§3.5.1Cum iam amplius horis sex continenter pugnaretur, ac non solum vires sed etiam tela nostros deficerent, atque hostes acrius instarent languidioribusque nostris vallum scindere et fossas complere coepissent, resque esset iam ad extremum perducta casum, §3.5.2P. Sextius Baculus, primi pili centurio, quem Nervico proelio compluribus confectum vulneribus diximus, et item C. Volusenus, tribunus militum, vir et consilii magni et virtutis, ad Galbam accurrunt atque unam esse spem salutis docent, si eruptione facta extremum auxilium experirentur.
When the battle had already been going on continuously for more than six hours, and not only strength but also weapons were failing our men, and the enemy was pressing on more fiercely and had begun, as our men grew weaker, to tear down the rampart and fill up the trenches, and the situation had now been brought to the ultimate crisis, Publius Sextius Baculus, a centurion of the first rank, whom we have mentioned as being disabled by many wounds in the battle against the Nervii, and likewise Gaius Volusenus, a military tribune, a man of great counsel and valor, ran to Galba and informed him that the only hope of safety was, if they made a sally, to try their last resource.
§3.5.3Itaque convocatis centurionibus celeriter milites certiores facit, paulisper intermitterent proelium ac tantum modo tela missa exciperent seque ex labore reficerent, post dato signo ex castris erumperent, atque omnem spem salutis in virtute ponerent.
Therefore, quickly calling the centurions together, he made the soldiers understand that they should interrupt the battle for a short time, and only intercept the weapons thrown at them and refresh themselves from their fatigue, and afterwards, when the signal was given, break out of the camp and place all hope of safety in their valor.