Se magis consuetudine sua quam merito eorum civitatem conservaturum, si prius quam murum aries attigisset se dedidissent; sed deditionis nullam esse condicionem nisi armis traditis. That he should spare the city in accordance with his custom rather than giving them what they deserved if they should surrender themselves before the battering-ram should touch the wall; but that there was no condition of surrender, except upon their arms being delivered up.

—Julius Caesar, Commentarii de bello Gallico, II, 32