§7.19.1Collis erat leniter ab infimo acclivis.
There was a hill gently sloping up from the bottom.
Hunc ex omnibus fere partibus palus difficilis atque impedita cingebat non latior pedibus quinquaginta.
A difficult and obstructed marsh, not wider than fifty feet, surrounded this hill on almost every side.
§7.19.2Hoc se colle interruptis pontibus Galli fiducia loci continebant generatimque distributi in civitates omnia vada ac saltus eius paludis obtinebant, §7.19.3sic animo parati, ut, si eam paludem Romani perrumpere conarentur, haesitantes premerent ex loco superiore; ut qui propinquitatem loci videret paratos prope aequo Marte ad dimicandum existimaret, qui iniquitatem condicionis perspiceret inani simulatione sese ostentare cognosceret.
The Gauls, having broken down the bridges, kept themselves on this hill, relying on the strength of the position; and distributed by tribes, they held all the brinks and passes of that marsh, being so prepared in mind that, if the Romans should attempt to force their way through that marsh, they would press upon them from the higher ground while they were sticking in it; so that he who looked at the proximity of the position would think they were prepared to fight on almost equal terms, while he who discerned the inequality of the condition would realize that they were showing themselves off with an empty pretense.
§7.19.4Indignantes milites Caesar, quod conspectum suum hostes perferre possent tantulo spatio interiecto, et signum proeli exposcentes edocet, quanto detrimento et quot virorum fortium morte necesse sit constare victoriam; quos cum sic animo paratos videat, §7.19.5ut nullum pro sua laude periculum recusent, summae se iniquitatis condemnari debere, nisi eorum vitam sua salute habeat cariorem.
When the soldiers were indignant that the enemy could endure their sight with so small a space intervening, and were demanding the signal for battle, Caesar explained to them how great a loss and by the death of how many brave men the victory must necessarily be purchased; and when he saw them so prepared in mind, that they refused no danger for his honor, he said that he ought to be condemned for the greatest injustice if he did not hold their lives dearer than his own safety.
§7.19.6Sic milites consolatus eodem die reducit in castra reliquaque quae ad oppugnationem pertinebant oppidi administrare instituit.
Having thus consoled the soldiers, he led them back to the camp on the same day and began to arrange everything else that was necessary for the siege of the town.