Marus Petreius, a centurion of the same legion, after attempting to hew down the gates, was overpowered by numbers, and, despairing of his safety, having already received many wounds, said to the soldiers of his own company who followed him: “Since I can not save you as well as myself, I shall at least provide for your safety, since I, allured by the love of glory, led you into this danger, do you save yourselves when an opportunity is given.”
At the same time he rushed into the midst of the enemy, and slaying two of them, drove back the rest a little from the gate. When his men attempted to aid him, “In vain,” he says, “you endeavor to procure me safety, since blood and strength are now failing me, therefore leave this, while you have the opportunity, and retreat to the legion.”
Thus he fell fighting a few moments after, and saved his men by his own death.
Source:
Caesar, Julius, W. A. McDevitte, and W. S. Bohn. “Book VII, Chapter L.” The Gallic Wars: Julius Caesar's Account of the Roman Conquest of Gaul. St. Petersburg, FL: Red and Black Pub., 2008. 211-12. Print.
Further Reading:
No matter how often I read examples of Roman valour they always astound me.