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GAI IVLI CAESARIS
DE BELLO GALLICO
CÆSAR'S GALLIC WAR
FOUR BOOKS
Οὕτω δὲ ὁ θεὸς Καίσαρ ἐν τοῖς ὑπομνήμασιν εἴρηκεν.
Strabo iv. I.
EDITED BY J. H. AND W. F. ALLEN AND J. B. GREENOUGH
BOSTON
PUBLISHED BY GINN BROTHERS
4 BEACON STREET
1874
1
278
C2
A
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by
J. H. AND W. F. ALLEN AND J. B. GREENOUGH,
in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
Cambridge:
Press of John Wilson and Son.
NOTE.
THIS edition follows, with slight changes of orthography, the text of
Nipperdey, the more important various readings being given in the
notes. It is believed to be an advantage even to the youngest learner
to deal with a standard text, and to know something of those variations
which make the reading of an ancient classic differ from that of a mod-
ern author. In illustration of the narrative, constant use has been
made of the more recent authorities, Mommsen, Long, Merivale, and
the "History of Julius Cæsar" by Napoleon III., with the excellent
school edition of Moberly. Much care has been taken, with the earlier
portion especially, to furnish in the notes a guide to the thorough study
of syntactical construction, for which no author is, by general consent,
so well adapted as Cæsar.
The present volume contains the first four books of the Gallic War.
A second part, when published, will contain the remaining books, with
the three of the Civil War.
CAMBRIDGE, July 1, 1874.
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Longitude East from Greenwich
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GAUL
In the time of Caesar.
Scale of Miles.
10 20
40 GO 80 100
BRITANNI
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Tamesis Fl
Trinobantes
Cantium
Morini
Samara Ft
Batavi
Vacati
Menapii
Usipetes
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Vienna
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INTERN U M
ལྭ་།.
CONTENTS.
THE LIFE OF CÆSAR
Book I.— Helvetian War; Campaign against Ariovistus
Book II. — The Belgian Confederacy .
BOOK III. Alpine Campaign; Naval Campaign; Southern
Gaul
Book IV.-Campaign against the Germans; First Inva-
sion of Britain
}
PAGE
vii
I
35
· 53
69
NOTES
I
THE LIFE OF CÆSAR.
CAIUS JULIUS CÆSAR was born, by the common account,
July 12, B.C. 100; or, by a probable reckoning, two years
earlier.* When "almost a boy," he was made a priest of
Jupiter by Marius, his uncle by marriage. When still a
youth of 18 or 20, he boldly refused to divorce his wife
Cornelia, daughter of Cinna, and barely escaped the pro-
scription of Sulla, who "saw many a Marius in that young
man."
Though of patrician birth, Cæsar was thus early allied
with the popular party, which began to make head directly
after the dictator's death. He went through the usual
course of political honors to which a Roman of the higher
ranks felt himself entitled. At the age of 35 (assuming the
earlier date) he was Quæstor in Further Spain. Two years
later he was Curule Edile, an office which gave great
opportunity to court popular honor, in its charge of public
games and exhibitions.† By this time he was recognized
as a party leader who would not scruple at the most daring
and questionable measures, and was even suspected of hav-
ing a hand in the schemes of Catiline.
* The common date rests on the statement of Plutarch, Sueto-
nius, and Appian, that he died at the age of 56. On the other hand:
1. Marius, who died в.c. 86, would hardly have given a priesthood
to a child of 13; 2. he received the usual honors, by the common
reckoning, each two years earlier than the legal age; 3. certain
coins struck by him in B.C. 49 have the date LII., apparently the
years of his age.
† In Cæsar's games, "all the equipments, even the cages of the
wild beasts, appeared of massive silver; and by a liberality which
was all the more princely, that it was based solely on the contrac-
tion of debt" (in Latin phrase, "paid by other men's money").
viii
The Life of Cæsar.
In B.C. 63 he was elected Pontifex Maximus,
that is,
official head of the state religion, in opposition to the
leader of the aristocracy, Quintus Catulus. This was an
open declaration of war against the governing aristocracy.
Cæsar, it is said, refused a large offer made by Catulus to
buy him off the course; and when the day of election came
said to his mother, who would have kept him out of the
struggle, "To-day shall see me pontifex maximus or an
exile." The holy office alone could protect him from his
creditors.
At this period Cæsar was chiefly known as a dissolute
debtor and demagogue. Before leaving for his province,
he was obliged to find security to the amount of 800 talents,
more than a million dollars. He is reported to have
said, in his reckless way, that he wanted four million ses-
terces to be worth just nothing at all. But in Further Spain,
as pro-prætor (B.C. 62), he displayed the civil and military
ability which afterwards made him famous, as well as the
financial ability which enabled him to pay off his debts in
one campaign.
He returned to Rome the following year, and soon formed
a political coalition with Pompey and Crassus, his contri-
bution to the common stock being his influence in the polit-
ical clubs and control of votes. This coalition is sometimes
called "the first triumvirate." * One part of the bargain
was that Cæsar should have the consulship for the next year
(B.C. 59), and after that the government of Gaul for five
years.† This embraced the three provinces of Gallia Nar-
* The term "triumvirate" means properly a commission or board
of three men, invested by law with special powers and functions.
This was the case with the triumvirate of Octavianus (Augustus),
Antony, and Lepidus; but this earlier one was only a private knot
of political aspirants.
† It was a law that both consuls and prætors should have their
power (imperium) continued for a year after their term of office,
and, under the title proconsul or proprætor, govern one of the mili-
tary provinces. If the proconsul was not relieved at the end of the
year, his power continued by the necessity of the case.
In one
The Life of Casar.
ix
bonensis, Gallia Cisalpina (North Italy), and Illyricum.
Crassus and Pompey received no special authority at first,
but remained in the city, ostensibly as private persons, to
look after the interests of the coalition. This was further
strengthened by the marriage of Pompey with Cæsar's
young and beautiful daughter Julia.
-
After two successful campaigns in Gaul, in the spring of
B.C. 56, Cæsar met his two confederates at Luca, in Etruria,
to arrange their future schemes. The conference was held
with great display, almost like a royal court. More than
200 senators were present, and 120 lictors were in attend-
ance, attached to the several magistrates. At this confer-
ence it was agreed that Pompey and Crassus should hold
the consulship the following year, and, after their term of
office, should receive by popular vote a similar command to
that held by Cæsar, namely, that Pompey should com-
mand in Spain and Crassus in Syria for five years each;
also that, when Cæsar's five years were up, he should re-
ceive in the same way a second term of five years. His ten
years' administration would then close at the end of B.C. 49 ;
after which time an interval of ten years having elapsed
he would be eligible again as consul.
The programme was duly carried out.
(B.C. 54) to his province, where he was
year by the Parthians in the battle of Carrhæ, and shortly
after entrapped and killed. Pompey put his province in
the hands of one of his subordinates, and remained in the
neighborhood of Rome, unwilling to remove from the seat
of his personal influence. The death of his wife Julia (B.C.
54) soon sundered the ties which bound him to Cæsar.
Crassus departed
defeated the next
instance, that of Pompey, an extraordinary power was conferred
upon the proconsul by act of the people (the Manilian Law). Reg-
ularly, however, the assignment of provinces was reckoned a part
of the administrative powers of the Senate; and a law of Caius
Gracchus directed that the consular provinces should be determined
before the election, that is, a year and a half in advance,
then that the consuls should draw lots which to have.
P
- and
X
The Life of Cæsar.
Jealous from the first, he gradually became openly hostile
to him; and at last he found himself leader of the Senate
and the aristocracy against his revolutionary schemes.
The remainder of Cæsar's life belongs to the general his-
tory of Rome. At the close of the Gallic war, the sena-
torial party required that he should disband his army.
This he refused to do, unless Pompey should make an
equal surrender of military force. From these demands
grew the charge of false play on each side, until the Civil
War broke out (B.C. 49), and Pompey fled to Greece, where
he was defeated the following year at Pharsalia. After his
death, and the complete destruction of his party, Cæsar re-
turned to Rome; * where, under the title and authority of
Perpetual Dictator, he laid the first foundations of the im-
perial constitution. His reforms—some of them necessary,
some enlightened and wise far beyond the statesmanship of
his time provoked the hate of a fanatic party, who vainly
thought to restore the Republic; and on the Ides of March,
B.C. 44, he was murdered in the Senate-house, by a conspir-
acy under the lead of Marcus Brutus.
GAUL AND GERMANY.
The district upon whose government Cæsar entered in
the spring of B.C. 58 consisted primarily of the two Gallic
provinces, Cisalpine and Transalpine. Cisalpine Gaul was
the northern portion of Italy, which had been several cen-
turies earlier occupied by invaders from Gaul proper, and
which was not yet reckoned as politically a part of Italy: it
was a wealthy, populous, and orderly country, the procon-
sul's main dependence for troops and supplies, and his reg-
ular winter residence. Transalpine or Narbonnese Gaul
received its name from its capital, the Roman colony Narbo.
* It is a remarkable illustration of Roman feeling, that, on the
day of his triumph, Cæsar, the epicurean rationalist, mounted on
his knees the long flight of steps that led up to the Capitol, that by
this act of ostentatious humility he might avert those divine judg-
ments supposed to be provoked by inordinate felicity.
The Life of Cæsar.
xi
It contained some thriving cities and peaceful districts; but
it had as a whole been only recently brought under the
authority of Rome, and was still essentially a foreign coun-
try. It comprised the whole coast of the Mediterranean,
from the Pyrenees to the Alps, its northern boundary being
an irregular and uncertain line, separating the conquered
nations of Gaul from those which were still free. To these
two provinces was attached Illyricum, which was a source
of strength, but did not receive much of his attention.
The authority of the governor over his province was
that of a military commander, who was not amenable to the
laws which protected the citizens in Rome. A few privi-
leged cities or nations, as the old Greek city Massilia, and
the allied tribe of the Ædui (after they were brought within
the limits of the empire), were wholly exempted from his
authority; but all other parts of the province, even Roman
colonies like Narbo, were liable to tribute, and more or less
under the jurisdiction of the governor. Each province had
its financial officer, or quæstor, who ranked next the gov-
ernor himself: the commander was likewise attended by
staff-officers, legati (usually three in number), appointed by
the Senate from persons of rank and position; and by an
indefinite number of aids, contubernales or comites, who
composed what was sometimes, but incorrectly, called the
prætorian cohort. A consular army consisted regularly of
two legions (at this time of from 3,000 to 3,600 men); to
these were added auxiliaries, both foot and horse, while
the governor had power to levy new legions as he required
them. Thus we find that Cæsar had six legions in his
campaign against the Nervii.
The free territories adjoining a Roman province were in
no respect under the authority of the governor; but they
were regarded as a legitimate field for his ambition, and
there was no lack of pretexts for war. The Roman policy
was to enter into friendly relations with one of the parties
or tribes in the free territory, load this with favors and
privileges, and make use of it to overcome their rivals; in
Gaul the Edui were the favored nation.
xii
The Life of Cæsar.
Cæsar's province, at its western extremity, touched Spain,
a country which had belonged to the empire for more than
150 years. North of it lay three great nationalities, with all
of which he was brought in contact. There were the Gauls,
the Germans, and the Britons.
Free Gaul (Libera Gallia) consisted of all the unsub-
dued territory between the Pyrenees on the one side, and
the Rhine and the Alps on the other, thus comprising, in
general, modern France and Belgium, with parts of Hol-
land, Germany, and Switzerland. The central portion of
this territory, fully a half in extent and population, was oc-
cupied by Gauls proper, or, as they called themselves, Celts.
Southwest of these were the Aquitani, of Iberian race, cog-
nate to the Spanish. Northeast were the Belgians, whose
ethnic affinities are much disputed; all that can be consid-
ered certain is that they were largely mixed with Germans.
The Gauls were an intellectual and prosperous people,
far more civilized than either Germans or Britons. The
country, though extensively covered with forests, especially
towards the north, was well provided with roads and
bridges. The entire population has been reckoned at about
seven millions. The people of the Gallic race were tall,
fair-complexioned, of restless, sanguine temperament, and
addicted to fighting; but skilled in many arts, some
portions in weaving; the Aquitani, especially, in mining
and engineering; and the Bretons (Veneti) in open-sea
navigation, which they followed with stout high-built ships,
leather sails, and iron chain-cables. Their dress included
trousers and shirts with sleeves; they had a barbaric taste
for gaudy ornament; their arms were showy, but clumsy and
ineffective beside the tempered weapons of the Romans.
With their culture, however, had come degeneracy in
many shapes. They were divided into violently hostile fac-
tions, through which they fell an easy prey to the invader.
They had numerous flourishing cities; which, however, had
no political power, like those of Greece and Italy, but were
merely places of residence and trade. Their government
The Life of Cæsar.
X111
had fallen under the control of an arrogant and luxurious
aristocracy, and their religion under a cruel and domi-
neering priesthood. Of the two great factions, into which
they were divided, the Ædui were the leaders in one,
and they had thought to gain supremacy by entering into
alliance with Romans. Their antagonists, the Sequani, had
naturally looked in the opposite direction for allies, and
found them in the Germans.
The Germans occupied nearly the same territory as at the
present day; not so far west as now, but on the other hand
Less advanced in civilization
extending farther to the east.
than the Gauls, they were still far from being savages.
They appear to have been just emerging from what is
known as the barbarous state, - beginning to acquire fixed
habitations, and to cultivate the ground: they had no cities.
They had brought with them from their migrations a re-
markable political system, based upon an original com-
munity of origin, in which the patriarchal organization had
already expanded into a multitude of petty nations, grouped
into larger combinations of race. Their institutions were
thoroughly democratic; they had noble families, but these
possessed no political prerogatives; they elected kings,
whose power was hardly greater than that of their general
magistrates.
"The tribes which descended upon Britain had entered Europe
not as a set of savages or wandering pastoral tribes, or mere pirates
and warriors, but as colonists, who, rude as they may have been in
dress and manners, yet, in essential points, were already a civilized
people." Various considerations, says a recent writer, make it
probable "that the Germans had come down from the northeast not
very long before the Christian era, and intruded themselves, as a
wedge, between those two more anciently recorded nations (Scyth-
ians and Celts). . . . We shall see evidence of the continuous
advance of a civilized race from the confines of India to these
islands, and nothing indicative of a great rush from the North of
wild hordes bent upon robbery and destruction, as it has been usu-
ally represented to have been. The gradual drying of the Caspian
Sea left the interior of Asia more and more barren; the knowledge
xiv
The Life of Cæsar.
of the useful metals facilitated the conquest of the savages of the
West; and predatory bands of Huns and Turks, and allied nomadic
nations, are likely to have accelerated the movement, by rendering
the labors of agriculture less remunerative. Thus the migration,
being one that proceeded from constantly acting causes, extended
over many centuries. . .
"In these mere names [of plants and fruits], setting aside all
other sources of information, we discover that these people came
from their home in the East with a knowledge of letters and the
useful metals, and with nearly all the domestic animals; that they
cultivated oats, barley, wheat, rye, and beans; built houses of tim-
ber, and thatched them; and what is important, as showing that
their pasture and arable land was intermixed, and acknowledged as
private property, they hedged their fields and fenced their gardens.
Cæsar denies this; but the frontier tribes, with whom he was ac-
quainted, were living under certain peculiar Mark laws, and were,
in fact, little else than an army on its march. The unquestionably
native, and not Latin or Celtic, origin of such names as Beach and
Hawthorn, of Oats and Wheat, prove that although our ancestry
may have been indebted to the provincials of the empire for their
fruit-trees, and some other luxuries, for a knowledge of the fine arts,
and the Latin literature, and a debased Christianity, the more
essential acquirements, upon which their prosperity and progress
as a nation depended, were already in their possession.” — PRIOR,
Popular Names of British Plants. Introd.
1863.
The Britons were, like the Gauls, of Celtic race, and re-
sembled them in every respect, except that, being further
from the civilized world, they were ruder, freer, and more
warlike.
It was the destiny of Julius Cæsar to bring the great Gal-
lic people into the system of civilization and government
represented by Rome: it was a definite and large extension
of the bounds of civilized society. From him, too, we have
the earliest authentic accounts of the other two nationalities,
the Germans and the Britons.
THE CAMPAIGNS IN GAUL.
The campaigns of Cæsar in Gaul lasted throught eight
seasons (B.c. 58-51), and are told in eight books, — the last
The Life of Cæsar.
XV
written by Hirtius, an officer of Cæsar, —each book con-
taining the operations of a single year. The following is a
brief outline:
I. Cæsar checks the attempt of the Helvetians to colonize in
Western Gaul, and forces them, after a bloody defeat, to return to
their own territory. He then engages with a powerful tribe of Ger-
mans, who had made a military settlement in Eastern Gaul, and
drives them, with their chief Ariovistus, beyond the Rhine.
II. A formidable confederacy of the northern populations of Gaul
is suppressed, with the almost complete extermination of the bravest
Belgian tribe, the Nervii, in a battle which seems to have been one
of the most desperate of all Cæsar ever fought. In this campaign,
the coast towns of the west and northwest (Brittany) are reduced
to submission.
III. After a brief conflict with the mountaineers of the Alps, who
attacked the Roman armies on their march, the chief operations are
the conquest of the coast tribes of Brittany (Veneti, etc.), in a war-
fare of curious naval engineering in the shallow tide-water inlets
and among the rocky shores. During the season, the tribes of the
south-west (Aquitani), a mining population, allied to the Iberians or
Basques, are reduced by one of Cæsar's officers.
IV. An attack from the Germans on northern Gaul is repulsed;
and Cæsar follows them, by a bridge of timber hastily built, across
the Rhine. Returning, he crosses to Britain in the early autumn,
for a visit of exploration.
V. The partial conquest of Britain (second invasion) is followed
by various movements in northern Gaul, in which the desperate
condition of the Roman garrisons is relieved by the prudent and
brave conduct of Labienus and Quintus Cicero.
VI. Cæsar makes a brief expedition across the Rhine, against
the Germans. Some general disturbances are quelled, and northern
Gaul is reduced to peace.
VII. Vercingetorix, a brave and high-spirited chief of southern
Gaul, effects a confederacy of the whole country, which is at length
subdued. Vercingetorix, in brilliant equipment, surrenders him-
self, to secure the quiet of the country, and is taken in chains to
Rome, where he is afterwards put to death in Cæsar's triumph.
VIII. Slight insurrections, breaking out here and there, are
easily subdued; and the subjugation of Gaul is made complete.
THE GALLIC WAR.
BOOK I.
INTRODUCTION: Description of Gaul (Chap. 1).
THE HELVETIAN WAR.-Orgetorix, an Helvetian chief, plans
the invasion of Gaul: he conspires with the chiefs of several
Gallic tribes; is brought to trial, escapes, and is put under the
ban; soon afterwards dies (2-4). The Helvetians complete their
preparations, and gather near the Rhone, requesting leave to pass.
peaceably through the Province. Cæsar delays them by pretexts,
while he hastily throws up an earthwork to prevent their crossing
the river. They attempt the passage, but are repulsed (5-8).
Forming a league with the Sequani, they penetrate and ravage the
territory of the Edui, friends of Rome, who solicit protection.
Cæsar, levying a force of upwards of 30,000, overtakes and cuts to
pieces their rear-guard (Tigurini), at the crossing of the Arar
(9-12). An embassy of the Helvetians, headed by the aged Divico,
leads to no result. A cavalry skirmish, in which the Romans are
worsted, together with the delay of supplies, shows the bad faith of
a party among the Ædui, headed by Dum: rix; who is arrested,
but spared on the intercession of his brother Divitiacus, and put
under close guard by Cæsar (13-20). Cæsar makes preparations
for attack, but is prevented by a false alarm, and moves towards
Bibracte. The Helvetians, now well in advance, turn about for
battle. They are forced to retreat to a hill, and attempt to flank the
Romans; but are completely routed, and fly towards the north
(21-26). They are at length forced to surrender. Six thousand
escape, but are retaken, and put to death. The remainder are
compelled to return to Helvetia, and rebuild the villages which they
had destroyed (27-29).
THE WAR WITH ARIOVISTUS. -The chief populations of Gaul
seek terms of amity, representing the condition of the country,
especially under the invasions of the German Ariovistus, by whom
the Sequani are chiefly oppressed (30-33). Cæsar sends envoys
2
[CÆSAR
The Helvetian War.
to him, but receiving a haughty reply sets out on a forced march
towards the German frontier (34-38). His men are greatly terri-
fied, but are cheered by his assurances, especially of reliance on
the tenth legion (39-41). At the request of Ariovistus, a confer-
ence is held, but is broken up by signs of bad faith among the
Germans (42-46). A second conference, proposed by Ariovistus, is
refused, and he throws into chains the messengers sent by Cæsar.
After a cavalry skirmish, an indecisive battle follows, and the
Germans fall back to their camp (47-50). Cæsar attacks the
camp: the Germans, marshalled by tribes, defend their families and
equipage. A close and furious engagement follows, in which the
Germans are routed and driven to the Rhine. Ariovistus escapes,
a part of his household is taken, and Cæsar returns to his winter
quarters (51-54).
GALLIA
ALLIA est omnis divisa in partes tres; quarum
unam incolunt Belgae, aliam Aquitani, tertiam
qui ipsorum lingua Celtae, nostra Galli appellantur.
Hi omnes lingua, institutis, legibus inter se differunt.
Gallos ab Aquitanis Garumna flumen, a Belgis Ma-
trona et Sequana dividit. 2 Horum omnium fortissimi
sunt Belgae, propterea quod a cultu atque humanitate
provinciae longissime absunt, minimeque ad eos mer-
catores saepe commeant, atque ea quae ad effeminandos
animos pertinent important; proximique sunt Germa-
nis, qui trans Rhenum incolunt, quibuscum continen-
ter bellum gerunt. Qua de causa Helvetii quoque
reliquos Gallos virtute praecedunt, quod fere quotidia-
nis proeliis cum Germanis contendunt, cum aut suis
finibus eos prohibent, aut ipsi in eorum finibus bellum
gerunt. 4 Eorum una pars, quam Gallos obtinere
dictum est, initium capit a flumine Rhodano; contine-
tur Garumna flumine, Oceano, finibus Belgarum ;
attingit etiam ab Sequanis et Helvetiis flumen Rhe-
num; vergit ad septentriones. 5 Belgae ab extremis
Galliae finibus oriuntur, pertinent ad inferiorem partem
fluminis Rheni, spectant in septentrionem et orientem
solem. Aquitania a Garumna flumine ad Pyrenaeos
B. G. I. 3.] Ambitious Designs of Orgetorix.
3
montes et eam partem Oceani quae est ad Hispaniam
pertinet, spectat inter occasum solis et septentriones.
2. Apud Helvetios longe nobilissimus fuit et ditissi-
mus Orgetorix. Is, M. Messala et M. Pisone consuli-
bus, regni cupiditate inductus, conjurationem nobilitatis
fecit, et civitati persuasit ut de finibus suis cum omni-
bus copiis exirent: perfacile esse, cum virtute omnibus
praestarent, totius Galliae imperio potiri. 2 Id hoc fa-
cilius eis persuasit, quod undique loci natura Helvetii
continentur: una ex parte flumine Rheno latissimo
atque altissimo, qui agrum Helvetium a Germanis.
dividit; altera ex parte monte Jura altissimo, qui est
inter Sequanos et Helvetios; tertia lacu Lemanno et
flumine Rhodano, qui provinciam nostram ab Hel-
vetiis dividit. His rebus fiebat, ut et minus late
vagarentur, et minus facile finitimis bellum inferre
possent; qua ex parte homines bellandi cupidi magno
dolore adficiebantur. 4 Pro multitudine autem homi-
num, et pro gloria belli atque fortitudinis, angustos se
fines habere arbitrabantur, qui in longitudinem milia
passuum CCXL, in latitudinem CLXXX patebant.
3. His rebus adducti, et auctoritate Orgetorigis
permoti, constituerunt ea quae ad proficiscendum per-
tinerent comparare, jumentorum et carrorum quam
maximum numerum coëmere, sementes quam maxi-
mas facere, ut in itinere copia frumenti suppeteret,
cum proximis civitatibus pacem et amicitiam confir-
mare. 2 Ad eas res conficiendas biennium sibi satis
esse duxerunt, in tertium annum profectionem lege
confirmant. Ad eas res conficiendas Orgetorix deli-
gitur. Is sibi legationem ad civitates suscepit. In
eo itinere persuadet Castico, Catamantaloedis filio,
Sequano, cujus pater regnum in Sequanis multos annos
obtinuerat, et a senatu populi Romani amicus appella-
tus erat, ut regnum in civitate sua occuparet, quod
pater ante habuerat; itemque Dumnorigi Haeduo,
4
[CÆSAR
The Helvetian War.
fratri Divitiaci, qui eo tempore principatum in civitate
obtinebat ac maxime plebi acceptus erat, ut idem con-
aretur persuadet, eique filiam suam in matrimonium
dat. 4 Perfacile factu esse illis probat conata perficere,
propterea quod ipse suae civitatis imperium obtenturus
esset: non esse dubium, quin totius Galliae plurimum
Helvetii possent; se suis copiis suoque exercitu illis
regna conciliaturum confirmat. Hac oratione adduc-
ti, inter se fidem et jusjurandum dant, et regno occu-
pato, per tres potentissimos ac firmissimos populos,
totius Galliae sese potiri posse sperant.
5
4. Ea res est Helvetiis per indicium enuntiata.
Moribus suis Orgétorigem ex vinclis causam dicere
coëgerunt. Damnatum poenam sequi oportebat, ut
igni cremaretur. 2 Die constituta causae dictionis,
Orgetorix ad judicium omnem suam familiam, ad
hominum milia decem, undique coëgit, et omnes
clientes obaeratosque suos, quorum magnum numerum
habebat, eodem conduxit; per eos, ne causam diceret,
se eripuit. Cum civitas ob eam rem incitata armis
jus suum exsequi conaretur, multitudinemque homi-
num ex agris magistratus cogerent, Orgetorix mortuus
est; neque abest suspitio, ut Helvetii arbitrantur,
quin ipse sibi mortem consciverit.
5. Post ejus mortem, nihilo minus Helvetii id quod
constituerant facere conantur, ut e finibus suis exeant.
Ubi jam se ad eam rem paratos esse arbitrati sunt,
ssei
oppida sua omnia numero ad duodecim, vicos ad
quadringentos, reliqua privata aedificia incendunt; fru-
mentum omne, praeterquam quod secum portaturi
erant, comburunt, ut domum reditionis spe sublata —
paratiores ad omnia pericula subeunda essent; trium
mensium molita cibaria sibi quemque domo efferre ju-
bent. 2 Persuadent Rauracis et Tulingis et Latobrigis
finitimis, uti, eodem usi consilio, oppidis suis vicis-
que exustis, una cum iis proficiscantur; Boiosque, qui
Suts
(
B. G. I. 7.] Embassy to Cæsar at Geneva.
5
trans Rhenum incoluerant, et in agrum Noricum
transierant Noreiamque oppugnarant, receptos ad se
socios sibi adsciscunt.
6. Erant omnino itinera duo, quibus itineribus domo
exire possent: unum per Sequanos, angustum et diffi-
cile, inter montem Juram et flumen Rhodanum, vix
qua singuli carri ducerentur; mons autem altissimus
impendebat, ut facile perpauci prohibere possent:
2 alterum per provinciam nostram, multo facilius atque
expeditius, propterea quod inter fines Helvetiorum et
Allobrogum, qui nuper pacati erant, Rhodanus fluit,
isque nonnullis locis vado transitur. Extremum oppi-
dum Allobrogum est, proximumque Helvetiorum fini-
bus, Genua. Ex eo oppido pons ad Helvetios pertinet.
Allobrogibus sese vel persuasuros (quod nondum bono
animo in populum Romanum viderentur) existima-
bant, vel vi coacturos, ut per suos fines eos ire pate-
rentur. 4 Omnibus rebus ad profectionem conparatis,
diem dicunt, qua die ad ripam Rhodani omnes conve-
niant. Is dies erat a. d. v. Kal. Apr., L. Pisone A.
Gabinio consulibus.
7. Caesari cum id nuntiatum esset, eos per provin-
ciam nostram iter facere conari, maturat ab urbe pro-
ficisci, et quam maximis potest itineribus in Galliam
ulteriorem contendit, et ad Genuam pervenit. 2 Pro-
vinciae toti quam maximum potest militum numerum
imperat erat omnino in Gallia ulteriore legio una;
pontem, qui erat ad Genuam, jubet rescindi. Ubi de
ejus adventu Helvetii certiores facti sunt, legatos ad
eum mittunt, nobilissimos civitatis, cujus legationis
Nammeius et Verudoctius principem locum obtine-
bant, qui dicerent sibi esse in animo sine ullo maleficio
iter per provinciam facere, propterea quod aliud iter
haberent nullum: rogare, ut ejus voluntate id sibi
facere liceat.' Caesar, quod memoria tenebat L.
Cassium consulem occisum, exercitumque ejus ab Hel-
6
[CÆSAR
The Helvetian War.
vetiis pulsum et sub jugum missum, concedendum non
putabat; neque homines inimico animo, data facultate
per provinciam itineris faciundi, temperaturos ab in-
juria et maleficio existimabat. Tamen, ut spatium
intercedere posset, dum milites quos imperaverat con-
venirent, legatis respondit diem se ad deliberandum
sumpturum ; si quid vellent, ad Id. Apr. reverterentur,
8. Interea ea legione, quam secum habebat, militi-
busque qui ex provincia convenerant, a lacu Lemanno,
qui in flumen Rhodanum influit, ad montem Juram,
qui fines Sequanorum ab Helvetiis dividit, milia pas-
suum decem novem, murum in altitudinem pedum
sedecim, fossamque perducit. 2 Eo opere perfecto,
praesidia disponit, castella communit, quo facilius, si
se invito transire conarentur, prohibere possit. Ubi
ea dies quam constituerat cum legatis venit, et legati
ad eum reverterunt, negat se more et exemplo populi
Romani posse iter ulli per provinciam dare; et, si vim
facere conentur, prohibiturum ostendit. Helvetii, ea
spe dejecti, navibus junctis ratibusque compluribus
factis, alii vadis Rhodani, qua minima altitudo fluminis
erat, nonnumquam interdiu, saepius noctu, si perrum-
pere possent conati, operis munitione et militum con-
cursu et telis repulsi, hoc conatu destiterunt.
4
3
9. Relinquebatur una per Sequanos via, qua, Sequa-
nis invitis, propter angustias ire non poterant. His
cum sua sponte persuadere non possent, legatos ad
Dumnorigem Haeduum mittunt, ut eo deprecatore a
Sequanis impetrarent. 2 Dumnorix gratia et largitione
apud Sequanos plurimum poterat, et Helvetiis erat
amicus, quod ex ea civitate Orgetorigis filiam in ma-
trimonium duxerat; et cupiditate regni adductus novis
rebus studebat, et quam plurimas civitates suo benefi-
cio habere obstrictas volebat. 3 Itaque rem suscipit, et
a Sequanis impetrat ut per fines suos Helvetios ire
patiantur, obsidesque uti inter sese dent perficit: Se-
B. G. I. 11.] The Edui appeal to Cæsar.
7
quani, ne itinere Helvetios prohibeant; Helvetii, ut
sine maleficio et injuria transeant.
10. Caesari renuntiatur Helvetiis esse in animo per
agrum Sequanorum et Haeduorum iter in Santonum
fines facere, qui non longe a Tolosatium finibus ab-
2 Id si fieret,
sunt, quae civitas est in Provincia.
intellegebat magno cum periculo provinciae futurum,
ut homines bellicosos, populi Romani inimicos, locis
patentibus maximeque frumentariis finitimos haberet.)
³ Ob eas causas, ei munitioni quam fecerat T. Labie-
num legatum praefecit; ipse in Italiam magnis itineri-
bus contendit, duasque ibi legiones conscribit, et tres,
quae circum Aquileiam hiemabant, ex hibernis educit,
et, qua proximum iter in ulteriorem Galliam per Alpes
erat, cum his quinque legionibus ire contendit. 4 Ibi
Centrones et Graioceli et Caturiges, locis superioribus
occupatis, itinere exercitum prohibere conantur. Com-
pluribus his proeliis pulsis, ab Ocelo, quod est cite-
rioris provinciae extremum, in fines Vocontiorum
ulterioris provinciae die septimo pervenit; inde in
Allobrogum fines, ab Allobrogibus in Segusiavos
exercitum ducit. Hi sunt extra provinciam trans
Rhodanum primi.
11. Helvetii jam per angustias et fines Sequanorum
suas copias traduxerant, et in Haeduorum fines per-
venerant, eorumque agros populabantur. Haedui, cum
se suaque ab iis defendere non possent, legatos ad
Caesarem mittunt rogatum auxilium: 2 Ita se omni
tempore de populo Romano meritos esse, ut paene in
conspectu exercitus nostri agri vastari, liberi eorum
in servitutem abduci, oppida expugnari non debuerint.'
Eodem tempore Haedui Ambarri, necessarii et con-
sanguinei Haeduorum, Caesarem certiorem faciunt,
sese, depopulatis agris, non facile ab oppidis vim hos-
tium prohibere. Item Allobroges, qui trans Rhoda-
num vicos possessionesque habebant, fuga se ad
*
8
[CÆSAR
The Helvetian War.
Caesarem recipiunt, et demonstrant sibi praeter agri
solum nihil esse reliqui. 5 Quibus rebus adductus, Cae-
sar non exspectandum sibi statuit, dum, omnibus fortunis
sociorum consumptis, in Santonos Helvetii pervenirent.
12. Flumen est Arar, quod per fines Haeduorum
et Sequanorum in Rhodanum influit, incredibili leni-
tate, ita ut oculis, in utram partem fluat, judicari non
possit. Id Helvetii ratibus ac lintribus junctis transi-
bant. 2 Ubi per exploratores Caesar certior factus est,
tres jam partes copiarum Helvetios id flumen tradux-
isse, quartam fere partem citra flumen Ararim reliquam
esse; de tertia vigilia cum legionibus tribus e castris
profectus, ad eam partem pervenit, quae nondum flu-
men transierat. 3 Eos impeditos et inopinantes adgres-
sus, magnam partem eorum concidit: reliqui sese
fugae mandarunt, atque in proximas silvas abdide-
runt. Is pagus appellabatur Tigurinus: nam omnis
civitas Helvetia in quattuor pagos divisa est. 4 Hic
pagus unus, cum domo exisset, patrum nostrorum
memoria L. Cassium consulem interfecerat, et ejus
exercitum sub jugum miserat. Ita sive casu, sive
consilio deorum immortalium, quae pars civitatis Hel-
vetiae insignem calamitatem populo Romano intulerat,
ea princeps poenas persolvit. Qua in re Caesar non
solum publicas, sed etiam privatas injurias ultus est;
quod ejus soceri L. Pisonis avum, L. Pisonem lega-
tum, Tigurini eodem proelio quo Cassium interfece-
rant.
5
13. Hoc proelio facto, reliquas copias Helvetiorum
ut consequi posset, pontem in Arare faciendum curat,
atque ita exercitum traducit. 2 Helvetii, repentino
ejus adventu commoti, cum id quod ipsi diebus xx
aegerrume confecerant, ut flumen transirent, illum
uno die fecisse intellegerent, legatos ad eum mittunt;
cujus legationis Divico princeps fuit, qui bello Cassiano
dux Helvetiorum fuerat. Is ita cum Caesare egit:
3
B. G. I. 14.]
9
Embassy of Divico.
'Si pacem populus Romanus cum Helvetiis faceret, in
eam partem ituros atque ibi futuros Helvetios, ubi eos
Caesar constituisset atque esse voluisset; sin bello
persequi perseveraret, reminisceretur et veteris incom-
modi populi Romani, et pristinae virtutis Helvetiorum.
4 Quod improviso unum pagum adortus esset, cum ii,
qui flumen transissent, suis auxilium ferre non possent,
ne ob eam rem aut suae magnopere virtuti tribueret,
aut ipsos despiceret; se ita a patribus majoribusque
suis didicisse, ut magis virtute quam dolo contende-
rent, aut insidiis niterentur. Quare ne committeret,
ut is locus, ubi constitissent, ex calamitate populi
Romani et internecione exercitus nomen caperet, aut
memoriam proderet.'
5
14. His Caesar ita respondit: Eo sibi minus dubi-
tationis dari, quod eas res, quas legati Helvetii com-
memorassent, memoria teneret, atque eo gravius ferre,
quo minus merito populi Romani accidissent: 2 qui si
alicujus injuriae sibi conscius fuisset, non fuisse diffi-
cile cavere; sed eo deceptum, quod neque commissum
a se intellegeret quare timeret, neque sine causa ti-
mendum putaret. 3 Quod si veteris contumeliae obli-
visci vellet, num etiam recentium injuriarum, quod eo
invito iter per provinciam per vim temptassent, quod
Haeduos, quod Ambarros, quod Allobrogas vexassent,
memoriam deponere posse? Quod sua victoria tam
insolenter gloriarentur, quodque tam diu se impune
injurias tulisse admirarentur, eodem pertinere. Con-
suesse enim deos immortales, quo gravius homines ex
commutatione rerum doleant, quos pro scelere eorum
ulcisci velint, his secundiores interdum res et diuturni-
orem impunitatem concedere. Cum ea ita sint, tamen
si obsides ab iis sibi dentur, uti ea quae polliceantur
facturos intellegat, et si Haeduis de injuriis quas ipsis
sociisque eorum intulerint, item si Allobrogibus satis-
faciant, sese cum iis pacem esse facturum.' Divico
6
IO
[CÆSAR
The Helvetian War.
respondit: Ita Helvetios a majoribus suis institutos
esse, uti obsides accipere, non dare consuerint; ejus
rei populum Romanum esse testem.' Hoc responso
dato discessit.
15. Postero die castra ex eo loco movent. Idem
facit Caesar, equitatumque omnem, ad numerum
quattuor milium, quem ex omni provincia et Haeduis
atque eorum sociis coactum habebat, praemittit, qui
videant quas in partes hostes iter faciant. 2 Qui, cupi-
dius novissimum agmen insecuti, alieno loco cum
equitatu Helvetiorum proelium committunt; et pauci
de nostris cadunt. 3 Quo proelio sublati Helvetii,
quod quingentis equitibus tantam multitudinem equi-
tum propulerant, audacius subsistere nonnumquam, et
novissimo agmine proelio nostros lacessere coeperunt.
4 Caesar suos a proelio continebat, ac satis habebat in
praesentia hostem rapinis, pabulationibus, populationi-
busque prohibere. Ita dies circiter quindecim iter
fecerunt, uti inter novissimum hostium agmen et nos-
trum primum non amplius quinis aut senis milibus
passuum interesset.
16. Interim cotidie Caesar Haeduos frumentum,
quod essent publice polliciti, flagitare. Nam propter
frigora, quod Gallia sub septentrionibus (ut ante dic-
tum est) posita est, non modo frumenta in agris matura
non erant, sed ne pabuli quidem satis magna copia
suppetebat: eo autem frumento, quod flumine Arare
navibus subvexerat, propterea minus uti poterat, quod
iter ab Arare Helvetii averterant, a quibus discedere
nolebat. 2 Diem ex die ducere Haedui: conferri, con-
portari, adesse, dicere. Ubi se diutius duci intellexit,
et diem instare, quo die frumentum militibus metiri
oporteret, convocatis eorum principibus, quorum mag-
nam copiam in castris habebat, in his Divitiaco et
Lisco, qui summo magistratui praeerat quem vergo-
bretum appellant Haedui, qui creatur annuus, et vitae
B. G. I. 18.]
II
Treachery of Dumnorix.
necisque in suos habet potestatem, -3 graviter eos
accusat, quod, cum neque emi neque ex agris sumi
posset, tam necessario tempore, tam propinquis hosti-
bus, ab iis non sublevetur; praesertim cum magna ex
parte eorum precibus adductus bellum susceperit,
multo etiam gravius quod sit destitutus queritur.
6
17. Tum demum Liscus, oratione Caesaris adduc-
tus, quod antea tacuerat proponit: Esse nonnullos,
quorum auctoritas apud plebem plurimum valeat, qui
privatim plus possint quam ipsi magistratus. 2 Hos
seditiosa atque improba oratione multitudinem deter-
rere, ne frumentum conferant, quod praestare debeant:
si jam principatum Galliae obtinere non possint, Gallo-
rum quam Romanorum imperia praeferre; neque
dubitare [debeant] quin, si Helvetios superaverint Ro-
mani, una cum reliqua Gallia Haeduis libertatem sint
erepturi. Ab eisdem nostra consilia, quaeque in
castris gerantur, hostibus enuntiari; hos a se coërceri
non posse. Quin etiam, quod necessario rem coactus
Caesari enuntiarit, intellegere sese quanto id cum
periculo fecerit, et ob eam causam, quam diu potuerit,
tacuisse.'
<
3
18. Caesar hac oratione Lisci Dumnorigem, Divi-
tiaci fratrem, designari sentiebat; sed, quod pluribus
praesentibus eas res jactari nolebat, celeriter concilium
dimittit, Liscum retinet. 2 Quaerit ex solo ea quae
in conventu dixerat. Dicit liberius atque audacius.
Eadem secreto ab aliis quaerit; reperit esse vera:
Ipsum esse Dumnorigem, summa audacia, magna
apud plebem propter liberalitatem gratia, cupidum
rerum novarum. Complures annos portoria reliqua-
que omnia Haeduorum vectigalia parvo pretio re-
dempta habere, propterea quod illo licente contra liceri
audeat nemo. 4 His rebus et suam rem familiarem
auxisse, et facultates ad largiendum magnas com-
parasse; magnum numerum equitatus suo sumptu
3
12
[CÆSAR
The Helvetian War.
semper alere et circum se habere, neque solum domi,
sed etiam apud finitimas civitates largiter posse; atque
hujus potentiae causa matrem in Biturigibus homini
illic nobilissimo ac potentissimo collocasse, ipsum ex
Helvetiis uxorem habere, sororem ex matre et propin-
quas suas nuptum in alias civitates collocasse. 5 Fa-
vere et cupere Helvetiis propter eam adfinitatem, odisse
etiam suo nomine Caesarem et Romanos, quod eorum
adventu potentia ejus deminuta, et Divitiacus frater in
antiquum locum gratiae atque honoris sit restitutus.
6 Si quid accidat Romanis, summam in spem per Hel-
vetios regni obtinendi venire; imperio populi Romani
non modo de regno, sed etiam de ea quam habeat
gratia, desperare.' Reperiebat etiam in quaerendo
Caesar, quod proelium equestre adversum paucis ante.
diebus esset factum, initium ejus fugae factum a Dum-
norige atque ejus equitibus,nam equitatui, quem
auxilio Caesari Haedui miserant, Dumnorix praeerat :
eorum fuga reliquum esse equitatum perterritum.
7
2
19. Quibus rebus cognitis, cum ad has suspiciones
certissimae res accederent, quod per fines Sequa-
norum Helvetios traduxisset, quod obsides inter eos
dandos curasset, quod ea omnia non modo injussu suo
et civitatis, sed etiam inscientibus ipsis fecisset, quod a
magistratu Haeduorum accusaretur, - satis esse causae
arbitrabatur, quare in eum aut ipse animadverteret,
aut civitatem animadvertere juberet. His omnibus
rebus unum repugnabat, quod Divitiaci fratris sum-
mum in populum Romanum studium, summam in se
voluntatem, egregiam fidem, justitiam, temperantiam
cognoverat: nam ne ejus supplicio Divitiaci ani-
mum offenderet verebatur. Itaque prius quam quic-
quam conaretur, Divitiacum ad se vocari jubet, et
quotidianis interpretibus remotis, per C. Valerium.
Procillum, principem Galliae provinciae, familiarem
suum, cui summam omnium rerum fidem habebat,
3
B. G. I. 21.
21.]
13
The Plea of Divitiacus.
cum eo colloquitur; 4 simul commonefacit quae ipso
praesente in concilio Gallorum de Dumnorige sint
dicta; et ostendit quae separatim quisque de eo apud
se dixerit; petit atque hortatur, ut sine ejus offensione
animi vel ipse de eo causa cognita statuat, vel civita-
tem statuere jubeat.
20. Divitiacus, multis cum lacrimis Caesarem com-
plexus, obsecrare coepit, ne quid gravius in fratrem
statueret: 2 Scire se illa esse vera, nec quemquam ex
eo plus quam se doloris capere, propterea quod, cum
ipse gratia plurimum domi atque in reliqua Gallia,
ille minimum propter adulescentiam posset, per se
crevisset; quibus opibus ac nervis non solum ad
minuendam gratiam, sed paene ad perniciem suam
uteretur; sese tamen et amore fraterno et existima-
tione vulgi commoveri. 3 Quod si quid ei a Caesare
gravius accidisset, cum ipse eum locum amicitiae apud
eum teneret, neminem existimaturum non sua voluntate
factum; qua ex re futurum, uti totius Galliae animi a
se averterentur.' Haec cum pluribus verbis flens a
Caesare peteret, Caesar ejus dextram prendit; conso-
latus rogat, finem orandi faciat; tanti ejus apud se
gratiam esse ostendit, uti et reipublicae injuriam et
suum dolorem ejus voluntati ac precibus condonet.
5 Dumnorigem ad se vocat, fratrem adhibet; quae in
eo reprehendat ostendit, quae ipse intellegat, quae
civitas queratur, proponit; monet ut in reliquum tem-
pus omnes suspiciones vitet; praeterita se Divitiaco
fratri condonare dicit. Dumnorigi custodes ponit, ut
quae agat, quibuscum loquatur, scire possit.
*
21. Eodem die ab exploratoribus certior factus hos-
tes sub monte consedisse milia passuum ab ipsius.
castris octo, qualis esset natura montis et qualis in
circuitu ascensus, qui cognoscerent misit. 2 Renun-
tiatum est facilem esse. De tertia vigilia T. Labienum,
legatum pro praetore, cum duabus legionibus et iis
14
[CÆSAR
The Helvetian War.
ducibus qui iter cognoverant, summum jugum montis
ascendere jubet; quid sui consilii sit ostendit. Ipse
de quarta vigilia eodem itinere, quo hostes ierant, ad
eos contendit, equitatumque omnem ante se mittit. 3P.
Considius, qui rei militaris peritissimus habebatur, et
in exercitu L. Sullae et postea in M. Crassi fuerat,
cum exploratoribus praemittitur.
22. Prima luce, cum summus mons a Labieno tene-
retur, ipse ab hostium castris non longius mille et
quingentis passibus abesset, neque, ut postea ex capti-
vis comperit, aut ipsius adventus aut Labieni cognitus
esset, Considius equo admisso ad eum accurrit; 2 dicit
montem, quem a Labieno occupari voluerit, ab hos--
tibus teneri; id se a Gallicis armis atque insignibus
cognovisse. Caesar suas copias in proximum collem
subducit, aciem instruit. 3 Labienus, ut erat ei prae-
ceptum a Caesare, ne proelium committeret, nisi ipsius
copiae prope hostium castra visae essent, ut undique
uno tempore in hostes impetus fieret, monte occupato
nostros exspectabat, proelioque abstinebat. 4 Multo
denique die per exploratores Caesar cognovit et mon-
tem a suis teneri, et Helvetios castra movisse, et Con-
sidium, timore perterritum, quod non vidisset pro viso
sibi renuntiasse. Eo die, quo consuerat intervallo,
hostes sequitur, et milia passum tria ab eorum castris
castra ponit.
23. Postridie ejus diei, quod omnino biduum super-
erat, cum exercitui frumentum metiri oporteret, et
quod a Bibracte, oppido Haeduorum longe maximo et
copiosissimo, non amplius milibus passuum XVIII ab-
erat, rei frumentariae prospiciendum existimavit: iter
ab Helvetiis avertit, ac Bibracte ire contendit. 2 Ea
res per fugitivos L. Aemilii, decurionis equitum Gallo-
rum, hostibus nuntiatur. Helvetii, seu quod timore
perterritos Romanos discedere a se existimarent, eo
magis quod pridie, superioribus locis occupatis, proe-
3
B. G. I. 25.]
15
The Decisive Battle.
lium non commisissent, sive eo quod re frumentaria
intercludi posse confiderent, commutato consilio atque
itinere converso, nostros a novissimo agmine insequi
ac lacessere coeperunt.
24. Postquam id animum advertit, copias suas Cae-
sar in proximum collem subducit, equitatumque, qui
sustineret hostium impetum, misit. 2Ipse interim in
colle medio triplicem aciem instruxit legionum quat-
tuor veteranarum [ita uti supra]; sed in summo jugo
duas legiones, quas in Gallia citeriore proxime con-
scripserat, et omnia auxilia conlocari, ac totum montem
hominibus compleri, et interea sarcinas in unum locum
conferri, et eum ab his qui in superiore acie constiterant
muniri jussit. ³ Helvetii cum omnibus suis carris secuti,
impedimenta in unum locum contulerunt; ipsi confer-
tissima acie, rejecto nostro equitatu, phalange facta,
sub primam nostram aciem successerunt.
3
25. Caesar primum suo, deinde omnium ex con-
spectu remotis equis, ut aequato omnium periculo
spem fugae tolleret, cohortatus suos proelium com-
misit. Milites e loco superiore, pilis missis, facile
hostium phalangem perfregerunt. 2 Ea disjecta, gla-
diis destrictis in eos impetum fecerunt. Gallis magno
ad pugnam erat impedimento, quod pluribus eorum
scutis uno ictu pilorum transfixis et conligatis, cum
ferrum se inflexisset, neque evellere neque sinistra
impedita satis commode pugnare poterant, multi ut,
diu jactato brachio, praeoptarent scutum manu emit-
tere, et nudo corpore pugnare. Tandem vulneribus
defessi, et pedem referre et, quod mons suberat circi-
ter mille passuum, eo se recipere coeperunt. 4 Capto
monte et succedentibus nostris, Boii et Tulingi, qui
hominum milibus circiter xv agmen hostium claude-
bant, et novissimis praesidio erant, ex itinere nostros
latere aperto adgressi circumvenire; et id conspicati
Helvetii, qui in montem sese receperant, rursus instare
16
[CÆSAR
The Helvetian War.
et proelium redintegrare coeperunt. Romani conversa
signa bipartito intulerunt: prima et secunda acies, ut
victis ac summotis resisteret; tertia, ut venientes sus-
tineret.
26. Ita ancipiti proelio diu atque acriter pugnatum
est. Diutius cum sustinere nostrorum impetus non
possent, alteri se, ut coeperant, in montem receperunt,
alteri ad impedimenta et carros suos se contulerunt.
2 Nam hoc toto proelio, cum ab hora septima ad ves-
perum pugnatum sit, aversum hostem videre nemo
potuit. Ad multam noctem etiam ad impedimenta
pugnatum est, propterea quod pro vallo carros objece-
rant, et e loco superiore in nostros venientes tela
coniciebant, et nonnulli inter carros rotasque mataras
ac tragulas subiciebant, nostrosque vulnerabant. 3 Diu
cum esset pugnatum, impedimentis castrisque nostri
potiti sunt. Ibi Orgetorigis filia atque unus e filiis
captus est. 4 Ex eo proelio circiter hominum milia
cxxx superfuerunt, eaque tota
eaque tota nocte continenter
ierunt nullam partem noctis itinere intermisso, in
fines Lingonum die quarto pervenerunt, cum et prop-
ter vulnera militum, et propter sepulturam occisorum,
nostri triduum morati eos sequi non potuissent. Cae-
sar ad Lingonas litteras nuntiosque misit, ne eos fru-
mento neve alia re juvarent: qui si juvissent, se eodem
loco quo Helvetios habiturum. Ipse, triduo intermisso,
cum omnibus copiis eos sequi coepit.
5
27. Helvetii, omnium rerum inopia adducti, legatos
de deditione ad eum miserunt. Qui cum eum in
itinere convenissent, seque ad pedes projecissent, sup-
pliciterque locuti flentes pacem petissent, atque eos in
eo loco, quo tum essent, suum adventum exspectare
jussisset, paruerunt. 2Eo postquam Caesar pervenit,
obsides, arma, servos, qui ad eos perfugissent, po-
poscit. Dum ea conquiruntur et conferuntur, nocte
intermissa, circiter hominum milia vi ejus pagi qui
Verbigenus appellatur, sive timore perterriti, ne armis
B. G. I. 29.] Surrender of the Helvetians.
17
traditis supplicio adficerentur, sive spe salutis inducti,
quod in tanta multitudine dediticiorum suam fugam
aut occultari aut omnino ignorari posse existimarent,
prima nocte e castris Helvetiorum egressi, ad Rhenum
finesque Germanorum contenderunt.
3
28. Quod ubi Caesar resciit, quorum per fines
ierant, his, uti conquirerent et reducerent, si sibi pur-
gati esse vellent, imperavit: reductos in hostium
numero habuit; reliquos omnes, obsidibus, armis, per-
fugis traditis, in deditionem accepit. 2 Helvetios, Tu-
lingos, Latobrigos in fines suos, unde erant profecti,
reverti jussit; 'et quod, omnibus fructibus amissis, domi
nihil erat quo famem tolerarent, Allobrogibus impe-
ravit, ut iis frumenti copiam facerent; ipsos oppida
vicosque, quos incenderant, restituere jussit. Id ea
maxime ratione fecit, quod noluit eum locum, unde
Helvetii discesserant, vacare, ne propter bonitatem
agrorum Germani, qui trans Rhenum incolunt, e suis
finibus in Helvetiorum fines transirent, et finitimi Gal-
liae provinciae Allobrogibusque essent. Boios, pe-
tentibus Haeduis, quod egregia virtute erant cognati,
ut in finibus suis collocarent, concessit; quibus illi
agros dederunt, quosque postea in parem juris liberta-
tisque condicionem atque ipsi erant receperunt.
4
29. In castris Helvetiorum tabulae repertae sunt
litteris Graecis confectae et ad Caesarem relatae,
quibus in tabulis nominatim ratio confecta erat, qui
numerus domo exisset eorum qui arma ferre possent,
et item separatim pueri, senes mulieresque. 2 Quarum
omnium rerum summa erat capitum Helvetiorum milia
CCLXIII, Tulingorum milia xxxvi, Latobrigorum XIIII,
Rauracorum xxIII, Boiorum xxxII; ex his qui arma
ferre possent, ad milia xcII. 3 Summa omnium fue-
runt ad milia CCCLXVIII. Eorum qui domum redie-
runt, censu habito, ut Caesar imperaverat, repertus
est numerus milium c et x.
2
18 The Campaign against Ariovistus. [CÆSAR
"
30. Bello Helvetiorum confecto, totius fere Galliae
legati, principes civitatum, ad Caesarem gratulatum
convenerunt: Intellegere sese, tametsi pro veteribus.
Helvetiorum injuriis populi Romani ab his poenas
bello repetisset, tamen eam rem non minus ex usu terrae
Galliae quam populi Romani accidisse; 2 propterea
quod eo consilio, florentissimis rebus, domos suas Hel-
vetii reliquissent, uti toti Galliae bellum inferrent, im-
perioque potirentur, locumque domicilio ex magna copia
deligerent, quem ex omni Gallia opportunissimum ac
fructuosissimum judicassent, reliquasque civitates sti-
pendiarias haberent.' Petierunt, uti sibi concilium
totius Galliae in diem certam indicere idque Caesaris
voluntate facere liceret: sese habere quasdam res,
quas ex communi consensu ab eo petere vellent. Ea
re permissa, diem concilio constituerunt, et jurejurando,
ne quis enuntiaret, nisi quibus communi consilio man-
datum esset, inter se sanxerunt.
3
•
31. Eo concilio dimisso, îdem principes civitatum,
qui ante fuerant, ad Caesarem reverterunt, petierunt-
que, uti sibi secreto in occulto de sua omniumque
salute cum eo agere liceret. 2 Ea re impetrata, sese
omnes flentes Caesari ad pedes projecerunt: Non
minus se id contendere et laborare, ne ea quae dix-
issent enuntiarentur, quam uti ea quae vellent impe-
trarent; propterea quod, si enuntiatum esset, summum
in cruciatum se venturos viderent.' Locutus est pro
his Divitiacus Haeduus: Galliae totius factiones esse
duas; harum alterius principatum tenere Haeduos,
alterius Arvernos. Hi cum tantopere de potentatu
inter se multos annos contenderent, factum esse, uti
ab Arvernis Sequanisque Germani mercede arcesse-
rentur. 4 Horum primo circiter milia xv Rhenum trans-
isse; posteaquam agros et cultum et copias Gallorum
homines feri ac barbari adamassent, traductos plures;
nunc esse in Gallia ad centum et xx milium numerum.
6
B. G. I. 31.] Representations of Divitiacus.
19
6
Cum his Haeduos eorumque clientes semel atque
iterum armis contendisse ; magnam calamitatem pulsos
accepisse, omnem nobilitatem, omnem senatum, omnem
equitatum amisisse. Quibus proeliis calamitatibus-
que fractos, qui et sua virtute et populi Romani hospi-
tio atque amicitia plurimum ante in Gallia potuissent,
coactos esse Sequanis obsides dare nobilissimos civita-
tis, et jurejurando civitatem obstringere, sese neque
obsides repetituros, neque auxilium a populo Romano
imploraturos, neque recusaturos quo minus perpetuo
sub illorum dicione atque imperio essent. 7 Unum
se esse ex omni civitate Haeduorum, qui adduci non
potuerit ut juraret, aut liberos suos obsides daret. Ob
eam rem se ex civitate profugisse, et Romam ad sena-
tum venisse auxilium postulatum, quod solus neque
jurejurando neque obsidibus teneretur.
8 Sed pejus
victoribus Sequanis quam Haeduis victis accidisse,
propterea quod Ariovistus, rex Germanorum, in eorum
finibus consedisset, tertiamque partem agri Sequani,
qui esset optimus totius Galliae, occupavisset, et nunc
de altera parte tertia Sequanos decedere juberet, prop-
terea quod paucis mensibus ante Harudum milia homi-
num xxIII ad eum venissent, quibus locus ac sedes
pararentur. 9 Futurum esse paucis annis, uti omnes
ex Galliae finibus pellerentur, atque omnes Germani
Rhenum transirent; neque enim conferendum esse
Gallicum cum Germanorum agro, neque hanc consue-
tudinem victus cum illa comparandam. 10 Ariovistum
autem, ut semel Gallorum copias proelio vicerit, quod
proelium factum sit ad Magetobriam, superbe et cru-
deliter imperare, obsides nobilissimi cujusque liberos
poscere, et in eos omnia exempla cruciatusque edere,
si qua res non ad nutum aut ad voluntatem ejus facta
11 Hominem esse barbarum, iracundum, temera-
rium: non posse ejus imperia diutius sustinere. Nisi
si quid in Caesare populoque Romano sit auxilii,
sit.
20
The Campaign against Ariovistus. [CÆSAR
omnibus Gallis idem esse faciendum quod Helvetii
fecerint, ut domo emigrent, aliud domicilium, alias
sedes, remotas a Germanis, petant, fortunamque, quae-
cumque accidat, experiantur. 12 Haec si enuntiata
Ariovisto sint, non dubitare, quin de omnibus obsidi-
bus, qui apud eum sint, gravissimum supplicium
sumat. Caesarem vel auctoritate sua atque exercitus,
vel recenti victoria, vel nomine populi Romani, deter-
rere posse, ne major multitudo Germanorum Rhenum
traducatur, Galliamque omnem ab Ariovisti injuria
posse defendere."
32. Hac oratione ab Divitiaco habita, omnes qui
aderant magno fletu auxilium a Caesare petere coe-
perunt. Animadvertit Caesar unos ex omnibus Sequa-
nos nihil earum rerum facere quas ceteri facerent, sed
tristes, capite demisso, terram intueri. 2 Ejus rei quae
causa esset miratus, ex ipsis quaesiit. Nihil Sequani
respondere, sed in eadem tristitia taciti permanere.
Cum ab his saepius quaereret, neque ullam omnino
vocem exprimere posset, idem Divitiacus Haeduus
respondit: Hoc esse miseriorem et graviorem fortu-
nam Sequanorum quam reliquorum, quod soli ne in
occulto quidem queri neque auxilium implorare aude-
rent; absentisque Ariovisti crudelitatem, velut si coram
adesset, horrerent, propterea quod reliquis tamen fugae
facultas daretur, Sequanis vero, qui intra fines suos
Ariovistum recepissent, quorum oppida omnia in potes-
tate ejus essent, omnes cruciatus essent perferendi.'
33. His rebus cognitis, Caesar Gallorum animos
verbis confirmavit, pollicitusque est sibi eam remi
curae futuram; magnam se habere spem, et beneficio
suo et auctoritate adductum Ariovistum finem injuriis
facturum. Hac oratione habita, concilium dimisit.
2 Et secundum ea multae res eum hortabantur, quare
sibi eam rem cogitandam et suscipiendam putaret:
imprimis, quod Haeduos, fratres consanguineosque
B. G. I. 35.] His Haughty Reply to Cæsar.
21
3
saepenumero a senatu appellatos, in servitute atque in
dicione videbat Germanorum teneri, eorumque obsides
esse apud Ariovistum ac Sequanos intellegebat; quod
in tanto imperio populi Romani turpissimum sibi et
reipublicae esse arbitrabatur Paulatim autem Ger-
manos consuescere Rhenum transire, et in Galliam
magnam eorum multitudinem venire, populo Romano.
periculosum videbat; neque sibi homines feros ac
barbaros temperaturos existimabat, quin, cum omnem
Galliam occupavissent, ut ante Cimbri Teutonique
fecissent, in provinciam exirent, atque inde in Italiam
contenderent; praesertim cum Sequanos a provincia
nostra Rhodanus divideret: quibus rebus quam ma-
turrime occurrendum putabat. Ipse autem Ariovistus.
tantos sibi spiritus, tantam arrogantiam sumpserat, ut
ferendus non videretur.
4
•
34. Quamobrem placuit ei, ut ad Ariovistum legatos
mitteret, qui ab eo postularent, uti aliquem locum
medium utriusque conloquio deligeret: velle sese de
re publica et summis utriusque rebus cum eo agere.
Ei legationi Ariovistus respondit: Si quid ipsi a
Caesare opus esset, sese ad eum venturum fuisse; si
quid ille se velit, illum ad se venire oportere. 3 Prae-
terea se neque sine exercitu in eas partes Galliae
venire audere, quas Caesar possideret, neque exerci-
tum sine magno commeatu atque molimento in unum
locum contrahere posse. Sibi autem mirum videri,
quid in sua Gallia, quam bello vicisset, aut Caesari aut
omnino populo Romano negotii esset.'
4
35. His responsis ad Caesarem relatis, iterum ad
eum Caesar legatos cum his mandatis mittit: Quo-
niam tanto suo populique Romani beneficio adfectus,.
cum in consulatu suo rex atque amicus a senatu appel-
latus esset, hanc sibi populoque Romano gratiam
referret, ut in conloquium venire invitatus gravaretur,
neque de communi re dicendum sibi et cognoscendum
22 The Campaign against Ariovistus.
[CÆSAR
putaret, haec esse quae ab eo postularet: 2 primum, ne
quam multitudinem hominum amplius trans Rhenum
in Galliam traduceret; deinde obsides, quos haberet
ab Haeduis, redderet, Sequanisque permitteret, ut
quos illi haberent, voluntate ejus reddere illis liceret;
neve Haeduos injuria lacesseret, neve his sociisque
eorum bellum inferret. 3 Si id ita fecisset, sibi po-
puloque Romano perpetuam gratiam atque amicitiam
cum eo futuram: si non impetraret, sese, — quoniam,
M. Messala M. Pisone consulibus, senatus censuisset
uti quicumque Galliam provinciam obtineret, quod
commodo reipublicae facere posset, Haeduos ceteros-
que amicos populi Romani defenderet, se Haeduo-
rum injurias non neglecturum.'
6
4
36. Ad haec Ariovistus respondit: Jus esse belli,
ut qui vicissent, iis quos vicissent, quem ad modum
vellent, imperarent: item populum Romanum victis
non ad alterius praescriptum, sed ad suum arbitrium,
imperare consuesse. 2Si ipse populo Romano non
praescriberet quem ad modum suo jure uteretur, non
oportere sese a populo Romano in suo jure impediri.
3 Haeduos sibi, quoniam belli fortunam temptassent, et
armis congressi ac superati essent, stipendiarios esse
factos. Magnam Caesarem injuriam facere, qui suo
adventu vectigalia sibi deteriora faceret. Haeduis se
obsides redditurum non esse, neque iis neque eorum
sociis injuria bellum inlaturum, si in eo manerent quod
convenisset, stipendiumque quotannis penderent; si id
non fecissent, longe iis fraternum nomen populi Ro-
mani afuturum. 5 Quod sibi Caesar denuntiaret se
Haeduorum injurias non neglecturum, neminem secum
sine sua pernicie contendisse. Cum vellet, congre-
deretur: intellecturum quid invicti Germani, exerci-
tatissimi in armis, qui inter annos XIV tectum non
subissent, virtute possent.'
37. Haec eodem tempore Caesari mandata refere-
B. G. I. 39.]
23
Arrival at Vesontio.
bantur, et legati ab Haeduis et a Treveris veniebant:
Haedui questum, quod Harudes, qui nuper in Galliam
transportati essent, fines eorum popularentur: 2 sese
ne obsidibus quidem datis pacem Ariovisti redimere
potuisse; Treveri autem, pagos centum Suevorum ad
ripam Rheni consedisse, qui Rhenum transire con-
arentur; his praeesse Nasuam et Cimberium fratres.
³ Quibus rebus Caesar vehementer commotus, matu-
randum sibi existimavit, ne, si nova manus Suevorum
cum veteribus copiis Ariovisti sese conjunxisset, minus
facile resisti posset. Itaque, re frumentaria quam
celerrime potuit comparata, magnis itineribus ad
Ariovistum contendit.
3
38. Cum tridui viam processisset, nuntiatum est ei
Ariovistum cum suis omnibus copiis ad occupandum
Vesontionem, quod est oppidum maximum Sequano-
rum, contendere, triduique viam a suis finibus profe-
cisse. 2Id ne accideret, magnopere sibi praecavendum
Caesar existimabat. Namque omnium rerum, quae
ad bellum usui erant, summa erat in eo oppido facul-
tas; idque natura loci sic muniebatur, ut magnam ad
ducendum bellum daret facultatem, propterea quod
flumen [alduas] Dubis ut circino circumductum paene
totum oppidum cingit; 3 reliquum spatium, quod est non
amplius pedum sexcentorum, qua flumen intermittit,
mons continet magna altitudine, ita ut radices montis
ex utraque parte ripae fluminis contingant. Hunc
murus circumdatus arcem efficit, et cum oppido con-
jungit. Huc Caesar magnis nocturnis diurnisque
itineribus contendit, occupatoque oppido, ibi praesi-
dium conlocat.
4
39. Dum paucos dies ad Vesontionem rei frumen-
tariae commeatusque causa moratur, ex percontatione
nostrorum vocibusque Gallorum ac mercatorum, qui
ingenti magnitudine corporum Germanos, incredibili
virtute atque exercitatione in armis esse praedicabant,
24 The Campaign against Ariovistus.
[CÆSAR
saepenumero sese cum his congressos ne vultum
quidem atque aciem oculorum dicebant ferre potuisse,
3
tantus subito timor omnem exercitum occupavit, ut
non mediocriter omnium mentes animosque pertur-
baret. 2 Hic primum ortus est a tribunis militum,
praefectis reliquisque, qui, ex urbe amicitiae causa
Caesarem secuti, non magnum in re militari usum
habebant: quorum alius alia causa inlata, quam sibi
ad proficiscendum necessariam esse diceret, petebat ut
ejus voluntate discedere liceret; nonnulli pudore ad-
ducti, ut timoris suspicionem vitarent, remanebant.
Hi neque vultum fingere neque interdum lacrimast
tenere poterant: abditi in tabernaculis aut suum fatum
querebantur, aut cum familiaribus suis commune
periculum miserabantur. Volgo totis castris testa-
menta obsignabantur. 4 Horum vocibus ac timore
paulatim etiam ii qui magnum in castris usum habe-
bant, milites centurionesque quique equitatui praeerant,
perturbabantur. Qui se ex his minus timidos existi-
mari volebant, non se hostem vereri, sed angustias
itineris, magnitudinem silvarum quae intercederent
inter ipsos atque Ariovistum, aut rem frumentariam,
ut satis commode supportari posset, timere dicebant.
5 Nonnulli etiam Caesari nuntiabant, cum
moveri ac signa ferri jussisset, non fore dicto audien-
tes milites, neque propter timorem signa laturos.
castra
40. Haec cum animadvertisset, convocato consilio,
omniumque ordinum ad id consilium adhibitis cen-
turionibus, vehementer eos incusavit: primum quod
aut quam in partem aut quo consilio ducerentur sibi
quaerendum aut cogitandum putarent. 2 Ariovistum
se consule cupidissime populi Romani amicitiam
appetisse: cur hunc tam temere quisquam ab officio
discessurum judicaret? Sibi quidem persuaderi, cog-
nitis suis postulatis atque aequitate condicionum per-
specta, eum neque suam neque populi Romani gratiam
B. G. I. 40.] Address of Cæsar to his Troops.
25
4
repudiaturum 3 Quod si furore atque amentia impulsus
bellum intulisset, quid tandem vererentur ? aut cur de
sua virtute aut de ipsius diligentia desperarent? Fac-
tum ejus hostis periculum patrum nostrorum memoria,
cum, Cimbris et Teutonis a Gaio Mario pulsis, non
minorem laudem exercitus quam ipse imperator meri-
tus videbatur; factum etiam nuper in Italia servili
tumultu, quos tamen aliquid usus ac disciplina, quae
a nobis accepissent, sublevarent. Ex quo judicari
posse, quantum haberet in se boni constantia, prop-
terea quod, quos aliquamdiu inermos sine causa timu-
issent, hos postea armatos ac victores superassent.
6 Denique hos esse eosdem, quibuscum saepenumero
Helvetii congressi, non solum in suis, sed etiam in
illorum finibus, plerumque superarint; qui tamen pares
esse nostro exercitui non potuerint. Si quos adver-
sum proelium et fuga Gallorum commoveret, hos, si
quaererent, reperire posse, diuturnitate belli defetigatis
Gallis, Ariovistum, cum multos menses castris se ac
paludibus tenuisset, neque sui potestatem fecisset,
desperantes jam de pugna et dispersos subito adortum,
magis ratione et consilio quam virtute vicisse. 8 Cui
rationi contra homines barbaros atque imperitos locus
fuisset, hac ne ipsum quidem sperare nostros exercitus
capi posse.
9 Qui suum timorem in rei frumentariae
simulationem angustiasque itineris conferrent, facere
arroganter, cum aut de officio imperatoris desperare
aut praescribere viderentur. 10 Haec sibi esse curae :
frumentum Sequanos, Leucos, Lingones subministrare,
jamque esse in agris frumenta matura; de itinere ipsos
brevi tempore judicaturos. 11 Quod non fore dicto
audientes neque signa laturi dicantur, nihil se ea re
commoveri: scire enim, quibuscumque exercitus dicto
audiens non fuerit, aut male re gesta fortunam defuisse,
aut aliquo facinore comperto avaritiam esse convictam:
suam innocentiam perpetua vita, felicitatem Helvetio-
26
The Campaign against Ariovistus. [CESAR
rum bello esse perspectam. 12 Itaque se quod in
longiorem diem conlaturus fuisset repraesentaturum,
et proxima nocte de quarta vigilia castra moturum, ut
quam primum intellegere posset, utrum apud eos pudor
atque officium an timor valeret. 13 Quod si praeterea
nemo sequatur, tamen se cum sola decima legione
iturum, de qua non dubitaret, sibique eam praetoriam
cohortem futuram.' Huic legioni Caesar et indulserat
praecipue, et propter virtutem confidebat maxime.
41. Hac oratione habita, mirum in modum conver-
sae sunt omnium mentes, summaque alacritas et cu-
piditas belli gerendi innata est; princepsque decima
legio per tribunos militum ei gratias egit, quod de se
optimum judicium fecisset, seque esse ad bellum
gerendum paratissimam confirmavit. 2 Deinde reliquae
legiones cum tribunis militum et primorum ordinum
centurionibus egerunt, uti Caesari satisfacerent: se
neque umquam dubitasse, neque timuisse, neque de
summa belli suum judicium, sed imperatoris esse existi-
mavisse. Eorum satisfactione accepta, et itinere exqui-
sito per Divitiacum, quod ex aliis ei maximam fidem
habebat, ut milium amplius quinquaginta circuitu locis
apertis exercitum duceret, de quarta vigilia, ut dixerat,
profectus est. 4 Septimo die, cum iter non inter-
mitteret, ab exploratoribus certior factus est, Ariovisti
copias a nostris milibus passuum quattuor et viginti
abesse.
3
42. Cognito Caesaris adventu, Ariovistus legatos ad
eum mittit: quod antea de colloquio postulasset, id
per se fieri licere, quoniam propius acessisset, seque
id sine periculo facere posse existimare. 2 Non respuit
condicionem Caesar, jamque eum ad sanitatem reverti
arbitrabatur, cum id, quod antea petenti denegasset,
ultro polliceretur; magnamque in spem veniebat, pro
suis tantis populique Romani in eum beneficiis, co-
gnitis suis postulatis, fore uti pertinacia desisteret.
B. G. I. 43.] Conference of Ariovistus and Cæsar. 27
3 Dies conloquio dictus est ex eo die quintus. Interim
saepe ultro citroque cum legati inter eos mitterentur,
Ariovistus postulavit, ne quem peditem ad conloquium
Caesar adduceret: vereri se, ne per insidias ab eo
circumveniretur; uterque cum equitatu veniret; alia….
ratione sese non esse venturum. 4 Caesar, quod neque
conloquium interposita causa tolli volebat, neque sa-
lutem suam Gallorum equitatui committere audebat,
commodissimum esse statuit, omnibus equis Gallis
equitibus detractis, eo legionarios milites legionis deci-
mae, cui quam maxime confidebat, imponere, ut prae-
sidium quam amicissimum, si quid opus facto esset,
haberet. 5 Quod cum fieret, non inridicule quidam ex
militibus decimae legionis dixit, plus quam pollicitus.
esset Caesarem facere: pollicitum se in cohortis prae-
toriae loco decimam legionem habiturum; ad equum
rescribere.
3
43. Planities erat magna, et in ea tumulus terrenus
satis grandis. Hic locus aequo fere spatio ab castris
Ariovisti et Caesaris aberat. Eo, ut erat dictum, ad
conloquium venerunt. 2 Legionem Caesar, quam equis
devexerat, passibus ducentis ab eo tumulo constituit.
Item equites Ariovisti pari intervallo constiterunt.
Ariovistus ex equis ut conloquerentur, et praeter se
denos ut ad conloquium adducerent, postulavit. Ubi
eo ventum est, Caesar initio orationis sua senatusque
in eum beneficia commemoravit, quod rex appellatus.
esset a senatu, quod amicus, quod munera amplissime
missa; quam rem et paucis contigisse, et pro magnis
hominum officiis consuesse tribui docebat; illum, cum
neque aditum neque causam postulandi justam habe-
ret, beneficio ac liberalitate sua ac senatus ea praemia
consecutum. 4 Docebat etiam, quam veteres quamque
justae causae necessitudinis ipsis cum Haeduis in-
tercederent, quae senatus consulta, quotiens quamque
honorifica, in eos facta essent, ut omni tempore totius
28 The Campaign against Ariovistus.
[CÆSAR
Galliae principatum Haedui tenuissent, prius etiam
quam nostram amicitiam appetissent. Populi Romani
hanc esse consuetudinem, ut socios atque amicos non
modo sui nihil deperdere, sed gratia, dignitate, honore
auctiores velit esse: quod vero ad amicitiam populi
Romani adtulissent, id iis eripi quis pati posset?'
Postulavit deinde eadem quae legatis in mandatis
dederat ne aut Haeduis aut eorum sociis bellum
inferret; obsides redderet; si nullam partem Germa-
norum domum remittere posset, at ne quos amplius
Rhenum transire pateretur.
:
2
C
44. Ariovistus ad postulata Caesaris pauca respon-
dit; de suis virtutibus multa praedicavit: Transisse
Rhenum sese non sua sponte, sed rogatum et arcessi-
tum a Gallis; non sine magna spe magnisque praemiis
domum propinquosque reliquisse; sedes habere in
Gallia ab ipsis concessas, obsides ipsorum voluntate
datos; stipendium capere jure belli, quod victores
victis imponere consuerint. Non sese Gallis, sed
Gallos sibi bellum intulisse; omnes Galliae civitates
ad se oppugnandum venisse, ac contra se castra
habuisse; eas omnes copias a se uno proelio pulsas
ac superatas esse. 3 Si iterum experiri velint, se ite-
rum paratum esse decertare; si pace uti velint, ini-
quum esse de stipendio recusare, quod sua voluntate
ad id tempus pependerint. Amicitiam populi Romani
sibi ornamento et praesidio, non detrimento esse opor-
tere, idque se ea spe petisse. Si per populum Ro-
manum stipendium remittatur, et dediticii subtrahan-
tur, non minus libenter sese recusaturum populi
Romani amicitiam quam adpetierit. Quod multitu-
dinem Germanorum in Galliam traducat, id se sui
muniendi, non Galliae impugnandae causa facere:
ejus rei testimonium esse, quod nisi rogatus non vene-
rit, et quod bellum non intulerit, sed defenderit. Se
prius in Galliam venisse quam populum Romanum.
5
B. G. I. 45.] Cæsar asserts the Claims of Rome. 29
8
?
Ut
Numquam ante hoc tempus exercitum populi Romani
Galliae provinciae finibus egressum. Quid sibi vel-
let? cur in suas possessiones veniret? Provinciam
suam hanc esse Galliam, sicut illam nostram.
ipsi concedi non oporteret, si in nostros fines impetum
faceret, sic item nos esse iniquos, quod in suo jure se
interpellaremus. Quod fratres Haeduos appellatos
diceret, non se tam barbarum neque tam imperitum.
esse rerum, ut non sciret neque bello Allobrogum
proximo Haeduos Romanis auxilium tulisse, neque
ipsos, in his contentionibus quas Haedui secum et cum
Sequanis habuissent, auxilio populi Romani usos esse.
9 Debere se suspicari simulata Caesarem amicitia,
quod exercitum in Gallia habeat, sui opprimendi
causa habere. Qui nisi decedat, atque exercitum
deducat ex his regionibus, sese illum non pro amico,
sed hoste habiturum. 10 Quod si eum interfecerit,
multis sese nobilibus principibusque populi Romani
gratum esse facturum: id se ab ipsis per eorum nun-
tios compertum habere, quorum omnium gratiam atque
amicitiam ejus morte redimere posset. 11 Quod si
discessisset, et liberam possessionem Galliae sibi tradi-
disset, magno se illum praemio remuneraturum, et
quaecumque bella geri vellet, sine ullo ejus labore et
periculo confecturum.'"
6
45. Multa ab Caesare in eam sententiam dicta sunt,
quare negotio desistere non posset; et Neque suam
neque populi Romani consuetudinem pati, uti optime
merentes socios desereret, neque se judicare Galliam
potius esse Ariovisti quam populi Romani. 2 Bello
superatos esse Arvernos et Rutenos ab Q. Fabio
Maximo, quibus populus Romanus ignovisset, neque
in provinciam redegisset, neque stipendium impo-
suisset. 3 Quod si antiquissimum quodque tempus
spectari oporteret, populi Romani justissimum esse in
Gallia imperium; si judicium senatus observari opor-
30 The Campaign against Ariovistus. [CÆSAR
teret, liberam debere esse Galliam, quam bello victam
suis legibus uti voluisset.'
46. Dum haec in conloquio geruntur, Caesari nun-
tiatum est equites Ariovisti propius tumulum accedere,
et ad nostros adequitare, lapides telaque in nostros
conicere. 2 Caesar loquendi finem facit, seque ad
suos recipit, suisque imperavit, ne quod omnino telum
in hostes reicerent. 3 Nam etsi sine ullo periculo
legionis delectae cum equitatu proelium fore videbat,
tamen committendum non putabat, ut pulsis hostibus
dici posset eos ab se per fidem in conloquio circumven-
tos. 4 Posteaquam in vulgus militum elatum est, qua
adrogantia in conloquio Ariovistus usus omni Gallia
Romanis interdixisset, impetumque in nostros ejus
equites fecissent, eaque res conloquium ut diremisset,
multo major alacritas studiumque pugnandi majuș
exercitui injectum est.
3
47. Biduo post Ariovistus ad Caesarem legatos
mittit: Velle se de his rebus, quae inter eos agi
coeptae neque perfectae essent, agere cum eo: uti aut
iterum conloquio diem constitueret, aut, si id minus
vellet, e suis legatis aliquem ad se mitteret.' 2 Conlo-
quendi Caesari causa visa non est; et eo magis, quod
pridie ejus diei Germani retineri non poterant, quin in
nostros tela conicerent. Legatum e suis sese magno
cum periculo ad eum missurum, et hominibus feris
objecturum existimabat. Commodissimum visum est
Gaium Valerium Procillum, C. Valeri Caburi filium,
summa virtute et humanitate adulescentem, cujus
pater a Gaio Valerio Flacco civitate donatus erat, et
propter fidem et propter linguae Gallicae scientiam,
qua multa jam Ariovistus longinqua consuetudine
utebatur, et quod in eo peccandi Germanis causa non
esset, — ad eum mittere, et M. Metium, qui hospitio
Ariovisti utebatur. His mandavit, ut quae diceret
Ariovistus cognoscerent, et ad se referrent. Quos cum
4
B. G. I. 49.]
3I
The Hostile Camps.
apud se in castris Ariovistus conspexisset, exercitu suo
praesente conclamavit: Quid ad se venirent? an
speculandi causa?' Conantes dicere prohibuit, et in
catenas conjecit.
48. Eodem die castra promovit, et milibus passuum
sex a Caesaris castris sub monte consedit. Postridie
ejus diei praeter castra Caesaris suas copias traduxit,
et milibus passuum duobus ultra eum castra fecit, eo
consilio, uti frumento commeatuque, qui ex Sequanis
et Haeduis supportaretur, Caesarem intercluderet.
2 Ex eo die dies continuos quinque Caesar pro castris
suas copias produxit, et aciem instructam habuit, ut,
si vellet Ariovistus proelio contendere, ei potestas non
deësset. 3 Ariovistus his omnibus diebus exercitum
castris continuit, equestri proelio cotidie contendit.
Genus hoc erat pugnae, quo se Germani exercuerant.
Equitum milia erant sex, totidem numero pedites
velocissimi ac fortissimi, quos ex omni copia singuli
singulos suae salutis causa delegerant: cum his in
proeliis versabantur. 5 Ad eos se equites recipiebant:
hi, si quid erat durius, concurrebant; si qui, graviore
vulnere accepto, equo deciderat, circumsistebant; si
quo erat longius prodeundum, aut celerius recipien-
dum, tanta erat horum exercitatione celeritas, ut jubis
equorum sublevati cursum adaequarent.
49. Ubi eum castris se tenere Caesar intellexit, ne
diutius commeatu prohiberetur, ultra eum locum, quo
in loco Germani consederant, circiter passus sexcentos
ab iis, castris idoneum locum delegit, acieque triplici
instructa ad eum locum venit. 2 Primam et secundam
aciem in armis esse, tertiam castra munire jussit. Hic
locus ab hoste circiter passus sexcentos, uti dictum
est, aberat. Eo circiter hominum numero sedecim
milia expedita cum omni equitatu Ariovistus misit,
quae copiae nostros perterrerent et munitione prohibe-
rent. 3 Nihilo secius Caesar, ut ante constituerat,
32
The Campaign against Ariovistus. [CESAR
L
duas acies hostem propulsare, tertiam opus perficere
jussit. Munitis castris, duas ibi legiones reliquit et
partem auxiliorum, quattuor reliquas in castra majora
reduxit.
3
50. Proximo die, instituto suo, Caesar e castris utris-
que copias suas eduxit, paulumque a majoribus castris.
progressus, aciem instruxit, hostibus pugnandi potes-
tatem fecit. 2 Ubi ne tum quidem eos prodire intel-
lexit, circiter meridiem exercitum in castra reduxit.
Tum demum Ariovistus partem suarum copiarum,
quae castra minora oppugnaret, misit. Acriter utrim-
que usque ad vesperum pugnatum est.
Solis occasu,
suas copias Ariovistus, multis et inlatis et acceptis
vulneribus, in castra reduxit. Cum ex captivis quae-
reret Caesar, quamobrem Ariovistus proelio non de-
certaret, hanc reperiebat causam, quod apud Germanos
ea consuetudo esset, ut matresfamiliae eorum sortibus
et vaticinationibus declararent, utrum proelium com-
mitti ex usu esset necne; eas ita dicere: 'Non esse
fas Germanos superare, si ante novam lunam proelio
contendissent.'
4
51. Postridie ejus diei Caesar praesidium utrisque.
castris quod satis esse visum est reliquit, omnes alarios
in conspectu hostium pro castris minoribus constituit,
quod minus multitudine militum legionariorum pro
hostium numero valebat, ut ad speciem alariis utere-
tur; ipse, triplici instructa acie, usque ad castra hos-
tium accessit. 2 Tum demum necessario Germani
suas copias castris eduxerunt, generatimque constitu-
erunt paribus intervallis, Harudes, Marcomannos, Tri-
boces, Vangiones, Nemetes, Sedusios, Suevos, om-
nemque aciem suam rhedis et carris circumdederunt,
ne qua spes in fuga relinqueretur. 3 Eo mulieres
imposuerunt, quae in proelium proficiscentes passis
manibus flentes implorabant, ne se in servitutem
Romanis traderent.
B. G. I. 53.] Desperate Battle with the Germans. 33
2
52. Caesar singulis legionibus singulos legatos et
quaestorem praefecit, uti eos testes suae quisque vir-
tutis haberet; ipse a dextro cornu, quod eam partem
minime firmam hostium esse animadverterat, proelium
commisit. Ita nostri acriter in hostes, signo dato,
impetum fecerunt, ita-que hostes repente celeriterque
procurrerunt, ut spatium pila in hostes coniciendi non
daretur. Rejectis pilis, cominus gladiis pugnatum
est. 3 At Germani celeriter, ex consuetudine sua
phalange facta, impetus gladiorum exceperunt. Re-
perti sunt complures nostri milites, qui in phalangas
insilirent, et scuta manibus revellerent, et desuper
vulnerarent. + Cum hostium acies a sinistro cornu
pulsa atque in fugam conversa esset, a dextro cornu
vehementer multitudine suorum nostram aciem preme-
bant. Id cum animadvertisset P. Crassus adulescens,
qui equitatui praeerat, quod expeditior erat quam ii
qui inter aciem versabantur, tertiam aciem laboranti-
bus nostris subsidio misit.
5
3
53. Ita proelium restitutum est, atque omnes hostes
terga verterunt, neque prius fugere destiterunt, quam
ad flumen Rhenum, milia passuum ex eo loco circiter
quinquaginta pervenerunt. 2 Ibi perpauci aut viribus
confisi tranare contenderunt, aut lintribus inventis sibi
salutem pepererunt. In his fuit Ariovistus, qui navi-
culam deligatam ad ripam nactus ea profugit: reliquos
omnes equitatu consecuti nostri interfecerunt. Duae
fuerunt Ariovisti uxores, una Sueva natione, quam
domo secum duxerat, altera Norica, regis Voctionis
soror, quam in Gallia duxerat a fratre missam: utrae-
que in ea fuga perierunt. Duae filiae harum altera
occisa, altera capta est. 4 Gaius Valerius Procillus,
cum a custodibus in fuga trinis catenis vinctus trahere-
tur, in ipsum Caesarem, hostes equitatu persequentem,
incidit. Quae quidem res Caesari non minorem quam
ipsa victoria voluptatem adtulit, quod hominem hones-
5
3
34 The Campaign against Ariovistus.
[CÆSAR
>.
tissimum provinciae Galliae, suum familiarem et hos-
pitem, ereptum e manibus hostium, sibi restitutum
videbat; neque ejus calamitate de tanta voluptate et
gratulatione quicquam fortuna deminuerat.
6 Is se
praesente de se ter sortibus consultum dicebat, utrum
igni statim necaretur, an in aliud tempus reservaretur :
sortium beneficio se esse incolumem. Item M. Metius
repertus et ad eum reductus est.
54. Hoc proelio trans Rhenum nuntiato, Suevi, qui
ad ripas Rheni venerant, domum reverti coeperunt ;
quos Ubii, qui proximi Rhenum incolunt, perterritos
[senserunt;] insecuti, magnum ex his numerum occi-
derunt. 2 Caesar una aestate duobus maximis bellis
confectis, maturius paulo quam tempus anni postula-
bat, in hiberna in Sequanos exercitum deduxit; hiber-
nis Labienum praeposuit; ipse in citeriorem Galliam
ad conventus agendos profectus est.
B. G. I. 1.] The Belgian Confederacy.
35
BOOK II.
THE BELGIAN CONFEDERACY. A league of the Belgian
tribes is reported to Cæsar, who moves rapidly to the north, and
accepts the submission of the Remi (1-3). Account of the Belgians
and their tribes. Cæsar advances to the Axona, relieves the siege of
Bibrax, the chief place of the Remi, and establishes a camp, strongly
fortified (4-8). The Belgians attempt to cross the Axona, but are
driven back, and pursued with great slaughter (9-11). Surrender
of the Suessiones and Bellovaci: report of the Nervii, who wait to
give battle across the Sabis (12-16). Position of the two forces:
the Nervii attack with great fury, and throw the Romans into con-
fusion, which is partly overcome by their admirable discipline
(17-20). After various fortune, the Nervii assault the camp, which
is saved, after a desperate struggle, by the personal address and
courage of Cæsar (21-22). Labienus comes up with the tenth
legion, and the tide is turned; the Nervii are crushed and almost
exterminated (26-28). The Aduatuci: after sundry skirmishes
they sue for peace; but renewing the fight after their surrender,
are subdued, and upwards of 50,000 are sold as slaves (29-33).
Meanwhile Crassus secures the submission of the coast population
of the Veneti, etc.; Gaul appears wholly reduced to peace, and em-
bassies are sent to Cæsar even from beyond the Rhine (34, 35).
UM esset Caesar in citeriore Gallia [in hibernis],
ita uti supra demonstravimus, crebri ad eum
rumores afferebantur, litterisque item Labieni certior
fiebat, omnes Belgas (quam tertiam esse Galliae par-
tem dixeramus), contra populum Romanum conjurare,
obsidesque inter se dare. 2Conjurandi has esse cau-
sas: primum quod vererentur ne, omni pacata Gallia,
ad eos exercitus noster adduceretur; deinde quod ab
nonnullis Gallis sollicitarentur, partim qui, ut Ger-
manos diutius in Gallia versari noluerant, ita populi
Romani exercitum hiemare atque inveterascere in
Gallia moleste ferebant; partim qui, mobilitate et
levitate animi, novis imperiis studebant; ab nonnullis
3
36
[CÆSAR
The Belgian Confederacy.
etiam, quod in Gallia a potentioribus atque iis qui ad
conducendos homines facultates habebant, vulgo regna
occupabantur, qui minus facile eam rem imperio nos-
tro consequi poterant.
2
2. His nuntiis litterisque commotus, Caesar duas
legiones in citeriore Gallia novas conscripsit, et inita
aestate, in interiorem Galliam qui deduceret, Q. Pe-
dium legatum misit. Ipse, cum primum pabuli copia
esse inciperet, ad exercitum venit. Dat negotium Se-
nonibus reliquisque Gallis, qui finitimi Belgis erant,
uti ea quae apud eos gerantur cognoscant, seque de
his rebus certiorem faciant. 3 Hi constanter omnes
nuntiaverunt manus cogi, exercitum in unum locum
conduci. Tum vero dubitandum non existimavit quin
ad eos proficisceretur. Re frumentaria comparata,
castra movet, diebusque circiter quindecim ad fines
Belgarum pervenit.
4
2.
3. Eo cum de improviso celeriusque omni opinione.
venisset, Remi, qui proximi Galliae ex Belgis sunt,
ad eum legatos Iccium et Andocumborium, primos.
civitatis, miserunt, qui dicerent: 2 Se suaque omnia.
in fidem atque in potestatem populi Romani per-
mittere, neque se cum Belgis reliquis consensisse,
neque contra populum Romanum conjurasse, paratos-
que esse et obsides dare et imperata facere et oppidis
recipere et frumento ceterisque rebus juvare; ³reli-
quos omnes Belgas in armis esse, Germanosque, qui
cis Rhenum incolant, sese cum his conjunxisse, tan-
tumque esse eorum omnium furorem, ut ne Suessiones
quidem, fratres consanguineosque suos, qui eodem
jure et isdem legibus utantur, unum imperium unum-
que magistratum cum ipsis habeant, deterrere potue-
rint quin cum his consentirent.'
4. Cum ab his quaereret, quae civitates quantaeque
in armis essent, et quid in bello possent, sic reperie-
bat:"2Plerosque Belgas esse ortos, ab Germanis,
H, 20
B. G. II. 5.] Convention with the Remi.
37
Rhenumque antiquitus traductos propter loci fertilita-
tem ibi consedisse, Gallosque qui ea loca incolerent.
expulisse, solosque esse qui, patrum nostrorum memo-
ria, omni Gallia vexata, Teutonos Cimbrosque intra
fines suos ingredi prohibuerint; qua ex re fieri uti,
earum rerum memoria, magnam sibi auctoritatem mag-
nosque spiritus in re militari sumerent. 3 De numero
eorum omnia se habere explorata (Remi dicebant,
propterea quod propinquitatibus adfinitatibusque con-
juncti, quantam quisque multitudinem in communi
Belgarum concilio ad id bellum pollicitus sit cognove-
rint. 4 Plurimum inter eos Bellovacos et virtute et
auctoritate et hominum numero valere: hos posse
conficere armata milia centum, pollicitos ex eo numero
electa sexaginta, totiusque belli imperium sibi postulare.
Suessiones suos esse finitimos: latissimos feracissi-
mosque agros possidere. 5 Apud eos fuisse regem
nostra etiam memoria Divitiacum, totius Galliae poten-
tissimum, qui cum magnae partis harum regionum,
tum etiam Britanniae imperium obtinuerit: nunc esse
regem Galbam; ad hunc propter justitiam prudenti-
amque suam totius belli summam omnium voluntate
deferri: oppida habere numero XII, polliceri milia
armata quinquaginta; totidem Nervios, qui maxime
feri inter ipsos habeantur, longissimeque absint; quin-
decim milia Atrebates, Ambianos decem milia, Mori-
nos xxv milia, Menapios vir milia; Caletos x milia;
Velocasses et Veromanduos totidem; Aduatucos decem
et novem milia; Condrusos, Eburones, Caeroesos,
Paemanos, qui uno nomine Germani appellantur,
arbitrari ad XL milia.
6
5. Caesar Remos cohortatus liberaliterque oratione
prosecutus, omnem senatum ad se convenire, princi-
pumque liberos obsides ad se adduci jussit. Quae
omnia ab his diligenter ad diem facta sunt. 2Ipse
Divitiacum Haeduum magnopere cohortatus, docet
38
War of the Belgian Confederacy. [CESAR
quanto opere rei publicae communisque salutis intersit
manus hostium distineri, ne cum tanta multitudine
uno tempore confligendum sit. Id fieri posse, si suas
copias Haedui in fines Bellovacorum introduxerint, et
eorum agros populari coeperint. His mandatis, eum
ab se dimittit. 4 Postquam omnes Belgarum copias
in unum locum coactas ad se venire vidit, neque jam
longe abesse ab iis quos miserat exploratoribus et ab
Remis cognovit, flumen Axonam, quod est in extremist
Remorum finibus, exercitum traducere maturavit,
atque ibi castra posuit. Quae res et latus unum
castrorum ripis fluminis muniebat, et post eum quae
essent tuta ab hostibus reddebat; et, commeatus ab
Remis reliquisque civitatibus, ut sine periculo ad eum
portari posset efficiebat. In eo flumine pons erat.
Ibi praesidium ponit, et in altera parte fluminis Q
Titurium Sabinum legatum cum sex cohortibus reli-
quit; castra in altitudinem pedum XII vallo fossaque
duodeviginti pedum munire jubet.
6. Ab his castris oppidum Remorum nomine Bibrax
aberat milia passuum octo.
Id ex itinere magno
impetu Belgae oppugnare coeperunt. Aegre eo die
sustentatum est. 2 Gallorum eadem atque Belgarum
oppugnatio est haec. Ubi circumjecta multitudine
hominum totis moenibus undique in murum lapides
jaci coepti sunt, murusque defensoribus nudatus est,
testudine facta, portas succedunt murumque subruunt.
3 Quod tum facile fiebat. Nam cum tanta multitudo
lapides ac tela conicerent, in muro consistendi potestas
erat nulli. 4 Cum finem oppugnandi nox fecisset,
Iccius Remus, summa nobilitate et gratia inter suos,
qui tum oppido praefuerat, unus ex iis qui legati de
pace ad Caesarem venerant, nuntium ad eum mittit:
nisi subsidium sibi submittatur, sese diutius sustinere
non posse.
7. Eo de media nocte Caesar, isdem ducibus usus
B. G. II. 9.]
39
Defence of Bibrax.
qui nuntii ab Iccio venerant, Numidas et Cretas sagit-
tarios et funditores Baleares subsidio oppidanis mittit;
quorum adventu et Remis cum spe defensionis studium
propugnandi accessit, et hostibus eadem de causa spes
potiundi oppidi discessit. 2 Itaque, paulisper apud
oppidum morati, agrosque Remorum depopulati, om-
nibus vicis aedificiisque quos adire poterant incensis,
ad castra Caesaris omnibus copiis contenderunt, et ab
milibus passuum minus duobus castra posuerunt; quae
castra, ut fumo atque ignibus significabatur, amplius
milibus passuum octo in latitudinem patebant.
8. Caesar primo, et propter multitudinem hostium
et propter eximiam opinionem virtutis, proelio superse-
dere statuit; cotidie tamen, equestribus proeliis, quid
hostis virtute posset et quid nostri auderent periclita-
batur. 2 Ubi nostros non esse inferiores intellexit, loco
pro castris ad aciem instruendam natura opportuno at-
que idoneo, quod is collis, ubi castra posita erant,
paululum ex planicie editus, tantum adversus in lati-
tudinem patebat quantum loci acies instructa occupare
poterat, atque ex utraque parte lateris dejectus habe-
bat, et in frontem leniter fastigatus paulatim ad plani-
ciem redibat, ab utroque latere ejus collis transver-
sam fossam obduxit circiter passuum quadringentorum
et ad extremas fossas castella constituit, ibique tor-
menta conlocavit, ne, cum aciem instruxisset, hostes
(quod tantum multitudine poterant) ab lateribus pug-
nantes suos circumvenire possent. Hoc facto, duabus
legionibus quas proxime conscripserat in castris relic-
tis, ut, si quo opus esset, subsidio duci possent, reliquas
sex legiones pro castris in acie constituit. Hostes item
suas copias ex castris eductas instruxerant.
³
9. Palus erat non magna inter nostrum atque hos-
tium exercitum. Hanc si nostri transirent, hostes
exspectabant; nostri autem, si ab illis initium transe-
undi fieret, ut impeditos adgrederentur, parati in armis
40
War of the Belgian Confederacy. [CESAR
3
erant. 2 Interim proelio equestri inter duas acies con-
tendebatur. Ubi neutri transeundi initium faciunt,
secundiore equitum proelio nostris, Caesar suos in
castra reduxit. Hostes protinus ex eo loco ad flumen
Axonam contenderunt, quod esse post nostra castra
demonstratum est. Ibi vadis repertis, partem sua-
rum copiarum traducere conati sunt, eo consilio, ut, si
possent, castellum, cui praeerat Q. Titurius legatus,
expugnarent, pontemque interscinderent; si minus
potuissent, agros Remorum popularentur, qui magno
nobis usui ad bellum gerendum erant, commeatuque
nostros prohiberent.
10. Cacsar, certior factus ab Titurio, omnem equi-
tatum et levis armaturae Numidas, funditores sagit-
tariosque pontem traducit, atque ad eos contendit.
2 Acriter in eo loco pugnatum est. Hostes impeditos
nostri in flumine adgressi, magnum eorum numerum
occiderunt: per eorum corpora reliquos, audacissime
transire conantes, multitudine telorum repulerunt;
primos, qui transierant, equitatu circumventos inter-
fecerunt. ³ Hostes ubi et de expugnando oppido et de
flumine transeundo spem se fefellisse intellexerunt,
neque nostros in locum iniquiorem progredi pugnandi
causa viderunt, atque ipsos res frumentaria deficere
coepit, concilio convocato, constituerunt optimum esse
domum suam quemque reverti, et, quorum in fines
primum Romani exercitum introduxissent, ad eos
defendendos undique convenirent, ut potius in suis
quam in alienis finibus decertarent, et domesticis
copiis rei frumentariae uterentur. 4 Ad eam senten-
tiam cum reliquis causis haec quoque ratio eos de-
duxit, quod Divitiacum atque Haeduos finibus Bello-
vacorum adpropinquare cognoverant. His persuaderi
ut diutius morarentur, neque suis auxilium ferrent,
non poterat.
II. Ea re constituta, secunda vigilia magno cum
B. G. II. 12.] Approach to Noviodunum.
4I
strepitu ac tumultu castris egressi, nullo certo ordine.
neque imperio, cum sibi quisque primum itineris locum
peteret et domum pervenire properaret, fecerunt ut
consimilis fugae profectio videretur. Hac re statim
Caesar per speculatores cognita, insidias veritus, quod
qua de causa discederent nondum perspexerat, exer-
citum equitatumque castris continuit. 3 Prima luce,
confirmata re ab exploratoribus, omnem equitatum qui
novissimum agmen moraretur praemisit. His Q. Pe-
dium et L. Aurunculeium Cottam legatos praefecit;
T. Labienum legatum cum legionibus tribus subsequi
jussit. 4 Hi, novissimos adorti, et multa milia passuum
prosecuti, magnam multitudinem eorum fugientium
conciderunt; cum ab extremo agmine, ad quos ven-
tum erat, consisterent, fortiterque impetum nostrorum
militum sustinerent, priores, quod abesse a periculo
viderentur, neque ulla necessitate neque imperio con-
tinerentur, exaudito clamore, perturbatis ordinibus,
omnes in fuga sibi praesidium ponerent. 5 Ita sine
ullo periculo tantam eorum multitudinem nostri inter-
fecerunt, quantum fuit diei spatium; sub occasumque
solis destiterunt, seque in castra, ut erat imperatum,
receperunt.
#
12. Postridie ejus diei Caesar, priusquam se hostes.
ex terrore ac fuga reciperent, in fines Suessionum,
qui proximi Remis erant, exercitum duxit, et magno
itinere [confecto] ad oppidum Noviodunum contendit.
2 Id ex itinere oppugnare conatus, quod vacuum ab
defensoribus esse audiebat, propter latitudinem fossae
murique altitudinem, paucis defendentibus, expugnare
non potuit. Castris munitis, vineas agere quaeque ad
oppugnandum usui erant comparare coepit. Interim
omnis ex fuga Suessionum multitudo in oppidum.
proxima nocte convenit. Celeriter vineis ad oppidum
actis, aggere jacto turribusque constitutis, magnitudine
operum, quae neque viderant ante Galli neque audie-
4
42
[CESAR
War of the Belgian Confederacy.
rant, et celeritate Romanorum permoti, legatos ad
Caesarem de deditione mittunt, et petentibus Remis,
ut conservarentur impetrant.
13. Caesar obsidibus acceptis primis civitatis, atque
ipsius Galbae regis duobus filiis, armisque omnibus ex
oppido traditis, in deditionem Suessiones accepit, ex-
ercitumque in Bellovacos ducit. 2 Qui cum se suaque
omnia in oppidum Bratuspantium contulissent, atque
ab eo oppido Caesar cum exercitu circiter milia pas-
suum quinque abesset, omnes majores natu, ex oppido
egressi, manus ad Caesarem tendere, et voce signifi-
care coeperunt sese in ejus fidem ac potestatem venire,
neque contra populum Romanum armis contendere.
8 Item, cum ad oppidum accessisset, castraque ibi
poneret, pueri mulieresque ex muro passis manibus.
suo more pacem ab Romanis petierunt.
6
3
14. Pro his Divitiacus - nam post discessum Bel-
garum, dimissis Haeduorum copiis, ad eum reverterat
facit verba: Bellovacos omni tempore in fide atque
amicitia civitatis Haeduae fuisse: 2 impulsos a suis
principibus, qui dicerent Haeduos, ab Caesare in ser-
vitutem redactos, omnes indignitates contumeliasque
perferre, et ab Haeduis defecisse, et populo Romano
bellum intulisse. Qui ejus consilii principes fuissent,
quod intellegerent quantam calamitatem civitati intu-
lissent, in Britanniam profugisse. Petere non solum.
Bellovacos, sed etiam pro his Haeduos, ut sua clemen-
tia ac mansuetudine in eos utatur. Quod si fecerit,
Haeduorum auctoritatem apud omnes Belgas amplifi-
caturum, quorum auxiliis atque opibus, si qua bella
inciderint, sustentare consuerint.'
4
Ŏ
15. Caesar honoris Divitiaci atque Haeduorum causa
sese eos in fidem recepturum et conservaturum dixit;
quod erat civitas magna inter Belgas auctoritate, atque
hominum multitudine praestabat, sexcentos obsides
poposcit. 2 His traditis, omnibusque armis ex oppido
B. G. II. 17.]
43
The Nervii.
Eorum
conlatis, ab eo loco in fines Ambianorum pervenit,
qui se suaque omnia sine mora dediderunt.
fines Nervi attingebant; quorum de natura moribus-
que Caesar cum quaereret, sic reperiebat: Nullum
aditum esse ad eos mercatoribus; nihil pati vini reli-
quarumque rerum inferri, quod iis rebus relanguescere
animos [eorum] et remitti virtutem existimarent: esse
homines feros magnaeque virtutis; increpitare atque
incusare reliquos Belgas, qui se populo Romano dedi-
dissent patriamque virtutem projecissent; confirmare
sese neque legatos missuros, neque ullam condicionem
pacis accepturos.
4
16. Cum per eorum fines triduum iter fecisset, in-
veniebat ex captivis Sabim flumen ab castris suis non
amplius milia passuum x abesse: 2 trans id flumen
omnes Nervios consedisse, adventumque ibi Romano-
rum exspectare, una cum Atrebatis et Veromanduis,
finitimis suis (nam his utrisque persuaserant, uti ean-
dem belli fortunam experirentur); 3 exspectari etiam
ab his Aduatucorum copias atque esse in itinere; mulie-
res quique per aetatem ad pugnam inutiles viderentur
in eum locum conjecisse, quo propter paludes exerci-
tui aditus non esset.
17. His rebus cognitis, exploratores centurionesque
praemittit, qui locum idoneum castris deligant. Cum
ex dediticiis Belgis reliquisque Gallis complures Cae-
sarem secuti una iter facerent, quidam ex his, ut postea
ex captivis cognitum est, eorum dierum consuetudine
itineris nostri exercitus perspecta, nocte ad Nervios
pervenerunt; 2 atque his demonstrarunt inter singulas
legiones impedimentorum magnum numerum interce-
dere, neque esse quicquam negotii, cum prima legio
in castra venisset, reliquaeque legiones magnum spa-
tium abessent, hanc sub sarcinis adoriri; qua pulsa
impedimentisque direptis, futurum ut reliquae contra
consistere non auderent. * Adjuvabat etiam eorum
44
War of the Belgian Confederacy. [CÆSAR
4
consilium qui rem deferebant, quod Nervii antiquitus,
cum equitatu nihil possent (neque enim ad hoc tem-
pus ei rei student, sed, quicquid possunt, pedestribus
valent copiis), quo facilius finitimorum equitatum, si
praedandi causa ad eos venissent, impedirent, teneris
arboribus incisis atque inflexis, crebrisque in latitudi-
nem ramis enatis, et rubis sentibusque interjectis, effe-
cerant ut instar muri hae sepes munimenta praeberent,
quo non modo non intrari, sed ne perspici quidem pos-
set. His rebus cum iter agminis nostri impediretur,
non omittendum sibi consilium Nervii existimaverunt.
18. Loci natura erat haec, quem locum nostri castris
delegerant. Collis ab summo aequaliter declivis ad
flumen Sabim, quod supra nominavimus, vergebat.
2 Ab eo flumine pari adclivitate collis nascebatur ad-
versus huic et contrarius, passus circiter ducentos
infimus apertus, ab superiore parte silvestris, ut non
facile introrsus perspici posset. Intra eas silvas hos-
tes in occulto sese continebant; in aperto loco secun-
dum flumen paucae stationes equitum videbantur.
Fluminis erat altitudo pedum circiter trium.
3
19. Caesar equitatu praemisso subsequebatur omni-
bus copiis; sed ratio ordoque agminis aliter se habe-
bat ac Belgae ad Nervios detulerant. 2 Nam quod ad
hostis adpropinquabat, consuetudine sua Caesar sex
legiones expeditas ducebat; post eas totius exercitus.
impedimenta conlocarat; inde duae legiones, quae
proxume conscriptae erant, totum agmen claudebant,
praesidioque impedimentis erant. 3 Equites nostri, cum
funditoribus sagittariisque flumen transgressi, cum
hostium equitatu proelium commiserunt. 4 Cum se
illi identidem in silvas ad suos reciperent, ac rursus
ex silva in nostros impetum facerent, neque nostri
longius quam quem ad finem porrecta loca aperta
pertinebant cedentes insequi auderent, interim legiones
sex, quae primae venerant, opere dimenso, castra
B. G. II. 21.] Rapid Attack of the Nervii.
45
5
munire coeperunt Ubi prima impedimenta nostri
exercitus ab iis qui in silvis abditi latebant visa sunt,
quod tempus inter eos committendi proelii convenerat,
ut intra silvas aciem ordinesque constituerant atque
ipsi sese confirmaverant, subito omnibus copiis pro-
volaverunt, impetumque in nostros equites fecerunt.
His facile pulsis ac proturbatis, incredibili celeritate.
ad flumen decucurrerunt, ut paene uno tempore et ad
silvas et in flumine et jam in manibus nostris hostes.
viderentur. Eadem autem celeritate adverso colle ad
nostra castra, atque eos qui in opere occupati erant,
contenderunt.
20. Caesari omnia uno tempore erant agenda : vex-
illum proponendum (quod erat insigne, cum ad arma
concurri oporteret), signum tuba dandum, ab opere
revocandi milites, qui paulo longius aggeris petendi
causa processerant arcessendi, acies instruenda, mili-
tes cohortandi, signum dandum. Quarum rerum
magnam partem temporis brevitas et successus hostium
impediebat. 2 His difficultatibus duae res erant sub-
sidio, — scientia atque usus militum, quod superioribus
proeliis exercitati, quid fieri oporteret, non minus
commode ipsi sibi praescribere quam ab aliis doceri
poterant; et quod ab opere singulisque legionibus.
singulos legatos Caesar discedere nisi munitis castris
vetuerat. Hi, propter propinquitatem et celeritatem
hostium, nihil jam Caesaris imperium exspectabant,
sed per se quae videbantur administrabant.
3
21. Caesar, necessariis rebus imperatis, ad cohor-
tandos milites quam in partem fors obtulit decucurrit,
et ad legionem decumam devenit. 2 Milites non lon-
giore oratione cohortatus, quam uti suae pristinae
virtutis memoriam retinerent, neu perturbarentur
animo, hostiumque impetum fortiter sustinerent, quod
non longius hostes aberant quam quo telum adici
posset, proelii committendi signum dedit. Atque in
³
46.
[CÆSAR
War of the Belgian Confederacy.
alteram partem item cohortandi causa profectus, pug-
nantibus occurrit. Temporis tanta fuit exiguitas,
hostiumque tam paratus ad dimicandum animus, ut
non modo ad insignia adcommodanda, sed etiam ad
galeas induendas scutisque tegimenta detrudenda
tempus defuerit.
4 Quam quisque ab opere in partem.
casu devenit, quaeque prima signa conspexit, ad haec
constitit, ne in quaerendis suis pugnandi tempus
dimitteret.
22. Instructo exercitu, magis ut loci natura dejectus-
que collis et necessitas temporis, quam ut rei militaris
ratio atque ordo postulabat, cum diversis legionibus
aliae alia in parte hostibus resisterent, sepibusque
densissimis (ut ante demonstravimus) interjectis pro-
spectus impediretur, neque certa subsidia conlocari,
neque quid in quaque parte opus esset provideri,
neque ab uno omnia imperia administrari poterant.
Itaque, in tanta rerum iniquitate, fortunae quoque
eventus varii sequebantur.
23. Legionis nonae et decimae milites, ut in sinistra
parte acie constiterant, pilis emissis, cursu ac lassitu-
dine exanimatos vulneribusque confectos Atrebates-
nam his ea pars obvenerat — celeriter ex loco supe-
riore in flumen compulerunt, et transire conantes.
insecuti, gladiis magnam partem eorum impeditam
interfecerunt. 2Ipsi transire flumen non dubitaverunt,
et in locum iniquum progressi, rursus resistentes hostes
redintegrato proelio in fugam conjecerunt. 3 Item
alia in parte diversae duae legiones, undecima et
octava, profligatis Veromanduis, quibuscum erant
congressi, ex loco superiore in ipsis fluminis ripis
proeliabantur. At totis fere a fronte et ab sinistra
parte nudatis castris, quom in dextro cornu legio duo-
decima et non magno ab ea intervallo septima con-
stitisset, omnes Nervii confertissimo agmine, duce
Boduognato, qui summam imperii tenebat, ad eum
B. G. II. 25.] Alarming Condition of the Romans. 47
locum contenderunt; quorum pars aperto latere legio-
nes circumvenire, pars summum castrorum locum
petere coepit.
3
24. Eodem tempore equites nostri levisque arma-
turae pedites, qui cum iis una fuerant, quos primo
hostium impetu pulsos dixeram, cum se in castra
reciperent, adversis hostibus occurrebant, ac rursus
aliam in partem fugam petebant; 2 et calones, qui ab
decumana porta ac summo jugo collis nostros victores
flumen transisse conspexerant, praedandi causa egressi,
cum respexissent et hostes in nostris castris versari
vidissent, praecipites fugae sese mandabant. Simul
eorum, qui cum impedimentis veniebant, clamor fre-
mitusque oriebatur, aliique aliam in partem perterriti
ferebantur. Quibus omnibus rebus permoti equites
Treveri, quorum inter Gallos virtutis opinio est singu-
laris, qui auxilii causa ab civitate ad Caesarem missi
venerant, cum multitudine hostium castra compleri,
legiones premi et paene circumventas teneri, calones,
equites, funditores, Numidas diversos dissipatosque in
omnes partes fugere vidissent, desperatis nostris rebus,
domum contenderunt; Romanos pulsos superatosque,
castris impedimentisque eorum hostes potitos, civitati
renuntiaverunt.
2
25. Caesar ab decimae legionis cohortatione ad
dextrum cornu profectus, ubi suos urgeri, signisque in
'unum locum conlatis, duodecimae legionis confertos
milites sibi ipsos ad pugnam esse impedimento vidit,
---² quartae cohortis omnibus centurionibus occisis, sig-
niferoque interfecto, signo amisso, reliquarum cohor-
tium omnibus fere centurionibus aut vulneratis aut
occisis, in his primipilo P. Sextio Baculo, fortissimo
viro, multis gravibusque vulneribus confecto, ut jam
se sustinere non posset; reliquos esse tardiores, et
nonnullos ab novissimis deserto proelio excedere ac
tela vitare, hostis neque a fronte ex inferiore loco
3
48
War of the Belgian Confederacy. [CÆSAR
subeuntes intermittere, et ab utroque latere instare, et
rem esse in angusto vidit, neque ullum esse subsidium
quod summitti posset, 4 scuto ab novissimis uni militi
detracto, quod ipse eo sine scuto venerat, in primam
aciem processit; centurionibusque nominatim appel-
latis, reliquos cohortatus, milites signa inferre et ma-
nipulos laxare jussit, quo facilius gladiis uti possent.
5 Cujus adventu spe inlata militibus, ac redintegrato
animo, cum pro se quisque in conspectu imperatoris
etiam in extremis suis rebus operam navare cuperet,
paulum hostium impetus tardatus est.
26. Caesar, cum septimam legionem, quae juxta
constiterat, item urgeri ab hoste vidisset, tribunos mili-
tum monuit, ut paulatim sese legiones conjungerent,
et conversa signa in hostes inferrent. 2 Quo facto,
cum alius alii subsidium ferret, neque timerent ne
aversi ab hoste circumvenirentur, audacius resistere
ac fortius pugnare coeperunt. 3 Interim milites legio-
num duarum, quae in novissimo agmine praesidio
impedimentis fuerant, proelio nuntiato, cursu incitato,
in summo colle ab hostibus conspiciebantur; et T.
Labienus, castris hostium potitus, et ex loco superiore
quae res in nostris castris gererentur conspicatus,
decimam legionem subsidio nostris misit. Qui, cum
ex equitum et calonum fuga, quo in loco res esset,
quantoque in periculo et castra et legiones et impera-
tor versaretur, cognovissent, nihil ad celeritatem sibi
reliqui fecerunt.
5
27. Horum adventu tanta rerum commutatio est
facta, ut nostri, etiam qui vulneribus confecti procu-
buissent, scutis innixi proelium redintegrarent; tum
calones, perterritos hostes conspicati, etiam inermes
armatis occurrerent; equites vero, ut turpitudinem
fugae virtute delerent, omnibus in locis [pugnant, quo]
se legionariis militibus praeferrent. At hostes etiam
in extrema spe salutis tantam virtutem praestiterunt,
2
B. G. II. 29.] Destruction of the Nervii.
49
ut, cum primi eorum cecidissent, proximi jacentibus
insisterent, atque ex eorum corporibus pugnarent;
3 his dejectis, et coacervatis cadaveribus, qui superes-
sent ut ex tumulo tela in nostros conicerent, et pila
intercepta remitterent: ut non nequiquam tantae vir-
tutis homines judicari deberet ausos esse transire
latissimum flumen, ascendere altissimas ripas, subire
iniquissimum locum ; quae facilia ex difficillimis animi
magnitudo redegerat.
28. Hoc proelio facto, et prope ad internecionem
gente ac nomine Nerviorum redacto, majores natu,
quos una cum pueris mulieribusque in aestuaria ac
paludes conjectos dixeramus, hac pugna nuntiata,
cum victoribus nihil impeditum, victis nihil tutum
arbitrarentur, omnium qui supererant consensu, lega-
tos ad Caesarem miserunt, seque ei dediderunt; ² et in
commemoranda civitatis calamitate, ex sexcentis ad
tres senatores, ex hominum milibus LX vix ad quin-
gentos, qui arma ferre possent, sese redactos esse
dixerunt. 3 Quos Caesar, ut in miseros ac supplices
usus misericordia videretur, diligentissime conservavit,
suisque finibus atque oppidis uti jussit, et finitimis
imperavit, ut ab injuria et maleficio se suosque prohi-
berent.
2
井
​29. Aduatuci, de quibus supra scripsimus, cum om
nibus copiis auxilio Nerviis venirent, hac pugna nun-
tiata, ex itinere domum reverterunt; cunctis oppidis
castellisque desertis, sua omnia in unum oppidum
egregie natura munitum contulerunt. Quod cum ex
omnibus in circuitu partibus altissimas rupes despec-
tusque haberet, una ex parte leniter adclivis aditus in
latitudinem non amplius ducentorum pedum relinque-
batur; quem locum duplici altissimo muro munierant:
tum magni ponderis saxa et praeacutas trabes in muro
conlocabant. 3 Ipsi erant ex Cimbris Teutonisque
prognati, qui, cum iter in provinciam nostram atque

30
War of the Belgian Confederacy. [CESAR
Italiam facerent, iis impedimentis, quae secum agere
ac portare non poterant, citra flumen Rhenum deposi-
tis, custodiam ex suis ac praesidium sex milia hominum
una reliquerunt. Hi post eorum obitum multos annos
a finitimis exagitati, cum alias bellum inferrent, alias
inlatum defenderent, consensu eorum omnium pace
facta, hunc sibi domicilio iocum delegerunt.
4
30. Ac, primo adventu exercitus nostri, crebras ex
oppido excursiones faciebant, parvulisque proeliis cum
nostris contendebant; postea vallo pedum XII in cir-
cuitu xv milium crebrisque castellis circummuniti,
oppido sese continebant. 2 Ubi vineis actis, aggere
exstructo, turrim procul constitui viderunt, primum
inridere ex muro, atque increpitare vocibus, quod
tanta machinatio ab tanto spatio instrueretur: qui-
busnam manibus aut quibus viribus praesertim homines
tantulae staturaenam plerumque hominibus Gallis
prae magnitudine corporum suorum brevitas nostra
contemptui est — tanti oneris turrim in muro sese con-
locare confiderent?
3
31. Ubi vero moveri et adpropinquare moenibus
viderunt, nova atque inusitata specie commoti, legatos
ac Caesarem de pace miserunt, qui ad hunc modum
locuti 2 Non existimare Romanos sine ope divina
bellum gerere, qui tantae altitudinis machinationes
tanta celeritate promovere possent; se suaque omnia
eorum potestati permittere' dixerunt.
3. Unum petere
ac deprecari: si forte pro sua clementia ac mansue-
tudine, quam ipsi ab aliis audirent, statuisset Adua-
tucos esse conservandos, ne se armis despoliaret.
4 Sibi omnes fere finitimos esse inimicos ac suae virtuti
invidere; a quibus se defendere traditis armis non
possent. Sibi praestare, si in eum casum deduceren-
tur, quamvis fortunam a populo Romano pati, quam.
ab his per cruciatum interfici, inter quos dominari
consuessent.'
B. G. II. 33.] Attack of the Aduatuci.
51
<
32. Ad haec Caesar respondit: Se magis consue-
tudine sua quam merito eorum civitatem conservatu-
rum, si prius quam murum aries attigisset se dedidis-
sent: sed deditionis nullam esse condicionem nisi
armis traditis. 2 Se id quod in Nerviis fecisset factu-
rum, finitumisque imperaturum, ne quam dediticiis
populi Romani injuriam inferrent.' Re nuntiata ad
suos, quae imperarentur facere dixerunt. 3 Armorum
magna multitudine de muro in fossam, quae erat ante
oppidum, jacta, sic ut prope summam muri aggerisque
altitudinem acervi armorum adaequarent, et tamen
circiter parte tertia, ut postea perspectum est, celata
atque in oppido retenta, portis patefactis, eo die pace
sunt usi.
33. Sub vesperum Caesar portas claudi militesque
ex oppido exire jussit, ne quam noctu oppidani ab
militibus injuriam acciperent. Illi, ante inito (ut in-
tellectum est) consilio, quod deditione facta nostros
praesidia deducturos aut denique indiligentius serva-
turos crediderant, -2 partim cum iis quae retinuerant
et celaverant armis, partim scutis ex cortice factis aut
viminibus intextis, quae subito, ut temporis exiguitas
postulabat, pellibus induxerant, — tertia vigilia, qua
minime arduus ad nostras munitiones ascensus vide-
batur, omnibus copiis repentino ex oppido eruptionem
fecerunt. Celeriter, ut ante Caesar imperarat, igni-
bus significatione facta, ex proximis castellis eo con-
cursum est, pugnatumque ab hostibus ita acriter est, ut
a viris fortibus in extrema spe salutis, iniquo loco,
contra eos qui ex vallo turribusque tela jacerent, pug-
nari debuit, cum in una virtute omnis spes salutis
consisteret. Occisis ad hominum milibus quattuor,
reliqui in oppidum rejecti sunt. Postridie ejus diei
refractis portis, cum jam defenderet nemo, atque in-
tromissis militibus nostris, sectionem ejus oppidi uni-
versam Caesar vendidit. Ab iis qui emerant, capitum
3
52
[CÆSAR
End of the Second Campaign.
numerus ad eum relatus est milium quinquaginta
trium.
34. Eodem tempore a P. Crasso, quem cum legione
una miserat ad Venetos, Unellos, Osismos, Curiosoli-
tas, Esuvios, Aulercos, Redones, quae sunt maritumae
civitates Oceanumque attingunt, certior factus est om-
nes eas civitates in dicionem potestatemque populi
Romani esse redactas.
35. His rebus gestis, omni Gallia pacata, tanta
hujus belli ad barbaros opinio perlata est, uti ab iis
nationibus, quae trans Rhenum incolerent, mitterentur
legati ad Caesarem, qui se obsides daturas, imperata
facturas pollicerentur. 2 Quas legationes Caesar, quod
in Italiam Illyricumque properabat, inita proxima aes-
tate ad se reverti jussit. Ipse in Carnutes, Andes
Turonesque, quae civitates propinquae his locis erant,
ubi bellum gesserat, legionibus in hibernacula deduc-
tis, in Italiam profectus est. 4 Ob easque res ex litteris
Caesaris dies quindecim supplicatio decreta est, quod
ante id tempus accidit nulli.
3
B. G. III. I.]
53
Garrison in the Alps.
BOOK III.
ALPINE CAMPAIGN. — A garrison, under the command of Ser-
vius Galba, had been set to guard the passes of the Upper Rhone,
but is threatened by a formidable force, and brought into extreme
danger (1-3). After sustaining an attack of some six hours, the
garrison make a sudden sally, drive back the enemy, destroy the
neighboring villages, and retire to the lower country, south of Lake
Geneva, for the winter (4-6).
NAVAL CAMPAIGN. -The sea-faring tribes of Britanny form
a strong league, under lead of the Veneti, and demand back their
hostages from Crassus (7, 8). Cæsar prepares a fleet upon the
Loire; the enemy fortify themselves on the coast. Labienus is
sent to guard the north, and Crassus to the south; and Brutus
is put in command of the Roman fleet (9-11). Situation of the
Venetian strongholds; description of the fleets (12, 13). Engage-
ment of the fleets: the enemies' sailyards are cut away, and their
ships dispersed; they surrender, their leaders are slain, and the
rest sold as slaves (14-16). Meanwhile Sabinus, who is sent
among the Unelli, on the Channel, a little further north, is attacked
by them, but drives them back with great slaughter, and compels
their surrender (17-19).
SOUTHERN GAUL. Crassus, in Aquitania, after some skir
mishing, is threatened by a strong league, relying chiefly on the
soldurii; but attacks them in their camp, and secures the conquest
of the whole region (20-27). Cæsar, meanwhile, proceeds against
the Morini, &c., along the coast of Flanders; and, as they retire to
their marshes, falls back to winter quarters near the mouth of the
Seine (28, 29).
CUM in Italiam proficisceretur Caesar, Servium
Galbam, cum legione duodecima et parte equita-
tus, in Nantuatis, Veragros Sedunosque misit, qui ab
finibus Allobrogum et lacu Lemanno et flumine Rho-
dano ad summas Alpes pertinent. Causa mittendi
fuit, quod iter per Alpes, quo magno cum periculo
magnisque cum portoriis mercatores ire consuerant,
2
54
[CÆSAR
The Alpine Campaign.
patefieri volebat. Huic permisit, si opus esse arbi-
traretur, uti in his locis legionem hiemandi causa
conlocaret. 3 Galba, secundis aliquot proeliis factis,
castellisque compluribus eorum expugnatis, missis ad
eum undique legatis, obsidibusque datis et pace facta,
constituit cohortes duas in Nantuatibus conlocare, et
ipse cum reliquis ejus legionis cohortibus in vico
Veragrorum, qui appellatur Octodurus, hiemare; * qui
vicus, positus in valle, non magna adjecta planicie,
altissimis montibus undique continetur. 5 Cum hic in
duas partes flumine divideretur, alteram partem ejus
vici Gallis ad hiemandum concessit, alteram vacuam
ab his relictam cohortibus adtribuit. Eum locum
vallo fossaque munivit.
2
4
2. Cum dies hibernorum complures transissent, fru-
mentumque eo comportari jussisset, subito per explo-
ratores certior factus est ex ea parte vici, quam Gallis
concesserat, omnes noctu discessisse, montesque, qui
impenderent, a maxima multitudine Sedunorum et
Veragrorum teneri. Id aliquot de causis acciderat,
ut subito Galli belli renovandi legionisque opprimendae
consilium caperent: primum, quod legionem — neque
eam plenissimam, detractis cohortibus duabus et com-
pluribus singillatim, qui commeatus petendi causa
missi erant propter paucitatem despiciebant; tum
etiam quod propter iniquitatem loci, cum ipsi ex monti-
bus in vallem decurrerent et tela conicerent, ne primum
quidem posse impetum suum sustineri existimabant.
4 Accedebat, quod suos ab se liberos abstractos obsi-
dum nomine dolebant, et Romanos non solum itinerum
causa, sed etiam perpetuae possessionis culmina Alpium
occupare conari, et ea loca finitimae provinciae adjun-
gere sibi persuasum habebant.
3
3. His nuntiis acceptis, Galba, cum neque opus
hibernorum munitionesque plene essent perfectae,
neque de frumento reliquoque commeatu satis esset
B. G. III. 5.] Defence of the Roman Garrison. 55
2
provisum, quod deditione facta obsidibusque acceptis
nihil de bello timendum existimaverat, consilio celeriter
convocato, sententias exquirere coepit. Quo in con-
silio, cum tantum repentini periculi praeter opinionem
accidisset, ac jam omnia fere superiora loca multitu-
dine armatorum completa conspicerentur, neque sub-
sidio veniri neque commeatus supportari interclusis
itineribus possent, 3 prope jam desperata salute, non-
nullae hujusmodi sententiae dicebantur, ut impedi-
mentis relictis, eruptione facta, isdem itineribus quibus
eo pervenissent, ad salutem contenderent. 4 Majori
tamen parti placuit, hoc reservato ad extremum con-
silio, interim rei eventum experiri, et castra defendere.
4. Brevi spatio interjecto, vix ut iis rebus quas con-
stituissent conlocandis atque administrandis tempus
daretur, hostes ex omnibus partibus signo dato decur-
rere, lapides gaesaque in vallum conicere. 2 Nostri
primo integris viribus fortiter repugnare, neque ullum
frustra telum ex loco superiore mittere, ut quaeque
pars castrorum nudata defensoribus premi videbatur,
eo occurrere et auxilium ferre; sed hoc superari, quod
diuturnitate pugnae hostes defessi proelio excedebant,
alii integris viribus succedebant: quarum rerum a
nostris propter paucitatem fieri nihil poterat, ac non
modo defesso ex pugna excedendi, sed ne saucio qui-
dem ejus loci, ubi constiterat, relinquendi ac sui
recipiendi facultas dabatur.
3
5. Cum jam amplius horis sex continenter pugna-
retur, ac non solum vires sed etiam tela nostros defice-
rent, atque hostes acrius instarent, languidioribusque
nostris vallum scindere et fossas complere coepissent,
resque esset jam ad extremum perducta casum, 2 P.
Sextius Baculus, primi pili centurio, quem Nervico
proelio compluribus confectum vulneribus diximus, et
item Gaius Volusenus, tribunus militum, vir et consilii
magni et virtutis, ad Galbam adcurrunt, atque unam
56
[CÆSAR
A New War in Gaul.
esse spem salutis docent, si eruptione facta extremum
auxilium experirentur. 3 Itaque, convocatis centu-
rionibus, celeriter milites certiores facit, paulisper
intermitterent proelium, ac tantummodo tela missa exci-
perent seque ex labore reficerent; post, dato signo, ex
castris erumperent, atque omnem spem salutis in
virtute ponerent.
6. Quod jussi sunt faciunt, ac subito omnibus portis
eruptione facta, neque cognoscendi quid fieret, neque
sui colligendi hostibus facultatem relinquunt. 2 Ita
commutata fortuna, eos qui in spem potiundorum
castrorum venerant undique circumventos interficiunt;
et ex hominum milibus amplius triginta, quem nume-
rum barbarorum ad castra venisse constabat, plus
tertia parte interfecta, reliquos perterritos in fugam
coniciunt, ac ne in locis quidem superioribus consistere
patiuntur. Sic omnibus hostium copiis fusis, armis-
que exutis, se in castra munitionesque suas recipiunt.
4 Quo proelio facto, quod saepius fortunam temptare
Galba nolebat, atque alio se in hiberna consilio venisse
meminerat, aliis occurrisse rebus viderat, maxime fru-
menti commeatusque inopia permotus, postero die,
omnibus ejus vici aedificiis incensis, in provinciam
reverti contendit, ac nullo hoste prohibente aut iter
demorante, incolumem legionem in Nantuatis, inde in
Allobroges perduxit, ibique hiemavit.
7. His rebus gestis, cum omnibus de causis Caesar
pacatam Galliam existimaret, superatis Belgis, expulsis
Germanis, victis in Alpibus Sedunis, atque ita inita
hieme in Illyricum profectus esset, quod eas quoque
nationes adire et regiones cognoscere volebat, subitum
bellum in Gallia coörtum est 2 Ejus belli haec fuit
causa.
3
P. Crassus adulescens cum legione septima
proximus mare Oceanum in Andibus hiemarat. Is,
quod in his locis inopia frumenti erat, praefectos
tribunosque militum complures in finitimas civitates
B. G. III. 9.] Maritime State of the Veneti.
57
frumenti causa dimisit; quo in numero erat T. Ter-
rasidius missus in Esuvios, M. Trebius Gallus in
Curiosolitas, Q. Velanius cum T. Silio in Venetos.
2
3
8. Hujus est civitatis longe amplissima auctoritas
omnis orae maritimae regionum earum, quod et naves
habent Veneti plurimas, quibus in Britanniam navi-
gare consuerunt, et scientia atque usu nauticarum
rerum reliquos antecedunt, et in magno impetu maris
atque aperto paucis portibus interjectis, quos tenent
ipsi, omnes fere, qui eo mari uti consuerunt, habent
vectigales. Ab his fit initium retinendi Silii atque
Velanii, quod per eos suos se obsides, quos Crasso
dedissent, reciperaturos existimabant. Horum auc-
toritate finitimi adducti (ut sunt Gallorum subita et
repentina consilia), eadem de causa Trebium Terra-
sidiumque retinent; et celeriter missis legatis, per
suos principes inter se conjurant, nihil nisi communi
consilio acturos, eundemque omnis fortunae exitum*
esse laturos; reliquasque civitates sollicitant, ut in ea
libertate quam a majoribus acceperant permanere,
quam Romanorum servitutem perferre mallent. 50m-
ni ora maritima celeriter ad suam sententiam perducta,
communem legationem ad P. Crassum mittunt, si
velit suos recipere, obsides sibi remittat.
4
9. Quibus de rebus Caesar ab Crasso certior factus,
quod ipse aberat longius, naves interim longas aedifi-
cari in flumine Ligere, quod influit in Oceanum, re-
miges ex provincia institui, nautas gubernatoresque
comparari jubet. His rebus celeriter administratis,
ipse, cum primum per anni tempus potuit, ad exerci-
tum contendit. 2 Veneti reliquaeque item civitates,
cognito Caesaris adventu [certiores facti], simul quod
quantum in se facinus admisissent intellegebant, legatos
- quod nomen ad omnes nationes sanctum inviolatum-
que semper fuisset retentos ab se et in vincla conjec-
tos, pro magnitudine periculi bellum parare, et maxime
58
Naval Campaign against the [CÆSAR
4
ea quae ad usum navium pertinent providere instituunt,
hoc majore spe, quod multum natura loci confidebant.
3 Pedestria esse itinera concisa aestuariis, navigatio-
nem impeditam propter inscientiam locorum paucita-
temque portuum sciebant, neque nostros exercitus
propter frumenti inopiam diutius apud se morari posse
confidebant: ac jam ut omnia contra opinionem acci-
derent, tamen se plurimum navibus posse, Romanos
neque ullam facultatem habere navium, neque eorum
locorum ubi bellum gesturi essent vada, portus, insulas.
novisse ; ac longe aliam esse navigationem in concluso
mari atque in vastissimo atque apertissimo Oceano
perspiciebant. 5His initis consiliis, oppida muniunt,
frumenta ex agris in oppida comportant, naves in
Venetiam, ubi Caesarem primum esse bellum gestu-
rum constabat, quam plurimas possunt, cogunt. So-
cios sibi ad id bellum Osismos, Lexovios, Namnetes,
Ambiliatos, Morinos, Diablintres, Menapios adsci-
scunt; auxilia ex Britannia, quae contra eas regiones
posita est, arcessunt.
4
10. Erant hae difficultates belli gerendi, quas supra
ostendimus, sed multa Caesarem tamen ad id bellum
incitabant: injuriae retentorum equitum Romanorum,
rebellio facta post deditionem, defectio datis obsidibus,
tot civitatum conjuratio; imprimis ne, hac parte ne-
glecta, reliquae nationes sibi idem licere arbitrarentur.
2 Itaque cum intellegeret omnes fere Gallos novis rebus
studere, et ad bellum mobiliter celeriterque excitari,
omnes autem homines natura libertati studere et con-
dicionem servitutis odisse, priusquam plures civitates
conspirarent, partiendum sibi ac latius distribuendum
exercitum putavit.
II. Itaque T. Labienum legatum in Treveros, qui
proximi flumini Rheno sunt, cum equitatu mittit.
Huic mandat Remos reliquosque Belgas adeat, atque
in officio contineat; Germanosque, qui auxilio a Belgis
B. G. III. 13.] Coast Towns of Brittany.
59
3
arcessiti dicebantur, si per vim navibus flumen transire
conentur, prohibeat. 2P. Crassum, cum cohortibus.
legionariis duodecim et magno numero equitatus, in
Aquitaniam proficisci jubet, ne ex his nationibus
auxilia in Galliam mittantur, ac tantae nationes con-
jungantur. Q Titurium Sabinum legatum cum
legionibus tribus in Unellos, Curiosolites Lexoviosque
mittit, qui eam manum distinendam curet. 4 Decimum
Brutum adulescentem classi Gallicisque navibus, quas
ex Pictonibus et Santonis reliquisque pacatis regionibus
convenire jusserat, praeficit, et, cum primum posset,
in Venetos proficisci jubet. Ipse eo pedestribus copiis
contendit.
12. Erant ejusmodi fere situs oppidorum, ut, posita
in extremis lingulis promunturiisque, neque pedibus
aditum haberent, cum ex alto se aestus incitavisset
(quod [bis] accidit semper horarum XII spatio), neque
navibus, quod rursus minuente aestu naves in vadis
adflictarentur. 2 Ita utraque re oppidorum oppugnatio
impediebatur ; ac si quando — magnitudine operis forte
superati, extruso mari aggere ac molibus, atque his
oppidi moenibus adaequatis suis fortunis desperare
coeperant, magno numero navium adpulso, cujus rei
summam facultatem habebant, sua deportabant omnia,
seque in proxima oppida recipiebant: ibi se rursus
isdem opportunitatibus loci defendebant. Haec eo
facilius magnam partem aestatis faciebant, quod nos-
trae naves tempestatibus detinebantur, summaque erat
vasto atque aperto mari, magnis aestibus, raris ac
prope nullis portibus difficultas navigandi.
3
13. Namque ipsorum naves ad hunc modum factae
armataeque erant: carinae aliquanto planiores quam.
nostrarum navium, quo facilius vada ac decessum
aestus excipere possent; 2 prorae admodum erectae,
atque item puppes ad magnitudinem fluctuum tempes-
tatumque adcommodatae; nayes totae factae ex robore
60
[CÆSAR
Naval Campaign.
4
ad quamvis vim et contumeliam perferendam ; transtra
pedalibus in altitudinem trabibus confixa clavis ferreis
digiti pollicis crassitudine; 3 ancorae pro funibus fer-
reis catenis revinctae; pelles pro velis alutaeque tenui-
ter confectae, hae sive propter lini inopiam atque ejus
usus inscientiam, sive eo (quod est magis verisimile)
quod tantas tempestates Oceani tantosque impetus
ventorum sustineri ac tanta onera navium regi velis
non satis commode posse arbitrabantur. Cum his
navibus nostrae classi ejusmodi congressus erat, ut
una celeritate et pulsu remorum praestaret; reliqua
pro loci natura, pro vi tempestatum, illis essent aptiora
et accommodatiora. 5 Neque enim his nostrae rostro
nocere poterant - tanta in iis erat firmitudo neque
propter altitudinem facile telum adiciebatur, et eadem
de causa minus commode copulis continebantur. 6 Ac-
cedebat ut, cum saevire ventus coepisset et se vento
dedissent, et tempestatem ferrent facilius, et in vadis
consisterent tutius, et ab aestu relictae nihil saxa et
cautes timerent; quarum rerum omnium nostris navi-
bus casus erat extimescendus.
2
14. Compluribus expugnatis oppidis, Caesar, ubi
intellexit frustra tantum laborem sumi, neque hostium
fugam captis oppidis reprimi neque iis noceri posse,
statuit exspectandam classem. Quae ubi convenit
ac primum ab hostibus visa est, circiter ccxx naves
eorum, paratissimae atque omni genere armorum
ornatissimae, profectae ex portu, nostris adversae con-
stiterunt; neque satis Bruto, qui classi praeerat, vel
tribunis militum centurionibusque, quibus singulae
naves erant adtributae, constabat quid agerent, aut
3 Rostro enim
quam rationem pugnae insisterent.
noceri non posse cognoverant; turribus autem excita-
tis, tamen has altitudo puppium ex barbaris navibus
superabat; ut neque ex inferiore loco satis commode.
tela adici possent, et missa ab Gallis gravius accide-
B. G. III. 16.] Cæsar's Naval Tactics and Victory. 61
rent.
6
4 Una erat magno usui res praeparata a nostris,
-falces praeacutae insertae adfixaeque longuriis
non absimili forma muralium falcium. His cum fu
nes, qui antemnas ad malos destinabant, comprehensi
adductique erant, navigio remis incitato praerumpeban-
tur. Quibus abscisis antemnae necessario concide-
bant; ut, cum omnis Gallicis navibus spes in velis
armamentisque consisteret, his ereptis, omnis usus
navium uno tempore eriperetur. Reliquum erat cerà
tamen positum in virtute, qua nostri milites facile
superabant, atque eo magis, quod in conspectu Cae-
saris atque omnis exercitus res gerebatur, ut nullum
paulo fortius factum latere posset; omnes enim colles
ac loca superiora, unde erat propinquus despectus in
mare, ab exercitu tenebantur.
7
2
15. Disjectis (ut diximus) antemnis, cum singulas
binae ac ternae naves circumsteterant, milites summa
vi transcendere in hostium naves contendebant. Quod
postquam barbari fieri animadverterunt, expugnatis
compluribus navibus, cum ei rei nullum reperiretur
auxilium, fuga salutem petere contenderunt. 3 Ac
jam, conversis in eam partem navibus quo ventus
ferebat, tanta subito malacia ac tranquillitas exstitit,
ut se ex loco commovere non possent. 4 Quae quidem
res ad negotium conficiendum maxime fuit opportuna :
nam singulas nostri consectati expugnaverunt, ut per-
paucae ex omni numero noctis interventu ad terram
pervenerint, cum ab hora fere quarta usque ad solis
occasum pugnaretur.
16. Quo proelio bellum Venetorum totiusque orae
maritumae confectum est. Nam cum omnis juventus,
omnes etiam gravioris aetatis, in quibus aliquid consilii
aut dignitatis fuit, eo convenerant, tum navium quod
ubique fuerat unum in locum coëgerant; 2quibus
amissis, reliqui neque quo se reciperent, neque quem
ad modum oppida defenderent habebant. Itaque se
62
[CÆSAR
Sabinus among the Unelli.
3
suaque omnia Caesari dediderunt. In quos eo gra-
vius Caesar vindicandum statuit, quo diligentius in
reliquum tempus a barbaris jus legatorum conserva-
retur. Itaque, omni senatu necato, reliquos sub coro-
na vendidit.
17. Dum haec in Venetis geruntur, Q. Titurius Sa-
binus, cum iis copiis quas a Caesare acceperat, in
fines Unellorum pervenit. His praeerat Viridovix, ac
summam imperii tenebat earum omnium civitatum
quae defecerant, ex quibus exercitum magnasque
copias coëgerat; 2 atque his paucis diebus Aulerci,
Eburovices, Lexoviique, senatu suo interfecto, quod
auctores belli esse nolebant, portas clauserunt, seque
cum Viridovice conjunxerunt; magnaque praeterea
multitudo undique ex Gallia perditorum hominum
latronumque convenerat, quos spes praedandi studium-
que bellandi ab agricultura et cotidiano labore revo-
cabat. Sabinus idoneo omnibus rebus loco castris.
sese tenebat, cum Viridovix contra eum duum milium
spatio consedisset, cotidieque productis copiis pug-
nandi potestatem faceret; ut jam non solum hostibus
in contemptionem Sabinus veniret, sed etiam nostro-
rum militum vocibus nonnihil carperetur; tantamque
opinionem timoris praebuit, ut jam ad vallum castro-
rum hostes accedere auderent. 4 Id ea de causa facie-
bat, quod cum tanta multitudine hostium, praesertim
eo absente qui summam imperii teneret, nisi aequo
loco aut opportunitate aliqua data, legato dimicandum
non existimabat.
18. Hac confirmata opinione timoris, idoneum quen-
dam hominem et callidum delegit, Gallum, ex iis quos
auxilii causa secum habebat. Huic magnis praemiis
pollicitationibusque persuadet, uti ad hostes transeat,
et quid fieri velit edocet. 2 Qui ubi pro perfuga ad eos
venit, timorem Romanorum proponit; quibus angustiis
ipse Caesar a Venetis prematur docet; neque longius
B. G. III. 20.]
63
Victory of Sabinus.
abesse quin proxima nocte Sabinus clam ex castris
exercitum educat, et ad Caesarem auxilii ferendi causa
proficiscatur. 3 Quod ubi auditum est, conclamant
omnes occasionem negotii bene gerendi amittendam
non esse, ad castra iri oportere. 4 Multae res ad hoc
consilium Gallos hortabantur: superiorum dierum Sa-
bini cunctatio, perfugae confirmatio, inopia cibariorum,
cui rei parum diligenter ab iis erat provisum, spes
Venetici belli, et quod fere libenter homines id quod
volunt credunt. His rebus adducti, non prius Viri-
dovicem reliquosque duces ex concilio dimittunt, quam
ab his sit concessum, arma uti capiant et ad castra
contendant. Qua re concessa, laeti ut explorata vic-
toria, sarmentis virgultisque collectis, quibus fossas
Romanorum compleant, ad castra pergunt.
nerunt.
6
•
19. Locus erat castrorum editus, et paulatim ab imo
adclivis circiter passus mille. Huc magno cursu con-
tenderunt, ut quam minimum spatii ad se colligendos
armandosque Romanis daretur, exanimatique perve-
2 Sabinus, suos hortatus, cupientibus signum
dat. Impeditis hostibus propter ea quae ferebant
onera, subito duabus portis eruptionem fieri jubet.
3 Factum est opportunitate loci, hostium inscientia ac
defetigatione, virtute militum et superiorum pugnarum
exercitatione, ut ne unum quidem nostrorum impetum
ferrent, ac statim terga verterent. Quos impeditos
integris viribus milites nostri consécuti, magnum nu-
merum eorum occiderunt; reliquos equites consectati
paucos, qui ex fuga evaserant, reliquerunt. Sic uno
tempore et de navali pugna Sabinus et de Sabini vic-
toria Caesar certior factus est; civitatesque omnes
se statim Titurio dediderunt. Nam ut ad bella sus-
cipienda Gallorum alacer ac promptus est animus, sic
mollis ac minime resistens ad calamitates perferendas
mens eorum est.
6
5
20. Eodem fere tempore P. Crassus cum in Aquita-
64
[CÆSAR
Crassus in Aquitania.
niam pervenisset, quae pars, ut ante dictum est, et
regionum latitudine et multitudine hominum ex tertia
parte Galliae est aestimanda, cum intellegeret in iis
locis sibi bellum gerendum, ubi paucis ante annis L.
Valerius Praeconinus legatus exercitu pulso interfectus
esset, atque unde L. Mallius proconsul impedimentis
amissis profugisset, non mediocrem sibi diligentiam
adhibendam intellegebat. 2 Itaque re frumentaria pro-
visa, auxiliis equitatuque comparato, multis praeterea
viris fortibus Tolosa et Narbone (quae sunt civitates
Galliae provinciae finitimae his regionibus) nomina-
tim evocatis, in Sontiatum fines exercitum introduxit.
Cujus adventu cognito, Sontiates magnis copiis coactis
equitatuque, quo plurimum valebant, in itinere agmen
nostrum adorti, primum equestre proelium commise-
runt; deinde equitatu suo pulso, atque insequentibus
nostris, subito pedestres copias, quas in convalle in
insidiis conlocaverunt, ostenderunt. Hi nostros disjec-
tos adorti, proelium renovarunt.
21. Pugnatum est diu atque acriter, cum Sontiates,
superioribus victoriis freti, in sua virtute totius Aquita-
niae salutem positam putarent; nostri autem quid sine
imperatore et sine reliquis legionibus adulescentulo
duce efficere possent, perspici cuperent: tandem con-
fecti vulneribus hostes terga vertere. 2 Quorum magno
numero interfecto, Crassus ex itinere oppidum Sontia-
tum oppugnare coepit. Quibus fortiter resistentibus,
vineas turresque egit. Illi, alias eruptione temptata,
alias cuniculis ad aggerem vineasque actis (cujus rei
sunt longe peritissimi Aquitani, propterea quod multis
locis apud eos aerariae † secturaeque sunt), ubi diligen-
tia nostrorum nihil his rebus profici posse intellexe-
runt, legatos ad Crassum mittunt, seque in deditionem
ut recipiat petunt. Qua re impetrata, arma tradere
jussi, faciunt.
³
22. Atque in ea re omnium nostrorum intentis ani-
1
B. G. III. 23.] The Aquitani and their Leaders.
65
mis, alia ex parte oppidi Adiatunnus, qui summam
imperii tenebat, cum sexcentis devotis, quos illi soldu-
rios appellant, -2 quorum haec est condicio, uti omni-
bus in vita commodis una cum iis fruantur quorum se
amicitiae dediderint; si quid his per vim accidat, aut
eundem casum una ferant, aut sibi mortem conscis-
cant; neque adhuc hominum memoria repertus est
quisquam, qui eo interfecto, cujus se amicitiae devo-
visset, mori recusaret, -3 cum his Adiatunnus, erup-
tionem facere conatus, clamore ab ea parte munitionis
sublato, cum ad arma milites concurrissent vehemen-
terque ibi pugnatum esset, repulsus in oppidum, tamen
uti eadem deditionis condicione uteretur ab Crasso
impetravit.
23. Armis obsidibusque acceptis, Crassus in fines.
Vocatium et Tarusatium profectus est.
Tum vero
barbari commoti, quod oppidum et natura loci et manu
munitum paucis diebus, quibus eo ventum erat, expug-
natum cognoverant, legatos quoque versum dimittere,
conjurare, obsides inter se dare, copias parare coepe-
runt.
2 Mittuntur etiam ad eas civitates legati, quae
sunt citerioris Hispaniae finitumae Aquitaniae: inde
auxilia ducesque arcessuntur; quorum adventu, magna
cum auctoritate et magna cum hominum multitudine
bellum gerere conantur. 3 Duces vero i deligun-
tur, qui una cum Q. Sertorio omnes annos fuerant,
summamque scientiam rei militaris habere existima-
bantur. Hi consuetudine populi Romani loca cape-
re, castra munire, commeatibus nostros intercludere
instituunt. Quod ubi Crassus animadvertit, — suas
copias propter exiguitatem non facile diduci, hostem
et vagari et vias obsidere et castris satis praesidii
relinquere, ob eam causam minus commode frumen-
tum commeatumque sibi supportari, in dies hostium
numerum augeri, non cunctandum existimavit quin
pugna decertaret.
5 Hac re ad consilium delata, ubi
4
66
[CÆSAR
Crassus in Aquitania.
omnes idem sentire intellexit, posterum diem pugnae
constituit.
24. Prima luce, productis omnibus copiis, duplici
acie instituta, auxiliis in mediam aciem conjectis, quid
hostes consilii caperent exspectabat. 2 Illi, etsi propter
multitudinem et veterem belli gloriam paucitatemque
nostrorum se tuto dimicaturos existimabant, tamen
tutius esse arbitrabantur, obsessis viis, commeatu in-
tercluso, sine ullo vulnere victoria potiri; et, si propter
inopiam rei frumentariae Romani sese recipere coep-
issent, impeditos in agmine et sub sarcinis infirmiore
animo adoriri cogitabant. Hoc consilio probato, ab
ducibus productis Romanorum copiis, sese castris
tenebant. 3 Hac re perspecta, Crassus, cum sua cunc-
tatione atque opinione timoris hostes nostros milites.
alacriores ad pugnandum effecissent, atque omnium
voces audirentur, exspectari diutius non oportere quin
ad castra iretur, cohortatus suos, omnibus cupientibus,
ad hostium castra contendit.
25. Ibi cum alii fossas complerent, alii multis telis
conjectis defensores vallo munitionibusque depellerent,
auxiliaresque (quibus ad pugnam non multum Crassus
confidebat) lapidibus telisque subministrandis et ad
aggerem cespitibus comportandis speciem atque opini-
onem pugnantium praeberent; 2 cum item ab hostibus
constanter ac non timide pugnaretur, telaque ex loco
superiore missa non frustra acciderent, equites circum-
itis hostium castris Crasso renuntiaverunt, non eadem
esse diligentia ab decumana porta castra munita,
facilemque aditum habere.
26. Crassus, equitum praefectos cohortatus ut mag-
nis praemiis pollicitationibusque suos excitarent, quid
fieri velit ostendit. 2 Illi, ut erat imperatum, eductis iis
cohortibus quae praesidio castris relictae intritae ab
labore erant, et longiore itinere circumductis, ne ex
hostium castris conspici possent, omnium oculis menti-
B. G. III. 28.]
67
Cæsar in the North.
busque ad pugnam intentis, celeriter ad eas quas
diximus munitiones pervenerunt, atque his prorutis,
prius in hostium castris constiterunt quam plane ab
his videri, aut quid rei gereretur cognosci posset.
3 Tum vero, clamore ab ea parte audito, nostri redinte-
gratis viribus, quod plerumque in spe victoriae acci-
dere consuevit, acrius impugnare coeperunt. 4 Hostes
undique circumventi, desperatis omnibus rebus, se per
munitiones deicere et fuga salutem petere intenderunt.
Quos equitatus apertissimis campis consectatus, ex
milium quinquaginta numero, quae ex Aquitania
Cantabrisque convenisse constabat, vix quarta parte
relicta, multa nocte se in castra recipit.
27. Hac audita pugna, maxima pars Aquitaniae
sese Crasso dedidit, obsidesque ultro misit; quo in
numero fuerunt Tarbelli, Bigerriones, Ptianii, Vocates,
Tarusates, Elusates, Gates, Ausci, Garumni, Sibuza-
tes, Cocosates: paucae ultimae nationes, anni tempore
confisae, quod hiems suberat, hoc facere neglexerunt.
28. Eodem fere tempore Caesar, etsi prope exacta
jam aestas erat, tamen quod, omni Gallia pacata, Mo-
rini Menapiique supererant qui in armis essent, neque
ad eum umquam legatos de pace misissent, arbitratus
id bellum celeriter confici posse, eo exercitum adduxit;
qui longe alia ratione ac reliqui Galli bellum gerere
coeperunt. Nam quod intellegebant maximas natio-
nes, quae proelio contendissent, pulsas superatasque
esse, continentesque silvas ac paludes habebant, eo se
suaque omnia contulerunt. Ad quarum initium sil-
varum cum Caesar pervenisset, castraque munire in-
stituisset, neque hostis interim visus esset, dispersis in
opere nostris, subito ex omnibus partibus silvae evola-
verunt, et in nostros impetum fecerunt. Nostri cele-
riter arma ceperunt, eosque in silvas repulerunt, et
compluribus interfectis, longius impeditioribus locis
secuti, paucos ex suis deperdiderunt.
³
68
[CÆSAR
End of the Third Campaign.
29. Reliquis deinceps diebus Caesar silvas caedere
instituit, et ne quis inermibus imprudentibusque mi-
litibus ab latere impetus fieri posset, omnem eam
materiam, quae erat caesa, conversam ad hostem con-
locabat, et pro vallo ad utrumque latus exstruebat.
2 Incredibili celeritate magno spatio paucis diebus con-
fecto, cum jam pecus atque extrema impedimenta ab
nostris tenerentur, ipsi densiores silvas peterent, ejus-
modi sunt tempestates consecutae, uti opus necessario
intermitteretur, et continuatione imbrium diutius sub
pellibus milites contineri non possent. Itaque vas-
tatis omnibus eorum agris, vicis aedificiisque incensis,
Caesar exercitum reduxit, et in Aulercis Lexoviisque,
reliquis item civitatibus quae proxime bellum fecerant,
in hibernis conlocavit.
3
B. G. IV. I.]
69
The Suevi.
BOOK IV.
CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE GERMANS. The Suevi (Swabians),
the most powerful tribe of Germans: their customs and warlike
habit. They expel the Usipetes and Tencteri, who in their turn
invade Northern Gaul (1-4). Advancing to strengthen the Gauls,
who are about to yield, Cæsar demands that the Germans with-
draw: after some parley, they furiously attack the Roman cavalry
(5-12). Detaining their envoys, Cæsar attacks their camp, defeats
and drives them to the Rhine (13-15). He then resolves to cross
the Rhine description of the Bridge (16, 17). After a short cam-
paign in Germany, he returns to Gaul (18, 19).
FIRST INVASION OF BRITAIN. Motives for the expedition :
the reconnoissance and preparations (20-22). Arrival in Britain:
resistance of the Britons; valor of a Roman centurion. Cæsar
lands, and after a sharp battle drives back the natives, who sue for
peace (23-27). Meanwhile the Roman cavalry are forced back by
a storm, and the fleet is seriously injured; on which the Britons
renew hostilities (28-32). They attack a foraging party: their
mode of fighting from war-chariots. Gathering a large force, they
attack the Roman camp: defeating them, Cæsar makes peace and
returns to Gaul to avoid the stormy season (33-36). Suppressing
some disturbances, he quarters his forces among the Belgians for
the winter (37, 38).
EA quae secuta est hieme, qui fuit annus Gnaeo
Pompeio, Marco Crasso consulibus, Usipetes
Germani et item Tencteri magna cum multitudine
hominum flumen Rhenum transierunt, non longe a
mari quo Rhenus influit. 2 Causa transeundi fuit quod,
ab Suevis complures annos exagitati, bello premebantur
et agricultura prohibebantur. Suevorum gens est
longe maxima et bellicosissima Germanorum omnium.
3 Hi centum pagos habere dicuntur, ex quibus quo-
tannis singula milia armatorum bellandi causa ex
finibus educunt. Reliqui, qui domi manserunt, se
atque illos alunt. Hi rursus in vicem anno post in
4
70
[CAESAR
Customs of the Germans.
armis sunt, illi domi remanent. Sic neque agricul-
tura nec ratio atque usus belli intermittitur. 5 Sed pri-
vati ac separati agri apud eos nihil est, neque longius.
anno remanere uno in loco incolendi causa licet.
6 Neque multum frumento, sed maximam partem lacte
atque pecore vivunt, multumque sunt in venationibus;
quae res et cibi genere et cotidiana exercitatione et
libertate vitae, quom a pueris nullo officio aut dis-
ciplina adsuefacti nihil omnino contra voluntatem.
faciant, et vires alit, et immani corporum magnitudine.
homines efficit. Atque in eam se consuetudinem
adduxerunt, ut locis frigidissimis neque vestitus praeter
pellis haberent quicquam, quarum propter exiguitatem
magna est corporis pars aperta, et lavarentur in flumi-
nibus.
3
2. Mercatoribus est aditus magis eo, ut quae bello
ceperint quibus vendant habeant, quam quo ullam
rem ad se importari desiderent. 2 Quin etiam jumen-
tis, quibus maxime Galli delectantur, quaeque impenso
parant pretio, Germani importatis non utuntur; sed
quae sunt apud eos nata, parva atque deformia, haec
cotidiana exercitatione summi ut sint laboris efficiunt.
⁹ Equestribus proeliis saepe ex equis desiliunt ac pedi-
bus proeliantur, equosque eodem remanere vestigio
adsuefecerunt, ad quos se celeriter, cum usus est,
recipiunt ; neque eorum moribus turpius quicquam aut
inertius habetur quam ephippiis uti. 4 Itaque ad
quemvis numerum ephippiatorum equitum quamvis
pauci adire audent. Vinum ad se omnino importari
non sinunt, quod ea re ad laborem ferendum remolles-
cere homines atque effeminari arbitrantur.
3. Publice maximam putant esse laudem quam
latissime a suis finibus vacare agros: hac re significari
magnum numerum civitatium suam vim sustinere non
posse. Itaque una ex parte a Suevis circiter milia
passuum sexcenta agri vacare dicuntur. 2 Ad alteram
B. G. IV. 5.] The Germans cross the Rhine.
71
partem succedunt Ubii, quorum fuit civitas ampla
atque florens, ut est captus Germanorum, et paulo
[quam] sunt ejusdem generis [et] ceteris humaniores,
propterea quod Rhenum attingunt, multumque ad eos
mercatores ventitant, et ipsi propter propinquitatem
[quod] Gallicis sunt moribus adsuefacti. Hos cum
Suevi, multis saepe bellis experti, propter amplitu-
dinem gravitatemque civitatis finibus expellere non
potuissent, tamen vectigales sibi fecerunt, ac multo
humiliores infirmioresque redegerunt.
3
4. In eadem causa fuerunt Usipetes et Tencteri,
quos supra diximus, qui complures annos Suevorum
vim sustinuerunt; ad extremum tamen, agris expulsi
et multis locis Germaniae triennium vagati, ad Rhe-
num pervenerunt: 2 quas regiones Menapii incolebant,
et ad utramque ripam fluminis agros aedificia vicosque
habebant; sed tantae multitudinis aditu perterriti, ex
iis aedificiis quae trans flumen habuerant demigrave-
runt, et cis Rhenum dispositis praesidiis Germanos
transire prohibebant. 3 Illi omnia experti, cum neque
vi contendere propter inopiam navium neque clam
transire propter custodias Menapiorum possent, reverti
se in suas sedes regionesque simulaverunt, et tridui
viam progressi rursus reverterunt, atque omni hoc
itinere una nocte equitatu confecto, inscios inopinan-
tesque Menapios oppresserunt; qui de Germanorum
discessu per exploratores certiores facti, sine metu
trans Rhenum in suos vicos remigraverant. 4 His
interfectis navibusque eorum occupatis, priusquam ea
pars Menapiorum, quae citra Rhenum erat, certior
fieret, flumen transierunt; atque omnibus eorum aedi-
ficiis occupatis, reliquam partem hiemis se eorum
copiis aluerunt.
5. His de rebus Caesar certior factus, et infirmita-
tem Gallorum veritus, quod sunt in consiliis capiendis.
mobiles et novis plerumque rebus student, nihil his
>
72
[CÆSAR
Campaign against the Germans.
committendum existimavit. 2 Est enim hoc Gallicae
consuetudinis, uti et viatores etiam invitos consistere
cogant, et quid quisque eorum de quaque re audierit
aut cognoverit quaerant; et mercatores in oppidis.
vulgus circumsistat, quibusque ex regionibus veniant
quasque ibi res cognoverint pronuntiare cogant. His
rebus atque auditionibus permoti de summis saepe
rebus consilia ineunt, quorum eos in vestigio paenitere
necesse est, cum incertis rumoribus serviant, et pleri-
que ad voluntatem eorum ficta respondeant.
3
3
6. Qua consuetudine cognita, Caesar, ne graviori
bello occurreret, maturius quam consuerat ad exerci-
tum proficiscitur. 2Eo cum venisset, ea quae fore
suspicatus erat, facta cognovit: missas legationes ab
nonnullis civitatibus ad Germanos, invitatosque eos
uti ab Rheno discederent, omniaque quae postulassent
ab se fore parata. Qua spe adducti, Germani latius
vagabantur, et in fines Eburonum et Condrusorum,
qui sunt Treverorum clientes, pervenerant. 4 Prin-
cipibus Galliae evocatis, Caesar ea quae cognoverat
dissimulanda sibi existimavit, eorumque animis per-
mulsis et confirmatis, equitatuque imperato, bellum
cum Germanis gerere constituit.
6
7. Re frumentaria comparata equitibusque delectis,
iter in ea loca facere coepit, quibus in locis esse Ger-
manos audiebat. 2A quibus cum paucorum dierum
iter abesset, legati ab iis venerunt, quorum haec fuit
oratio: Germanos neque priores populo Romano bel-
lum inferre, neque tamen recusare, si lacessantur, quin
armis contendant, quod Germanorum consuetudo haec
sit a majoribus tradita, quicumque bellum inferant,
resistere neque deprecari. 3 Haec tamen dicere,
venisse invitos, ejectos domo; si suam gratiam Ro-
mani velint, posse iis utiles esse amicos; vel sibi agros
adtribuant, vel patiantur eos tenere quos armis posse-
derint sese unis Suevis concedere, quibus ne
B. G. IV. 11.] The Meuse and the Rhine.
73
quidem immortales pares esse possint; reliquum qui-
dem in terris esse neminem, quem non superare
possint.'
2
8. Ad haec quae visum est Caesar respondit; sed
exitus fuit orationis: Sibi nullam cum his amicitiam
esse posse, si in Gallia remanerent; neque verum
esse, qui suos fines tueri non potuerint, alienos occu-
pare; neque ullos in Gallia vacare agros, qui dari
tantae praesertim multitudini sine injuria possint; sed
licere, si velint, in Ubiorum finibus considere, quorum
sint legati apud se et de Suevorum injuriis querantur
et a se auxilium petant: hoc se Ubiis imperaturum.'
9. Legati haec se ad suos relaturos dixerunt, et re
deliberata post diem tertium ad Caesarem reversuros:
interea ne propius se castra moveret petierunt. Ne id
quidem Caesar ab se impetrari posse dixit. 2Cogno-
verat enim magnam partem equitatus ab iis aliquot
diebus ante praedandi frumentandique causa ad Am-
bivaritos trans Mosam missam: hos exspectari equites,
atque ejus rei causa moram interponi arbitrabatur.
10. Mosa profluit ex monte Vosego, qui est in fini-
bus Lingonum, et parte quadam ex Rheno recepta,
quae appellatur Vacalus † insulamque efficit Batavorum,
in Oceanum influit, neque longius ab Oceano milibus
passuum LXxx in Rhenum influit. 2 Rhenus autem
oritur ex Lepontiis, qui Alpes incolunt, et longo spatio
per fines Nantuatium, Helvetiorum, Sequanorum,
Mediomatricum, Tribocorum, Treverorum citatus fer-
tur; et, ubi Oceano adpropinquavit, in plures defluit
partes, multis ingentibusque insulis effectis, quarum
pars magna a feris barbarisque nationibus incolitur,
ex quibus sunt qui piscibus atque ovis avium vivere
existimantur, multisque capitibus in Oceanum influit.
II. Caesar cum ab hoste non amplius passuum XII
milibus abesset, ut erat constitutum, ad eum legati
revertuntur; qui in itinere congressi magnopere ne
74
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Campaign against the Germans.
longius progrederetur orabant. 2 Cum id non impe-
trassent, petebant uti ad eos equites qui agmen ante-
cessissent praemitteret, eosque pugna prohiberet,
sibique ut potestatem faceret in Ubios legatos mit-
tendi; quorum si principes ac senatus sibi jurejurando
fidem fecisset, ea condicione quae a Caesare ferretur
se usuros ostendebant: ad has res conficiendas sibi
tridui spatium daret. 3 Haec omnia Caesar eodem
illo pertinere arbitrabatur, ut tridui mora interposita
equites eorum, qui abessent, reverterentur: tamen
sese non longius milibus passuum quattuor aquationis.
causa processurum eo die dixit; huc postero die quam
frequentissimi convenirent, ut de eorum postulatis
cognosceret. 4 Interim ad praefectos, qui cum omni
equitatu antecesserant, mittit qui nuntiarent ne hostes
proelio lacesserent; et, si ipsi lacesserentur, sustine-
rent, quoad ipse cum exercitu propius accessisset.
12. At hostes, ubi primum nostros equites conspexe-
runt, quorum erat quinque milium numerus, cum ipsi
non amplius octingentos equites haberent, quod ii qui
frumentandi causa ierant trans Mosam nondum redie-
rant, nihil timentibus nostris, quod legati eorum paulo
ante a Caesare discesserant atque is dies indutiis erat
ab his petitus, impetu facto celeriter nostros pertur-
baverunt; 2 rursus resistentibus, consuetudine sua ad
pedes desiluerunt, subfossis equis compluribusque nos-
tris dejectis, reliquos in fugam conjecerunt, atque ita
perterritos egerunt, ut non prius fuga desisterent quam
in conspectum agminis nostri venissent. In eo proe-
lio ex equitibus nostris interficiuntur quattuor et
septuaginta; in his vir fortissimus, Piso Aquitanus,
amplissimo genere natus, cujus avus in civitate sua
regnum obtinuerat, amicus ab senatu nostro appel-
latus. 4 Hic cum fratri intercluso ab hostibus auxilium
ferret, illum ex periculo eripuit, ipse equo vulnerato
dejectus, quoad potuit, fortissime restitit: cum circum-
3
B. G. IV. 14.] Attack on the German Encampment. 75
ventus, multis vulneribus acceptis, cecidisset, atque id
frater, qui jam proelio excesserat, procul animadver-
tisset, incitato equo se hostibus obtulit atque interfec-
tus est.
3
13. Hoc facto proelio, Caesar neque jam sibi legatos
audiendos neque condiciones accipiendas arbitrabatur
ab iis, qui per dolum atque insidias, petita pace, ultro
bellum intulissent: 2 exspectare vero, dum hostium
copiae augerentur equitatusque reverteretur, summae
dementiae esse judicabat; et cognita Gallorum infir-
mitate, quantum jam apud eos hostes uno proelio aucto-
ritatis essent consecuti sentiebat; quibus ad consilia
capienda nihil spatii dandum existimabat. His con-
stitutis rebus et consilio cum legatis et quaestore com-
municato, ne quem diem pugnae praetermitteret,
opportunissima res accidit, quod postridie ejus diei
mane, eadem et perfidia et simulatione usi Germani
frequentes, omnibus principibus majoribusque natu
adhibitis, ad eum in castra venerunt :( simul, ut dice-
batur, sui purgandi causa, quod (contra atque esset
dictum, et ipsi petissent) proelium pridie commisissent;
simul ut, si quid possent, de indutiis fallendo impetra-
rent.) 5 Quos sibi Caesar oblatos gavisus, illos retineri
jussit; ipse omnes copias castris eduxit, equitatum-
que, quod recenti proelio perterritum esse existimabat,
agmen subsequi jussit.
2
14. Acie triplici instituta, et celeriter VIII milium
itinere confecto, prius ad hostium castra pervenit quam
quid ageretur Germani sentire possent. Qui omni-
bus rebus subito perterriti, et celeritate adventus nostri
et discessu suorum, neque consilii habendi neque arma
capiendi spatio dato, perturbantur; copiasne adversus
hostem ducere, an castra defendere, an fuga salutem
petere praestaret. Quorum timor cum fremitu et
concursu significaretur, milites nostri, pristini diei
perfidia incitati, in castra inruperunt. Quo loco qui
3
*
76
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Campaign against the Germans.
celeriter arma capere potuerunt, paulisper nostris re-
stiterunt, atque inter carros impedimentaque proelium
commiserunt: at reliqua multitudo puerorum mulie-
rumque nam cum omnibus suis domo excesserant
Rhenumque transierant-passim fugere coepit; ad
quos consectandos Caesar equitatum misit.
15. Germani, post tergum clamore audito, cum suos
interfici viderent, armis abjectis signisque militaribus
relictis, se ex castris ejecerunt, et cum ad confluentem
Mosae et Rheni pervenissent, reliqua fuga desperata,
magno numero interfecto, reliqui se in flumen prae-
cipitaverunt; atque ibi timore, lassitudine, vi fluminis
oppressi perierunt. 2 Nostri ad unum omnes incolumes,
perpaucis vulneratis, ex tanti belli timore, cum hostium
numerus capitum ccccxxx milium fuisset, se in castra
receperunt. 3 Caesar iis, quos in castris retinuerat,
discedendi potestatem fecit. Illi supplicia crucia-
tusque Gallorum veriti, quorum agros vexaverant,
remanere se apud eum velle dixerunt. His Caesar
libertatem concessit.
16. Germanico bello confecto, multis de causis Cae-
sar statuit sibi Rhenum esse transeundum: quarum
illa fuit justissima, quod, cum videret Germanos tam
facile impelli ut in Galliam venirent, suis quoque rebus
eos timere voluit, cum intellegerent et posse et audere
populi Romani exercitum Rhenum transire. 2 Ac-
cessit etiam, quod illa pars equitatus Usipetum et
Tencterorum, quam supra commemoravi praedandi
frumentandique causa Mosam transisse, neque proelio
interfuisse, post fugam suorum se trans Rhenum in
fines Sugambrorum receperat, seque cum iis conjunx-
erat. Ad quos cum Caesar nuntios misisset, qui
postularent, eos qui sibi Galliaeque bellum intulissent
sibi dederent, responderunt: Populi Romani im-
perium Rhenum finire: si se invito Germanos in
Galliam transire non aequum existimaret, cur sui
3
B. G. IV. 17.] Bridge across the Rhine.
77
quicquam esse imperii aut potestatis trans Rhenum
postularet?' Ubii autem, qui uni ex Transrhenanis
ad Caesarem legatos miserant, amicitiam fecerant,
obsides dederant, magnopere orabant ut sibi auxilium
ferret, quod graviter ab Suevis premerentur; vel, si id
facere occupationibus reipublicae prohiberetur, exer-
citum modo Rhenum transportaret : id sibi ad auxilium
spemque reliqui temporis satis futurum. 5 Tantum
esse nomen atque opinionem ejus exercitus, Ariovisto
pulso et hoc novissimo proelio facto, etiam ad ultimas
Germanorum nationes, uti opinione et amicitia populi
Romani tuti esse possint. Navium magnam copiam
ad transportandum exercitum pollicebantur.
3
4
17. Caesar, his de causis quas commemoravi, Rhe-
num transire decreverat; sed navibus transire neque
satis tutum esse arbitrabatur, neque suae neque populi
Romani dignitatis esse statuebat. 2 Itaque, etsi summa
difficultas faciendi pontis proponebatur propter latitu-
dinem, rapiditatem, altitudinemque fluminis, tamen id
sibi contendendum, aut aliter non traducendum exer-
citum existimabat. Rationem pontis hanc instituit.
Tigna bina sesquipedalia, paulum ab imo praeacuta,
dimensa ad altitudinem fluminis, intervallo pedum duo-
rum inter se jungebat. Haec cum machinationibus
immissa in flumen defixerat, fistucisque adegerat,
non sublicae modo directe ad perpendiculum, sed
prone ac fastigate, ut secundum naturam fluminis pro-
cumberent,-his item contraria duo ad eundem modum
juncta, intervallo pedum quadragenum, ab inferiore
parte contra vim atque impetum fluminis conversa
statuebat. 5 Haec utraque insuper bipedalibus tra-
bibus immissis, quantum eorum tignorum junctura
distabat, binis utrimque fibulis ab extrema parte dis-
tinebantur; quibus disclusis, atque in contrariam par-
tem revinctis, tanta erat operis firmitudo atque ea
rerum natura, ut, quo major vis aquae se incitavisset,
78
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Campaign against the Germans.
hoc artius inligata tenerentur. Haec directa materia
injecta contexebantur, ac longuriis cratibusque con-
sternebantur; ac nihilo secius sublicae et ad inferiorem
partem fluminis oblique agebantur, quae pro ariete
subjectae et cum omni opere conjunctae vim fluminis
exciperent ; 7 et aliae item supra pontem mediocri spatio,
ut, si arborum trunci sive naves deiciendi operis essent
a barbaris missae, his defensoribus earum rerum vis
minueretur, neu ponti nocerent.
18. Diebus decem, quibus materia coepta erat
comportari, omni opere effecto, exercitus traducitur.
Caesar, ad utramque partem pontis firmo praesidio
relicto, in fines Sugambrorum contendit. 2 Interim a
compluribus civitatibus ad eum legati veniunt; quibus
pacem atque amicitiam petentibus liberaliter respondit,
obsidesque ad se adduci jubet. 3 Sugambri, ex eo
tempore quo pons institui coeptus est, fuga comparata,
hortantibus iis quos ex Tencteris atque Usipetibus
apud se habebant, finibus suis excesserant, suaque
omnia exportaverant, seque in solitudinem ac silvas
abdiderant.
19. Caesar, paucos dies in eorum finibus moratus,
omnibus vicis aedificiisque incensis, frumentisque suc-
cisis, se in fines Ubiorum recepit; atque iis auxilium
suum pollicitus, si ab Suevis premerentur, haec ab
iis cognovit 2 Suevos, posteaquam per exploratores
pontem fieri comperissent, more suo concilio habito,
nuntios in omnes partes dimisisse, uti de oppidis
demigrarent, liberos, uxores, suaque omnia in silvis.
deponerent, atque omnes, qui arma ferre possent,
unum in locum convenirent; hunc esse delectum me-
dium fere regionum earum, quas Suevi obtinerent;
hic Romanorum adventum exspectare, atque ibi de-
certare constituisse.' 8 Quod ubi Caesar comperit,
omnibus rebus iis confectis, quarum rerum causa tra-
ducere exercitum constituerat, ut Germanis metum
B. G. IV. 21.] Proposed Invasion of Britain.
79
iniceret, ut Sugambros ulcisceretur, ut Ubios obsidione
liberaret, diebus omnino decem et octo trans Rhenum
consumptis, satis et ad laudem et ad utilitatem pro-
fectum arbitratus, se in Galliam recepit, pontemque
rescidit.
2
20. Exigua parte aestatis reliqua, Caesar, etsi in
his locis (quod omnis Gallia ad septentriones vergit)
maturae sunt hiemes, tamen in Britanniam proficisci
contendit: quod omnibus fere Gallicis bellis hostibus.
nostris inde sumministrata auxilia intellegebat; et, si
tempus anni ad bellum gerendum deficeret, tamen mag-
no sibi usui fore arbitrabatur, si modo insulam adisset
et genus hominum perspexisset, loca, portus, aditus
cognovisset; quae omnia fere Gallis erant incognita.
3 Neque enim temere praeter mercatores illo adit quis-
quam, neque iis ipsis quicquam praeter oram maritimam
atque eas regiones, quae sunt contra Gallias, notum
est. Itaque vocatis ad se undique mercatoribus, neque
quanta esset insulae magnitudo, neque quae aut quan-
tae nationes incolerent, neque quem usum belli habe-
rent aut quibus institutis uterentur, neque qui essent
ad majorum navium multitudinem idonei portus,
reperire poterat.
4
21. Ad haec cognoscenda, priusquam periclum fa-
ceret, idoneum esse arbitratus, Gaium Volusenum cum
navi longa praemittit. Huic mandat, ut exploratis
omnibus rebus ad se quam primum revertatur. 2 Ipse
cum omnibus copiis in Morinos proficiscitur, quod inde
erat brevissimus in Britanniam trajectus. Huc naves
undique ex finitimis regionibus, et quam superiore
aestate ad Veneticum bellum effecerat classem, jubet
convenire. Interim, consilio ejus cognito, et per mer-
catores perlato ad Britannos, a compluribus insulae
civitatibus ad eum legati veniunt, qui polliceantur
obsides dare, atque imperio populi Romani obtempe-
rare. 4 Quibus auditis, liberaliter pollicitus, hortatus-
3
80
[CÆSAR
First Invasion of Britain.
que ut in ea sententia permanerent, eos domum
remittit; et cum iis una Commium, quem ipse Atre-
batibus superatis regem ibi constituerat, cujus et virtu-
tem et consilium probabat, et quem sibi fidelem esse
arbitrabatur, cujusque auctoritas in his regionibus
magni habebatur, mittit. Huic imperat, quas possit.
adeat civitates; horteturque ut populi Romani fidem
sequantur, seque celeriter eo venturum nuntiet. Volu-
senus, perspectis regionibus omnibus, quantum ei
facultatis dari potuit, qui navi egredi ac se barbaris.
committere non auderet, quinto die ad Caesarem
revertitur, quaeque ibi perspexisset renuntiat.
5
6
2 Hoc
22. Dum in his locis Caesar navium parandarum
causa moratur, ex magna parte Morinorum ad eum
legati venerunt, qui se de superioris temporis consilio
excusarent, quod homines barbari et nostrae consuetu-
dinis imperiti bellum populo Romano fecissent, seque
ea, quae imperasset, facturos pollicerentur.
sibi Caesar satis opportune accidisse arbitratus, quod
neque post tergum hostem relinquere volebat, neque
belli gerendi propter anni tempus facultatem habebat,
neque has tantularum rerum occupationes Britanniae
anteponendas judicabat, magnum iis numerum obsi-
dum imperat. Quibus adductis, eos in fidem recepit.
³ Navibus circiter LXXX onerariis coactis contractisque,
quot satis esse ad duas transportandas legiones existi-
mabat, quod praeterea navium longarum habebat,
quaestori, legatis praefectisque distribuit. Huc ac-
cedebant xvIII onerariae naves, quae ex eo loco ab
milibus passuum VIII vento tenebantur, quo minus in
eundem portum venire possent: has equitibus distri-
buit. Reliquum exercitum Q. Titurio Sabino et L.
Aurunculeio Cottae legatis in Menapios, atque in eos
pagos Morinorum ab quibus ad eum legati non vene-
rant, ducendum dedit; P. Sulpicium Rufum legatum,
cum eo praesidio quod satis esse arbitrabatur, portum
tenere jussit.
4
B. G. IV. 24.] Difficulties of the Landing.
81
23. His constitutis rebus, nactus idoneam ad navi-
gandum tempestatem, tertia fere vigilia solvit, equites-
que in ulteriorem portum progredi et naves conscendere
et se sequi jussit. 2A quibus cum paulo tardius esset
administratum, ipse hora circiter diei quarta cum pri-
mis navibus Britanniam attigit, atque ibi in omnibus.
collibus expositas hostium copias armatas conspexit.
3 Cujus loci haec erat natura, atque ita montibus an-
gustis mare continebatur, uti ex locis superioribus in
litus telum adigi posset. Hunc ad egrediendum ne-
quaquam idoneum locum arbitratus, dum reliquae
naves eo convenirent, ad horam nonam in ancoris
exspectavit.
4
5 Interim, legatis tribunisque militum
convocatis, et quae ex Voluseno cognosset et quae
fieri vellet ostendit, monuitque ut rei militaris ratio,
maxime ut maritumae res postularent (ut quae cele-
rem atque instabilem motum haberent), ad nutum et
ad tempus omnes res ab iis administrarentur. His
dimissis, et ventum et aestum uno tempore nactus
secundum, dato signo et sublatis ancoris, circiter milia
passuum septem ab eo loco progressus, aperto ac
plano litore naves constituit.
2
6
24. At barbari, consilio Romanorum cognito, prae-
misso equitatu et essedariis, quo plerumque genere in
proeliis uti consuerunt, reliquis copiis subsecuti, nos-
tros navibus egredi prohibebant. Erat ob has causas
summa difficultas, quod naves propter magnitudinem
nisi in alto constitui non poterant; militibus autem,
ignotis locis, impeditis manibus, magno et gravi onere
armorum oppressis, simul et de navibus desiliendum
et in fluctibus consistendum et cum hostibus erat pug-
nandum; cum illi aut ex arido, aut paulum in aquam
progressi, omnibus membris expeditis, notissimis locis,
audacter tela conicerent, et equos insuefactos incita-
rent. 3 Quibus rebus nostri perterriti, atque hujus
omnino generis pugnae imperiti, non eadem alacritate
6
82
[CESAR
First Invasion of Britain.
ac studio quo in pedestribus uti proeliis consuerant
nitebantur.
3
25. Quod ubi Caesar animadvertit, naves longas,
quarum et species erat barbaris inusitatior, et motus ad
usum expeditior, paulum removeri ab onerariis navibus,
et remis incitari, et ad latus apertum hostium constitui,
atque inde fundis, sagittis, tormentis hostes propelli ac
summoveri jussit; quae res magno usui nostris fuit.
2 Nam, et navium figura et remorum motu et inusitato
genere tormentorum permoti, barbari constiterunt, ac
paulum modo pedem retulerunt. ³ Atque nostris mili-
tibus cunctantibus, maxime propter altitudinem maris,
qui decimae legionis aquilam ferebat, contestatus deos
ut ea res legioni feliciter eveniret: Desilite, inquit,
milites, nisi vultis aquilam hostibus prodere: ego
certe meum rei publicae atque imperatori officium
praestitero. Hoc cum
Hoc cum voce magna dixisset, se ex
navi projecit, atque in hostes aquilam ferre coepit.
5 Tum nostri, cohortati inter se, ne tantum dedecus
admitteretur, universi ex navi desiluerunt. Hos item
ex proximis [primis] navibus cum conspexissent, sub-
secuti hostibus adpropinquarunt.
4
26. Pugnatum est ab utrisque acriter. Nostri ta-
men, quod neque ordines servare neque firmiter insis-
tere neque signa subsequi poterant, atque alius alia ex
navi, quibuscumque signis occurrerat, se adgregabat,
magnopere perturbabantur; 2 hostes vero, notis omni-
bus vadis, ubi ex litore aliquos singulares ex navi
egredientes conspexerant, incitatis equis impeditos
adoriebantur, plures paucos circumsistebant, alii ab
latere aperto in universos tela coniciebant. Quod
cum animadvertisset Caesar, scaphas longarum na-
vium, item speculatoria navigia militibus compleri
jussit, et quos laborantes conspexerat, his subsidia
submittebat. 4 Nostri simul in arido constiterunt, suis
omnibus consecutis, in hostes impetum fecerunt, atque
3
B. G. IV. 29.] Cavalry Transports driven back.
83
eos in fugam dederunt; neque longius prosequi potue-
runt, quod equites cursum tenere atque insulam capere
non potuerant. Hoc unum ad pristinam fortunam
Caesari defuit.
27. Hostes proelio superati, simul atque se ex fuga
receperunt, statim ad Caesarem legatos de pace mise-
runt; obsides daturos quaeque imperasset facturos
esse polliciti sunt. Una cum his legatis Commius.
Atrebas venit, quem supra demonstraveram a Caesare
in Britanniam praemissum. 2 Hunc illi e navi egres-
sum, cum ad eos oratoris modo Caesaris mandata
deferret, comprehenderant atque in vincula conjece-
rant: tum, proelio facto, remiserunt; et in petenda
pace ejus rei culpam in multitudinem contulerunt,
et propter imprudentiam ut ignosceretur petiverunt.
3 Caesar questus, quod, cum ultro in continentem
legatis missis pacem ab se petissent, bellum sine causa
intulissent, ignoscere imprudentiae dixit, obsidesque
imperavit ; quorum illi partem statim dederunt, partem
ex longinquioribus locis arcessitam paucis diebus sese
daturos dixerunt. 4 Interea suos remigrare in agros
jusserunt, principesque undique convenire, et se civi-
tatesque suas Caesari commendare coeperunt.
28. His rebus pace confirmata, post diem quartum
quam est in Britanniam ventum, naves XVIII, de quibus
supra demonstratum est, quae equites sustulerant, ex
superiore portu leni vento solverunt. 2 Quae cum
adpropinquarent Britanniae et ex castris viderentur,
tanta tempestas subito coörta est, et nulla earum cur-
sum tenere posset; sed aliae eodem, unde erant pro-
fectae, referrentur, aliae ad inferiorem partem insulae,
quae est propius solis occasum, magno sui cum periculo
deicerentur; quae tamen, ancoris jactis, cum fluctibus
complerentur, necessario adversa nocte in altum pro-
vectae continentem petierunt.
29. Eadem nocte accidit ut esset luna plena, qui
x 332 a
84
[CÆSAR
First Invasion of Britain.
dies maritimos aestus maximos in Oceano efficere con-
suevit, nostrisque id erat incognitum. Ita uno tempore
et longas naves, quibus Caesar exercitum transportan-
dum curaverat, quasque in aridum subduxerat, aestus
compleverat; et onerarias, quae ad ancoras erant
deligatae, tempestas adflictabat, neque ulla nostris
facultas aut administrandi aut auxiliandi dabatur.
2 Compluribus navibus fractis, reliquae cum essent-
funibus, ancoris reliquisque armamentis amissis — ad
navigandum inutiles, magna (id quod necesse erat
accidere) totius exercitus perturbatio facta est. 3 Ne-
que enim naves erant aliae, quibus reportari possent;
et omnia deërant quae ad reficiendas naves erant usui;
et, quod omnibus constabat hiemari in Gallia oportere,
frumentum his in locis in hiemem provisum non erat.
30. Quibus rebus cognitis, principes Britanniae,
qui post proelium ad Caesarem convenerant, inter se
conlocuti, cum equites et naves et frumentum Romanis
deësse intellegerent, et paucitatem militum ex castro-
rum exiguitate cognoscerent, quae hoc erant etiam
angustiora, quod sine impedimentis Caesar legiones
transportaverat, — optimum factu esse duxerunt, re-
bellione facta, frumento commeatuque nostros prohi-
bere, et rem in hiemem producere; quod his superatis,
aut reditu interclusis, neminem postea belli inferendi
causa in Britanniam transiturum confidebant. Itaque
rursus conjuratione facta, paulatim ex castris discedere
ac suos clam ex agris deducere coeperunt.
31. At Caesar, etsi nondum eorum consilia cogno-
verat, tamen et ex eventu navium suarum, et ex eo
quod obsides dare intermiserant, fore id quod accidit
suspicabatur. Itaque ad omnes casus subsidia com-
parabat. 2 Nam et frumentum ex agris cotidie in
castra conferebat, et quae gravissime adflictae erant
naves, earum materia atque aere ad reliquas reficien-
das utebatur; et quae ad eas res erant usui ex con-
x200.6 a
B. G. IV. 33.] War Chariots of the Britons.
85
3
tinenti comportari jubebat. Itaque cum summo studio
a militibus administraretur, duodecim navibus amissis,
reliquis ut navigari commode posset effecit.
32. Dum ea geruntur, legione ex consuetudine una
frumentatum missa, quae appellabatur septima, neque
ulla ad id tempus belli suspicione interposita, — cum
pars hominum in agris remaneret, pars etiam in castra
ventitaret, ii qui pro portis castrorum in statione
erant Caesari nuntiaverunt pulverem majorem quam
consuetudo ferret in ea parte videri, quam in partem
legio iter fecisset. 2Caesar, id quod erat suspicatus,
aliquid novi a barbaris initum consilii, cohortes quae
in stationibus erant secum in eam partem proficisci,
ex reliquis duas in stationem cohortes succedere, reli-
quas armari et confestim sese subsequi jussit. Cum
paulo longius a castris processisset, suos ab hostibus
premi, atque aegre sustinere, et conferta legione ex
omnibus partibus tela conici animadvertit. 4Nam
quod, omni ex reliquis partibus demesso frumento,
pars una erat reliqua, suspicati hostes huc nostros esse
venturos, noctu in silvas delituerant; tum dispersos,
depositis armis, in metendo occupatos, subito adorti,
paucis interfectis, reliquos incertis ordinibus perturbav-
erant, simul equitatu atque essedis circumdederant.
33. Genus hoc est ex essedis pugnae. Primo per
omnes partes perequitant, et tela coniciunt, atque ipso
terrore equorum et strepitu rotarum ordines plerumque
perturbant; et cum se inter equitum turmas insinua-
verunt, ex essedis desiliunt, et pedibus proeliantur.
2 Aurigae interim paulatim ex proelio excedunt, atque
ita currus conlocant, uti si illi a multitudine hostium
premantur, expeditum ad suos receptum habeant.
³ Ita mobilitatem equitum, stabilitatem peditum in
proeliis praestant; ac tantum usu cotidiano et exerci-
tatione efficiunt, uti in declivi ac praecipiti loco incita-
tos equos sustinere, et brevi moderari ac flectere, et
86
[CÆSAR
First Invasion of Britain.
per temonem percurrere, et in jugo insistere, et se
inde in currus citissime recipere consuerint.
3
34. Quibus rebus, perturbatis nostris novitate pug-
nae, tempore opportunissimo Caesar auxilium tulit:
namque ejus adventu hostes constiterunt, nostri se ex
timore receperunt. 2 Quo facto, ad lacessendum et ad
committendum proelium alienum esse tempus arbitra-
tus, suo se loco continuit, et brevi tempore intermisso
in castra legiones reduxit. Dum haec geruntur,
nostris omnibus occupatis, qui erant in agris reliqui
discesserunt. Secutae sunt continuos complures dies
tempestates, quae et nostros in castris continerent, et
hostem a pugna prohiberent. 4 Interim barbari nun-
tios in omnes partes dimiserunt, paucitatemque nostro-
rum militum suis praedicaverunt, et quanta praedae.
faciendae atque in perpetuum sui liberandi facultas
daretur, si Romanos castris expulissent, demonstrave-
runt. His rebus, celeriter magna multitudine pedi-
tatus equitatusque coacta, ad castra venerunt.
35. Caesar, etsi idem quod superioribus diebus acci-
derat fore videbat, — ut, si essent hostes pulsi, celeri-
tate periculum effugerent, tamen nactus equites
circiter triginta, quos Commius Atrebas (de quo ante
dictum est) secum transportaverat, legiones in acie
pro castris constituit. 2 Commisso proelio, diutius
nostrorum militum impetum hostes ferre non potue-
runt, ac terga verterunt. 3 Quos tanto spatio secuti,
quantum cursu et viribus efficere potuerunt, complures
ex iis occiderunt; deinde, omnibus longe lateque
aedificiis incensis, se in castra receperunt.
36. Eodem die legati ab hostibus missi ad Caesarem
de pace venerunt. His Caesar numerum obsidum,
quem antea imperaverat, duplicavit, eosque in conti-
nentem adduci jussit ; quod, propinqua die aequinoctii,
infirmis navibus hiemi navigationem subiciendam non
existimabat. 2 Ipse, idoneam tempestatem nanctus,
B. G. IV. 38.] Return to the Mainland.
87
paulo post mediam noctem naves solvit; quae omnes
incolumes ad continentem pervenerunt: sed ex iis
onerariae duae eosdem quos reliqui portus capere
non potuerunt, et paulo infra delatae sunt.
37. Quibus ex navibus cum essent expositi milites
circiter trecenti, atque in castra contenderent, Morini,
quos Caesar in Britanniam proficiscens pacatos reli-
querat, spe praedae adducti, primo non ita magno
suorum numero circumsteterunt, ac, si sese interfici
nollent, arma ponere jusserunt. 2 Cum illi, orbe facto,
sese defenderent, celeriter ad clamorem hominum
circiter milia sex convenerunt. Qua re nuntiata,
Caesar omnem ex castris equitatum suis auxilio misit.
3 Interim nostri milites impetum hostium sustinuerunt,
atque amplius horis quattuor fortissime pugnaverunt,
et paucis vulneribus acceptis complures ex his occide-
runt. Postea vero quam equitatus noster in conspec-
tum venit, hostes abjectis armis terga verterunt,
magnusque eorum numerus est occisus.
4
2
38. Caesar postero die T. Labienum legatum, cum
iis legionibus quas ex Britannia reduxerat, in Morinos,
qui rebellionem fecerant, misit. Qui cum, propter
siccitates paludum, quo se reciperent non haberent
(quo superiore anno perfugio fuerant usi), omnes fere
in potestatem Labieni pervenerunt. At Q. Titurius
et L. Cotta legati, qui in Menapiorum fines legiones
duxerant, omnibus eorum agris vastatis, frumentis
succisis, aedificiis incensis, quod Menapii se omnes in
densissimas silvas abdiderant, se ad Caesarem recepe-
runt. Caesar in Belgis omnium legionum hiberna
constituit. Eo duae omnino civitates ex Britannia
obsides miserunt, reliquae neglexerunt. His rebus
gestis, ex litteris Caesaris dierum viginti supplicatio
a senatu decreta est.
1.
!
!
NOTES.
As CESAR, though in many respects a book for advanced
students, is often the first Latin classic put into the learner's
hands, it may be well to give a few hints as to the method of
study.
1. Before beginning to read, the learner should be familiar with
the forms of Inflection, the simpler rules of Agreement and Con-
struction of Cases (Gr. § 75, especially Rules 1-10, 14, 21, 26), and
the Definitions contained in § 45.
2. In every sentence, begin by finding the leading verb with its
subject, and its direct object if it has one; and so make the main
thought clear before trying to bring in the subordinate parts.
3. Always look first at the inflectional terminations, so that the
number, case, tense, person, &c., will instantly occur upon seeing
a Latin word. The great fault of most learners is carelessness
about inflections. It is much better to guess at the meaning of the
word and know its form, than to neglect the form and be careful of
the meaning.
4. In the use of Notes, it is generally best not to consult them
till you have fairly tried without their aid; but, even if the sentence
seems quite clear, never neglect to consult them afterwards. Some-
times they will give you information; generally they will put the
matter in a new or clearer light.
"
5. Until you are quite familiar with the Syntax, consult all the
references to the Grammar.* These at first are more numerous and
elementary; but further on — especially in "Indirect Discourse
they should be carefully studied, with the examples, and the more
difficult points explained by the teacher.
6. Many references at first are to the short Rules for Parsing
(Grammar, pp. 210, 211): it may be well to have most of these
Rules quite familiar before going into the details of Syntax.
7. Lastly, remember that Cæsar was a man of action and great
intelligence; that he always had a plain story to tell, and knew
just what he meant to say. He is often awkward; he may be
crafty, unscrupulous, insincere; but he is never obscure. And one
should never be satisfied until he sees, or thinks he sees, exactly
what his meaning is.
* The references are to Allen and Greenough's and Gildersleeve's Latin Grammars.
2
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
BOOK FIRst.
HELVETIAN WAR. - Early in the year 58 B.C., the whole population of
Helvetia (northern Switzerland), amounting to about 360,000, attempted
to pass by an armed emigration through the heart of Gaul, in order to
settle somewhere near the shore of the Bay of Biscay, possibly with the
hope of being masters of the whole country. They were hemmed in by
the great natural barriers of the Alps, the Lake of Geneva, and the Jura
mountains on the south and west; and pressed on the north by great
hordes of Germans, who kept up a continual border war. Their fields
were scant, their harvests insufficient, their people hardy and fearless.
Their ambitious chief, Orgetorix, had prepared them so well for this
enterprise, that his flight and death when he was charged with guilty
conspiracy, and put on trial for his life — caused no delay. The attempt
was held in check by Cæsar, during a fortnight's parley, till sufficient
earthworks had been thrown up along the Khone to withstand their
advance; the advance was then made in force along the narrow pass
between that river and the Jura. But the Helvetians did not succeed in
getting more than fifty miles beyond the frontier, when they were over-
taken by Cæsar; who by a few light skirmishes and two bloody battles
forced them back to their own territories, with the loss of more than
200,000 lives. This brief campaign, lasting only from March to June, is
called the Helvetian war.
PAGE
2. Gallia, that is, independent Gaul, excluding the Roman
province (Provincia) in the south-east, as well as Gallia Cisalpina,
now northern Italy. It occupied the territory of France, including
to the Rhine boundary, with most of the Netherlands and Switzer-
land (see Map).
omnis (predicate), as a whole. est divisa, is divided: the
adjective use of the participle, not the perfect passive (§ 72, 2, b;
G. 439, R).
Belgæ, probably of the Cymric branch, allied to the Britons and
the modern Welsh: they inhabited the modern Belgium, Picardy,
and Champagne, and were considerably mixed with Germans
(see ii. 1). Aquitani, of the Spanish Iberians (the modern
Basques), inhabiting the districts of Gascony and Guienne (see iii.
20). — Celtæ, probably of the Gaelic branch, represented by the
Irish and the Highland Scotch.
aliam: alteram would be more usual, as meaning the second in
the list. tertiam qui . . . appellantur, the third [those inhabit]
who are called, &c. It would read in full, tertiam [partem ii in-
colunt] qui, etc. - ipsorum linguā, in their own tongue. —
nostrā, sc.* linguā.
* Understand.
I. I.]
3
The Helvetian War.
Galli: the word GAL is said to mean battle; hence GALA,
warrior.
linguă (abl. of specification, § 54, 9, R. 26; G. 397) . . . diffe-
runt, differ in language, customs, and laws. The language of the
Aquitani was Basque; of the Gauls proper, Celtic; of the Bel-
gians, probably, Celtic mixed with German. (Observe that when
three words, as lingua, etc., are used together, by Latin use there
should either be no conjunction at all, as here, or one should be
used with all except the first.)
inter se = from one another: the preposition inter may be
used to show any reciprocal relation, see § 19, 3, d.
dividit: the verb is singular, because the two rivers make one
boundary (§ 49, 1, b; G. 202, R'); as we should say, is divided by
the line of the Seine and Marne.
2. horum, part. gen. with fortissimi, § 50, 2 (R. 10); G. 366. —
propterea quod, because; lit. because of this, that, &c. These
adverbial phrases, which are numerous in Latin, should always be
carefully analyzed, though generally rendered by a single word in
English. (Beginners constantly confound propterea, for that
reason, with præterea, besides.)
cultu, civilization, as shown by outward signs; humanitate,
refinement, of mind or feeling.
provinciæ: the province of Gallia Narbonensis, organized
about B. C. 120. Its chief cities were Massilia (Marseilles), an old
Greek free city, and the capital, Narbo (Narbonne), a Roman
colony. The name Provincia has come down in the modern
Provence.
The verb
minime sæpe commeant, least often penetrate.
commeo means, especially, to go back and forth in the way of
traffic. The main line of trade lay across the country, by the river
Loire. -mercatores: these were traders or pedlers, mostly from
the seaport of Massilia; they travelled with pack-horses, mules,
and waggons. A very common article of traffic (as with our
Indian traders) was intoxicating drinks, — wines from the southern
coast; which, especially, as Cæsar says, "tend to debauch the
character." These people, it is said, would give the traders a boy
for a jar of wine.
ea, object of important. effeminandos, § 73, 2 (R. 41); G.
428. Germanis, dat. § 71, 6 (R. 15); G. 356 (compare d; R¹).
The name is said to mean men of war.
trans Rhenum: the Rhine was, in general, the boundary
between Gauls and Germans; though, as we shall see, a few Ger-
man tribes had settled on the hither side.
continenter (adverb from the participle of contineo, hold
together), incessantly; strictly, without any interruption.
4
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
3. qua de causa, and for this reason, (§ 45, 6²; G. 612): in
apposition with quod . . contendunt.
•
Helvetii, here, it will be noticed, reckoned as Gauls.-præce-
dunt, excel; lit. walk before.
- cum pro-
præliis, abl. of means; finibus, abl. of separation.
hibent, while they keep them off (pro-habeo). Observe that this
conjunction is not properly spelled quum, on acccunt of the old
rule forbidding u to follow u or v in the same syllable (§ 1, 2, 6);
but cum or quom. —ipsi (emphatic), themselves.
4. eorum una pars, one division of them (the Gauls), the
people being put for the country. quam
dictum est, which
(it has been [already] said) the Gauls hold. [Notice that in direct
discourse it would be Galli obtinent: the subject-nom. is changed
to acc., and the indic. to the infin. after the verb of saying, dictum
est, § 57, 8, e (R. 39); G. 527.] Here quam is the object and
Gallos the subject of obtinere; while the clause is the subject of
dictum est ($ 70, 2, a²; G. 528). — obtinere (ob-teneo), not
obtain, but occupy: strictly, hold against all claimants; what is
called in law adverse possession. Ob in composition almost.
always has the sense of opposing or coming in the way of any
thing.
ab Sequanis, on the side of, &c. vergit, etc., slopes to the
north; that is, the highlands (Cevennes) are along the southern
boundary, and the rivers flow in their main course northerly.
septentriones (septem triones, "the seven plough-oxen "), i. e.
the constellations of the great and little Bear. The word is used
both in the singular (as a compound) and in the plural.
3. ad Hispaniam, next to Spain, i. e. the Bay of Biscay.
2. nobilissimus (root GNO, know), of highest birth. Popu-
lar revolutions had, among the Gauls as among the Greeks and
Romans, mostly dispossessed the old chiefs, or kings; and they
had established an annual magistrate called Vergobret (ch. 20).
But the heads of the ruling families would naturally be ambitious
to recover what they could of the old class power; and Orgetorix
is represented as aspiring to create a monarchy in Gaul.
Orgetorix: this name, by a probable derivation, means the
slayer.
was B.C. 61, three years before
The construction of consulibus
Messala, etc. (§ 84, 1): this
Cæsar's first campaign in Gaul.
is abl. absolute, § 54, 10, b (R. 35); G. 408; not so formal as
while Messala and Piso were consuls, but merely in their consul-
ship. This was the usual way of denoting the year.
conjurationem, a league, sworn to fidelity by oath (juro).
nobilitatis: from the account given in ch. 4, we see how immense
was the class power still held by the nobles.
I. I, 2.]
5 .
The Helvetian War.
.
civitati persuasit, § 51, 2, a (R. 16); G. 345: the direct object
of persuasit is the clause ut exirent (§ 70, 3, a; G. 546, R I);
compare id, two lines below. All citizens, probably, had a right to
vote; but their votes were easily "persuaded" by such means as
Orgetorix possessed. (For the sequence of tenses in exirent,
see § 58, 10, R.; G. 510).
perfacile (predicate with esse, while its subject is the infinitive
clause with potiri): that it was quite easy, since they exceeded all
men in valor, to win the empire of all Gaul. esse, indirect disc.,
depending on some such word as he said (§ 70, 2, c; G. 652, r²).
cum præstarent, subjunctive after cum, meaning since, § 62,
2, e; G. 587, 4. — imperio, § 54, 6, d (R. 31); G. 405. The word
properly means, authority held by force of arms.
2. hoc facilius, all the easier : § 54, 6, e (R. 33); G. 400. — id,
obj. of persuasit (§ 51, 2, c; G. 344): we should say, persuaded
them of it. quod (adverbial accus.), correlative of hoc: the more
easily, because, &c. — loci naturā, by the nature of the country.-
continentur, are held in.
M
una ex parte, on one side: as in undique, on (lit. from) all
sides, hinc, on this side, &c. The effect on the senses is supposed
to come from the direction referred to.
3. his rebus, by these means. - fiebat (imperf.) = it was coming
about more and more (§ 58, 3; G. 222): the subject is the clause
ut possent (see § 70, R).
• •
•
qua ex parte, on which ground: :— some editions have qua de
causa. - homines (a sort of apposition) = being (as they were)
men eager for war. — bellandi, § 50, 3, ₺ (R. 12); G. 374.
b
adficiebantur afficiebantur: for the rule as to assimilation of
consonants, compare § 1, 3, g. In this edition the unchanged form
of the preposition is usually preferred.
4. pro, in proportion to. — multitudine: their numbers, includ-
ing some small dependent populations, were 368,000 (see ch. 29). -
angustos fines too narrow limits: those here given are about 40
miles each way larger than the present boundaries of Switzerland.
-
milia passuum, miles (1000 paces), the regular way of stating this
measure, milia being acc. of extent of space (R. 23), and passuum
partit. genitive. The passus was the stretch from heel to heel, i. e.
from where the heel is raised to where it is set down again; and is
reckoned at five Roman feet. A Roman mile (mille passuum) was
about 400 feet less than ours; it measures the distance which a
soldier would march in "a thousand paces."
patebant: throughout the latter part of this chapter notice the
use of the imperfect of description or general statement, compared
with the perfect of simple narrative in persuasit, above, and con-
stituerunt, &c., below.
6
[B. G.
Nolcs: Cæsar.
3. permoti: this word seems to show something more than
mere "persuasion" on the part of Orgetorix, cf. ch. 2'. quæ
pertinerent, dependent clause in indir. disc., § 66, 1, d; G. 653.
Observe that Latin employs different moods for the two forms of quo-
tation, one for what is called Direct and the other for Indirect Discourse.
Whenever the writer or speaker takes the responsibility of the state-
ment, it is put in the Indicative, with commands in the Imperative.
These are the moods of DIRECT DISCOURSE. When any thing is told
not simply as a fact, but that some one thought or said so, the leading
statement is put in the Infinitive, and all subordinate parts (including
commands) in the Subjunctive. These are the moods of INDIRECT
DISCOURSE. The narrative in this chapter will require a careful atten-
tion to the above distinction. Let the learner here study attentively the
introductory paragraph and Remark of § 67 (G. 651). In Cæsar, all
the speeches are given in the form of narrative; that is, in Indirect
Discourse.
·
•
comparare . confirmare: these infinitives are construed as
the direct object of the leading verb constituerunt, § 57, 8, c (R.
38); G. 424.
quæ pertinerent, subjunctive because depending on the infini-
tive comparare: § 66, 2 (R. 47); G. 666.
quam maximum, as great as possible (§ 17, 5, b; G. 317.—
jumentorum, beasts of burden, properly, yoke-animals (root yʊ,
kindred with YUG in jungo, jugum); carrorum, two-wheeled carts,
suited to the narrow and rough roads.
2. conficiendas (FAC), completing: con in composition gener-
ally means together; or, as here, may be simply intensive. lege:
probably passed in a public assembly, which is what a Roman
would understand by lex.in tertium annum confirmant,
fix for the third year.
3. sibi suscepit, took on himself. Observe the force of sub,
as if he put his shoulders under the load. - civitates, clans, such
as the Ædui, Sequani, &c., more than So in all, — whose territory
had no local name, but was known only by that of the clan, which
was sovereign and wholly independent, except for voluntary alli-
ances (see ch. 30). The name Gallia itself as was said of Italy
a few years ago-was only "a geographical expression," implying
no political sovereignty.
hands on.
persuadet, prevails on: suadet would be, simply, urges.
obtinuerat, had held. amicus, an honorary title given by the
Roman Senate to friendly powers. ut. occuparet, to lay
This clause is the object of persuadet (§ 70, 3, a; G.
576, R'; for the sequence of tenses, see § 58, 10, b; G. 510, R),
which in English would be expressed by the infinitive.—ante,
here an adverb; in English we should say before him.
I. 3.]
7
The Helvetian War.
Dumnorigi (dat. after persuadet, p. 4), Dumnorix, a younger
brother, restless, ambitious, and strongly attached to the old
aristocracy of the clan: therefore a bitter enemy of the Roman
supremacy. He afterwards headed a desertion of Cæsar's cavalry,
just before the second invasion of Britain, but was pursued and
killed (v. 6).
4. Divitiăci: this Eduan chief was of the order of Druids ;
he had been in Rome, where he made the acquaintance of Cicero
and other eminent Romans. He was thoroughly impressed with
the power and superiority of the Romans, and was a faithful friend
and ally of Cæsar.
The name is by some thought to be a Druid title. The party of
Druids, represented by Divitiacus and Liscus (chap. 16), was the
popular party, strong especially in the large towns: it was opposed by
the old clan feeling kept up by military or tribal chiefs (principes), such
as Orgetorix and Dumnorix. The former, or popular party was headed
by the Edui, the latter, or aristocratic, by the Sequani and Arverni.
The Druids were a religious or priestly order, jealous of the aristocracy
(equites) of the tribe or clan, which represented what may be called the
patriotic or "native-Celtic" party (see vi. 12-17). A knowledge of this
division helps clear up many of the events of Cæsar's campaigns.
Divitiacus was a name well known at Rome. A later writer gives an
interesting picture of the Gallic chief standing and leaning on his shield
while he made his appeal before the senate, declining (as a suppliant)
the seat which was in courtesy offered him.
-
qui, i. e. Dumnorix. — principatum, highest rank, as distinct
from political power. plebi acceptus, a favorite with the people.
ut idem conaretur, to make the same attempt (lit. attempt the
same thing): i. e. put down the constitutional authority, and
establish a rule of military chiefs.
4. perfacile factu (§ 74, 2, R; G. 437, R¹), very easy to do: in
predicate agreement with conata perficere, which is subj. of esse. —
illis probat, undertakes to show them, i. e. to Casticus and Dum-
norix (conative present, § 58, 2, b; G. 218, r²).
non esse dubium quin, there is no doubt (he says) that: here
esse is infin. of indirect disc.; for the construction of quin, see
§ 65, 1, b; G. 551. — Galliæ, partitive gen. with plurimum.
plurimum possent: =were the strongest. -confirmat, asserts
(confidently).
5. oratione, plea, or argument (abl. of means). — fidem et
jusjurandum, i. e. assurance confirmed by oath. (This way of
expressing a single idea by two nouns instead of a noun and adjec-
tive is called hendiadys; and is very common in Latin, especially
in poetry.)
regno occupato (abl. absolute, expressing condition, see § 54,
8
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
10, b, R; G. 408, R), in case they should get in their hands the
royal power: si occupaverimus. - per tres populos, i. e.
Helvetii, Ædui, and Sequani; a league between these, they hope,
will secure their power over all Gaul.-posse, equivalent to a
future infinitive (see § 58, 11, ƒ; G. 240). — Galliæ, governed by
potiri; see § 54. 6, d; G. 405.
4. ea res, this thing (i. e. conspiracy). The word res would
often be best rendered by some more specific word in English, as
action, fact, event, estate, &c., according to the passage. The Hel-
vetians were prepared to emigrate in a body, and subdue the rest
of Gaul; but not to surrender to Orgetorix the power thus ac-
quired. His act was treason, a conspiracy within a conspiracy.
moribus suis, according to their custom (abl. of manner). — ex
vinclis (=vinculis; so hindrance for hinderance in English), out
of chains, i. e. standing in chains. A Latin idiom, cf. ex equis,
on horseback. causam dicere, to plead his case, a technical
expression for being brought to trial.
•
damnatum (sc. eum, object of sequi), if condemned. (In this
sentence, the subject of oportebat is the clause damnatum
sequi; the subject of sequi is pœnam; and ut . . . cremaretur is
in apposition with pœnam, defining the punishment: § 70, 4, ƒ; G.
559.) Translate, it must needs be that the penalty should overtake
him, if condemned, of being burned with fire. (For the ablative
in i, see § 11, i. 3, b²; G. 60, 3, a. This form is often used by
Cæsar and earlier writers.)
2. die constituta, on the day appointed, § 55, 1 (R. 34); G.
392; for the gender of die see § 13, 2, N. causæ dictionis, of
the pleading of the case (it would be more usual to say dicendæ):
doubled genitives used in this way are said to be more frequent
with Cæsar than with any other writer (§ 50, 2, Rʻ; G. 361, R²).
ad judicium, near the [place of] judgment. — familiam, clans-
men: by Roman use, this would mean slaves; but it is more prob-
able that it here means all who bore his name, or regarded him as
their chief. ad . . . decem milia, to [the number of] 10,000.
clientes, retainers, volunteer or adopted followers; obæratos,
debtors, the only class of slaves that seems to have been known
in Gaul, see vi. 13, 2.—per eos, by their means (§ 54, 4, b; G.
403).
·
•
•
·
3. cum conaretur, when the state attempted: relative time,
§ 62, 2, b; G. 582. — neque suspītio (the true spelling of this
word), and the suspicion is not wanting. The negative neque
and not) is oftener best translated by dividing in this way.
quin consciverit (conscisco), that he decreed death to him-
self (his own death), i. e. committed suicide. Observe that ipse, self,
agrees in Latin rather with the subject; not, as in English, with the
•
•
I. 3-6.]
The Helvetian War.
9
object. Orgetorix (it will be noticed) was never in the power of
the magistrates, he was not put in chains, nor did he die in prison."
5. nihilo minus, often written in one word, as in English, never-
theless. — constituerant, had resolved: observe the pluperfect,
as following the historical present. ―ut . . . exeant, in apposi
tion with id: as we should say, "namely, to go forth."
ubi arbitrati sunt, when they judged: observe the regular use
of the perfect indicative with ubi, postquam, etc., § 62, 2, a; G.
563. — rem, enterprise. — oppida, towns, fortified and capable of
defence; vicos, villages, i. e. groups of houses about a single
spot. (In a city, vicus is a street, considered as the houses
occupied; via is the travelled way between them.) The villages
and houses were burned, partly to cut off hope of return; partly to
prevent their being occupied by their enemies, the Germans.
incendunt, set fire to.
præterquam quod, excepting what: observe that in this phrase
quam means than, and præter is the comparative of præ: lit.
further than what. comburunt, burn up.-molita cibaria,
milled bread-corn: every man to take his own supply for three
months' use. - domum, § 55, 3, b; G. 410, following reditionis.
2. Rauracis, etc., German tribes from Baden, just north of the
Rhine. uti, the older form for ut, common in Cæsar. una cum
iis, along with them (lit. by one way).
Boios (from whom the name Bohemia is derived): a Celtic
tribe, whom the great German advance had cut off from their kins-
people towards the west, and who were now wandering homeless,
some of them within the limits of Gaul.
5. Noricum, Noreiam (see map), the name sometimes given
in modern times to the district about Nuremberg, some distance
further north.-receptos . . . adsciscunt: in English, in a sen-
tence like this, we should use a separate verb instead of the
participle (§ 72, 3; G. 667). Translate, they receive the Boii into
their own number (ad se), and vote them in as allies to themselves.
6. omnino, in all, i. e. only. — itinera, itineribus: observe
the form of this relative sentence (common in Cæsar), which
gives the antecedent noun in both clauses. It is usually omitted
in one or the other (see § 48, N): in English, almost always in the
relative clause; in Latin, quite as often in the other.-possent
(potential subj. § 60, 2, a; G. 602), i. e. they might go out [if they
desired].
Sequanos, i. e. the region now called Franche Comté, north of
the Rhone they gave their name to the river Seine (Sequana),
living near its upper waters. - inter . . . Rhodanum: the pass
now guarded by the Fort P'Ecluse, about nineteen Roman (eighteen
IO
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
and a half English) miles below Geneva. Between Geneva and
this point the banks are steep on both sides the river; but with
many spots of lower ground where a passage could easily be made.
The Rhone at this part was the boundary of the Roman province.
The choice was between crossing the river and proceeding along its
northern bank.
vix, qua, etc., where carts could scarcely be hauled in single file
(see § 18, 2, a; G. 95). — autem (a mild adversative), now.
2. multo facilius, much easier in itself; but it required them to
crush the Roman legion at Geneva, and force their way through
about fifty miles of territory occupied by the Roman arms. — - prop-
terea quod, see note to ch. 12.-nuper pacati erant, had been
lately subdued (reduced to peace). A rebellion "of despair," B. C.
61, had been subdued by C. Pomptinus.
locis, loc. abl. (§ 55, 3, ƒ; G. 385).—vado, by ford (wading,
vadendo).
Genua (Genva) is nearest to the modern German name (Genf);
it is also spelled Genava and Geneva. The name is said to mean
a mouth.
3. sese persuasuros [esse] (notice that in the future infinitive,
used in indirect discourse, esse is usually omitted; in direct disc.
it would be persuadebimus), they thought they should persuade :
its object is Allobrogibus. bono animo well disposed: five
years before, their envoys in Rome had intrigued with Catiline's
agents, whom they at length betrayed (see Cicero, Cat. iii. § 22).
4. a. d. v. Kal. Apr. (see § 56, 1, ƒ; G. App.), nominally, March
28 (§ 84, 3; G. App.). According to the astronomer Leverrier,
the true date was March 24, or just after the spring equinox: others
have made it as late as April 16. The calendar was in a state of
great confusion at this time, and till Cæsar's reform, 12 years later.
(For a character of the consuls Piso and Gabinius, see Cicero's
speech on his own exile, Pro Sestio: "Select Orations.")
7. Cæsari: he was at this time at Rome, having laid down
his consulship, preparing to set out for his province. Every
consul was entitled to the governorship of a province for one year
after his term of office, and by a special law Cæsar's province had
been conferred for a term of five years. This news hastened his
movements.
•
•
id, in appos. with eos conari (the real subject of esset),
that they were attempting to force a march, &c.—maturat, hastens;
travelling, his biographers say, 100 miles in a day. The subject,
Cæsar, is here omitted with the leading verb, being expressed in
the relative clause.
quam maximis potest itineribus (§ 17, 5, c; G. 317): potest
is usual with Cæsar in this phrase, which is elliptical. In full it
I. 6, 7.]
II
The Helvetian War.
would be, tam magnis quam maximis, as great as the greatest;
i. e. the greatest possible (ch. 10³).
ab urbe this word, unless some other place is indicated,
always means Rome, THE CITY. Cæsar was near, but not in the city,
not being permitted to enter it while holding the military authority
(imperium) of proconsul. - ulteriorem, i. e. beyond the Alps.
The northern part of modern Italy was still called Gallia Cisalpina,
and was a part of Cæsar's province.
2. provinciæ (dat.) imperat, levies on the province. The
"entire province " probably included Dalmatia as well as Cisalpine
Gaul, both being in Cæsar's jurisdiction.
3. certiores facti sunt, were informed. qui dicerent, who
were [instructed] to say (§ 64, 1; G. 544).— sibi . . . liceat:
observe carefully the construction of the indirect discourse (§ 67,
R. and I; G. 653): in direct discourse it would be, "Nobis est in
animo sine ullo maleficio iter per provinciam facere, propterea quod
aliud iter habemus nullum; rogamus, ut tua voluntate id nobis
facere liceat." A little attention to this in the beginning will re-
lieve this very frequent construction in Cæsar of all difficulty.
sibi, dat. of possession (§ 51, 3; G. 349); of esse, the subj. is
the clause iter . . . facere, while the whole passage sibi . . . liceat,
is the object of dicerent. Render, that they had [it] in mind to
make, &c.— aliud . . . nullum, like the English, other passage
had they none. - rogare: of this verb the subject is se, under-
stood; and the object is the clause ut . . . liceat (§ 70, 3, a; G.
546, R'): they begged it might be allowed them to do this with his
consent.
4. L. Cassium . . . occisum [esse], object of memoria tene-
bat, as a phrase of knowing (§ 57, 8, e; G. 527). This defeat
happened B. C. 107, in the terrible invasion of the Cimbri or Teu-
tons, the Helvetians being their allies. "The army of Cassius was
one of six swept away by these barbarians."
6. sub jugum, under the yoke (hence the word subjugate).
The jugum was made by sticking two spears in the ground, and
laying another across them above. To pass under this was equiva-
lent to laying down of arms by a modern army.
concedendum [esse], depending on putabat, impersonal (see
§ 73, I, R; G. 427, R'): thought that no concession should be made,
lit., "that it must not be yielded."
homines, subj. of temperaturos [esse], depending on existi-
mabat: he judged that men of hostile temper (abl. of quality, § 54,
7; G. 402), if the opportunity were given (abl. absolute) of making
a march (gerundive, § 73, 3, a; G. 429) through the province,
would not (neque) refrain from wrong and mischief.
5. dum
convenirent (§ 62, 2, d; G. 574), until the men
12
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
should muster. — diem se sumpturum [esse], he would take time.
si quid . . . reverterentur (subj. for imperat. § 67, 3; G. 664): in
direct discourse, if you wish any thing (said he), return on the
13th of April.
a
8. ea legione, with that legion (abl. of instrum.). In this sen-
tence, observe how all the qualifying clauses come first, and the
direct objects murum, fossam, come next before the leading
verb perducit (§ 76, 1); while each relative belongs to the verb
which comes next after it unless another relative intervenes,
very convenient rule in analyzing a long and difficult sentence.
decem novem, nineteen, following the windings of the river
(see note, ch. 6). murum: this rampart, or earthwork, was on the
south side of the river, leaving the passage undisputed along the
northern bank.
The banks of the Rhone in this part are generally rugged and steep,
with sharp ravines; there are only four short reaches
a little over
three miles in all-in this course of eighteen miles requiring defences,
and only two places where the river is fordable. Some remains of
Cæsar's works can still be traced, according to the French engineers
who surveyed the ground under the orders of Napoleon III. Accord-
ing to Cæsar's statement, the work was continuous (this is the meaning
of perducit). We may assume, however, that the earth-wall was not
necessarily built up to the full height (16 feet) the whole distance, but
was often formed by digging away from the natural bank to form the
trench. At the same time, we must remember that the Roman soldiers
were accustomed to an amount of labor with the spade which no army
at the present day would submit to.
2. castella, bastions or redoubts, along the line of the works.
quo facilius possit, that he may the more easily: the usual con-
struction (§ 64, 1, a; G. 545, 2). — se invito (abl. abs.), against
his will.
- si conentur, future con-
3. negat se posse, says he cannot.
dition in indirect discourse: direct, it would be si conabimini.
— prohibiturum [se esse] ostendit, shows that he shall stop
them (pointing to his works).
4. dejecti, down-cast: de in composition generally has the
meaning down. — nonnumquam, sometimes (§ 41, 2, e, R.).—
si . . . possent, an indirect question (§ 67, 2, ƒ; G. 603), depending
on conati: trying if they could break through. — conatu, abl. of
separation, following destiterunt, desisted.
9. Sequanis invitis (abl. abs. of condition), in case the Sequani
should refuse.
sua sponte, by their own influence: a rare mean-
ing of this phrase, which is generally, of their own accord.-
eo
I. 7-10.]
13
The Helvetian War.
deprecatore (abl. of instrum.), by his means as advocate. — im-
pretrarent, they might obtain [it].
M
2. gratiā, personal influence; largitione, lavish gifts and hospi-
talities, like those of old chiefs of the clan. duxerat: this word is
used of the man who marries a wife, i. e. he leads her to his own
house; of the woman it is said, nubit viro (dat.), i. e. she puts on
the veil for him. -novis rebus (dat. § 51, 2, b; G. 346, R²), revo-
lution, change in the state. — habere obstrictos, to keep close
bound.
• •
3. impetrat has for obj. ut partiantur; and perficit, uti
dent: obtains (from their good will) that they will allow the
Helvetii to go, &c., and brings it about that they exchange hostages.
7. 10. renuntiatur, word is brought back, i. e. from messengers
sent to ascertain: the subject is the clause Helvetiis esse, etc.
(see note 7³). — Tolosatium, of Tolosa, the modern Toulouse.
The Santones give the name to the modern province of Saintonge, on
the Bay of Biscay. This is so far from the borders of the Province, as
to show that Cæsar was only searching for a pretext; for of course he
had no authority to interfere, unasked, with a passage through the terri-
tory of the Sequani. One motive in writing the Commentaries, we must
remember, was to produce political effect in Rome.
se
2. futurum [esse] ut haberet, etc., it would be to the great
peril of the province (§ 70, R) that he would have: nearly
habiturum [esse], a kind of periphrastic future (§ 58, 11, ƒ; G.
240) carried into the past by sequence of tenses (intellegebat).
locis (loc. abl.) patentibus, in an open country: the S. W. part of
Gaul is a broad river valley, giving easy access to the province.
:
3. munitioni præfecit, he put in command of the fort.-
Labienum this was Cæsar's best officer, a prominent and influen-
tial politician, of strongly democratic sympathies. He served
Cæsar faithfully through the Gallic wars, but when the Civil war
broke out, he joined what he conceived to be the party of the
republic, went over to Pompey, and was killed at Munda.
legatum, aid, or staff-officer. There were generally three of
them assigned to the commander by the Senate, his wishes being
considered in the selection.
magnis itineribus, as in ch. 7'. It is also the usual phrase for
forced marches of an army. The ordinary day's march of the
Romans was about 15 miles; a magnum iter was from 20 to 25
miles, each soldier carrying, besides his trenching tools, personal
baggage (sarcina), five wooden palisades for fortifying the camp:
in all, a weight often of 50 or 60 pounds.
legiones a legion at this time consisted, theoretically, of ten
cohorts of 600 men each, all infantry; each cohort being divided
14
[B. G.
LVOTES: Cæsar.
into three maniples. Cæsar's legions, in fact, contained less than
3500 men each.
Aquileiam: an important Roman colony at the head of the
Adriatic. It continued to be the chief port of trade for this region
till outgrown by Venice.
qua proximum iter, i. e. by way of Susa and Turin, by Mt.
Genèvre. Ocelum is identified with Houlx, a little south-west of
Turin. The more direct way by Mt. Cenis began to be used under
Augustus.
• • •
4. compluribus pulsis, interlocked order, his agreeing
with pulsis (§ 76, 2, h). —ab Ocelo pervenit, came through from
Ocelum. - trans Rhodanum, towards the west, as the Rhone, at
Lyons, turns abruptly to the south. His object was to head off the
Helvetians, who had advanced westwardly, north of the upper
course of the river, and had now reached the territory of the Ædui.
Cæsar's army by this time amounted to near 25,000 men; the Hel-
vetians had between 80,000 and 100,000 warriors to oppose him,
with (probably) at least 8500 waggons.
11. jam traduxerant, had already brought across; per angus-
tias, i. e. though the pas de l'Ecluse, before described. The
emperor Napoleon III. enters into a calculation to show that
Cæsar's absence cannot have occupied less than two months; so
that the following events took place in the latter part of June. —
rogatum (supine), to ask.
.
2. ita se, understand dicentes or some such word. In direct
discourse, this will be, "Ita [nos] ... meriti sumus, ut pæne in
conspectu exercitus tui, . . . liberi nostri . . . non debeant:" we
have so deserved . . . that our fields ought not to be wasted, &c.
meritos: "Alone among the Gauls," says Tacitus, "the Edui
claim the name of brotherhood with the Roman people" (Ann. xi.
25). There was even a later fiction of a common descent from
Troy for the Arverni (Lucan, i. 427). So it was an old notion that
Britain had its name from Brutus, a grandson of Ascanius.
3. Hædui Ambarri, the Edui near the Arar (or Saone),
occupying the angle between that river and the Rhone. (Some
editions omit Hædui in this title; others write, eodem tempore quo
Edui, Ambarri quoque.)
necessarii, close connections (bound by necessitudo, which Cæsar
used to call necessitas); consanguinei, blood-kindred.
depopulatis agris . . . prohibere, their fields were already
wasted, and they were with difficulty attempting to keep off, &c.
(see § 72, 3, R; G. 667, r').
8. 4. nihil esse reliqui (part. gen.), there is nothing left to
them, except the very soil of the fields.
1. 10-12.]
15
The Helvetian War.
5. non exspectandum, must not wait.-sociorum: the Hel-
vetians would be sure to levy upon the allies of the Romans
wherever they found them.
12. flumen, etc., the Arar (Saone) is a river which flows
through, &c.; not between, which would be expressed by dividit.
The Saone joins the Rhone about 75 miles south-west of Lake
Geneva. — lenitate, not so much slowness as smoothness; contrast-
ing not only with the Rhone, but with the swiftness and turbidness
of the rivers in Italy. "Cæsar knew no streams 'waving their
lazy lilies.'
ratibus, rafts of logs; lintribus, canoes of hollowed logs,
joined, perhaps, two and two, with a broad deck covering them.
The swift streams of the south of Europe are often crossed by
boats swung from moorings at some distance up-stream, and
carried across either way by the force of the current.
-in...
... fluat,
indir. question following judicari.
2. partes, object of duxisse; flumen governed by trans in
composition (§ 50, 2, b; G. 330, R¹), had conveyed three parts . .
across this river. Ararim: for the acc. in im, see § 11, i. 3, a¹
(names of rivers). — reliquam relictam: in fact this adjective
is, from its meaning, a kind of participle.
de tertia vigilia=just at midnight, the night, from sunset to
sunrise, being divided into four equal watches.
3. concidit (con, cædo), cut to pieces. mandarunt: = man-
daverunt (§ 30, 6, a; G. 191³), abandoned (lit. give in hand, manu,
do); abdiderunt, hid (lit. put away).
pagus, properly, "a military district round a fortified place."
This district (Tigurinus) is about the modern Zurich.
4. L. Cassium, see ch. 7. - deorum: this reference to a
special providence is noticeable in so stern a realist as Cæsar.
Compare his curious account of the divine omens which accom-
panied his victory over Pompey, B. C. iii. 105.
•
quæ pars intulerat ea persolvit, render that part which,
&c. (see § 48, 3, b, R; G. 622).
pœnas persolvit, paid to the uttermost the penalty. Punish-
ment was regarded among the ancients, not as suffering to be
inflicted, but as of the nature of a fine or penalty to be paid; hence
sumere, to inflict, and dare or solvere, to suffer.
In 1862, numerous remains were discovered buried in two trenches,
probably of those slain in this battle,-"pell-mell, skeletons of men,
women, and children."-Hist. of Julius Cæsar.
5. injurias, wrongs, not simply damage, as the word came to
mean afterwards. From Cæsar's point of view, an offensive war
against Rome is necessarily wrong. Besides, hostility or friend-
16
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
ship towards a foreign state might become a family tradition, and
so a bounden duty. ―ultus est, avenged.
soceri: L. Calpurnius Piso, father of Shakespeare's Calphurnia,
and consul of the present year (see end of ch. 6).
13. consequi, overtake (hence the frequent meaning acquire). —
faciendum curat, provides for making (§ 72, 5, c; G. 431).
•
•
•
•
2. cum intellegerent, clause of relative time (§ 62, 2, b;
G. 282). —id, object of fecisse, and in appos. with ut . . transi-
rent. diebus viginti, in the course of 20 days (§ 55, I; G.
392). — in, upon, not simply over.
—
legatos, a participle of lego (depute), used as a noun; hence,
diplomatically, envoy or ambassador, and in military affairs aid or
lieutenant. — legationis, a collective noun, and so answering (by
synesis) to the plural legatos. - Divico, now an old man, since the
battle in which he was commander took place 49 years before.
9. 3. si pacem, etc.: compare the form of direct discourse
given to this address, § 67, at the end.—in eam partem . . . ubi,
to whatever part, i. e. of Gaul. They were not, however, to be
turned back from their migration. - reminisceretur (subj. for
imperat.): remember [said he]. - incommodi, disaster: for the
government of the genitive, see § 50, 4, a; G. 375.
4. improviso, unexpectedly, by surprise (properly abl. abs. § 54,
10, c; G. 438, R²). — suis, to their own people (§ 47, 3, a ; G. 195,
R'). .-ne tribueret (for imperative), do not ascribe it.- dolo,
craft: insidiis, ambuscade.
5. ne committeret ut, etc., let it not be, &c. (§ 70, 4, e; G.
557). —ubi constitissent, where they had taken their stand (notice
the intensive force of con).
14. eo (abl. of means) minus
quod, . . . tenerat; he had
all the less hesitation because he kept in mind, &c.
•
eo gravius .. quo minus (§ 54, 6, e, R); he was the more
incensed, in proportion as the Roman people had less deserved, &c.
2. qui si fuisset, now if they (the Roman people) had been.-
non fuisse (for fuisset of dir. disc.), it would not have been. · eo
deceptum [esse], they had been deceived by this.
quare timeret: this indirect question is the subject of commis-
sum [esse], in the sense of any thing that should give them fear,
and follows intellegeret: because they (the Roman people) did
not know what they had done to be afraid of.
3. quod si (§ 52, 3, b; G. 331, R²) ... vellet, now if they
should consent to forget, &c. - num posse what! could they, &c.
injuriarum, obj. of memoriam. eo invito against their
will (quod . . vexassent is a clause of fact, properly indica-
tive, § 70,5; G. 525, but subj. by indirect discourse).
I. 12-16.]
17
The Helvetian War.
4. sua, their own (the Helvetians); so se tulisse (=intulisse),
that they had committed. The clause quod . . . admirarentur is
subj. of pertinere: As for their insolent boasting of their victory
and their surprise (no doubt) that they had been so long un-
punished in their wrong, it amounts to the same thing.
5. quos . . . his, to grant an interval of prosperity and longer
impunity to those whom they wish to punish for their guilt.
"Divico had not said any thing in the way of direct boasting.
This eloquent passage was perhaps an answer to his manner, or to
the fact that he was the same Divico who had slain L. Cassius."
Observe the change to primary tenses, when the language of Cæsar
expresses a general truth.
6. cum, though (§ 62, 2, e; G. 587). — sibi, to him, Cæsar. -
facturos, sc. eos. - Hæduis, dat. after satisfaciant, pay damages.
-ipsis, dat. after intulerint.
10. 15. equitatum: the cavalry was wholly made up of con-
tingents furnished by subjects (of the provinces) or allies (as the
Edui). coactum habebat, lit., had got together (§ 70, 3, b; G.
230): more strictly held (had in hand) after being collected.
2. cupidius, too eagerly (§ 17, 5, a; G. 312). — novissimum
agmen, the rear: agmen is the army in line of march (ago); and
its newest part is that which comes along last. - alieno loco, an
unfavorable ground ("another's "); so suo would be favorable
("his own ").
3. sublati (tollo), elated.
equitibus, abl. of means. - sub-
sistere, to make a stand. — novissimo agmine (loc. abl.), at their
rear.
4. satis habebat, held it sufficient. — hostem
in appos. with satis, as object of habebat.
prohibere,
5. ita, uti, so that (correl). — quinis, senis, distributives, im-
plying that this was the constant or average distance between the
two armies. The country here is very irregular and broken; so
that it was impossible for Cæsar to get any advantage by a rapid
march, or by an attack on the Helvetian rear.
16. cotidie quotidie (§ 1, 2, b).
quired corn of the Ædui (§ 52, 2, c;
-Hæduos frumentum, re-
G. 333). — flagitare, histori-
cal infinitive (§ 57, 8, h; G. 850).—frigora, the cold season, or
spells of cold: not the cold in general.
in pasco). - frumento, object of uti.
ch. 12.
pabuli, green fødder (root
propterea . . . quod, see
- conferri, etc. [frumen-
2. ducere (histor. infin.), dragged on.
tum] as English has no present passive, translate actively, "said
it was getting together, was coming in, was close by.”—metiri,
measure out: the allowance was 50 pounds a month. Divitiaco,
2
[D. G.
Lisco, abl. in appos. with principibus.—summo magistratui
præerat, held the chief office, of which the Celtic title was guerg
breth, “executor of judgment," represented in Latin by Vergobretus.
-in suos, over his people.
11. 3. necessario (attrib.), at so urgent a time; propinquis
(pred.), with the enemy so near.
17. privatim plus possint, have more power in private station:
some copies read privati, as private men.
2. improba oratione, reckless talk. ne (§ 70, 3, e; G. 549)
præferre, from bringing the corn which they were bound to
furnish; [representing that] if they could no longer hold the chief
rank in Gaul, they prefer the rule of Gauls to [that of] Romans.
This sentence gives a good example of what is called a Various Read-
ing. It must be remembered that these Commentaries were first written
as rough notes, or memoranda, and were afterwards copied by hand for
centuries before their form was fixed by printing. The sentence as it
stands is that given in the best editions; some of which, however, have
perferre, bear, for præferre, prefer. In the above rendering, præstare
has the active meaning to furnish; and quam the meaning than, after
the comparative implied in præferre. This makes the sense clear, but
is awkward and hard. To remedy it, the neatest and best conjecture is
to put the pause after conferant, read debeat for the plural debeant,
and perferre for præferre, thus: "deterrere ne frumentum conferant ;
quod præstare debeat, si jam principatum Galliæ obtinere non possint,
Gallorum quam Romanorum imperium perferre.” Here quod is
because, and quam follows the comparative in præstare, taken in the
neuter sense of excel; and the passage reads, from bringing in the corn;
since it must be better (præstare debeat) to bear, &c. But there is no
manuscript authority for debeat. Some would read dicant for de-
beant: since, they say, it is better, &c.; but this is mere conjecture.
Others, again, put satius esse after perferre; but this is only an
explanatory note, written by some early editor.
debeant: a word
neque dubitare quin, § 65, 1, b; G. 550.
given thus in brackets is one of which the authority is doubtful; it
may sometimes require to be omitted in translation. -superave-
rint, perf. subjunctive for fut. perf. (same form) of direct disc.
Hæduis, dative, § 51, 2, e; G. 346.
3. a se, i. e. by Liscus, as chief magistrate. quin etiam, nay
even: often written as one word. quam diu, as long as. ne-
cessario, unavoidably; coactus, on compulsion.
18. pluribus præsentibus (abl. abs.), in the presence of several.
— jactari, bandied about (freq. of jacio).
2. ex solo, from him apart. secreto (secerno), each by him-
self.summa audacia, [a man] of utmost boldness.
1. 10-19.]
19
ine neveiran
an vvar.
3. portoria, customs-dues, levied at the frontier, collected (ap-
parently) as by the Romans, through publicani, who bid for the
contract at public auction. The other vectigalia, farmed out for
collection in the same way, were tithes on farm produce, rent of
public pastures, &c. - redempta, agreeing with vectigalia, and
taken with habere, had bought in (see 15').—illo licente, when
he bid.
4. ad largiendum, for gifts, to buy political support.
12. largiter posse, had extensive power. — causā, for the
sake: as always when thus following a genitive. — potentiæ,
power, as an attribute of the person: potestas is power to do any
thing; facultas, opportunity; imperium, military authority.
collocasse, had established in marriage (nuptum). - Biturigibus,
near the modern Bourges. ex matre, on the mother's side.
5. favere ... Helvetiis (dat.), he favored the Helvetians and
desired [their success]: some such object must be supplied to
cupere. adfinitatem, family alliance. suo nomine, on his own
account (a legal phrase applying to business debts, &c.).
6. si quid accidat (a mild phrase), in case of any disaster. —
imperio (abl. of circumstance), under the rule.
7. quod ... factum, a kind of adverbial phrase=in regard
to the unsuccessful cavalry-skirmish fought the other day.
19. res, facts. — accederent, were added: accedo is used as
a kind of passive of addo. — inter eos, i. e. the Helvetii and Se-
quani. — injusso suo, etc., without his authority (§ 12, 4, b) or
that of the state: here suo is equivalent to a genitive. — inscien-
tibus ipsis, without his own knowledge or that of the Ædui. — in
eum animadverteret, should bend his mind upon him, i. e. proceed
against or punish him.
2. quod ... cognoverat, that he well knew, &c. (the present
inceptive, cognosco, having the meaning to learn). This clause, in
apposition with unum, might in English be introduced by some
such word as namely. — studium, attachment as partisan; volun-
tatem, good will as friend. supplicio, punishment or execution.
This word is derived from the adjective supplex, down-bent, signi-
fying on the bended knee; i. e. either as a suppliant for mercy, or
(as here) to receive the blow of the executioner.
3. prius quam conaretur, before he should attempt; see § 62,
2, c; G. 579. —- per connects Procillum with colloquitur. — prin-
cipem, a leading man.
13. commonefăcit, warns or notifies (root in moneo). — ipso,
i. e. Divitiacus. —apud se, in his (Cæsar's) presence. offensione
animi, displeasure (of Divitiacus); ipse, which follows, refers to
Cæsar he hopes, in what steps he takes or orders to be taken
against Dumnorix, not to incur the resentment of his brother.
20
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
20. ne quid gravius (a common phrase), no severe measures.
2. scire se, etc., "I know," said he, "that this is true, and no
one can be more pained at it than I."-plus doloris: except
as an adverb, this comparative can only be used, as here, with the
partitive genitive. — ipse, se, suam, sese, all refer to Divitiacus ;
ille to Dumnorix, which is also the subject of crevisset and utere-
tur. - opibus ac nervis sinews of power, obj. of uteretur.
gratiam as well as perniciem takes suam. amore fraterno (§
47, 5, c; G. 363, R¹), love to his brother.
3. a Cæsare accidisset should be done by Cæsar.
rum [esse] uti . . . averterentur (periphrastic future infin. § 58,
11,ƒ; G. 240), the heart of all Gaul would be turned from him.
=
=
- futu-
4. rogat [ut] faciat, see § 70, 3, f, R; G. 546, R³. — tanti, of so
great account (§ 54, 8, a ; G. 379). condonet: "Cæsar pretended
to yield to the prayers of the Druid, but in fact he yielded to
necessity. He was in great straits, with a warlike enemy in front
and doubtful allies around him, on whom his army was dependent
for food" (Long: compare v. 6).
præterita, things bygone ("the past").-Dumnorigi ponit
(=adponit), sets over him.
•
21. qualis esset, etc., indir. question after cognoscerent.
natura, character; qualis . . ascensus the chance of ascending
it at [various points of] its circuit. — qui cognoscerent (§ 65, 2,
a; G. 634): the antecedent of qui is quosdam, or some such
word, as object of misit, he sent men to ascertain.
2. facilem, sc. ascensum.—pro prætore, with powers of
prætor. The prætor, like the consul, held the imperium, or power
to command; a legatus, not possessing this in his own right, might
be temporarily invested with it by his commander.
14. ducibus (pred.), as guides.qui. . . cognoverant, i. e.
of the party of reconnoissance. - consilii, limiting quid, so signify-
ing not his plan as a whole, but what he chooses to show of his
plan. — de quarta vigilia, about 2 A. M.: the sun at this season
rising here about 4 o'clock. contendit (root TEN), pushed on.
3. Sullæ, Crassi: Sulla (the dictator) had conducted the war
against Mithridates about 30 years before (B. C. 88–84), and Crassus
that against Spartacus some years later (B. C. 71).
22. aut Labieni, or Labienus's: this predicate use of the geni-
tive is rare in Latin.
equo admisso =at full speed (with reins
thrown loose).
(Ob-
The
2. insignibus, i. e. devices on shields and helmets, - stags'
horns, eagles' plumes, &c., — the origin of modern heraldry.
serve that the name Gallic here applies to the Helvetians.)
inference from this report would be, that Labienus had been cut to
I. 20-24.]
21
The Helvetian War.
pieces, and Cæsar must expect an attack at once.
This accounts
for his next movement, which was to fall back and wait in line of
battle, while Labienus was vainly expecting him.
3. ut, as. - ne
præceptum. — ut
all sides at once.
•
• •
committerent essent, subject of erat
·
•
. . fieret, so that the attack might be made on
monte occupato, etc., having seized the height
continued to look out for our men.
4. multo die (loc. abl.), late in the day. — quod non vidisset,
what he had not seen, sc. id, obj. of renuntiasse. pro viso, as if
quo, sc. eodem, at the same interval as usual.— tria
(acc.), § 55, 2, b; G. 335.
seen.
23. diei, § 50, 4, e, R; G. 418 (end). — omnino, in all (only).
cum — within which. - Bibracte, the modern Mont Beuvray,
a considerable hill, about 10 miles west of Autun (Augustodunum).
-rei frumentaria (dat.), the supply of corn.
2. fugitivos, runaways. The regular word would be trans-
fugas: the term which generally means fugitive slaves is here
applied, contemptuously, to deserters from the cavalry of the
Gallic allies.
decurionis: the auxiliary cavalry (the entire cavalry force) was
divided into alæ, consisting each of 10 turmæ, and these again into
three decuriæ, of probably 10 men, each commanded by a decurio.
Æmilius was the senior officer.
3. eo magis (abl. of difference), all the more. locis, etc.,
though holding higher ground.
15. eo quod . . . confiderent (abl. of cause), for this reason
because they felt sure that they (the Romans) could be cut off from
their supplies.
itinere converso: the fatal step which led to their complete
destruction.
The Helvetians were now well in advance of Cæsar, and might prob-
ably have continued their march unmolested to the coast, had not their
vain confidence turned them back. Cæsar's army was at this time not
far from 60,000 men, including about 20,000 auxiliaries, mostly "Gaulish
mountaineers; so that he was a full match, in a fair field, for the Hel-
vetians, who had now about 70,000 fighting men.
24. animum advertit (=vertit animum ad: usually written
as one word, animadvertit): to turn the mind upon any thing is
to notice it; hence this phrase takes a direct object (id) like a single
transitive verb. — qui sustineret to sustain (§ 64, 1 ; G. 544).
2. in colle medio, half way up the hill. triplicem aciem,
etc.-four veteran legions in triple line. The legion being com-
posed of ten cohorts, four stood in the first line, 10 men deep,-
22
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
and three in each of the other lines, disposed in the following
order (quincunx):
- ac
4
3
2
I
7
6
5
IO
9
8
each cohort being mentioned in order of rank. —in summo jugo,
i. e. on the level top of the hill.
and thus. -sarcinas, see
103.
-eum, this [place]. — his qui, etc., simply, those who stood
in the upper (i. e. rear) ranks: these were the two new legions,
opposed to veteranarum, above.
3. phalange facta: the phalanx was a close, compact body,
distinguished from the legion, in which the men stood usually six
feet apart, so as to give them great freedom of action. (See what
is said of the interlocking of the shields in the next chapter.) —
sub ... successerunt, came up close below.
25. suo [equo], having sent back his own and all the others'
horses. This was often done before an engagement (cf. Sall. Cat.
59). Probably Cæsar distrusted the good faith of his cavalry,
which consisted principally of Gauls. He is reported to have said
to his men," I will mount again when the enemy run."
pilis, javelins: these consisted of a stout staff, with a long,
sharp, slender head, projecting about nine inches, making a weapon
about six feet long, which could be thrown with considerable force
about 100 feet. Each Roman soldier (heavy-armed) had two of
these, and a short cut-and-thrust sword. The mode of attack was
(as here) to hurl the javelins, and then rush with the sword upon
the disturbed ranks of the enemy.
2. impedimento, dat. of service, § 51, 5 (R. 20); G. 350.
pluribus, several. For the whole of this description, compare
what is said of the form of this javelin and the close order of the
phalanx. — scutis, shields of plank, five feet long, designed to pro-
tect the whole body: these were pierced and pinned together at the
edges where they overlapped. evellere, pull them out. — sinistra
impedita (parenthesis), since the left hand was shackled. - multi
ut, many [to such a degree] that. — nudo, unprotected.
3. pedem referre, fall back : not retreat, which would be terga
vertere. — mille, acc. of distance, the idea of distance being im-
plied in suberat.
4. capto monte, when they had reached the hill. agmen
claudebant, brought up their rear. The Boii or Tulingi, with
about 15,000 men, had been in front of the Helvetian line of march,
and were consequently in the rear when they faced round to attack
Cæsar. They now struck at his exposed flank (latere aperto) as
they came upon the field (ex itinere).
16. conversa signa intulerunt, faced about and charged in
two divisions. These stood not back to back, but at right angles
I. 24, 28.]
23
The Helvetian War.
facing outward; the two front lines facing forward, while the third
met the flank attack of the new-comers (venientes).
26. ancipiti, two-headed, thus facing two ways at once. alteri,
the Helvetians; alteri, the Boii, &c.
an
2. ab hora septima, i. e. from a little past I P. M.; sunset was
about eight, so that each of the twelve daylight hours was about
an hour and a quarter of our time. aversum hostem
enemy's back.
ad multam noctem, till late in the night. — pro
vallo, as a barricade. — e loco superiore, from vantage-ground,
i.e. the height of the carts, &c.— coniciebant, subiciebant,
hurled (from above), thrust (from below). For the form of these
words, see § 1, 3, d. The semi-vowel j is lost before i therefore
i:
in most dictionaries look for conjicio, subjicio. — mataras, Gallic
pikes, thrown from the hand; tragulas, heavy javelins, used by
Gauls and Spaniards, and thrown by aid of a thong.
4. LingŎnum, i. e. the southern part of Champagne, towards the
north. propter gives the reason of morati.
5. Lingonas, Greek form of the accusative (§ 11, iii. 6, ƒ), com-
mon in these names of tribes. —qui si juvissent=for if they
should, &c.— eodem loco habiturum, would hold on the same
footing.
In the year 1860, numerous burial mounds near the place of this
battle (in which considerably more than 100,000 human beings must
have perished) were opened, and found to contain skeletons buried face
downward, with knives, bracelets, rings, and hair-pins of bronze, very
similar to the relics discovered shortly before in the lake-dwellings of
Switzerland. It has been conjectured that these lake-dwellings were
among those destroyed at the time of the Helvetian migration (see De
Saulcy, Campaigns of Cæsar in Gaul).
27. qui
paruerunt; observe the change of subject in this
sentence, from legati to Cæsar, as well as the change of mood
with the same subject, convenissent, paruerunt.
The syntax
will present no difficulty.
2. qui perfugissent, fugitive slaves from the Province. con-
quiruntur, conferuntur: to express the present in English, it is
often better to use the active form, while they are hunting these up
and bringing them together. nocte intermissa, when the night
was past: i.e. it was then ascertained what had happened early
in the evening.-Verbigenus, from the parts between Berne and
Lucerne.
17. occultari, be hid from Cæsar; ignorari, unknown to any-
body. contenderunt ad, made (rapidly) for.
28. quorum: the antecedent is his (dat.) following imperavit,
the direct object of which is uti . . . reducerent. — sibi (dat. of
24
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
reference), in his eyes. -reductos
reductos... habuit, when brought back,
he treated them as enemies, i. e. massacred them all: the phrase is
regularly used in this signification.
in deditionem accepit: by this act they became formally the
subjects of the Republic, and were entitled to its protection, as
well as required to obey its requisitions and pay tribute.
2. reverti, turn back (from a march or journey; redire, go back,
from a place of rest). — fructibus frugibus (which is found in
some copies), grain and other field produce. - copiam facerent,
provide a supply. — ipsos, the Helvetians.
3. ea ratione, with this view: the word is connected both with.
res, thing, and reor, think.
4. petentibus Hæduis, to the Edui, at their request: dat.
after concessit, of which the object is, ut Boios collocarent.
(Boios is put first in the sentence, for emphasis.) — parem atque
ipsi erant equal with themselves (§ 43, 3, a²). — condicionem :
for the form of this word, see § 1, 3, h.
29. tabulæ, tablets, of the shape of a folding slate, with wax
spread inside, written with a pointed instrument called stilus.
litteris Græcis, i. e. in Greek characters, probably learned from
colonists at Marseilles, as the Gauls had no alphabet of their own.
Specimens of Gallic names on coins are in the names DUBNOREX,
AIVICIACOS, VERCINGETORIXS. — ratio, an estimate, followed by the
indir. question qui . . . exisset. confectæ, made out.
2. capitum, "souls.” — ad milia xcii, about 92,000.
3. summa, the sum: fuerunt agreeing with the plural predicate.
Deducting the Boii, who were adopted by the Ædui, this reckoning
would show an actual loss, in slain or captives (slaves), in this
short campaign, of about 250,000, including probably about 150,000
women and children, or other non-combatants.
GERMAN CAMPAIGN. — The latter half of this Book is taken up with
the expulsion of a military settlement of Germans, which had been
made a few years before, under Ariovistus, chief of the tribe of Suevi.
The occasion of this new campaign was the following. The dui,
jealous of the Sequani, who lived a little to the north, had laid excessive
tolls on their trade, which consisted chiefly in the export of salted
meats for the southern market.* This led to a war, in which the
Sequani had invited the aid of the Germans under Ariovistus, about
three years before the campaign of Cæsar. The Germans, once in
Gaul, had exacted a large share of territory, and proved to be grasping
and oppressive masters. Meanwhile the Helvetian war began to
threaten. The Roman Senate, to make safe, passed the decrees before
mentioned, promising favor and friendship to the Ædui (ch. 11); and at
* "From this region," says Strabo, "the best of pickled pork is sent to Rome" (iv. p. 192).
I. 28-31.]
25
Campaign against Ariovistus.
the same time sent messengers to Ariovistus, saluting him as king and
friend (ch. 35), recognizing his claims on Gaul, and (it was said) inviting
him to Rome. This was the year before, in Cæsar's consulship. Now,
however, that the fear of the Helvetians was passed, Cæsar found him-
self obliged to take sides in the old quarrel.
ex usu,
18. 30. populi Romani, against, &c. (obj. gen. after injuriis).
- ab his repetisset, had inflicted on them (see ch. 12³).
to the advantage.
2.
ea consilio, with this design, expressed by the purpose-
clause uti . . . haberent. florentissimus rebus, i. e. with no
plea of necessity. - domicilio, for habitation. ex magna copia
from a wide choice, implied in quem judicassent. stipen-
diarias, tributary: stipendium is the tax paid by a subject com-
munity.
•
3. uti sibi liceret, that it might be allowed them. — concilium
totius Galliæ: of course Cæsar had no authority to allow or pro-
hibit a congress of independent Gaul. But, considering his power
and ambition, they thought it best to secure his countenance (vo-
luntate, not auctoritate) beforehand. They also had business that
specially concerned him.
4. jurejurando sanxerunt, ordained under oath of secrecy:
the object is ne quis, etc. nisi quibus, etc., except [to those] to
whom some commission should be assigned (pluperf. for fut. perf.).
31. eo concilio dimisso, i. e. when this assembly had been
held and dissolved, after providing for the business now described.
secreto, apart; in occulto, in a secret place. idem (iidem),
nom. plural.
2. Cæsari, dat. of reference (§ 51, 7, a; G. 343, Rº)=at
Cæsar's feet. -id (in appos. with ne . . . enuntiarentur) conten-
dere, etc., they no less urgently desired their account to be kept
secret, than to obtain the thing they sought (disc. dixissent, for
fut. perf. of direct).
3. factiones duas, see note, ch. 3³. — principatum, headship.
alterius, notice the parallel expressions alterius Hæduos, alte-
rius Arvernos. Such antitheses are often a great help in transla-
tion. - Arvernos: these inhabited the mountainous country S. W.
of the dui, the modern Auvergne. — factum esse uti, it came to
pass that, &c. Sequanis: these were the rivals of the Ædui on
the north.
4. feri ac barbari: as to the condition of the Germans, see
Introduction. — adamassent (=adamavissent, § 30, 6, a; G. 191³),
had become attached. — horum (emph.), of the latter.— copias
(=opes), resources.— plures, notice the emphasis, also in nunc.
5. clientes, the subject states of the Ambarri, Segusiavi, &c.
omnem equitatum, of course an exaggeration: Divitiacus
•
26
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
was himself a noble, probably a senator; while his brother, Dum-
norix, was a commander of the Æduan cavalry.
6. qui . . . potuissent, [they] who had once, &c., were com-
pelled. - repetituros, demand back. quo minus, following a verb
of refusing (§ 65, 1, a; G. 547), seems originally to have been a
phrase of courtesy, implying a less point-blank refusal than ne or
quin.dicione, i. e. to do their bidding.—potuerit, in direct
discourse potuit, the perfect having a tendency to remain in the
perfect, contrary to the rule.
7. Romam venisse, see note, ch. 3.
8. pejus accidisse, a worse thing had befallen. Observe that
a misfortune is usually said accidere (verb-root CAD), as if it fell
on one; while a good thing is said evenire. Ariovistus, sup-
posed to be the German word Heerfürst, "prince of the host."
tertiam partem, i. e. upper Alsace, a part of the German con-
quest of 1870. This was the same proportion of conquered land
taken by the German invaders (Burgundians) in this very territory,
in the fifth century of the Christian era. It seems to have been the
ancient common law of conquest (Liv. ii. 41). — optimus: this
district (Franche Comté) is one of the most beautiful in France,
and the "best wooded." The chief export was dried meat and
hams. — nunc ... juberet: so too the Burgundians. occupa-
visset, taken possession of.—quibus pararentur, for whom
room and settlements must be prepared.—juberet, in direct, jubet,
he bids. quibus ... pararentur,: who were to be provided with
a place for habitation (subj. of purpose).
•
9. futurum esse uti (periphrastic future), the result would be.
neque enim introduces an explanation admitting no doubt. -
hanc nostram (§ 20, 2, a), said with some feeling of superiority
or contempt.
10. autem, again, a slight antithesis between the king and
the things mentioned before. ut . . . vicerit, indir. disc. for ut
vicit (§ 62, 2, a; G. 563), having once conquered. -Magetobriam,
a little west of Vesontio (Besançon). — in eos. . . edere, gave
forth, i. e. wreaked all sorts of torments on them.—cruciatusque
= of torture (hendiadys).
11. barbarum, etc., rude, passionate, and hasty. — nisi si (see
§ 61, 4, a; G. 592, R³), etc., unless they find some aid.
20. idem, in appos. with ut
that is, to forsake their home.
• •
experiantur. - ut emigrent,
12. haec, notice the emphasis. — quin sumat, that he will in-
flict upon (§ 57, 2, N); lit. take a penalty of. — Rhenum, acc. after
trans in traducatur (§ 52, 2, b; G. 330, R').
32. habita, having been spoken (the usual word).
unos, alone.
This whole scene is "most illustrative of the Gallic character."
I
27
I. 31-35.]
Campaign against Ariovistus.
2. quæ esset, indir. question after miratus.-respondere, his-
torical infinitive.
ne
•
· •
quidem,
- tamen,
Sequanis, dat. of
3. hoc, in this respect. -soli, they alone.
not even secretly. - absentis (pred.), even when absent.
even yet, whatever they might have to suffer:
virtual agent with perferendi (§ 51, 4, a; G. 353), the Sequani
must endure (changing the voice). tamen, i. e. even as it was.
•
33. sibi curæ (dat. of service, § 51, 5; G. 350), a care to him.
-et . . . et, construe after adductum, induced by both and.
2. secundum, in accordance with: lit. following (§ 73, 2, N ;
G. 427, R'). — quare putaret, indir. question, following hortaban-
tur. Hæduos, obj. of videbat and subj. of teneri (below).
21. appellatos (pred.), who had been often called. — quod:
the antecedent is the preceding clause quod . . . intellegebat.
3. periculosum, pred., agreeing with Germanos consuescere,
etc., he saw it was dangerous to the Roman people for the Germans,
little by little, to get in the way of crossing the Rhine, &c.— sibi
temperaturos quin exirent, would check themselves from going
forth. — ut, as; fecissent being subjunctive as dependent on
exirent, § 66, 2 (R. 47); G. 666.
4. Rhodanus only the Rhone. — rebus, dat. following occur-
rendum [sibi], § 51, 2, d (R. 18); G. 346: which things he thought
must be met at once. tantos spiritus, such temper. ferendus,
bearable.
34. ab eo, of him (§ 52, 2, c, R; G. 333, R²). conloquio (dat.),
for a conference. medium utriusque, between the two.
de re-
publica agere, to treat on public business.
2. si quid, etc., if he needed any thing from Casar. Observe
in this sentence that the reflexives ipse and se refer to Ariovistus,
and the demonstratives is, ille, to Cæsar. se velit, wants of him:
the secondary accus. is in analogy with verbs of asking. The acc.
of neuter pronouns is often used with intransitive verbs or as a
double accusative.
4. mirum quid . . . esset, a sort of indir. question: it seemed
strange to him what business, &c.—in sua Gallia, in his own
[part of] Gaul.
35. tanto... adfectus, distinguished by so great favor, &c.
(see note before ch. 30): beneficio is explained by cum ... esset,
and gratiam referret by ut . . . putaret; the first sibi refers to
Cæsar and the second to Ariovistus. In this sentence the causal
clause is quoniam . . . putaret, and the leading verb is esse:
Since, though so greatly favored by the Romans, he made such an
ill return (hanc gratiam referret) as to grudge coming to a con-
ference when invited, and would neither speak nor hear about the
28
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
common business, [therefore] this demand is made upon him, &c.
Ariovistus knew as well as any one how much gratitude he owed
to Rome for these beneficia."
22. 2. ne quam, not any. — voluntate, consent.
to Ariovistus, and illis to the Sequani.
ejus refers
3. si non impetraret, if he (Cæsar) should not get [this pledge].
Messala, etc., i. e. B. C. 61. M. Messala, etc., simply in the
consulship, &c., only to indicate the year. - obtineret, should
hold (as governor). — quod =so far as.—commodo reipublicæ,
to the advantage of the state. censuisset, had voted. defen-
deret: see the reasons, in the note referred to above.
repetition of sese above, to bring it nearer to its verb.
-se, a
36. jus, a right. — vicissent for vicerint (fut. perf.) of direct
disc. — iis, obj. of imperarent: that those who conquer shall rule
those they conquer as (quem ad modum) they will. The verbs
are in the past by sequence of tenses (§ 58, 10, d; G. 216). — item,
in like manner. victis, obj. of imperare. alterius, any one's
else.
3. sibi stipendiarios, tributary to himself. — qui faceret =
in making (§ 65, 2, c; G. 637).
•
•
•
=
4. non neque: [on the one hand] he would not restore,
&c., but [on the other] he would not wrongfully (injuriā), &c.
convenisset had been agreed. longe afuturum, the name
of brothers would be a great way off from them, i. e. too far to help
them.
• • •
5. quod, etc., the whole clause is construed as an adverbial
accusative: as to Cæsar's threat, &c. secum, sua, observe that
these refer one to Ariovistus, the other to his antagonist. con-
grederetur (for imperat.), they might come on when they would;
they should know, &c. — quid possent, what their strength was.
37. eodem tempore, et at the same time [when] this mes-
sage, &c.
-
23. questum, to complain (supine). — Treveris, from the
region of Trèves, in the valley of the Moselle. — qui . . . essent,
who (they said) had just come over (§ 66, 1; G. 509).
2. ne .. datis, not even by giving hostages. - pagos (see
note, ch. 12): these divisions were those known as hundreds, mean-
ing not only the people, but the district (see iv. 1).
"
3. maturandum sibi, that he must hasten. - resisti (impers.
§ 51, 2, ƒ; G. 208) posset, resistance could be made.
minus facile, i. e. it would be impossible; but this would be a
word of ill omen. - ad, towards.
38. Vesontionem, the modern Besançon, about ninety miles
E. N. E. of the former battle-ground. — profecisse, had advanced.
I. 35-39.]
29
Campaign against Ariovistus.
facultas
2. ne, following præcavendum (§ 70, 3, e; G. 549).
=facility for obtaining (see note, ch. 31°). - Dubis, the modern
Doubs. This name is said to mean "black river; " or, in the form
Alduasdubis, "river of black rocks." ut, as it were.
3. spatium, obj. of continet. sexcentorum, pred. gen. after
est; for construction with amplius, see § 54, 5, c; G. 311, R'.
ripa (dat.), following contingant.
4. hunc [montem]: this an encompassing wall makes into a
fortress. — occupato, taken possession of.
39. vocibus, talk. —prædicabant, vaunted.
24. sæpenumero, oftentimes. Adverbs are frequently thus
strengthened by a qualifying word, usually a genitive: as hic loci,
congressos, when they met them. — occupavit, seized.
&c.
2. tribunis militum, infantry officers, six to each legion, who
took command in turns of two months each; præfectis, command-
ers of cavalry and auxiliaries; reliquis, i. e. aids or attachés (con-
tubernales, comites), who attended the governor or commander of a
province for the sake of military practice. All these were often
appointed from mere personal or political motives, and were of
small use in the service, as it proved here. This staff was some-
times called, irregularly, the prætorian cohort.
amicitiæ causa: Cæsar's earlier career had been that of a
political adventurer. He was deeply in debt, and probably could not
afford to refuse positions to the "poor relations" of his creditors,
trusting the valor of his veterans to cover their short-comings.
alius alia causa, on various pretexts (§ 47, 9; G. 306). —
quam diceret, which, he said (§ 66, 1, d, R; G. 539, k).
3. vultum fingere, put on a brave face. — abditi, hiding.
testamenta obsignabantur, indicating utter despair. The word
refers to a will, sealed and witnessed in due form, not the mere
informal declaration permitted to soldiers on the eve of battle (in
procinctu). "Did they make the Germans their executors? The
mixture of vexation and comedy in Cæsar's narrative is amusing"
(Moberly).
4. in castris in military life. centuriones, two to each
maniple, who were promoted from the ranks, like modern " non-
commissioned officers." rem frumentariam timere (accus.
of anticipation, § 67, 2, c; G. 470), feared [for] the supply of corn,
lest it might not be conveniently brought in (§ 70, 3, ƒ; G. 552).
•
5. cum jussisset, for cum jusseris (fut. perf.) of direct disc.
dicto audientes, obedient to the word of command. — signa laturos,
would carry the standards, i. e. advance. These were bronze eagles
carried on a flag-staff, one to each legion; and of course must be
borne in the thick of the fight.
30
[B. G.
Notcs: Cæsar.
40. omnium ordinum: the centurions ranked from one to six
in each of the ten cohorts (see note, ch. 24). To the ordinary
council of war, only the first in each cohort was summoned. This
was a full council of all the officers. sibi quærendum. . . puta-
rent, thought they ought to inquire or have any idea, in agreement
with the interrog. clause quam . . . ducerentur.
2. se consule (direct, me consule), in his consulship.— cur
quisquam judicaret, why should any one so hastily think? For
the form of question, see § 67, d, R; G. 654, R2 (direct, judicet,
dubit. subj.); for the use of quisquam, implying a negative, see
§ 21, 2, h. -discessurum, would fall away. -sibi persuaderi,
for his part he was persuaded (mihi persuadetur, § 51, 2, ƒ; G.
208): the subject of persuaderi is eum . . . repudiaturum.
25. 3. quod si intulisset, but if he had, &c. (dir. disc. intu-
lit). — quid tandem, what, pray, were they afraid of?-sua, their
own; ipsius, his own: ipse, used in this way, is an indirect
reflexive.
4. periculum (root in experior), a trial. Cimbris, etc., A.D.
102 and 101, a little more than forty years before. servili tu-
multu, the insurrection of the slaves (gladiators) under Spartacus,
B.C. 73-71. These consisted largely of the Germans captured by
Marius. A war at home, i. e. in Italy or on its borders, was
called tumultus (see Cic. Phil. viii. 1). — quos . . . sublevarent
(changing to passive so as to keep the emphasis), who yet were con-
siderably helped by the training and discipline they had got from us.
5. quantum boni, how much advantage (§ 47, 4, a; G. 195, R²),
firmness has (for the tense of haberet, see § 58, 10, d) — inermos,
i.e. the slaves of Spartacus's force. quos
hos: notice the
relative as usual preceding the antecedent.
•
6. hos, the Germans with Ariovistus. quibuscum con-
gressi, etc. (changing the relative clause), whom they have often
met and beaten on their own ground (as well as, &c.). - qui, i. e.
the Helvetii. potuerint, see § 58, 10, c, R; G. 513.
•
·
•
7. adversum prælium, see ch. 31º. si quos .. commo-
veret, if any were alarmed by. — hos, etc., they could learn that
when the Gauls were wearied out, &c. Ariovistum, subj. of
vicisse. neque fecisset, had given them no chance at him.
8. cui rationi, etc. (putting the noun in the demonstrative
clause): not even Ariovistus himself hoped that our armies could be
taken in by a stratagem which there had been room for against
unskilled barbarians.
9. qui ... conferrent, [as to those] who laid their own cowar-
dice to the pretence about provisions, &c.— desperare, etc., to be
discouraged about the commander's doing his duty.— præscribere,
sc. officium.
1. 40-42.]
31
Campaign against Ariovistus.
10. subministrare, were [now] furnishing.
II. quod . . . dicantur (see § 70, 2, a; G. 528): as to its
being said that they would not, &c. — nihil, noway. quibuscum-
que, dat. after audiens dicto: i. e. no one has ever had a mutinous
army, who has not either been unsuccessful by his own fault, or
been convicted of avarice by some overt act. -suam, his own, em-
phatic by position; equivalent to in his case. innocentiam: the
technical word, meaning freedom from the charge of plunder and
extortion. In fact, Cæsar's fault lay just the other way, a lavish
and reckless generosity. (In this sentence, in chiastic order, inno-
centiam is opposed to avaritiam, and felicitatem to male re
gesta, a peculiarly Latin turn.)
26. 12. quod . . . fuisset, what he had intended to defer;
repræsentaturum, he will do at once. —prætoriam cohortem
body-guard, the correct use of the term: compare note, ch. 39².
This celebrated speech of Cæsar to his men, though in what
seems to us the awkward and cold form of indirect discourse, is an
admirable model of military eloquence, and deserves attentive
study.
41. innata est, sprang up. optimum judicium fecisset, had
expressed the most favorable opinion (a technical phrase).
2. cum tribunis
•
egerunt, etc., urged upon the tribunes to
apologize. summa belli the policy of the campaign.
imperatoris, predicate after esse (§ 50, 1, c; G. 365).
suum,
3. satisfactione, apology (compare satisfacerent, above).- ei,
in him. — milium [passuum] limits circuitu, by a circuit of more
than fifty miles. —locis apertis, through the open country, so as
to avoid a return of the panic.
4. a nostris, from ours (i. e. forces).
42. per se, so far as he was concerned (the regular expression
with licet).
2. petenti [Cæsari], when he asked it. fore uti desisteret
(periphrastic future following spem), that he would cease from
his stubbornness.
27. 3. ultro citroque, hither and yon (lit. beyond and this
side). — alia ratione, on any other terms. veniret for veniat
(hortatory) of direct discourse.
4. interpositā causā (abl. abs.), by putting in an excuse.
(Notice that excuse has the same root as causa.) - Gallorum
equitatui: he had no other, see note, ch. 23². — equitibus, dative
following detractis (§ 51, 2, e; G. 346). — eo, upon them
iis,
§ 48, 5º). — si quid, etc., if there should be need of any active
measures: quid is adverbial acc. (§ 52, 3; G. 331, R²); facto,
§ 54, I, d; G. 390.
32
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
5. quod cum fieret, while this was taking place. — ad equum
rescribere, he enrolled them among the knights. The equites were
not only the cavalry-service in war, but a special privileged class in
Roman politics.
43. satis grandis, pretty large.— tumulus terrenus — a smooth
(i. e. not rocky) hill.
2. equis, on horseback.
denos, ten on each side.
passibus ducentis 320 yards.
3. beneficia, favors. munera: according to Livy (xxx. 15),
the gifts sent to Masinissa were "a golden crown and bowl, a
curule chair, an ivory staff, an embroidered toga, and a tunic with
palm-leaf figures" (worn in triumphal processions). pro
tribui, was usually granted only in return for special services.
•
docebat, reminded. — aditum, way of intercourse. ea præ-
mia consecutum, had attained these prizes, as if he had eagerly
sought them (compare introductory note to ch. 30). The tone of
Cæsar's speech shows his intention of affronting the pride of Ario-
vistus.
4. necessitudinis, alliance. The word means, strictly, any close
bond of a moral nature, such as kindred, family connection, guest-
friendship, or personal intimacy (see note to Cicero, Verres I.
§ 11). — ipsis, the Romans. intercederent, came in. senatus
consulta, properly, exccutive orders of the Senate, which had no
authority to pass laws. — ut, how.
-
28. 5. sui nihil, nothing of their own (dignity, &c.). — quod
adtulissent, what they had brought [as their contribution] to
the alliance.
6. postulavit eadem he made the same demands. — at, at
least.
44. rogatum et arcessitum at the request and summons.
2. sibi, on him (referring to the main subject).
•
3. pace uti, enjoy peace. ―sua voluntate, by their own consent.
oportere, impersonal: its subject is amicitiam esse. - id
(neut.), this result: not the friendship (amicitiam), which was
their own voluntary offer.
4. si . . . remittatur, future cond. (§ 67, 1, c; G. 659): the
pres. for imperf. for greater vividness. —per, through the means of.
subtrahantur, are got away (by underhand means). — non
minus libenter, with no less pleasure.
5. quod ... traducat, as for his bringing over (the quod
clause of fact, made subj. by indir. disc.).—defenderit, warded off.
29. 7. hanc Galliam, this part of Gaul. ut.. sic, as . .
so.
· quod — in that.
8. imperitum rerum, ignorant of affairs.-bello proximo,
i.e. B.C. 62.
I. 42-48.]
33
Campaign against Ariovistus.
9. debere se suspicari, etc., he had ground to suspect, that
Cæsar, in keeping an army in Gaul, kept it with pretence of friend-
ship, [but really] to ruin him.
10. nobilibus gratum, a favor to the nobles. Cæsar was the
recognized head of the party opposed to the Senate and nobility.
Many of the aristocracy would be glad of any safe way to be rid of
him. See Cic. Fam. viii. 1, for the way rumors of disaster to Cæsar
were spread among his enemies in Rome. -id compertum ba-
bere, had ascertained (§ 72, 3, b; G. 230).
45. in eam sententiam quare to this effect [to show] that.
negotio, enterprise. - neque se judicare, and he did not consider.
2. bello superatos, B.C. 121, when the Allobroges were subdued,
and the Province (probably) organized.—ignovisset, had par-
doned: in fact, they lay beyond the naturally strong frontier of the
Cevennes.
3. antiquissimum quodque (see § 17, 5, c)—as far back as you
can go, i. e. to those victories of Fabius.
30. 46. conicere conjicere: see § 1, 3, d.
3. periculo legionis, danger to the legion.
committendum
non ut dici possit =no ground should be given for saying (cf.
$ 70, 4, e; G. 557). -per fidem, through [misplaced] trust.
§
4. elatum est, it was reported. — qua adrogantia usus, with
what display of insolence. omnia Gallia (abl. of separation, with
interdixisset, § 54, 1; G. 388), had ordered the Romans (dat.
following inter-), away from all Gaul. — ut, how (indir. question).
47. uti constitueret, following velle ($ 70, 3, b; G. 532). ·
si minus, if not.
2. retineri quin, be kept from (§ 65, 1, b; G. 550).—pote-
rant potuerant.legatum e suis =one of his own officers.-
magno . . . missurum, it would be at great risk that, &c.
I
3. Flacco, governor of Gaul B.C. 83. It was customary for
slaves or aliens to become clients of the person from whom they
received freedom or citizenship; and to take his gentile name
(§ 15, 12). Thus here Procillus takes the name (C. Valerius) of his
patron Flaccus, retaining his own as cognomen.
civitate donatus
erat, § 51, I, c; G. 348. — quā multā utebatur, which
Ariovistus spoke freely.—peccandi causa, ground of offence.
• - •
31. 48. a Cæsaris castris. This camp is placed by Napo-
leon III. at the southern foot of the Vosges mountains, a few miles
N. W. of Mühlhausen, just at the point where there is a break
between the Vosges and the spurs of the Jura, opening from the
valley of the Saône into that of the Rhine. The reversed march of
Ariovistus placed him just in this passage, so as to cut off Cæsar's
3
34
[B. G.
Notes: Casa?.
supplies. This pass is now commanded by the famous fortress of
Belfort.
3. hoc, pointing to the description which follows.
4. singuli [equites] singulos [pedites], one apiece. versa-
bantur, acted.
•
5. si quo prodeundum, if there was occasion, &c., (quo=
to any place). — exercitatione, through training. —sublevati, sup-
porting themselves. cursum adæquarent, keep pace with them.
49. castris (loc. abl.), in camp. —acie triplici, see ch. 24³.
2. castra munire, to fortify the camp. Whenever the Roman
halted, even for a single night, a regular camp was laid out,
measured with great precision by certain fixed rules (based on the
science of augury), and thoroughly fortified with earth-wall, ditch,
and palisades. The spade was as familiar to the Roman soldier as
the sword or javelin. The camp was regularly a quadrangle, its
size proportioned to the number of the troops. In this case, Cæsar
had one larger camp about two miles to the east of the Germans,
and a smaller one rather more than half a mile to the west of them.
Thus Ariovistus could not retreat either way, without passing the
Roman entrenchments.
32. 50. instituto suo, according to his plan. potestatem,
opportunity.
3. inlatis et acceptis, after giving and receiving.
4. matres familiæ: according to Tacitus (Ger. 8), it was not
matrons only, but women as a class, to whom this prophetic power
was ascribed. -sortibus, lots of leaves or twigs marked with
certain signs; vaticinationibus, tokens interpreted from the noise
of waters, river-eddies, &c. ex usu, expedient. utrum
necne, § 71, 2; G. 460. non esse fas, it was not the divine
will.-novam lunam (cf. Tac. G. 11): so the Spartans refused to
advance to Marathon before the full moon.
51. alarios: the auxiliaries as distinguished from the legionary
(Roman) troops. — quod minus valebat, because he was weak in
comparison with the enemy. ad speciem, to make a show, as if
the two legions were still there, while in fact they had joined the
other force at the greater camp. acie, of legionaries alone.
2. generatim, by tribes or clans. - Marcomannos, this term is
explained as men of the Mark," or military frontier.
3. eo, hither, i. e. among the carts and wagons. — proficiscen-
tes, [the men] as they advanced (obj. of implorabant).
33. 52. singulos legatos, a legatus in command of each
legion. This was the beginning of a very important reform in the
military organization. Cæsar felt so keenly the evil of the command
I. 48-54.]
35
Campaign against Ariovistus.
being divided among six tribunes, that he detailed one of his aids
(legati) nominally to assist the tribunes. After this time, we find
the legatus as the regular commander of a legion, with the six
tribunes under him. On this occasion he appointed an adjutant
(quæstor) to that one of the six legions which was intended to be
under his own special command.
2. ita.. ut, so.. that. — spatium, room, i. e. time. — rejectis,
throwing aside.
3. in phalangas (acc. plur. § 11, iii. 6, f), against the phalanxes.
These were compact bodies of 300 to 400 men each, with shields
close locked in front.-revellerent, etc., i. e. instead of pushing
from beneath, they grasped the enemies' shields at the upper edge,
and so struck down from above (desuper).
4. a sinistro cornu, on their left wing.
5. P. Crassus, son of Marcus Crassus the triumvir. — expedi-
tior, more disengaged. — versabantur, were engaged.
53. restitutum est, contrasted with laborantibus, above.
Rhenum: the nearest point was a little below Basel, about fifty
miles distant.
2. tranare contenderunt by great effort swam across. —
reliquos omnes, said to be 80,000.
3. duæ uxores: only chiefs among the Germans, says Tacitus
(G. 18), had more than one wife; and this was for the sake of honor
and alliances. Sueva, see iv. 1. utræque perierunt: for
Cæsar's massacres of women and children, compare iv. 14, vii. 28.
in Cæsarem incidit, happened on Cæsar himself.
4. Procillus, see § 47, 3.-trinis catenis, three [sets of]
manacles.
34. 5. neque
harm to him, &c.
deminuerat, nor had Fortune, by any
6. se præsente, in his own presence. ter it was the regular
usage of the Germans to consult the lot thrice (Tac. G. 10). This
has come down to the present day in sundry games, &c.
54. Ubii (some older editions have ubi): these lived near the
modern Cologne, and were deadly enemies of the Suevi (see iv. 3).
2. maturius, earlier, the decisive battle with Ariovistus was
fought about the 10th of September.-in citeriorem Galliam,
south of the Alps. conventus: the proconsular Courts held for
the administration of justice.
36
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
BOOK SECOND.
THE BELGIAN CONFEDERACY. - The people of Northern Gaul, in-
cluding Flanders and the Netherlands, were far remote from any country
hitherto occupied by the Roman arms. They lived amid forests and
swamps hard to penetrate; they claimed kindred with the German
tribes rather than the more fickle and effeminate Celts; and they had a
fierce and resolute spirit of independence, like that which the Dutch
exhibited long after in the same regions, against the armies of Spain.*
The Belgian tribes, and particularly the Nervii, appear in this confedera-
tion to have offered to Cæsar a more formidable and desperate resistance
than any he met elsewhere, until the great rising of B. C. 52; and when
their spirit was once broken, the conquest of Gaul was simply a question
of time.
PAGE
35. in hibernis: it is doubtful whether this expression can
be used except of an army or a campaign. — crebri ―thick-coming.
adferebantur, fiebat (observe the imperfect of repeated action)
kept coming in, was informed from time to time. — conjurare,
uniting under oath : “any war against Rome is a 'conspiracy ;' a
nation enslaved by Rome is 'pacified.""
2. vererentur, subj. as following esse (§ 66, 2; G. 666)..
Gallia, i. e. Celtic Gaul. exercitus noster, i. e. in the way of
regular garrisons on their frontier. partim qui, etc., the three
classes were, first, those jealous of the Roman power; second, the
restless, who dreaded a strong settled rule; third, those who held
a sort of despotic authority as chiefs.
•
ut... ita, while
a foothold; lit. "grow old."
at the same time. -inveterascere, get
grow old."-moleste ferebant, were impatient.
3. novis imperiis (dat. § 51, 2, b; G. 345) studebant, wanted
rotation in authority. — nonnullis, i. e. the chiefs of clans.
36. vulgo regna occupabantur, royal power was constantly
usurped, by "coups d'état" on a small scale.-imperio nostro
(loc. abl.), under our dominion.
2. duas legiones, making eight in all, amounting perhaps to
60,000 men, including auxiliaries. The proconsul seems to have
had absolute authority to raise these levies.
2. pabuli copia, a supply of food, so that his army could
move. dat negotium, gives it in charge. Senonibus: they
were north of the Ædui, on the upper course of the Seine. Their
name is preserved in the city of Sens. uti cognoscant, to learn.
* A very striking account of the country and its inhabitants will be found in the
introduction to Motley's Dutch Republic.
II. 1-5.]
37
Belgian Confederacy.
3. constanter, consistently, i. e. their accounts all agreed.
cogi, were gathering; conduci, were massing.
4. non dubitandum quin, there should be no hesitation about.
With dubitare in this meaning the infinitive is the ordinary con-
struction.
3. de improviso, unexpectedly. — omni opinione (§ 54, 5, b;
G. 399, R¹), than any one could think. Remi, north of the river
Marne, the territory near Rheims, in Champagne. They were
friendly to the Romans, whose victory over Ariovistus had made
them the second power in Gaul (see vi. 12). —ex Belgis, of the
Belga (for Belgarum: § 50, 2, R; G. 371, R³).
2. oppidis (loc. abl.) recipere, receive them (the Romans) in
their fortified places.
3. Suessiones (obj. of deterrere), west of the Remi: the terri-
tory about the modern Soissons.
ut ne
• •
potuerint (=possent, § 58, 10, c, R; G. 513), that
they (the Remi) could not even dissuade, &c. qui utantur,
although enjoying the same rights and laws (§ 65, 2, e; G. 637,
under which construction it would also be subj. in direct disc.).
unum imperium, i. e. a confederacy, which did not, however,
prevent the secession of the Suessiones along with the other
Belgæ. quin consentirent, from uniting with them.
4. reperiebat (imperf.), found, by repeated inquiry.
2. plerosque, a great many of: see the end of the chapter,
and compare, with respect to the Nervii, Tac. G. 28. They were
apparently, however, of Celtic blood; though they considered the
German a more proud and heroic descent.
37. propter fertilitatem: construe with consedisse. — fieri,
i. e. it was coming to be the case.
3. omnia explorata=full information.— propinquitatibus,
blood-relationships; adfinitatibus, alliances by marriage.
4. Bellovacos, near Beauvais. — plurimum valere, have most
power. —suos, i. e. of the Remi.
5. regem: showing that the overthrow of royal power (see i. 2)
had not yet taken place among the Belgians. cum
tum, not
only . . . but also. — belli summam = conduct of the war.
•
•
6. Nervios, to the north of the Suessiones; Atrebates, near
Arras; Ambianos, near Amiens; Caletos, near Calais; Vero-
manduos, in Vermandois; Condrusos, at Condroz; Germani, con-
sidered here (by Zeuss) to be a Celtic name meaning “hill-people.”
5. liberaliter prosecutis, making liberal promises. diligen-
ter, promptly.
38. 2. quanto opere (often written quantopere)... intersit,
how greatly it concerns both the republic (Rome) and their common
38
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
interest (§ 50, 4, d; G. 381). —ne confligendum sit, lest they
should have to contend.
3. Bellovacorum, as lying farthest west, and most remote from
Cæsar's field of operations, so as to divide the enemy (cf. ch. 10¹).
- introduxerint, perf. subj. (for fut. perf.), as following docet.
4. ad se venire, were coming straight towards him.— post-
quam ab iis . . . cognovit, when he learned from those whom,
&c. — Axonam, the Aisne, here flowing nearly due west, and join-
ing the Seine below Paris, through the Oise.—in extremis fini-
bus, generally, in the remotest part; Bibrax, a town of the Remi,
lying eight miles beyond. While here, Cæsar's camp was protected
by this river in the rear, and in front by a small marshy stream.
castra, the traces of Cæsar's works at this place were discovered
in 1862, on a low hill called Mauchamp.
6. duodeviginti pedum, 18 feet (in width).
6. ægre sustentatum est=they hardly held their own.
2. oppugnatio, style of attack. circumjecta . . . manibus
(dat.), having thrown a multitude of men about the walls. — cœpti
sunt, see § 38, 1, a; G. 424, R'.
testudine facta, making a tortoise: a military term for a forma-
tion in which the men, standing in a compact mass, held their
shields above their heads, lapping over each other so as to form a
continuous roof, the edges of the shields appearing like the scales
of a tortoise-shell.
3. tum, in this instance.
4. finem. fecisset, had put an end to the assault.
7. isdem ducibus usus, employing the same men as guides.
39. Numidas (from Algiers), Cretas: both these, especially
the Cretans, were famous bowmen. Baleares, from the small
islands east of Spain: they were celebrated slingers. subsidio
oppidanis (§ 51, 5 ; G. 350), dat. of service and of indir. object.
- potiundi oppidi, § 73, 2, R; G. 428, R³.
2. morati, depopulati, having delayed, having laid waste: ob-
serve that Latin can employ a perfect active participle only (as
here) of deponent verbs. The corresponding construction has to
be continued in the abl. absolute, with incendo: vicis incensis,
having set fire to, &c. - omnibus copiis (abl. of accompaniment,
see § 54, 6, a; G. 391, R'), with all their troops. ab... duobus,
less than two miles off: ab is used here adverbially (§ 56, 2, d; G.
416, R). — amplius: this may be acc. of extent (§ 55, 2; G. 335);
or milibus may be abl. of distance, and amplius construed as in
§ 54, 5, c; G. 311, R¹.
8. eximiam opinionem, the eminent reputation had of their
valor.― prælio supersedere, to defer the engagement (lit. to sit
II. 5-11.]
39
Belgian Confederacy.
above it, as in judgment).-periclitabatur, experimented: this
gives the original meaning of periculum, risk.
loci (construct
lateris de-
2. loco, dat. after obduxit, along a place, &c.
with tantum), spread over as much ground as, &c.
jectus =a
a lateral slope. - in frontem, etc., rising abruptly in
front, slopes gently to the plain in the rear (re-).
3. transversam, at right angles to his front, probably running
back to the river, as well as extending somewhat towards the
enemy, at which end he placed the redoubts (castella). The
remains of the works (note, ch. 54) do not, however, agree fully with
Cæsar's description: probably some parts of the works have been
effaced.
tormenta, engines, worked with levers and pulleys, a sort of
clumsy siege-artillery. They were of two classes: catapultæ,
which shot nearly level, generally arrows and darts; and ballistæ,
which shot at a high angle, generally stones and beams.
4. si ... esset, if there should be need of any thing—any need.
9. palus, a wet meadow (before referred to), traversed by the
little stream Miette. — si... exspectabant, waited [to see] whether.
-si . . . fieret, in case they should begin the passage.
40. 2. prælio equestri, a cavalry-skirmish, which proved
more favorable to the Roman side (secundiore nostris). — post,
behind.
3. castellum, the fortified camp ("tête de pont") held by
Sabinus, ch. 5º. interscinderent, cut away (between). — si
minus potuissent, if they should not succeed.
10. Cæsar: words thus italicized are wanting or obliterated in
the MS. Numidas, etc.: these light-armed troops were trained
runners, and so "got round by the bridge to the ford in time to
stop the passage of the Belgians." Moberly thinks they must have
been taken up en croupe behind the horsemen.
2. adgressi, at the stream below, probably, at the left of Cæsar's
camp.
3. nostros, subj. of progredi depending on viderunt: and saw
that our men were not [disposed to] advance to worse ground to
fight them. domum reverti: thus the confederacy dissolves
suddenly into a mere defensive alliance, and the Nervii, &c., are
cut to pieces in detail. convenirent, etc.: understand ut after
constituerunt (§ 70, 3, ƒ, R; G. 546, R³).— eos, antecedent of
quorum, above.
•
•
4. Divitiacum adpropinquare, see ch. 5³. — neque.
ferrent and so fail to carry relief to their own people.
41. 11. nullo certo ordine, in no regular order of march.
“Imagine a débacle of 236,000 men, besides camp-followers, wo-
men, &c."
fecerunt ut: § 70, 4, e; G. 557.
40
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
2. nondum perspexerat = he could not yet see clearly, the ob-
ject being qua
·
❤
•
· •
discederent.
4. cum consisterent, while those in the rear whom they
overtook stood firm. — priores (understand et), and those in ad-
vance.
•
P
5. tantam.. spatium = killed as many of them as the time
allowed ("as the day was long").
12. Noviodunum, the modern Soissons, about 20 miles west of
Bibrax. Its modern name is given from the tribe whose capital it
was: civitas Suessionum.
2. ex itinere, i. e. without delaying his march. — paucis de-
fendentibus (concessive), though there were few defenders.
3. vineas, sheds (" mantelets "), light galleries of timber which
could be pushed up close to the enemy's works. They were named
from the arbors or trellised galleries of vineyards.
4. aggere, mound or embankment, sloping upward to the height
of the wall to be attacked, for training the siege artillery (ch. 8³). —
turribus, light movable towers, to be occupied by archers, &c., to
clear the walls of defenders.
42. 13. obsidibus acceptis, taking as hostages, &c. Bello-
vacos: their territory lay about 40 or 50 miles due north of Paris.
2. Bratuspantium, Breteuil, at the head of the Somme valley.
circiter, etc., [only] about five miles, &c.—in ejus fidem
venire (dep. on significare), that they committed themselves to his
good faith, i. e. "surrender at discretion.”
3. cum accessisset, poneret, had arrived, was fixing.
14. facit verba, acts as spokesman.
2. perferre, were suffering: its subj. is Hæduos. In fact, the
Ædui "had paid for the regaining of their ancient power by the
Roman alliance, by the loss of their civil liberty; and were nearly
in the position of a protected sovereign state in India, with Labie-
nus for a vigorous military resident" (Moberly). — defecisse, had
withdrawn: its subj. is Bellovacos.
3. qui . . . fuissent
all the movers of this policy.
4. sua clementia, his own [characteristic or well-known] clem-
ency.
5. si fecerit, perf. subj. for fut. perf. of dir. disc., following the
present facit. quorum consuerint, by whose aid and re-
sources they are accustomed to sustain whatever wars befall them.
•
15. quod, etc., giving the reason of poposcit. magna aucto-
ritate, of great influence: the genitive is more common. præsta-
bat, was at the head.
43. 2. Ambianorum, about Amiens, near the coast of the
Channel.
II. 11-19.]
4I
Belgian Confederacy.
3. pati, they suffer (§ 67, 1, a²; G. 527, R2). — eorum: this
word is doubtful here; probably a note written in the margin by
some editor: better as a general truth, animos, temper. — remitti,
relaxed.
4. projecissent, had abandoned.
positively that they would not, &c.
confirmare, they declared
16. Sabim, the Sambre, which flows northeasterly into the
Meuse (Mosa). The Nervii occupied the basin of this river and of
the upper Scheldt.
quique
2. Atrebatis, etc., small tribes to the south and west.
3. Aduatucorum, Germans, living farther to the east.
eosque qui, following conjecisse. — in eum locum quo, into
a place whither, &c.
•
·
17. ex Gallis, for part. genitive (§ 50, 2, e, R¹; G. 371, R³)
following complures, many of the Belgians, &c. una, along with
him. eorum dierum: observing our army's custom of march
in these days (§ 50, 2, R¹).
2. demonstrarunt, made known. inter singulas legiones
between every two legions. — impedimentorum magnum nu-
merum = a very long baggage-train. intercedere, intervened.
neque negotii, and there would be no difficulty. — hanc, i. e.
the first legion. —- consistere, make a stand.
•
•
•
3. adjuvabat: the subj. is quod Nervii
quod Nervii . . . effecerant, etc.,
the advice of those who reported the matter was reinforced by the
fact that, &c.
44. antiquitus, of old: the hedges, described below, were an
immemorial custom, and are still, it is said, common in this region.
One is mentioned, existing in England, about 400 years old.
neque student, pay no attention. — quicquid possunt, etc.— all
the strength they have is in infantry.
4. quo facilius impedirent, in order to check more easily.
teneris arboribus, etc., having notched and bent down young trees,
and allowed their boughs to grow out thick breadthwise, and by
throwing in brambles and thorns, they had made these hedges to
furnish defences like a wall, which not only could not be broken
into, but could not even be seen through. — consilium, i. e. the plan
of attacking the first legion.
18. æqualiter declivis, with uniform slope.
2. adversus huic, in front of ours.
open at the foot for about 200 paces.
3. secundum flumen, down stream.
cavalry pickets.
passus
·
apertus,
stationes equitum,
19. agmen, line of march (ago). — aliter . . . ac, otherwise
[than] as (§ 44, 3, a²).
42
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
2. hostis, acc. plur. (§ 11, i. 3, c; G. 60, 1): this form is con-
stantly found in earlier writers, but is rare in most editions of
Cæsar. expeditas, unincumbered (i. e. without baggage). con-
locarat, had put in its place: this word is often confounded with
conlegere, collect. -proxume conscriptæ, the last levies; while
the veterans, as usual, must bear the brunt of the fight.
•
•
4. neque auderent, and our men did not venture to follow
their retreat (cedentes) farther than the limit to which the level
and open ground (porrecta loca aperta) extended. - opere di-
menso, having staked out the works.
45. 5. convenerat, had been agreed on (compare Eng. con-
ventional). ut..
confirmaverant, just as they had formed
their line, &c., they dashed forward (provolaverunt): i. e. in the
same order they held already. omnibus copiis, in full force
(abl. of accompaniment).
6. in flumine: the Sambre is nowhere more than three feet
deep at this point. —in manibus nostris, i. e. within reach of our
weapons. adverso colle contenderunt, pushed straight up
hill. -occupati (this participle is only used as an adjective), were
still at work.
20. vexillum, flag. The signal for battle was first given by a
flag, or pennon, displayed from the general's tent; the sounding of
the tuba then followed, as an order to form ranks; last came the
signum, or order to engage.
The vexillum, in its ordinary use, was a small red cavalry-flag, hung
from a cross-piece on the flagstaff; often used, also, by detached bodies
of troops.
The signum, or standard, was of metal, and belonged
regularly to the legion and its divisions (214).
paulo longius, to a considerable distance (§ 17, 5, a). — aggeris,
i.e. earth for the entrenchments. cohortandi, must be en-
couraged, see § 35, 1, b. successus, close approach.
2. usus, experience. — quid . . . oporteret, indir. quest., object
of præscribere. legatos, those whom he had assigned to the
several legions (see note, i. 52¹),
3. nihil expectabant, could no longer wait: nihil (properly adv.
acc.) is stronger than non. quæ videbantur what seemed best.
21. quam in partem, to whatever division (sc. in eam partem).
decumam, see i. 41.
•
• •
2. non longiore quam 1 with only so many words as, &c.
neu-neve: the ne being correl. to uti, above. quod posset,
gives the reason for signum dedit: for the subj. in posset, see
§ 65, 2, c; G. 313.
46. 3. pugnantibus occurrit, finds them already fighting.—
insignia, the ornaments of the helmet, &c. — tegimenta, leather
II. 21-24.]
43
Belgian Confederacy.
covers.
G. 513).
defuerit, notice the sequence of tenses (§ 58, 10, c, R;
-
4. signa, either of the legion (an eagle) or of the maniple (a
hand). What was the standard of the cohort is not known.
hæc, antecedent to both quam and quæ (§ 47, 2, a; G. 281, E²).
constitit: the Roman soldier was so thoroughly drilled, that to
whatever part of the legion he found his way, he knew perfectly well
the duties belonging to it.
22. dejectus, the fall.—rei . . . ordo, the rule and method of
the military art. diversis legionibus (abl. abs.), the legions
facing various ways, each fighting the enemy that was nearest.
certa subsidia, regular reserves. — quid . . opus esset (§ 54, 1, d,
R; G. 390; subj. of provideri, depending on poterat understood),
it could not be seen at a distance what was wanting anywhere.
administrari, attended to.-tanta iniquitate, so unfavorable
condition.
23. exanimatos, out of breath, agreeing with Atrebates, obj.
of compulerunt. — ex loco superiore = standing as they were on
higher ground.
2. et... progressi, i. e. though they had advanced upon un-
favorable ground.
3. diversæ, i. e. which had advanced in different directions.
ex loco superiore having gone down from the higher ground.
4. nudatis, exposed by the advance of these four legions.
quom (see note, i. 1³) constitisset, subordinate to the preceding
abl. absolute, nudatis castris.
47. aperto latere, on the uncovered flank.-castrorum, not
a partitive but a possessive genitive: the height upon which the
camp stood.
•
24. cum reciperent, while gathering back. — adversis hosti-
bus, plump on the enemy, who had entered on the other side.
occurrebant ferebantur: these imperfects belong to the side-
action (§ 58, 3, a; G. 222) interrupting the main narrative, which is
resumed in the perfects contenderunt, etc., at the end of the
chapter.
2. decumana porta: the camp had four gates, the prætoria in
front (towards the enemy), decumana in the rear, principalis dextra
on the right and sinistra on the left (facing the prætoria).
4. Treviri, from the valley of the Moselle: their capital city was
the present Treves. They claimed German origin. — opinio, repu-
tation. auxilii causā, as auxiliaries. — desperatis
desperatis... contende-
runt, losing hope in our fortunes, pushed for home. Romanos, obj.
of renuntiaverunt; castris, obj. of potitos, had got possession of.
44
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
25. Cæsar, subj. of processit (p. 48): this sentence is a fine
example of the force of a Latin period, holding the main act in sus-
pense till all the circumstances bearing on it have been brought
into a single view (see § 76, 4). — signisque conlatis (causative),
and since, &c.
2. quartæ cohortis: this stood on the left of the front line, and
so bore the brunt of the attack (see i. 242). Each cohort had three
maniples. primipilo: the primus pilus was the first centurion of
the first cohort, and thus stood on the extreme right of the line.
3. tardiores, rather slack (discouraged). — hostīs, acc. plur.
neque, correl. to et (p. 48).
48. in angusto, in a strait. — vidit, repeated from line 4 of
this chapter, on account of the length of the sentence and the
number of particulars.
4. ab novissimis, in the rear. signa inferre, to charge.
laxare, open out. — militi, dative after detracto, the almost univer-
sal construction of persons from whom any thing is taken.
5. operam navare, to do his best.
26. urgeri, hard pushed. - conversa signa, etc. then wheel
about and charge.
2. neque timerent, and no longer feared.—aversi, in the rear,
i. e. while their backs were turned.
3. cursu incitato, setting out on a run.
4. nihil reliqui fecerunt, left nothing undone in the way of
speed.
27. inermes armatis, unarmed threw themselves on the armed
enemy. · quo (§ 64, 1, a ; G. 545, 2, with the implied comparative)
præferrent, that they might show themselves superior.
49. 3. ut ... conicerent: the natural order of the sentence
would be (following tantam virtutem), and that when these too
were struck down, and corpses were piled in heaps, those who sur-
vived still hurled weapons, &c. ut deberet, so that it must
be judged that not without good hope of success (nequiquam), &c.
The subj. of deberet is homines ausos esse, etc. animi,
spirit.
·
•
• • •
•
28. prope ad internecionem: this destruction of a brave
people was not so complete as their despair here represents. The
Nervii were again in revolt three years later (v. 26), and two years
after sent a force of 5000 men to Alesia (vii. 75). —æstuaria: the
country lying to the north (the modern Zealand) is low and marshy,
cut up with tidewater inlets and bays. — impeditum, in the way
(lit. hindered).
2. vix ad quingentos ad vix quingentos, to barely 500.
3. misericordia, mercy (an abridged form of the same word). It
II. 25-31.]
45
Belgian Confederacy.
has been observed that Cæsar's dealings with the Gauls were com-
paratively merciful at first: at least, after enormous massacre, the
remnant had something to hope for. But after he was twice repulsed
from Britain, when Gaul made another effort for independence, his
"gentleness was shown by such acts as cutting off the hands of
all his prisoners who had borne arms (viii. 44), and in the treat-
ment of Vercingetorix, kept for years in chains, and then killed in
cold blood in his conqueror's triumph.
>>
29. cum venirent, while on the way. in unum oppidum :
not far from Namur, at the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre.
[Napoleon III. thinks it the same with the citadel of Namur, which
lies opposite the town between the rivers; but this appears far
too small (see ch. 39), and so striking a position would hardly have
been left unnoticed (see Motley's Dutch Rep. iii. 224). Others place
it at Falhize, opposite Huy, on the Meuse below Namur.]
3. Cimbris Teutonisque, see note, i. 7*.
50. agere ac portare: the cattle would be driven; the rest
carried: agere and ferre are the usual words for plunder. — sex
milia this German military colony was probably adopted into
the tribe of Aduatuci (whose name is Celtic, meaning runners),
giving rise to the story that the whole tribe were of German
descent.
G
4. alias . . . alias, in one quarter. . . in another. — inferrent,
the regular word for offensive war. inlatum [sibi] defenderent,
warded it off (de-fendo) when brought against them.
eorum, by compact with them (i. e. the finitimi).
consensu
30. quindecim milium: fifteen miles would be preposterous for
so small a hill as that at Namur: hence Napoleon III. understands
pedum instead of passuum. But this would be nearly 3 miles,
while the works on his plan measure hardly more than one.
2. vineis, sheds to protect the works under construction (ch. 124);
aggere, the sloping mound, up which the tower was pushed and
hauled on rollers; turrim, a movable tower, of several stories
(tabulata), the upper part containing engines. Sometimes the
towers were built in parts, and taken along as part of the regular
siege-train. — ab tanto spatio, so far off (an adverbial phrase).
M
3. quibusnam: the enclitic nam (num) gives a sarcastic em-
phasis to the question : by what hands, pray, or what strength, &c.
-præ, in comparison with. contemptui, a curious example of
the dat. of service (§ 51, 5, R; G. 350). conlocare conlo-
caturos esse: some editions have turrim moturos sese confiderent.
31. 2. existimare, sc. se: they thought that not without divine
aid, &c. se permittere, they surrendered themselves, &c.
• •
•
76
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
3. deprecari, besought (i. e. to be spared: de-precor). — pro,
in accordance with. quam audirent, which they constantly
heard of.
4. inimicos, i. e. their neighbors regarded them as interlopers.
– traditis armis, if their weapons should be given up.
5. præstare, it was better. — quamvis fortunam, any fortune
whatever (quam vis, what you will).
51. 32. aries, battering-ram, a long beam with an iron head
(like a ram's), suspended from a framework and swung with great
force against a wall, crumbling the strongest masonry.
2. ne quam injuriam inferrent (§ 21, 2, d), to inflict no harm.
ad suos: the message was carried to their people, not simply
reported to them, which would require suis.
3. summam altitudinem, the full height.
33. ante inito, previously agreed on.
any rate.
aut denique, or at
2. pellibus induxerant, had covered with hide. (Apparently
used like dono, etc., § 51, I, c; G. 348: the regular construction
would be with the dat., quibus pelles induxerant.) — qua [parte],
where. repentino, of a sudden.
•
3. ita ..
ut, they fought as fiercely as brave men must
fight, &c. (observe the impersonal use of the passive, § 39. c; G.
344). — in extrema spe=for their last chance. — in una virtute,
in mere bravery.
4. sectionem, auction-sale of confiscated property. The pur-
chaser was called sector.
52. 34. Venetos, etc., the name of the Veneti is found in the
modern Vannes, and of the Redones in Rennes. - maritumæ civi-
tates, the modern Brittany: they are spoken of at length in
Book III.
35. 2. Illyricum: this province, east of the Adriatic, made
part of Cæsar's government.
3. Carnūtes, between the Seine and the Loire, comprising Or
leans: their name is found in the modern Chartres. - Andes
(Anjou), near the lower Loire; Turones, the modern Tours. -
propinquæ, apparently meaning near the Veneti, &c.
4. supplicatio, a public ceremonial of thanksgiving. Ten days
was the longest that had ever been granted before, excepting to
Pompey who was honored with twelve days for his victory over
Mithridates. It should be remembered, however, that Cæsar's
party was now all-powerful at Rome.
III. 1-3.]
47
Alpine Campaign.
ALPINE CAMPAIGN.
BOOK THIRD.
The higher valleys of the Alps were inhabited
by tribes who got a scanty living by working in mines, and often waylaid
and plundered expeditions on the march (see Strabo, iv. 6). The two
legions sent by Cæsar under Q. Pedius (ii. 2) had been attacked by these
predatory people while passing into the valley of the Rhone above the
Lake (Valais). Hence this expedition, which was intended to strike
terror into the mountain tribes.
53. Nantuatis (acc.), etc.
These tribes occupied the valley
of the Upper Rhone, above the Lake of Geneva.
2. iter per Alpes: the pass of the Great St. Bernard, which
reaches the Rhone valley at Martigny (the ancient Octodurus), at
the great bend of the river. magno cum periculo = but only
with great danger. — magnis portoriis, heavy transit-duties.
J
54. 4. hic, ejus, both referring to the same subject.
2. montes: not the higher ranges, but the lower heights di-
rectly upon the valley.
•
2. id, this, in appos. with ut caperent. — opprimendæ,
crushing, the usual meaning of this word. — neque eam plenissi-
mam, etc., and that not a very full one, since two cohorts had been
detached, &c. singillatim, in small parties.
3. cum ipsi . . . decurrerent, since they could charge down
from the hills upon the valley.
4. accedebat quod and besides (it was added that). The
subject of accedebat is the clause quod . . . dolebant, they were
angry that their children were taken from them as hostages.
Romanos adjungere, obj. of habebant, and in agreement
with persuasum: they had persuaded themselves that the Romans
were attempting, &c.
•
3. perfectæ, referring both to opus and munitiones, but agree-
ing with the nearest. satis esset provisum, sufficient provision
had been made.
55. concilio, a council of officers.
2. præter opinionem unexpectedly.
subsidio veniri
that any one should come to their aid: veniri is impersonal,
depending on posset implied in possent.
3. nonnullæ sententiæ, several opinions (or votes) given by
the officers in council.
4. majori . . . placuit, it was determined by the majority.
hoc ... defendere, to reserve this course for the extremity, and
meanwhile, &c.
48
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
• •
•
4. iis rebus administrandis, for settling and putting into
effect what they had resolved on.
2. integris viribus, as long as their strength was whole.
repugnare, mittere, occurrere, ferre, superari, historical infini-
tives, implying incessant action. ut . . . videbatur, as any part
seemed, &c.: a relative clause, of which the antecedent is eo.-
alii while others.
3. non modo
even, &c.
sed ne. quidem, not only not, but not
• •
5. cum pugnaretur, when the fight had been [and was still]
going on (§ 58, 3, b; G. 225). — languidioribus nostris (dat. of
reference), while our men were failing. deficerent, began to
fail. — vallum complere, the rampart was made for the most part
of earth thrown up in digging the ditch; so that to tear down the
one was at the same time to fill up the other.
56. extremum auxilium = a desperate resource.
3. intermitterent, hort. subj. following certiores facit in the
sense of instructs.—tela . . . exciperent, gather up the spent
weapons.
sui
6. cognoscendi facultatem, opportunity of finding out.
colligendi: observe that sui is plural in meaning, though agreeing
with colligendi (§ 73, 3, a²; G. 429, R). It is, however, properly
the gen. sing. of suum (§ 19, 3, c).
2. circumventos interficiunt they surround and kill.- ex
milibus, for part. gen. after parte.
3. exutis, stripped, agreeing with copiis: § 51, 1, c; G. 348.
4. alio consilio . . . aliis rebus saw that he had met a
different state of things from what he had in mind when he came :
(lit. remembered that he had come with one design, and saw that he
had met another state of things).
NAVAL CAMPAIGN. The peninsula of Armorica (Bretagne, Brittany,
or Little Britain, so called since the emigration from Great Britain to
escape the Saxon invasion) has always been the home of the hardiest,
most independent, and most strongly characterized of all the Gallic
populations. Its scenery is wild and secluded, the character of its
coast is clearly given in Cæsar's narrative, and its language remains
Celtic to this day. No one of Cæsar's campaigns shows more strikingly
his boldness and fertility of resource than this.
7. inita hieme, in the beginning of winter ("winter being
entered on").
2. mare following proximus as the superl. of prope (§ 56, 2,
a; G. 356, R¹).
3. præfectos, officers: a general term for those assigned
(præficio) to any service or command.
III. 4-10.]
49
Naval Campaign.
57. 8. hujus civitatis, i. e. the Veneti, on the southern coast
of Brittany, the modern Morbihan. — longe amplissima, very
great indeed.
consuerunt, are accustomed (§ 58, 5, R; G. 227,
R²). — in magno aperto, in the great and open violence of the
sea = on a sea exposed to great and violent storms.
habent vectigales, treat all as tributaries, i. e. levy tolls upon.
2. ab his fit initium, etc, they begin by detaining these.
•
•
omnes
3. ut sunt, etc., as in fact the resolutions of the Gauls are, &c.
eundem . laturos they would bear in common the result
of whatever fortune.
·
•
=
4. quam acceperant, indic. as a clause of fact (§ 67, 1, b; G.
630, R¹). — quam perferre, than to endure, following the compara-
tive contained in mallent.
5. remittat (sc. ut), hort. subj. depending on the message
implied in legationem mittunt.
9. aberat longius, was too far off to take command at once in
person. naves longas, galleys, propelled by a large number of
oars. Ships of burden (oneraria) were built broad, with a view
to capacity. Ligere, the Loire, where Crassus was wintering. -
institui, to be assigned to the several galleys.
2. in se admisissent, had taken on themselves: admitto alone
is the ordinary phrase for commit. — legatos . . . conjectos (the
specific act), in appos. with facinus.
58. 3. pedestria itinera, etc., travelling by land was cut off.
-inscientiam, i. e. the Romans' lack of acquaintance.
•
neque
confidebant, and they trusted that our armies could not, &c.
4. ut ... acciderent (concessive, § 57, 5; G. 610), granting
that every thing should turn out contrary to their expectation.
plurimum posse, were strongest. facultatem, supply. — longe
aliam atque, very different . . . from. - concluso, enclosed
(like the Mediterranean).
•
5. Osismos, etc., the coast tribes as far as Flanders. The
name Lexovii remains in Lisieux; Namnetes in Nantes; Diablin-
tres in Fablins.
10. injuriæ retentorum equitum, the wrong done by detaining
the knights (§ 72, 3, a; G. 667, R²). — rebellio, renewal of hostili-
ties (not rebellion). no arbitrarentur: a new rising was
threatened by the Belgians, while the maritime tribes, it is said,
were already fearful of an attempt upon Britain. (Observe that this
clause is under the same construction as the nominatives injuriæ,
defectio, etc.)
2. excitari: the present infin. here corresponds to the imperfect
of description, excitabantur: while odisse answers to oderunt
taken as a present, all men naturally hate.
4
50
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
11. mandat adeat, gives it in charge (manu dare) to advance
upon (§ 70, 3, ƒ, R; G. 547, R²).
59. arcessiti [esse] dicebantur, were reported to have been
summoned.
2. Aquitaniam, in S. W. Gaul (see i. 15). The people were of
different race and language from the other Gauls, and took little
interest in their affairs, not even joining in the great revolt of Book
vii. But Cæsar may not have known this (Moberly).
3. Unellos, etc., in Normandy.
4. Decimum Brutum, afterwards one of the conspirators
against Cæsar, under the more celebrated Marcus Brutus. - Pic-
tonibus, Santonis, south of the Loire (Poitou and Saintonge).
12. ejus modi . . . ut, of such sort that. cum... incita-
visset at high tide. ·æstus, tide: properly the surging move-
ment of boiling water; hence applied both to extreme heat and to
ocean-tides. — bis, apparently an error of most mss. Some editors
read xxiv. instead of xii. ; others refer it to the general igno-
rance or carelessness of ancient writers. minuente, at the ebb:
intransitive, as if from the passive form used as a reflexive.
2. utraque re, in either case.—superati, agreeing with the
subj. of cœperunt. — his (aggere ac molibus) adæquatis,
when these were brought level with the walls.
• • •
3. hæc faciebant, this they continued to do. eo facilius
quod, the more easily, that, &c. vasto mari, etc., in each of
these points contrasted with the sheltered and tideless waters of
the Mediterranean.
13. ipsorum, their own. aliquanto planiores, considerably
more flat-bottomed. quo possent, that they might more easily
• •
take the shallows and the ebb-tide.
-
2. admodum erectæ, quite elevated. — robore, oak timber.
60. contumeliam, buffeting. transtra, etc., the decks of
beams a foot in depth fastened with iron bolts the thickness of a
[man's] thumb.
3. pelles, hides; alutæ, leather. - tanta onera navium, ships
of so great burden. non satis commode, not very well: Cæsar
does not like to say that any thing is impossible.
4. nostræ classi, etc., the encounter of our fleet with, &c.
una, only. - præstaret, had the advantage (i. e. our fleet). — pro
loci natura, considering the nature of the ground.
5. rostro, beak, a sharp projecting brazen point, to strike and
disable the enemy's ship; copulis, grappling-irons, with which the
ships were held so that they might be boarded. When this could
be done, the superior skill of the Roman soldiers could always be
depended on (see ch. 147).
III. 11–16.]
5I
Naval Campaign.
6. accedebat ut—and besides, followed by ferrent, consiste-
rent, and timerent, which in English would be in the direct con-
struction. se vento dedissent, ran before the wind, a nautical
phrase: hence the noun is repeated. The clause cum dedis-
sent is parenthetical. consisterent, came to anchor; ab æstu
relictæ, etc., if stranded by the ebb had nothing to fear, &c. -
casus, the chance of all these things.
•
•
14. neque.. posse, that the enemy's retreat could not be pre-
vented by capturing their towns, and that no damage could be done
them.
2. paratissimæ, fully equipped; ornatissimæ, thoroughly fur-
nished. The battle was fought in the bay of Quiberon, Cæsar look-
ing on from shore. neque Bruto constabat, and it was not
clear to Brutus.
3. excitatis, built up. ex barbaris navibus, on the part of
the enemy's ships (compare i. 2º note).
61. 4. magno usui, of great service, in fact turning disaster
to victory: but Cæsar will not use words that hint a possible
defeat. - muralium falcium, wall-hooks, long poles with sickle-
shaped hooks attached (like those used by "hook-and-ladder "
companies) used to pull down walls: it limits formæ (understood),
dat. after absimili.
5. prærumpebantur, they (the halyards) were torn away: ob-
serve the position of funes in the relative clause.
7. paulo fortius actum, one of Cæsar's mild expressions for
an act of remarkable daring.
15. singulas, etc., two or three ships about each. — contende-
bant, made repeated efforts: compare with contenderunt (2),
describing a single act.
•
2. expugnatis . . navibus, when a good many of their ships
had been boarded.
3. conversis . . . navibus, i. e. steered so as to run before the
wind. malacia, calm (a Greek word).
4. pervenerint, came to land: pervenirent would be equally
correct, and is found in some copies; but the perfect conveys more
distinctly the act of landing.—hora quarta, about 10 A.M.
16. cum . . . tum, while . . . at the same time: imitating a
very frequent Greek construction (uèv . . . dé). — convenerant,
coegerant, i. e. for this war.quod ubique, all there was any-
where, followed by the partitive gen. navium.
2. quo, i. e. [any refuge] whither; quem ad modum (often
written as one word), how.
62. 3. eo... quo, with the intention that. — vindicandum,
vengeance should be inflicted. — omni senatu necato, an instance
52
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
of Cæsar's clementia. sub corona vendidit, sold [as slaves] at
public auction: lit. under the wreath, since the captives
crowned like an animal for sacrifice."
(6 were
"This can hardly mean that Cæsar sold the whole nation by auction.
The mention of the Senate makes it probable that the inhabitants of the
capital Dariorigum [Vannes] are meant. Even so the rigor is terrible;
and the more so, as regards the senate, from the grim alternative which
the next chapter suggests [of being massacred by their own people, ch.
172] as the only one open to these unfortunate rulers" (Moberly).
"He has not said, as he does on another occasion (ii. 33), how many
were sold, but we may infer that he depopulated the country of the
Veneti at least; and it appears from a later book (vii. 75) that all the
Armoric states must have been greatly reduced by this unfortunate war.
The only naval power in Gallia that could be formidable to the Romans
was totally destroyed, and neither the Veneti nor their allies gave the
proconsul any more trouble" (Long).
17. Unellorum, along the Channel coast of Normandy. A
more correct reading is said to be Venelli.—magnas copias, con-
siderable forces (not supplies, as these fell short, see 18'), most
likely meaning here irregular troops (perditorum hominum, see
next section) as opposed to exercitum.
2. his paucis diebus, i. e. about the same time. — perditorum,
desperate: it was now the third year of constant war in Gaul.
3. carperetur, was carped at, his reputation "picked to pieces."
4. opportunitate, a favorable chance (opportunus).
18. edocet, instructs.
=
2. pro perfuga, in the character of a deserter. - neque lon-
gius esse quin = not later than: i. e. the time was not farther off.
63. 4. superiorum dierum, on the previous days. — con-
firmatio, positive assertion. -parum diligenter, i. e. (in Cæsar's
style) very negligently. — spes . . . belli hope founded on, &c.
fere . . credunt most men are glad to believe, &c.
5. non prius, . . . quam, not . . until.
6. ut.
victoria (abl. abs.) — as if victory were already won.
sarmentis, sprouts or young growth; virgultis, brushwood.
19. paulatim adclivis, gently rising.-magno cursu, on a
full run.
·
·
•
3. factum est, etc., it resulted from the advantage of ground,
the enemy's awkwardness and fatigue, the courage of the men and
their practice in former fights.
4. quos: the antecedent is eorum.
the remainder (§ 50, 2, R³; G. 368, r²).
reliquos paucos, few of
but.
SOUTHERN GAUL. — The campaign in Aquitania was made merely for
strategic reasons, was not provoked by any attack or threat of one, and
III. 16–22.]
53
Southern Gaul.
II
appears to have been quite unnecessary (see note, ch. 112) as well as
difficult and dangerous. The Aquitani were not closely allied with the
Gauls, took no share in their wars, and were at a secure distance. They
had no strong military league or combination, but consisted of small
isolated clans, and were besides of more industrial habit, being good
miners and engineers. As a mere narrative, however, this is an interest-
ing episode of the war.
64. 20. ex tertia parte (an idiomatic phrase) = as a third
part, a greatly exaggerated reckoning. Many of Cæsar's geo-
graphical statements (e. g. the account of Britain, v. 13) are ex-
tremely ignorant or careless.
Præconinus, Mallius: these defeats were 20 years before
(B. C. 78), when the Aquitani united with the Marian leader Ser-
torius, who held Spain for six years against Rome.
2. Tolosa et Narbone (early editions add Carcassone):
Tolosa was an old Gallic town; Narbo, a Roman colony established
by the policy of Caius Gracchus, B. C. 118. It became the capital
of the Roman province, to which it gave its name. Sontiatum,
south of the Garonne, S. E. of the modern Bordeaux: the name
remains in the modern Sôs.
3. conlocaverunt: some editions have the pluperfect, which
seems to be required. ostenderunt, unmasked.
- sine im-
21. superioribus victoriis, i. e. those just related.
peratore adulescentulo duce: an imperator is the chief com-
mander of an army, holding the imperium, or power of military
command conferred on him by regular formalities; dux is a general
designation for any person holding a command, and might be given
to a subordinate officer, like Crassus, who acted as an agent and
under the imperium of his superiors.
• •
perspici: the subj. is the indirect question quid . possent.
— vertĕre, histor. infin. The perfect form in ēre is very rare in
early prose.
3. cuniculis, mines, so called from their likeness to rabbits'
burrows.―ærariæ structuræque (hendiadys), copper mines. [The
dagger † indicates a corrupt or doubtful reading. Some editions
omit the -que, and others have structuræ, works.] — diligentiā,
through the watchfulness. — faciunt, they do [it].
65. 22. soldurios, knights, from the Basque SOLDI, horse.
It is related that these soldurii "were dressed in royal garments
like their chief."
2. condicio: the same condition was found among the Germans
(vi. 23), and was the foundation of feudal vassalage.
3. cum his (repeated from cum devotis), with these (I say).
54
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
23. Vocatium, etc., further west. quibus, within which.
quoque versum, in every direction (quoque the adverb of place
formed from the distributive quisque; versum, the adverb of
direction usually connected with propositions, as ad . . . versum).
It is often written quoquoversum.
2. Hispaniæ: these Iberian populations were allied to the
Aquitani (i. 1º). Spain had been subject to Rome for more than
150 years, but was always rather mutinous, and had made several
attempts at independence, especially under Sertorius (see note, ch.
20'). It was also the last stronghold of Pompey's party in the civil
war, till finally subdued at Munda, B.C: 45.
3. omnes annos, i. e. B. C. 78-72. loca capere, to occupy
positions, &c., i. e. make systematic preparations for war.
4. quod, in appos. with the clause suas . . augeri; or (altering
the punctuation) it may be taken as a conjunction, the clause being
the direct object of animadvertit. diduci, be scattered in various
directions. minus commode with great difficulty.
•
•
66. 24. duplici, i. e. two cohorts in depth (cf. i. 242). His
numbers were too few to allow greater depth. — in mediam aciem,
to the centre of his line, where they would be kept in hand by his
legionaries (see ch. 25'). — exspectabat, waited [to see] what, &c.
2. obsessis viis potiri, in English, to block the roads, cut
off supplies, and win the victory without a wound. -sese reci-
pere, to withdraw from Aquitania. — in agmine, on the march.
infirmiore animo dispirited, an adjective phrase in the same
construction with impeditos (§ 45, 4). — adoriri cogitabant, had
in mind to attack. - ab ducibus, under the inferior officers.
3. sua, their own. opinione timoris, the notion [they had
given] of their own cowardice. exspectari, depending on cohor-
tatus. — omnibus cupientibus — to the eager desire of them all.
25. opinionem pugnantium, i. e. an impression as if actually
engaged.
2. ab decumana porta, i. e. in the rear (generally).
26. 2. intritæ, unworn. [Observe that while in the compound
verb the preposition in has an intensive force (intero, to crumble), in
the compound adjective it has a negative force. Many participles
have thus two exactly opposite meanings: as infractus, broken up
or unbroken.]
67. prius quam: this phrase is often used with the indicative
to show that one actual fact precedes another, just as succession is
denoted by post quam. Here the subjunctive subordinates the
temporal clause to the main idea, just as with cum (§ 62, 2, b and c).
5. apertissimis campis, i. e. the broad treeless plains which
abound in this part of the country. consectatus (intensive from
III. 23-29.]
55
Belgian Confederacy.
sequor), overtaking in hot chase. — multa nocte, late at night (loc.
abl.). —— Cantabris, a very hardy people of the western Pyrenees.
27. Tarbelli, etc.: some of the names will be recognized in the
modern Tarbes, Bigorre, Garonne. ultimæ, remotest.
28. omní . . . pacata, while all the rest of Gaul was subdued.
– Morini, etc., on the islands and low coast-lands of Flanders and
further north. The Celtic MOR signifies sea. —alia ac, different
from.
4. longius, too far (farther than was safe).
68. 29. deinceps, i. e. in the days next following. conver-
sam, fronting, i. e. with the boughs turned towards the enemy. -
pro vallo, as a palisade.
2. tenerentur, were just getting within reach. ejusmodi uti
intermitteretur, such that the work was constantly interrupted
(broken off would have been intermissum sit).
3. Aulercis, etc., along the Seine, near Evreux and Lisieux.
proxime, last.
56
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
BOOK FOURTH.
Passage of tHE RHINE - The year B. C. 55 appears to have been
marked by a general movement in the migration of the German tribes.
An advance, consisting of the two populations Usipetes and Tencteri,
crowded forward by the more powerful Suevi, crossed the lower Rhine
into northern Gaul. Cæsar assumed the defence of the country he had
just conquered; drove them back across the Rhine; followed them up
by an expedition into their own territories, and fully established the su-
premacy of the Roman arms. Another brief campaign in Germany, two
years later, confirmed this success; and the Rhine become the military
frontier, recognized for many centuries, between the Roman empire and
the barbarian world. In the common opinion of France it is to this day
the natural boundary, established (as it were) in perpetuity by the arms
of Julius Cæsar.
PAGE
69. Pompeio, Crasso: this was B. C. 55. The coalition
between Cæsar, Pompey, and Crassus, sometimes called the First
Triumvirate, had been formed five years before. In carrying out
their scheme, he held the Government of Gaul, while the others.
took into their own hands this year the whole control of affairs
at home (see Introd., "Life of Cæsar.")
Usipetes, Tencteri, from beyond the Rhine, a little below
Cologne.
2. Suevis: this people (the modern Swabians) occupied the
greater part of central Germany, and was made up of several inde-
pendant tribes. The name is held to mean wanderers. —preme-
bantur, had been crowded ($ 58, 3, b; G. 225).
3. centum pagos (see i. 12): there is probably some confusion
here with the ancient German institution of the Hundred, a division
of the population giving its name to a district of territory. Each
hundred seems to have sent 1000 men (singula milia) to the army.
The term early lost its numerical value, and became a mere local
designation.
4. anno post, the year after. — in vicem (invicem), in turn.
70. 5. privati . . . agri, i. e. the land was held in tribal com-
munities, a state of things almost universal among primitive
nations. (But some of the Germans appear to have been more
advanced: see Introduction, near the end.) — longius anno:
i. e. the Hundred had no fixed possessions, but was transferred
yearly from one tract to another, its place being taken by another
Hundred. This would prevent at once forming local attachments,
and too rapid exhausting of the soil.
IV. 1-5.]
57
Campaign against the Germans.
6. frumento, etc.: they were still in a half-nomadic state,
though with some little advance in agriculture (compare vi. 22, and
Tac. Germ. 26). — maximam partem (adv. acc.), for the most part.
quom (some copies read quod).. .. faciant; this clause is a
parenthesis: since from chillihood they are trained to no service or
discipline, and do nothing whatever against their will,—a lively
contrast of barbarous manners with the severity of Roman family
discipline. — alit, the subj, is quæ res. homines (pred.) efficit,
makes [them] men, &c.
7. eam, correl with at-locis frigidissimis =even in their
extreme climate. — haberent, have; lavarentur, bathe (imperf. by
sequence of tenses following adduxerunt).
2. eo, ut . . . habeant, so that they may have [some one] to
whom, &c.
quam quo. desiderent, than that they want, &c.
(For the use of quo with the implied negative, see § 66, 1, R; G.
541, R¹).
importatis non utuntur
2. imperso pretio, at high cost.
do not import for use. — deformia, ill-shaped.-summi laboris,
[capable] of great labor (gen. of quality).
3. eodem vestigio, on the same spot (foot-print).
cum usus
est, when there is need. — ephippiis, saddles (a Greek word).
4. quamvis pauci, however few.
3. publice, i. e. to them as a community.
(back from) their boundaries.
T
→
•
a suis finibus, on
una Suevis, extending from
[the territory of] the Suevi in one direction. — agri, the region (nom.
plur.). The extent of waste lands is here much exaggerated.”
71. 2. Ubii, along the Rhine, between the Usipetes and the
Suevi. — captus, capacity,
captus, capacity, — paulo . . humaniores (omit the words
in brackets), somewhat more civilized than the others of that race
(Germans).
3. gravitatem, importance. humiliores (pred.), sc. so as to be,
4. in eadem causa, in the same case. ad extremum, at
length.
2. ad utramque ripam, along both banks.
3. vi contendere to force a passage.
4. priusquam.. feret, 62, 2, 6; G. 579.
$
their supplies (cattle and corn).
corum copiis, on
fickleness nihil .
5. infirmitatem, weakness of purpose
committendum, nothing should be left to their discretion
72. 2. est... consuetudinis, it is ja point】 of beallis sustom
($ 50, 1, d; G. 365, R'). —- vulgns Gironmsistat
bogant, a rotat
surrounds the traders, and compels, &c. With the former verb, the
crowd is taken as a whole; with the second, the inquisitiva
questioners are thought of.
58
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
3. rebus atque auditionibus, facts or hearsays.
in vestigio,
on the spot, i. e. presently (sur-le-champ). — serviant = are ruled
by. - plerique . respondeant, many give false answers to suit
their whim.
•
6. graviori bello, too serious a war (i. e. unmanageable). -
maturius, earlier in the season. ad exercitum: the army was
now in Normandy (iii. 29).
2. uti ... discederent, to advance from the Rhine further into
Gaul. The Belgæ, it will be remembered, claimed kindred with
the Germans, and were no doubt ready to retaliate their bloody
defeat upon the Romans.fore parata, should be got ready (the
regular fut. infin. passive, depending on some such word as promi-
serunt).
4. quæ cognoverant, the facts he had learned (the subj. co-
gnovisset would make it an indir. question). — permulsis, calmed
from their terror (lit. soothed by stroking, like a nervous horse).
7. equitibus delectis: the quota of cavalry was required of
each of the allied states.
2. priores =as aggressors (compare the language of Ariovistus,
i. 36).
neque recusarc quin, they do not decline. — quicumque :
the antecedent is eis (dat.) implied with resistere.
cari, and ask no quarter.
neque depre-
3. hæc tamen dicere, this however we say [said they]. — iis,
to the Romans; eos, sc. agros. - concedere, yield, as inferior.
73. 8. quæ visum est, as it seemed good (see i. 14, 43).
verum, right.
2. Ubiorem, see ch. 32. - quorum sint, etc., whose envoys (he
informs them) are now with him to complain, &c.
9. post diem tertium (= tertio die), i. e. the next day but one.
(The first and last day are usually counted in the reckoning: so in
French en huit jours — in a week.) — id, the two days' delay.
2. trans, i. e. westwardly.
were waiting for.
exspectari, translate actively, they
10. Vosego, the Vosges: in fact, "from the plateau of Langres,
the cradle of French rivers." - parte . recepta: the Rhine
branches in these low marshy regions, one branch (Vacalus, the
modern Waal), uniting with the Meuse near Bois-le-Duc (see
note, ch. 15).
2. Nantuatium (compare iii. 1): the name is said to mean
river-people. This list of names is incomplete. citatus, with
rapid course. feris... nationibus :
nationibus: see the introduction to
Motley's "Dutch Republic."
11. ut erat constitutum, as had been arranged (the return of
the envoys).
IV. 5-14.] Campaign against the Germans.
59
-
.. usuros,
74. 2. eos (anteced. to qui), the cavalry who, &c. - potes-
tatem faceret, would give authority. — condicione
would keep the terms offered by Cæsar.
3. eodem illo pertinere, tended the same way with the other
(see ch. 9), i. e. to gain time till the German cavalry should arrive.
aquationis causa: a small stream (the Niers) lay between him
and the German encampment.
12. ubi primum . . . conspexerunt, as soon as they came in
sight. - amplius octingentos, more than 800 ($ 45, 3, c; G.
311, R¹). — perturbaverunt, threw into disorder.
2. resistentibus, sc. nostris. subfossis, stabbed in the belly.
-ita perterritos, so panic-stricken.
3. regnum obtinuerat, had held royal power.
75. 13. neque jam, no longer: knowing how little his own
cavalry (of Gauls) were to be trusted, and that the arrival of the
main body of the Germans would put them at once to flight, Cæsar
resolved to attack at the first opportunity, right or wrong.
qui, from men who, &c.
ab iis
2. quantum auctoritatis, how great prestige the enemy had
gained by one battle. — quibus, i. e. the enemy.
3. quæstore, see i. 52'.—res, in appos. with quod ... vene-
runt. — eadem perfidia: their perfidy Cæsar takes for granted, as
the best apology for his own; but the presence of the chiefs and
old men looks more as if they came (as they said) to offer amends
for the attack of the day before.
4. contra atque, contrary to what. si quid. . de indutiis
whatever they could in the way of truce (de with the abl. is nearly
the same with the part. gen.). — fallendo, i. e. by another trick.
5. quos, illos, both refer to the same subject. quos oblatos
gavisus, delighted that they were put in his power. By detaining
their chief men, he would at once perplex and disable them. — sub-
sequi, to follow in the rear; he could not trust them in the intended
attack.
14. quid ageretur, what was going on.
•
·
2. ne an.. an (§ 71, 2; G. 460): the three infinitives all
belong to præstaret, whether it were better.
4. quo loco=here on the ground (a military phrase), where
they had some slight advantage.
76. reliqua multitudo: the presence of women and children
shows that it was a migration for settlement, not a mere inroad for
plunder. — ad quos consectandos (frequent. of sequor), to hunt
them down, a fit business for the cowardly and treacherous Gallic
horse. Referring to this massacre of helpless fugitives, Plutarch
writes that, "when the Senate was voting public thanksgiving and
60
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
processions on account of the victory, Cato proposed that Cæsar
should be given up to the barbarians to expiate that breach of faith,
that the divine vengeance might fall upon its author rather than
upon Rome" (Life of Cæsar).
15. confluentem: the reasons are very strong against placing
this action in the low lands at the confluence of the Rhine and
Meuse (Mosa); among them the great distance, more than 120
miles, from the place where Cæsar actually crossed the Rhine. It
will make the whole narrative much clearer, to regard this (with
Goeler) as the confluence of the Rhine and Mosella (Moselle) at
Coblentz, the ancient Confluentes. In this view the text has been
confused by the likeness of the names, while ch. 10 appears to be
a note added perhaps by some geographer.—reliqua fuga, further
flight.
2. ex
great a war.
timore = relieved from [the apprehension of] so
3. discedendi potestatem, permission to depart. Cæsar prac-
tically acquits them of the charge of treachery (compare his deal-
ings with the Veneti, iii. 16). The attack and massacre were
purely for "moral effect." — supplicia = vengeance.
-
16. illa, the following. — justissima, most reasonable.
suis
intellegerent, he wished them to fear for their own affairs
also, since they would understand, &c. (cum intellegerent is here
nearly equivalent to a participle).
2. accessit quod: and besides.
quam. . . transisse, which,
as I mentioned above (the conjunction that of indirect discourse
cannot be used in English to introduce a relative clause). Observe
that Cæsar the writer uses the first person (commemoravi);
Cæsar the actor is always in the third. — Sugambrorum, just north
of the Ubii.
3. qui postularent. . . dederent, to require them to surrender
those who, &c.—finire, was the limit of (see introd. note, Book
iv.).· se invito, without his own consent.—sui imperii (pred.
after esse), under his power.
4. occupationibus reipublicæ, by the demands of state affairs.
5. opinionem, reputation. navium, boats.
17. nequc ... esse, it did not belong to his dignity, &c.
2. latitudinem, etc. Cæsar's passage of the Rhine was most
probably at Bonn, where the high and rocky banks begin; or at
Neuwied, 20 or 25 miles further south, where there is a break in
the chain of hills (but here, it is said, the bottom is rock, and not
fit for driving piles). The width of the river at either place is
about 1400 feet; its depth is very variable. It is now crossed in
these parts by floating bridges of boats.
IV. 15-17.]
61
Passage of the Rhine.
3. rationem, plan. The brief description which Cæsar gives
of his rough and ready but very serviceable engineering may be
made clearer by giving its different points as follows:
1. A pair of unhewn logs, a foot and a half thick (tigna bina sesquipe-
dalia), braced two feet apart, and sharpened at the end, is driven with
rammers (fistucis) into the bottom, sloping a little with the stream (4).
2. A similar pair is driven in opposite, 40 feet below, sloping a little
against the stream (4): the upper ends of the two pairs would thus be
some 25 or 30 feet apart, the width of the roadway.
3. A beam of square timber, two feet thick (trabs bipedalis), and
about 30 feet long, is made fast at the end by ties (fibulis) between the
logs of each pair, which are thus kept at a proper distance apart,
while they are strongly braced against the current (5).
J
4. A suitable number (probably about 60) of these trestles, or timber-
arches, having been built and connected by cross-ties, this part of the
structure must be taken for granted, - planks are then laid lengthwise of
the bridge (directa materia), resting on the heavy floor-timbers; and
upon these, again, saplings and twigs (longurii, crates) are spread, to pre-
vent the jar and wear of the carts upon the flooring (6).
5. Piles (sublica) are then driven in below, resting obliquely against
the logs, to which they serve as shores or butts (pro ariete), and other
heavier piles a little way above, to break the force of floating logs or
boats sent down to destroy the bridge (7).
tigna, probably unhewn logs. — bina, two and two, i. e. in pairs.
pedum duorum, i. e. between the timbers of each pair.
4. machinationibus immissa, driven in with engines (a sort of
pile-drivers). — sublicæ modo, like a pile. — fastigate, sloping (like
the rafters of a house). — ut . . . procumberent, so as to fall for-
ward with the current. — ab inferiore parte, down stream.
*
•
5. hæc utraque . distinebantur, these two sets (or pairs)
were held apart by two-foot timbers laid on above, -[in thickness]
equal to the interval left by the fastening of the beams (quantum
distabat), with a pair of ties at each end. — quibus [tignis]
•
•
revinctis, which being held apart, and made fast again at the
opposite end, i. e. the ties held them apart, while the main beams
kept them from falling asunder.
78. artius (
arctius), more closely.
6. hæc ... contexebantur, these (the framework of timber)
were covered with boards lengthwise. — sublicæ . . . agebantur,
piles (or shores) were driven slanting on the lower side, so as to
prop the bridge against the current. pro ariete, as a buttress
(abutting).
7. aliæ item, other piles a little way above, to serve as a
breakwater or stockade.deiciendi operis, sc. gratia (§ 73, 3,
62
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
a', last example; G. 429, R²), to throw down the work.
•
•
his defen-
soribus, by these defences. neu nocerent, and that they
(trunci, etc.) might not harm the bridge.
18. diebus decem, within ten days.
present, resumed from 16¹.
traducitur, the histor.
3. hortantibus iis, etc., the few who had escaped the massacre
of ch. 15, and had taken refuge across the Rhine.
19. succisis, cut down to the ground.
2. uti ... convenirent, clause of result (§ 70, 3, a; G. 546,
R') following the verbal phrase nuntios . . . dimisisse.
sc. ut.
J
omnes,
hunc, etc., this (the place of meeting) had been selected in
the midst, &c.; medium, agreeing directly with hunc (§ 47, 6; G.
324, Rº), in preference to the adverbial phrase in medio.
3. ut... liberaret, these clauses are in appos. with rebus iis.
79. ulcisceretur, chastise.—rescidit, broke up.
THE LANDING IN BRITAIN. - What is called the First Invasion of
Britain, though it marks an interesting date in history, and gave fresh
stimulus to Roman curiosity and ambition, was in itself an affair of
small account. It was, in fact, only meant for a reconnoissance, or, per-
haps, as opening the way to further schemes. Towards the end of
summer, Cæsar sailed across to the white cliffs of Dover, coasted a few
miles towards the west, and established a camp on the British coast.
His cavalry, meanwhile, had been weatherbound in their transports, and
then, after crossing, were driven back by rough winds without even
coming to land. After holding an uneasy and perilous position for
about three weeks, he returned to Gaul, without accomplishing anything
beyond a barren display of hardihood.
20. exiguā. . . reliquā, when but little of the summer was
left: ablative absolute (or it might be construed as simple loc. abl.,
in the brief remainder of the summer; illustrating the develop-
ment of the one from the other construction). etsi. . . tamen
contendit, though the winters are early, yet he made haste to
advance, &c.
•
•
+
-
&c.
2. omnibus bellis (loc. abl.), in almost all,
hostibus,
dat. after sumministrata, furnished to the enemy, — si . . . tamen,
even if time should fail, still, &c. - magno usui, dat. of service.
-fore the subj. is the clause si cognovisset, he thought it
would be of great advantage if, &c.; the pluperfect adisset, etc.,
representing the future perf. adierit, following arbitrabatur. [Ob-
serve in this sentence, that while Cæsar's action is given in the
perfect (contendit), his reasons are in the imperfect (intellegebat,
arbitrabatur); while the conditional clauses si deficeret, si
adisset, are strictly future conditions carried into the past by the
IV. 17-23.]
63
First Invasion of Britain.
sequence of tenses, § 59, 4, ƒ; G. 598, R¹.]—quæ omnia, all of
which (§ 50, 2, R³; G. 368, R²). Gallis incognita, i. e. except
to the secluded and jealous Veneti (iii. 8).
3. neque enim (neg. of etenim, § 43, 3, d; G. 500, R³), to be
rendered with quisquam, for no one. temere, without good rea-
son.-neque quicquam and nothing. -iis, dat. after notum
(§ 51, 4, b; G. 352). — Gallias, i. e. Celtic and Belgic Gaul.
4. vocatis mercatoribus, etc. he called the traders, but could
not, &c. - quem usum = = what degree of skill. quanta
portus, these indir. questions follow reperire poterat.
•
21. periclum faceret, making the trial (or risk). — idoneum,
a fit person. — navi longa, see iii. 9'. —quam primum, as soon as
possible.
2. Morinos, occupying the nearest point to Britain: in clear
weather the British coast is in sight from these shores. quam
classem, the fleet which (§ 48, 3, b; G. 618). — qui polliceantur,
to promise (§ 64, 1; G. 544), followed by dare as complem. infin.
($ 70, 2, d; G. 527, R'), a rare use, for se daturos [esse].
80. 4. ut permanerent, to remain, object-clause after horta-
tus. Atrebatibus superatis (see ii. 23): the same people, it is
said, occupied Berkshire in England, whence the supposed influence
of Commius. — ibi, i. e. among the Atrebates (§ 48, 5; G. 613,
R'). — magni, gen. of value (§ 50, 1, i; G. 399), of great account.
5. huic, indir. obj. of imperat; the direct obj. is the whole
clause, down to nuntiet. - fidem sequantur, i. e. accept the pro-
tection of, or submit to.-seque . . . nuntiet, and tell them that
he is coming.
6. quantum (sc. tantum). auderet, so far as opportunity
could be given to one who did not venture, &c. perspexisset,
had investigated: for sequence of tenses, see § 58, 10, e; G.
511, R¹.
22. superioris temporis, of the season before (see iii. 28). –
homines barbari being (as they were) barbarians.
2. satis opportune, quite seasonably. — has . . anteponendas,
that occupation about such little matters should be put before [the
invasion of] Britain.
•
•
3. coactis, gathered from various quarters; contractis, brought
together into port (at Boulogne). — quod habebat, all the
galleys he had besides. — ex eo loco, etc., eight miles from there,
at the port of Ambleteuse. tenebantur quo minus, were detained
from. — equitibus, cavalry, of whom there were 450.
81. 23. idoneam tempestatem, favorable weather. tertia
vigilia, at midnight. The date was August 26, high water being
about half past seven, P.M.; the ships, therefore, would go out at
64
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
about half-tide.
solvit, loosed or cast-off the ships: used like our
phrase weighed anchor. equites: these were to embark at Am-
bleteuse, as above.
2. paulo tardius: they sailed after a delay of three days (ch.
28). — hora quarta, about half-past eight A.M., about an hour after
high-tide. The landing was near Dover, where he lay at anchor
till half past three.
3. montibus angustis, i. e. cliffs coming close to the shore.
4. dum convenirent, until the other ships should come up
(§ 62, 2, d; G. 574).
5. ut.
• •
•
•
• • •
administra-
postularent, as military science and especially sea-
manship require; relat. clause following monuit
rentur, enjoined that every thing should be done promptly. — ut
quæ . . haberent (§ 65, 2, e; G. 637), since they have, &c.
6. his dimissis, when they were sent to their posts (observe the
dispersive effect of di-). æstum secundum: the tide in this
place would run west till about half past six. — aperto . . . litore:
“at Lymne in Romney marsh, where the cliffs are far back from the
beach, and there is a fine shingle."
24. essedariis: the essedum was a two-wheeled war-chariot.
quo genere, i.e. both horses and chariots, making a sort of flying
artillery. copiis, abl. of accompaniment (§ 54, 6, a; G. 391). –
egrědi, infin. for ne or quominus with subj.
2. nisi in alto, except in deep water.
desiliendum), the men had to leap down.
militibus), weighted as they were.
militibus, dat. after
oppressis (taken with
cum .. conicerent, while
•
they (the Britons), &c. arido, dry ground.—insuefactos, trained
to it, i. e. to charge to the water's edge.
3. generis (gen. after imperiti, § 50, 3, b; G. 373): wholly
unskilled in this sort of fighting.
82. pedestribus, on land, where the main strength lay with
infantry.uti, employ or exhibit.
25. naves (obj. of jussit, and subj. of removeri), ordered the
vessels to be set back. species, appearance. inusitatior, quite
strange. —latus apertum, the exposed flank, i. e. the right, unpro-
tected by their shields. tormentis, engines, for hurling stones,
darts, &c. (ii. 8³). — quæ res, this manœuvre.
constiterunt.
2. permoti, thrown into confusion.
atque, and besides. — paulum modo, just a little.
ac
3. qui ferebat, the one who carried: the antecedent of qui is
is, the understood subj. of inquit. — contestatus, appealing to.
aquilam: the standard of the legion was a silver or bronze eagle,
borne on a spear-shaft by the chief centurion (primipilus). –
legioni, dat. of reference (§ 51, 7; G. 343).
IV. 23-29.]
65
First Invasion of Britain.
4. ego certe.
•
·
præstitero, I at any rate shall have done, &c.
(see § 58, 7, R; G. 236).
5. inter se, one another (§ 19, 3, d; G. 212). — universi, all at
once. ex proximis [primis] navibus, from the nearest ships
(those in the front line).—adpropinquarunt: the subject is,
[those] from, &c.
•
26. pugnatum est = they fought.-ab utrisque, strictly, by
those on both sides. - poterant submittebat: notice the
numerous imperfects of this description, implying repeated or con-
tinuous action. alius alia ex navi― from different ships (§ 47,
9; G. 306). —quibuscumque signis, dat. after occurrebat; the
antecedent noun and pronoun (eis signis), if expressed, would be
dat. after adgregabat. The clause from quod to adgregabat is a
parenthesis.
2. singulares, in scattered groups. — adoriebantur, would at-
tack. ab latere aperto (see ch. 15'), on the exposed flank of the
Romans. — in universos, upon the mass.
3. speculatoria navigia, swift light boats for reconnoissance.
4. simul [atque], as soon as.
83. quod equites, etc., they were windbound at Ambleteuse
(ch. 224). hoc unum
hoc unum . . . defuit: “in fact, a tide of disasters
was now setting in to continue several years."
27. quæ imperasset, what he should require (quæ imperaveris).
quem præmissum, ch. 214.
2. oratoris modo, in the character of envoy (or spokesman). –
ut [sibi] ignosceretur, that [this thing] might be pardoned (ignosco
takes a direct object of the thing, with an indirect object of the
person).
3. bellum . . . intulissent: these barbarous people might be
pardoned for mistaking Cæsar's expedition as an invasion!—ig-
noscere for the omission of the subject, see § 67, 1, a²; G. 527,
R2. arcessitam when they should be fetched.
4. remigrare, to move back.
28. post diem quartum, i. e. three days after.-naves, etc.,
see ch. 221.
•
•
2. aliæ ... aliæ, some. others. - sui (obj. gen. with peri-
culo), to themselves.
occasum, west. cum complerentur,
since they were filling as they lay at anchor. — adversa nocte, in
the face of the night.
29. eadem nocte: this was the night of August 30; the moon
was full at 3 A. M.
84. æstus maximos, spring tides. The ocean tides, rising
here between 20 and 30 feet, were a strange phenomenon to those
who had known only the tideless waters of the Mediterranean
5
66
[B. G.
Notes: Cæsar.
(compare iii. 8¹). naves, obj. of compleverat. adflictabat
(intensive), dashed about. facultas, opportunity (to do a thing).
2. id quod, see § 48, 3, e; G. 612, R².
3. quod constabat, because it was settled: the subj. is opor-
tere, of which the subj. is hiemari, that to winter in Gaul was
needful. his in locis: for the order of words see § 76, 3, a.
• •
30. principes, subj. of duxerunt. -hoc angustiora, so much
the smaller: hoc is abl. of means (§ 54, 6, e; G. 400). — optimum,
in pred. agreement with frumento producere. — duxerunt,
thought.-frumento, commeatu, corn and other supplies. rem,
the business of the invasion. — his
his ... interclusis, abl. abs. of
condition: if these should be overcome, &c. deducere, bring
down towards the coast.
31. ex eventu navium, from what had befallen the ships.
ex eo quod, from the fact that. — suspicabatur, began to suspect.
— subsidia comparabat, made provision.
2. quæ
•
·
•
naves, earum, etc., the timber and copper of those
•
·
•
usui, whatever
ships which, &c. (§ 48, 3, b; G. 618). quæ
was of use: the antecedent of quæ is ea, subj. of comportari.
85. reliquis. . . effecit, he managed so that they could sail
(navigari, impers.) tolerably with the rest.
32. geruntur, § 58, 2, e; G. 220, R'.-frumentatum, to get
corn (supine).—pars hominum, some of the people. — ventitaret,
returned from time to time (frequent., § 36, b). — pro, in front of.
ferret than usual.
> .
•
quam
2. id quod erat what was the fact. -aliquid. consilii,
that some new design was undertaken. ex reliquis duas, two of
the others. armari, to arm; in verbs, thus used reflexively,
English prefers the active and Latin the passive form.
conferta
3. paulo longius, some little distance. premi . . . sustinere,
were getting pushed, and hardly held their ground.
legione (loc. abl. for in confertam legionem) = the legion was
formed in solid square, while weapons were hurled, &c. Observe
the force of Latin, in conveying a description, as here, by a parti-
cipial phrase.
4. suspicati, supposing (§ 72, 1, b; G. 278, R). dispersos,
occupatos, while scattered, &c., agreeing with milites, governed
by adorti. — incertis ordinibus (abl. abs.), because the ranks were
unsteady.
33. ex essedis: these chariots are often represented with
scythes at the axle, of which Cæsar makes no mention. They held
six men each, and were drawn by two horses. - cum se insinua-
verunt, when they have wound in.
2. paulatim, little by little (§ 41, 1, h). — illi, i. e. the fighting
men spoken of above. expeditum receptum, a ready retreat.
IV. 29-38.]
67
First Invasion of Britain.
3. præstant, exhibit. Cæsar was much struck with the effi-
ciency of the German and British horse (see ch. 13), and made it
the basis of important changes in the Roman army. — uti.
declivi ac
consuerint, clause of result following efficiunt.
præcipiti loco = a steep downward slope. — incitatos equos
sustinere, to check their horses in full gallop (infin. after consue-
rint). — brevi, within a short space.
86. 34. quibus rebus, under these circumstances (loc. abl.).
nostris, dat. following tulit auxilium.
2. alienum . . . arbitratus, judging it an unfavorable time.
3. quæ ... continerent, so as to keep (§ 65, 2; G. 633).
quanta . facultas da-
4. prædicaverunt, bragged about.
retur, what opportunity was offered (indir. question following
demonstraverunt). — ad castra, towards the camp.
•
35. ut effugerent (in appos. with idem, the subj. of fore),
namely, that if, &c. - effugerent, would escape: the future signi-
fication is from the effect of fore. equites triginta: these few
cavalry would be of no service in an engagement, but only in
pursuit. To chase and cut down the beaten army was considered
an essential part of the battle.
"Cæsar
3. tanto spatio, over as much ground (§ 55, 2, b; G. 387).
36. die æquinoctii, the stormy season (Sept. 24).
had therefore been nearly a month in Britain, without being able to
advance a mile from the shore.” — hiemi, etc., thought the voyage
ought not to be exposed to foul weather.
•
•
87. 2. eosdem . portus, the same parts with the others:
reliqui is masc. (by synesis) as referring to milites; some editions
have reliquæ [naves].
paulo infra: "the west current sets in on the French coast,
while that to the east is still running in mid-channel."
37. expositi, landed. —not ita magno, not very large.
3. horis, abl. of comparison with amplius: a more common
construction would be horas.
4. postea quam = as soon as.
38. superiore anno, see iii. 282: the tempestates of ch. 34
were apparently merely gusty weather without rain.
3. supplicatio, compare end of Book ii.
The crossing of the Rhine had strongly impressed the mind of the
Romans, and so too the passage into Britain, though in fact a failure.
This unprecedented thanksgiving of 20 days we must remember, how-
ever, was voted by Cæsar's own party, who now held all the offices;
and who would wish to cover up the impression of any ill success. In
fact, though he had added nothing to Roman power, he had opened a
new world to Roman ambition.
JAN-

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