§8.8.1Quae Caesar consentientibus pluribus cum cognosset atque ea quae proponerentur consilia plena prudentiae longeque a temeritate barbarorum remota esse iudicaret, omnibus rebus inserviendum statuit, quo celerius hostis contempta sua paucitate prodiret in aciem.
When Caesar had learned these things from the agreement of many informants, and judged that the plans which were proposed were full of prudence and far removed from the rashness of barbarians, he decided that he must employ every means, so that the enemy, despising his small numbers, might more quickly come out into line of battle.
§8.8.2Singularis enim virtutis veterrimas legiones VII, VIII, VIIII habebat, summae spei delectaeque iuventutis XI, quae octavo iam stipendio tamen in collatione reliquarum nondum eandem vetustatis ac virtutis ceperat opinionem.
For he had the seventh, eighth, and ninth legions, veterans of singular valor, and the eleventh, consisting of chosen youth of the highest promise, which, though now in its eighth year of service, had not yet, in comparison with the rest, acquired the same reputation for long service and valor.
§8.8.3Itaque consilio advocato, rebus eis quae ad se essent delatae omnibus expositis animos multitudinis confirmat.
Therefore, having called a council and explained all those matters which had been reported to him, he encouraged the minds of the multitude.
§8.8.4Si forte hostes trium legionum numero posset elicere ad dimicandum, agminis ordinem ita constituit, ut legio septima, octava, nona ante omnia irent impedimenta, deinde omnium impedimentorum agmen, quod tamen erat mediocre, ut in expeditionibus esse consuevit, cogeret undecima, ne maioris multitudinis species accidere hostibus posset quam ipsi depoposcissent.
In the hope that he might perhaps entice the enemy to fight by the appearance of only three legions, he arranged the order of march in such a way that the seventh, eighth, and ninth legions should go before all the baggage, and then the eleventh legion should bring up the rear of the entire baggage train, which was nevertheless of moderate size, as was customary on expeditions, lest a larger force should appear to the enemy than they themselves had desired to encounter.
§8.8.5Hac ratione paene quadrato agmine instructo in conspectum hostium celerius opinione eorum exercitum adducit.
Having drawn up his army in this manner, almost in a square formation, he led it into the sight of the enemy more quickly than they had expected.