§5.41.1Tunc duces principesque Nerviorum qui aliquem sermonis aditum causamque amicitiae cum Cicerone habebant colloqui sese velle dicunt.
Then the leaders and chiefs of the Nervii, who had some avenue of conversation and grounds of friendship with Cicero, say that they wish to confer.
§5.41.2Facta potestate eadem quae Ambiorix cum Titurio egerat commemorant: omnem esse in armis Galliam; §5.41.3Germanos Rhenum transisse; Caesaris reliquorumque hiberna oppugnari.
Opportunity being granted, they recount the same things which Ambiorix had discussed with Titurius: that all Gaul is in arms; that the Germans have crossed the Rhine; that the winter quarters of Caesar and of the others are being attacked.
§5.41.4Addunt etiam de Sabini morte: Ambiorigem ostentant fidei faciendae causa.
They add also concerning the death of Sabinus; they point to Ambiorix for the sake of producing belief.
§5.41.5Errare eos dicunt, si quidquam ab his praesidi sperent, qui suis rebus diffidant; sese tamen hoc esse in Ciceronem populumque Romanum animo, ut nihil nisi hiberna recusent atque hanc inveterascere consuetudinem nolint: §5.41.6licere illis incolumibus per se ex hibernis discedere et quascumque in partes velint sine metu proficisci.
They say that they are mistaken, if they hope for any protection from those who despair of their own affairs; that they, however, are of this mind toward Cicero and the Roman people, that they refuse nothing except winter quarters and do not wish this custom to become established: that it is permitted them to depart from the winter quarters unharmed, as far as they are concerned, and to set out without fear into whatever parts they wish.
§5.41.7Cicero ad haec unum modo respondit: non esse consuetudinem populi Romani accipere ab hoste armato condicionem: §5.41.8si ab armis discedere velint, se adiutore utantur legatosque ad Caesarem mittant; sperare pro eius iustitia, quae petierint, impetraturos.
To this Cicero made only one reply: that it was not the custom of the Roman people to accept terms from an armed enemy: if they wished to lay down their arms, they might use him as an advocate and send ambassadors to Caesar; that he hoped, in accordance with his justice, they would obtain what they requested.