de bello gallico, 5.29

Against these things Titurius kept on shouting over and over again that they would act too late, when larger bands of the enemy had gathered, with the Germans having been added, or when something of a calamity in the neighboring camps had been received. Brief is the opportunity of planning. Caesar was thought to have gone into Italy; and not otherwise would the Carnutes have formed the plan of killing Tasgetus nor would the Eburones, if that man had been present, have come to the camp with such great contempt for us. He did not see the enemy as his authority but the circumstance: the Rhine was near; the death of Ariovistus and our previous victories were a great grief for the Germans; Gaul was aflame with so many insults having been accepted, having been brought under the power of the Roman populous, with their previous glory of military affairs having been obliterated. Finally, who would persuade himself of this, that without certain cause Ambiorix had stooped to a plan of this sort. His opinion was safe in each direction: if nothing was more difficult they would arrive with no danger at the nearest legion. If all Gaul agreed with the Germans, their one safety was set in speed. What end indeed would the plan of Cotta and those who disagree have, in which if there was not a present danger, but certainly famine was to be feared in a long siege.