De Bello Gallico Book 4 (1–19)

[1] 

1 Ea quae secuta est hieme, qui fuit annus Cn. Pompeio, M. Crasso consulibus, Usipetes Germani et item Tencteri magna cum multitudine hominum flumen Rhenum transierunt, non longe a mari, quo Rhenus influit. 

1 In the winter that followed, which was the year of Gnaeus Pompey and Marcus Crassus as consuls, the Usipetes and likewise the Tencteri, Germans, with a great multitude of people, crossed the Rhine River, not far from the sea into which the Rhine flows. 

2 Causa transeundi fuit quod ab Suebis complures annos exagitati bello premebantur et agri cultura prohibebantur. 

2 The reason for their crossing was that, having been harassed for several years by the Suebi, they were oppressed by war and prevented from agriculture. 

3 Sueborum gens est longe maxima et bellicosissima Germanorum omnium. 

3 The nation of the Suebi is by far the largest and most warlike of all the Germans. 

4 Hi centum pagos habere dicuntur, ex quibus quotannis singula milia armatorum bellandi causa ex finibus educunt. Reliqui, qui domi manserunt, se atque illos alunt; 

4 They are said to have a hundred cantons, from each of which they lead out annually a thousand armed men for the purpose of waging war. The remainder, who stay at home, support both themselves and the others. 

5 hi rursus in vicem anno post in armis sunt, illi domi remanent. 

5 These in turn are in arms the following year, while those remain at home. 

6 Sic neque agri cultura nec ratio atque usus belli intermittitur. 

6 Thus, neither agriculture nor the method and practice of war is interrupted. 

7 Sed privati ac separati agri apud eos nihil est, neque longius anno uno in loco colendi causa remanere licet. 

7 But there is no private or individual land among them, nor is it permitted to remain in one place for the purpose of cultivation longer than a single year. 

8 Neque multum frumento, sed maximam partem lacte atque pecore vivunt, multum sunt in venationibus; 

8 They live not much on grain, but for the most part on milk and livestock, and they engage extensively in hunting; 

9 quae res et cibi genere et cotidiana exercitatione et libertate vitae, quod a pueris nullo officio aut disciplina adsuefacti nihil omnino contra voluntatem faciunt, et vires alit et immani corporum magnitudine homines efficit. 

9 which practice—by reason of the kind of food, daily exercise, and the freedom of life, since from boyhood they are trained in no duty or discipline and do absolutely nothing against their will—both strengthens their vigor and produces men of immense bodily size. 

10 Atque in eam se consuetudinem adduxerunt ut locis frigidissimis neque vestitus praeter pelles habeant quicquam, quarum propter exiguitatem magna est corporis pars aperta, et laventur in fluminibus. 

10 And they have brought themselves to such a habit that in the coldest regions they wear no clothing except skins, of which, due to their scantiness, a large part of the body is exposed, and they bathe in rivers. 

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[2] 

1 Mercatoribus est aditus magis eo ut quae bello ceperint quibus vendant habeant, quam quo ullam rem ad se importari desiderent. 

1 Traders have access more in order that they may have those to whom they can sell what they have taken in war, than because they desire any goods to be imported to them. 

2 Quin etiam iumentis, quibus maxime Galli delectantur quaeque impenso parant pretio, Germani importatis non utuntur, sed quae sunt apud eos nata, parva atque deformia, haec cotidiana exercitatione summi ut sint laboris efficiunt. 

2 Moreover, the Germans do not use imported beasts of burden, in which the Gauls especially delight and which they procure at great cost, but those born among them—small and misshapen—they train through daily exercise to be of the highest endurance. 

3 Equestribus proeliis saepe ex equis desiliunt ac pedibus proeliantur, equos eodem remanere vestigio adsuefecerunt, ad quos se celeriter, cum usus est, recipiunt: 

3 In cavalry battles, they often dismount and fight on foot; they have trained their horses to remain in the same spot, to which they quickly retreat when needed. 

4 neque eorum moribus turpius quicquam aut inertius habetur quam ephippiis uti. 

4 Nothing is considered more disgraceful or sluggish in their customs than to use saddles. 

5 Itaque ad quemvis numerum ephippiatorum equitum quamvis pauci adire audent. 

5 Therefore, however few they may be, they dare to approach any number of saddled cavalry. 

6 Vinum omnino ad se importari non patiuntur, quod ea re ad laborem ferendum remollescere homines atque effeminari arbitrantur. 

6 They do not at all allow wine to be imported to them, because they believe that through it men become softened and effeminate for the endurance of toil. 

[3] 

1 Publice maximam putant esse laudem quam latissime a suis finibus vacare agros: hac re significari magnum numerum civitatum suam vim sustinere non posse. 

1 They consider it, as a matter of public pride, the greatest praise that the land lies uninhabited as widely as possible beyond their borders: by this fact they indicate that a great number of states cannot withstand their power. 

2 Itaque una ex parte a Suebis circiter milia passuum C agri vacare dicuntur. 

2 Therefore, on one side, about one hundred miles of land are said to lie waste from the Suebi. 

3 Ad alteram partem succedunt Ubii, quorum fuit civitas ampla atque florens, ut est captus Germanorum; ii paulo, quamquam sunt eiusdem generis, sunt ceteris humaniores, propterea quod Rhenum attingunt, multum ad eos mercatores ventitant, et ipsi propter propinquitatem Gallicis sunt moribus adsuefacti. 

3 On the other side adjoin the Ubii, whose state was large and flourishing, according to the German standard; although they are of the same race, they are somewhat more refined than the rest, because they border the Rhine, many merchants frequently visit them, and they themselves have become accustomed to Gallic customs due to proximity. 

4 Hos cum Suebi multis saepe bellis experti propter amplitudinem gravitatemque civitatis finibus expellere non potuissent, tamen vectigales sibi fecerunt ac multo humiliores infirmioresque redegerunt. 

4 Although the Suebi, having tried them often in many wars, had not been able to expel them from their territory because of the greatness and dignity of their state, they nevertheless made them tributary and reduced them to a far humbler and weaker condition. 

[4] 

1 In eadem causa fuerunt Usipetes et Tencteri, quos supra diximus; qui complures annos Sueborum vim sustinuerunt, 

1 The Usipetes and Tencteri, whom we mentioned above, were in the same condition; they endured the violence of the Suebi for several years, 

2 ad extremum tamen agris expulsi et multis locis Germaniae triennium vagati ad Rhenum pervenerunt, quas regiones Menapii incolebant. Hi ad utramque ripam fluminis agros, aedificia vicosque habebant; 

2 but finally, having been expelled from their lands and wandering for three years through many parts of Germany, they reached the Rhine, regions inhabited by the Menapii. These had fields, buildings, and villages on both banks of the river; 

3 sed tantae multitudinis adventu perterriti ex iis aedificiis quae trans flumen habuerant demigraverant, et cis Rhenum dispositis praesidiis Germanos transire prohibebant. 

3 but, terrified by the arrival of so great a multitude, they had withdrawn from those buildings which they had held across the river, and by posting garrisons on this side of the Rhine, prevented the Germans from crossing. 

4 Illi omnia experti, cum neque vi contendere propter inopiam navium neque clam transire propter custodias Menapiorum possent, 

4 The Germans, having tried everything, since they could neither force their way across due to lack of ships, nor cross secretly because of the Menapii’s guards, 

5 reverti se in suas sedes regionesque simulaverunt et tridui viam progressi rursus reverterunt atque omni hoc itinere una nocte equitatu confecto inscios inopinantes Menapios oppresserunt, 

5 pretended to return to their own homes and territories, and having advanced a three days’ march, they turned back and, completing the whole distance in one night with their cavalry, surprised the unsuspecting and unprepared Menapii, 

6 qui de Germanorum discessu per exploratores certiores facti sine metu trans Rhenum in suos vicos remigraverant. 

6 who, having been informed by scouts of the Germans’ departure, had returned without fear across the Rhine into their villages. 

7 His interfectis navibus eorum occupatis, prius quam ea pars Menapiorum quae citra Rhenum erat certior fieret, flumen transierunt atque omnibus eorum aedificiis occupatis reliquam partem hiemis se eorum copiis aluerunt. 

7 Having killed these and seized their ships, before that part of the Menapii which was on this side of the Rhine could be informed, they crossed the river and, having occupied all their buildings, sustained themselves on their supplies for the rest of the winter. 

[5] 

1 His de rebus Caesar certior factus et infirmitatem Gallorum veritus, quod sunt in consiliis capiendis mobiles et novis plerumque rebus student, nihil his committendum existimavit. 

1 Caesar, having been informed of these matters and fearing the fickleness of the Gauls—because they are unstable in taking counsel and generally eager for change—decided that nothing should be entrusted to them. 

2 Est enim hoc Gallicae consuetudinis, uti et viatores etiam invitos consistere cogant et quid quisque eorum de quaque re audierit aut cognoverit quaerant et mercatores in oppidis vulgus circumsistat quibus ex regionibus veniant quas ibi res cognoverint pronuntiare cogat. 

2 For it is the custom of the Gauls to compel even unwilling travelers to stop and to inquire what each of them has heard or learned about various matters, and in towns, the crowd surrounds merchants and forces them to declare from which regions they come and what they have learned there. 

3 His rebus atque auditionibus permoti de summis saepe rebus consilia ineunt, quorum eos in vestigio paenitere necesse est, cum incertis rumoribus serviant et plerique ad voluntatem eorum ficta respondeant. 

3 Moved by these reports and rumors, they often take decisions on the most serious matters, of which they are bound immediately to repent, since they follow uncertain rumors and most people answer them with inventions to suit their wishes. 

[6] 

1 Qua consuetudine cognita Caesar, ne graviori bello occurreret, maturius quam consuerat ad exercitum proficiscitur. 

1 Having learned of this custom, Caesar, to avoid facing a more serious war, set out for the army earlier than he was accustomed. 

2 Eo cum venisset, ea quae fore suspicatus erat facta cognovit: 

2 When he had arrived, he found that what he had suspected would happen had indeed occurred: 

3 missas legationes ab non nullis civitatibus ad Germanos invitatosque eos uti ab Rheno discederent: omnia quae postulassent ab se fore parata. 

3 that envoys had been sent by certain states to the Germans and had invited them to leave the Rhine, promising that everything they demanded would be provided. 

4 Qua spe adducti Germani latius iam vagabantur et in fines Eburonum et Condrusorum, qui sunt Treverorum clientes, pervenerant. 

4 Induced by this hope, the Germans were already ranging more widely and had reached the lands of the Eburones and Condrusi, who are clients of the Treveri. 

5 Principibus Gallicis evocatis Caesar ea quae cognoverat dissimulanda sibi existimavit, eorumque animis permulsis et confirmatis equitatu imperato bellum cum Germanis gerere constituit. 

5 Having summoned the Gallic leaders, Caesar decided that what he had learned should be kept secret, and having soothed and strengthened their spirits, and ordered cavalry, he resolved to wage war against the Germans.  

[7] 

1 Re frumentaria comparata equitibusque delectis iter in ea loca facere coepit, quibus in locis esse Germanos audiebat. 

1 With grain collected and cavalry chosen, he began to march into the places where he heard the Germans were. 

2 A quibus cum paucorum dierum iter abesset, legati ab iis venerunt, quorum haec fuit oratio: 

2 When he was a few days’ march away, envoys came from them, whose message was as follows: 

3 Germanos neque priores populo Romano bellum inferre neque tamen recusare, si lacessantur, quin armis contendant, quod Germanorum consuetudo haec sit a maioribus tradita, quicumque bellum inferant, resistere neque deprecari. Haec tamen dicere venisse invitos, eiectos domo; 

3 that the Germans neither were the first to wage war on the Roman people, nor would they refuse, if provoked, to fight with arms, because it was their ancestral custom to resist those who made war upon them and not to beg for peace. Still, they said they had come unwillingly, having been driven from their homes; 

4 si suam gratiam Romani velint, posse iis utiles esse amicos; vel sibi agros attribuant vel patiantur eos tenere quos armis possederint: 

4 if the Romans wished their favor, they could be useful allies; let them either assign land or allow them to hold those which they had acquired by arms: 

5 sese unis Suebis concedere, quibus ne di quidem immortales pares esse possint; reliquum quidem in terris esse neminem quem non superare possint. 

5 they yielded only to the Suebi, to whom not even the immortal gods could be equal; indeed, there was no one else on earth whom they could not surpass. 

[8] 

1 Ad haec Caesar quae visum est respondit; sed exitus fuit orationis: sibi nullam cum iis amicitiam esse posse, si in Gallia remanerent; 

1 To these things Caesar gave a fitting reply; but the conclusion of his speech was: that he could have no friendship with them if they remained in Gaul; 

2 neque verum esse, qui suos fines tueri non potuerint alienos occupare; neque ullos in Gallia vacare agros qui dari tantae praesertim multitudini sine iniuria possint; 

2 nor was it just that those who had not been able to defend their own borders should seize those of others; nor was there any land lying vacant in Gaul which could be given to so great a multitude without injustice; 

3 sed licere, si velint, in Ubiorum finibus considere, quorum sint legati apud se et de Sueborum iniuriis querantur et a se auxilium petant: hoc se Ubiis imperaturus. 

3 but, if they wished, they could settle in the territory of the Ubii, whose envoys were with him and were complaining of the wrongs of the Suebi and seeking aid from him: this he would order the Ubii to permit. 

[9] 

1 Legati haec se ad suos relaturos dixerunt et re deliberata post diem tertium ad Caesarem reversuros: interea ne propius se castra moveret petierunt. 

1 The envoys said that they would report these matters to their people and, after deliberation, would return to Caesar on the third day; meanwhile, they asked him not to move his camp closer. 

2 Ne id quidem Caesar ab se impetrari posse dixit. 

2 Caesar said that not even that could be granted by him. 

3 Cognoverat enim magnam partem equitatus ab iis aliquot diebus ante praedandi frumentandi causa ad Ambivaritos trans Mosam missam: hos expectari equites atque eius rei causa moram interponi arbitrabatur. 

3 For he had learned that a large portion of their cavalry had been sent a few days earlier across the Meuse to the Ambivariti to plunder and forage for grain; he thought that these horsemen were being awaited and that the delay was being arranged on that account. 

[10] 

1 Mosa profluit ex monte Vosego, qui est in finibus Lingonum, et parte quadam ex Rheno recepta, quae appellatur Vacalus, insulam efficit Batavorum, in Oceanum influit 

1 The Meuse flows from Mount Vosges, which is in the territory of the Lingones, and, after receiving a branch of the Rhine called the Waal, it forms the island of the Batavi and flows into the Ocean. 

2 Neque longius ab Oceano milibus passuum LXXX in Rhenum influit. 

2 It joins the Rhine not more than eighty miles from the Ocean. 

3 Rhenus autem oritur ex Lepontiis, qui Alpes incolunt, et longo spatio per fines Nantuatium, Helvetiorum, Sequanorum, Mediomatricorum, Tribocorum, Treverorum citatus fertur 

3 The Rhine, however, rises in the territory of the Lepontii, who dwell in the Alps, and flows swiftly over a long distance through the lands of the Nantuates, Helvetii, Sequani, Mediomatrici, Triboci, and Treveri 

4 et, ubi Oceano adpropinquavit, in plures diffluit partes, multis ingentibus insulis effectis, quarum pars magna a feris barbaris nationibus incolitur, 

4 and, when it approaches the Ocean, it splits into several channels, forming many large islands, a great part of which is inhabited by savage barbarian tribes, 

5 ex quibus sunt qui piscibus atque ovis avium vivere existimantur, multis capitibus in Oceanum influit. 

5 some of whom are believed to live on fish and birds’ eggs; and it flows into the Ocean by many mouths. 

[11] 

1 Caesar cum ab hoste non amplius passuum XII milibus abesset, ut erat constitutum, ad eum legati revertuntur; qui in itinere congressi magnopere ne longius progrederetur orabant. 

1 When Caesar was no more than twelve miles from the enemy, as had been agreed, the envoys returned to him; meeting him on the way, they earnestly begged him not to advance further. 

2 Cum id non impetrassent, petebant uti ad eos equites qui agmen antecessissent praemitteret eosque pugna prohiberet, sibique ut potestatem faceret in Ubios legatos mittendi; 

2 When they had not obtained this, they asked that he send a message to the cavalry who had gone ahead of the column to prevent them from fighting, and that he grant them permission to send envoys to the Ubii; 

3 quorum si principes ac senatus sibi iure iurando fidem fecisset, ea condicione quae a Caesare ferretur se usuros ostendebant: ad has res conficiendas sibi tridui spatium daret. 

3 if the chiefs and senate of the Ubii would guarantee good faith to them by oath, they showed that they would accept the terms offered by Caesar: they asked for a period of three days to conclude these matters. 

4 Haec omnia Caesar eodem illo pertinere arbitrabatur ut tridui mora interposita equites eorum qui abessent reverterentur; tamen sese non longius milibus passuum IIII aquationis causa processurum eo die dixit: 

4 Caesar believed all these requests aimed at the same purpose: that by inserting a three-day delay, their cavalry who were absent might return. Nevertheless, he said he would not go more than four miles that day, for the sake of getting water. 

5 Huc postero die quam frequentissimi convenirent, ut de eorum postulatis cognosceret. 

5 Let as many of them as possible come to that place the next day, so that he might hear their demands. 

6 Interim ad praefectos, qui cum omni equitatu antecesserant, mittit qui nuntiarent ne hostes proelio lacesserent, et si ipsi lacesserentur, sustinerent quoad ipse cum exercitu propius accessisset. 

6 Meanwhile, he sent messengers to the prefects who had gone ahead with all the cavalry, to instruct them not to provoke the enemy to battle, and, if they themselves were attacked, to hold out until he had come nearer with the army. 

[12] 

1 At hostes, ubi primum nostros equites conspexerunt, quorum erat V milium numerus, cum ipsi non amplius DCCC equites haberent, quod ii qui frumentandi causa erant trans Mosam profecti nondum redierant, nihil timentibus nostris, quod legati eorum paulo ante a Caesare discesserant atque is dies indutiis erat ab his petitus, impetu facto celeriter nostros perturbaverunt; 

1 But the enemy, as soon as they saw our cavalry, whose number was 5,000, while they themselves had no more than 800 horsemen—because those who had gone across the Meuse to forage had not yet returned—attacked swiftly while our men, fearing nothing (since their envoys had only just left Caesar and the day had been requested by them as a truce), and quickly threw our men into confusion. 

2 Rursus his resistentibus consuetudine sua ad pedes desiluerunt, subfossis equis compluribus nostris deiectis, reliquos in fugam coniecerunt atque ita perterritos egerunt ut non prius fuga desisterent quam in conspectum agminis nostri venissent. 

2 Again, as our men resisted, they leapt down on foot according to their custom, and, having hamstrung several horses and thrown many of our men, they put the rest to flight and drove them in such panic that they did not stop fleeing until they came into view of our column. 

3 In eo proelio ex equitibus nostris interficiuntur IIII et LXX, 

3 In that battle, seventy-four of our cavalry were killed, 

4 in his vir fortissimus Piso Aquitanus, amplissimo genere natus, cuius avus in civitate sua regnum obtinuerat amicus a senatu nostro appellatus. 

4 among them the very brave Piso, an Aquitanian of the highest birth, whose grandfather had held kingship in his own state and had been declared a friend by our Senate. 

5 Hic cum fratri intercluso ab hostibus auxilium ferret, illum ex periculo eripuit, ipse equo vulnerato deiectus, quoad potuit, fortissime restitit; 

5 When he brought aid to his brother, who had been cut off by the enemy, he rescued him from danger; and though thrown from his wounded horse, he resisted as bravely as he could. 

6 Cum circumventus multis vulneribus acceptis cecidisset atque id frater, qui iam proelio excesserat, procul animadvertisset, incitato equo se hostibus obtulit atque interfectus est. 

6 When, surrounded and having received many wounds, he fell, and his brother, who had already left the battle, noticed this from afar, he spurred his horse, rushed upon the enemy, and was slain. 

 [13] 

1 Hoc facto proelio Caesar neque iam sibi legatos audiendos neque condiciones accipiendas arbitrabatur ab iis qui per dolum atque insidias petita pace ultro bellum intulissent; 

1 After this battle, Caesar thought that neither should envoys be heard nor terms accepted from those who, having requested peace by deceit and ambush, had then of their own accord initiated war. 

2 Expectare vero dum hostium copiae augerentur equitatus reverteretur summae dementiae esse iudicabat, 

2 Indeed, he judged it to be utter folly to wait until the enemy’s forces were increased and their cavalry had returned. 

3 Et cognita Gallorum infirmitate quantum iam apud eos hostes uno proelio auctoritatis essent consecuti sentiebat; quibus ad consilia capienda nihil spatii dandum existimabat. 

3 And, aware of the Gauls’ weakness, he saw how much authority the enemy had already gained among them by one battle; he thought they should be given no time to form plans. 

4 His constitutis rebus et consilio cum legatis et quaestore communicato, ne quem diem pugnae praetermitteret, opportunissima res accidit, quod postridie eius diei mane eadem et perfidia et simulatione usi Germani frequentes, omnibus principibus maioribusque natu adhibitis, ad eum in castra venerunt, 

4 These decisions having been made, and the plan shared with the legates and quaestor, so that no day for battle might be lost, a most opportune thing occurred: the next morning, the Germans, using the same treachery and deceit, came in large numbers to his camp, having brought all their chiefs and elders with them, 

5 Simul, ut dicebatur, sui purgandi causa, quod contra atque esset dictum et ipsi petissent, proelium pridie commisissent, simul ut, si quid possent, de indutiis fallendo impetrarent. 

5 both, as was said, to clear themselves for having fought the day before contrary to what had been stated and requested by themselves, and also to see whether by deceit they might obtain a truce. 

6 Quos sibi Caesar oblatos gavisus illos retineri iussit; ipse omnes copias castris eduxit equitatumque, quod recenti proelio perterritum esse existimabat, agmen subsequi iussit. 

6 Caesar, pleased to have them in his hands, ordered them to be detained; he himself led all the troops out of the camp and ordered the cavalry, which he believed to be demoralized by the recent battle, to follow the column. 

[14] 

1 Acie triplici instituta et celeriter VIII milium itinere confecto, prius ad hostium castra pervenit quam quid ageretur Germani sentire possent. 

1 A triple battle line having been formed and a march of eight miles quickly completed, he arrived at the enemy's camp before the Germans could perceive what was happening. 

2 Qui omnibus rebus subito perterriti et celeritate adventus nostri et discessu suorum, neque consilii habendi neque arma capiendi spatio dato perturbantur, copiasne adversus hostem ducere an castra defendere an fuga salutem petere praestaret. 

2 They, suddenly terrified by everything—both by the speed of our arrival and by the departure of their own men—and with no time to take counsel or seize weapons, were thrown into confusion about whether to lead their forces against the enemy, defend the camp, or seek safety in flight. 

3 Quorum timor cum fremitu et concursu significaretur, milites nostri pristini diei perfidia incitati in castra inruperunt. 

3 As their fear was revealed by shouting and running about, our soldiers, incited by the treachery of the previous day, burst into the camp. 

4 Quo loco qui celeriter arma capere potuerunt paulisper nostris restiterunt atque inter carros impedimentaque proelium commiserunt; 

4 In that place, those who could quickly seize weapons resisted our men briefly and engaged in battle among the wagons and baggage; 

5 at reliqua multitudo puerorum mulierumque (nam cum omnibus suis domo excesserant Rhenum transierant) passim fugere coepit, ad quos consectandos Caesar equitatum misit. 

5 but the rest of the multitude of boys and women (for they had departed from home with all their possessions and had crossed the Rhine) began to flee in all directions, and Caesar sent cavalry to pursue them. 

 [15] 

1 Germani post tergum clamore audito, cum suos interfici viderent, armis abiectis signis militaribus relictis se ex castris eiecerunt. 

1 The Germans, hearing a shout behind them and seeing their men being slain, cast aside their weapons and left their military standards, and rushed out of the camp. 

2 Et cum ad confluentem Mosae et Rheni pervenissent, reliqua fuga desperata, magno numero interfecto, reliqui se in flumen praecipitaverunt atque ibi timore, lassitudine, vi fluminis oppressi perierunt. 

2 And when they had reached the confluence of the Meuse and the Rhine, with further flight hopeless, and many already slain, the rest threw themselves into the river and there perished, overwhelmed by fear, exhaustion, and the force of the current. 

3 Nostri ad unum omnes incolumes, perpaucis vulneratis, ex tanti belli timore, cum hostium numerus capitum CCCCXXX milium fuisset, se in castra receperunt. 

3 All our men returned to camp safe to a man, with very few wounded, from the fear of such a great war, although the number of the enemy had been 430,000. 

4 Caesar iis quos in castris retinuerat discedendi potestatem fecit. 

4 Caesar gave those whom he had detained in the camp permission to leave. 

5 Illi supplicia cruciatusque Gallorum veriti, quorum agros vexaverant, remanere se apud eum velle dixerunt. His Caesar libertatem concessit. 

5 They, fearing punishment and torture from the Gauls whose lands they had ravaged, said they wished to remain with him. Caesar granted them freedom. 

 [16] 

1 Germanico bello confecto multis de causis Caesar statuit sibi Rhenum esse transeundum; quarum illa fuit iustissima quod, cum videret Germanos tam facile impelli ut in Galliam venirent, suis quoque rebus eos timere voluit, cum intellegerent et posse et audere populi Romani exercitum Rhenum transire. 

1 The German war having been finished, Caesar decided, for many reasons, that he must cross the Rhine; of which the most just reason was this: since he saw how easily the Germans were driven to invade Gaul, he also wished them to fear for their own affairs, when they realized that the army of the Roman people could and dared to cross the Rhine. 

2 Accessit etiam quod illa pars equitatus Usipetum et Tencterorum, quam supra commemoravi praedandi frumentandi causa Mosam transisse neque proelio interfuisse, post fugam suorum se trans Rhenum in fines Sugambrorum receperat seque cum his coniunxerat. 

2 There was also the fact that that part of the cavalry of the Usipetes and Tencteri, which I mentioned above had crossed the Meuse for plunder and foraging and had not taken part in the battle, after the flight of their comrades had retreated across the Rhine into the territory of the Sugambri and joined them. 

3 Ad quos cum Caesar nuntios misisset, qui postularent eos qui sibi Galliaeque bellum intulissent sibi dederent, responderunt: 

3 To whom, when Caesar sent messengers to demand that those who had brought war upon him and Gaul be surrendered, they replied: 

4 Populi Romani imperium Rhenum finire; si se invito Germanos in Galliam transire non aequum existimaret, cur sui quicquam esse imperii aut potestatis trans Rhenum postularet? 

4 That the authority of the Roman people ended at the Rhine; if he considered it unjust that Germans should cross into Gaul against his will, why did he claim any authority or power on the far side of the Rhine? 

5 Ubii autem, qui uni ex Transrhenanis ad Caesarem legatos miserant, amicitiam fecerant, obsides dederant, magnopere orabant ut sibi auxilium ferret, quod graviter ab Suebis premerentur; 

5 But the Ubii, who alone among the tribes across the Rhine had sent envoys to Caesar, had formed an alliance, given hostages, and earnestly begged him to help them, because they were severely oppressed by the Suebi; 

6 Vel, si id facere occupationibus rei publicae prohiberetur, exercitum modo Rhenum transportaret: id sibi ad auxilium spemque reliqui temporis satis futurum. 

6 Or, if he were prevented from doing so by the demands of the state, that he would at least transport the army across the Rhine: this, they said, would be enough for their aid and hope in the future. 

7 Tantum esse nomen atque opinionem eius exercitus Ariovisto pulso et hoc novissimo proelio facto etiam ad ultimas Germanorum nationes, uti opinione et amicitia populi Romani tuti esse possint. 

7 So great was the name and reputation of that army, after Ariovistus had been driven out and this most recent battle had been fought, that even the furthest Germanic tribes could feel safe by the reputation and alliance of the Roman people. 

8 Navium magnam copiam ad transportandum exercitum pollicebantur. 

8 They promised a large number of ships to transport the army. 

[17] 

1 Caesar his de causis quas commemoravi Rhenum transire decreverat; sed navibus transire neque satis tutum esse arbitrabatur neque suae neque populi Romani dignitatis esse statuebat. 

1 For these reasons which I have mentioned, Caesar had decided to cross the Rhine; but he thought that crossing by ships was not safe enough, nor did he consider it consistent with his own dignity or that of the Roman people. 

2 Itaque, etsi summa difficultas faciendi pontis proponebatur propter latitudinem, rapiditatem altitudinemque fluminis, tamen id sibi contendendum aut aliter non traducendum exercitum existimabat. 

2 Therefore, although the greatest difficulty in building a bridge was presented by the river’s width, speed, and depth, he nevertheless thought that this must be undertaken by him, or else the army should not be led across. 

3 Rationem pontis hanc instituit. Tigna bina sesquipedalia paulum ab imo praeacuta dimensa ad altitudinem fluminis intervallo pedum duorum inter se iungebat. 

3 He devised this plan for the bridge. He joined in pairs timbers each a foot and a half thick, slightly sharpened at the bottom and cut to the depth of the river, with an interval of two feet between them. 

4 Haec cum machinationibus immissa in flumen defixerat fistucisque adegerat, non sublicae modo derecte ad perpendiculum, sed prone ac fastigate, ut secundum naturam fluminis procumberent, 

4 These, when he had driven them into the river using machinery and pile-drivers, were not upright like ordinary piles, but slanted and inclined, so that they leaned with the current of the river, 

5 iis item contraria duo ad eundem modum iuncta intervallo pedum quadragenum ab inferiore parte contra vim atque impetu fluminis conversa statuebat. 

5 he likewise placed two others opposite them, joined in the same way, forty feet downstream, positioned to face the force and current of the river. 

6 Haec utraque insuper bipedalibus trabibus immissis, quantum eorum tignorum iunctura distabat, binis utrimque fibulis ab extrema parte distinebantur; 

6 Across both sets of piles, two-foot thick beams were laid, spanning the distance between the pairings, and they were braced at each end by two clamps on each side; 

7 quibus disclusis atque in contrariam partem revinctis, tanta erat operis firmitudo atque ea rerum natura ut, quo maior vis aquae se incitavisset, hoc artius inligata tenerentur. 

7 these, spread apart and bound in opposite directions, gave the structure such strength that the greater the force of the water, the more tightly they held together. 

8 Haec derecta materia iniecta contexebantur ac longuriis cratibusque consternebantur; 

8 Across these, straight timbers were laid, then covered with long poles and hurdles; 

9 ac nihilo setius sublicae et ad inferiorem partem fluminis oblique agebantur, quae pro ariete subiectae et cum omni opere coniunctae vim fluminis exciperent, 

9 and at the same time piles were driven slantwise on the downstream side, placed like rams and joined to the whole structure, so that they might absorb the river’s force; 

10 et aliae item supra pontem mediocri spatio, ut, si arborum trunci sive naves deiciendi operis causa essent a barbaris missae, his defensoribus earum rerum vis minueretur neu ponti nocerent. 

10 and others likewise were driven a short distance upstream from the bridge, so that if tree trunks or ships were sent by the barbarians to destroy the work, the force of those things would be diminished by these defenses and would not damage the bridge. 

 [18] 

1 Diebus X, quibus materia coepta erat comportari, omni opere effecto exercitus traducitur. 

1 In ten days, from the time the timber began to be gathered, the entire work being completed, the army was led across. 

2 Caesar ad utramque partem pontis firmo praesidio relicto in fines Sugambrorum contendit. 

2 Caesar, leaving a strong guard at each end of the bridge, advanced into the territory of the Sugambri. 

3 Interim a compluribus civitatibus ad eum legati veniunt; quibus pacem atque amicitiam petentibus liberaliter respondet obsidesque ad se adduci iubet. 

3 Meanwhile, envoys from several tribes came to him; to those requesting peace and friendship, he gave a gracious reply and ordered hostages to be brought to him. 

4 At Sugambri, ex eo tempore quo pons institui coeptus est fuga comparata, hortantibus iis quos ex Tencteris atque Usipetibus apud se habebant, finibus suis excesserant suaque omnia exportaverant seque in solitudinem ac silvas abdiderant. 

4 But the Sugambri, from the time the bridge had begun to be constructed, having prepared for flight, and encouraged by those they had with them from the Tencteri and Usipetes, had withdrawn from their lands, taken all their possessions with them, and hidden themselves in the wilderness and woods. 

[19] 

1 Caesar paucos dies in eorum finibus moratus, omnibus vicis aedificiisque incensis frumentisque succisis, se in fines Ubiorum recepit atque his auxilium suum pollicitus, si a Suebis premerentur, haec ab iis cognovit: 

1 Caesar, having remained a few days in their territory, after all their villages and buildings had been burned and their grain destroyed, withdrew into the territory of the Ubii, and having promised them his help if they were hard pressed by the Suebi, learned the following from them: 

2 Suebos, postea quam per exploratores pontem fieri comperissent, more suo concilio habito nuntios in omnes partes dimisisse, uti de oppidis demigrarent, liberos, uxores suaque omnia in silvis deponerent atque omnes qui arma ferre possent unum in locum convenirent. 

2 That the Suebi, after they had learned through scouts that a bridge was being constructed, had, following their custom, held a council and sent messengers in all directions to tell people to move out of their towns, place their children, wives, and all their possessions in the forests, and have all who could bear arms gather in one place. 

3 Hunc esse delectum medium fere regionum earum quas Suebi obtinerent; hic Romanorum adventum exspectare atque ibi decertare constituisse. 

3 That this was a chosen location, roughly in the center of the regions held by the Suebi; that they had decided to await the Romans’ arrival there and fight it out in that place. 

4 Quod ubi Caesar comperit, omnibus iis rebus confectis, quarum rerum causa exercitum traducere constituerat, ut Germanis metum iniceret, ut Sugambros ulcisceretur, ut Ubios obsidione liberaret, diebus omnino XVIII trans Rhenum consumptis, satis et ad laudem et ad utilitatem profectum arbitratus se in Galliam recepit pontemque rescidit. 

4 When Caesar learned this, all the objectives having been accomplished for which he had decided to lead his army across—to instill fear in the Germans, to take vengeance on the Sugambri, to free the Ubii from siege—and eighteen days in total having been spent across the Rhine, thinking that he had achieved enough both in glory and in practical benefit, he returned to Gaul and dismantled the bridge.