C. Iulius Caesar, De Bello Gallico 5.30

The council of war reaches its final stage. The subject is the argument between the two commanders as it comes to a head, and the terms in which Sabinus makes his last appeal, pitched loudly enough for the ranks to hear.

 

Tier 1

lēgātī multa verba inter sē fēcērunt: aliī hoc volēbant, aliī illud. Cotta et prīmī centuriōnēs Sabīnō ācriter restitērunt.

 

tandem Sabīnus magnā vōce clāmāvit, quod omnēs mīlitēs verba eius audīre dēbēbant:

 

'vincite, sī ita vultis! ego enim mortem nōn maximē timeō. sed mīlitēs nostrī sapientēs sunt. sī quid gravius accidet, mīlitēs tē rogābunt: "cūr hoc fēcistī?"

 

'sī tū permittēs, post duōs diēs ad proxima hīberna veniēmus. ibi cum cēterīs Rōmānīs bellum geremus. sī autem hīc manēbimus, procul ā cēterīs Rōmānīs sōlī relictī, aut ferrō aut famē moriēmur.'

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