§5.37.1Sabinus quos in praesentia tribunos militum circum se habebat et primorum ordinum centuriones se sequi iubet et, cum propius Ambiorigem accessisset, iussus arma abicere imperatum facit suisque ut idem faciant imperat. §5.37.2Interim, dum de condicionibus inter se agunt longiorque consulto ab Ambiorige instituitur sermo, paulatim circumventus interficitur. §5.37.3Tum vero suo more victoriam conclamant atque ululatum tollunt impetuque in nostros facto ordines perturbant. §5.37.4Ibi Lucius Cotta pugnans interficitur cum maxima parte militum.
Sabinus orders the military tribunes whom he had around him at the time, and the centurions of the first rank, to follow him; and when he had approached nearer to Ambiorix, being ordered to throw down his arms, he obeys the command and orders his men to do the same.\n Meanwhile, while they are parleying about the terms and a longer conversation is purposely drawn out by Ambiorix, he is gradually surrounded and slain.\n Then indeed, according to their custom, they shout victory and raise a howl, and having made an onset on our men, throw the ranks into confusion.\n There Lucius Cotta is slain while fighting, with the greatest part of the soldiers.
Reliqui se in castra recipiunt unde erant egressi; §5.37.5ex quibus Lucius Petrosidius aquilifer, cum magna multitudine hostium premeretur, aquilam intra vallum proiecit; ipse pro castris fortissime pugnans occiditur.
The rest retreat to the camp from which they had marched out;\n of whom Lucius Petrosidius, the standard-bearer, when he was hard pressed by a great multitude of the enemy, threw the eagle within the rampart; he himself is killed fighting most courageously before the camp.
Illi aegre ad noctem oppugnationem sustinent; §5.37.6noctu ad unum omnes desperata salute se ipsi interficiunt. §5.37.7Pauci ex proelio lapsi incertis itineribus per silvas ad Titum Labienum legatum in hiberna perveniunt atque eum de rebus gestis certiorem faciunt.
They with difficulty sustain the attack until night;\n at night, all to a man, despairing of safety, kill themselves.\n A few having escaped from the battle, make their way by uncertain paths through the forests to the lieutenant Titus Labienus at his winter quarters, and inform him of what has occurred.