§8.48.1Erat attributus Antonio praefectus equitum C. Volusenus Quadratus qui cum eo hibernaret.
Gaius Volusenus Quadratus, a commander of cavalry, had been assigned to Antonius to winter with him.
Hunc Antonius ad persequendum equitatum hostium mittit.
Antonius sent him to pursue the enemy's cavalry.
§8.48.2Volusenus ad eam virtutem, quae singularis erat in eo, magnum odium Commi adiungebat, quo libentius id faceret quod imperabatur.
Volusenus added to that valor, which was singular in him, a great hatred of Commius, so that he might perform what was ordered more willingly.
Itaque dispositis insidiis saepius equites eius adgressus secunda proelia faciebat.
Therefore, having laid ambushes, he repeatedly attacked his cavalry and fought successful battles.
§8.48.3Novissime, cum vehementius contenderetur, ac Volusenus ipsius intercipiendi Commi cupiditate pertinacius eum cum paucis insecutus esset, ille autem fuga vehementi Volusenum produxisset longius, inimicus homini suorum invocat fidem atque auxilium, ne sua vulnera per fidem imposita paterentur impunita, conversoque equo se a ceteris incautius permittit in praefectum.
Finally, when the conflict was being waged more fiercely, and Volusenus, out of a desire to intercept Commius himself, had pursued him more obstinately with a few men, while the other, by a rapid flight, had drawn Volusenus too far, the enemy of the man invoked the faith and help of his own men, so that they would not suffer his wounds, inflicted under the guise of faith, to go unpunished; and turning his horse, he charged heedlessly, apart from the rest, against the commander.
§8.48.4Faciunt hoc idem omnes eius equites paucosque nostros convertunt atque insequuntur.
All his cavalry did the same thing, turned our few men back, and pursued them.
§8.48.5Commius incensum calcaribus equum coniungit equo Quadrati lanceaque infesta magnis viribus medium femur traicit Voluseni.
Commius joined his horse, spurred to excitement, to the horse of Quadratus, and with a hostile lance transfixed the middle of Volusenus' thigh with great strength.
§8.48.6Praefecto vulnerato non dubitant nostri resistere et conversis equis hostem pellere.
When the commander was wounded, our men did not hesitate to resist, and turning their horses, they repulsed the enemy.
§8.48.7Quod ubi accidit, complures hostium magno nostrorum impetu perculsi vulnerantur ac partim in fuga proteruntur, partim intercipiuntur;
When this happened, many of the enemy, shattered by the great onset of our men, were wounded, and some were trampled down in flight, others were intercepted; which disaster the leader avoided by the speed of his horse.
quod malum dux equi velocitate evitavit: graviter adeo vulneratus praefectus, ut vitae periculum aditurus videretur, refertur in castra.
The commander, wounded so severely that he seemed likely to face danger to his life, was carried back to the camp.
§8.48.8Commius autem sive expiato suo dolore sive magna parte amissa suorum legatos ad Antonium mittit seque et ibi futurum, ubi praescripserit, et ea facturum, quae imperarit, obsidibus firmat; §8.48.9unum illud orat, ut timori suo concedatur, ne in conspectum veniat cuiusquam Romani.
But Commius, whether because his resentment had been appeased or because he had lost a large part of his men, sent envoys to Antonius and confirmed with hostages that he would both remain where he should prescribe and perform what he should command; he begged this one thing, that it might be granted to his fear that he should not come into the sight of any Roman.
Cuius postulationem Antonius cum iudicaret ab iusto nasci timore, veniam petenti dedit, obsides accepit.
When Antonius judged that his request arose from a just fear, he granted pardon to him who asked it, and received the hostages.
§8.48.10Scio Caesarem singulorum annorum singulos commentarios confecisse; quod ego non existimavi mihi esse faciendum, propterea quod insequens annus, L. Paulo C. Marcello consulibus, nullas habet magnopere Galliae res gestas.
I know that Caesar wrote separate commentaries for each individual year; which I did not think I ought to do, because the following year, when Lucius Paulus and Gaius Marcellus were consuls, had no actions in Gaul of any great importance.
§8.48.11Ne quis tamen ignoraret, quibus in locis Caesar exercitusque eo tempore fuissent, pauca esse scribenda coniungendaque huic commentario statui.
Yet, lest anyone should be ignorant of where Caesar and the army were at that time, I determined that a few things should be written and joined to this commentary.