Gallic War |
Translator: W. A. McDevitte
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Quoniam ad hunc locum perventum est , non alienum esse videtur de Galliae Germaniaeque moribus et quo differant hae nationes inter sese proponere . In Gallia non solum in omnibus civitatibus atque in omnibus pagis partibusque , sed paene etiam in singulis domibus factiones sunt , earumque factionum principes sunt qui summam auctoritatem eorum iudicio habere existimantur , quorum ad arbitrium iudiciumque summa omnium rerum consiliorumque redeat . Itaque eius rei causa antiquitus institutum videtur , ne quis ex plebe contra potentiorem auxili egeret : suos enim quisque opprimi et circumveniri non patitur , neque , aliter si faciat , ullam inter suos habet auctoritatem . Haec eadem ratio est in summa totius Galliae : namque omnes civitates in partes divisae sunt duas .
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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. |
| 226 |
Cum Caesar in Galliam venit , alterius factionis principes erant Aedui , alterius Sequani . Hi cum per se minus valerent , quod summa auctoritas antiquitus erat in Aeduis magnaeque eorum erant clientelae , Germanos atque Ariovistum sibi adiunxerant eosque ad se magnis iacturis pollicitationibusque perduxerant . Proeliis vero compluribus factis secundis atque omni nobilitate Aeduorum interfecta tantum potentia antecesserant , ut magnam partem clientium ab Aeduis ad se traducerent obsidesque ab eis principum filios acciperent et publice iurare cogerent nihil se contra Sequanos consili inituros et partem finitimi agri per vim occupatam possiderent Galliaeque totius principatum obtinerent . Qua necessitate adductus Diviciacus auxili petendi causa Romam ad senatum profectus infecta re redierat . Adventu Caesaris facta commutatione rerum , obsidibus Aeduis redditis , veteribus clientelis restitutis , novis per Caesarem comparatis , quod hi , qui se ad eorum amicitiam adgregaverant , meliore condicione atque aequiore imperio se uti videbant , reliquis rebus eorum gratia dignitateque amplificata Sequani principatum dimiserant . In eorum locum Remi successerant : quos quod adaequare apud Caesarem gratia intellegebatur , ei , qui propter veteres inimicitias nullo modo cum Aeduis coniungi poterant , se Remis in clientelam dicabant . Hos illi diligenter tuebantur : ita et novam et repente collectam auctoritatem tenebant . Eo tum statu res erat , ut longe principes haberentur Aedui , secundum locum dignitatis Remi obtinerent .
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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. |
| 227 |
In omni Gallia eorum hominum , qui aliquo sunt numero atque honore , genera sunt duo . Nam plebes paene servorum habetur loco , quae nihil audet per se , nullo adhibetur consilio . Plerique , cum aut aere alieno aut magnitudine tributorum aut iniuria potentiorum premuntur , sese in servitutem dicant nobilibus : in hos eadem omnia sunt iura , quae dominis in servos . Sed de his duobus generibus alterum est druidum , alterum equitum . Illi rebus divinis intersunt , sacrificia publica ac privata procurant , religiones interpretantur : ad hos magnus adulescentium numerus disciplinae causa concurrit , magnoque hi sunt apud eos honore . Nam fere de omnibus controversiis publicis privatisque constituunt , et , si quod est admissum facinus , si caedes facta , si de hereditate , de finibus controversia est , idem decernunt , praemia poenasque constituunt ; si qui aut privatus aut populus eorum decreto non stetit , sacrificiis interdicunt . Haec poena apud eos est gravissima . Quibus ita est interdictum , hi numero impiorum ac sceleratorum habentur , his omnes decedunt , aditum sermonemque defugiunt , ne quid ex contagione incommodi accipiant , neque his petentibus ius redditur neque honos ullus communicatur . His autem omnibus druidibus praeest unus , qui summam inter eos habet auctoritatem . Hoc mortuo aut si qui ex reliquis excellit dignitate succedit , aut , si sunt plures pares , suffragio druidum , nonnumquam etiam armis de principatu contendunt . hi certo anni tempore in finibus Carnutum , quae regio totius Galliae media habetur , considunt in loco consecrato . Huc omnes undique , qui controversias habent , conveniunt eorumque decretis iudiciisque parent . Disciplina in Britannia reperta atque inde in Galliam translata esse existimatur , et nunc , qui diligentius eam rem cognoscere volunt , plerumque illo discendi causa proficiscuntur .
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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. |
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Druides a bello abesse consuerunt neque tributa una cum reliquis pendunt ; militiae vacationem omniumque rerum habent immunitatem . Tantis excitati praemiis et sua sponte multi in disciplinam conveniunt et a parentibus propinquisque mittuntur . Magnum ibi numerum versuum ediscere dicuntur . Itaque annos nonnulli vicenos in disciplina permanent . Neque fas esse existimant ea litteris mandare , cum in reliquis fere rebus , publicis privatisque rationibus Graecis litteris utantur . Id mihi duabus de causis instituisse videntur , quod neque in vulgum disciplinam efferri velint neque eos , qui discunt , litteris confisos minus memoriae studere : quod fere plerisque accidit , ut praesidio litterarum diligentiam in perdiscendo ac memoriam remittant . In primis hoc volunt persuadere , non interire animas , sed ab aliis post mortem transire ad alios , atque hoc maxime ad virtutem excitari putant metu mortis neglecto . Multa praeterea de sideribus atque eorum motu , de mundi ac terrarum magnitudine , de rerum natura , de deorum immortalium vi ac potestate disputant et iuventuti tradunt .
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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. |
| 229 |
Alterum genus est equitum . Hi , cum est usus atque aliquod bellum incidit ( quod fere ante Caesaris adventum quotannis accidere solebat , uti aut ipsi iniurias inferrent aut illatas propulsarent ) , omnes in bello versantur , atque eorum ut quisque est genere copiisque amplissimus , ita plurimos circum se ambactos clientesque habet . Hanc unam gratiam potentiamque noverunt .
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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. |
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Natio est omnis Gallorum admodum dedita religionibus , atque ob eam causam , qui sunt adfecti gravioribus morbis quique in proeliis periculisque versantur , aut pro victimis homines immolant aut se immolaturos vovent administrisque ad ea sacrificia druidibus utuntur , quod , pro vita hominis nisi hominis vita reddatur , non posse deorum immortalium numen placari arbitrantur , publiceque eiusdem generis habent instituta sacrificia . Alii immani magnitudine simulacra habent , quorum contexta viminibus membra vivis hominibus complent ; quibus succensis circumventi flamma exanimantur homines . Supplicia eorum qui in furto aut in latrocinio aut aliqua noxia sint comprehensi gratiora dis immortalibus esse arbitrantur ; sed , cum eius generis copia defecit , etiam ad innocentium supplicia descendunt .
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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. |
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Deum maxime Mercurium colunt . Huius sunt plurima simulacra : hunc omnium inventorem artium ferunt , hunc viarum atque itinerum ducem , hunc ad quaestus pecuniae mercaturasque habere vim maximam arbitrantur . Post hunc Apollinem et Martem et Iovem et Minervam . De his eandem fere , quam reliquae gentes , habent opinionem : Apollinem morbos depellere , Minervam operum atque artificiorum initia tradere , Iovem imperium caelestium tenere , Martem bella regere . Huic , cum proelio dimicare constituerunt , ea quae bello ceperint plerumque devovent : cum superaverunt , animalia capta immolant reliquasque res in unum locum conferunt . Multis in civitatibus harum rerum exstructos tumulos locis consecratis conspicari licet ; neque saepe accidit , ut neglecta quispiam religione aut capta apud se occultare aut posita tollere auderet , gravissimumque ei rei supplicium cum cruciatu constitutum est .
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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. |
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Galli se omnes ab Dite patre prognatos praedicant idque ab druidibus proditum dicunt . Ob eam causam spatia omnis temporis non numero dierum sed noctium finiunt ; dies natales et mensum et annorum initia sic observant ut noctem dies subsequatur . In reliquis vitae institutis hoc fere ab reliquis differunt , quod suos liberos , nisi cum adoleverunt , ut munus militiae sustinere possint , palam ad se adire non patiuntur filiumque puerili aetate in publico in conspectu patris adsistere turpe ducunt .
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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. |
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Viri , quantas pecunias ab uxoribus dotis nomine acceperunt , tantas ex suis bonis aestimatione facta cum dotibus communicant . Huius omnis pecuniae coniunctim ratio habetur fructusque servantur : uter eorum vita superarit , ad eum pars utriusque cum fructibus superiorum temporum pervenit . Viri in uxores , sicuti in liberos , vitae necisque habent potestatem ; et cum pater familiae illustriore loco natus decessit , eius propinqui conveniunt et , de morte si res in suspicionem venit , de uxoribus in servilem modum quaestionem habent et , si compertum est , igni atque omnibus tormentis excruciatas interficiunt . Funera sunt pro cultu Gallorum magnifica et sumptuosa ; omniaque quae vivis cordi fuisse arbitrantur in ignem inferunt , etiam animalia , ac paulo supra hanc memoriam servi et clientes , quos ab eis dilectos esse constabat , iustis funeribus confectis una cremabantur .
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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. |
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Quae civitates commodius suam rem publicam administrare existimantur , habent legibus sanctum , si quis quid de re publica a finitimis rumore aut fama acceperit , uti ad magistratum deferat neve cum quo alio communicet , quod saepe homines temerarios atque imperitos falsis rumoribus terreri et ad facinus impelli et de summis rebus consilium capere cognitum est . Magistratus quae visa sunt occultant quaeque esse ex usu iudicaverunt multitudini produnt . De re publica nisi per concilium loqui non conceditur .
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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. |
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Germani multum ab hac consuetudine differunt . Nam neque druides habent , qui rebus divinis praesint , neque sacrificiis student . Deorum numero eos solos ducunt , quos cernunt et quorum aperte opibus iuvantur , Solem et Vulcanum et Lunam , reliquos ne fama quidem acceperunt . Vita omnis in venationibus atque in studiis rei militaris consistit : ab parvulis labori ac duritiae student . Qui diutissime impuberes permanserunt , maximam inter suos ferunt laudem : hoc ali staturam , ali vires nervosque confirmari putant . Intra annum vero vicesimum feminae notitiam habuisse in turpissimis habent rebus ; cuius rei nulla est occultatio , quod et promiscue in fluminibus perluuntur et pellibus aut parvis renonum tegimentis utuntur magna corporis parte nuda .
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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. |
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Agriculturae non student , maiorque pars eorum victus in lacte , caseo , carne consistit . Neque quisquam agri modum certum aut fines habet proprios ; sed magistratus ac principes in annos singulos gentibus cognationibusque hominum , qui una coierunt , quantum et quo loco visum est agri attribuunt atque anno post alio transire cogunt . Eius rei multas adferunt causas : ne adsidua consuetudine capti studium belli gerendi agricultura commutent ; ne latos fines parare studeant , potentioresque humiliores possessionibus expellant ; ne accuratius ad frigora atque aestus vitandos aedificent ; ne qua oriatur pecuniae cupiditas , qua ex re factiones dissensionesque nascuntur ; ut animi aequitate plebem contineant , cum suas quisque opes cum potentissimis aequari videat .
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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. |
| 237 |
Civitatibus maxima laus est quam latissime circum se vastatis finibus solitudines habere . Hoc proprium virtutis existimant , expulsos agris finitimos cedere , neque quemquam prope audere consistere : simul hoc se fore tutiores arbitrantur repentinae incursionis timore sublato . Cum bellum civitas aut inlatum defendit aut infert , magistratus , qui ei bello praesint , ut vitae necisque habeant potestatem , deliguntur . In pace nullus est communis magistratus , sed principes regionum atque pagorum inter suos ius dicunt controversiasque minuunt . Latrocinia nullam habent infamiam , quae extra fines cuiusque civitatis fiunt , atque ea iuventutis exercendae ac desidiae minuendae causa fieri praedicant . Atque ubi quis ex principibus in concilio dixit se ducem fore , qui sequi velint , profiteantur , consurgunt ei qui et causam et hominem probant suumque auxilium pollicentur atque ab multitudine collaudantur : qui ex his secuti non sunt , in desertorum ac proditorum numero ducuntur , omniumque his rerum postea fides derogatur . Hospitem violare fas non putant ; qui quacumque de causa ad eos venerunt , ab iniuria prohibent , sanctos habent , hisque omnium domus patent victusque communicatur .
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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. |
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Ac fuit antea tempus , cum Germanos Galli virtute superarent , ultro bella inferrent , propter hominum multitudinem agrique inopiam trans Rhenum colonias mitterent . Itaque ea quae fertilissima Germaniae sunt loca circum Hercyniam silvam , quam Eratostheni et quibusdam Graecis fama notam esse video , quam illi Orcyniam appellant , Volcae Tectosages occupaverunt atque ibi consederunt ; quae gens ad hoc tempus his sedibus sese continet summamque habet iustitiae et bellicae laudis opinionem . Nunc quod in eadem inopia , egestate , patientia qua Germani permanent , eodem victu et cultu corporis utuntur ; Gallis autem provinciarum propinquitas et transmarinarum rerum notitia multa ad copiam atque usus largitur , paulatim adsuefacti superari multisque victi proeliis ne se quidem ipsi cum illis virtute comparant .
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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. |