§8.3.1Repentino adventu Caesaris accidit, quod imparatis disiectisque accidere fuit necesse, ut sine timore ullo rura colentes prius ab equitatu opprimerentur quam confugere in oppida possent.
By the sudden arrival of Caesar, it happened, as was bound to happen to people who were unprepared and scattered, that those cultivating the fields without any fear were overwhelmed by the cavalry before they could flee into the towns.
§8.3.2Namque etiam illud vulgare incursionis hostium signum, quod incendiis aedificiorum intellegi consuevit, Caesaris erat interdicto sublatum, ne aut copia pabuli frumentique, si longius progredi vellet, deficeretur, aut hostes incendiis terrerentur.
For even that common sign of an enemy invasion, which was usually understood by the burning of buildings, had been prevented by Caesar's prohibition, lest either the supply of forage and grain should fail him if he wished to advance further, or the enemy should be alerted by the fires.
§8.3.3Multis hominum milibus captis perterriti Bituriges; qui primum adventum potuerant effugere Romanorum, in finitimas civitates aut privatis hospitiis confisi aut societate consiliorum confugerant.
With many thousands of people captured, the Bituriges were terrified; those who had been able to escape the first arrival of the Romans had fled into the neighboring states, relying either on private guest-friendships or on a community of councils.
§8.3.4Frustra: nam Caesar magnis itineribus omnibus locis occurrit nec dat ulli civitati spatium de aliena potius quam de domestica salute cogitandi; qua celeritate et fideles amicos retinebat et dubitantes terrore ad condiciones pacis adducebat.
In vain; for Caesar, by forced marches, anticipated them in every place, and gave no state the time to think about the safety of others rather than its own; by which speed he both retained his faithful friends and, through terror, brought those who wavered to terms of peace.
§8.3.5Tali condicione proposita Bituriges, cum sibi viderent clementia Caesaris reditum patere in eius amicitiam finitimasque civitates sine ulla poena dedisse obsides atque in fidem receptas esse, idem fecerunt.
This condition being proposed, the Bituriges, when they saw that through the clemency of Caesar a return to his friendship was open to them, and that the neighboring states had given hostages without any punishment and had been received into his protection, did the same.