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Caesar-Gallic-War-3

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Cum in Italiam proficisceretur Caesar, Ser. Galbam cum legione XII. et parte equitatus in Nantuates, Veragros Sedunosque misit, qui a finibus Allobrogum et lacu Lemanno et flumine Rhodano ad summas Alpes pertinent.
When Caesar was setting out for Italy, he sent Servius Galba with the twelfth legion and part of the cavalry, against the Nantuates, the Veragri, and Seduni, who extend from the territories of the Allobroges, and the lake of Geneva, and the River Rhone to the top of the Alps.
Causa mittendi fuit quod iter per Alpes, quo magno cum periculo magnisque cum portoriis mercatores ire consuerant, patefieri volebat.
The reason for sending him was, that he desired that the pass along the Alps, through which the Roman merchants had been accustomed to travel with great danger, and under great impositions, should be opened.
Huic permisit, si opus esse arbitraretur, uti in his locis legionem hiemandi causa conlocaret.
He permitted him, if he thought it necessary, to station the legion in these places, for the purpose of wintering.
Galba secundis aliquot proeliis factis castellisque compluribus eorum expugnatis, missis ad eum undique legatis obsidibusque datis et pace facta, constituit cohortes duas in Nantuatibus conlocare et ipse cum reliquis eius legionis cohortibus in vico Veragrorum, qui appellatur Octodurus hiemare;
Galba, having fought some successful battles and stormed several of their forts, after ambassadors were sent to him from all parts and hostages given and a peace concluded, determined to station two cohorts among the Nantuates, and to winter in person with the other cohorts of that legion in a village of the Veragri, which is called Octodurus;
qui vicus positus in valle non magna adiecta planitie altissimis montibus undique continetur.
and this village being situated in a valley, with a small plain annexed to it, is bounded on all sides by very high mountains.
Cum hic in duas partes flumine divideretur, alteram partem eius vici Gallis concessit, alteram vacuam ab his relictam cohortibus attribuit.
As this village was divided into two parts by a river, he granted one part of it to the Gauls, and assigned the other, which had been left by them unoccupied, to the cohorts to winter in.
Eum locum vallo fossaque munivit.
He fortified this latter part with a rampart and a ditch.
Cum dies hibernorum complures transissent frumentumque eo comportari iussisset, subito per exploratores certior factus est ex ea parte vici, quam Gallis concesserat, omnes noctu discessisse montesque qui impenderent a maxima multitudine Sedunorum et Veragrorum teniri.
When several days had elapsed in winter quarters, and he had ordered corn to be brought in, he was suddenly informed by his scouts that all the people had gone off in the night from that part of the town which he had given up to the Gauls, and that the mountains which hung over it were occupied by a very large force of the Seduni and Veragri.
Id aliquot de causis acciderat, ut subito Galli belli renovandi legionisque opprimendae consilium caperent:
It had happened for several reasons that the Gauls suddenly formed the design of renewing the war and cutting off that legion.
primum, quod legionem neque eam plenissimam detractis cohortibus duabus et compluribus singillatim, qui commeatus petendi causa missi erant, absentibus propter paucitatem despiciebant;
First, because they despised a single legion, on account of its small number, and that not quite full (two cohorts having been detached, and several individuals being absent, who had been dispatched for the purpose of seeking provision);
tum etiam, quod propter iniquitatem loci, cum ipsi ex montibus in vallem decurrerent et tela coicerent, ne primum quidem impetum suum posse sustineri existimabant.
then, likewise, because they thought that on account of the disadvantageous character of the situation, even their first attack could not be sustained when they would rush from the mountains into the valley, and discharge their weapons upon us.
Accedebat quod suos ab se liberos abstractos obsidum nomine dolebant, et Romanos non solum itinerum causa sed etiam perpetuae possessionis culmina Alpium occupare conari et ea loca finitimae provinciae adiungere sibi persuasum habebant.
To this was added, that they were indignant that their children were torn from them under the title of hostages, and they were persuaded that the Romans designed to seize upon the summits of the Alps, and unite those parts to the neighboring province, not only to secure the passes, but also a constant possession.
His nuntiis acceptis Galba, cum neque opus hibernorum munitionesque plene essent perfectae neque de frumento reliquoque commeatu satis esset provisum quod deditione facta obsidibusque acceptis nihil de bello timendum existimaverat, consilio celeriter convocato sententias exquirere coepit.
Having received these tidings, Galba, since the works of the winter-quarters and the fortifications were not fully completed, nor was sufficient preparation made with regard to corn and other provisions (since, as a surrender had been made, and hostages received, he had thought he need entertain no apprehension of war), speedily summoned a council and began to anxiously inquire their opinions.
Quo in consilio, cum tantum repentini periculi praeter opinionem accidisset ac iam omnia fere superiora loca multitudine armatorum completa conspicerentur neque subsidio veniri neque commeatus supportari interclusis itineribus possent, prope iam desperata salute non nullae eius modi sententiae dicebantur, ut impedimentis relictis eruptione facta isdem itineribus quibus eo pervenissent ad salutem contenderent.
In that council, since a sudden danger had happened contrary to expectation and almost all the higher places were seen already covered with a multitude of armed men, nor could relief come nor provisions be brought in as the passes were blocked, safety being now nearly despaired of, some opinions were expressed that, “leaving their baggage and making a sally, they should hasten away for safety by the same routes by which they had come.”
Maiori tamen parti placuit, hoc reservato ad extremum casum consilio interim rei eventum experiri et castra defendere.
To the greater part, however, it seemed best, reserving that measure to the last, to await the issue of the matter and to defend the camp.
Brevi spatio interiecto, vix ut iis rebus quas constituissent conlocandis atque administrandis tempus daretur, hostes ex omnibus partibus signo dato decurrere, lapides gaesaque in vallum coicere.
A short time only having elapsed, so that time was scarcely given for arranging and executing those things which they had determined on, the enemy, upon the signal being given, rushed down from all parts, and discharged stones and darts upon our rampart.
Nostri primo integris viribus fortiter propugnare neque ullum flustra telum ex loco superiore mittere, et quaecumque pars castrorum nudata defensoribus premi videbatur, eo occurrere et auxilium ferre,
Our men at first, while their strength was fresh, resisted bravely, nor did they cast any weapon ineffectually from their higher station; as soon as any part of the camp, being destitute of defenders, seemed to be hard pressed, they ran thither and brought assistance.
sed hoc superari quod diuturnitate pugnae hostes defessi proelio excedebant, alii integris viribus succedebant; quarum rerum a nostris propter paucitatem fieri nihil poterat, ac non modo defesso ex pugla excedendi, sed ne saucio quidem eius loci ubi constiterat relinquendi ac sui recipiendi facultas dabatur.
But they were over‑matched in this, that the enemy when wearied by the long continuance of the battle went out of the action, and others with fresh strength came in their place; none of which things could be done by our men, owing to the smallness of their number, and not only was permission not given to the wearied Roman to retire from the fight, but even the wounded were not allowed to withdraw from the post where they had been stationed and recover.
Cum iam amplius horis sex continenter pugnaretur, ac non solum vires sed etiam tela nostros deficerent, atque hostes acrius instarent languidioribusque nostris vallum scindere et fossas complere coepissent, resque esset iam ad extremum perducta casum, P. Sextius Baculus, primi pili centurio, quem Nervico proelio compluribus confectum vulneribus diximus, et item C. Volusenus, tribunus militum, vir et consilii magni et virtutis, ad Galbam accurrunt atque unam esse spem salutis docent, si eruptione facta extremum auxilium experirentur.
When they had now been fighting for more than six hours, without cessation, and not only strength, but even weapons were failing our men, and the enemy were pressing on more rigorously, and had begun to demolish the rampart and to fill up the trench, while our men were becoming exhausted, and the matter was now brought to the last extremity, P. Sextius Baculus, a centurion of the first rank, whom we have related to have been disabled by severe wounds in the engagement with the Nervii, and also C. Volusenus, a tribune of the soldiers, a man of great skill and valor, hastened to Galba and assured him that the only hope of safety lay in making a sally and trying the last resource.
Itaque convocatis centurionibus celeriter milites certiores facit, paulisper intermitterent proelium ac tantum modo tela missa exciperent seque ex labore reficerent, post dato signo ex castris erumperent, atque omnem spem salutis in virtute ponerent.
Whereupon, assembling the centurions, he quickly gave orders to the soldiers to discontinue the fight a short time, only to collect the weapons flung at them, and to recover after a short rest; thereafter, on the signal being given, they should sally forth from the camp and place all hope of safety in their valor.
Quod iussi sunt faciunt, ac subito omnibus portis eruptione facta neque cognoscendi quid fieret neque sui colligendi hostibus facultatem relinquunt.
They do what they were ordered; and, making a sudden sally from all the gates of the camp, they leave the enemy without the means either of knowing what was taking place or of gathering themselves.
Ita commutata fortuna eos qui in spem potiundorum castrorum venerant undique circumventos intercipiunt, et ex hominum milibus amplius XXX, quem numerum barbarorum ad castra venisse constabat, plus tertia parte interfecta reliquos perterritos in fugam coiciunt ac ne in locis quidem superioribus consistere patiuntur.
Fortune thus taking a turn, our men surround on every side, slay those who had entertained the hope of gaining the camp, having killed more than a third of an army of more than 30,000 men (which number of the barbarians it appeared certain had come up to our camp), put to flight the rest when panic‑stricken, and do not suffer them to halt even upon the higher grounds.
Sic omnibus hostium copiis fusis armisque exutis se intra munitiones suas recipiunt.
All the forces of the enemy being thus routed, and stripped of their arms, our men betake themselves to their camp and fortifications.
Quo proelio facto, quod saepius fortunam temptare Galba nolebat atque alio se in hiberna consilio venisse meminerat, aliis occurrisse rebus videbat, maxime frumenti [commeatusque] inopia permotus postero die omnibus eius vici aedificiis incensis in provinciam reverti contendit, ac nullo hoste prohibente aut iter demorante incolumem legionem in Nantuates, inde in Allobroges perduxit ibique hiemavit.
Which battle being finished, since Galba was unwilling to tempt fortune again and remembered that he had come into winter quarters with one design, and saw that he had met with a different state of affairs; chiefly, however, urged by the want of corn and provision, having the next day burned all the buildings of that village, he hastened to return into the province; and as no enemy opposed or hindered his march, he brought the legion safe into the country of the Nantuates, thence into that of the Allobroges, and there wintered.
His rebus gestis cum omnibus de causis Caesar pacatam Galliam existimaret, superatis Belgis, expulsis Germanis, victis in Alpibus Sedunis, atque ita inita hieme in Illyricum profectus esset, quod eas quoque nationes adire et regiones cognoscere volebat, subitum bellum in Gallia coortum est.
These things being achieved, while Caesar had every reason to suppose that Gaul was reduced to a state of tranquillity—having overcome the Belgae, expelled the Germans, defeated the Seduni in the Alps—and when he therefore, at the beginning of winter, set out for Illyricum as he wished to visit those nations and acquire knowledge of their countries, a sudden war sprang up in Gaul.
Eius belli haec fuit causa. P. Crassus adulescens cum legione VII. proximus mare Oceanum in Andibus hiemabat.
The occasion of that war was this: P. Crassus, a young man, had taken up his winter quarters with the seventh legion among the Andes, who border upon the Atlantic Ocean.
Is, quod in his locis inopia frumenti erat, praefectos tribunosque militum complures in finitimas civitates frumenti causa dimisit;
He, as there was a scarcity of corn in those parts, sent out some officers of cavalry and several military tribunes among the neighbouring states, for the purpose of procuring corn and provision.
quo in numero est T. Terrasidius missus in Esuvios, M. Trebius Gallus in Coriosolites, Q. Velanius eum T. Silio in Venetos.
In that number T. Terrasidius was sent among the Esubii; M. Trebius Gallus among the Curiosolitae; Q. Velanius, T. Silius, among the Veneti.
Huius est civitatis longe amplissima auctoritas omnis orae maritimae regionum earum, quod et naves habent Veneti plurimas, quibus in Britanniam navigare consuerunt, et scientia atque usu rerum nauticarum ceteros antecedunt et in magno impetu maris atque aperto paucis portibus interiectis, quos tenent ipsi, omnes fere qui eo mari uti consuerunt habent vectigales.
The influence of this state is by far the most considerable of any of the countries on the whole sea‑coast, because the Veneti have a very great number of ships, with which they are accustomed to sail to Britain, and they excel the rest in knowledge and experience of nautical affairs; and as only a few ports lie scattered along that stormy and open sea, which they possess, they hold as tributaries almost all those who are accustomed to traffic in that sea.
Ab his fit initium retinendi Silii atque Velanii, quod per eos suos se obsides, quos Crasso dedissent, recuperaturos existimabant.
From them arose the beginning of the revolt of Silius and Velanius, who thought that they would recover the hostages which they had given to Crassus.
Horum auctoritate finitimi adducti, ut sunt Gallorum subita et repentina consilia, eadem de causa Trebium Terrasidiumque retinent et celeriter missis legatis per suos principes inter se coniurant nihil nisi communi consilio acturos eundemque omnes fortunae exitum esse laturos, reliquasque civitates sollicitant, ut in ea libertate quam a maioribus acceperint permanere quam Romanorum servitutem perferre malint.
By the authority of these, the neighboring peoples are drawn in, as the sudden and hasty plans of the Gauls arise; for the same cause they keep Trebius and Terrasidius and, quickly sending legates through their princes, conspire among themselves to act only by common agreement and that all would share the same fate, while they solicit the other states to prefer the liberty they have received from their ancestors rather than endure Roman servitude.
Omni ora maritima celeriter ad suam sententiam perducta communem legationem ad P. Crassum mittunt, si velit suos recuperare, obsides sibi remittat.
All the sea‑coast being quickly brought to its own decision, they send a common embassy to P. Crassus, saying, “If you wish to recover your men, return the hostages to us.”
Quibus de rebus Caesar a Crasso certior factus, quod ipse aberat longius, naves interim longas aedificari in flumine Ligeri, quod influit in Oceanum, remiges ex provincia institui, nautas gubernatoresque comparari iubet.
Caesar, being informed of these things by Crassus, since he was so far distant himself, ordered ships of war to be built in the meantime on the river Loire, which flows into the ocean; rowers to be raised from the province; sailors and pilots to be provided.
His rebus celeriter administratis ipse, cum primum per anni tempus potuit, ad exercitum contendit.
These matters being quickly executed, he himself, as soon as the season of the year permitted, hastened to the army.
Veneti reliquaeque item civitates cognito Caesaris adventu certiores facti, simul quod quantum in se facinus admisissent intellegebant, legatos, quod nomen ad omnes nationes sanctum inviolatumque semper fuisset, retentos ab se et in vincula coniectos, pro magnitudine periculi bellum parare et maxime ea quae ad usum navium pertinent providere institunt, hoc maiore spe quod multum natura loci confidebant.
The Veneti and the other states, on being informed of Caesar’s arrival, realizing how great a crime they had committed, having detained the ambassadors—who in all nations had always been sacred and inviolable—and having them imprisoned, resolved to prepare for war in proportion to the great danger and especially to provide everything pertaining to the service of a navy, with greater confidence because they greatly relied on the nature of their situation.
Pedestria esse itinera concisa aestuariis, navigationem impeditam propter inscientiam locorum paucitatemque portuum sciebant, neque nostros exercitus propter inopiam frumenti diutius apud se morari posse confidebant;
They knew that the roads on land were short and that navigation was impeded because of our ignorance of the localities and the few harbours; and they did not trust that our army could stay long among them because of the insufficiency of corn.
ac iam ut omnia contra opinionem acciderent, tamen se plurimum navibus posse, neque Romanos ullam facultatem habere navium, neque eorum locorum ubi bellum gesturi essent vada, portus, insulas novisse;
Moreover, although everything seemed to happen contrary to expectation, they still thought they could do much with ships, that the Romans had no ability with ships, nor knew the shallows, ports or islands where they would have to wage war.
ac longe aliam esse navigationem in concluso mari atque in vastissimo atque apertissimo Oceano perspiciebant.
And they perceived that navigation was entirely different in an enclosed sea than in the vast and open Ocean.
His initis consiliis oppida muniunt, frumenta ex agris in oppida comportant, naves in Venetiam, ubi Caesarem primum bellum gesturum constabat, quam plurimas possunt cogunt.
Having begun these plans, they fortify their towns, bring corn from the fields into the towns, and force as many ships as possible to go to Venetia, where Caesar was thought to begin his war.
Sociis sibi ad id bellum Osismos, Lexovios, Namnetes, Ambiliatos, Morinos, Diablintes, Menapios adsciscunt; auxilia ex Britannia, quae contra eas regiones posita est, arcessunt.
They enlist as allies for that war the Osismii, the Lexovii, the Namnetes, the Ambiliati, the Morini, the Diablintes, the Menapii; and they call for auxiliaries from Britain, which lies opposite those regions.
Erant hae difficultates belli gerendi quas supra ostendimus, sed tamen multa Caesarem ad id bellum incitabant: iniuria retentorum equitum Romanorum, rebellio facta post deditionem, defectio datis obsidibus, tot civitatum coniuratio, in primis ne hac parte neglecta reliquae nationes sibi idem licere arbitrarentur.
There were these difficulties of waging war which we have shown above, but nevertheless many things urged Caesar to that war: the insult to the retained Roman cavalry, the rebellion raised after the surrender, the defection of the given hostages, the conspiracy of so many cities, chiefly that if this part were neglected the other nations might think the same thing was permitted to them.
Itaque cum intellegeret omnes fere Gallos novis rebus studere et ad bellum mobiliter celeriterque excitari, omnes autem homines natura libertati studere et condicionem servitutis odisse, prius quam plures civitates conspirarent, partiendum sibi ac latius distribuendum exercitum putavit.
Therefore, when he understood that almost all the Gauls were eager for new things and to be quickly and readily roused to war, and that all men by nature love liberty and hate the condition of slavery, before more states could conspire, he thought it advisable to divide and more widely distribute his army.
Itaque T. Labienum legatum in Treveros, qui proximi flumini Rheno sunt, cum equitatu mittit.
Thus he sends T. Labienus, his legate, with the cavalry to the Treveri, who are nearest the river Rhine.
Huic mandat, Remos reliquosque Belgas adeat atque in officio contineat Germanosque, qui auxilio a Belgis arcessiti dicebantur, si per vim navibus flumen transire conentur, prohibeat.
He charges him to go to the Remi and the other Belgians and to keep the Germans—who were said to have been summoned for help by the Belgae—in check, and to forbid them from trying to cross the river by force in ships.
P. Crassum cum cohortibus legionariis XII et magno numero equitatus in Aquitaniam proficisci iubet, ne ex his nationibus auxilia in Galliam mittantur ac tantae nationes coniungantur.
He orders P. Crassus, with twelve legionary cohorts and a great number of cavalry, to set out for Aquitania, so that auxiliaries from those nations would not be sent into Gaul and such great nations would not be united.
Q. Titurium Sabinum legatum cum legionibus tribus in Venellos, Coriosolites Lexoviosque mittit, qui eam manum distinendam curet.
He sends Q. Titurius Sabinus, his legate, with three legions to the Venelli, Curiosolitae and Lexovii, to see that this hand be kept apart.
D. Brutum adulescentem classi Gallicisque navibus, quas ex Pictonibus et Santonis reliquisque pacatis regionibus convenire iusserat, praeficit et, cum primum possit, in Venetos proficisci iubet. Ipse eo pedestribus copiis contendit.
He puts D. Brutus, a young man, in charge of a gallic fleet of ships, which he had ordered to be gathered from the Pictones and the Santones and other pacified regions; and, as soon as possible, he orders him to set out for the Veneti. He himself advances with the infantry.
Erant eius modi fere situs oppidorum ut posita in extremis lingulis promunturiisque neque pedibus aditum haberent, cum ex alto se aestus incitavisset, quod bis accidit semper horarum XII spatio, neque navibus, quod rursus minuente aestu naves in vadis adflictarentur.
The sites of their towns were generally such that, being placed on extreme points and promontories, they had neither a land approach when the tide rose from the main ocean (which always happened twice in a twelve‑hour period) nor a ship approach, because when the tide fell again the ships would be dashed upon the shoals.
Ita utraque re oppidorum oppugnatio impediebatur.
Thus, in both respects, the assault on the towns was impeded.
Ac si quando magnitudine operis forte superati, extruso mari aggere ac molibus atque his oppidi moenibus adaequatis, suis fortunis desperare coeperant, magno numero navium adpulso, cuius rei summam facultatem habebant, omnia sua deportabant seque in proxima oppida recipiebant: ibi se rursus isdem oportunitatibus loci defendebant.
And if at any time, overwhelmed by the magnitude of the work, they forced a mole out into the sea and made it equal to the town’s walls, their fortunes began to despair; with a great number of ships drawn up, whose whole capacity they possessed, they carried away all their properties and took refuge in the nearest towns, where they again defended themselves with the same local advantages.
Haec eo facilius magnam partem aestatis faciebant quod nostrae naves tempestatibus detinebantur summaque erat vasto atque aperto mari, magnis aestibus, raris ac prope nullis portibus difficultas navigandi.
These things made the summer easier for them, because our ships were held back by storms and the vast, open sea, with great tides and very few ports, making navigation difficult.
Namque ipsorum naves ad hunc modum factae armataeque erant: carinae aliquanto planiores quam nostrarum navium, quo facilius vada ac decessum aestus excipere possent; prorae admodum erectae atque item puppes, ad magnitudinem fluctuum tempestatumque accommodatae; naves totae factae ex robore ad quamvis vim et contumeliam perferendam; transtra ex pedalibus in altitudinem trabibus, confixa clavis ferreis digiti pollicis crassitudine; ancorae pro funibus ferreis catenis revinctae; pelles pro velis alutaeque tenuiter confectae, hae sive propter inopiam lini atque eius usus inscientiam, sive eo, quod est magis veri simile, quod tantas tempestates Oceani tantosque impetus ventorum sustineri ac tanta onera navium regi velis non satis commode posse arbitrabantur.
Their ships were built and equipped in this way: the keels were somewhat flatter than those of our ships, so they could more easily encounter shallows and the ebb; the prows were very high and the sterns likewise adapted to the magnitude of the waves and storms; the ships were wholly made of oak, capable of bearing much force and insult; the benches were made of planks a foot in breadth, fastened by iron spikes as thick as a man's thumb; the anchors were secured by iron chains instead of cables; and their sails were made of skins and thin, lightly sewn leather—either because of a lack of canvas and ignorance of its use, or because they thought that the great storms of the ocean and the violent gusts could not be resisted by sails, nor could such heavily laden ships be conveniently handled.
Cum his navibus nostrae classi eius modi congressus erat ut una celeritate et pulsu remorum praestaret, reliqua pro loci natura, pro vi tempestatum illis essent aptiora et accommodatiora.
When our fleet met these ships, it could match them in speed and the beat of the oars, while the others were better suited to the local conditions and the strength of the storms.
Neque enim iis nostrae rostro nocere poterant (tanta in iis erat firmitudo), neque propter altitudinem facile telum adigebatur, et eadem de causa minus commode copulis continebantur.
Indeed, our beaks could not harm them (they were so sturdy), nor could weapons be easily thrust at them because of their height, and for the same reason they were less easily grappled with nets.
Accedebat ut, cum saevire ventus coepisset et se vento dedissent, et tempestatem ferrent facilius et in vadis consisterent tutius et ab aestu relictae nihil saxa et cotes timerent; quarum rerum omnium nostris navibus casus erat extimescendus.
Moreover, when the wind began to rage and they gave themselves to it, they could more easily weather the storm and hold safely in the shallows, and, freed from the tide, they feared no rocks or shoals; all of this made the situation extremely dangerous for our ships.
Compluribus expugnatis oppidis Caesar, ubi intellexit frustra tantum laborem sumi neque hostium fugam captis oppidis reprimi neque iis noceri posse, statuit expectandam classem.
After many towns had been taken, Caesar, realizing that so much effort was spent in vain and that the enemy’s flight could not be prevented by taking towns, and that they could not be harmed, decided to await his fleet.
Quae ubi convenit ac primum ab hostibus visa est, circiter CCXX naves eorum paratissimae atque omni genere armorum ornatissimae profectae ex portu nostris adversae constiterunt; neque satis Bruto, qui classi praerebat, vel tribunis militum centurionibusque, quibus singulae naves erant attributae, constabat quid agerent aut quam rationem pugnae insisterent.
When it arrived and at first was seen by the enemy, about 220 of their ships, fully equipped and ornamented with every kind of naval implement, stood opposite ours; and Brutus, who commanded the fleet, and the tribunes and centurions of the soldiers, to whom the individual ships were assigned, could not determine what to do or what battle plan to adopt.
Rostro enim noceri non posse cognoverant; turribus autem excitatis tamen has altitudo puppium ex barbaris navibus superabat, ut neque ex inferiore loco satis commode tela adigi possent et missa a Gallis gravius acciderent.
They had learned that our beaks could not injure them; but with turrets raised, the height of the barbarian ships exceeded theirs, so that weapons could not be effectively thrust from a lower position and those thrown by the Gauls would strike with greater force.
Una erat magno usui res praeparata a nostris, falces praeacutae insertae adfixaeque longuriis, non absimili forma muralium falcium.
One thing prepared by us was of great use: sharp hooks inserted into and fastened upon poles, not unlike the hooks used in attacking town walls.
His cum funes qui antemnas ad malos destinabant comprehensi adductique erant, navigio remis incitato praerumpebantur.
With these ropes, which had been intended to bind the enemy’s yards to the masts, grasped and drawn in, the ships were forced forward with the oars.
Quibus abscisis antemnae necessario concidebant, ut, cum omnis Gallicis navibus spes in velis armamentisque consisteret, his ereptis omnis usus navium uno tempore eriperetur.
When the yards were cut away, the ropes necessarily fell, so that, as all hope of the Gallic ships rested on their sails and armament, with these taken away all use of the ships was simultaneously taken away.
Reliquum erat certamen positum in virtute, qua nostri milites facile superabant, atque eo magis quod in conspectu Caesaris atque omnis exercitus res gerebatur, ut nullum paulo fortius factum latere posset; omnes enim colles ac loca superiora, unde erat propinquus despectus in mare, ab exercitu tenebantur.
The remaining contest depended on courage, in which our soldiers easily prevailed, especially because the whole action was carried out in the sight of Caesar and the entire army, so that no act a little stronger could escape notice; for all the hills and higher places from which a view of the sea could be had were held by the army.
Deiectis, ut diximus, antemnis, cum singulas binae ac ternae naves circumsteterant, milites summa vi transcendere in hostium naves contendebant.
Having cut down the yards, as we said, while two or three of their ships surrounded each of ours, the soldiers strove with greatest energy to board the enemy’s ships.
Quod postquam barbari fieri animadverterunt, expugnatis compluribus navibus, cum ei rei nullum reperiretur auxilium, fuga salutem petere contenderunt.
When the barbarians observed this, after several of their ships had been taken, having found no aid, they tried to flee for safety.
Ac iam conversis in eam partem navibus quo ventus ferebat, tanta subito malacia ac tranquillitas extitit ut se ex loco movere non possent.
Having turned their ships to the quarter where the wind blew, a sudden calm and stillness arose so that they could not move from their place.
Quae quidem res ad negotium conficiendum maximae fuit oportunitati: nam singulas nostri consectati expugnaverunt, ut perpaucae ex omni numero noctis interventu ad terram per venirent, cum ab hora fere IIII usque ad solis occasum pugnaretur.
These events, indeed, gave the greatest opportunity for accomplishing the business: for they pursued and attacked individually, so that only a few of the whole number could reach the shore during the night, while fighting from about the fourth hour until sunset.
Quo proelio bellum Venetorum totiusque orae maritimae confectum est.
By this battle the war with the Veneti and the whole sea‑coast was concluded.
Nam cum omnis iuventus, omnes etiam gravioris aetatis in quibus aliquid consilii aut dignitatis fuit eo convenerant, tum navium quod ubique fuerat in unum locum coegerant; quibus amissis reliqui neque quo se reciperent neque quemadmodum oppida defenderent habebant.
For all the youth, and also all those of older age who possessed any counsel or dignity, had gathered together, and forced all the ships that were everywhere into one place; with these lost, the survivors had neither means to recover nor a way to defend their towns.
Itaque se suaque omnia Caesari dediderunt. In quos eo gravius Caesar vindicandum statuit quo diligentius in reliquum tempus a barbaris ius legatorum conservaretur. Itaque omni senatu necato reliquos sub corona vendidit.
Thus they surrendered themselves and all their possessions to Caesar. To these, Caesar decided to punish them more severely so that the rights of the envoys might be more carefully preserved from the barbarians; therefore, after having put the whole senate to death, he sold the remaining survivors into slavery.
Dum haec in Venetis geruntur, Q. Titurius Sabinus cum iis copiis quas a Caesare acceperat in fines Venellorum pervenit.
While these things were happening among the Veneti, Q. Titurius Sabinus, with the troops he had received from Caesar, arrived in the territories of the Unelli.
His praeerat Viridovix ac summam imperii tenebat earum omnium civitatum quae defecerant, ex quibus exercitum magnas copias coegerat; atque his paucis diebus Aulerci Eburovices Lexoviique, senatu suo interfecto quod auctores belli esse nolebant, portas clauserunt seque cum Viridovice coniunxerunt; magnaque praeterea multitudo undique ex Gallia perditorum hominum latronumque convenerat, quos spes praedandi studiumque bellandi ab agri cultura et cotidiano labore revocabat.
Viridovix, who held the supreme command of all those states that had revolted, and who had raised a large army, was placed under his authority; and in these few days the Aulerci, Eburovices and Lexovii, having killed his senate because they did not wish to be the causes of war, closed their gates and joined Viridovix; a great multitude of lost men and robbers from all over Gaul also gathered, whose desire for plunder and love of war had been called away from agriculture and daily labor.
Sabinus idoneo omnibus rebus loco castris sese tenebat, cum Viridovix contra eum duorum milium spatio consedisset cotidieque productis copiis pugnandi potestatem faceret, ut iam non solum hostibus in contemptionem Sabinus veniret, sed etiam nostrorum militum vocibus non nihil carperetur; tantamque opinionem timoris praebuit ut iam ad vallum castrorum hostes accedere auderent.
Sabinus, in a suitable place for all things, kept his camp, while Viridovix set himself opposite him at a distance of two miles and daily, with his forces, made attempts to fight, so that Sabinus was now not only contemptuous toward the enemy but also was being reproached by our soldiers; he gave such an impression of fear that the enemy dared to approach the rampart of the camp.
Id ea de causa faciebat quod cum tanta multitudine hostium, praesertim eo absente qui summam imperii teneret, nisi aequo loco aut oportunitate aliqua data legato dimicandum non existimabat.
He did this because, with so many enemies, especially in the absence of the one who held supreme command, he did not think it proper for the legate to fight unless an equal ground or some opportunity were given.
Hac confirmata opinione timoris idoneum quendam hominem et callidum deligit, Gallum, ex iis quos auxilii causa secum habebat.
Having this opinion of fear confirmed, he chose a suitable and clever man, a Gaul, from among those he had with him as auxiliaries.
Huic magnis praemiis pollicitationibusque persuadet uti ad hostes transeat, et quid fieri velit edocet.
He promises him great rewards and pledges, persuading him to go over to the enemy and teaches him what is to be done.
Qui ubi pro perfuga ad eos venit, timorem Romanorum proponit, quibus angustiis ipse Caesar a Venetis prematur docet, neque longius abesse quin proxima nocte Sabinus clam ex castris exercitum educat et ad Caesarem auxilii ferendi causa proficiscatur.
When the deserter came to them, he proposed the Romans’ fear, explaining how Caesar was being pressed by the Veneti, and that Sabinus would not be far away, because the next night he would secretly draw his army out of the camp and set out to bring aid to Caesar.
Quod ubi auditum est, conclamant omnes occasionem negotii bene gerendi amittendam non esse: ad castra iri oportere. Multae res ad hoc consilium Gallos hortabantur: superiorum dierum Sabini cunctatio, perfugae confirmatio, inopia cibariorum, cui rei parum diligenter ab iis erat provisum, spes Venetici belli, et quod fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt.
When this was heard, all declared that the opportunity to conduct the business well must not be lost: the camp must be reached. Many things encouraged the Gauls to this plan: Sabinus’s previous hesitation, the deserter’s confirmation, the shortage of provisions, the inadequate care taken of this, the hope of the Veneti war, and the fact that people generally believe what they wish.
His rebus adducti non prius Viridovicem reliquosque duces ex concilio dimittunt quam ab iis sit concessum arma uti capiant et ad castra contendant.
Induced by these things, they first dismissed Viridovix and the other leaders from the council before they were permitted to take up arms and advance to the camp.
Qua re concessa laeti, ut explorata victoria, sarmentis virgultisque collectis, quibus fossas Romanorum compleant, ad castra pergunt.
Having obtained this concession, they cheerfully, after the victory had been explored, gathered twigs and brushwood with which to fill the Roman ditches, and proceeded to the camp.
Locus erat castrorum editus et paulatim ab imo acclivis circiter passus mille. Huc magno cursu contenderunt, ut quam minimum spatii ad se colligendos armandosque Romanis daretur, exanimatique pervenerunt.
The camp was situated on a steep rise, about a thousand steps from the bottom. They hastened there in great numbers, so that as little space as possible was left for the Romans to assemble and arm, and they arrived exhausted.
Sabinus suos hortatus cupientibus signum dat. Impeditis hostibus propter ea quae ferebant onera subito duabus portis eruptionem fieri iubet.
Sabinus, having encouraged his men, gave the signal; with the enemy hindered by the burdens they were carrying, he ordered a sudden sally at the two gates.
Factum est oportunitate loci, hostium inscientia ac defatigatione, virtute militum et superiorum pugnarum exercitatione, ut ne unum quidem nostrorum impetum ferrent ac statim terga verterent.
It happened, by the advantage of the place, the enemy’s ignorance and fatigue, the bravery of the soldiers and the experience of the higher battles, that none of our men could carry the attack and they immediately turned their backs.
Quos impeditos integris viribus milites nostri consecuti magnum numerum eorum occiderunt; reliquos equites consectati paucos, qui ex fuga evaserant, reliquerunt.
Our soldiers, after restraining those hindered with full strength, killed a great number of them; the few remaining horsemen who had escaped from the flight were left behind.
Sic uno tempore et de navali pugna Sabinus et de Sabini victoria Caesar est certior factus, civitatesque omnes se statim Titurio dediderunt.
Thus, at the same time, and from the naval battle Sabinus, and from Sabinus’s victory, Caesar was made aware, and all the states immediately surrendered themselves to Titurius.
Nam ut ad bella suscipienda Gallorum alacer ac promptus est animus, sic mollis ac minime resistens ad calamitates ferendas mens eorum est.
For as the Gauls were eager and ready to take up war, so their mind was soft and least resistant to enduring calamities.
Eodem fere tempore Caesar, etsi prope exacta iam aestas erat, tamen, quod omni Gallia pacata Morini Menapiique supererant, qui in armis essent neque ad eum umquam legatos de pace misissent, arbitratus id bellum celeriter confici posse eo exercitum duxit; qui longe alia ratione ac reliqui Galli bellum gerere coeperunt.
At about the same time Caesar, although summer was almost ended, because the whole of Gaul was pacified and the Morini and Menapii, who were armed, had never sent him peace envoys, thought that the war could be concluded quickly and led an army; the other Gauls began to wage war in a different way.
Nam quod intellegebant maximas nationes, quae proelio contendissent, pulsas superatasque esse, continentesque silvas ac paludes habebant, eo se suaque omnia contulerunt.
Because they understood that the great nations that had fought were beaten and driven back, and that they possessed forests and marshes, they brought all their things there.
Ad quarum initium silvarum cum Caesar pervenisset castraque munire instituisset neque hostis interim visus esset, dispersis in opere nostris subito ex omnibus partibus silvae evolaverunt et in nostros impetum fecerunt.
When Caesar arrived at the edge of the woods and began to build a camp, and the enemy was not yet seen, the woods suddenly rose from all parts and attacked us.
Nostri celeriter arma ceperunt eosque in silvas repulerunt et compluribus interfectis longius impeditioribus locis secuti paucos ex suis deperdiderunt.
Our men quickly seized weapons, drove them into the woods, and after killing many, pursued them to farther, more difficult places, losing a few of their own.
Reliquis deinceps diebus Caesar silvas caedere instituit, et ne quis inermibus imprudentibusque militibus ab latere impetus fieri possit, omnem eam materiam quae erat caesa conversam ad hostem conlocabat et pro vallo ad utrumque latus extruebat.
In the following days Caesar ordered the woods to be cut down, and so that no one could be attacked from the side by the unarmed and reckless soldiers, he placed all the material that had been cut against the enemy and built a rampart on both sides.
Incredibili celeritate magno spatio paucis diebus confecto, cum iam pecus atque extrema impedimenta a nostris tenerentur, ipsi densiores silvas peterent, eius modi sunt tempestates consecutae uti opus necessario intermitteretur et continuatione imbrium diutius sub pellibus milites contineri non possent.
In incredible speed, in a great space in a few days, once the cattle and the extreme obstacles were held by us, they themselves sought denser woods; such storms followed so that the work had to be interrupted and the troops could not be kept under the blankets for longer due to the continual rains.
Itaque vastatis omnibus eorum agris, vicis aedificiisque incensis, Caesar exercitum reduxit et in Aulercis Lexoviisque, reliquis item civitatibus quae proxime bellum fecerant, in hibernis conlocavit.
Thus, after destroying all their fields, villages and burnt buildings, Caesar withdrew his army and stationed it in the Aulerci, the Lexovii and the other cities that had recently made war, for the winter.