§2.31.1Ubi vero moveri et adpropinquare muris viderunt, nova atque inusitata specie commoti legatos ad Caesarem de pace miserunt, qui ad hunc modum locuti, §2.31.2non se existimare Romanos sine ope divina bellum gerere, qui tantae altitudinis machinationes tanta celeritate promovere possent, §2.31.3se suaque omnia eorum potestati permittere dixerunt.
But when they saw that it was moving and approaching the walls, shaken by this new and unusual sight, they sent ambassadors to Caesar concerning peace, who spoke to this effect: that they did not think the Romans waged war without divine assistance, since they were able to move forward machines of such great height with such great speed; they said that they surrendered themselves and all their possessions to their power.
§2.31.4Unum petere ac deprecari: si forte pro sua clementia ac mansuetudine, quam ipsi ab aliis audirent, statuisset Atuatucos esse conservandos, ne se armis despoliaret.
One thing they begged and entreated: if by chance, in accordance with his clemency and leniency, of which they had heard from others, he had decided that the Atuatuci should be spared, that he would not deprive them of their arms.
§2.31.5Sibi omnes fere finitimos esse inimicos ac suae virtuti invidere; a quibus se defendere traditis armis non possent.
That almost all their neighbors were hostile to them and envied their valor; from whom they would not be able to defend themselves if their arms were surrendered.
§2.31.6Sibi praestare, si in eum casum deducerentur, quamvis fortunam a populo Romano pati quam ab his per cruciatum interfici inter quos dominari consuessent.
That it was better for them, if they should be reduced to that state, to suffer any fortune whatsoever from the Roman people than to be tortured to death by those among whom they had been accustomed to rule.