Gallic War |
Translator: W. A. McDevitte
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Dum haec ad Gergoviam geruntur , Convictolitavis Aeduus , cui magistratum adiudicatum a Caesare demonstravimus , sollicitatus ab Arvernis pecunia cum quibusdam adulescentibus colloquitur ; quorum erat princeps Litaviccus atque eius fratres , amplissima familia nati adulescentes . Cum his praemium communicat hortaturque , ut se liberos et imperio natos meminerint . Vnam esse Aeduorum civitatem , quae certissimam Galliae victoriam detineat ; eius auctoritate reliquas contineri ; qua traducta locum consistendi Romanis in Gallia non fore . Esse nonnullo se Caesaris beneficio adfectum , sic tamen , ut iustissimam apud eum causam obtinuerit ; sed plus communi libertati tribuere . Cur enim potius Aedui de suo iure et de legibus ad Caesarem disceptatorem , quam Romani ad Aeduos veniant ? Celeriter adulescentibus et oratione magistratus et praemio deductis , cum se vel principes eius consili fore profiterentur , ratio perficiendi quaerebatur , quod civitatem temere ad suscipiendum bellum adduci posse non confidebant . Placuit ut Litaviccus decem illis milibus , quae Caesari ad bellum mitterentur , praeficeretur atque ea ducenda curaret , fratresque eius ad Caesarem praecurrerent . Reliqua qua ratione agi placeat constituunt .
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While these affairs were going on at Gergovia , Convictolanis, the Aeduan, to whom we have observed the magistracy was adjudged by Caesar, being bribed by the Arverni, holds a conference with certain young men, the chief of whom were Litavicus and his brothers, who were born of a most noble family. He shares the bribe with them, and exhorts them to "remember that they were free and born for empire; that the state of the Aedui was the only one which retarded the most certain victory of the Gauls; that the rest were held in check by its authority; and, if it was brought over, the Romans would not have room to stand on in Gaul; that he had received some kindness from Caesar, only so far, however, as gaining a most just cause by his decision; but that he assigned more weight to the general freedom; for, why should the Aedui go to Caesar to decide concerning their rights and laws, rather than the Romans come to the Aedui?" The young men being easily won over by the speech of the magistrate and the bribe, when they declared that they would even be leaders in the plot, a plan for accomplishing it was considered, because they were confident their state could not be induced to undertake the war on slight grounds. It was resolved that Litavicus should have the command of the ten thousand, which were being sent to Caesar for the war, and should have charge of them on their march, and that his brothers should go before him to Caesar. They arrange the other measures, and the manner in which they should have them done. |
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Litaviccus accepto exercitu , cum milia passuum circiter XXX ab Gergovia abesset , convocatis subito militibus lacrimans , " Quo proficiscimur , " inquit , " milites ? Omnis noster equitatus , omnis nobilitas interiit ; principes civitatis , Eporedorix et Viridomarus , insimulati proditionis ab Romanis indicta causa interfecti sunt . Haec ab ipsis cognoscite , qui ex ipsa caede fugerunt : nam ego fratribus atque omnibus meis propinquis interfectis dolore prohibeor , quae gesta sunt , pronuntiare . " Producuntur hi quos ille edocuerat quae dici vellet , atque eadem , quae Litaviccus pronuntiaverat , multitudini exponunt : multos equites Aeduorum interfectos , quod collocuti cum Arvernis dicerentur ; ipsos se inter multitudinem militum occultasse atque ex media caede fugisse . Conclamant Aedui et Litaviccum obsecrant ut sibi consulat . " Quasi vero , " inquit ille , " consili sit res , ac non necesse sit nobis Gergoviam contendere et cum Arvernis nosmet coniungere . An dubitamus quin nefario facinore admisso Romani iam ad nos interficiendos concurrant ? Proinde , si quid in nobis animi est , persequamur eorum mortem qui indignissime interierunt , atque hos latrones interficiamus . " Ostendit cives Romanos , qui eius praesidi fiducia una erant : magnum numerum frumenti commeatusque diripit , ipsos crudeliter excruciatos interficit . nuntios tota civitate Aeduorum dimittit , eodem mendacio de caede equitum et principum permovet ; hortatur ut simili ratione atque ipse fecerit suas iniurias persequantur .
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Litavicus, having received the command of the army, suddenly convened the soldiers, when he was about thirty miles distant from Gergovia , and, weeping, said, "Soldiers, whither are we going? All our knights and all our nobles have perished. Eporedirix and Viridomarus, the principal men of the state, being accused of treason, have been slain by the Romans without any permission to plead their cause. Learn this intelligence from those who have escaped from the massacre; for I, since my brothers and all my relations have been slain, am prevented by grief from declaring what has taken place. Persons are brought forward whom he had instructed in what he would have them say, and make the same statements to the soldiery as Litavicus had made: that all the knights of the Aedui were slain because they were said to have held conferences with the Arverni; that they had concealed themselves among the multitude of soldiers, and had escaped from the midst of the slaughter. The Aedui shout aloud and conjure Litavicus to provide for their safety. As if, said he, it were a matter of deliberation, and not of necessity, for us to go to Gergovia and unite ourselves to the Arverni. Or have we any reasons to doubt that the Romans, after perpetrating the atrocious crime, are now hastening to slay us? Therefore, if there be any spirit in us, let us avenge the death of those who have perished in a most unworthy manner, and let us slay these robbers." He points to the Roman citizens, who had accompanied them, in reliance on his protection. He immediately seizes a great quantity of corn and provisions, cruelly tortures them, and then puts them to death, sends messengers throughout the entire state of the Aedui, and rouses them completely by the same falsehood concerning the slaughter of their knights and nobles; he earnestly advises them to avenge, in the same manner as he did, the wrongs, which they had received. |
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Eporedorix Aeduus , summo loco natus adulescens et summae domi potentiae , et una Viridomarus , pari aetate et gratia , sed genere dispari , quem Caesar ab Diviciaco sibi traditum ex humili loco ad summam dignitatem perduxerat , in equitum numero convenerant nominatim ab eo evocati . His erat inter se de principatu contentio , et in illa magistratuum controversia alter pro Convictolitavi , alter pro Coto summis opibus pugnaverant . Ex eis Eporedorix cognito Litavicci consilio media fere nocte rem ad Caesarem defert ; orat ne patiatur civitatem pravis adulescentium consiliis ab amicitia populi Romani deficere ; quod futurum provideat , si se tot hominum milia cum hostibus coniunxerint , quorum salutem neque propinqui neglegere , neque civitas levi momento aestimare posset .
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Eporedirix, the Aeduan , a young man born in the highest rank and possessing very great influence at home, and, along with Viridomarus, of equal age and influence, but of inferior birth, whom Caesar had raised from a humble position to the highest rank, on being recommended to him by Divitiacus, had come in the number of horse, being summoned by Caesar by name. These had a dispute with each other for precedence, and in the struggle between the magistrates they had contended with their utmost efforts, the one for Convictolitanis, the other for Cotus. Of these Eporedirix, on learning the design of Litavicus, lays the matter before Caesar almost at midnight; he entreats that Caesar should not suffer their state to swerve from the alliance with the Roman people, owing to the depraved counsels of a few young men which he foresaw would be the consequence if so many thousand men should unite themselves to the enemy, as their relations could not neglect their safety, nor the state regard it as a matter of slight importance. |
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Magna adfectus sollicitudine hoc nuntio Caesar , quod semper Aeduorum civitati praecipue indulserat , nulla interposita dubitatione legiones expeditas quattuor equitatumque omnem ex castris educit ; nec fuit spatium tali tempore ad contrahenda castra , quod res posita in celeritate videbatur ; Gaium Fabium legatum cum legionibus duabus castris praesidio relinquit . Fratres Litavicci cum comprehendi iussisset , paulo ante reperit ad hostes fugisse . Adhortatus milites , ne necessario tempore itineris labore permoveantur , cupidissimis omnibus progressus milia passuum XXV agmen Aeduorum conspicatus immisso equitatu iter eorum moratur atque impedit interdicitque omnibus ne quemquam interficiant . Eporedorigem et Viridomarum , quos illi interfectos existimabant , inter equites versari suosque appellare iubet . His cognitis et Litavicci fraude perspecta Aedui manus tendere , deditionem significare et proiectis armis mortem deprecari incipiunt . Litaviccus cum suis clientibus , quibus more Gallorum nefas est etiam in extrema fortuna deserere patronos , Gergoviam profugit .
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Caesar felt great anxiety on this intelligence, because he had always especially indulged the state of the Aedui, and, without any hesitation, draws out from the camp four light-armed legions and all the cavalry: nor had he time, at such a crisis, to contract the camp, because the affair seemed to depend upon dispatch. He leaves Caius Fabius, his lieutenant, with two legions to guard the camp. When he ordered the brothers of Litavicus to be arrested, he discovers that they had fled a short time before to the camp of the enemy. He encouraged his soldiers "not to be disheartened by the labor of the journey on such a necessary occasion," and, after advancing twenty-five miles, all being most eager, he came in sight of the army of the Aedui, and, by sending on his cavalry, retards and impedes their march; he then issues strict orders to all his soldiers to kill no one. He commands Eporedirix and Viridomarus, who they thought were killed, to move among the cavalry and address their friends. When they were recognized and the treachery of Litavicus discovered, the Aedui began to extend their hands to intimate submission, and, laying down their arms, to deprecate death. Litavicus, with his clansmen, who after the custom of the Gauls consider it a crime to desert their patrons, even in extreme misfortune, flees forth to Gergovia . |
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Caesar nuntiis ad civitatem Aeduorum missis , qui suo beneficio conservatos docerent quos iure belli interficere potuisset , tribusque horis noctis exercitui ad quietem datis castra ad Gergoviam movit . Medio fere itinere equites a Fabio missi , quanto res in periculo fuerit , exponunt . Summis copiis castra oppugnata demonstrant , cum crebro integri defessis succederent nostrosque assiduo labore defatigarent , quibus propter magnitudinem castrorum perpetuo esset isdem in vallo permanendum ; multitudine sagittarum atque omnis generis telorum multos vulneratos ; ad haec sustinenda magno usui fuisse tormenta . Fabium discessu eorum duabus relictis portis obstruere ceteras pluteosque vallo addere et se in posterum diem similemque casum apparare . His rebus cognitis Caesar summo studio militum ante ortum solis in castra pervenit .
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Caesar, after sending messengers to the state of the Aedui, to inform them that they whom he could have put to death by the right of war were spared through his kindness, and after giving three hours of the night to his army for his repose, directed his march to Gergovia . Almost in the middle of the journey, a party of horse that were sent by Fabius stated in how great danger matters were, they inform him that the camp was attacked by a very powerful army, while fresh men were frequently relieving the wearied, and exhausting our soldiers by the incessant toil, since on account of the size of the camp, they had constantly to remain on the rampart; that many had been wounded by the immense number of arrows and all kinds of missiles; that the engines were of great service in withstanding them; that Fabius, at their departure, leaving only two gates open, was blocking up the rest, and was adding breast-works to the ramparts, and was preparing himself for a similar casualty on the following day. Caesar, after receiving this information, reached the camp before sunrise owing to the very great zeal of his soldiers. |
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Dum haec ad Gergoviam geruntur , Aedui primis nuntiis ab Litavicco acceptis nullum sibi ad cognoscendum spatium relinquunt . Impellit alios avaritia , alios iracundia et temeritas , quae maxime illi hominum generi est innata , ut levem auditionem habeant pro re comperta . Bona civium Romanorum diripiunt , caedes faciunt , in servitutem abstrahunt . Adiuvat rem proclinatam Convictolitavis plebemque ad furorem impellit , ut facinore admisso ad sanitatem reverti pudeat . Marcum Aristium , tribunum militum , iter ad legionem facientem fide data ex oppido Cabillono educunt : idem facere cogunt eos , qui negotiandi causa ibi constiterant . Hos continuo ( in ) itinere adorti omnibus impedimentis exuunt ; repugnantes diem noctemque obsident ; multis utrimque interfectis maiorem multitudinem armatorum concitant .
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While these things are going on at Gergovia , the Aedui, on receiving the first announcements from Litavicus, leave themselves no time to ascertain the truth of those statements. Some are stimulated by avarice, others by revenge and credulity, which is an innate propensity in that race of men to such a degree that they consider a slight rumor as an ascertained fact. They plunder the property of the Roman citizens, and either massacre them or drag them away to slavery. Convictolitanis increases the evil state of affairs, and goads on the people to fury, that by the commission of some outrage they may be ashamed to return to propriety. They entice from the town of Cabillonus, by a promise of safety, Marcus Aristius, a military tribune, who was on his march to his legion; they compel those who had settled there for the purpose of trading to do the same. By constantly attacking them on their march they strip them of all their baggage; they besiege day and night those that resisted; when many were slain on both sides, they excite a great number to arms. |
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Interim nuntio allato omnes eorum milites in potestate Caesaris teneri , concurrunt ad Aristium , nihil publico factum consilio demonstrant ; quaestionem de bonis direptis decernunt , Litavicci fratrumque bona publicant , legatos ad Caesarem sui purgandi gratia mittunt . Haec faciunt reciperandorum suorum causa ; sed contaminati facinore et capti compendio ex direptis bonis , quod ea res ad multos pertinebat , timore poenae exterriti consilia clam de bello inire incipiunt civitatesque reliquas legationibus sollicitant . Quae tametsi Caesar intellegebat , tamen quam mitissime potest legatos appellat : nihil se propter inscientiam levitatemque vulgi gravius de civitate iudicare neque de sua in Aeduos benevolentia deminuere . Ipse maiorem Galliae motum exspectans , ne ab omnibus civitatibus circumsisteretur , consilia inibat quemadmodum ab Gergovia discederet ac rursus omnem exercitum contraheret , ne profectio nata ab timore defectionis similis fugae videretur .
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In the mean time, when intelligence was brought that all their soldiers were in Caesar's power, they run in a body to Aristius; they assure him that nothing had been done by public authority; they order an inquiry to be made about the plundered property; they confiscate the property of Litavicus and his brothers; they send embassadors to Caesar for the purpose of clearing themselves. They do all this with a view to recover their soldiers; but being contaminated by guilt, and charmed by the gains arising from the plundered property, as that act was shared in by many, and being tempted by the fear of punishment, they began to form plans of war and stir up the other states by embassies. Although Caesar was aware of this proceeding, yet he addresses the embassadors with as much mildness as he can: "That he did not think worse of the state on account of the ignorance and fickleness of the mob, nor would diminish his regard for the Aedui." He himself, fearing a greater commotion in Gaul, in order to prevent his being surrounded by all the states, began to form plans as to the manner in which he should return from Gergovia and again concentrate his forces, lest a departure arising from the fear of a revolt should seem like a flight. |
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Haec cogitanti accidere visa est facultas bene rei gerendae . Nam cum in minora castra operis perspiciendi causa venisset , animadvertit collem , qui ab hostibus tenebatur , nudatum hominibus , qui superioribus diebus vix prae multitudine cerni poterat . Admiratus quaerit ex perfugis causam , quorum magnus ad eum cotidie numerus confluebat . Constabat inter omnes , quod iam ipse Caesar per exploratores cognoverat , dorsum esse eius iugi prope aequum , sed hunc silvestrem et angustum , qua esset aditus ad alteram partem oppidi ; huic loco vehementer illos timere nec iam aliter sentire , uno colle ab Romanis occupato , si alterum amisissent , quin paene circumvallati atque omni exitu et pabulatione interclusi viderentur : ad hunc muniendum omnes a Vercingetorige evocatos .
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While he was considering these things an opportunity of acting successfully seemed to offer. For, when he had come into the smaller camp for the purpose of securing the works, he noticed that the hill in the possession of the enemy was stripped of men, although, on the former days, it could scarcely be seen on account of the numbers on it. Being astonished, he inquires the reason of it from the deserters, a great number of whom flocked to him daily. They all concurred in asserting, what Caesar himself had already ascertained by his scouts, that the back of that hill was almost level; but likewise woody and narrow, by which there was a pass to the other side of the town; that they had serious apprehensions for this place, and had no other idea, on the occupation of one hill by the Romans, than that, if they should lose the other, they would be almost surrounded, and cut off from all egress and foraging; that they were all summoned by Vercingetorix to fortify this place. |
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Hac re cognita Caesar mittit complures equitum turmas ; eis de media nocte imperat , ut paulo tumultuosius omnibus locis vagarentur . Prima luce magnum numerum impedimentorum ex castris mulorumque produci deque his stramenta detrahi mulionesque cum cassidibus equitum specie ac simulatione collibus circumvehi iubet . His paucos addit equites qui latius ostentationis causa vagarentur . Longo circuitu easdem omnes iubet petere regiones . Haec procul ex oppido videbantur , ut erat a Gergovia despectus in castra , neque tanto spatio certi quid esset explorari poterat . Legionem unam eodem iugo mittit et paulum progressam inferiore constituit loco silvisque occultat . Augetur Gallis suspicio , atque omnes illo ad munitionem copiae traducuntur . Vacua castra hostium Caesar conspicatus tectis insignibus suorum occultatisque signis militaribus raros milites , ne ex oppido animadverterentur , ex maioribus castris in minora traducit legatisque , quos singulis legionibus praefecerat , quid fieri velit ostendit : in primis monet ut contineant milites , ne studio pugnandi aut spe praedae longius progrediantur ; quid iniquitas loci habeat incommodi proponit : hoc una celeritate posse mutari ; occasionis esse rem , non proeli . His rebus expositis signum dat et ab dextra parte alio ascensu eodem tempore Aeduos mittit .
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Caesar, on being informed of this circumstance, sends several troops of horse to the place immediately after midnight; he orders them to range in every quarter with more tumult than usual. At dawn he orders a large quantity of baggage to be drawn out of the camp, and the muleteers with helmets, in the appearance and guise of horsemen, to ride round the hills. To these he adds a few cavalry, with instructions to range more widely to make a show. He orders them all to seek the same quarter by a long circuit; these proceedings were seen at a distance from the town, as Gergovia commanded a view of the camp, nor could the Gauls ascertain at so great a distance, what certainty there was in the maneuver. He sends one legion to the same hill, and after it had marched a little, stations it in the lower ground, and congeals it in the woods. The suspicion of the Gauls are increased, and all their forces are marched to that place to defend it. Caesar, having perceived the camp of the enemy deserted, covers the military insignia of his men, conceals the standards, and transfers his soldiers in small bodies from the greater to the less camp, and points out to the lieutenants whom he had placed in command over the respective legions, what he should wish to be done; he particularly advises them to restrain their men from advancing too far, through their desire of fighting, or their hope of plunder, he sets before them what disadvantages the unfavorable nature of the ground carries with it; that they could be assisted by dispatch alone: that success depended on a surprise, and not on a battle. After stating these particulars, he gives the signal for action, and detaches the Aedui at the same time by another ascent on the right. |
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Oppidi murus ab planitie atque initio ascensus recta regione , si nullus anfractus intercederet , MCC passus aberat : quidquid huc circuitus ad molliendum clivum accesserat , id spatium itineris augebat . A medio fere colle in longitudinem , ut natura montis ferebat , ex grandibus saxis sex pedum murum qui nostrorum impetum tardaret praeduxerant Galli , atque inferiore omni spatio vacuo relicto superiorem partem collis usque ad murum oppidi densissimis castris compleverant . Milites dato signo celeriter ad munitionem perveniunt eamque transgressi trinis castris potiuntur ; ac tanta fuit in castris capiendis celeritas , ut Teutomatus , rex Nitiobrigum , subito in tabernaculo oppressus , ut meridie conquieverat , superiore corporis parte nudata vulnerato equo vix se ex manibus praedantium militum eriperet .
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The town wall was 1200 paces distant from the plain and foot of the ascent, in a straight line, if no gap intervened; whatever circuit was added to this ascent, to make the hill easy, increased the length of the route. But almost in the middle of the hill, the Gauls had previously built a wall six feet high, made of large stones, and extending in length as far as the nature of the ground permitted, as a barrier to retard the advance of our men; and leaving all the lower space empty, they had filled the upper part of the hill, as far as the wall of the town, with their camps very close to one another. The soldiers, on the signal being given, quickly advance to this fortification, and passing over it, make themselves masters of the separate camps. And so great was their activity in taking the camps, that Teutomarus, the king of the Nitiobriges, being suddenly surprised in his tent, as he had gone to rest at noon, with difficulty escaped from the hands of the plunderers, with the upper part of his person naked, and his horse wounded. |
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Consecutus id quod animo proposuerat , Caesar receptui cani iussit legionique decimae , quacum erat , continuo signa constituit . Ac reliquarum legionum milites non exaudito sono tubae , quod satis magna valles intercedebat , tamen ab tribunis militum legatisque , ut erat a Caesare praeceptum , retinebantur . Sed elati spe celeris victoriae et hostium fuga et superiorum temporum secundis proeliis nihil adeo arduum sibi esse existimaverunt quod non virtute consequi possent , neque finem prius sequendi fecerunt quam muro oppidi portisque appropinquarunt . Tum vero ex omnibus urbis partibus orto clamore , qui longius aberant repentino tumultu perterriti , cum hostem intra portas esse existimarent , sese ex oppido eiecerunt . Matres familiae de muro vestem argentumque iactabant et pectore nudo prominentes passis manibus obtestabantur Romanos , ut sibi parcerent neu , sicut Avarici fecissent , ne a mulieribus quidem atque infantibus abstinerent : nonnullae de muris per manus demissae sese militibus tradebant . Lucius Fabius , centurio legionis VIII , quem inter suos eo die dixisse constabat excitari se Avaricensibus praemiis neque commissurum , ut prius quisquam murum ascenderet , tres suos nactus manipulares atque ab eis sublevatus murum ascendit : hos ipse rursus singulos exceptans in murum extulit .
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Caesar, having accomplished the object which he had in view, ordered the signal to be sounded for a retreat; and the soldiers of the tenth legion, by which he was then accompanied, halted. But the soldiers of the other legions, not hearing the sound of the trumpet, because there was a very large valley between them, were however kept back by the tribunes of the soldiers and the lieutenants, according to Caesar's orders; but being animated by the prospect of speedy victory, and the flight of the enemy, and the favorable battles of former periods, they thought nothing so difficult that their bravery could not accomplish it; nor did they put an end to the pursuit, until they drew nigh to the wall of the town and the gates. But then, when a shout arose in every quarter of the city, those who were at a distance being alarmed by the sudden tumult, fled hastily from the town, since they thought that the enemy were within the gates. The matrons begin to cast their clothes and silver over the wall, and bending over as far as the lower part of the bosom, with outstretched hands beseech the Romans to spare them, and not to sacrifice to their resentment even women and children, as they had done at Avaricum . Some of them let themselves down from the walls by their hands, and surrendered to our soldiers. Lucius Fabius a centurion of the eighth legion, who, it was ascertained, had said that day among his fellow soldiers that he was excited by the plunder of Avaricum , and would not allow any one to mount the wall before him, finding three men of his own company, and being raised up by them, scaled the wall. He himself, in turn, taking hold of them one by one drew them up to the wall. |
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Interim ei qui ad alteram partem oppidi , ut supra demonstravimus , munitionis causa convenerant , primo exaudito clamore , inde etiam crebris nuntiis incitati , oppidum a Romanis teneri , praemissis equitibus magno concursu eo contenderunt . Eorum ut quisque primus venerat , sub muro consistebat suorumque pugnantium numerum augebat . Quorum cum magna multitudo convenisset , matres familiae , quae paulo ante Romanis de muro manus tendebant , suos obtestari et more Gallico passum capillum ostentare liberosque in conspectum proferre coeperunt . Erat Romanis nec loco nec numero aequa contentio ; simul et cursu et spatio pugnae defatigati non facile recentes atque integros sustinebant .
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In the mean time those who had gone to the other part of the town to defend it, as we have mentioned above, at first, aroused by hearing the shouts, and, afterward, by frequent accounts, that the town was in possession of the Romans, sent forward their cavalry, and hastened in larger numbers to that quarter. As each first came he stood beneath the wall, and increased the number of his countrymen engaged in action. When a great multitude of them had assembled, the matrons, who a little before were stretching their hands from the walls to the Romans, began to beseech their countrymen, and after the Gallic fashion to show their disheveled hair, and bring their children into public view. Neither in position nor in numbers was the contest an equal one to the Romans; at the same time, being exhausted by running and the long continuation of the fight, they could not easily withstand fresh and vigorous troops. |
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Caesar , cum iniquo loco pugnari hostiumque augeri copias videret , praemetuens suis ad Titum Sextium legatum , quem minoribus castris praesidio reliquerat , misit , ut cohortes ex castris celeriter educeret et sub infimo colle ab dextro latere hostium constitueret , ut , si nostros loco depulsos vidisset , quo minus libere hostes insequerentur terreret . Ipse paulum ex eo loco cum legione progressus , ubi constiterat , eventum pugnae exspectabat .
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Caesar, when he perceived that his soldiers were fighting on unfavorable ground, and that the enemy's forces were increasing, being alarmed for the safety of his troops, sent orders to Titus Sextius, one of his lieutenants, whom he had left to guard the smaller camp, to lead out his cohorts quickly from the camp, and post them at the foot of the hill, on the right wing of the enemy; that if he should see our men driven from the ground, he should deter the enemy from following too closely. He himself, advancing with the legion a little from that place where he had taken his post, awaited the issue of the battle. |
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Cum acerrime comminus pugnaretur , hostes loco et numero , nostri virtute confiderent , subito sunt Aedui visi ab latere nostris aperto , quos Caesar ab dextra parte alio ascensu manus distinendae causa miserat . Hi similitudine armorum vehementer nostros perterruerunt , ac tametsi dextris humeris exsertis animadvertebantur , quod insigne pactum esse consuerat , tamen id ipsum sui fallendi causa milites ab hostibus factum existimabant . Eodem tempore Lucius Fabius centurio quique una murum ascenderant circumventi atque interfecti muro praecipitabantur . Marcus Petronius , eiusdem legionis centurio , cum portam excidere conatus esset , a multitudine oppressus ac sibi desperans multis iam vulneribus acceptis manipularibus suis , qui illum secuti erant , " Quoniam , " inquit , " me una vobiscum servare non possum , vestrae quidem certe vitae prospiciam , quos cupiditate gloriae adductus in periculum deduxi . Vos data facultate vobis consulite . " Simul in medios hostes irrupit duobusque interfectis reliquos a porta paulum summovit . Conantibus auxiliari suis " Frustra , " inquit , " meae vitae subvenire conamini , quem iam sanguis viresque deficiunt . Proinde abite , dum est facultas , vosque ad legionem recipite . " Ita pugnans post paulum concidit ac suis saluti fuit .
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While the fight was going on most vigorously, hand to hand, and the enemy depended on their position and numbers, our men on their bravery, the Aedui suddenly appeared on our exposed flank, as Caesar had sent them by another ascent on the right, for the sake of creating a diversion. These, from the similarity of their arms, greatly terrified our men; and although they were discovered to have their right shoulders bare, which was usually the sign of those reduced to peace, yet the soldiers suspected that this very thing was done by the enemy to deceive them. At the same time Lucius Fabius the centurion, and those who had scaled the wall with him, being surrounded and slain, were cast from the wall. Marcus Petreius, a centurion of the same legion, after attempting to hew down the gates, was overpowered by numbers, and, despairing of his safety, having already received many wounds, said to the soldiers of his own company who followed him: "Since I can not save you as well as myself, I shall at least provide for your safety, since I, allured by the love of glory, led you into this danger, do you save yourselves when an opportunity is given." At the same time he rushed into the midst of the enemy, and slaying two of them, drove back the rest a little from the gate. When his men attempted to aid him, "In vain," he says, "you endeavor to procure me safety, since blood and strength are now failing me, therefore leave this, while you have the opportunity, and retreat to the legion." Thus he fell fighting a few moments after, and saved his men by his own death. |