§7.24.1His tot rebus impedita oppugnatione milites, cum toto tempore frigore et assiduis imbribus tardarentur, tamen continenti labore omnia haec superaverunt et diebus XXV aggerem latum pedes CCCXXX, altum pedes LXXX exstruxerunt.
Though the siege was impeded by so many obstacles, and the soldiers were delayed during the whole time by cold and constant showers, they nevertheless overcame all these difficulties by unremitting labor, and within twenty-five days built a mound three hundred and thirty feet wide and eighty feet high.
§7.24.2Cum is murum hostium paene contingeret, et Caesar ad opus consuetudine excubaret militesque hortaretur, ne quod omnino tempus ab opere intermitteretur, paulo ante tertiam vigiliam est animadversum fumare aggerem, quem cuniculo hostes succenderant,
When this was almost touching the enemy's wall, and Caesar according to his custom was keeping watch at the work and encouraging the soldiers not to interrupt their labor for any time at all, a little before the third watch it was noticed that the mound was smoking, which the enemy had set on fire by means of a mine.
§7.24.3eodemque tempore toto muro clamore sublato duabus portis ab utroque latere turrium eruptio fiebat.
At the same time, a shout was raised along the entire wall, and a sally was made from two gates on both sides of the towers.
§7.24.4Alii faces atque aridam materiem de muro in aggerem eminus iaciebant, picem reliquasque res, quibus ignis excitari potest, fundebant, ut quo primum curreretur aut cui rei ferretur auxilium vix ratio iniri posset.
Others were throwing torches and dry wood from the wall onto the mound from a distance, and were pouring pitch and other materials by which a fire can be excited, so that it could scarcely be determined where they should run first or to what part assistance should be rendered.
§7.24.5Tamen, quod instituto Caesaris semper duae legiones pro castris excubabant pluresque partitis temporibus erant in opere, celeriter factum est, ut alii eruptionibus resisterent, alii turres reducerent aggeremque interscinderent, omnis vero ex castris multitudo ad restinguendum concurreret.
However, because by Caesar's order two legions were always keeping watch before the camp, and more, with their times divided, were at work, it was speedily brought about that some resisted the sallies, others drew back the towers and cut through the mound, while the entire multitude from the camp rushed together to extinguish the fire.