Gallic War (Julius Caesar)

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	Gallic War Author: Julius Caesar	Translator: W. A. McDevitte
141	His constitutis rebus , nactus idoneam ad navigandum tempestatem III . fere vigilia solvit equitesque in ulteriorem portum progredi et naves conscendere et se sequi iussit . A quibus cum paulo tardius esset administratum , ipse hora diei circiter IIII . cum primis navibus Britanniam attigit atque ibi in omnibus collibus expositas hostium copias armatas conspexit . Cuius loci haec erat natura atque ita montibus angustis mare continebatur , uti ex locis superioribus in litus telum adigi posset . Hunc ad egrediendum nequaquam idoneum locum arbitratus , dum reliquae naves eo convenirent ad horam nonam in ancoris expectavit . Interim legatis tribunisque militum convocatis et quae ex Voluseno cognovisset et quae fieri vellet ostendit monuitque , ut rei militaris ratio , maximeque ut maritimae res postularent , ut , cum celerem atque instabilem motum haberent , ad nutum et ad tempus omnes res ab iis administrarentur . His dimissis et ventum et aestum uno tempore nactus secundum , dato signo et sublatis ancoris , circiter milia passuum VII ab eo loco progressus aperto ac plano litore naves constituit .	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.
142	At barbari , consilio Romanorum cognito praemisso equitatu et essedariis , quo plerumque genere in proeliis uti consuerunt , reliquis copiis subsecuti nostros navibus egredi prohibebant . Erat ob has causas summa difficultas , quod naves propter magnitudinem nisi in alto constitui non poterant , militibus autem , ignotis locis , impeditis manibus , magno et gravi onere armorum oppressis simul et de navibus desiliendum et in fluctibus consistendum et cum hostibus erat pugnandum , cum illi aut ex arido aut paulum in aquam progressi omnibus membris expeditis , notissimis locis , audacter tela coicerent et equos insuefactos incitarent . Quibus rebus nostri perterriti atque huius omnino generis pugnae imperiti , non eadem alacritate ac studio quo in pedestribus uti proeliis consuerant utebantur .	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.
143	Quod ubi Caesar animadvertit , naves longas , quarum et species erat barbaris inusitatior et motus ad usum expeditior , paulum removeri ab onerariis navibus et remis incitari et ad latus apertum hostium constitui atque inde fundis , sagittis , tormentis hostes propelli ac submoveri iussit ; quae res magno usui nostris fuit . Nam et navium figura et remorum motu et inusitato genere tormentorum permoti barbari constiterunt ac paulum modo pedem rettulerunt . Atque nostris militibus cunctantibus , maxime propter altitudinem maris , qui X legionis aquilam gerebat , obtestatus deos , ut ea res legioni feliciter eveniret , ' desilite ' , inquit , ' milites , nisi vultis aquilam hostibus prodere ; ego certe meum rei publicae atque imperatori officium praestitero . ' Hoc cum voce magna dixisset , se ex navi proiecit atque in hostes aquilam ferre coepit . Tum nostri cohortati inter se , ne tantum dedecus admitteretur , universi ex navi desiluerunt . Hos item ex proximis primi navibus cum conspexissent , subsecuti hostibus adpropinquaverunt .	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.
144	Pugnatum est ab utrisque acriter . Nostri tamen , quod neque ordines servare neque firmiter insistere neque signa subsequi poterant atque alius alia ex navi quibuscumque signis occurrerat se adgregabat , magnopere perturbabantur ; hostes vero , notis omnibus vadis , ubi ex litore aliquos singulares ex navi egredientes conspexerant , incitatis equis impeditos adoriebantur , plures paucos circumsistebant , alii ab latere aperto in universos tela coniciebant . Quod cum animadvertisset Caesar , scaphas longarum navium , item speculatoria navigia militibus compleri iussit , et quos laborantes conspexerat , his subsidia submittebat . Nostri , simul in arido constiterunt , suis omnibus consecutis , in hostes impetum fecerunt atque eos in fugam dederunt ; neque longius prosequi potuerunt , quod equites cursum tenere atque insulam capere non potuerant . Hoc unum ad pristinam fortunam Caesari defuit .	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.
145	Hostes proelio superati , simul atque se ex fuga receperunt , statim ad Caesarem legatos de pace miserunt ; obsides sese daturos quaeque imperasset facturos polliciti sunt . Una cum his legatis Commius Atrebas venit , quem supra demonstraveram a Caesare in Britanniam praemissum . Hunc illi e navi egressum , cum ad eos oratoris modo Caesaris mandata deferret , comprehenderant atque in vincula coniecerant ; tum proelio facto remiserunt et in petenda pace eius rei culpam in multitudinem contulerunt et propter imprudentiam ut ignosceretur petiverunt . Caesar questus quod , cum ultro in continentem legatis missis pacem ab se petissent , bellum sine causa intulissent , ignoscere se imprudentiae dixit obsidesque imperavit ; quorum illi partem statim dederunt , partem ex longinquioribus locis arcessitam paucis diebus sese daturos dixerunt . Interea suos in agros remigrare iusserunt , principesque undique convenire et se civitatesque suas Caesari commendare coeperunt .	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.
146	His rebus pace confirmata , post diem quartum quam est in Britanniam ventum naves XVIII , de quibus supra demonstratum est , quae equites sustulerant , ex superiore portu leni vento solverunt . Quae cum adpropinquarent Britanniae et ex castris viderentur , tanta tempestas subito coorta est ut nulla earum cursum tenere posset , sed aliae eodem unde erant profectae referrentur , aliae ad inferiorem partem insulae , quae est propius solis occasum , magno suo cum periculo deicerentur ; quae tamen ancoris iactis cum fluctibus complerentur , necessario adversa nocte in altum provectae continentem petierunt .	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.
147	Eadem nocte accidit ut esset luna plena , qui dies maritimos aestus maximos in Oceano efficere consuevit , nostrisque id erat incognitum . Ita uno tempore et longas naves , [ quibus Caesar exercitum transportandum curaverat , ] quas Caesar in aridum subduxerat , aestus complebat , et onerarias , quae ad ancoras erant deligatae , tempestas adflictabat , neque ulla nostris facultas aut administrandi aut auxiliandi dabatur . Compluribus navibus fractis , reliquae cum essent funibus , ancoris reliquisque armamentis amissis ad navigandum inutiles , magna , id quod necesse erat accidere , totius exercitus perturbatio facta est . Neque enim naves erant aliae quibus reportari possent , et omnia deerant quae ad reficiendas naves erant usui , et , quod omnibus constabat hiemari in Gallia oportere , frumentum in his locis in hiemem provisum non erat .	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.
148	Quibus rebus cognitis , principes Britanniae , qui post proelium ad Caesarem convenerant , inter se conlocuti , cum et equites et naves et frumentum Romanis deesse intellegerent et paucitatem militum ex castrorum exiguitate cognoscerent , quae hoc erant etiam angustior quod sine impedimentis Caesar legiones transportaverat , optimum factu esse duxerunt rebellione facta frumento commeatuque nostros prohibere et rem in hiemem producere , quod his superatis aut reditu interclusis neminem postea belli inferendi causa in Britanniam transiturum confidebant . Itaque rursus coniuratione facta paulatim ex castris discedere et suos clam ex agris deducere coeperunt .	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.
149	At Caesar , etsi nondum eorum consilia cognoverat , tamen et ex eventu navium suarum et ex eo quod obsides dare intermiserant fore id quod accidit suspicabatur . Itaque ad omnes casus subsidia comparabat . Nam et frumentum ex agris cotidie in castra conferebat et , quae gravissime adflictae erant naves , earum materia atque aere ad reliquas reficiendas utebatur et quae ad eas res erant usui ex continenti comportari iubebat . Itaque , cum summo studio a militibus administraretur , XII navibus amissis , reliquis ut navigari satis commode posset effecit .	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.
150	Dum ea geruntur , legione ex consuetudine una frumentatum missa , quae appellabatur VII ., neque ulla ad id tempus belli suspicione interposita , cum pars hominum in agris remaneret , pars etiam in castra ventitaret , ii qui pro portis castrorum in statione erant Caesari nuntiaverunt pulverem maiorem quam consuetudo ferret in ea parte videri quam in partem legio iter fecisset . Caesar — id quod erat — suspicatus aliquid novi a barbaris initum consilii , cohortes quae in statione erant secum in eam partem proficisci , ex reliquis duas in stationem succedere , reliquas armari et confestim sese subsequi iussit . Cum paulo longius a castris processisset , suos ab hostibus premi atque aegre sustinere et conferta legione ex omnibus partibus tela coici animadvertit . Nam quod omni ex reliquis partibus demesso frumento pars una erat reliqua , suspicati hostes huc nostros esse venturos noctu in silvis delituerant ; tum dispersos depositis armis in metendo occupatos subito adorti paucis interfectis reliquos incertis ordinibus perturbaverant , simul equitatu atque essedis circumdederant .	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.
151	Genus hoc est ex essedis pugnae . Primo per omnes partes perequitant et tela coiciunt atque ipso terrore equorum et strepitu rotarum ordines plerumque perturbant , et cum se inter equitum turmas insinuaverunt , ex essedis desiliunt et pedibus proeliantur . Aurigae interim paulatim ex proelio excedunt atque ita currus conlocant ut , si illi a multitudine hostium premantur , expeditum ad suos receptum habeant . Ita mobilitatem equitum , stabilitatem peditum in proeliis praestant , ac tantum usu cotidiano et exercitatione efficiunt uti in declivi ac praecipiti loco incitatos equos sustinere et brevi moderari ac flectere et per temonem percurrere et in iugo insistere et se inde in currus citissime recipere consuerint .	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.
152	Quibus rebus perturbatis nostris [ novitate pugnae ] tempore oportunissimo Caesar auxilium tulit : namque eius adventu hostes constiterunt , nostri se ex timore receperunt . Quo facto , ad lacessendum hostem et committendum proelium alienum esse tempus arbitratus suo se loco continuit et brevi tempore intermisso in castra legiones reduxit . Dum haec geruntur , nostris omnibus occupatis qui erant in agris reliqui discesserunt . Secutae sunt continuos complures dies tempestates , quae et nostros in castris continerent et hostem a pugna prohiberent . Interim barbari nuntios in omnes partes dimiserunt paucitatemque nostrorum militum suis praedicaverunt et quanta praedae faciendae atque in perpetuum sui liberandi facultas daretur , si Romanos castris expulissent , demonstraverunt . His rebus celeriter magna multitudine peditatus equitatusque coacta ad castra venerunt .	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.
153	Caesar , etsi idem quod superioribus diebus acciderat fore videbat , ut , si essent hostes pulsi , celeritate periculum effugerent , tamen nactus equites circiter XXX , quos Commius Atrebas , de quo ante dictum est , secum transportaverat , legiones in acie pro castris constituit . Commisso proelio diutius nostrorum militum impetum hostes ferre non potuerunt ac terga verterunt . Quos tanto spatio secuti quantum cursu et viribus efficere potuerunt , complures ex iis occiderunt , deinde omnibus longe lateque aedificiis incensis se in castra receperunt .	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.
154	Eodem die legati ab hostibus missi ad Caesarem de pace venerunt . His Caesar numerum obsidum quem ante imperaverat duplicavit eosque in continentem adduci iussit , quod propinqua die aequinoctii infirmis navibus hiemi navigationem subiciendam non existimabat . Ipse idoneam tempestatem nactus paulo post mediam noctem naves solvit , quae omnes incolumes ad continentem pervenerunt ; sed ex iis onerariae duae eosdem portus quos reliquae capere non potuerunt et paulo infra delatae sunt .	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.