tis, Cæsar ea, quæ cognoverat, dissimulanda sibi existimavit: eorumque animis permulsis et confirmatis, equitatuque imperato, bellum cum Germanis gerere constituit.

VII. Re frumentariâ comparatâ, equitibusque delectis, iter in ea loca facere cœpit, quibus in locis Germanos esse audiebat : à quibus quum paucorum dierum iter abesset, legati ab iis venerunt, quorum hæc fuit oratio: "Germanos neque priores populo R. bellum inferre, neque tamen recusare, si lacessantur, quin armis contendant: quòd Germanorum consuetudo hæc sit à majoribus tradita, quicumque bellum inferant, resistere, neque deprecari: hoc tamen dicere, venisse invitos, ejectos domo: si suam gratiam Romani velint, posse eis utiles esse amicos; vel sibi agros attribuant, vel patiantur eos tenere quos armis possederint; sese unis Suevis concedere, quibus ne Dii quidem immortals pares esse possint; reliquum quidem in terris esse neminem, quem non superare possint."

VIII. Ad hæc Cæsar, quæ visum est, respondit : sed exitus fuit orationis: "Sibi nullam cum his amicitiam esse posse, si in Galliâ remanerent; neque verum esse, qui suos fines tueri non potuerint, alienos occupare; neque ullos in Gallia vacare agros, qui dari tantæ præsertim multitudini sine injuriâ possint: sed licere, si velint, in Ubiorum finibus considere, quorum sint legati apud se, et de Suevorum injuriis querantur, et à se auxilium petant : hoc se ab Ubiis impetraturum.'

IX. Legati hæc se ad suos relaturos dixerunt, et, re deliberatâ, post diem tertium ad Cæsarem reversuros: interea, ne propriùs se castra moveret, petierunt. Ne id quidem Cæsar ab se impetrari posse dixit. Cognoverat enim magnam partem equitatûs ab iis aliquot diebus antè, prædandi frumentandique caussâ, ad 'Ambivaritos trans 2Mosam missam: hos expectari equites, atque ejus rei caussa moram interponi, arbitrabatur.

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3

X. Mosa profluit ex monte Vogeso, qui est in finibus Lingonum; et parte quâdam Rheni receptâ, quæ appellatur 4 Vhalis, 5 insulam efficit Batavorum, ° neque longiùs ab eo millibus passuum LXXX in Oceanum transit. Rhenus autem oritur ex Lepoatiis, qui Alpes incolunt, et longo spatio per fines Nantuatium, Helvetiorum, Sequanorum,

NOTES.

1 Ambivaritos.] The place inhabited by the Ambivariti is not known, some suppose them to have dwelt in the vicinity of the present city of Breda.

2 Mosam.] The river Meuse in the

Netherlands.

3 Monte Vogeso.] Now mount Vauge or Voge in the north of France..

4 Fhalis.] This branch of the Rhine is now called Wahal or Waal.

5 Insule m efficit Batavorum.] Now the island of Betuwe in the late Dutch Guelderland, from the ancient inhabitants of

this island the present Dutch are supposed to have derived their origin.

6 Neque longius ab eo millibus passuum J.XXX.] The text is here inaccurate, for the distance from the junction of the Meuse with the Rhine to the Ocean is by no means so great.

7 Ex Lepontiis.] The Lepontii are sup posed to have dwelt in the country of the

Grisons in Switzerland.

8 Nuntuatium.] The territory these people inhabited is not known.

1 Mediomatricorum, 2 Tribocorum, Trevirorumque citatus fertur : et ubi Oceano appropinquat, in plures diffluit partes, multis ingentibusque insulis effectis, quarum pars magna à feris barbarisque nationibus incolitur, (ex quibus sunt, qui piscibus, atque ovis avium vivere existimantur) multisque capitibus in Oceanum influit.

XI. Cæsar quum ab hoste non amplius passuum XII millibus abesset, ut erat constitutum, ad eum legati revertuntur: qui in itinere congressi, magnoperè, "ne longiùs progrederetur," orabant. Quum id non impetrâssent, petebant," utì ad eos equites, qui agmen antecessissent, præmitteret, eosque pugnâ prohiberet: sibique utì potestatem faceret in Ubios legatos mittendi: quorum si principes ac senatus sibi jurejurando fidem fecissent, eâ conditione, quæ à Cæsare ferretur, se usuros ostendebant: ad has res conficiendas sibi tridui spatium daret." Hæc omnia Cæsar eodem illo pertinere arbitrabatur, ut, tridui morâ interpositâ, equites eorum qui abessent, reverterentur: tamen sese non longiùs millibus passuum IV, aquationis caussâ, processurum eo die" dixit: "huc postero die quàm frequentissimi convenirent, ut de eorum postulatis cognosceret. Interim ad præfectos, qui cum omni equitatu antecesserant, mittit, qui nunciarent, ne hostes prælio lacesserent; et si ipsi lacesserentur, sustinerent, quoad ipse cum exercitu propiùs

accessisset.

XII. At hostes, ubi primùm nostros equites conspexerunt, quorum erat v millium numerus, quum ipsi non ampliùs DCCC equites haberent, quòd ii, qui frumentandi caussâ ierant trans Mosam, nondum redierant; nihil nostris timentibus, quòd legati eorum paullò antè à Cæsare discesserant, 3 atque is dies induciis erat ab iis petitus, impetu facto, celeriter nostros perturbaverunt: rursus resistentibus nostris, consuetudine sua, ad pedes desilierunt, suffosisque equis, compluribusque nostris dejectis, reliquos in fugam conjecerunt: atque ita perterritos egerunt, ut non priùs fugâ desisterent, quàm in conspectum agminis nostri venissent. In eo prælio ex equitibus nostris interficiuntur IV et LXX: in his vir fortissimus Piso Aquitanus, amplissimo genere natus, cujus avus in civitate suâ regnum obtinuerat, amicus ab senatu nostro appellatus. Hic, quum fratri intercluso ab hostibus auxilium ferret, illum ex periculo eripuit: ipse equo vulnerato dejectus, quoad potuit, fortissimè restitit: quum circumventus, multis vulneribus acceptis, cecidisset; atque id frater, qui jam prælio excesserat, procul animadvertisset, incitato equo, sese hostibus obtulit, atque interfectus est.

XIII. Hoc facto prælio, Cæsar neque jam sibi legatos audiendos, neque conditiones accipiendas arbitrabatur ab iis, qui per dolum atque in

NOTES.

1 Mediomatricorum.] Some suppose these people to have dwelt near the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine..

2 Tribocorum.] The Tribocci inhabited the district which formed the late province of Alsace. These people are noticed in

the first book as forming a part of the army of Ariovistus.

3 Atque is dies induciis erat ab iis petitus.] And a truce had been demanded by them for that day.

K

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sidias, petità pace, ultro bellum intulissent: exspectare verò, dum hostium copiæ augerentur, equitatusque reverteretur, summæ dementiæ esse judicabat: et cognità Gallorum infirmitate, quantum jam apud cos, hostes uno prælio auctoritatis essent consecuti, sentiebat; 2 quibus ad consilia capienda, nihil spatii dandum existimabat. His constitutis rebus, et consilio cum legatis et quæstore communicato, ne quem diem, pugnæ prætermitteret, opportunissima res accidit, quòd postridie ejus diei manè, eâdem et perfidià et simulatione usi Germani frequentes, omnibus principibus, majoribusque natu adhibitis, ad eum in castra venerunt; simul, ut dicebatur, sui purgandi caussà, quòd contrà atque esset dictum, et ipsi petîssent, prælium pridie commisissent: simul, ut si quid possent, de induciis fallendo impetrarent: quos sibi Cæsar oblatos gavisus, retineri jussit: ipse omnes copias castris eduxit ; equitatum, quòd recenti prælio perterritum esse existimabat, agmen subsequi jussit.

XIV. Acie triplici institutâ, et celeriter VIII millium itinere confecto, priùs ad hostium castra pervenit, quàm, quid ageretur, Germani sentire possent: qui omnibus rebus subitò perterriti, et celeritate adventûs nostri et discessu suorum, neque consilii habendi, neque arma capiendi spatio dato, perturbantur, copiasne adversùs hostem educere, an castra defendere, an fugâ salutem petere, præstaret: quorum timor quum fremitu et concursu significaretur, milites nostri, pristini diei perfidiâ incitati, in castra irruperunt; quorum qui celeriter arma capere potuerunt, paullisper nostris restiterunt, atque inter carros impedi

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NOTES.

1 Cognita Gallorum infirmitate.] Namely their inconstancy and fondness of novelty, which continually prompted them to join in any enterprise, that offered the least probability of change in their present cir

cumstances.

2 Quibus ad consilia capienda, nihil spatii dandum existimabat.] He thought no time ought to be allowed them to concert

measures.

3 Retineri jussit.] Cæsar, in his whole conduct towards these people, appears to have been more actuated by the rules of policy and ambition, than by the principles of justice and humanity. Their cavalry, that attacked and routed a force seven times more numerous than themselves, in all probability knew nothing of the truce: nor would such a respectable embassy have been sent to Cæsar by the Usipites and Tenchtheri, if conscious to themselves of having wilfully broken the truce. The retention of their envoys cannot but be considered as violent and contrary to all laws of nations and of humanity; and their being attacked while confiding in impending

5

negociations and an actual truce, must in Cæsar be considered as base and unsolder-like in the extreme. The motives actuating Cæsar in this affair, appear to have been the dread of a general revolt among the Gauls, the plan of which had already been secretly formed by them, and would have been immediately put in execution had he met with any reverse from these nations. The courage and military skill, manifested by them in the cavalry engagement, must have occasioned Cæsar very much to doubt the success of a pitched battle; this he resolved not to risk and to take advantage of the enemy's security, to rout and disperse them, while unprepared for action.

4 An castra defendere.] From this passage and others it may be inferred that the Germans were in the habit of fortifying their camps. The Germans had made very considerable advances in the art of war, and were possessed of a greater share of military knowledge than people in their rude state of society generally are.

5 Atque inter carros impedimentaque.]

mentaque prælium commiserunt. At reliqua multitudo puerorum mulierumque (nam cum omnibus suis domo excesserant, Rhenumque transierant) passim fugere cœpit: ad quos consectandos Cæsar equita

tum misit.

XV. Germani, post tergum clamore audito, quum suos interfici viderent, armis abjectis, signisque militaribus relictis, se ex castris ejecerunt et quum ad confluentem Mosæ et Rheni pervenissent, reliquâ fugâ desperatâ, magno numero interfecto, reliqui se in flumen præcipitaverunt, atque ibi timore, lassitudine, et vi fluminis oppressi, perierunt. Nostri ad unum omnes incolumes, perpaucis vulneratis, ex tanti belli timore, quum hostium numerus capitum CCCCXxx millium fuisset, se in castra receperunt. Cæsar, iis, quos in castris retinuerat, discedendi potestatem fecit. Illi supplicia cruciatusque Gallorum veriti, quorum agros vexaverant, remanere se apud eum velle dixerunt. Iis Cæsar libertatem concessit.

1

XVI. Germanico bello confecto, multis de caussis Cæsar statuit sibi Rhenum esse transeundum: quarum illa fuit justissima; quòd quum videret Germanos tam facilè impelli ut in Galliam venirent, 2 suis quoque rebus eos timere voluit, quum intelligerent, et posse, et audere populi R. exercitum Rhenum transire. Accessit etiam quòd illa pars equitatûs Usipetum et Tenchtherorum, quam supra commemoravi prædandi frumentandique caussâ Mosam transîsse, neque prælio interfuisse, post fugam suorum se trans Rhenum in fines 3 Sigambrorum receperat, seque cum iis conjunxerat. Ad quos quum Cæsar nuncios misisset, qui postularent "eos, qui sibi Galliæque bellum intulissent, utì sibi dederent:" responderunt:" populi R. imperium Rhenum finire: si, se invito, Germanos in Galliam transire non æquum existimaret, cur sui quidquam esse imperii aut potestatis trans Rhenum postularet?" Ubii autem, qui uni ex transrhenanis ad Cæsarem legatos miserant, amicitiam fecerant, obsides dederant, magnoperè orabant, " ut sibi auxilium ferret, quòd graviter ab Suevis premerentur: vel, si id facere occupationibus Reip. prohiberetur, exercitum modò Rhenum transportaret, id sibi ad auxilium, spemque reliqui temporis satìs futurum: tantum esse nomen apud eos, atque opinionem exercitûs Romani, Ariovisto pulso, et hoc novissimo prælio facto, etiam ad ultimas Germanorum nationes,

NOTES.

As the Germans in most of their expeditions carried their families and effects along with them, there must have been an immense number of waggons in their armies; these, they generally placed round their camps, where they served as an abatis to impede the attack of an enemy of this method of fortification they made more use than of the ditch and rampart of the Romans.

1 CCCCXXX millium.] Authors differ respecting the numbers of these peo

ple, some having CCCCXL. Plutarch says CCC perished.

2 Suis quoque rebus eos timere voluit.] He was desirous that they should be made to fear for their concerns at home.

3 Sigambrorum.] The Sigambri inhabited the district which formed the late circle of Westphalia. The Franks, ancestors of the present French, and conquerors of Gaul on the decline of the Roman empire, are supposed to have been descended from these people.

utì opinione et amicitiâ populi Rom. tuti esse possint. Navium magnam copiam ad transportandum exercitum pollicebantur."

XVII. Cæsar his de caussis, quas commemoravi, Rhenum transire decreverat: sed navibus transire neque satis tutum esse arbitrabatur, neque suæ, neque populi R. dignitatis esse statuebat: itaque, etsi summa difficultas faciundi pontis proponebatur, propter latitudinem, rapiditatem, altitudinemque fluminis; tamen id sibi contendendum, aut aliter non transducendum exercitum, existimabat. Rationem igitur pontis hanc instituit. 2 Tigna bina sesquipedalia, paullùm ab imo præacuta, dimensa ad altitudinem fluminis, intervallo pedum duorum inter se jungebat: hæc cùm machinationibus demissa in flumen defixerat, 3 fistucisque adegerat, non sublicæ modo directa ad perpendiculum, sed prona ac fastigiata ut secundùm naturam fluminis procumberent: 4 his item contraria duo ad eundem modum juncta, intervallo pedum quadragenûm ab inferiore parte contra vim atque impetum fluminis conversa statuebat: hæc utraque bipedalibus trabibus immissis, quantum eorum tignorum junctura distabat, binis utrimque fibulis ab extremâ parte distinebantur: quibus disclusis, atque in contrariam partem revinctis, tanta erat operis firmitudo, atque ea rerum natura, ut quò major vis aquæ se incitavisset, hôc arctiùs illigata tenerentur: hæc directâ materiâ in

NOTES.

1 Rationem igitur pontis hanc instituit.] This plan of the bridge therefore he resolved on.

2 Tigna bina sesquipedalia, paullùm ab imo præacuta, &c.] Two pieces of timber a foot and a half square, sharpened at the lower extremity, and in length proportioned to the depth of the river, were joined with braces keeping them at the distance of two feet from each other.

3 Fistucisque adegerat.] The fistuca was a machine contrived for the purpose of driving large stakes or piles into the ground,

4 His item contraria duo ad eundem modum juncta, intervallo &c.] Opposite these posts he placed another pair of posts joined in the same manner, distant forty feet, from the opposed pair, down the stream, and inclined against the current of the river. Duo seems to have been written II by Cæsar, which would certainly have been better, and more consistently with the preceding expression of tigna bina, read bina. The expression ab inferiore parte is made by Lipsius to allude to the posts; the sense implied would then be that they were forty feet distant from their lowest parts or insertion into the bed of the river: but by understanding fluminis, the sense implied will be that the posts were placed opposite the first mentioned, lower down the stream,

and the number of feet expressing their distance will likewise determine the breadth of the bridge; whereas if the passage should be explained as Lipsius understands it, the number expressed may as well relate to the distance of the double posts from each other along the sides, as to their opposed distance from one side to the other, which last is the sense implied by Cæsar.

5 Hec utraque bipedalibus trabibus immissis quantum &c.] Upon each of these double posts, beams, extending from one to the other across the bridge, were placed, each being two feet thick, this being the distance at which the posts were joined to gether; their ends were fastened on each of the double posts, by means of two braces, these braces being so separated that one was under and the other above the cross beam, and each of their extremities being fastened to the opposite sides of the posts; such was the strength of the work, and the principles of the construction of its parts, that the more violently the stream bore against them, the more firmly were they held fastened together.

6 Hec directa materiâ injecta contexebantur, ac, &c.] After having in this manner fixed the cross beams from one bank of the river to the other, they were joined to