§7.59.1Iam Caesar a Gergovia discessisse audiebatur, iam de Aeduorum defectione et secundo Galliae motu rumores adferebantur, Gallique in colloquiis interclusum itinere et Ligeri Caesarem inopia frumenti coactum in provinciam contendisse confirmabant. §7.59.2Bellovaci autem defectione Aeduorum cognita, qui ante erant per se infideles, manus cogere atque aperte bellum parare coeperunt. §7.59.3Tum Labienus tanta rerum commutatione longe aliud sibi capiendum consilium atque antea senserat intellegebat, §7.59.4neque iam, ut aliquid adquireret proelioque hostes lacesseret, sed ut incolumem exercitum Agedincum reduceret, cogitabat. §7.59.5Namque altera ex parte Bellovaci, quae civitas in Gallia maximam habet opinionem virtutis, instabant, alteram Camulogenus parato atque instructo exercitu tenebat; tum legiones a praesidio atque impedimentis interclusas maximum flumen distinebat. §7.59.6Tantis subito difficultatibus obiectis ab animi virtute auxilium petendum videbat.
Now Caesar was reported to have departed from Gergovia, now rumors were brought concerning the defection of the Aedui and the second uprising in Gaul, and the Gauls in their conferences asserted that Caesar, cut off from his route and the Liger, and compelled by the scarcity of corn, had hastened toward the Province. But the Bellovaci, who even before were of themselves untrustworthy, having learned of the defection of the Aedui, began to assemble forces and openly to prepare for war. Then Labienus, in so great a change of affairs, understood that he must adopt a plan far different from what he had previously intended, and he was no longer thinking how he might acquire something and provoke the enemy to battle, but how he might bring his army back safe to Agedincum. For on the one side the Bellovaci, a state which has the highest reputation for valor in Gaul, were pressing upon them; on the other side Camulogenus with a prepared and well-equipped army held the ground; moreover, a very great river separated the legions, cut off from their garrison and baggage. Facing such great difficulties so suddenly thrown in his way, he saw that he must seek aid from the valor of his own mind.