house, on the 15th of March, A. U. C. 709, and in the fiftysixth year of his age; four year's after Pompey's death. Casar was no less distinguished for his learning, than his great military talents. His ambition was unbounded. In Spain, he shed tears on beholding a statue of Alexander, who, at an age when he had done nothing, had nearly conquered the whole world. It is said that Cæsar conquered three hundred nations, took eight hundred cities, and defeated three millions of men, a million of whom fell in the field of battle. 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. 3 2 GALLIA est omnis divisa in partes tres : quarum unam incolunt NOTES. 1 COMMENTARIUS.] 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 dominion 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 compre. hend all Transalpine Gaul, the boundaries of which were the river Rhine, the Alps, the Pyrenean mountains, the Mediterranean 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. B 3 1 Belgæ, aliam 2 Aquitani, tertiam qui ipsorum linguâ 3 Celta, nostrâ Galli appellantur. Hi omnes linguâ, institutis, legibus inter se differunt. Gallos ab Aquitanis Garumna flumen, à Belgis Matrona et 7 Sequana, dividit. Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgæ: propterea quòd à cultu atque humanitate Provinciæ longissimè absunt, minimèque ad eos mercatores sæpe commeant, atque ea, quæ ad effeminandos animos pertinent, important:10 proximique sunt Germanis, qui trans 11 Rhenum incolunt, quibuscum continenter bellum gerunt: quâ de caussâ 12 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. 13 Eorum una pars, quam Gallos obtinere dictum est, initium capit à flumine 14 Rhodano: continetur Garumnâ flumine, Oceano, finibus Belgarum ; 15 attingit etiam à Sequanis et Helvetiis flumen Rhenum: 16 vergit ad NOTES. 1 Belga.] The Belge inhabited the territory which formed the northern provins ces 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 in the course of time were reduced to nine. 3 Celta.] The Celta occupied the interior of Gaul and seem to have been its first inhabitants. 4 Hi omnes linguâ.] The Aquitani in language and customs resembled their neighbours the Spaniards; the Belgæ 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 Gracé. 8 A cultu atque humanitate Provinciæ.] To the citizens of Massilia, 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 Que 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 Belgæ are the bravest and most warlike inhabitants of Gaul. 11 Rhenum.] The river Rhine which divides 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 (compoun ded of septem seven and triones plowing oxen) was the name given to the constel Septentriones. 1 Belgæ ab extremis Galliæ finibus oriuntur: pertinent ad inferiorem partem fluminis Rheni: 2 spectant in Septentriones, et orientem solem. Aquitania à Garumnâ flumine ad 3 Pyrenæos montes, et eam partem Oceani, quæ est ad Hispaniam, pertinet; spectat inter occasum Solis et Septentriones. 8 6 II. Apud Helvetios longè nobilissimus et ditissimus fuit Orgetorix. * Is M. Messalâ et M. Pisone Coss. regni cupiditate inductus, conjurationem nobilitatis fecit; et 5 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 9 Sequanos et Helvetios; tertiâ, 10 lacu 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 gloriâ belli atque fortitudinis, angustos se fines habere arbitrabantur: qui " in longitudinem millia passuum CCXL, in latitudinem CLXXX patebant. 13 III. His rebus adducti, et auctoritate Orgetorigis permoti, constituerunt ea, 12 quæ ad proficiscendum pertinerent, comparare; jumentorum et carrorum quàm maximum numerum coëmere; sementes quàm maximas facere, ut in itinere copia frumenti suppeteret; cum proximis civitatibus pacem et amicitiam confirmare. Ad eas res conficiendas bi NOTES. lation of the seven stars, or Charles' wain, assistance of their countrymen, would be near the north pole. unable to resist them. 1 Belgæ ab extremis Galliæ finibus oriuntur.] The Belge 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 mountains separate France from Spain. The territory of Aquitania was by Augustus extended from the Garonne to the Ligeris or Loire river. 4 Is M. Messalâ, &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 Ut 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 7 Helvetii continentur.] The Helvetii are confined on all sides. 8 Jurá.] Mount Jura extends from the Rhine to the Rhone, and is situated in the north western extremity of Switzerland. 9 Sequanos.] The Sequani inhabited the district which formed the late province of Franche Comte. The lake of Gene va. 10 Lacu Lemuno.] 11 In Longitudinem millia passuum ccxl, &c.] There seems to be some inaccuracy in the dimensions here assigned by Cæsar to Helvetia. The Passus of the Romans was nearly five feet, hence millia passuum was somewhat less than a mile. 12 Que ad proficiscendum pertinerent.] That might be requisite for the expedition. 13 Sementes quàm maximas facere.] To sow a very great extent of their ground. |