At hostēs, posteā quam 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.
notes
Ambiorix's forces attack the column in a defile.
bipertito: ‘at two points' (Moberly); 'in two divisions' (Gaisser).
a milibus passuum circiter duobus: 'about two miles away' (Gaisser) ( A&G 425.b).
se: object of demisisset: 'had let itself down,' i.e., 'had descended' (Gaisser).
novissimos: 'the last ones,' 'those in the rear' (Gaisser).
primos: 'the first ones,' 'the vanguard' (Gaisser).
nostris: dat. with iniquissimo. (Hodges)( A&G 383)
proelium committere: 'to join battle,' 'to engage' (Gaisser).
