jussisset, dicto audientes non fuerunt: tantumque apud homines barbaros valuit, esse repertos aliquos principes belli inferendi, tantamque omnibus voluntatum commutationem attulit, ut præter Æduos et Rhemos, (quos præcipuo semper honore Cæsar habuit, alteros pro vetere ac perpetuâ erga populum Romanum fide; alteros pro recentibus belli Gallici officiis ;) nulla ferè fuerit civitas non suspecta nobis. Idque adeò haud scio mirandumne sit, quum compluribus aliis de caussis, tum maximè, quòd, qui virtute belli omnibus gentibus præferebantur, tantum se ejus opinionis deperdidisse, ut populi R. imperia perferrent, gravissimè dolebant. 1 LIV. Treviri verò atque Indutiomarus totius hiemis nullum tempus intermiserunt, quin trans Rhenum legatos mitterent, civitates sollicitarent, pecunias pollicerentur: magnâ parte exercitûs nostri interfectâ, multo minorem superesse dicerent partem. Neque tamen ulli civitati Germanorum persuaderi potuit, ut Rhenum transiret; quum "se bis expertos" dicerent, "Ariovisti bello, et Tenchtherorum transitu, non esse fortunam ampliùs tentaturos," Hâc spe lapsus Indutiomarus, nihilo minùs copias cogere, exigere à finitimis, equos parare, exules damnatosque totâ Galliâ magnis præmiis ad se allicere cœpit: ac tantam sibi jam iis rebus in Galliâ auctoritatem comparaverat, ut undique ad eum legationes concurrerent, gratiam atque amicitiam publicè privatimque peterent. 3 2 LV. Ubi intellexit ultro ad se veniri; alterâ ex parte Senones Carnutesque, conscientiâ facinoris instigari; alterâ Nervios Atuaticosque bellum Romanis parare; neque sibi voluntariorum copias defore, si ex finibus suis progredi cœpisset; armatum concilium indicit. Hoc, more Gallorum, est initium belli, quò, lege communi, omnes puberes armati convenire coguntur ; et qui ex iis novissimus venit, in conspectu multitudinis omnibus cruciatibus affectus necatur. In eo concilio Cingetorigem, alterius principem factionis, generum suum, quem suprà demonstravimus Cæsaris secutum fidem, ab eo non discessisse, 5 hostem judicat, bonaque ejus publicat. His rebus confectis, in concilio pronunciat, accersitum se à Senonibus et Carnutibus, aliisque compluribus Galliæ 6 NOTES. 1 Quòd, qui virtute belli omnibus gentibus præferebantur, tantum, &c.] That, they who by their courage and skill in war excelled all nations, had lost so much of this reputation of power, as to be forced to submit to the authority of the Roman people. 2 Copias cogere, exigere à finitimis, equos parare. To raise troops, to request them of the neighbouring states, and to provide cavalry. In many editions the reading is, copias cogere, exercere, à finitimis equos parare, which will then be; to raise troops, to train them, and to procure cavalry from the neighbouring states. 3 Conscientia facinoris instigari.] To be instigated by a consciousness of having offended. The Senones for having attempted to kill their king Cavarinus, and for having forced him from his kingdom and home. The Carnutes for having murdered their chief magistrate Tasgetius. 4 Neque sibi voluntariorum copias defore.] Nor would there be wanting troops, that of their own accord would join him. 5 Hostem judicat.] Proclaims him an enemy or traitor. Some read, hostem judicandum curat. 6 Bonaque ejus cates his estates. publicat.] And confis civitatibus: 1 huc iter facturum per fines Rhemorum, eorumque agros populaturum ac priùs quàm id faciat, castra Labieni oppugnaturum : quæque fieri velit, præcipit. LVI. Labienus quum et loci naturâ et manu munitissimis castris sese contineret, de suo ac legionis periculo nihil timebat: sed, ne quam occasiónem rei benè gerendæ dimitteret, cogitabat. Itaque, à Cingetorige atque ejus propinquis oratione Indutiomari cognità, quam in concilio habuerat, nuncios mittit ad finitimas civitates, equitesque undique Iis certam diem conveniendi dicit. Interim propè quotidie cum omni equitatu Indutiomarus sub castris ejus vagabatur, aliàs ut si'tum castrorum cognosceret, aliàs colloquendi aut territandi caussâ. Equites plerumque omnes tela intra vallum conjiciebant. Labienus suos intra munitiones continebat, timorisque opinionem, quibuscunque poterat rebus, augebat. convocat. LVII. Quum majore in dies contemptione Indutiomarus ad castra accederet; nocte unâ, intromissis equitibus omnium finitimarum civitatum, quos accersendos curaverat, tantâ diligentiâ omnes suos custodiis intra castra continuit, ut nullâ ratione ea res enunciari, aut ad Treviros perferri posset. Interim, ex consuetudine quotidianâ, Indutiomarus ad castra accedit, atque ibi magnam partem diei consumit: equites tela conjiciunt, et magnâ contumeliâ verborum nostros ad pugnam evocant. Nullo à nostris dato responso, ubi visum est, sub vesperum dispersi ac dissipati discedunt. Subitò Labienus duabus portis omnem equitatum emittit: præcipit atque interdicit, perterritis hostibus atque in fugam conjectis, quod fore, sicut accidit, videbat, omnes unum peterent Indutiomarum, neu quis quemquam priùs vulneraret, quàm illum interfectum videret: 2 quòd morâ reliquorum illum spatium nactum, effugere nolebat: mag-. na proponit iis, qui occiderint, præmia: summittit cohortes equitibus subsidio. Comprobat hominis consilium fortuna: et quum unum omnes peterent, in ipso fluminis vado deprehensus Indutiomarus interficitur, caputque ejus refertur in castra. Redeuntes equites, quos possunt, consectantur atque occidunt. Hâc re cognitâ, omnes Eburonum et Nerviorum, quæ convenerant, copiæ discedunt: paullò que habuit post id factum Cæsar quietiorem Galliam. NOTES. 1 Huc iter facturum per fines Rhemorum.] To these people he intended to march, through the territories of the Rhemi. 2 Quòd morá reliquorum illum spatium nactum, effugere nolebat.] Because he was unwilling, that he should have time to escape by their delay, occasioned in the pur suit of others. DE BELLO GALLICO. LIBER VI. ARGUMENT. The Senones and Carnutes are overcome. Labienus defeats the Treviri. Cæsar, having again constructed a bridge over the Rhine, crosses it. He describes the manners of the Gauls and Germans. Cæsar, through want of provisions, recrosses the Rhine, and overcomes Ambiorix. The Sigambri attack Cicero's camp; but are forced to desist and return home. I. MULTIS de caussis Cæsar majorem Galliæ motum exspectans, 1per. M. Silanum, C. Antistium Reginum, T. Sextium legatos, delec NOTES. 1 Per M. Silanum. C. Antistium Reginum, &c.] By the legates M. Silanus, C. Antistius Reginus, and T. Sextius, he (Cæsar) resolved to make a new levy of soldiers. In the early periods of the Roman republic, the following was the method of forming an army. Four legions were generally raised each year, of which two were assigned to each consul. The number of legions was not always confined to four, for sometimes ten, eighteen, twenty, twenty three &c. were raised, besides the forces of the allies. The consuls, having entered on their office, appointed a day for all those of an age liable to military duty, which was from seventeen to forty six, to assemble in the capitol: where the consul, and six military tribunes for each legion to be raised, attended. The people present were divided into their tribes, and subdivided into their classes and centuries. Lots were cast, which tribe should be taken: out of the tribe on which the lot fell, four men were selected as nearly alike one another as possible. Of these men the tribunes of the first legion had the first choice, those of the second, the second, those of the third, the third, and those of the fourth had to receive the one left. Four others were then again selected from the tribe, when the tribunes of the second legion had the first choice, those of the first the last. In this alternate manner, they proceeded, until the numbers of each of the four legions were completed. When the levy was finished, a soldier was chosen to repeat the words of the military oath, each one swearing after him. The form of this oath was not always the same: the substance however of it was that they would obey their commander, and not de sert their standards. The following military oath was used in the time of Vegetius, 1 tum habere instituit. Simul ab Cn. Pompeio Proconsule petit, quoniam ipse ad urbem cum imperio, Reipublicæ caussâ, maneret, quos ex 1 Cisalpinâ Galliâ consulis sacramento, rogavisset, ad signa convenire, et ad se proficisci juberet: magni interesse, etiam in reliquum tempus, ad opinionem Galliæ existimans, tantas videri Italiæ facultates, ut si quid esset in bello detrimenti acceptum, non modò id brevi tempore sarciri, sed etiam majoribus adaugeri copiis posset. Quod quum Pompeius et Reipublicæ et amicitiæ tribuisset: celeriter confecto per suos delectu, tribus ante exactam hiemem et constitutis et adductis legionibus, 2 duplicatoque earum cohortium numero, quas cum Q. Titurio amiserat; et celeritate et copiis docuit, quid populi R. disciplina atque opes possent. II. Interfecto Indutiomaro, ut docuimus, ad ejus propinquos à Treviris imperium defertur. Illi finitimos Germanos sollicitare, et pecuniam polliceri non desistunt. 3 Quum ab proximis impetrare non possent, ulteriores tentant. Inventis nonnullis, civitates jurejurando inter se confirmant, obsidibusque de pecuniâ cavent; Ambiorigem sibi societate et fædere adjungunt. Quibus rebus cognitis, Caesar, quum undique bellum parari videret; Nervios, Atuaticos, ac Menapios, adjunctis 4 cisrhenanis omnibus Germanis, esse in armis, Senones ad imperatum non venire, et cum Carnutibus finitimisque civitatibus consilia communicare, à Treviris Germanos crebris legationibus sollicitari, maturiùs sibi de bello cogitandum putavit. III. Itaque nondum hieme confectâ, proximis IV legionibus coactis, de improviso in fines Nerviorum contendit; et priùs quàm illi aut convenire, aut profugere possent, magno pecoris atque hominum numero capto, atque eâ prædâ militibus concessâ, vastatisque agris, in deditionem venire, atque obsides sibi dari coëgit. Eo celeriter confecto negotio, rursus legiones in hiberna reduxit. Concilio Galliæ primo vere, ut instituerat, indicto, quum reliqui præter Senones, Carnutes, Trevirosque venissent: initium belli ac defectionis hoc esse arbitratus, ut om NOTES. under the christian emperors. Per Deum, et per Christum, et per Spiritum Sanctum, et per majestatem Imperatoris. By God, and by Christ, and by the Holy Ghost, and by the majesty of the Emperor. Persons called conquisitores were often sent through the country to raise soldiers, and force people to enrol themselves. Until the time of the consul Marius, 'the Romans admitted none of their lowest class of citizens to be enroled as soldiers. 1 Cisalpina Gallia.] This district comprehended the north of Italy. 2 Duplicatoque earum cohortium numero, &c.] The number of the cohorts he had lost by Q. Titurius, being doubled. The number of cohorts lost by Titurius was fifteen, consequently the reinforcement Cæsar received must have been thirty cohorts, or three legions, making about fourteen thousand men. 3 Quum ab proximis impetrare non possent, ulteriores tentant, &c.] When they could not obrain this of the neighbouring Germans, they had recourse to those Germans, that dwelt at a greater distance. Having found some of these nations willing to assist them, the states bind themselves to one another by an oath for the performance of the treaty, the Treviri moreover give hostages as security for the payment of the money, promised as a recompense. 4 Cisrhenanis.] These were the Nemetes, Tribocci, Ubii and Batavi. 1 nia postponere videretur, concilium in 1 Lutetiam Parisiorum transfert. Confines erant hi Senonibus, civitatemque patrum memoriâ conjunxerant: sed ab hôc concilio abfuisse existimabantur. 2 Hâc re pro suggestu pronunciata, eodem die cum legionibus in Senones proficiscitur, magnisque itineribus eò pervenit. IV. Cognito ejus adventu, Acco, qui princeps ejus concilii fuerat, jubet in oppida multitudinem convenire. Conantibus, priùs quàm id effici posset, adesse Romanos nunciatur. Necessariò sententiâ desistunt, legatosque deprecandi caussâ ad Cæsarem mittunt: adeunt per Æduos, quorum antiquitus erat in fide civitas. Libenter Cæsar, petentibus Æduis, dat veniam, excusationemque accipit, quòd æstivum tempus instantis belli, non quæstionis, esse arbitrabatur. Obsidibus imperatis centum, hos Eduis custodiendos tradit. Eòdem Carnutes legatos obsidesque mittunt, usi deprecatoribus Rhemis, quorum erant in clientelâ: eadem ferunt responsa. Peragit concilium Cæsar, equitesque imperat.civitatibus. V. Hâc parte Galliæ pacatâ, totus et mente et animo in bellum Trevirorum et Ambiorigis insistit. Cavarinum cum equitatu Senonum secum proficisci jubet, ne quis aut ex hujus iracundiâ, aut ex eo, quod meruerat odio, civitatis motus existat. His rebus constitutis, quòd pro explorato habebat Ambiorigem prælio non esse certaturum, reliqua ejus consilia animo circumspiciebat. Erant Menapii propinqui Eburonum finibus, perpetuis paludibus silvisque muniti, qui uni ex Galliâ de pace ad Cæsarem legatos nunquam miserant: cum iis esse hospitium Ambiorigi sciebat: item per Treviros venisse Germanis in amicitiam cognoverat. Hæc priùs illi detrahenda auxilia existimabat, quàm ipsum bello lacessendum: ne, desperatâ salute, aut se in Menapios abderet, aut cum transrhenanis congredi cogeretur. Hôc inito consilio, totius exercitûs impedimenta ad Labienum in Treviros mittit, duasque legiones ad eum proficisci jubet. Ipse, cum legionibus expeditis v, in Menapios proficiscitur. Illi, nullâ coactâ manu, loci præsidio freti, in silvas paludesque confugiunt, suaque eodem conferunt. 4 VI. Cæsar, partitis copiis cum C. Fabio legato, et M. Crasso quæstore, celeriterque effectis pontibus, 5 adiit tripartitò : o ædificia vicosque NOTES. 1 Lutetiam Parisiorum.] Paris, the ca pital of the present French empire. 2 Hac re pro suggestu pronunciata.] This being pronounced from the tribunal. The suggestus was an elevated place where the speaker stood. 3 His rebus constitutis, quòd pro explorato habebat, &c.] These things being settled, for he was well assured that Ambiorix would not contend with him in battle, &c. 4 Nulla coactâ manu.] They having assembled no forces. 5 Adiit tripartito.] He marched to them with his army divided in three parts, or in three columns. By this is meant that Cæsar invaded the country of the Menapii, in three places. 6 Edificin vicosque incendit.] It was Cæsar's custom in his Gallic wars, when marching through an enemy's country, to burn towns and buildings, and to destroy, or take away every thing that might serve to support the inhabitants. |