§7.71.1Vercingetorix, priusquam munitiones ab Romanis perficiantur, consilium capit omnem ab se equitatum noctu dimittere.
Vercingetorix, before the fortifications should be completed by the Romans, adopts the plan of sending away all his cavalry by night from himself.
§7.71.2Discedentibus mandat ut suam quisque eorum civitatem adeat omnesque qui per aetatem arma ferre possint ad bellum cogant.
He charges them at their departure, that each of them should go to his own state, and assemble for the war all who were old enough to bear arms.
§7.71.3Sua in illos merita proponit obtestaturque ut suae salutis rationem habeant neu se optime de communi libertate meritum in cruciatum hostibus dedant.
He sets before them his services toward them, and entreats them to have regard for his safety, and not to surrender to the enemy for torture him who has deserved so well of the common liberty.
Quod si indiligentiores fuerint, milia hominum delecta octoginta una secum interitura demonstrat.
He points out that, if they should be too negligent, eighty thousand chosen men must perish together with him.
§7.71.4Ratione inita se exigue dierum triginta habere frumentum, sed paulo etiam longius tolerari posse parcendo.
Having made a calculation, he says that he has corn for scarcely thirty days, but that by economizing they could hold out even a little longer.
His datis mandatis, §7.71.5qua opus erat intermissum, secunda vigilia silentio equitatum mittit.
Having given these commands, he sends away the cavalry in silence during the second watch, at that part where the work was interrupted.
§7.71.6Frumentum omne ad se referri iubet; capitis poenam eis qui non paruerint constituit:
He orders all the corn to be brought to him; he ordains the penalty of death for those who should not have obeyed.
§7.71.7pecus, cuius magna erat copia ab Mandubiis compulsa, viritim distribuit; frumentum parce et paulatim metiri instituit; §7.71.8copias omnes quas pro oppido collocaverat in oppidum recepit.
He distributes man by man the cattle, of which a great abundance had been driven in by the Mandubii; he resolves to measure out the corn sparingly and gradually; he receives into the town all the forces which he had stationed before the town.
§7.71.9His rationibus auxilia Galliae exspectare et bellum parat administrare.
By these measures he prepares to await the auxiliary forces of Gaul and to carry on the war.