§1.42.1Cognito Caesaris adventu Ariovistus legatos ad eum mittit: quod antea de conloquio postulasset, id per se fieri licere, quoniam propius accessisset seque id sine periculo facere posse existimaret.
Upon learning of Caesar's arrival, Ariovistus sent ambassadors to him, stating that what he had previously requested regarding a conference might now, as far as he was concerned, take place, since Caesar had approached nearer, and he considered that he could do it without danger.
§1.42.2Non respuit condicionem Caesar iamque eum ad sanitatem reverti arbitrabatur, cum id quod antea petenti denegasset ultro polliceretur, §1.42.3magnamque in spem veniebat pro suis tantis populique Romani in eum beneficiis cognitis suis postulatis fore uti pertinacia desisteret.
Caesar did not reject the proposal, and he began to think that Ariovistus was now returning to his senses, since he was volunteering of his own accord what he had previously refused to him when requesting it; and he came to entertain a great hope that, in consideration of his own and the Roman people's great favors toward him, Ariovistus would desist from his obstinacy once Caesar's demands were made known.
§1.42.4Dies conloquio dictus est ex eo die quintus.
The fifth day from that day was appointed for the conference.
§1.42.5Interim saepe cum legati ultro citroque inter eos mitterentur, Ariovistus postulavit ne quem peditem ad conloquium Caesar adduceret: vereri se ne per insidias ab eo circumveniretur; uterque cum equitatu veniret: alia ratione sese non esse venturum.
Meanwhile, as ambassadors were frequently being sent back and forth between them, Ariovistus demanded that Caesar should not bring any infantry to the conference, saying that he feared he might be surrounded by him through treachery; let each come with cavalry; otherwise he would not come.
§1.42.6Caesar, quod neque conloquium interposita causa tolli volebat neque salutem suam Gallorum equitatui committere audebat, commodissimum esse statuit omnibus equis Gallis equitibus detractis eo legionarios milites legionis X., cui quam maxime confidebat, imponere, ut praesidium quam amicissimum, si quid opus facto esset, haberet.
Caesar, because he did not want the conference to be prevented by any pretext being interposed, and yet did not dare to entrust his safety to the Gallic cavalry, decided that the most convenient course was to take away all the horses from the Gallic cavalry and mount upon them the legionary soldiers of the Tenth Legion, in whom he had the greatest confidence, so that he might have a guard as trustworthy as possible in case there should be any need for action.
§1.42.7Quod cum fieret, non inridicule quidam ex militibus X. legionis dixit: plus quam pollicitus esset Caesarem facere; pollicitum se in cohortis praetoriae loco X. legionem habiturum ad equum rescribere.
While this was being done, a soldier of the Tenth Legion remarked not without wit: that Caesar was doing more than he had promised; for though he had promised that he would keep the Tenth Legion in the place of his bodyguard, he was now enrolling them among the cavalry.