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Every time I'm frustrated with rendering something from Caesar elegantly, I just have to turn to Thucydides to remind myself how much worse it could be.
2.3.1 And the men of Plataia, when they noticed the Thebans had come inside and the city had been captured unexpectedly, being greatly afraid and considering more men to have gone into the city (for they couldn't see at night), withdrew to come to terms, and receiving those terms were at peace, especially since the Thebans did no violence to anyone.
2.3.2 And negotiating these terms they realized there were not many Thebans present, and thought that by applying themselves to easily overcome the Thebans; for many of the Plataians were not abandoning the Athenians voluntarily.
2.3.3 Therefore it seemed best to ready an attempt, and by digging through the common walls of their houses they gathered together, so that they would not be seen going through the streets, and they laid wagon without the oxen in the streets, so that (this barrier) would be in front of the houses, and they were readying these things where each seemed suitable for their preparations.
2.3.4 And when these actions which were possible were ready, having waited for a time that was still night and not too near morning they withdrew from their houses for their purposes, so that they would attack not men who were more daring in the light, the Thebans being equal to them (then), but men fearing the night who would be less experienced as well with the city's layout. And so they attacked straightaway and swiftly engaged them closely.
2.3.1 And the men of Plataia, when they noticed the Thebans had come inside and the city had been captured unexpectedly, being greatly afraid and considering more men to have gone into the city (for they couldn't see at night), withdrew to come to terms, and receiving those terms were at peace, especially since the Thebans did no violence to anyone.
2.3.2 And negotiating these terms they realized there were not many Thebans present, and thought that by applying themselves to easily overcome the Thebans; for many of the Plataians were not abandoning the Athenians voluntarily.
2.3.3 Therefore it seemed best to ready an attempt, and by digging through the common walls of their houses they gathered together, so that they would not be seen going through the streets, and they laid wagon without the oxen in the streets, so that (this barrier) would be in front of the houses, and they were readying these things where each seemed suitable for their preparations.
2.3.4 And when these actions which were possible were ready, having waited for a time that was still night and not too near morning they withdrew from their houses for their purposes, so that they would attack not men who were more daring in the light, the Thebans being equal to them (then), but men fearing the night who would be less experienced as well with the city's layout. And so they attacked straightaway and swiftly engaged them closely.