Gallic War (Julius Caesar)

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	Gallic War Author: Julius Caesar	Translator: W. A. McDevitte
99	Erant hae difficultates belli gerendi quas supra ostendimus , sed tamen multa Caesarem ad id bellum incitabant : iniuria retentorum equitum Romanorum , rebellio facta post deditionem , defectio datis obsidibus , tot civitatum coniuratio , in primis ne hac parte neglecta reliquae nationes sibi idem licere arbitrarentur . Itaque cum intellegeret omnes fere Gallos novis rebus studere et ad bellum mobiliter celeriterque excitari , omnes autem homines natura libertati studere et condicionem servitutis odisse , prius quam plures civitates conspirarent , partiendum sibi ac latius distribuendum exercitum putavit .	There were these difficulties which we have mentioned above, in carrying on the war, but many things, nevertheless, urged Caesar to that war;-the open insult offered to the state in the detention of the Roman knights, the rebellion raised after surrendering, the revolt after hostages were given, the confederacy of so many states, but principally, lest if, [the conduct of] this part was overlooked, the other nations should think that the same thing was permitted them. Wherefore, since he reflected that almost all the Gauls were fond of revolution, and easily and quickly excited to war; that all men likewise, by nature, love liberty and hate the condition of slavery, he thought he ought to divide and more widely distribute his army, before more states should join the confederation.
100	Itaque T . Labienum legatum in Treveros , qui proximi flumini Rheno sunt , cum equitatu mittit . Huic mandat , Remos reliquosque Belgas adeat atque in officio contineat Germanosque , qui auxilio a Belgis arcessiti dicebantur , si per vim navibus flumen transire conentur , prohibeat . P . Crassum cum cohortibus legionariis XII et magno numero equitatus in Aquitaniam proficisci iubet , ne ex his nationibus auxilia in Galliam mittantur ac tantae nationes coniungantur . Q . Titurium Sabinum legatum cum legionibus tribus in Venellos , Coriosolites Lexoviosque mittit , qui eam manum distinendam curet . D . Brutum adulescentem classi Gallicisque navibus , quas ex Pictonibus et Santonis reliquisque pacatis regionibus convenire iusserat , praeficit et , cum primum possit , in Venetos proficisci iubet . Ipse eo pedestribus copiis contendit .	He therefore sends T. Labienus, his lieutenant, with the cavalry to the Treviri , who are nearest to the river Rhine . He charges him to visit the Remi and the other Belgians, and to keep them in their allegiance and repel the Germans (who were said to have been summoned by the Belgae to their aid,) if they attempted to cross the river by force in their ships. He orders P. Crassus to proceed into Aquitania with twelve legionary cohorts and a great number of the cavalry, lest auxiliaries should be sent into Gaul by these states, and such great nations be united. He sends Q. Titurius Sabinus his lieutenant, with three legions, among the Unelli, the Curiosolitae, and the Lexovii, to take care that their forces should be kept separate from the rest. He appoints D. Brutus, a young man, over the fleet and those Gallic vessels which he had ordered to be furnished by the Pictones and the Santoni, and the other provinces which remained at peace; and commands him to proceed toward the Veneti, as soon as he could. He himself hastens thither with the land forces.
101	Erant eius modi fere situs oppidorum ut posita in extremis lingulis promunturiisque neque pedibus aditum haberent , cum ex alto se aestus incitavisset , quod [ bis ] accidit semper horarum XII spatio , neque navibus , quod rursus minuente aestu naves in vadis adflictarentur . Ita utraque re oppidorum oppugnatio impediebatur . Ac si quando magnitudine operis forte superati , extruso mari aggere ac molibus atque his oppidi moenibus adaequatis , suis fortunis desperare coeperant , magno numero navium adpulso , cuius rei summam facultatem habebant , omnia sua deportabant seque in proxima oppida recipiebant : ibi se rursus isdem oportunitatibus loci defendebant . Haec eo facilius magnam partem aestatis faciebant quod nostrae naves tempestatibus detinebantur summaque erat vasto atque aperto mari , magnis aestibus , raris ac prope nullis portibus difficultas navigandi .	The sites of their towns were generally such that, being placed on extreme points [of land] and on promontories, they neither had an approach by land when the tide had rushed in from the main ocean, which always happens twice in the space of twelve hours; nor by ships, because, upon the tide ebbing again, the ships were likely to be dashed upon the shoals. Thus, by either circumstance, was the storming of their towns rendered difficult; and if at any time perchance the Veneti overpowered by the greatness of our works, (the sea having been excluded by a mound and large dams, and the latter being made almost equal in height to the walls of the town) had begun to despair of their fortunes; bringing up a large number of ships, of which they had a very great quantity, they carried off all their property and betook themselves to the nearest towns; there they again defended themselves by the same advantages of situation. They did this the more easily during a great part of the summer, because our ships were kept back by storms, and the difficulty of sailing was very great in that vast and open sea, with its strong tides and its harbors far apart and exceedingly few in number.
102	Namque ipsorum naves ad hunc modum factae armataeque erant : carinae aliquanto planiores quam nostrarum navium , quo facilius vada ac decessum aestus excipere possent ; prorae admodum erectae atque item puppes , ad magnitudinem fluctuum tempestatumque accommodatae ; naves totae factae ex robore ad quamvis vim et contumeliam perferendam ; transtra ex pedalibus in altitudinem trabibus , confixa clavis ferreis digiti pollicis crassitudine ; ancorae pro funibus ferreis catenis revinctae ; pelles pro velis alutaeque tenuiter confectae , [ hae ] sive propter inopiam lini atque eius usus inscientiam , sive eo , quod est magis veri simile , quod tantas tempestates Oceani tantosque impetus ventorum sustineri ac tanta onera navium regi velis non satis commode posse arbitrabantur . Cum his navibus nostrae classi eius modi congressus erat ut una celeritate et pulsu remorum praestaret , reliqua pro loci natura , pro vi tempestatum illis essent aptiora et accommodatiora . Neque enim iis nostrae rostro nocere poterant ( tanta in iis erat firmitudo ) , neque propter altitudinem facile telum adigebatur , et eadem de causa minus commode copulis continebantur . Accedebat ut , cum [ saevire ventus coepisset et ] se vento dedissent , et tempestatem ferrent facilius et in vadis consisterent tutius et ab aestu relictae nihil saxa et cotes timerent ; quarum rerum omnium nostris navibus casus erat extimescendus .	For their ships were built and equipped after this manner. The keels were somewhat flatter than those of our ships, whereby they could more easily encounter the shallows and the ebbing of the tide: the prows were raised very high, and, in like manner the sterns were adapted to the force of the waves and storms [which they were formed to sustain]. The ships were built wholly of oak, and designed to endure any force and violence whatever; the benches which were made of planks a foot in breadth, were fastened by iron spikes of the thickness of a man's thumb; the anchors were secured fast by iron chains instead of cables, and for sails they used skins and thin dressed leather. These [were used] either through their want of canvas and their ignorance of its application, or for this reason, which is more probable, that they thought that such storms of the ocean, and such violent gales of wind could not be resisted by sails, nor ships of such great burden be conveniently enough managed by them. The encounter of our fleet with these ships' was of such a nature that our fleet excelled in speed alone, and the plying of the oars; other things, considering the nature of the place [and] the violence of the storms, were more suitable and better adapted on their side; for neither could our ships injure theirs with their beaks (so great was their strength), nor on account of their height was a weapon easily cast up to them; and for the same reason they were less readily locked in by rocks. To this was added, that whenever a storm began to rage and they ran before the wind, they both could weather the storm more easily and heave to securely in the shallows, and when left by the tide feared nothing from rocks and shelves: the risk of all which things was much to be dreaded by our ships.
103	Compluribus expugnatis oppidis Caesar , ubi intellexit frustra tantum laborem sumi neque hostium fugam captis oppidis reprimi neque iis noceri posse , statuit expectandam classem . Quae ubi convenit ac primum ab hostibus visa est , circiter CCXX naves eorum paratissimae atque omni genere armorum ornatissimae profectae ex portu nostris adversae constiterunt ; neque satis Bruto , qui classi praeerat , vel tribunis militum centurionibusque , quibus singulae naves erant attributae , constabat quid agerent aut quam rationem pugnae insisterent . Rostro enim noceri non posse cognoverant ; turribus autem excitatis tamen has altitudo puppium ex barbaris navibus superabat , ut neque ex inferiore loco satis commode tela adigi possent et missa a Gallis gravius acciderent . Una erat magno usui res praeparata a nostris , falces praeacutae insertae adfixaeque longuriis , non absimili forma muralium falcium . His cum funes qui antemnas ad malos destinabant comprehensi adductique erant , navigio remis incitato praerumpebantur . Quibus abscisis antemnae necessario concidebant , ut , cum omnis Gallicis navibus spes in velis armamentisque consisteret , his ereptis omnis usus navium uno tempore eriperetur . Reliquum erat certamen positum in virtute , qua nostri milites facile superabant , atque eo magis quod in conspectu Caesaris atque omnis exercitus res gerebatur , ut nullum paulo fortius factum latere posset ; omnes enim colles ac loca superiora , unde erat propinquus despectus in mare , ab exercitu tenebantur .	Caesar, after taking many of their towns, perceiving that so much labor was spent in vain and that the flight of the enemy could not be prevented on the capture of their towns, and that injury could not be done them, he determined to wait for his fleet. As soon as it came up and was first seen by the enemy, about 220 of their ships, fully equipped and appointed with every kind of [naval] implement, sailed forth from the harbor, and drew up opposite to ours; nor did it appear clear to Brutus, who commanded the fleet, or to the tribunes of the soldiers and the centurions, to whom the several ships were assigned, what to do, or what system of tactics to adopt; for they knew that damage could not be done by their beaks; and that, although turrets were built [on their decks], yet the height of the stems of the barbarian ships exceeded these; so that weapons could not be cast up from [our] lower position with sufficient effect, and those cast by the Gauls fell the more forcibly upon us. One thing provided by our men was of great service, [viz.] sharp hooks inserted into and fastened upon poles, of a form not unlike the hooks used in attacking town walls. When the ropes which fastened the sail-yards to the masts were caught by them and pulled, and our vessel vigorously impelled with the oars, they [the ropes] were severed; and when they were cut away, the yards necessarily fell down; so that as all the hope of the Gallic vessels depended on their sails and rigging, upon these being cut away, the entire management of the ships was taken from them at the same time. The rest of the contest depended on courage; in which our men decidedly had the advantage; and the more so, because the whole action was carried on in the sight of Caesar and the entire army; so that no act, a little more valiant than ordinary, could pass unobserved, for all the hills and higher grounds, from which there was a near prospect of the sea were occupied by our army.
104	Deiectis , ut diximus , antemnis , cum singulas binae ac ternae naves circumsteterant , milites summa vi transcendere in hostium naves contendebant . Quod postquam barbari fieri animadverterunt , expugnatis compluribus navibus , cum ei rei nullum reperiretur auxilium , fuga salutem petere contenderunt . Ac iam conversis in eam partem navibus quo ventus ferebat , tanta subito malacia ac tranquillitas extitit ut se ex loco movere non possent . Quae quidem res ad negotium conficiendum maximae fuit oportunitati : nam singulas nostri consectati expugnaverunt , ut perpaucae ex omni numero noctis interventu ad terram per venirent , cum ab hora fere IIII usque ad solis occasum pugnaretur .	The sail yards [of the enemy], as we have said, being brought down, although two and [in some cases] three ships [of theirs] surrounded each one [of ours], the soldiers strove with the greatest energy to board the ships of the enemy; and, after the barbarians observed this taking place, as a great many of their ships were beaten, and as no relief for that evil could be discovered, they hastened to seek safety in flight. And, having now turned their vessels to that quarter in which the wind blew, so great a calm and lull suddenly arose, that they could not move out of their place, which circumstance, truly, was exceedingly opportune for finishing the business; for our men gave chase and took them one by one, so that very few out of all the number, [and those] by the intervention of night, arrived at the land, after the battle had lasted almost from the fourth hour till sun-set.
105	Quo proelio bellum Venetorum totiusque orae maritimae confectum est . Nam cum omnis iuventus , omnes etiam gravioris aetatis in quibus aliquid consilii aut dignitatis fuit eo convenerant , tum navium quod ubique fuerat in unum locum coegerant ; quibus amissis reliqui neque quo se reciperent neque quem ad modum oppida defenderent habebant . Itaque se suaque omnia Caesari dediderunt . In quos eo gravius Caesar vindicandum statuit quo diligentius in reliquum tempus a barbaris ius legatorum conservaretur . Itaque omni senatu necato reliquos sub corona vendidit .	By this battle the war with the Veneti and the whole of the sea coast was finished; for both all the youth, and all, too, of more advanced age, in whom there was any discretion or rank, had assembled in that battle; and they had collected in that one place whatever naval forces they had anywhere; and when these were lost, the survivors had no place to retreat to, nor means of defending their towns. They accordingly surrendered themselves and all their possessions to Caesar, on whom Caesar thought that punishment should be inflicted the more severely, in order that for the future the rights of embassadors might be more carefully respected by barbarians; having, therefore, put to death all their senate, he sold the rest for slaves.
106	Dum haec in Venetis geruntur , Q . Titurius Sabinus cum iis copiis quas a Caesare acceperat in fines Venellorum pervenit . His praeerat Viridovix ac summam imperii tenebat earum omnium civitatum quae defecerant , ex quibus exercitum [ magnasque copias ] coegerat ; atque his paucis diebus Aulerci Eburovices Lexoviique , senatu suo interfecto quod auctores belli esse nolebant , portas clauserunt seque cum Viridovice coniunxerunt ; magnaque praeterea multitudo undique ex Gallia perditorum hominum latronumque convenerat , quos spes praedandi studiumque bellandi ab agri cultura et cotidiano labore revocabat . Sabinus idoneo omnibus rebus loco castris sese tenebat , cum Viridovix contra eum duorum milium spatio consedisset cotidieque productis copiis pugnandi potestatem faceret , ut iam non solum hostibus in contemptionem Sabinus veniret , sed etiam nostrorum militum vocibus non nihil carperetur ; tantamque opinionem timoris praebuit ut iam ad vallum castrorum hostes accedere auderent . Id ea de causa faciebat quod cum tanta multitudine hostium , praesertim eo absente qui summam imperii teneret , nisi aequo loco aut oportunitate aliqua data legato dimicandum non existimabat .	While these things are going on among the Veneti, Q. Titurius Sabinus with those troops which he had received from Caesar, arrives in the territories of the Unelli. Over these people Viridovix ruled, and held the chief command of all those states which had revolted; from which he had collected a large and powerful army. And in those few days, the Aulerci and the Sexovii, having slain their senate because they would not consent to be promoters of the war, shut their gates [against us] and united themselves to Viridovix; a great multitude besides of desperate men and robbers assembled out of Gaul from all quarters, whom the hope of plundering and the love of fighting had called away from husbandry and their daily labor. Sabinus kept himself within his camp, which was in a position convenient for everything; while Viridovix encamped over against him at a distance of two miles, and daily bringing out his forces, gave him an opportunity of fighting; so that Sabinus had now not only come into contempt with the enemy, but also was somewhat taunted by the speeches of our soldiers; and furnished so great a suspicion of his cowardice that the enemy presumed to approach even to the very rampart of our camp. He adopted this conduct for the following reason: because he did not think that a lieutenant ought to engage in battle with so great a force, especially while he who held the chief command was absent, except on advantageous ground or some favorable circumstance presented itself.
107	Hac confirmata opinione timoris idoneum quendam hominem et callidum deligit , Gallum , ex iis quos auxilii causa secum habebat . Huic magnis praemiis pollicitationibusque persuadet uti ad hostes transeat , et quid fieri velit edocet . Qui ubi pro perfuga ad eos venit , timorem Romanorum proponit , quibus angustiis ipse Caesar a Venetis prematur docet , neque longius abesse quin proxima nocte Sabinus clam ex castris exercitum educat et ad Caesarem auxilii ferendi causa proficiscatur . Quod ubi auditum est , conclamant omnes occasionem negotii bene gerendi amittendam non esse : ad castra iri oportere . Multae res ad hoc consilium Gallos hortabantur : superiorum dierum Sabini cunctatio , perfugae confirmatio , inopia cibariorum , cui rei parum diligenter ab iis erat provisum , spes Venetici belli , et quod fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt . His rebus adducti non prius Viridovicem reliquosque duces ex concilio dimittunt quam ab iis sit concessum arma uti capiant et ad castra contendant . Qua re concessa laeti , ut explorata victoria , sarmentis virgultisque collectis , quibus fossas Romanorum compleant , ad castra pergunt .	After having established this suspicion of his cowardice, he selected a certain suitable and crafty Gaul, who was one of those whom he had with him as auxiliaries. He induces him by great gifts and promises to go over to the enemy; and informs [him] of what he wished to be done. Who, when he arrives among them as a deserter, lays before them the fears of the Romans; and informs them by what difficulties Caesar himself was harassed, and that the matter was not far removed from this- that Sabinus would the next night privately draw off his army out of the camp and set forth to Caesar for the purpose of carrying [him] assistance, which, when they heard, they a11 cry out together that an opportunity of successfully conducting their enterprise, ought not to be thrown away: that they ought to go to the [ Roman] camp. Many things persuaded the Gauls to this measure; the delay of Sabinus during the previous days; the positive assertion of the [pretended] deserter; want of provisions, for a supply of which they had not taken the requisite precautions; the hope springing from the Venetic war; and [also] because in most cases men willingly believe what they wish. Influenced by these things they do not discharge Viridovix and the other leaders from the council, before they gained permission from them to take up arms and hasten to [our] camp; which being granted, rejoicing as if victory were fully certain, they collected faggots and brushwood, with which to fill up the Roman trenches, and hasten to the camp.
108	Locus erat castrorum editus et paulatim ab imo acclivis circiter passus mille . Huc magno cursu contenderunt , ut quam minimum spatii ad se colligendos armandosque Romanis daretur , exanimatique pervenerunt . Sabinus suos hortatus cupientibus signum dat . Impeditis hostibus propter ea quae ferebant onera subito duabus portis eruptionem fieri iubet . Factum est oportunitate loci , hostium inscientia ac defatigatione , virtute militum et superiorum pugnarum exercitatione , ut ne unum quidem nostrorum impetum ferrent ac statim terga verterent . Quos impeditos integris viribus milites nostri consecuti magnum numerum eorum occiderunt ; reliquos equites consectati paucos , qui ex fuga evaserant , reliquerunt . Sic uno tempore et de navali pugna Sabinus et de Sabini victoria Caesar est certior factus , civitatesque omnes se statim Titurio dediderunt . Nam ut ad bella suscipienda Gallorum alacer ac promptus est animus , sic mollis ac minime resistens ad calamitates ferendas mens eorum est .	The situation of the camp was a rising ground, gently sloping from the bottom for about a mile. Thither they proceeded with great speed (in order that as little time as possible might be given to the Romans to collect and arm themselves), and arrived quite out of breath. Sabinus having encouraged his men, gives them the signal, which they earnestly desired. While the enemy were encumbered by reason of the burdens which they were carrying, he orders a sally to be made suddenly from two gates [of the camp]. It happened, by the advantage of situation, by the unskilfulness and the fatigue of the enemy, by the valor of our soldiers, and their experience in former battles, that they could not stand one attack of our men, and immediately turned their backs; and our men with full vigor followed them while disordered, and slew a great number of them; the horse pursuing the rest, left but few, who escaped by flight. Thus at the same time, Sabinus was informed of the naval battle and Caesar of victory gained by Sabinus; and all the states immediately surrendered themselves to Titurius: for as the temper of the Gauls is impetuous and ready to undertake wars, so their mind is weak, and by no means resolute in enduring calamities.
109	Eodem fere tempore P . Crassus ., cum in Aquitaniam pervenisset , quae [ pars ] , ut ante dictum est , [ et regionum latitudine et multitudine hominum ] tertia pars Galliae est [ aestimanda ] , cum intellegeret in iis locis sibi bellum gerendum ubi paucis ante annis L . Valerius Praeconinus legatus exercitu pulso interfectus esset atque unde L . Manlius proconsul impedimentis amissis profugisset , non mediocrem sibi diligentiam adhibendam intellegebat . Itaque re frumentaria provisa , auxiliis equitatuque comparato , multis praeterea viris fortibus Tolosa et Carcasone et Narbone , quae sunt civitates Galliae provinciae finitimae , ex his regionibus nominatim evocatis , in Sotiatium fines exercitum introduxit . Cuius adventu cognito Sotiates magnis copiis coactis , equitatuque , quo plurimum valebant , in itinere agmen nostrum adorti primum equestre proelium commiserunt , deinde equitatu suo pulso atque insequentibus nostris subito pedestres copias , quas in convalle in insidiis conlocaverant , ostenderunt . Hi nostros disiectos adorti proelium renovarunt .	About the same time, P. Crassus, when he had arrived in Aquitania (which, as has been before said, both from its extent of territory and the great number of its people, is to be reckoned a third part of Gaul,) understanding that he was to wage war in these parts, where a few years before, L. Valerius Praeconinus, the lieutenant had been killed, and his army routed, and from which L. Manilius, the proconsul, had fled with the loss of his baggage, he perceived that no ordinary care must be used by him. Wherefore, having provided corn, procured auxiliaries and cavalry, [and] having summoned by name many valiant men from Tolosa , Carcaso , and Narbo , which are the states of the province of Gaul, that border on these regions [ Aquitania ], he led his army into the territories of the Sotiates. On his arrival being known, the Sotiates having brought together great forces and [much] cavalry, in which their strength principally lay, and assailing our army on the march, engaged first in a cavalry action, then when their cavalry was routed, and our men pursuing, they suddenly display their infantry forces, which they had placed in ambuscade in a valley. These attacked our men [while] disordered, and renewed the fight.
110	Pugnatum est diu atque acriter , cum Sotiates superioribus victoriis freti in sua virtute totius Aquitaniae salutem positam putarent , nostri autem quid sine imperatore et sine reliquis legionibus adulescentulo duce efficere possent perspici cuperent ; tandem confecti vulneribus hostes terga verterunt . Quorum magno numero interfecto Crassus ex itinere oppidum Sotiatium oppugnare coepit . Quibus fortiter resistentibus vineas turresque egit . Illi alias eruptione temptata , alias cuniculis ad aggerem vineasque actis ( cuius rei sunt longe peritissimi Aquitani , propterea quod multis locis apud eos aerariae secturaeque sunt ) , ubi diligentia nostrorum nihil his rebus profici posse intellexerunt , legatos ad Crassum mittunt seque in deditionem ut recipiat petunt . Qua re impetrata arma tradere iussi faciunt .	The battle was long and vigorously contested, since the Sotiates, relying on their former victories, imagined that the safety of the whole of Aquitania rested on their valor; [and] our men, on the other hand, desired it might be seen what they could accomplish without their general and without the other legions, under a very young commander; at length the enemy, worn out with wounds, began to turn their backs, and a great number of them being slain, Crassus began to besiege the [principal] town of the Sotiates on his march. Upon their valiantly resisting, he raised vineae and turrets. They at one time attempting a sally, at another forming mines, to our rampart and vineae (at which the Aquitani are eminently skilled, because in many places among them there are copper mines); when they perceived that nothing could be gained by these operations through the perseverance of our men, they send embassadors to Crassus, and entreat him to admit them to a surrender. Having obtained it, they, being ordered to deliver up their arms, comply.
111	Atque in eam rem omnium nostrorum intentis animis alia ex parte oppidi Adiatunnus , qui summam imperii tenebat , cum DC devotis , quos illi soldurios appellant , quorum haec est condicio , ut omnibus in vita commodis una cum iis fruantur quorum se amicitiae dediderint , si quid his per vim accidat , aut eundem casum una ferant aut sibi mortem consciscant ; neque adhuc hominum memoria repertus est quisquam qui , eo interfecto cuius se amicitiae devovisset , mortem recusaret — cum his Adiatunnus eruptionem facere conatus clamore ab ea parte munitionis sublato cum ad arma milites concurrissent vehementerque ibi pugnatum esset , repulsus in oppidum tamen uti eadem deditionis condicione uteretur a Crasso impetravit .	And while the attention of our men is engaged in that matter, in another part Adcantuannus, who held the chief command, with 600 devoted followers whom they call soldurii (the conditions of whose association are these,-that they enjoy all the conveniences of life with those to whose friendship they have devoted themselves: if any thing calamitous happen to them, either they endure the same destiny together with them, or commit suicide: nor hitherto, in the, memory of men, has there been found any one who, upon his being slain to whose friendship he had devoted himself, refused to die); Adcantuannus, [ Isay] endeavoring to make a sally with these, when our soldiers had rushed together to arms, upon a shout being raised at that part of the, fortification, and a fierce battle had been fought there, was driven back into the town, yet he obtained from Crassus [the indulgence] that he should enjoy the same terms of surrender [as the other inhabitants].
112	Armis obsidibusque acceptis , Crassus in fines Vocatium et Tarusatium profectus est . Tum vero barbari commoti , quod oppidum et natura loci et manu munitum paucis diebus quibus eo ventum erat expugnatum cognoverant , legatos quoque versus dimittere , coniurare , obsides inter se dare , copias parare coeperunt . Mittuntur etiam ad eas civitates legati quae sunt citerioris Hispaniae finitimae Aquitaniae : inde auxilia ducesque arcessuntur . Quorum adventu magna cum auctoritate et magna [ cum ] hominum multitudine bellum gerere conantur . Duces vero ii deliguntur qui una cum Q . Sertorio omnes annos fuerant summamque scientiam rei militaris habere existimabantur . Hi consuetudine populi Romani loca capere , castra munire , commeatibus nostros intercludere instituunt . Quod ubi Crassus animadvertit , suas copias propter exiguitatem non facile diduci , hostem et vagari et vias obsidere et castris satis praesidii relinquere , ob eam causam minus commode frumentum commeatumque sibi supportari , in dies hostium numerum augeri , non cunctandum existimavit quin pugna decertaret . Hac re ad consilium delata , ubi omnes idem sentire intellexit , posterum diem pugnae constituit .	Crassus, having received their arms and hostages, marched into the territories of the Vocates and the Tarusates. But then, the barbarians being alarmed, because they had heard that a town fortified by the nature of the place and by art, had been taken by us in a few days after our arrival there, began to send embassadors into all quarters, to combine, to give hostages one to another, to raise troops. Embassadors also are sent to those states of Hither Spain which are nearest to Aquitania , and auxiliaries and leaders are summoned from them; on whose arrival they proceed to carry on the war with great confidence, and with a great host of men. They who had been with Q. Sertorius the whole period [of his war in Spain] and were supposed to have very great skill in military matters, are chosen leaders. These, adopting the practice of the Roman people, begin to select [advantageous] places, to fortify their camp, to cut off our men from provisions, which, when Crassus observes, [and likewise] that his forces, on account of their small number could not safely be separated; that the enemy both made excursions and beset the passes, and [yet] left sufficient guard for their camp; that on that account, corn and provision could not very conveniently be brought up to him, and that the number of the enemy was daily increased, he thought that he ought not to delay in giving battle. This matter being brought to a council, when he discovered that all thought the same thing, he appointed the next day for the fight.