C. JULII CÆSARIS 'COMMENTARIORUM DE BELLO GALLICO. LIBER I. ARGUMENT. Cæsar, introductory to the narration of his wars, describes Gaul, relates two battles wherein he defeated the Helvetii, and one wherein he overcame the Germans. "GALLIA 3est omnis divisa in partes tres: quarum unam incolunt NOTES. 1 COMMENTARIORUM.] Memoirs. Cæsar's object seems not to have been the compilation of a finished history of his wars but merely to notice the principal events that occurred under his command. 2 Gallia.] Gaul comprehended that part of Europe which now constitutes the French empire. It was inhabited by a brave and hardy people, who, at an early period of history, invaded Italy, and subdued a great part thereof. The Romans first crossed the Alps, in the six hundred and twenty-ninth year from the foundation of their city, and established themselves in some of the southern provinces of Gaul. Its warlike inhabitants, for a long time, successfully opposed the extension of the Roman do minion over the whole country; until Julius Cæsar was appointed to command in Gaul when their final conquest was by him completed. 3 Est omnis divisa in partes tres.] This division given by Cæsar does not comprehend all Transalpine Gaul; the boundaries of which were the river Rhine, the Alps, the Pyrenean mountains, the Mediterra nean sea, and the Ocean; but merely the part conquered by himself. The province of Gaul extending from Geneva to the Py. renees is excluded, as already subjected to the Roman authority. 'Belgæ, aliam Aquitani, tertiam qui ipsorum linguâ Celtæ nostrâ Galli appellantur. Hi omnes linguâ, institutis, legibus inter se differunt. Gallos ab Aquitanis, 'Garumna flumen, à Belgis, "Matrona et "Sequana, dividit. Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belga: propterea quòd à cultu atque humanitate Provinciæ longissimè absunt, minimèque ad eos mercatores sæpe commeant, atque ea, quæ ad effeminandos animos pertinent, important: 10proximique sunt Germanis, > qui trans "Rhenum incolunt, quibuscum continenter bellum gerunt: quâ de caussâ "Helvetii quoque reliquos Gallos virtute præcedunt; quòd ferè quotidianis præliis cum Germanis contendunt, quum aut suis finibus eos prohibent, aut ipsi in eorum finibus bellum gerunt. 13Eorum una pars, quam Gallos obtinere dictum est, initium capit à flumine 14Rhodano: continetur Garumnâ flumine, Oceano, finibus Belgarum ; 15attingit etiam à Sequanis et Helvetiis flumen Rhenum: 16vergit ad NOTES. 1 Belga.] The Belgæ inhabited the territory, which formed the northern provinces of the French kingdom, and the Low Countries. In Cæsar's time they were divided into sixteen tribes. 2 Aquitani.] The Aquitani dwelt in the district, which composed the provinces of Guienne and Gascony of the French kingdom. They were originally divided into twelve tribes; but,. n the course of time, were reduced to nine. 3 Cella.] The Celta occupied the interior of Gaul, and seem to have been its first inhabitants. 4 Hi omnes linguá.] The Aquitani in language and customs resembled their neigh bours, the Spaniards. The Belge derived their institutions from their ancestors, the Germans. The language and manners of the Celta were peculiar to themselves. 5 Garumna.] The river Garonne rises in the Pyrenean mountains, and flows into the bay of Biscay. 6 Matrona.] The Marne river has its source near Langres, and joins the Seine a little above Paris. 7 Sequana.] The river Seine takes its rise in the late province of Burgundy; and empties its waters into the English channel at Havre de Grace. 8 A cultu atque humanitate Provinciæ.] To the citizens of Massita, now Marseilles, founded by a colony of Phocean Greeks, the inhabitants of the Roman province were indebted for their knowledge of the useful, and agreeable arts of society; by which their minds became more informed, and their manners more refined than the other Gauls. Cultus relates to the ornaments of the body, humanitas to mental refinement and improvement. 9 Quæ ad effeminandos animos pertinent.] Which tend to effeminate the mind, namely, the luxuries of life. 10 Proximique.] The conjunction que is omitted in the Delphini, and in several other editions; but in all the best editions it is preserved on the authority of the most authentic manuscripts. The sense of the passage also evidently requires it for a second reason is assigned, why the Belga are the bravest, and most warlike inhabitants of Gaul. 11 Rhenum.] The river Rhine which di vides Germany from France. 12 Helvetii. In Cæsar's time the country of the Helvetii was reckoned a part of Gaul. It was, on the decline of the Roman empire, conquered by the Germans, and for several centuries remained subject to them: until oppressed by tyranny its inhabitants revolted, and formed the confederated republic of the cantons of Switzerland. 13 Eorum una pars.] One part of these countries, or districts. 14 Rhodano.] The river Rhone rises in the mountains of Switzerland, runs through the lake of Geneva, and falls into the Mediterranean sea near Marseilles. 15 Attingit etiam à Sequanis, &c.] It also touches the river Rhine, on the side of the Sequani and Helvetii. The Sequani and Helvetii were afterwards added to the Belge by Augustus. 16 Vergit ad Septentriones.] Extends towards the north. Septentriones (compounded of septem seven and triones plowing oxen) was the name given to the constel Septentriones. 'Belgæ ab extremis Galliæ finibus oriuntur: pertinent ad inferiorem partem fluminis Rheni: spectant in Septentriones, et orientem solem. Aquitania à Garumnâ flumine ad Pyrenæos montes, et eam partem Oceani, quæ est ad Hispaniam, pertinet; spectat inter occasum Solis et Septentriones. II. Apud Helvetios longè nobilissimus, et ditissimus, fuit Orgetorix. 'Is M. Messalâ et M. Pisone Coss. regni cupiditate inductus, conjurationem nobilitatis fecit; et 'civitati persuasit, ut "de finibus suis cum omnibus copiis exirent: perfacile esse, quum virtute omnibus præstarent totius Galliæ imperio potiri." Id hoc faciliùs eis persuasit, quòd undique loci naturâ 'Helvetii continentur; unâ ex parte, flumine Rheno latissimo atque altissimo, qui agrum Helvetium à Germanis dividit; alterâ ex parte, monte Jurâ altissimo, qui est inter 'Sequanos et Helvetios; tertiâ, 10lacu Lemano, et flumine Rhodano, qui provinciam nostram ab Helvetiis dividit. His rebus fiebat, ut et minùs latè vagarentur, et minùs facilè finitimis bellum inferre possent: quâ de caussâ homines bellandi cupidi magno dolore afficiebantur. Pro multitudine autem hominum, et pro gloria belli atque fortitudinis, angustos se fines habere arbitrabantur: qui "in longitudinem millia passuum ccxL, in latitudinem CLXXX patebant. III. His rebus adducti, et auctoritate Orgetorigis permoti, constituerunt ea, quæ ad proficiscendum pertinerent, comparare; jumentorum et carrorum quàm maximum numerum coëmere; 13sementes quàm maximas facere, ut in itinere copia frumenti suppeteret; cum proximis civitatibus pacem et amicitiam confirmare. Ad eas res con NOTES. lation of the seven stars, or Charles' wain, near the north pole. 1 Belgæ ab extremis Galliæ finibus oriuntur.] The Belga commence at the extreme confines of Gaul. By fines extremi Cæsar implies the boundaries the most remote from Rome. 2 Spectant in Septentriones, et orientem solem. Lie towards the north and east. 3 Pyrenæos montes.] The Pyrenean moun. tains separate France from Spain. The territory of Aquitania was by Augustus extended, from the Garonne to the Liger or Loire river. 4 la M. Messula, &c.] M. Messala and M. Piso were consuls, in the six hundred and ninety-third year, from the foundation of Rome. 5 Civitati persuasit.] Persuaded the people. 6 Ul de finibus suis, &c.] The reason for this was, that if any remained they would be exposed to the hostile incursions of their neighbours; and, destitute of the ficíendas biennium sibi satis esse duxerunt; 'in tertium annum profectionem lege confirmant. Ad eas res conficiendas Orgetorix deligitur: is sibi legationem ad civitates suscepit. In eo itinere persuadet Castico Catamantaledis filio, Sequano, cujus pater regnum in Sequanis multos annos obtinuerat, et à S. P. Q. R. amicus appellatus erat, ut regnum in civitate suâ occuparet, quod pater antè habuerat: itemque Dumnorigi Æduo, fratri Divitiaci, qui eo tempore principatum in civitate suâ obtinebat, ac maximè plebi acceptus erat, ut idem conaretur, persuadet; eique filiam suam in matrimonium dat. 46 Perfacile factu esse" illis probat, "conata perficere; propterea quòd ipse suæ civitatis imperium obtenturus esset: non esse dubium, quin totius Galliæ plurimum Helvetii possent: se suis copiis, suoque exercitu, illis regna conciliaturum," confirmat. Hac oratione adducti, "inter se fidem et jusjurandum dant, et, regno occupato, per tres potentissimos ac firmissimos populos, totius Galliæ sese potiri posse sperant. IV. "Ea res ut est Helvetiis per indicium enunciata, moribus suis Orgetorigem ex vinculis caussam dicere coëgerunt. Damnatum pœnam sequi oportebat, ut igni cremaretur. Die constitutâ caussæ dictionis, "Orgetorix ad judicium omnem suam familiam, ad hominum millia decem, undique coëgit; et omnes clientes obæratosque suos, quorum magnum numerum habebat, eodem conduxit: per eos, ne caussam diceret, se eripuit. 10Quum civitas, ob eam rem incitata, armis jus suum exequi conaretur, multitudinemque hominum ex agris magistratus cogerent, Orgetorix mortuus est; neque abest suspicio, ut Helvetii arbitrantur, quin ipse sibi mortem consciverit. V. Post ejus mortem nihilo minùs Helvetii id, quod constituerant, facere conantur, ut è finibus suis exeant. Ubi jam se ad eam rem para NOTES. 1 In tertium annum profectionem lege confirmant.] By a law they fix their departure, in the third year after this resolve. 2 Cujus pater regnum in Sequanis, &c.] The sovereign authority was not generally hereditary in the several states of Gaul; but was conferred by the people on the person, they judged, most worthy there. of. 3 A. S. P. Q. R.] A Senatu populoque Romano. It was considered the greatest honour to be styled friend, by the Senate and people of Rome. 4 Perfacile factu esse illis probat.] He demonstrates to them that it would be very easy to accomplish their enterprise. 5 Inter se fidem et jusjurandum dant.] They enter into a mutual contract confirmed by an oath. 6 Per tres potentissimos ac firmissimos populos.] Namely, the Sequani, Helvetii, and dui. The Edui inhabited the dis trict which formed the late province of Burgundy. 7 Ea res.] Namely, the intrigues of Orgetorix to obtain sovereign authority over his country, and for which he was forced to undergo a trial in chains. 8 Damnatum pœnam, &c.] This was the usual punishment for high treason among the Gauls and Germans. 9 Orgetorix ad judicium omnem suam fa miliam, &c.] Orgetorix collected all his servants, about ten thousand in number, at the place appointed for the trial: there likewise he assembled all his numerous dependants and debtors. Obæratus properly signifies a debtor obligated to serve his creditor, until payment of the debt was made. 10 Quum civitas, ob eam rem incitata, &c.] When the state, highly incensed at such conduct, was preparing to execute its law by force of arms. |