5.32-5.33 Translation

Uncover the drama of a Roman ambush! Analyze tactics and decisions from Caesar's Gallic Wars.

Actual footage of Roman ambush At hostēs, posteāquam ex nocturnō fremitū vigiliīsque dē profectiōne eōrum sēnsērunt, collocātīs īnsidiīs bipertītō in silvīs opportūnō atque occultō locō ā mīlibus passuum circiter duōbus Rōmānōrum adventum exspectābant et, cum sē māior pars āgminis in māgnam convallem dēmīsisset, ex utrāque parte ēius vallis subitō sē ostendērunt, novīssimōsque premere et prīmōs prohibēre ascēnsū atque inīquissimō nostrīs locō proelium committere coepērunt. But the enemy, after they sensed from their nocturnal noise and the wakefulness concerning the departure of them, with ambushes having been placed on two sides in the forests in an opportune and hidden place at a distance of around two miles they were awaitingthe arrival of the Romans, and, when a greater part of the battle line had descended into a great valley, from each end of this valley suddenly they showed themselves and they began to press the rear guard and to prohibit the first from ascent and to commit battle in a most unfavourable place for our men. Cotta to Sabinus, colorized....and perhaps only in his mind Tum dēmum Titūrius, quī nihil ante prōvīdisset, trepidāre et concursāre cohortēsque dispōnere, haec tamen ipsa timidē atque ut eum omnia dēficere vidērentur; quod plērumque eīs accidere cōnsuēvit quī in ipsō negōtiō cōnsilium capere cōguntur. At Cotta, quī cōgitāsset haec posse in itinere accidere atque ob eam causam profectiōnis auctor nōn fuisset, nūllā in rē commūnī salūtī deerat et in appellandīs cohortandīsque mīlitibus imperātōris et in pūgnā mīlitis officia praestābat. Cum propter longitūdinem āgminis minus facile omnia per sē obīre et quid quōque locō faciendum esset providēre possent, iussērunt prōnūntiāre ut impedīmenta relinquerent atque in orbem cōnsisterent. Quod cōnsilium etsī in ēiusmodī cāsū reprehendendum nōn est, tamen incommodē accidit: nam et nostrīs mīlitibus spem minuit et hostēs ad pūgnam alācriōrēs effēcit, quod nōn sine summō timōre et dēspērātiōne id factum vidēbātur. Praetereā accidit, quod fierī necesse erat, ut vulgō mīlitēs ab sīgnīs discēderent, quaeque quisque eōrum cārissima habēret ab impedīmentīs petere atque arripere properāret, clāmōre et flētū omnia complērentur. Then at lastTiturius, since he had foreseen nothing previously, he was panicking and was running around and was deploying cohorts, nevertheless [he did] these things timidlyand so that all things seemed to fail him; and this was accustomed very often to happen to those who in the very difficulty are forced to adopt a plan. But Cotta, who had considered that these things could happen on their march and on account of this reason had not beenthe instigator of the setting out, in no regard was lacking for the common welfare and in callingand encouragingthe soldiers he was fulfilling the duties of a commander and in battle [he was fulfilling the duties] of a soldier. Since on account of the length of the battle line they were less easily able to attend to all things through themselves and to provide for what must be done in what place, they ordered[the soldiers] to pass along that they abandon their baggage and take up position in a circle. Which plan although it must not becriticized in a misfortune of this kind, nevertheless it happened inconveniently: for it both lessened hope for our soldiers and made the enemy more eager for battle, because it seemed that it had been done not withoutthe greatest fear and desperation. Furthermore it happened that which was necessary to happen that everywhere soldiers were leaving their standards and each of them was hurrying to seek and to grab hold of the things which he held most dear from his baggage with shouting and with weeping all things were being filled. Answer in a sentence which cites Latin in parentheses. What are the consequences, for each side, of the Roman defensive maneuver. Why? Does Cesar as a narrator approve? How do the Roman soldiers behave throughout? Why might this be the case?