SCRIPTURA

Julius Caesar · Gallic War — Book VII · 18 of 90

Book VII — Chapter 18

Translated by W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn

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When the towers had now approached the walls, Caesar ascertained from the captives that Vercingetorix after destroying the forage, had pitched his camp nearer Avaricum, and that he himself with the cavalry and light-armed infantry, who generally fought among the horse, had gone to lay an ambuscade in that quarter, to which he thought that our troops would come the next day to forage.

Cum iam muro turres appropinquassent, ex captivis Caesar cognovit Vercingetorigem consumpto pabulo castra movisse propius Avaricum atque ipsum cum equitatu expeditisque, qui inter equites proeliari consuessent, insidiarum causa eo profectum, quo nostros postero die pabulatum venturos arbitraretur.

On learning these facts, he set out from the camp secretly at midnight, and reached the camp of the enemy early in the morning.

Quibus rebus cognitis media nocte silentio profectus ad hostium castra mane pervenit.

They having quickly learned the arrival of Caesar by scouts, hid their cars and baggage in the thickest parts of the woods, and drew up all their forces in a lofty and open space:

Illi celeriter per exploratores adventu Caesaris cognito carros impedimentaque sua in artiores silvas abdiderunt, copias omnes in loco edito atque aperto instruxerunt.

which circumstance being announced, Caesar immediately ordered the baggage to be piled, and the arms to be got ready.

Qua re nuntiata Caesar celeriter sarcinas conferri, arma expediri iussit.