LIBER I. tos esse arbitrati sunt, oppida sua omnia, numero ad duodecim, vicos ad quadringentos, reliqua privata ædificia incendunt: frumentum omne, præter quod secum portaturi erant, comburunt; ut, domum reditionis spe sublatâ, paratiores ad omnia pericula subeunda essent: trium mensium molita cibaria sibi quemque domo efferre jubent. Persuadent 'Rauracis, et Tulingis, et Latobrigis finitimis, utì eodem usi consilio, oppidis suis vicisque exustis, unà cum iis proficiscantur: "Boiosque, qui trans Rhenum incoluerant, et in agrum Noricum transierant, Noreiamque oppugnârant, receptos ad se socios sibi adsciscunt. VI. Erant omnino itinera duo, quibus itineribus, domo exire possent: unum per Sequanos, angustum et difficile, inter montem Juram, et flumen Rhodanum, quo vix singuli carri ducerentur; mons autem altissimus impendebat, ut facilè perpauci prohibere possent: alterum per provinciam nostram, multò facilius atque expeditius, propterea quòd Helvetiorum inter fines, et "Allobrogum, qui nuper pacati erant, Rhodanus fluit, isque nonnullis locis vado transitur. Extremum oppidum Allobrogum est, proximumque Helvetiorum finibus, Geneva: ex eo oppido pons ad Helvetios pertinet. Allobrogibus sese vel persuasuros, quòd nondum bono animo in populum Romanum viderentur, existimabant; vel vi coacturos, ut per suos fines eos ire paterentur. Omnibus rebus ad profectionem comparatis, diem dicunt, quâ Is dies erat a. d. v. kal. die ad ripam Rhodani omnes conveniant. Apr. 10L. Pisone, A. Gabinio consulibus. VII. Cæsari quum id nunciatum esset, eos "per provinciam nostram iter facere conari, maturat 12ab urbe proficisci, et quàm maximis itineribus potest, in Galliam ulteriorem contendit, et ad Genevam pervenit. 13Provinciæ toti quàm maximum militum numerum imperat; erat omnino in Gallia ulteriore legio una; pontem, qui erat NOTES. 1 Trium mensium molita cibaria sibi quemque domo efferre jubent.] They order each person to carry with him from home a sufficient quantity of ground corn for three months. 2 Rauracis.] The Rauraci inhabited the district, which formed the canton of Basil. 3 Tulingis.] The Tulingi are supposed to have dwelt north of the Helvetii; near where the town of Stulingen now stands. 4 Latobrigis.] It is not known with certainty what district the Latobrigi inhabited. 5 Boiosque.] The Boii established themselves, by the permission of Cæsar, in the district which formed the province of Bourbonnois of the French kingdom. They are supposed to have been of Gallic origin. 6 Agrum Noricum.] Noricum was a country of ancient Illyricum, and extended from the river Danube to the Alps. 7 Allobrogum.] The Allobroges inhabit ed part of the district, which formed the late province of Dauphiny. 8 Geneva.] The present city of Geneva, in Switzerland. 9 A. d. v. kal. Apr.] Ante diem quintum Kalendas Aprilis, twenty-eighth of March, reckoning inclusively. 10 L. Pisone, A. Gabinio consulibus.] In the six hundred and ninety-sixth year from the foundation of Rome. 11 Per provinciam nostram.] The Roman province in Gaul. 12 Ab urbe.] From the city of Rome. 13 Provinciæ toti quàm maximum militum numerum imperat.] He ordered a great number of soldiers to be raised throughout the province. 14 Legio.] The Legion under Romulus consisted of 3000 foot and 300 horse, it was afterwards augmented to 4000, to 5000, and to upwards of 6000; in Cæsar's time it did not exceed 4500 men. 66 ad Genevam, jubet rescindi. Ubi de ejus adventu Helvetii certiores facti sunt, legatos ad eum mittunt nobilissimos civitatis; cujus legationis Numeius et Verodoctius principem locum obtinebant: qui dicerent, sibi esse in animo, sine ullo maleficio iter per Provinciam facere, propterea quòd aliud iter haberent nullum: rogare, ut ejus voluntate id sibi facere liceat." Cæsar, quòd memoriâ tenebat, L. Cassium Consulem occisum, exercitumque ejus ab 'Helvetiis pulsum, et 2sub jugum missum, concedendum non putabat; neque homines inimico animo, datâ facultate per Provinciam itineris faciundi, temperaturos ab injuriâ et maleficio existimabat: tamen ut spatium intercedere posset, dum milites, quos imperaverat, convenirent, legatis respondit, "diem se ad deliberandum sumpturum; si quid vellent, 3a. d. Idus Aprilis reverterentur." VIII. Interea eâ legione, quam secum habebat, militibusque, qui ex Provinciâ convenerant, à lacu Lemano, quem flumen Rhodanum influit, ad montem Juram, qui fines Sequanorum ab Helvetiis dividit, millia passuum decem novem, murum, in altitudinem pedum sexdecim, fossamque perducit. Eo opere perfecto, præsidia disponit, castella communit; quo faciliùs, si, se invito, transire conarentur, prohibere posset. Ubi ea dies, quam constituerat cum legatis, venit; et legati ad eum reverterunt; negat "se more et exemplo populi Romani posse iter ulli per Provinciam dare; et si vim facere conentur, prohibiturum ostendit." Helvetii eâ spe dejecti, navibus junctis, ratibasque compluribus factis, alii, vadis Rhodani, quà minima altitudo fluminis erat, nonnunquam interdiu, sæpiùs noctu, si perrumpere possent, conati, operis munitione, et militum concursu, et telis repulsi, hoc conatu destiterunt. IX. Relinquebatur una per Sequanos via, quâ, Sequanis invitis, propter angustias ire non poterant. Iis quum suâ sponte persuadere non possent, legatos ad Dumnorigem Eduum mittunt, ut eo deprecatore à Sequanis hoc impetrarent. Dumnorix gratiâ et largitione apud Sequanos plurimum poterat; et Helvetiis erat amicus, quòd ex eâ civitate Orgetorigis filiam in matrimonium duxerat; et cupiditate regni adductus, novis rebus studebat, et quamplurimas civitates suo sibi beneficio habere obstrictas volebat. Itaque rem suscipit; et à Sequanis impetrat, ut per fines suos Helvetios ire patiantur; obsidesque utì NOTES. 1 L. Cassium Consulem.] This event took place in the six hundred and forty-seventh year from the foundation of Rome, fortynine years prior to this eruption. 2 Subjugum missum.] The following was the method of passing under the yoke. Two spears were fixed in the ground, to which a third was fastened: under this the conquered were forced to pass, after being deprived of their arms. 3 A. d. Idus Aprilis.] The day preceding the Ides of April; the Ides of inter sese dent, perficit: 'Sequani, ne itinere Helvetios prohibeant: Helvetii, ut sine maleficio et injuriâ transeant. X. Cæsari nunciatur, Helvetiis esse in animo per agrum Sequanorum et Æduorum inter in Santonum fines faccre, qui non longè à 3Tolosatium finibus absunt, quæ civitas est in Provincia. Id si fieret, intelligebat magno cum Provinciæ periculo futurum, ut homines bellicosos, populi Romani inimicos, locis patentibus maximèque frumentariis finitimos haberet. Ob eas caussas ei munitioni, quam fecerat, 4T. Labienum legatum præfecit: ipse in Italiam magnis itineribus contendit, duasque ibi legiones conscribit, et tres, quæ circum 'Aquileiam hiemabant, ex hibernis educit: et quà proximum iter in ulteriorem Galliam per Alpes erat, cum his quinque legionibus ire contendit. Ibi "Centrones et Graioceli, et Caturiges, locis superioribus occupatis, itinere exercitum prohibere conantur. Compluribus his præliis pulsis, ab 'Ocelo, quod est citerioris Provinciæ extremum, in fines "Vocontiorum ulterioris Provinciæ die septimo pervenit: inde in Allobrogum fines; ab Allobrogibus in 12Segusianos exercitum ducit. Hi sunt extra Provinciam trans Rhodanum primi. XI. Helvetii jam per angustias, et fines Sequanorum, suas copias transduxerant, et in Æduorum fines pervenerant, eorumque agros populabantur. Ædui, quum se suaque ab his defendere non possent, legatos ad Cæsarem mittunt rogatum auxilium: "ita se omni tempore de populo Romano meritos esse, ut penè in conspectu exercitûs nostri, agri vastari, liberi eorum in servitutem abduci, oppida expugnari non debuerint." Eodem tempore, quo Edui, Ambarri quoque, necessarii et consanguinei duorum Cæsarem certiorem faciunt, "sese, depopulatis agris, non facilè ab oppidis vim hostium prohibere." Item Allobroges, qui trans Rhodanum vicos possessionesque habebant, fugâ se ad Cæsarem recipiunt, et demonstrant "sibi præter NOTES. 1 Sequani, ne itinere Helvetios prohibeant, &c.] The Sequani, on their part delivered hostages, that they would not impede the Helvetii on their march: the Helvetii, &c. 2 Santonum.] The Santones dwelt in the district, which formed the late province of Saintonge. 3 Tolosatium.] The Tolosates dwelt in the vicinity of the present city of Toulouse. 4 T. Labienum legatum.] Legatus in a military sense corresponds with our lieutenant-general. The Legati were appointed by the Senate to assist the general, with their counsel; and in his absence they supplied his place. 5 Aquileiam.] Aquileia was situated on the north of the Adriatic sea, and was destroyed by Attila. 6 Centrones.] The Centrones dwelt in the province of Tarentesia of Savoy. 7 Graioceli.] The Graioceli inhabited the district of Maurienne of Savoy. 8 Caturiges.] The Caturiges dwelt in the district which now forms the department of the Upper Alps. 9 Ocelo.] Now Exilles or Oux. 10 Citerioris Provinciæ.] That is the province situated on the side of the Alps nearest to Rome. 11 Vocontiorum.] The Vocontii dwelt in the Provence of the French kingdom. 12 Segusianos.] The Segusiani inhabited the Lyonnois of the French kingdom. 13 Ambarri.] The district inhabited by the Ambarri is not known; but is supposed to have been situated between the territory of the Ædui and of the Allobroges. 14 Necessarii.] Allies, engaged mutually to support and assist each other. agri solum, nihil esse reliqui." Quibus rebus adductus Cæsar, non expectandum sibi statuit, dum omnibus fortunis sociorum consumptis, in Santones Helvetii pervenirent. XII. Flumen est 'Arar, quod per fines duorum et Sequanorum in Rhodanum influit incredibili lenitate, ita ut oculis, in utram partem fluat, judicari non possit: id Helvetii, ratibus ac lintribus junctis, transibant. Ubi per exploratores Cæsar certior factus est, tres jam copiarum partes Helvetios id flumen transduxisse, quartam verò partem citra flumen Ararim reliquam esse; 'de tertiâ vigiliâ cum legionibus tribus è castris profectus ad eam partem pervenit, quæ nondum flumen transierat: eos impeditos et inopinantes aggressus, magnam partem eorum concîdit: reliqui sese fugæ mandârunt, atque in proximas silvas abdiderunt. Is pagus appellabatur Tigurinus: nam omnis civitas Helvetia 'in quatuor pagos divisa est. Hic pagus unus, quum domo exîsset, patrum nostrorum memoriâ L. Cassium Consulem interfecerat, et ejus exercitum sub jugum miserat. Ita sive casu, sive consilio Deorum immortalium, quæ pars civitatis Helvetiæ insignem calamitatem populo Romano intulerat, ea princeps poenas persolvit. Quâ in re Cæsar non solùm publicas, sed etiam privatas injurias ultus est; quòd ejus soceri L. Pisonis avum, L. Pisonem legatum, Tigurini eodem prælio, quo Cassium, interfecerant. XIII. Hoc prælio facto, reliquas copias Helvetiorum ut consequi posset, pontem in Arare faciendum curat, atque ita exercitum transducit. Helvetii repentino ejus adventu commoti, quum id quod ipsi diebus xx ægerrimè confecerant, ut flumen transirent, illum uno die fecisse intelligerent, legatos ad eum mittunt: cujus legationis Divico princeps fuit, qui bello Cassiano dux Helvetiorum fuerat. Is ita cum Cæsare egit: "si pacem populus R. cum Helvetiis faceret, in eam partem ituros, atque ibi futuros Helvetios, ubi Cæsar constituisset, atque esse voluisset: sin bello persequi perseveraret, reminisceretur et veteris incommodi populi R. et pristinæ virtutis Helvetiorum. Quòd improvisò unum pagum adortus esset, quum ii, qui flumen transîssent, NOTES. 1 Arar.] The river Saone falls into the Rhone at Lyons. 2 Lintribus.] Lintres were boats formed by excavating trunks of trees. 3 De tertia vigilia.] The night was di vided by the Romans into four watches: the first commenced at sun-set; the third at midnight; the second at a period equally distant from sun-set and midnight; and the fourth at a period equally distant from midnight and sun-rise. 4 Is pagus appellabatur Tigurinus.] The canton of Tigurinus is supposed to have been situated in the district, of which the modern canton of Zurich formed a part. 5 In quatuor pagos.] These four cantons were inhabited by the Urbigeni, Ambrones, Tugeni, and Tigurini. 6 Ea princeps pœnas persolvit.] It first. suffered punishment. 7 Quòd ejus soceri L. Pisonis, &c.] Cæsar's first wife was Cornelia, Cinna's daughter, by whom he had Julia. At her death he married Pompeia, the daughter of Q. Pompey. Her he divorced, and married Calpurnia, daughter of the L. Piso here mentioned. 8 Qui bello Cassiano.] The above mentioned war, which ended in the defeat and capture of Cassius and his army by the Helvetii. It was customary with the Bomans to give a war the appellation of the conquered. LIBER I. suis auxilium ferre non possent: ne ob eam rem, aut suæ magnopere virtuti tribueret, aut ipsos despiceret. Se ita à patribus majoribusque suis didicisse, ut magis virtute, quàm dolo contenderent, aut insidiis niterentur. Quare ne committeret, ut is locus, ubi constitissent, ex calamitate populi R. et internecione exercitus nomen caperet, ac memoriam proderet." XIV. His Cæsar ita respondit: Eò sibi minus dubitationis dari, quòd eas res, quas legati Helvetii commemorâssent, memoriâ teneret; atque eò graviùs ferre, quò minùs merito populi R. accidissent; qui si alicujus injuriæ sibi conscius fuisset, non fuisse difficile cavere: 'sed eo deceptum, quòd neque commissum à se intelligeret, quare timeret, Quòd si veteris contumeliæ neque sine caussâ timendum putaret. oblivisci vellet; num etiam recentium injuriarum, quòd, eo invito, iter per Provinciam per vim tentâssent, quòd duos, quòd Ambarros, quòd Allobroges vexâssent, memoriam deponere posset? Quòd suâ victoriâ tam insolenter gloriarentur, quòdque tam diu se impunè Consuêsse enim tulisse injurias admirarentur, eodem pertinere. Deos immortales, quo graviùs homines ex commutatione rerum doleant, quos pro scelere eorum ulcisci velint, his secundiores interdum res, et diuturniorem impunitatem concedere. Quum ea ita sint, tamen si obsides ab iis sibi dentur, utì ea, quæ polliceantur, facturos intelligat; et si Eduis de injuriis quas ipsis sociisque eorum intulerint, item si Allobrogibus satisfaciant, sese cum iis pacem esse facturum.” Divico respondit: "Ita Helvetios à majoribus suis institutos esse, utì obsides accipere, non dare, consueverint: ejus rei populum R. esse Hoc testem." responso dato, discessit. XV. Postero die castra ex eo loco movent. Idem Cæsar facit, equitatumque omnem ad numerum quatuor millium, quem ex omni Provinciâ, et Æduis, atque eorum sociis coactum habebat, præmittit; qui videant, quas in partes hostes iter faciant: qui cupidiùs novissimum agmen insecuti, alieno loco, cum equitatu Helvetiorum prælium committunt, et pauci de nostris cadunt. Quo prælio sublati Helvetii, NOTES. 1 Ut magis virtute.] Among the nations of Gaul, the stratagems of war were seldom made use of; and that victory only was considered honourable, which was gained by open bravery. 2 Quare ne committeret.] Wherefore he 3 Eò sibi minus dubitationis dari.] That 4 Sed eo deceptum, quòd neque commissum à se intelligeret, quare timeret.] But were insnared, because they were not conscious of having committed any thing, that might be an occasion of fear, or suspicion to them. 5 Eôdem pertinere.] To the same purpose, or of the same nature. 6 Equitatumque omnem.] Cæsar's cavalry was composed of Gauls: his Romans were all foot soldiers. 7 Alieno loco, cum equitatu Helvetiorum prælium committunt.] They engaged with the cavalry of the Helvetii, on disadvantageous ground. 3 |