All Gaul is divided into three parts, one of which the Belgae inhabit, the Aquitani 
 another, those who in their own language are called Celts , in our Gauls , the third. All these
 differ from each other in language, customs and laws. The river Garonne separates the Gauls from the
 Aquitani ; the 
 Marne 
 and the 
 Seine 
 separate them from the Belgae . Of all these, the
 Belgae are the bravest, because they are furthest from the
 civilization and refinement of [our] Province, and merchants least frequently
 resort to them, and import those things which tend to effeminate the mind; and
 they are the nearest to the Germans , who dwell beyond
 the 
 Rhine 
 , with whom they are continually waging war; for which reason the Helvetii also surpass the rest of the Gauls in valor, as they contend with the Germans in almost daily battles, when they either repel
 them from their own territories, or themselves wage war on their frontiers. One
 part of these, which it has been said that the Gauls 
 occupy, takes its beginning at the river 
 Rhone 
 ; it is bounded by the river Garonne , the ocean, and
 the territories of the Belgae ; it borders, too, on the side of the
 Sequani and the Helvetii , upon the
 river 
 Rhine 
 , and stretches toward the north. The Belgae rises from the
 extreme frontier of Gaul , extend to the lower part
 of the river 
 Rhine 
 ; and look toward the north and the rising sun. 
 Aquitania 
 extends from the river Garonne to the Pyrenaean mountains and to that part of the ocean which
 is near Spain : it looks between the
 setting of the sun, and the north star.

Among the Helvetii , Orgetorix was by far
 the most distinguished and wealthy. He, when Marcus Messala and
 Marcus Piso were consuls [ 61 B.C.],
 incited by lust of sovereignty, formed a conspiracy among the nobility, and
 persuaded the people to go forth from their territories with all their
 possessions, [saying] that it would be very easy, since they excelled all in
 valor, to acquire the supremacy of the whole of Gaul . To this he
 the more easily persuaded them, because the Helvetii ,
 are confined on every side by the nature of their situation; on one side by the
 
 Rhine 
 , a very broad and deep river, which separates the Helvetian 
 territory from the Germans ; on a second side by the
 
 Jura 
 , a very high mountain, which is [situated] between the
 Sequani and the Helvetii ; on a third
 by the Lake of Geneva , and
 by the river Rhone , which separates our
 Province from the Helvetii . From these circumstances
 it resulted, that they could range less widely, and could less easily make war
 upon their neighbors; for which reason men fond of war [as they were] were
 affected with great regret. They thought, that considering the extent of their
 population, and their renown for warfare and bravery, they had but narrow
 limits, although they extended in length 240, and in breadth 180 [ Roman ] miles.

Induced by these considerations, and influenced by the authority of
 Orgetorix , they determined to provide such things as were
 necessary for their expedition-to buy up as great a number as possible of beasts
 of burden and wagons-to make their sowings as large as possible, so that on
 their march plenty of corn might be in store-and to establish peace and
 friendship with the neighboring states. They reckoned that a term of two years
 would be sufficient for them to execute their designs; they fix by decree their
 departure for the third year. Orgetorix is chosen to complete these
 arrangements. He took upon himself the office of embassador to the states: on
 this journey he persuades Casticus , the son of
 Catamantaledes (one of the Sequani , whose father
 had possessed the sovereignty among the people for many years, and had been
 styled "friend" by the senate of the Roman people),
 to seize upon the sovereignty in his own state, which his father had held before
 him, and he likewise persuades Dumnorix , an Aeduan ,
 the brother of Divitiacus , who at that time possessed the chief
 authority in the state, and was exceedingly beloved by the people, to attempt
 the same, and gives him his daughter in marriage. He proves to them that to
 accomplish their attempts was a thing very easy to be done, because he himself
 would obtain the government of his own state; that there was no doubt that the
 Helvetii were the most powerful of the whole of
 Gaul ; he assures them that he will, with his own forces and his own
 army, acquire the sovereignty for them. Incited by this speech, they give a
 pledge and oath to one another, and hope that, when they have seized the
 sovereignty, they will, by means of the three most powerful and valiant nations,
 be enabled to obtain possession of the whole of Gaul .

When this scheme was disclosed to the Helvetii by
 informers, they, according to their custom, compelled Orgetorix to
 plead his cause in chains; it was the law that the penalty of being burned by
 fire should await him if condemned. On the day appointed for the pleading of his
 cause, Orgetorix drew together from all quarters to the court, all
 his vassals to the number of ten thousand persons; and led together to the same
 place all his dependents and debtor-bondsmen, of whom he had a great number; by
 means of those he rescued himself from [the necessity of] pleading his cause.
 While the state, incensed at this act, was endeavoring to assert its right by
 arms, and the magistrates were mustering a large body of men from the country,
 Orgetorix died; and there is not wanting a suspicion, as the
 Helvetii think, of his having committed suicide.

After his death, the Helvetii nevertheless attempt to
 do that which they had resolved on, namely, to go forth from their territories.
 When they thought that they were at length prepared for this undertaking, they
 set fire to all their towns, in number about twelve-to their villages about four
 hundred-and to the private dwellings that remained; they burn up all the corn,
 except what they intend to carry with them; that after destroying the hope of a
 return home, they might be the more ready for undergoing all dangers. They order
 every one to carry forth from home for himself provisions for three months,
 ready ground. They persuade the Rauraci , and the
 Tulingi , and the Latobrigi , their neighbors, to
 adopt the same plan, and after burning down their towns and villages, to set out
 with them: and they admit to their party and unite to themselves as confederates
 the Boii , who had dwelt on the other side of the 
 Rhine 
 , and had crossed over into the Norican territory, and
 assaulted Noreia .

There were in all two routes, by which they could go forth from their country one
 through the Sequani narrow and difficult, between Mount Jura and the river Rhone (by which scarcely
 one wagon at a time could be led; there was, moreover, a very high mountain
 overhanging, so that a very few might easily intercept them; the other, through
 our Province, much easier and freer from obstacles, because the Rhone flows between the boundaries of the Helvetii and those of the Allobroges , who had lately
 been subdued, and is in some places crossed by a ford. The furthest town of the
 Allobroges , and the nearest to the territories of the Helvetii , is Geneva . From this town a bridge extends to the Helvetii . They thought that they should either persuade the
 Allobroges , because they did not seem as yet well-affected
 toward the Roman people, or compel them by force to
 allow them to pass through their territories. Having provided every thing for
 the expedition, they appoint a day, on which they should all meet on the bank of
 the Rhone . This day was the
 fifth before the kalends of April [i.e. the 28th of
 March ], in the consulship of Lucius Piso and
 Aulus Gabinius [B.C. 58 .]

When it was reported to Caesar that they were attempting
 to make their route through our Province he hastens to set out from the city,
 and, by as great marches as he can, proceeds to Further Gaul , and arrives
 at Geneva . He orders the whole Province [to furnish] as great a number
 of soldiers as possible, as there was in all only one legion in Further Gaul : he orders the bridge at 
 Geneva 
 to be broken down. When the Helvetii are
 apprized of his arrival they send to him, as embassadors, the most illustrious
 men of their state (in which embassy Numeius and
 Verudoctius held the chief place), to say "that it was their
 intention to march through the Province without doing any harm, because they
 had" [according to their own representations,] "no other route: that they
 requested, they might be allowed to do so with his consent." Caesar , inasmuch as he kept in remembrance that Lucius
 Cassius , the consul, had been slain, and his army routed and made to
 pass under the yoke by the Helvetii , did not think
 that [their request] ought to be granted: nor was he of opinion that men of
 hostile disposition, if an opportunity of marching through the Province were
 given them, would abstain from outrage and mischief. Yet, in order that a period
 might intervene, until the soldiers whom he had ordered [to be furnished] should
 assemble, he replied to the ambassadors, that he would take time to deliberate;
 if they wanted any thing, they might return on the day before the ides of
 April [on April 12th].

Meanwhile, with the legion which he had with him and the soldiers which had
 assembled from the Province, he carries along for nineteen [ Roman , not quite eighteen English ] miles a wall, to the
 height of sixteen feet, and a trench, from the Lake of
 Geneva , which flows into the river Rhone , to
 Mount Jura , which separates
 the territories of the Sequani from those of the Helvetii . When that work was finished, he distributes
 garrisons, and closely fortifies redoubts, in order that he may the more easily
 intercept them, if they should attempt to cross over against his will. When the
 day which he had appointed with the embassadors came, and they returned to him;
 he says, that he can not, consistently with the custom and precedent of the
 Roman people, grant any one a passage through the
 Province; and he gives them to understand, that, if they should attempt to use
 violence he would oppose them. The Helvetii , disappointed in this
 hope, tried if they could force a passage (some by means of a bridge of boats
 and numerous rafts constructed for the purpose; others, by the fords of the
 Rhone , where the depth of
 the river was least, sometimes by day, but more frequently by night), but being
 kept at bay by the strength of our works, and by the concourse of the soldiers,
 and by the missiles, they desisted from this attempt.

There was left one way, [namely] through the Sequani , by which, on
 account of its narrowness, they could not pass without the consent of the
 Sequani . As they could not of themselves prevail on them, they
 send embassadors to Dumnorix the Aeduan , that through
 his intercession, they might obtain their request from the Sequani .
 Dumnorix , by his popularity and liberality, had great influence
 among the Sequani , and was friendly to the Helvetii , because out of that state he had married the daughter of
 Orgetorix ; and, incited by lust of sovereignty, was anxious for
 a revolution, and wished to have as many states as possible attached to him by
 his kindness toward them. He, therefore, undertakes the affair, and prevails
 upon the Sequani to allow the Helvetii 
 to march through their territories, and arranges that they should give hostages
 to each other-the Sequani not to obstruct the Helvetii in their march-the Helvetii , to
 pass without mischief and outrage.

It is again told Caesar , that the Helvetii intended to march through the country of the
 Sequani and the Aedui into the territories of the
 Santones , which are not far distant from those boundaries of
 the Tolosates , which [viz. 
 Tolosa 
 , Toulouse ] is a
 state in the Province. If this took place, he saw that it would be attended with
 great danger to the Province to have warlike men, enemies of the Roman people, bordering upon an open and very fertile
 tract of country. For these reasons he appointed Titus Labienus ,
 his lieutenant, to the command of the fortification which he had made. He
 himself proceeds to Italy by forced marches,
 and there levies two legions, and leads out from winter-quarters three which
 were wintering around 
 Aquileia 
 , and with these five legions marches rapidly by the nearest route across
 the 
 Alps 
 into Further Gaul . Here the
 Centrones and the Graioceli and the
 Caturiges , having taken possession of the higher parts, attempt
 to obstruct the army in their march. After having routed these in several
 battles, he arrives in the territories of the Vocontii in the
 Further Province on the seventh day from Ocelum ,
 which is the most remote town of the Hither Province ; thence he
 leads his army into the country of the Allobroges , and from the
 Allobroges to the Segusiani . These people are the
 first beyond the Province on the opposite side of the 
 Rhone 
 .

The Helvetii had by this time led their forces over through the
 narrow defile and the territories of the Sequani , and had arrived
 at the territories of the Aedui , and were ravaging their lands. The
 Aedui , as they could not defend themselves and their
 possessions against them, send embassadors to Caesar to
 ask assistance, [pleading] that they had at all times so well deserved of the
 Roman people, that their fields ought not to have
 been laid waste-their children carried off into slavery-their towns stormed,
 almost within sight of our army. At the same time the Ambarri , the
 friends and kinsmen of the Aedui , apprize Caesar , that it was not easy for them, now that their fields had
 been devastated, to ward off the violence of the enemy from their towns: the
 Allobroges likewise, who had villages and possessions on the
 other side of the 
 Rhone 
 , betake themselves in flight to Caesar , and
 assure him that they had nothing remaining, except the soil of their land. Caesar , induced by these circumstances, decides, that he
 ought not to wait until the Helvetii , after
 destroying all the property of his allies, should arrive among the
 Santones .

There is a river [called] the 
 Saone 
 , which flows through the territories of the Aedui and
 Sequani into the 
 Rhone 
 with such incredible slowness, that it can not be determined by the eye
 in which direction it flows. This the Helvetii were
 crossing by rafts and boats joined together. When Caesar was informed by spies that the Helvetii had already conveyed three parts of their forces across
 that river, but that the fourth part was left behind on this side of the 
 Saone 
 , he set out from the camp with three legions during the third watch, and
 came up with that division which had not yet crossed the river. Attacking them
 encumbered with baggage, and not expecting him, he cut to pieces a great part of
 them; the rest betook themselves to flight, and concealed themselves in the
 nearest woods. That canton [which was cut down] was called the
 Tigurine ; for the whole Helvetian state is divided
 into four cantons. This single canton having left their country, within the
 recollection of our fathers, had slain Lucius Cassius the consul,
 and had made his army pass under the yoke. Thus, whether by chance, or by the
 design of the immortal gods, that part of the Helvetian state which
 had brought a signal calamity upon the Roman people,
 was the first to pay the penalty. In this Caesar 
 avenged not only the public but also his own personal wrongs, because the
 Tigurini had slain Lucius Piso the lieutenant [of
 Cassius] , the grandfather of Lucius Calpurnius
 Piso , his [Caesar 's] father-in-law, in the same battle
 as Cassius himself.

This battle ended, that he might be able to come up with the remaining forces of
 the Helvetii , he procures a bridge to be made across
 the 
 Saone 
 , and thus leads his army over. The Helvetii , confused by
 his sudden arrival, when they found that he had effected in one day, what they,
 themselves had with the utmost difficulty accomplished in twenty namely, the
 crossing of the river, send embassadors to him; at the head of which embassy was
 Divico , who had been commander of the Helvetii , in the war against Cassius . He thus treats
 with Caesar :-that, "if the Roman people would make peace with the Helvetii they would go to that part and there remain, where Caesar might appoint and desire them to be; but if he
 should persist in persecuting them with war that he ought to remember both the
 ancient disgrace of the Roman people and the
 characteristic valor of the Helvetii . As to his
 having attacked one canton by surprise, [at a time] when those who had crossed
 the river could not bring assistance to their friends, that he ought not on that
 account to ascribe very much to his own valor, or despise them; that they had so
 learned from their sires and ancestors, as to rely more on valor than on
 artifice and stratagem. Wherefore let him not bring it to pass that
 the place, where they were standing, should acquire a name, from the disaster of
 the Roman people and the destruction of their army or
 transmit the remembrance [of such an event to posterity]."

To these words Caesar thus replied:-that "on that very
 account he felt less hesitation, because he kept in remembrance those
 circumstances which the Helvetian embassadors had mentioned, and
 that he felt the more indignant at them, in proportion as they had happened
 undeservedly to the Roman people: for if they had
 been conscious of having done any wrong, it would not have been difficult to be
 on their guard, but for that very reason had they been deceived, because neither
 were they aware that any offense had been given by them, on account of which
 they should be afraid, nor did they think that they ought to be afraid without
 cause. But even if he were willing to forget their former outrage, could he also
 lay aside the remembrance of the late wrongs, in that they had against his will
 attempted a route through the Province by force, in that they had molested the
 Aedui , the Ambarri , and the
 Allobroges ? That as to their so insolently boasting of their
 victory, and as to their being astonished that they had so long committed their
 outrages with impunity, [both these things] tended to the same point; for the
 immortal gods are wont to allow those persons whom they wish to punish for their
 guilt sometimes a greater prosperity and longer impunity, in order that they may
 suffer the more severely from a reverse of circumstances. Although these things
 are so, yet, if hostages were to be given him by them in order that he may be
 assured these will do what they promise, and provided they will give
 satisfaction to the Aedui for the outrages which they had committed
 against them and their allies, and likewise to the Allobroges , he
 [ Caesar ] will make peace with them."
 Divico replied, that "the Helvetii 
 had been so trained by their ancestors, that they were accustomed to receive,
 not to give hostages; of that fact the Roman people
 were witness." Having given this reply, he withdrew.

On the following day they move their camp from that place; Caesar does the same, and sends forward all his cavalry, to the
 number of four thousand (which he had drawn together from all parts of the
 Province and from the Aedui and their allies), to observe toward
 what parts the enemy are directing their march. These, having too eagerly
 pursued the enemy's rear, come to a battle with the cavalry of the Helvetii in a disadvantageous place, and a few of our
 men fall. The Helvetii , elated with this battle, because they had
 with five hundred horse repulsed so large a body of horse, began to face us more
 boldly, sometimes too from their rear to provoke our men by an attack. Caesar [however] restrained his men from battle, deeming
 it sufficient for the present to prevent the enemy from rapine, forage, and
 depredation. They marched for about fifteen days in such a manner that there was
 not more than five or six miles between the enemy's rear and our van.

Meanwhile, Caesar kept daily importuning the
 Aedui for the corn which they had promised in the name of their
 state; for, in consequence of the coldness ( Gaul , being as before said,
 situated toward the north), not only was the corn in the fields not ripe, but
 there was not in store a sufficiently large quantity even of fodder: besides he
 was unable to use the corn which he had conveyed in ships up the river 
 Saone 
 , because the Helvetii , from whom he was
 unwilling to retire had diverted their march from the 
 Saone 
 . The Aedui kept deferring from day to day, and saying that
 it was being collected-brought in-on the road." When he saw that he was put off
 too long, and that the day was close at hand on which he ought to serve out the
 corn to his soldiers;-having called together their chiefs, of whom he had a
 great number in his camp, among them Divitiacus and
 Liscus who was invested with the chief magistracy (whom the
 Aedui style the Vergobretus , and who is elected
 annually and has power of life or death over his countrymen), he severely
 reprimands them, because he is not assisted by them on so urgent an occasion,
 when the enemy were so close at hand, and when [corn] could neither be bought
 nor taken from the fields, particularly as, in a great measure urged by their
 prayers, he had undertaken the war; much more bitterly, therefore does he
 complain of his being forsaken.

Then at length Liscus , moved by Caesar 's
 speech, discloses what he had hitherto kept secret:-that there are some whose
 influences with the people is very great, who, though private men, have more
 power than the magistrates themselves: that these by seditions and violent
 language are deterring the populace from contributing the corn which they ought
 to supply; [by telling them] that, if they can not any longer retain the
 supremacy of Gaul , it were better to submit
 to the government of Gauls than of Romans , nor ought they to doubt that, if the Romans should overpower the Helvetii , they would wrest their freedom from the Aedui 
 together with the remainder of Gaul . By these very men, [said
 he], are our plans and whatever is done in the camp, disclosed to the enemy;
 that they could not be restrained by him: nay more, he was well aware, that
 though compelled by necessity, he had disclosed the matter to Caesar , at how great a risk he had done it; and for that reason, he
 had been silent as long as he could."

Caesar perceived that by this speech of
 Liscus , Dumnorix , the brother of
 Divitiacus , was indicated; but, as he was unwilling that these
 matters should be discussed while so many were present, he speedily dismisses:
 the council, but detains Liscus : he inquires from him when alone,
 about those things which he had said in the meeting. He [Liscus] 
 speaks more unreservedly and boldly. He [Caesar] makes inquiries on
 the same points privately of others, and discovered that it is all true; that
 " Dumnorix is the person, a man of the highest daring, in great
 favor with the people on account of his liberality, a man eager for a
 revolution: that for a great many years he has been in the habit of contracting
 for the customs and all the other taxes of the Aedui at a small
 cost, because when he bids, no one dares to bid against him. By these means he
 has both increased his own private property, and amassed great means for giving
 largesses; that he maintains constantly at his own expense and keeps about his
 own person a great number of cavalry, and that not only at home, but even among
 the neighboring states, he has great influence, and for the sake of
 strengthening this influence has given his mother in marriage among the
 Bituriges to a man the most noble and most influential there;
 that he has himself taken a wife from among the Helvetii , and has given his sister by the mother's side and his
 female relations in marriage into other states; that he favors and wishes well
 to the Helvetii on account of this connection; and
 that he hates Caesar and the Romans , on his own account, because by their arrival his power was
 weakened, and his brother, Divitiacus , restored to his former
 position of influence and dignity: that, if any thing should happen to the Romans , he entertains the highest hope of gaining the
 sovereignty by means of the Helvetii , but that under
 the government of the Roman people he despairs not
 only of royalty, but even of that influence which he already has." Caesar discovered too, on inquiring into the unsuccessful
 cavalry engagement which had taken place a few days before, that the
 commencement of that flight had been made by Dumnorix and his
 cavalry (for Dumnorix was in command of the cavalry which the
 Aedui had sent for aid to Caesar );
 that by their flight the rest of the cavalry were dismayed.

After learning these circumstances, since to these suspicions the most
 unequivocal facts were added, viz., that he had led the Helvetii through the territories of the Sequani ; that
 he had provided that hostages should be mutually given; that he had done all
 these things, not only without any orders of his [Caesar 's] and of
 his own state's, but even without their [the Aedui] knowing any
 thing of it themselves; that he [ Dumnorix ] was reprimanded: by the
 [chief] magistrate of the Aedui ; he [ Caesar ] considered that there was sufficient reason, why he should
 either punish him himself, or order the state to do so. One thing [however]
 stood in the way of all this-that he had learned by experience his brother
 Divitiacus 's very high regard for the Roman people, his great affection toward him, his distinguished
 faithfulness, justice, and moderation; for he was afraid lest by the punishment
 of this man, he should hurt the feelings of Divitiacus . Therefore,
 before he attempted any thing, he orders Divitiacus to be summoned
 to him, and, when the ordinary interpreters had been withdrawn, converses with
 him through Caius Valerius Procillus , chief of the province of
 Gaul , an intimate friend of his, in whom he reposed the highest
 confidence in every thing; at the same time he reminds him of what was said
 about Dumnorix in the council of the Gauls , when he himself was present, and shows what each had said of
 him privately in his [Caesar 's] own presence; he begs and exhorts
 him, that, without offense to his feelings, he may either himself pass judgment
 on him [ Dumnorix ] after trying the case, or else order the
 [ Aeduan ] state to do so.

Divitiacus , embracing Caesar , begins to
 implore him, with many tears, that "he would not pass any very severe sentence
 upon his brother; saying, that he knows that those charges are true, and that
 nobody suffered more pain on that account than he himself did; for when he
 himself could effect a very great deal by his influence at home and in the rest
 of Gaul , and he [ Dumnorix ] very little on account of his
 youth, the latter had become powerful through his means, which power and
 strength he used not only to the lessening of his [ Divitiacus ]
 popularity, but almost to his ruin; that he, however, was influenced both by
 fraternal affection and by public opinion. But if any thing very severe from
 Caesar should befall him [ Dumnorix ],
 no one would think that it had been done without his consent, since he himself
 held such a place in Caesar 's friendship: from which
 circumstance it would arise, that the affections of the whole of Gaul would be estranged from him." As he was with tears begging
 these things of Caesar in many words, Caesar takes his right hand, and, comforting him, begs him to make
 an end of entreating, and assures him that his regard for him is so great, that
 he forgives both the injuries of the republic and his private wrongs, at his
 desire and prayers. He summons Dumnorix to him; he brings in his
 brother; he points out what he censures in him; he lays before him what he of
 himself perceives, and what the state complains of; he warns him for the future
 to avoid all grounds of suspicion; he says that he pardons the past, for the
 sake of his brother, Divitiacus . He sets spies over
 Dumnorix that he may be able to know what he does, and with
 whom he communicates.

Being on the same day informed by his scouts, that the enemy had encamped at the
 foot of a mountain eight miles from his own camp; he sent persons to ascertain
 what the nature of the mountain was, and of what kind the ascent on every side.
 Word was brought back, that it was easy. During the third watch he orders
 Titus Labienus , his lieutenant with praetorian powers, to
 ascend to the highest ridge of the mountain with two legions, and with those as
 guides who had examined the road; he explains what his plan is. He himself
 during the fourth watch, hastens to them by the same route by which the enemy
 had gone, and sends on all the cavalry before him. Publius
 Considius , who was reputed to be very experienced in military
 affairs, and had been in the army of Lucius Sulla , and afterward in
 that of Marcus Crassus , is sent forward with the scouts.

At day-break, when the summit of the mountain was in the possession of
 Titus Labienus , and he himself was not further off than a mile
 and half from the enemy's camp, nor, as he afterward ascertained from the
 captives, had either his arrival or that of Labienus been
 discovered; Considius , with his horse at full gallop, comes up to
 him says that the mountain which he [ Caesar ] wished
 should be seized by Labienus , is in possession of the enemy; that
 he has discovered this by the Gallic arms and ensigns. Caesar leads off his forces to the next hill: [and] draws
 them up in battle-order. Labienus , as he had been ordered by Caesar not to come to an engagement unless
 [Caesar 's] own forces were seen near the enemy's camp, that the
 attack upon the enemy might be made on every side at the same time, was, after
 having taken possession of the mountain, waiting for our men, and refraining
 from battle. When, at length, the day was far advanced, Caesar learned through spies, that the mountain was in possession of
 his own men, and that the Helvetii had moved their
 camp, and that Considius , struck with fear, had reported to him, as
 seen, that which he had not seen. On that day he follows the enemy at his usual
 distance, and pitches his camp three miles from theirs.

The next day (as there remained in all only two day's space [to the time] when he
 must serve out the corn to his army, and as he was not more than eighteen miles
 from 
 Bibracte 
 , by far the largest and best-stored town of the Aedui ), he
 thought that he ought to provide for a supply of corn; and diverted his march
 from the Helvetii , and advanced rapidly to 
 Bibracte 
 . This circumstance is reported to the enemy by some deserters from
 Lucius Aemilius , a captain, of the Gallic horse.
 The Helvetii , either because they thought that the Romans , struck with terror, were retreating from them,
 the more so, as the day before, though they had seized on the higher grounds,
 they had not joined battle or because they flattered themselves that they might
 be cut of from the provisions, altering their plan and changing their route,
 began to pursue, and to annoy our men in the rear.

Caesar , when he observes this, draws off his forces to
 the next hill, and sent the cavalry to sustain the attack of the enemy. He
 himself, meanwhile, drew up on the middle of the hill a triple line of his four
 veteran legions in such a manner, that he placed above him on the very summit
 the two legions, which he had lately levied in Hither Gaul , and all the
 auxiliaries; and he ordered that the whole mountain should be covered with men,
 and that meanwhile the baggage should be brought together into one place, and
 the position be protected by those who were posted in the upper line. The
 Helvetii having followed with all their wagons, collected their
 baggage into one place: they themselves, after having repulsed our cavalry and
 formed a phalanx, advanced up to our front line in very close order.

Caesar , having removed out of sight first his own horse,
 then those of all, that he might make the danger of a11 equal, and do away with
 the hope of flight, after encouraging his men, joined battle. His soldiers
 hurling their javelins from the higher ground, easily broke the enemy's phalanx.
 That being dispersed, they made a charge on them with drawn swords. It was a
 great hinderance to the Gauls in fighting, that, when
 several of their bucklers had been by one stroke of the ( Roman ) javelins pierced through and pinned fast together, as the
 point of the iron had bent itself, they could neither pluck it out, nor, with
 their left hand entangled, fight with sufficient ease; so that many, after
 having long tossed their arm about, chose rather to cast away the buckler from
 their hand, and to fight with their person unprotected. At length, worn out with
 wounds, they began to give way, and, as there was in the neighborhood a mountain
 about a mile off, to betake themselves thither. When the mountain had been
 gained, and our men were advancing up, the Boii and
 Tulingi , who with about 15,000 men closed the enemy's line of
 march and served as a guard to their rear, having assailed our men on the
 exposed flank as they advanced [prepared] to surround them; upon seeing which,
 the Helvetii who had betaken themselves to the
 mountain, began to press on again and renew the battle. The Romans 
 having faced about, advanced to the attack in two divisions; the first and
 second line, to withstand those who had been defeated and driven off the field;
 the third to receive those who were just arriving.

Thus, was the contest long and vigorously carried on with doubtful success. When
 they could no longer withstand the attacks of our men, the one division, as they
 had begun to do, betook themselves to the mountain; the other repaired to their
 baggage and wagons. For during the whole of this battle, although the fight
 lasted from the seventh hour [i.e. 12 (noon) 1 P. M.] to eventide, no one could
 see an enemy with his back turned. The fight was carried on also at the baggage
 till late in the night, for they had set wagons in the way as a rampart, and
 from the higher ground kept throwing weapons upon our men, as they came on, and
 some from between the wagons and the wheels kept darting their lances and
 javelins from beneath, and wounding our men. After the fight had lasted some
 time, our men gained possession of their baggage and camp. There the daughter
 and one of the sons of Orgetorix was taken. After the battle about
 130,000 men [of the enemy] remained alive, who marched incessantly during the
 whole of that night; and after a march discontinued for no part of the night,
 arrived in the territories of the 
 Lingones 
 on the fourth day, while our men, having stopped for three days, both on
 account of the wounds of the soldiers and the burial of the slain, had not been
 able to follow them. Caesar sent letters and messengers
 to the 
 Lingones 
 [with orders] that they should not assist them with corn or with any
 thing else; for that if they should assist them, he would regard them in the
 same light as the Helvetii . After the three days'
 interval he began to follow them himself with all his forces.

The Helvetii , compelled by the want of every thing, sent embassadors
 to him about a surrender. When these had met him on the way and had thrown
 themselves at his feet, and speaking in suppliant tone had with tears sued for
 peace, and [when] he had ordered them to await his arrival, in the place, where
 they then were, they obeyed his commands. When Caesar 
 arrived at that place, he demanded hostages, their arms, and the slaves who had
 deserted to them. While those things are being sought for and got together,
 after a night's interval, about 6000 men of that canton which is called the
 Verbigene , whether terrified by fear, lest after delivering up
 their arms, they should suffer punishment, or else induced by the hope of
 safety, because they supposed that, amid so vast a multitude of those who had
 surrendered themselves, their flight might either be concealed or entirely
 overlooked, having at night-fall departed out of the camp of the Helvetii , hastened to the 
 Rhine 
 and the territories of the Germans .

But when Caesar discovered this, he commanded those
 through whose territory they had gone, to seek them out and to bring them back
 again, if they meant to be acquitted before him; and considered them, when
 brought back, in the light of enemies; he admitted all the rest to a surrender,
 upon their delivering up the hostages, arms, and deserters. He ordered the Helvetii , the Tulingi , and the
 Latobrigi , to return to their territories from which they had
 come, and as there was at home nothing whereby they might support their hunger,
 all the productions of the earth having been destroyed, he commanded the
 Allobroges to let them have a plentiful supply of corn; and
 ordered them to rebuild the towns and villages which they had burned. This he
 did, chiefly, on this account, because he was unwilling that the country, from
 which the Helvetii had departed, should be
 untenanted, lest the Germans , who dwell on the other
 side of the 
 Rhine 
 , should, on account of the excellence of the lands, cross over from
 their own territories into those of the Helvetii , and
 become borderers upon the province of Gaul and the
 Allobroges . He granted the petition of the Aedui ,
 that they might settle the Boii , in their own (i. e. in the
 Aeduan ) territories, as these were known to be of distinguished
 valor, to whom they gave lands, and whom they afterward admitted to the same
 state of rights and freedom as themselves.

In the camp of the Helvetii , lists were found, drawn
 up in Greek characters, and were brought to Caesar , in which an estimate had been drawn up, name by
 name, of the number which had gone forth from their country of those who were
 able to bear arms; and likewise the boys, the old men, and the women,
 separately. Of all which items the total was: 
 Of the Helvetii [lit. of the heads of the
 Helvetii] 
 263,000 
 Of the Tulingi 
 36,000 
 Of the Latobrigi 
 14,000 
 Of the Rauraci 
 23,000 
 Of the Boii 
 32,000 
 The sum of all amounted to 
 368,000 
 Out of these, such as could bear arms, [amounted] to about 92,000. When
 the census of those who returned home was taken, as Caesar had commanded, the number was found to be 110,000.

When the war with the Helvetii was concluded,
 embassadors from almost all parts of Gaul , the chiefs of states,
 assembled to congratulate Caesar , [saying] that they
 were well aware, that, although he had taken vengeance on the Helvetii in war, for the old wrong done by them to the
 Roman people, yet that circumstance had happened
 no less to the benefit of the land of Gaul than of the Roman people, because the Helvetii , while their affairs were most flourishing, had quitted
 their country with the design of making war upon the whole of Gaul , and seizing the government of it, and selecting, out of a
 great abundance, that spot for an abode, which they should judge to be the most
 convenient and most productive of all Gaul , and hold the rest of the
 states as tributaries. They requested that they might be allowed to proclaim an
 assembly of the whole of Gaul for a particular day, and
 to do that with Caesar 's permission, [stating] that
 they had some things which, with the general consent, they wished to ask of him.
 This request having been granted, they appointed a day for the assembly, and
 ordained by an oath with each other, that no one should disclose [their
 deliberations] except those to whom this [office] should be assigned by the
 general assembly.

When that assembly was dismissed, the same chiefs of states, who had before been
 to Caesar , returned, and asked that they might be
 allowed to treat with him privately (in secret) concerning the safety of
 themselves and of all. That request having been obtained, they all threw
 themselves in tears at Caesar 's feet, [saying] that
 they no less begged and earnestly desired that what they might say should not be
 disclosed, than that they might obtain those things which they wished for;
 inasmuch as they saw, that, if a disclosure was made, they should be put to the
 greatest tortures. For these Divitiacus the Aeduan 
 spoke and told him: "That there were two parties in the whole of Gaul : that the Aedui stood at the head of one of these,
 the Arverni of the other. After these had been violently struggling
 with one another for the superiority for many years, it came to pass that the
 Germans were called in for hire by the
 Arverni and the Sequani . That about 15,000 of them
 [i.e. of the Germans] had at first crossed the 
 Rhine 
 : but after that these wild and savage men had become enamored of the
 lands and the refinement and the abundance of the Gauls , more were brought over, that there were now as many as
 120,000 of them in Gaul : that with these the
 Aedui and their dependents had repeatedly struggled in
 arms-that they had been routed, and had sustained a great calamity-had lost all
 their nobility, all their senate, all their cavalry. And that broken by such
 engagements and calamities, although they had formerly been very powerful in
 Gaul , both from their own valor and from the Roman people's hospitality and friendship, they were now compelled
 to give the chief nobles of their state, as hostages to the
 Sequani , and to bind their state by an oath, that they would
 neither demand hostages in return, nor supplicate aid from the Roman people, nor refuse to be forever under their sway
 and empire. That he was the only one out of all the state of the
 Aedui , who could not be prevailed upon to take the oath or to
 give his children as hostages. On that account he had fled from his state and
 had gone to the senate at 
 Rome 
 to beseech aid, as he alone was bound neither by oath nor hostages. But
 a worse thing had befallen the victorious Sequani than the
 vanquished Aedui , for Ariovistus the king of the Germans , had settled in their territories, and had
 seized upon a third of their land, which was the best in the whole of Gaul , and was now ordering them to depart from another third part,
 because a few months previously 24,000 men of the Harudes had come
 to him, for whom room and settlements must be provided. The consequence would
 be, that in a few years they would all be driven from the territories of Gaul , and all the Germans would cross the
 
 Rhine 
 ; for neither must the land of Gaul be compared with the land
 of the Germans , nor must the habit of living of the
 latter be put on a level with that of the former. Moreover, [as for]
 Ariovistus , no sooner did he defeat the forces of the Gauls in a battle which took place at Magetobria , than [he began] to lord it haughtily and
 cruelly, to demand as hostages the children of all the principal nobles, and
 wreak on them every kind of cruelty, if every thing was not done at his nod or
 pleasure; that he was a savage, passionate, and reckless man, and that his
 commands could no longer be borne. Unless there was some aid in Caesar and the Roman people,
 the Gauls must all do the same thing that the Helvetii have done, [viz.] emigrate from their country,
 and seek another dwelling place, other settlements remote from the Germans , and try whatever fortune may fall to their
 lot. If these things were to be disclosed to Ariovistus ,
 [Divitiacus adds] that he doubts not that he would inflict the
 most severe punishment on all the hostages who are in his possession, [and says]
 that Caesar could, either by his own influence and by
 that of his army, or by his late victory, or by name of the Roman people, intimidate him, so as to prevent a greater number of
 Germans being brought over the 
 Rhine 
 , and could protect all Gaul from the outrages of
 Ariovistus .

When this speech had been delivered by Divitiacus , all who were
 present began with loud lamentation to entreat assistance of Caesar . Caesar noticed that the
 Sequani were the only people of all who did none of those
 things which the others did, but, with their heads bowed down, gazed on the
 earth in sadness. Wondering what was the reason of this conduct, he inquired of
 themselves. No reply did the Sequani make, but silently continued
 in the same sadness. When he had repeatedly inquired of them and could not
 elicit any answer at all, the same Divitiacus the
 Aeduan answered, that-"the lot of the Sequani was
 more wretched and grievous than that of the rest, on this account, because they
 alone durst not even in secret complain or supplicate aid; and shuddered at the
 cruelty of Ariovistus [even when] absent, just as if he were
 present; for, to the rest, despite of every thing there was an opportunity of
 flight given; but all tortures must be endured by the Sequani , who
 had admitted Ariovistus within their territories, and whose towns
 were all in his power."

Caesar , on being informed of these things, cheered the
 minds of the Gauls with his words, and promised that
 this affair should be an object of his concern, [saying] that he had great hopes
 that Ariovistus , induced both by his kindness and his power, would
 put an end to his oppression. After delivering this speech, he dismissed the
 assembly; and, besides those statements, many circumstances induced him to think
 that this affair ought to be considered and taken up by him; especially as he
 saw that the Aedui , styled [as they had been] repeatedly by the
 senate "brethren" and "kinsmen," were held in the thraldom and dominion of the
 Germans , and understood that their hostages were
 with Ariovistus and the Sequani , which in so mighty an
 empire [as that] of the Roman people he considered
 very disgraceful to himself and the republic. That, moreover, the Germans should by degrees become accustomed to cross
 the 
 Rhine 
 , and that a great body of them should come into Gaul , he saw [would
 be] dangerous to the Roman people, and judged, that
 wild and savage men would not be likely to restrain themselves, after they had
 possessed themselves of all Gaul , from going forth into the
 province and thence marching into Italy (as the
 Cimbri and Teutones had done before them),
 particularly as the 
 Rhone 
 [was the sole barrier that] separated the Sequani from our
 province. Against which events he thought he ought to provide as speedily as
 possible. Moreover, Ariovistus , for his part, had assumed to
 himself such pride and arrogance, that he was felt to be quite insufferable.

He therefore determined to send embassadors to Ariovistus to demand
 of him to name some intermediate spot for a conference between the two, [saying]
 that he wished to treat him on state-business and matters of the highest
 importance to both of them. To this embassy Ariovistus replied,
 that if he himself had had need of any thing from Caesar , he would have gone to him; and that if Caesar wanted any thing from him he ought to come to him. That,
 besides, neither dare he go without an army into those parts of Gaul which Caesar had possession of, nor
 could he, without great expense and trouble, draw his army together to one
 place; that to him, moreover, it appeared strange, what business either Caesar or the Roman people at
 all had in his own Gaul , which he had conquered in
 war.

When these answers were reported to Caesar , he sends
 embassadors to him a second time with this message. "Since, after having been
 treated with so much kindness by himself and the Roman people (as he had in his consulship been styled 'king and
 friend' by the senate [ 59 B.C.]), he makes this
 recompense to [ Caesar ] himself and the Roman people, [viz.] that when invited to a conference
 he demurs, and does not think that it concerns him to advise and inform himself
 about an object of mutual interest, these are the things which he requires of
 him; first, that he do not any more bring over any body of men across the 
 Rhine 
 into Gaul ; in the next place, that he
 restore the hostages, which he has from the Aedui , and grant the
 Sequani permission to restore to them with his consent those
 hostages which they have, and that he neither provoke the Aedui by
 outrage nor make war upon them or their allies; if he would accordingly do
 this," [Caesar says] that "he himself and the Roman people will entertain a perpetual feeling of favor and
 friendship toward him; but that if he [ Caesar ] does not
 obtain [his desires] that he (forasmuch as in the consulship of Marcus
 Messala and Marcus Piso [ 61 
 B.C.] the senate had decreed that, whoever should have the administration of the
 province of Gaul should, as far as he could
 do so consistently with the interests of the republic, protect the
 Aedui and the other friends of the Roman people), will not overlook the wrongs of the
 Aedui ."

To this Ariovistus replied, that "the right of war was, that they
 who had conquered should govern those whom they had conquered, in what manner
 they pleased; that in that way the Roman people were
 wont to govern the nations which they had conquered, not according to the
 dictation of any other, but according to their own discretion. If he for his
 part did not dictate to the Roman people as to the
 manner in which they were to exercise their right, he ought not to be obstructed
 by the Roman people in his right; that the
 Aedui , inasmuch as they had tried the fortune of war and had
 engaged in arms and been conquered, had become tributaries to him; that Caesar was doing a great injustice, in that by his
 arrival he was making his revenues less valuable to him; that he should not
 restore their hostages to the Aedui , but should not make war
 wrongfully either upon them or their allies, if they abided by that which had
 been agreed on, and paid their tribute annually: if they did not continue to do
 that, the Roman people's name of 'brothers' would
 avail them naught. As to Caesar 's threatening him, that
 he would not overlook the wrongs of the Aedui , [he said] that no
 one had ever entered into a contest with him [ Ariovistus ] without
 utter ruin to himself. That Caesar might enter the
 lists when he chose; he would feel what the invincible Germans , well-trained [as they were] beyond all others to arms, who
 for fourteen years had not been beneath a roof, could achieve by their valor."

At the same time that this message was delivered to Caesar , embassadors came from the Aedui and the 
 Treviri 
 ; from the Aedui to complain that the Harudes ,
 who had lately been brought over into Gaul , were ravaging their
 territories; that they had not been able to purchase peace from
 Ariovistus , even by giving hostages: and from the 
 Treviri 
 , [to state] that a hundred cantons of the Suevi had
 encamped on the banks of the 
 Rhine 
 , and were attempting to cross it; that the brothers, Nasuas 
 and Cimberius , headed them. Being greatly alarmed at these things,
 Caesar thought that he ought to use all dispatch,
 lest, if this new band of Suevi should unite with the old troops of
 Ariovistus , he [ Ariovistus ] might be less easily
 withstood. Having therefore, as quickly as he could, provided a supply of corn,
 he hastened to Ariovistus by forced marches.

When he had proceeded three days' journey, word was brought to him that
 Ariovistus was hastening with all his forces to seize on 
 Vesontio 
 , which is the largest town of the Sequani , and had advanced
 three days' journey from its territories. Caesar 
 thought that he ought to take the greatest precautions lest this should happen,
 for there was in that town a most ample supply of every thing which was
 serviceable for war; and so fortified was it by the nature of the ground, as to
 afford a great facility for protracting the war, inasmuch as the river 
 Doubs 
 almost surrounds the whole town, as though it were traced round it with
 a pair of compasses. A mountain of great height shuts in the remaining space,
 which is not more than 600 feet, where the river leaves a gap, in such a manner
 that the roots of that mountain extend to the river's bank on either side. A
 wall thrown around it makes a citadel of this [mountain], and connects it with
 the town. Hither Caesar hastens by forced marches by
 night and day, and, after having seized the town, stations a garrison there.

While he is tarrying a few days at 
 Vesontio 
 , on account of corn and provisions; from the inquiries of our men and
 the reports of the Gauls and traders (who asserted
 that the Germans were men of huge stature, of
 incredible valor and practice in arms-that oftentimes they, on encountering
 them, could not bear even their countenance, and the fierceness of their
 eyes)-so great a panic on a sudden seized the whole army, as to discompose the
 minds and spirits of all in no slight degree. This first arose from the tribunes
 of the soldiers, the prefects and the rest, who, having followed Caesar from the city [ 
 Rome 
 ] from motives of friendship, had no great experience in military
 affairs. And alleging, some of them one reason, some another, which they said
 made it necessary for them to depart, they requested that by his consent they
 might be allowed to withdraw; some, influenced by shame, stayed behind in order
 that they might avoid the suspicion of cowardice. These could neither compose
 their countenance, nor even sometimes check their tears: but hidden in their
 tents, either bewailed their fate, or deplored with their comrades the general
 danger. Wills were sealed universally throughout the whole camp. By the
 expressions and cowardice of these men, even those who possessed great
 experience in the camp, both soldiers and centurions, and those [the decurions]
 who were in command of the cavalry, were gradually disconcerted. Such of them as
 wished to be considered less alarmed, said that they did not dread the enemy,
 but feared the narrowness of the roads and the vastness of the forests which lay
 between them and Ariovistus , or else that the supplies could not be
 brought up readily enough. Some even declared to Caesar , that when he gave orders for the camp to be moved and the troops
 to advance, the soldiers would not be obedient to the command, nor advance in
 consequence of their fear.

When Caesar observed these things, having called a
 council, and summoned to it the centurions of all the companies, he severely
 reprimanded them, "particularly, for supposing that it belonged to them to
 inquire or conjecture, either in what direction they were marching, or with what
 object. That Ariovistus , during his [Caesar 's]
 consulship [ 59 B.C.], had most anxiously sought after
 the friendship of the Roman people; why should any
 one judge that he would so rashly depart from his duty? He for his part was
 persuaded, that, when his demands were known and the fairness of the terms
 considered, he would reject neither his nor the Roman 
 people's favor. But even if, driven on by rage and madness, he should make war
 upon them, what after all were they afraid of?-or why should they despair either
 of their own valor or of his zeal? Of that enemy a trial had been made within
 our fathers' recollection, when, on the defeat of the Cimbri and
 Teutones by Caius Marius , the army was regarded as
 having deserved no less praise than their commander himself. It had been made
 lately, too, in Italy , during the
 rebellion of the slaves, whom, however, the experience and training which they
 had received from us, assisted in some respect. From which a judgment might be
 formed of the advantages which resolution carries with it inasmuch as those whom
 for some time they had groundlessly dreaded when unarmed, they had afterward
 vanquished, when well armed and flushed with success. In short, that these were
 the same men whom the Helvetii , in frequent
 encounters, not only in their own territories, but also in theirs [the
 German] , have generally vanquished, and yet can not have been a
 match for our army. If the unsuccessful battle and flight of the Gauls disquieted any, these, if they made inquiries,
 might discover that, when the Gauls had been tired
 out by the long duration of the war, Ariovistus , after he had many
 months kept himself in his camp and in the marshes, and had given no opportunity
 for an engagement, fell suddenly upon them, by this time despairing of a battle
 and scattered in all directions, and was victorious more through stratagem and
 cunning than valor. But though there had been room for such stratagem against
 savage and unskilled men, not even [ Ariovistus ] himself expected
 that thereby our armies could be entrapped. That those who ascribed their fear
 to a pretense about the [deficiency of] supplies and the narrowness of the
 roads, acted presumptuously, as they seemed either to distrust their general's
 discharge of his duty, or to dictate to him. That these things were his concern;
 that the Sequani , the Leuci , and the 
 Lingones 
 were to furnish the corn; and that it was already ripe in the fields;
 that as to the road they would soon be able to judge for themselves. As to its
 being reported that the soldiers would not be obedient to command, or advance,
 he was not at all disturbed at that; for he knew, that in the case of all those
 whose army had not been obedient to command, either upon some mismanagement of
 an affair, fortune had deserted them, or, that upon some crime being discovered,
 covetousness had been clearly proved [against them]. His integrity had been seen
 throughout his whole life, his good fortune in the war with the Helvetii . That he would therefore instantly set about
 what he had intended to put off till a more distant day, and would break up his
 camp the next night, in the fourth watch, that he might ascertain, as soon as
 possible, whether a sense of honor and duty, or whether fear had more influence
 with them. But that, if no one else should follow, yet he would go with only the
 tenth legion, of which he had no misgivings, and it should be his praetorian
 cohort." This legion Caesar had both greatly favored,
 and in it, on account of its valor, placed the greatest confidence.

Upon the delivery of this speech, the minds of all were changed in a surprising
 manner, and the highest ardor and eagerness for prosecuting the war were
 engendered; and the tenth legion was the first to return thanks to him, through
 their military tribunes, for his having expressed this most favorable opinion of
 them; and assured him that they were quite ready to prosecute the war. Then, the
 other legions endeavored, through their military tribunes and the centurions of
 the principal companies, to excuse themselves to Caesar , [saying] that they had never either doubted or feared, or
 supposed that the determination of the conduct of the war was theirs and not
 their general's. Having accepted their excuse, and having had the road carefully
 reconnoitered by Divitiacus , because in him of all others he had
 the greatest faith [he found] that by a circuitous route of more than fifty
 miles he might lead his army through open parts; he then set out in the fourth
 watch, as he had said [he would]. On the seventh day, as he did not discontinue
 his march, he was informed by scouts that the forces of Ariovistus 
 were only four and twenty miles distant from ours.

Upon being apprized of Caesar 's arrival,
 Ariovistus sends embassadors to him, [saying] that what he had
 before requested as to a conference, might now, as far as his permission went,
 take place, since he [ Caesar ] had approached nearer,
 and he considered that he might now do it without danger. Caesar did not reject the proposal and began to think that he was
 now returning to a rational state of mind as he spontaneously proffered that
 which he had previously refused to him when requesting it; and was in great
 hopes that, in consideration of his own and the Roman 
 people's great favors toward him, the issue would be that he would desist from
 his obstinacy upon his demands being made known. The fifth day after that was
 appointed as the day of conference. Meanwhile, as ambassadors were being often
 sent to and fro between them, Ariovistus demanded that Caesar should not bring any foot-soldier with him to the
 conference, [saying] that "he was afraid of being ensnared by him through
 treachery; that both should come accompanied by cavalry; that he would not come
 on any other condition." Caesar , as he neither wished
 that the conference should, by an excuse thrown in the way, be set aside, nor
 durst trust his life to the cavalry of the Gauls ,
 decided that it would be most expedient to take away from the
 Gallic cavalry all their horses, and thereon to mount the
 legionary soldiers of the tenth legion, in which he placed the greatest
 confidence, in order that he might have a body-guard as trustworthy as possible,
 should there be any need for action. And when this was done, one of the soldiers
 of the tenth legion said, not without a touch of humor, "that Caesar did more for them than he had promised; he had promised to
 have the tenth legion in place of his praetorian cohort; but he now converted
 them into horse."

There was a large plain, and in it a mound of earth of considerable size. This
 spot was at nearly an equal distance from both camps. Thither , as
 had been appointed, they came for the conference. Caesar stationed the legion, which he had brought [with him] on
 horseback, 200 paces from this mound. The cavalry of Ariovistus 
 also took their stand at an equal distance. Ariovistus then
 demanded that they should confer on horseback, and that, besides themselves,
 they should bring with them ten men each to the conference. When they were come
 to the place, Caesar , in the opening of his speech,
 detailed his own and the senate's favors toward him [ Ariovistus ],
 in that he had been styled king, in that [he had been styled] friend, by the
 senate-in that very considerable presents had been sent him; which circumstance
 he informed him had both fallen to the lot of few, and had usually been bestowed
 in consideration of important personal services; that he, although he had
 neither an introduction, nor a just ground for the request, had obtained these
 honors through the kindness and munificence of himself [ Caesar ] and the senate. He informed him too, how old and how just
 were the grounds of connection that existed between themselves [the
 Romans] and the Aedui , what decrees of the senate
 had been passed in their favor, and how frequent and how honorable; how from
 time immemorial the Aedui had held the supremacy of the whole of
 Gaul ; even [said Caesar] before they had sought our
 friendship; that it was the custom of the Roman 
 people to desire not only that its allies and friends should lose none of their
 property, but be advanced in influence, dignity, and honor: who then could
 endure that what they had brought with them to the friendship of the Roman people should be torn from them?" He then made
 the same demands which he had commissioned the embassadors to make, that
 [ Ariovistus ] should not make war either upon the
 Aedui or their allies, that he should restore the hostages;
 that if he could not send back to their country any part of the Germans , he should at all events suffer none of them
 any more to cross the 
 Rhine 
 .

Ariovistus briefly replied to the demands of Caesar ; but expatiated largely on his own virtues, "that he had
 crossed the 
 Rhine 
 not of his own accord, but on being invited and sent for by the Gauls ; that he had not left home and kindred without
 great expectations and great rewards; that he had settlements in Gaul , granted by the Gauls themselves;
 that the hostages had been given by their good-will; that he took by right of
 war the tribute which conquerors are accustomed to impose on the conquered; that
 he had not made war upon the Gauls , but the Gauls upon him; that all the states of Gaul came to attack him, and had encamped against him; that all
 their forces had been routed and beaten by him in a single battle; that if they
 chose to make a second trial, he was ready to encounter them again; but if they
 chose to enjoy peace, it was unfair to refuse the tribute, which of their own
 free-will they had paid up to that time. That the friendship of the Roman people ought to prove to him an ornament and a
 safeguard, not a detriment; and that he sought it with that expectation. But if
 through the Roman people the tribute was to be
 discontinued, and those who surrendered to be seduced from him, he would
 renounce the friendship of the Roman people no less
 heartily than he had sought it. As to his leading over a host of Germans into Gaul , that he was doing this
 with a view of securing himself, not of assaulting Gaul : that there
 was evidence of this, in that he did not come without being invited, and in that
 he did not make war, but merely warded it off. That he had come into Gaul before the Roman people. That never
 before this time did a Roman army go beyond the
 frontiers of the province of Gaul . What [said he] does [ Caesar ] desire?- why come into his
 [ Ariovistus ] domains?-that this was his province of Gaul , just as that is ours. As it ought not to be pardoned in him,
 if he were to make an attack upon our territories; so, likewise, that we were
 unjust, to obstruct him in his prerogative. As for Caesar 's saying that the Aedui had been styled
 'brethren' by the senate, he was not so uncivilized nor so ignorant of affairs,
 as not to know that the Aedui in the very last war with the
 Allobroges had neither rendered assistance to the Romans , nor received any from the Roman people in the struggles which the Aedui had been
 maintaining with him and with the Sequani . He must feel suspicious,
 that Caesar , though feigning friendship as the reason
 for his keeping an army in Gaul , was keeping it with the
 view of crushing him. And that unless he depart and withdraw his army from these
 parts, he shall regard him not as a friend, but as a foe; and that, even if he
 should put him to death, he should do what would please many of the nobles and
 leading men of the Roman people; he had assurance of
 that from themselves through their messengers, and could purchase the favor and
 the friendship of them all by his [Caesar 's] death. But if he would
 depart and resign to him the free possession of Gaul , he would
 recompense him with a great reward, and would bring to a close whatever wars he
 wished to be carried on, without any trouble or risk to him."

Many things were stated by Caesar to the effect [to
 show]; "why he could not waive the business, and that neither his nor the Roman people's practice would suffer him to abandon
 most meritorious allies, nor did he deem that Gaul belonged to
 Ariovistus rather than to the Roman 
 people; that the Arverni and the Ruteni had been
 subdued in war by Quintus Fabius Maximus , and that the Roman people had pardoned them and had not reduced them
 into a province or imposed a tribute upon them. And if the most ancient period
 was to be regarded-then was the sovereignty of the Roman people in Gaul most just: if the decree of
 the Senate was to be observed, then ought Gaul to be free, which they [the
 Romans] had conquered in war, and had permitted to enjoy its
 own laws."

While these things are being transacted in the conference it was announced to
 Caesar that the cavalry of Ariovistus 
 were approaching nearer the mound, and were riding up to our men, and casting
 stones and weapons at them. Caesar made an end of his
 speech and betook himself to his men; and commanded them that they should by no
 means return a weapon upon the enemy. For though he saw that an engagement with
 the cavalry would be without any danger to his chosen legion, yet he did not
 think proper to engage, lest, after the enemy were routed, it might be said that
 they had been insnared by him under the sanction of a conference. When it was
 spread abroad among the common soldiery with what haughtiness
 Ariovistus had behaved at the conference, and how he had
 ordered the Romans to quit Gaul , and how his
 cavalry had made an attack upon our men, and how this had broken off the
 conference, a much greater alacrity and eagerness for battle was infused into
 our army.

Two days after, Ariovistus sends embassadors to Caesar , to state "that he wished to treat with him about those
 things which had been begun to be treated of between them, but had not been
 concluded;" [and to beg] that "he would either again appoint a day for a
 conference; or, if he were not willing to do that, that he would send one of his
 [officers] as an embassador to him." There did not appear to Caesar any good reason for holding a conference; and the more so as
 the day before the Germans could not be restrained
 from casting weapons at our men. He thought he should not without great danger
 send to him as embassador one of his [ Roman ]
 officers, and should expose him to savage men. It seemed [therefore] most proper
 to send to him C. Valerius Procillus , the son of C. Valerius Caburus , a young man of the highest courage
 and accomplishments (whose father had been presented with the freedom of the
 city by C. Valerius Flaccus ), both on account of his
 fidelity and on account of his knowledge of the Gallic language,
 which Ariovistus , by long practice, now spoke fluently; and because
 in his case the Germans would have no motive for
 committing violence; and [as his colleague] M. Mettius ,
 who had shared the hospitality of Ariovistus . He commissioned them
 to learn what Ariovistus had to say, and to report to him. But when
 Ariovistus saw them before him in his camp, he cried out in the
 presence of his army, "Why were they come to him? Was it for the purpose of
 acting as spies?" He stopped them when attempting to speak, and cast them into
 chains.

The same day he moved his camp forward and pitched under a hill six miles from
 Caesar 's camp. The day following he led his forces
 past Caesar 's camp, and encamped two miles beyond him;
 with this design that he might cut off Caesar from the
 corn and provisions, which might be conveyed to him from the
 Sequani and the Aedui . For five successive days
 from that day, Caesar drew out his forces before the
 camp, and put them in battle order, that, if Ariovistus should be
 willing to engage in battle, an opportunity might not be wanting to him.
 Ariovistus all this time kept his army in camp: but engaged
 daily in cavalry skirmishes. The method of battle in which the Germans had practiced themselves was this. There were
 6,000 horse, and as many very active and courageous foot, one of whom each of
 the horse selected out of the whole army for his own protection. By these [foot]
 they were constantly accompanied in their engagements; to these the horse
 retired; these on any emergency rushed forward; if any one, upon receiving a
 very severe wound, had fallen from his horse, they stood around him: if it was
 necessary to advance further than usual, or to retreat more rapidly, so great,
 from practice, was their swiftness, that, supported by the manes of the horses,
 they could keep pace with their speed.

Perceiving that Ariovistus kept himself in camp, Caesar , that he might not any longer be cut off from provisions,
 chose a convenient position for a camp beyond that place in which the Germans had encamped, at about 600 paces from them, and
 having drawn up his army in three lines, marched to that place. He ordered the
 first and second lines to be under arms; the third to fortify the camp. This
 place was distant from the enemy about 600 paces, as has been stated.
 Thither Ariovistus sent light troops, about 16,000 men in
 number, with all his cavalry; which forces were to intimidate our men, and
 hinder them in their fortification. Caesar 
 nevertheless, as he had before arranged, ordered two lines to drive off the
 enemy: the third to execute the work. The camp being fortified, he left there
 two legions and a portion of the auxiliaries; and led back the other four
 legions into the larger camp.

The next day, according to his custom, Caesar led out
 his forces from both camps, and having advanced a little from the larger one,
 drew up his line of battle, and gave the enemy an opportunity of fighting. When
 he found that they did not even then come out [from their intrenchments,] he led
 back his army into camp about noon. Then at last Ariovistus sent
 part of his forces to attack the lesser camp. The battle was vigorously
 maintained on both sides till the evening. At sunset, after many wounds had been
 inflicted and received, Ariovistus led back his forces into camp.
 When Caesar inquired of his prisoners, wherefore
 Ariovistus did not come to an engagement, he discovered this to
 be the reason-that among the Germans it was the
 custom for their matrons to pronounce from lots and divination, whether it were
 expedient that the battle should be engaged in or not; that they had said, "that
 it was not the will of heaven that the Germans should
 conquer, if they engaged in battle before the new moon."

The day following, Caesar left what seemed sufficient as
 a guard for both camps; [and then] drew up all the auxiliaries in sight of the
 enemy, before the lesser camp, because he was not very powerful in the number of
 legionary soldiers, considering the number of the enemy; that [thereby] he might
 make use of his auxiliaries for appearance. He himself, having drawn up his army
 in three lines, advanced to the camp of the enemy. Then at last of necessity the
 Germans drew their forces out of camp, and
 disposed them canton by canton, at equal distances, the Harudes ,
 Marcomanni , Tribocci , Vangiones ,
 Nemetes , Sedusii , Suevi ; and
 surrounded their whole army with their chariots and wagons, that no hope might
 be left in flight. On these they placed their women, who, with disheveled hair
 and in tears, entreated the soldiers, as they went forward to battle, not to
 deliver them into slavery to the Romans .

Caesar appointed over each legion a lieutenant and a
 questor, that every one might have them as witnesses of his valor. He himself
 began the battle at the head of the right wing, because he had observed that
 part of the enemy to be the least strong. Accordingly our men, upon the signal
 being given, vigorously made an attack upon the enemy, and the enemy so suddenly
 and rapidly rushed forward, that there was no time for casting the javelins at
 them. Throwing aside [therefore] their javelins, they fought with swords hand to
 hand. But the Germans , according to their custom,
 rapidly forming a phalanx, sustained the attack of our swords. There were found
 very many of our soldiers who leaped upon the phalanx, and with their hands tore
 away the shields, and wounded the enemy from above. Although the army of the
 enemy was routed on the left wing and put to flight, they [still] pressed
 heavily on our men from the right wing, by the great number of their troops. On
 observing which, P. Crassus , a young man, who commanded
 the cavalry-as he was more disengaged than those who were employed in the
 fight-sent the third line as a relief to our men who were in distress.

Thereupon the engagement was renewed, and all the enemy turned their backs, nor
 did they cease to flee until they arrived at the river 
 Rhine 
 , about fifty miles from that place. There some few, either relying on
 their strength, endeavored to swim over, or, finding boats, procured their
 safety. Among the latter was Ariovistus , who meeting with a small
 vessel tied to the bank, escaped in it; our horse pursued and slew all the rest
 of them. Ariovistus had two wives, one a Suevan by
 nation, whom he brought with him from home; the other a Norican ,
 the sister of king Vocion , whom he had married in Gaul , she having been sent [thither for that purpose] by her
 brother. Both perished in that flight. Of their two daughters, one was slain,
 the other captured. C. Valerius Procillus , as he was
 being dragged by his guards in the fight, bound with a triple chain, fell into
 the hands of Caesar himself, as he was pursuing the
 enemy with his cavalry. This circumstance indeed afforded Caesar no less pleasure than the victory itself; because he saw a
 man of the first rank in the province of Gaul , his intimate acquaintance
 and friend, rescued from the hand of the enemy, and restored to him, and that
 fortune had not diminished aught of the joy and exultation [of that day] by his
 destruction. He [Procillus] said that, in his own presence, the
 lots had been thrice consulted respecting him, whether he should immediately be
 put to death by fire, or be reserved for another time: that by the favor of the
 lots he was uninjured. M. Mettius , also, was found and
 brought back to him [Caesar .]

This battle having been reported beyond the 
 Rhine 
 , the Suevi , who had come to the banks of that river, began
 to return home, when the Ubii , who dwelt nearest to the 
 Rhine 
 , pursuing them, while much alarmed, slew a great number of them. Caesar having concluded two very important wars in one
 campaign, conducted his army into winter quarters among the
 Sequani , a little earlier than the season of the year required. He
 appointed Labienus over the winter-quarters, and set out in person
 for Hither Gaul to hold the assizes.

While Caesar was in winter quarters in Hither Gaul , as we have shown above, frequent reports were brought to him,
 and he was also informed by letters from Labienus , that all the
 Belgae , who we have said are a third part of Gaul , were entering into a confederacy against the Roman people, and giving hostages to one another; that
 the reasons of the confederacy were these-first, because they feared that, after
 all [Celtic] Gaul was
 subdued, our army would be led against them; secondly, because they were
 instigated by several of the Gauls ; some of whom as
 [on the one hand] they had been unwilling that the Germans should remain any longer in Gaul , so [on the
 other] they were dissatisfied that the army of the Roman people should pass the winter in it, and settle there; and
 others of them, from a natural instability and fickleness of disposition, were
 anxious for a revolution; [the Belgae were instigated] by several,
 also, because the government in Gaul was generally seized upon
 by the more powerful persons and by those who had the means of hiring troops,
 and they could less easily effect this object under our dominion.

Alarmed by these tidings and letters, Caesar levied two
 new legions in Hither Gaul , and, at the beginning of
 summer, sent Q. Pedius , his lieutenant, to conduct them
 further into Gaul . He, himself, as soon as
 there began to be plenty of forage, came to the army. He gives a commission to
 the 
 Senones 
 and the other Gauls who were neighbors of the
 Belgae , to learn what is going on among them [i.e. the
 Belgae] , and inform him of these matters. These all uniformly
 reported that troops were being raised, and that an army was being collected in
 one place. Then, indeed, he thought that he ought not to hesitate about
 proceeding toward them, and having provided supplies, moves his camp, and in
 about fifteen days arrives at the territories of the Belgae .

As he arrived there unexpectedly and sooner than any one anticipated, the Remi , who are the nearest of the Belgae to
 [Celtic] Gaul , sent to
 him Iccius and Antebrogius , [two of] the principal
 persons of the state, as their embassadors: to tell him that they surrendered
 themselves and all their possessions to the protection and disposal of the Roman people: and that they had neither combined with
 the rest of the Belgae , nor entered into any confederacy against
 the Roman people: and were prepared to give hostages,
 to obey his commands, to receive him into their towns, and to aid him with corn
 and other things; that all the rest of the Belgae were in arms; and
 that the Germans , who dwell on this side of the 
 Rhine 
 , had joined themselves to them; and that so great was the infatuation of
 them all, that they could not restrain even the Suessiones , their
 own brethren and kinsmen, who enjoy the same rights, and the, same laws, and who
 have one government and one magistracy [in common] with themselves, from uniting
 with them.

When Caesar inquired of them what states were in arms,
 how powerful they were, and what they could do, in war, he received the
 following information: that the greater part of the Belgae were
 sprung, from the Germans , and that having crossed the
 
 Rhine 
 at an early period, they had settled there, on account of the fertility
 of the country, and had driven out the Gauls who
 inhabited those regions; and that they were the only people who, in the memory
 of our fathers, when all Gaul was overrun, had prevented
 the Teutones and the Cimbri from entering their
 territories; the effect of which was, that, from the recollection of those
 events, they assumed to themselves great authority and haughtiness in military
 matters. The 
 Remi 
 said, that they had known accurately every thing respecting their
 number, because being united to them by neighborhood and by alliances, they had
 learned what number each state had in the general council of the
 Belgae promised for that war. That the Bellovaci 
 were the most powerful among them in valor, influence, and the number of men;
 that these could muster 100,000 armed men, [and had] promised 60,000 picked men
 out of that number, and demanded for themselves the command of the whole war.
 That the Suessiones were their nearest neighbors and possessed a
 very extensive and fertile country; that among them, even in our own memory,
 Divitiacus , the most powerful man of all Gaul , had been king; who had held the government of a great part of
 these regions, as well as of Britain ; that
 their king at present was Galba ; that the direction of the whole
 war was conferred by the consent of all, upon him, on account of his integrity
 and prudence; that they had twelve towns; that they had promised 50,000 armed
 men; and that the Nervii , who are reckoned the most warlike among
 them, and are situated at a very great distance, [had promised] as many; the
 Atrebates 15,000; the Ambiani , 10,000; the
 Morini , 25,000; the Menapii , 9,000; the
 Caleti , 10,000; the Velocasses and the
 Veromandui as many; the Aduatuci 19,000; that the
 Condrusi , the Eburones , the Caeraesi ,
 the Paemani , who are called by the common name of Germans [had promised], they thought, to the number of
 40,000.

Caesar , having encouraged the Remi , and addressed them courteously, ordered the whole senate to
 assemble before him, and the children of their chief men to be brought to him as
 hostages; all which commands they punctually performed by the day [appointed].
 He, addressing himself to Divitiacus , the Aeduan , with
 great earnestness, points out how much it concerns the republic and their common
 security, that the forces of the enemy should be divided, so that it might not
 be necessary to engage with so large a number at one time. [He asserts] that
 this might be affected if the Aedui would lead their forces into
 the territories of the Bellovaci , and begin to lay waste their
 country. With these instructions he dismissed him from his presence. After he
 perceived that all the forces of the Belgae , which had been
 collected in one place, were approaching toward him, and learned from the scouts
 whom he had sent out, and [also] from the Remi , that
 they were then not far distant, he hastened to lead his army over the 
 Aisne 
 , which is on the borders of the Remi , and
 there pitched his camp. This position fortified one side of his camp by the
 banks of the river, rendered the country which lay in his rear secure from the
 enemy, and furthermore insured that provisions might without danger be brought
 to him by the Remi and the rest of the states. Over
 that river was a bridge: there he places a guard; and on the other side of the
 river he leaves Q. Titurius Sabinus , his lieutenant,
 with six cohorts. He orders him to fortify a camp with a rampart twelve feet in
 height, and a trench eighteen feet in breadth.

There was a town of the Remi , by name
 Bibrax , eight miles distant from this camp. This the
 Belgae on their march began to attack with great vigor. [The
 assault] was with difficulty sustained for that day. The Gauls '
 mode of besieging is the same as that of the Belgae : when after
 having drawn a large number of men around the whole of the fortifications,
 stones have begun to be cast against the wall on all sides, and the wall has
 been stripped of its defenders, [then], forming a testudo, they advance to the
 gates and undermine the wall: which was easily effected on this occasion; for
 while so large a number were casting stones and darts, no one was able to
 maintain his position upon the wall. When night had put an end to the assault,
 Iccius , who was then in command of the town, one of the Remi , a man of the highest rank and influence among his
 people, and one of those who had come to Caesar as
 embassador [to sue] for peace, sends messengers to him, [to report] "That,
 unless assistance were sent to him he could not hold out any longer."

Thither , immediately after midnight, Caesar , using as guides the same persons who had come to him as
 messengers from Iccius , sends some Numidian and
 Cretan archers, and some Balearian slingers as a
 relief to the towns-people, by whose arrival both a desire to resist together
 with the hope of [making good their] defense, was infused into the Remi , and, for the same reason, the hope of gaining the
 town, abandoned the enemy. Therefore, after staying a short time before the
 town, and laying waste the country of the Remi , when
 all the villages and buildings which they could approach had been burned, they
 hastened with all their forces to the camp of Caesar ,
 and encamped within less than two miles [of it]; and their camp, as was
 indicated by the smoke and fires, extended more than eight miles in breadth.

Caesar at first determined to decline a battle, as well
 on account of the great number of the enemy as their distinguished reputation
 for valor: daily, however, in cavalry actions, he strove to ascertain by
 frequent trials, what the enemy could effect by their prowess and what our men
 would dare. When he perceived that our men were not inferior, as the place
 before the camp was naturally convenient and suitable for marshaling an army
 (since the hill where the camp was pitched, rising gradually from the plain,
 extended forward in breadth as far as the space which the marshaled army could
 occupy, and had steep declines of its side in either direction, and gently
 sloping in front gradually sank to the plain); on either side of that hill he
 drew a cross trench of about four hundred paces, and at the extremities of that
 trench built forts, and placed there his military engines, lest, after he had
 marshaled his army, the enemy, since they were so powerful in point of number,
 should be able to surround his men in the flank, while fighting. After doing
 this, and leaving in the camp the two legions which he had last raised, that, if
 there should be any occasion, they might be brought as a reserve, he formed the
 other six legions in order of battle before the camp. The enemy, likewise, had
 drawn up their forces which they had brought out of the camp.

There was a marsh of no great extent between our army and that of the enemy. The
 latter were waiting to see if our men would pass this; our men, also, were ready
 in arms to attack them while disordered, if the first attempt to pass should be
 made by them. In the mean time battle was commenced between the two armies by a
 cavalry action. When neither army began to pass the marsh, Caesar , upon the skirmishes of the horse [proving] favorable to our
 men, led back his forces into the camp. The enemy immediately hastened from that
 place to the river Aisne , which it has
 been; stated was behind our camp. Finding a ford there, they endeavored to lead
 a part of their forces over it; with the design, that, if they could, they might
 carry by storm the fort which Q. Titurius , Caesar 's lieutenant, commanded, and might cut off the
 bridge; but, if they could not do that, they should lay waste the lands of the
 Remi , which were of great use to us in carrying
 on the war, and might hinder our men from foraging.

Caesar , being apprized of this by Titurius , leads all his cavalry and light-armed
 Numidians , slingers and archers, over the bridge, and hastens
 toward them. There was a severe struggle in that place. Our men, attacking in
 the river the disordered enemy, slew a great part of them. By the immense number
 of their missiles they drove back the rest, who, in a most courageous manner
 were attempting to pass over their bodies, and surrounded with their cavalry,
 and cut to pieces those who had first crossed the river. The enemy, when they
 perceived that their hopes had deceived them both with regard to their taking
 the town by storm and also their passing the river, and did not see our men
 advance to a more disadvantageous place for the purpose of fighting, and when
 provisions began to fail them, having called a council, determined that it was
 best for each to return to his country, and resolved to assemble from all
 quarters to defend those into whose territories the Romans should first march an army; that they might contend in their
 own rather than in a foreign country, and might enjoy the stores of provision
 which they possessed at home. Together with other causes, this consideration
 also led them to that resolution, viz: that they had learned that
 Divitiacus and the Aedui were approaching the
 territories of the Bellovaci . And it was impossible to persuade the
 latter to stay any longer, or to deter them from conveying succor to their own
 people.

That matter being determined on, marching out of their camp at the second watch,
 with great noise and confusion, in no fixed order, nor under any command, since
 each sought for himself the foremost place in the journey, and hastened to reach
 home, they made their departure appear very like a flight. Caesar , immediately learning this through his scouts, [but] fearing
 an ambuscade, because he had not yet discovered for what reason they were
 departing, kept his army and cavalry within the camp. At daybreak, the
 intelligence having been confirmed by the scouts, he sent forward his cavalry to
 harass their rear; and gave the command of it to two of his lieutenants, Q. Pedius , and L. Aurunculeius
 Cotta . He ordered T. Labienus , another of
 his lieutenants, to follow them closely with three legions. These, attacking
 their rear, and pursuing them for many miles, slew a great number of them as
 they were fleeing; while those in the rear with whom they had come up, halted,
 and bravely sustained the attack of our soldiers; the van, because they appeared
 to be removed from danger, and were not restrained by any necessity or command,
 as soon as the noise was heard, broke their ranks, and, to a man, rested their
 safety in flight. Thus without any risk [to themselves] our men killed as great
 a number of them as the length of the day allowed; and at sunset desisted from
 the pursuit, and betook themselves into the camp, as they had been commanded.

On the day following, before the enemy could recover from their terror and
 flight, Caesar led his army into the territories of the
 Suessiones , which are next to the Remi , and having accomplished a long march, hastens to the town
 named 
 Noviodunum 
 . Having attempted to take it by storm on his march, because he heard
 that it was destitute of [sufficient] defenders, he was not able to carry it by
 assault, on account of the breadth of the ditch and the height of the wall,
 though few were defending it. Therefore, having fortified the camp, he began to
 bring up the vineae, and to provide whatever things were necessary for the
 storm. In the mean time the whole body of the Suessiones , after
 their flight, came the next night into the town. The vineae having been quickly
 brought up against the town, a mound thrown up, and towers built, the Gauls , amazed by the greatness of the works, such as
 they had neither seen nor heard of before, and struck also by the dispatch of
 the Romans , send embassadors to Caesar respecting a surrender, and succeed in consequence of the
 Remi requesting that they [the
 Suessiones] might be spared.

Caesar , having received as hostages the first men of the
 state, and even the two sons of king Galba himself; and all the
 arms in the town having been delivered up, admitted the Suessiones 
 to a surrender, and led his army against the Bellovaci . Who, when
 they had conveyed themselves and all their possessions into the town Galled
 Bratuspantium , and Caesar with his
 army was about five miles distant from that town, all the old men, going out of
 the town, began to stretch out their hands to Caesar ,
 and to intimate by their voice that they would throw themselves on his
 protection and power, nor would contend in arms against the Roman people. In like manner, when he had come up to the town, and
 there pitched his camp, the boys and the women from the wall, with outstretched
 hands, after their custom, begged peace from the Romans .

For these Divitiacus pleads (for after the departure of the
 Belgae , having dismissed the troops of the Aedui ,
 he had returned to Caesar ). "The Bellovaci 
 had at all times been in the alliance and friendship of the Aeduan 
 state; that they had revolted from the Aedui and made war upon the
 Roman people, being urged thereto by their
 nobles, who said that the Aedui , reduced to slavery by Caesar , were suffering every indignity and insult. That
 they who had been the leaders of that plot, because they perceived how great a
 calamity they had brought upon the state, had fled into Britain . That not only the Bellovaci , but also the
 Aedui , entreated him to use his [accustomed] clemency and
 lenity toward them [the Bellovaci] : which if he did, he would
 increase the influence of the Aedui among all the
 Belgae , by whose succor and resources they had been accustomed
 to support themselves whenever any wars occurred."

Caesar said that on account of his respect for
 Divitiacus and the Aeduans , he would receive them
 into his protection, and would spare them; but, because the state was of great
 influence among the Belgae , and pre-eminent in the number of its
 population, he demanded 600 hostages. When these were delivered, and all the
 arms in the town collected, he went from that place into the territories of the
 Ambiani , who, without delay, surrendered themselves and all
 their possessions. Upon their territories bordered the Nervii ,
 concerning whose character and customs when Caesar 
 inquired he received the following information:-That there was no access for
 merchants to them; that they suffered no wine and other things tending to luxury
 to be imported; because, they thought that by their use the mind is enervated
 and the courage impaired: that they were a savage people and of great bravery:
 that they upbraided and condemned the rest of the Belgae who had
 surrendered themselves to the Roman people and thrown
 aside their national courage: that they openly declared they would neither send
 embassadors, nor accept any condition of peace."

After he had made three days march through their territories, he discovered from
 some prisoners, that the river 
 Sambre 
 was not more than ten miles from his camp; that all the
 Nervii had stationed themselves on the other side of that
 river, and together with the Atrebates and the
 Veromandui , their neighbors, were there awaiting the arrival of
 the Romans ; for they had persuaded both these nations
 to try the same fortune of war [as themselves]: that the forces of the
 Aduatuci were also expected by them, and were on their march;
 that they had put their women, and those who through age appeared useless for
 war, in a place to which there was no approach for an army, on account of the
 marshes.

Having learned these things, he sends forward scouts and centurions to choose a
 convenient place for the camp. And as a great many of the surrounding
 Belgae and other Gauls , following
 Caesar , marched with him; some of these, as was
 afterwards learned from the prisoners, having accurately observed, during those
 days, the army's method of marching, went by night to the Nervii ,
 and informed them that a great number of baggage-trains passed between the
 several legions, and that there would be no difficulty, when the first legion
 had come into the camp, and the other legions were at a great distance, to
 attack that legion while under baggage, which being routed, and the
 baggage-train seized, it would come to pass that the other legions would not
 dare to stand their ground. It added weight also to the advice of those who
 reported that circumstance, that the Nervii , from early times,
 because they were weak in cavalry, (for not even at this time do they attend to
 it, but accomplish by their infantry whatever they can,) in order that they
 might the more easily obstruct the cavalry of their neighbors if they came upon
 them for the purpose of plundering, having cut young trees, and bent them, by
 means of their numerous branches [extending] on to the sides, and the
 quick-briars and thorns springing up between them, had made these hedges present
 a fortification like a wall, through which it was not only impossible to enter,
 but even to penetrate with the eye. Since [therefore] the march of our army
 would be obstructed by these things, the Nervii thought that the
 advice ought not to be neglected by them.

The nature of the ground which our men had chosen for the camp was this: A hill,
 declining evenly from the top, extending to the river 
 Sambre 
 , which we have mentioned above: from this river there arose a [second]
 hill of like ascent, on the other side and opposite to the former, and open for
 about 200 paces at the lower part; but in the upper part, woody, (so much so)
 that it was not easy to see through it into the interior. Within these woods the
 enemy kept themselves in concealment; a few troops of horse-soldiers appeared on
 the open ground, along the river. The depth of the river was about three feet.

Caesar , having sent his cavalry on before, followed
 close after them with all his forces; but the plan and order of the march was
 different from that which the Belgae had reported to the
 Nervii . For as he was approaching the enemy, Caesar , according to his custom, led on [as the van six legions
 unencumbered by baggage; behind them he had placed the baggage-trains of the
 whole army; then the two legions which had been last raised closed the rear, and
 were a guard for the baggage-train. Our horse, with the slingers and archers,
 having passed the river, commenced action with the cavalry of the enemy. While
 they from time to time betook themselves into the woods to their companions, and
 again made an assault out of the wood upon our men, who did not dare to follow
 them in their retreat further than the limit to which the plain and open parts
 extended, in the mean time the six legions which had arrived first, having
 measured out the work, began to fortify the camp. When the first part of the
 baggage train of our army was seen by those who lay hid in the woods, which had
 been agreed on among them as the time for commencing action, as soon as they had
 arranged their line of battle and formed their ranks within the woods, and had
 encouraged one another, they rushed out suddenly with all their forces and made
 an attack upon our horse. The latter being easily routed and thrown into
 confusion, the Nervii ran down to the river with such incredible
 speed that they seemed to be in the woods, the river, and close upon us almost
 at the same time. And with the same speed they hastened up the hill to our camp,
 and to those who were employed in the works.

Caesar had every thing to do at one time: the standard
 to be displayed, which was the sign when it was necessary to run to arms; the
 signal to be given by the trumpet; the soldiers to be called off from the works;
 those who had proceeded some distance for the purpose of seeking materials for
 the rampart, to be summoned; the order of battle to be formed; the soldiers to
 be encouraged; the watchword to be given. A great part of these arrangements was
 prevented by the shortness of time and the sudden approach and charge of the
 enemy. Under these difficulties two things proved of advantage; [first] the
 skill and experience of the soldiers, because, having been trained by former
 engagements, they could suggest to themselves what ought to be done, as
 conveniently as receive information from others; and [secondly] that Caesar had forbidden his several lieutenants to depart
 from the works and their respective legions, before the camp was fortified.
 These, on account of the near approach and the speed of the enemy, did not then
 wait for any command from Caesar , but of themselves
 executed whatever appeared proper.

Caesar , having given the necessary orders, hastened to
 and fro into whatever quarter fortune carried him, to animate the troops, and
 came to the tenth legion. Having encouraged the soldiers with no further speech
 than that "they should keep up the remembrance of their wonted valor, and not be
 confused in mind, but valiantly sustain the assault of the enemy ;" as the
 latter were not further from them than the distance to which a dart could be
 cast, he gave the signal for commencing battle. And having gone to another
 quarter for the purpose of encouraging [the soldiers], he finds them fighting.
 Such was the shortness of the time, and so determined was the mind of the enemy
 on fighting, that time was wanting not only for affixing the military insignia,
 but even for putting on the helmets and drawing off the covers from the shields.
 To whatever part any one by chance came from the works (in which he had been
 employed), and whatever standards he saw first, at these he stood, lest in
 seeking his own company he should lose the time for fighting.

The army having been marshaled, rather as the nature of the ground and the
 declivity of the hill and the exigency of the time, than as the method and order
 of military matters required; while the legions in the different places were
 withstanding the enemy, some in one quarter, some in another, and the view was
 obstructed by the very thick hedges intervening, as we have before remarked,
 neither could proper reserves be posted, nor could the necessary measures be
 taken in each part, nor could all the commands be issued by one person.
 Therefore, in such an unfavorable state of affairs, various events of fortune
 followed.

The soldiers of the ninth and tenth legions, as they had been stationed on the
 left part of the army, casting their weapons, speedily drove the
 Atrebates (for that division had been opposed to them,) who
 were breathless with running and fatigue, and worn out with wounds, from the
 higher ground into the river; and following them as they were endeavoring to
 pass it, slew with their swords a great part of them while impeded (therein).
 They themselves did not hesitate to pass the river; and having advanced to a
 disadvantageous place, when the battle was renewed, they [nevertheless] again
 put to flight the enemy, who had returned and were opposing them. In like
 manner, in another quarter two different legions, the eleventh and the eighth,
 having routed the Veromandui , with whom they had engaged, were
 fighting from the higher ground upon the very banks of the river. But, almost
 the whole camp on the front and on the left side being then exposed, since the
 twelfth legion was posted in the right wing, and the seventh at no great
 distance from it, all the Nervii , in a very close body, with
 Boduognatus , who held the chief command, as their leader,
 hastened toward that place; and part of them began to surround the legions on
 their unprotected flank, part to make for the highest point of the encampment.

At the same time our horsemen, and light-armed infantry, who had been with those,
 who, as I have related, were routed by the first assault of the enemy, as they
 were betaking themselves into the camp, met the enemy face to face, and again
 sought flight into another quarter; and the camp-followers who from the
 Decuman Gate , and from the highest ridge of the hill had seen
 our men pass the river as victors, when, after going out for the purposes of
 plundering, they looked back and saw the enemy parading in our camp, committed
 themselves precipitately to flight; at the same time there arose the cry and
 shout of those who came with the baggage-train: and they (affrighted), were
 carried some one way, some another. By all these circumstances the cavalry of
 the 
 Treviri 
 were much alarmed, (whose reputation for courage is extraordinary among
 the Gauls , and who had come to Caesar , being sent by their state as auxiliaries), and, when they
 saw our camp filled with a large number of the enemy, the legions hard pressed
 and almost held surrounded, the camp-retainers, horsemen, slingers, and
 Numidians fleeing on all sides divided and scattered, they,
 despairing of our affairs, hastened home, and related to their state that the
 Romans were routed and conquered, [and] that the
 enemy were in possession of their camp and baggage-train.

Caesar proceeded, after encouraging the tenth legion, to
 the right wing; where he perceived that his men were hard pressed, and that in
 consequence of the standards of the twelfth legion being collected together in
 one place, the crowded soldiers were a hinderance to themselves in the fight;
 that all the centurions of the fourth cohort were slain, and the standard-bearer
 killed, the standard itself lost, almost all the centurions of the other cohorts
 either wounded or slain, and among them the chief centurion of the legion P. Sextius Baculus , a very valiant man, who was so
 exhausted by many and severe wounds, that he was already unable to support
 himself; he likewise perceived that the rest were slackening their efforts, and
 that some, deserted by those in the rear, were retiring from the battle and
 avoiding the weapons; that the enemy [on the other hand] though advancing from
 the lower ground, were not relaxing in front, and were [at the same time]
 pressing hard on both flanks; he also perceived that the affair was at a crisis,
 and that there was not any reserve which could be brought up, having therefore
 snatched a shield from one of the soldiers in the rear (for he himself had come
 without a shield), he advanced to the front of the line, and addressing the
 centurions by name, and encouraging the rest of the soldiers, he ordered them to
 carry forward the standards, and extend the companies, that they might the more
 easily use their swords. On his arrival, as hope was brought to the soldiers and
 their courage restored, while every one for his own part, in the sight of his
 general, desired to exert his utmost energy, the impetuosity of the enemy was a
 little checked.

Caesar , when he perceived that the seventh legion, which
 stood close by him, was also hard pressed by the enemy, directed the tribunes of
 the soldiers to effect a junction of the legions gradually, and make their
 charge upon the enemy with a double front; which having been done, since they
 brought assistance the one to the other, nor feared lest their rear should be
 surrounded by the enemy, they began to stand their ground more boldly, and to
 fight more courageously. In the mean time, the soldiers of the two legions which
 had been in the rear of the army, as a guard for the baggage-train, upon the
 battle being reported to them, quickened their pace, and were seen by the enemy
 on the top of the hill; and Titus Labienus , having gained
 possession of the camp of the enemy, and observed from the higher ground what
 was going on in our camp, sent the tenth legion as a relief to our men, who,
 when they had learned from the flight of the horse and the sutlers in what
 position the affair was, and in how great danger the camp and the legion and the
 commander were involved, left undone nothing [which tended] to dispatch.

By their arrival, so great a change of matters was made, that our men, even those
 who had fallen down exhausted with wounds, leaned on their shields, and renewed
 the fight: then the camp-retainers, though unarmed, seeing the enemy completely
 dismayed, attacked [them though] armed; the horsemen too, that they might by
 their valor blot the disgrace of their flight, thrust themselves before the
 legionary soldiers in all parts of the battle. But the enemy, even in the last
 hope of safety, displayed such great courage, that when the foremost of them had
 fallen, the next stood upon them prostrate, and fought from their bodies; when
 these were overthrown, and their corpses heaped up together, those who survived
 cast their weapons against our men [thence], as from a mound, and returned our
 darts which had fallen short between [the armies]; so that it ought not to be
 concluded, that men of such great courage had injudiciously dared to pass a very
 broad river, ascend very high banks, and come up to a very disadvantageous
 place; since their greatness of spirit had rendered these actions easy, although
 in themselves very difficult.

This battle being ended, and the nation and name of the Nervii being
 almost reduced to annihilation, their old men, whom together with the boys and
 women we have stated to have been collected together in the fenny places and
 marshes, on this battle having been reported to them, since they were convinced
 that nothing was an obstacle to the conquerors, and nothing safe to the
 conquered, sent embassadors to Caesar by the consent of
 all who remained, and surrendered themselves to him; and in recounting the
 calamity of their state, said that their senators were reduced from 600 to
 three; that from 60,000 men they [were reduced] to scarcely 500 who could bear
 arms; whom Caesar , that he might appear to use
 compassion toward the wretched and the suppliant, most carefully spared; and
 ordered them to enjoy their own territories and towns, and commanded their
 neighbors that they should restrain themselves and their dependents from
 offering injury or outrage [to them].

When the Aduatuci , of whom we have written above, were coming up
 with all their forces to the assistance of the Nervii , upon this
 battle being reported to them, they returned home after they were on the march;
 deserting all their towns and forts, they conveyed together all their
 possessions into one town, eminently fortified by nature. While this town had on
 all sides around it very high rocks and precipices, there was left on one side a
 gently ascending approach, of not more than 200 feet in width; which place they
 had fortified with a very lofty double wall: besides, they had placed stones of
 great weight and sharpened stakes upon the walls. They were descended from the
 Cimbri and Teutones , who, when they were marching
 into our province and Italy , having deposited
 on this side the river 
 Rhine 
 such of their baggage-trains as they could not drive or convey with
 them, left 6,000 of their men as a guard and defense for them. These having,
 after the destruction of their countrymen, been harassed for many years by their
 neighbors, while one time they waged war offensively, and at another resisted it
 when waged against them, concluded a peace with the consent of all, and chose
 this place as their settlement.

And on the first arrival of our army they made frequent sallies from the town,
 and contended with our men in trifling skirmishes; afterward, when hemmed in by
 a rampart of twelve feet [in height], and fifteen miles in circuit, they kept
 themselves within the town. When, vineae having been brought up and a mound
 raised, they observed that a tower also was being built at a distance, they at
 first began to mock the Romans from their wall, and
 to taunt them with the following speeches. "For what purpose was so vast a
 machine constructed at so great a distance? With what hands," or "with what
 strength did they, especially [as they were] men of such very small stature"
 (for our shortness of stature, in comparison to the great size of their bodies,
 is generally a subject of much contempt to the men of Gaul ) "trust to
 place against their walls a tower of such great weight."

But when they saw that it was being moved, and was approaching their walls,
 startled by the new and unaccustomed sight, they sent embassadors to Caesar [to treat] about peace; who spoke in the following
 manner: "That they did not believe the Romans waged
 war without divine aid, since they were able to move forward machines of such a
 height with so great speed, and thus fight from close quarters; that they
 resigned themselves and all their possessions to [Caesar 's]
 disposal: that they begged and earnestly entreated one thing, viz., that if
 perchance, agreeable to his clemency and humanity, which they had heard of from
 others, he should resolve that the Aduatuci were to be spared, he
 would not deprive them of their arms; that all their neighbors were enemies to
 them and envied their courage, from whom they could not defend themselves if
 their arms were delivered up: that it was better for them, if they should be
 reduced to that state, to suffer any fate from the Roman people, than to be tortured to death by those among whom they
 had been accustomed to rule."

To these things Caesar replied, "That he, in accordance
 with his custom, rather than owing to their desert, should spare the state, if
 they should surrender themselves before the battering-ram should touch the wall;
 but that there was no condition of surrender, except upon their arms being
 delivered up; that he should do to them that which he had done in the case of
 the Nervii , and would command their neighbors not to offer any
 injury to those who had surrendered to the Roman 
 people." The matter being reported to their countrymen, they said that they
 would execute his commands. Having cast a very large quantity of their arms from
 the wall into the trench that was before the town, so that the heaps of arms
 almost equalled the top of the wall and the rampart, and nevertheless having
 retained and concealed, as we afterward discovered, about a third part in the
 town, the gates were opened, and they enjoyed peace for that day.

Toward evening Caesar ordered the gates to be shut, and
 the soldiers to go out of the town, lest the towns-people should receive any
 injury from them by night. They [the Aduatuci] , by a design before
 entered into, as we afterwards understood, because they believed that, as a
 surrender had been made, our men would dismiss their guards, or at least would
 keep watch less carefully, partly with those arms which they had retained and
 concealed, partly with shields made of bark or interwoven wickers, which they
 had hastily covered over with skins, (as the shortness of time required) in the
 third watch, suddenly made a sally from the town with all their forces [in that
 direction] in which the ascent to our fortifications seemed the least difficult.
 The signal having been immediately given by fires, as Caesar had previously commended, a rush was made thither [i. e. by
 the Roman soldiers] from the nearest fort; and the
 battle was fought by the enemy as vigorously as it ought to be fought by brave
 men, in the last hope of safety, in a disadvantageous place, and against those
 who were throwing their weapons from a rampart and from towers; since all hope
 of safety depended on their courage alone. About 4,000 of the men having been
 slain, the rest were forced back into the town. The day after, Caesar , after breaking open the gates, which there was no one then
 to defend, and sending in our soldiers, sold the whole spoil of that town. The
 number of 53,000 persons was reported to him by those who had bought them.

At the same time he was informed by P. Crassus , whom he
 had sent with one legion against the Veneti , the
 Unelli , the Osismii , the
 Curiosolitae , the Sesuvii , the Aulerci ,
 and the Rhedones , which are maritime states, and touch upon the
 [Atlantic] ocean , that all these nations were brought under the
 dominion and power of the Roman people.

These things being achieved, [and] all Gaul being subdued, so high an
 opinion of this war was spread among the barbarians, that embassadors were sent
 to Caesar by those nations who dwelt beyond the Rhine
 , to promise that they would give hostages and execute his commands.
 Which embassies Caesar , because he was hastening into
 Italy and Illyricum , ordered to return to him at the beginning of the
 following summer. He himself, having led his legions into winter quarters among
 the Carnutes , the Andes, and the Turones , which states were close to those regions in which he had
 waged war, set out for Italy ; and a
 thanksgiving of fifteen days was decreed for those achievements, upon receiving
 Caesar 's letter; [an honor] which before that time
 had been conferred on none.

When Caesar was setting out for Italy , he
 sent Servius Galba with the twelfth legion and part of the cavalry,
 against the Nantuates , the Veragri , and
 Seduni , who extend from the territories of the
 Allobroges , and the lake of Geneva , and the River Rhone to the top of the
 Alps . The reason for sending him was, that he desired that the pass
 along the Alps , through which [the
 Roman] merchants had been accustomed to travel with great
 danger, and under great imposts, should be opened. He permitted him, if he
 thought it necessary, to station the legion in these places, for the purpose of
 wintering. Galba having fought some successful battles and stormed
 several of their forts, upon embassadors being sent to him from all parts and
 hostages given and a peace concluded, determined to station two cohorts among
 the Nantuates , and to winter in person with the other cohorts of
 that legion in a village of the Veragri , which is called
 Octodurus ; and this village being situated in a valley, with a
 small plain annexed to it, is bounded on all sides by very high mountains. As
 this village was divided into two parts by a river, he granted one part of it to
 the Gauls , and assigned the other, which had been
 left by them unoccupied, to the cohorts to winter in. He fortified this [latter]
 part with a rampart and a ditch.

When several days had elapsed in winter quarters, and he had ordered corn to be
 brought in he was suddenly informed by his scouts that all the people had gone
 off in the night from that part of the town which he had given up to the Gauls , and that the mountains which hung over it were
 occupied by a very large force of the Seduni and
 Veragri . It had happened for several reasons that the Gauls suddenly formed the design of renewing the war
 and cutting off that legion. First, because they despised a single legion, on
 account of its small number, and that not quite full (two cohorts having been
 detached, and several individuals being absent, who had been dispatched for the
 purpose of seeking provision); then, likewise, because they thought that on
 account of the disadvantageous character of the situation, even their first
 attack could not be sustained [by us] when they would rush from the mountains
 into the valley, and discharge their weapons upon us. To this was added, that
 they were indignant that their children were torn from them under the title of
 hostages, and they were persuaded that the Romans 
 designed to seize upon the summits of the Alps , and unite those parts to
 the neighboring province [of Gaul] , not only to secure the passes,
 but also a constant possession.

Having received these tidings, Galba , since the works of the
 winter-quarters and the fortifications were not fully completed, nor was
 sufficient preparation made with regard to corn and other provisions (since, as
 a surrender had been made, and hostages received, he had thought he need
 entertain no apprehension of war), speedily summoning a council, began to
 anxiously inquire their opinions. In which council, since so much sudden danger
 had happened contrary to the general expectation, and almost all the higher
 places were seen already covered with a multitude of armed men, nor could
 [either] troops come to their relief, or provisions be brought in, as the passes
 were blocked up [by the enemy]; safety being now nearly despaired of, some
 opinions of this sort were delivered: that, "leaving their baggage, and making a
 sally, they should hasten away for safety by the same routes by which they had
 come thither." To the greater part, however, it seemed best, reserving that
 measure to the last, to await the issue of the matter, and to defend the camp.

A short time only having elapsed, so that time was scarcely given for arranging
 and executing those things which they had determined on, the enemy, upon the
 signal being given, rushed down [upon our men] from all parts, and discharged
 stones and darts, upon our rampart. Our men at first, while their strength was
 fresh, resisted bravely, nor did they cast any weapon ineffectually from their
 higher station. As soon as any part of the camp, being destitute of defenders,
 seemed to be hard pressed, thither they ran, and brought assistance. But they
 were over-matched in this, that the enemy when wearied by the long continuance
 of the battle, went out of the action, and others with fresh strength came in
 their place; none of which things could be done by our men, owing to the
 smallness of their number; and not only was permission not given to the wearied
 [ Roman ] to retire from the fight, but not even to
 the wounded [was liberty granted] to quit the post where he had been stationed,
 and recover.

When they had now been fighting for more than six hours, without cessation, and
 not only strength, but even weapons were failing our men, and the enemy were
 pressing on more rigorously, and had begun to demolish the rampart and to fill
 up the trench, while our men were becoming exhausted, and the matter was now
 brought to the last extremity, P. Sextius Baculus , a
 centurion of the first rank, whom we have related to have been disabled by
 severe wounds in the engagement with the Nervii , and also C. Volusenus , a tribune of the soldiers, a man of great
 skill and valor, hasten to Galba , and assure him that the only hope
 of safety lay in making a sally, and trying the last resource. Whereupon
 assembling the centurions, he quickly gives orders to the soldiers to
 discontinue the fight a short time, and only collect the weapons flung [at
 them], and recruit themselves after their fatigue, and afterward, upon the
 signal being given, sally forth from the camp, and place in their valor all
 their hope of safety.

They do what they were ordered; and, making a sudden sally from all the gates [of
 the camp], leave the enemy the means neither of knowing what was taking place,
 nor of collecting themselves. Fortune thus taking a turn, [our men] surround on
 every side, and slay those who had entertained the hope of gaining the camp and
 having killed more than the third part of an army of more than 30,000 men (which
 number of the barbarians it appeared certain had come up to our camp), put to
 flight the rest when panic-stricken, and do not suffer them to halt even upon
 the higher grounds. All the forces of the enemy being thus routed, and stripped
 of their arms, [our men] betake themselves to their camp and fortifications.
 Which battle being finished, inasmuch as Galba was unwilling to
 tempt fortune again, and remembered that he had come into winter quarters with
 one design, and saw that he had met with a different state of affairs; chiefly
 however urged by the want of corn and provision, having the next day burned all
 the buildings of that village, he hastens to return into the province; and as no
 enemy opposed or hindered his march, he brought the legion safe into the
 [country of the] Nantuates , thence into [that of] the
 Allobroges , and there wintered.

These things being achieved, while Caesar had every
 reason to suppose that Gaul was reduced to a state of
 tranquillity, the Belgae being overcome, the Germans expelled, the Seduni among the Alps
 defeated, and when he had, therefore, in the beginning of winter, set
 out for Illyricum , as he wished
 to visit those nations, and acquire a knowledge of their countries, a sudden war
 sprang up in Gaul . The occasion of that war
 was this: P. Crassus , a young man, had taken up his
 winter quarters with the seventh legion among the Andes, who border upon the
 [Atlantic] ocean . He, as there was a scarcity of corn in those
 parts, sent out some officers of cavalry, and several military tribunes among
 the neighbouring states, for the purpose of procuring corn and provision; in
 which number T. Terrasidius was sent among the
 Esubii ; M. Trebius Gallus among the
 Curiosolitae ; Q. Velanius , T. Silius , amongst the Veneti .

The influence of this state is by far the most considerable of any of the
 countries on the whole sea coast, because the Veneti both have a
 very great number of ships, with which they have been accustomed to sail to
 Britain , and
 [thus] excel the rest in their knowledge and experience of nautical affairs; and
 as only a few ports lie scattered along that stormy and open sea, of which they
 are in possession, they hold as tributaries almost all those who are accustomed
 to traffic in that sea. With them arose the beginning [of the revolt] by their
 detaining Silius and Velanius ;
 for they thought that they should recover by their means the hostages which they
 had given to Crassus . The neighboring people led on by
 their influence (as the measures of the Gauls are
 sudden and hasty), detain Trebius and Terrasidius for the same motive; and quickly sending embassadors, by
 means of their leading men, they enter into a mutual compact to do nothing
 except by general consent, and abide the same issue of fortune; and they solicit
 the other states to choose rather to continue in that liberty which they had
 received from their ancestors, than endure slavery under the Romans . All the sea coast being quickly brought over to their
 sentiments, they send a common embassy to P. Crassus 
 [to say], "If he wished to receive back his officers, let him send back to them
 their hostages."

Caesar , being informed of these things by Crassus , since he was so far distant himself, orders
 ships of war to be built in the mean time on the river Loire , which
 flows into the ocean; rowers to be raised from the province; sailors and pilots
 to be provided. These matters being quickly executed, he himself, as soon as the
 season of the year permits, hastens to the army. The Veneti , and
 the other states also, being informed of Caesar 's
 arrival, when they reflected how great a crime they had committed, in that, the
 embassadors (a character which had among all nations ever been sacred and
 inviolable) had by them been detained and thrown into prison, resolve to prepare
 for a war in proportion to the greatness of their danger, and especially to
 provide those things which appertain to the service of a navy, with the greater
 confidence, inasmuch as they greatly relied on the nature of their situation.
 They knew that the passes by land were cut off by estuaries, that the approach
 by sea was most difficult, by reason of our ignorance of the localities, [and]
 the small number of the harbors, and they trusted that our army would not be
 able to stay very long among them, on account of the insufficiency of corn; and
 again, even if all these things should turn out contrary to their expectation,
 yet they were very powerful in their navy. They well understood that the Romans neither had any number of ships, nor were
 acquainted with the shallows, the harbors, or the islands of those parts where
 they would have to carry on the war; and the navigation was very different in a
 narrow sea from what it was in the vast and open ocean. Having come to this
 resolution, they fortify their towns, convey corn into them from the country
 parts, bring together as many ships as possible to Venetia , where it appeared Caesar would at
 first carry on the war. They unite to themselves as allies for that war, the
 Osismii , the Lexovii , the Nannetes ,
 the Ambiliati , the Morini , the
 Diablintes , and the Menapii ; and send for auxiliaries
 from Britain , which
 is situated over against those regions.

There were these difficulties which we have mentioned above, in carrying on the
 war, but many things, nevertheless, urged Caesar to
 that war;-the open insult offered to the state in the detention of the Roman knights, the rebellion raised after surrendering,
 the revolt after hostages were given, the confederacy of so many states, but
 principally, lest if, [the conduct of] this part was overlooked, the other
 nations should think that the same thing was permitted them.
 Wherefore , since he reflected that almost all the Gauls were fond of revolution, and easily and quickly
 excited to war; that all men likewise, by nature, love liberty and hate the
 condition of slavery, he thought he ought to divide and more widely distribute
 his army, before more states should join the confederation.

He therefore sends T. Labienus , his lieutenant, with the
 cavalry to the Treviri , who are nearest to the river Rhine . He
 charges him to visit the Remi and the other
 Belgians , and to keep them in their allegiance and repel the
 Germans (who were said to have been summoned by
 the Belgae to their aid,) if they attempted to cross the river by
 force in their ships. He orders P. Crassus to proceed
 into Aquitania with
 twelve legionary cohorts and a great number of the cavalry, lest auxiliaries
 should be sent into Gaul by these states, and such
 great nations be united. He sends Q. Titurius Sabinus 
 his lieutenant, with three legions, among the Unelli , the
 Curiosolitae , and the Lexovii , to take care that
 their forces should be kept separate from the rest. He appoints D. Brutus , a young man, over the fleet and those
 Gallic vessels which he had ordered to be furnished by the
 Pictones and the Santoni , and the other provinces
 which remained at peace; and commands him to proceed toward the
 Veneti , as soon as he could. He himself hastens thither with
 the land forces.

The sites of their towns were generally such that, being placed on extreme points
 [of land] and on promontories, they neither had an approach by land when the
 tide had rushed in from the main ocean, which always happens twice in the space
 of twelve hours; nor by ships, because, upon the tide ebbing again, the ships
 were likely to be dashed upon the shoals. Thus, by either circumstance, was the
 storming of their towns rendered difficult; and if at any time perchance the
 Veneti overpowered by the greatness of our works, (the sea
 having been excluded by a mound and large dams, and the latter being made almost
 equal in height to the walls of the town) had begun to despair of their
 fortunes; bringing up a large number of ships, of which they had a very great
 quantity, they carried off all their property and betook themselves to the
 nearest towns; there they again defended themselves by the same advantages of
 situation. They did this the more easily during a great part of the summer,
 because our ships were kept back by storms, and the difficulty of sailing was
 very great in that vast and open sea, with its strong tides and its harbors far
 apart and exceedingly few in number.

For their ships were built and equipped after this manner. The keels were
 somewhat flatter than those of our ships, whereby they could more easily
 encounter the shallows and the ebbing of the tide: the prows were raised very
 high, and, in like manner the sterns were adapted to the force of the waves and
 storms [which they were formed to sustain]. The ships were built wholly of oak,
 and designed to endure any force and violence whatever; the benches which were
 made of planks a foot in breadth, were fastened by iron spikes of the thickness
 of a man's thumb; the anchors were secured fast by iron chains instead of
 cables, and for sails they used skins and thin dressed leather. These [were
 used] either through their want of canvas and their ignorance of its
 application, or for this reason, which is more probable, that they thought that
 such storms of the ocean, and such violent gales of wind could not be resisted
 by sails, nor ships of such great burden be conveniently enough managed by them.
 The encounter of our fleet with these ships' was of such a nature that our fleet
 excelled in speed alone, and the plying of the oars; other things, considering
 the nature of the place [and] the violence of the storms, were more suitable and
 better adapted on their side; for neither could our ships injure theirs with
 their beaks (so great was their strength), nor on account of their height was a
 weapon easily cast up to them; and for the same reason they were less readily
 locked in by rocks. To this was added, that whenever a storm began to rage and
 they ran before the wind, they both could weather the storm more easily and
 heave to securely in the shallows, and when left by the tide feared nothing from
 rocks and shelves: the risk of all which things was much to be dreaded by our
 ships.

Caesar , after taking many of their towns, perceiving
 that so much labor was spent in vain and that the flight of the enemy could not
 be prevented on the capture of their towns, and that injury could not be done
 them, he determined to wait for his fleet. As soon as it came up and was first
 seen by the enemy, about 220 of their ships, fully equipped and appointed with
 every kind of [naval] implement, sailed forth from the harbor, and drew up
 opposite to ours; nor did it appear clear to Brutus ,
 who commanded the fleet, or to the tribunes of the soldiers and the centurions,
 to whom the several ships were assigned, what to do, or what system of tactics
 to adopt; for they knew that damage could not be done by their beaks; and that,
 although turrets were built [on their decks], yet the height of the stems of the
 barbarian ships exceeded these; so that weapons could not be cast up from [our]
 lower position with sufficient effect, and those cast by the Gauls fell the more forcibly upon us. One thing provided by our men
 was of great service, [viz.] sharp hooks inserted into and fastened upon poles,
 of a form not unlike the hooks used in attacking town walls. When the ropes
 which fastened the sail-yards to the masts were caught by them and pulled, and
 our vessel vigorously impelled with the oars, they [the ropes] were severed; and
 when they were cut away, the yards necessarily fell down; so that as all the
 hope of the Gallic vessels depended on their sails and rigging,
 upon these being cut away, the entire management of the ships was taken from
 them at the same time. The rest of the contest depended on courage; in which our
 men decidedly had the advantage; and the more so, because the whole action was
 carried on in the sight of Caesar and the entire army;
 so that no act, a little more valiant than ordinary, could pass unobserved, for
 all the hills and higher grounds, from which there was a near prospect of the
 sea were occupied by our army.

The sail yards [of the enemy], as we have said, being brought down, although two
 and [in some cases] three ships [of theirs] surrounded each one [of ours], the
 soldiers strove with the greatest energy to board the ships of the enemy; and,
 after the barbarians observed this taking place, as a great many of their ships
 were beaten, and as no relief for that evil could be discovered, they hastened
 to seek safety in flight. And, having now turned their vessels to that quarter
 in which the wind blew, so great a calm and lull suddenly arose, that they could
 not move out of their place, which circumstance, truly, was exceedingly
 opportune for finishing the business; for our men gave chase and took them one
 by one, so that very few out of all the number, [and those] by the intervention
 of night, arrived at the land, after the battle had lasted almost from the
 fourth hour till sun-set.

By this battle the war with the Veneti and the whole of the sea
 coast was finished; for both all the youth, and all, too, of more advanced age,
 in whom there was any discretion or rank, had assembled in that battle; and they
 had collected in that one place whatever naval forces they had anywhere; and
 when these were lost, the survivors had no place to retreat to, nor means of
 defending their towns. They accordingly surrendered themselves and all their
 possessions to Caesar , on whom Caesar thought that punishment should be inflicted the more
 severely, in order that for the future the rights of embassadors might be more
 carefully respected by barbarians; having, therefore, put to death all their
 senate, he sold the rest for slaves.

While these things are going on among the Veneti , Q. Titurius Sabinus with those troops which he had received from
 Caesar , arrives in the territories of the
 Unelli . Over these people Viridovix ruled, and
 held the chief command of all those states which had revolted; from which he had
 collected a large and powerful army. And in those few days, the
 Aulerci and the Sexovii , having slain their senate
 because they would not consent to be promoters of the war, shut their gates
 [against us] and united themselves to Viridovix ; a great multitude
 besides of desperate men and robbers assembled out of Gaul from all
 quarters, whom the hope of plundering and the love of fighting had called away
 from husbandry and their daily labor. Sabinus kept
 himself within his camp, which was in a position convenient for everything;
 while Viridovix encamped over against him at a distance of two
 miles, and daily bringing out his forces, gave him an opportunity of fighting;
 so that Sabinus had now not only come into contempt
 with the enemy, but also was somewhat taunted by the speeches of our soldiers;
 and furnished so great a suspicion of his cowardice that the enemy presumed to
 approach even to the very rampart of our camp. He adopted this conduct for the
 following reason: because he did not think that a lieutenant ought to engage in
 battle with so great a force, especially while he who held the chief command was
 absent, except on advantageous ground or some favorable circumstance presented
 itself.

After having established this suspicion of his cowardice, he selected a certain
 suitable and crafty Gaul , who was one of those whom
 he had with him as auxiliaries. He induces him by great gifts and promises to go
 over to the enemy; and informs [him] of what he wished to be done. Who, when he
 arrives among them as a deserter, lays before them the fears of the Romans ; and informs them by what difficulties Caesar himself was harassed, and that the matter was not
 far removed from this- that Sabinus would the next
 night privately draw off his army out of the camp and set forth to Caesar for the purpose of carrying [him] assistance,
 which, when they heard, they a11 cry out together that an opportunity of
 successfully conducting their enterprise, ought not to be thrown away: that they
 ought to go to the [ Roman ] camp. Many things
 persuaded the Gauls to this measure; the delay of
 Sabinus during the previous days; the positive
 assertion of the [pretended] deserter; want of provisions, for a supply of which
 they had not taken the requisite precautions; the hope springing from the
 Venetic war; and [also] because in most cases men willingly
 believe what they wish. Influenced by these things they do not discharge
 Viridovix and the other leaders from the council, before they
 gained permission from them to take up arms and hasten to [our] camp; which
 being granted, rejoicing as if victory were fully certain, they collected
 faggots and brushwood, with which to fill up the Roman trenches, and hasten to the camp.

The situation of the camp was a rising ground, gently sloping from the bottom for
 about a mile. Thither they proceeded with great speed (in order
 that as little time as possible might be given to the Romans to collect and arm themselves), and arrived quite out of
 breath. Sabinus having encouraged his men, gives them
 the signal, which they earnestly desired. While the enemy were encumbered by
 reason of the burdens which they were carrying, he orders a sally to be made
 suddenly from two gates [of the camp]. It happened, by the advantage of
 situation, by the unskilfulness and the fatigue of the enemy, by the valor of
 our soldiers, and their experience in former battles, that they could not stand
 one attack of our men, and immediately turned their backs; and our men with full
 vigor followed them while disordered, and slew a great number of them; the horse
 pursuing the rest, left but few, who escaped by flight. Thus at the same time,
 Sabinus was informed of the naval battle and Caesar of victory gained by Sabinus ; and all the states immediately surrendered themselves to
 Titurius : for as the temper of the Gauls is impetuous and ready to undertake wars, so
 their mind is weak, and by no means resolute in enduring calamities.

About the same time, P. Crassus , when he had arrived in
 Aquitania 
 (which, as has been before said, both from its extent of territory and the great
 number of its people, is to be reckoned a third part of Gaul ,)
 understanding that he was to wage war in these parts, where a few years before,
 L. Valerius Praeconinus , the lieutenant had been
 killed, and his army routed, and from which L.
 Manilius , the proconsul, had fled with the loss of his baggage, he
 perceived that no ordinary care must be used by him. Wherefore ,
 having provided corn, procured auxiliaries and cavalry, [and] having summoned by
 name many valiant men from Tolosa , Carcaso , and Narbo , which are the states of the province of Gaul , that border on these regions [ Aquitania
 ], he led his army into the territories of the Sotiates . On
 his arrival being known, the Sotiates having brought together great
 forces and [much] cavalry, in which their strength principally lay, and
 assailing our army on the march, engaged first in a cavalry action, then when
 their cavalry was routed, and our men pursuing, they suddenly display their
 infantry forces, which they had placed in ambuscade in a valley. These attacked
 our men [while] disordered, and renewed the fight.

The battle was long and vigorously contested, since the Sotiates ,
 relying on their former victories, imagined that the safety of the whole of
 Aquitania rested
 on their valor; [and] our men, on the other hand, desired it might be seen what
 they could accomplish without their general and without the other legions, under
 a very young commander; at length the enemy, worn out with wounds, began to turn
 their backs, and a great number of them being slain, Crassus began to besiege the [principal] town of the
 Sotiates on his march. Upon their valiantly resisting, he
 raised vineae and turrets. They at one time attempting a sally, at another
 forming mines, to our rampart and vineae (at which the Aquitani are
 eminently skilled, because in many places among them there are copper mines);
 when they perceived that nothing could be gained by these operations through the
 perseverance of our men, they send embassadors to Crassus , and entreat him to admit them to a surrender. Having
 obtained it, they, being ordered to deliver up their arms, comply.

And while the attention of our men is engaged in that matter, in another part
 Adcantuannus , who held the chief command, with 600 devoted
 followers whom they call soldurii (the conditions of whose association are
 these,-that they enjoy all the conveniences of life with those to whose
 friendship they have devoted themselves: if any thing calamitous happen to them,
 either they endure the same destiny together with them, or commit suicide: nor
 hitherto, in the, memory of men, has there been found any one who, upon his
 being slain to whose friendship he had devoted himself, refused to die);
 Adcantuannus , [ Isay ] endeavoring to make a sally
 with these, when our soldiers had rushed together to arms, upon a shout being
 raised at that part of the, fortification, and a fierce battle had been fought
 there, was driven back into the town, yet he obtained from Crassus [the indulgence] that he should enjoy the same terms of
 surrender [as the other inhabitants].

Crassus , having received their arms and hostages,
 marched into the territories of the Vocates and the
 Tarusates . But then, the barbarians being alarmed, because they
 had heard that a town fortified by the nature of the place and by art, had been
 taken by us in a few days after our arrival there, began to send embassadors
 into all quarters, to combine, to give hostages one to another, to raise troops.
 Embassadors also are sent to those states of Hither Spain which are nearest to Aquitania , and
 auxiliaries and leaders are summoned from them; on whose arrival they proceed to
 carry on the war with great confidence, and with a great host of men. They who
 had been with Q. Sertorius the whole period [of his war
 in Spain] and were supposed to have very great skill
 in military matters, are chosen leaders. These, adopting the practice of the
 Roman people, begin to select [advantageous]
 places, to fortify their camp, to cut off our men from provisions, which, when
 Crassus observes, [and likewise] that his forces,
 on account of their small number could not safely be separated; that the enemy
 both made excursions and beset the passes, and [yet] left sufficient guard for
 their camp; that on that account, corn and provision could not very conveniently
 be brought up to him, and that the number of the enemy was daily increased, he
 thought that he ought not to delay in giving battle. This matter being brought
 to a council, when he discovered that all thought the same thing, he appointed
 the next day for the fight.

Having drawn out all his forces at the break of day, and marshaled them in a
 double line, he posted the auxiliaries in the center, and waited to see what
 measures the enemy would take. They, although on account of their great number
 and their ancient renown in war, and the small number of our men, they supposed
 they might safely fight, nevertheless considered it safer to gain the victory
 without any wound, by besetting the passes [and] cutting off the provisions: and
 if the Romans , on account of the want of corn, should
 begin to retreat, they intended to attack them while encumbered in their march
 and depressed in spirit [as being assailed while] under baggage. This measure
 being approved of by the leaders and the forces of the Romans drawn out, the enemy [still] kept themselves in their camp.
 Crassus having remarked this circumstance, since
 the enemy, intimidated by their own delay, and by the reputation [i.e. for
 cowardice arising thence] had rendered our soldiers more eager for fighting, and
 the remarks of all were heard [declaring] that no longer ought delay to be made
 in going to the camp, after encouraging his men, he marches to the camp of the
 enemy, to the great gratification of his own troops.)

There, while some were filling up the ditch, and others, by throwing a large
 number of darts, were driving the defenders from the rampart and fortifications,
 and the auxiliaries, on whom Crassus did not much rely
 in the battle, by supplying stones and weapons [to the soldiers], and by
 conveying turf to the mound, presented the appearance and character of men
 engaged in fighting; while also the enemy were fighting resolutely and boldly,
 and their weapons, discharged from their higher position, fell with great
 effect; the horse, having gone round the camp of the enemy, reported to Crassus that the camp was not fortified with equal care
 on the side of the Decuman gate, and had an easy approach.

Crassus , having exhorted the commanders of the horse to
 animate their men by great rewards and promises, points out to them what he
 wished to have done. They, as they had been commanded, having brought out the
 four cohorts, which, as they had been left as a guard for the camp, were not
 fatigued by exertion, and having led them round by a some what longer way, lest
 they could be seen from the camp of the enemy, when the eyes and minds of all
 were intent upon the battle, quickly arrived at those fortifications which we
 have spoken of, and, having demolished these, stood in the camp of the enemy
 before they were seen by them, or it was known what was going on. And then, a
 shout being heard in that quarter, our men, their strength having been
 recruited, (which usually occurs on the hope of victory), began to fight more
 vigorously. The enemy surrounded on all sides, [and] all their affairs being
 despaired of, made great attempts to cast themselves down over the ramparts and
 to seek safety in flight. These the cavalry pursued over the very open plains,
 and after leaving scarcely a fourth part out of the number of 50,000, which it
 was certain had assembled out of Aquitania and
 from the Cantabri , returned late at night to the camp.

Having heard of this battle, the greatest part of Aquitania
 surrendered itself to Crassus , and of its own
 accord sent hostages, in which number were the Tarbelli , the
 Bigerriones , the Preciani , the
 Vocasates , the Tarusates , the
 Elurates , the Garites , the Ausci , the
 Garumni , the Sibuzates , the
 Cocosates . A few [and those] most remote nations, relying on the
 time of the year, because winter was at hand, neglected to do this.

About the same time Caesar , although the summer was
 nearly past, yet, since, all Gaul being reduced, the
 Morini and the Menapii alone remained in arms, and
 had never sent embassadors to him [to make a treaty] of peace, speedily led his
 army thither, thinking that that war might soon be terminated. They resolved to
 conduct the war on a very different method from the rest of the Gauls ; for as they perceived that the greatest nations
 [of Gaul] who had engaged in war, had been routed and overcome, and
 as they possessed continuous ranges of forests and morasses, they removed
 themselves and all their property thither. When Caesar 
 had arrived at the opening of these forests, and had began to fortify his camp,
 and no enemy was in the mean time seen, while our men were dispersed on their
 respective duties, they suddenly rushed out from all parts of the forest, and
 made an attack on our men. The latter quickly took up arms and drove them back
 again to their forests; and having killed a great many, lost a few of their own
 men while pursuing them too far through those intricate places.

During the remaining days after this, Caesar began to
 cut down the forests; and that no attack might be made on the flank of the
 soldiers, while unarmed and not foreseeing it, he placed together (opposite to
 the enemy) all that timber which was cut down, and piled it up as a rampart on
 either flank. When a great space had been, with incredible speed, cleared in a
 few days, when the cattle [of the enemy] and the rear of their baggage train
 were already seized by our men, and they themselves were seeking for the
 thickest parts of the forests, storms of such a kind came on that the work was
 necessarily suspended, and, through the continuance of the rains, the soldiers
 could not any longer remain in their tents. Therefore, having laid waste all
 their country, [and] having burned their villages and houses, Caesar led back his army and stationed them in winter quarters among
 the Aulerci and Lexovii , and the other states which
 had made war upon him last.

The following winter (this was the year in which Cn. Pompey and
 M. Crassus were consuls [ 55 B.C.]), those Germans [called] the
 Usipetes , and likewise the Tenchtheri , with a
 great number of men, crossed the Rhine , not far from the place
 at which that river discharges itself into the sea. The motive for crossing
 [that river] was, that having been for several years harassed by the
 Suevi , they were constantly engaged in war, and hindered from
 the pursuits of agriculture. The nation of the Suevi is by far the
 largest and the most warlike nation of all the Germans . They are said to possess a hundred cantons, from each of
 which they yearly send from their territories for the purpose of war a thousand
 armed men: the others who remain at home, maintain [both] themselves and
 those-engaged in the expedition. The latter again, in their turn, are in arms
 the year after: the former remain at home. Thus neither husbandry, nor the art
 and practice of war are neglected. But among them there exists no private and
 separate land; nor are they permitted to remain more than one year in one place
 for the purpose of residence. They do not live much on corn, but subsist for the
 most part on milk and flesh, and are much [engaged] in hunting; which
 circumstance must, by the nature of their food, and by their daily exercise and
 the freedom of their life (for having from boyhood been accustomed to no
 employment, or discipline, they do nothing at all contrary to their
 inclination), both promote their strength and render them men of vast stature of
 body. And to such a habit have they brought themselves, that even in the coldest
 parts they wear no clothing whatever except skins, by reason of the scantiness
 of which, a great portion of their body is bare, and besides they bathe in open
 rivers.

Merchants have access to them rather that they may have persons to whom they may
 sell those things which they have taken in war, than because they need any
 commodity to be imported to them. Moreover, even as to laboring cattle, in which
 the Gauls take the greatest pleasure, and which they
 procure at a great price, the Germans do not employ
 such as are imported, but those poor and ill-shaped animals, which belong to
 their country; these, however, they render capable of the greatest labor by
 daily exercise. In cavalry actions they frequently leap from their horses and
 fight on foot; and train their horses to stand still in the very spot on which
 they leave them, to which they retreat with great activity when there is
 occasion; nor, according to their practice, is any thing regarded as more
 unseemly, or more unmanly, than to use housings. Accordingly, they have the
 courage, though they be themselves but few, to advance against any number
 whatever of horse mounted with housings. They on no account permit wine to be
 imported to them, because they consider that men degenerate in their powers of
 enduring fatigue, and are rendered effeminate by that commodity.

They esteem it their greatest praise as a nation, that the lands about their
 territories lie unoccupied to a very great extent, inasmuch as [they think] that
 by this circumstance is indicated, that a great number of nations can not
 withstand their power; and thus on one side of the Suevi the lands
 are said to lie desolate for about six hundred miles. On the other side they
 border on the Ubii , whose state was large and flourishing,
 considering the condition of the Germans , and who are
 somewhat more refined than those of the same race and the rest [of the
 Germans] , and that because they border on the Rhine
 , and are much resorted to by merchants, and are accustomed to the
 manners of the Gauls , by reason of their approximity
 to them. Though the Suevi , after making the attempt frequently and
 in several wars, could not expel this nation from their territories, on account
 of the extent and population of their state, yet they made them tributaries, and
 rendered them less distinguished and powerful [than they had ever been].

In the same condition were the Usipetes and the
 Tenchtheri (whom we have mentioned above), who, for many years,
 resisted the power of the Suevi , but being at last driven from
 their possessions, and having wandered through many parts of Germany , came to the
 Rhine , to districts which the Menapii inhabited, and
 where they had lands, houses, and villages on either side of the river. The
 latter people, alarmed by the arrival of so great a multitude, removed from
 those houses which they had on the other side of the river, and having placed
 guards on this side the Rhine , proceeded to hinder
 the Germans from crossing. They, finding themselves,
 after they had tried all means, unable either to force a passage on account of
 their deficiency in shipping, or cross by stealth on account of the guards of
 the Menapii , pretended to return to their own settlements and
 districts; and, after having proceeded three days' march, returned; and their
 cavalry having performed the whole of this journey in one night, cut off the
 Menapii , who were ignorant of, and did not expect [their
 approach, and] who, having moreover been informed of the departure of the Germans by their scouts, had, without apprehension,
 returned to their villages beyond the Rhine . Having slain these,
 and seized their ships, they crossed the river before that part of the
 Menapii , who were at peace in their settlements over the Rhine
 , were apprized of [their intention]; and seizing all their houses,
 maintained themselves upon their provisions during the rest of the winter.

Caesar , when informed of these matters, fearing the
 fickle disposition of the Gauls , who are easily
 prompted to take up resolutions, and much addicted to change, considered that
 nothing was to be intrusted to them; for it is the custom of that people to
 compel travelers to stop, even against their inclination, and inquire what they
 may have heard, or may know, respecting any matter; and in towns the common
 people throng around merchants and force them to state from what countries they
 come, and what affairs they know of there. They often engage in resolutions
 concerning the most important matters, induced by these reports and stories
 alone; of which they must necessarily instantly repent, since they yield to mere
 unauthorized reports; and since most people give to their questions answers
 framed agreeably to their wishes.

Caesar , being aware of their custom, in order that he
 might not encounter a more formidable war, sets forward to the army earlier in
 the year than he was accustomed to do. When he had arrived there, he discovered
 that those things, which he had suspected would occur, had taken place; that
 embassies had been sent to the Germans by some of the
 states, and that they had been entreated to leave the Rhine , and had
 been promised that all things which they desired should be provided by the Gauls . Allured by this hope, the Germans were then making excursions to greater
 distances, and had advanced to the territories of the Eburones and
 the Condrusi , who are under the protection of the Treviri . After summoning the chiefs of Gaul , Caesar thought proper to pretend ignorance of the things
 which he had discovered; and having conciliated and confirmed their minds, and
 ordered some cavalry to be raised, resolved to make war against the Germans .

Having provided corn and selected his cavalry, he began to direct his march
 toward those parts in which he heard the Germans 
 were. When he was distant from them only a few days' march, embassadors came to
 him from their state, whose speech was as follows: "That the Germans neither make war upon the Roman 
 people first, nor do they decline, if they are provoked, to engage with them in
 arms; for that this was the custom of the Germans 
 handed down to them from their forefathers, -to resist whatsoever people make
 war upon them and not to avert it by entreaty; this, however, they
 confessed,-that they had come hither reluctantly, having been expelled from
 their country. If the Romans were disposed to accept
 their friendship, they might be serviceable allies to them; and let them either
 assign them lands, or permit them to retain those which they had acquired by
 their arms; that they are inferior to the Suevi alone, to whom not
 even the immortal gods can show themselves equal; that there was none at all
 besides on earth whom they could not conquer."

To these remarks Caesar replied in such terms as he
 thought proper; but the conclusion of his speech was, "That he could make no
 alliance with them, if they continued in Gaul ; that it was not probable
 that they who were not able to defend their own territories, should get
 possession of those of others, nor were there any lands lying waste in Gaul , which could be given away, especially to so great a number of
 men, without doing wrong [to others]; but they might, if they were desirous,
 settle in the territories of the Ubii ; whose embassadors were then
 with him, and were complaining of the aggressions of the Suevi , and
 requesting assistance from him; and that he would obtain this request from
 them."

The embassadors said that they would report these things to their country men;
 and, after having deliberated on the matter, would return to Caesar after the third day, they begged that he would not in the
 mean time advance his camp nearer to them. Caesar said
 that he could not grant them even that; for he had learned that they had sent a
 great part of their cavalry over the Meuse to the
 Ambivariti , some days before, for the purpose of plundering and
 procuring forage. He supposed that they were then waiting for these horse, and
 that the delay was caused on this account.

The Meuse rises from mount
 Le Vosge , which is in the territories of the Lingones ; and, having received a branch of the Rhine
 , which is called the Waal , forms
 the island of the Batavi , and not more than eighty miles from it it
 falls into the ocean. But the Rhine takes its source among
 the Lepontii , who inhabit the Alps , and is carried with a
 rapid current for a long distance through the territories of the
 Sarunates , Helvetii ,
 Sequani , Mediomatrici , Tribuci , and
 Treviri , and when it approaches the ocean, divides into several
 branches; and, having formed many and extensive islands, a great part of which
 are inhabited by savage and barbarous nations (of whom there are some who are
 supposed to live on fish and the eggs of sea-fowl), flows into the ocean by
 several mouths.

When Caesar was not more than twelve miles distant from
 the enemy, the embassadors return to him, as had been arranged; who meeting him
 on the march, earnestly entreated him not to advance any further. When they
 could not obtain this, they begged him to send on a dispatch to those who had
 marched in advance of the main army, and forbid them to engage; and grant them
 permission to send embassadors to the Ubii , and if the princes and
 senate of the latter would give them security by oath, they assured Caesar that they would accept such conditions as might be
 proposed by him; and requested that he would give them the space of three days
 for negociating these affairs. Caesar thought that
 these things tended to the self-same point [as their other proposal]; [namely]
 that, in consequence of a delay of three days intervening, their horse, which
 were at a distance, might return; however, he said, that he would not that day
 advance further than four miles for the purpose of procuring water; he ordered
 that they should assemble at that place in as large a number as possible, the
 following day, that he might inquire into their demands. In the mean time he
 sends messengers to the officers who had marched in advance with all the
 cavalry, to order them not to provoke the enemy to an engagement, and if they
 themselves were assailed, to sustain the attack until he came up with the army.

But the enemy, as soon as they saw our horse, the number of which was 5000,
 whereas they themselves had not more than 800 horse, because those which had
 gone over the Meuse for the purpose of
 foraging had not returned, while our men had no apprehensions, because their
 embassadors had gone away from Caesar a little before,
 and that day had been requested by them as a period of truce, made an onset on
 our men, and soon threw them into disorder. When our men, in their turn, made a
 stand, they, according to their practice, leaped from their horses to their
 feet, and stabbing our horses in the belly and overthrowing a great many of our
 men, put the rest to flight, and drove them forward so much alarmed that they
 did not desist from their retreat till they had come in sight of our army. In
 that encounter seventy-four of our horse were slain; among them, Piso , an Aquitanian , a most
 valiant man, and descended from a very illustrious family; whose grandfather had
 held the sovereignty of his state, and had been styled friend by our senate. He,
 while he was endeavoring to render assistance to his brother who was surrounded
 by the enemy, and whom he rescued from danger, was himself thrown from his
 horse, which was wounded under him, but still opposed [his antagonists] with the
 greatest intrepidity, as long as he was able to maintain the conflict. When at
 length he fell, surrounded on all sides and after receiving many wounds, and his
 brother, who had then retired from the fight, observed it from a distance, he
 spurred on his horse, threw himself upon the enemy, and was killed.

After this engagement, Caesar considered that neither
 ought embassadors to be received to audience, nor conditions be accepted by him
 from those who, after having sued for peace by way of stratagem and treachery,
 had made war without provocation. And to wait until the enemy's forces were
 augmented and their cavalry had returned, he concluded, would be the greatest
 madness; and knowing the fickleness of the Gauls , he
 felt how much influence the enemy had already acquired among them by this one
 skirmish. He [therefore] deemed that no time for concerting measures ought to be
 afforded them. After having resolved on those things and communicated his plans
 to his lieutenants and quaestor in order that he might not suffer any
 opportunity for engaging to escape him, a very seasonable event occurred,
 namely, that on the morning of the next day, a large body of Germans , consisting of their princes and old men, came to the camp
 to him to practice the same treachery and dissimulation; but, as they asserted,
 for the purpose of acquitting themselves for having engaged in a skirmish the
 day before, contrary to what had been agreed and to what indeed, they themselves
 had requested; and also if they could by any means obtain a truce by deceiving
 him. Caesar , rejoicing that they had fallen into his
 power, ordered them to be detained. He then drew all his forces out of the camp,
 and commanded the cavalry, because he thought they were intimidated by the late
 skirmish, to follow in the rear.

Having marshalled his army in three lines, and in a short time performed a march
 of eight miles, he arrived at the camp of the enemy before the Germans could perceive what was going on; who being
 suddenly alarmed by all the circumstances, both by the speediness of our arrival
 and the absence of their own officers, as time was afforded neither for
 concerting measures nor for seizing their arms, are perplexed as to whether it
 would be better to lead out their forces against the enemy, or to defend their
 camp, or seek their safety by flight. Their consternation being made apparent by
 their noise and tumult, our soldiers, excited by the treachery of the preceding
 day, rushed into the camp: such of them as could readily get their arms, for a
 short time withstood our men, and gave battle among their carts and baggage
 wagons; but the rest of the people, [consisting] of boys and women (for they had
 left their country and crossed the Rhine with all their
 families) began to fly in all directions; in pursuit of whom Caesar sent the cavalry.

The Germans when, upon hearing a noise behind them,
 [they looked and] saw that their families were being slain, throwing away their
 arms and abandoning their standards, fled out of the camp, and when they had
 arrived at the confluence of the Meuse and the Rhine
 , the survivors despairing of further escape, as a great number of their
 countrymen had been killed, threw themselves into the river and there perished,
 overcome by fear, fatigue, and the violence of the stream. Our soldiers, after
 the alarm of so great a war, for the number of the enemy amounted to 430,000,
 returned to their camp, all safe to a man, very few being even wounded. Caesar granted those whom he had detained in the camp
 liberty of departing. They however, dreading revenge and torture from the Gauls , whose lands they had harassed, said that they
 desired to remain with him. Caesar granted them
 permission.

The German war being finished, Caesar 
 thought it expedient for him to cross the Rhine , for many reasons; of
 which this was the most weighty, that, since he saw the Germans were so easily urged to go into Gaul , he desired
 they should have their fears for their own territories, when they discovered
 that the army of the Roman people both could and
 dared pass the Rhine . There was added also,
 that portion of the cavalry of the Usipetes and the
 Tenchtheri , which I have above related to have crossed the
 Meuse for the purpose of
 plundering and procuring forage, and was not present at the engagement, had
 betaken themselves, after the retreat of their countrymen, across the Rhine
 into the territories of the Sigambri , and united themselves
 to them. When Caesar sent embassadors to them, to
 demand that they should give up to him those who had made war against him and
 against Gaul , they replied, "That the
 Rhine bounded the empire of the Roman 
 people; if he did not think it just for the Germans 
 to pass over into Gaul against his consent, why
 did he claim that any thing beyond the Rhine should be subject to
 his dominion or power?" The Ubii , also, who alone, out of all the
 nations lying beyond the Rhine , had sent embassadors
 to Caesar , and formed an alliance and given hostages,
 earnestly entreated "that he would bring them assistance, because they were
 grievously oppressed by the Suevi ; or, if he was prevented from
 doing so by the business of the commonwealth, he would at least transport his
 army over the Rhine ; that that would be
 sufficient for their present assistance and their hope for the future; that so
 great was the name and the reputation of his army, even among the most remote
 nations of the Germans , arising from the defeat of
 Ariovistus and this last battle which was fought, that they
 might be safe under the fame and friendship of the Roman people." They promised a large number of ships for
 transporting the army.

Caesar , for those reasons which I have mentioned, had
 resolved to cross the Rhine ; but to cross by ships
 he neither deemed to be sufficiently safe, nor considered consistent with his
 own dignity or that of the Roman people. Therefore,
 although the greatest difficulty in forming a bridge was presented to him, on
 account of the breadth, rapidity, and depth of the river, he nevertheless
 considered that it ought to be attempted by him, or that his army ought not
 otherwise to be led over. He devised this plan of a bridge. He joined together
 at the distance of two feet, two piles, each a foot and a half thick, sharpened
 a little at the lower end, and proportioned in length, to the depth of the
 river. After he had, by means of engines, sunk these into the river, and fixed
 them at the bottom, and then driven them in with rammers, not quite
 perpendicularly, dike a stake, but bending forward and sloping, so as to incline
 in the direction of the current of the river; he also placed two [other piles]
 opposite to these, at the distance of forty feet lower down, fastened together
 in the same manner, but directed against the force and current of the river.
 Both these, moreover, were kept firmly apart by beams two feet thick (the space
 which the binding of the piles occupied), laid in at their extremities between
 two braces on each side, and in consequence of these being in different
 directions and fastened on sides the one opposite to the other, so great was the
 strength of the work, and such the arrangement of the materials, that in
 proportion as the greater body of water dashed against the bridge, so much the
 closer were its parts held fastened together. These beams were bound together by
 timber laid over them, in the direction of the length of the bridge, and were
 [then] covered over with laths and hurdles; and in addition to this, piles were
 driven into the water obliquely, at the lower side of the bridge, and these,
 serving as buttresses, and being connected with every portion of the work,
 sustained the force of the stream: and there were others also above the bridge,
 at a moderate distance; that if trunks of trees or vessels were floated down the
 river by the barbarians for the purpose of destroying the work, the violence of
 such things might be diminished by these defenses, and might not injure the
 bridge.

Within ten days after the timber began to be collected, the whole work was
 completed, and the whole army led over. Caesar , leaving
 a strong guard at each end of the bridge, hastens into the territories of the
 Sigambri . In the mean time, embassadors from several nations
 come to him, whom, on their suing for peace and alliance, he answers in a
 courteous manner, and orders hostages to be brought to him. But the
 Sigambri , at the very time the bridge was begun to be built,
 made preparations for a flight (by the advice of such of the
 Tenchtheri and Usipetes as they had among them),
 and quitted their territories, and conveyed away all their possessions, and
 concealed themselves in deserts and woods.

Caesar , having remained in their territories a few days,
 and burned all their villages and houses, and cut down their corn, proceeded
 into the territories of the Ubii ; and having promised them his
 assistance, if they were ever harassed by the Suevi , he learned
 from them these particulars: that the Suevi , after they had by
 means of their scouts found that the bridge was being built, had called a
 council, according to their custom, and sent orders to all parts of their state
 to remove from the towns and convey their children, wives, and all their
 possessions into the woods, and that all who could bear arms should assemble in
 one place; that the place thus chosen was nearly the centre of those regions
 which the Suevi possessed; that in this spot they had resolved to
 await the arrival of the Romans , and give them battle
 there. When Caesar discovered this, having already
 accomplished all these things on account of which he had resolved to lead his
 army over, namely, to strike fear into the Germans ,
 take vengeance on the Sigambri , and free the Ubii from
 the invasion of the Suevi , having spent altogether eighteen days
 beyond the Rhine , and thinking he had
 advanced far enough to serve both honor and interest, he returned into Gaul , and cut down the bridge.

During the short part of summer which remained, Caesar ,
 although in these countries, as all Gaul lies toward the north, the
 winters are early, nevertheless resolved to proceed into Britain , because he discovered that in almost all the wars with the
 Gauls succors had been furnished to our enemy
 from that country; and even if the time of year should be insufficient for
 carrying on the war, yet he thought it would be of great service to him if he
 only entered the island, and saw into the character of the people, and got
 knowledge of their localities, harbors, and landing-places, all which were for
 the most part unknown to the Gauls . For neither does
 any one except merchants generally go thither, nor even to them was any portion
 of it known, except the sea-coast and those parts which are opposite to Gaul . Therefore, after having called up to him the merchants from
 all parts, he could learn neither what was the size of the island, nor what or
 how numerous were the nations which inhabited it, nor what system of war they
 followed, nor what customs they used, nor what harbors were convenient for a
 great number of large ships.

He sends before him Caius Volusenus with a ship of war, to acquire a
 knowledge of these particulars before he in person should make a descent into
 the island, as he was convinced that this was a judicious measure. He
 commissioned him to thoroughly examine into all matters, and then return to him
 as soon as possible. He himself proceeds to the Morini with all his
 forces. He orders ships from all parts of the neighboring countries, and the
 fleet which the preceding summer he had built for the war with the
 Veneti , to assemble in this place. In the mean time, his
 purpose having been discovered, and reported to the Britons by
 merchants, embassadors come to him from several states of the island, to promise
 that they will give hostages, and submit to the government of the Roman people. Having given them an audience, he after
 promising liberally, and exhorting them to continue in that purpose, sends them
 back to their own country, and [dispatches] with them Commius ,
 whom, upon subduing the Atrebates , he had created king there, a man
 whose courage and conduct he esteemed, and who he thought would be faithful to
 him, and whose influence ranked highly in those countries. He orders him to
 visit as many states as he could, and persuade them to embrace the protection of
 the Roman people, and apprize them that he would
 shortly come thither. Volusenus , having viewed the
 localities as far as means could be afforded one who dared not leave his ship
 and trust himself to barbarians, returns to Caesar on
 the fifth day, and reports what he had there observed.

While Caesar remains in these parts for the purpose of
 procuring ships, embassadors come to him from a great portion of the
 Morini , to plead their excuse respecting their conduct on the
 late occasion; alleging that it was as men uncivilized, and as those who were
 unacquainted with our custom, that they had made war upon the Roman people, and promising to perform what he should
 command. Caesar , thinking that this had happened
 fortunately enough for him, because he neither wished to leave an enemy behind
 him, nor had an opportunity for carrying on a war, by reason of the time of
 year, nor considered that employment in such trifling matters was to be
 preferred to his enterprise on Britain , imposes
 a large number of hostages; and when these were brought, he received them to his
 protection. Having collected together, and provided about eighty transport
 ships, as many as he thought necessary for conveying over two legions, he
 assigned such [ships] of war as he had besides to the quaestor, his lieutenants,
 and officers of cavalry. There were in addition to these eighteen ships of
 burden which were prevented, eight miles from that place, by winds, from being
 able to reach the same port. These he distributed among the horse; the rest of
 the army, he delivered to Q. Titurius Sabinus and L. Aurunculeius Cotta , his lieutenants, to lead into the
 territories of the Menapii and those cantons of the
 Morini from which embassadors had not come to him. He ordered
 P. Sulpicius Rufus , his lieutenant, to hold
 possession of the harbor, with such a garrison as he thought sufficient.

These matters being arranged, finding the weather favorable for his voyage, he
 set sail about the third watch, and ordered the horse to march forward to the
 further port, and there embark and follow him. As this was performed rather
 tardily by them, he himself reached Britain with the
 first squadron of ships, about the fourth hour of the day, and there saw the
 forces of the enemy drawn up in arms on all the hills. The nature of the place
 was this: the sea was confined by mountains so close to it that a dart could be
 thrown from their summit upon the shore. Considering this by no means a fit
 place for disembarking, he remained at anchor till the ninth hour, for the other
 ships to arrive there. Having in the mean time assembled the lieutenants and
 military tribunes, he told them both what he had learned from Volusenus , and what he wished to be done; and enjoined them (as the
 principle of military matters, and especially as maritime affairs, which have a
 precipitate and uncertain action, required) that all things should be performed
 by them at a nod and at the instant. Having dismissed them, meeting both with
 wind and tide favorable at the same time, the signal being given and the anchor
 weighed, he advanced about seven miles from that place, and stationed his fleet
 over against an open and level shore.

But the barbarians, upon perceiving the design of the Romans , sent forward their cavalry and charioteers, a class of
 warriors of whom it is their practice to make great use in their battles, and
 following with the rest of their forces, endeavored to prevent our men landing.
 In this was the greatest difficulty, for the following reasons, namely, because
 our ships, on account of their great size, could be stationed only in deep
 water; and our soldiers, in places unknown to them, with their hands
 embarrassed, oppressed with a large and heavy weight of armor, had at the same
 time to leap from the ships, stand amid the waves, and encounter the enemy;
 whereas they, either on dry ground, or advancing a little way into the water,
 free in all their limbs in places thoroughly known to them, could confidently
 throw their weapons and spur on their horses, which were accustomed to this kind
 of service. Dismayed by these circumstances and altogether untrained in this
 mode of battle, our men did not all exert the same vigor and eagerness which
 they had been wont to exert in engagements on dry ground.

When Caesar observed this, he ordered the ships of war,
 the appearance of which was somewhat strange to the barbarians and the motion
 more ready for service, to be withdrawn a little from the transport vessels, and
 to be propelled by their oars, and be stationed toward the open flank of the
 enemy, and the enemy to be beaten off and driven away, with slings, arrows, and
 engines: which plan was of great service to our men; for the barbarians being
 startled by the form of our ships and the motions of our oars and the nature of
 our engines, which was strange to them, stopped, and shortly after retreated a
 little. And while our men were hesitating [whether they should advance to the
 shore], chiefly on account of the depth of the sea, he who carried the eagle of
 the tenth legion, after supplicating the gods that the matter might turn out
 favorably to the legion, exclaimed, "Leap, fellow soldiers, unless you wish to
 betray your eagle to the enemy. I, for my part, will perform my duty to the
 commonwealth and my general." When he had said this with a loud voice, he leaped
 from the ship and proceeded to bear the eagle toward the enemy. Then our men,
 exhorting one another that so great a disgrace should not be incurred, all
 leaped from the ship. When those in the nearest vessels saw them, they speedily
 followed and approached the enemy.

The battle was maintained vigorously on both sides. Our men, however, as they
 could neither keep their ranks, nor get firm footing, nor follow their
 standards, and as one from one ship and another from another assembled around
 whatever standards they met, were thrown into great confusion. But the enemy,
 who were acquainted with all the shallows, when from the shore they saw any
 coming from a ship one by one, spurred on their horses, and attacked them while
 embarrassed; many surrounded a few, others threw their weapons upon our
 collected forces on their exposed flank. When Caesar 
 observed this, he ordered the boats of the ships of war and the spy sloops to be
 filled with soldiers, and sent them up to the succor of those whom he had
 observed in distress. Our men, as soon as they made good their footing on dry
 ground, and all their comrades had joined them, made an attack upon the enemy,
 and put them to flight, but could not pursue them very far, because the horse
 had not been able to maintain their course at sea and reach the island. This
 alone was wanting to Caesar 's accustomed success.

The enemy being thus vanquished in battle, as soon as they recovered after their
 flight, instantly sent embassadors to Caesar to
 negotiate about peace. They promised to give hostages and perform what he should
 command. Together with these embassadors came Commius the
 Altrebatian , who, as I have above said, had been sent by Caesar into Britain . Him
 they had seized upon when leaving his ship, although in the character of
 embassador he bore the general's commission to them, and thrown into chains:
 then after the battle was fought, they sent him back, and in suing for peace
 cast the blame of that act upon the common people, and entreated that it might
 be pardoned on account of their indiscretion. Caesar ,
 complaining, that after they had sued for peace, and had voluntarily sent
 embassadors into the continent for that purpose, they had made war without a
 reason, said that he would pardon their indiscretion, and imposed hostages, a
 part of whom they gave immediately; the rest they said they would give in a few
 days, since they were sent for from remote places. In the mean time they ordered
 their people to return to the country parts, and the chiefs assembled from all
 quarter, and proceeded to surrender themselves and their states to Caesar .

A peace being established by these proceedings four days after we had come into
 Britain , the
 eighteen ships, to which reference has been made above, and which conveyed the
 cavalry, set sail from the upper port with a gentle gale, when, however, they
 were approaching Britain and were
 seen from the camp, so great a storm suddenly arose that none of them could
 maintain their course at sea; and some were taken back to the same port from
 which they had started;-others, to their great danger, were driven to the lower
 part of the island, nearer to the west; which, however, after having cast
 anchor, as they were getting filled with water, put out to sea through necessity
 in a stormy night, and made for the continent.

It happened that night to be full moon, which usually occasions very high tides
 in that ocean; and that circumstance was unknown to our men. Thus, at the same
 time, the tide began to fill the ships of war which Caesar had provided to convey over his army, and which he had drawn
 up on the strand; and the storm began to dash the ships of burden which were
 riding at anchor against each other; nor was any means afforded our men of
 either managing them or of rendering any service. A great many ships having been
 wrecked, inasmuch as the rest, having lost their cables, anchors, and other
 tackling, were unfit for sailing, a great confusion, as would necessarily
 happen, arose throughout the army; for there were no other ships in which they
 could be conveyed back, and all things which are of service in repairing vessels
 were wanting, and, corn for the winter had not been provided in those places,
 because it was understood by all that they would certainly winter in Gaul .

On discovering these things the chiefs of Britain , who had
 come up after the battle was fought to perform those conditions which Caesar had imposed, held a conference, when they
 perceived that cavalry, and ships, and corn were wanting to the Romans , and discovered the small number of our soldiers
 from the small extent of the camp (which, too, was on this account more limited
 than ordinary, because Caesar had conveyed over his
 legions without baggage), and thought that the best plan was to renew the war,
 and cut off our men from corn and provisions and protract the affair till
 winter; because they felt confident, that, if they were vanquished or cut off
 from a return, no one would afterward pass over into Britain for the purpose of making war. Therefore, again entering
 into a conspiracy, they began to depart from the camp by degrees and secretly
 bring up their people from the country parts.

But Caesar , although he had not as yet discovered their
 measures, yet, both from what had occurred to his ships, and from the
 circumstance that they had neglected to give the promised hostages, suspected
 that the thing would come to pass which really did happen. He therefore provided
 remedies against all contingencies; for he daily conveyed corn from the country
 parts into the camp, used the timber and brass of such ships as were most
 seriously damaged for repairing the rest, and ordered whatever things besides
 were necessary for this object to be brought to him from the continent. And
 thus, since that business was executed by the soldiers with the greatest energy,
 he effected that, after the loss of twelve ships, a voyage could be made well
 enough in the rest.

While these things are being transacted, one legion had been sent to forage,
 according to custom, and no suspicion of war had arisen as yet, and some of the
 people remained in the country parts, others went backward and forward to the
 camp, they who were on duty at the gates of the camp reported to Caesar that a greater dust than was usual was seen in
 that direction in which the legion had marched. Caesar ,
 suspecting that which was [really the case],-that some new enterprise was
 undertaken by the barbarians, ordered the two cohorts which were on duty, to
 march into that quarter with him, and two other cohorts to relieve them on duty;
 the rest to be armed and follow him immediately. When he had advanced some
 little way from the camp, he saw that his men were overpowered by the enemy and
 scarcely able to stand their ground, and that, the legion being crowded
 together, weapons were being cast on them from all sides. For as all the corn
 was reaped in every part with the exception of one, the enemy, suspecting that
 our men would repair to that, had concealed themselves in the woods during the
 night. Then attacking them suddenly, scattered as they were, and when they had
 laid aside their arms, and were engaged in reaping, they killed a small number,
 threw the rest into confusion, and surrounded them with their cavalry and
 chariots.

Their mode of fighting with their chariots is this: firstly, they drive about in
 all directions and throw their weapons and generally break the ranks of the
 enemy with the very dread of their horses and the noise of their wheels; and
 when they have worked themselves in between the troops of horse, leap from their
 chariots and engage on foot. The charioteers in the mean time withdraw some
 little distance from the battle, and so place themselves with the chariots that,
 if their masters are overpowered by the number of the enemy, they may have a
 ready retreat to their own troops. Thus they display in battle the speed of
 horse, [together with] the firmness of infantry; and by daily practice and
 exercise attain to such expertness that they are accustomed, even on a declining
 and steep place, to check their horses at full speed, and manage and turn them
 in an instant and run along the pole, and stand on the yoke, and thence betake
 themselves with the greatest celerity to their chariots again.

Under these circumstances, our men being dismayed by the novelty of this mode of
 battle, Caesar most seasonably brought assistance; for
 upon his arrival the enemy paused, and our men recovered from their fear; upon
 which thinking the time unfavorable for provoking the enemy and coming to an
 action, he kept himself in his own quarter, and, a short time having intervened,
 drew back the legions into the camp. While these things are going on, and all
 our men engaged, the rest of the Britons , who were in the fields,
 departed. Storms then set in for several successive days, which both confined
 our men to the camp and hindered the enemy from attacking us. In the mean time
 the barbarians dispatched messengers to all parts, and reported to their people
 the small number of our soldiers, and how good an opportunity was given for
 obtaining spoil and for liberating themselves forever, if they should only drive
 the Romans from their camp. Having by these means
 speedily got together a large force of infantry and of cavalry they came up to
 the camp.

Although Caesar anticipated that the same thing which
 had happened on former occasions would then occur-that, if the enemy were
 routed, they would escape from danger by their speed; still, having got about
 thirty horse, which Commius the Atrebatian , of whom
 mention has been made, had brought over with him [from Gaul] , he
 drew up the legions in order of battle before the camp. When the action
 commenced, the enemy were unable to sustain the attack of our men long, and
 turned their backs; our men pursued them as far as their speed and strength
 permitted, and slew a great number of them; then, having destroyed and burned
 every thing far and wide, they retreated to their camp.

The same day, embassadors sent by the enemy came to Caesar to negotiate a peace. Caesar doubled
 the number of hostages which he had before demanded; and ordered that they
 should be brought over to the continent, because, since the time of the equinox
 was near, he did not consider that, with his ships out of repair, the voyage
 ought to be deferred till winter. Having met with favorable weather, he set sail
 a little after midnight, and all his fleet arrived safe at the continent, except
 two of the ships of burden which could not make the same port which the other
 ships did, and were carried a little lower down.

When our soldiers, about 300 in number, had been drawn out of these two ships,
 and were marching to the camp, the Morini , whom Caesar , when setting forth for Britain , had
 left in a state of peace, excited by the hope of spoil, at first surrounded them
 with a small number of men, and ordered them to lay down their arms, if they did
 not wish to be slain; afterward however, when they, forming a circle, stood on
 their defense, a shout was raised and about 6000 of the enemy soon assembled;
 which being reported, Caesar sent all the cavalry in
 the camp as a relief to his men. In the mean time our soldiers sustained the
 attack of the enemy, and fought most valiantly for more than four hours, and,
 receiving but few wounds themselves, slew several of them. But after our cavalry
 came in sight, the enemy, throwing away their arms, turned their backs, and a
 great number of them were killed.

The day following Caesar sent Labienus , his lieutenant, with those legions which he had brought
 back from Britain , against
 the Morini , who had revolted; who, as they had no place to which
 they might retreat, on account of the drying up of their marshes (which they had
 availed themselves of as a place of refuge the preceding year), almost all fell
 into the power of Labienus . In the mean time Caesar 's lieutenants, Q.
 Titurius and L. Cotta , who had led the
 legions into the territories of the Menapii , having laid waste all
 their lands, cut down their corn and burned their houses, returned to Caesar because the Menapii had all concealed
 themselves in their thickest woods. Caesar fixed the
 winter quarters of all the legions among the Belgae .
 Thither only two British states sent hostages; the
 rest omitted to do so. For these successes, a thanksgiving of twenty days was
 decreed by the senate upon receiving Caesar 's
 letter.

Lucius Domitius and Appius Claudius being consuls
 [ 54 B.C.], Caesar , when
 departing from his winter quarters into Italy , as he had been
 accustomed to do yearly, commands the lieutenants whom he appointed over the
 legions to take care that during the winter as many ships as possible should be
 built, and the old repaired. He plans the size and shape of them. For dispatch
 of lading, and for drawing them on shore, he makes them a little lower than
 those which we have been accustomed to use in our sea; and that so much the
 more, because he knew that, on account of the frequent changes of the tide, less
 swells occurred there; for the purpose of transporting burdens and a great
 number of horses, [he makes them] a little broader than those which we use in
 other seas. All these he orders to be constructed for lightness and expedition,
 to which object their lowness contributes greatly. He orders those things which
 are necessary for equipping ships to be brought thither from Spain . He himself, on the assizes of Hither Gaul being
 concluded, proceeds into Illyricum , because he
 heard that the part of the province nearest them was being laid waste by the
 incursions of the Pirustae . When he had arrived there, he levies
 soldiers upon the states, and orders them to assemble at an appointed place.
 Which circumstance having been reported [to them], the Pirustae 
 send embassadors to him to inform him that no part of those proceedings was done
 by public deliberation, and assert that they were ready to make compensation by
 all means for the injuries [inflicted]. Caesar ,
 accepting their defense, demands hostages, and orders them to be brought to him
 on a specified day, and assures them that unless they did so he would visit
 their state with war. These being brought to him on the day which he had
 ordered, he appoints arbitrators between the states, who should estimate the
 damages and determine the reparation.

These things being finished, and the assizes being concluded, he returns into
 Hither Gaul , and proceeds thence to the army. When he had arrived there,
 having made a survey of the winter quarter, he finds that, by the extraordinary
 ardor of the soldiers, amid the utmost scarcity of all materials, about six
 hundred ships of that kind which we have described above and twenty-eight ships
 of war, had been built, and were not far from that state, that they might be
 launched in a few days. Having commended the soldiers and those who had presided
 over the work, he informs them what he wishes to be done, and orders all the
 ships to assemble at port Itius , from which port he had learned
 that the passage into Britain was
 shortest, [being only] about thirty miles from the continent. He left what
 seemed a sufficient number of soldiers for that design; he himself proceeds into
 the territories of the Treviri with four legions without baggage, and 800 horse, because
 they neither came to the general diets [of Gaul] , nor obeyed his
 commands, and were moreover, said to be tampering with the Germans beyond the Rhine .

This state is by far the most powerful of all Gaul in cavalry,
 and has great forces of infantry, and as we have remarked above, borders on the
 Rhine . In that state, two persons, Indutiomarus and
 Cingetorix , were then contending with each other for the
 supreme power; one of whom, as soon as the arrival of Caesar and his legions was known, came to him; assures him that he
 and all his party would continue in their allegiance, and not revolt from the
 alliance of the Roman people, and informs him of the
 things which were going on among the Treviri . But Indutiomarus began to collect cavalry and
 infantry, and make preparations for war, having concealed those who by reason of
 their age could not be under arms, in the forest Arduenna , which is
 of immense size, [and] extends from the Rhine across the country of
 the Treviri to the frontiers of the Remi .
 But after that, some of the chief persons of the state, both influenced by their
 friendship for Cingetorix , and alarmed at the arrival of our army,
 came to Caesar and began to solicit him privately about
 their own interests, since they could not provide for the safety of the state;
 Indutiomarus , dreading lest he should be abandoned by all,
 sends embassadors to Caesar , to declare that he
 absented himself from his countrymen, and refrained from coming to him on this
 account, that he might the more easily keep the state in its allegiance, lest on
 the departure of all the nobility the commonalty should, in their indiscretion,
 revolt. And thus the whole state was at his control; and that he, if Caesar would permit, would come to the camp to him, and
 would commit his own fortunes and those of the state to his good faith.

Caesar , though he discerned from what motive these
 things were said, and what circumstances deterred him from his meditated plan,
 still, in order that he might not be compelled to waste the summer among the
 Treviri , while all things were prepared for the war with Britain , ordered
 Indutiomarus to come to him with 200 hostages. When they were
 brought, [and] among them his son and near relations, whom he had demanded by
 name, he consoled Indutiomarus , and enjoined him to continue in his
 allegiance; yet, nevertheless, summoning to him the chief men of the Treviri , he reconciled them individually to
 Cingetorix : this he both thought should be done by him in justice
 to the merits of the latter, and also judged that it was of great importance
 that the influence of one whose singular attachment toward him he had fully
 seen, should prevail as much as possible among his people.
 Indutiomarus was very much offended at this act, [seeing that]
 his influence was diminished among his countrymen; and he, who already before
 had borne a hostile mind toward us, was much more violently inflamed against us
 through resentment at this.

These matters being settled, Caesar went to port
 Itius with the legions. There he discovers that forty ships,
 which had been built in the country of the Meldi , having been driven back by a storm, had been unable to
 maintain their course, and had returned to the same port from which they had set
 out; he finds the rest ready for sailing, and furnished with every thing. In the
 same place, the cavalry of the whole of Gaul , in number 4,000,
 assembles, and [also] the chief persons of all the states; he had determined to
 leave in Gaul a very few of them, whose
 fidelity toward him he had clearly discerned, and take the rest with him as
 hostages; because he feared a commotion in Gaul when he should be absent.

There was together with the others, Dumnorix , the
 Aeduan , of whom we have made previous mention. Him, in
 particular, he had resolved to have with him, because he had discovered him to
 be fond of change, fond of power, possessing great resolution, and great
 influence among the Gauls . To this was added, that
 Dumnorix had before said in an assembly of
 Aeduans , that the sovereignty of the state had been made over to
 him by Caesar ; which speech the Aedui bore
 with impatience and yet dared not send embassadors to Caesar for the purpose of either rejecting or deprecating [that
 appointment]. That fact Caesar had learned from his own
 personal friends. He at first strove to obtain by every entreaty that he should
 be left in Gaul ; partly, because, being
 unaccustomed to sailing, he feared the sea; partly because he said he was
 prevented by divine admonitions. After he saw that this request was firmly
 refused him, all hope of success being lost, he began to tamper with the chief
 persons of the Gauls , to call them apart singly and
 exhort them to remain on the continent; to agitate them with the fear that it
 was not without reason that Gaul should be stripped of all
 her nobility; that it was Caesar 's design, to bring
 over to Britain and put
 to death all those whom he feared to slay in the sight of Gaul , to pledge his honor to the rest, to ask for their oath that
 they would by common deliberation execute what they should perceive to be
 necessary for Gaul . These things were reported
 to Caesar by several persons.

Having learned this fact, Caesar , because he had
 conferred so much honor upon the Aeduan state, determined that
 Dumnorix should be restrained and deterred by whatever means he
 could; and that, because he perceived his insane designs to be proceeding
 further and further, care should be taken lest he might be able to injure him
 and the commonwealth. Therefore, having stayed about twenty-five days in that
 place, because the north wind, which usually blows a great part of every season,
 prevented the voyage, he exerted himself to keep Dumnorix in his
 allegiance [and] nevertheless learn all his measures: having at length met with
 favorable weather, he orders the foot soldiers and the horse to embark in the
 ships. But, while the minds of all were occupied, Dumnorix began to
 take his departure from the camp homeward with the cavalry of the
 Aedui , Caesar being ignorant of it.
 Caesar , on this matter being reported to him,
 ceasing from his expedition and deferring all other affairs, sends a great part
 of the cavalry to pursue him, and commands that he be brought back; he orders
 that if he use violence and do not submit, that he be slain; considering that
 Dumnorix would do nothing as a rational man while he himself
 was absent, since he had disregarded his command even when present. He, however,
 when recalled, began to resist and defend himself with his hand, and implore the
 support of his people, often exclaiming that "he was free and the subject of a
 free state." They surround and kill the man as they had been commanded; but the
 Aeduan horsemen all return to Caesar .

When these things were done [and] Labienus , left on the
 continent with three legions and 2,000 horse, to defend the harbors and provide
 corn, and discover what was going on in Gaul , and take measures
 according to the occasion and according to the circumstance; he himself, with
 five legions and a number of horse, equal to that which he was leaving on the
 continent, set sail at sun-set, and [though for a time] borne forward by a
 gentle south-west wind, he did not maintain his course, in consequence of the
 wind dying away about midnight, and being carried on too far by the tide, when
 the sun rose, espied Britain passed
 on his left. Then, again, following the change of tide, he urged on with the
 oars that he might make that part of the island in which he had discovered the
 preceding summer, that there was the best landing-place, and in this affair the
 spirit of our soldiers was very much to be extolled; for they with the
 transports and heavy ships, the labor of rowing not being [for a moment]
 discontinued, equaled the speed of the ships of war. All the ships reached Britain nearly
 at mid-day; nor was there seen a [single] enemy in that place, but, as Caesar afterward found from some prisoners, though large
 bodies of troops had assembled there, yet being alarmed by the great number of
 our ships, more than eight hundred of which, including the ships of the
 preceding year, and those private vessels which each had built for his own
 convenience, had appeared at one time, they had quitted the coast and concealed
 themselves among the higher points.

Caesar , having disembarked his army and chosen a
 convenient place for the camp, when he discovered from the prisoners in what
 part the forces of the enemy had lodged themselves, having left ten cohorts and
 300 horse at the sea, to be a guard to the ships, hastens to the enemy, at the
 third watch, fearing the less for the ships, for this reason because he was
 leaving them fastened at anchor upon an even and open shore; and he placed Q. Atrius over the guard of the ships. He himself, having
 advanced by night about twelve miles, espied the forces of the enemy. They,
 advancing to the river with their cavalry and chariots from the higher ground,
 began to annoy our men and give battle. Being repulsed by our cavalry, they
 concealed themselves in woods, as they had secured a place admirably fortified
 by nature and by art, which, as it seemed, they had before prepared on account
 of a civil war; for all entrances to it were shut up by a great number of felled
 trees. They themselves rushed out of the woods to fight here and there, and
 prevented our men from entering their fortifications. But the soldiers of the
 seventh legion, having formed a testudo and thrown up a rampart against the
 fortification, took the place and drove them out of the woods, receiving only a
 few wounds. But Caesar forbade his men to pursue them
 in their flight any great distance; both because he was ignorant of the nature
 of the ground, and because, as a great part of the day was spent, he wished time
 to be left for the fortification of the camp.

The next day, early in the morning, he sent both foot-soldiers and horse in three
 divisions on an expedition to pursue those who had fled. These having advanced a
 little way, when already the rear [of the enemy] was in sight, some horse came
 to Caesar from Quintus Atrius , to report
 that the preceding night, a very great storm having arisen, almost all the ships
 were dashed to pieces and cast upon the shore, because neither the anchors and
 cables could resist, nor could the sailors and pilots sustain the violence of
 the storm; and thus great damage was received by that collision of the ships.

These things being known [to him], Caesar orders the
 legions and cavalry to be recalled and to cease from their march; he himself
 returns to the ships: he sees clearly before him almost the same things which he
 had heard of from the messengers and by letter, so that, about forty ships being
 lost, the remainder seemed capable of being repaired with much labor. Therefore
 he selects workmen from the legions, and orders others to be sent for from the
 continent; he writes to Labienus to build as many ships
 as he could with those legions which were with him. He himself, though the
 matter was one of great difficulty and labor, yet thought it to be most
 expedient for all the ships to be brought up on shore and joined with the camp
 by one fortification. In these matters he employed about ten days, the labor of
 the soldiers being unremitting even during the hours of night. The ships having
 been brought up on shore and the camp strongly fortified, he left the same
 forces as he did before as a guard for the ships; he sets out in person for the
 same place that he had returned from. When he had come thither, greater forces
 of the Britons had already assembled at that place, the chief
 command and management of the war having been intrusted to
 Cassivellaunus , whose territories a river, which is called the
 Thames ,
 separates, from the maritime states at about eighty miles from the sea. At an
 earlier period perpetual wars had taken place between him and the other states;
 but, greatly alarmed by our arrival, the Britons had placed him
 over the whole war and the conduct of it.

The interior portion of Britain is
 inhabited by those of whom they say that it is handed down by tradition that
 they were born in the island itself: the maritime portion by those who had
 passed over from the country of the Belgae for the purpose of
 plunder and making war; almost all of whom are called by the names of those
 states from which being sprung they went thither, and having waged war,
 continued there and began to cultivate the lands. The number of the people is
 countless, and their buildings exceedingly numerous, for the most part very like
 those of the Gauls : the number of cattle is great.
 They use either brass or iron rings, determined at a certain weight, as their
 money. Tin is produced in the midland regions; in the maritime, iron; but the
 quantity of it is small: they employ brass, which is imported. There, as in
 Gaul , is timber of every description, except beech and fir. They do
 not regard it lawful to eat the hare, and the cock, and the goose; they,
 however, breed them for amusement and pleasure. The climate is more temperate
 than in Gaul , the colds being less
 severe.

The island is triangular in its form, and one of its sides is opposite to Gaul . One angle of this side, which is in Kent
 , whither almost all ships from Gaul are directed, [looks] to
 the east; the lower looks to the south. This side extends about 500 miles.
 Another side lies toward Spain and the west, on which
 part is Ireland , less, as
 is reckoned, than Britain , by one
 half: but the passage [from it] into Britain is of
 equal distance with that from Gaul . In the middle of this
 voyage, is an island, which is called Mona :
 many smaller islands besides are supposed to lie [there], of which islands some
 have written that at the time of the winter solstice it is night there for
 thirty consecutive days. We, in our inquiries about that matter, ascertained
 nothing, except that, by accurate measurements with water, we perceived the
 nights to be shorter there than on the continent. The length of this side, as
 their account states, is 700 miles. The third side is toward the north, to which
 portion of the island no land is opposite; but an angle of that side looks
 principally toward Germany . This side is
 considered to be 800 miles in length. Thus the whole island is [about] 2,000
 miles in circumference.

The most civilized of all these nations are they who inhabit Kent
 , which is entirely a maritime district, nor do they differ much from the
 Gallic customs. Most of the inland inhabitants do not sow corn,
 but live on milk and flesh, and are clad with skins. All the
 Britains , indeed, dye themselves with wood, which occasions a
 bluish color, and thereby have a more terrible appearance in fight. They wear
 their hair long, and have every part of their body shaved except their head and
 upper lip. Ten and even twelve have wives common to them, and particularly
 brothers among brothers, and parents among their children; but if there be any
 issue by these wives, they are reputed to be the children of those by whom
 respectively each was first espoused when a virgin.

The horse and charioteers of the enemy contended vigorously in a skirmish with
 our cavalry on the march; yet so that our men were conquerors in all parts, and
 drove them to their woods and hills; but, having slain a great many, they
 pursued too eagerly, and lost some of their men. But the enemy, after some time
 had elapsed, when our men were off their guard, and occupied in the
 fortification of the camp, rushed out of the woods, and making an attack upon
 those who were placed on duty before the camp, fought in a determined manner;
 and two cohorts being sent by Caesar to their relief,
 and these severally the first of two legions, when these had taken up their
 position at a very small distance from each other, as our men were disconcerted
 by the unusual mode of battle, the enemy broke through the middle of them most
 courageously, and retreated thence in safety. That day, Q.
 Laberius Durus , a tribune of the soldiers, was slain. The enemy,
 since more cohorts were sent against them, were repulsed.

In the whole of this method of fighting since the engagement took place under the
 eyes of all and before the camp, it was perceived that our men, on account of
 the weight of their arms, inasmuch as they could neither pursue [the enemy when]
 retreating, nor dare quit their standards, were little suited to this kind of
 enemy; that the horse also fought with great danger, because they [the
 Britons] generally retreated even designedly, and, when they
 had drawn off our men a short distance from the legions, leaped from their
 chariots and fought on foot in unequal [and to them advantageous] battle. But
 the system of cavalry engagement is wont to produce equal danger, and indeed the
 same, both to those who retreat and to those who pursue. To this was added, that
 they never fought in close order, but in small parties and at great distances,
 and had detachments placed [in different parts], and then the one relieved the
 other, and the vigorous and fresh succeeded the wearied.

The following day the enemy halted on the hills, a distance from our camp, and
 presented themselves in small parties, and began to challenge our horse to
 battle with less spirit than the day before. But at noon, when Caesar had sent three legions, and all the cavalry, with C. Trebonius , the lieutenant, for the purpose of
 foraging, they flew upon the foragers suddenly from all quarters, so that they
 did not keep off [even] from the standards and the legions. Our men making an
 attack on them vigorously, repulsed them; nor did they cease to pursue them
 until the horse, relying on relief, as they saw the legions behind them, drove
 the enemy precipitately before them, and slaying a great number of them, did not
 give them the opportunity either of rallying, or halting, or leaping from their
 chariots. Immediately after this retreat, the auxiliaries who had assembled from
 all sides, departed; nor after that time did the enemy ever engage with us in
 very large numbers.

Caesar , discovering their design, leads his army into
 the territories of Cassivellaunus to the river Thames ; which
 river can be forded in one place only and that with difficulty. When he had
 arrived there, he perceives that numerous forces of the enemy were marshaled on
 the other bank of the river; the bank also was defended by sharp stakes fixed in
 front, and stakes of the same kind fixed under the water were covered by the
 river. These things being discovered from [some] prisoners and deserters, Caesar , sending forward the cavalry, ordered the legions
 to follow them immediately. But the soldiers advanced with such speed and such
 ardor, though they stood above the water by their heads only, that the enemy
 could not sustain the attack of the legions and of the horse, and quitted the
 banks, and committed themselves to flight.

Cassivellaunus , as we have stated above, all hope [rising out] of
 battle being laid aside, the greater part of his forces being dismissed, and
 about 4,000 charioteers only being left, used to observe our marches and retire
 a little from the road, and conceal himself in intricate and woody places, and
 in those neighborhoods in which he had discovered we were about to march, he
 used to drive the cattle and the inhabitants from the fields into the woods;
 and, when our cavalry, for the sake of plundering and ravaging the more freely,
 scattered themselves among the fields, he used to send out charioteers from the
 woods by all the well-known roads and paths, and to the great danger of our
 horse, engage with them; and this source of fear hindered them from straggling
 very extensively. The result was, that Caesar did not
 allow excursions to be made to a great distance from the main body of the
 legions, and ordered that damage should be done to the enemy in ravaging their
 lands, and kindling fires only so far as the legionary soldiers could, by their
 own exertion and marching, accomplish it.

In the mean time, the Trinobantes , almost the most powerful state of
 those parts, from which the young man, Mandubratius embracing the
 protection of Caesar had come to the continent of Gaul to [meet] him (whose father, Imanuentius , had
 possessed the sovereignty in that state, and had been killed by
 Cassivellaunus ; he himself had escaped death by flight), send
 embassadors to Caesar , and promise that they will
 surrender themselves to him and perform his commands; they entreat him to
 protect Mandubratius from the violence of
 Cassivellaunus , and send to their state some one to preside
 over it, and possess the government. Caesar demands
 forty hostages from them, and corn for his army, and sends
 Mandubratius to them. They speedily performed the things
 demanded, and sent hostages to the number appointed, and the corn.

The Trinobantes being protected and secured from any violence of the
 soldiers, the Cenimagni , the Segontiaci , the
 Ancalites , the Bibroci , and the
 Cassi , sending embassies, surrendered themselves to Caesar . From them he learns that the capital town of
 Cassivellaunus was not far from that place, and was defended by
 woods and morasses, and a very large number of men and of cattle had been
 collected in it. (Now the Britons , when they have fortified the
 intricate woods, in which they are wont to assemble for the purpose of avoiding
 the incursion of an enemy, with an intrenchment and a rampart, call them a
 town.) Thither he proceeds with his legions: he finds the place
 admirably fortified by nature and art; he, however, undertakes to attack it in
 two directions. The enemy, having remained only a short time, did not sustain
 the attack of our soldiers, and hurried away on the other side of the town. A
 great amount of cattle was found there, and many of the enemy were taken and
 slain in their flight.

While these things are going forward in those places, Cassivellaunus 
 sends messengers into Kent
 , which, we have observed above, is on the sea, over which districts four
 several kings reigned, Cingetorix , Carvilius ,
 Taximagulus and Segonax , and commands them to
 collect all their forces, and unexpectedly assail and storm the naval camp. When
 they had come to the camp, our men, after making a sally, slaying many of their
 men, and also capturing a distinguished leader named Lugotorix ,
 brought back their own men in safety. Cassivellaunus , when this
 battle was reported to him as so many losses had been sustained, and his
 territories laid waste, being alarmed most of all by the desertion of the
 states, sends embassadors to Caesar [to treat] about a
 surrender through the mediation of Commius the
 Atrebatian . Caesar , since he had
 determined to pass the winter on the continent, on account of the sudden revolts
 of Gaul , and as much of the summer did not remain, and he perceived
 that even that could be easily protracted, demands hostages, and prescribes what
 tribute Britain should
 pay each year to the Roman people; he forbids and
 commands Cassivellaunus that he wage not war against
 Mandubratius or the Trinobantes .

When he had received the hostages, he leads back the army to the sea, and finds
 the ships repaired. After launching these, because he had a large number of
 prisoners, and some of the ships had been lost in the storm, he determines to
 convey back his army at two embarkations. And it so happened, that out of so
 large a number of ships, in so many voyages, neither in this nor in the previous
 year was any ship missing which conveyed soldiers; but very few out of those
 which were sent back to him from the continent empty, as the soldiers of the
 former convoy had been disembarked, and out of those (sixty in number) which
 Labienus had taken care to have built, reached
 their destination; almost all the rest were driven back, and when Caesar had waited for them for some time in vain, lest he
 should be debarred from a voyage by the season of the year, inasmuch as the
 equinox was at hand, he of necessity stowed his soldiers the more closely, and,
 a very great calm coming on, after he had weighed anchor at the beginning of the
 second watch, he reached land at break of day and brought in all the ships in
 safety.

The ships having been drawn up and a general assembly of the Gauls held at Samarobriva , because the
 corn that year had not prospered in Gaul by reason of the droughts,
 he was compelled to station his army in its winter-quarters differently from the
 former years, and to distribute the legions among several states: one of them he
 gave to C. Fabius , his lieutenant, to be marched into
 the territories of the Morini ; a second to Q.
 Cicero , into those of the Nervii ; a third to L. Roscius , into those of the Essui ; a
 fourth he ordered to winter with T. Labienus among the
 Remi in the confines of the Treviri ; he stationed three in Belgium ; over these he
 appointed M. Crassus , his questor, and L. Munatius Plancus and C.
 Trebonius , his lieutenants. One legion which he had raised last on
 the other side of the Po , and five cohorts, he sent among the
 Eburones , the greatest portion of whom lie between the Meuse and the Rhine , [and] who were under
 the government of Ambiorix and Cativolcus . He ordered
 Q. Titurius Sabinus and L.
 Aurunculeius Cotta , his lieutenants, to take command of these
 soldiers. The legions being distributed in this manner, he thought he could most
 easily remedy the scarcity of corn and yet the winter-quarters of all these
 legions (except that which he had given to L. Roscius ,
 to be led into the most peaceful and tranquil neighborhood) were comprehended
 within [about] 100 miles. He himself in the mean while, until he had stationed
 the legions and knew that the several winter-quarters were fortified, determined
 to stay in Gaul .

There was among the Carnutes a man named Tasgetius ,
 born of very high rank, whose ancestors had held the sovereignty in his state.
 To him Caesar had restored the position of his
 ancestors, in consideration of his prowess and attachment toward him, because in
 all his wars he had availed himself of his valuable services. His personal
 enemies had killed him when in the third year of his reign, many even of his own
 state being openly promoters [of that act] This event is related to Caesar . He fearing, because several were involved in the
 act, that the state might revolt at their instigation, orders Lucius
 Plancus , with a legion, to proceed quickly from Belgium to the Carnutes , and winter there, and arrest
 and send to him the persons by whose instrumentality he should discover that
 Tasgetius was slain. In the mean time, he was apprised by all
 the lieutenants and questors to whom he had assigned the legions, that they had
 arrived in winter-quarters, and that the place for the quarters was fortified.

About fifteen days after they had come into winter-quarters, the beginning of a
 sudden insurrection and revolt arose from Ambiorix and
 Cativolcus , who, though they had met with Sabinus and Cotta at the borders of their
 kingdom, and had conveyed corn into our winter-quarters, induced by the messages
 of Indutiomarus , one of the Treviri , excited their people, and after having suddenly assailed
 the soldiers engaged in procuring wood, came with a large body to attack the
 camp. When our men had speedily taken up arms and had ascended the rampart, and
 sending out some Spanish horse on one side, had proved conquerors
 in a cavalry action, the enemy, despairing of success, drew off their troops
 from the assault. Then they shouted, according to their custom, that some of our
 men should go forward to a conference, [alleging] that they had some things
 which they desired to say respecting the common interest, by which they trusted
 their disputes could be removed.

C. Arpineius , a Roman knight,
 the intimate friend of Q. Titurius , and with him, Q. Junius , a certain person from Spain , who already
 on previous occasions, had been accustomed to go to Ambiorix , at
 Caesar 's mission, is sent to them for the purpose
 of a conference: before them Ambiorix spoke to this effect: "That
 he confessed, that for Caesar 's kindness toward him, he
 was very much indebted to him, inasmuch as by his aid he had been freed from a
 tribute which he had been accustomed to pay to the Aduatuci , his
 neighbors; and because his own son and the son of his brother had been sent back
 to him, whom, when sent in the number of hostages, the Aduatuci had
 detained among them in slavery and in chains; and that he had not done that
 which he had done in regard to the attacking of the camp, either by his own
 judgment or desire, but by the compulsion of his state; and that his government
 was of that nature, that the people had as much authority over him as he over
 the people. To the state moreover the occasion of the war was this-that it could
 not withstand the sudden combination of the Gauls ;
 that he could easily prove this from his own weakness, since he was not so
 little versed in affairs as to presume that with his forces he could conquer the
 Roman people; but that it was the common
 resolution of Gaul ; that that day was
 appointed for the storming of all Caesar 's
 winter-quarters, in order that no legion should be able to come to the relief of
 another legion, that Gauls could not easily deny
 Gauls , especially when a measure seemed entered
 into for recovering their common freedom. Since he had performed his duty to
 them on the score of patriotism [he said], he has now regard to gratitude for
 the kindness of Caesar ; that he warned, that he prayed
 Titurius by the claims of hospitality, to consult
 for his and his soldiers' safely; that a large force of the Germans had been hired and had passed the Rhine ; that it
 would arrive in two days: that it was for them to consider whether they thought
 fit, before the nearest people perceived it, to lead off their soldiers when
 drawn out of winter-quarters, either to Cicero or to
 Labienus ; one of whom was about fifty miles distant
 from them, the other rather more; that this he promised and confirmed by oath,
 that he would give them a safe passage through his territories; and when he did
 that, he was both consulting for his own state, because it would be relieved
 from the winter-quarters, and also making a requital to Caesar for his obligations."

Arpineius and Junius relate to
 the lieutenants what they had heard. They, greatly alarmed by the unexpected
 affair, though those things were spoken by an enemy, still thought they were not
 to be disregarded; and they were especially influenced by this consideration,
 that it was scarcely credible that the obscure and humble state of the
 Eburones had dared to make war upon the Roman people of their own accord. Accordingly, they refer the matter
 to a council, and a great controversy arises among them. L.
 Aurunculeius , and several tribunes of the soldiers and the centurions
 of the first rank, were of opinion "that nothing should be done hastily, and
 that they should not depart from the camp without Caesar 's orders;" they declared, "that any forces of the Germans , however great, might be encountered by
 fortified winter-quarters; that this fact was a proof [of it]; that they had
 sustained the first assault of the Germans most
 valiantly, inflicting many wounds upon them; that they were not distressed for
 corn; that in the mean time relief would come both from the nearest
 winter-quarters and from Caesar ; lastly, they put the
 query, "what could be more undetermined, more undignified, than to adopt
 measures respecting the most important affairs on the authority of an enemy?"

In opposition to those things, Titurius exclaimed, "That
 they would do this too late, when greater forces of the enemy, after a junction
 with the Germans , should have assembled; or when some
 disaster had been received in the neighboring winter-quarters; that the
 opportunity for deliberating was short; that he believed that Caesar had set forth into Italy , as the
 Carnutes would not otherwise have taken the measure of slaying
 Tasgetius , nor would the Eburones , if he had been
 present, have come to the camp with so great defiance of us; that he did not
 regard the enemy, but the fact, as the authority; that the Rhine
 was near; that the death of Ariovistus and our previous
 victories were subjects of great indignation to the Germans ; that Gaul was inflamed, that after
 having received so many defeats she was reduced under the sway of the Roman people, her pristine glory in military matters
 being extinguished." Lastly, "who would persuade himself of this, that
 Ambiorix had resorted to a design of that nature without sure
 grounds? That his own opinion was safe on either side; if there be nothing very
 formidable, they would go without danger to the nearest legion; if all Gaul conspired with the Germans , their
 only safety lay in dispatch. What issue would the advice of Cotta and of those who differed from him, have? from which, if
 immediate danger was not to be dreaded, yet certainly famine, by a protracted
 siege, was."

This discussion having been held on the two sides, when opposition was offered
 strenuously by Cotta and the principal officers,
 "Prevail," said Sabinus , "if so you wish it;" and he
 said it with a louder voice, that a great portion of the soldiers might hear
 him; "nor am I the person among you," he said, "who is most powerfully alarmed
 by the danger of death; these will be aware of it, and then, if any thing
 disastrous shall have occurred, they will demand a reckoning at your hands;
 these, who, if it were permitted by you, united three days hence with the
 nearest winter-quarters, may encounter the common condition of war with the
 rest, and not, as if forced away and separated far from the rest, perish either
 by the sword or by famine."

They rise from the council, detain both, and entreat, that "they do not bring the
 matter into the greatest jeopardy by their dissension and obstinacy; the affair
 was an easy one, if only they all thought and approved of the same thing,
 whether they remain or depart; on the other hand, they saw no security in
 dissension." The matter is prolonged by debate till midnight. At last Cotta , being overruled, yields his assent; the opinion of
 Sabinus prevails. It is proclaimed that they will
 march at day-break; the remainder of the night is spent without sleep, since
 every soldier was inspecting his property, [to see] what he could carry with
 him, and what, out of the appurtenances of the winter-quarters, he would be
 compelled to leave; every reason is suggested to show why they could not stay
 without danger, and how that danger would be increased by the fatigue of the
 soldiers and their want of sleep. At break of day they quit the camp, in a very
 extended line and with a very large amount of baggage, in such a manner as men
 who were convinced that the advice was given by Ambiorix , not as an
 enemy, but as most friendly [toward them].

But the enemy, after they had made the discovery of their intended departure by
 the noise during the night and their not retiring to rest, having placed an
 ambuscade in two divisions in the woods, in a suitable and concealed place, two
 miles from the camp, waited for the arrival of the Romans : and when the greater part of the line of march had descended
 into a considerable valley, they suddenly presented themselves on either side of
 that valley, and began both to harass the rear and hinder the van from
 ascending, and to give battle in a place exceedingly disadvantageous to our men.

Then at length Titurius , as one who had provided nothing
 beforehand, was confused, ran to and fro, and set about arranging his troops;
 these very things, however, he did timidly and in such a manner that all
 resources seemed to fail him: which generally happens to those who are compelled
 to take council in the action itself. But Cotta , who
 had reflected that these things might occur on the march, and on that account
 had not been an adviser of the departure, was wanting to the common safety in no
 respect; both in addressing and encouraging the soldiers, he performed the
 duties of a general, and in the battle those of a soldier. And since they [ Titurius and Cotta ] could less
 easily perform every thing by themselves, and provide what was to be done in
 each place, by reason of the length of the line of march, they ordered [the
 officers] to give the command that they should leave the baggage and form
 themselves into an orb, which measure, though in a contingency of that nature it
 was not to be condemned, still turned out unfortunately; for it both diminished
 the hope of our soldiers and rendered the enemy more eager for the fight,
 because it appeared that this was not done without the greatest fear and
 despair. Besides that happened, which would necessarily be the case, that the
 soldiers for the most part quitted their ensigns and hurried to seek and carry
 off from the baggage whatever each thought valuable, and all parts were filled
 with uproar and lamentation.

But judgment was not wanting to the barbarians; for their leaders ordered [the
 officers] to proclaim through the ranks "that no man should quit his place; that
 the booty was theirs, and for them was reserved whatever the Romans should leave; therefore let them consider that all things
 depended on their victory. Our men were equal to them in fighting, both in
 courage and in number, and though they were deserted by their leader and by
 fortune, yet they still placed all hope of safety in their valor, and as often
 as any cohort sallied forth on that side, a great number of the enemy usually
 fell. Ambiorix , when he observed this, orders the command to be
 issued that they throw their weapons from a distance and do not approach too
 near, and in whatever direction the Romans should
 make an attack, there give way (from the lightness of their appointments and
 from their daily practice no damage could be done them); [but] pursue them when
 betaking themselves to their standards again.

Which command having been most carefully obeyed, when any cohort had quitted the
 circle and made a charge, the enemy fled very precipitately. In the mean time,
 that part of the Roman army, of necessity, was left
 unprotected, and the weapons received on their open flank. Again, when they had
 begun to return to that place from which they had advanced, they were surrounded
 both by those who had retreated and by those who stood next them; but if, on the
 other hand, they wish to keep their place, neither was an opportunity left for
 valor, nor could they, being crowded together, escape the weapons cast by so
 large a body of men. Yet, though assailed by so many disadvantages, [and] having
 received many wounds, they withstood the enemy, and, a great portion of the day
 being spent, though they fought from day-break till the eighth hour, they did
 nothing which was unworthy of them. At length, each thigh of T. Balventius , who the year before had been chief centurion, a brave
 man and one of great authority, is pierced with a javelin; Q.
 Lucanius , of the same rank, fighting most valiantly, is slain while
 he assists his son when surrounded by the enemy; L.
 Cotta , the lieutenant, when encouraging all the cohorts and
 companies, is wounded full in the mouth by a sling.

Much troubled by these events, Q. Titurius , when he had
 perceived Ambiorix in the distance encouraging his men, sends to
 him his interpreter, Cn. Pompey , to beg that he would spare him and
 his soldiers. He, when addressed, replied, "If he wishes to confer with him, it
 was permitted; that he hoped what pertained to the safety of the soldiers could
 be obtained from the people; that to him however certainly no injury would be
 done, and that he pledged his faith to that effect." He consults with Cotta , who had been wounded, whether it would appear
 right to retire from battle, and confer with Ambiorix ; [saying]
 that he hoped to be able to succeed respecting his own and the soldiers' safety.
 Cotta says he will not go to an armed enemy, and in
 that perseveres.

Sabinus orders those tribunes of the soldiers whom he
 had at the time around him, and the centurions of the first ranks, to follow
 him, and when he had approached near to Ambiorix , being ordered to
 throw down his arms, he obeys the order and commands his men to do the same. In
 the mean time, while they treat upon the terms, and a longer debate than
 necessary is designedly entered into by Ambiorix , being surrounded
 by degrees, he is slain. Then they, according to their custom, shout out
 "Victory," and raise their war-cry, and, making an attack on our men, break
 their ranks. There L. Cotta , while fighting, is slain,
 together with the greater part of the soldiers; the rest betake themselves to
 the camp, from which they had marched forth, and one of them, L. Petrosidius , the standard bearer, when he was overpowered by the
 great number of the enemy, threw the eagle within the intrenchments and is
 himself slain while fighting with the greatest courage before the camp. They
 with difficulty sustain the attack till night; despairing of safety, they all to
 a man destroy themselves in the night. A few escaping from the battle, made
 their way to Labienus at winter-quarters, after
 wandering at random through the woods, and inform him of these events

Elated by this victory, Ambiorix marches immediately
 with his cavalry to the Aduatuci , who bordered on his kingdom; he
 halts neither day nor night, and orders the infantry to follow him closely.
 Having related the exploit and roused the Aduatuci , the next day he
 arrived among the Nervii , and entreats "that they should not throw
 away the opportunity of liberating themselves forever and of punishing the Romans for those wrongs which they had received from
 them;" [he tells them] "that two lieutenants have been slain, and that a large
 portion of the army has perished; that it was not a matter of difficulty for the
 legion which was wintering with Cicero to be cut off,
 when suddenly assaulted; he declares himself ready to cooperate in that design.
 He easily gains over the Nervii by this speech.

Accordingly, messengers having been forthwith dispatched to the
 Centrones , the Grudii , the Levaci ,
 the Pleumoxii , and the Geiduni , all of whom are under
 their government, they assemble as large bodies as they can, and rush
 unexpectedly to the winter-quarters of Cicero , the
 report of the death of Titurius not having as yet been
 conveyed to him. That also occurred to him, which was the consequence of a
 necessary work-that some soldiers who had gone off into the woods for the
 purpose of procuring timber and therewith constructing fortifications, were
 intercepted by the sudden arrival of [the enemy's] horse. These having been
 entrapped, the Eburones , the Nervii , and the
 Aduatici and all their allies and dependents, begin to attack
 the legion: our men quickly run together to arms and mount the rampart; they
 sustained the attack that day with great difficulty, since the enemy placed all
 their hope in dispatch, and felt assured that, if they obtained this victory,
 they would be conquerors forever.

Letters are immediately sent to Caesar by Cicero , great rewards being offered [to the messengers]
 if they carried them through. All these passes having been beset, those who were
 sent are intercepted. During the night as many as 120 towers are raised with
 incredible dispatch out of the timber which they had collected for the purpose
 of fortification: the things which seemed necessary to the work are completed.
 The following day the enemy, having collected far greater forces, attack the
 camp [and] fill up the ditch. Resistance is made by our men in the same manner
 as the day before; this same thing is done afterward during the remaining days.
 The work is carried on incessantly in the night: not even to the sick, or
 wounded, is opportunity given for rest: whatever things are required for
 resisting the assault of the next day are provided during the night: many stakes
 burned at the end, and a large number of mural pikes are procured: towers are
 built up, battlements and parapets are formed of interwoven hurdles. Cicero himself, though he was in very weak health, did
 not leave himself the night-time for repose, so that he was forced to spare
 himself by the spontaneous movement and entreaties of the soldiers.

Then these leaders and chiefs of the Nervii , who had any intimacy
 and grounds of friendship with Cicero , say they desire
 to confer with him. When permission was granted, they recount the same things
 which Ambiorix had related to Titurius ,
 namely, "that all Gaul was in arms, that the Germans had passed the Rhine , that the
 winter-quarters of Caesar and of the others were
 attacked." They report in addition also, about the death of Sabinus . They point to Ambiorix for the purpose of
 obtaining credence; "they are mistaken," say they, "if they hoped for any relief
 from those who distrust their own affairs; that they bear such feelings toward
 Cicero and the Roman 
 people that they deny them nothing but winter-quarters, and are unwilling that
 the practice should become constant; that through their [the
 Nervii 's] means it is possible for them [the Romans] 
 to depart from their winter-quarters safely and to proceed without fear into
 whatever parts they desire." To these Cicero made only
 one reply: "that it is not the custom of the Roman 
 people to accept any condition from an armed enemy: if they are willing to lay
 down their arms, they may employ him as their advocate and send embassadors to
 Caesar : that he believed, from his
 [Caesar 's] justice, they would obtain the things which they
 might request."

Disappointed in this hope, the Nervii surround the winter-quarters
 with a rampart eleven feet high, and a ditch thirteen feet in depth. These
 military works they had learned from our men in the intercourse of former years,
 and, having taken some of our army prisoners, were instructed by them: but, as
 they had no supply of iron tools which are requisite for this service, they were
 forced to cut the turf with their swords, and to empty out the earth with their
 hands and cloaks, from which circumstance, the vast number of the men could be
 inferred; for in less than three hours they completed a fortification of ten
 miles in circumference; and during the rest of the days they began to prepare
 and construct towers of the height of the ramparts, and grappling irons, and
 mantelets, which the same prisoners had taught them.

On the seventh day of the attack, a very high wind having sprung up, they began
 to discharge by their slings hot balls made of burned or hardened clay, and
 heated javelins, upon the huts, which, after the Gallic custom,
 were thatched with straw. These quickly took fire, and by the violence of the
 wind, scattered their flames in every part of the camp. The enemy following up
 their success with a very loud shout, as if victory were already obtained and
 secured, began to advance their towers and mantelets, and climb the rampart with
 ladders. But so great was the courage of our soldiers, and such their presence
 of mind, that though they were scorched on all sides, and harassed by a vast
 number of weapons, and were aware that their baggage and their possessions were
 burning, not only did no one quit the rampart for the purpose of withdrawing
 from the scene, but scarcely did any one even then look behind; and they all
 fought most vigorously and most valiantly. This day was by far the most
 calamitous to our men; it had this result, however, that on that day the largest
 number of the enemy was wounded and slain, since they had crowded beneath the
 very rampart, and the hindmost did not afford the foremost a retreat. The flame
 having abated a little, and a tower having been brought up in a particular place
 and touching the rampart, the centurions of the third cohort retired from the
 place in which they were standing, and drew off all their men: they began to
 call on the enemy by gestures and by words, to enter if they wished; but none of
 them dared to advance. Then stones having been cast from every quarter, the
 enemy were dislodged, and their tower set on fire.

In that legion there were two very brave men, centurions, who were now
 approaching the first ranks, T. Pulfio , and L. Varenus . These used to have continual disputes between
 them which of them should be preferred, and every year used to contend for
 promotion with the utmost animosity. When the fight was going on most vigorously
 before the fortifications, Pulfio , one of them, says,
 "Why do you hesitate, Varenus ? or what [better]
 opportunity of signalizing your valor do you seek? This very day shall decide
 our disputes." When he had uttered these words, he proceeds beyond the
 fortifications, and rushes on that part of the enemy which appeared the
 thickest. Nor does Varenus remain within the rampart,
 but respecting the high opinion of all, follows close after. Then, when an
 inconsiderable space intervened, Pulfio throws his
 javelin at the enemy, and pierces one of the multitude who was running up, and
 while the latter was wounded and slain, the enemy cover him with their shields,
 and all throw their weapons at the other and afford him no opportunity of
 retreating. The shield of Pulfio is pierced and a
 javelin is fastened in his belt. This circumstance turns aside his scabbard and
 obstructs his right hand when attempting to draw his sword: the enemy crowd
 around him when [thus] embarrassed. His rival runs up to him and succors him in
 this emergency. Immediately the whole host turn from Pulfio to him, supposing the other to be pierced through by the
 javelin. Varenus rushes on briskly with his sword and
 carries on the combat hand to hand, and having slain one man, for a short time
 drove back the rest: while he urges on too eagerly, slipping into a hollow, he
 fell. To him, in his turn, when surrounded, Pulfio 
 brings relief; and both having slain a great number, retreat into the
 fortifications amid the highest applause. Fortune so dealt with both in this
 rivalry and conflict, that the one competitor was a succor and a safeguard to
 the other, nor could it be determined which of the two appeared worthy of being
 preferred to the other.

In proportion as the attack became daily more formidable and violent, and
 particularly, because, as a great number of the soldiers were exhausted with
 wounds, the matter had come to a small number of defenders, more frequent
 letters and messages were sent to Caesar ; a part of
 which messengers were taken and tortured to death in the sight of our soldiers.
 There was within our camp a certain Nervian , by name
 Vertico , born in a distinguished position, who in the beginning
 of the blockade had deserted to Cicero , and had
 exhibited his fidelity to him. He persuades his slave, by the hope of freedom,
 and by great rewards, to convey a letter to Caesar .
 This he carries out bound about his javelin; and mixing among the Gauls without any suspicion by being a Gaul , he reaches Caesar . From him they
 received information of the imminent danger of Cicero 
 and the legion.

Caesar having received the letter about the eleventh
 hour of the day, immediately sends a messenger to the Bellovaci , to
 M. Crassus , questor there, whose winter-quarters
 were twenty-five miles distant from him. He orders the legion to set forward in
 the middle of the night, and come to him with dispatch. Crassus sets out with the messenger. He sends another to C. Fabius , the lieutenant, ordering him to lead forth his
 legion into the territories of the Atrebates , to which he knew his
 march must be made. He writes to Labienus to come with
 his legion to the frontiers of the Nervii , if he could do so to the
 advantage of the commonwealth: he does not consider that the remaining portion
 of the army, because it was somewhat further distant, should be waited for; but
 assembles about 400 horse from the nearest winter-quarters.

Having been apprised of the arrival of Crassus by the
 scouts at about the third hour, he advances twenty miles that day. He appoints
 Crassus over Samarobriva and assigns
 him a legion, because he was leaving there the baggage of the army, the hostages
 of the states, the public documents, and all the corn, which he had conveyed
 thither for passing the winter. Fabius , without
 delaying a moment, meets him on the march with his legion, as he had been
 commanded. Labienus , having learned the death of Sabinus and the destruction of the cohorts, as all the
 forces of the Treviri had come against him, beginning to fear lest, if he made a
 departure from his winter-quarters, resembling a flight, he should not be able
 to support the attack of the enemy, particularly since he knew them to be elated
 by their recent victory, sends back a letter to Caesar ,
 informing him with what great hazard he would lead out his legion from
 winter-quarters; he relates at large the affairs which had taken place among the
 Eburones ; he informs him that all the infantry and cavalry of
 the Treviri had encamped at a distance of only three miles from his own
 camp.

Caesar , approving of his motives, although he was
 disappointed in his expectation of three legions, and reduced to two, yet placed
 his only hopes of the common safety in dispatch. He goes into the territories of
 the Nervii by long marches. There he learns from some prisoners
 what things are going on in the camp of Cicero , and in
 how great jeopardy the affair is. Then with great rewards he induces a certain
 man of the Gallic horse to convey a letter to Cicero . This he sends written in Greek 
 characters, lest the letter being intercepted, our measures should be discovered
 by the enemy. He directs him, if he should be unable to enter, to throw his
 spear with the letter fastened to the thong, inside the fortifications of the
 camp. He writes in the letter, that he having set out with his legions, will
 quickly be there: he entreats him to maintain his ancient valor. The Gaul apprehending danger, throws his spear as he has been directed.
 Is by chance stuck in a tower, and, not being observed by our men for two days,
 was seen by a certain soldier on the third day: when taken down, it was carried
 to Cicero . He, after perusing it, reads it out in an
 assembly of the soldiers, and fills all with the greatest joy. Then the smoke of
 the fires was seen in the distance, a circumstance which banished all doubt of
 the arrival of the legions.

The Gauls , having discovered the matter through their scouts,
 abandon the blockade, and march toward Caesar with all
 their forces; these were about 60,000 armed men. Cicero , an opportunity being now afforded, again begs of that
 Vertico , the Gaul , whom we mentioned above,
 to convey back a letter to Caesar ; he advises him to
 perform his journey warily; he writes in the letter that the enemy had departed
 and had turned their entire force against him. When this letter was brought to
 him about the middle of the night, Caesar apprises his
 soldiers of its contents, and inspires them with courage for fighting: the
 following day, at the dawn, he moves his camp, and, having proceeded four miles,
 he espies the forces of the enemy on the other side of a considerable valley and
 rivulet. It was an affair of great danger to fight with such large forces in a
 disadvantageous situation. For the present, therefore, inasmuch as he knew that
 Cicero was released from the blockade, and thought
 that he might, on that account, relax his speed, he halted there and fortifies a
 camp in the most favorable position he can. And this, though it was small in
 itself, [there being] scarcely 7,000 men, and these too without baggage, still
 by the narrowness of the passages, he contracts as much as he can, with this
 object, that he may come into the greatest contempt with the enemy. In the mean
 while scouts having been sent in all directions, he examines by what most
 convenient path he might cross the valley.

That day, slight skirmishes of cavalry having taken place near the river, both
 armies kept in their own positions: the Gauls ,
 because they were awaiting larger forces which had not then arrived; Caesar , [to see] if perchance by pretense of fear he
 could allure the enemy toward his position, so that he might engage in battle,
 in front of his camp, on this side of the valley; if he could not accomplish
 this, that, having inquired about the passes, he might cross the valley and the
 river with the less hazard. At daybreak the cavalry of the enemy approaches to
 the camp and joins battle with our horse. Caesar orders
 the horse to give way purposely, and retreat to the camp: at the same time he
 orders the camp to be fortified with a higher rampart in all directions, the
 gates to be barricaded, and in executing these things as much confusion to be
 shown as possible, and to perform them under the pretense of fear.

Induced by all these things, the enemy lead over their forces and draw up their
 line in a disadvantageous position; and as our men also had been led down from
 the ramparts, they approach nearer, and throw their weapons into the
 fortification from all sides, and sending heralds round, order it to be
 proclaimed that, if "any, either Gaul or Roman , was willing to go over to them before the third hour, it was
 permitted; after that time there would not be permission;" and so much did they
 disregard our men, that the gates having been blocked up with single rows of
 turf as a mere appearance, because they did not seem able to burst in that way,
 some began to pull down the rampart with their hands, others to fill up the
 trenches. Then Caesar , making a sally from all the
 gates, and sending out the cavalry, soon puts the enemy to flight, so that no
 one at all stood his ground with the intention of fighting; and he slew a great
 number of them, and deprived all of their arms.

Caesar , fearing to pursue them very far, because woods
 and morasses intervened, and also [because] he saw that they suffered no small
 loss in abandoning their position, reaches Cicero the
 same day with all his forces safe. He witnesses with surprise the towers,
 mantelets, and [other] fortifications belonging to the enemy: the legion having
 been drawn out, he finds that even every tenth soldier had not escaped without
 wounds. From all these things he judges with what danger and with what great
 courage matters had been conducted; he commends Cicero 
 according to his desert, and likewise the legion; he addresses individually the
 centurions and the tribunes of the soldiers, whose valor he had discovered to
 have been signal. He receives information of the death of Sabinus and Cotta from the prisoners. An
 assembly being held the following day, he states the occurrence; he consoles and
 encourages the soldiers; he suggests, that the disaster, which had been
 occasioned by the misconduct and rashness of his lieutenant, should be borne
 with a patient mind, because by the favor of the immortal gods and their own
 valor, neither was lasting joy left to the enemy, nor very lasting grief to
 them.

In the mean while the report respecting the victory of Caesar is conveyed to Labienus through the
 country of the Remi with incredible speed, so that,
 though he was about sixty miles distant from the winter-quarter of Cicero , and Caesar had arrived
 there after the ninth hour, before midnight a shout arose at the gates of the
 camp, by which shout an indication of the victory and a congratulation on the
 part of the Remi were given to Labienus . This report having been carried to the Treviri , Indutiomarus , who had resolved to attack the
 camp of Labienus the following day, flies by night and
 leads back all his forces into the country of the Treviri . Caesar sends back Fabius with his legion to his winter-quarters; he himself
 determines to winter with three legions near Samarobriva in three
 different quarters, and, because such great commotions had arisen in Gaul , he resolved to remain during the whole winter with the army
 himself. For the disaster respecting the death of Sabinus having been circulated among them, almost all the states of
 Gaul were deliberating about war, sending messengers and embassies
 into all quarters, inquiring what further measure they should take, and holding
 councils by night in secluded places. Nor did any period of the whole winter
 pass over without fresh anxiety to Caesar , or, without
 his receiving some intelligence respecting the meetings and commotions of the
 Gauls . Among these, he is informed by L. Roscius , the lieutenant whom he had placed over the
 thirteenth legion, that large forces of those states of the Gauls , which are called the Armoricae , had assembled
 for the purpose of attacking him and were not more than eight miles distant; but
 intelligence respecting the victory of Caesar being
 carried [to them], had retreated in such a manner that their departure appeared
 like a flight.

But Caesar , having summoned to him the principal persons
 of each state, in one case by alarming them, since he declared that he knew what
 was going on, and in another case by encouraging them, retained a great part of
 Gaul in its allegiance. The Senones , however, which is a state eminently powerful and one of
 great influence among the Gauls , attempting by
 general design to slay Cavarinus , whom Caesar had created king among them (whose brother,
 Moritasgus , had held the sovereignty at the period of the
 arrival of Caesar in Gaul , and whose
 ancestors had also previously held it), when he discovered their plot and fled,
 pursued him even to the frontiers [of the state], and drove him from his kingdom
 and his home; and, after having sent embassadors to Caesar for the purpose of concluding a peace, when he ordered all
 their senate to come to him, did not obey that command. So far did it operate
 among those barbarian people, that there were found some to be the first to wage
 war; and so great a change of inclinations did it produce in all, that, except
 the Aedui and the Remi , whom Caesar had always held in especial honor, the one people
 for their long standing and uniform fidelity toward the Roman people, the other for their late service in the
 Gallic war, there was scarcely a state which was not suspected
 by us. And I do not know whether that ought much to be wondered at, as well for
 several other reasons, as particularly because they who ranked above all nations
 for prowess in war, most keenly regretted that they had lost so much of that
 reputation as to submit to commands from the Roman 
 people.

But the Triviri and Indutiomarus let no part of the
 entire winter pass without sending embassadors across the Rhine
 , importuning the states, promising money, and asserting that, as a large
 portion of our army had been cut off, a much smaller portion remained. However,
 none of the German States could be induced to cross the Rhine
 , since "they had twice essayed it," they said, "in the war with
 Ariovistus and in the passage of the Tenchtheri 
 there; that fortune was not to be tempted any more." Indutiomarus 
 disappointed in this expectation, nevertheless began to raise troops, and
 discipline them, and procure horses from the neighboring people, and allure to
 him by great rewards the outlaws and convicts throughout Gaul . And such
 great influence had he already acquired for himself in Gaul by these
 means, that embassies were flocking to him in all directions, and seeking,
 publicly and privately, his favor and friendship.

When he perceived that they were coming to him voluntarily; that on the one side
 the Senones and the Carnutes were stimulated by their
 consciousness of guilt, on the other side the Nervii and the
 Aduatuci were preparing war against the Romans , and that forces of volunteers would not be wanting to him if
 he began to advance from his own territories, he proclaims an armed council
 (this according to the custom of the Gauls in the
 commencement of war) at which, by a common law, all the youth were wont to
 assemble in arms, whoever of them comes last is killed in the sight of the whole
 assembly after being racked with every torture. In that council he declares
 Cingetorix , the leader of the other faction, his own son-in-law
 (whom we have above mentioned, as having embraced the protection of Caesar , and never having deserted him) an enemy and
 confiscates his property. When these things were finished, he asserts in the
 council that he, invited by the Senones and the Carnutes , and several other states of
 Gaul , was about to march thither through the territories of the
 Remi , devastate their lands, and attack the camp
 of Labienus : before he does that, he informs them of
 what he desires to be done.

Labienus , since he was confining himself within a camp
 strongly fortified by the nature of the ground and by art, had no apprehensions
 as to his own and the legion's danger, but was devising that he might throw away
 no opportunity of conducting the war successfully. Accordingly, the speech of
 Indutiomarus , which he had delivered in the council, having
 been made known [to him] by Cingetorix and his allies, he sends
 messengers to the neighboring states and summons horse from all quarters: he
 appoints to them a fixed day for assembling. In the mean time,
 Indutiomarus , with all his cavalry, nearly every day used to
 parade close to his [Labienus '] camp; at one time, that he might
 inform himself of the situation of the camp; at another time, for the purpose of
 conferring with or of intimidating him. Labienus 
 confined his men within the fortifications, and promoted the enemy's belief of
 his fear by whatever methods he could.

Since Indutiomarus was daily advancing up to the camp with greater
 defiance, all the cavalry of the neighboring states which he [ Labienus ] had taken care to have sent for, having been admitted in
 one night, he confined all his men within the camp by guards with such great
 strictness, that that fact could by no means be reported or carried to the Treviri . In the mean while, Indutiomarus , according to
 his daily practice, advances up to the camp and spends a great part of the day
 there: his horse cast their weapons, and with very insulting language call out
 our men to battle. No reply being given by our men, the enemy, when they thought
 proper, depart toward evening in a disorderly and scattered manner, Labienus unexpectedly sends out all the cavalry by two
 gates; he gives this command and prohibition, that, when the enemy should be
 terrified and put to flight (which he foresaw would happen, as it did), they
 should all make for Indutiomarus , and no one wound any man before
 he should have seen him slain, because he was unwilling that he should escape,
 in consequence of gaining time by the delay [occasioned by the pursuit] of the
 rest. He offers great rewards for those who should kill him: he sends up the
 cohorts as a relief to the horse. The issue justifies the policy of the man, and
 since all aimed at one, Indutiomarus is slain, having been
 overtaken at the very ford of the river, and his head is carried to the camp,
 the horse, when returning, pursue and slay all whom they can. This affair having
 been known, all the forces of the Eburones and the
 Nervii which had assembled, depart; and for a short time after
 this action, Caesar was less harassed in the government
 of Gaul .

Caesar , expecting for many reasons a greater commotion
 in Gaul , resolves to hold a levy by the means of M.
 Silanus C. Antistius Reginus , and T.
 Sextius , his lieutenants: at the same time he requested Cn.
 Pompey , the proconsul, that since he was remaining near the city
 invested with military command for the interests of the commonwealth, he would
 command those men whom when consul [ 55 B.C.] he had
 levied by the military oath in Cisalpine Gaul , to join
 their respective corps, and to proceed to him; thinking it of great importance,
 as far as regarded the opinion which the Gauls would
 entertain for the future, that that the resources of Italy 
 should appear so great that if any loss should be sustained in war, not only
 could it be repaired in a short time, but likewise be further supplied by still
 larger forces. And when Pompey had granted this to the interests of
 the commonwealth and the claims of friendship, Caesar 
 having quickly completed the levy by means of his lieutenants, after three
 regiments had been both formed and brought to him before the winter [had]
 expired, and the number of those cohorts which he had lost under Q. Titurius had been doubled, taught the Gauls , both by his dispatch and by his forces what the
 discipline and the power of the Roman people could
 accomplish.

Indutiomarus having been slain, as we have stated, the government
 was conferred upon his relatives by the Treviri . They cease not to importune the neighboring Germans and to promise them money: when they could not
 obtain [their object] from those nearest them, they try those more remote.
 Having found some states willing to accede to their wishes, they enter into a
 compact with them by a mutual oath, and give hostages as a security for the
 money: they attach Ambiorix to them by an alliance and confederacy.
 Caesar , on being informed of their acts, since he
 saw that war was being prepared on all sides, that the Nervii ,
 Aduatuci , and Menapii , with the addition of all
 the Germans on this side of the Rhine
 were under arms, that the Senones did not assemble according to his command, and were
 concerting measures with the Carnutes and the neighboring states,
 that the Germans were importuned by the Treviri in frequent embassies, thought that he ought to take
 measures for the war earlier [than usual].

Accordingly, while the winter was not yet ended, having concentrated the four
 nearest legions, he marched unexpectedly into the territories of the
 Nervii , and before they could either assemble or retreat, after
 capturing a large number of cattle and of men, and wasting their lands and
 giving up that booty to the soldiers, compelled them to enter into a surrender
 and give him hostages. That business having been speedily executed, he again led
 his legions back into winter-quarters. Having proclaimed a council of Gaul in the beginning of the spring, as he had been accustomed [to
 do], when the deputies from the rest, except the Senones , the Carnutes , and the Treviri , had come, judging this to be the commencement of war and
 revolt, that he might appear to consider all things of less consequence [than
 that war], he transfers the council to Lutetia of the Parisii . These were adjacent to the Senones , and had united their state to them during the memory of
 their fathers, but were thought to have no part in the present plot. Having
 proclaimed this from the tribunal, he advances the same day toward the Senones with his legions, and arrives among them by long marches.

Acco , who had been the author of that enterprise, on being informed
 of his arrival, orders the people to assemble in the towns; to them, while
 attempting this, and before it could be accomplished, news is brought that the
 Romans are close at hand: through necessity they
 give over their design and send embassadors to Caesar 
 for the purpose of imploring pardon; they make advances to him through the
 Aedui , whose state was from ancient times under the protection
 of Rome . Caesar readily grants them pardon,
 and receives their excuse, at the request of the Aedui , because he
 thought that the summer season was one for an impending war, not for an
 investigation. Having imposed one hundred hostages, he delivers these to the
 Aedui to be held in charge by them. To the same place the
 Carnutes send embassadors and hostages, employing as their
 mediators the Remi , under whose protection they were:
 they receive the same answers. Caesar concludes the
 council and imposes a levy of cavalry on the states.

This part of Gaul having been tranquilized,
 he applies himself entirely both in mind and soul to the war with the Treviri and Ambiorix . He orders Cavarinus 
 to march with him with the cavalry of the Senones , lest any commotion should arise either out of his hot
 temper, or out of the hatred of the state which he had incurred. After arranging
 these things, as he considered it certain that Ambiorix would not
 contend in battle, he watched his other plans attentively. The
 Menapii bordered on the territories of the
 Eburones , and were protected by one continued extent of
 morasses and woods; and they alone out of Gaul had never sent embassadors
 to Caesar on the subject of peace. Caesar knew that a tie of hospitality subsisted between them and
 Ambiorix : he also discovered that the latter had entered into
 an alliance with the Germans by means of the Treviri . Ho thought that these auxiliaries ought to be
 detached from him before he provoked him to war; lest he, despairing of safety,
 should either proceed to conceal himself in the territories of the
 Menapii , or should be driven to coalesce with the Germans beyond the Rhine . Having entered upon
 this resolution, he sends the baggage of the whole army to Labienus , in the territories of the Treviri and orders two legions to proceed to him: he himself
 proceeds against the Menapii with five lightly-equipped legions.
 They, having assembled no troops, as they relied on the defense of their
 position, retreat into the woods and morasses, and convey thither all their
 property.

Caesar , having divided his forces with C. Fabius , his lieutenant, and M. Crassus 
 his questor, and having hastily constructed some bridges, enters their country
 in three divisions, burns their houses and villages, and gets possession of a
 large number of cattle and men. Constrained by these circumstances the
 Menapii send embassadors to him for the purpose of suing for
 peace. He, after receiving hostages, assures them that he will consider them in
 the number of his enemies if they shall receive within their territories either
 Ambiorix or his embassadors. Having determinately settled these
 things, he left among the Menapii , Commius the
 Atrebatian , with some cavalry as a guard; he himself proceeds
 toward the Treviri .

While these things are being performed by Caesar , the
 Treviri , having drawn together large forces of infantry and
 cavalry, were preparing to attack Labienus and the
 legion which was wintering in their territories, and were already not further
 distant from him than a journey of two days, when they learn that two legions
 had arrived by the order of Caesar . Having pitched
 their camp fifteen miles off, they resolve to await the support of the Germans . Labienus , having
 learned the design of the enemy, hoping that through their rashness there would
 be some opportunity of engaging, after leaving a guard of five cohorts for the
 baggage, advances against the enemy with twenty-five cohorts and a large body of
 cavalry, and, leaving the space of a mile between them, fortifies his camp.
 There was between Labienus and the enemy a river
 difficult to cross, and with steep banks: this neither did he himself design to
 cross, nor did he suppose the enemy would cross it. Their hope of auxiliaries
 was daily increasing. He [Labienus] openly says in a council that
 "since the Germans are said to be approaching, he
 would not bring into uncertainty his own and the army's fortunes, and the next
 day would move his camp at early dawn." These words are quickly carried to the
 enemy, since out of so large a number of cavalry composed of Gauls , nature compelled some to favor the Gallic 
 interests. Labienus , having assembled the tribunes of
 the soldiers and principal centurions by night, states what his design is, and,
 that he may the more easily give the enemy a belief of his fears, he orders the
 camp to be moved with greater noise and confusion than was usual with the Roman people. By these means he makes his departure
 [appear] like a retreat. These things, also, since the camps were so near, are
 reported to the enemy by scouts before daylight.

Scarcely had the rear advanced beyond the fortifications when the Gauls , encouraging one another "not to cast from their
 hands the anticipated booty, that it was a tedious thing, while the Romans were panic-stricken, to be waiting for the aid
 of the Germans , and that their dignity did not suffer
 them to fear to attack with such great forces so small a band, particularly when
 retreating and encumbered," do not hesitate to cross the river and give battle
 in a disadvantageous position. Labienus suspecting that
 these things would happen, was proceeding quietly, and using the same pretense
 of a march, in order that he might entice them across the river. Then, having
 sent forward the baggage some short distance and placed it on a certain
 eminence, he says, "Soldiers, you have the opportunity you have sought: you hold
 the enemy in an encumbered and disadvantageous position: display to us, your
 leaders, the same valor you have ofttimes displayed to your general: imagine
 that he is present and actually sees these exploits." At the same time he orders
 the troops to face about toward the enemy and form in line of battle, and,
 dispatching a few troops of cavalry as a guard for the baggage, he places the
 rest of the horse on the wings. Our men, raising a shout, quickly throw their
 javelins at the enemy. They, when, contrary to their expectation, they saw those
 whom they believed to be retreating, advance toward them with threatening
 banners, were not able to sustain even the charge, and, being put to flight at
 the first onslaught, sought the nearest woods; Labienus 
 pursuing them with the cavalry, upon a large number being slain, and several
 taken prisoners, got possession of the state a few days after; for the Germans , who were coming to the aid of the Treviri , having been informed of their flight, retreated to their
 homes. The relations of Indutiomarus , who had been the promoters of
 the revolt, accompanying them, quitted their own state with them. The supreme
 power and government were delivered to Cingetorix , whom we have
 stated to have remained firm in his allegiance from the commencement.

Caesar , after he came from the territories of the
 Menapii into those of the Treviri , resolved for two reasons to cross the Rhine
 ; one of which was, because they had sent assistance to the Treviri against him; the other, that Ambiorix might
 not have a retreat among them. Having determined on these matters, he began to
 build a bridge a little above that place where he had before conveyed over his
 army. The plan having been known and laid down, the work is accomplished in a
 few days by the great exertion of the soldiers. Having left a strong guard at
 the bridge on the side of the Treviri , lest any commotion should suddenly arise among them, he
 leads over the rest of the forces and the cavalry. The Ubii , who
 before had sent hostages and come to a capitulation, send embassadors to him,
 for the purpose of vindicating themselves, to assure him that "neither had
 auxiliaries been sent to the Treviri from their state, nor had they violated their allegiance;"
 they entreat and beseech him "to spare them, lest, in his common hatred of the
 Germans , the innocent should suffer the penalty
 of the guilty: they promise to give more hostages, if he desire them." Having
 investigated the case, Caesar finds that the
 auxiliaries had been sent by the Suevi ; he accepts the apology of
 the Ubii , and makes the minute inquiries concerning the approaches
 and the routes to the territories of the Suevi .

In the mean time he is informed by the Ubii , a few days after, that
 the Suevi are drawing all their forces into one place, and are
 giving orders to those nations which are under their government to send
 auxiliaries of infantry and of cavalry. Having learned these things, he provides
 a supply of corn, selects a proper place for his camp, and commands the
 Ubii to drive off their cattle and carry away all their
 possessions from the country parts into the towns, hoping that they, being a
 barbarous and ignorant people, when harassed by the want of provisions, might be
 brought to an engagement on disadvantageous terms: he orders them to send
 numerous scouts among the Suevi , and learn what things are going on
 among them. They execute the orders, and, a few days having intervened, report
 that all the Suevi , after certain intelligence concerning the army
 of the Romans had come, retreated with all their own
 forces and those of their allies, which they had assembled, to the utmost
 extremities of their territories: that there is a wood there of very great
 extent, which is called Bacenis ; that this stretches a great way
 into the interior, and, being opposed as a natural barrier, defends from
 injuries and incursions the Cherusci against the
 Suevi , and the Suevi against the
 Cherusci : that at the entrance of that forest the
 Suevi had determined to await the coming up of the Romans .

Since we have come to the place, it does not appear to be foreign to our subject
 to lay before the reader an account of the manners of Gaul and Germany , and wherein
 these nations differ from each other. In Gaul there are factions not only
 in all the states, and in all the cantons and their divisions, but almost in
 each family, and of these factions those are the leaders who are considered
 according to their judgment to possess the greatest influence, upon whose will
 and determination the management of all affairs and measures depends. And that
 seems to have been instituted in ancient times with this view, that no one of
 the common people should be in want of support against one more powerful; for,
 none [of those leaders] suffers his party to be oppressed and defrauded, and if
 he do otherwise, he has no influence among his party. This same policy exists
 throughout the whole of Gaul ; for all the states are
 divided into two factions.

When Caesar arrived in Gaul , the
 Aedui were the leaders of one faction, the Sequani 
 of the other. Since the latter were less powerful by themselves, inasmuch as the
 chief influence was from of old among the Aedui , and their
 dependencies were great, they had united to themselves the Germans and Ariovistus , and had brought them over to
 their party by great sacrifices and promises. And having fought several
 successful battles and slain all the nobility of the Aedui , they
 had so far surpassed them in power, that they brought over, from the
 Aedui to themselves, a large portion of their dependents and
 received from them the sons of their leading men as hostages, and compelled them
 to swear in their public character that they would enter into no design against
 them; and held a portion of the neighboring land, seized on by force, and
 possessed the sovereignty of the whole of Gaul . Divitiacus 
 urged by this necessity, had proceeded to Rome to the senate, for the
 purpose of entreating assistance, and had returned without accomplishing his
 object. A change of affairs ensued on the arrival of Caesar , the hostages were returned to the Aedui , their
 old dependencies restored, and new acquired through Caesar (because those who had attached themselves to their alliance
 saw that they enjoyed a better state and a milder government), their other
 interests, their influence, their reputation were likewise increased, and in
 consequence, the Sequani lost the sovereignty. The Remi succeeded to their place, and, as it was perceived that they
 equaled the Aedui in favor with Caesar ,
 those, who on account of their old animosities could by no means coalesce with
 the Aedui , consigned themselves in clientship to the Remi . The latter carefully protected them. Thus they
 possessed both a new and suddenly acquired influence. Affairs were then in that
 position that the Aedui were considered by far the leading people,
 and the Remi held the second post of honor.

Throughout all Gaul there are two orders of
 those men who are of any rank and dignity: for the commonality is held almost in
 the condition of slaves, and dares to undertake nothing of itself, and is
 admitted to no deliberation. The greater part, when they are pressed either by
 debt, or the large amount of their tributes, or the oppression of the more
 powerful, give themselves up in vassalage to the nobles, who possess over them
 the same rights without exception as masters over their slaves. But of these two
 orders, one is that of the Druids , the other that of the knights.
 The former are engaged in things sacred, conduct the public and the private
 sacrifices, and interpret all matters of religion. To these a large number of
 the young men resort for the purpose of instruction, and they [the
 Druids] are in great honor among them. For they determine
 respecting almost all controversies, public and private; and if any crime has
 been perpetrated, if murder has been committed, if there be any dispute about an
 inheritance, if any about boundaries, these same persons decide it; they decree
 rewards and punishments; if any one, either in a private or public capacity, has
 not submitted to their decision, they interdict him from the sacrifices. This
 among them is the most heavy punishment. Those who have been thus interdicted
 are esteemed in the number of the impious and the criminal: all shun them, and
 avoid their society and conversation, lest they receive some evil from their
 contact; nor is justice administered to them when seeking it, nor is any dignity
 bestowed on them. Over all these Druids one presides, who possesses
 supreme authority among them. Upon his death, if any individual among the rest
 is pre-eminent in dignity, he succeeds; but, if there are many equal, the
 election is made by the suffrages of the Druids ; sometimes they
 even contend for the presidency with arms. These assemble at a fixed period of
 the year in a consecrated place in the territories of the Carnutes ,
 which is reckoned the central region of the whole of Gaul . Hither all,
 who have disputes, assemble from every part, and submit to their decrees and
 determinations. This institution is supposed to have been devised in Britain , and to
 have been brought over from it into Gaul ; and now those who desire
 to gain a more accurate knowledge of that system generally proceed thither for
 the purpose of studying it.

The Druids do not go to war, nor pay tribute together with the rest;
 they have an exemption from military service and a dispensation in all matters.
 Induced by such great advantages, many embrace this profession of their own
 accord, and [many] are sent to it by their parents and relations. They are said
 there to learn by heart a great number of verses; accordingly some remain in the
 course of training twenty years. Nor do they regard it lawful to commit these to
 writing, though in almost all other matters, in their public and private
 transactions, they use Greek characters. That practice they seem to
 me to have adopted for two reasons; because they neither desire their doctrines
 to be divulged among the mass of the people, nor those who learn, to devote
 themselves the less to the efforts of memory, relying on writing; since it
 generally occurs to most men, that, in their dependence on writing, they relax
 their diligence in learning thoroughly, and their employment of the memory. They
 wish to inculcate this as one of their leading tenets, that souls do not become
 extinct, but pass after death from one body to another, and they think that men
 by this tenet are in a great degree excited to valor, the fear of death being
 disregarded. They likewise discuss and impart to the youth many things
 respecting the stars and their motion, respecting the extent of the world and of
 our earth, respecting the nature of things, respecting the power and the majesty
 of the immortal gods.

The other order is that of the knights. These, when there is occasion and any war
 occurs (which before Caesar 's arrival was for the most
 part wont to happen every year, as either they on their part were inflecting
 injuries or repelling those which others inflected on them), are all engaged in
 war. And those of them most distinguished by birth and resources, have the
 greatest number of vassals and dependents about them. They acknowledge this sort
 of influence and power only.

The nation of all the Gauls is extremely devoted to
 superstitious rites; and on that account they who are troubled with unusually
 severe diseases, and they who are engaged in battles and dangers, either
 sacrifice men as victims, or vow that they will sacrifice them, and employ the
 Druids as the performers of those sacrifices; because they
 think that unless the life of a man be offered for the life of a man, the mind
 of the immortal gods can not be rendered propitious, and they have sacrifices of
 that kind ordained for national purposes. Others have figures of vast size, the
 limbs of which formed of osiers they fill with living men, which being set on
 fire, the men perish enveloped in the flames. They consider that the oblation of
 such as have been taken in theft, or in robbery, or any other offense, is more
 acceptable to the immortal gods; but when a supply of that class is wanting,
 they have recourse to the oblation of even the innocent.

They worship as their divinity, Mercury in particular, and have many images of
 him, and regard him as the inventor of all arts, they consider him the guide of
 their journeys and marches, and believe him to have great influence over the
 acquisition of gain and mercantile transactions. Next to him they worship Apollo , and Mars , and Jupiter , and Minerva ; respecting these
 deities they have for the most part the same belief as other nations: that Apollo averts diseases, that Minerva imparts the invention of manufactures, that Jupiter possesses the sovereignty of the heavenly powers; that
 Mars presides over wars. To him, when they have
 determined to engage in battle, they commonly vow those things which they shall
 take in war. When they have conquered, they sacrifice whatever captured animals
 may have survived the conflict, and collect the other things into one place. In
 many states you may see piles of these things heaped up in their consecrated
 spots; nor does it often happen that any one, disregarding the sanctity of the
 case, dares either to secrete in his house things captured, or take away those
 deposited; and the most severe punishment, with torture, has been established
 for such a deed.

All the Gauls assert that they are descended from the
 god Dis , and say that this tradition has been handed down by the
 Druids . For that reason they compute the divisions of every
 season, not by the number of days, but of nights; they keep birthdays and the
 beginnings of months and years in such an order that the day follows the night.
 Among the other usages of their life, they differ in this from almost all other
 nations, that they do not permit their children to approach them openly until
 they are grown up so as to be able to bear the service of war; and they regard
 it as indecorous for a son of boyish age to stand in public in the presence of
 his father.

Whatever sums of money the husbands have received in the name of dowry from their
 wives, making an estimate of it, they add the same amount out of their own
 estates. An account is kept of all this money conjointly, and the profits are
 laid by: whichever of them shall have survived [the other], to that one the
 portion of both reverts together with the profits of the previous time. Husbands
 have power of life and death over their wives as well as over their children:
 and when the father of a family, born in a more than commonly distinguished
 rank, has died, his relations assemble, and, if the circumstances of his death
 are suspicious, hold an investigation upon the wives in the manner adopted
 toward slaves; and, if proof be obtained, put them to severe torture, and kill
 them. Their funerals, considering the state of civilization among the Gauls , are magnificent and costly; and they cast into
 the fire all things, including living creatures, which they suppose to have been
 dear to them when alive; and, a little before this period, slaves and
 dependents, who were ascertained to have been beloved by them, were, after the
 regular funeral rites were completed, burnt together with them.

Those states which are considered to conduct their commonwealth more judiciously,
 have it ordained by their laws, that, if any person shall have heard by rumor
 and report from his neighbors any thing concerning the commonwealth, he shall
 convey it to the magistrate, and not impart it to any other; because it has been
 discovered that inconsiderate and inexperienced men were often alarmed by false
 reports, and driven to some rash act, or else took hasty measures in affairs of
 the highest importance. The magistrates conceal those things which require to be
 kept unknown; and they disclose to the people whatever they determine to be
 expedient. It is not lawful to speak of the commonwealth, except in council.

The Germans differ much from these usages, for they
 have neither Druids to preside over sacred offices, nor do they pay
 great regard to sacrifices. They rank in the number of the gods those alone whom
 they behold, and by whose instrumentality they are obviously benefited, namely,
 the sun, fire, and the moon; they have not heard of the other deities even by
 report. Their whole life is occupied in hunting and in the pursuits of the
 military art; from childhood they devote themselves to fatigue and hardships.
 Those who have remained chaste for the longest time, receive the greatest
 commendation among their people; they think that by this the growth is promoted,
 by this the physical powers are increased and the sinews are strengthened. And
 to have had knowledge of a woman before the twentieth year they reckon among the
 most disgraceful acts; of which matter there is no concealment, because they
 bathe promiscuously in the rivers and [only] use skins or small cloaks of deer's
 hides, a large portion of the body being in consequence naked.

They do not pay much attention to agriculture, and a large portion of their food
 consists in milk, cheese, and flesh; nor has any one a fixed quantity of land or
 his own individual limits; but the magistrates and the leading men each year
 apportion to the tribes and families, who have united together, as much land as,
 and in the place in which, they think proper, and the year after compel them to
 remove elsewhere. For this enactment they advance many reasons-lest seduced by
 long-continued custom, they may exchange their ardor in the waging of war for
 agriculture; lest they may be anxious to acquire extensive estates, and the more
 powerful drive the weaker from their possessions; lest they construct their
 houses with too great a desire to avoid cold and heat; lest the desire of wealth
 spring up, from which cause divisions and discords arise; and that they may keep
 the common people in a contented state of mind, when each sees his own means
 placed on an equality with [those of] the most powerful.

It is the greatest glory to the several states to have as wide deserts as
 possible around them, their frontiers having been laid waste. They consider this
 the real evidence of their prowess, that their neighbors shall be driven out of
 their lands and abandon them, and that no one dare settle near them; at the same
 time they think that they shall be on that account the more secure, because they
 have removed the apprehension of a sudden incursion. When a state either repels
 war waged against it, or wages it against another, magistrates are chosen to
 preside over that war with such authority, that they have power of life and
 death. In peace there is no common magistrate, but the chiefs of provinces and
 cantons administer justice and determine controversies among their own people.
 Robberies which are committed beyond the boundaries of each state bear no
 infamy, and they avow that these are committed for the purpose of disciplining
 their youth and of preventing sloth. And when any of their chiefs has said in an
 assembly "that he will be their leader, let those who are willing to follow,
 give in their names;" they who approve of both the enterprise and the man arise
 and promise their assistance and are applauded by the people; such of them as
 have not followed him are accounted in the number of deserters and traitors, and
 confidence in all matters is afterward refused them. To injure guests they
 regard as impious; they defend from wrong those who have come to them for any
 purpose whatever, and esteem them inviolable; to them the houses of all are open
 and maintenance is freely supplied.

And there was formerly a time when the Gauls excelled
 the Germans in prowess, and waged war on them
 offensively, and, on account of the great number of their people and the
 insufficiency of their land, sent colonies over the Rhine .
 Accordingly, the Volcae Tectosages , seized on those parts of Germany which are the
 most fruitful [and lie] around the Hercynian forest, (which, I
 perceive, was known by report to Eratosthenes and some other
 Greeks , and which they call Orcynia ), and settled
 there. Which nation to this time retains its position in those settlements, and
 has a very high character for justice and military merit; now also they continue
 in the same scarcity, indigence, hardihood, as the Germans , and use the same food and dress; but their proximity to the
 Province and knowledge of commodities from countries beyond the sea supplies to
 the Gauls many things tending to luxury as well as
 civilization. Accustomed by degrees to be overmatched and worsted in many
 engagements, they do not even compare themselves to the Germans in prowess.

The breadth of this Hercynian forest, which has been referred to
 above, is to a quick traveler, a journey of nine days. For it can not be
 otherwise computed, nor are they acquainted with the measures of roads. It
 begins at the frontiers of the Helvetii ,
 Nemetes , and Rauraci , and extends in a right line
 along the river Danube to the territories of the
 Daci and the Anartes ; it bends thence to the left
 in a different direction from the river, and owing to its extent touches the
 confines of many nations; nor is there any person belonging to this part of
 Germany who says that
 he either has gone to the extremity of that forest, though he had advanced a
 journey of sixty days, or has heard in what place it begins. It is certain that
 many kinds of wild beast are produced in it which have not been seen in other
 parts; of which the following are such as differ principally from other animals,
 and appear worthy of being committed to record.

There is an ox of the shape of a stag, between whose ears a horn rises from the
 middle of the forehead, higher and straighter than those horns which are known
 to us. From the top of this, branches, like palms, stretch out a considerable
 distance. The shape of the female and of the male is the, same; the appearance
 and the size of the horns is the same.

There are also [animals] which are called elks. The shape of these, and the
 varied color of their skins, is much like roes, but in size they surpass them a
 little and are destitute of horns, and have legs without joints and ligatures;
 nor do they lie down for the purpose of rest, nor, if they have been thrown down
 by any accident, can they raise or lift themselves up. Trees serve as beds to
 them; they lean themselves against them, and thus reclining only slightly, they
 take their rest; when the huntsmen have discovered from the footsteps of these
 animals whither they are accustomed to betake themselves, they either undermine
 all the trees at the roots, or cut into them so far that the upper part of the
 trees may appear to be left standing. When they have leant upon them, according
 to their habit, they knock down by their weight the unsupported trees, and fall
 down themselves along with them.

There is a third kind, consisting of those animals which are called uri. These
 are a little below the elephant in size, and of the appearance, color, and shape
 of a bull. Their strength and speed are extraordinary; they spare neither man
 nor wild beast which they have espied. These the Germans take with much pains in pits and kill them. The young men
 harden themselves with this exercise, and practice themselves in this kind of
 hunting, and those who have slain the greatest number of them, having produced
 the horns in public, to serve as evidence, receive great praise. But not even
 when taken very young can they be rendered familiar to men and tamed. The size,
 shape, and appearance of their horns differ much from the horns of our oxen.
 These they anxiously seek after, and bind at the tips with silver, and use as
 cups at their most sumptuous entertainments.

Caesar , after he discovered through the
 Ubian scouts that the Suevi had retired into their
 woods, apprehending a scarcity of corn, because, as we have observed above, all
 the Germans pay very little attention to agriculture,
 resolved not to proceed any further; but, that he might not altogether relieve
 the barbarians from the fear of his return, and that he might delay their
 succors, having led back his army, he breaks down, to the length of 200 feet,
 the further end of the bridge, which joined the banks of the Ubii ,
 and at the extremity of the bridge raises towers of four stories, and stations a
 guard of twelve cohorts for the purpose of defending the bridge, and strengthens
 the place with considerable fortifications. Over that fort and guard he
 appointed C. Volcatius Tullus , a young man; he himself,
 when the corn began to ripen, having set forth for the war with
 Ambiorix (through the forest Arduenna , which is
 the largest of all Gaul , and reaches from the banks
 of the Rhine and the frontiers of
 the Treviri to those of the Nervii , and extends over more
 than 500 miles), he sends forward L. Minucius Basilus 
 with all the cavalry, to try if he might gain any advantage by rapid marches and
 the advantage of time, he warns him to forbid fires being made in the camp, lest
 any indication of his approach be given at a distance: he tells him that he will
 follow immediately.

Basilus does as he was commanded; having performed his
 march rapidly, and even surpassed the expectations of all, he surprises in the
 fields many not expecting him; through their information he advances toward
 Ambiorix himself, to the place in which he was said to be with
 a few horse. Fortune accomplishes much, not only in other matters, but also in
 the art of war. For as it happened by a remarkable chance, that he fell upon
 [ Ambiorix ] himself unguarded and unprepared, and that his
 arrival was seen by the people before the report or information of his arrival
 was carried thither; so it was an incident of extraordinary fortune that,
 although every implement of war which he was accustomed to have about him was
 seized, and his chariots and horses surprised, yet he himself escaped death. But
 it was effected owing to this circumstance, that his house being surrounded by a
 wood (as are generally the dwellings of the Gauls ,
 who, for the purpose of avoiding heat, mostly seek the neighborhood of woods and
 rivers), his attendants and friends in a narrow spot sustained for a short time
 the attack of our horse. While they were fighting, one of his followers mounted
 him on a horse; the woods sheltered him as he fled. Thus fortune tended much
 both toward his encountering and his escaping danger.

Whether Ambiorix did not collect his forces from cool deliberation,
 because he considered he ought not to engage in a battle, or [whether] he was
 debarred by time and prevented by the sudden arrival of our horse, when he
 supposed the rest of the army was closely following, is doubtful: but certainly,
 dispatching messengers through the country, he ordered every one to provide for
 himself; and a part of them fled into the forest Arduenna , a part
 into the extensive morasses; those who were nearest the ocean concealed
 themselves in the islands which the tides usually form; many, departing from
 their territories, committed themselves and all their possessions to perfect
 strangers. Cativolcus , king of one half of the
 Eburones , who had entered into the design together with
 Ambiorix , since, being now worn out by age, he was unable to
 endure the fatigue either of war or flight, having cursed Ambiorix 
 with every imprecation, as the person who had been the contriver of that
 measure, destroyed himself with the juice of the yew-tree, of which there is a
 great abundance in Gaul and Germany .

The Segui and Condrusi , of the nation and
 number of the Germans , and who are between the
 Eburones and the Treviri , sent embassadors to Caesar to
 entreat that he would not regard them in the number of his enemies, nor consider
 that the cause of all the Germans on this side the
 Rhine was one and the same; that they had formed no plans of war,
 and had sent no auxiliaries to Ambiorix . Caesar , having ascertained this fact by an examination of his
 prisoners, commanded that if any of the Eburones in their flight
 had repaired to them, they should be sent back to him; he assures them that if
 they did that, he will not injure their territories. Then, having divided his
 forces into three parts, he sent the baggage of all the legions to
 Aduatuca . That is the name of a fort. This is nearly in the
 middle of the Eburones , where Titurius and
 Aurunculeius had been quartered for the purpose of
 wintering. This place he selected as well on other accounts as because the
 fortifications of the previous year remained, in order that he might relieve the
 labor of the soldiers. He left the fourteenth legion as a guard for the baggage,
 one of those three which he had lately raised in Italy and
 brought over. Over that legion and camp he places Q. Tullius
 Cicero and gives him 200 horse.

Having divided the army, he orders T. Labienus to
 proceed with three legions toward the ocean into those parts which border on the
 Menapii ; he sends C. Trebonius with a
 like number of legions to lay waste that district which lies contiguous to the
 Aduatuci ; he himself determines to go with the remaining three
 to the river Sambre , which flows into the Meuse , and to the most remote parts of Arduenna ,
 whither he heard that Ambiorix had gone with a few horse. When
 departing, he promises that he will return before the end of the seventh day, on
 which day he was aware corn was due to that legion which was being left in
 garrison. He directs Labienus and Trebonius to return by the same day, if they can do so agreeably to
 the interests of the republic; so that their measures having been mutually
 imparted, and the plans of the enemy having been discovered, they might be able
 to commence a different line of operations.

There was, as we have above observed, no regular army, nor a town, nor a garrison
 which could defend itself by arms; but the people were scattered in all
 directions. Where either a hidden valley, or a woody spot, or a difficult morass
 furnished any hope of protection or of security to any one, there he had fixed
 himself. These places were known to those who dwelt in the neighborhood, and the
 matter demanded great attention, not so much in protecting the main body of the
 army (for no peril could occur to them altogether from those alarmed and
 scattered troops), as in preserving individual soldiers; which in some measure
 tended to the safety of the army. For both the desire of booty was leading many
 too far, and the woods with their unknown and hidden routes would not allow them
 to go in large bodies. If he desired the business to be completed and the race
 of those infamous people to be cut off, more bodies of men must be sent in
 several directions and the soldiers must be detached on all sides; if he were
 disposed to keep the companies at their standards, as the established discipline
 and practice of the Roman army required, the
 situation itself was a safeguard to the barbarians, nor was there wanting to
 individuals the daring to lay secret ambuscades and beset scattered soldiers.
 But amid difficulties of this nature as far as precautions could be taken by
 vigilance, such precautions were taken; so that some opportunities of injuring
 the enemy were neglected, though the minds of all were burning to take revenge,
 rather than that injury should be effected with any loss to our soldiers. Caesar dispatches messengers to the neighboring states;
 by the hope of booty he invites all to him, for the purpose of plundering the
 Eburones , in order that the life of the Gauls might be hazarded in the woods rather than the legionary
 soldiers; at the same time, in order that a large force being drawn around them,
 the race and name of that state may be annihilated for such a crime. A large
 number from all quarters speedily assembles.

These things were going on in all parts of the territories of the
 Eburones , and the seventh day was drawing near, by which day
 Caesar had purposed to return to the baggage and
 the legion. Here it might be learned how much fortune achieves in war, and how
 great casualties she produces. The enemy having been scattered and alarmed, as
 we related above, there was no force which might produce even a slight occasion
 of fear. The report extends beyond the Rhine to the Germans that the Eburones are being
 pillaged, and that all were without distinction invited to the plunder. The
 Sigambri , who are nearest to the Rhine , by whom,
 we have mentioned above, the Tenchtheri and Usipetes 
 were received after their retreat, collect 2,000 horse; they cross the Rhine
 in ships and barks thirty miles below that place where the bridge was
 entire and the garrison left by Caesar ; they arrive at
 the frontiers of the Eburones , surprise many who were scattered in
 flight, and get possession of a large amount of cattle, of which barbarians are
 extremely covetous. Allured by booty, they advance further; neither
 morass nor forest obstructs these men, born amid war and depredations; they
 inquire of their prisoners in what part Caesar is; they
 find that he has advanced further, and learn that all the army has removed.
 Thereon one of the prisoners says, "Why do you pursue such wretched and trifling
 spoil; you, to whom it is granted to become even now most richly endowed by
 fortune? In three hours you can reach Aduatuca ; there the Roman army has deposited all its fortunes; there is so
 little of a garrison that not even the wall can be manned, nor dare any one go
 beyond the fortifications." A hope having been presented them, the Germans leave in concealment the plunder they had
 acquired; they themselves hasten to Aduatuca , employing as their
 guide the same man by whose information they had become informed of these
 things.

Cicero , who during all the foregoing days had kept his
 soldiers in camp with the greatest exactness, and agreeable to the injunctions
 of Caesar , had not permitted even any of the
 camp-followers to go beyond the fortification, distrusting on the seventh day
 that Caesar would keep his promise as to the number of
 days, because he heard that he had proceeded further, and no report as to his
 return was brought to him, and being urged at the same time by the expressions
 of those who called his tolerance almost a siege, if, forsooth, it was not
 permitted them to go out of the camp, since he might expect no disaster, whereby
 he could be injured, within three miles of the camp, while nine legions and all
 the cavalry were under arms, and the enemy scattered and almost annihilated,
 sent five cohorts into the neighboring corn-lands, between which and the camp
 only one hill intervened, for the purpose of foraging. Many soldiers of the
 legions had been left invalided in the camp, of whom those who had recovered in
 this space of time, being about 300, are sent together under one standard; a
 large number of soldiers' attendants besides, with a great number of beasts of
 burden, which had remained in the camp, permission being granted, follow them.

At this very time, the German horse by chance came up,
 and immediately, with the same speed with which they had advanced, attempt to
 force the camp at the Decuman gate, nor were they seen, in
 consequence of woods lying in the way on that side, before they were just
 reaching the camp: so much so, that the sutlers who had their booths under the
 rampart had not an opportunity of retreating within the camp. Our men, not
 anticipating it, are perplexed by the sudden affair, and the cohort on the
 outpost scarcely sustains the first attack. The enemy spread themselves on the
 other sides to ascertain if they could find any access. Our men with difficulty
 defend the gates; the very position of itself and the fortification secures the
 other accesses. There is a panic in the entire camp, and one inquires of another
 the cause of the confusion, nor do they readily determine whither the standards
 should be borne, nor into what quarter each should betake himself. One avows
 that the camp is already taken, another maintains that, the enemy having
 destroyed the army and commander-in-chief, are come hither as conquerors; most
 form strange superstitious fancies from the spot, and place before their eyes
 the catastrophe of Cotta and Titurius , who had fallen in the same fort. All being greatly
 disconcerted by this alarm, the belief of the barbarians is strengthened that
 there is no garrison within, as they had heard from their prisoner. They
 endeavor to force an entrance and encourage one another not to cast from their
 hands so valuable a prize.

P. Sextius Baculus , who had led a principal century
 under Caesar (of whom we have made mention in previous
 engagements), had been left an invalid in the garrison, and had now been five
 days without food. He, distrusting his own safety and that of all, goes forth
 from his tent unarmed; he sees that the enemy are close at hand and that the
 matter is in the utmost danger; he snatches arms from those nearest, and
 stations himself at the gate. The centurions of that cohort which was on guard
 follow him; for a short time they sustain the fight together. Sextius faints, after receiving many wounds; he is with difficulty
 saved, drawn away by the hands of the soldiers. This space having intervened,
 the others resume courage so far as to venture to take their place on the
 fortifications and present the aspect of defenders.

The foraging having in the mean time been completed, our soldiers distinctly hear
 the shout; the horse hasten on before and discover in what danger the affair is.
 But here there is no fortification to receive them, in their alarm: those last
 enlisted, and unskilled in military discipline turn their faces to the military
 tribune and the centurions; they wait to find what orders may be given by them.
 No one is so courageous as not to be disconcerted by the suddenness of the
 affair. The barbarians, espying our standard in the distance, desist from the
 attack; at first they suppose that the legions, which they had learned from
 their prisoners had removed further off, had returned; afterward, despising
 their small number, they make an attack on them at all sides.

The camp-followers run forward to the nearest rising ground; being speedily
 driven from this they throw themselves among the standards and companies: they
 thus so much the more alarm the soldiers already affrighted. Some propose that,
 forming a wedge, they suddenly break through, since the camp was so near; and if
 any part should be surrounded and slain, they fully trust that at least the rest
 may be saved; others, that they take their stand on an eminence, and all undergo
 the same destiny. The veteran soldiers whom we stated to have set out together
 [with the others] under a standard, do not approve of this. Therefore
 encouraging each other, under the conduct of Caius Trebonius , a
 Roman knight, who had been appointed over them,
 they break through the midst of the enemy, and arrive in the camp safe to a man.
 The camp attendants and the horse following close upon them with the same
 impetuosity, are saved by the courage of the soldiers. But those who had taken
 their stand upon the eminence having even now acquired no experience of military
 matters, neither could persevere in that resolution which they approved of,
 namely, to defend themselves from their higher position, nor imitate that vigor
 and speed which they had observed to have availed others; but, attempting to
 reach the camp, had descended into an unfavorable situation. The centurions,
 some of whom had been promoted for their valor from the lower ranks of other
 legions to higher ranks in this legion, in order that they might not forfeit
 their glory for military exploits previously acquired, fell together fighting
 most valiantly. The enemy having been dislodged by their valor, a part of the
 soldiers arrived safe in camp contrary to their expectations; a part perished,
 surrounded by the barbarians.

The Germans , despairing of taking the camp by storm,
 because they saw that our men had taken up their position on the fortifications,
 retreated beyond the Rhine with that plunder which
 they had deposited in the woods. And so great was the alarm, even after the
 departure of the enemy, that when C. Volusenus , who had
 been sent with the cavalry, arrived that night, he could not gain credence that
 Caesar was close at hand with his army safe. Fear
 had so pre-occupied the minds of all, that their reason being almost estranged,
 they said that all the other forces having been cut off, the cavalry alone had
 arrived there by flight, and asserted that, if the army were safe, the Germans would not have attacked the camp; which fear
 the arrival of Caesar removed.

He, on his return, being well aware of the casualties of war, complained of one
 thing [only], namely, that the cohorts had been sent away from the outposts and
 garrison [duty], and pointed out that room ought not to have been left for even
 the most trivial casualty; that fortune had exercised great influence in the
 sudden arrival of their enemy; much greater, in that she had turned the
 barbarians away from the very rampart and gates of the camp. Of all which
 events, it seemed the most surprising, that the Germans , who had crossed the Rhine with this object, that
 they might plunder the territories of Ambiorix , being led to the
 camp of the Romans , rendered Ambiorix a
 most acceptable service.

Caesar , having again marched to harass the enemy, after
 collecting a large number [of auxiliaries] from the neighboring states,
 dispatches them in all directions. All the villages and all the buildings, which
 each beheld, were on fire: spoil was being driven off from all parts; the corn
 not only was being consumed by so great numbers of cattle and men, but also had
 fallen to the earth, owing to the time of the year and the storms; so that if
 any had concealed themselves for the present, still, it appeared likely that
 they must perish through want of all things, when the army should be drawn off.
 And frequently it came to that point, as so large a body of cavalry had been
 sent abroad in all directions, that the prisoners declared Ambiorix 
 had just then been seen by them in flight, and had not even passed out of sight,
 so that the hope of overtaking him being raised, and unbounded exertions having
 been resorted to, those who thought they should acquire the highest favor with
 Caesar , nearly overcame nature by their ardor, and
 continually, a little only seemed wanting to complete success; but he rescued
 himself by [means of] lurking-places and forests, and, concealed by the night
 made for other districts and quarters, with no greater guard than that of four
 horsemen, to whom along he ventured to confide his life.

Having devastated the country in such a manner, Caesar 
 leads back his army with the loss of two cohorts to Durocortorum of the Remi , and, having
 summoned a council of Gaul to assemble at that place,
 he resolved to hold an investigation respecting the conspiracy of the Senones and Carnutes , and having pronounced a most
 severe sentence upon Acco , who had been the contriver of that plot,
 he punished him after the custom of our ancestors. Some fearing a trial, fled;
 when he had forbidden these fire and water, he stationed in winter quarters two
 legions at the frontiers of the Treviri , two among the Lingones , the remaining six at Agendicum ,
 in the territories of the Senones ; and, having provided corn for the army, he set out for
 Italy , as he had
 determined, to hold the assizes.

Gaul being tranquil, Caesar , as he had
 determined, sets out for Italy to hold the
 provincial assizes. There he receives intelligence of the death of
 Clodius ; and, being informed of the decree of the senate, [to
 the effect] that all the youth of Italy should take the
 military oath, he determined to hold a levy throughout the entire province.
 Report of these events is rapidly borne into Transalpine Gaul . The
 Gauls themselves add to the report, and invent what the case
 seemed to require, [namely] that Caesar was detained by
 commotions in the city, and could not, amid so violent dissensions, come to his
 army. Animated by this opportunity, they who already, previously to this
 occurrence, were indignant that they were reduced beneath the dominion of Rome
 , begin to organize their plans for war more openly and daringly. The
 leading men of Gaul , having convened councils
 among themselves in the woods, and retired places, complain of the death of
 Acco : they point out that this fate may fall in turn on
 themselves: they bewail the unhappy fate of Gaul ; and by every sort of
 promises and rewards, they earnestly solicit some to begin the war, and assert
 the freedom of Gaul at the hazard of their
 lives. They say that special care should be paid to this, that Caesar should be cut off from his army before their secret plans
 should be divulged. That this was easy, because neither would the legions, in
 the absence of their general, dare to leave their winter quarters, nor could the
 general reach his army without a guard: finally, that it was better to be slain
 in battle, than not to recover their ancient glory in war, and that freedom
 which they had received from their forefathers.

While these things are in agitation, the Carnutes declare "that they
 would decline no danger for the sake of the general safety, and promise" that
 they would be the first of all to begin the war; and since they can not at
 present take precautions, by giving and receiving hostages, that the affair
 shall not be divulged, they require that a solemn assurance be given them by
 oath and plighted honor, their military standards being brought together (in
 which manner their most sacred obligations are made binding), that they should
 not be deserted by the rest of the Gauls on
 commencing the war.

When the appointed day came, the Carnutes , under the command of
 Cotuatus and Conetodunus , desperate men, meet
 together at Genabum , and slay the Roman citizens who
 had settled there for the purpose of trading (among the rest, Caius Fusius
 Cita , a distinguished Roman knight, who by
 Caesar 's orders had presided over the provision
 department), and plunder their property. The report is quickly spread among all
 the states of Gaul ; for, whenever a more
 important and remarkable event takes place, they transmit the intelligence
 through their lands and districts by a shout; the others take it up in
 succession, and pass it to their neighbors, as happened on this occasion; for
 the things which were done at Genabum at sunrise, were heard in the territories of the
 Arverni before the end of the first watch, which is an extent
 of more than a hundred and sixty miles.

There in like manner, Vercingetorix the son of
 Celtillus the Arvernian , a young man of the
 highest power (whose father had held the supremacy of entire Gaul , and had been put to death by his fellow-citizens, for this
 reason, because he aimed at sovereign power), summoned together his dependents,
 and easily excited them. On his design being made known, they rush to arms: he
 is expelled from the town of Gergovia , by his uncle Gobanitio and the rest of the
 nobles, who were of opinion, that such an enterprise ought not to be hazarded:
 he did not however desist, but held in the country a levy of the needy and
 desperate. Having collected such a body of troops, he brings over to his
 sentiments such of his fellow-citizens as he has access to: he exhorts them to
 take up arms in behalf of the general freedom, and having assembled great forces
 he drives from the state his opponents, by whom he had been expelled a short
 time previously. He is saluted king by his partisans; he sends embassadors in
 every direction, he conjures them to adhere firmly to their promise. He quickly
 attaches to his interests the Senones , Parisii , Pictones , Cadurci , Turones , Aulerci , Lemovice , and all the
 others who border on the ocean; the supreme command is conferred on him by
 unanimous consent. On obtaining this authority, he demands hostages from all
 these states, he orders a fixed number of soldiers to be sent to him
 immediately; he determines what quantity of arms each state shall prepare at
 home, and before what time; he pays particular attention to the cavalry. To the
 utmost vigilance he adds the utmost rigor of authority; and by the severity of
 his punishments brings over the wavering: for on the commission of a greater
 crime he puts the perpetrators to death by fire and every sort of tortures; for
 a slighter cause, he sends home the offenders with their ears cut off, or one of
 their eyes put out, that they may be an example to the rest, and frighten others
 by the severity of their punishment.

Having quickly collected an army by their punishments, he sends
 Lucterius , one of the Cadurci , a man the utmost
 daring, with part of his forces, into the territory of the Ruteni ;
 and marches in person into the country of the Bituriges . On his
 arrival, the Bituriges send embassadors to the Aedui ,
 under whose protection they were, to solicit aid in order that they might more
 easily resist the forces of the enemy. The Aedui , by the advice of
 the lieutenants whom Caesar had left with the army,
 send supplies of horse and foot to succor the Bituriges . When they
 came to the river Loire , which separates the
 Bituriges from the Aedui , they delayed a few days
 there, and, not daring to pass the river, return home, and send back word to the
 lieutenants that they had returned through fear of the treachery of the
 Bituriges , who, they ascertained, had formed this design, that
 if the Aedui should cross the river, the Bituriges on
 the one side, and the Arverni on the other, should surround them.
 Whether they did this for the reason which they alleged to the lieutenants, or
 influenced by treachery, we think that we ought not to state as certain, because
 we have no proof. On their departure, the Bituriges immediately
 unite themselves to the Arverni .

These affairs being announced to Caesar in Italy , at the time when he understood that matters in the city had
 been reduced to a more tranquil state by the energy of Cneius
 Pompey , he set out for Transalpine Gaul . After he had
 arrived there, he was greatly at a loss to know by what means he could reach his
 army. For if he should summon the legions into the province, he was aware that
 on their march they would have to fight in his absence; he foresaw too that if
 he himself should endeavor to reach the army, he would act injudiciously, in
 trusting his safety even to those who seemed to be tranquilized.

In the mean time Lucterius the Cadurcan , having been
 sent into the country of the Ruteni , gains over that state to the
 Arverni . Having advanced into the country of the
 Nitiobriges , and Gabali , he receives hostages from
 both nations, and, assembling a numerous force, marches to make a descent on the
 province in the direction of Narbo . Caesar , when this circumstance was
 announced to him, thought that the march to Narbo ought to take the precedence of all his other plans. When he
 arrived there, he encourages the timid and stations garrisons among the
 Ruteni , in the province of the Volcae Arecomici ,
 and the country around Narbo which was in the vicinity of the enemy; he orders a portion
 of the forces from the province, and the recruits which he had brought from
 Italy , to rendezvous
 among the Helvii who border on the territories of the
 Arverni .

These matters being arranged, and Lucterius now checked and forced
 to retreat, because he thought it dangerous to enter the line of Roman garrisons, Caesar 
 marches into the country of the Helvii ; although mount Cevennes
 , which separates the Arverni from the Helvii ,
 blocked up the way with very deep snow, as it was the severest season of the
 year; yet having cleared away the snow to the depth of six feet, and having
 opened the roads, he reaches the territories of the Arverni , with
 infinite labor to his soldiers. This people being surprised, because they
 considered themselves defended by the Cevennes
 as by a wall, and the paths at this season of the year had never before
 been passable even to individuals, he orders the cavalry to extend themselves as
 far as they could, and strike as great a panic as possible into the enemy. These
 proceedings are speedily announced to Vercingetorix by rumor and
 his messengers. Around him all the Arverni crowd in alarm, and
 solemnly entreat him to protect their property, and not to suffer them to be
 plundered by the enemy, especially as he saw that all the war was transferred
 into their country. Being prevailed upon by their entreaties he moves his camp
 from the country of the Bituriges in the direction of the
 Arverni .

Caesar , having delayed two days in that place, because
 he had anticipated that, in the natural course of events, such would be the
 conduct of Vercingetorix , leaves the army under pretense of raising
 recruits and cavalry: he places Brutus , a young man, in
 command of these forces; he gives him instructions that the cavalry should range
 as extensively as possible in all directions; that he would exert himself not to
 be absent from the camp longer than three days. Having arranged these matters,
 he marches to Vienna by as long journeys as he can, when his own soldiers did not
 expect him. Finding there a fresh body of cavalry, which he had sent on to that
 place several days before, marching incessantly night and day, he advanced
 rapidly through the territory of the Aedui into that of the Lingones , in which two legions were wintering, that, if any plan
 affecting his own safety should have been organized by the Aedui ,
 he might defeat it by the rapidity of his movements. When he arrived there, he
 sends information to the rest of the legions, and gathers all his army into one
 place before intelligence of his arrival could be announced to the
 Arverni . Vercingetorix , on hearing this
 circumstance, leads back his army into the country of the
 Bituriges ; and after marching from it to Gergovia , a town of the Boii , whom Caesar had settled there after defeating them in the
 Helvetian war, and had rendered tributary to the
 Aedui , he determined to attack it.

This action caused great perplexity to Caesar in the
 selection of his plans; [he feared] lest, if he should confine his legions in
 one place for the remaining portion of the winter, all Gaul should revolt
 when the tributaries of the Aedui were subdued, because it would
 appear that there was in him no protection for his friends; but if he should
 draw them too soon out of their winter quarters, he might be distressed by the
 want of provisions, in consequence of the difficulty of conveyance. It seemed
 better, however, to endure every hardship than to alienate the affections of all
 his allies, by submitting to such an insult. Having, therefore, impressed on the
 Aedui the necessity of supplying him with provisions, he sends
 forward messengers to the Boii to inform them of his arrival, and
 encourage them to remain firm in their allegiance, and resist the attack of the
 enemy with great resolution. Having left two legions and the luggage of the
 entire army at Agendicum , he marches to the
 Boii .

On the second day, when he came to Vellaunodunum , a town of the
 Senones , he determined to attack it, in order that he might not
 leave an enemy in his rear, and might the more easily procure supplies of
 provisions, and draw a line of circumvallation around it in two days: on the
 third day, embassadors being sent from the town to treat of a capitulation, he
 orders their arms to be brought together, their cattle to be brought forth, and
 six hundred hostages to be given. He leaves Caius Trebonius his
 lieutenant, to complete these arrangements; he himself sets out with the
 intention of marching as soon as possible, to Genabum , a town of the Carnutes , who having then for
 the first time received information of the siege of Vellaunodunum ,
 as they thought that it would be protracted to a longer time, were preparing a
 garrison to send to Genabum for the defense of that town. Caesar arrived here in two days; after pitching his camp before the
 town, being prevented by the time of the day, he defers the attack to the next
 day, and orders his soldiers to prepare whatever was necessary for that
 enterprise; and as a bridge over the Loire connected the town of
 Genabum with the opposite bank, fearing lest the inhabitants should
 escape by night from the town, he orders two legions to keep watch under arms.
 The people of Genabum came forth silently from the city before midnight, and
 began to cross the river. When this circumstance was announced by scouts, Caesar , having set fire to the gates, sends in the
 legions which he had ordered to be ready, and obtains possession of the town so
 completely, that very few of the whole number of the enemy escaped being taken
 alive, because the narrowness of the bridge and the roads prevented the
 multitude from escaping. He pillages and burns the town, gives the booty to the
 soldiers, then leads his army over the Loire , and marches into the
 territories of the Bituriges .

Vercingetorix , when he ascertained the arrival of Caesar , desisted from the siege [of Gergovia] , and
 marched to meet Caesar . The latter had commenced to
 besiege Noviodunum ; and when embassadors came from this town to beg that he
 would pardon them and spare their lives, in order that he might execute the rest
 of his designs with the rapidity by which he had accomplished most of them, he
 orders their arms to be collected, their horses to be brought forth, and
 hostages to be given. A part of the hostages being now delivered up, when the
 rest of the terms were being performed, a few centurions and soldiers being sent
 into the town to collect the arms and horses, the enemy's cavalry which had
 outstripped the main body of Vercingetorix 's army, was seen at a
 distance; as soon as the townsmen beheld them, and entertained hopes of
 assistance, raising a shout, they began to take up arms, shut the gates, and
 line the walls. When the centurions in the town understood from the
 signal-making of the Gauls that they were forming
 some new design, they drew their swords and seized the gates, and recovered all
 their men safe.

Caesar orders the horse to be drawn out of the camp, and
 commences a cavalry action. His men being now distressed, Caesar sends to their aid about four hundred German horse, which he had determined, at the beginning, to keep
 with himself. The Gauls could not withstand their attack, but were
 put to flight, and retreated to their main body, after losing a great number of
 men. When they were routed, the townsmen, again intimidated, arrested those
 persons by whose exertions they thought that the mob had been roused, and
 brought them to Caesar , and surrendered themselves to
 him. When these affairs were accomplished, Caesar 
 marched to the Avaricum , which was the largest and best fortified town in the
 territories of the Bituriges , and situated in a most fertile tract
 of country; because he confidently expected that on taking that town, he would
 reduce beneath his dominion the state of the Bituriges .

Vercingetorix , after sustaining such a series of losses at Vellaunodunum , Genabum , and Noviodunum , summons his men to a council. He impresses on them
 "that the war must be prosecuted on a very different system from that which had
 been previously adopted; but they should by all means aim at this object, that
 the Romans should be prevented from foraging and
 procuring provisions; that this was easy, because they themselves were well
 supplied with cavalry, and were likewise assisted by the season of the year;
 that forage could not be cut; that the enemy must necessarily disperse, and look
 for it in the houses, that all these might be daily destroyed by the horse.
 Besides that the interests of private property must be neglected for the sake of
 the general safety; that the villages and houses ought to be fired, over such an
 extent of country in every direction from Boia , as the Romans appeared capable of scouring in their search for
 forage. That an abundance of these necessaries could be supplied to them,
 because they would be assisted by the resources of those in whose territories
 the war would be waged: that the Romans either would
 not bear the privation, or else would advance to any distance from the camp with
 considerable danger; and that it made no difference whether they slew them or
 stripped them of their baggage, since, if it was lost, they could not carry on
 the war. Besides that, the towns ought to be burned which were not secured
 against every danger by their fortifications or natural advantages; that there
 should not be places of retreat for their own countrymen for declining military
 service, nor be exposed to the Romans as inducements
 to carry off abundance of provisions and plunder. If these sacrifices should
 appear heavy or galling, that they ought to consider it much more distressing
 that their wives and children should be dragged off to slavery, and themselves
 slain; the evils which must necessarily befall the conquered.

This opinion having been approved of by unanimous consent, more than twenty towns
 of the Bituriges are burned in one day. Conflagrations 
 are beheld in every quarter; and although all bore this with great regret, yet
 they laid before themselves this consolation, that, as the victory was certain,
 they could quickly recover their losses. There is a debate concerning Avaricum in the general council, whether they should decide, that
 it should be burned or defended. The Bituriges threw themselves at
 the feet of all the Gauls , and entreat that they
 should not be compelled to set fire with their own hands to the fairest city of
 almost the whole of Gaul , which was both a
 protection and ornament to the state; they say that "they could easily defend
 it, owing to the nature of the ground, for, being inclosed almost on every side
 by a river and a marsh, it had only one entrance, and that very narrow."
 Permission being granted to them at their earnest request,
 Vercingetorix at first dissuades them from it, but afterward
 concedes the point, owing to their entreaties and the compassion of the
 soldiers. A proper garrison is selected for the town.

Vercingetorix follows closely upon Caesar 
 by shorter marches, and selects for his camp a place defended by woods and
 marshes, at the distance of fifteen miles from Avaricum . There he received intelligence by trusty scouts, every
 hour in the day, of what was going on at Avaricum , and ordered whatever he wished to be done; he closely
 watched all our expeditions for corn and forage, and whenever they were
 compelled to go to a greater distance, he attacked them when dispersed, and
 inflicted severe loss upon them; although the evil was remedied by our men, as
 far as precautions could be taken, by going forth at irregular times' and by
 different ways.

Caesar pitching his camp at that side of the town which
 was not defended by the river and marsh, and had a very narrow approach, as we
 have mentioned, began to raise the vineae and erect two towers: for the nature
 of the place prevented him from drawing a line of circumvallation. He never
 ceased to importune the Boii and Aedui for supplies of
 corn; of whom the one [the Aedui] , because they were acting with no
 zeal, did not aid him much; the others [the Boii] , as their
 resources were not great, quickly consumed what they had. Although the army was
 distressed by the greatest want of corn, through the poverty of the
 Boii , the apathy of the Aedui , and the burning of
 the houses, to such a degree, that for several days the soldiers were without
 corn, and satisfied their extreme hunger with cattle driven from the remote
 villages; yet no language was heard from them unworthy of the majesty of the
 Roman people and their former victories.
 Moreover, when Caesar addressed the legions, one by
 one, when at work, and said that he would raise the siege, if they felt the
 scarcity too severely, they unanimously begged him "not to do so; that they had
 served for several years under his command in such a manner that they never
 submitted to insult, and never abandoned an enterprise without accomplishing it;
 that they should consider it a disgrace if they abandoned the siege after
 commencing it; that it was better to endure every hardship than to not avenge
 the names of the Roman citizens who perished at Genabum by the perfidy of the Gauls ."
 They intrusted the same declarations to the centurions and military tribunes,
 that through them they might be communicated to Caesar .

When the towers had now approached the walls, Caesar 
 ascertained from the captives that Vercingetorix after destroying
 the forage, had pitched his camp nearer Avaricum , and that he himself with the cavalry and light-armed
 infantry, who generally fought among the horse, had gone to lay an ambuscade in
 that quarter, to which he thought that our troops would come the next day to
 forage. On learning these facts, he set out from the camp secretly at midnight,
 and reached the camp of the enemy early in the morning. They having quickly
 learned the arrival of Caesar by scouts, hid their cars
 and baggage in the thickest parts of the woods, and drew up all their forces in
 a lofty and open space: which circumstance being announced, Caesar immediately ordered the baggage to be piled, and the arms to
 be got ready.

There was a hill of a gentle ascent from the bottom; a dangerous and impassable
 marsh, not more than fifty feet broad, begirt it on almost every side. The
 Gauls , having broken down the bridges, posted themselves on
 this hill, in confidence of their position, and being drawn up in tribes
 according to their respective states, held all the fords and passages of that
 marsh with trusty guards, thus determined that if the Romans should attempt to force the marsh, they would overpower them
 from the higher ground while sticking in it, so that whoever saw the nearness of
 the position, would imagine that the two armies were prepared to fight on almost
 equal terms; but whoever should view accurately the disadvantage of position,
 would discover that they were showing off an empty affectation of courage. Caesar clearly points out to his soldiers, who were
 indignant that the enemy could bear the sight of them at the distance of so
 short a space, and were earnestly demanding the signal for action, "with how
 great loss and the death of how many gallant men the victory would necessarily
 be purchased: and when he saw them so determined to decline no danger for his
 renown, that he ought to be considered guilty of the utmost injustice if he did
 not hold their life dearer than his personal safety." Having thus consoled his
 soldiers, he leads them back on the same day to the camp, and determined to
 prepare the other things which were necessary for the siege of the town.

Vercingetorix , when he had returned to his men, was accused of
 treason, in that he had moved his camp nearer the Romans , in that he had gone away with all the cavalry, in that he
 had left so great forces without a commander, in that, on his departure, the
 Romans had come at such a favorable season, and
 with such dispatch; that all these circumstances could not have happened
 accidentally or without design; that he preferred holding the sovereignty of
 Gaul by the grant of Caesar to acquiring it
 by their favor. Being accused in such a manner, he made the following reply to
 these charges:-"That his moving his camp had been caused by want of forage, and
 had been done even by their advice; that his approaching near the Romans had been a measure dictated by the favorable
 nature of the ground, which would defend him by its natural strength; that the
 service of the cavalry could not have been requisite in marshy ground, and was
 useful in that place to which they had gone; that he, on his departure, had
 given the supreme command to no one intentionally, lest he should be induced by
 the eagerness of the multitude to hazard an engagement, to which he perceived
 that all were inclined, owing to their want of energy, because they were unable
 to endure fatigue any longer. That, if the Romans in
 the mean time came up by chance, they [the Gauls] should feel
 grateful to fortune; if invited by the information of some one they should feel
 grateful to him, because they were enabled to see distinctly from the higher
 ground the smallness of the number of their enemy, and despise the courage of
 those who, not daring to fight, retreated disgracefully into their camp. That he
 desired no power from Caesar by treachery, since he
 could have it by victory, which was now assured to himself and to all the Gauls ; nay, that he would even give them back the
 command, if they thought that they conferred honor on him, rather than received
 safety from him. That you may be assured," said he, "that I speak these words
 with truth; -listen to these Roman soldiers!" He
 produces some camp-followers whom he had surprised on a foraging expedition some
 days before, and had tortured by famine and confinement. They being previously
 instructed in what answers they should make when examined, say, "That they were
 legionary soldiers, that, urged by famine and want, they had recently gone forth
 from the camp, [to see] if they could find any corn or cattle in the fields;
 that the whole army was distressed by a similar scarcity, nor had any one now
 sufficient strength, nor could bear the labor of the work; and therefore that
 the general was determined, if he made no progress in the siege, to draw off his
 army in three days." "These benefits," says Vercingetorix , "you
 receive from me, whom you accuse of treason-me, by whose exertions you see so
 powerful and victorious an army almost destroyed by famine, without shedding one
 drop of your blood; and I have taken precautions that no state shall admit
 within its territories this army in its ignominious flight from this place."

The whole multitude raise a shout and clash their arms, according to their
 custom, as they usually do in the case of him of whose speech they approve;
 [they exclaim] that Vercingetorix was a consummate general, and
 that they had no doubt of his honor; that the war could not be conducted with
 greater prudence. They determine that ten thousand men should be picked out of
 the entire army and sent into the town, and decide that the general safety
 should not be intrusted to the Bituriges alone, because they were
 aware that the glory of the victory must rest with the Bituriges ,
 if they made good the defense of the town.

To the extraordinary valor of our soldiers, devices of every sort were opposed by
 the Gauls ; since they are a nation of consummate
 ingenuity, and most skillful in imitating and making those things which are
 imparted by any one; for they turned aside the hooks with nooses, and when they
 had caught hold of them firmly, drew them on by means of engines, and undermined
 the mound the more skillfully on this account, because there are in their
 territories extensive iron mines, and consequently every description of mining
 operations is known and practiced by them. They had furnished, more over, the
 whole wall on every side with turrets, and had covered them with skins. Besides,
 in their frequent sallies by day and night, they attempted either to set fire to
 the mound, or attack our soldiers when engaged in the works; and, moreover, by
 splicing the upright timbers of their own towers, they equaled the height of
 ours, as fast as the mound had daily raised them, and countermined our mines,
 and impeded the working of them by stakes bent and sharpened at the ends, and
 boiling pitch and stones of very great weight, and prevented them from
 approaching the walls.

But this is usually the form of all the Gallic walls. Straight
 beams, connected lengthwise and two feet distant from each other at equal
 intervals, are placed together on the ground; these are mortised on the inside,
 and covered with plenty of earth. But the intervals which we have mentioned, are
 closed up in front by large stones. These being thus laid and cemented together,
 another row is added above, in such a manner, that the same interval may be
 observed, and that the beams may not touch one another, but equal spaces
 intervening, each row of beams is kept firmly in its place by a row of stones.
 In this manner the whole wall is consolidated, until the regular height of the
 wall be completed. This work, with respect to appearance and variety, is not
 unsightly, owing to the alternate rows of beams and stones, which preserve their
 order in right lines; and, besides, it possesses great advantages as regards
 utility and the defense of cities; for the stone protects it from fire, and the
 wood from the battering ram, since it [the wood] being mortised in the inside
 with rows of beams, generally forty feet each in length, can neither be broken
 through nor torn asunder.

The siege having been impeded by so many disadvantages, the soldiers, although
 they were retarded during the whole time by the mud, cold, and constant showers,
 yet by their incessant labor overcame all these obstacles, and in twenty-five
 days raised a mound three hundred and thirty feet broad and eighty feet high.
 When it almost touched the enemy's walls, and Caesar ,
 according to his usual custom, kept watch at the work, and encouraged the
 soldiers not to discontinue the work for a moment: a little before the third
 watch they discovered that the mound was sinking, since the enemy had set it on
 fire by a mine; and at the same time a shout was raised along the entire wall,
 and a sally was made from two gates on each side of the turrets. Some at a
 distance were casting torches and dry wood from the wall on the mound, others
 were pouring on it pitch, and other materials, by which the flame might be
 excited, so that a plan could hardly be formed, as to where they should first
 run to the defense, or to what part aid should be brought. However, as two
 legions always kept guard before the camp by Caesar 's
 orders, and several of them were at stated times at the work, measures were
 promptly taken, that some should oppose the sallying party, others draw back the
 towers and make a cut in the rampart; and moreover, that the whole army should
 hasten from the camp to extinguish the flames.

When the battle was going on in every direction, the rest of the night being now
 spent, and fresh hopes of victory always arose before the enemy: the more so on
 this account because they saw the coverings of our towers burnt away, and
 perceived, that we, being exposed, could not easily go to give assistance, and
 they themselves were always relieving the weary with fresh men, and considered
 that all the safety of Gaul rested on this crisis;
 there happened in my own view a circumstance which, having appeared to be worthy
 of record, we thought it ought not to be omitted. A certain Gaul before the gate of the town, who was casting into the fire
 opposite the turret balls of tallow and fire which were passed along to him, was
 pierced with a dart on the right side and fell dead. One of those next him
 stepped over him as he lay, and discharged the same office: when the second man
 was slain in the same manner by a wound from a cross-bow, a third succeeded him,
 and a fourth succeeded the third: nor was this post left vacant by the besieged,
 until, the fire of the mound having been extinguished, and the enemy repulsed in
 every direction, an end was put to the fighting.

The Gauls having tried every expedient, as nothing had succeeded,
 adopted the design of fleeing from the town the next day, by the advice and
 order of Vercingetorix . They hoped that, by attempting it at the
 dead of night, they would effect it without any great loss of men, because the
 camp of Vercingetorix was not far distant from the town, and the
 extensive marsh which intervened, was likely to retard the Romans in the pursuit. And they were now preparing to execute this
 by night, when the matrons suddenly ran out-into the streets, and weeping cast
 themselves at the feet of their husbands, and requested of them, with every
 entreaty, that they should not abandon themselves and their common children to
 the enemy for punishment, because the weakness of their nature and physical
 powers prevented them from taking to flight. When they saw that they (as fear
 does not generally admit of mercy in extreme danger) persisted in their
 resolution, they began to shout aloud, and give intelligence of their flight to
 the Romans . The Gauls being intimidated
 by fear of this, lest the passes should be pre-occupied by the Roman cavalry, desisted from their design.

The next day Caesar , the tower being advanced, and the
 works which he had determined to raise being arranged, a violent storm arising,
 thought this no bad time for executing his designs, because he observed the
 guards arranged on the walls a little too negligently, and therefore ordered his
 own men to engage in their work more remissly, and pointed out what he wished to
 be done. He drew up his soldiers in a secret position within the vineae, and
 exhorts them to reap, at least, the harvest of victory proportionate to their
 exertions. He proposed a reward for those who should first scale the walls, and
 gave the signal to the soldiers. They suddenly flew out from all quarters and
 quickly filled the walls.

The enemy being alarmed by the suddenness of the attack, were dislodged from the
 wall and towers, and drew up, in form of a wedge, in the market place and the
 open streets, with this intention that, if an attack should be made on any side,
 they should fight with their line drawn up to receive it. When they saw no one
 descending to the level ground, and the enemy extending themselves along the
 entire wall in every direction, fearing lest every hope of flight should be cut
 off, they cast away their arms, and sought, without stopping, the most remote
 parts of the town. A part was then slain by the infantry when they were crowding
 upon one another in the narrow passage of the gates; and a part having got
 without the gates, were cut to pieces by the cavalry: nor was there one who was
 anxious for the plunder. Thus, being excited by the massacre at Genabum and the fatigue of the siege, they spared neither those
 worn out with years, women, or children. Finally, out of all that number, which
 amounted to about forty thousand, scarcely eight hundred, who fled from the town
 when they heard the first alarm, reached Vercingetorix in safety:
 and he, the night being now far spent, received them in silence after their
 flight (fearing that any sedition should arise in the camp from their entrance
 in a body and the compassion of the soldiers), so that, having arranged his
 friends and the chiefs of the states at a distance on the road, he took
 precautions that they should be separated and conducted to their fellow
 countrymen, to whatever part of the camp had been assigned to each state from
 the beginning.

Vercingetorix having convened an assembly on the following day,
 consoled and encouraged his soldiers in the following words: "That they should
 not be too much depressed in spirit, nor alarmed at their loss; that the Romans did not conquer by valor nor in the field, but
 by a kind of art and skill in assault, with which they themselves were
 unacquainted; that whoever expected every event in the war to be favorable,
 erred; that it never was his opinion that Avaricum should be defended, of the truth of which statement he had
 themselves as witnesses, but that it was owing to the imprudence of the
 Bituriges , and the too ready compliance of the rest, that this
 loss was sustained; that, however, he would soon compensate it by superior
 advantages; for that he would, by his exertions, bring over those states which
 severed themselves from the rest of the Gauls , and
 would create a general unanimity throughout the whole of Gaul , the union of
 which not even the whole earth could withstand, and that he had it already
 almost effected; that in the mean time it was reasonable that he should prevail
 on them, for the sake of the general safety, to begin to fortify their camp, in
 order that they might the more easily sustain the sudden attacks of the enemy."

This speech was not disagreeable to the Gauls ,
 principally, because he himself was not disheartened by receiving so severe a
 loss, and had not concealed himself, nor shunned the eyes of the people: and he
 was believed to possess greater foresight and sounder judgment than the rest,
 because, when the affair was undecided, he had at first been of opinion that
 Avaricum should be burnt, and afterward that it should be
 abandoned. Accordingly, as ill success weakens the authority of other generals,
 so, on the contrary, his dignity increased daily, although a loss was sustained:
 at the same time they began to entertain hopes, on his assertion, of uniting the
 rest of the states to themselves, and on this occasion, for the first time, the
 Gauls began to fortify their camps, and were so
 alarmed that although they were men unaccustomed to toil, yet they were of
 opinion that they ought to endure and suffer every thing which should be imposed
 upon them.

Nor did Vercingetorix use less efforts than he had promised, to gain
 over the other states, and [in consequence] endeavored to entice their leaders
 by gifts and promises. For this object he selected fitting emissaries, by whose
 subtle pleading or private friendship, each of the nobles could be most easily
 influenced. He takes care that those who fled to him on the storming of Avaricum should be provided with arms and clothes. At the same time
 that his diminished forces should be recruited, he levies a fixed quota of
 soldiers from each state, and defines the number and day before which he should
 wish them brought to the camp, and orders all the archers, of whom there was a
 very great number in Gaul , to be collected and sent
 to him. By these means, the troops which were lost at Avaricum are speedily replaced. In the mean time,
 Teutomarus , the son of Ollovicon , the king of the
 Nitiobriges , whose father had received the appellation of
 friend from our senate, came to him with a great number of his own horse and
 those whom he had hired from Aquitania .

Caesar , after delaying several days at Avaricum , and, finding there the greatest plenty of corn and other
 provisions, refreshed his army after their fatigue and privation. The winter
 being almost ended, when he was invited by the favorable season of the year to
 prosecute the war and march against the enemy, [and try] whether he could draw
 them from the marshes and woods, or else press them by a blockade; some noblemen
 of the Aedui came to him as embassadors to entreat "that in an
 extreme emergency he should succor their state; that their affairs were in the
 utmost danger, because, whereas single magistrates had been usually appointed in
 ancient times and held the power of king for a single year, two persons now
 exercised this office, and each asserted that he was appointed according to
 their laws. That one of them was Convictolitanis , a powerful and
 illustrious youth; the other Cotus , sprung from a most ancient
 family, and personally a man of very great influence and extensive connections.
 His brother Valetiacus had borne the same office during the last
 year: that the whole state was up in arms; the senate divided, the people
 divided; that each of them had his own adherents; and that, if the animosity
 would be fomented any longer, the result would be that one part of the state
 would come to a collision with the other; that it rested with his activity and
 influence to prevent it."

Although Caesar considered it ruinous to leave the war
 and the enemy, yet, being well aware what great evils generally arise from
 internal dissensions, lest a state so powerful and so closely connected with the
 Roman people, which he himself had always
 fostered and honored in every respect, should have recourse to violence and
 arms, and that the party which had less confidence in its own power should
 summon aid from Vercingetorix , he determined to anticipate this
 movement; and because, by the laws of the Aedui , it was not
 permitted those who held the supreme authority to leave the country, he
 determined to go in person to the Aedui , lest he should appear to
 infringe upon their government and laws, and summoned all the senate, and those
 between whom the dispute was, to meet him at Decetia .
 When almost all the state had assembled there, and he was informed that one
 brother had been declared magistrate by the other, when only a few persons were
 privately summoned for the purpose, at a different time and place from what he
 ought, whereas the laws not only forbade two belonging to one family to be
 elected magistrates while each was alive, but even deterred them from being in
 the senate, he compelled Cotus to resign his office; he ordered
 Convictolitanis , who had been elected by the priests, according
 to the usage of the state, in the presence of the magistrates, to hold the
 supreme authority.

Having pronounced this decree between [the contending parties], he exhorted the
 Aedui to bury in oblivion their disputes and dissensions, and,
 laying aside all these things, devote themselves to the war, and expect from
 him, on the conquest of Gaul , those rewards which they
 should have earned, and send speedily to him all their cavalry and ten thousand
 infantry, which he might place in different garrisons to protect his convoys of
 provisions, and then divided his army into two parts: he gave Labienus four legions to lead into the country of the Senones and Parisii ; and led in person six into the country of the
 Arverni , in the direction of the town of Gergovia , along the banks of the Allier
 . He gave part of the cavalry to Labienus and
 kept part to himself. Vercingetorix , on learning this circumstance,
 broke down all the bridges over the river and began to march on the other bank
 of the Allier
 .

When each army was in sight of the other, and was pitching their camp almost
 opposite that of the enemy, scouts being distributed in every quarter, lest the
 Romans should build a bridge and bring over their
 troops; it was to Caesar a matter attended with great
 difficulties, lest he should be hindered from passing the river during the
 greater part of the summer, as the Allier can not generally be forded before the autumn. Therefore,
 that this might not happen, having pitched his camp in a woody place opposite to
 one of those bridges which Vercingetorix had taken care should be
 broken down, the next day he stopped behind with two legions in a secret place;
 he sent on the rest of the forces as usual, with all the baggage, after having
 selected some cohorts, that the number of the legions might appear to be
 complete. Having ordered these to advance as far as they could, when now, from
 the time of day, he conjectured they had come to an encampment, he began to
 rebuild the bridge on the same piles, the lower part of which remained entire.
 Having quickly finished the work and led his legions across, he selected a fit
 place for a camp, and recalled the rest of his troops.
 Vercingetorix , on ascertaining this fact, went before him by
 forced marches, in order that he might not be compelled to come to an action
 against his will.

Caesar , in five days' march, went from that place to
 Gergovia , and after engaging in a slight cavalry skirmish that day,
 on viewing the situation of the city, which, being built on a very high
 mountain, was very difficult of access, he despaired of taking it by storm, and
 determined to take no measures with regard to besieging it before he should
 secure a supply of provisions. But Vercingetorix , having pitched
 his camp on the mountain near the town, placed the forces of each state
 separately and at small intervals around himself, and having occupied all the
 hills of that range as far as they commanded a view [of the Roman encampment], he presented a formidable appearance; he ordered
 the rulers of the states, whom he had selected as his council of war, to come to
 him daily at the dawn, whether any measure seemed to require deliberation or
 execution. Nor did he allow almost any day to pass without testing in a cavalry
 action, the archers being intermixed, what spirit and valor there was in each of
 his own men. There was a hill opposite the town, at the very foot of that
 mountain, strongly fortified and precipitous on every side (which if our men
 could gain, they seemed likely to exclude the enemy from a great share of their
 supply of water, and from free foraging; but this place was occupied by them
 with a weak garrison): however, Caesar set out from the
 camp in the silence of night, and dislodging the garrison before succor could
 come from the town, he got possession of the place and posted two legions there,
 and drew from the greater camp to the less a double trench twelve feet broad, so
 that the soldiers could even singly pass secure from any sudden attack of the
 enemy.

While these affairs were going on at Gergovia , Convictolanis , the Aeduan , to
 whom we have observed the magistracy was adjudged by Caesar , being bribed by the Arverni , holds a conference
 with certain young men, the chief of whom were Litavicus and his
 brothers, who were born of a most noble family. He shares the bribe with them,
 and exhorts them to "remember that they were free and born for empire; that the
 state of the Aedui was the only one which retarded the most certain
 victory of the Gauls ; that the rest were held in
 check by its authority; and, if it was brought over, the Romans would not have room to stand on in Gaul ; that he had
 received some kindness from Caesar , only so far,
 however, as gaining a most just cause by his decision; but that he assigned more
 weight to the general freedom; for, why should the Aedui go to
 Caesar to decide concerning their rights and laws,
 rather than the Romans come to the
 Aedui ?" The young men being easily won over by the speech of the
 magistrate and the bribe, when they declared that they would even be leaders in
 the plot, a plan for accomplishing it was considered, because they were
 confident their state could not be induced to undertake the war on slight
 grounds. It was resolved that Litavicus should have the command of
 the ten thousand, which were being sent to Caesar for
 the war, and should have charge of them on their march, and that his brothers
 should go before him to Caesar . They arrange the other
 measures, and the manner in which they should have them done.

Litavicus , having received the command of the army, suddenly
 convened the soldiers, when he was about thirty miles distant from Gergovia , and, weeping, said, "Soldiers, whither are we going? All
 our knights and all our nobles have perished. Eporedirix and
 Viridomarus , the principal men of the state, being accused of
 treason, have been slain by the Romans without any
 permission to plead their cause. Learn this intelligence from those who have
 escaped from the massacre; for I, since my brothers and all my relations have
 been slain, am prevented by grief from declaring what has taken place. Persons
 are brought forward whom he had instructed in what he would have them say, and
 make the same statements to the soldiery as Litavicus had made:
 that all the knights of the Aedui were slain because they were said
 to have held conferences with the Arverni ; that they had concealed
 themselves among the multitude of soldiers, and had escaped from the midst of
 the slaughter. The Aedui shout aloud and conjure
 Litavicus to provide for their safety. As if, said he, it were
 a matter of deliberation, and not of necessity, for us to go to Gergovia and unite ourselves to the Arverni . Or have
 we any reasons to doubt that the Romans , after
 perpetrating the atrocious crime, are now hastening to slay us? Therefore, if
 there be any spirit in us, let us avenge the death of those who have perished in
 a most unworthy manner, and let us slay these robbers." He points to the Roman citizens, who had accompanied them, in reliance
 on his protection. He immediately seizes a great quantity of corn and
 provisions, cruelly tortures them, and then puts them to death, sends messengers
 throughout the entire state of the Aedui , and rouses them
 completely by the same falsehood concerning the slaughter of their knights and
 nobles; he earnestly advises them to avenge, in the same manner as he did, the
 wrongs, which they had received.

Eporedirix , the Aeduan , a young man born in the
 highest rank and possessing very great influence at home, and, along with
 Viridomarus , of equal age and influence, but of inferior birth,
 whom Caesar had raised from a humble position to the
 highest rank, on being recommended to him by Divitiacus , had come
 in the number of horse, being summoned by Caesar by
 name. These had a dispute with each other for precedence, and in the struggle
 between the magistrates they had contended with their utmost efforts, the one
 for Convictolitanis , the other for Cotus . Of these
 Eporedirix , on learning the design of Litavicus ,
 lays the matter before Caesar almost at midnight; he
 entreats that Caesar should not suffer their state to
 swerve from the alliance with the Roman people, owing
 to the depraved counsels of a few young men which he foresaw would be the
 consequence if so many thousand men should unite themselves to the enemy, as
 their relations could not neglect their safety, nor the state regard it as a
 matter of slight importance.

Caesar felt great anxiety on this intelligence, because
 he had always especially indulged the state of the Aedui , and,
 without any hesitation, draws out from the camp four light-armed legions and all
 the cavalry: nor had he time, at such a crisis, to contract the camp, because
 the affair seemed to depend upon dispatch. He leaves Caius Fabius ,
 his lieutenant, with two legions to guard the camp. When he ordered the brothers
 of Litavicus to be arrested, he discovers that they had fled a
 short time before to the camp of the enemy. He encouraged his soldiers "not to
 be disheartened by the labor of the journey on such a necessary occasion," and,
 after advancing twenty-five miles, all being most eager, he came in sight of the
 army of the Aedui , and, by sending on his cavalry, retards and
 impedes their march; he then issues strict orders to all his soldiers to kill no
 one. He commands Eporedirix and Viridomarus , who they
 thought were killed, to move among the cavalry and address their friends. When
 they were recognized and the treachery of Litavicus discovered, the
 Aedui began to extend their hands to intimate submission, and,
 laying down their arms, to deprecate death. Litavicus , with his
 clansmen, who after the custom of the Gauls consider
 it a crime to desert their patrons, even in extreme misfortune, flees forth to
 Gergovia .

Caesar , after sending messengers to the state of the
 Aedui , to inform them that they whom he could have put to death
 by the right of war were spared through his kindness, and after giving three
 hours of the night to his army for his repose, directed his march to Gergovia . Almost in the middle of the journey, a party of horse
 that were sent by Fabius stated in how great danger
 matters were, they inform him that the camp was attacked by a very powerful
 army, while fresh men were frequently relieving the wearied, and exhausting our
 soldiers by the incessant toil, since on account of the size of the camp, they
 had constantly to remain on the rampart; that many had been wounded by the
 immense number of arrows and all kinds of missiles; that the engines were of
 great service in withstanding them; that Fabius , at
 their departure, leaving only two gates open, was blocking up the rest, and was
 adding breast-works to the ramparts, and was preparing himself for a similar
 casualty on the following day. Caesar , after receiving
 this information, reached the camp before sunrise owing to the very great zeal
 of his soldiers.

While these things are going on at Gergovia , the Aedui , on receiving the first
 announcements from Litavicus , leave themselves no time to ascertain
 the truth of those statements. Some are stimulated by avarice, others by revenge
 and credulity, which is an innate propensity in that race of men to such a
 degree that they consider a slight rumor as an ascertained fact. They plunder
 the property of the Roman citizens, and either
 massacre them or drag them away to slavery. Convictolitanis 
 increases the evil state of affairs, and goads on the people to fury, that by
 the commission of some outrage they may be ashamed to return to propriety. They
 entice from the town of Cabillonus , by a promise of safety,
 Marcus Aristius , a military tribune, who was on his march to
 his legion; they compel those who had settled there for the purpose of trading
 to do the same. By constantly attacking them on their march they strip them of
 all their baggage; they besiege day and night those that resisted; when many
 were slain on both sides, they excite a great number to arms.

In the mean time, when intelligence was brought that all their soldiers were in
 Caesar 's power, they run in a body to
 Aristius ; they assure him that nothing had been done by public
 authority; they order an inquiry to be made about the plundered property; they
 confiscate the property of Litavicus and his brothers; they send
 embassadors to Caesar for the purpose of clearing
 themselves. They do all this with a view to recover their soldiers; but being
 contaminated by guilt, and charmed by the gains arising from the plundered
 property, as that act was shared in by many, and being tempted by the fear of
 punishment, they began to form plans of war and stir up the other states by
 embassies. Although Caesar was aware of this
 proceeding, yet he addresses the embassadors with as much mildness as he can:
 "That he did not think worse of the state on account of the ignorance and
 fickleness of the mob, nor would diminish his regard for the
 Aedui ." He himself, fearing a greater commotion in Gaul , in order to prevent his being surrounded by all the states,
 began to form plans as to the manner in which he should return from Gergovia and again concentrate his forces, lest a departure arising
 from the fear of a revolt should seem like a flight.

While he was considering these things an opportunity of acting successfully
 seemed to offer. For, when he had come into the smaller camp for the purpose of
 securing the works, he noticed that the hill in the possession of the enemy was
 stripped of men, although, on the former days, it could scarcely be seen on
 account of the numbers on it. Being astonished, he inquires the reason of it
 from the deserters, a great number of whom flocked to him daily. They all
 concurred in asserting, what Caesar himself had already
 ascertained by his scouts, that the back of that hill was almost level; but
 likewise woody and narrow, by which there was a pass to the other side of the
 town; that they had serious apprehensions for this place, and had no other idea,
 on the occupation of one hill by the Romans , than
 that, if they should lose the other, they would be almost surrounded, and cut
 off from all egress and foraging; that they were all summoned by
 Vercingetorix to fortify this place.

Caesar , on being informed of this circumstance, sends
 several troops of horse to the place immediately after midnight; he orders them
 to range in every quarter with more tumult than usual. At dawn he orders a large
 quantity of baggage to be drawn out of the camp, and the muleteers with helmets,
 in the appearance and guise of horsemen, to ride round the hills. To these he
 adds a few cavalry, with instructions to range more widely to make a show. He
 orders them all to seek the same quarter by a long circuit; these proceedings
 were seen at a distance from the town, as Gergovia commanded a view of the camp, nor could the Gauls ascertain at so great a distance, what certainty
 there was in the maneuver. He sends one legion to the same hill, and after it
 had marched a little, stations it in the lower ground, and congeals it in the
 woods. The suspicion of the Gauls are increased, and
 all their forces are marched to that place to defend it. Caesar , having perceived the camp of the enemy deserted, covers the
 military insignia of his men, conceals the standards, and transfers his soldiers
 in small bodies from the greater to the less camp, and points out to the
 lieutenants whom he had placed in command over the respective legions, what he
 should wish to be done; he particularly advises them to restrain their men from
 advancing too far, through their desire of fighting, or their hope of plunder,
 he sets before them what disadvantages the unfavorable nature of the ground
 carries with it; that they could be assisted by dispatch alone: that success
 depended on a surprise, and not on a battle. After stating these particulars, he
 gives the signal for action, and detaches the Aedui at the same
 time by another ascent on the right.

The town wall was 1200 paces distant from the plain and
 foot of the ascent, in a straight line, if no gap intervened; whatever circuit
 was added to this ascent, to make the hill easy, increased the length of the
 route. But almost in the middle of the hill, the Gauls had previously built a wall six feet high, made of large
 stones, and extending in length as far as the nature of the ground permitted, as
 a barrier to retard the advance of our men; and leaving all the lower space
 empty, they had filled the upper part of the hill, as far as the wall of the
 town, with their camps very close to one another. The soldiers, on the signal
 being given, quickly advance to this fortification, and passing over it, make
 themselves masters of the separate camps. And so great was their activity in
 taking the camps, that Teutomarus , the king of the
 Nitiobriges , being suddenly surprised in his tent, as he had
 gone to rest at noon, with difficulty escaped from the hands of the plunderers,
 with the upper part of his person naked, and his horse wounded.

Caesar , having accomplished the object which he had in
 view, ordered the signal to be sounded for a retreat; and the soldiers of the
 tenth legion, by which he was then accompanied, halted. But the soldiers of the
 other legions, not hearing the sound of the trumpet, because there was a very
 large valley between them, were however kept back by the tribunes of the
 soldiers and the lieutenants, according to Caesar 's
 orders; but being animated by the prospect of speedy victory, and the flight of
 the enemy, and the favorable battles of former periods, they thought nothing so
 difficult that their bravery could not accomplish it; nor did they put an end to
 the pursuit, until they drew nigh to the wall of the town and the gates. But
 then, when a shout arose in every quarter of the city, those who were at a
 distance being alarmed by the sudden tumult, fled hastily from the town, since
 they thought that the enemy were within the gates. The matrons begin to cast
 their clothes and silver over the wall, and bending over as far as the lower
 part of the bosom, with outstretched hands beseech the Romans to spare them, and not to sacrifice to their resentment even
 women and children, as they had done at Avaricum . Some of them let themselves down from the walls by their
 hands, and surrendered to our soldiers. Lucius Fabius a centurion
 of the eighth legion, who, it was ascertained, had said that day among his
 fellow soldiers that he was excited by the plunder of Avaricum , and would not allow any one to mount the wall before him,
 finding three men of his own company, and being raised up by them, scaled the
 wall. He himself, in turn, taking hold of them one by one drew them up to the
 wall.

In the mean time those who had gone to the other part of the town to defend it,
 as we have mentioned above, at first, aroused by hearing the shouts, and,
 afterward, by frequent accounts, that the town was in possession of the Romans , sent forward their cavalry, and hastened in
 larger numbers to that quarter. As each first came he stood beneath the wall,
 and increased the number of his countrymen engaged in action. When a great
 multitude of them had assembled, the matrons, who a little before were
 stretching their hands from the walls to the Romans ,
 began to beseech their countrymen, and after the Gallic fashion to
 show their disheveled hair, and bring their children into public view. Neither
 in position nor in numbers was the contest an equal one to the Romans ; at the same time, being exhausted by running
 and the long continuation of the fight, they could not easily withstand fresh
 and vigorous troops.

Caesar , when he perceived that his soldiers were
 fighting on unfavorable ground, and that the enemy's forces were increasing,
 being alarmed for the safety of his troops, sent orders to Titus
 Sextius , one of his lieutenants, whom he had left to guard the
 smaller camp, to lead out his cohorts quickly from the camp, and post them at
 the foot of the hill, on the right wing of the enemy; that if he should see our
 men driven from the ground, he should deter the enemy from following too
 closely. He himself, advancing with the legion a little from that place where he
 had taken his post, awaited the issue of the battle.

While the fight was going on most vigorously, hand to hand, and the enemy
 depended on their position and numbers, our men on their bravery, the
 Aedui suddenly appeared on our exposed flank, as Caesar had sent them by another ascent on the right, for
 the sake of creating a diversion. These, from the similarity of their arms,
 greatly terrified our men; and although they were discovered to have their right
 shoulders bare, which was usually the sign of those reduced to peace, yet the
 soldiers suspected that this very thing was done by the enemy to deceive them.
 At the same time Lucius Fabius the centurion, and those who had
 scaled the wall with him, being surrounded and slain, were cast from the wall.
 Marcus Petreius , a centurion of the same legion, after
 attempting to hew down the gates, was overpowered by numbers, and, despairing of
 his safety, having already received many wounds, said to the soldiers of his own
 company who followed him: "Since I can not save you as well as myself, I shall
 at least provide for your safety, since I, allured by the love of glory, led you
 into this danger, do you save yourselves when an opportunity is given." At the
 same time he rushed into the midst of the enemy, and slaying two of them, drove
 back the rest a little from the gate. When his men attempted to aid him, "In
 vain," he says, "you endeavor to procure me safety, since blood and strength are
 now failing me, therefore leave this, while you have the opportunity, and
 retreat to the legion." Thus he fell fighting a few moments after, and saved his
 men by his own death.

Our soldiers, being hard pressed on every side, were dislodged from their
 position, with the loss of forty-six centurions; but the tenth legion, which had
 been posted in reserve on ground a little more level, checked the Gauls in their eager pursuit. It was supported by the
 cohorts of the thirteenth legion, which, being led from the smaller camp, had,
 under the command of Titus Sextius , occupied the higher ground. The
 legions, as soon as they reached the plain, halted and faced the enemy.
 Vercingetorix led back his men from the part of the hill within
 the fortifications. On that day little less than seven hundred of the soldiers
 were missing.

On the next day, Caesar , having called a meeting,
 censured the rashness and avarice of his soldiers, "In that they had judged for
 themselves how far they ought to proceed, or what they ought to do, and could
 not be kept back by the tribunes of the soldiers and the lieutenants;" and
 stated, "what the disadvantage of the ground could effect, what opinion he
 himself had entertained at Avaricum , when having surprised the enemy without either general or
 cavalry, he had given up a certain victory, lest even a trifling loss should
 occur in the contest owing to the disadvantage of position. That as much as he
 admired the greatness of their courage, since neither the fortifications of the
 camp, nor the height of the mountain, nor the wall of the town could retard
 them; in the same degree he censured their licentiousness and arrogance, because
 they thought that they knew more than their general concerning victory, and the
 issue of actions: and that he required in his soldiers forbearance and
 self-command, not less than valor and magnanimity."

Having held this assembly, and having encouraged the soldiers at the conclusion
 of his speech, "That they should not be dispirited on this account, nor
 attribute to the valor of the enemy, what the disadvantage of position had
 caused;" entertaining the same views of his departure that he had previously
 had, he led forth the legions from the camp, and drew up his army in order of
 battle in a suitable place. When Vercingetorix , nevertheless, would
 not descend to the level ground, a slight cavalry action, and that a successful
 one, having taken place, he led back his army into the camp. When he had done
 this, the next day, thinking that he had done enough to lower the pride of the
 Gauls , and to encourage the minds of his
 soldiers, he moved his camp in the direction of the Aedui . The
 enemy not even then pursuing us, on the third day he repaired the bridge over
 the river Allier , and led over his whole army.

Having then held an interview with Viridomarus and
 Eporedirix the Aeduans , he learns that
 Litavicus had set out with all the cavalry to raise the
 Aedui ; that it was necessary that they too should go before him
 to confirm the state in their allegiance. Although he now saw distinctly the
 treachery of the Aedui in many things, and was of opinion that the
 revolt of the entire state would be hastened by their departure; yet he thought
 that they should not be detained, lest he should appear either to offer an
 insult, or betray some suspicion of fear. He briefly states to them when
 departing his services toward the Aedui : in what a state and how
 humbled he had found them, driven into their towns, deprived of their lands,
 stripped of all their forces, a tribute imposed on them, and hostages wrested
 from them with the utmost insult; and to what condition and to what greatness he
 had raised them, [so much so] that they had not only recovered their former
 position, but seemed to surpass the dignity and influence of all the previous
 eras of their history. After giving these admonitions he dismissed them.

Noviodunum was a town of the Aedui , advantageously
 situated on the banks of the Loire . Caesar had conveyed hither all the hostages of Gaul , the corn, public money, a great part of his own baggage and
 that of his army; he had sent hither a great number of horses, which he had
 purchased in Italy and Spain on account of this war. When Eporedirix and
 Viridomarus came to this place, and received information of the
 disposition of the state, that Litavicus had been admitted by the
 Aedui into Bibracte , which is a town of the greatest importance among them,
 that Convictolitanis the chief magistrate and a great part of the
 senate had gone to meet him, that embassadors had been publicly sent to
 Vercingetorix to negotiate a peace and alliance; they thought
 that so great an opportunity ought not to be neglected. Therefore, having put to
 the sword the garrison of Noviodunum , and those who had assembled there for the purpose of
 trading or were on their march, they divided the money and horses among
 themselves; they took care that the hostages of the [different] states should be
 brought to Bibracte , to the chief magistrate; they burned the town to prevent
 its being of any service to the Romans , as they were
 of opinion that they could not hold it; they carried away in their vessels
 whatever corn they could in the hurry, they destroyed the remainder, by
 [throwing it] into the river or setting it on fire, they themselves began to
 collect forces from the neighboring country, to place guards and garrisons in
 different positions along the banks of the Loire , and to display the
 cavalry on all sides to strike terror into the Romans , [to try] if they could cut them off from a supply of provisions.
 In which expectation they were much aided, from the circumstance that the Loire
 had swollen to such a degree from the melting of the snows, that it did
 not seem capable of being forded at all.

Caesar on being informed of these movements was of
 opinion that he ought to make haste, even if he should run some risk in
 completing the bridges, in order that he might engage before greater forces of
 the enemy should be collected in that place. For no one even then considered it
 an absolutely necessary act, that changing his design he should direct his march
 into the Province, both because the infamy and disgrace of the thing, and the
 intervening mount Cevennes
 , and the difficulty of the roads prevented him; and especially because
 he had serious apprehensions for the safety of Labienus 
 whom he had detached, and those legions whom he had sent with him. Therefore,
 having made very long marches by day and night, he came to the river Loire
 , contrary to the expectation of all; and having by means of the cavalry,
 found out a ford, suitable enough considering the emergency, of such depth that
 their arms and shoulders could be above water for supporting their
 accoutrements, he dispersed his cavalry in such a manner as to break the force
 of the current, and having confounded the enemy at the first sight, led his army
 across the river in safety; and finding corn and cattle in the fields, after
 refreshing his army with them, he determined to march into the country of the
 Senones .

While these things are being done by Caesar , Labienus , leaving at Agendicum 
 the recruits who had lately arrived from Italy , to guard the
 baggage, marches with four legions to Lutetia (which is a town of the Parisii , situated on an island on the river Seine
 ), whose arrival being discovered by the enemy, numerous forces arrived
 from the neighboring states. The supreme command is intrusted to
 Camalugenus one of the Aulerci , who, although
 almost worn out with age, was called to that honor on account of his
 extraordinary knowledge of military tactics. He, when he observed that there was
 a large marsh which communicated with the Seine , and
 rendered all that country impassable, encamped there, and determined to prevent
 our troops from passing it.

Labienus at first attempted to raise
 Vineae , fill up the marsh with hurdles and clay, and secure a road.
 After he perceived that this was too difficult to accomplish, he issued in
 silence from his camp at the third watch, and reached Melodunum by the same route by which he came. This is a town of the
 Senones , situated on an island in the Seine
 , as we have just before observed of Lutetia . Having seized upon about fifty ships and quickly joined
 them together, and having placed soldiers in them, he intimidated by his
 unexpected arrival the inhabitants, of whom a great number had been called out
 to the war, and obtains possession of the town without a contest. Having
 repaired the bridge, which the enemy had broken down during the preceding days,
 he led over his army, and began to march along the banks of the river to Lutetia . The enemy, on learning the circumstance from those who had
 escaped from Melodunum , set fire to Lutetia , and order the bridges of that town to be broken down: they
 themselves set out from the marsh, and take their position on the banks of the
 Seine , over
 against Lutetia and opposite the camp of Labienus .

Caesar was now reported to have departed from Gergovia ; intelligence was likewise brought to them concerning the
 revolt of the Aedui , and a successful rising in Gaul ; and that Caesar , having been
 prevented from prosecuting his journey and crossing the Loire , and
 having been compelled by the want of corn, had marched hastily to the province.
 But the Bellovaci , who had been previously disaffected of
 themselves, on learning the revolt of the Aedui , began to assemble
 forces and openly to prepare for war. Then Labienus , as
 the change in affairs was so great, thought that he must adopt a very different
 system from what he had previously intended, and he did not now think of making
 any new acquisitions, or of provoking the enemy to an action; but that he might
 bring back his army safe to Agendicum . For, on one side, the
 Bellovaci , a state which held the highest reputation for
 prowess in Gaul , were pressing on him; and
 Camulogenus , with a disciplined and well-equipped army, held
 the other side; moreover, a very great river separated and cut off the legions
 from the garrison and baggage. He saw that, in consequence of such great
 difficulties being thrown in his way, he must seek aid from his own energy of
 disposition.

Having, therefore, called a council of war a little before evening, he exhorted
 his soldiers to execute with diligence and energy such commands as he should
 give; he assigns the ships which he had brought from Melodunum to Roman knights, one to each,
 and orders them to fall down the river silently for four miles, at the end of
 the fourth watch, and there wait for him. He leaves the five cohorts, which he
 considered to be the most steady in action, to guard the camp; he orders the
 five remaining cohorts of the same legion to proceed a little after midnight up
 the river with all their baggage, in a great tumult. He collects also some small
 boats; and sends them in the same direction, with orders to make a loud noise in
 rowing. He himself, a little after, marched out in silence, and, at the head of
 three legions, seeks that place to which he had ordered the ships to be brought.

When he had arrived there, the enemy's scouts, as they were stationed along every
 part of the river, not expecting an attack, because a great storm had suddenly
 arisen, were surprised by our soldiers: the infantry and cavalry are quickly
 transported, under the superintendence of the Roman 
 knights, whom he had appointed to that office. Almost at the same time, a little
 before daylight, intelligence was given to the enemy that there was an unusual
 tumult in the camp of the Romans , and that a strong
 force was marching up the river, and that the sound of oars was distinctly heard
 in the same quarter, and that soldiers were being conveyed across in ships a
 little below. On hearing these things, because they were of opinion that the
 legions were passing in three different places, and that the entire army, being
 terrified by the revolt of the Aedui , were preparing for flight,
 they divided their forces also into three divisions. For leaving a guard
 opposite to the camp and sending a small body in the direction of
 Metiosedum , with orders to advance as far as the ships would
 proceed, they led the rest of their troops against Labienus .

By day-break all our soldiers were brought across, and the army of the enemy was
 in sight. Labienus , having encouraged his soldiers "to
 retain the memory of their ancient valor, and so many most successful actions,
 and imagine Caesar himself, under whose command they
 had so often routed the enemy, to be present," gives the signal for action. At
 the first onset the enemy are beaten and put to flight in the right wing, where
 the seventh legion stood: on the left wing, which position the twelfth legion
 held, although the first ranks fell transfixed by the javelins of the Romans , yet the rest resisted most bravely; nor did any
 one of them show the slightest intention of flying. Camulogenus ,
 the general of the enemy, was present and encouraged his troops. But when the
 issue of the victory was still uncertain, and the circumstances which were
 taking place on the left wing were announced to the tribunes of the seventh
 legion, they faced about their legion to the enemy's rear and attacked it: not
 even then did any one retreat, but all were surrounded and slain.
 Camulogenus met the same fate. But those who were left as a
 guard opposite the camp of Labienus , when they heard
 that the battle was commenced, marched to aid their countrymen and take
 possession of a hill, but were unable to withstand the attack of the victorious
 soldiers. In this manner, mixed with their own fugitives, such as the woods and
 mountains did not shelter were cut to pieces by our cavalry. When this battle
 was finished, Labienus returns to
 Agendicum , where the baggage of the whole army had been left:
 from it he marched with all his forces to Caesar .

The revolt of the Aedui being known, the war grows more dangerous.
 Embassies are sent by them in all directions: as far as they can prevail by
 influence, authority, or money, they strive to excite the state [to revolt].
 Having got possession of the hostages whom Caesar had
 deposited with them, they terrify the hesitating by putting them to death. The
 Aedui request Vercingetorix to come to them and
 communicate his plans of conducting the war. On obtaining this request they
 insist that the chief command should be assigned to them; and when the affair
 became a disputed question, a council of all Gaul is summoned to
 Bibracte . They came together in great numbers and from every
 quarter to the same place. The decision is left to the votes of the mass; all to
 a man approve of Vercingetorix as their general. The Remi , Lingones , and Treviri were absent from this meeting; the two former because they
 attached themselves to the alliance of Rome ; the Treviri because they were very remote and were hard pressed by the
 Germans ; which was also the reason of their being
 absent during the whole war, and their sending auxiliaries to neither party. The
 Aedui are highly indignant at being deprived of the chief
 command; they lament the change of fortune, and miss Caesar 's indulgence toward them; however, after engaging in the war,
 they do not dare to pursue their own measures apart from the rest.
 Eporedirix and Viridomarus , youths of the greatest
 promise, submit reluctantly to Vercingetorix .

The latter demands hostages from the remaining states; nay, more, appointed a day
 for this proceeding; he orders all the cavalry, fifteen thousand in number, to
 quickly assemble here; he says that he will be content with the infantry which
 he had before, and would not tempt fortune nor come to a regular engagement; but
 since he had abundance of cavalry, it would be very easy for him to prevent the
 Romans from obtaining forage or corn, provided
 that they themselves should resolutely destroy their corn and set fire to their
 houses; by which sacrifice of private property they would evidently obtain
 perpetual dominion and freedom. After arranging these matters, he levies ten
 thousand infantry on the Aedui and Segusiani , who
 border on our province: to these he adds eight hundred horse. He sets over them
 the brother of Eporedirix , and orders him to wage war against the
 Allobroges . On the other side he sends the Gabali 
 and the nearest cantons of the Arverni against the
 Helvii ; he likewise sends the Ruteni and
 Cadurci to lay waste the territories of the Volcae
 Arecomici . Besides, by secret messages and embassies, he tampers with
 the Allobroges , whose minds, he hopes, had not yet settled down
 after the excitement of the late war. To their nobles he promises money, and to
 their state the dominion of the whole province.

The only guards provided against all these contingencies were twenty-two cohorts,
 which were collected from the entire province by Lucius Caesar , the
 lieutenant, and opposed to the enemy in every quarter. The Helvii ,
 voluntarily engaging in battle with their neighbors, are defeated, and
 Caius Valerius Donotaurus , the son of Caburus , the principal man of the state, and several others, being
 slain, they are forced to retire within their towns and fortifications. The
 Allobroges , placing guards along the course of the Rhine
 , defend their frontiers with great vigilance and energy. Caesar , as he perceived that the enemy were superior in
 cavalry, and he himself could receive no aid from the Province or Italy , while all communication was cut off, sends across the Rhine
 into Germany to those
 states which he had subdued in the preceding campaigns, and summons from them
 cavalry and the light-armed infantry, who were accustomed to engage among them.
 On their arrival, as they were mounted on unserviceable horses, he takes horses
 from the military tribunes and the rest, nay, even from the Roman knights and veterans, and distributes them among the Germans .

In the mean time, whilst these things are going on, the forces of the enemy from
 the Arverni , and the cavalry which had been demanded from all Gaul , meet together. A great number of these having been collected,
 when Caesar was marching into the country of the
 Sequani , through the confines of the Lingones , in order that he might the more easily render aid to the
 province, Vercingetorix encamped in three camps, about ten miles
 from the Romans : and having summoned the commanders
 of the cavalry to a council, he shows that the time of victory was come; that
 the Romans were fleeing into the Province and leaving
 Gaul ; that this was sufficient for obtaining immediate freedom; but
 was of little moment in acquiring peace and tranquillity for the future; for the
 Romans would return after assembling greater
 forces and would not put an end to the war. Therefore they should attack them on
 their march, when encumbered. If the infantry should [be obliged to] relieve
 their cavalry, and be retarded by doing so, the march could not be accomplished:
 if, abandoning their baggage they should provide for their safety (a result
 which, he trusted, was more like to ensue), they would lose both property and
 character. For as to the enemy's horse, they ought not to entertain a doubt that
 none of them would dare to advance beyond the main body. In order that they [the
 Gauls] may do so with greater spirit, he would marshal all
 their forces before the camp, and intimidate the enemy. The cavalry unanimously
 shout out, "That they ought to bind themselves by a most sacred oath, that he
 should not be received under a roof, nor have access to his children, parents,
 or wife, who shall not twice have ridden through the enemy's army."

This proposal receiving general approbation, and all being forced to take the
 oath, on the next day the cavalry were divided into three parts, and two of
 these divisions made a demonstration on our two flanks; while one in front began
 to obstruct our march. On this circumstance being announced, Caesar orders his cavalry also to form three divisions and charge
 the enemy. Then the action commences simultaneously in every part: the main body
 halts; the baggage is received within the ranks of the legions. If our men
 seemed to be distressed, or hard pressed in any quarter, Caesar usually ordered the troops to advance, and the army to wheel
 round in that quarter; which conduct retarded the enemy in the pursuit, and
 encouraged our men by the hope of support. At length the Germans , on the right wing, having gained the top of the hill,
 dislodge the enemy from their position and pursue them even as far as the river
 at which Vercingetorix with the infantry was stationed, and slay
 several of them. The rest, on observing this action, fearing lest they should be
 surrounded, betake themselves to flight. A slaughter ensues in every direction,
 and three of the noblest of the Aedui are taken and brought to
 Caesar : Cotus , the commander of the
 cavalry, who had been engaged in the contest with Convictolitanis 
 the last election, Cavarillus , who had held the command of the
 infantry after the revolt of Litavicus , and
 Eporedirix , under whose command the Aedui had engaged
 in war against the Sequani , before the arrival of Caesar .

All his cavalry being routed, Vercingetorix led back his troops in
 the same order as he had arranged them before the camp, and immediately began to
 march to Alesia , which is a town of the Mandubii , and ordered
 the baggage to be speedily brought forth from the camp, and follow him closely.
 Caesar , having conveyed his baggage to the nearest
 hill, and having left two legions to guard it, pursued as far as the time of day
 would permit, and after slaying about three thousand of the rear of the enemy,
 encamped at Alesia on the next day. On reconnoitering the situation of the
 city, finding that the enemy were panic-stricken, because the cavalry in which
 they placed their chief reliance, were beaten, he encouraged his men to endure
 the toil, and began to draw a line of circumvallation round Alesia .

The town itself was situated on the top of a hill, in a very lofty position, so
 that it did not appear likely to be taken, except by a regular siege. Two
 rivers, on two different sides, washed the foot of the hill. Before the town lay
 a plain of about three miles in length; on every other side hills at a moderate
 distance, and of an equal degree of height, surrounded the town. The army of the
 Gauls had filled all the space under the wall,
 comprising a part of the hill which looked to the rising sun, and had drawn in
 front a trench and a stone wall six feet high. The circuit of that
 fortification, which was commenced by the Romans ,
 comprised eleven miles. The camp was pitched in a strong position, and
 twenty-three redoubts were raised in it, in which sentinels were placed by day,
 lest any sally should be made suddenly; and by night the same were occupied by
 watches and strong guards.

The work having been begun, a cavalry action ensues in that plain, which we have
 already described as broken by hills, and extending three miles in length. The
 contest is maintained on both sides with the utmost vigor; Caesar sends the Germans to aid our
 troops when distressed, and draws up the legions in front of the camp, lest any
 sally should be suddenly made by the enemy's infantry. The courage of our men is
 increased by the additional support of the legions; the enemy being put to
 flight, hinder one another by their numbers, and as only the narrower gates were
 left open, are crowded together in them; then the Germans pursue them with vigor even to the fortifications. A great
 slaughter ensues; some leave their horses, and endeavor to cross the ditch and
 climb the wall. Caesar orders the legions which he had
 drawn up in front of the rampart to advance a little. The Gauls ,
 who were within the fortifications, were no less panic-stricken, thinking that
 the enemy were coming that moment against them, and unanimously shout "to arms;"
 some in their alarm rush into the town; Vercingetorix orders the
 gates to be shut, lest the camp should be left undefended. The Germans retreat, after slaying many and taking several
 horses.

Vercingetorix adopts the design of sending away all his cavalry by
 night, before the fortifications should be completed by the Romans . He charges them when departing "that each of them should go
 to his respective state, and press for the war all who were old enough to bear
 arms; he states his own merits, and conjures them to consider his safety, and
 not surrender him who had deserved so well of the general freedom, to the enemy
 for torture; he points out to them that, if they should be remiss, eighty
 thousand chosen men would perish with him; that upon making a calculation, he
 had barely corn for thirty days, but could hold out a little longer by economy."
 After giving these instructions he silently dismisses the cavalry in the second
 watch, [on that side] where our works were not completed; he orders all the corn
 to be brought to himself; he ordains capital punishment to such as should not
 obey; he distributes among them, man by man, the cattle, great quantities of
 which had been driven there by the Mandubii ; he began to measure
 out the corn sparingly, and by little and little; he receives into the town all
 the forces which he had posted in front of it. In this manner he prepares to
 await the succors from Gaul , and carry on the war.

Caesar , on learning these proceedings from the deserters
 and captives, adopted the following system of fortification; he dug a trench
 twenty feet deep, with perpendicular sides, in such a manner that the base of
 this trench should extend so far as the edges were apart at the top. He raised
 all his other works at a distance of four hundred feet from that ditch; [he did]
 that with this intention, lest (since he necessarily embraced so extensive an
 area, and the whole works could not be easily surrounded by a line of soldiers)
 a large number of the enemy should suddenly, or by night, sally against the
 fortifications; or lest they should by day cast weapons against our men while
 occupied with the works. Having left this interval, he drew two trenches fifteen
 feet broad, and of the same depth; the innermost of them, being in low and level
 ground, he filled with water conveyed from the river. Behind these he raised a
 rampart and wall twelve feet high; to this he added a parapet and battlements,
 with large stakes cut like stags' horns, projecting from the junction of the
 parapet and battlements, to prevent the enemy from scaling it, and surrounded
 the entire work with turrets, which were eighty feet distant from one another.

It was necessary, at one and the same time, to procure timber [for the rampart],
 lay in supplies of corn, and raise also extensive fortifications, and the
 available troops were in consequence of this reduced in number, since they used
 to advance to some distance from the camp, and sometimes the Gauls endeavored to attack our works, and to make a sally from the
 town by several gates and in great force. Caesar 
 thought that further additions should be made to these works, in order that the
 fortifications might be defensible by a small number of soldiers. Having,
 therefore, cut down the trunks of trees or very thick branches, and having
 stripped their tops of the bark, and sharpened them into a point, he drew a
 continued trench every where five feet deep. These stakes being sunk into this
 trench, and fastened firmly at the bottom, to prevent the possibility of their
 being torn up, had their branches only projecting from the ground. There were
 five rows in connection with, and intersecting each other; and whoever entered
 within them were likely to impale themselves on very sharp stakes. The soldiers
 called these "cippi." Before these, which were arranged in oblique rows in the
 form of a quincunx, pits three feet deep were dug, which gradually diminished in
 depth to the bottom. In these pits tapering stakes, of the thickness of a man's
 thigh; sharpened at the top and hardened in the fire, were sunk in such a manner
 as to project from the ground not more than four inches; at the same time for
 the purpose of giving them strength and stability, they were each filled with
 trampled clay to the height of one foot from the bottom: the rest of the pit was
 covered over with osiers and twigs, to conceal the deceit. Eight rows of this
 kind were dug, and were three feet distant from each other. They called this a
 lily from its resemblance to that flower. Stakes a foot long, with iron hooks
 attached to them, were entirely sunk in the ground before these, and were
 planted in every place at small intervals; these they called spurs.

After completing these works, saving selected as level ground as he could,
 considering the nature of the country, and having inclosed an area of fourteen
 miles, he constructed, against an external enemy, fortifications of the same
 kind in every respect, and separate from these, so that the guards of the
 fortifications could not be surrounded even by immense numbers, if such a
 circumstance should take place owing to the departure of the enemy's cavalry;
 and in order that the Roman soldiers might not be
 compelled to go out of the camp with great risk, ho orders all to provide forage
 and corn for thirty days.

While those things are carried on at Alesia , the Gauls , having convened a
 council of their chief nobility, determine that all who could bear arms should
 not be called out, which was the opinion of Vercingetorix , but that
 a fixed number should be levied from each state; lest, when so great a multitude
 assembled together, they could neither govern nor distinguish their men, nor
 have the means of supplying them with corn. They demand thirty-five thousand men
 from the Aedui and their dependents, the Segusiani ,
 Ambivareti , and Aulerci Brannovices ; an equal
 number from the Arverni in conjunction with the Eleuteti
 Cadurci , Gabali , and Velauni , who were
 accustomed to be under the command of the Arverni ; twelve thousand
 each from the Senones , Sequani , Bituriges ,
 Sentones , Ruteni , and Carnutes ; ten
 thousand from the Bellovaci ; the same number from the
 Lemovici ; eight thousand each from the Pictones ,
 and Turoni , and Parisii , and Helvii ; five thousand each from the
 Suessiones , Ambiani , Mediomatrici ,
 Petrocorii , Nervii , Morini , and
 Nitiobriges ; the same number from the Aulerci
 Cenomani ; four thousand from the Atrebates ; three
 thousand each from the Bellocassi , Lexovii , and
 Aulerci Eburovices ; thirty thousand from the
 Rauraci , and Boii ; six thousand from all the
 states together, which border on the Atlantic , and which in their
 dialect are called Armoricae (in which number are comprehended the
 Curisolites , Rhedones , Ambibari ,
 Caltes , Osismii , Lemovices , Veneti , and Unelli ). Of these
 the Bellovaci did not contribute their number, as they said that
 they would wage war against the Romans on their own
 account, and at their own discretion, and would not obey the order of any one:
 however, at the request of Commius , they sent two thousand, in
 consideration of a tie of hospitality which subsisted between him and them.

Caesar had, as we have previously narrated, availed
 himself of the faithful and valuable services of this Commius , in
 Britain , in
 former years: in consideration of which merits he had exempted from taxes his
 [Commius 's] state, and had conferred on Commius 
 himself the country of the Morini . Yet such was the unanimity of
 the Gauls in asserting their freedom, and recovering
 their ancient renown in war, that they were influenced neither by favors, nor by
 the recollection of private friendship; and all earnestly directed their
 energies and resources to that war, and collected eight thousand cavalry, and
 about two hundred and forty thousand infantry. These were reviewed in the
 country of the Aedui , and a calculation was made of their numbers:
 commanders were appointed: the supreme command is intrusted to
 Commius the Atrebatian , Viridomarus 
 and Eporedirix the Aeduans , and
 Vergasillaunus the Arvernan , the cousin-german of
 Vercingetorix . To them are assigned men selected from each
 state, by whose advice the war should be conducted. All march to Alesia , sanguine and full of confidence: nor was there a single
 individual who imagined that the Romans could
 withstand the sight of such an immense host: especially in an action carried on
 both in front and rear, when [on the inside] the besieged would sally from the
 town and attack the enemy, and on the outside so great forces of cavalry and
 infantry would be seen.

But those who were blockaded at Alesia , the day being past, on which they had expected auxiliaries
 from their countrymen, and all their corn being consumed ignorant of what was
 going on among the Aedui , convened an assembly and deliberated on
 the exigency of their situation. After various opinions had been expressed among
 them, some of which proposed a surrender, others a sally, while their strength
 would support it, the speech of Critognatus ought not to be omitted
 for its singular and detestable cruelty. He sprung from the noblest family among
 the Arverni , and possessing great influence, says, "I shall pay no
 attention to the opinion of those who call a most disgraceful surrender by the
 name of a capitulation; nor do I think that they ought to be considered as
 citizens, or summoned to the council. My business is with those who approve of a
 sally: in whose advice the memory of our ancient prowess seems to dwell in the
 opinion of you all. To be unable to bear privation for a short time is
 disgraceful cowardice, not true valor. Those who voluntarily offer themselves to
 death are more easily found than those who would calmly endure distress. And I
 would approve of this opinion (for honor is a powerful motive with me), could I
 foresee no other loss, save that of life; but let us, in adopting our design,
 look back on all Gaul , which we have stirred up
 to our aid. What courage do you think would our relatives and friends have, if
 eighty thousand men were butchered in one spot, supposing that they should be
 forced to come to an action almost over our corpses? Do not utterly deprive them
 of your aid, for they have spurned all thoughts of personal danger on account of
 your safety; nor by your folly, rashness, and cowardice, crush all Gaul and doom it to an eternal slavery. Do you doubt their fidelity
 and firmness because they have not come at the appointed day? What then? Do you
 suppose that the Romans are employed every day in the
 outer fortifications for mere amusement? If you can not be assured by their
 dispatches, since every avenue is blocked up, take the Romans as evidence that there approach is drawing near; since they,
 intimidated by alarm at this, labor night and day at their works. What,
 therefore, is my design? To do as our ancestors did in the war against the
 Cimbri and Teutones , which was by no means equally
 momentous who, when driven into their towns, and oppressed by similar
 privations, supported life by the corpses of those who appeared useless for war
 on account of their age, and did not surrender to the enemy: and even if we had
 not a precedent for such cruel conduct, still I should consider it most glorious
 that one should be established, and delivered to posterity. For in what was that
 war like this? The Cimbri , after laying Gaul waste, and
 inflicting great calamities, at length departed from our country, and sought
 other lands; they left us our rights, laws, lands, and liberty. But what other
 motive or wish have the Romans , than, induced by
 envy, to settle in the lands and states of those whom they have learned by fame
 to be noble and powerful in war, and impose on them perpetual slavery? For they
 never have carried on wars on any other terms. But if you know not these things
 which are going on in distant countries, look to the neighboring Gaul , which being reduced to the form of a province, stripped of its
 rights and laws, and subjected to Roman despotism, is
 oppressed by perpetual slavery."

When different opinions were expressed, they determined that those who, owing to
 age or ill health, were unserviceable for war, should depart from the town, and
 that themselves should try every expedient before they had recourse to the
 advice of Critognatus : however, that they would rather adopt that
 design, if circumstances should compel them and their allies should delay, than
 accept any terms of a surrender or peace. The Mandubii , who had
 admitted them into the town, are compelled to go forth with their wives and
 children. When these came to the Roman 
 fortifications, weeping, they begged of the soldiers by every entreaty to
 receive them as slaves and relieve them with food. But Caesar , placing guards on the rampart, forbade them to be admitted.

In the mean time, Commius and the rest of the leaders, to whom the
 supreme command had been intrusted, came with all their forces to Alesia , and having occupied the entire hill, encamped not more than
 a mile from our fortifications. The following day, having led forth their
 cavalry from the camp, they fill all that plain, which, we have related,
 extended three miles in length, and drew out their infantry a little from that
 place, and post them on the higher ground. The town Alesia commanded a view of the whole plain. The besieged run
 together when these auxiliaries were seen; mutual congratulations ensue, and the
 minds of all are elated with joy. Accordingly, drawing out their troops, they
 encamp before the town, and cover the nearest trench with hurdles and fill it up
 with earth, and make ready for a sally and every casualty.

Caesar , having stationed his army on both sides of the
 fortifications, in order that, if occasion should arise, each should hold and
 know his own post, orders the cavalry to issue forth from the camp and commence
 action. There was a commanding view from the entire camp, which occupied a ridge
 of hills; and the minds of all the soldiers anxiously awaited the issue of the
 battle. The Gauls had scattered archers and light-armed infantry
 here and there, among their cavalry, to give relief to their retreating troops,
 and sustain the impetuosity of our cavalry. Several of our soldiers were
 unexpectedly wounded by these, and left the battle. When the Gauls were confident that their countrymen were the conquerors in
 the action, and beheld our men hard pressed by numbers, both those who were
 hemmed in by the line of circumvallation and those who had come to aid them,
 supported the spirits of their men by shouts and yells from every quarter. As
 the action was carried on in sight of all, neither a brave nor cowardly act
 could be concealed; both the desire of praise and the fear of ignominy, urged on
 each party to valor. After fighting from noon almost to sunset, without victory
 inclining in favor of either, the Germans , on one
 side, made a charge against the enemy in a compact body, and drove them back;
 and, when they were put to flight, the archers were surrounded and cut to
 pieces. In other parts, likewise, our men pursued to the camp the retreating
 enemy, and did not give them an opportunity of rallying. But those who had come
 forth from Alesia returned into the town dejected and almost despairing of
 success.

The Gauls , after the interval of a day and after making, during that
 time, an immense number of hurdles, scaling-ladders, and iron hooks, silently
 went forth from the camp at midnight and approached the fortifications in the
 plain. Raising a shout suddenly, that by this intimation those who were beseiged
 in the town might learn their arrival, they began to cast down hurdles and
 dislodge our men from the rampart by slings, arrows, and stones, and executed
 the other movements which are requisite in storming. At the same time,
 Vercingetorix , having heard the shout, gives the signal to his
 troops by a trumpet, and leads them forth from the town. Our troops, as each
 man's post had been assigned him some days before, man the fortifications; they
 intimidate the Gauls by slings, large stones, stakes
 which they had placed along the works, and bullets. All view being prevented by
 the darkness, many wounds are received on both sides; several missiles, are
 thrown from the engines. But Marcus Antonius , and Caius
 Trebonius , the lieutenants, to whom the defense of these parts had
 been allotted, draughted troops from the redoubts which were more remote, and
 sent them to aid our troops, in whatever direction they understood that they
 were hard pressed.

While the Gauls were at a distance from the
 fortification, they did more execution, owing to the immense number of their
 weapons: after they came nearer, they either unawares empaled themselves on the
 spurs, or were pierced by the mural darts from the ramparts and towers, and thus
 perished. After receiving many wounds on all sides, and having forced no part of
 the works, when day drew nigh, fearing lest they should be surrounded by a sally
 made from the higher camp on the exposed flank, they retreated to their
 countrymen. But those within, while they bring forward those things which had
 been prepared by Vercingetorix for a sally, fill up the nearest
 trenches; having delayed a long time in executing these movements, they learned
 the retreat of their countrymen before they drew nigh to the fortifications.
 Thus they returned to the town without accomplishing their object.

The Gauls , having been twice repulsed with great loss, consult what
 they should do; they avail themselves of the information of those who were well
 acquainted with the country; from them they ascertain the position and
 fortification of the upper camp. There was, on the north side, a hill, which our
 men could not include in their works, on account of the extent of the circuit,
 and had necessarily made their camp in ground almost disadvantageous, and pretty
 steep. Caius Antistius Reginus , and Caius Caninius
 Rebilus , two of the lieutenants, with two legions, were in possession
 of this camp. The leaders of the enemy, having reconnoitered the country by
 their scouts, select from the entire army sixty thousand men, belonging to those
 states, which bear the highest character for courage; they privately arrange
 among themselves what they wished to be done, and in what manner; they decide
 that the attack should take place when it should seem to be noon. They appoint
 over their forces Vergasillaunus , the Arvernian , one
 of the four generals, and a near relative of Vercingetorix . He,
 having issued from the camp at the first watch, and having almost completed his
 march a little before the dawn, hid himself behind the mountain, and ordered his
 soldiers to refresh themselves after their labor during the night. When noon now
 seemed to draw nigh, he marched hastily against that camp which we have
 mentioned before; and, at the same time, the cavalry began to approach the
 fortifications in the plain, and the rest of the forces to make a demonstration
 in front of the camp.

Vercingetorix , having beheld his countrymen from the citadel of
 Alesia , issues forth from the town; he brings forth from the camp
 long hooks, movable pent-houses, mural hooks, and other things, which he had
 prepared for the purpose of making a sally. They engage on all sides at once and
 every expedient is adopted. They flocked to whatever part of the works seemed
 weakest. The army of the Romans is distributed along
 their extensive lines, and with difficulty meets the enemy in every quarter. The
 shouts which were raised by the combatants in their rear, had a great tendency
 to intimidate our men, because they perceived that their danger rested on the
 valor of others: for generally all evils which are distant most powerfully alarm
 men's minds.

Caesar , having selected a commanding situation, sees
 distinctly whatever is going on in every quarter, and sends assistance to his
 troops when hard pressed. The idea uppermost in the minds of both parties is,
 that the present is the time in which they would have the fairest opportunity of
 making a struggle; the Gauls despairing of all
 safety, unless they should succeed in forcing the lines: the Romans expecting an end to all their labors if they should gain the
 day. The principal struggle is at the upper lines, to which as we have said
 Vergasillaunus was sent. The least elevation of ground, added
 to a declivity, exercises a momentous influence. Some are casting missiles,
 others, forming a testudo, advance to the attack; fresh men by turns relieve the
 wearied. The earth, heaped up by all against the fortifications, gives the means
 of ascent to the Gauls , and covers those works which
 the Romans had concealed in the ground. Our men have
 no longer arms or strength.

Caesar , on observing these movements, sends Labienus with six cohorts to relieve his distressed
 soldiers: he orders him, if he should be unable to withstand them, to draw off
 the cohorts and make a sally; but not to do this except through necessity. He
 himself goes to the rest, and exhorts them not to succumb to the toil; he shows
 them that the fruits of all former engagements depend on that day and hour. The
 Gauls within, despairing of forcing the fortifications in the
 plains on account of the greatness of the works, attempt the places precipitous
 in ascent: hither they bring the engines which they had prepared; by the immense
 number of their missiles they dislodge the defenders from the turrets: they fill
 the ditches with clay and hurdles, then clear the way; they tear down the
 rampart and breast-work with hooks.

Caesar sends at first young Brutus , with six cohorts, and afterward Caius Fabius ,
 his lieutenant, with seven others: finally, as they fought more obstinately, he
 leads up fresh men to the assistance of his soldiers. After renewing the action,
 and repulsing the enemy, he marches in the direction in which he had sent Labienus , drafts four cohorts from the nearest redoubt,
 and orders part of the cavalry to follow him, and part to make the circuit of
 the external fortifications and attack the enemy in the rear. Labienus , when neither the ramparts or ditches could check the onset
 of the enemy, informs Caesar by messengers of what he
 intended to do. Caesar hastens to share in the action.

His arrival being known from the color of his robe, and the troops of cavalry,
 and the cohorts which he had ordered to follow him being seen, as these low and
 sloping grounds were plainly visible from the eminences, the enemy join battle.
 A shout being raised by both sides, it was succeeded by a general shout along
 the ramparts and whole line of fortifications. Our troops, laying aside their
 javelins, carry on the engagement with their swords. The cavalry is suddenly
 seen in the rear of the Gauls ; the other cohorts
 advance rapidly; the enemy turn their backs; the cavalry intercept them in their
 flight, and a great slaughter ensues. Sedulius the general and
 chief of the Lemovices is slain; Vergasillaunus the
 Arvernian , is taken alive in the flight, seventy-four military
 standards are brought to Caesar , and few out of so
 great a number return safe to their camp. The besieged, beholding from the town
 the slaughter and flight of their countrymen, despairing of safety, lead back
 their troops from the fortifications. A flight of the Gauls from their camp immediately ensues on hearing of this
 disaster, and had not the soldiers been wearied by sending frequent
 reinforcements, and the labor of the entire day, all the enemy's forces could
 have been destroyed. Immediately after midnight, the cavalry are sent out and
 overtake the rear, a great number are taken or cut to pieces, the rest by flight
 escape in different directions to their respective states.
 Vercingetorix , having convened a council the following day,
 declares, "That he had undertaken that war, not on account of his own exigences,
 but on account of the general freedom; and since he must yield to fortune, he
 offered himself to them for either purpose, whether they should wish to atone to
 the Romans by his death, or surrender him alive.
 Embassadors are sent to Caesar on this
 subject. He orders their arms to be surrendered, and their chieftains delivered
 up. He seated himself at the head of the lines in front of the camp, the
 Gallic chieftains are brought before him. They surrender
 Vercingetorix , and lay down their arms. Reserving the
 Aedui and Arverni , [to try] if he could gain over,
 through their influence, their respective states, he distributes one of the
 remaining captives to each soldier, throughout the entire army, as plunder.

After making these arrangements, he marches into the [country of the]
 Aedui , and recovers that state. To this place embassadors are
 sent by the Arveni , who promise that they will execute his
 commands. He demands a great number of hostages. He sends the legions to
 winter-quarters; he restores about twenty thousand captives to the
 Aedui and Arverni ; he orders Titus
 Labienus to march into the [country of the] Sequani with
 two legions and the cavalry, and to him he attaches Marcus Sempronius
 Rutilus ; he places Caius Fabius , and Lucius
 Minucius Basilus , with two legions in the country of the Remi , lest they should sustain any loss from the
 Bellovaci in their neighborhood. He sends Caius Antistius
 Reginus into the [country of the] Ambivareti ,
 Titus Sextius into the territories of the
 Bituriges , and Caius Caninius Rebilus into those
 of the Ruteni , with one legion each. He stations Quintus
 Tullius Cicero , and Publius Sulpicius among the
 Aedui at Cabillo and Matisco on the Saone , to
 procure supplies of corn. He himself determines to winter at Bibracte . A supplication of twenty-days is decreed by the senate at
 Rome , on learning these
 successes from Caesar 's dispatches.

Prevailed on by your continued solicitations, Balbus , I have engaged
 in a most difficult task, as my daily refusals appear to plead not my inability,
 but indolence, as an excuse. I have compiled a continuation of the Commentaries
 of our Caesar's Wars in Gaul , not indeed to be compared
 to his writings, which either precede or follow them; and recently, I have
 completed what he left imperfect after the transactions in Alexandria , to the end,
 not indeed of the civil broils, to which we see no issue, but of Caesar 's life. I wish that those who may read them could
 know how unwillingly I undertook to write them, as then I might the more readily
 escape the imputation of folly and arrogance, in presuming to intrude among
 Caesar 's writings. For it is agreed on all hands,
 that no composition was ever executed with so great care, that it is not
 exceeded in elegance by these Commentaries, which were published for the use of
 historians, that they might not want memoirs of such achievements; and they
 stand so high in the esteem of all men, that historians seem rather deprived of,
 than furnished with material. At which we have more reason to be surprised than
 other men; for they can only appreciate the elegance and correctness with which
 he finished them, while we know with what ease and expedition. Caesar possessed not only an uncommon flow of language and elegance
 of style, but also a thorough knowledge of the method of conveying his ideas.
 But I had not even the good fortune to share in the Alexandrian or
 African war; and though these were partly communicated to me by
 Caesar himself, in conversation, yet we listen with
 a different degree of attention to those things which strike us with admiration
 by their novelty, and those which we design to attest to posterity. But, in
 truth, while I urge every apology, that I may not be compared to Caesar , I incur the charge of vanity, by thinking it
 possible that I can in the judgment of any one be put in competition with him.
 Farewell.

Gaul being entirely reduced, when Caesar 
 having waged war incessantly during the former summer, wished to recruit his
 soldiers after so much fatigue, by repose in winter quarters, news was brought
 him that several states were simultaneously renewing their hostile intention,
 and forming combinations. For which a probable reason was assigned; namely, that
 the Gauls were convinced that they were not able to
 resist the Romans , with any force they could collect
 in one place; and hoped that if several states made war in different places at
 the same time, the Roman army would neither have aid,
 nor time, nor forces, to prosecute them all: nor ought any single state to
 decline any inconveniences that might befall them, provided that by such delay,
 the rest should be enabled to assert their liberty.

That this notion might not be confirmed among the Gauls , Caesar left Marcus
 Antonius , his questor, in charge of his quarters, and set out himself
 with a guard of horse, the day before the kalends of January , from
 the town Bibracte , to the thirteenth legion, which he had stationed in the
 country of the Bituriges , not far from the territories of the
 Aedui , and joined to it the eleventh legion which was next it.
 Leaving two cohorts to guard the baggage, he leads the rest of his army into the
 most plentiful part of the country of the Bituriges ; who,
 possessing an extensive territory and several towns, were not to be deterred, by
 a single legion quartered among them, from making warlike preparation, and
 forming combinations.

By Caesar 's sudden arrival, it happened, as it
 necessarily must, to an unprovided and dispersed people, that they were
 surprised by our horse, while cultivating the fields without any apprehensions,
 before they had time to fly to their towns. For the usual sign of an enemy's
 invasion, which is generally intimated by the burning of their towns, was
 forbidden by Caesar 's orders; lest if he advanced far,
 forage and corn should become scarce, or the enemy be warned by the fires to
 make their escape. Many thousands being taken, as many of the
 Bituriges as were able to escape the first coming of the Romans , fled to the neighboring states, relying either
 on private friendship, or public alliance. In vain; for Caesar , by hasty marches, anticipated them in every place, nor did
 he allow any state leisure to consider the safety of others, in preference to
 their own. By this activity, he both retained his friends in their loyalty, and
 by fear, obliged the wavering to accept offers of peace. Such offers being made
 to the Bituriges , when they perceived that through Caesar 's clemency, an avenue was open to his friendship,
 and that the neighboring states had given hostages, without incurring any
 punishment, and had been received under his protection, they did the same.

Caesar promises his soldiers, as a reward for their
 labor and patience, in cheerfully submitting to hardships from the severity of
 the winter, the difficulty of the roads, and the intolerable cold, two hundred
 sestertii each, and to every centurian two thousand, to be given instead of
 plunder: and sending his legions back to quarters, he himself returned on the
 fortieth day to Bibracte . While he was dispensing justice there, the
 Bituriges send embassadors to him, to entreat his aid against
 the Carnutes , who they complained had made war against them. Upon
 this intelligence, though he had not remained more than eighteen days in winter
 quarters, he draws the fourteenth and sixth legion out of quarters on the Saone , where
 he had posted them as mentioned in a former Commentary, to procure supplies of
 corn. With these two legions he marches in pursuit of the Carnutes .

When the news of the approach of our army reached the enemy, the
 Carnutes , terrified by the suffering of other states, deserted
 their villages and towns (which were small buildings, raised in a hurry, to meet
 the immediate necessity, in which they lived to shelter themselves against the
 winter, for, being lately conquered, they had lost several towns), and dispersed
 and fled. Caesar , unwilling to expose his soldiers to
 the violent storms that break out, especially at that season, took up his
 quarters at Genabum , a town of the Carnutes ; and lodged his men in
 houses, partly belonging to the Gauls , and partly
 built to shelter the tents, and hastily covered with thatch. But the horse and
 auxiliaries he sends to all parts to which he was told the enemy had marched;
 and not without effect, as our men generally returned loaded with booty. The
 Carnutes , overpowered by the severity of the winter, and the
 fear of danger, and not daring to continue long in any place, as they were
 driven from their houses, and not finding sufficient protection in the woods,
 from the violence of the storms, after losing a considerable number of their
 men, disperse, and take refuge among the neighboring states.

Caesar , being contented, at so severe a season, to
 disperse the gathering foes, and prevent any new war from breaking out, and
 being convinced, as far as reason could foresee, that no war of consequence
 could be set on foot in the summer campaign, stationed Caius
 Trebonius , with the two legions which he had with him, in quarters at
 Genabum : and being informed by frequent embassies from the Remi , that the Bellovaci (who exceed all
 the Gauls and Belgae in military
 prowess), and the neighboring states, headed by Correus , one of the
 Bellovaci , and Comius , the
 Atrebatian , were raising an army, and assembling at a general
 rendezvous, designing with their united forces to invade the territories of the
 Suessiones , who were put under the patronage of the Remi : and moreover, considering that not only his
 honor, but his interest was concerned, that such of his allies, as deserved well
 of the republic, should suffer no calamity; he again draws the eleventh legion
 out of quarters, and writes besides to Caius Fabius , to march with
 his two legions to the country of the Suessiones ; and he sends to
 Trebonius for one of his two legions. Thus, as far
 as the convenience of the quarters, and the management of the war admitted, he
 laid the burden of the expedition on the legions by turns, without any
 intermission to his own toils.

As soon as his troops were collected, he marched against the
 Bellovaci : and pitching his camp in their territories, detached
 troops of horse all round the country, to take prisoners, from whom he might
 learn the enemy's plan. The horse, having executed his orders bring him back
 word, that but few were found in the houses: and that even these had not stayed
 at home to cultivate their lands (for the emigration was general from all parts)
 but had been sent back to watch our motions. Upon Caesar 's inquiring from them, where the main body of the
 Bellovaci were posted, and what was their design: they made
 answer, "that all the Bellovaci , fit for carrying arms, had
 assembled in one place, and along with them the Ambiani ,
 Aulerci , Caletes , Velocasses , and
 Atrebates , and that they had chosen for their camp, an elevated
 position, surrounded by a dangerous morass: that they had conveyed all their
 baggage into the most remote woods: that several noblemen were united in the
 management of the war; but that the people were most inclined to be governed by
 Correus , because they knew that he had the strongest aversion
 to the name of the Roman people: that a few days
 before Comius had left the camp to engage the Germans to their aid whose nation bordered on theirs, and whose
 numbers were countless: that the Bellovaci had come to a
 resolution, with the consent of all the generals and the earnest desire of the
 people, if Caesar should come with only three legions,
 as was reported, to give him battle, that they might not be obliged to encounter
 his whole army on a future occasion, when they should be in a more wretched and
 distressed condition; but if he brought a stronger force, they intended to
 remain in the position they had chosen, and by ambuscade to prevent the Romans from getting forage (which at that season was
 both scarce and much scattered), corn, and other necessaries.

When Caesar was convinced of the truth of this account
 from the concurring testimony of several persons, and perceived that the plans
 which were proposed were full of prudence, and very unlike the rash resolves of
 a barbarous people, he considered it incumbent on him to use every exertion, in
 order that the enemy might despise his small force and come to an action. For he
 had three veteran legions of distinguished valor, the seventh, eighth and ninth.
 The eleventh consisted of chosen youth of great hopes, who had served eight
 campaigns, but who, compared with the others, had not yet acquired any great
 reputation for experience and valor. Calling therefore a council, and laying
 before it the intelligence which he had received, he encouraged his soldiers. In
 order if possible to entice the enemy to an engagement by the appearance of only
 three legions, he ranged his army in the following manner, that the seventh,
 eighth, and ninth legions should march before all the baggage; that then the
 eleventh should bring up the rear of the whole train of baggage (which however
 was but small, as is usual on such expeditions), so that the enemy could not get
 a sight of a greater number than they themselves were willing to encounter. By
 this disposition he formed his army almost into a square, and brought them
 within sight of the enemy sooner than was anticipated.

When the Gauls , whose bold resolutions had been
 reported to Caesar , saw the legions advance with a
 regular motion, drawn up in battle array; either from the danger of an
 engagement, or our sudden approach, or with the design of watching our
 movements, they drew up their forces before the camp, and did not quit the
 rising ground. Though Caesar wished to bring them to
 battle, yet being surprised to see so vast a host of the enemy, he encamped
 opposite to them, with a valley between them, deep rather than extensive. He
 ordered his camp to be fortified with a rampart twelve feet high, with
 breastworks built on it proportioned to its height and two trenches, each
 fifteen feet broad, with perpendicular sides to be sunk: likewise several
 turrets, three stories high, to be raised, with a communication to each other by
 galleries laid across and covered over; which should be guarded in front by
 small parapets of osiers; that the enemy might be repulsed by two rows of
 soldiers. The one of whom, being more secure from danger by their height might
 throw their darts with more daring and to a greater distance; the other which
 was nearer the enemy, being stationed on the rampart, would be protected by
 their galleries from darts falling on their heads. At the entrance he erected
 gates and turrets of a considerable height.

Caesar had a double design in this fortification; for he
 both hoped that the strength of his works, and his [apparent] fears would raise
 confidence in the barbarians; and when there should be occasion to make a
 distant excursion to get forage or corn, he saw that his camp would be secured
 by the works with a very small force. In the mean time there were frequent
 skirmishes across the marsh, a few on both sides sallying out between the two
 camps. Sometimes, however, our Gallic or German auxiliaries crossed the marsh, and furiously pursued the
 enemy; or on the other hand the enemy passed it and beat back our men. Moreover
 there happened in the course of our daily foraging, what must of necessity
 happen, when corn is to be collected by a few scattered men out of private
 houses, that our foragers dispersing in an intricate country were surrounded by
 the enemy; by which, though we suffered but an inconsiderable loss of cattle and
 servants, yet it raised foolish hopes in the barbarians; but more especially,
 because Comius , who I said had gone to get aid from the Germans , returned with some cavalry, and though the
 Germans were only 500, yet the barbarians were
 elated by their arrival.

Caesar , observing that the enemy kept for several days
 within their camp, which was well secured by a morass and its natural situation,
 and that it could not be assaulted without a dangerous engagement, nor the place
 inclosed with lines without an addition to his army, wrote to Trebonius to send with all dispatch for the thirteenth legion which
 was in winter quarters among the Bituriges under Titus
 Sextius , one of his lieutenants; and then to come to him by forced
 marches with the three legions. He himself sent the cavalry of the Remi , and Lingones , and other states, from whom he had required a vast
 number, to guard his foraging parties, and to support them in case of any sudden
 attack of the enemy.

As this continued for several days, and their vigilance was relaxed by custom (an
 effect which is generally produced by time), the Bellovaci , having
 made themselves acquainted with the daily stations of our horse, lie in ambush
 with a select body of foot in a place covered with woods; to it they sent their
 horse the next day, who were first to decoy our men into the ambuscade, and then
 when they were surrounded, to attack them. It was the lot of the Remi to fall into this snare, to whom that day had been
 allotted to perform this duty; for, having suddenly got sight of the enemy's
 cavalry, and despising their weakness, in consequence of their superior numbers,
 they pursued them too eagerly, and were surrounded on every side by the foot.
 Being, by this means thrown into disorder they returned with more precipitation
 than is usual in cavalry actions, with the loss of Vertiscus the
 governor of their state, and the general of their horse, who, though scarcely
 able to sit on horseback through years, neither, in accordance with the custom
 of the Gauls , pleaded his age in excuse for not
 accepting the command, nor would he suffer them to fight without him. The
 spirits of the barbarians were puffed up, and inflated at the success of this
 battle, in killing the prince, and general of the Remi ; and our men were taught by this loss, to examine the country,
 and post their guards with more caution, and to be more moderate in pursuing a
 retreating enemy.

In the mean time daily skirmishes take place continually in view of both camps;
 these were fought at the ford and pass of the morass. In one of these contests
 the Germans , whom Caesar had
 brought over the Rhine , to fight, intermixed
 with the horse, having resolutely crossed the marsh, and slain the few who made
 resistance, and boldly pursued the rest, so terrified them, that not only those
 who were attacked hand to hand, or wounded at a distance, but even those who
 were stationed at a greater distance to support them, fled disgracefully; and
 being often beaten from the rising grounds, did not stop till they had retired
 into their camp, or some, impelled by fear, had fled further. Their danger threw
 their whole army into such confusion, that it was difficult to judge whether
 they were more insolent after a slight advantage or more dejected by a trifling
 calamity.

After spending several days in the same camp, the guards of the
 Bellovaci , learning that Caius Trebonius was
 advancing nearer with his legions, and fearing a siege like that of Alesia , send off by night all who were disabled by age or
 infirmity, or unarmed, and along with them their whole baggage. While they are
 preparing their disorderly and confused troop for march (for the Gauls are always attended by a vast multitude of
 wagons, even when they have very light baggage), being overtaken by day-light,
 they drew their forces out before their camp, to prevent the Romans attempting a pursuit before the line of their baggage had
 advanced to a considerable distance. But Caesar did not
 think it prudent to attack them when standing on their defense, with such a
 steep hill in their favor, nor keep his legions at such a distance that they
 could quit their post without danger: but, perceiving that his camp was divided
 from the enemy's by a deep morass, so difficult to cross that he could not
 pursue with expedition, and that the hill beyond the morass, which extended
 almost to the enemy's camp, was separated from it only by a small valley, he
 laid a bridge over the morass and led his army across, and soon reached the
 plain on the top of the hill, which was fortified on either side by a steep
 ascent. Having there drawn up his army in order of battle, he marched to the
 furthest hill, from which he could, with his engines, shower darts upon the
 thickest of the enemy.

The Gauls , confiding in the natural strength of their position,
 though they would not decline an engagement if the Romans attempted to ascend the hill, yet dared not divide their
 forces into small parties, lest they should be thrown into disorder by being
 dispersed, and therefore remained in order of battle. Caesar , perceiving that they persisted in their resolution, kept
 twenty cohorts in battle array, and, measuring out ground there for a camp,
 ordered it to be fortified. Having completed his works, he drew up his legions
 before the rampart and stationed the cavalry in certain positions, with their
 horses bridled. When the Bellovaci saw the Romans prepared to pursue them, and that they could not wait the
 whole night, or continue longer in the same place without provisions, they
 formed the following plan to secure a retreat. They handed to one another the
 bundles of straw and sticks on which they sat (for it is the custom of the Gauls to sit when drawn up in order of battle, as has
 been asserted in former commentaries), of which they had great plenty in their
 camp, and piled them in the front of their line; and at the close of the day, on
 a certain signal, set them all on fire at one and the same time. The continued
 blaze soon screened all their forces from the sight of the Romans , which no sooner happened than the barbarians fled with the
 greatest precipitation.

Though Caesar could not perceive the retreat of the
 enemy for the intervention of the fire, yet, suspecting that they had adopted
 that method to favor their escape, he made his legions advance, and sent a party
 of horse to pursue them; but, apprehensive of an ambuscade, and that the enemy
 might remain in the same place and endeavor to draw our men into a
 disadvantageous situation, he advances himself but slowly. The horse, being
 afraid to venture into the smoke and dense line of flame, and those who were
 bold enough to attempt it being scarcely able to see their horse's heads, gave
 the enemy free liberty to retreat, through fear of an ambuscade. Thus by a
 flight, full at once of cowardice and address, they advanced without any loss
 about ten miles, and encamped in a very strong position. From which, laying
 numerous ambuscades, both of horse and foot, they did considerable damage to the
 Roman foragers.

After this had happened several times, Caesar discovered
 from a certain prisoner, that Correus , the general of the
 Bellovaci , had selected six thousand of his bravest foot and a
 thousand horse, with which he designed to lie in ambush in a place to which he
 suspected the Romans would send to look for forage,
 on account of the abundance of corn and grass. Upon receiving information of
 their design Caesar drew out more legions than he
 usually did, and sent forward his cavalry as usual, to protect the foragers.
 With these he intermixed a guard of light infantry, and himself advanced with
 the legions as fast as he could.

The Gauls , placed in ambush, had chosen for the seat of action a
 level piece of ground, not more than a mile in extent, inclosed on every side by
 a thick wood or a very deep river, as by a toil, and this they surrounded. Our
 men, apprised of the enemy's design, marched in good order to the ground, ready
 both in heart and hand to give battle, and willing to hazard any engagement when
 the legions were at their back. On their approach, as Correus 
 supposed that he had got an opportunity of effecting his purpose, he at first
 shows himself with a small party and attacks the foremost troops. Our men
 resolutely stood the charge, and did not crowd together in one place, as
 commonly happens from surprise in engagements between the horse, whose numbers
 prove injurious to themselves.

When by the judicious arrangement of our forces only a few of our men fought by
 turns, and did not suffer themselves to be surrounded, the rest of the enemy
 broke out from the woods while Correus was engaged. The battle was
 maintained in different parts with great vigor, and continued for a long time
 undecided, till at length a body of foot gradually advanced from the woods in
 order of battle and forced our horse to give ground: the light infantry, which
 were sent before the legions to the assistance of the cavalry, soon came up,
 and, mixing with the horse, fought with great courage. The battle was for some
 time doubtful, but, as usually happens, our men, who stood the enemy's first
 charge, became superior from this very circumstance that, though suddenly
 attacked from an ambuscade, they had sustained no loss. In the mean time the
 legions were approaching, and several messengers arrived with notice to our men
 and the enemy that the [ Roman ] general was near at
 hand, with his forces in battle array. Upon this intelligence, our men,
 confiding in the support of the cohorts, fought most resolutely, fearing, lest
 if they should be slow in their operations they should let the legions
 participate in the glory of the conquest. The enemy lose courage and attempt to
 escape by different ways. In vain; for they were themselves entangled in that
 labyrinth in which they thought to entrap the Romans .
 Being defeated and put to the rout, and having lost the greater part of their
 men, they fled in consternation whithersoever chance carried them; some sought
 the woods, others the river, but were vigorously pursued by our men and put to
 the sword. Yet, in the mean time, Correus , unconquered by calamity,
 could not be prevailed on to quit the field and take refuge in the woods, or
 accept our offers of quarter, but, fighting courageously and wounding several,
 provoked our men, elated with victory, to discharge their weapons against him.

After this transaction, Caesar , having come up
 immediately after the battle, and imagining that the enemy, upon receiving the
 news of so great a defeat, would be so depressed that they would abandon their
 camp, which was not above eight miles distant from the scene of action, though
 he saw his passage obstructed by the river, yet he marched his army over and
 advanced. But the Bellovaci and the other states, being informed of
 the loss they had sustained by a few wounded men who having escaped by the
 shelter of the woods, had returned to them after the defeat, and learning that
 every thing had turned out unfavorable, that Correus was slain, and
 the horse and most valiant of their foot cut off, imagined that the Romans were marching against them, and calling a
 council in haste by sound of trumpet, unanimously cry out to send embassadors
 and hostages to Caesar .

This proposal having met with general approbation, Comius the
 Atrebatian fled to those Germans 
 from whom he had borrowed auxiliaries for that war. The rest instantly send
 embassadors to Caesar ; and requested that he would be
 contented with that punishment of his enemy, which if he had possessed the power
 to inflict on them before the engagement, when they were yet uninjured, they
 were persuaded from his usual clemency and mercy, he never would have inflicted;
 that the power of the Bellovaci was crushed by the cavalry action;
 that many thousand of their choicest foot had fallen, that scarce a man had
 escaped to bring the fatal news. That, however, the Bellovaci had
 derived from the battle one advantage, of some importance, considering their
 loss; that Correus , the author of the rebellion, and agitator of
 the people, was slain: for that while he lived the senate had never equal
 influence in the state with the giddy populace.

Caesar reminded the embassadors who made these
 supplications, that the Bellovaci had at the same season the year
 before, in conjunction with other states of Gaul , undertaken a war, and that
 they had persevered the most obstinately of all in their purpose, and were not
 brought to a proper way of thinking by the submission of the rest: that he knew
 and was aware that the guilt of a crime was easily transferred to the dead; but
 that no one person could have such influence, as to be able by the feeble
 support of the multitude to raise a war and carry it on without the consent of
 the nobles, in opposition to the senate, and in despite of every virtuous man;
 however he was satisfied with the punishment, which they had drawn upon
 themselves.

The night following the embassadors bring back his answer to their countrymen and
 prepare the hostages. Embassadors flock in from the other states,
 which were waiting for the issue of the [war with the] Bellovaci :
 they give hostages, and receive his orders; all except Comius ,
 whose fears restrained him from intrusting his safety to any person's honor. For
 the year before, while Caesar was holding the assizes
 in Hither Gaul , Titus
 Labienus , having discovered that Comius was tampering
 with the state, and raising a conspiracy against Caesar , thought he might punish his infidelity without perfidy; but
 judging that he would not come to his camp at his invitation, and unwilling to
 put him on his guard by the attempt, he sent Caius Volusenus
 Quadratus , with orders to have him put to death under pretense of
 conference. To effect his purpose, he sent with him some chosen centurions. When
 they came to the conference, and Volusenus , as had been
 agreed on, had taken hold of Comius by the hand, and one of the
 centurions, as if surprised at so uncommon an incident, attempted to kill him,
 he was prevented by the friends of Comius , but wounded him severely
 in the head by the first blow. Swords were drawn on both sides, not so much with
 a design to fight as to effect an escape, our men believing that
 Comius had received a mortal stroke; and the Gauls , from the treachery which they had seen, dreading
 that a deeper design lay concealed. Upon this transaction, it was said that
 Comius made a resolution never to come within sight of any
 Roman .

When Caesar , having completely conquered the most
 warlike nations, perceived that there was now no state which could make
 preparations for war to oppose him, but that some were removing and fleeing from
 their country to avoid present subjection, he resolved to detach his army into
 different parts of the country. He kept with himself Marcus
 Antonius the quaestor, with the eleventh legion; Caius
 Fabius was detached with twenty-five cohorts into the remotest part
 of Gaul , because it was rumored that some states had risen in arms, and
 he did not think that Caius Caninius Rebilus , who had the charge of
 that country, was strong enough to protect it with two legions. He ordered
 Titus Labienus to attend himself, and sent the twelfth legion
 which had been under him in winter quarters, to Hither Gaul , to protect
 the Roman colonies, and prevent any loss by the
 inroads of barbarians similar to that which had happened the year before to the
 Tergestines , who were cut off by a sudden depredation and
 attack. He himself marched to depopulate the country of Ambiorix ,
 whom he had terrified and forced to fly, but despaired of being able to reduce
 under his power; but he thought it most consistent with his honor to waste his
 country both of inhabitants, cattle, and buildings, so that from the abhorrence
 of his countrymen, if fortune suffered any to survive, he might be excluded from
 a return to his state for the calamities which he had brought on it.

After he had sent either his legions or auxiliaries through every part of
 Ambiorix 's dominions, and wasted the whole country by sword,
 fire, and rapine, and had killed or taken prodigious numbers, he sent Labienus with two legions against the Treviri , whose state, from its vicinity to Germany ,
 being engaged in constant war, differed but little from the Germans , in civilization and savage barbarity; and never continued
 in its allegiance, except when awed by the presence of his army.

In the mean time Caius Caninius , a lieutenant, having received
 information by letters and messages from Duracius , who had always
 continued in friendship to the Roman people, though a
 part of his state had revolted, that a great multitude of the enemy were in arms
 in the country of the Pictones , marched to the town Limonum . When he was approaching it, he was informed by some
 prisoners, that Duracius was shut up by several thousand men, under
 the command of Dumnacus , general of the Andes, and that Limonum was besieged, but not daring to face the enemy with his
 weak legions, he encamped in a strong position: Dumnacus , having
 notice of Caninius 's approach, turned his whole force against the
 legions, and prepared to assault the Roman camp. But
 after spending several days in the attempt, and losing a considerable number of
 men, without being able to make a breach in any part of the works, he returned
 again to the siege of Limonum .

At the same time, Caius Fabius , a lieutenant, brings back many
 states to their allegiance, and confirms their submission by taking hostages; he
 was then informed by letters from Caninius , of the proceedings
 among the Pictones . Upon which he set off to bring assistance to
 Duracius . But Dumnacus , hearing of the approach of
 Fabius , and despairing of safety, if at the same
 time he should be forced to withstand the Roman army
 without, and observe, and be under apprehension from the town's people, made a
 precipitate retreat from that place with all his forces. Nor did he think that
 he should be sufficiently secure from danger, unless he led his army across the
 Loire , which was too deep a river to pass except by a bridge.
 Though Fabius had not yet come within sight of the
 enemy, nor joined Caninius ; yet being informed of the nature of the
 country, by persons acquainted with it, he judged it most likely that the enemy
 would take that way, which he found they did take. He therefore marched to that
 bridge with his army, and ordered his cavalry to advance no farther before the
 legions than that they could return to the same camp at night, without fatiguing
 their horses. Our horse pursued according to orders, and fell upon
 Dumnacus 's rear and attacking them on their march, while
 fleeing, dismayed, and laden with baggage, they slew a great number, and took a
 rich booty. Having executed the affair so successfully, they retired to the
 camp.

The night following, Fabius sent his horse before him,
 with orders to engage the enemy, and delay their march till he himself should
 come up. That his orders might be faithfully performed, Quintus Atius
 Varus , general of the horse, a man of uncommon spirit and skill,
 encouraged his men, and pursuing the enemy, disposed some of his troops in
 convenient places, and with the rest gave battle to the enemy. The enemy's
 cavalry made a bold stand, the foot relieving each other, and making a general
 halt, to assist their horse against ours. The battle was warmly contested. For
 our men, despising the enemy whom they had conquered the day before, and knowing
 that the legions were following them, animated both by the disgrace of
 retreating, and a desire of concluding the battle expeditiously by their own
 courage, fought most valiantly against the foot: and the enemy, imagining that
 no more forces would come against them, as they had experienced the day before,
 thought they had got a favorable opportunity of destroying our whole cavalry.

After the conflict had continued for some time with great violence,
 Dumnacus drew out his army in such a manner, that the foot
 should by turns assist the horse. Then the legions, marching in close order,
 came suddenly in sight of the enemy. At this sight, the barbarian horse were so
 astonished, and the foot so terrified, that breaking through the line of
 baggage, they betook themselves to flight with a loud shout, and in great
 disorder. But our horse, who a little before had vigorously engaged them, while
 they made resistance, being elated with joy at their victory, raising a shout on
 every side, poured round them as they ran, and as long as their horses had
 strength to pursue, or their arms to give a blow, so long did they continue the
 slaughter of the enemy in that battle, and having killed above twelve thousand
 men in arms, or such as threw away their arms through fear, they took their
 whole train of baggage.

After this defeat, when it was ascertained that Drapes, a Senonian 
 (who in the beginning of the revolt of Gaul had collected from all
 quarters men of desperate fortunes, invited the slaves to liberty, called in the
 exiles of the whole kingdom, given an asylum to robbers, and intercepted the
 Roman baggage and provisions), was marching to
 the province with five thousand men, being all he could collect after the
 defeat, and that Luterius a Cadurcian who, as it has
 been observed in a former commentary, had designed to make an attack on the
 Province in the first revolt of Gaul , had formed a junction with
 him, Caius Caninius went in pursuit of them with two legions, lest
 great disgrace might be incurred from the fears or injuries done to the Province
 by the depredations of a band of desperate men.

Caius Fabius set off with the rest of the army to the
 Carnutes and those other states, whose force he was informed,
 had served as auxiliaries in that battle, which he fought against
 Dumnacus . For he had no doubt that they would be more
 submissive after their recent sufferings, but if respite and time were given
 them, they might be easily excited by the earnest solicitations of the same
 Dumnacus . On this occasion Fabius was
 extremely fortunate and expeditious in recovering the states. For the
 Carnutes , who, though often harassed had never mentioned peace,
 submitted and gave hostages: and the other states, which lie in the remotest
 parts of Gaul , adjoining the ocean, and
 which are called Armoricae , influenced by the example of the
 Carnutes , as soon as Fabius arrived
 with his legions, without delay comply with his command. Dumnacus ,
 expelled from his own territories, wandering and skulking about, was forced to
 seek refuge by himself in the most remote parts of Gaul .

But Drapes in conjunction with Luterius , knowing that
 Caninius was at hand with the legions, and that they themselves
 could not without certain destruction enter the boundaries of the province,
 while an army was in pursuit of them, and being no longer at liberty to roam up
 and down and pillage, halt in the country of the Cadurci , as
 Luterius had once in his prosperity possessed a powerful
 influence over the inhabitants, who were his countrymen, and being always the
 author of new projects, had considerable authority among the barbarians; with
 his own and Drapes' troops he seized Uxellodunum , a town formerly
 in vassalage to him, and strongly fortified by its natural situation; and
 prevailed on the inhabitants to join him.

After Caninius had rapidly marched to this place, and perceived that
 all parts of the town were secured by very craggy rocks, which it would be
 difficult for men in arms to climb even if they met with no resistance; and
 moreover, observing that the town's people were possessed of effects, to a
 considerable amount, and that if they attempted to convey them away in a
 clandestine manner, they could not escape our horse, or even our legions; he
 divided his forces into three parts, and pitched three camps on very high
 ground, with the intention of drawing lines round the town by degrees, as his
 forces could bear the fatigue.

When the townsmen perceived his design, being terrified by the recollection of
 the distress at Alesia , they began to dread similar consequences from a siege; and
 above all Luterius , who had experienced that fatal event, cautioned
 them to make provisions of corn; they therefore resolve by general consent to
 leave part of their troops behind, and set out with their light troops to bring
 in corn. The scheme having met with approbation, the following night Drapes and
 Luterius leaving two thousand men in the garrison, marched out
 of the town with the rest. After a few days' stay in the country of the
 Cadurci (some of whom were disposed to assist them with corn,
 and others were unable to prevent their taking it) they collected a great store.
 Sometimes also attacks were made on our little forts by sallies at night. For
 this reason Caninius deferred drawing his works round the whole
 town, lest he should be unable to protect them when completed, or by disposing
 his garrisons in several places, should make them too weak.

Drapes and Luterius , having laid in a large supply of corn,
 occupying a position at about ten miles distance from the town, intending from
 it to convey the corn into the town by degrees. They chose each his respective
 department. Drapes stayed behind in the camp with part of the army to protect
 it; Luterius conveys the train with provisions into the town.
 Accordingly, having disposed guards here and there along the road, about the
 tenth hour of the night, he set out by narrow paths through the woods, to fetch
 the corn into the town. But their noise being heard by the sentinels of our
 camp, and the scouts which we had sent out, having brought an account of what
 was going on, Caninius instantly with the ready-armed cohorts from
 the nearest turrets made an attack on the convoy at the break of day. They,
 alarmed at so unexpected an evil, fled by different ways to their guard: which
 as soon as our men perceived, they fell with great fury on the escort, and did
 not allow a single man to be taken alive. Luterius escaped thence
 with a few followers, but did not return to the camp.

After this success, Caninius learned from some prisoners, that a
 part of the forces was encamped with Drapes, not more than ten miles off: which
 being confirmed by several, supposing that after the defeat of one general, the
 rest would be terrified, and might be easily conquered, he thought it a most
 fortunate event that none of the enemy had fled back from the slaughter to the
 camp, to give Drapes notice of the calamity which had befallen him. And as he
 could see no danger in making the attempt, he sent forward all his cavalry and
 the German foot, men of great activity, to the
 enemy's camp. He divides one legion among the three camps, and takes the other
 without baggage along with him. When he had advanced near the enemy, he was
 informed by scouts, which he had sent before him, that the enemy's camp, as is
 the custom of barbarians, was pitched low, near the banks of a river, and that
 the higher grounds were unoccupied: but that the German horse had made a sudden attack on them, and had begun the
 battle. Upon this intelligence, he marched up with his legion, armed and in
 order of battle. Then, on a signal being suddenly given on every side, our men
 took possession of the higher grounds. Upon this the German horse observing the Roman colors,
 fought with great vigor. Immediately all the cohorts attack them on every side;
 and having either killed or made prisoners of them all, gained great booty. In
 that battle, Drapes himself was taken prisoner.

Caninius , having accomplished the business so successfully, without
 having scarcely a man wounded, returned to besiege the town; and, having
 destroyed the enemy without, for fear of whom he had been prevented from
 strengthening his redoubts, and surrounding the enemy with his lines, he orders
 the work to be completed on every side. The next day, Caius Fabius 
 came to join him with his forces, and took upon him the siege of one side.

In the mean time, Caesar left Caius
 Antonius in the country of the Bellovaci , with fifteen
 cohorts, that the Belgae might have no opportunity of forming new
 plans in future. He himself visits the other states, demands a great number of
 hostages, and by his encouraging language allays the apprehensions of all. When
 he came to the Carnutes , in whose state he has in a former
 commentary mentioned that the war first broke out; observing, that from a
 consciousness of their guilt, they seemed to be in the greatest terror: to
 relieve the state the sooner from its fear, he demanded that
 Guturvatus , the promoter of that treason, and the instigator of
 that rebellion, should be delivered up to punishment. And though the latter did
 not dare to trust his life even to his own countrymen, yet such diligent search
 was made by them all, that he was soon brought to our camp. Caesar was forced to punish him, by the clamors of the soldiers,
 contrary to his natural humanity, for they alleged that all the dangers and
 losses incurred in that war, ought to be imputed to Guturvatus .
 Accordingly, he was whipped to death, and his head cut off.

Here Caesar was informed by numerous letters from
 Caninius of what had happened to Drapes and
 Luterius , and in what conduct the town's people persisted: and
 though he despised the smallness of their numbers, yet he thought their
 obstinacy deserving a severe punishment, lest Gaul in general
 should adopt an idea that she did not want strength but perseverance to oppose
 the Romans ; and lest the other states, relying on the
 advantage of situation, should follow their example and assert their liberty;
 especially as he knew that all the Gauls understood
 that his command was to continue but one summer longer, and if they could hold
 out for that time, that they would have no further danger to apprehend. He
 therefore left Quintus Calenus , one of his lieutenants, behind him,
 with two legions, and instructions to follow him by regular marches. He hastened
 as much as he could with all the cavalry to Caninius .

Having arrived at Uxellodunum , contrary to the general
 expectation, and perceiving that the town was surrounded by the works, and that
 the enemy had no possible means of retiring from the assault, and being likewise
 informed by the deserters that the townsmen had abundance of corn, he
 endeavoured to prevent their getting water. A river divided the valley below,
 which almost surrounded the steep craggy mountain on which
 Uxellodunum was built. The nature of the ground prevented his
 turning the current: for it ran so low down at the foot of the mountain, that no
 drains could be sunk deep enough to draw it off in any direction. But the
 descent to it was so difficult, that if we made opposition, the besieged could
 neither come to the river nor retire up the precipice without hazard of their
 lives. Caesar perceiving the difficulty, disposed
 archers and slingers, and in some places, opposite to the easiest descents,
 placed engines, and attempted to hinder the townsmen from getting water at the
 river, which obliged them afterward to go all to one place to procure water.

Close under the walls of the town, a copious spring gushed out on that part,
 which for the space of nearly three hundred feet, was not surrounded by the
 river. While every other person wished that the besieged could be debarred from
 this spring, Caesar alone saw that it could be
 effected, though not without great danger. Opposite to it he began to advance
 the vineae toward the mountain, and to throw up a mound, with great labor and
 continual skirmishing. For the townsmen ran down from the high ground, and
 fought without any risk, and wounded several of our men, yet they obstinately
 pushed on and were not deterred from moving forward the vineae, and from
 surmounting by their assiduity the difficulties of situation. At the same time
 they work mines, and move the crates and vineae to the source of the fountain.
 This was the only work which they could do without danger or suspicion. A mound
 sixty feet high was raised; on it was erected a turret of ten stories, not with
 the intention that it should be on a level with the wall (for that could not be
 effected by any works), but to rise above the top of the spring. When our
 engines began to play from it upon the paths that led to the fountain, and the
 townsmen could not go for water without danger, not only the cattle designed for
 food and the working cattle, but a great number of men also died of thirst.

Alarmed at this calamity, the townsmen fill barrels with tallow, pitch, and dried
 wood: these they set on fire, and roll down on our works. At the same time, they
 fight most furiously, to deter the Romans , by the
 engagement and danger, from extinguishing the flames. Instantly a great blaze
 arose in the works. For whatever they threw down the precipice, striking against
 the vineae and agger, communicated the fire to whatever was in the way. Our
 soldiers on the other hand, though they were engaged in a perilous sort of
 encounter, and laboring under the disadvantages of position, yet supported all
 with very great presence of mind. For the action happened in an elevated
 situation, and in sight of our army; and a great shout was raised on both sides;
 therefore every man faced the weapons of the enemy and the flames in as
 conspicuous a manner as he could, that his valor might be the better known and
 attested.

Caesar , observing that several of his men were wounded,
 ordered the cohorts to ascend the mountain on all sides, and, under pretense of
 assailing the walls, to raise a shout: at which the besieged being frightened,
 and not knowing what was going on in other places, call off their armed troops
 from attacking our works, and dispose them on the walls. Thus our men without
 hazarding a battle, gained time partly to extinguish the works which had caught
 fire, and partly to cut off the communication. As the townsmen still continued
 to make an obstinate resistance, and even, after losing the greatest part of
 their forces by drought, persevered in their resolution: at last the veins of
 the spring were cut across by our mines, and turned from their course. By this
 their constant spring was suddenly dried up, which reduced them to such despair
 that they imagined that it was not done by the art of man, but the will of the
 gods; forced, therefore, by necessity, they at length submitted.

Caesar , being convinced that his lenity was known to all
 men, and being under no fears of being thought to act severely from a natural
 cruelty, and perceiving that there would be no end to his troubles if several
 states should attempt to rebel in like manner and in different places, resolved
 to deter others by inflicting an exemplary punishment on these. Accordingly he
 cut off the hands of those who had borne arms against him. Their lives he
 spared, that the punishment of their rebellion might be the more conspicuous.
 Drapes, who I have said was taken by Caninius , either through
 indignation and grief arising from his captivity, or through fear of severer
 punishments, abstained from food for several days, and thus perished. At the
 same time, Luterius , who, I have related, had escaped from the
 battle, having fallen into the hands of Epasnactus , an
 Arvernian (for he frequently changed his quarters, and threw
 himself on the honor of several persons, as he saw that he dare not remain long
 in one place, and was conscious how great an enemy he deserved to have in Caesar ), was by this Epasnactus , the
 Arvernian , a sincere friend of the Roman people, delivered without any hesitation, a prisoner to Caesar .

In the mean time, Labienus engages in a successful
 cavalry action among the Treviri ; and, having killed several of them and of the Germans , who never refused their aid to any person
 against the Romans , he got their chiefs alive into
 his power, and, among them, Surus , an Aeduan , who was
 highly renowned both for his valor and birth, and was the only
 Aeduan that had continued in arms till that time.

Caesar , being informed of this, and perceiving that he
 had met with good success in all parts of Gaul , and reflecting that, in
 former campaigns [Celtic] Gaul had been conquered and subdued; but
 that he had never gone in person to Aquitania , but
 had made a conquest of it, in some degree, by Marcus Crassus , set
 out for it with two legions, designing to spend the latter part of the summer
 there. This affair he executed with his usual dispatch and good fortune. For all
 the states of Aquitania sent
 embassadors to him and delivered hostages. These affairs being concluded, he
 marched with a guard of cavalry toward Narbo , and drew off his army into winter quarters by his
 lieutenants. He posted four legions in the country of the Belgae ,
 under Marcus Antonius , Caius Trebonius , Publius
 Vatinius , and Quintus Tullius , his lieutenants. Two he
 detached to the Aedui , knowing them to have a very powerful
 influence throughout all Gaul . Two he placed among the
 Turoni , near the confines of the Carnutes , to keep in
 awe the entire tract of country bordering on the ocean; the other two he placed
 in the territories of the Lemovices , at a small distance from the Arverni , that
 no part of Gaul might be without an army.
 Having spent a few days in the province, he quickly ran through all the business
 of the assizes, settled all public disputes, and distributed rewards to the most
 deserving; for he had a good opportunity of learning how every person was
 disposed toward the republic during the general revolt of Gaul , which he had withstood by the fidelity and assistance of the
 Province.

Having finished these affairs, he returned to his legions among the
 Belgae and wintered at Nemetocenna : there he got intelligence that Comius ,
 the Atrebatian had had an engagement with his cavalry. For when
 Antonius had gone into winter quarters, and the state of the
 Atrebates continued in their allegiance, Comius ,
 who, after that wound which I before mentioned, was always ready to join his
 countrymen upon every commotion, that they might not want a person to advise and
 head them in the management of the war, when his state submitted to the Romans , supported himself and his adherents on plunder
 by means of his cavalry, infested the roads, and intercepted several convoys
 which were bringing provisions to the Roman quarters.

Caius Volusenus Quadratus was appointed commander of the horse under
 Antonius , to winter with him: Antonius sent him in
 pursuit of the enemy's cavalry; now Volusenus added to
 that valor which was pre-eminent in him, a great aversion to
 Comius , on which account he executed the more willingly the orders
 which he received. Having, therefore, laid ambuscades, he had several encounters
 with his cavalry and came off successful. At last, when a violent contest
 ensued, and Volusenus , through eagerness to intercept
 Comius , had obstinately pursued him with a small party; and
 Comius had, by the rapidity of his flight, drawn Volusenus to a considerable distance from his troops, he,
 on a sudden, appealed to the honor of all about him for assistance not to suffer
 the wound, which he had perfidiously received, to go without vengeance; and,
 wheeling his horse about, rode unguardedly before the rest up to the commander.
 All his horse following his example, made a few of our men turn their backs and
 pursued them. Comius , clapping spurs to his horse, rode up to Volusenus , and, pointing his lance, pierced him in the
 thigh with great force. When their commander was wounded, our men no longer
 hesitated to make resistance, and, facing about, beat back the enemy. When this
 occurred, several of the enemy, repulsed by the great impetuosity of our men,
 were wounded, and some were trampled to death in striving to escape, and some
 were made prisoners. Their general escaped this misfortune by the swiftness of
 his horse. Our commander, being severely wounded, so much so that he appeared to
 run the risk of losing his life, was carried back to the camp. But
 Comius , having either gratified his resentment, or, because he
 had lost the greatest part of his followers, sent embassadors to
 Antonius , and assured him that he would give hostages as a
 security that he would go wherever Antonius should prescribe, and
 would comply with his orders, and only entreated that this concession should be
 made to his fears, that he should not be obliged to go into the presence of any
 Roman . As Antonius judged that his
 request originated in a just apprehension, he indulged him in it and accepted
 his hostages. Caesar , I know, has made a separate
 commentary of each year's transactions, which I have not thought it necessary
 for me to do, because the following year, in which Lucius Paulus 
 and Caius Marcellus were consuls [ 50 B.
 C.], produced no remarkable occurrences in Gaul . But that no person may be
 left in ignorance of the place where Caesar and his
 army were at that time, have thought proper to write a few words in addition to
 this commentary.

Caesar , while in winter quarters in the country of the
 Belgae , made it his only business to keep the states in amity
 with him, and to give none either hopes of, or pretext for a revolt. For nothing
 was further from his wishes than to be under the necessity of engaging in
 another war at his departure; lest, when he was drawing his army out of the
 country, any war should be left unfinished, which the Gauls would cheerfully undertake, when there was no immediate
 danger. Therefore, by treating the states with respect, making rich presents to
 the leading men, imposing no new burdens, and making the terms of their
 subjection lighter, he easily kept Gaul (already exhausted by so
 many unsuccessful battles) in obedience.

When the winter quarters were broken up he himself, contrary to his usual
 practice, proceeded to Italy , by the longest
 possible stages, in order to visit the free towns and colonies, that he might
 recommend to them the petition of Marcus Antonius , his treasurer,
 for the priesthood. For he exerted his interest both cheerfully in favor of a
 man strongly attached to him, whom he had sent home before him to attend the
 election, and zealously to oppose the faction and power of a few men, who, by
 rejecting Marcus Antonius , wished to undermine Caesar 's influence when going out of office. Though Caesar heard on the road, before he reached Italy that he was created augur, yet he thought himself in honor
 bound to visit the free towns and colonies, to return them thanks for rendering
 such service to Antonius by their presence in such great numbers
 [at the election], and at the same time to recommend to them himself, and his
 honor in his suit for the consulate the ensuing year [ 48 B.C.]. For his adversaries arrogantly boasted that Lucius
 Lentulus and Caius Marcellus had been appointed consuls,
 who would strip Caesar of all honor and dignity: and
 that the consulate had been injuriously taken from Sergius Galba ,
 though he had been much superior in votes and interest, because he was united to
 Caesar , both by friendship, and by serving as
 lieutenant under him.

Caesar , on his arrival, was received by the principal
 towns and colonies with incredible respect and affection; for this was the first
 time he came since the war against united Gaul . Nothing was omitted which
 could be thought of for the ornament of the gates, roads, and every place
 through which Caesar was to pass. All the people with
 their children went out to meet him. Sacrifices were offered up in every
 quarter. The market places and temples were laid out with entertainments, as if
 anticipating the joy of a most splendid triumph. So great was the magnificence
 of the richer and zeal of the poorer ranks of the people.

When Caesar had gone through all the states of
 Cisalpine Gaul , he returned with the greatest haste to the army
 at Nemetocenna ; and having ordered all his legions to march from
 winter quarters to the territories of the Treviri , he went thither and reviewed them. He made Titus
 Labienus governor of Cisalpine Gaul , that he might be
 the more inclined to support him in his suit for the consulate. He himself made
 such journeys as he thought would conduce to the health of his men by change of
 air; and though he was frequently told that Labienus 
 was solicited by his enemies, and was assured that a scheme was in agitation by
 the contrivance of a few, that the senate should interpose their authority to
 deprive him of a part of his army; yet he neither gave credit to any story
 concerning Labienus , nor could be prevailed upon to do
 any thing in opposition to the authority of the senate; for he thought that his
 cause would be easily gained by the free voice of the senators. For Caius
 Curio , one of the tribunes of the people, having undertaken to defend
 Caesar 's cause and dignity, had often proposed to
 the senate, "that if the dread of Caesar 's arms
 rendered any apprehensive, as Pompey 's authority and arms were no
 less formidable to the forum, both should resign their command, and disband
 their armies. That then the city would be free, and enjoy its due rights." And
 he not only proposed this, but of himself called upon the senate to divide on
 the question. But the consuls and Pompey 's friends interposed to
 prevent it; and regulating matters as they desired, they broke up the meeting.

This testimony of the unanimous voice of the senate was very great, and
 consistent with their former conduct; for the preceding year, when Marcellus attacked Caesar 's
 dignity, he proposed to the senate, contrary to the law of Pompey 
 and Crassus , to dispose of Caesar 's province, before the expiration of his command, and when
 the votes were called for, and Marcellus , who
 endeavored to advance his own dignity, by raising envy against Caesar , wanted a division, the full senate went over to the opposite
 side. The spirit of Caesar 's foes was not broken by
 this, but it taught them, that they ought to strengthen their interest by
 enlarging their connections, so as to force the senate to comply with whatever
 they had resolved on.

After this a decree was passed by the senate, that one legion should be sent by
 Pompey , and another by Caesar , to the
 Parthian war. But these two legions were evidently drawn from
 Caesar alone. For the first legion which
 Pompey sent to Caesar , he gave Caesar , as if it belonged to himself, though it was
 levied in Caesar 's province. Caesar , however, though no one could doubt the design of his
 enemies, sent the legion back to Cneius Pompey , and in compliance
 with the decree of the senate, ordered the fifteenth, belonging to himself, and
 which was quartered in Cisalpine Gaul , to be delivered
 up. In its room he sent the thirteenth into Italy , to protect the
 garrisons from which he had drafted the fifteenth. He disposed his army in
 winter quarters, placed Caius Trebonius , with four legions among
 the Belgae , and detached Caius Fabius , with four more,
 to the Aedui ; for he thought that Gaul would be most
 secure, if the Belgae , a people of the greatest valor, and the
 Aedui , who possessed the most powerful influence, were kept in
 awe by his armies.

He himself set out for Italy ; where he was
 informed on his arrival, that the two legions sent home by him, and which by the
 senate's decree, should have been sent to the Parthian war, had
 been delivered over to Pompey , by Caius Marcellus the
 consul, and were retained in Italy . Although from
 this transaction it was evident to every one that war was designed against Caesar , yet he resolved to submit to any thing, as long
 as there were hopes left of deciding the dispute in an equitable manner, rather
 than to have recourse to arms.