[12]
1 Flumen est Arar,
quod per fines Haeduorum et Sequanorum in Rhodanum influit, incredibili
lenitate, ita ut oculis in utram partem fluat iudicari non possit. Id Helvetii
ratibus ac lintribus iunctis transibant.
1 There is a river,
the Arar, which flows through the territory of the Haedui and the Sequani into
the Rhone, with such incredible slowness that it cannot be determined by the
eye in which direction it flows. The Helvetii were crossing it by means of
rafts and boats joined together.
2 Ubi per exploratores
Caesar certior factus est tres iam partes copiarum Helvetios id flumen
traduxisse, quartam vero partem citra flumen Ararim reliquam esse, de tertia
vigilia cum legionibus tribus e castris profectus ad eam partem pervenit quae
nondum flumen transierat.
2 When Caesar was
informed by scouts that three parts of the Helvetian forces had already crossed
the river, but that a fourth part remained on this side of the Arar, he set out
from camp in the third watch with three legions and reached that portion which
had not yet crossed.
3 Eos impeditos et
inopinantes adgressus magnam partem eorum concidit; reliqui sese fugae
mandarunt atque in proximas silvas abdiderunt.
3 Attacking them while
they were encumbered and off guard, he cut down a great part of them; the rest
fled and hid in the nearest woods.
4 Is pagus
appellabatur Tigurinus; nam omnis civitas Helvetia in quattuor pagos divisa
est.
4 This division was
called the Tigurine; for the whole Helvetian state is divided into four
divisions.
5 Hic pagus unus, cum
domo exisset, patrum nostrorum memoria L. Cassium consulem interfecerat et eius
exercitum sub iugum miserat.
5 This one division,
when it had gone forth from home, had in the memory of our fathers slain the
consul Lucius Cassius and sent his army under the yoke.
6 Ita sive casu sive
consilio deorum immortalium quae pars civitatis Helvetiae insignem calamitatem
populo Romano intulerat, ea princeps poenam persolvit.
6 Thus, whether by
chance or by the design of the immortal gods, that part of the Helvetian state
which had brought a notable disaster upon the Roman people was the first to pay
the penalty.
7 Qua in re Caesar non
solum publicas, sed etiam privatas iniurias ultus est, quod eius soceri L.
Pisonis avum, L. Pisonem legatum, Tigurini eodem proelio quo Cassium
interfecerant.
7 In this matter,
Caesar avenged not only public but also personal injuries, since the Tigurini
had slain Lucius Piso, the legate and grandfather of his father-in-law Lucius
Piso, in the same battle in which they had killed Cassius.
[13]
1 Hoc proelio facto,
reliquas copias Helvetiorum ut consequi posset, pontem in Arari faciendum curat
atque ita exercitum traducit.
1 This battle having
taken place, in order that he might be able to pursue the remaining forces of
the Helvetii, he arranged for a bridge to be built over the Arar and thus led
his army across.
2 Helvetii repentino
eius adventu commoti cum id quod ipsi diebus XX aegerrime confecerant, ut
flumen transirent, illum uno die fecisse intellegerent, legatos ad eum mittunt;
cuius legationis Divico princeps fuit, qui bello Cassiano dux Helvetiorum
fuerat.
2 The Helvetii,
disturbed by his sudden arrival, when they realized that he had done in one day
what they themselves had accomplished with great difficulty in twenty
days—namely, crossing the river—sent envoys to him; of this embassy, Divico was
chief, who had been leader of the Helvetii in the Cassian War.
3 Is ita cum Caesare
egit: si pacem populus Romanus cum Helvetiis faceret, in eam partem ituros
atque ibi futuros Helvetios ubi eos Caesar constituisset atque esse
voluisset;
3 He spoke thus with
Caesar: if the Roman people would make peace with the Helvetii, they would go
to that part and remain there where Caesar had determined and wished them to
be;
4 sin bello persequi
perseveraret, reminisceretur et veteris incommodi populi Romani et pristinae
virtutis Helvetiorum. Quod improviso unum pagum adortus esset, cum ii qui
flumen transissent suis auxilium ferre non possent, ne ob eam rem aut suae
magnopere virtuti tribueret aut ipsos despiceret. Se ita a patribus
maioribusque suis didicisse, ut magis virtute contenderent quam dolo aut
insidiis niterentur.
4 but if he persisted
in pursuing war, he should remember both the former disaster of the Roman
people and the ancient bravery of the Helvetii. That he had attacked one district
unawares, when those who had crossed the river could not bring help to their
own, should not lead him either to ascribe too much to his own valor or to
despise them. They had learned from their fathers and ancestors to fight more
by courage than to rely on deceit or ambush.
5 Quare ne committeret
ut is locus ubi constitissent ex calamitate populi Romani et internecione
exercitus nomen caperet aut memoriam proderet.
5 Therefore, he should
not allow the place where they had made their stand to acquire a name or
preserve a memory from the disaster of the Roman people and the destruction of
an army.
[14]
1 His Caesar ita
respondit: eo sibi minus dubitationis dari, quod eas res quas legati Helvetii
commemorassent memoria teneret, atque eo gravius ferre quo minus merito populi
Romani accidissent;
1 To these words
Caesar replied as follows: that he had less hesitation because he remembered
the matters the Helvetian envoys had mentioned, and that he took them the more
seriously because they had happened less deservedly to the Roman people;
2 qui si alicuius
iniuriae sibi conscius fuisset, non fuisse difficile cavere; sed eo deceptum,
quod neque commissum a se intellegeret quare timeret neque sine causa timendum
putaret.
2 if the Roman people
had been conscious of any injury, it would not have been difficult to take
precautions; but they had been deceived in that they saw no offense committed
by themselves which gave reason for fear, nor did they think there was cause to
fear without reason.
3 Quod si veteris
contumeliae oblivisci vellet, num etiam recentium iniuriarum, quod eo invito
iter per provinciam per vim temptassent, quod Haeduos, quod Ambarros, quod
Allobrogas vexassent, memoriam deponere posse?
3 And even if he
wished to forget the old outrage, could he also forget the recent injuries—that
they had attempted to pass through the province by force against his will, that
they had harassed the Haedui, the Ambarri, and the Allobroges?
4 Quod sua victoria
tam insolenter gloriarentur quodque tam diu se impune iniurias tulisse
admirarentur, eodem pertinere.
4 That they so
insolently boasted of their victory and marveled that they had long committed
outrages with impunity amounted to the same thing.
5 Consuesse enim deos
immortales, quo gravius homines ex commutatione rerum doleant, quos pro scelere
eorum ulcisci velint, his secundiores interdum res et diuturniorem impunitatem
concedere.
5 For the immortal
gods were accustomed, in order that men might suffer more deeply from a change
in fortune, to grant those whom they wished to punish for their crimes more
prosperous circumstances and longer-lasting impunity.
6 Cum ea ita sint,
tamen, si obsides ab iis sibi dentur, uti ea quae polliceantur facturos
intellegat, et si Haeduis de iniuriis quas ipsis sociisque eorum intulerint,
item si Allobrogibus satisfaciant, sese cum iis pacem esse facturum.
6 Since these things
are so, yet if hostages should be given to him by them, so that he might know
they would fulfill what they promised, and if they made satisfaction to the
Haedui for the injuries inflicted on them and their allies, and likewise to the
Allobroges, he would make peace with them.
7 Divico respondit:
ita Helvetios a maioribus suis institutos esse uti obsides accipere, non dare,
consuerint; eius rei populum Romanum esse testem. Hoc responso dato
discessit.
7 Divico replied that
the Helvetii had been taught by their ancestors to be accustomed to receive,
not to give, hostages; and that the Roman people were witness to this fact.
Having given this reply, he departed.
[15]
1 Postero die castra
ex eo loco movent. Idem facit Caesar equitatumque omnem, ad numerum quattuor
milium, quem ex omni provincia et Haeduis atque eorum sociis coactum habebat,
praemittit, qui videant quas in partes hostes iter faciant. Qui cupidius
novissimum agmen insecuti alieno loco cum equitatu Helvetiorum proelium
committunt; et pauci de nostris cadunt.
1 The next day, they
moved camp from that place. Caesar did the same and sent ahead all his cavalry,
to the number of four thousand, which he had assembled from the entire province
and from the Haedui and their allies, to see in what direction the enemy were
marching. These, having too eagerly pursued the enemy's rear, engaged in battle
with the Helvetian cavalry in an unfavorable place; and a few of our men
fell.
2 Quo proelio sublati
Helvetii, quod quingentis equitibus tantam multitudinem equitum propulerant,
audacius subsistere non numquam et novissimo agmine proelio nostros lacessere
coeperunt. Caesar suos a proelio continebat, ac satis habebat in praesentia
hostem rapinis, pabulationibus populationibusque prohibere.
2 Encouraged by this
battle, because with only five hundred horsemen they had repelled so large a
body of cavalry, the Helvetii began now and then to halt more boldly and to
challenge our men to battle with their rearguard. Caesar kept his troops from
fighting and considered it enough for the time being to prevent the enemy from
raiding, foraging, and pillaging.
3 Ita dies circiter XV
iter fecerunt uti inter novissimum hostium agmen et nostrum primum non amplius
quinis aut senis milibus passuum interesset.
3 In this way they
marched for about fifteen days, so that there was no more than five or six
miles between the enemy’s rear and our vanguard.
[16]
1 Interim cotidie
Caesar Haeduos frumentum, quod essent publice polliciti, flagitare.
1 Meanwhile, Caesar
daily demanded grain from the Haedui, which they had publicly promised.
2 Nam propter frigora
non modo frumenta in agris matura non erant, sed ne pabuli quidem satis magna
copia suppetebat;
2 For on account of
the cold weather—not only were the crops in the fields not ripe, but there was
also not a sufficient supply of fodder available;
3 eo autem frumento
quod flumine Arari navibus subvexerat propterea uti minus poterat quod iter ab
Arari Helvetii averterant, a quibus discedere nolebat.
3 moreover, he could
make less use of the grain which he had brought by boats up the Arar river
because the Helvetii had turned off from the Arar, and he did not wish to
separate from them.
4 Diem ex die ducere
Haedui: conferri, comportari, adesse dicere.
4 The Haedui kept
putting him off day by day, saying it was being collected, being transported,
was on its way.
5 Ubi se diutius duci
intellexit et diem instare quo die frumentum militibus metiri oporteret,
convocatis eorum principibus, quorum magnam copiam in castris habebat, in his
Diviciaco et Lisco, qui summo magistratui praeerat, quem vergobretum appellant
Haedui, qui creatur annuus et vitae necisque in suos habet potestatem, graviter
eos accusat,
5 When he realized
that he was being put off too long and that the day was approaching on which
the grain had to be distributed to the soldiers, he called together their
leaders—of whom he had a large number in camp—including Diviciacus and Liscus,
who held the highest magistracy among the Haedui (whom they call vergobret,
elected yearly, with the power of life and death over his people)—and he
strongly accused them,
6 quod, cum neque emi
neque ex agris sumi possit, tam necessario tempore, tam propinquis hostibus ab
iis non sublevetur, praesertim cum magna ex parte eorum precibus adductus
bellum susceperit.
6 because, when it
could neither be purchased nor taken from the fields, at so critical a time,
with the enemy so close, he was not being supported by them—especially since he
had undertaken the war largely due to their entreaties.
[17]
1 Tum demum Liscus
oratione Caesaris adductus quod antea tacuerat proponit: esse non nullos,
quorum auctoritas apud plebem plurimum valeat, qui privatim plus possint quam
ipsi magistratus.
1 Then at last Liscus,
influenced by Caesar’s speech, brought forward what he had previously kept
silent: that there were some whose authority with the common people was very
great, who privately had more power than the magistrates themselves.
2 Hos seditiosa atque
improba oratione multitudinem deterrere, ne frumentum conferant quod
debeant:
2 That these men, by
seditious and wicked speech, deterred the populace from contributing the grain
they owed:
3 praestare, si iam
principatum Galliae obtinere non possint, Gallorum quam Romanorum imperia
perferre,
3 that it was
preferable, if they could no longer hold supremacy in Gaul, to endure the rule
of the Gauls rather than that of the Romans,
4 neque dubitare quin,
si Helvetios superaverint Romani, una cum reliqua Gallia Haeduis libertatem
sint erepturi.
4 and that they should
not doubt that if the Romans defeated the Helvetii, they would take away the
liberty of the Haedui together with the rest of Gaul.
5 Ab isdem nostra
consilia quaeque in castris gerantur hostibus enuntiari; hos a se coerceri non
posse.
5 That our plans and
whatever occurred in camp were being reported to the enemy by these same men;
and that he was unable to restrain them.
6 Quin etiam, quod
necessariam rem coactus Caesari enuntiarit, intellegere sese quanto id cum
periculo fecerit, et ob eam causam quam diu potuerit tacuisse.
6 Furthermore, because
he had been forced to report a necessary matter to Caesar, he understood how
dangerous that act had been, and for that reason had kept silent as long as he
could.
[18]
1 Caesar hac oratione
Lisci Dumnorigem, Diviciaci fratrem, designari sentiebat, sed, quod pluribus
praesentibus eas res iactari nolebat, celeriter concilium dimittit, Liscum
retinet.
1 By this speech of
Liscus, Caesar perceived that Dumnorix, the brother of Diviciacus, was being
indicated, but because he did not wish these matters to be discussed in front
of many, he quickly dismissed the council and retained Liscus.
2 Quaerit ex solo ea
quae in conventu dixerat. Dicit liberius atque audacius. Eadem secreto ab aliis
quaerit; reperit esse vera:
2 He questioned him
alone about what he had said in the assembly. Liscus spoke more freely and
boldly. Caesar inquired about the same matters privately from others; he found
them to be true:
3 ipsum esse Dumnorigem,
summa audacia, magna apud plebem propter liberalitatem gratia, cupidum rerum
novarum. Complures annos portoria reliquaque omnia Haeduorum vectigalia parvo
pretio redempta habere, propterea quod illo licente contra liceri audeat nemo.
3 that Dumnorix
himself was a man of extreme boldness, with great influence among the common
people because of his generosity, and eager for revolution. For several years
he had purchased the customs duties and all other taxes of the Haedui at a low
price, because while he was bidding, no one dared to bid against him.
4 His rebus et suam
rem familiarem auxisse et facultates ad largiendum magnas comparasse;
4 Through these means
he had increased his personal wealth and acquired great resources for generosity;
5 magnum numerum
equitatus suo sumptu semper alere et circum se habere,
5 he constantly
supported and kept around him a large number of cavalry at his own
expense,
6 neque solum domi,
sed etiam apud finitimas civitates largiter posse, atque huius potentiae causa
matrem in Biturigibus homini illic nobilissimo ac potentissimo conlocasse;
6 and he had great
influence not only at home but also among neighboring states, and for the sake
of this power he had given his mother in marriage among the Bituriges to a very
noble and powerful man there;
7 ipsum ex Helvetiis
uxorem habere, sororum ex matre et propinquas suas nuptum in alias civitates
conlocasse.
7 he himself had a
wife from the Helvetii, and had given his maternal sisters and other female
relatives in marriage into other states.
8 Favere et cupere
Helvetiis propter eam adfinitatem, odisse etiam suo nomine Caesarem et Romanos,
quod eorum adventu potentia eius deminuta et Diviciacus frater in antiquum
locum gratiae atque honoris sit restitutus.
8 He favored and
supported the Helvetii because of this alliance, and he even hated Caesar and
the Romans personally, because their arrival had diminished his power and his
brother Diviciacus had been restored to his former position of influence and
honor.
9 Si quid accidat
Romanis, summam in spem per Helvetios regni obtinendi venire; imperio populi
Romani non modo de regno, sed etiam de ea quam habeat gratia desperare.
9 If anything should
happen to the Romans, he hoped greatly to obtain kingship through the Helvetii;
under the rule of the Roman people, he despaired not only of kingship but even
of the influence he possessed.
10 Reperiebat etiam in
quaerendo Caesar, quod proelium equestre adversum paucis ante diebus esset
factum, initium eius fugae factum a Dumnorige atque eius equitibus (nam
equitatui, quem auxilio Caesari Haedui miserant, Dumnorix praeerat): eorum fuga
reliquum esse equitatum perterritum.
10 Caesar also
discovered in his inquiry that the cavalry engagement which had gone badly a
few days earlier had begun with the flight of Dumnorix and his cavalry (for
Dumnorix had been in command of the cavalry which the Haedui had sent to aid
Caesar); their flight had terrified the rest of the cavalry.
Copyright 2025 Discoverlatin.com
[19]
1 Quibus rebus
cognitis, cum ad has suspiciones certissimae res accederent, quod per fines
Sequanorum Helvetios traduxisset, quod obsides inter eos dandos curasset, quod
ea omnia non modo iniussu suo et civitatis sed etiam inscientibus ipsis
fecisset, quod a magistratu Haeduorum accusaretur, satis esse causae
arbitrabatur quare in eum aut ipse animadverteret aut civitatem animadvertere
iuberet.
1 When these things
had been learned, since very definite facts were added to the
suspicions—namely, that he had led the Helvetii through the territory of the
Sequani, had arranged for hostages to be given between them, and had done all
these things not only without Caesar’s authority and that of the state but even
without their knowledge, and that he was being accused by the Haeduan magistrate—Caesar
judged that there was sufficient reason either to punish him himself or to
order the state to do so.
2 His omnibus rebus
unum repugnabat, quod Diviciaci fratris summum in populum Romanum studium,
summum in se voluntatem, egregiam fidem, iustitiam, temperantiam cognoverat;
nam ne eius supplicio Diviciaci animum offenderet verebatur.
2 One thing, however,
opposed all these considerations: Caesar had recognized the deep devotion of
his brother Diviciacus to the Roman people, his great good will toward himself,
and his outstanding loyalty, justice, and self-control; he feared that he might
hurt Diviciacus’s feelings by punishing his brother.
3 Itaque prius quam
quicquam conaretur, Diviciacum ad se vocari iubet et, cotidianis interpretibus
remotis, per C. Valerium Troucillum, principem Galliae provinciae, familiarem
suum, cui summam omnium rerum fidem habebat, cum eo conloquitur;
3 Therefore, before he
attempted anything, he ordered Diviciacus to be summoned to him, and, with the
regular interpreters removed, he spoke with him through Gaius Valerius
Troucillus, a leading man of the Roman province of Gaul, his close friend, in
whom he had the highest confidence in all matters;
4 simul commonefacit
quae ipso praesente in concilio de Dumnorige sint dicta, et ostendit quae
separatim quisque de eo apud se dixerit.
4 at the same time, he
reminded him of what had been said about Dumnorix in his presence at the
council, and showed what each man had said privately to him about
Dumnorix.
5 Petit atque hortatur
ut sine eius offensione animi vel ipse de eo causa cognita statuat vel
civitatem statuere iubeat.
5 He asked and urged
him that, without taking offense, he should either himself render judgment upon
him after examining the case or order the state to do so.
[20]
1 Diviciacus multis
cum lacrimis Caesarem complexus obsecrare coepit ne quid gravius in fratrem
statueret:
1 Diviciacus,
embracing Caesar with many tears, began to implore him not to determine
anything too severe against his brother:
2 scire se illa esse
vera, nec quemquam ex eo plus quam se doloris capere, propterea quod, cum ipse
gratia plurimum domi atque in reliqua Gallia, ille minimum propter
adulescentiam posset, per se crevisset;
2 that he knew those
things to be true, and that no one suffered more pain from it than he did,
because, while he himself had great influence at home and in the rest of Gaul,
his brother, owing to his youth, had had little power and had grown through
him;
3 quibus opibus ac
nervis non solum ad minuendam gratiam, sed paene ad perniciem suam uteretur.
Sese tamen et amore fraterno et existimatione vulgi commoveri.
3 that Dumnorix was
using these resources and power not only to undermine his influence but almost
to bring about his ruin. Still, he himself was moved both by brotherly love and
public opinion.
4 Quod si quid ei a
Caesare gravius accidisset, cum ipse eum locum amicitiae apud eum teneret,
neminem existimaturum non sua voluntate factum; qua ex re futurum uti totius
Galliae animi a se averterentur.
4 And if anything
severe should befall him by Caesar’s hand, since he himself held a close place
of friendship with Caesar, no one would believe it had not been done with his
consent; and from this, it would result that the affections of all Gaul would
be alienated from him.
5 Haec cum pluribus
verbis flens a Caesare peteret, Caesar eius dextram prendit; consolatus rogat
finem orandi faciat; tanti eius apud se gratiam esse ostendit uti et rei
publicae iniuriam et suum dolorem eius voluntati ac precibus condonet.
Dumnorigem ad se vocat, fratrem adhibet; quae in eo reprehendat ostendit; quae
ipse intellegat, quae civitas queratur proponit; monet ut in reliquum tempus
omnes suspiciones vitet; praeterita se Diviciaco fratri condonare dicit.
Dumnorigi custodes ponit, ut quae agat, quibuscum loquatur scire possit.
5 As he tearfully
begged these things of Caesar with many words, Caesar took his right hand;
having consoled him, he asked him to end his entreaty. He showed that
Diviciacus's influence with him was so great that he would forgive both the
injury to the state and his own pain out of regard for his will and prayers. He
summoned Dumnorix, brought in his brother, pointed out the things he blamed in
him, set forth what he himself understood and what the state complained of; he
warned him to avoid all grounds of suspicion in the future. He said that he
forgave what was past for the sake of Diviciacus his brother. He placed guards
over Dumnorix so that he could know what he was doing and with whom he was
speaking.
[21]
1 Eodem die ab
exploratoribus certior factus hostes sub monte consedisse milia passuum ab
ipsius castris octo, qualis esset natura montis et qualis in circuitu ascensus
qui cognoscerent misit.
1 On the same day,
having been informed by scouts that the enemy had encamped at the foot of a
mountain eight miles from his own camp, Caesar sent men to find out what the
nature of the mountain was and what kind of approach there was around it.
2 Renuntiatum est
facilem esse. De tertia vigilia T. Labienum, legatum pro praetore, cum duabus
legionibus et iis ducibus qui iter cognoverant summum iugum montis ascendere
iubet; quid sui consilii sit ostendit.
2 It was reported that
it was easy. At the third watch, he ordered Titus Labienus, his legate acting
as praetor, with two legions and the guides who had reconnoitered the route, to
ascend the highest ridge of the mountain. He showed him what his plan was.
3 Ipse de quarta
vigilia eodem itinere quo hostes ierant ad eos contendit equitatumque omnem
ante se mittit.
3 He himself, at the
fourth watch, advanced toward them by the same route which the enemy had taken,
and sent all his cavalry ahead of him.
4 P. Considius, qui
rei militaris peritissimus habebatur et in exercitu L. Sullae et postea in M.
Crassi fuerat, cum exploratoribus praemittitur.
4 Publius Considius,
who was considered most skilled in military matters and had served in the army
of Lucius Sulla and later in that of Marcus Crassus, was sent ahead with the
scouts.
[22]
1 Prima luce, cum
summus mons a Labieno teneretur, ipse ab hostium castris non longius mille et
quingentis passibus abesset neque, ut postea ex captivis comperit, aut ipsius
adventus aut Labieni cognitus esset,
1 At first light, when
the summit of the mountain was held by Labienus, and Caesar himself was not
more than fifteen hundred paces from the enemy’s camp, and neither his arrival
nor that of Labienus had been detected, as he later learned from
prisoners,
2 Considius equo
admisso ad eum accurrit, dicit montem, quem a Labieno occupari voluerit, ab
hostibus teneri: id se a Gallicis armis atque insignibus cognovisse.
2 Considius, galloping
up to him, reported that the mountain, which he had wanted Labienus to occupy,
was held by the enemy: he said he had recognized this from Gallic arms and
standards.
3 Caesar suas copias
in proximum collem subducit, aciem instruit. Labienus, ut erat ei praeceptum a
Caesare ne proelium committeret, nisi ipsius copiae prope hostium castra visae
essent, ut undique uno tempore in hostes impetus fieret, monte occupato nostros
expectabat proelioque abstinebat.
3 Caesar led his
troops to the nearest hill and drew up his battle line. Labienus, as he had
been instructed by Caesar not to engage in battle unless Caesar’s own forces
had been seen near the enemy camp—so that an attack could be made on all sides
at once—having taken the mountain, awaited our men and refrained from
battle.
4 Multo denique die
per exploratores Caesar cognovit et montem a suis teneri et Helvetios castra
movisse et Considium timore perterritum quod non vidisset pro viso sibi
renuntiavisse. Eo die quo consuerat intervallo hostes sequitur et milia passuum
tria ab eorum castris castra ponit.
4 Finally, late in the
day, Caesar learned through scouts that the mountain was held by his own men,
that the Helvetii had moved their camp, and that Considius, terrified by fear,
had reported as seen what he had not actually seen. That day, he followed the
enemy at the usual distance and pitched camp three miles from their own.
[23]
1 Postridie eius diei,
quod omnino biduum supererat, cum exercitui frumentum metiri oporteret, et quod
a Bibracte, oppido Haeduorum longe maximo et copiosissimo, non amplius milibus
passuum XVIII aberat, rei frumentariae prospiciendum existimavit; itaque iter
ab Helvetiis avertit ac Bibracte ire contendit.
1 On the day after
this, because only two days remained until grain had to be distributed to the
army, and because he was no more than eighteen miles away from Bibracte, by far
the largest and most abundant town of the Haedui, he thought it necessary to
provide for the grain supply; and so he turned his march away from the Helvetii
and hastened toward Bibracte.
2 Ea res per fugitivos
L. Aemilii, decurionis equitum Gallorum, hostibus nuntiatur.
2 This movement was
reported to the enemy by deserters of Lucius Aemilius, a decurion of the Gallic
cavalry.
3 Helvetii, seu quod
timore perterritos Romanos discedere a se existimarent, eo magis quod pridie
superioribus locis occupatis proelium non commisissent, sive eo quod re
frumentaria intercludi posse confiderent, commutato consilio atque itinere
converso nostros a novissimo agmine insequi ac lacessere coeperunt.
3 The Helvetii, either
because they thought the Romans were withdrawing from them in fear—especially
as they had not joined battle the day before, when the high ground had been
occupied—or because they trusted they could cut them off from their grain
supply, changed their plan, reversed their march, and began to pursue and
harass our forces from the rear.
[24]
1 Postquam id animum
advertit, copias suas Caesar in proximum collem subduxit equitatumque, qui
sustineret hostium impetum, misit.
1 When Caesar noticed
this, he led his troops up the nearest hill and sent forward the cavalry to
withstand the enemy’s attack.
2 Ipse interim in
colle medio triplicem aciem instruxit legionum quattuor veteranarum; in summo
iugo duas legiones quas in Gallia citeriore proxime conscripserat et omnia
auxilia conlocavit,
2 Meanwhile he himself
formed a triple battle line of four veteran legions midway on the hill; on the
top ridge he placed the two legions which he had recently raised in Cisalpine
Gaul and all the auxiliaries,
3 ita ut supra se
totum montem hominibus compleret; impedimenta sarcinasque in unum locum
conferri et eum ab iis qui in superiore acie constiterant muniri iussit.
3 so that he filled
the whole mountain above him with men; he ordered the baggage and packs to be
gathered in one place and that place to be fortified by those who had taken
position in the upper battle line.
4 Helvetii cum omnibus
suis carris secuti impedimenta in unum locum contulerunt; ipsi confertissima
acie, reiecto nostro equitatu, phalange facta sub primam nostram aciem
successerunt.
4 The Helvetii,
following with all their wagons, gathered their baggage into one place; they
themselves, in an extremely dense formation, having repelled our cavalry,
formed a phalanx and advanced beneath our first battle line.
[25]
1 Caesar primum suo,
deinde omnium ex conspectu remotis equis, ut aequato omnium periculo spem fugae
tolleret, cohortatus suos proelium commisit.
1 Caesar first removed
his own horse from sight, then those of all the others, so that by equalizing
the danger he might remove the hope of flight; and having encouraged his men,
he began the battle.
2 Milites loco
superiore pilis missis facile hostium phalangem perfregerunt. Ea disiecta
gladiis destrictis in eos impetum fecerunt.
2 The soldiers, from
higher ground, hurled their javelins and easily broke through the enemy
phalanx. Once it was scattered, they charged them with drawn swords.
3 Gallis magno ad
pugnam erat impedimento quod pluribus eorum scutis uno ictu pilorum transfixis
et conligatis, cum ferrum se inflexisset, neque evellere neque sinistra
impedita satis commode pugnare poterant,
3 A great hindrance to
the Gauls in fighting was that, when several of their shields had been pierced
and pinned together by a single javelin throw, and the iron had bent, they
could neither pull them out nor fight effectively with their left arms encumbered,
4 multi ut diu iactato
bracchio praeoptarent scutum manu emittere et nudo corpore pugnare.
4 so that many, after
shaking their arms for a long time, preferred to throw away their shields and
fight with unprotected bodies.
5 Tandem vulneribus
defessi et pedem referre et, quod mons suberit circiter mille passuum spatio,
eo se recipere coeperunt.
5 At last, exhausted
by wounds, they began to retreat and to withdraw to a mountain about a mile
away.
6 Capto monte et
succedentibus nostris, Boi et Tulingi, qui hominum milibus circiter XV agmen
hostium claudebant et novissimis praesidio erant, ex itinere nostros ab latere
aperto adgressi circumvenire, et id conspicati Helvetii, qui in montem sese
receperant, rursus instare et proelium redintegrare coeperunt.
6 With the mountain
taken and our troops advancing, the Boii and Tulingi—who, about fifteen
thousand in number, were closing the enemy's column and guarding the
rear—attacked our men from the exposed flank and tried to surround them; seeing
this, the Helvetii, who had withdrawn to the mountain, again pressed forward
and renewed the battle.
7 Romani conversa
signa bipertito intulerunt: prima et secunda acies, ut victis ac submotis
resisteret, tertia, ut venientes sustineret.
7 The Romans wheeled their
standards and advanced in two divisions: the first and second lines to resist
the defeated and repulsed, the third to withstand those advancing.
[26]
1 Ita ancipiti proelio
diu atque acriter pugnatum est. Diutius cum sustinere nostrorum impetus non
possent, alteri se, ut coeperant, in montem receperunt, alteri ad impedimenta
et carros suos se contulerunt.
1 Thus the battle was
fought for a long time and fiercely, with the outcome in doubt. When they could
no longer withstand the assaults of our men, some, as they had begun, retreated
to the mountain, others fled to their baggage and wagons.
2 Nam hoc toto
proelio, cum ab hora septima ad vesperum pugnatum sit, aversum hostem videre
nemo potuit.
2 For in this entire
battle, although it lasted from the seventh hour until evening, no one was able
to see the enemy turn their backs.
3 Ad multam noctem
etiam ad impedimenta pugnatum est, propterea quod pro vallo carros obiecerunt
et e loco superiore in nostros venientes tela coniciebant et non nulli inter
carros rotasque mataras ac tragulas subiciebant nostrosque vulnerabant.
3 The fighting
continued even near the baggage until late at night, because they had thrown
their wagons forward as a rampart and from higher ground hurled missiles at our
advancing men; and some, hiding among the wagons and wheels, threw spears and
darts and wounded our soldiers.
4 Diu cum esset
pugnatum, impedimentis castrisque nostri potiti sunt. Ibi Orgetorigis filia
atque unus e filiis captus est.
4 After prolonged fighting,
our men gained possession of the baggage and the camp. There, Orgetorix’s
daughter and one of his sons were captured.
5 Ex eo proelio
circiter hominum milia CXXX superfuerunt eaque tota nocte continenter ierunt
[nullam partem noctis itinere intermisso]; in fines Lingonum die quarto
pervenerunt, cum et propter vulnera militum et propter sepulturam occisorum
nostri [triduum morati] eos sequi non potuissent.
5 From that battle
about 130,000 men survived, and they marched continuously through the entire
night [not stopping at any point]; on the fourth day they reached the territory
of the Lingones, since our troops, both because of the soldiers’ wounds and the
burial of the dead [having delayed for three days], had not been able to pursue
them.
6 Caesar ad Lingonas
litteras nuntiosque misit, ne eos frumento neve alia re iuvarent: qui si
iuvissent, se eodem loco quo Helvetios habiturum. Ipse triduo intermisso cum
omnibus copiis eos sequi coepit.
6 Caesar sent letters
and messengers to the Lingones not to help them with grain or anything else; he
warned that if they did, he would treat them the same as the Helvetii. After
delaying three days, he began to pursue them with all his forces.
[27]
1 Helvetii omnium
rerum inopia adducti legatos de deditione ad eum miserunt.
1 The Helvetii, driven
by a lack of all necessities, sent ambassadors to him to discuss
surrender.
2 Qui cum eum in
itinere convenissent seque ad pedes proiecissent suppliciterque locuti flentes
pacem petissent, atque eos in eo loco quo tum essent suum adventum expectare
iussisset, paruerunt.
2 When they met him on
the march, threw themselves at his feet, and tearfully begged for peace,
speaking in supplication, and when he ordered them to wait for his arrival in
the place where they then were, they obeyed.
3 Eo postquam Caesar
pervenit, obsides, arma, servos qui ad eos perfugissent, poposcit.
3 After Caesar arrived
there, he demanded hostages, their arms, and the slaves who had fled to
them.
4 Dum ea conquiruntur
et conferuntur, [nocte intermissa] circiter hominum milia VI eius pagi qui
Verbigenus appellatur, sive timore perterriti, ne armis traditis supplicio
adficerentur, sive spe salutis inducti, quod in tanta multitudine dediticiorum
suam fugam aut occultari aut omnino ignorari posse existimarent, prima nocte e
castris Helvetiorum egressi ad Rhenum finesque Germanorum contenderunt.
4 While these were
being collected and brought together, [after one night's interval] about six
thousand men of the district called the Verbigene, either terrified by fear
that they would be punished if they surrendered their arms, or led by hope of
escape—thinking that in such a great crowd of the surrendered their flight
could be concealed or entirely go unnoticed—departed from the Helvetian camp
during the first part of the night and made for the Rhine and the borders of
the Germans.
