Upload
taurini
View
226
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
1/196
TheGallicWars
ByJuliusCaesar
TranslatedbyW.A.McDevitteandW.S.Bohn
BOOK1
Chapter1
AllGaulisdividedintothreeparts,oneofwhichtheBelgaeinhabit,
theAquitanianother,thosewhointheirownlanguagearecalledCelts,
inourGauls,thethird.Allthesedifferfromeachotherinlanguage,
customsandlaws.TheriverGaronneseparatestheGaulsfromtheAquitani;
theMarne
and
the
Seine
separate
them
from
the
Belgae.
Of
all
these,
theBelgaearethebravest,becausetheyarefurthestfromthecivilization
andrefinementof[our]Province,andmerchantsleastfrequentlyresort
tothem,andimportthosethingswhichtendtoeffeminatethemind;
andtheyarethenearesttotheGermans,whodwellbeyondtheRhine,
withwhomtheyarecontinuallywagingwar;forwhichreasontheHelvetii
alsosurpasstherestoftheGaulsinvalor,astheycontendwith
theGermansinalmostdailybattles,whentheyeitherrepelthemfrom
theirownterritories,orthemselveswagewarontheirfrontiers.
Onepartofthese,whichithasbeensaidthattheGaulsoccupy,takes
itsbeginningattheriverRhone;itisboundedbytheriverGaronne,
theocean,andtheterritoriesoftheBelgae;itborders,too,on
thesideoftheSequaniandtheHelvetii,upontheriverRhine,and
stretchestowardthenorth.TheBelgaerisesfromtheextremefrontier
ofGaul,extendtothelowerpartoftheriverRhine;andlooktoward
thenorthandtherisingsun.AquitaniaextendsfromtheriverGaronne
tothePyrenaeanmountainsandtothatpartoftheoceanwhichis
nearSpain:itlooksbetweenthesettingofthesun,andthenorth
star.
Chapter2
AmongtheHelvetii,Orgetorixwasbyfarthemostdistinguishedand
wealthy.He,whenMarcusMessalaandMarcusPisowereconsuls,incited
bylustofsovereignty,formedaconspiracyamongthenobility,and
persuadedthepeopletogoforthfromtheirterritorieswithalltheir
possessions,[saying]thatitwouldbeveryeasy,sincetheyexcelled
allinvalor,toacquirethesupremacyofthewholeofGaul.Tothis
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
2/196
hethemoreeasilypersuadedthem,becausetheHelvetii,areconfined
oneverysidebythenatureoftheirsituation;ononesidebythe
Rhine,averybroadanddeepriver,whichseparatestheHelvetian
territoryfromtheGermans;onasecondsidebytheJura,averyhigh
mountain,whichis[situated]betweentheSequaniandtheHelvetii;
onathirdbytheLakeofGeneva,andbytheriverRhone,whichseparates
ourProvincefromtheHelvetii.Fromthesecircumstancesitresulted,
thattheycouldrangelesswidely,andcouldlesseasilymakewar
upontheirneighbors;forwhichreasonmenfondofwar[astheywere]
wereaffectedwithgreatregret.Theythought,thatconsideringthe
extentoftheirpopulation,andtheirrenownforwarfareandbravery,
theyhadbutnarrowlimits,althoughtheyextendedinlength240,
andinbreadth180[Roman]miles.
Chapter3
Inducedby
these
considerations,
and
influenced
by
the
authority
of
Orgetorix,theydeterminedtoprovidesuchthingsaswerenecessary
fortheirexpedition tobuyupasgreatanumberaspossibleof
beastsofburdenandwagons tomaketheirsowingsaslargeaspossible,
sothatontheirmarchplentyofcornmightbeinstore andtoestablish
peaceandfriendshipwiththeneighboringstates.Theyreckonedthat
atermoftwoyearswouldbesufficientforthemtoexecutetheir
designs;theyfixbydecreetheirdepartureforthethirdyear.Orgetorix
ischosentocompletethesearrangements.Hetookuponhimselfthe
officeofembassadortothestates:onthisjourneyhepersuadesCasticus,
thesonofCatamantaledes(oneoftheSequani,whosefatherhadpossessed
thesovereigntyamongthepeopleformanyyears,andhadbeenstyled
friendbythesenateoftheRomanpeople),toseizeuponthesovereignty
inhisownstate,whichhisfatherhadheldbeforehim,andhelikewise
persuadesDumnorix,anAeduan,thebrotherofDivitiacus,whoatthat
timepossessedthechiefauthorityinthestate,andwasexceedingly
belovedbythepeople,toattemptthesame,andgiveshimhisdaughter
inmarriage.Heprovestothemthattoaccomplishtheirattemptswas
athingveryeasytobedone,becausehehimselfwouldobtainthe
governmentofhisownstate;thattherewasnodoubtthattheHelvetiiwerethemostpowerfulofthewholeofGaul;heassuresthemthat
hewill,withhisownforcesandhisownarmy,acquirethesovereignty
forthem.Incitedbythisspeech,theygiveapledgeandoathtoone
another,andhopethat,whentheyhaveseizedthesovereignty,they
will,bymeansofthethreemostpowerfulandvaliantnations,be
enabledtoobtainpossessionofthewholeofGaul.
Chapter4
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
3/196
WhenthisschemewasdisclosedtotheHelvetiibyinformers,they,
accordingtotheircustom,compelledOrgetorixtopleadhiscause
inchains;itwasthelawthatthepenaltyofbeingburnedbyfire
shouldawaithimifcondemned.Onthedayappointedforthepleading
ofhiscause,Orgetorixdrewtogetherfromallquarterstothecourt,
allhisvassalstothenumberoftenthousandpersons;andledtogether
tothesameplaceallhisdependentsanddebtorbondsmen,ofwhom
hehadagreatnumber;bymeansofthoseherescuedhimselffrom[the
necessityof]pleadinghiscause.Whilethestate,incensedatthis
act,wasendeavoringtoassertitsrightbyarms,andthemagistrates
weremusteringalargebodyofmenfromthecountry,Orgetorixdied;
andthereisnotwantingasuspicion,astheHelvetiithink,ofhis
havingcommittedsuicide.
Chapter5
Afterhisdeath,theHelvetiineverthelessattempttodothatwhich
theyhadresolvedon,namely,togoforthfromtheirterritories.
Whentheythoughtthattheywereatlengthpreparedforthisundertaking,
theysetfiretoalltheirtowns,innumberabouttwelve totheir
villagesaboutfourhundred andtotheprivatedwellingsthatremained;
theyburnupallthecorn,exceptwhattheyintendtocarrywiththem;
thatafterdestroyingthehopeofareturnhome,theymightbethe
morereadyforundergoingalldangers.Theyordereveryonetocarry
forthfromhomeforhimselfprovisionsforthreemonths,readyground.
TheypersuadetheRauraci,andtheTulingi,andtheLatobrigi,their
neighbors,toadoptthesameplan,andafterburningdowntheirtowns
andvillages,tosetoutwiththem:andtheyadmittotheirparty
andunitetothemselvesasconfederatestheBoii,whohaddwelton
theothersideoftheRhine,andhadcrossedoverintotheNorican
territory,andassaultedNoreia.
Chapter6
Therewereinalltworoutes,bywhichtheycouldgoforthfromtheircountryonethroughtheSequaninarrowanddifficult,betweenMount
JuraandtheriverRhone(bywhichscarcelyonewagonatatimecould
beled;therewas,moreover,averyhighmountainoverhanging,so
thataveryfewmighteasilyinterceptthem;theother,throughour
Province,mucheasierandfreerfromobstacles,becausetheRhone
flowsbetweentheboundariesoftheHelvetiiandthoseoftheAllobroges,
whohadlatelybeensubdued,andisinsomeplacescrossedbyaford.
ThefurthesttownoftheAllobroges,andthenearesttotheterritories
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
4/196
oftheHelvetii,isGeneva.Fromthistownabridgeextendstothe
Helvetii.TheythoughtthattheyshouldeitherpersuadetheAllobroges,
becausetheydidnotseemasyetwellaffectedtowardtheRomanpeople,
orcompelthembyforcetoallowthemtopassthroughtheirterritories.
Havingprovidedeverythingfortheexpedition,theyappointaday,
onwhichtheyshouldallmeetonthebankoftheRhone.Thisdaywas
thefifthbeforethekalendsofApril[i.e.the28thofMarch],in
theconsulshipofLuciusPisoandAulusGabinius[B.C.58.]
Chapter7
WhenitwasreportedtoCaesarthattheywereattemptingtomaketheir
routethroughourProvincehehastenstosetoutfromthecity,and,
byasgreatmarchesashecan,proceedstoFurtherGaul,andarrives
atGeneva.HeordersthewholeProvince[tofurnish]asgreatanumber
ofsoldiersaspossible,astherewasinallonlyonelegioninFurther
Gaul:he
orders
the
bridge
at
Geneva
to
be
broken
down.
When
the
Helvetii
areapprizedofhisarrivaltheysendtohim,asembassadors,the
mostillustriousmenoftheirstate(inwhichembassyNumeiusand
Verudoctiusheldthechiefplace),tosay thatitwastheirintention
tomarchthroughtheProvincewithoutdoinganyharm,becausethey
had [accordingtotheirownrepresentations,] nootherroute:that
theyrequested,theymightbeallowedtodosowithhisconsent.
Caesar,inasmuchashekeptinremembrancethatLuciusCassius,the
consul,hadbeenslain,andhisarmyroutedandmadetopassunder
theyokebytheHelvetii,didnotthinkthat[theirrequest]ought
tobegranted:norwasheofopinionthatmenofhostiledisposition,
ifanopportunityofmarchingthroughtheProvinceweregiventhem,
wouldabstainfromoutrageandmischief.Yet,inorderthataperiod
mightintervene,untilthesoldierswhomhehadordered[tobefurnished]
shouldassemble,herepliedtotheambassadors,thathewouldtake
timetodeliberate;iftheywantedanything,theymightreturnon
thedaybeforetheidesofApril[onApril12th].
Chapter8
Meanwhile,withthelegionwhichhehadwithhimandthesoldiers
whichhadassembledfromtheProvince,hecarriesalongfornineteen
[Roman,notquiteeighteenEnglish]milesawall,totheheightof
sixteenfeet,andatrench,fromtheLakeofGeneva,whichflowsinto
theriverRhone,toMountJura,whichseparatestheterritoriesof
theSequanifromthoseoftheHelvetii.Whenthatworkwasfinished,
hedistributesgarrisons,andcloselyfortifiesredoubts,inorder
thathemaythemoreeasilyinterceptthem,iftheyshouldattempt
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
5/196
tocrossoveragainsthiswill.Whenthedaywhichhehadappointed
withtheembassadorscame,andtheyreturnedtohim;hesays,that
hecannot,consistentlywiththecustomandprecedentoftheRoman
people,grantanyoneapassagethroughtheProvince;andhegives
themtounderstand,that,iftheyshouldattempttouseviolencehe
wouldopposethem.TheHelvetii,disappointedinthishope,tried
iftheycouldforceapassage(somebymeansofabridgeofboats
andnumerousraftsconstructedforthepurpose;others,bythefords
oftheRhone,wherethedepthoftheriverwasleast,sometimesby
day,butmorefrequentlybynight),butbeingkeptatbaybythestrength
ofourworks,andbytheconcourseofthesoldiers,andbythemissiles,
theydesistedfromthisattempt.
Chapter9
Therewasleftoneway,[namely]throughtheSequani,bywhich,on
accountof
its
narrowness,
they
could
not
pass
without
the
consent
oftheSequani.Astheycouldnotofthemselvesprevailonthem,they
sendembassadorstoDumnorixtheAeduan,thatthroughhisintercession,
theymightobtaintheirrequestfromtheSequani.Dumnorix,byhis
popularityandliberality,hadgreatinfluenceamongtheSequani,
andwasfriendlytotheHelvetii,becauseoutofthatstatehehad
marriedthedaughterofOrgetorix;and,incitedbylustofsovereignty,
wasanxiousforarevolution,andwishedtohaveasmanystatesas
possibleattachedtohimbyhiskindnesstowardthem.He,therefore,
undertakestheaffair,andprevailsupontheSequanitoallowthe
Helvetiitomarchthroughtheirterritories,andarrangesthatthey
shouldgivehostagestoeachother theSequaninottoobstructthe
Helvetiiintheirmarch theHelvetii,topasswithoutmischiefand
outrage.
Chapter10
ItisagaintoldCaesar,thattheHelvetiiintendedtomarchthrough
thecountryoftheSequaniandtheAeduiintotheterritoriesofthe
Santones,whicharenotfardistantfromthoseboundariesoftheTolosates,which[viz.Tolosa,Toulouse]isastateintheProvince.Ifthis
tookplace,hesawthatitwouldbeattendedwithgreatdangerto
theProvincetohavewarlikemen,enemiesoftheRomanpeople,bordering
uponanopenandveryfertiletractofcountry.Forthesereasons
heappointedTitusLabienus,hislieutenant,tothecommandofthe
fortificationwhichhehadmade.HehimselfproceedstoItalybyforced
marches,andthereleviestwolegions,andleadsoutfromwinterquarters
threewhichwerewinteringaroundAquileia,andwiththesefivelegions
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
6/196
marchesrapidlybythenearestrouteacrosstheAlpsintoFurther
Gaul.HeretheCentronesandtheGraioceliandtheCaturiges,having
takenpossessionofthehigherparts,attempttoobstructthearmy
intheirmarch.Afterhavingroutedtheseinseveralbattles,hearrives
intheterritoriesoftheVocontiiintheFurtherProvinceonthe
seventhdayfromOcelum,whichisthemostremotetownoftheHither
Province;thenceheleadshisarmyintothecountryoftheAllobroges,
andfromtheAllobrogestotheSegusiani.Thesepeoplearethefirst
beyondtheProvinceontheoppositesideoftheRhone.
Chapter11
TheHelvetiihadbythistimeledtheirforcesoverthroughthenarrow
defileandtheterritoriesoftheSequani,andhadarrivedatthe
territoriesoftheAedui,andwereravagingtheirlands.TheAedui,
astheycouldnotdefendthemselvesandtheirpossessionsagainst
them,send
embassadors
to
Caesar
to
ask
assistance,
[pleading]
that
theyhadatalltimessowelldeservedoftheRomanpeople,thattheir
fieldsoughtnottohavebeenlaidwaste theirchildrencarried
offintoslavery theirtownsstormed,almostwithinsightofour
army.AtthesametimetheAmbarri,thefriendsandkinsmenofthe
Aedui,apprizeCaesar,thatitwasnoteasyforthem,nowthattheir
fieldshadbeendevastated,towardofftheviolenceoftheenemy
fromtheirtowns:theAllobrogeslikewise,whohadvillagesandpossessions
ontheothersideoftheRhone,betakethemselvesinflighttoCaesar,
andassurehimthattheyhadnothingremaining,exceptthesoilof
theirland.Caesar,inducedbythesecircumstances,decides,that
heoughtnottowaituntiltheHelvetii,afterdestroyingallthe
propertyofhisallies,shouldarriveamongtheSantones.
Chapter12
Thereisariver[called]theSaone,whichflowsthroughtheterritories
oftheAeduiandSequaniintotheRhonewithsuchincredibleslowness,
thatitcannotbedeterminedbytheeyeinwhichdirectionitflows.
ThistheHelvetiiwerecrossingbyraftsandboatsjoinedtogether.WhenCaesarwasinformedbyspiesthattheHelvetiihadalreadyconveyed
threepartsoftheirforcesacrossthatriver,butthatthefourth
partwasleftbehindonthissideoftheSaone,hesetoutfromthe
campwiththreelegionsduringthethirdwatch,andcameupwiththat
divisionwhichhadnotyetcrossedtheriver.Attackingthemencumbered
withbaggage,andnotexpectinghim,hecuttopiecesagreatpart
ofthem;therestbetookthemselvestoflight,andconcealedthemselves
inthenearestwoods.Thatcanton[whichwascutdown]wascalled
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
7/196
theTigurine;forthewholeHelvetianstateisdividedintofourcantons.
Thissinglecantonhavinglefttheircountry,withintherecollection
ofourfathers,hadslainLuciusCassiustheconsul,andhadmade
hisarmypassundertheyoke.Thus,whetherbychance,orbythedesign
oftheimmortalgods,thatpartoftheHelvetianstatewhichhadbrought
asignalcalamityupontheRomanpeople,wasthefirsttopaythe
penalty.InthisCaesaravengednotonlythepublicbutalsohisown
personalwrongs,becausetheTigurinihadslainLuciusPisothelieutenant
[ofCassius],thegrandfatherofLuciusCalpurniusPiso,his[Caesars]
fatherinlaw,inthesamebattleasCassiushimself.
Chapter13
Thisbattleended,thathemightbeabletocomeupwiththeremaining
forcesoftheHelvetii,heprocuresabridgetobemadeacrossthe
Saone,andthusleadshisarmyover.TheHelvetii,confusedbyhis
suddenarrival,
when
they
found
that
he
had
effected
in
one
day,
what
they,themselveshadwiththeutmostdifficultyaccomplishedintwenty
namely,thecrossingoftheriver,sendembassadorstohim;atthe
headofwhichembassywasDivico,whohadbeencommanderoftheHelvetii,
inthewaragainstCassius.HethustreatswithCaesar: that, if
theRomanpeoplewouldmakepeacewiththeHelvetiitheywouldgo
tothatpartandthereremain,whereCaesarmightappointanddesire
themtobe;butifheshouldpersistinpersecutingthemwithwar
thatheoughttorememberboththeancientdisgraceoftheRomanpeople
andthecharacteristicvaloroftheHelvetii.Astohishavingattacked
onecantonbysurprise,[atatime]whenthosewhohadcrossedthe
rivercouldnotbringassistancetotheirfriends,thatheoughtnot
onthataccounttoascribeverymuchtohisownvalor,ordespise
them;thattheyhadsolearnedfromtheirsiresandancestors,as
torelymoreonvalorthanonartificeandstratagem.Whereforelet
himnotbringittopassthattheplace,wheretheywerestanding,
shouldacquireaname,fromthedisasteroftheRomanpeopleandthe
destructionoftheirarmyortransmittheremembrance[ofsuchan
eventtoposterity].
Chapter14
TothesewordsCaesarthusreplied: that onthatveryaccounthe
feltlesshesitation,becausehekeptinremembrancethosecircumstances
whichtheHelvetianembassadorshadmentioned,andthathefeltthe
moreindignantatthem,inproportionastheyhadhappenedundeservedly
totheRomanpeople:foriftheyhadbeenconsciousofhavingdone
anywrong,itwouldnothavebeendifficulttobeontheirguard,
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
8/196
butforthatveryreasonhadtheybeendeceived,becauseneitherwere
theyawarethatanyoffensehadbeengivenbythem,onaccountof
whichtheyshouldbeafraid,nordidtheythinkthattheyoughtto
beafraidwithoutcause.Butevenifhewerewillingtoforgettheir
formeroutrage,couldhealsolayasidetheremembranceofthelate
wrongs,inthattheyhadagainsthiswillattemptedaroutethrough
theProvincebyforce,inthattheyhadmolestedtheAedui,theAmbarri,
andtheAllobroges?Thatastotheirsoinsolentlyboastingoftheir
victory,andastotheirbeingastonishedthattheyhadsolongcommitted
theiroutrageswithimpunity,[boththesethings]tendedtothesame
point;fortheimmortalgodsarewonttoallowthosepersonswhom
theywishtopunishfortheirguiltsometimesagreaterprosperity
andlongerimpunity,inorderthattheymaysufferthemoreseverely
fromareverseofcircumstances.Althoughthesethingsareso,yet,
ifhostagesweretobegivenhimbytheminorderthathemaybeassured
thesewilldowhattheypromise,andprovidedtheywillgivesatisfaction
tothe
Aedui
for
the
outrages
which
they
had
committed
against
them
andtheirallies,andlikewisetotheAllobroges,he[Caesar]will
makepeacewiththem. Divicoreplied,that theHelvetiihadbeen
sotrainedbytheirancestors,thattheywereaccustomedtoreceive,
nottogivehostages;ofthatfacttheRomanpeoplewerewitness.
Havinggiventhisreply,hewithdrew.
Chapter15
Onthefollowingdaytheymovetheircampfromthatplace;Caesar
doesthesame,andsendsforwardallhiscavalry,tothenumberof
fourthousand(whichhehaddrawntogetherfromallpartsoftheProvince
andfromtheAeduiandtheirallies),toobservetowardwhatparts
theenemyaredirectingtheirmarch.These,havingtooeagerlypursued
theenemysrear,cometoabattlewiththecavalryoftheHelvetii
inadisadvantageousplace,andafewofourmenfall.TheHelvetii,
elatedwiththisbattle,becausetheyhadwithfivehundredhorse
repulsedsolargeabodyofhorse,begantofaceusmoreboldly,sometimes
toofromtheirreartoprovokeourmenbyanattack.Caesar[however]
restrainedhismenfrombattle,deemingitsufficientforthepresenttopreventtheenemyfromrapine,forage,anddepredation.Theymarched
foraboutfifteendaysinsuchamannerthattherewasnotmorethan
fiveorsixmilesbetweentheenemysrearandourvan.
Chapter16
Meanwhile,CaesarkeptdailyimportuningtheAeduiforthecornwhich
theyhadpromisedinthenameoftheirstate;for,inconsequence
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
9/196
ofthecoldness(Gaul,beingasbeforesaid,situatedtowardthenorth),
notonlywasthecorninthefieldsnotripe,buttherewasnotin
storeasufficientlylargequantityevenoffodder:besideshewas
unabletousethecornwhichhehadconveyedinshipsuptheriver
Saone,becausetheHelvetii,fromwhomhewasunwillingtoretire
haddivertedtheirmarchfromtheSaone.TheAeduikeptdeferring
fromdaytoday,andsayingthatitwasbeingcollected brought
in ontheroad.Whenhesawthathewasputofftoolong,andthat
thedaywascloseathandonwhichheoughttoserveoutthecorn
tohissoldiers; havingcalledtogethertheirchiefs,ofwhomhe
hadagreatnumberinhiscamp,amongthemDivitiacusandLiscuswho
wasinvestedwiththechiefmagistracy(whomtheAeduistyletheVergobretus,
andwhoiselectedannuallyandhaspoweroflifeordeathoverhis
countrymen),heseverelyreprimandsthem,becauseheisnotassisted
bythemonsourgentanoccasion,whentheenemyweresocloseat
hand,andwhen[corn]couldneitherbeboughtnortakenfromthefields,
particularlyas,
in
a
great
measure
urged
by
their
prayers,
he
had
undertakenthewar;muchmorebitterly,thereforedoeshecomplain
ofhisbeingforsaken.
Chapter17
ThenatlengthLiscus,movedbyCaesarsspeech,discloseswhathe
hadhithertokeptsecret: thattherearesomewhoseinfluenceswith
thepeopleisverygreat,who,thoughprivatemen,havemorepower
thanthemagistratesthemselves:thatthesebyseditionsandviolent
languagearedeterringthepopulacefromcontributingthecornwhich
theyoughttosupply;[bytellingthem]that,iftheycannotany
longerretainthesupremacyofGaul,itwerebettertosubmittothe
governmentofGaulsthanofRomans,noroughttheytodoubtthat,
iftheRomansshouldoverpowertheHelvetii,theywouldwresttheir
freedomfromtheAeduitogetherwiththeremainderofGaul.Bythese
verymen,[saidhe],areourplansandwhateverisdoneinthecamp,
disclosedtotheenemy;thattheycouldnotberestrainedbyhim:
naymore,hewaswellaware,thatthoughcompelledbynecessity,he
haddisclosedthemattertoCaesar,athowgreatariskhehaddoneit;andforthatreason,hehadbeensilentaslongashecould.
Chapter18
CaesarperceivedthatbythisspeechofLiscus,Dumnorix,thebrother
ofDivitiacus,wasindicated;but,ashewasunwillingthatthese
mattersshouldbediscussedwhilesomanywerepresent,hespeedily
dismisses:thecouncil,butdetainsLiscus:heinquiresfromhimwhen
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
10/196
alone,aboutthosethingswhichhehadsaidinthemeeting.He[Liscus]
speaksmoreunreservedlyandboldly.He[Caesar]makesinquirieson
thesamepointsprivatelyofothers,anddiscoveredthatitisall
true;that Dumnorixistheperson,amanofthehighestdaring,in
greatfavorwiththepeopleonaccountofhisliberality,amaneager
forarevolution:thatforagreatmanyyearshehasbeeninthehabit
ofcontractingforthecustomsandalltheothertaxesoftheAedui
atasmallcost,becausewhenhebids,noonedarestobidagainst
him.Bythesemeanshehasbothincreasedhisownprivateproperty,
andamassedgreatmeansforgivinglargesses;thathemaintainsconstantly
athisownexpenseandkeepsabouthisownpersonagreatnumberof
cavalry,andthatnotonlyathome,butevenamongtheneighboring
states,hehasgreatinfluence,andforthesakeofstrengthening
thisinfluencehasgivenhismotherinmarriageamongtheBituriges
toamanthemostnobleandmostinfluentialthere;thathehashimself
takenawifefromamongtheHelvetii,andhasgivenhissisterby
themother
s
side
and
his
female
relations
in
marriage
into
other
states;thathefavorsandwisheswelltotheHelvetiionaccount
ofthisconnection;andthathehatesCaesarandtheRomans,onhis
ownaccount,becausebytheirarrivalhispowerwasweakened,and
hisbrother,Divitiacus,restoredtohisformerpositionofinfluence
anddignity:that,ifanythingshouldhappentotheRomans,heentertains
thehighesthopeofgainingthesovereigntybymeansoftheHelvetii,
butthatunderthegovernmentoftheRomanpeoplehedespairsnot
onlyofroyalty,butevenofthatinfluencewhichhealreadyhas.
Caesardiscoveredtoo,oninquiringintotheunsuccessfulcavalry
engagementwhichhadtakenplaceafewdaysbefore,thatthecommencement
ofthatflighthadbeenmadebyDumnorixandhiscavalry(forDumnorix
wasincommandofthecavalrywhichtheAeduihadsentforaidto
Caesar);thatbytheirflighttherestofthecavalryweredismayed.
Chapter19
Afterlearningthesecircumstances,sincetothesesuspicionsthe
mostunequivocalfactswereadded,viz.,thathehadledtheHelvetii
throughtheterritoriesoftheSequani;thathehadprovidedthathostagesshouldbemutuallygiven;thathehaddoneallthesethings,
notonlywithoutanyordersofhis[Caesars]andofhisownstates,
butevenwithouttheir[theAedui]knowinganythingofitthemselves;
thathe[Dumnorix]wasreprimanded:bythe[chief]magistrateofthe
Aedui;he[Caesar]consideredthattherewassufficientreason,why
heshouldeitherpunishhimhimself,ororderthestatetodoso.
Onething[however]stoodinthewayofallthis thathehadlearned
byexperiencehisbrotherDivitiacussveryhighregardfortheRoman
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
11/196
people,hisgreataffectiontowardhim,hisdistinguishedfaithfulness,
justice,andmoderation;forhewasafraidlestbythepunishment
ofthisman,heshouldhurtthefeelingsofDivitiacus.Therefore,
beforeheattemptedanything,heordersDivitiacustobesummoned
tohim,and,whentheordinaryinterpretershadbeenwithdrawn,converses
withhimthroughCaiusValeriusProcillus,chiefoftheprovinceof
Gaul,anintimatefriendofhis,inwhomhereposedthehighestconfidence
ineverything;atthesametimeheremindshimofwhatwassaidabout
DumnorixinthecounciloftheGauls,whenhehimselfwaspresent,
andshowswhateachhadsaidofhimprivatelyinhis[Caesars]own
presence;hebegsandexhortshim,that,withoutoffensetohisfeelings,
hemayeitherhimselfpassjudgmentonhim[Dumnorix]aftertrying
thecase,orelseorderthe[Aeduan]statetodoso.
Chapter20
Divitiacus,embracing
Caesar,
begins
to
implore
him,
with
many
tears,
that hewouldnotpassanyveryseveresentenceuponhisbrother;
saying,thatheknowsthatthosechargesaretrue,andthatnobody
sufferedmorepainonthataccountthanhehimselfdid;forwhenhe
himselfcouldeffectaverygreatdealbyhisinfluenceathomeand
intherestofGaul,andhe[Dumnorix]verylittleonaccountofhis
youth,thelatterhadbecomepowerfulthroughhismeans,whichpower
andstrengthheusednotonlytothelesseningofhis[Divitiacus]
popularity,butalmosttohisruin;thathe,however,wasinfluenced
bothbyfraternalaffectionandbypublicopinion.Butifanything
veryseverefromCaesarshouldbefallhim[Dumnorix],noonewould
thinkthatithadbeendonewithouthisconsent,sincehehimself
heldsuchaplaceinCaesarsfriendship:fromwhichcircumstance
itwouldarise,thattheaffectionsofthewholeofGaulwouldbe
estrangedfromhim. Ashewaswithtearsbeggingthesethingsof
Caesarinmanywords,Caesartakeshisrighthand,and,comforting
him,begshimtomakeanendofentreating,andassureshimthathis
regardforhimissogreat,thatheforgivesboththeinjuriesof
therepublicandhisprivatewrongs,athisdesireandprayers.He
summonsDumnorixtohim;hebringsinhisbrother;hepointsoutwhathecensuresinhim;helaysbeforehimwhatheofhimselfperceives,
andwhatthestatecomplainsof;hewarnshimforthefuturetoavoid
allgroundsofsuspicion;hesaysthathepardonsthepast,forthe
sakeofhisbrother,Divitiacus.HesetsspiesoverDumnorixthat
hemaybeabletoknowwhathedoes,andwithwhomhecommunicates.
Chapter21
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
12/196
Beingonthesamedayinformedbyhisscouts,thattheenemyhadencamped
atthefootofamountaineightmilesfromhisowncamp;hesentpersons
toascertainwhatthenatureofthemountainwas,andofwhatkind
theascentoneveryside.Wordwasbroughtback,thatitwaseasy.
DuringthethirdwatchheordersTitusLabienus,hislieutenantwith
praetorianpowers,toascendtothehighestridgeofthemountain
withtwolegions,andwiththoseasguideswhohadexaminedtheroad;
heexplainswhathisplanis.Hehimselfduringthefourthwatch,
hastenstothembythesameroutebywhichtheenemyhadgone,and
sendsonallthecavalrybeforehim.PubliusConsidius,whowasreputed
tobeveryexperiencedinmilitaryaffairs,andhadbeeninthearmy
ofLuciusSulla,andafterwardinthatofMarcusCrassus,issent
forwardwiththescouts.
Chapter22
Atday
break,
when
the
summit
of
the
mountain
was
in
the
possession
ofTitusLabienus,andhehimselfwasnotfurtheroffthanamile
andhalffromtheenemyscamp,nor,asheafterwardascertainedfrom
thecaptives,hadeitherhisarrivalorthatofLabienusbeendiscovered;
Considius,withhishorseatfullgallop,comesuptohimsaysthat
themountainwhichhe[Caesar]wishedshouldbeseizedbyLabienus,
isinpossessionoftheenemy;thathehasdiscoveredthisbythe
Gallicarmsandensigns.Caesarleadsoffhisforcestothenexthill:
[and]drawsthemupinbattleorder.Labienus,ashehadbeenordered
byCaesarnottocometoanengagementunless[Caesars]ownforces
wereseenneartheenemyscamp,thattheattackupontheenemymight
bemadeoneverysideatthesametime,was,afterhavingtakenpossession
ofthemountain,waitingforourmen,andrefrainingfrombattle.
When,atlength,thedaywasfaradvanced,Caesarlearnedthrough
spies,thatthemountainwasinpossessionofhisownmen,andthat
theHelvetiihadmovedtheircamp,andthatConsidius,struckwith
fear,hadreportedtohim,asseen,thatwhichhehadnotseen.On
thatdayhefollowstheenemyathisusualdistance,andpitcheshis
campthreemilesfromtheirs.
Chapter23
Thenextday(asthereremainedinallonlytwodaysspace[tothe
time]whenhemustserveoutthecorntohisarmy,andashewasnot
morethaneighteenmilesfromBibracte,byfarthelargestandbeststored
townoftheAedui),hethoughtthatheoughttoprovideforasupply
ofcorn;anddivertedhismarchfromtheHelvetii,andadvancedrapidly
toBibracte.Thiscircumstanceisreportedtotheenemybysomedeserters
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
13/196
fromLuciusAemilius,acaptain,oftheGallichorse.TheHelvetii,
eitherbecausetheythoughtthattheRomans,struckwithterror,were
retreatingfromthem,themoreso,asthedaybefore,thoughthey
hadseizedonthehighergrounds,theyhadnotjoinedbattleorbecause
theyflatteredthemselvesthattheymightbecutoffromtheprovisions,
alteringtheirplanandchangingtheirroute,begantopursue,and
toannoyourmenintherear.
Chapter24
Caesar,whenheobservesthis,drawsoffhisforcestothenexthill,
andsentthecavalrytosustaintheattackoftheenemy.Hehimself,
meanwhile,drewuponthemiddleofthehillatriplelineofhis
fourveteranlegionsinsuchamanner,thatheplacedabovehimon
theverysummitthetwolegions,whichhehadlatelyleviedinHither
Gaul,andalltheauxiliaries;andheorderedthatthewholemountain
shouldbe
covered
with
men,
and
that
meanwhile
the
baggage
should
bebroughttogetherintooneplace,andthepositionbeprotected
bythosewhowerepostedintheupperline.TheHelvetiihavingfollowed
withalltheirwagons,collectedtheirbaggageintooneplace:they
themselves,afterhavingrepulsedourcavalryandformedaphalanx,
advanceduptoourfrontlineinverycloseorder.
Chapter25
Caesar,havingremovedoutofsightfirsthisownhorse,thenthose
ofall,thathemightmakethedangerofa11equal,anddoawaywith
thehopeofflight,afterencouraginghismen,joinedbattle.His
soldiershurlingtheirjavelinsfromthehigherground,easilybroke
theenemysphalanx.Thatbeingdispersed,theymadeachargeonthem
withdrawnswords.ItwasagreathinderancetotheGaulsinfighting,
that,whenseveraloftheirbucklershadbeenbyonestrokeofthe
(Roman)javelinspiercedthroughandpinnedfasttogether,asthe
pointoftheironhadbentitself,theycouldneitherpluckitout,
nor,withtheirlefthandentangled,fightwithsufficientease;so
thatmany,afterhavinglongtossedtheirarmabout,choserathertocastawaythebucklerfromtheirhand,andtofightwiththeir
personunprotected.Atlength,wornoutwithwounds,theybeganto
giveway,and,astherewasintheneighborhoodamountainabouta
mileoff,tobetakethemselvesthither.Whenthemountainhadbeen
gained,andourmenwereadvancingup,theBoiiandTulingi,whowith
about15,000menclosedtheenemyslineofmarchandservedasa
guardtotheirrear,havingassailedourmenontheexposedflank
astheyadvanced[prepared]tosurroundthem;uponseeingwhich,the
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
14/196
Helvetiiwhohadbetakenthemselvestothemountain,begantopress
onagainandrenewthebattle.TheRomanshavingfacedabout,advanced
totheattackintwodivisions;thefirstandsecondline,towithstand
thosewhohadbeendefeatedanddrivenoffthefield;thethirdto
receivethosewhowerejustarriving.
Chapter26
Thus,wasthecontestlongandvigorouslycarriedonwithdoubtful
success.Whentheycouldnolongerwithstandtheattacksofourmen,
theonedivision,astheyhadbeguntodo,betookthemselvestothe
mountain;theotherrepairedtotheirbaggageandwagons.Forduring
thewholeofthisbattle,althoughthefightlastedfromtheseventh
hour[i.e.12(noon)1P.M.]toeventide,noonecouldseeanenemy
withhisbackturned.Thefightwascarriedonalsoatthebaggage
tilllateinthenight,fortheyhadsetwagonsinthewayasarampart,
andfrom
the
higher
ground
kept
throwing
weapons
upon
our
men,
as
theycameon,andsomefrombetweenthewagonsandthewheelskept
dartingtheirlancesandjavelinsfrombeneath,andwoundingourmen.
Afterthefighthadlastedsometime,ourmengainedpossessionof
theirbaggageandcamp.Therethedaughterandoneofthesonsof
Orgetorixwastaken.Afterthebattleabout130,000men[oftheenemy]
remainedalive,whomarchedincessantlyduringthewholeofthatnight;
andafteramarchdiscontinuedfornopartofthenight,arrivedin
theterritoriesoftheLingonesonthefourthday,whileourmen,
havingstoppedforthreedays,bothonaccountofthewoundsofthe
soldiersandtheburialoftheslain,hadnotbeenabletofollow
them.CaesarsentlettersandmessengerstotheLingones[withorders]
thattheyshouldnotassistthemwithcornorwithanythingelse;
forthatiftheyshouldassistthem,hewouldregardtheminthesame
lightastheHelvetii.Afterthethreedays intervalhebeganto
followthemhimselfwithallhisforces.
Chapter27
TheHelvetii,compelledbythewantofeverything,sentembassadorstohimaboutasurrender.Whenthesehadmethimonthewayandhad
thrownthemselvesathisfeet,andspeakinginsupplianttonehad
withtearssuedforpeace,and[when]hehadorderedthemtoawait
hisarrival,intheplace,wheretheythenwere,theyobeyedhiscommands.
WhenCaesararrivedatthatplace,hedemandedhostages,theirarms,
andtheslaveswhohaddesertedtothem.Whilethosethingsarebeing
soughtforandgottogether,afteranightsinterval,about6000
menofthatcantonwhichiscalledtheVerbigene,whetherterrified
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
15/196
byfear,lestafterdeliveringuptheirarms,theyshouldsufferpunishment,
orelseinducedbythehopeofsafety,becausetheysupposedthat,
amidsovastamultitudeofthosewhohadsurrenderedthemselves,
theirflightmighteitherbeconcealedorentirelyoverlooked,having
atnightfalldepartedoutofthecampoftheHelvetii,hastenedto
theRhineandtheterritoriesoftheGermans.
Chapter28
ButwhenCaesardiscoveredthis,hecommandedthosethroughwhose
territorytheyhadgone,toseekthemoutandtobringthembackagain,
iftheymeanttobeacquittedbeforehim;andconsideredthem,when
broughtback,inthelightofenemies;headmittedalltherestto
asurrender,upontheirdeliveringupthehostages,arms,anddeserters.
HeorderedtheHelvetii,theTulingi,andtheLatobrigi,toreturn
totheirterritoriesfromwhichtheyhadcome,andastherewasat
homenothing
whereby
they
might
support
their
hunger,
all
the
productions
oftheearthhavingbeendestroyed,hecommandedtheAllobrogesto
letthemhaveaplentifulsupplyofcorn;andorderedthemtorebuild
thetownsandvillageswhichtheyhadburned.Thishedid,chiefly,
onthisaccount,becausehewasunwillingthatthecountry,fromwhich
theHelvetiihaddeparted,shouldbeuntenanted,lesttheGermans,
whodwellontheothersideoftheRhine,should,onaccountofthe
excellenceofthelands,crossoverfromtheirownterritoriesinto
thoseoftheHelvetii,andbecomeborderersupontheprovinceofGaul
andtheAllobroges.HegrantedthepetitionoftheAedui,thatthey
mightsettletheBoii,intheirown(i.e.intheAeduan)territories,
asthesewereknowntobeofdistinguishedvalor,towhomtheygave
lands,andwhomtheyafterwardadmittedtothesamestateofrights
andfreedomasthemselves.
Chapter29
InthecampoftheHelvetii,listswerefound,drawnupinGreekcharacters,
andwerebroughttoCaesar,inwhichanestimatehadbeendrawnup,
namebyname,ofthenumberwhichhadgoneforthfromtheircountryofthosewhowereabletobeararms;andlikewisetheboys,theold
men,andthewomen,separately.Ofallwhichitemsthetotalwas:
OftheHelvetii[lit.oftheheadsoftheHelvetii]263,000Ofthe
Tulingi...........36,000OftheLatobrigi. .....
.....14,000OftheRauraci...........23,000Ofthe
Boii.............32,000Thesumofallamountedto.
..368,000.Outofthese,suchascouldbeararms,[amounted]to
about92,000.Whenthecensusofthosewhoreturnedhomewastaken,
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
16/196
asCaesarhadcommanded,thenumberwasfoundtobe110,000.
Chapter30
WhenthewarwiththeHelvetiiwasconcluded,embassadorsfromalmost
allpartsofGaul,thechiefsofstates,assembledtocongratulate
Caesar,[saying]thattheywerewellaware,that,althoughhehad
takenvengeanceontheHelvetiiinwar,fortheoldwrongdoneby
themtotheRomanpeople,yetthatcircumstancehadhappenednoless
tothebenefitofthelandofGaulthanoftheRomanpeople,because
theHelvetii,whiletheiraffairsweremostflourishing,hadquitted
theircountrywiththedesignofmakingwaruponthewholeofGaul,
andseizingthegovernmentofit,andselecting,outofagreatabundance,
thatspotforanabode,whichtheyshouldjudgetobethemostconvenient
andmostproductiveofallGaul,andholdtherestofthestatesas
tributaries.Theyrequestedthattheymightbeallowedtoproclaim
anassembly
of
the
whole
of
Gaul
for
a
particular
day,
and
to
do
that
withCaesarspermission,[stating]thattheyhadsomethingswhich,
withthegeneralconsent,theywishedtoaskofhim.Thisrequest
havingbeengranted,theyappointedadayfortheassembly,andordained
byanoathwitheachother,thatnooneshoulddisclose[theirdeliberations]
exceptthosetowhomthis[office]shouldbeassignedbythegeneral
assembly.
Chapter31
Whenthatassemblywasdismissed,thesamechiefsofstates,whohad
beforebeentoCaesar,returned,andaskedthattheymightbeallowed
totreatwithhimprivately(insecret)concerningthesafetyofthemselves
andofall.Thatrequesthavingbeenobtained,theyallthrewthemselves
intearsatCaesarsfeet,[saying]thattheynolessbeggedandearnestly
desiredthatwhattheymightsayshouldnotbedisclosed,thanthat
theymightobtainthosethingswhichtheywishedfor;inasmuchas
theysaw,that,ifadisclosurewasmade,theyshouldbeputtothe
greatesttortures.FortheseDivitiacustheAeduanspokeandtold
him: ThatthereweretwopartiesinthewholeofGaul:thattheAeduistoodattheheadofoneofthese,theArvernioftheother.After
thesehadbeenviolentlystrugglingwithoneanotherforthesuperiority
formanyyears,itcametopassthattheGermanswerecalledinfor
hirebytheArverniandtheSequani.Thatabout15,000ofthem[i.e.
oftheGermans]hadatfirstcrossedtheRhine:butafterthatthese
wildandsavagemenhadbecomeenamoredofthelandsandtherefinement
andtheabundanceoftheGauls,morewerebroughtover,thatthere
werenowasmanyas120,000oftheminGaul:thatwiththesetheAedui
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
17/196
andtheirdependentshadrepeatedlystruggledinarms thatthey
hadbeenrouted,andhadsustainedagreatcalamity hadlostall
theirnobility,alltheirsenate,alltheircavalry.Andthatbroken
bysuchengagementsandcalamities,althoughtheyhadformerlybeen
verypowerfulinGaul,bothfromtheirownvalorandfromtheRoman
peopleshospitalityandfriendship,theywerenowcompelledtogive
thechiefnoblesoftheirstate,ashostagestotheSequani,andto
bindtheirstatebyanoath,thattheywouldneitherdemandhostages
inreturn,norsupplicateaidfromtheRomanpeople,norrefuseto
beforeverundertheirswayandempire.Thathewastheonlyoneout
ofallthestateoftheAedui,whocouldnotbeprevaileduponto
taketheoathortogivehischildrenashostages.Onthataccount
hehadfledfromhisstateandhadgonetothesenateatRometobeseech
aid,ashealonewasboundneitherbyoathnorhostages.Butaworse
thinghadbefallenthevictoriousSequanithanthevanquishedAedui,
forAriovistusthekingoftheGermans,hadsettledintheirterritories,
andhad
seized
upon
a
third
of
their
land,
which
was
the
best
in
the
wholeofGaul,andwasnoworderingthemtodepartfromanotherthird
part,becauseafewmonthspreviously24,000menoftheHarudeshad
cometohim,forwhomroomandsettlementsmustbeprovided.Theconsequence
wouldbe,thatinafewyearstheywouldallbedrivenfromtheterritories
ofGaul,andalltheGermanswouldcrosstheRhine;forneithermust
thelandofGaulbecomparedwiththelandoftheGermans,normust
thehabitoflivingofthelatterbeputonalevelwiththatofthe
former.Moreover,[asfor]Ariovistus,nosoonerdidhedefeatthe
forcesoftheGaulsinabattlewhichtookplaceatMagetobria,than
[hebegan]tolordithaughtilyandcruelly,todemandashostages
thechildrenofalltheprincipalnobles,andwreakonthemevery
kindofcruelty,ifeverythingwasnotdoneathisnodorpleasure;
thathewasasavage,passionate,andrecklessman,andthathiscommands
couldnolongerbeborne.UnlesstherewassomeaidinCaesarand
theRomanpeople,theGaulsmustalldothesamethingthattheHelvetii
havedone,[viz.]emigratefromtheircountry,andseekanotherdwelling
place,othersettlementsremotefromtheGermans,andtrywhatever
fortunemayfalltotheirlot.Ifthesethingsweretobedisclosed
toAriovistus,[Divitiacusadds]thathedoubtsnotthathewouldinflictthemostseverepunishmentonallthehostageswhoarein
hispossession,[andsays]thatCaesarcould,eitherbyhisowninfluence
andbythatofhisarmy,orbyhislatevictory,orbynameofthe
Romanpeople,intimidatehim,soastopreventagreaternumberof
GermansbeingbroughtovertheRhine,andcouldprotectallGaulfrom
theoutragesofAriovistus.
Chapter32
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
18/196
WhenthisspeechhadbeendeliveredbyDivitiacus,allwhowerepresent
beganwithloudlamentationtoentreatassistanceofCaesar.Caesar
noticedthattheSequaniweretheonlypeopleofallwhodidnone
ofthosethingswhichtheothersdid,but,withtheirheadsbowed
down,gazedontheearthinsadness.Wonderingwhatwasthereason
ofthisconduct,heinquiredofthemselves.NoreplydidtheSequani
make,butsilentlycontinuedinthesamesadness.Whenhehadrepeatedly
inquiredofthemandcouldnotelicitanyansweratall,thesame
DivitiacustheAeduananswered,that thelotoftheSequaniwas
morewretchedandgrievousthanthatoftherest,onthisaccount,
becausetheyalonedurstnoteveninsecretcomplainorsupplicate
aid;andshudderedatthecrueltyofAriovistus[evenwhen]absent,
justasifhewerepresent;for,totherest,despiteofeverything
therewasanopportunityofflightgiven;butalltorturesmustbe
enduredbytheSequani,whohadadmittedAriovistuswithintheirterritories,
andwhose
towns
were
all
in
his
power.
Chapter33
Caesar,onbeinginformedofthesethings,cheeredthemindsofthe
Gaulswithhiswords,andpromisedthatthisaffairshouldbeanobject
ofhisconcern,[saying]thathehadgreathopesthatAriovistus,
inducedbothbyhiskindnessandhispower,wouldputanendtohis
oppression.Afterdeliveringthisspeech,hedismissedtheassembly;
and,besidesthosestatements,manycircumstancesinducedhimtothink
thatthisaffairoughttobeconsideredandtakenupbyhim;especially
ashesawthattheAedui,styled[astheyhadbeen]repeatedlyby
thesenate brethren and kinsmen,wereheldinthethraldomand
dominionoftheGermans,andunderstoodthattheirhostageswerewith
AriovistusandtheSequani,whichinsomightyanempire[asthat]
oftheRomanpeopleheconsideredverydisgracefultohimselfand
therepublic.That,moreover,theGermansshouldbydegreesbecome
accustomedtocrosstheRhine,andthatagreatbodyofthemshould
comeintoGaul,hesaw[wouldbe]dangeroustotheRomanpeople,and
judged,thatwildandsavagemenwouldnotbelikelytorestrainthemselves,aftertheyhadpossessedthemselvesofallGaul,fromgoingforth
intotheprovinceandthencemarchingintoItaly(astheCimbriand
Teutoneshaddonebeforethem),particularlyastheRhone[wasthe
solebarrierthat]separatedtheSequanifromourprovince.Against
whicheventshethoughtheoughttoprovideasspeedilyaspossible.
Moreover,Ariovistus,forhispart,hadassumedtohimselfsuchpride
andarrogance,thathewasfelttobequiteinsufferable.
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
19/196
Chapter34
HethereforedeterminedtosendembassadorstoAriovistustodemand
ofhimtonamesomeintermediatespotforaconferencebetweenthe
two,[saying]thathewishedtotreathimonstatebusinessandmatters
ofthehighestimportancetobothofthem.TothisembassyAriovistus
replied,thatifhehimselfhadhadneedofanythingfromCaesar,
hewouldhavegonetohim;andthatifCaesarwantedanythingfrom
himheoughttocometohim.That,besides,neitherdarehegowithout
anarmyintothosepartsofGaulwhichCaesarhadpossessionof,nor
couldhe,withoutgreatexpenseandtrouble,drawhisarmytogether
tooneplace;thattohim,moreover,itappearedstrange,whatbusiness
eitherCaesarortheRomanpeopleatallhadinhisownGaul,which
hehadconqueredinwar.
Chapter35
WhentheseanswerswerereportedtoCaesar,hesendsembassadorsto
himasecondtimewiththismessage. Since,afterhavingbeentreated
withsomuchkindnessbyhimselfandtheRomanpeople(ashehadin
hisconsulshipbeenstyled kingandfriendbythesenate),hemakes
thisrecompenseto[Caesar]himselfandtheRomanpeople,[viz.]that
wheninvitedtoaconferencehedemurs,anddoesnotthinkthatit
concernshimtoadviseandinformhimselfaboutanobjectofmutual
interest,thesearethethingswhichherequiresofhim;first,that
hedonotanymorebringoveranybodyofmenacrosstheRhineinto
Gaul;inthenextplace,thatherestorethehostages,whichhehas
fromtheAedui,andgranttheSequanipermissiontorestoretothem
withhisconsentthosehostageswhichtheyhave,andthatheneither
provoketheAeduibyoutragenormakewaruponthemortheirallies;
ifhewouldaccordinglydothis, [Caesarsays]that hehimselfand
theRomanpeoplewillentertainaperpetualfeelingoffavorandfriendship
towardhim;butthatifhe[Caesar]doesnotobtain[hisdesires]
thathe(forasmuchasintheconsulshipofMarcusMessalaandMarcus
Pisothesenatehaddecreedthat,whoevershouldhavetheadministration
oftheprovinceofGaulshould,asfarashecoulddosoconsistentlywiththeinterestsoftherepublic,protecttheAeduiandtheother
friendsoftheRomanpeople),willnotoverlookthewrongsofthe
Aedui.
Chapter36
TothisAriovistusreplied,that therightofwarwas,thatthey
whohadconqueredshouldgovernthosewhomtheyhadconquered,in
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
20/196
whatmannertheypleased;thatinthatwaytheRomanpeoplewerewont
togovernthenationswhichtheyhadconquered,notaccordingtothe
dictationofanyother,butaccordingtotheirowndiscretion.If
heforhispartdidnotdictatetotheRomanpeopleastothemanner
inwhichtheyweretoexercisetheirright,heoughtnottobeobstructed
bytheRomanpeopleinhisright;thattheAedui,inasmuchasthey
hadtriedthefortuneofwarandhadengagedinarmsandbeenconquered,
hadbecometributariestohim;thatCaesarwasdoingagreatinjustice,
inthatbyhisarrivalhewasmakinghisrevenueslessvaluableto
him;thatheshouldnotrestoretheirhostagestotheAedui,butshould
notmakewarwrongfullyeitheruponthemortheirallies,ifthey
abidedbythatwhichhadbeenagreedon,andpaidtheirtributeannually:
iftheydidnotcontinuetodothat,theRomanpeoplesnameofbrothers
wouldavailthemnaught.AstoCaesarsthreateninghim,thathewould
notoverlookthewrongsoftheAedui,[hesaid]thatnoonehadever
enteredintoacontestwithhim[Ariovistus]withoututterruinto
himself.That
Caesar
might
enter
the
lists
when
he
chose;
he
would
feelwhattheinvincibleGermans,welltrained[astheywere]beyond
allotherstoarms,whoforfourteenyearshadnotbeenbeneatha
roof,couldachievebytheirvalor.
Chapter37
AtthesametimethatthismessagewasdeliveredtoCaesar,embassadors
camefromtheAeduiandtheTreviri;fromtheAeduitocomplainthat
theHarudes,whohadlatelybeenbroughtoverintoGaul,wereravaging
theirterritories;thattheyhadnotbeenabletopurchasepeacefrom
Ariovistus,evenbygivinghostages:andfromtheTreviri,[tostate]
thatahundredcantonsoftheSuevihadencampedonthebanksofthe
Rhine,andwereattemptingtocrossit;thatthebrothers,Nasuas
andCimberius,headedthem.Beinggreatlyalarmedatthesethings,
Caesarthoughtthatheoughttousealldispatch,lest,ifthisnew
bandofSuevishouldunitewiththeoldtroopsofAriovistus,he[Ariovistus]
mightbelesseasilywithstood.Havingtherefore,asquicklyashe
could,providedasupplyofcorn,hehastenedtoAriovistusbyforced
marches.
Chapter38
Whenhehadproceededthreedaysjourney,wordwasbroughttohim
thatAriovistuswashasteningwithallhisforcestoseizeonVesontio,
whichisthelargesttownoftheSequani,andhadadvancedthreedays
journeyfromitsterritories.Caesarthoughtthatheoughttotake
thegreatestprecautionslestthisshouldhappen,fortherewasin
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
21/196
thattownamostamplesupplyofeverythingwhichwasserviceable
forwar;andsofortifiedwasitbythenatureoftheground,asto
affordagreatfacilityforprotractingthewar,inasmuchastheriver
Doubsalmostsurroundsthewholetown,asthoughitweretracedround
itwithapairofcompasses.Amountainofgreatheightshutsinthe
remainingspace,whichisnotmorethan600feet,wheretheriver
leavesagap,insuchamannerthattherootsofthatmountainextend
totheriversbankoneitherside.Awallthrownarounditmakes
acitadelofthis[mountain],andconnectsitwiththetown.Hither
Caesarhastensbyforcedmarchesbynightandday,and,afterhaving
seizedthetown,stationsagarrisonthere.
Chapter39
WhileheistarryingafewdaysatVesontio,onaccountofcornand
provisions;fromtheinquiriesofourmenandthereportsoftheGauls
andtraders
(who
asserted
that
the
Germans
were
men
of
huge
stature,
ofincrediblevalorandpracticeinarms thatoftentimesthey,on
encounteringthem,couldnotbeareventheircountenance,andthe
fiercenessoftheireyes) sogreatapaniconasuddenseizedthe
wholearmy,astodiscomposethemindsandspiritsofallinnoslight
degree.Thisfirstarosefromthetribunesofthesoldiers,theprefects
andtherest,who,havingfollowedCaesarfromthecity[Rome]from
motivesoffriendship,hadnogreatexperienceinmilitaryaffairs.
Andalleging,someofthemonereason,someanother,whichtheysaid
madeitnecessaryforthemtodepart,theyrequestedthatbyhisconsent
theymightbeallowedtowithdraw;some,influencedbyshame,stayed
behindinorderthattheymightavoidthesuspicionofcowardice.
Thesecouldneithercomposetheircountenance,norevensometimes
checktheirtears:buthiddenintheirtents,eitherbewailedtheir
fate,ordeploredwiththeircomradesthegeneraldanger.Willswere
sealeduniversallythroughoutthewholecamp.Bytheexpressionsand
cowardiceofthesemen,eventhosewhopossessedgreatexperience
inthecamp,bothsoldiersandcenturions,andthose[thedecurions]
whowereincommandofthecavalry,weregraduallydisconcerted.Such
ofthemaswishedtobeconsideredlessalarmed,saidthattheydidnotdreadtheenemy,butfearedthenarrownessoftheroadsandthe
vastnessoftheforestswhichlaybetweenthemandAriovistus,or
elsethatthesuppliescouldnotbebroughtupreadilyenough.Some
evendeclaredtoCaesar,thatwhenhegaveordersforthecampto
bemovedandthetroopstoadvance,thesoldierswouldnotbeobedient
tothecommand,noradvanceinconsequenceoftheirfear.
Chapter40
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
22/196
WhenCaesarobservedthesethings,havingcalledacouncil,andsummoned
toitthecenturionsofallthecompanies,heseverelyreprimanded
them, particularly,forsupposingthatitbelongedtothemtoinquire
orconjecture,eitherinwhatdirectiontheyweremarching,orwith
whatobject.ThatAriovistus,duringhis[Caesars]consulship,had
mostanxiouslysoughtafterthefriendshipoftheRomanpeople;why
shouldanyonejudgethathewouldsorashlydepartfromhisduty?
Heforhispartwaspersuaded,that,whenhisdemandswereknownand
thefairnessofthetermsconsidered,hewouldrejectneitherhis
northeRomanpeoplesfavor.Butevenif,drivenonbyrageandmadness,
heshouldmakewaruponthem,whatafterallweretheyafraidof?
orwhyshouldtheydespaireitheroftheirownvalororofhiszeal?
Ofthatenemyatrialhadbeenmadewithinourfathers recollection,
when,onthedefeatoftheCimbriandTeutonesbyCaiusMarius,the
armywasregardedashavingdeservednolesspraisethantheircommander
himself.It
had
been
made
lately,
too,
in
Italy,
during
the
rebellion
oftheslaves,whom,however,theexperienceandtrainingwhichthey
hadreceivedfromus,assistedinsomerespect.Fromwhichajudgment
mightbeformedoftheadvantageswhichresolutioncarrieswithit
inasmuchasthosewhomforsometimetheyhadgroundlesslydreaded
whenunarmed,theyhadafterwardvanquished,whenwellarmedandflushed
withsuccess.Inshort,thatthesewerethesamemenwhomtheHelvetii,
infrequentencounters,notonlyintheirownterritories,butalso
intheirs[theGerman],havegenerallyvanquished,andyetcannot
havebeenamatchforourarmy.Iftheunsuccessfulbattleandflight
oftheGaulsdisquietedany,these,iftheymadeinquiries,might
discoverthat,whentheGaulshadbeentiredoutbythelongduration
ofthewar,Ariovistus,afterhehadmanymonthskepthimselfinhis
campandinthemarshes,andhadgivennoopportunityforanengagement,
fellsuddenlyuponthem,bythistimedespairingofabattleandscattered
inalldirections,andwasvictoriousmorethroughstratagemandcunning
thanvalor.Butthoughtherehadbeenroomforsuchstratagemagainst
savageandunskilledmen,noteven[Ariovistus]himselfexpectedthat
therebyourarmiescouldbeentrapped.Thatthosewhoascribedtheir
feartoapretenseaboutthe[deficiencyof]suppliesandthenarrownessoftheroads,actedpresumptuously,astheyseemedeithertodistrust
theirgeneral sdischargeofhisduty,ortodictatetohim.That
thesethingswerehisconcern;thattheSequani,theLeuci,andthe
Lingonesweretofurnishthecorn;andthatitwasalreadyripein
thefields;thatastotheroadtheywouldsoonbeabletojudgefor
themselves.Astoitsbeingreportedthatthesoldierswouldnotbe
obedienttocommand,oradvance,hewasnotatalldisturbedatthat;
forheknew,thatinthecaseofallthosewhosearmyhadnotbeen
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
23/196
obedienttocommand,eitheruponsomemismanagementofanaffair,
fortunehaddesertedthem,or,thatuponsomecrimebeingdiscovered,
covetousnesshadbeenclearlyproved[againstthem].Hisintegrity
hadbeenseenthroughouthiswholelife,hisgoodfortuneinthewar
withtheHelvetii.Thathewouldthereforeinstantlysetaboutwhat
hehadintendedtoputofftillamoredistantday,andwouldbreak
uphiscampthenextnight,inthefourthwatch,thathemightascertain,
assoonaspossible,whetherasenseofhonorandduty,orwhether
fearhadmoreinfluencewiththem.Butthat,ifnooneelseshould
follow,yethewouldgowithonlythetenthlegion,ofwhichhehad
nomisgivings,anditshouldbehispraetoriancohort. Thislegion
Caesarhadbothgreatlyfavored,andinit,onaccountofitsvalor,
placedthegreatestconfidence.
Chapter41
Uponthe
delivery
of
this
speech,
the
minds
of
all
were
changed
in
asurprisingmanner,andthehighestardorandeagernessforprosecuting
thewarwereengendered;andthetenthlegionwasthefirsttoreturn
thankstohim,throughtheirmilitarytribunes,forhishavingexpressed
thismostfavorableopinionofthem;andassuredhimthattheywere
quitereadytoprosecutethewar.Then,theotherlegionsendeavored,
throughtheirmilitarytribunesandthecenturionsoftheprincipal
companies,toexcusethemselvestoCaesar,[saying]thattheyhad
nevereitherdoubtedorfeared,orsupposedthatthedetermination
oftheconductofthewarwastheirsandnottheirgeneral s.Having
acceptedtheirexcuse,andhavinghadtheroadcarefullyreconnoitered
byDivitiacus,becauseinhimofallothershehadthegreatestfaith
[hefound]thatbyacircuitousrouteofmorethanfiftymileshe
mightleadhisarmythroughopenparts;hethensetoutinthefourth
watch,ashehadsaid[hewould].Ontheseventhday,ashedidnot
discontinuehismarch,hewasinformedbyscoutsthattheforcesof
Ariovistuswereonlyfourandtwentymilesdistantfromours.
Chapter42
UponbeingapprizedofCaesarsarrival,Ariovistussendsembassadors
tohim,[saying]thatwhathehadbeforerequestedastoaconference,
mightnow,asfarashispermissionwent,takeplace,sincehe[Caesar]
hadapproachednearer,andheconsideredthathemightnowdoitwithout
danger.Caesardidnotrejecttheproposalandbegantothinkthat
hewasnowreturningtoarationalstateofmindashespontaneously
profferedthatwhichhehadpreviouslyrefusedtohimwhenrequesting
it;andwasingreathopesthat,inconsiderationofhisownandthe
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
24/196
Romanpeoplesgreatfavorstowardhim,theissuewouldbethathe
woulddesistfromhisobstinacyuponhisdemandsbeingmadeknown.
Thefifthdayafterthatwasappointedasthedayofconference.Meanwhile,
asambassadorswerebeingoftensenttoandfrobetweenthem,Ariovistus
demandedthatCaesarshouldnotbringanyfootsoldierwithhimto
theconference,[saying]that hewasafraidofbeingensnaredby
himthroughtreachery;thatbothshouldcomeaccompaniedbycavalry;
thathewouldnotcomeonanyothercondition. Caesar,asheneither
wishedthattheconferenceshould,byanexcusethrownintheway,
besetaside,nordursttrusthislifetothecavalryoftheGauls,
decidedthatitwouldbemostexpedienttotakeawayfromtheGallic
cavalryalltheirhorses,andthereontomountthelegionarysoldiers
ofthetenthlegion,inwhichheplacedthegreatestconfidence,in
orderthathemighthaveabodyguardastrustworthyaspossible,
shouldtherebeanyneedforaction.Andwhenthiswasdone,oneof
thesoldiersofthetenthlegionsaid,notwithoutatouchofhumor,
that
Caesar
did
more
for
them
than
he
had
promised;
he
had
promised
tohavethetenthlegioninplaceofhispraetoriancohort;buthe
nowconvertedthemintohorse.
Chapter43
Therewasalargeplain,andinitamoundofearthofconsiderable
size.Thisspotwasatnearlyanequaldistancefrombothcamps.Thither,
ashadbeenappointed,theycamefortheconference.Caesarstationed
thelegion,whichhehadbrought[withhim]onhorseback,200paces
fromthismound.ThecavalryofAriovistusalsotooktheirstandat
anequaldistance.Ariovistusthendemandedthattheyshouldconfer
onhorseback,andthat,besidesthemselves,theyshouldbringwith
themtenmeneachtotheconference.Whentheywerecometotheplace,
Caesar,intheopeningofhisspeech,detailedhisownandthesenates
favorstowardhim[Ariovistus],inthathehadbeenstyledking,in
that[hehadbeenstyled]friend,bythesenate inthatveryconsiderable
presentshadbeensenthim;whichcircumstanceheinformedhimhad
bothfallentothelotoffew,andhadusuallybeenbestowedinconsideration
ofimportantpersonalservices;thathe,althoughhehadneitheranintroduction,norajustgroundfortherequest,hadobtainedthese
honorsthroughthekindnessandmunificenceofhimself[Caesar]and
thesenate.Heinformedhimtoo,howoldandhowjustwerethegrounds
ofconnectionthatexistedbetweenthemselves[theRomans]andthe
Aedui,whatdecreesofthesenatehadbeenpassedintheirfavor,
andhowfrequentandhowhonorable;howfromtimeimmemorialtheAedui
hadheldthesupremacyofthewholeofGaul;even[saidCaesar]before
theyhadsoughtourfriendship;thatitwasthecustomoftheRoman
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
25/196
peopletodesirenotonlythatitsalliesandfriendsshouldlose
noneoftheirproperty,butbeadvancedininfluence,dignity,and
honor:whothencouldendurethatwhattheyhadbroughtwiththem
tothefriendshipoftheRomanpeopleshouldbetornfromthem?He
thenmadethesamedemandswhichhehadcommissionedtheembassadors
tomake,that[Ariovistus]shouldnotmakewareitherupontheAedui
ortheirallies,thatheshouldrestorethehostages;thatifhecould
notsendbacktotheircountryanypartoftheGermans,heshould
atalleventssuffernoneofthemanymoretocrosstheRhine.
Chapter44
AriovistusbrieflyrepliedtothedemandsofCaesar;butexpatiated
largelyonhisownvirtues, thathehadcrossedtheRhinenotof
hisownaccord,butonbeinginvitedandsentforbytheGauls;that
hehadnotlefthomeandkindredwithoutgreatexpectationsandgreat
rewards;that
he
had
settlements
in
Gaul,
granted
by
the
Gauls
themselves;
thatthehostageshadbeengivenbytheirgoodwill;thathetook
byrightofwarthetributewhichconquerorsareaccustomedtoimpose
ontheconquered;thathehadnotmadewarupontheGauls,butthe
Gaulsuponhim;thatallthestatesofGaulcametoattackhim,and
hadencampedagainsthim;thatalltheirforceshadbeenroutedand
beatenbyhiminasinglebattle;thatiftheychosetomakeasecond
trial,hewasreadytoencounterthemagain;butiftheychoseto
enjoypeace,itwasunfairtorefusethetribute,whichoftheirown
freewilltheyhadpaiduptothattime.Thatthefriendshipofthe
Romanpeopleoughttoprovetohimanornamentandasafeguard,not
adetriment;andthathesoughtitwiththatexpectation.Butifthrough
theRomanpeoplethetributewastobediscontinued,andthosewho
surrenderedtobeseducedfromhim,hewouldrenouncethefriendship
oftheRomanpeoplenolessheartilythanhehadsoughtit.Asto
hisleadingoverahostofGermansintoGaul,thathewasdoingthis
withaviewofsecuringhimself,notofassaultingGaul:thatthere
wasevidenceofthis,inthathedidnotcomewithoutbeinginvited,
andinthathedidnotmakewar,butmerelywardeditoff.Thathe
hadcomeintoGaulbeforetheRomanpeople.ThatneverbeforethistimedidaRomanarmygobeyondthefrontiersoftheprovinceofGaul.
What[saidhe]does[Caesar]desire? whycomeintohis[Ariovistus]
domains? thatthiswashisprovinceofGaul,justasthatisours.
Asitoughtnottobepardonedinhim,ifheweretomakeanattack
uponourterritories;so,likewise,thatwewereunjust,toobstruct
himinhisprerogative.AsforCaesarssayingthattheAeduihad
beenstyledbrethrenbythesenate,hewasnotsouncivilizednor
soignorantofaffairs,asnottoknowthattheAeduiinthevery
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
26/196
lastwarwiththeAllobrogeshadneitherrenderedassistancetothe
Romans,norreceivedanyfromtheRomanpeopleinthestruggleswhich
theAeduihadbeenmaintainingwithhimandwiththeSequani.Hemust
feelsuspicious,thatCaesar,thoughfeigningfriendshipasthereason
forhiskeepinganarmyinGaul,waskeepingitwiththeviewofcrushing
him.Andthatunlesshedepartandwithdrawhisarmyfromtheseparts,
heshallregardhimnotasafriend,butasafoe;andthat,even
ifheshouldputhimtodeath,heshoulddowhatwouldpleasemany
ofthenoblesandleadingmenoftheRomanpeople;hehadassurance
ofthatfromthemselvesthroughtheirmessengers,andcouldpurchase
thefavorandthefriendshipofthemallbyhis[Caesars]death.
ButifhewoulddepartandresigntohimthefreepossessionofGaul,
hewouldrecompensehimwithagreatreward,andwouldbringtoa
closewhateverwarshewishedtobecarriedon,withoutanytrouble
orrisktohim.
Chapter45
ManythingswerestatedbyCaesartotheeffect[toshow]; whyhe
couldnotwaivethebusiness,andthatneitherhisnortheRomanpeoples
practicewouldsufferhimtoabandonmostmeritoriousallies,nor
didhedeemthatGaulbelongedtoAriovistusratherthantotheRoman
people;thattheArverniandtheRutenihadbeensubduedinwarby
QuintusFabiusMaximus,andthattheRomanpeoplehadpardonedthem
andhadnotreducedthemintoaprovinceorimposedatributeupon
them.Andifthemostancientperiodwastoberegarded thenwas
thesovereigntyoftheRomanpeopleinGaulmostjust:ifthedecree
oftheSenatewastobeobserved,thenoughtGaultobefree,which
they[theRomans]hadconqueredinwar,andhadpermittedtoenjoy
itsownlaws.
Chapter46
Whilethesethingsarebeingtransactedintheconferenceitwasannounced
toCaesarthatthecavalryofAriovistuswereapproachingnearerthe
mound,andwereridinguptoourmen,andcastingstonesandweaponsatthem.Caesarmadeanendofhisspeechandbetookhimselftohis
men;andcommandedthemthattheyshouldbynomeansreturnaweapon
upontheenemy.Forthoughhesawthatanengagementwiththecavalry
wouldbewithoutanydangertohischosenlegion,yethedidnotthink
propertoengage,lest,aftertheenemywererouted,itmightbesaid
thattheyhadbeeninsnaredbyhimunderthesanctionofaconference.
Whenitwasspreadabroadamongthecommonsoldierywithwhathaughtiness
Ariovistushadbehavedattheconference,andhowhehadorderedthe
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
27/196
RomanstoquitGaul,andhowhiscavalryhadmadeanattackuponour
men,andhowthishadbrokenofftheconference,amuchgreateralacrity
andeagernessforbattlewasinfusedintoourarmy.
Chapter47
Twodaysafter,AriovistussendsembassadorstoCaesar,tostate that
hewishedtotreatwithhimaboutthosethingswhichhadbeenbegun
tobetreatedofbetweenthem,buthadnotbeenconcluded; [andto
beg]that hewouldeitheragainappointadayforaconference;or,
ifhewerenotwillingtodothat,thathewouldsendoneofhis[officers]
asanembassadortohim. TheredidnotappeartoCaesaranygood
reasonforholdingaconference;andthemoresoasthedaybefore
theGermanscouldnotberestrainedfromcastingweaponsatourmen.
Hethoughtheshouldnotwithoutgreatdangersendtohimasembassador
oneofhis[Roman]officers,andshouldexposehimtosavagemen.
Itseemed
[therefore]
most
proper
to
send
to
him
C.
Valerius
Procillus,
thesonofC.ValeriusCaburus,ayoungmanofthehighestcourage
andaccomplishments(whosefatherhadbeenpresentedwiththefreedom
ofthecitybyC.ValeriusFlaccus),bothonaccountofhisfidelity
andonaccountofhisknowledgeoftheGalliclanguage,whichAriovistus,
bylongpractice,nowspokefluently;andbecauseinhiscasethe
Germanswouldhavenomotiveforcommittingviolence;and[ashis
colleague]M.Mettius,whohadsharedthehospitalityofAriovistus.
HecommissionedthemtolearnwhatAriovistushadtosay,andtoreport
tohim.ButwhenAriovistussawthembeforehiminhiscamp,hecried
outinthepresenceofhisarmy, Whyweretheycometohim?Wasit
forthepurposeofactingasspies?Hestoppedthemwhenattempting
tospeak,andcastthemintochains.
Chapter48
Thesamedayhemovedhiscampforwardandpitchedunderahillsix
milesfromCaesarscamp.Thedayfollowingheledhisforcespast
Caesarscamp,andencampedtwomilesbeyondhim;withthisdesign
thathemightcutoffCaesarfromthecornandprovisions,whichmightbeconveyedtohimfromtheSequaniandtheAedui.Forfivesuccessive
daysfromthatday,Caesardrewouthisforcesbeforethecamp,and
puttheminbattleorder,that,ifAriovistusshouldbewillingto
engageinbattle,anopportunitymightnotbewantingtohim.Ariovistus
allthistimekepthisarmyincamp:butengageddailyincavalry
skirmishes.ThemethodofbattleinwhichtheGermanshadpracticed
themselveswasthis.Therewere6,000horse,andasmanyveryactive
andcourageousfoot,oneofwhomeachofthehorseselectedoutof
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
28/196
thewholearmyforhisownprotection.Bythese[foot]theywereconstantly
accompaniedintheirengagements;tothesethehorseretired;these
onanyemergencyrushedforward;ifanyone,uponreceivingavery
severewound,hadfallenfromhishorse,theystoodaroundhim:if
itwasnecessarytoadvancefurtherthanusual,ortoretreatmore
rapidly,sogreat,frompractice,wastheirswiftness,that,supported
bythemanesofthehorses,theycouldkeeppacewiththeirspeed.
Chapter49
PerceivingthatAriovistuskepthimselfincamp,Caesar,thathemight
notanylongerbecutofffromprovisions,choseaconvenientposition
foracampbeyondthatplaceinwhichtheGermanshadencamped,at
about600pacesfromthem,andhavingdrawnuphisarmyinthreelines,
marchedtothatplace.Heorderedthefirstandsecondlinestobe
underarms;thethirdtofortifythecamp.Thisplacewasdistant
fromthe
enemy
about
600
paces,
as
has
been
stated.
Thither
Ariovistus
sentlighttroops,about16,000meninnumber,withallhiscavalry;
whichforcesweretointimidateourmen,andhinderthemintheir
fortification.Caesarnevertheless,ashehadbeforearranged,ordered
twolinestodriveofftheenemy:thethirdtoexecutethework.The
campbeingfortified,helefttheretwolegionsandaportionofthe
auxiliaries;andledbacktheotherfourlegionsintothelargercamp.
Chapter50
Thenextday,accordingtohiscustom,Caesarledouthisforcesfrom
bothcamps,andhavingadvancedalittlefromthelargerone,drew
uphislineofbattle,andgavetheenemyanopportunityoffighting.
Whenhefoundthattheydidnoteventhencomeout[fromtheirintrenchments,]
heledbackhisarmyintocampaboutnoon.ThenatlastAriovistus
sentpartofhisforcestoattackthelessercamp.Thebattlewas
vigorouslymaintainedonbothsidestilltheevening.Atsunset,after
manywoundshadbeeninflictedandreceived,Ariovistusledbackhis
forcesintocamp.WhenCaesarinquiredofhisprisoners,wherefore
Ariovistusdidnotcometoanengagement,hediscoveredthistobethereason thatamongtheGermansitwasthecustomfortheirmatrons
topronouncefromlotsanddivination,whetheritwereexpedientthat
thebattleshouldbeengagedinornot;thattheyhadsaid, that
itwasnotthewillofheaventhattheGermansshouldconquer,if
theyengagedinbattlebeforethenewmoon.
Chapter51
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
29/196
Thedayfollowing,Caesarleftwhatseemedsufficientasaguardfor
bothcamps;[andthen]drewupalltheauxiliariesinsightofthe
enemy,beforethelessercamp,becausehewasnotverypowerfulin
thenumberoflegionarysoldiers,consideringthenumberoftheenemy;
that[thereby]hemightmakeuseofhisauxiliariesforappearance.
Hehimself,havingdrawnuphisarmyinthreelines,advancedtothe
campoftheenemy.ThenatlastofnecessitytheGermansdrewtheir
forcesoutofcamp,anddisposedthemcantonbycanton,atequaldistances,
theHarudes,Marcomanni,Tribocci,Vangiones,Nemetes,Sedusii,Suevi;
andsurroundedtheirwholearmywiththeirchariotsandwagons,that
nohopemightbeleftinflight.Onthesetheyplacedtheirwomen,
who,withdisheveledhairandintears,entreatedthesoldiers,as
theywentforwardtobattle,nottodeliverthemintoslaverytothe
Romans.
Chapter52
Caesarappointedovereachlegionalieutenantandaquestor,that
everyonemighthavethemaswitnessesofhisvalor.Hehimselfbegan
thebattleattheheadoftherightwing,becausehehadobserved
thatpartoftheenemytobetheleaststrong.Accordinglyourmen,
uponthesignalbeinggiven,vigorouslymadeanattackupontheenemy,
andtheenemysosuddenlyandrapidlyrushedforward,thattherewas
notimeforcastingthejavelinsatthem.Throwingaside[therefore]
theirjavelins,theyfoughtwithswordshandtohand.ButtheGermans,
accordingtotheircustom,rapidlyformingaphalanx,sustainedthe
attackofourswords.Therewerefoundverymanyofoursoldierswho
leapeduponthephalanx,andwiththeirhandstoreawaytheshields,
andwoundedtheenemyfromabove.Althoughthearmyoftheenemywas
routedontheleftwingandputtoflight,they[still]pressedheavily
onourmenfromtherightwing,bythegreatnumberoftheirtroops.
Onobservingwhich,P.Crassus,ayoungman,whocommandedthecavalry
ashewasmoredisengagedthanthosewhowereemployedinthefight
sentthethirdlineasarelieftoourmenwhowereindistress.
Chapter53
Thereupontheengagementwasrenewed,andalltheenemyturnedtheir
backs,nordidtheyceasetofleeuntiltheyarrivedattheriver
Rhine,aboutfiftymilesfromthatplace.Theresomefew,eitherrelying
ontheirstrength,endeavoredtoswimover,or,findingboats,procured
theirsafety.AmongthelatterwasAriovistus,whomeetingwitha
smallvesseltiedtothebank,escapedinit;ourhorsepursuedand
slewalltherestofthem.Ariovistushadtwowives,oneaSuevan
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
30/196
bynation,whomhebroughtwithhimfromhome;theotheraNorican,
thesisterofkingVocion,whomhehadmarriedinGaul,shehaving
beensent[thitherforthatpurpose]byherbrother.Bothperished
inthatflight.Oftheirtwodaughters,onewasslain,theothercaptured.
C.ValeriusProcillus,ashewasbeingdraggedbyhisguardsinthe
fight,boundwithatriplechain,fellintothehandsofCaesarhimself,
ashewaspursuingtheenemywithhiscavalry.Thiscircumstanceindeed
affordedCaesarnolesspleasurethanthevictoryitself;because
hesawamanofthefirstrankintheprovinceofGaul,hisintimate
acquaintanceandfriend,rescuedfromthehandoftheenemy,andrestored
tohim,andthatfortunehadnotdiminishedaughtofthejoyandexultation
[ofthatday]byhisdestruction.He[Procillus]saidthat,inhis
ownpresence,thelotshadbeenthriceconsultedrespectinghim,whether
heshouldimmediatelybeputtodeathbyfire,orbereservedfor
anothertime:thatbythefavorofthelotshewasuninjured.M.Mettius,
also,wasfoundandbroughtbacktohim[Caesar.]
Chapter54
ThisbattlehavingbeenreportedbeyondtheRhine,theSuevi,who
hadcometothebanksofthatriver,begantoreturnhome,whenthe
Ubii,whodweltnearesttotheRhine,pursuingthem,whilemuchalarmed,
slewagreatnumberofthem.Caesarhavingconcludedtwoveryimportant
warsinonecampaign,conductedhisarmyintowinterquartersamong
theSequani,alittleearlierthantheseasonoftheyearrequired.
HeappointedLabienusoverthewinterquarters,andsetoutinperson
forHitherGaultoholdtheassizes.
BOOK2
Chapter1
WhileCaesarwasinwinterquartersinHitherGaul,aswehaveshown
above,frequentreportswerebroughttohim,andhewasalsoinformedbylettersfromLabienus,thatalltheBelgae,whowehavesaidare
athirdpartofGaul,wereenteringintoaconfederacyagainstthe
Romanpeople,andgivinghostagestooneanother;thatthereasons
oftheconfederacywerethese first,becausetheyfearedthat,after
all[Celtic]Gaulwassubdued,ourarmywouldbeledagainstthem;
secondly,becausetheywereinstigatedbyseveraloftheGauls;some
ofwhomas[ontheonehand]theyhadbeenunwillingthattheGermans
shouldremainanylongerinGaul,so[ontheother]theyweredissatisfied
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
31/196
thatthearmyoftheRomanpeopleshouldpassthewinterinit,and
settlethere;andothersofthem,fromanaturalinstabilityandfickleness
ofdisposition,wereanxiousforarevolution;[theBelgaewereinstigated]
byseveral,also,becausethegovernmentinGaulwasgenerallyseized
uponbythemorepowerfulpersonsandbythosewhohadthemeansof
hiringtroops,andtheycouldlesseasilyeffectthisobjectunder
ourdominion.
Chapter2
Alarmedbythesetidingsandletters,Caesarleviedtwonewlegions
inHitherGaul,and,atthebeginningofsummer,sentQ.Pedius,his
lieutenant,toconductthemfurtherintoGaul.He,himself,assoon
astherebegantobeplentyofforage,cametothearmy.Hegives
acommissiontotheSenonesandtheotherGaulswhowereneighbors
oftheBelgae,tolearnwhatisgoingonamongthem[i.e.theBelgae],
andinform
him
of
these
matters.
These
all
uniformly
reported
that
troopswerebeingraised,andthatanarmywasbeingcollectedin
oneplace.Then,indeed,hethoughtthatheoughtnottohesitate
aboutproceedingtowardthem,andhavingprovidedsupplies,moves
hiscamp,andinaboutfifteendaysarrivesattheterritoriesof
theBelgae.
Chapter3
Ashearrivedthereunexpectedlyandsoonerthananyoneanticipated,
theRemi,whoarethenearestoftheBelgaeto[Celtic]Gaul,sent
tohimIcciusandAntebrogius,[twoof]theprincipalpersonsofthe
state,astheirembassadors:totellhimthattheysurrenderedthemselves
andalltheirpossessionstotheprotectionanddisposaloftheRoman
people:andthattheyhadneithercombinedwiththerestoftheBelgae,
norenteredintoanyconfederacyagainsttheRomanpeople:andwere
preparedtogivehostages,toobeyhiscommands,toreceivehiminto
theirtowns,andtoaidhimwithcornandotherthings;thatallthe
restoftheBelgaewereinarms;andthattheGermans,whodwellon
thissideoftheRhine,hadjoinedthemselvestothem;andthatsogreatwastheinfatuationofthemall,thattheycouldnotrestrain
eventheSuessiones,theirownbrethrenandkinsmen,whoenjoythe
samerights,andthe,samelaws,andwhohaveonegovernmentandone
magistracy[incommon]withthemselves,fromunitingwiththem.
Chapter4
WhenCaesarinquiredofthemwhatstateswereinarms,howpowerful
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
32/196
theywere,andwhattheycoulddo,inwar,hereceivedthefollowing
information:thatthegreaterpartoftheBelgaeweresprung,from
theGermans,andthathavingcrossedtheRhineatanearlyperiod,
theyhadsettledthere,onaccountofthefertilityofthecountry,
andhaddrivenouttheGaulswhoinhabitedthoseregions;andthat
theyweretheonlypeoplewho,inthememoryofourfathers,when
allGaulwasoverrun,hadpreventedtheTeutonesandtheCimbrifrom
enteringtheirterritories;theeffectofwhichwas,that,fromthe
recollectionofthoseevents,theyassumedtothemselvesgreatauthority
andhaughtinessinmilitarymatters.TheRemisaid,thattheyhad
knownaccuratelyeverythingrespectingtheirnumber,becausebeing
unitedtothembyneighborhoodandbyalliances,theyhadlearned
whatnumbereachstatehadinthegeneralcounciloftheBelgaepromised
forthatwar.ThattheBellovaciwerethemostpowerfulamongthem
invalor,influence,andthenumberofmen;thatthesecouldmuster
100,000armedmen,[andhad]promised60,000pickedmenoutofthat
number,and
demanded
for
themselves
the
command
of
the
whole
war.
ThattheSuessionesweretheirnearestneighborsandpossessedavery
extensiveandfertilecountry;thatamongthem,eveninourownmemory,
Divitiacus,themostpowerfulmanofallGaul,hadbeenking;who
hadheldthegovernmentofagreatpartoftheseregions,aswell
asofBritain;thattheirkingatpresentwasGalba;thatthedirection
ofthewholewarwasconferredbytheconsentofall,uponhim,on
accountofhisintegrityandprudence;thattheyhadtwelvetowns;
thattheyhadpromised50,000armedmen;andthattheNervii,who
arereckonedthemostwarlikeamongthem,andaresituatedatavery
greatdistance,[hadpromised]asmany;theAtrebates15,000;the
Ambiani,10,000;theMorini,25,000;theMenapii,9,000;theCaleti,
10,000;theVelocassesandtheVeromanduiasmany;theAduatuci19,000;
thattheCondrusi,theEburones,theCaeraesi,thePaemani,whoare
calledbythecommonnameofGermans[hadpromised],theythought,
tothenumberof40,000.
Chapter5
Caesar,havingencouragedtheRemi,andaddressedthemcourteously,orderedthewholesenatetoassemblebeforehim,andthechildren
oftheirchiefmentobebroughttohimashostages;allwhichcommands
theypunctuallyperformedbytheday[appointed].He,addressinghimself
toDivitiacus,theAeduan,withgreatearnestness,pointsouthow
muchitconcernstherepublicandtheircommonsecurity,thatthe
forcesoftheenemyshouldbedivided,sothatitmightnotbenecessary
toengagewithsolargeanumberatonetime.[Heasserts]thatthis
mightbeaffectediftheAeduiwouldleadtheirforcesintotheterritories
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
33/196
oftheBellovaci,andbegintolaywastetheircountry.Withthese
instructionshedismissedhimfromhispresence.Afterheperceived
thatalltheforcesoftheBelgae,whichhadbeencollectedinone
place,wereapproachingtowardhim,andlearnedfromthescoutswhom
hehadsentout,and[also]fromtheRemi,thattheywerethennot
fardistant,hehastenedtoleadhisarmyovertheAisne,whichis
onthebordersoftheRemi,andtherepitchedhiscamp.Thisposition
fortifiedonesideofhiscampbythebanksoftheriver,rendered
thecountrywhichlayinhisrearsecurefromtheenemy,andfurthermore
insuredthatprovisionsmightwithoutdangerbebroughttohimby
theRemiandtherestofthestates.Overthatriverwasabridge:
thereheplacesaguard;andontheothersideoftheriverheleaves
Q.TituriusSabinus,hislieutenant,withsixcohorts.Heordershim
tofortifyacampwitharamparttwelvefeetinheight,andatrench
eighteenfeetinbreadth.
Chapter6
TherewasatownoftheRemi,bynameBibrax,eightmilesdistant
fromthiscamp.ThistheBelgaeontheirmarchbegantoattackwith
greatvigor.[Theassault]waswithdifficultysustainedforthat
day.TheGaulsmodeofbesiegingisthesameasthatoftheBelgae:
whenafterhavingdrawnalargenumberofmenaroundthewholeof
thefortifications,stoneshavebeguntobecastagainstthewall
onallsides,andthewallhasbeenstrippedofitsdefenders,[then],
formingatestudo,theyadvancetothegatesandunderminethewall:
whichwaseasilyeffectedonthisoccasion;forwhilesolargeanumber
werecastingstonesanddarts,noonewasabletomaintainhisposition
uponthewall.Whennighthadputanendtotheassault,Iccius,who
wasthenincommandofthetown,oneoftheRemi,amanofthehighest
rankandinfluenceamonghispeople,andoneofthosewhohadcome
toCaesarasembassador[tosue]forpeace,sendsmessengerstohim,
[toreport] That,unlessassistanceweresenttohimhecouldnot
holdoutanylonger.
Chapter7
Thither,immediatelyaftermidnight,Caesar,usingasguidesthesame
personswhohadcometohimasmessengersfromIccius,sendssome
NumidianandCretanarchers,andsomeBalearianslingersasarelief
tothetownspeople,bywhosearrivalbothadesiretoresisttogether
withthehopeof[makinggoodtheir]defense,wasinfusedintothe
Remi,and,forthesamereason,thehopeofgainingthetown,abandoned
theenemy.Therefore,afterstayingashorttimebeforethetown,
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
34/196
andlayingwastethecountryoftheRemi,whenallthevillagesand
buildingswhichtheycouldapproachhadbeenburned,theyhastened
withalltheirforcestothecampofCaesar,andencampedwithinless
thantwomiles[ofit];andtheircamp,aswasindicatedbythesmoke
andfires,extendedmorethaneightmilesinbreadth.
Chapter8
Caesaratfirstdeterminedtodeclineabattle,aswellonaccount
ofthegreatnumberoftheenemyastheirdistinguishedreputation
forvalor:daily,however,incavalryactions,hestrovetoascertain
byfrequenttrials,whattheenemycouldeffectbytheirprowessand
whatourmenwoulddare.Whenheperceivedthatourmenwerenotinferior,
astheplacebeforethecampwasnaturallyconvenientandsuitable
formarshalinganarmy(sincethehillwherethecampwaspitched,
risinggraduallyfromtheplain,extendedforwardinbreadthasfar
asthe
space
which
the
marshaled
army
could
occupy,
and
had
steep
declinesofitssideineitherdirection,andgentlyslopinginfront
graduallysanktotheplain);oneithersideofthathillhedrew
acrosstrenchofaboutfourhundredpaces,andattheextremities
ofthattrenchbuiltforts,andplacedtherehismilitaryengines,
lest,afterhehadmarshaledhisarmy,theenemy,sincetheywere
sopowerfulinpointofnumber,shouldbeabletosurroundhismen
intheflank,whilefighting.Afterdoingthis,andleavinginthe
campthetwolegionswhichhehadlastraised,that,ifthereshould
beanyoccasion,theymightbebroughtasareserve,heformedthe
othersixlegionsinorderofbattlebeforethecamp.Theenemy,likewise,
haddrawnuptheirforceswhichtheyhadbroughtoutofthecamp.
Chapter9
Therewasamarshofnogreatextentbetweenourarmyandthatof
theenemy.Thelatterwerewaitingtoseeifourmenwouldpassthis;
ourmen,also,werereadyinarmstoattackthemwhiledisordered,
ifthefirstattempttopassshouldbemadebythem.Inthemeantime
battlewascommencedbetweenthetwoarmiesbyacavalryaction.Whenneitherarmybegantopassthemarsh,Caesar,upontheskirmishes
ofthehorse[proving]favorabletoourmen,ledbackhisforcesinto
thecamp.Theenemyimmediatelyhastenedfromthatplacetotheriver
Aisne,whichithasbeen;statedwasbehindourcamp.Findingaford
there,theyendeavoredtoleadapartoftheirforcesoverit;with
thedesign,that,iftheycould,theymightcarrybystormthefort
whichQ.Titurius,Caesarslieutenant,commanded,andmightcutoff
thebridge;but,iftheycouldnotdothat,theyshouldlaywaste
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
35/196
thelandsoftheRemi,whichwereofgreatusetousincarryingon
thewar,andmighthinderourmenfromforaging.
Chapter10
Caesar,beingapprizedofthisbyTiturius,leadsallhiscavalry
andlightarmedNumidians,slingersandarchers,overthebridge,
andhastenstowardthem.Therewasaseverestruggleinthatplace.
Ourmen,attackingintheriverthedisorderedenemy,slewagreat
partofthem.Bytheimmensenumberoftheirmissilestheydroveback
therest,who,inamostcourageousmannerwereattemptingtopass
overtheirbodies,andsurroundedwiththeircavalry,andcuttopieces
thosewhohadfirstcrossedtheriver.Theenemy,whentheyperceived
thattheirhopeshaddeceivedthembothwithregardtotheirtaking
thetownbystormandalsotheirpassingtheriver,anddidnotsee
ourmenadvancetoamoredisadvantageousplaceforthepurposeof
fighting,and
when
provisions
began
to
fail
them,
having
called
a
council,determinedthatitwasbestforeachtoreturntohiscountry,
andresolvedtoassemblefromallquarterstodefendthoseintowhose
territoriestheRomansshouldfirstmarchanarmy;thattheymight
contendintheirownratherthaninaforeigncountry,andmightenjoy
thestoresofprovisionwhichtheypossessedathome.Togetherwith
othercauses,thisconsiderationalsoledthemtothatresolution,
viz:thattheyhadlearnedthatDivitiacusandtheAeduiwereapproaching
theterritoriesoftheBellovaci.Anditwasimpossibletopersuade
thelattertostayanylonger,ortodeterthemfromconveyingsuccor
totheirownpeople.
Chapter11
Thatmatterbeingdeterminedon,marchingoutoftheircampatthe
secondwatch,withgreatnoiseandconfusion,innofixedorder,nor
underanycommand,sinceeachsoughtforhimselftheforemostplace
inthejourney,andhastenedtoreachhome,theymadetheirdeparture
appearverylikeaflight.Caesar,immediatelylearningthisthrough
hisscouts,[but]fearinganambuscade,becausehehadnotyetdiscoveredforwhatreasontheyweredeparting,kepthisarmyandcavalrywithin
thecamp.Atdaybreak,theintelligencehavingbeenconfirmedbythe
scouts,hesentforwardhiscavalrytoharasstheirrear;andgave
thecommandofittotwoofhislieutenants,Q.Pedius,andL.Aurunculeius
Cotta.HeorderedT.Labienus,anotherofhislieutenants,tofollow
themcloselywiththreelegions.These,attackingtheirrear,and
pursuingthemformanymiles,slewagreatnumberofthemasthey
werefleeing;whilethoseintherearwithwhomtheyhadcomeup,
8/11/2019 Commentaries on the Gallic War.pdf
36/196
halted,andbravelysustainedtheattackofoursoldiers;thevan,
becausetheyappearedtoberemovedfromdanger,andwerenotrestrained
byanynecessityorcommand,assoonasthenoisewasheard,broke
theirranks,and,toaman,restedtheirsafetyinflight.Thuswithout
anyrisk[tothemselves]ourmenkilledasgreatanumberofthem
asthelengthofthedayallowed;andatsunsetdesistedfromthe
pursuit,andbetookthemselvesintothecamp,astheyhadbeencommanded.
Chapter12
Onthedayfollowing,beforetheenemycouldrecoverfromtheirterror
andflight,CaesarledhisarmyintotheterritoriesoftheSuessiones,
whicharenexttotheRemi,andhavingaccomplishedalongmarch,
hastenstothetownnamedNoviodunum.Havingattemptedtotakeit
bystormonhismarch,becauseheheardthatitwasdestituteof[sufficient]
defenders,hewasnotabletocarryitbyassault,onaccountofthe
breadthof
the
ditch
and
the
height
of
the
wall,
though
few
were
defending
it.Therefore,havingfortifiedthecamp,hebegantobringupthe
vineae,andtoprovidewhateverthingswerenecessaryforthestorm.
InthemeantimethewholebodyoftheSuess