Gallic War (Julius Caesar)

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	Gallic War Author: Julius Caesar	Translator: W. A. McDevitte
267	At Caesar biduum in his locis moratus , quod haec de Vercingetorige usu ventura opinione praeceperat , per causam supplementi equitatusque cogendi ab exercitu discedit ; Brutum adulescentem his copiis praeficit ; hunc monet , ut in omnes partes equites quam latissime pervagentur : daturum se operam , ne longius triduo ab castris absit . His constitutis rebus suis inopinantibus quam maximis potest itineribus Viennam pervenit . Ibi nactus recentem equitatum , quem multis ante diebus eo praemiserat , neque diurno neque nocturno itinere intermisso per fines Aeduorum in Lingones contendit , ubi duae legiones hiemabant , ut , si quid etiam de sua salute ab Aeduis iniretur consili , celeritate praecurreret . Eo cum pervenisset , ad reliquas legiones mittit priusque omnes in unum locum cogit quam de eius adventu Arvernis nuntiari posset . Hac re cognita Vercingetorix rursus in Bituriges exercitum reducit atque inde profectus Gorgobinam , Boiorum oppidum , quos ibi Helvetico proelio victos Caesar collocaverat Aeduisque attribuerat , oppugnare instituit .	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.
268	Magnam haec res Caesari difficultatem ad consilium capiendum adferebat , si reliquam partem hiemis uno loco legiones contineret , ne stipendiariis Aeduorum expugnatis cuncta Gallia deficeret , quod nullum amicis in eo praesidium videretur positum esse ; si maturius ex hibernis educeret , ne ab re frumentaria duris subvectionibus laboraret . Praestare visum est tamen omnis difficultates perpeti , quam tanta contumelia accepta omnium suorum voluntates alienare . Itaque cohortatus Aeduos de supportando commeatu praemittit ad Boios qui de suo adventu doceant hortenturque ut in fide maneant atque hostium impetum magno animo sustineant . Duabus Agedinci legionibus atque impedimentis totius exercitus relictis ad Boios proficiscitur .	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.
269	Altero die cum ad oppidum Senonum Vellaunodunum venisset , ne quem post se hostem relinqueret , quo expeditiore re frumentaria uteretur , oppugnare instituit idque biduo circumvallavit ; tertio die missis ex oppido legatis de deditione arma conferri , iumenta produci , sescentos obsides dari iubet . Ea qui conficeret , C . Trebonium legatum relinquit . Ipse , ut quam primum iter faceret , Cenabum Carnutum proficiscitur ; qui tum primum allato nuntio de oppugnatione Vellaunoduni , cum longius eam rem ductum iri existimarent , praesidium Cenabi tuendi causa , quod eo mitterent , comparabant . Huc biduo pervenit . Castris ante oppidum positis diei tempore exclusus in posterum oppugnationem differt quaeque ad eam rem usui sint militibus imperat et , quod oppidum Cenabum pons fluminis Ligeris contingebat , veritus ne noctu ex oppido profugerent , duas legiones in armis excubare iubet . Cenabenses paulo ante mediam noctem silentio ex oppido egressi flumen transire coeperunt . Qua re per exploratores nuntiata Caesar legiones quas expeditas esse iusserat portis incensis intromittit atque oppido potitur , perpaucis ex hostium numero desideratis quin cuncti caperentur , quod pontis atque itinerum angustiae multitudinis fugam intercluserant . Oppidum diripit atque incendit , praedam militibus donat , exercitum Ligerem traducit atque in Biturigum fines pervenit .	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.
270	Vercingetorix , ubi de Caesaris adventu cognovit , oppugnatione destitit atque obviam Caesari proficiscitur . Ille oppidum Biturigum positum in via Noviodunum oppugnare instituerat . Quo ex oppido cum legati ad eum venissent oratum ut sibi ignosceret suaeque vitae consuleret , ut celeritate reliquas res conficeret , qua pleraque erat consecutus , arma conferri , equos produci , obsides dari iubet . Parte iam obsidum tradita , cum reliqua administrarentur , centurionibus et paucis militibus intromissis , qui arma iumentaque conquirerent , equitatus hostium procul visus est , qui agmen Vercingetorigis antecesserat . Quem simul atque oppidani conspexerunt atque in spem auxili venerunt , clamore sublato arma capere , portas claudere , murum complere coeperunt . Centuriones in oppido , cum ex significatione Gallorum novi aliquid ab eis iniri consili intellexissent , gladiis destrictis portas occupaverunt suosque omnes incolumes receperunt .	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.
271	Caesar ex castris equitatum educi iubet , proelium equestre committit : laborantibus iam suis Germanos equites circiter CCCC summittit , quos ab initio habere secum instituerat . Eorum impetum Galli sustinere non potuerunt atque in fugam coniecti multis amissis se ad agmen receperunt . Quibus profligatis rursus oppidani perterriti comprehensos eos , quorum opera plebem concitatam existimabant , ad Caesarem perduxerunt seseque ei dediderunt . Quibus rebus confectis , Caesar ad oppidum Avaricum , quod erat maximum munitissimumque in finibus Biturigum atque agri fertilissima regione , profectus est , quod eo oppido recepto civitatem Biturigum se in potestatem redacturum confidebat .	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.
272	Vercingetorix tot continuis incommodis Vellaunoduni , Cenabi , Novioduni acceptis suos ad concilium convocat . Docet longe alia ratione esse bellum gerendum atque antea gestum sit . Omnibus modis huic rei studendum , ut pabulatione et commeatu Romani prohibeantur : id esse facile , quod equitatu ipsi abundent et quod anni tempore subleventur ; pabulum secari non posse ; necessario dispersos hostes ex aedificiis petere : hos omnes cotidie ab equitibus deligi posse . Praeterea salutis causa rei familiaris commoda neglegenda : vicos atque aedificia incendi oportere hoc spatio ab via quoque versus , quo pabulandi causa adire posse videantur . Harum ipsis rerum copiam suppetere , quod , quorum in finibus bellum geratur , eorum opibus subleventur : Romanos aut inopiam non laturos aut magno periculo longius ab castris processuros ; neque interesse , ipsosne interficiant , impedimentisne exuant , quibus amissis bellum geri non possit . Praeterea oppida incendi oportere , quae non munitione et loci natura ab omni sint periculo tuta , neu suis sint ad detractandam militiam receptacula neu Romanis proposita ad copiam commeatus praedamque tollendam . haec si gravia aut acerba videantur , multo illa gravius aestimare , liberos , coniuges in servitutem abstrahi , ipsos interfici ; quae sit necesse accidere victis .	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.
273	Omnium consensu hac sententia probata uno die amplius XX urbes Biturigum incenduntur . Hoc idem fit in reliquis civitatibus : in omnibus partibus incendia conspiciuntur ; quae etsi magno cum dolore omnes ferebant , tamen hoc sibi solati proponebant , quod se prope explorata victoria celeriter amissa reciperaturos confidebant . Deliberatur de Avarico in communi concilio , incendi placeret an defendi . Procumbunt omnibus Gallis ad pedes Bituriges , ne pulcherrimam prope totius Galliae urbem , quae praesidio et ornamento sit civitati , suis manibus succendere cogerentur : facile se loci natura defensuros dicunt , quod prope ex omnibus partibus flumine et palude circumdata unum habeat et perangustum aditum . Datur petentibus venia dissuadente primo Vercingetorige , post concedente et precibus ipsorum et misericordia vulgi . Defensores oppido idonei deliguntur .	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.
274	Vercingetorix minoribus Caesarem itineribus subsequitur et locum castris deligit paludibus silvisque munitum ab Avarico longe milia passuum XVI . Ibi per certos exploratores in singula diei tempora quae ad Avaricum agerentur cognoscebat et quid fieri vellet imperabat . Omnis nostras pabulationes frumentationesque observabat dispersosque , cum longius necessario procederent , adoriebatur magnoque incommodo adficiebat , etsi , quantum ratione provideri poterat , ab nostris occurrebatur , ut incertis temporibus diversisque itineribus iretur .	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.
275	Castris ad eam partem oppidi positis Caesar , quae intermissa [ a ] flumine et a paludibus aditum , ut supra diximus , angustum habebat , aggerem apparare , vineas agere , turres duas constituere coepit : nam circumvallare loci natura prohibebat . De re frumentaria Boios atque Aeduos adhortari non destitit ; quorum alteri , quod nullo studio agebant , non multum adiuvabant , alteri non magnis facultatibus , quod civitas erat exigua et infirma , celeriter quod habuerunt consumpserunt . Summa difficultate rei frumentariae adfecto exercitu tenuitate Boiorum , indiligentia Aeduorum , incendiis aedificiorum , usque eo ut complures dies frumento milites caruerint et pecore ex longinquioribus vicis adacto extremam famem sustentarent , nulla tamen vox est ab eis audita populi Romani maiestate et superioribus victoriis indigna . Quin etiam Caesar cum in opere singulas legiones appellaret et , si acerbius inopiam ferrent , se dimissurum oppugnationem diceret , universi ab eo , ne id faceret , petebant : sic se complures annos illo imperante meruisse , ut nullam ignominiam acciperent , nusquam infecta re discederent : hoc se ignominiae laturos loco , si inceptam oppugnationem reliquissent : praestare omnes perferre acerbitates , quam non civibus Romanis , qui Cenabi perfidia Gallorum interissent , parentarent . Haec eadem centurionibus tribunisque militum mandabant , ut per eos ad Caesarem deferrentur .	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.
276	Cum iam muro turres appropinquassent , ex captivis Caesar cognovit Vercingetorigem consumpto pabulo castra movisse propius Avaricum atque ipsum cum equitatu expeditisque , qui inter equites proeliari consuessent , insidiarum causa eo profectum , quo nostros postero die pabulatum venturos arbitraretur . Quibus rebus cognitis media nocte silentio profectus ad hostium castra mane pervenit . Illi celeriter per exploratores adventu Caesaris cognito carros impedimentaque sua in artiores silvas abdiderunt , copias omnes in loco edito atque aperto instruxerunt . Qua re nuntiata Caesar celeriter sarcinas conferri , arma expediri iussit .	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.
277	Collis erat leniter ab infimo acclivis . Hunc ex omnibus fere partibus palus difficilis atque impedita cingebat non latior pedibus quinquaginta . Hoc se colle interruptis pontibus Galli fiducia loci continebant generatimque distributi in civitates omnia vada ac saltus eius paludis obtinebant , sic animo parati , ut , si eam paludem Romani perrumpere conarentur , haesitantes premerent ex loco superiore ; ut qui propinquitatem loci videret paratos prope aequo Marte ad dimicandum existimaret , qui iniquitatem condicionis perspiceret inani simulatione sese ostentare cognosceret . Indignantes milites Caesar , quod conspectum suum hostes perferre possent tantulo spatio interiecto , et signum proeli exposcentes edocet , quanto detrimento et quot virorum fortium morte necesse sit constare victoriam ; quos cum sic animo paratos videat , ut nullum pro sua laude periculum recusent , summae se iniquitatis condemnari debere , nisi eorum vitam sua salute habeat cariorem . Sic milites consolatus eodem die reducit in castra reliquaque quae ad oppugnationem pertinebant oppidi administrare instituit .	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.
278	Vercingetorix , cum ad suos redisset , proditionis insimulatus , quod castra propius Romanos movisset , quod cum omni equitatu discessisset , quod sine imperio tantas copias reliquisset , quod eius discessu Romani tanta opportunitate et celeritate venissent : non haec omnia fortuito aut sine consilio accidere potuisse ; regnum illum Galliae malle Caesaris concessu quam ipsorum habere beneficio —: tali modo accusatus ad haec respondit : Quod castra movisset , factum inopia pabuli etiam ipsis hortantibus ; quod propius Romanos accessisset , persuasum loci opportunitate , qui se ipsum munitione defenderet : equitum vero operam neque in loco palustri desiderari debuisse et illic fuisse utilem , quo sint profecti . Summam imperi se consulto nulli discedentem tradidisse , ne is multitudinis studio ad dimicandum impelleretur ; cui rei propter animi mollitiem studere omnes videret , quod diutius laborem ferre non possent . Romani si casu intervenerint , fortunae , si alicuius indicio vocati , huic habendam gratiam , quod et paucitatem eorum ex loco superiore cognoscere et virtutem despicere potuerint , qui dimicare non ausi turpiter se in castra receperint . Imperium se ab Caesare per proditionem nullum desiderare , quod habere victoria posset , quae iam esset sibi atque omnibus Gallis explorata : quin etiam ipsis remittere , si sibi magis honorem tribuere , quam ab se salutem accipere videantur . " Haec ut intellegatis , " inquit , " a me sincere pronuntiari , audite Romanos milites . " Producit servos , quos in pabulatione paucis ante diebus exceperat et fame vinculisque excruciaverat . Hi iam ante edocti quae interrogati pronuntiarent , milites se esse legionarios dicunt ; fame et inopia adductos clam ex castris exisse , si quid frumenti aut pecoris in agris reperire possent : simili omnem exercitum inopia premi , nec iam vires sufficere cuiusquam nec ferre operis laborem posse : itaque statuisse imperatorem , si nihil in oppugnatione oppidi profecissent , triduo exercitum deducere . " Haec , " inquit , " a me , " Vercingetorix , " beneficia habetis , quem proditionis insimulatis ; cuius opera sine vestro sanguine tantum exercitum victorem fame consumptum videtis ; quem turpiter se ex fuga recipientem ne qua civitas suis finibus recipiat a me provisum est . "	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."
279	Conclamat omnis multitudo et suo more armis concrepat , quod facere in eo consuerunt cuius orationem approbant : summum esse Vercingetorigem ducem , nec de eius fide dubitandum , nec maiore ratione bellum administrari posse . Statuunt , ut X milia hominum delecta ex omnibus copiis in oppidum mittantur , nec solis Biturigibus communem salutem committendam censent , quod paene in eo , si id oppidum retinuissent , summam victoriae constare intellegebant .	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.
280	Singulari militum nostrorum virtuti consilia cuiusque modi Gallorum occurrebant , ut est summae genus sollertiae atque ad omnia imitanda et efficienda , quae ab quoque traduntur , aptissimum . Nam et laqueis falces avertebant , quas , cum destinaverant , tormentis introrsus reducebant , et aggerem cuniculis subtrahebant , eo scientius quod apud eos magnae sunt ferrariae atque omne genus cuniculorum notum atque usitatum est . Totum autem murum ex omni parte turribus contabulaverant atque has coriis intexerant . Tum crebris diurnis nocturnisque eruptionibus aut aggeri ignem inferebant aut milites occupatos in opere adoriebantur , et nostrarum turrium altitudinem , quantum has cotidianus agger expresserat , commissis suarum turrium malis adaequabant , et apertos cuniculos praeusta et praeacuta materia et pice fervefacta et maximi ponderis saxis morabantur moenibusque appropinquare prohibebant .	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.