Itaque cōnfestim dīmissīs nūntiīs ad Ceutrōnēs, Grūdiōs, Lēvācōs, Pleumoxiōs, Geidumnōs, quī omnēs sub eōrum imperiō sunt, quam māximās manūs possunt cōgunt et dē imprōvīsō ad Cicerōnis hīberna advolant nōndum ad eum fāmā dē Titūrī morte perlātā. Huic quoque accidit, quod fuit necesse, ut nōn nūllī mīlitēs, quī līgnātiōnis mūnītiōnisque causā in silvās discessissent, repentīnō equitum adventū interciperentur. Eīs circumventīs māgnā manū Ebūrōnēs, Nerviī, Aduātucī atque hōrum omnium sociī et clientēs legiōnem oppūgnāre incipiunt. Nostrī celeriter ad arma concurrunt, vāllum cōnscendunt. Aegrē is diēs sustentātur, quod omnem spem hostēs in celeritāte pōnēbant atque hanc adeptī victōriam in perpetuum sē fore victōrēs cōnfīdēbant.
notes
The attack begins.
Ceutrones, etc.: These tribes are not mentioned elsewhere. Apparently they were dependents of the Nervii (Gaisser).
quam maximas manus: 'the greatest possible forces' (Gaisser) ( A&G 291.c).
de improviso: 'unexpectedly' (Gaisser) ( A&G 221.10).
huic quoque: i.e. to Cicero, as well as to Sabinus and Cotta. (Hodges)
quod: The antecedent is the idea in the previous clause (Gaisser).
lignationis: 'gathering wood'; like munitionis, genitive with causa, 'for the sake (of)' (Gaisser) ( A&G 359.b).
munitionis: 'material for building defenses'. (Hodges)
lignationis munitionisque: lignationis is explained by munitionisque. The wood was required, at all events in part, for the purpose of fortification. (Holmes)
sustentatur: ‘They hold out.’ Supply a nostris (Anthon) ( A&G 208.d)
adepti: conditional, 'if they should gain'. The accusative case agreeing with se might have been expected instead of the nominative. (Hodges) ( A&G 589)
se fore: accusative and infinitive with confidebant (Gaisser) ( A&G 459).
vocabulary
confestim adv.: promptly, with all haste
dīmitto, -mittěre, -mīsi, -missum: to send out, to send forth
imprōvīsus, -a, -um: unexpectedly, without notice
hībernus, -a, -um: referring to winter; hīberna, -ōrum n.: winter quarters
advŏlo, -āre: fly to, move with great rapidity
perfĕro, perferre, pertǔli, perlātum: to endure; to bear or carry through; to report, convey
lignātĭo, -ōnis f.: a procuring of wood
mūnītǐo, -ōnis f.: a defending, fortifying, fortification
rĕpentīnus, -a, -um: sudden
adventus, -ūs m.: a coming, an approach, arrival
intercĭpĭo, -ĕre, -cēpi, -ceptum: intercept
circumvěnǐo, - venire, -vēni, ventum: to come around, encircle
clǐens, clientis m.: client, retainer, follower
oppugnō, -āre, -āvi, -ātum: to attack, assail, assault
concurro, -ěre, curri, cursum: to run together, assemble in multitude
vallum, i n.: earthworks, ramparts, palisade
conscendo, -ĕre, -ndi, -nsum: mount, climb up
sustento, -āre: hold out, maintain oneself; endure
cělěrǐtas, -ātis f.: swiftness, quickness, speed, celerity
ădĭpiscor, -i, -eptus: achieve
confīdo,-fīděre, -fīsus, -sum: to have complete trust, rely in
