§4.11.1Caesar cum ab hoste non amplius passuum XII milibus abesset, ut erat constitutum, ad eum legati revertuntur; qui in itinere congressi magnopere ne longius progrederetur orabant.
When Caesar was not more than twelve miles distant from the enemy, as had been agreed, the ambassadors returned to him; who, having met him on the march, earnestly entreated him not to advance any further.
§4.11.2Cum id non impetrassent, petebant uti ad eos [equites] qui agmen antecessissent praemitteret eos pugna prohiberet, sibique ut potestatem faceret in Ubios legatos mittendi; §4.11.3quorum si principes ac senatus sibi iure iurando fidem fecisset, ea condicione quae a Caesare ferretur se usuros ostendebant: ad has res conficiendas sibi tridui spatium daret.
When they could not obtain this, they requested that he would send ahead to those [cavalry] who had gone before the army and forbid them to engage in battle, and that he would grant them the opportunity of sending ambassadors to the Ubii; they declared that if the chiefs and senate of the Ubii should give them a solemn pledge by oath, they would accept the terms which were offered by Caesar: and asked that he would give them a space of three days to accomplish these matters.
§4.11.4Haec omnia Caesar eodem illo pertinere arbitrabatur ut tridui mora interposita equites eorum qui abessent reverterentur; tamen sese non longius milibus passuum IIII aquationis causa processurum eo die dixit: §4.11.5huc postero die quam frequentissimi convenirent, ut de eorum postulatis cognosceret.
Caesar thought that all these things tended to the same purpose, that by interposing a delay of three days, their cavalry who were absent might return; nevertheless, he said that he would not advance more than four miles that day for the sake of procuring water: and directed that they should assemble there on the following day in as great numbers as possible, so that he might inquire into their demands.
§4.11.6Interim ad praefectos, qui cum omni equitatu antecesserant, mittit qui nuntiarent ne hostes proelio lacesserent, et si ipsi lacesserentur, sustinerent quoad ipse cum exercitu propius accessisset.
Meanwhile, he sent messengers to the officers who had gone ahead with all the cavalry, to order them not to provoke the enemy to battle, and, if they themselves should be provoked, to hold out until he himself had approached nearer with the army.