through the flight of the cavalry and camp followers, they wasted no time in joining the battle with utmost swiftness.
华文: 与此同时，接到战斗的消息后，两支位于军队尾部保卫物资的军团士兵加快了脚步，从敌人所在的高地上被看到。而T.拉比乌努斯则夺取了敌人的营地，从高处观察到在我们的营地中发生的情况，随即派遣第十军团前来支援我们。第十军团的士兵了解到了战局的紧急和军队、营地以及统帅所面临的危险，他们立刻行动，不留任何拖延的余地。
Commentary: In this excerpt, we witness Labienus's astute strategic maneuver as he seizes the opportunity to capture the enemy's camp, affording him a superior vantage point to survey the unfolding battlefield. This calculated move enables him to carefully assess the situation within the Roman camp and rapidly coordinate his responses to bolster his comrades-in-arms. The passage serves as a powerful reminder of the critical significance of timely and resolute actions amidst the chaos and intensity of warfare as well as the importance of commanders in the battlefield.