[3] These troops, since their weapons looked similar to those of the enemy, greatly frightened our men. Even though our men noticed that the Aeduans' right shoulders were exposed, a sign which marked friendly troops, they thought that it had been done by the enemy in order to trick them.
[6] At the same time, Lucius Fabius and the centurions who had climbed the wall [of the oppidum] were surrounded, killed, and thrown back down.
[8] When Marcus Petronius, a centurion in the same legion, tried to break down the gate, he was overwhelmed by a great number of men. Despairing of his own life and having already received many wounds, he said to the men who had followed him, Since I cannot save both myself and you, I will at least look after your lives since I, led by a desire for glory, led you into danger.
[12] Use the opportunity given to you!
[13] At once he leapt into the heart of the enemy and, by killing two of them, moved the rest a little farther away from the gate.
[14] He said to those trying to help him, You cannot hope to help me, since my strength is already failing me.
[15] Leave while you can! Return to your legion!
[16] And so, after a while, he fell fighting, but he had saved his men.