37.
Sabinus orders those tribunes of the soldiers whom he
had at the time around him, and the centurions of the first ranks, to follow
him, and when he had approached near to Ambiorix, being ordered to
throw down his arms, he obeys the order and commands his men to do the same. In
the mean time, while they treat upon the terms, and a longer debate than
necessary is designedly entered into by Ambiorix, being surrounded
by degrees, he is slain. Then they, according to their custom, shout out
"Victory," and raise their war-cry, and, making an attack on our men, break
their ranks. There L. Cotta, while fighting, is slain,
together with the greater part of the soldiers; the rest betake themselves to
the camp, from which they had marched forth, and one of them, L. Petrosidius, the standard bearer, when he was overpowered by the
great number of the enemy, threw the eagle within the intrenchments and is
himself slain while fighting with the greatest courage before the camp. They
with difficulty sustain the attack till night; despairing of safety, they all to
a man destroy themselves in the night. A few escaping from the battle, made
their way to Labienus at winter-quarters, after
wandering at random through the woods, and inform him of these events
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