The Seige of Caesar Book 7 chapters 63-90

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1 [63] Defectione Aeduorum cognita bellum augetur. Legationes in omnes partes circummittuntur: quantum gratia, auctoritate, pecunia valent1, ad sollicitandas civitates nituntur2; nacti3 obsides, quos Caesar apud eos deposuerat, horum4 supplicio dubitantes territant. Petunt a Vercingetorige ut ad se veniat 5 rationesque belli gerendi communicet. Re impetrata5 contendunt ut ipsis summa imperi6 tradatur, et re in controversiam deducta totius Galliae concilium Bibracte7 indicitur8. Eodem conveniunt undique frequentes9. Multitudinis suffragiis10 res permittitur: ad unum11 omnes Vercingetorigem probant imperatorem. Ab hoc concilio , , afuerunt: illi12, quod 10 amicitiam Romanorum sequebantur; Treveri, quod aberant longius et ab Germanis premebantur, quae fuit causa quare toto abessent bello et neutris auxilia mitterent. Magno dolore Aedui ferunt13 se deiectos principatu14, queruntur fortunae commutationem et Caesaris indulgentiam in se requirunt15, neque tamen suscepto bello suum consilium ab reliquis separare16 audent. Inviti 15 summae spei17 adulescentes Eporedorix et Viridomarus18 Vercingetorigi parent.

[64] Ipse19 imperat20 reliquis civitatibus obsides diemque ei rei constituit. Omnes equites, quindecim milia numero, celeriter convenire iubet; peditatu quem antea habuerit se fore contentum dicit, neque fortunam temptaturum aut in acie dimicaturum21, sed, quoniam abundet equitatu, perfacile esse factu22 frumentationibus pabulationibusque23 Romanos prohibere, aequo modo24 animo sua ipsi 5 frumenta corrumpant25 aedificiaque incendant, qua rei familiaris iactura26 perpetuum imperium

1 quantum valent: as much as they are able 2 ad sollicitandas civitates nituntur: strive to arouse the states 3 nacti: nanciscor, -i, nactus sum, obtain 4 horum: refers to the hostages 5 re impetrata: this thing having been achieved 6 summa imperi: subject of tradatur 7 : city in modern-day Burgundy, chief city of the Aedui 8 indicitur: indico, -ere, -dixi, -dictum, announce 9 frequentes: frequens, -ntis, numerous, crowded 10 suffragiis: suffragium, -i, n, vote 11 ad unum: to a man 12 illi: refers to Remi and Lingones 13 ferunt: fero, ferre, tuli, latus, endure, say [pick the meaning you like best] 14 principatu: principatus, -us, m, leadership 15 requirunt: requiro, -ere, requisivi, requisitus, miss, recall with regret 16 separare: separo, -are, separate 17 Inviti summae spei adulescentes: young men of greatest hope unwilling[ly] 18 Eporedorix and Viridomarus first appeared in Bk 7/35-40, 54-55; they are allies of Caesar. Eporedorix is a leader of the Aedui. 19 ipse: ; he is the subject of all the verbs 20 imperat: impero, -are, levy 21 dimicaturum: dimico, -are, fight 22 factu: to do (supine) 23 frumentationibus pabulationibusque: frumentationibus is food for humans; pabulationibus is food for horses; both mean grain. 24 modo: just, only 25 corrumpant: corrumpo, -ere, -rupi, -ruptum, destroy 26 iactura: iactura, -ae, f, loss

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libertatemque se consequi videant. His constitutis rebus Aeduis Segusiavisque, qui sunt finitimi provinciae, decem milia peditum imperat; huc addit equites octingentos1. His praeficit fratrem Eporedorigis2 bellumque inferri Allobrogibus3 iubet. Altera ex parte Gabalos4 proximosque pagos5 Arvernorum in Helvios6, item Rutenos7 Cadurcosque ad fines Volcarum Arecomicorum8 10 depopulandos9 mittit. Nihilo minus clandestinis nuntiis legationibusque Allobrogas sollicitat, quorum mentes nondum ab superiore bello10 resedisse11 sperabat. Horum principibus pecunias, civitati autem imperium totius provinciae pollicetur.

[65] Ad hos omnes casus provisa erant12 praesidia cohortium13 duarum et viginti, quae ex ipsa provincia ab Lucio Caesare14 legato ad omnes partes opponebantur15. sua sponte cum finitimis proelio congressi16 pelluntur et Gaio Valerio Donnotauro17, Caburi18 filio, principe civitatis, compluribusque aliis interfectis intra oppida ac muros19 compelluntur20. crebris21 ad 5 Rhodanum dispositis praesidiis magna cum cura et diligentia suos fines tuentur22. Caesar, quod hostes equitatu superiores esse intellegebat et interclusis23 omnibus itineribus nulla re ex provincia

1 octingentos: octingenti, -ae, -a, 800 2 Eporedorigis: Eporedorix, -rigis, m, Eporedorix 3 Allobrogibus: Allobroges, -um, m, Allobroges, a tribe that were allies of the Romans 4 Gabalos: , -orum, m, tribe in Aquitania; “as the Roman frontier was bent into an irregular curve by the line of the Cevennes, the would strike the Province in two directions, the Haedui from the north, the , etc., from the west…” Caesar’s Gallic War, Greenough, D’Ooge and Daniell, Boston, Ginn & Co., 1898, p. 432. 5 pagos: pagus,- i, m, district 6 Helvios: Helvi(i), -orum, m, tribe in southern Gaul, ally of the Romans 7 Rutenos: Ruteni, -orum, m, “Celtic people in the south of the Massif Central between the in the north, the in the west, the Gabali in the east and the in the south. Because they were vassals of the Arverni, part of their territory was taken by the Romans (R. provinciales) after the defeat of King Bituitus in 121 BC. In 52 BC, they sent 12,000 men to Alesia (Caes. B Gall. 7,75).” Source: Demarolle, Jeanne-Marie (Nancy). "Ruteni." Brill’s New Pauly. Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider. Brill Online, 2014. Reference. 05 December 2014 http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/brill-s-new- pauly/ruteni-e1025990 First appeared online: 2006 First Print Edition: 9789004122598, 20110510 8 Volcarum Arecomicorum: the Volcae tribe was divided into 2 groups, of which the were one; they were in Transalpine Gaul. 9 depopulandos: depopulo, -are, destroy 10 61 BC, when their chief Catugnatus had been beaten by the Romans after he tried to rebel. 11 resedisse: resedeo, -ere, -sedi, -sessum, settle 12 provisa erant: provideo, -ere, -vidi, -visum, provide 13 cohortium: not legionary troops but auxiliaries levied in the Province (Greenough p. 438) 14 Lucius Caesar was a distant relative of and had been consul in 64 BC. 15 opponebantur: oppono,- ere, opposui, oppositum, place opposite; oppose 16 proelio congressi: having joined in battle 17 Donnotaurus is the brother of C Valerius Procillus, who was sent by Caesar as envoy to Ariovistus in Bk I.47 of the ; Procillus was put into chains by Ariovistus but later saved by Caesar himself (I.53). 18 Caburus had been given Roman citizenship. 19 muros: “strongholds – not simply the walls of the oppido.” (Greenough p. 438) 20 compelluntur: compello, -ere, -pulsi, -pulsum, enclose; note use of pelluntur just before 21 crebris: creber,- ris, -re, numerous; frequent 22 tuentur: tueor,- eri, tutus sum, watch over 23 interclusis: “from this we see how much Caesar was hampered and weakened by the skillful plan of campaign that Vercingetorix employed against him.” (Greenough p. 438)

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atque Italia sublevari1 poterat, trans Rhenum in Germaniam mittit ad eas civitates quas superioribus annis pacaverat, equitesque ab his arcessit2 et levis armaturae3 pedites, qui inter eos4 proeliari consuerant5. Eorum adventu, quod minus idoneis equis utebantur, a tribunis militum reliquisque 10 equitibus Romanis atque evocatis6 equos sumit Germanisque7 distribuit.

[66] Interea, dum haec geruntur, hostium copiae ex Arvernis equitesque qui toti Galliae erant imperati conveniunt. Magno horum coacto numero, cum Caesar in Sequanos per extremos Lingonum fines8 iter faceret, quo facilius subsidium provinciae ferri posset9, circiter milia passuum decem ab Romanis trinis10 castris Vercingetorix consedit convocatisque ad concilium praefectis equitum venisse 5 tempus victoriae demonstrat. Fugere11 in provinciam Romanos Galliaque excedere. Id sibi ad praesentem12 obtinendam libertatem satis esse; ad reliqui temporis pacem atque otium parum profici13: maioribus enim coactis copiis reversuros neque finem bellandi facturos14. Proinde agmine impeditos15 adorirantur16. Si pedites17 suis auxilium ferant atque in eo morentur, iter facere non posse; si, id quod magis futurum18 confidat19, relictis impedimentis suae saluti consulant, et usu 10 rerum necessariarum et dignitate spoliatum iri20. Nam de equitibus hostium21, quin22 nemo eorum progredi modo extra agmen audeat, et ipsos quidem non debere dubitare, et quo maiore faciant animo23, copias se24 omnes pro1 castris habiturum et terrori hostibus futurum. Conclamant equites

1 sublevari: sublevo, -are, assist 2 arcessit: arcessio, -ere, -cessi, -cessum, summon 3 levis armaturae: genitive with pedites 4 inter eos: i.e., on the side of the equites 5 consuerant: syncopated form of consueverant 6 evocatis: evocatus, -i, m, veteran (men who come back for limited duty and with more rights than the usual soldiers) 7 Germanisque: and among the Germans 8 fines: “bearing from near Agedincum (where he had been joined by Labienus, ch. 62) toward the east, and so leaving the hostile Haedui to the south. This movement, checked by the attack of Vercingetorix, explains how the crisis of the campaign came to be the seige and capture of Alesia.” (Greenough p 438) 9 posset: imperfect subjunctive in comparative purpose clause (quo facilius) 10 trinis: trini, -ae, -a, three; refers to Vercingetorix’ camps 11 fugere and the following infinitives are part of the indirect statement based on demonstrat in the prior sentence. 12 praesentem: for the time being 13 parum profici: too little to be accomplished 14 neque finem bellandi facturos: i.e., they would keep fighting them 15 impeditos: refers to the Romans 16 adoriantur: adorior,- i, -ortus sum, attack (subject is the Gauls) 17 pedites: refers to the Romans and is the subject of the sentence. “The attack was to be made on the baggage train, which was guarded by cavalry. Vercingetorix knew Caesar’s weakness in this arm, and did not suspect the German reinforcement. If the infantry stopped to assist the cavalry (suis) the march would be delayed.” (Greenough p 438-9) 18 magis futurum: is more likely 19 confidat: confido, -ere, confisus sum, be confident 20 spoliatum iri: they would be stripped 21 the Romans. “even the Gauls whom he was addressing could not suppose that the Roman cavalry would wish an engagement.” (Greenough p 439) 22 quin goes with dubitare in the next line after non debere as the main verb: ought not doubt that; ipsos is the subject 23 maiore faciant animo: make them greater/braver in spirit 24 se: subject of habiturum and futurum; se is Vercingetorix

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sanctissimo iure iurando2 confirmari oportere3, ne tecto recipiatur4, ne ad liberos, ne ad parentes, ad uxorem aditum habeat, qui non bis per agmen hostium perequitasset.

[67] Probata re atque omnibus iure iurando adactis5 postero die in tres partes distributo equitatu duae se acies ab duobus lateribus ostendunt, una6 primo agmine iter impedire coepit. Qua re nuntiata Caesar suum quoque equitatum tripertito divisum 5 contra hostem ire iubet. Pugnatur una7 omnibus in partibus. Consistit agmen; impedimenta intra legiones recipiuntur. Si qua in parte nostri laborare aut gravius premi videbantur, eo signa inferri Caesar aciemque constitui iubebat; quae res et hostes ad insequendum tardabat et nostros spe auxili confirmabat. Tandem 10 Germani ab dextro latere summum iugum nacti hostes loco depellunt; fugientes8 usque ad flumen9, ubi Vercingetorix cum pedestribus copiis consederat, persequuntur compluresque interficiunt. Qua re animadversa reliqui ne circumirentur veriti10 se fugae mandant. Omnibus locis fit caedes. Tres nobilissimi Aedui 15 capti ad Caesarem perducuntur: Cotus11, praefectus equitum, qui controversiam cum Convictolitavi proximis comitiis12 habuerat, et Cavarillus, qui post defectionem Litavicci pedestribus copiis praefuerat, et Eporedorix13, quo duce ante adventum Caesaris Aedui cum Sequanis bello contenderant.14

[68] Fugato omni equitatu Vercingetorix copias, ut pro castris collocaverat, reduxit protinusque Alesiam15, quod est oppidum Mandubiorum, iter facere coepit celeriterque impedimenta ex castris

1 pro: in front of 2 iure iurando: oath (in ablative) 3 confirmari oportere: they ought to bind themselves 4 recipiatur: subject is implied “one”; the idea is that no one could desert/go back home 5 adactis: adigo, -ere, -egi, -actus, bind [by oath] 6 una [acies] 7 una: at the same time 8 fugientes: object of persequuntur; refers to the Gauls 9 flumen: the Vingeanne 10 veriti: vereor, -i, veritus sum, fear 11 Cotus: an H/Aeduan 12 proximis comitiis: at the last election/voting 13 Eporedorix: unknown whether this is the same Eporedorix as before 14 map from Greenough p 230 15 Alesiam: “this famous fortress (now called Alise Ste. Reine) was on the territory lying just north of the Haeuan frontier. Its natural advantages – summer up in the succeeding chapters – are thus described: ‘Alesia, like Gergovia, is on a hill sloping off all around, with steep and, in places, precipitous sides. It lies between two small rivers, both of which fall into the Brenne, and then into the Seine. Into this peninsula, with the rivers on each side of him, Vercingetorix had thrown himself with 80,000 men. Alesia as a position was impregnable except to famine. The water supply was secure. The position was of extraordinary strength. The rivers formed natural trenches. Below the town, to the west, they ran parallel for three miles through an open alluvial plain before they reached the Brenne. In every other direction rose rocky hills of equal height with the central plateau, originally perhaps one wide tableland, through which the water had ploughed out the valley. To attack Vercingetorix where he had placed himself was out of the question; but to blockade him there, to

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educi et se subsequi iussit. Caesar impedimentis in proximum collem deductis, duabus legionibus 1 praesidio relictis, secutus quantum diei tempus est passum , circiter tribus 5 milibus hostium ex novissimo agmine interfectis altero die ad Alesiam 2 castra fecit. Perspecto urbis situ perterritisque hostibus, quod equitatu, qua maxime parte exercitus confidebant, erant pulsi, adhortatus ad laborem milites circumvallare instituit. Gallic city wall

[69] Ipsum erat oppidum Alesia in colle summo admodum edito3 loco, ut nisi obsidione4 expugnari

non posse videretur; cuius collis radices duo duabus ex partibus flumina subluebant5. Ante id

oppidum planities6 circiter milia passuum tria in longitudinem patebat: reliquis ex omnibus partibus 7 8 colles mediocri interiecto spatio pari altitudinis fastigio oppidum cingebant. Sub muro, quae pars collis ad orientem solem spectabat, hunc omnem locum copiae Gallorum compleverant fossamque et 5 maceriam9 sex in altitudinem pedum praeduxerant. Eius munitionis10 quae ab Romanis instituebatur

circuitus XI milia passuum tenebat11. Castra opportunis locis erant posita ibique castella viginti tria

facta, quibus in castellis interdiu12 stationes ponebantur, ne qua subito eruptio fieret: haec eadem

noctu excubitoribus13 ac firmis praesidiis tenebantur.

[70] Opere instituto fit equestre proelium in ea

planitie, quam intermissam14 collibus tria milia

passuum in longitudinem patere supra

demonstravimus. Summa vi ab utrisque contenditur. Laborantibus nostris Caesar 5 Germanos summittit legionesque pro castris Caesar’s entrenchment at Alesia constituit, ne qua subito irruptio ab hostium 1a: clippi 1b: lilia 1c: stimuli 5 peditatu fiat. Praesidio legionum addito nostris animus augetur: hostes in fugam coniecti se ipsi

multitudine impediunt atque angustioribus15 portis relictis coacervantur16. Germani acrius usque ad

munitiones sequuntur. Fit magna caedes: nonnulli relictis equis fossam transire et maceriam 10

capture the leader of the insurrection and his whole army, and so in one blow make an end with it, on a survey of the situation seemed not impossible.’” (Greenough p 439-40) 1 est passum: patior, -i, passus sum, allow 2 Perspecto urbis situ: the position of the city having been observed 3 edito: editus, -a, -um, high 4 nisi obsidione: unless by blockade/seige 5 subluebant: subluo, -ere, -ui, -utus, wash; flumina is the subject 6 planities: planities, -ei, f, plain 7 interiecto: interiectus, -a, -um, lying between 8 fastigio: fastigium,- i, n, peak (of a hill); take with pari altitudinis 9 maceriam: maceria, -ae, f, wall (of brick) 10 10 munitionis: “Caesar constructed a line of contravallation; i.e., a series of works entirely surrounding the town, so as to resist a sortie.” (Greenough p 440) 11 tenebat: subject is the wall 12 interdiu: by day 13 excubitoribus: excubitor,- is, m, watchman 14 intermissam: intermitto, -ere, -misi, -missum, set between (special usage) 15 angustioribus: “too narrow, either from unskillful construction or more easily to prevent the enemy’s entrance. The gates referred to were in the stone wall (maceria).” (Greenough p 440) 16 coacervantur: coacervo, -are, heap, pile up

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1 transcendere conantur. Paulum legiones Caesar quas pro vallo constituerat promoveri iubet. Non 2 minus qui intra munitiones erant perturbantur Galli: veniri ad se confestim existimantes ad arma 3 conclamant; nonnulli perterriti in oppidum irrumpunt. Vercingetorix iubet portas claudi, ne castra nudentur. Multis interfectis, compluribus equis captis Germani sese recipiunt.

[71] Vercingetorix, priusquam munitiones ab Romanis perficiantur, consilium capit omnem ab se equitatum noctu dimittere. Discedentibus mandat ut suam quisque eorum civitatem adeat 4 5 omnesque qui per aetatem arma ferre possint ad bellum cogant. Sua in illos merita proponit 6 7 obtestaturque ut suae salutis rationem habeant neu se optime de communi libertate meritum in 8 5 cruciatum hostibus dedant. Quod si indiligentiores fuerint, milia hominum delecta octoginta una 9 10 secum interitura demonstrat. Ratione inita se exigue dierum triginta habere frumentum, sed paulo 11 etiam longius tolerari posse parcendo. His datis mandatis, qua opus erat intermissum , secunda 12 vigilia silentio equitatum mittit. Frumentum omne ad se referri iubet; capitis poenam eis qui non 13 paruerint constituit: pecus, cuius magna erat copia ab Mandubiis compulsa, viritim distribuit; 14 15 10 frumentum parce et paulatim metiri instituit; copias omnes quas pro oppido collocaverat in

oppidum recepit. His rationibus auxilia Galliae exspectare et bellum parat administrare.

[72] Quibus rebus cognitis ex perfugis et captivis, Caesar haec genera munitionis instituit. Fossam 16 17 18 pedum viginti directis lateribus duxit, ut eius fossae solum tantundem pateret quantum summae 19 20 fossae labra distarent. Reliquas omnes munitiones ab ea fossa pedes quadringentos reduxit, [id] 21 22 23agger hoc consilio, quoniam tantum esset necessario spatium complexus , nec facile totum corpus 24 5 corona militum cingeretur, ne de improviso aut noctu ad munitiones hostium multitudo advolaret

1 paulum: in a short distance 2 veniri ad se confestim existimantes: thinking that an immediate attack is to be made upon them (Greenough p 434) 3 portas: these are the gates of the town, not the fortifications 4 per aetatem: at their age 5 merita: meritum,- i, n, claim (from mereor, eri, itus sum, deserve, claim) 6 obtestatur: obtestor, -ari, -atus sum, swear 7 se: refers to Vercingetorix; agrees with meritum 8 in cruciatum: for torture 9 ratione inita: an accounting/plan having been made 10 exigue: in short supply 11 qua opus erat intermissum: where the work had been interrupted (i.e., a gap in the Roman fortification) 12 capitis poenam: death penalty 13 viritim: individually; man by man 14 parce: sparingly 15 copias omnes: “not those that hold the fortification east of the town, but the outlying pickets on all the other sides.” (Greenough p 441) 16 directis lateribus: with straight sides; this would make it harder to cross. 17 solum: solum,- i, n, ground 18 tantundem: just as much; correlates with quantum 2 words later 19 labra: labrum, -i, n, lip, edge; 20 feet wide 20 quadringentos: quadringenti, -ae, -a, 400 21 necessario: by necessity 22 complexus: complector,- i, complexus sum, surround (with esset) 23 totum corpus: subject of cingeretur 24 de improviso: unexpectedly

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1 aut interdiu tela in nostros operi destinatos conicere possent. Hoc intermisso spatio duas fossas 2 quindecim pedes latas, eadem altitudine perduxit, quarum interiorem campestribus ac demissis 3 4 5 locis aqua ex flumine derivata complevit. Post eas aggerem ac vallum duodecim pedum exstruxit. 6 7 8 Huic loricam pinnasque adiecit grandibus cervis eminentibus ad commissuras pluteorum atque 10 aggeris, qui ascensum hostium tardarent, et turres toto opere circumdedit, quae pedes LXXX inter se 9 distarent .

plutei

plutei

agger

vallum with passageways

1 destinatos: destino, -are, assign 2 altitudine: altitudo,- inis, f, depth (here); height 3 campestribus ac demissis locis: in the level or deeper places 4 derivata: derivo, -are, draw off 5 aggerem: agger,- is, m, mound, ramp 6 Huic loricam pinnasque adiecit grandibus cervis eminentibus: to this he added breastworks [loricam] and battlements [pinnas] (on top of the wall) with large forked branches standing out [eminentibus] [cervis = horns, but means divided branches]/stakes put into the ground projecting outward] 7 commisuras: commissura, -ae, f, joint 8 pluteorum: pluteus, -i, m, shed, breastwork, moveable screen 9 distarent: with quae – purpose clause

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1 2 3 [73] Erat eodem tempore et materiari et frumentari et tantas munitiones fieri necesse deminutis 4 nostris copiis quae longius ab castris progrediebantur: ac non numquam opera nostra Galli temptare atque eruptionem ex oppido pluribus portis summa vi facere conabantur. Quare ad haec rursus 5 6 opera addendum Caesar putavit, quo minore numero militum munitiones defendi possent. Itaque 7 5 truncis arborum aut admodum firmis ramis abscisis atque horum delibratis ac praeacutis 8 9 10 11 cacuminibus perpetuae fossae quinos pedes altae ducebantur. Huc illi stipites demissi et ab 12 infimo revincti, ne revelli possent, ab ramis eminebant . Quini erant ordines coniuncti inter se atque 13 14 implicati; quo qui intraverant, se ipsi acutissimis vallis induebant . Hos cippos appellabant. Ante 15 16 17 quos obliquis ordinibus in quincuncem dispositis scrobes tres in altitudinem pedes fodiebantur 18 19 20 10 paulatim angustiore ad infimum fastigio . Huc teretes stipites feminis crassitudine ab summo 21 praeacuti et praeusti demittebantur, ita ut non amplius digitis quattuor ex terra eminerent; simul confirmandi et stabiliendi causa singuli ab infimo solo pedes 22 terra exculcabantur , reliqua pars scrobis ad occultandas insidias viminibus ac 23 24 virgultis integebatur. Huius generis octoni ordines ducti ternos inter se pedes 25 26 15 distabant. Id ex similitudine floris lilium appellabant. Ante haec taleae pedem longae 27 ferreis hamis infixis totae in terram infodiebantur mediocribusque intermissis spatiis

1 materiari: materior, -ari, -atus sum, get timber [verb from materia] 2 frumentari: frumentor, -ari, -atus sum, get grain {verb from frumentum] 3 necesse: translate with erat at beginning of sentence 4 copiis: “Caesar had about 50,000 men.” (Greenough p 441) 5 ad haec rursus opera addendum: to add again to these works 6 quo: = ut [comparative purpose clause] 7 abscicis: abscindo, -ere, abscidi, abscisus, cut away 8 horum delibratis ac praeacutis cacuminibus: their tops having been peeled and sharpened 9 perpetuae: perpetuus, -a, -um, continuous 10 quinos: quini, -ae, -a, five 11 stipites: stipes, stipitis, m, log, stake 12 eminebant: emineo, -ere, -minui, project 13 induebant: induo, -ere, -dui, -dutus: impale [with se] 14 cippos: cippus, -i, m, boundary [editors think this is a joke of the Roman soldiers, since it means both a boundary and a tombstone] 15 in quincuncem: 5 sides [like the 5 markings on a die]; diagonally 16 scrobes: scrobis, -is, f, ditch. “… with sloping sides, three feet deep, dug in eight rows, arranged, as we should say, in diamond-pattern, or as trees were planted in an orchard (in quincuncem), so that each should be equally distant from the six adjacent. A stout, sharp stake was set in each, packed with a foot depth of earth, its point projecting four inches, the pit being then loosely filled with twigs and brush. This funnel-shaped trap for man or beast the soldiers called a “lily-cup” (lilium).” (Greenough p. 442) 17 tres: agrees with pedes 18 fastigio: fastigium,- i, n, slope 19 teretes stipites: tapering stakes 20 feminis: femur, feminis, n, thigh [genitive with crassistudine] 21 praeacuti et praeusti: sharpened and hardened by burning 22 singuli ab infimo solo pedes terra exculcabantur: a foot of each [stake] was packed down with earth at the bottom. (Greenough p 442) 23 viminibus ac virgultis: with twigs and brushwood 24 octoni: octoni, -ae, -a, eight at a time 25 taleae: talea, -ae, f, block [subject of verb] 26 pedem longae: a foot long 27 ferreis hamis infixis: with iron hooks implanted

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1 omnibus locis disserebantur; quos stimulos nominabant. stimulus 2 3 [74] His rebus perfectis regiones secutus quam potuit aequissimas pro loci natura quattuordecim 4 milia passuum complexus pares eiusdem generis munitiones, diversas ab his, contra exteriorem hostem perfecit, ut ne magna quidem multitudine, si ita accidat, munitionum praesidia circumfundi possent; ac ne cum periculo ex castris egredi cogatur, dierum triginta pabulum frumentumque 5 habere omnes convectum iubet.

5 [75] Dum haec apud Alesiam geruntur, Galli concilio principum indicto non omnes eos qui arma ferre 6 7 possent, ut censuit Vercingetorix, convocandos statuunt, sed certum numerum cuique ex civitate 8 9 10 11 imperandum, ne tanta multitudine confusa nec moderari nec discernere suos nec frumentandi rationem habere possent. Imperant Aeduis atque eorum clientibus, Segusiavis, Ambivaretis, Aulercis 5 Brannovicibus, Blannoviis, milia XXXV; parem numerum 12 Arvernis adiunctis Eleutetis, Cadurcis, Gabalis, Vellaviis, qui sub imperio Arvernorum esse consuerunt; Sequanis, Senonibus, Biturigibus, Santonis, Rutenis, Carnutibus 13 duodena milia; Bellovacis X; totidem Lemovicibus; octona 10 Pictonibus et Turonis et Parisiis et ; [Suessionibus,] Ambianis, Mediomatricis, Petrocoriis, Nerviis, Morinis, Nitiobrigibus quina milia; Aulercis Cenomanis totidem; Atrebatibus [IIII milibus]; Veliocassis, Lexoviis et Aulercis Eburovicibus terna; Rauracis et Boiis bina; [XXX milia] universis civitatibus, quae Oceanum attingunt quaeque eorum consuetudine Armoricae 15 appellantur, quo sunt in numero Curiosolites, , Ambibarii, , Osismi, , , 14 . Ex his suum numerum non compleverunt, quod se suo nomine atque arbitrio cum 15 16 Romanis bellum gesturos dicebant neque cuiusquam imperio obtemperaturos ; rogati tamen ab 17 Commio pro eius hospitio duo milia una miserunt.

18 [76] Huius opera Commi, ut antea demonstravimus, fideli atque utili superioribus annis erat usus in 19 Britannia Caesar; quibus ille pro meritis civitatem eius immunem esse iusserat, iura legesque reddiderat atque ipsi Morinos attribuerat. Tamen tanta universae Galliae consensio fuit libertatis

1 stimulos: stimulus, -i, m, goad, trap 2 perfectis: perficio, -ere, -feci, -fectus, accomplish 3 quam potuit aequissimas: as similar as possible. “The line of circumvallation was parallel with the works just described, and distant from it about 700 feet. It was protected by a single ditch.” (Greenough p 442) 4 diversas: diversus, -a, -um, turned in a different direction 5 indicto: indico, -ere, -dixi, -dictum, proclaim 6 censuit: censeo, -ere, -ui, census, recommend 7 non convocandos: must not be called up 8 confusa: confundo, -ere, confudi, confusus, combine 9 moderari: modero, -ari, control 10 discernere: discerno, -ere, discrevi, discretus, separate 11 frumentandi: frumentor, -ari, obtain grain 12 adiunctis: together with 13 duodena: duodeni, -ae, -a, 12 14 suo nomine: on their own behalf 15 bellum gesturos: they would wage war 16 obtemperaturos: obtempero, -are, be submissive 17 map from Greenough p 235 18 opera fideli atque utili: faithful and useful work 19 immunem: free from tribute

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vindicandae et pristinae belli laudis recuperandae, ut neque beneficiis neque amicitiae memoria 5 moverentur1, omnesque et animo et opibus in id bellum incumberent2. Coactis equitum VIII milibus et peditum circiter CCL haec in Aeduorum finibus recensebantur3, numerusque inibatur4, praefecti5 constituebantur. Commio Atrebati, Viridomaro et Eporedorigi Aeduis, Vercassivellauno Arverno, consobrino6 Vercingetorigis, summa imperi traditur. His delecti ex civitatibus attribuuntur, quorum consilio bellum administraretur. Omnes alacres et fiduciae pleni ad Alesiam proficiscuntur, neque 10 erat omnium quisquam qui aspectum modo tantae multitudinis 7sustineri posse arbitraretur, praesertim ancipiti8 proelio, cum ex oppido eruptione pugnaretur, foris9 tantae copiae equitatus peditatusque cernerentur.

[77] At ei10, qui Alesiae obsidebantur praeterita11 die, qua auxilia suorum exspectaverant, consumpto omni frumento, inscii quid in Aeduis gereretur, concilio coacto de exitu suarum fortunarum consultabant. Ac variis dictis sententiis, quarum pars deditionem, pars, dum vires suppeterent12, eruptionem censebat, non praetereunda13 oratio Critognati videtur propter eius singularem et 5 nefariam crudelitatem. Hic summo in Arvernis ortus loco et magnae habitus auctoritatis14, "Nihil," inquit, "de eorum sententia dicturus sum, qui turpissimam servitutem deditionis nomine appellant, neque hos habendos civium loco neque ad concilium adhibendos15 censeo. Cum his mihi res sit16, qui eruptionem probant; quorum in consilio omnium vestrum consensu pristinae residere virtutis memoria videtur17. Animi est ista mollitia18, non virtus, paulisper inopiam ferre non posse. Qui se 10 ultro morti offerant facilius reperiuntur quam qui dolorem patienter ferant. Atque ego hanc sententiam probarem (tantum apud me dignitas potest19), si nullam praeterquam20 vitae nostrae iacturam fieri viderem21: sed in consilio capiendo omnem Galliam respiciamus, quam ad nostrum auxilium concitavimus22. “Quid hominum milibus LXXX uno loco interfectis propinquis consanguineisque nostris23 15 animi fore1 existimatis, si paene in ipsis cadaveribus proelio decertare2 cogentur? Nolite hos vestro

1 moverentur: subject is the Gauls 2 incumberent: incumbo, -ere, -bui, -butus, press on 3 recensebantur: recenseo,- ere,- ui, muster 4 numerus inibatur: ineo, ire, -ii, -itum, make a calculation 5 praefecti: praefectus, -i, m, commander 6 consobrino: consobrinus, -a, -um, cousin (first cousin on mother’s side) 7 aspectum modo tantae multitudinis: just the sight of so great a number 8 ancipiti: anceps, ancipitis, 2 fronts 9 foris: on the outside [of the wall] 10 ei = the Gauls 11 praeterita: praeteritus, -a, -um, past 12 suppeterent: suppeto,- ere, -ivi, -itum, be sufficient 13 non praetereunda: must not be omitted 14 magnae habitus auctoritatis: held in great authority 15 adhibendos: adhibeo, -ere, -ui, -itum, summon 16 Cum his mihi res sit: let my business/affair be with those 17 organization of sentence: (quorum in consilio) (omnium vestrum consensu) pristinae residere virtutis memoria videtur 18 mollitia: mollitia, -ae, f, weakness, effeminancy 19 tantum apud me dignitas potest: so much self-respect is able to be with me 20 praeterquam: except 21 viderem: contrary to fact with probarem above 22 concitavimus: concito, -are, stir up 23 propinquis consanguineisque nostris: dative with fore

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3 auxilio exspoliare , qui vestrae salutis causa suum periculum neglexerunt, nec stultitia ac temeritate 4 vestra aut animi imbecillitate omnem Galliam prosternere et perpetuae servituti subicere. An, quod 5 ad diem non venerunt, de eorum fide constantiaque dubitatis? Quid ergo? Romanos in illis 6 ulterioribus munitionibus animine causa cotidie exerceri putatis? Si illorum nuntiis confirmari non 7 8 20 potestis omni aditu praesaepto , his utimini testibus appropinquare eorum adventum; cuius rei timore exterriti diem noctemque in opere versantur. 9 “Quid ergo mei consili est? Facere, quod nostri maiores nequaquam pari bello Cimbrorum 10 11 Teutonumque fecerunt; qui in oppida compulsi ac simili inopia subacti eorum corporibus qui 12 aetate ad bellum inutiles videbantur vitam toleraverunt neque se hostibus tradiderunt. Cuius rei si 25 exemplum non haberemus, tamen libertatis causa institui et posteris prodi pulcherrimum iudicarem. Nam quid illi simile bello fuit? Depopulata Gallia Cimbri magnaque illata calamitate finibus quidem nostris aliquando excesserunt atque alias terras petierunt; iura, leges, agros, libertatem nobis 13 14 reliquerunt. Romani vero quid petunt aliud aut quid volunt, nisi invidia adducti, quos fama nobiles potentesque bello cognoverunt, horum in agris civitatibusque considere atque his aeternam 15 30 iniungere servitutem? Neque enim ulla alia condicione bella gesserunt. Quod si ea quae in longinquis nationibus geruntur ignoratis, respicite finitimam Galliam, quae in provinciam redacta iure 16 et legibus commutatis securibus subiecta perpetua premitur servitute."

[78] Sententiis dictis constituunt ut ei qui valetudine aut aetate inutiles sunt bello oppido excedant, 17 18 19 atque omnia prius experiantur , quam ad Critognati sententiam descendant: illo tamen potius utendum consilio, si res cogat atque auxilia morentur, quam aut deditionis aut pacis subeundam 20 condicionem. , qui eos oppido receperant, cum liberis atque uxoribus exire coguntur. Hi , 5 cum ad munitiones Romanorum accessissent, flentes omnibus precibus orabant, ut se in servitutem receptos cibo iuvarent. At Caesar dispositis in vallo custodibus recipi prohibebat.

1 animi fore: will be the spirits 2 decertare: decerto, -are, fight to the end 3 exspoliare: exspolio, -are, rob 4 prosternere: prosterno, -are, -avi, -atum, destroy 5 ad diem: at the day (expected) 6 animine cause: for the sake of their spirit [animine does not appear in any dictionary; seems to be related to animus; could also be animi ne] 7 omni aditu praesaepto: every approach having been blocked 8 testibus: testis, -is, m, witness; captured Romans were paraded here 9 nequaquam: by no means 10 Cimbrorum Teutonumque : the Cimbri were a German or Gallic tribe that came from Denmark; the Teutones were Gallic from the same area. 11 subacti: subigo, -ere, -egi, -actum, conquer 12 vitam toleraverunt: they endured life. What is Critognatus suggesting they do? 13 quid aliud: what else 14 invidia: invidia, -ae, f, envy, jealousy 15 ea: refers to bella in prior sentence 16 securibus subiecta: thrown down under the axes [of the lictors]. “… the sign not simply of military rule, but of bloody execution (as a servile insurrection would be revenged).” (Greenough p 444) 17 experiantur: experior,- iri, expertus sum, test 18 quam: = prius quam, before 19 potius: rather [use with quam in next line: rather than] 20 Hi = Mandubii

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[79] Interea Commius reliquique duces quibus summa imperi permissa erat cum omnibus copiis ad

Alesiam perveniunt et colle1 exteriore occupato non longius mille passibus ab nostris munitionibus

considunt. Postero die equitatu ex castris educto omnem eam planitiem, quam in longitudinem tria

milia passuum patere demonstravimus, complent pedestresque copias paulum ab eo loco abditas in

locis superioribus constituunt. Erat ex oppido Alesia despectus2 in campum. Concurrunt3 his auxiliis 5 visis; fit gratulatio4 inter eos, atque omnium animi ad laetitiam

excitantur. Itaque productis copiis ante oppidum considunt et

proximam fossam cratibus5 integunt6 atque aggere explent7 seque

ad eruptionem atque omnes casus comparant.

[80] Caesar omni exercitu ad utramque partem munitionum

disposito, ut, si usus veniat, suum quisque locum teneat et noverit,

equitatum ex castris educi et proelium committi iubet. Erat ex

omnibus castris8, quae summum undique iugum tenebant,

despectus, atque omnes milites intenti pugnae proventum9 5 exspectabant. Galli10 inter equites raros sagittarios11 expeditosque

levis armaturae12 interiecerant, qui suis cedentibus auxilio

succurrerent et nostrorum equitum impetus sustinerent. Ab his complures13 de improviso14 vulnerati

proelio excedebant. Cum15 suos pugna superiores esse Galli confiderent et nostros multitudine premi

viderent, ex omnibus partibus et ei qui munitionibus continebantur et hi qui ad auxilium convenerant 10 clamore et ululatu suorum animos confirmabant16. Quod in conspectu omnium res gerebatur17 neque

recte ac turpiter factum18 celari19 poterat, utrosque et laudis cupiditas et timor ignominiae20 ad

virtutem excitabant. Cum a meridie prope ad solis occasum dubia victoria pugnaretur, Germani una

in parte confertis turmis21 in hostes impetum fecerunt eosque propulerunt; quibus in fugam coniectis

sagittarii circumventi interfectique sunt. Item ex reliquis partibus nostri cedentes22 usque ad castra 15

1 colle: southwest of Alesia 2 despectus: despectus, -us, m, view downward, prospect 3 concurrunt: subject is the Gauls in Alesia 4 gratulatio: gratulatio, -onis, f, rejoicing 5 cratibus: cratis, -is, f, wickerwork, lattice 6 integunt: intego, -ere, -texi, -tectum, cover over 7 aggere explent: fill up with dirt; expleo, -ere, -evi, -etum, fill up; aggere: agger,- is, m, dirt, mound 8 castris: Gallic camp, as in chapter 79 9 proventum: proventus, -us, m, result 10 Galli: “the Gauls here adopt the German cavalry tactics…” (Greenough p 444) 11 raros saggitarios: a few bowmen [direct object] 12 expeditosque levis armaturae: and lightly equiped soldiers [direct object] 13 complures: Romans 14 de improviso: unexpectedly 15 cum: since 16 in lines 9-11 note the use of con as prefix: confiderent, continebantur, convenerant, confirmabant. Also note the use of suos vs nostros, ei qui vs hi qui. 17 res gerebatur: this thing was happening 18 factum: factum, -i, n, deed [literally: something done] 19 celari: celo, -are, hide 20 laudis cupiditas et timor ignominiae: note the chiasmus in the word placement and the opposite meanings of the nominatives and genitives. 21 confertis turmis: squadron [of horse] in close order [confertis] 22 cedentes: hostes cedentes

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insecuti sui colligendi facultatem non dederunt. At ei qui ab Alesia processerant maesti prope victoria desperata se in oppidum receperunt.

1 [81] Uno die intermisso Galli atque hoc spatio magno cratium, scalarum, harpagonum numero 2 effecto media nocte silentio ex castris egressi ad campestres munitiones accedunt. Subito clamore sublato, qua significatione qui in oppido obsidebantur de suo adventu cognoscere possent, crates 3 4 proicere, fundis , sagittis, lapidibus nostros de vallo proturbare reliquaque quae ad oppugnationem 5 5 pertinent parant administrare. Eodem tempore clamore exaudito dat tuba signum suis Vercingetorix atque ex oppido educit. Nostri, ut superioribus diebus, ut cuique erat locus attributus, ad munitiones 6 7 accedunt; fundis librilibus sudibusque quas in opere disposuerant ac glandibus Gallos proterrent. 8 Prospectu tenebris adempto multa utrimque vulnera accipiuntur. Complura tormentis tela 9 10 coniciuntur. At Marcus Antonius et Gaius Trebonius legati, quibus hae partes ad defendendum 10 obvenerant, qua ex parte nostros premi intellexerant, his auxilio ex ulterioribus castellis deductos summittebant.

[82] Dum longius ab munitione aberant Galli, plus multitudine telorum proficiebant; posteaquam 11 12 propius successerunt, aut se stimulis inopinantes induebant aut in scrobes delati transfodiebantur 13 aut ex vallo ac turribus traiecti pilis muralibus interibant. Multis undique vulneribus acceptis nulla 14 munitione perrupta, cum lux appeteret, veriti ne ab latere aperto ex superioribus castris eruptione 15 5 circumvenirentur, se ad suos receperunt. At interiores , dum ea quae a Vercingetorige ad 16 eruptionem praeparata erant proferunt, priores fossas explent, diutius in his rebus administrandis 17 18 morati prius suos discessisse cognoverunt, quam munitionibus appropinquarent. Ita re infecta in oppidum reverterunt.

19 [83] Bis magno cum detrimento repulsi Galli quid agant consulunt; locorum peritos adhibent: ex his 20 21 superiorum castrorum situs munitionesque cognoscunt. Erat a septentrionibus collis , quem 1 2 propter magnitudinem circuitus opere circumplecti non potuerant nostri: necessario paene iniquo

1 harpagonum: harpago, onis, m, grappling hook 2 campestres: campester, ris, re, level; on the plain 3 fundis: funda, ae, f, sling 4 proturbare: proturbo, are, drive away 5 parant: main verb

6 librilibus: librilis, e, weighing a pound 7 glandibus: glans, glandis, f, bullet thrown from a sling 8 prospectu: at the sight 9 Marcus Antonius: Mark Antony, one of the members of the Second Triumvirate. 10 Gaius Trebonius: a trust lieutenant of Caesar, later one of the conspirators who murdered him. 11 inopinantes: inopinans, ntis, unaware 12 se induebant: they were impaling themselves 13 pilis muralibus: “large darts hurled perhaps hurled by the engines” (Greenough p 445) 14 superioribus: “[Roman camp] on the higher ground to the north and south [see next chapter]” (Greenough p 445) 15 interiores [copiae] 16 priores: nearer 17 prius: translate this with quam in the second half of the sentence 18 re infecta: without having accomplished this 19 peritos: peritus, a, um, skilled, knowledgeable 20 septentrionibus: septentrio, onis, north 21 collis: “the camp of these two legions was on the southern slope of Mont Rea.” (Greenough p 445)

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loco et leniter declivi castra fecerunt. Haec Gaius Antistius Reginus et Gaius Caninius Rebilus legati 3 5 cum duabus legionibus obtinebant. Cognitis per exploratores regionibus duces hostium LX milia ex omni numero deligunt earum civitatum quae maximam virtutis opinionem habebant; quid quoque 4 5 pacto agi placeat occulte inter se constituunt; adeundi tempus definiunt , cum meridies esse videatur. His copiis Vercassivellaunum Arvernum, unum ex quattuor ducibus, propinquum 6 Vercingetorigis, praeficiunt. Ille ex castris prima vigilia egressus prope confecto sub lucem itinere 10 post montem se occultavit militesque ex nocturno labore sese reficere iussit. Cum iam meridies appropinquare videretur, ad ea castra quae supra demonstravimus contendit; eodemque tempore equitatus ad campestres munitiones accedere et reliquae copiae pro castris sese ostendere coeperunt.

7 8 [84] Vercingetorix ex arce Alesiae suos conspicatus ex oppido egreditur; crates, longurios , musculos , 9 falces reliquaque quae eruptionis causa paraverat profert. Pugnatur uno tempore omnibus locis, 10 atque omnia temptantur: quae minime visa pars firma est , huc concurritur. Romanorum manus 11 tantis munitionibus distinetur nec facile pluribus locis 12 5 occurrit. Multum ad terrendos nostros valet clamor, 13 qui post tergum pugnantibus exstitit, quod suum 14 periculum in aliena vident salute constare : omnia 15 enim plerumque quae absunt vehementius hominum mentes perturbant.

[85] Caesar idoneum locum nactus quid quaque ex parte geratur cognoscit; laborantibus summittit. 16 Utrisque ad animum occurrit unum esse illud tempus, testudo quo maxime contendi conveniat: Galli, nisi perfregerint 5 munitiones, de omni salute desperant; Romani, si rem obtinuerint, finem laborum omnium exspectant. Maxime ad superiores munitiones laboratur, quo Vercassivellaunum missum 17 1 demonstravimus. Iniquum loci ad declivitatem fastigium magnum habet momentum . Alii tela

1 circuitus: circuitus, us, m, circumference [in genitive here with magnitudine] 2 circumplecti: circumplector, i, plexus sum, surround 3 duces: subject of sentence 4 quoque pacto: and in what manner 5 definiunt: definio, ire, ivi, itum, assign 6 sub lucem: up to light = just before dawn 7 longurios: longurius, i, m, long pole 8 musculos: musculus, i, m, military shed [literally: little mouse] 9 falces: falx, cis, f, hook for tearing down walls 10 quae minime visa pars firma est: note interlocked word order (synchesis) – quae minime visa pars firma est 11 distinetur: distineo, ere, ui, tentus, keep apart 12 multum: much, quite (adverb); translate with valet: “tends greatly” (Greenough p 439) 13 qui: refers to clamor 14 constare: consto, are, depend upon; commentary on from quod to constare: “as the attack is both from without and within, the Romans in their fortifications have enemies both in front and in the rear, and the shouting of those in their rear tends to disconcert them. As they face the enemy they feel that their safety depends on the valor of those who are defending their rear.” (Greenough p 445) 15 absunt: are not there 16 utrisque ad animum occurrit: it occurs to both sides 17 iniquum loci ad declivitatem fastigium: “the unfavorable downward slope of the place. The Romans always aimed to have their camp where no higher grounds could command it.” (Greenough p 445)

15

2 coniciunt, alii testudine facta subeunt; defatigatis in vicem integri succedunt. Agger ab universis in munitionem coniectus et ascensum dat Gallis et ea quae in terra occultaverant Romani contegit; nec 10 iam arma nostris nec vires suppetunt.

[86] His rebus cognitis Caesar Labienum cum cohortibus sex subsidio laborantibus mittit: imperat, si 3 sustinere non posset, deductis cohortibus eruptione pugnaret; id nisi necessario ne faciat. Ipse adit 4 reliquos, cohortatur ne labori succumbant; omnium superiorum dimicationum fructum in eo die 5 atque hora docet consistere. Interiores desperatis campestribus locis propter magnitudinem 6 5 munitionum loca praerupta ex ascensu temptant: huc ea quae paraverant conferunt. Multitudine 7 telorum ex turribus propugnantes deturbant, aggere et cratibus fossas explent, falcibus vallum ac loricam rescindunt.

8 [87] Mittit primo Brutum adulescentem cum cohortibus Caesar, post cum aliis Gaium Fabium 9 10 legatum; postremo ipse, cum vehementius pugnaretur, integros subsidio adducit. Restituto proelio ac repulsis hostibus eo quo Labienum miserat contendit; cohortes quattuor ex proximo castello deducit, equitum partem sequi, partem circumire exteriores munitiones et ab tergo hostes adoriri 5 iubet. Labienus, postquam neque aggeres neque fossae vim hostium sustinere poterant, coactis una XL cohortibus, quas ex proximis praesidiis deductas fors obtulit, Caesarem per nuntios facit certiorem quid faciendum existimet. Accelerat Caesar, ut proelio intersit.

11 12 13 [88] Eius adventu ex colore vestitus cognito, quo insigni in proeliis uti consuerat, turmisque 14 15 equitum et cohortibus visis quas se sequi iusserat, ut de locis superioribus haec declivia et devexa 16 cernebantur, hostes proelium committunt. Utrimque clamore sublato excipit rursus ex vallo atque 17 omnibus munitionibus clamor. Nostri omissis pilis gladiis rem gerunt. Repente post tergum 5 equitatus cernitur; cohortes aliae appropinquant. Hostes terga vertunt; fugientibus equites occurrunt. Fit magna caedes. Sedulius, dux et princeps Lemovicum, occiditur; Vercassivellaunus Arvernus vivus in fuga comprehenditur; signa militaria septuaginta quattuor ad Caesarem referuntur: 18 pauci ex tanto numero se incolumes in castra recipiunt. Conspicati ex oppido caedem et fugam suorum desperata salute copias a munitionibus reducunt. Fit protinus hac re audita ex castris

1 momentum: momentum, i, n, importance 2 in vicem: in turn 3 deductis: deduco, ere, duxi, ductum, withdraw, lead away 4 dimicationum: dimicatio, onis, f, battle 5 interiores = Galli 6 praerupta: praeruptus, a, um, steep 7 Multitudine telorum ex turribus: translate this as one phrase 8 cum aliis [cohortibus] 9 integros: i.e., those who weren’t fighting 10 restituto: restituo, ere, ui, tum, restore 11 eius = Caesaris 12 insigni: insigne, is, n, mark [Caesar wore a bright red cloak into battle] 13 uti: utor, uti, usus sum, use 14 de locis superioribus: this is the higher ground that the Gauls are holding 15 devexa: devexus, a, um, steep; downward 16 excipit: excipio, ere, cepi, ceptum, follow 17 omissis: omitto, ere, misi, missum, lay aside 18 conspicati: the Gauls

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10 Gallorum fuga. Quod nisi1 crebris subsidiis ac totius diei labore milites essent defessi, omnes hostium copiae deleri potuissent. De media nocte missus equitatus novissimum agmen consequitur: magnus numerus capitur atque interficitur; reliqui ex fuga in civitates discedunt.

[89] Postero die Vercingetorix concilio convocato id bellum se suscepisse non suarum necessitatium2, sed communis libertatis causa demonstrat, et quoniam sit fortunae cedendum, ad utramque rem se illis3 offerre, seu morte sua Romanis satisfacere seu vivum tradere velint4. Mittuntur de his rebus ad Caesarem legati. Iubet arma tradi, principes produci. Ipse in munitione pro castris consedit: eo duces 5 producuntur; Vercingetorix5 deditur, arma proiciuntur. Reservatis6 Aeduis atque Arvernis, si7 per eos civitates reciperare8 posset, ex reliquis captivis toto exercitui capita singula9 praedae nomine distribuit.

[90] His rebus confectis in Aeduos proficiscitur; civitatem recipit. Eo legati ab Arvernis missi quae imperaret se facturos pollicentur10. Imperat magnum numerum obsidum. Legiones in hiberna mittit. Captivorum circiter viginti milia Aeduis Arvernisque reddit. Titum Labienum duabus cum legionibus et equitatu in Sequanos proficisci iubet: huic11 Marcum Sempronium Rutilum attribuit. Gaium Fabium 5 legatum et Lucium Minucium Basilum cum legionibus duabus in collocat, ne quam ab finitimis Bellovacis calamitatem accipiant. Gaium Antistium Reginum in Ambivaretos, Titum Sextium in Bituriges, Gaium Caninium Rebilum in Rutenos cum singulis legionibus mittit. Quintum Tullium Ciceronem et Publium Sulpicium Cabilloni et Matiscone12 in Aeduis ad Ararim rei frumentariae causa collocat. Ipse Bibracte hiemare constituit. His litteris cognitis Romae dierum viginti supplicatio13 10 redditur.

Note: the black and white illustrations come from Greenough; the color illustrations come from CANE. The maps on pages 5 and 10 come from Sophron Publishing. Map on next page: see where the legions are sent. Map from CANE.

1 nisi: had not (with essent defessi) 2 necessitatium: necessitas, tatis, f, necessity 3 illis = Romans 4 velint: the Gauls are the subject 5 Vercingetoris: “the fate reserved for this galland and ill-fated chieftain was to be kept for six years in chairns, and then, after being led in Caesar’striumphal procession, to be put to death. Plutarch in his ‘Life of Caesar’ describes the surrender as follows: ‘Vercingetorix, who was the chief author of al the war, putting on his best armor, and adorning his horse, came out of the gate, and rode round Caesar as he sat, then dismounted from his horse, threw off his armor, and remained sitting quietly at Caesar’s feet until he was led away to be reserved for the triumph.’” (Greenough p. 446) 6 reservatis: reservo, are, spare 7 si: whether (Greenough p 440) 8 reciperare: recipero, are, restore 9 capita singula: one person to each [soldier] 10 quae imperaret se facturos pollicentur: translate in this order – pollicentur se facturos quae imperaret 11 huic: refers to Titus Labienus 12 Cabilloni et Matiscone: at Cabillo and Matisco [names of towns] 13 supplicatio: supplicatio, onis, f, thanksgiving

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