§3.2.1Cum dies hibernorum complures transissent frumentumque eo comportari iussisset, subito per exploratores certior factus est ex ea parte vici, quam Gallis concesserat, omnes noctu discessisse montesque qui impenderent a maxima multitudine Sedunorum et Veragrorum teneri.
When several days of wintering had passed and he had ordered grain to be brought there, he was suddenly informed through scouts that all the Gauls had departed by night from that part of the village which he had granted to them, and that the mountains which overhung it were occupied by a very large multitude of Seduni and Veragri.
§3.2.2Id aliquot de causis acciderat, ut subito Galli belli renovandi legionisque opprimendae consilium caperent: §3.2.3primum, quod legionem neque eam plenissimam detractis cohortibus duabus et compluribus singillatim, qui commeatus petendi causa missi erant, absentibus propter paucitatem despiciebant; §3.2.4tum etiam, quod propter iniquitatem loci, cum ipsi ex montibus in vallem decurrerent et tela coicerent, ne primum quidem impetum suum posse sustineri existimabant.
This had happened for several reasons, so that the Gauls suddenly formed the plan of renewing the war and crushing the legion: first, because they despised the legion on account of its small number—and that not at its full strength, since two cohorts had been detached, and many individuals who had been sent for the purpose of seeking provisions were absent; then also, because they thought that, owing to the disadvantage of the position, when they themselves should run down from the mountains into the valley and hurl their missiles, not even their first onset could be sustained.
§3.2.5Accedebat quod suos ab se liberos abstractos obsidum nomine dolebant, et Romanos non solum itinerum causa sed etiam perpetuae possessionis culmina Alpium occupare conari et ea loca finitimae provinciae adiungere sibi persuasum habebant.
To this was added that they grieved that their children had been snatched from them under the name of hostages, and they had persuaded themselves that the Romans were attempting to seize the summits of the Alps, not only for the sake of a route but also for permanent possession, and to annex those places to the neighboring province.