§4.19.1Caesar paucos dies in eorum finibus moratus, omnibus vicis aedificiisque incensis frumentisque succisis, se in fines Ubiorum recepit atque his auxilium suum pollicitus, si a Suebis premerentur, haec ab iis cognovit: §4.19.2Suebos, postea quam per exploratores pontem fieri comperissent, more suo concilio habito nuntios in omnes partes dimisisse, uti de oppidis demigrarent, liberos, uxores suaque omnia in silvis deponerent atque omnes qui arma ferre possent unum in locum convenirent. §4.19.3Hunc esse delectum medium fere regionum earum quas Suebi obtinerent; hic Romanorum adventum expectare atque ibi decertare constituisse.
Caesar, having tarried a few days in their territory, after burning all their villages and buildings and cutting down their corn, withdrew into the territory of the Ubii, and having promised them his assistance if they should be harassed by the Suebi, learned from them the following facts: that the Suebi, after they had discovered through scouts that a bridge was being built, having held a council according to their custom, had sent messengers in all directions, ordering them to depart from their towns, deposit their children, wives, and all their possessions in the woods, and that all who could bear arms should assemble in one place; that this place had been selected near the center of those regions which the Suebi possessed; that here they had determined to await the arrival of the Romans, and there to fight a decisive battle.
§4.19.4Quod ubi Caesar comperit, omnibus iis rebus confectis, quarum rerum causa exercitum traducere constituerat, ut Germanis metum iniceret, ut Sugambros ulcisceretur, ut Ubios obsidione liberaret, diebus omnino XVIII trans Rhenum consumptis, satis et ad laudem et ad utilitatem profectum arbitratus se in Galliam recepit pontemque rescidit.
When Caesar discovered this, all those objects having been accomplished for the sake of which he had determined to lead his army across—to strike terror into the Germans, to take vengeance on the Sugambri, and to deliver the Ubii from their blockade—having spent altogether eighteen days beyond the Rhine, and thinking that he had advanced far enough both for honor and for utility, he withdrew into Gaul and broke down the bridge.