§1.11.1Helvetii iam per angustias et fines Sequanorum suas copias traduxerant et in Haeduorum fines pervenerant eorumque agros populabantur.
The Helvetii had already led their forces through the narrow passes and the territory of the Sequani, and had arrived in the territory of the Haedui, and were ravaging their fields.
§1.11.2Haedui, cum se suaque ab iis defendere non possent, legatos ad Caesarem mittunt rogatum auxilium: §1.11.3ita se omni tempore de populo Romano meritos esse ut paene in conspectu exercitus nostri agri vastari, liberi [eorum] in servitutem abduci, oppida expugnari non debuerint.
The Haedui, since they could not defend themselves and their property from them, sent ambassadors to Caesar to ask for assistance: stating that they had at all times so well deserved of the Roman people, that their fields ought not to be ravaged, their children led away into slavery, and their towns stormed, almost under the eyes of our army.
Eodem tempore quo Haedui Ambarri, necessarii et consanguinei Haeduorum, Caesarem certiorem faciunt sese depopulatis agris non facile ab oppidis vim hostium prohibere.
At the same time, the Ambarri, close allies and kinsmen of the Haedui, informed Caesar that, their fields having already been devastated, they could not easily ward off the violence of the enemy from their towns.
§1.11.4Item Allobroges, qui trans Rhodanum vicos possessionesque habebant, fuga se ad Caesarem recipiunt et demonstrant sibi praeter agri solum nihil esse reliqui.
Likewise, the Allobroges, who had villages and possessions beyond the Rhone, fled to Caesar, and pointed out to him that nothing was left to them except the bare soil of their land.
§1.11.5Quibus rebus adductus Caesar non expectandum sibi statuit dum, omnibus, fortunis sociorum consumptis, in Santonos Helvetii pervenirent.
Induced by these circumstances, Caesar decided that he must not wait until, after all the fortunes of his allies had been consumed, the Helvetii should arrive in the territory of the Santones.