Gallic War |
Translator: W. A. McDevitte
|
|
| 85 |
Ubi vero moveri et adpropinquare muris viderunt , nova atque inusitata specie commoti legatos ad Caesarem de pace miserunt , qui ad hunc modum locuti , non se existimare Romanos sine ope divina bellum gerere , qui tantae altitudinis machinationes tanta celeritate promovere possent , se suaque omnia eorum potestati permittere dixerunt . Unum petere ac deprecari : si forte pro sua clementia ac mansuetudine , quam ipsi ab aliis audirent , statuisset Atuatucos esse conservandos , ne se armis despoliaret . Sibi omnes fere finitimos esse inimicos ac suae virtuti invidere ; a quibus se defendere traditis armis non possent . Sibi praestare , si in eum casum deducerentur , quamvis fortunam a populo Romano pati quam ab his per cruciatum interfici inter quos dominari consuessent .
|
But when they saw that it was being moved, and was approaching their walls, startled by the new and unaccustomed sight, they sent embassadors to Caesar [to treat] about peace; who spoke in the following manner: "That they did not believe the Romans waged war without divine aid, since they were able to move forward machines of such a height with so great speed, and thus fight from close quarters; that they resigned themselves and all their possessions to [Caesar's] disposal: that they begged and earnestly entreated one thing, viz., that if perchance, agreeable to his clemency and humanity, which they had heard of from others, he should resolve that the Aduatuci were to be spared, he would not deprive them of their arms; that all their neighbors were enemies to them and envied their courage, from whom they could not defend themselves if their arms were delivered up: that it was better for them, if they should be reduced to that state, to suffer any fate from the Roman people, than to be tortured to death by those among whom they had been accustomed to rule." |
| 86 |
Ad haec Caesar respondit : se magis consuetudine sua quam merito eorum civitatem conservaturum , si prius quam murum aries attigisset se dedidissent ; sed deditionis nullam esse condicionem nisi armis traditis . Se id quod in Nerviis fecisset facturum finitimisque imperaturum ne quam dediticiis populi Romani iniuriam inferrent . Re renuntiata ad suos illi se quae imperarentur facere dixerunt . Armorum magna multitudine de muro in fossam , quae erat ante oppidum , iacta , sic ut prope summam muri aggerisque altitudinem acervi armorum adaequarent , et tamen circiter parte tertia , ut postea perspectum est , celata atque in oppido retenta , portis patefactis eo die pace sunt usi .
|
To these things Caesar replied, "That he, in accordance with his custom, rather than owing to their desert, should spare the state, if they should surrender themselves before the battering-ram should touch the wall; but that there was no condition of surrender, except upon their arms being delivered up; that he should do to them that which he had done in the case of the Nervii, and would command their neighbors not to offer any injury to those who had surrendered to the Roman people." The matter being reported to their countrymen, they said that they would execute his commands. Having cast a very large quantity of their arms from the wall into the trench that was before the town, so that the heaps of arms almost equalled the top of the wall and the rampart, and nevertheless having retained and concealed, as we afterward discovered, about a third part in the town, the gates were opened, and they enjoyed peace for that day. |
| 87 |
Sub vesperum Caesar portas claudi militesque ex oppido exire iussit , ne quam noctu oppidani a militibus iniuriam acciperent . Illi ante inito , ut intellectum est , consilio , quod deditione facta nostros praesidia deducturos aut denique indiligentius servaturos crediderant , partim cum iis quae retinuerant et celaverant armis , partim scutis ex cortice factis aut viminibus intextis , quae subito , ut temporis exiguitas postulabat , pellibus induxerant , tertia vigilia , qua minime arduus ad nostras munitiones ascensus videbatur , omnibus copiis repente ex oppido eruptionem fecerunt . Celeriter , ut ante Caesar imperaverat , ignibus significatione facta , ex proximis castellis eo concursum est , pugnatumque ab hostibus ita acriter est ut a viris fortibus in extrema spe salutis iniquo loco contra eos qui ex vallo turribusque tela iacerent pugnari debuit , cum in una virtute omnis spes consisteret . Occisis ad hominum milibus IIII reliqui in oppidum reiecti sunt . Postridie eius diei refractis portis , cum iam defenderet nemo , atque intromissis militibus nostris , sectionem eius oppidi universa Caesar vendidit . Ab iis qui emerant capitum numerus ad eum relatus est milium LIII .
|
Toward evening Caesar ordered the gates to be shut, and the soldiers to go out of the town, lest the towns-people should receive any injury from them by night. They [the Aduatuci], by a design before entered into, as we afterwards understood, because they believed that, as a surrender had been made, our men would dismiss their guards, or at least would keep watch less carefully, partly with those arms which they had retained and concealed, partly with shields made of bark or interwoven wickers, which they had hastily covered over with skins, (as the shortness of time required) in the third watch, suddenly made a sally from the town with all their forces [in that direction] in which the ascent to our fortifications seemed the least difficult. The signal having been immediately given by fires, as Caesar had previously commended, a rush was made thither [i. e. by the Roman soldiers] from the nearest fort; and the battle was fought by the enemy as vigorously as it ought to be fought by brave men, in the last hope of safety, in a disadvantageous place, and against those who were throwing their weapons from a rampart and from towers; since all hope of safety depended on their courage alone. About 4,000 of the men having been slain, the rest were forced back into the town. The day after, Caesar, after breaking open the gates, which there was no one then to defend, and sending in our soldiers, sold the whole spoil of that town. The number of 53,000 persons was reported to him by those who had bought them. |
| 88 |
Eodem tempore a P . Crasso , quem cum legione una miserat ad Venetos , Venellos , Osismos , Coriosolitas , Esuvios , Aulercos , Redones , quae sunt maritimae civitates Oceanumque attingunt , certior factus est omnes eas civitates in dicionem potestatemque populi Romani esse redactas .
|
At the same time he was informed by P. Crassus, whom he had sent with one legion against the Veneti, the Unelli, the Osismii, the Curiosolitae, the Sesuvii, the Aulerci, and the Rhedones, which are maritime states, and touch upon the [Atlantic] ocean, that all these nations were brought under the dominion and power of the Roman people. |
| 89 |
His rebus gestis omni Gallia pacata , tanta huius belli ad barbaros opinio perlata est uti ab iis nationibus quae trans Rhenum incolerent legationes ad Caesarem mitterentur , quae se obsides daturas , imperata facturas pollicerentur . Quas legationes Caesar , quod in Italiam Illyricumque properabat , inita proxima aestate ad se reverti iussit . Ipse in Carnutes , Andes , Turonos quaeque civitates propinquae iis locis erant ubi bellum gesserat , legionibus in hiberna deductis , in Italiam profectus est . Ob easque res ex litteris Caesaris dierum XV supplicatio decreta est , quod ante id tempus accidit nulli .
|
These things being achieved, [and] all Gaul being subdued, so high an opinion of this war was spread among the barbarians, that embassadors were sent to Caesar by those nations who dwelt beyond the Rhine , to promise that they would give hostages and execute his commands. Which embassies Caesar, because he was hastening into Italy and Illyricum , ordered to return to him at the beginning of the following summer. He himself, having led his legions into winter quarters among the Carnutes, the Andes, and the Turones , which states were close to those regions in which he had waged war, set out for Italy; and a thanksgiving of fifteen days was decreed for those achievements, upon receiving Caesar's letter; [an honor] which before that time had been conferred on none. |
| 90 |
COMMENTARIUS TERTIUS Cum in Italiam proficisceretur Caesar , Ser . Galbam cum legione XII . et parte equitatus in Nantuates , Veragros Sedunosque misit , qui a finibus Allobrogum et lacu Lemanno et flumine Rhodano ad summas Alpes pertinent . Causa mittendi fuit quod iter per Alpes , quo magno cum periculo magnisque cum portoriis mercatores ire consuerant , patefieri volebat . Huic permisit , si opus esse arbitraretur , uti in his locis legionem hiemandi causa conlocaret . Galba secundis aliquot proeliis factis castellisque compluribus eorum expugnatis , missis ad eum undique legatis obsidibusque datis et pace facta , constituit cohortes duas in Nantuatibus conlocare et ipse cum reliquis eius legionis cohortibus in vico Veragrorum , qui appellatur Octodurus hiemare ; qui vicus positus in valle non magna adiecta planitie altissimis montibus undique continetur . Cum hic in duas partes flumine divideretur , alteram partem eius vici Gallis [ ad hiemandum ] concessit , alteram vacuam ab his relictam cohortibus attribuit . Eum locum vallo fossaque munivit .
|
When Caesar was setting out for Italy, he sent Servius Galba with the twelfth legion and part of the cavalry, against the Nantuates, the Veragri, and Seduni, who extend from the territories of the Allobroges, and the lake of Geneva , and the River Rhone to the top of the Alps. The reason for sending him was, that he desired that the pass along the Alps , through which [the Roman] merchants had been accustomed to travel with great danger, and under great imposts, should be opened. He permitted him, if he thought it necessary, to station the legion in these places, for the purpose of wintering. Galba having fought some successful battles and stormed several of their forts, upon embassadors being sent to him from all parts and hostages given and a peace concluded, determined to station two cohorts among the Nantuates, and to winter in person with the other cohorts of that legion in a village of the Veragri, which is called Octodurus; and this village being situated in a valley, with a small plain annexed to it, is bounded on all sides by very high mountains. As this village was divided into two parts by a river, he granted one part of it to the Gauls, and assigned the other, which had been left by them unoccupied, to the cohorts to winter in. He fortified this [latter] part with a rampart and a ditch. |
| 91 |
Cum dies hibernorum complures transissent frumentumque eo comportari iussisset , subito per exploratores certior factus est ex ea parte vici , quam Gallis concesserat , omnes noctu discessisse montesque qui impenderent a maxima multitudine Sedunorum et Veragrorum teneri . Id aliquot de causis acciderat , ut subito Galli belli renovandi legionisque opprimendae consilium caperent : primum , quod legionem neque eam plenissimam detractis cohortibus duabus et compluribus singillatim , qui commeatus petendi causa missi erant , absentibus propter paucitatem despiciebant ; tum etiam , quod propter iniquitatem loci , cum ipsi ex montibus in vallem decurrerent et tela coicerent , ne primum quidem impetum suum posse sustineri existimabant . Accedebat quod suos ab se liberos abstractos obsidum nomine dolebant , et Romanos non solum itinerum causa sed etiam perpetuae possessionis culmina Alpium occupare conari et ea loca finitimae provinciae adiungere sibi persuasum habebant .
|
When several days had elapsed in winter quarters, and he had ordered corn to be brought in he was suddenly informed by his scouts that all the people had gone off in the night from that part of the town which he had given up to the Gauls, and that the mountains which hung over it were occupied by a very large force of the Seduni and Veragri. It had happened for several reasons that the Gauls suddenly formed the design of renewing the war and cutting off that legion. First, because they despised a single legion, on account of its small number, and that not quite full (two cohorts having been detached, and several individuals being absent, who had been dispatched for the purpose of seeking provision); then, likewise, because they thought that on account of the disadvantageous character of the situation, even their first attack could not be sustained [by us] when they would rush from the mountains into the valley, and discharge their weapons upon us. To this was added, that they were indignant that their children were torn from them under the title of hostages, and they were persuaded that the Romans designed to seize upon the summits of the Alps , and unite those parts to the neighboring province [of Gaul], not only to secure the passes, but also a constant possession. |
| 92 |
His nuntiis acceptis Galba , cum neque opus hibernorum munitionesque plene essent perfectae neque de frumento reliquoque commeatu satis esset provisum quod deditione facta obsidibusque acceptis nihil de bello timendum existimaverat , consilio celeriter convocato sententias exquirere coepit . Quo in consilio , cum tantum repentini periculi praeter opinionem accidisset ac iam omnia fere superiora loca multitudine armatorum completa conspicerentur neque subsidio veniri neque commeatus supportari interclusis itineribus possent , prope iam desperata salute non nullae eius modi sententiae dicebantur , ut impedimentis relictis eruptione facta isdem itineribus quibus eo pervenissent ad salutem contenderent . Maiori tamen parti placuit , hoc reservato ad extremum casum consilio interim rei eventum experiri et castra defendere .
|
Having received these tidings, Galba, since the works of the winter-quarters and the fortifications were not fully completed, nor was sufficient preparation made with regard to corn and other provisions (since, as a surrender had been made, and hostages received, he had thought he need entertain no apprehension of war), speedily summoning a council, began to anxiously inquire their opinions. In which council, since so much sudden danger had happened contrary to the general expectation, and almost all the higher places were seen already covered with a multitude of armed men, nor could [either] troops come to their relief, or provisions be brought in, as the passes were blocked up [by the enemy]; safety being now nearly despaired of, some opinions of this sort were delivered: that, "leaving their baggage, and making a sally, they should hasten away for safety by the same routes by which they had come thither." To the greater part, however, it seemed best, reserving that measure to the last, to await the issue of the matter, and to defend the camp. |
| 93 |
Brevi spatio interiecto , vix ut iis rebus quas constituissent conlocandis atque administrandis tempus daretur , hostes ex omnibus partibus signo dato decurrere , lapides gaesaque in vallum coicere . Nostri primo integris viribus fortiter propugnare neque ullum flustra telum ex loco superiore mittere , et quaecumque pars castrorum nudata defensoribus premi videbatur , eo occurrere et auxilium ferre , sed hoc superari quod diuturnitate pugnae hostes defessi proelio excedebant , alii integris viribus succedebant ; quarum rerum a nostris propter paucitatem fieri nihil poterat , ac non modo defesso ex pugna excedendi , sed ne saucio quidem eius loci ubi constiterat relinquendi ac sui recipiendi facultas dabatur .
|
A short time only having elapsed, so that time was scarcely given for arranging and executing those things which they had determined on, the enemy, upon the signal being given, rushed down [upon our men] from all parts, and discharged stones and darts, upon our rampart. Our men at first, while their strength was fresh, resisted bravely, nor did they cast any weapon ineffectually from their higher station. As soon as any part of the camp, being destitute of defenders, seemed to be hard pressed, thither they ran, and brought assistance. But they were over-matched in this, that the enemy when wearied by the long continuance of the battle, went out of the action, and others with fresh strength came in their place; none of which things could be done by our men, owing to the smallness of their number; and not only was permission not given to the wearied [ Roman] to retire from the fight, but not even to the wounded [was liberty granted] to quit the post where he had been stationed, and recover. |
| 94 |
Cum iam amplius horis sex continenter pugnaretur , ac non solum vires sed etiam tela nostros deficerent , atque hostes acrius instarent languidioribusque nostris vallum scindere et fossas complere coepissent , resque esset iam ad extremum perducta casum , P . Sextius Baculus , primi pili centurio , quem Nervico proelio compluribus confectum vulneribus diximus , et item C . Volusenus , tribunus militum , vir et consilii magni et virtutis , ad Galbam accurrunt atque unam esse spem salutis docent , si eruptione facta extremum auxilium experirentur . Itaque convocatis centurionibus celeriter milites certiores facit , paulisper intermitterent proelium ac tantum modo tela missa exciperent seque ex labore reficerent , post dato signo ex castris erumperent , atque omnem spem salutis in virtute ponerent .
|
When they had now been fighting for more than six hours, without cessation, and not only strength, but even weapons were failing our men, and the enemy were pressing on more rigorously, and had begun to demolish the rampart and to fill up the trench, while our men were becoming exhausted, and the matter was now brought to the last extremity, P. Sextius Baculus, a centurion of the first rank, whom we have related to have been disabled by severe wounds in the engagement with the Nervii, and also C. Volusenus, a tribune of the soldiers, a man of great skill and valor, hasten to Galba, and assure him that the only hope of safety lay in making a sally, and trying the last resource. Whereupon assembling the centurions, he quickly gives orders to the soldiers to discontinue the fight a short time, and only collect the weapons flung [at them], and recruit themselves after their fatigue, and afterward, upon the signal being given, sally forth from the camp, and place in their valor all their hope of safety. |
| 95 |
Quod iussi sunt faciunt , ac subito omnibus portis eruptione facta neque cognoscendi quid fieret neque sui colligendi hostibus facultatem relinquunt . Ita commutata fortuna eos qui in spem potiundorum castrorum venerant undique circumventos intercipiunt , et ex hominum milibus amplius XXX , quem numerum barbarorum ad castra venisse constabat , plus tertia parte interfecta reliquos perterritos in fugam coiciunt ac ne in locis quidem superioribus consistere patiuntur . Sic omnibus hostium copiis fusis armisque exutis se intra munitiones suas recipiunt . Quo proelio facto , quod saepius fortunam temptare Galba nolebat atque alio se in hiberna consilio venisse meminerat , aliis occurrisse rebus videbat , maxime frumenti [ commeatusque ] inopia permotus postero die omnibus eius vici aedificiis incensis in provinciam reverti contendit , ac nullo hoste prohibente aut iter demorante incolumem legionem in Nantuates , inde in Allobroges perduxit ibique hiemavit .
|
They do what they were ordered; and, making a sudden sally from all the gates [of the camp], leave the enemy the means neither of knowing what was taking place, nor of collecting themselves. Fortune thus taking a turn, [our men] surround on every side, and slay those who had entertained the hope of gaining the camp and having killed more than the third part of an army of more than 30,000 men (which number of the barbarians it appeared certain had come up to our camp), put to flight the rest when panic-stricken, and do not suffer them to halt even upon the higher grounds. All the forces of the enemy being thus routed, and stripped of their arms, [our men] betake themselves to their camp and fortifications. Which battle being finished, inasmuch as Galba was unwilling to tempt fortune again, and remembered that he had come into winter quarters with one design, and saw that he had met with a different state of affairs; chiefly however urged by the want of corn and provision, having the next day burned all the buildings of that village, he hastens to return into the province; and as no enemy opposed or hindered his march, he brought the legion safe into the [country of the] Nantuates, thence into [that of] the Allobroges, and there wintered. |
| 96 |
His rebus gestis cum omnibus de causis Caesar pacatam Galliam existimaret , [ superatis Belgis , expulsis Germanis , victis in Alpibus Sedunis , ] atque ita inita hieme in Illyricum profectus esset , quod eas quoque nationes adire et regiones cognoscere volebat , subitum bellum in Gallia coortum est . Eius belli haec fuit causa . P . Crassus adulescens cum legione VII . proximus mare Oceanum in Andibus hiemabat . Is , quod in his locis inopia frumenti erat , praefectos tribunosque militum complures in finitimas civitates frumenti causa dimisit ; quo in numero est T . Terrasidius missus in Esuvios , M . Trebius Gallus in Coriosolites , Q . Velanius eum T . Silio in Venetos .
|
These things being achieved, while Caesar had every reason to suppose that Gaul was reduced to a state of tranquillity, the Belgae being overcome, the Germans expelled, the Seduni among the Alps defeated, and when he had, therefore, in the beginning of winter, set out for Illyricum , as he wished to visit those nations, and acquire a knowledge of their countries, a sudden war sprang up in Gaul. The occasion of that war was this: P. Crassus, a young man, had taken up his winter quarters with the seventh legion among the Andes, who border upon the [Atlantic] ocean. He, as there was a scarcity of corn in those parts, sent out some officers of cavalry, and several military tribunes among the neighbouring states, for the purpose of procuring corn and provision; in which number T. Terrasidius was sent among the Esubii; M. Trebius Gallus among the Curiosolitae; Q. Velanius, T. Silius, amongst the Veneti. |
| 97 |
Huius est civitatis longe amplissima auctoritas omnis orae maritimae regionum earum , quod et naves habent Veneti plurimas , quibus in Britanniam navigare consuerunt , et scientia atque usu rerum nauticarum ceteros antecedunt et in magno impetu maris atque aperto paucis portibus interiectis , quos tenent ipsi , omnes fere qui eo mari uti consuerunt habent vectigales . Ab his fit initium retinendi Silii atque Velanii , quod per eos suos se obsides , quos Crasso dedissent , recuperaturos existimabant . Horum auctoritate finitimi adducti , ut sunt Gallorum subita et repentina consilia , eadem de causa Trebium Terrasidiumque retinent et celeriter missis legatis per suos principes inter se coniurant nihil nisi communi consilio acturos eundemque omnes fortunae exitum esse laturos , reliquasque civitates sollicitant , ut in ea libertate quam a maioribus acceperint permanere quam Romanorum servitutem perferre malint . Omni ora maritima celeriter ad suam sententiam perducta communem legationem ad P . Crassum mittunt , si velit suos recuperare , obsides sibi remittat .
|
The influence of this state is by far the most considerable of any of the countries on the whole sea coast, because the Veneti both have a very great number of ships, with which they have been accustomed to sail to Britain, and [thus] excel the rest in their knowledge and experience of nautical affairs; and as only a few ports lie scattered along that stormy and open sea, of which they are in possession, they hold as tributaries almost all those who are accustomed to traffic in that sea. With them arose the beginning [of the revolt] by their detaining Silius and Velanius; for they thought that they should recover by their means the hostages which they had given to Crassus. The neighboring people led on by their influence (as the measures of the Gauls are sudden and hasty), detain Trebius and Terrasidius for the same motive; and quickly sending embassadors, by means of their leading men, they enter into a mutual compact to do nothing except by general consent, and abide the same issue of fortune; and they solicit the other states to choose rather to continue in that liberty which they had received from their ancestors, than endure slavery under the Romans. All the sea coast being quickly brought over to their sentiments, they send a common embassy to P. Crassus [to say], "If he wished to receive back his officers, let him send back to them their hostages." |
| 98 |
Quibus de rebus Caesar a Crasso certior factus , quod ipse aberat longius , naves interim longas aedificari in flumine Ligeri , quod influit in Oceanum , remiges ex provincia institui , nautas gubernatoresque comparari iubet . His rebus celeriter administratis ipse , cum primum per anni tempus potuit , ad exercitum contendit . Veneti reliquaeque item civitates cognito Caesaris adventu [ certiores facti ] , simul quod quantum in se facinus admisissent intellegebant , [ legatos , quod nomen ad omnes nationes sanctum inviolatumque semper fuisset , retentos ab se et in vincula coniectos , ] pro magnitudine periculi bellum parare et maxime ea quae ad usum navium pertinent providere instituunt , hoc maiore spe quod multum natura loci confidebant . Pedestria esse itinera concisa aestuariis , navigationem impeditam propter inscientiam locorum paucitatemque portuum sciebant , neque nostros exercitus propter inopiam frumenti diutius apud se morari posse confidebant ; ac iam ut omnia contra opinionem acciderent , tamen se plurimum navibus posse , [ quam ] Romanos neque ullam facultatem habere navium , neque eorum locorum ubi bellum gesturi essent vada , portus , insulas novisse ; ac longe aliam esse navigationem in concluso mari atque in vastissimo atque apertissimo Oceano perspiciebant . His initis consiliis oppida muniunt , frumenta ex agris in oppida comportant , naves in Venetiam , ubi Caesarem primum bellum gesturum constabat , quam plurimas possunt cogunt . Socios sibi ad id bellum Osismos , Lexovios , Namnetes , Ambiliatos , Morinos , Diablintes , Menapios adsciscunt ; auxilia ex Britannia , quae contra eas regiones posita est , arcessunt .
|
Caesar, being informed of these things by Crassus, since he was so far distant himself, orders ships of war to be built in the mean time on the river Loire , which flows into the ocean; rowers to be raised from the province; sailors and pilots to be provided. These matters being quickly executed, he himself, as soon as the season of the year permits, hastens to the army. The Veneti, and the other states also, being informed of Caesar's arrival, when they reflected how great a crime they had committed, in that, the embassadors (a character which had among all nations ever been sacred and inviolable) had by them been detained and thrown into prison, resolve to prepare for a war in proportion to the greatness of their danger, and especially to provide those things which appertain to the service of a navy, with the greater confidence, inasmuch as they greatly relied on the nature of their situation. They knew that the passes by land were cut off by estuaries, that the approach by sea was most difficult, by reason of our ignorance of the localities, [and] the small number of the harbors, and they trusted that our army would not be able to stay very long among them, on account of the insufficiency of corn; and again, even if all these things should turn out contrary to their expectation, yet they were very powerful in their navy. They well understood that the Romans neither had any number of ships, nor were acquainted with the shallows, the harbors, or the islands of those parts where they would have to carry on the war; and the navigation was very different in a narrow sea from what it was in the vast and open ocean. Having come to this resolution, they fortify their towns, convey corn into them from the country parts, bring together as many ships as possible to Venetia , where it appeared Caesar would at first carry on the war. They unite to themselves as allies for that war, the Osismii, the Lexovii, the Nannetes, the Ambiliati, the Morini, the Diablintes, and the Menapii; and send for auxiliaries from Britain, which is situated over against those regions. |