§5.27.1Mittitur ad eos colloquendi causa Gaius Arpineius, eques Romanus, familiaris Quinti Tituri, et Quintus Iunius ex Hispania quidam, qui iam ante missu Caesaris ad Ambiorigem ventitare consuerat; apud quos Ambiorix ad hunc modum locutus est: §5.27.2sese pro Caesaris in se beneficiis plurimum ei confiteri debere, quod eius opera stipendio liberatus esset, quod Aduatucis, finitimis suis, pendere consuesset, quodque ei et filius et fratris filius ab Caesare remissi essent, quos Aduatuci obsidum numero missos apud se in servitute et catenis tenuissent; §5.27.3neque id, quod fecerit de oppugnatione castrorum, aut iudicio aut voluntate sua fecisse, sed coactu civitatis, suaque esse eiusmodi imperia, ut non minus haberet iuris in se multitudo quam ipse in multitudinem.
Gaius Arpineius, a Roman knight, an intimate friend of Quintus Titurius, and a certain Quintus Junius from Spain, who had already been accustomed before to go frequently to Ambiorix by Caesar's dispatch, are sent to them for the purpose of a conference; before whom Ambiorix spoke in this manner: that he confessed that he owed very much to Caesar for his benefits toward him, because by his intervention he had been freed from the tribute which he had been accustomed to pay to the Aduatuci, his neighbors, and because both his son and his brother's son had been sent back to him by Caesar, whom, when sent in the number of hostages, the Aduatuci had kept in slavery and chains among themselves; and that he had not done that which he did concerning the attack on the camp either by his own judgment or will, but by the compulsion of his state, and that his command was of such a nature that the multitude had no less authority over him than he himself had over the multitude.
§5.27.4Civitati porro hanc fuisse belli causam, quod repentinae Gallorum coniurationi resistere non potuerit.
That to the state, furthermore, this had been the cause of the war, that it could not resist the sudden conspiracy of the Gauls.
Id se facile ex humilitate sua probare posse, quod non adeo sit imperitus rerum ut suis copiis populum Romanum superari posse confidat.
That he could easily prove this from his own insignificance, because he was not so inexperienced in affairs as to trust that the Roman people could be conquered by his forces.
§5.27.5Sed esse Galliae commune consilium: omnibus hibernis Caesaris oppugnandis hunc esse dictum diem, ne qua legio alterae legioni subsidio venire posset; §5.27.6non facile Gallos Gallis negare potuisse, praesertim cum de recuperanda communi libertate consilium initum videretur.
But that it was the common plan of Gaul: that this day was appointed for attacking all the winter quarters of Caesar, so that no legion could come to the assistance of another legion; that Gauls could not easily refuse Gauls, especially when a plan for recovering their common liberty seemed to have been entered upon.
§5.27.7Quibus quoniam pro pietate satisfecerit, habere nunc se rationem offici pro beneficiis Caesaris: monere, orare Titurium pro hospitio, ut suae ac militum saluti consulat.
Since he had satisfied them on the score of patriotism, he now had regard for his duty in return for the benefits of Caesar: he warned, he entreated Titurius, by their guest-friendship, to consult for his own safety and that of his soldiers.
§5.27.8Magnam manum Germanorum conductam Rhenum transisse; hanc adfore biduo.
That a large force of Germans had been hired and had crossed the Rhine; this would be present in two days.
§5.27.9Ipsorum esse consilium, velintne priusquam finitimi sentiant eductos ex hibernis milites aut ad Ciceronem aut ad Labienum deducere, quorum alter milia passuum circiter quinquaginta, alter paulo amplius ab eis absit.
That it was their own decision, whether they wished, before the neighboring peoples should perceive it, to lead the soldiers, drawn out from the winter quarters, either to Cicero or to Labienus, of whom one was about fifty miles distant from them, the other a little further.
§5.27.10Illud se polliceri et iureiurando confirmare tutum iter per fines daturum; §5.27.11quod cum faciat, et civitati sese consulere, quod hibernis levetur, et Caesari pro eius meritis gratiam referre.
That he promised this and confirmed it by an oath, that he would grant a safe passage through his territories; in doing which, he was both consulting for his state, because it would be relieved from the winter quarters, and returning gratitude to Caesar for his services.
Hac oratione habita discedit Ambiorix.
This speech having been delivered, Ambiorix departed.