§7.66.1Interea, dum haec geruntur, hostium copiae ex Arvernis equitesque qui toti Galliae erant imperati conveniunt.
Meanwhile, while these things are being done, the infantry forces of the enemy from the Arverni and the cavalry who had been requisitioned from the whole of Gaul assemble.
§7.66.2Magno horum coacto numero, cum Caesar in Sequanos per extremos Lingonum fines iter faceret, quo facilius subsidium provinciae ferri posset, circiter milia passuum decem ab Romanis trinis castris Vercingetorix consedit §7.66.3convocatisque ad concilium praefectis equitum venisse tempus victoriae demonstrat. Fugere in provinciam Romanos Galliaque excedere.
A large number of these having been collected, when Caesar was marching into the territory of the Sequani through the furthest borders of the Lingones, so that assistance could be more easily brought to the Province, Vercingetorix encamped in three camps about ten miles from the Romans; and having called the officers of the cavalry to a council, he demonstrates that the time for victory has come: that the Romans are fleeing into the Province and departing from Gaul.
§7.66.4Id sibi ad praesentem obtinendam libertatem satis esse; ad reliqui temporis pacem atque otium parum profici: maioribus enim coactis copiis reversuros neque finem bellandi facturos.
This was sufficient for them to secure their present liberty, but little progress was made for the peace and quiet of future time; for they would return with larger forces collected, and would make no end of waging war.
Proinde agmine impeditos adorirentur.
Therefore, let them attack them while encumbered in their line of march.
§7.66.5Si pedites suis auxilium ferant atque in eo morentur, iter facere non posse; si, id quod magis futurum confidat, relictis impedimentis suae saluti consulant, et usu rerum necessariarum et dignitate spoliatum iri.
If the infantry should bring help to their own and linger in doing so, they would not be able to continue their march; if—which he trusted would rather happen—abandoning their baggage, they should consult for their own safety, they would be stripped of both the use of necessary things and their dignity.
§7.66.6Nam de equitibus hostium, quin nemo eorum progredi modo extra agmen audeat, et ipsos quidem non debere dubitare, et quo maiore faciant animo, copias se omnes pro castris habiturum et terrori hostibus futurum.
For as for the cavalry of the enemy, they themselves indeed ought not to doubt that not one of them would dare to advance even outside the column; and in order that they might do so with greater courage, he would hold all his forces in front of the camp and would be a terror to the enemy.
§7.66.7Conclamant equites sanctissimo iureiurando confirmari oportere, ne tecto recipiatur, ne ad liberos, ne ad parentes, ad uxorem aditum habeat, qui non bis per agmen hostium perequitasset.
The cavalry cry out together that it ought to be confirmed by a most sacred oath, that he should not be received under a roof, nor have access to his children, his parents, or his wife, who had not twice ridden through the enemy's column.