Gallic War (Julius Caesar)

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	Gallic War Author: Julius Caesar	Translator: W. A. McDevitte
337	Interea Commius reliquique duces quibus summa imperi permissa erat cum omnibus copiis ad Alesiam perveniunt et colle exteriore occupato non longius mille passibus ab nostris munitionibus considunt . Postero die equitatu ex castris educto omnem eam planitiem , quam in longitudinem tria milia passuum patere demonstravimus , complent pedestresque copias paulum ab eo loco abditas in locis superioribus constituunt . Erat ex oppido Alesia despectus in campum . Concurrunt his auxiliis visis ; fit gratulatio inter eos , atque omnium animi ad laetitiam excitantur . Itaque productis copiis ante oppidum considunt et proximam fossam cratibus integunt atque aggere explent seque ad eruptionem atque omnes casus comparant .	In the mean time, Commius and the rest of the leaders, to whom the supreme command had been intrusted, came with all their forces to Alesia , and having occupied the entire hill, encamped not more than a mile from our fortifications. The following day, having led forth their cavalry from the camp, they fill all that plain, which, we have related, extended three miles in length, and drew out their infantry a little from that place, and post them on the higher ground. The town Alesia commanded a view of the whole plain. The besieged run together when these auxiliaries were seen; mutual congratulations ensue, and the minds of all are elated with joy. Accordingly, drawing out their troops, they encamp before the town, and cover the nearest trench with hurdles and fill it up with earth, and make ready for a sally and every casualty.
338	Caesar omni exercitu ad utramque partem munitionum disposito , ut , si usus veniat , suum quisque locum teneat et noverit , equitatum ex castris educi et proelium committi iubet . Erat ex omnibus castris , quae summum undique iugum tenebant , despectus , atque omnes milites intenti pugnae proventum exspectabant . Galli inter equites raros sagittarios expeditosque levis armaturae interiecerant , qui suis cedentibus auxilio succurrerent et nostrorum equitum impetus sustinerent . Ab his complures de improviso vulnerati proelio excedebant . Cum suos pugna superiores esse Galli confiderent et nostros multitudine premi viderent , ex omnibus partibus et ei qui munitionibus continebantur et hi qui ad auxilium convenerant clamore et ululatu suorum animos confirmabant . Quod in conspectu omnium res gerebatur neque recte ac turpiter factum celari poterat , utrosque et laudis cupiditas et timor ignominiae ad virtutem excitabant . Cum a meridie prope ad solis occasum dubia victoria pugnaretur , Germani una in parte confertis turmis in hostes impetum fecerunt eosque propulerunt ; quibus in fugam coniectis sagittarii circumventi interfectique sunt . Item ex reliquis partibus nostri cedentes usque ad castra insecuti sui colligendi facultatem non dederunt . At ei qui ab Alesia processerant maesti prope victoria desperata se in oppidum receperunt .	Caesar, having stationed his army on both sides of the fortifications, in order that, if occasion should arise, each should hold and know his own post, orders the cavalry to issue forth from the camp and commence action. There was a commanding view from the entire camp, which occupied a ridge of hills; and the minds of all the soldiers anxiously awaited the issue of the battle. The Gauls had scattered archers and light-armed infantry here and there, among their cavalry, to give relief to their retreating troops, and sustain the impetuosity of our cavalry. Several of our soldiers were unexpectedly wounded by these, and left the battle. When the Gauls were confident that their countrymen were the conquerors in the action, and beheld our men hard pressed by numbers, both those who were hemmed in by the line of circumvallation and those who had come to aid them, supported the spirits of their men by shouts and yells from every quarter. As the action was carried on in sight of all, neither a brave nor cowardly act could be concealed; both the desire of praise and the fear of ignominy, urged on each party to valor. After fighting from noon almost to sunset, without victory inclining in favor of either, the Germans, on one side, made a charge against the enemy in a compact body, and drove them back; and, when they were put to flight, the archers were surrounded and cut to pieces. In other parts, likewise, our men pursued to the camp the retreating enemy, and did not give them an opportunity of rallying. But those who had come forth from Alesia returned into the town dejected and almost despairing of success.
339	Vno die intermisso Galli atque hoc spatio magno cratium , scalarum , harpagonum numero effecto media nocte silentio ex castris egressi ad campestres munitiones accedunt . Subito clamore sublato , qua significatione qui in oppido obsidebantur de suo adventu cognoscere possent , crates proicere , fundis , sagittis , lapidibus nostros de vallo proturbare reliquaque quae ad oppugnationem pertinent parant administrare . Eodem tempore clamore exaudito dat tuba signum suis Vercingetorix atque ex oppido educit . Nostri , ut superioribus diebus , ut cuique erat locus attributus , ad munitiones accedunt ; fundis librilibus sudibusque quas in opere disposuerant ac glandibus Gallos proterrent . Prospectu tenebris adempto multa utrimque vulnera accipiuntur . Complura tormentis tela coniciuntur . At Marcus Antonius et Gaius Trebonius legati , quibus hae partes ad defendendum obvenerant , qua ex parte nostros premi intellexerant , his auxilio ex ulterioribus castellis deductos summittebant .	The Gauls, after the interval of a day and after making, during that time, an immense number of hurdles, scaling-ladders, and iron hooks, silently went forth from the camp at midnight and approached the fortifications in the plain. Raising a shout suddenly, that by this intimation those who were beseiged in the town might learn their arrival, they began to cast down hurdles and dislodge our men from the rampart by slings, arrows, and stones, and executed the other movements which are requisite in storming. At the same time, Vercingetorix, having heard the shout, gives the signal to his troops by a trumpet, and leads them forth from the town. Our troops, as each man's post had been assigned him some days before, man the fortifications; they intimidate the Gauls by slings, large stones, stakes which they had placed along the works, and bullets. All view being prevented by the darkness, many wounds are received on both sides; several missiles, are thrown from the engines. But Marcus Antonius, and Caius Trebonius, the lieutenants, to whom the defense of these parts had been allotted, draughted troops from the redoubts which were more remote, and sent them to aid our troops, in whatever direction they understood that they were hard pressed.
340	Dum longius ab munitione aberant Galli , plus multitudine telorum proficiebant ; posteaquam propius successerunt , aut se stimulis inopinantes induebant aut in scrobes delati transfodiebantur aut ex vallo ac turribus traiecti pilis muralibus interibant . Multis undique vulneribus acceptis nulla munitione perrupta , cum lux appeteret , veriti ne ab latere aperto ex superioribus castris eruptione circumvenirentur , se ad suos receperunt . At interiores , dum ea quae a Vercingetorige ad eruptionem praeparata erant proferunt , priores fossas explent , diutius in his rebus administrandis morati prius suos discessisse cognoverunt , quam munitionibus appropinquarent . Ita re infecta in oppidum reverterunt .	While the Gauls were at a distance from the fortification, they did more execution, owing to the immense number of their weapons: after they came nearer, they either unawares empaled themselves on the spurs, or were pierced by the mural darts from the ramparts and towers, and thus perished. After receiving many wounds on all sides, and having forced no part of the works, when day drew nigh, fearing lest they should be surrounded by a sally made from the higher camp on the exposed flank, they retreated to their countrymen. But those within, while they bring forward those things which had been prepared by Vercingetorix for a sally, fill up the nearest trenches; having delayed a long time in executing these movements, they learned the retreat of their countrymen before they drew nigh to the fortifications. Thus they returned to the town without accomplishing their object.
341	Bis magno cum detrimento repulsi Galli quid agant consulunt ; locorum peritos adhibent : ex his superiorum castrorum situs munitionesque cognoscunt . Erat a septentrionibus collis , quem propter magnitudinem circuitus opere circumplecti non potuerant nostri : necessario paene iniquo loco et leniter declivi castra fecerunt . Haec Gaius Antistius Reginus et Gaius Caninius Rebilus legati cum duabus legionibus obtinebant . Cognitis per exploratores regionibus duces hostium LX milia ex omni numero deligunt earum civitatum quae maximam virtutis opinionem habebant ; quid quoque pacto agi placeat occulte inter se constituunt ; adeundi tempus definiunt , cum meridies esse videatur . His copiis Vercassivellaunum Arvernum , unum ex quattuor ducibus , propinquum Vercingetorigis , praeficiunt . Ille ex castris prima vigilia egressus prope confecto sub lucem itinere post montem se occultavit militesque ex nocturno labore sese reficere iussit . Cum iam meridies appropinquare videretur , ad ea castra quae supra demonstravimus contendit ; eodemque tempore equitatus ad campestres munitiones accedere et reliquae copiae pro castris sese ostendere coeperunt .	The Gauls, having been twice repulsed with great loss, consult what they should do; they avail themselves of the information of those who were well acquainted with the country; from them they ascertain the position and fortification of the upper camp. There was, on the north side, a hill, which our men could not include in their works, on account of the extent of the circuit, and had necessarily made their camp in ground almost disadvantageous, and pretty steep. Caius Antistius Reginus, and Caius Caninius Rebilus, two of the lieutenants, with two legions, were in possession of this camp. The leaders of the enemy, having reconnoitered the country by their scouts, select from the entire army sixty thousand men, belonging to those states, which bear the highest character for courage; they privately arrange among themselves what they wished to be done, and in what manner; they decide that the attack should take place when it should seem to be noon. They appoint over their forces Vergasillaunus, the Arvernian, one of the four generals, and a near relative of Vercingetorix. He, having issued from the camp at the first watch, and having almost completed his march a little before the dawn, hid himself behind the mountain, and ordered his soldiers to refresh themselves after their labor during the night. When noon now seemed to draw nigh, he marched hastily against that camp which we have mentioned before; and, at the same time, the cavalry began to approach the fortifications in the plain, and the rest of the forces to make a demonstration in front of the camp.
342	Vercingetorix ex arce Alesiae suos conspicatus ex oppido egreditur ; crates , longurios , musculos , falces reliquaque quae eruptionis causa paraverat profert . Pugnatur uno tempore omnibus locis , atque omnia temptantur : quae minime visa pars firma est , huc concurritur . Romanorum manus tantis munitionibus distinetur nec facile pluribus locis occurrit . Multum ad terrendos nostros valet clamor , qui post tergum pugnantibus exstitit , quod suum periculum in aliena vident salute constare : omnia enim plerumque quae absunt vehementius hominum mentes perturbant .	Vercingetorix, having beheld his countrymen from the citadel of Alesia , issues forth from the town; he brings forth from the camp long hooks, movable pent-houses, mural hooks, and other things, which he had prepared for the purpose of making a sally. They engage on all sides at once and every expedient is adopted. They flocked to whatever part of the works seemed weakest. The army of the Romans is distributed along their extensive lines, and with difficulty meets the enemy in every quarter. The shouts which were raised by the combatants in their rear, had a great tendency to intimidate our men, because they perceived that their danger rested on the valor of others: for generally all evils which are distant most powerfully alarm men's minds.
343	Caesar idoneum locum nactus quid quaque ex parte geratur cognoscit ; laborantibus summittit . Vtrisque ad animum occurrit unum esse illud tempus , quo maxime contendi conveniat : Galli , nisi perfregerint munitiones , de omni salute desperant ; Romani , si rem obtinuerint , finem laborum omnium exspectant . Maxime ad superiores munitiones laboratur , quo Vercassivellaunum missum demonstravimus . Iniquum loci ad declivitatem fastigium magnum habet momentum . Alii tela coniciunt , alii testudine facta subeunt ; defatigatis in vicem integri succedunt . Agger ab universis in munitionem coniectus et ascensum dat Gallis et ea quae in terra occultaverant Romani contegit ; nec iam arma nostris nec vires suppetunt .	Caesar, having selected a commanding situation, sees distinctly whatever is going on in every quarter, and sends assistance to his troops when hard pressed. The idea uppermost in the minds of both parties is, that the present is the time in which they would have the fairest opportunity of making a struggle; the Gauls despairing of all safety, unless they should succeed in forcing the lines: the Romans expecting an end to all their labors if they should gain the day. The principal struggle is at the upper lines, to which as we have said Vergasillaunus was sent. The least elevation of ground, added to a declivity, exercises a momentous influence. Some are casting missiles, others, forming a testudo, advance to the attack; fresh men by turns relieve the wearied. The earth, heaped up by all against the fortifications, gives the means of ascent to the Gauls, and covers those works which the Romans had concealed in the ground. Our men have no longer arms or strength.
344	His rebus cognitis Caesar Labienum cum cohortibus sex subsidio laborantibus mittit : imperat , si sustinere non posset , deductis cohortibus eruptione pugnaret ; id nisi necessario ne faciat . Ipse adit reliquos , cohortatur ne labori succumbant ; omnium superiorum dimicationum fructum in eo die atque hora docet consistere . Interiores desperatis campestribus locis propter magnitudinem munitionum loca praerupta ex ascensu temptant : huc ea quae paraverant conferunt . Multitudine telorum ex turribus propugnantes deturbant , aggere et cratibus fossas explent , falcibus vallum ac loricam rescindunt .	Caesar, on observing these movements, sends Labienus with six cohorts to relieve his distressed soldiers: he orders him, if he should be unable to withstand them, to draw off the cohorts and make a sally; but not to do this except through necessity. He himself goes to the rest, and exhorts them not to succumb to the toil; he shows them that the fruits of all former engagements depend on that day and hour. The Gauls within, despairing of forcing the fortifications in the plains on account of the greatness of the works, attempt the places precipitous in ascent: hither they bring the engines which they had prepared; by the immense number of their missiles they dislodge the defenders from the turrets: they fill the ditches with clay and hurdles, then clear the way; they tear down the rampart and breast-work with hooks.
345	Mittit primo Brutum adulescentem cum cohortibus Caesar , post cum aliis Gaium Fabium legatum ; postremo ipse , cum vehementius pugnaretur , integros subsidio adducit . Restituto proelio ac repulsis hostibus eo quo Labienum miserat contendit ; cohortes quattuor ex proximo castello deducit , equitum partem sequi , partem circumire exteriores munitiones et ab tergo hostes adoriri iubet . Labienus , postquam neque aggeres neque fossae vim hostium sustinere poterant , coactis una XL cohortibus , quas ex proximis praesidiis deductas fors obtulit , Caesarem per nuntios facit certiorem quid faciendum existimet . Accelerat Caesar , ut proelio intersit .	Caesar sends at first young Brutus, with six cohorts, and afterward Caius Fabius, his lieutenant, with seven others: finally, as they fought more obstinately, he leads up fresh men to the assistance of his soldiers. After renewing the action, and repulsing the enemy, he marches in the direction in which he had sent Labienus, drafts four cohorts from the nearest redoubt, and orders part of the cavalry to follow him, and part to make the circuit of the external fortifications and attack the enemy in the rear. Labienus, when neither the ramparts or ditches could check the onset of the enemy, informs Caesar by messengers of what he intended to do. Caesar hastens to share in the action.
346	Eius adventu ex colore vestitus cognito , quo insigni in proeliis uti consuerat , turmisque equitum et cohortibus visis quas se sequi iusserat , ut de locis superioribus haec declivia et devexa cernebantur , hostes proelium committunt . Vtrimque clamore sublato excipit rursus ex vallo atque omnibus munitionibus clamor . Nostri omissis pilis gladiis rem gerunt . Repente post tergum equitatus cernitur ; cohortes aliae appropinquant . Hostes terga vertunt ; fugientibus equites occurrunt . Fit magna caedes . Sedulius , dux et princeps Lemovicum , occiditur ; Vercassivellaunus Arvernus vivus in fuga comprehenditur ; signa militaria septuaginta quattuor ad Caesarem referuntur : pauci ex tanto numero se incolumes in castra recipiunt . Conspicati ex oppido caedem et fugam suorum desperata salute copias a munitionibus reducunt . Fit protinus hac re audita ex castris Gallorum fuga . Quod nisi crebris subsidiis ac totius diei labore milites essent defessi , omnes hostium copiae deleri potuissent . De media nocte missus equitatus novissimum agmen consequitur : magnus numerus capitur atque interficitur ; reliqui ex fuga in civitates discedunt .	His arrival being known from the color of his robe, and the troops of cavalry, and the cohorts which he had ordered to follow him being seen, as these low and sloping grounds were plainly visible from the eminences, the enemy join battle. A shout being raised by both sides, it was succeeded by a general shout along the ramparts and whole line of fortifications. Our troops, laying aside their javelins, carry on the engagement with their swords. The cavalry is suddenly seen in the rear of the Gauls; the other cohorts advance rapidly; the enemy turn their backs; the cavalry intercept them in their flight, and a great slaughter ensues. Sedulius the general and chief of the Lemovices is slain; Vergasillaunus the Arvernian, is taken alive in the flight, seventy-four military standards are brought to Caesar, and few out of so great a number return safe to their camp. The besieged, beholding from the town the slaughter and flight of their countrymen, despairing of safety, lead back their troops from the fortifications. A flight of the Gauls from their camp immediately ensues on hearing of this disaster, and had not the soldiers been wearied by sending frequent reinforcements, and the labor of the entire day, all the enemy's forces could have been destroyed. Immediately after midnight, the cavalry are sent out and overtake the rear, a great number are taken or cut to pieces, the rest by flight escape in different directions to their respective states.
347	Postero die Vercingetorix concilio convocato id bellum se suscepisse non suarum necessitatium , sed communis libertatis causa demonstrat , et quoniam sit fortunae cedendum , ad utramque rem se illis offerre , seu morte sua Romanis satisfacere seu vivum tradere velint . Mittuntur de his rebus ad Caesarem legati . Iubet arma tradi , principes produci . Ipse in munitione pro castris consedit : eo duces producuntur ; Vercingetorix deditur , arma proiciuntur . Reservatis Aeduis atque Arvernis , si per eos civitates reciperare posset , ex reliquis captivis toto exercitui capita singula praedae nomine distribuit .	Vercingetorix, having convened a council the following day, declares, "That he had undertaken that war, not on account of his own exigences, but on account of the general freedom; and since he must yield to fortune, he offered himself to them for either purpose, whether they should wish to atone to the Romans by his death, or surrender him alive. Embassadors are sent to Caesar on this subject. He orders their arms to be surrendered, and their chieftains delivered up. He seated himself at the head of the lines in front of the camp, the Gallic chieftains are brought before him. They surrender Vercingetorix, and lay down their arms. Reserving the Aedui and Arverni, [to try] if he could gain over, through their influence, their respective states, he distributes one of the remaining captives to each soldier, throughout the entire army, as plunder.
348	His rebus confectis in Aeduos proficiscitur ; civitatem recipit . Eo legati ab Arvernis missi quae imperaret se facturos pollicentur . Imperat magnum numerum obsidum . Legiones in hiberna mittit . Captivorum circiter viginti milia Aeduis Arvernisque reddit . Titum Labienum duabus cum legionibus et equitatu in Sequanos proficisci iubet : huic Marcum Sempronium Rutilum attribuit . Gaium Fabium legatum et Lucium Minucium Basilum cum legionibus duabus in Remis collocat , ne quam ab finitimis Bellovacis calamitatem accipiant . Gaium Antistium Reginum in Ambivaretos , Titum Sextium in Bituriges , Gaium Caninium Rebilum in Rutenos cum singulis legionibus mittit . Quintum Tullium Ciceronem et Publium Sulpicium Cabilloni et Matiscone in Aeduis ad Ararim rei frumentariae causa collocat . Ipse Bibracte hiemare constituit . His litteris cognitis Romae dierum viginti supplicatio redditur .	After making these arrangements, he marches into the [country of the] Aedui, and recovers that state. To this place embassadors are sent by the Arveni, who promise that they will execute his commands. He demands a great number of hostages. He sends the legions to winter-quarters; he restores about twenty thousand captives to the Aedui and Arverni; he orders Titus Labienus to march into the [country of the] Sequani with two legions and the cavalry, and to him he attaches Marcus Sempronius Rutilus; he places Caius Fabius, and Lucius Minucius Basilus, with two legions in the country of the Remi, lest they should sustain any loss from the Bellovaci in their neighborhood. He sends Caius Antistius Reginus into the [country of the] Ambivareti, Titus Sextius into the territories of the Bituriges, and Caius Caninius Rebilus into those of the Ruteni, with one legion each. He stations Quintus Tullius Cicero, and Publius Sulpicius among the Aedui at Cabillo and Matisco on the Saone , to procure supplies of corn. He himself determines to winter at Bibracte . A supplication of twenty-days is decreed by the senate at Rome , on learning these successes from Caesar's dispatches.
349	COMMENTARIUS OCTAVUS Coactus assiduis tuis vocibus , Balbe , cum cotidiana mea recusatio non difficultatis excusationem , sed inertiae videretur deprecationem habere , rem difficillimam suscepi . Caesaris nostri commentarios rerum gestarum Galliae , non comparantibus superioribus atque insequentibus eius scriptis , contexui novissimumque imperfectum ab rebus gestis Alexandriae confeci usque ad exitum non quidem civilis dissensionis , cuius finem nullum videmus , sed vitae Caesaris . Quos utinam qui legent scire possint quam invitus susceperim scribendos , qua facilius caream stultitiae atque arrogantiae crimine , qui me mediis interposuerim Caesaris scriptis . Constat enim inter omnes nihil tam operose ab aliis esse perfectum , quod non horum elegantia commentariorum superetur : qui sunt editi , ne scientia tantarum rerum scriptoribus deesset , adeoque probantur omnium iudicio ut praerepta , non praebita , facultas scriptoribus videatur . Cuius tamen rei maior nostra quam reliquorum est admiratio : ceteri enim , quam bene atque emendate , nos etiam , quam facile atque celeriter eos perfecerit scimus . Erat autem in Caesare cum facultas atque elegantia summa scribendi , tum verissima scientia suorum consiliorum explicandorum . Mihi ne illud quidem accidit , ut Alexandrino atque Africano bello interessem ; quae bella quamquam ex parte nobis Caesaris sermone sunt nota , tamen aliter audimus ea , quae rerum novitate aut admiratione nos capiunt , aliter , quae pro testimonio sumus dicturi . Sed ego nimirum , dum omnes excusationis causas colligo ne cum Caesare conferar , hoc ipsum crimen arrogantiae subeo , quod me iudicio cuiusquam existimem posse cum Caesare comparari . Vale .	Prevailed on by your continued solicitations, Balbus, I have engaged in a most difficult task, as my daily refusals appear to plead not my inability, but indolence, as an excuse. I have compiled a continuation of the Commentaries of our Caesar's Wars in Gaul, not indeed to be compared to his writings, which either precede or follow them; and recently, I have completed what he left imperfect after the transactions in Alexandria , to the end, not indeed of the civil broils, to which we see no issue, but of Caesar's life. I wish that those who may read them could know how unwillingly I undertook to write them, as then I might the more readily escape the imputation of folly and arrogance, in presuming to intrude among Caesar's writings. For it is agreed on all hands, that no composition was ever executed with so great care, that it is not exceeded in elegance by these Commentaries, which were published for the use of historians, that they might not want memoirs of such achievements; and they stand so high in the esteem of all men, that historians seem rather deprived of, than furnished with material. At which we have more reason to be surprised than other men; for they can only appreciate the elegance and correctness with which he finished them, while we know with what ease and expedition. Caesar possessed not only an uncommon flow of language and elegance of style, but also a thorough knowledge of the method of conveying his ideas. But I had not even the good fortune to share in the Alexandrian or African war; and though these were partly communicated to me by Caesar himself, in conversation, yet we listen with a different degree of attention to those things which strike us with admiration by their novelty, and those which we design to attest to posterity. But, in truth, while I urge every apology, that I may not be compared to Caesar, I incur the charge of vanity, by thinking it possible that I can in the judgment of any one be put in competition with him. Farewell.
350	Omni Gallia devicta Caesar cum a superiore aestate nullum bellandi tempus intermisisset militesque hibernorum quiete reficere a tantis laboribus vellet , complures eodem tempore civitates renovare belli consilia nuntiabantur coniurationesque facere . Cuius rei verisimilis causa adferebatur , quod Gallis omnibus cognitum esset neque ulla multitudine in unum locum coacta resisti posse Romanis , nec , si diversa bella complures eodem tempore intulissent civitates , satis auxili aut spati aut copiarum habiturum exercitum populi Romani ad omnia persequenda ; non esse autem alicui civitati sortem incommodi recusandam , si tali mora reliquae possent se vindicare in libertatem .	Gaul being entirely reduced, when Caesar having waged war incessantly during the former summer, wished to recruit his soldiers after so much fatigue, by repose in winter quarters, news was brought him that several states were simultaneously renewing their hostile intention, and forming combinations. For which a probable reason was assigned; namely, that the Gauls were convinced that they were not able to resist the Romans, with any force they could collect in one place; and hoped that if several states made war in different places at the same time, the Roman army would neither have aid, nor time, nor forces, to prosecute them all: nor ought any single state to decline any inconveniences that might befall them, provided that by such delay, the rest should be enabled to assert their liberty.