A Complete Good Works Translation from De Bello Gallico 7.1-15
Caesar's seventh book opens with the secret councils of Gaul, the Carnutes' killing of Roman traders at Cenabum, Vercingetorix's rise among the Arverni, Caesar's winter crossing through the Cevennes, the movements around Gorgobina and Cenabum, and the Gallic decision to burn settlements while sparing Avaricum. The source is Roman war prose, but it preserves a continuous political and military view of the revolt's beginning.
Translation
Section 1
When Gaul was quiet, Caesar, as he had decided, set out for Italy to hold the assizes. There he learned of the killing of Clodius, and, after being informed of the senate's decree that all the younger men of Italy should swear together, he began to hold a levy throughout the whole Province. These things were quickly carried into Transalpine Gaul. The Gauls themselves added to the rumors and invented what the situation seemed to require: that Caesar was being held back by the disturbance in the city and could not come to the army amid such great dissensions. Driven by this opportunity, those who were already grieving that they had been subjected to the command of the Roman people began to form plans for war more freely and more boldly. The chiefs of Gaul announced councils among themselves in wooded and remote places and complained of the death of Acco. They showed that this same fate could fall upon them. They lamented the common fortune of Gaul. With every promise and reward they demanded men who would begin the war and at the risk of their own lives vindicate Gaul into freedom. Above all, they said, attention had to be given to this: before their secret plans were brought out, Caesar must be cut off from the army. This was easy, because the legions would not dare leave winter quarters while the commander was absent, and the commander could not reach the legions without a guard. Finally, it was better to be killed in battle than not to recover the old glory of war and the freedom they had received from their ancestors.
Section 2
When these matters had been discussed, the Carnutes declared that they would refuse no danger for the sake of the common safety, and promised that they would be the first of all to make war. Since for the present they could not secure one another with hostages without the matter being revealed, they asked that it be solemnly bound by oath and faith, with the military standards brought together, a ceremony that is held among them as the most serious sacred obligation, so that after the beginning of the war they would not be abandoned by the rest. Then, after the Carnutes had been highly praised and an oath had been given by all who were present, the time for the deed was fixed and they departed from the council.
Section 3
When that day came, the Carnutes, under Cotuatus and Conconnetodumnus as leaders, desperate men, rushed into Cenabum at the given signal and killed the Roman citizens who had settled there for the sake of trade. Among them was Gaius Fufius Cita, an honorable Roman knight, who was in charge of the grain supply by Caesar's order. They plundered their property. Report was quickly carried to all the states of Gaul. For wherever a greater and more notable event happens, they announce it by shouting through the fields and regions; others then receive it in turn and pass it on to the nearest people, as happened then. For the things done at Cenabum at sunrise were heard before the end of the first watch in the territory of the Arverni, a distance of about one hundred sixty miles.
Section 4
In a similar way there, Vercingetorix, son of Celtillus, an Arvernian and a young man of the highest power, whose father had held the chief place of all Gaul and had been killed by his state for that reason, because he was seeking kingship, called together his clients and easily set them on fire. When his plan was known, people ran to arms. He was blocked by Gobannitio, his uncle, and by the other chiefs, who did not think this chance should be tried; he was driven out of the town of Gergovia. Yet he did not stop. In the countryside he held a levy of the needy and desperate. With this band gathered, he brought over to his view everyone from the state whom he approached. He urged them to take arms for the cause of common liberty, and, after great forces had been gathered, he drove from the state the opponents by whom he had been cast out a little before. He was called king by his own people. He sent embassies in every direction and begged them to remain faithful. Quickly he joined to himself the Senones, Parisii, Pictones, Cadurci, Turoni, Aulerci, Lemovices, Andes, and all the rest who touch the Ocean; by the consent of all, command was handed over to him. With this power offered, he demanded hostages from all these states, ordered a fixed number of soldiers to be brought to him quickly, and set how many arms each state should make at home and by what deadline. Above all, he gave attention to cavalry. To the highest diligence he added the highest severity of command. By the greatness of punishment he forced the wavering. For a greater offense he killed by fire and every torture; for a lighter cause he sent men home with their ears cut off or with one eye gouged out, so that they might be a lesson to the rest and terrify others by the greatness of the penalty.
Section 5
After an army had quickly been gathered by these punishments, Vercingetorix sent Lucterius the Cadurcan, a man of the greatest daring, with part of the forces into the territory of the Ruteni. He himself set out into the territory of the Bituriges. At his arrival the Bituriges sent envoys to the Aedui, in whose trust they were, to ask for help, so that they might more easily withstand the forces of the enemy. The Aedui, by the advice of the lieutenants whom Caesar had left with the army, sent cavalry and infantry forces as help to the Bituriges. When they had come to the river Loire, which divides the Bituriges from the Aedui, they delayed there a few days and did not dare cross the river. They returned home and reported to our lieutenants that they had turned back because they feared the treachery of the Bituriges, whose plan, they had learned, was that if the Aedui crossed the river, the Bituriges on one side and the Arverni on the other would surround them. Whether they did this for the reason they announced to the lieutenants or were led by treachery, because nothing is established for us, does not seem something that should be set down as certain. After their departure, the Bituriges immediately joined themselves to the Arverni.
Section 6
When these things were reported to Caesar in Italy, and when he now understood that the affairs of the city had come into a more convenient condition through the courage of Gnaeus Pompeius, he set out for Transalpine Gaul. When he arrived there, he was affected by great difficulty over the way he could reach the army. For if he summoned the legions into the Province, he understood that they would have to fight a battle on the way while he was absent; but if he himself hurried to the army, he saw that his safety at that time could not rightly be entrusted even to those who seemed quiet.
Section 7
Meanwhile Lucterius the Cadurcan, sent among the Ruteni, brought that state over to the Arverni. Advancing among the Nitiobroges and Gabali, he received hostages from both, and, after a great band had been gathered, he strove to make an outbreak toward Narbo in the Province. When this was reported, Caesar judged that every plan had to be anticipated by going to Narbo. When he came there, he strengthened the fearful, placed garrisons among the provincial Ruteni, the Volcae Arecomici, the Tolosates, and around Narbo, places that bordered the enemy, and ordered part of the forces from the Province, and the reinforcement he had brought from Italy, to assemble among the Helvii, who touch the borders of the Arverni.
Section 8
After these things had been arranged, and after Lucterius had now been checked and removed because he thought it dangerous to enter among the garrisons, Caesar set out among the Helvii. Although Mount Cevenna, which separates the Arverni from the Helvii, blocked the road with very deep snow at the harshest time of the year, nevertheless the snow was cleared to a depth of six feet, and, after the roads had thus been opened by the greatest labor of the soldiers, he came to the borders of the Arverni. Since they were overwhelmed unexpectedly, because they thought themselves protected by Cevenna as by a wall, and because not even paths for a single person had ever been open at that time of year, Caesar ordered the cavalry to range as widely as possible and bring the greatest terror they could upon the enemy. These things were quickly carried by report and messengers to Vercingetorix. All the frightened Arverni surrounded him and begged him to look to their fortunes and not allow them to be plundered by the enemy, especially since he saw that the whole war had been transferred against him. Moved by their pleas, he moved camp from the Bituriges toward the Arverni.
Section 9
But Caesar remained two days in those places, because he had anticipated that these things would happen concerning Vercingetorix. Under the pretext of gathering reinforcement and cavalry, he departed from the army and put young Brutus in charge of these forces. He warned him to have the cavalry range as widely as possible in every direction, and said he would take care not to be absent from camp longer than three days. After arranging these matters, he came to Vienna by the greatest marches he could, unexpectedly to his own people. There he found fresh cavalry, which he had sent ahead many days before, and, stopping neither by day nor by night, he hurried through the territories of the Aedui into the territory of the Lingones, where two legions were wintering, so that, if any plan should be formed by the Aedui even against his safety, he might outrun it by speed. When he had arrived there, he sent to the remaining legions and gathered all into one place before news of his arrival could be reported to the Arverni. When Vercingetorix learned this, he led the army back again into the territory of the Bituriges, and from there set out to attack Gorgobina, a town of the Boii, whom Caesar had settled there after they were defeated in the Helvetian battle and had assigned to the Aedui.
Section 10
This matter brought Caesar great difficulty in forming a plan. If he kept the legions in one place for the remaining part of winter, he feared that after the tributaries of the Aedui were stormed, all Gaul would revolt, because it would seem that no protection had been placed in him for his friends. If he brought the legions out of winter quarters too early, he feared hardship from the grain supply because of difficult transport. Yet it seemed better to endure every difficulty than, after so great an insult had been received, to turn away the wills of all his own people. Therefore, after urging the Aedui about bringing up supplies, he sent ahead to the Boii men who would inform them of his coming and urge them to remain faithful and withstand the enemy's attack with great spirit. Leaving two legions and the baggage of the whole army at Agedincum, he set out for the Boii.
Section 11
On the next day, when he came to Vellaunodunum, a town of the Senones, he decided to attack it so that he would leave no enemy behind him and might use the grain supply more easily; in two days he surrounded it with a line. On the third day, when envoys were sent from the town about surrender, he ordered the arms to be brought together, the pack animals brought out, and six hundred hostages given. He left the lieutenant Gaius Trebonius to complete these things. He himself, so that he might make the march as quickly as possible, set out for Cenabum of the Carnutes. The people there had only then received news of the attack on Vellaunodunum; since they thought that matter would be drawn out longer, they were preparing a garrison to defend Cenabum and to send there. Caesar came there in two days. After placing camp before the town, because he was shut out by the time of day, he postponed the attack until the next day and ordered the soldiers to prepare whatever things were useful for it. Because a bridge over the river Loire touched the town of Cenabum, and because he feared they might flee from the town by night, he ordered two legions to keep watch under arms. A little before midnight, the people of Cenabum went out silently from the town and began to cross the river. When this was reported by scouts, Caesar sent in through burned gates the legions he had ordered to be ready and took possession of the town. Very few of the enemy were missing from being captured, because the narrowness of the bridge and roads had blocked the flight of the multitude. He plundered and burned the town, gave the plunder to the soldiers, led the army across the Loire, and came into the territory of the Bituriges.
Section 12
When Vercingetorix learned of Caesar's arrival, he stopped the attack and set out to meet Caesar. Caesar had decided to attack Noviodunum, a town of the Bituriges placed on his road. When envoys came from this town to ask that he spare them and look to their lives, Caesar, so that he might complete the remaining matters with the speed by which he had gained most things, ordered the arms to be brought together, the horses brought out, and hostages given. Part of the hostages had already been handed over, and the remaining matters were being handled, with centurions and a few soldiers admitted into the town to search out arms and pack animals, when the enemy cavalry was seen far off; it had gone ahead of Vercingetorix's column. As soon as the townspeople saw it and came into hope of help, they raised a shout, began to take up arms, close the gates, and fill the wall. The centurions in the town, when they understood from the signaling of the Gauls that some new plan was being formed by them, drew their swords, seized the gates, and recovered all their own men unharmed.
Section 13
Caesar ordered the cavalry to be brought out from camp and joined an equestrian battle. When his own men were now under pressure, he sent up about four hundred German horsemen, whom he had arranged from the beginning to have with him. The Gauls could not withstand their attack; they were thrown into flight, lost many men, and withdrew to the column. After they had been routed, the townspeople, terrified again, seized those by whose work they thought the common people had been stirred up, brought them to Caesar, and surrendered themselves to him. When these things had been completed, Caesar set out for Avaricum, the greatest and best-fortified town in the territory of the Bituriges and in the most fertile region of the land, because he trusted that, when this town had been received, he would bring the state of the Bituriges into his power.
Section 14
After so many continuous setbacks had been received at Vellaunodunum, Cenabum, and Noviodunum, Vercingetorix called his people to council. He taught that the war had to be waged by a very different plan from the one used before. Every effort had to be given to this: the Romans must be kept from fodder and provisions. This would be easy, because they themselves were strong in cavalry and because the season of the year helped them. Fodder could not be cut; the enemy would have to scatter and seek it from buildings, and all of them could be destroyed daily by cavalry. Besides this, for the sake of safety, the advantages of private property had to be disregarded. Villages and buildings ought to be burned in every direction for the distance from the road that the Romans seemed able to reach for the sake of foddering. Their own people had abundance of these things, because they would be helped by the resources of those in whose territory the war was being fought. The Romans would either not endure scarcity, or would advance farther from camp with great danger. It made no difference whether they killed the Romans themselves or stripped them of their baggage, for once that was lost the war could not be carried on. Moreover, towns ought to be burned when they were not safe from all danger by fortification and the nature of the place, so that they would not be refuges for their own people to avoid military service, nor be set before the Romans as a supply of provisions and plunder. If these things seemed heavy or bitter, they should judge this much heavier: their children and wives dragged into slavery, and themselves killed, which things must happen to the defeated.
Section 15
With this proposal approved by the consent of all, more than twenty towns of the Bituriges were burned in one day. The same thing happened in the other states. Fires were seen in every direction. Although almost everyone bore these things with great pain, they set this comfort before themselves: because victory was almost certain, they trusted that they would quickly recover what had been lost. In the common council they deliberated about Avaricum, whether it should be burned or defended. The Bituriges fell at the feet of all the Gauls, begging that they not be forced to set on fire with their own hands almost the most beautiful city of all Gaul, a guard and ornament to their state. They said they could easily defend it by the nature of the place, because it was surrounded by river and marsh on almost every side and had one very narrow approach. Permission was given to the petitioners, with Vercingetorix first arguing against it, then yielding both to their prayers and to the pity of the crowd. Suitable defenders were chosen for the town.
Colophon
This page translates Caesar, De Bello Gallico 7.1-15 from Latin for the Celtic continental expansion of the Good Work Library. Caesar's narrative is hostile and self-justifying; the translation preserves that frame while making the opening revolt source-unit available as evidence for Gallic political action and Vercingetorix's command.
Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.
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Source Text: Caesar, De Bello Gallico 7.1-15
Latin source text from The Latin Library's text of Caesar, De Bello Gallico, Book 7. This page gives the continuous opening revolt source-unit, from the Carnutes at Cenabum through Vercingetorix's rise and the decision to spare Avaricum.
Section 1
Quieta Gallia Caesar, ut constituerat, in Italiam ad conventus agendos proficiscitur. Ibi cognoscit de Clodii caede [de] senatusque consulto certior factus, ut omnes iuniores Italiae coniurarent, delectum tota provincia habere instituit. Eae res in Galliam Transalpinam celeriter perferuntur. Addunt ipsi et adfingunt rumoribus Galli, quod res poscere videbatur, retineri urbano motu Caesarem neque in tantis dissensionibus ad exercitum venire posse. Hac impulsi occasione, qui iam ante se populi Romani imperio subiectos dolerent liberius atque audacius de bello consilia inire incipiunt. Indictis inter se principes Galliae conciliis silvestribus ac remotis locis queruntur de Acconis morte; posse hunc casum ad ipsos recidere demonstrant: miserantur communem Galliae fortunam: omnibus pollicitationibus ac praemiis deposcunt qui belli initium faciant et sui capitis periculo Galliam in libertatem vindicent. In primis rationem esse habendam dicunt, priusquam eorum clandestina consilia efferantur, ut Caesar ab exercitu intercludatur. Id esse facile, quod neque legiones audeant absente imperatore ex hibernis egredi, neque imperator sine praesidio ad legiones pervenire possit. Postremo in acie praestare interfici quam non veterem belli gloriam libertatemque quam a maioribus acceperint recuperare.
Section 2
His rebus agitatis profitentur Carnutes se nullum periculum communis salutis causa recusare principesque ex omnibus bellum facturos pollicentur et, quoniam in praesentia obsidibus cavere inter se non possint ne res efferatur, ut iureiurando ac fide sanciatur, petunt, collatis militaribus signis, quo more eorum gravissima caerimonia continetur, ne facto initio belli ab reliquis deserantur. Tum collaudatis Carnutibus, dato iureiurando ab omnibus qui aderant, tempore eius rei constituto ab concilio disceditur.
Section 3
Ubi ea dies venit, Carnutes Cotuato et Conconnetodumno ducibus, desperatis hominibus, Cenabum signo dato concurrunt civesque Romanos, qui negotiandi causa ibi constiterant, in his Gaium Fufium Citam, honestum equitem Romanum, qui rei frumentariae iussu Caesaris praeerat, interficiunt bonaque eorum diripiunt. Celeriter ad omnes Galliae civitates fama perfertur. Nam ubicumque maior atque illustrior incidit res, clamore per agros regionesque significant; hunc alii deinceps excipiunt et proximis tradunt, ut tum accidit. Nam quae Cenabi oriente sole gesta essent, ante primam confectam vigiliam in finibus Arvernorum audita sunt, quod spatium est milium passuum circiter centum LX.
Section 4
Simili ratione ibi Vercingetorix, Celtilli filius, Arvernus, summae potentiae adulescens, cuius pater principatum Galliae totius obtinuerat et ob eam causam, quod regnum appetebat, ab civitate erat interfectus, convocatis suis clientibus facile incendit. Cognito eius consilio ad arma concurritur. Prohibetur ab Gobannitione, patruo suo, reliquisque principibus, qui hanc temptandam fortunam non existimabant; expellitur ex oppido Gergovia; non destitit tamen atque in agris habet dilectum egentium ac perditorum. Hac coacta manu, quoscumque adit ex civitate ad suam sententiam perducit; hortatur ut communis libertatis causa arma capiant, magnisque coactis copiis adversarios suos a quibus paulo ante erat eiectus expellit ex civitate. Rex ab suis appellatur. Dimittit quoque versus legationes; obtestatur ut in fide maneant. Celeriter sibi Senones, Parisios, Pictones, Cadurcos, Turonos, Aulercos, Lemovices, Andos reliquosque omnes qui Oceanum attingunt adiungit: omnium consensu ad eum defertur imperium. Qua oblata potestate omnibus his civitatibus obsides imperat, certum numerum militum ad se celeriter adduci iubet, armorum quantum quaeque civitas domi quodque ante tempus efficiat constituit; in primis equitatui studet. Summae diligentiae summam imperi severitatem addit; magnitudine supplici dubitantes cogit. Nam maiore commisso delicto igni atque omnibus tormentis necat, leviore de causa auribus desectis aut singulis effossis oculis domum remittit, ut sint reliquis documento et magnitudine poenae perterreant alios.
Section 5
His suppliciis celeriter coacto exercitu Lucterium Cadurcum, summae hominem audaciae, cum parte copiarum in Rutenos mittit; ipse in Bituriges proficiscitur. Eius adventu Bituriges ad Aeduos, quorum erant in fide, legatos mittunt subsidium rogatum, quo facilius hostium copias sustinere possint. Aedui de consilio legatorum, quos Caesar ad exercitum reliquerat, copias equitatus peditatusque subsidio Biturigibus mittunt. Qui cum ad flumen Ligerim venissent, quod Bituriges ab Aeduis dividit, paucos dies ibi morati neque flumen transire ausi domum revertuntur legatisque nostris renuntiant se Biturigum perfidiam veritos revertisse, quibus id consili fuisse cognoverint, ut, si flumen transissent, una ex parte ipsi, altera Arverni se circumsisterent. Id eane de causa, quam legatis pronuntiarunt, an perfidia adducti fecerint, quod nihil nobis constat, non videtur pro certo esse proponendum. Bituriges eorum discessu statim cum Arvernis iunguntur.
Section 6
His rebus in Italiam Caesari nuntiatis, cum iam ille urbanas res virtute Cn. Pompei commodiorem in statum pervenisse intellegeret, in Transalpinam Galliam profectus est. Eo cum venisset, magna difficultate adficiebatur, qua ratione ad exercitum pervenire posset. Nam si legiones in provinciam arcesseret, se absente in itinere proelio dimicaturas intellegebat; si ipse ad exercitum contenderet, ne eis quidem eo tempore qui quieti viderentur suam salutem recte committi videbat.
Section 7
Interim Lucterius Cadurcus in Rutenos missus eam civitatem Arvernis conciliat. Progressus in Nitiobriges et Gabalos ab utrisque obsides accipit et magna coacta manu in provinciam Narbonem versus eruptionem facere contendit. Qua re nuntiata Caesar omnibus consiliis antevertendum existimavit, ut Narbonem proficisceretur. Eo cum venisset, timentes confirmat, praesidia in Rutenis provincialibus, Volcis Arecomicis, Tolosatibus circumque Narbonem, quae loca hostibus erant finitima, constituit; partem copiarum ex provincia supplementumque, quod ex Italia adduxerat, in Helvios, qui fines Arvernorum contingunt, convenire iubet.
Section 8
His rebus comparatis, represso iam Lucterio et remoto, quod intrare intra praesidia periculosum putabat, in Helvios proficiscitur. Etsi mons Cevenna, qui Arvernos ab Helviis discludit, durissimo tempore anni altissima nive iter impediebat, tamen discussa nive sex in altitudinem pedum atque ita viis patefactis summo militum sudore ad fines Arvernorum pervenit. Quibus oppressis inopinantibus, quod se Cevenna ut muro munitos existimabant, ac ne singulari quidem umquam homini eo tempore anni semitae patuerant, equitibus imperat, ut quam latissime possint vagentur et quam maximum hostibus terrorem inferant. Celeriter haec fama ac nuntiis ad Vercingetorigem perferuntur; quem perterriti omnes Arverni circumsistunt atque obsecrant, ut suis fortunis consulat, neve ab hostibus diripiantur, praesertim cum videat omne ad se bellum translatum. Quorum ille precibus permotus castra ex Biturigibus movet in Arvernos versus.
Section 9
At Caesar biduum in his locis moratus, quod haec de Vercingetorige usu ventura opinione praeceperat, per causam supplementi equitatusque cogendi ab exercitu discedit; Brutum adulescentem his copiis praeficit; hunc monet, ut in omnes partes equites quam latissime pervagentur: daturum se operam, ne longius triduo ab castris absit. His constitutis rebus suis inopinantibus quam maximis potest itineribus Viennam pervenit. Ibi nactus recentem equitatum, quem multis ante diebus eo praemiserat, neque diurno neque nocturno itinere intermisso per fines Aeduorum in Lingones contendit, ubi duae legiones hiemabant, ut, si quid etiam de sua salute ab Aeduis iniretur consili, celeritate praecurreret. Eo cum pervenisset, ad reliquas legiones mittit priusque omnes in unum locum cogit quam de eius adventu Arvernis nuntiari posset. Hac re cognita Vercingetorix rursus in Bituriges exercitum reducit atque inde profectus Gorgobinam, Boiorum oppidum, quos ibi Helvetico proelio victos Caesar collocaverat Aeduisque attribuerat, oppugnare instituit.
Section 10
Magnam haec res Caesari difficultatem ad consilium capiendum adferebat, si reliquam partem hiemis uno loco legiones contineret, ne stipendiariis Aeduorum expugnatis cuncta Gallia deficeret, quod nullum amicis in eo praesidium videretur positum esse; si maturius ex hibernis educeret, ne ab re frumentaria duris subvectionibus laboraret. Praestare visum est tamen omnis difficultates perpeti, quam tanta contumelia accepta omnium suorum voluntates alienare. Itaque cohortatus Aeduos de supportando commeatu praemittit ad Boios qui de suo adventu doceant hortenturque ut in fide maneant atque hostium impetum magno animo sustineant. Duabus Agedinci legionibus atque impedimentis totius exercitus relictis ad Boios proficiscitur.
Section 11
Altero die cum ad oppidum Senonum Vellaunodunum venisset, ne quem post se hostem relinqueret, quo expeditiore re frumentaria uteretur, oppugnare instituit idque biduo circumvallavit; tertio die missis ex oppido legatis de deditione arma conferri, iumenta produci, sescentos obsides dari iubet. Ea qui conficeret, Gaium Trebonium legatum relinquit. Ipse, ut quam primum iter faceret, Cenabum Carnutum proficiscitur; qui tum primum allato nuntio de oppugnatione Vellaunoduni, cum longius eam rem ductum iri existimarent, praesidium Cenabi tuendi causa, quod eo mitterent, comparabant. Huc biduo pervenit. Castris ante oppidum positis diei tempore exclusus in posterum oppugnationem differt quaeque ad eam rem usui sint militibus imperat et, quod oppidum Cenabum pons fluminis Ligeris contingebat, veritus ne noctu ex oppido profugerent, duas legiones in armis excubare iubet. Cenabenses paulo ante mediam noctem silentio ex oppido egressi flumen transire coeperunt. Qua re per exploratores nuntiata Caesar legiones quas expeditas esse iusserat portis incensis intromittit atque oppido potitur, perpaucis ex hostium numero desideratis quin cuncti caperentur, quod pontis atque itinerum angustiae multitudinis fugam intercluserant. Oppidum diripit atque incendit, praedam militibus donat, exercitum Ligerem traducit atque in Biturigum fines pervenit.
Section 12
Vercingetorix, ubi de Caesaris adventu cognovit, oppugnatione destitit atque obviam Caesari proficiscitur. Ille oppidum Biturigum positum in via Noviodunum oppugnare instituerat. Quo ex oppido cum legati ad eum venissent oratum ut sibi ignosceret suaeque vitae consuleret, ut celeritate reliquas res conficeret, qua pleraque erat consecutus, arma conferri, equos produci, obsides dari iubet. Parte iam obsidum tradita, cum reliqua administrarentur, centurionibus et paucis militibus intromissis, qui arma iumentaque conquirerent, equitatus hostium procul visus est, qui agmen Vercingetorigis antecesserat. Quem simul atque oppidani conspexerunt atque in spem auxili venerunt, clamore sublato arma capere, portas claudere, murum complere coeperunt. Centuriones in oppido, cum ex significatione Gallorum novi aliquid ab eis iniri consili intellexissent, gladiis destrictis portas occupaverunt suosque omnes incolumes receperunt.
Section 13
Caesar ex castris equitatum educi iubet, proelium equestre committit: laborantibus iam suis Germanos equites circiter CCCC summittit, quos ab initio habere secum instituerat. Eorum impetum Galli sustinere non potuerunt atque in fugam coniecti multis amissis se ad agmen receperunt. Quibus profligatis rursus oppidani perterriti comprehensos eos, quorum opera plebem concitatam existimabant, ad Caesarem perduxerunt seseque ei dediderunt. Quibus rebus confectis, Caesar ad oppidum Avaricum, quod erat maximum munitissimumque in finibus Biturigum atque agri fertilissima regione, profectus est, quod eo oppido recepto civitatem Biturigum se in potestatem redacturum confidebat.
Section 14
Vercingetorix tot continuis incommodis Vellaunoduni, Cenabi, Novioduni acceptis suos ad concilium convocat. Docet longe alia ratione esse bellum gerendum atque antea gestum sit. Omnibus modis huic rei studendum, ut pabulatione et commeatu Romani prohibeantur. Id esse facile, quod equitatu ipsi abundent et quod anni tempore subleventur. Pabulum secari non posse; necessario dispersos hostes ex aedificiis petere: hos omnes cotidie ab equitibus deleri posse. Praeterea salutis causa rei familiaris commoda neglegenda: vicos atque aedificia incendi oportere hoc spatio ab via quoque versus, quo pabulandi causa adire posse videantur. Harum ipsis rerum copiam suppetere, quod, quorum in finibus bellum geratur, eorum opibus subleventur: Romanos aut inopiam non laturos aut magno periculo longius ab castris processuros; neque interesse, ipsosne interficiant, impedimentisne exuant, quibus amissis bellum geri non possit. Praeterea oppida incendi oportere, quae non munitione et loci natura ab omni sint periculo tuta, neu suis sint ad detractandam militiam receptacula neu Romanis proposita ad copiam commeatus praedamque tollendam. Haec si gravia aut acerba videantur, multo illa gravius aestimare, liberos, coniuges in servitutem abstrahi, ipsos interfici; quae sit necesse accidere victis.
Section 15
Omnium consensu hac sententia probata uno die amplius XX urbes Biturigum incenduntur. Hoc idem fit in reliquis civitatibus: in omnibus partibus incendia conspiciuntur; quae etsi magno cum dolore omnes ferebant, tamen hoc sibi solati proponebant, quod se prope explorata victoria celeriter amissa reciperaturos confidebant. Deliberatur de Avarico in communi concilio, incendi placeret an defendi. Procumbunt omnibus Gallis ad pedes Bituriges, ne pulcherrimam prope totius Galliae urbem, quae praesidio et ornamento sit civitati, suis manibus succendere cogerentur: facile se loci natura defensuros dicunt, quod prope ex omnibus partibus flumine et palude circumdata unum habeat et perangustum aditum. Datur petentibus venia dissuadente primo Vercingetorige, post concedente et precibus ipsorum et misericordia vulgi. Defensores oppido idonei deliguntur.
Source Colophon
The Latin source was captured from The Latin Library on 2026-05-13 and inspected on disk at Tulku/Tools/celtic/sources/continental_batch_2026-05-13/caesar_gallic_war_7_latin_library.html. The English translation is a New Tianmu Anglican Church Good Works Translation made from the Latin source.
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