The town itself was situated on the top of a hill, in a very lofty position, so that it did not appear likely to be taken, except by a regular siege.
Ipsum erat oppidum Alesia in colle summo admodum edito loco, ut nisi obsidione expugnari non posse videretur.
Two rivers, on two different sides, washed the foot of the hill.
Cuius collis radices duo duabus ex partibus flumina subluebant.
Before the town lay a plain of about three miles in length;
Ante id oppidum planities circiter milia passuum tria in longitudinem patebat:
on every other side hills at a moderate distance, and of an equal degree of height, surrounded the town.
reliquis ex omnibus partibus colles mediocri interiecto spatio pari altitudinis fastigio oppidum cingebant.
The army of the Gauls had filled all the space under the wall, comprising a part of the hill which looked to the rising sun, and had drawn in front a trench and a stone wall six feet high.
Sub muro, quae pars collis ad orientem solem spectabat, hunc omnem locum copiae Gallorum compleverant fossamque et maceriam sex in altitudinem pedum praeduxerant.
The circuit of that fortification, which was commenced by the Romans, comprised eleven miles.
Eius munitionis quae ab Romanis instituebatur circuitus XI milia passuum tenebat.
The camp was pitched in a strong position, and twenty-three redoubts were raised in it, in which sentinels were placed by day, lest any sally should be made suddenly; and by night the same were occupied by watches and strong guards.
Castra opportunis locis erant posita ibique castella viginti tria facta, quibus in castellis interdiu stationes ponebantur, ne qua subito eruptio fieret: haec eadem noctu excubitoribus ac firmis praesidiis tenebantur.