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Gallic War (Julius Caesar)
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Gallic War

Author: Julius Caesar
Translator: W. A. McDevitte
169
Insula
natura
triquetra
,
cuius
unum
latus
est
contra
Galliam
.
Huius
lateris
alter
angulus
,
qui
est
ad
Cantium
,
quo
fere
omnes
ex
Gallia
naves
appelluntur
,
ad
orientem
solem
,
inferior
ad
meridiem
spectat
.
Hoc
pertinet
circiter
millia
passuum
quingenta
.
Alterum
vergit
ad
Hispaniam
atque
occidentem
solem
;
qua
ex
parte
est
Hibernia
,
dimidio
minor
,
ut
aestimatur
,
quam
Britannia
,
sed
pari
spatio
transmissus
atque
ex
Gallia
est
in
Britanniam
.
In
hoc
medio
cursu
est
insula
,
quae
appellatur
Mona
:
complures
praeterea
minores
subiectae
insulae
existimantur
,
de
quibus
insulis
nonnulli
scripserunt
dies
continuos
triginta
sub
bruma
esse
noctem
.
Nos
nihil
de
eo
percontationibus
reperiebamus
,
nisi
certis
ex
aqua
mensuris
breviores
esse
quam
in
continenti
noctes
videbamus
.
Huius
est
longitudo
lateris
,
ut
fert
illorum
opinio
,
septingentorum
milium
.
Tertium
est
contra
septentriones
;
cui
parti
nulla
est
obiecta
terra
,
sed
eius
angulus
lateris
maxime
ad
Germaniam
spectat
.
Hoc
milia
passuum
octingenta
in
longitudinem
esse
existimatur
.
Ita
omnis
insula
est
in
circuitu
vicies
centum
milium
passuum
.
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.
170
Ex
his
omnibus
longe
sunt
humanissimi
qui
Cantium
incolunt
,
quae
regio
est
maritima
omnis
,
neque
multum
a
Gallica
differunt
consuetudine
.
Interiores
plerique
frumenta
non
serunt
,
sed
lacte
et
carne
vivunt
pellibusque
sunt
vestiti
.
Omnes
vero
se
Britanni
vitro
inficiunt
,
quod
caeruleum
efficit
colorem
,
atque
hoc
horridiores
sunt
in
pugna
aspectu
;
capilloque
sunt
promisso
atque
omni
parte
corporis
rasa
praeter
caput
et
labrum
superius
.
Vxores
habent
deni
duodenique
inter
se
communes
et
maxime
fratres
cum
fratribus
parentesque
cum
liberis
;
sed
qui
sunt
ex
his
nati
,
eorum
habentur
liberi
,
quo
primum
virgo
quaeque
deducta
est
.
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 woad, 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.
171
Equites
hostium
essedariique
acriter
proelio
cum
equitatu
nostro
in
itinere
conflixerunt
,
tamen
ut
nostri
omnibus
partibus
superiores
fuerint
atque
eos
in
silvas
collesque
compulerint
.
Sed
compluribus
interfectis
cupidius
insecuti
nonnullos
ex
suis
amiserunt
.
At
illi
intermisso
spatio
imprudentibus
nostris
atque
occupatis
in
munitione
castrorum
subito
se
ex
silvis
eiecerunt
,
impetuque
in
eos
facto
qui
erant
in
statione
pro
castris
collocati
,
acriter
pugnaverunt
,
duabusque
missis
subsidio
cohortibus
a
Caesare
atque
eis
primis
legionum
duarum
,
cum
hae
perexiguo
intermisso
loci
spatio
inter
se
constitissent
,
novo
genere
pugnae
perterritis
nostris
per
medios
audacissime
perruperunt
seque
inde
incolumes
receperunt
.
Eo
die
Quintus
Laberius
Durus
,
tribunus
militum
,
interficitur
.
Illi
pluribus
submissis
cohortibus
repelluntur
.
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.
172
Toto
hoc
in
genere
pugnae
,
cum
sub
oculis
omnium
ac
pro
castris
dimicaretur
,
intellectum
est
nostros
propter
gravitatem
armorum
,
quod
neque
insequi
cedentes
possent
neque
ab
signis
discedere
auderent
,
minus
aptos
esse
ad
huius
generis
hostem
,
equites
autem
magno
cum
periculo
proelio
dimicare
,
propterea
quod
illi
etiam
consulto
plerumque
cederent
et
,
cum
paulum
ab
legionibus
nostros
removissent
,
ex
essedis
desilirent
et
pedibus
dispari
proelio
contenderent
.
Equestris
autem
proeli
ratio
et
cedentibus
et
insequentibus
par
atque
idem
periculum
inferebat
.
Accedebat
huc
ut
numquam
conferti
sed
rari
magnisque
intervallis
proeliarentur
stationesque
dispositas
haberent
,
atque
alios
alii
deinceps
exciperent
,
integrique
et
recentes
defetigatis
succederent
.
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.
173
Postero
die
procul
a
castris
hostes
in
collibus
constiterunt
rarique
se
ostendere
et
lenius
quam
pridie
nostros
equites
proelio
lacessere
coeperunt
.
Sed
meridie
,
cum
Caesar
pabulandi
causa
tres
legiones
atque
omnem
equitatum
cum
Gaio
Trebonio
legato
misisset
,
repente
ex
omnibus
partibus
ad
pabulatores
advolaverunt
,
sic
uti
ab
signis
legionibusque
non
absisterent
.
Nostri
acriter
in
eos
impetu
facto
reppulerunt
neque
finem
sequendi
fecerunt
,
quoad
subsidio
confisi
equites
,
cum
post
se
legiones
viderent
,
praecipites
hostes
egerunt
magnoque
eorum
numero
interfecto
neque
sui
colligendi
neque
consistendi
aut
ex
essedis
desiliendi
facultatem
dederunt
.
Ex
hac
fuga
protinus
,
quae
undique
convenerant
,
auxilia
discesserunt
,
neque
post
id
tempus
umquam
summis
nobiscum
copiis
hostes
contenderunt
.
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.
174
Caesar
cognito
consilio
eorum
ad
flumen
Tamesim
in
fines
Cassivellauni
exercitum
duxit
;
quod
flumen
uno
omnino
loco
pedibus
,
atque
hoc
aegre
,
transiri
potest
.
Eo
cum
venisset
,
animum
advertit
ad
alteram
fluminis
ripam
magnas
esse
copias
hostium
instructas
;
ripa
autem
erat
acutis
sudibus
praefixis
munita
,
eiusdemque
generis
sub
aqua
defixae
sudes
flumine
tegebantur
.
His
rebus
cognitis
a
captivis
perfugisque
Caesar
praemisso
equitatu
confestim
legiones
subsequi
iussit
.
Sed
ea
celeritate
atque
eo
impetu
milites
ierunt
,
cum
capite
solo
ex
aqua
exstarent
,
ut
hostes
impetum
legionum
atque
equitum
sustinere
non
possent
ripasque
dimitterent
ac
se
fugae
mandarent
.
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.
175
Cassivellaunus
,
ut
supra
demonstravimus
,
omni
deposita
spe
contentionis
dimissis
amplioribus
copiis
milibus
circiter
quattuor
essedariorum
relictis
itinera
nostra
servabat
paulumque
ex
via
excedebat
locisque
impeditis
ac
silvestribus
sese
occultabat
,
atque
eis
regionibus
quibus
nos
iter
facturos
cognoverat
pecora
atque
homines
ex
agris
in
silvas
compellebat
et
,
cum
equitatus
noster
liberius
praedandi
vastandique
causa
se
in
agros
eiecerat
,
omnibus
viis
semitisque
essedarios
ex
silvis
emittebat
et
magno
cum
periculo
nostrorum
equitum
cum
eis
confligebat
atque
hoc
metu
latius
vagari
prohibebat
.
Relinquebatur
ut
neque
longius
ab
agmine
legionum
discedi
Caesar
pateretur
,
et
tantum
in
agris
vastandis
incendiisque
faciendis
hostibus
noceretur
,
quantum
labore
atque
itinere
legionarii
milites
efficere
poterant
.
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.
176
Interim
Trinobantes
,
prope
firmissima
earum
regionum
civitas
,
ex
qua
Mandubracius
adulescens
Caesaris
fidem
secutus
ad
eum
in
continentem
Galliam
venerat
,
cuius
pater
in
ea
civitate
regnum
obtinuerat
interfectusque
erat
a
Cassivellauno
,
ipse
fuga
mortem
vitaverat
,
legatos
ad
Caesarem
mittunt
pollicenturque
sese
ei
dedituros
atque
imperata
facturos
;
petunt
ut
Mandubracium
ab
iniuria
Cassivellauni
defendat
atque
in
civitatem
mittat
,
qui
praesit
imperiumque
obtineat
.
His
Caesar
imperat
obsides
quadraginta
frumentumque
exercitui
Mandubraciumque
ad
eos
mittit
.
Illi
imperata
celeriter
fecerunt
,
obsides
ad
numerum
frumentumque
miserunt
.
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.
177
Trinobantibus
defensis
atque
ab
omni
militum
iniuria
prohibitis
Cenimagni
,
Segontiaci
,
Ancalites
,
Bibroci
,
Cassi
legationibus
missis
sese
Caesari
dedunt
.
Ab
his
cognoscit
non
longe
ex
eo
loco
oppidum
Cassivellauni
abesse
silvis
paludibusque
munitum
,
quo
satis
magnus
hominum
pecorisque
numerus
convenerit
.
Oppidum
autem
Britanni
vocant
,
cum
silvas
impeditas
vallo
atque
fossa
munierunt
,
quo
incursionis
hostium
vitandae
causa
convenire
consuerunt
.
Eo
proficiscitur
cum
legionibus
:
locum
reperit
egregie
natura
atque
opere
munitum
;
tamen
hunc
duabus
ex
partibus
oppugnare
contendit
.
Hostes
paulisper
morati
militum
nostrorum
impetum
non
tulerunt
seseque
alia
ex
parte
oppidi
eiecerunt
.
Magnus
ibi
numerus
pecoris
repertus
,
multique
in
fuga
sunt
comprehensi
atque
interfecti
.
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.
178
Dum
haec
in
his
locis
geruntur
,
Cassivellaunus
ad
Cantium
,
quod
esse
ad
mare
supra
demonstravimus
,
quibus
regionibus
quattuor
reges
praeerant
,
Cingetorix
,
Carvilius
,
Taximagulus
,
Segovax
,
nuntios
mittit
atque
eis
imperat
uti
coactis
omnibus
copiis
castra
navalia
de
improviso
adoriantur
atque
oppugnent
.
Ei
cum
ad
castra
venissent
,
nostri
eruptione
facta
multis
eorum
interfectis
,
capto
etiam
nobili
duce
Lugotorige
suos
incolumes
reduxerunt
.
Cassivellaunus
hoc
proelio
nuntiato
tot
detrimentis
acceptis
,
vastatis
finibus
,
maxime
etiam
permotus
defectione
civitatum
legatos
per
Atrebatem
Commium
de
deditione
ad
Caesarem
mittit
.
Caesar
,
cum
constituisset
hiemare
in
continenti
propter
repentinos
Galliae
motus
,
neque
multum
aestatis
superesset
,
atque
id
facile
extrahi
posse
intellegeret
,
obsides
imperat
et
quid
in
annos
singulos
vectigalis
populo
Romano
Britannia
penderet
constituit
;
interdicit
atque
imperat
Cassivellauno
,
ne
Mandubracio
neu
Trinobantibus
noceat
.
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.
179
Obsidibus
acceptis
exercitum
reducit
ad
mare
,
naves
invenit
refectas
.
His
deductis
,
quod
et
captivorum
magnum
numerum
habebat
,
et
nonnullae
tempestate
deperierant
naves
,
duobus
commeatibus
exercitum
reportare
instituit
.
Ac
sic
accidit
,
uti
ex
tanto
navium
numero
tot
navigationibus
neque
hoc
neque
superiore
anno
ulla
omnino
navis
,
quae
milites
portaret
,
desideraretur
;
at
ex
eis
,
quae
inanes
ex
continenti
ad
eum
remitterentur
et
prioris
commeatus
expositis
militibus
et
quas
postea
Labienus
faciendas
curaverat
numero
LX
,
perpaucae
locum
caperent
,
reliquae
fere
omnes
reicerentur
.
Quas
cum
aliquamdiu
Caesar
frustra
exspectasset
,
ne
anni
tempore
a
navigatione
excluderetur
,
quod
aequinoctium
suberat
,
necessario
angustius
milites
collocavit
ac
summa
tranquillitate
consecuta
,
secunda
inita
cum
solvisset
vigilia
,
prima
luce
terram
attigit
omnesque
incolumes
naves
perduxit
.
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.
180
Subductis
navibus
concilioque
Gallorum
Samarobrivae
peracto
,
quod
eo
anno
frumentum
in
Gallia
propter
siccitates
angustius
provenerat
,
coactus
est
aliter
ac
superioribus
annis
exercitum
in
hibernis
collocare
legionesque
in
plures
civitates
distribuere
;
ex
quibus
unam
in
Morinos
ducendam
Gaio
Fabio
legato
dedit
,
alteram
in
Nervios
Quinto
Ciceroni
,
tertiam
in
Esubios
Lucio
Roscio
;
quartam
in
Remis
cum
Tito
Labieno
in
confinio
Treverorum
hiemare
iussit
.
Tres
in
Belgis
collocavit
:
eis
Marcum
Crassum
quaestorem
et
Lucium
Munatium
Plancum
et
Gaium
Trebonium
legatos
praefecit
.
Vnam
legionem
,
quam
proxime
trans
Padum
conscripserat
,
et
cohortes
V
in
Eburones
,
quorum
pars
maxima
est
inter
Mosam
ac
Rhenum
,
qui
sub
imperio
Ambiorigis
et
Catuvolci
erant
,
misit
.
Eis
militibus
Quintum
Titurium
Sabinum
et
Lucium
Aurunculeium
Cottam
legatos
praeesse
iussit
.
Ad
hunc
modum
distributis
legionibus
facillime
inopiae
frumentariae
sese
mederi
posse
existimavit
.
Atque
harum
tamen
omnium
legionum
hiberna
praeter
eam
,
quam
Lucio
Roscio
in
pacatissimam
et
quietissimam
partem
ducendam
dederat
,
milibus
passuum
centum
continebantur
.
Ipse
interea
,
quoad
legiones
collocatas
munitaque
hiberna
cognovisset
,
in
Gallia
morari
constituit
.
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.
181
Erat
in
Carnutibus
summo
loco
natus
Tasgetius
,
cuius
maiores
in
sua
civitate
regnum
obtinuerant
.
Huic
Caesar
pro
eius
virtute
atque
in
se
benevolentia
,
quod
in
omnibus
bellis
singulari
eius
opera
fuerat
usus
,
maiorum
locum
restituerat
.
Tertium
iam
hunc
annum
regnantem
inimici
,
multis
palam
ex
civitate
eius
auctoribus
,
eum
interfecerunt
.
Defertur
ea
res
ad
Caesarem
.
Ille
veritus
,
quod
ad
plures
pertinebat
,
ne
civitas
eorum
impulsu
deficeret
,
Lucium
Plancum
cum
legione
ex
Belgio
celeriter
in
Carnutes
proficisci
iubet
ibique
hiemare
quorumque
opera
cognoverat
Tasgetium
interfectum
,
hos
comprehensos
ad
se
mittere
.
Interim
ab
omnibus
legatis
quaestoreque
,
quibus
legiones
tradiderat
,
certior
factus
est
in
hiberna
perventum
locumque
hibernis
esse
munitum
.
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.
182
Diebus
circiter
XV
,
quibus
in
hiberna
ventum
est
,
initium
repentini
tumultus
ac
defectionis
ortum
est
ab
Ambiorige
et
Catuvolco
;
qui
,
cum
ad
fines
regni
sui
Sabino
Cottaeque
praesto
fuissent
frumentumque
in
hiberna
comportavissent
,
Indutiomari
Treveri
nuntiis
impulsi
suos
concitaverunt
subitoque
oppressis
lignatoribus
magna
manu
ad
castra
oppugnatum
venerunt
.
Cum
celeriter
nostri
arma
cepissent
vallumque
adscendissent
atque
una
ex
parte
Hispanis
equitibus
emissis
equestri
proelio
superiores
fuissent
,
desperata
re
hostes
suos
ab
oppugnatione
reduxerunt
.
Tum
suo
more
conclamaverunt
,
uti
aliqui
ex
nostris
ad
colloquium
prodiret
:
habere
sese
,
quae
de
re
communi
dicere
vellent
,
quibus
rebus
controversias
minui
posse
sperarent
.
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.