C. Iulius Caesar, De Bello Gallico 5.32

The column is on the march at first light, and the scene shifts to the Eburones. The subject is what the noise in the camp told them during the night, the ground they chose ahead of the Roman route, and the opening of the engagement as the column enters the valley.

 

Tier 1

nocte Rōmānī in castrīs magnum clāmōrem faciēbant. nōn dormiēbant. Gallī clāmōrem audīvērunt. tum Gallī sēnsērunt: 'Rōmānī ex castrīs discēdunt.'

 

itaque Gallī in silvās vēnērunt. pars ūna in ūnā parte silvae erat, pars altera in alterā parte. locus erat bonus, quod Rōmānī Gallōs vidēre nōn poterant. duo mīlia passuum aberat. ibi Gallī Rōmānōs exspectābant.

 

posteā māior pars Rōmānōrum in magnam vallem dēscendit. tum subitō Gallī sē ostendērunt et ex utrāque parte vallis vēnērunt. Gallī mīlitēs postrēmōs premere coepērunt. prīmī mīlitēs ascendere nōn poterant. ita proelium coepit. locus autem Rōmānīs pessimus erat.

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