§8.12.1Quod cum cotidie fieret ac iam consuetudine diligentia minueretur, quod plerumque accidit diuturnitate, Bellovaci delecta manu peditum cognitis stationibus cotidianis equitum nostrorum §8.12.2silvestribus locis insidias disponunt eodemque equites postero die mittunt, qui primum elicerent nostros, deinde circumventos aggrederentur.
As this was done daily and, as usually happens from long duration, their vigilance was now diminished by familiarity, the Bellovaci, having learned the daily stations of our cavalry, with a select band of infantry, laid an ambush in wooded places, and on the following day sent their cavalry to the same spot, who were first to entice our men, and then attack them when surrounded.
§8.12.3Cuius mali sors incidit Remis, quibus ille dies fungendi muneris obvenerat.
The lot of this misfortune fell upon the Remi, to whom that day's duty of performing the service had fallen.
Namque hi, cum repente hostium equites animadvertissent ac numero superiores paucitatem contempsissent, cupidius insecuti peditibus undique sunt circumdati.
For these men, having suddenly noticed the enemy's cavalry and, being superior in number, having despised their small force, pursued too eagerly and were surrounded on all sides by the infantry.
§8.12.4Quo facto perturbati celerius quam consuetudo fert equestris proeli se receperunt amisso Vertisco, principe civitatis, praefecto equitum; §8.12.5qui cum vix equo propter aetatem posset uti, tamen consuetudine Gallorum neque aetatis excusatione in suscipienda praefectura usus erat neque dimicari sine se voluerat.
Thrown into confusion by this occurrence, they retreated more quickly than the custom of cavalry battle warrants, with the loss of Vertiscus, the chief of their state and commander of the cavalry; who, although he could scarcely manage a horse because of his age, nevertheless, according to the custom of the Gauls, had neither used the excuse of age in undertaking the command, nor wished that any battle should be fought without him.
§8.12.6Inflantur atque incitantur hostium animi secundo proelio, principe et praefecto Remorum interfecto, §8.12.7nostrique detrimento admonentur diligentius exploratis locis stationes disponere ac moderatius cedentem insequi hostem.
The spirits of the enemy were elated and excited by this successful engagement, in which the chief and commander of the Remi had been slain, and our men were warned by this loss to station their outposts only after exploring the ground more carefully, and to pursue a retreating enemy with more moderation.