pulso, interfectus esset; atque unde 'L. Manilius Proconsul, impedimentis XXI. Pugnatum est diu atque acriter, quum Sotiates, superioribus victoriis Frust freti, in suâ virtute totius Aquitaniæ salutem positam putarent; nostri autem, quid sine Imperatore, et sine reliquis legionibus, adolescentulo duce, efficere de possent, perspici cuperent: tandem tamen confecti vulneribus hostes terga vertere: quorum magno numero interfecto, Crassus ex itinere oppidum Sotiatium oppugnare cœpit: quibus fortiter resistentibus, vineas turresque egit. Illi, aliàs eruptione tentatâ, aliàs cuniculis ad aggerem vincasque actis, cujus rei sunt longe peritissimi Aquitani, propterea quòd multis locis apud eos 'ærariæ secturæ sunt: ubi, diligentiâ nostrorum, nihil his rebus profici posse intellexerunt, legatos ad Crassum mittunt, seque in deditionem ut recipiat, petunt; quâ re impetratâ, arma tradere jussi, faciunt. XXII. Atque in eâ re omnium nostrorum intentis animis, aliâ ex parte oppidi Adiatomus, qui summam imperii tenebat, cum Dc devotis, quos illi Soldurios appellant: quorum hæc est conditio, ut omnibus in vitâ commodis unâ cum his fruantur, quorum se amicitiæ dediderint: si quid iis per vim accidat, aut eundem casum unà ferant, aut sibi mortem consciscant: neque adhuc hominum memoriâ repertus est quisquam, qui, eo interfecto cujus se amicitiæ devovisset, mori recusaret. Cum iis Adiatomus eruptionem facere conatus, clamore ab eâ parte munitionis sublato, quum ad arma milites concurrissent, vehementerque ibi pugnatum esset, repulsus in oppidum est; utì tamen eâdem deditionis conditione uteretur, à Crasso impetravit. XXIII. Armis obsidibusque acceptis, Crassus in fines Vocatium et Tarusatium profectus est. Tum verò barbari commoti, quòd oppidum et naturâ loci et manu munitum paucis diebus quibus cò ventum fuerat, expugnatum cognoverant, legatos quoquoversus dimittere, conjurare, obsides inter se dare, copias parare cœperunt. Mittuntur etiam ad eas civitates legati, quæ sunt citerioris Hispaniæ, finitimæ Aquitaniæ: inde auxilia ducesque accersuntur; quorum adventu, magnâ cum auctoritate, et magnâ cum hominum multitudine bellum hundred and seventy-fifth year, during the the town of Aire, of the late province of 5 Hi, nostros disjectos adorti.] These having attacked our men, scattered in pursuit of the enemy. 6 Cuniculis.] Mines were made use of by 7 Erariæ sectura.] Copper mines. 9 Citerioris Hispania.] Spain had already gerere conantur. Duces verò ii deliguntur, qui unà cum 'Q. Sertorio omnes annos fuerant, summamque scientiam rei militaris habere existimabantur. li consuetudine populi R. loca capere, castra munire, commeatibus nostros interciudere instituunt. Quod ubi Crassus animadvertit, suas copias propter exiguitatem non facilè diduci, hostem et vagari, et vias obsidere, et castris satis præsidii relinquere, ob eam caussam minùs commodè frumentum commeatumque sibi supportari, in dies hostium numerum augeri: non cunctandum existimavit, quin pugnâ decertaret. Hâc re ad concilium delatâ, ubi omnes idem sentire intellexit, posterum diem pugnæ constituit. XXIV. Primâ luce, productis omnibus copiis duplici acic institutâ, auxiliis in mediam aciem conjectis, quid hostes consilii caperent, exspectabat. Illi, etsi propter multitudinem, et veterem belli gloriam, paucitatemque nostrorum, se tutò dimicaturos existimabant: tamen tutius esse arbitrabantur, obsessis viis, commeatu intercluso, sine ullo vulnere victoriâ potiri: 'et si, propter inopiam rei frumentaria, Romani sese recipere cœpissent, impeditos agmine, et sub sarcinis inferiores animo, adoriri cogitabant. Hoc consilio probato ab ducibus, productis Romanorum copiis, sese castris tenebant. Hâc re perspectâ, Crassus; 'quum suâ cunctatio atque opinio timidiores hostes, nostros milites alacriores ad pugnandum effecisset, atque omnium voces audirentur, exspectari diutiùs non oportere, quin ad castra iretur; cohortatus suos, omnibus cupientibus, ad hostium castra contendit. XXV. Ibi quum alii fossas complerent, alii multis telis conjectis, defensores vallo munitionibusque depellerent, auxiliaresque, quibus ad pugnam non multùm Crassus confidebat, lapidibus telisque subministrandis, et ad aggerem cespitibus comportandis, speciem atque opinionem pugnantium præberent: quum item ab hostibus constanter ac non timidè pugnaretur, telaque ex loco superiore missa non frustra acciderent; equites, circumitis hostium castris, Crasso renunciaverunt, non eâdem esse diligentiâ ab Decumanâ portâ castra munita, facilem que aditum habere." XXVI. Crassus, equitum præfectos cohortatus, ut magnis præmiis pollicitationibusque quos excitarent, quid fieri velit, ostendit. Illi, ut erat imperatum, eductis quatuor cohortibus, quæ præsidio castris relictæ, integræ ab labore erant, et longiore itinere circumductis, ne ex hostium castris conspici possent, omnium oculis mentibusque ad pugnam intentis, celeriter ad eas, quas diximus, munitiones pervenerunt: atque his proruptis, priùs in hostium castris constite 1 Q. Sertorio.] Sertorius, in the civil wars, had sided with Marius. When Sylla became all powerful, he fled, for safety, to Spain; where he obtained a great ascendency over the minds of the people, by whom he was invested with supreme authority. For a num ber of years he resisted the troops sent by the Romans to subdue him. Four of their armies were, by him, defeated and forced to retire. Even the great Pompey, and Metellus could not successfully oppose him. He 'was at last murdered by one of his own officers. 2 li consuetudine populi R.] The uncivilized inhabitants of Gaul waged war, on principles entirely different from the Romans. For considering the whole military art to consist in courage, and an impetuous onset, they neither fortified their camps, nor provided a quantity of provision and forage suf. ficient for any length of time, and paid but little attention to depriving their enemy of supplies. 3 Auxiliis in mediam aciem conjectis.] The auxiliaries were always stationed on the wings; but Crassus here, for some particular reasons, places them in the middle. 4 Et si, propter inopiam rei frumentariæ, Romani, &c.] And if, for want of provisions, the Romans should begin to retreat, they resolved to attack them incumbered on their march, while wearied and dispirited with their burdens. 5 Quum sua cunctatio atque opinio timidiores hostes.] When by the delay and opinion of their chiefs, that they would be enabled to force Crassus to surrender through want of provisions, the enemy were rendered more fearful. 6 Telaque ex loco superiore missa non frustra acciderent.] And the darts, thrown from the elevated position of the enemy's intrenchments, did much execution. runt, quàm planè ab his videri, aut quid rei gereretur, cognosci posset. Tum verò clamore ab eâ parte audito, nostri, redintegratis viribus, quod plerumque in spe victoriæ accidere consuevit, acriùs impugnare cœperunt. Hostes undique circumventi, desperatis omnibus rebus, se per munitiones dejicere, et fugâ salutem petere contenderunt. Quos equitatus apertissimis campis consectatus, ex millium L numero, quæ ex Aquitaniâ, 'Cantabrisque venisse constabat, vix quartâ parte relictâ, multâ nocte se in castra recepit. XXVII. Hâc auditâ pugnâ, maxima pars Aquitaniæ sese Crasso dedidit, obsidesque ultro misit: quo in numero fuerunt "Tarbelli, 'Bigerriones, 'Preciani, Vocates, Tarusates, "Elusates, "Garites, "Ausci, Garumni, Sibutzates, Cocosatesque. Paucæ ultimæ nationes anni tempore confisæ, quòd hiems suberat, id facere neglexerunt. XXVIII. Eodem ferè tempore Casar, etsi propè exacta jam æstas erat, tamen quòd, omni Galliâ pacatâ, Morini Menapiique supererant, qui in armis essent, neque ad eum unquam legatis de pace misissent; arbitratus id bellum celeriter confici posse, eò exercitum adduxit; qui longè aliâ ratione, ac reliqui Galli, bellum agere instituerunt: nam quòd intelligebant maximas nationes, quæ prælio contendissent, pulsas superatasque esse, continentesque silvas ac paludes habebant, eò se suaque omnia contulerunt. Ad quarum initium silvarum quum pervenisset Cæsar, castraque munire instituisset, neque hostis interim visus esset, dispersis in opere nostris, subitò ex omnibus partibus silvæ evolaverunt, et in nostros impetum fecerunt nostri celeriter arma ceperunt, eosque in silvas repulerunt; et compluribus interfectis, longiùs impeditioribus locis secuti, "paucos ex suis deperdiderunt. XXIX. Reliquis deinceps diebus Cæsar silvas cædere instituit; et ne quis inermibus imprudentibusque militibus ab latere impetus fieri posset, omnem eam materiam, quæ erat cæsa, conversam ab hostem collocabat, et pro vallo ad utrumque latus extruebat. Incredibili celeritate magno spatio paucis diebus confecto, quum jam pecus atque extrema impedimenta ab nostris tenerentur, ipsi densiores silvas peterent ejusmodi tempestates sunt consecutæ, utì opus necessariò intermitteretur, et, continuatione imbrium, diutiùs "sub pellibus milites contineri non possent. Itaque, vastatis omnibus eorum agris, vicis ædificiisque incensis, Cæsar exercitum reduxit; et in Aulercis, Lexoviisque, reliquis item civitatibus, quæ proximè bellum fecerant, in hibernis collocavit. 1 Cantabris.] The Cantabri dwelt in Biscay, and other northern provinces of Spain. Of all the nations of Spain, they were the last conquered by the Romans; but not until the time of the emperor Augustus. 2 Tarbelli.] The Tarbelli inhabited the district, in which the town of Dax, of the late province of Gascony, now stands. 3 Bigerriones.] These people inhabited the district which formed the late province of Bigorre, now the department of Upper Pyrenees. 4 Preciani, Vocates, Tarusates.] The districts inhabited by these people are not known with certainty. 5 Elusates.] The Elusates dwelt in the district which now forms the department of Gers, the late province of Armagnac. 6 Garites.] The district inhabited by these G people is not known with certainty, unless it may have been Gavre or Gavardan. Some suppose them to have dwelt near the town of Agen, in the late province of Guienne. 7 Ausci.] The Ausci dwelt in the vicinity of the city of Auch, in the late province of Gascony, now in the department of Gers. 8 Garumni.] These people dwelt on the banks of the Garonne. 9 Sibutzates, Cocosatesque.] The territories inhabited by these people are not known. 10 Continentesque silvas.] And woods of unbounded, or very great extent. 11 Paucos ex suis.] A few of their men; namely, the Romans. 12 Sub pellibus.] In tents. Tents are thus termed by Cæsar, on account of their being generally covered with skins. 5 DE BELLO GALLICO LIBER IV. ARGUMENT. Cæsar, previous to the narration of the victory, he obtained, over the Usipetes and Tenchtheri, describes the manners of the Suevi. He constructs a bridge over the Rhine, for the purpose of invading Germany. He next crosses over into Britain, and overcomes the inhabitants of the maritime districts. After several disastrous occurrences, he returns safe to Gaul. I. Ea, quæ secuta est, hieme, qui fuit annus 'Cneio Pompeio, M. Crasso Coss. Usipetes Germani, et item Tenchtheri, magnâ cum multitudine hominum flumen Rhenum transierunt, non longè à mari, quo Rhenus influit. Caussa transeundi fuit, quòd ab 'Suevis complures annos exagitati bello premebantur, et agriculturâ prohibebantur. Suevorum gens est longè maxima et bellicosissima Germanorum omnium. Ii centum 'pagos habere dicuntur: ex quibus quotannis singula millia armatorum, bellandi caussâ, suis ex finibus educunt. Reliqui qui domi manent; pro se atque illis colunt. Hi rursus invicem anno pòst in armis sunt: illi domi remanent. Sic neque agricultura, neque ratio, neque usus belli intermittitur; sed privati ac separati agri apud eos nihil est: neque longiùs anno remanere uno in loco, incolendi caussâ, licet; neque multum frumento, 'sed maximam partem lacte atque pecore vivunt, multumque sunt in venationibus. Quæ res et cibi genere, et quotidianâ exercitatione, et libertate vitæ, (quòd à pueris nullo officio aut disciplinâ assuefacti, nihil omnino contra voluntatem faciant) et vires afit, et immani corporum magnitudine efficit: atque in eam se consuetudinem adduxerunt, ut locis frigidissimis neque vestitûs, præter pelles, habeant quidquam; quarum propter exiguitatem, magna est corporis pars aperta: et laventur in fluminibus. II. Mercatoribus est ad eos aditus, eò magis, ut quæ bello ceperint, quibus 1 Cneio Pompeio, M. Crasso Coss.] This was in the year six hundred and ninety-nine from the foundation of Rome: fifty-five years previous to the Christian æra. 2 Usipetes Germani, et item Tenchtheri] The districts inhabited by these people are not well ascertained. They appear to have frequently emigrated from one place to another. 3 Suevis.] These, of all the nations that inhabited Germany, were the most powerful and numerous. In all probability, the inhabitants of the circle of Suabia derived their name from them; though, it does not appear, that they were confined to this territory; for mention is often made of them as inhabiting farther towards the north, and even along the shores of the Atlantic ocean, north of the Rhine. However, the greater part of the German nations were wandering tribes. Agriculture was but little attended to by them. Their principal support being derived from their flocks, consequently their place of abode was regulated by the conveniency of pasture, which, without the aid of agricul ture, would soon be exhausted. 4 Pagos.] The word pagus, as here used, properly implies a tribe or division of people. There is a very exact resemblance between the military system of the Suevi, and the mi. litia system of the United States; for all the men, of each of the hundred tribes, were divided into two classes: while the one class home to attend to the domestic concerns of was on military duty, the other remained at the tribe, and the next year it was on duty, and the other returned home. 5 Sed maximam partem lacte atque pecore vivunt, multumque, &c.] They live principally on milk, and the meat of their flocks, and are much employed in hunting. vendant, habeant, quàm quò ullam rem ad se importari desiderent. Quin etiam 51 jumentis, quibus maximè Galli delectantur, quæque impenso parant pretio, Germani importatis non utuntur; sed quæ sunt apud eos nata prava atque deformia, hæc quotidianâ exercitatione, summi ut sint laboris, efficiunt. 'Equestribus præliis sæpe ex equis desiliunt, ac pedibus præliantur, equosque eodem remanere vestigio assuefaciunt, ad quos se celeriter, quum usus est, recipiunt: neque eorum moribus turpius quidquam, aut inertius habetur, quàm ephippiis uti: itaque ad quemvis numerum ephippiatorum equitum, quamvis pauci, adire audent: vinum ad se omnino importari non sinunt, quòd eâ re ad laborem ferendum remollescere homines, atque effoeminari arbitrantur. III. Publicè maximam putant esse laudem, quàm latissimè à suis finibus vacare agros: hâc re significari, magnum numerum civitatum suam vim sustinere non potuisse. Itaque unâ ex parte à Suevis circiter millia passuum DC agri vacare dicuntur. Ad alteram partem succedunt Ubii, ampla atque florens, ut est captus Germanorum; et paullò, qui sunt ejusdem quorum fuit civitas generis, etiam cæteris humaniores; propterea quòd Rhenum attingunt, multùmque ad eos mercatores ventitant, et ipsi propter propinquitatem Gallicis sunt moribus assuefacti. Hos quum Suevi, multis sæpe bellis experti, propter Amplitudinem gravitatemque civitatis, finibus expellere non potuissent, tamen vectigales sibi fecerunt, ac multò humiliores infirmioresque redegerunt. IV. In eâdem caussâ fuerunt Usipetes et Tenchtheri, quos supra diximus : qui complures annos Suevorum vim sustinuerunt; ad extremum tamen agris expulsi, et multis locis Germaniæ triennium vagati, ad Rhenum pervenerunt: quas regiones Menapii incolebant, et ad utramque ripam fluminis agros, ædificia, vicosque habebant: sed tantæ multitudinis adventu perterriti, ex his ædificiis, quæ trans flumen habuerant, demigraverunt ; et cis Rhenum, depositis præsidiis, Germanos transire prohibebant. Illi omnia experti, quum neque vi contendere, propter inopiam navium, neque clam transire, propter custodias Menapiorum, possent; reverti se in suas sedes regionesque simulaverunt; et tridui viam progressi rursus reverterunt; atque omni hoc itinere unâ nocte equitatu confecto, inscios inopinantesque Menapios oppresserunt; qui de Germanorum discessu per exploratores certiores facti, sine metu trans Rhenum in suos vicos remigraverant. His interfectis, navibusque eorum occupatis, priusquam ea pars Menapiorum, qua citra Rhenum erat, certior fieret, flumen transierunt; atque omnibus eorum ædificiis occupatis, 'reliquam partem hiemis se eorum copiis aluerunt. V. His de rebus Cæsar certior factus, et infirmitatem Gallorum veritus, quòd sunt in consiliis capiendis mobiles, et novis plerumque rebus student, nihil his committendum existimavit. et viatores etiam invitos consistere cogant: et quod quisque eorum de quâque Est autem hoc Gallica consuetudinis, ut re audierit aut cognoverit, quærant: et mercatores in oppidis vulgus circumsistat: quibus ex regionibus veniant, quasque res ibi cognoverint, pronunciare cogant: 'his rumoribus atque auditionibus permoti, de summis sæpe rebus con 1 Equestribus præliis sæpe ex equis desiliunt, ac, &c.] The description, here given, of the cavalry of the Suevi, minutely corre sponds with the tactics of the dragoons of modern armies. For like these, their horsemen were accustomed to dismount and fight on foot, while the horses were trained to remain in the order of the formation, they were in, on the dismounting of their riders. 2 Millia passuum DC.] The distance to which the Suevi had laid waste the territories surrounding them, so much exceeds all probability, as here given, that we cannot but |