Roman Heroics - English Translation

Nota Bene: Numbers in brackets refer to the line in the passage where the new sentence begins.
[1] When the hand-to-hand fighting had become fierce, the enemy trusted in their numbers and their position, but our men trusted their courage. Suddenly, the Aeduans, whom Caesar had sent from the right wing to distract the enemy, were seen on our open flank!

[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.