25.
When the battle was going on in every direction, the rest of the night being now
spent, and fresh hopes of victory always arose before the enemy: the more so on
this account because they saw the coverings of our towers burnt away, and
perceived, that we, being exposed, could not easily go to give assistance, and
they themselves were always relieving the weary with fresh men, and considered
that all the safety of Gaul rested on this crisis;
there happened in my own view a circumstance which, having appeared to be worthy
of record, we thought it ought not to be omitted. A certain Gaul before the gate of the town, who was casting into the fire
opposite the turret balls of tallow and fire which were passed along to him, was
pierced with a dart on the right side and fell dead. One of those next him
stepped over him as he lay, and discharged the same office: when the second man
was slain in the same manner by a wound from a cross-bow, a third succeeded him,
and a fourth succeeded the third: nor was this post left vacant by the besieged,
until, the fire of the mound having been extinguished, and the enemy repulsed in
every direction, an end was put to the fighting.
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