WAR AND CONQUEST IN GAUL

Selections from Caesar’s Commentāriī dē Bellō Gallicō

PART II: LAST STAND AT ALESIA (7.77, 84-89)

Lionel Noel Royer, Vercingetorix Throws Down His Arms at the Feet of Julius Caesar, 1899.

NOTES AND COMMENTARY

A Project of the Department of Classics at the Boston Latin School Prepared by Mr. Finnigan Latin Prose, 2017-2018

[7.77.1-5a] The Gauls besieged within Alesia consider their options; Critognatus begins to speak.

[1] At eī, quī Alesiae obsīdēbantur praeteritā diē, quā auxilia suōrum exspectāverant,

cōnsūmptō omnī frūmentō, īnsciī quid in Aeduīs gererētur, conciliō coāctō dē exitū

suārum fortūnārum cōnsultābant.

[2] Ac variīs dictīs sententiīs, quārum pars dēditiōnem, pars, dum vīrēs suppeterent,

ēruptiōnem cēnsēbat, nōn praetereunda ōrātiō Critognatī vidētur propter eius

singulārem et nefāriam crūdēlitātem.

[3] Hic summō in Arvernīs ortus locō et magnae habitus auctōritātis,

“Nihil,” inquit, “dē eōrum sententiā dictūrus sum, quī turpissimam servitūtem

‘dēditiōnis’ nōmine appellant, neque hōs habendōs cīvium locō neque ad concilium

adhibendōs cēnseō.

[4] Cum hīs mihi rēs sit, quī ēruptiōnem probant; quōrum in cōnsiliō omnium

vestrum cōnsēnsū prīstinae residēre virtūtis memoria vidētur.

[5a] Animī est ista mollitia, nōn virtūs, paulisper inopiam ferre nōn posse.”

[7.77.1-5a] The Gauls besieged within Alesia consider their options; Critognatus begins to speak.

[1] At eī, quī Alesiae obsīdēbantur praeteritā diē, quā auxilia suōrum exspectāverant,

cōnsūmptō omnī frūmentō, īnsciī quid in Aeduīs gererētur, conciliō coāctō dē exitū

suārum fortūnārum cōnsultābant.

[2] Ac variīs dictīs sententiīs, quārum pars dēditiōnem, pars, dum vīrēs suppeterent,

ēruptiōnem cēnsēbat, nōn praetereunda ōrātiō Critognatī vidētur propter eius

singulārem et nefāriam crūdēlitātem.

[3] Hic summō in Arvernīs ortus locō et magnae habitus auctōritātis,

“Nihil,” inquit, “dē eōrum sententiā dictūrus sum, quī turpissimam servitūtem

‘dēditiōnis’ nōmine appellant, neque hōs habendōs cīvium locō neque ad concilium

adhibendōs cēnseō.

[4] Cum hīs mihi rēs sit, quī ēruptiōnem probant; quōrum in cōnsiliō omnium

vestrum cōnsēnsū prīstinae residēre virtūtis memoria vidētur.

[5a] Animī est ista mollitia, nōn virtūs, paulisper inopiam ferre nōn posse.”

[7.77.5b-11] Critognatus continues speaking.

[5b] “Quī sē ultrō mortī offerant facilius reperiuntur quam quī dolōrem patienter

ferant.

[6] Atque ego hanc sententiam probārem (tantum apud mē dignitās potest), sī nūllam

praeterquam vītae nostrae iactūram fierī vidērem:

[7] sed in cōnsiliō capiendō omnem Galliam respiciāmus, quam ad nostrum auxilium

concitāvimus.

[8] Quid, hominum mīlibus LXXX ūnō locō interfectīs, propinquīs cōnsanguineīsque

nostrīs animī fore exīstimātis, sī paene in ipsīs cadāveribus proeliō dēcertāre

cōgentur?

[9] Nōlīte hōs vestrō auxiliō exspoliāre, quī vestrae salūtis causā suum perīculum

neglēxērunt, nec stultitiā ac temeritāte vestrā aut animī imbēcillitāte omnem Galliam

prōsternere et perpetuae servitūtī subicere.

[7.77.5b-11] Critognatus continues speaking.

[5b] “Quī sē ultrō mortī offerant facilius reperiuntur quam quī dolōrem patienter

ferant.

[6] Atque ego hanc sententiam probārem (tantum apud mē dignitās potest), sī nūllam

praeterquam vītae nostrae iactūram fierī vidērem:

[7] sed in cōnsiliō capiendō omnem Galliam respiciāmus, quam ad nostrum auxilium

concitāvimus.

[8] Quid, hominum mīlibus LXXX ūnō locō interfectīs, propinquīs cōnsanguineīsque

nostrīs animī fore exīstimātis, sī paene in ipsīs cadāveribus proeliō dēcertāre

cōgentur?

[9] Nōlīte hōs vestrō auxiliō exspoliāre, quī vestrae salūtis causā suum perīculum

neglēxērunt, nec stultitiā ac temeritāte vestrā aut animī imbēcillitāte omnem Galliam

prōsternere et perpetuae servitūtī subicere.

[7.77.5b-11] Critognatus continues speaking. [10] An, quod ad diem nōn vēnērunt, dē eōrum fide cōnstantiāque dubitātis? Quid

ergō? Rōmānōs in illīs ulteriōribus mūnītiōnibus animīne causā cotīdiē exercērī

putātis?

[11] Sī illōrum nūntiīs cōnfirmārī nōn potestis, omnī aditū praesaeptō, hīs ūtiminī

testibus appropinquāre eōrum adventum; cuius reī timōre exterritī diem noctemque

in opere versantur.”

[7.77.5b-11] Critognatus continues speaking. [10] An, quod ad diem nōn vēnērunt, dē eōrum fide cōnstantiāque dubitātis? Quid

ergō? Rōmānōs in illīs ulteriōribus mūnītiōnibus animīne causā cotīdiē exercērī

putātis?

[11] Sī illōrum nūntiīs cōnfirmārī nōn potestis, omnī aditū praesaeptō, hīs ūtiminī

testibus appropinquāre eōrum adventum; cuius reī timōre exterritī diem noctemque

in opere versantur.”

[7.77.12-16] Critognatus finishes his speech.

[12] “Quid ergō meī cōnsilī est? Facere, quod nostrī maiōrēs nēquāquam parī bellō

Cimbrōrum Teutonumque fēcērunt; quī, in oppida compulsī ac similī inopiā subāctī,

eōrum corporibus, quī aetāte ad bellum inūtilēs vidēbantur, vītam tolerāvērunt neque

sē hostibus trādidērunt.

[13] Cuius reī sī exemplum nōn habērēmus, tamen lībertātis causā īnstituī et posterīs

prōdī pulcherrimum iūdicārem.

[14] Nam quid illī simile bellō fuit? Dēpopulātā Galliā Cimbrī magnāque illātā

calamitāte fīnibus quidem nostrīs aliquandō excessērunt atque aliās terrās petiērunt;

iūra, lēgēs, agrōs, lībertātem nōbīs relīquērunt.

[15] Rōmānī vērō quid petunt aliud aut quid volunt, nisi, invidiā adductī, quōs fāmā

nōbilēs potentēsque bellō cognōvērunt, hōrum in agrīs cīvitātibusque cōnsīdere

atque hīs aeternam iniungere servitūtem? Neque enim ūllā aliā condiciōne bella

gessērunt.

[7.77.12-16] Critognatus finishes his speech.

[12] “Quid ergō meī cōnsilī est? Facere, quod nostrī maiōrēs nēquāquam parī bellō

Cimbrōrum Teutonumque fēcērunt; quī, in oppida compulsī ac similī inopiā subāctī,

eōrum corporibus, quī aetāte ad bellum inūtilēs vidēbantur, vītam tolerāvērunt neque

sē hostibus trādidērunt.

[13] Cuius reī sī exemplum nōn habērēmus, tamen lībertātis causā īnstituī et posterīs

prōdī pulcherrimum iūdicārem.

[14] Nam quid illī simile bellō fuit? Dēpopulātā Galliā Cimbrī magnāque illātā

calamitāte fīnibus quidem nostrīs aliquandō excessērunt atque aliās terrās petiērunt;

iūra, lēgēs, agrōs, lībertātem nōbīs relīquērunt.

[15] Rōmānī vērō quid petunt aliud aut quid volunt, nisi, invidiā adductī, quōs fāmā

nōbilēs potentēsque bellō cognōvērunt, hōrum in agrīs cīvitātibusque cōnsīdere

atque hīs aeternam iniungere servitūtem? Neque enim ūllā aliā condiciōne bella

gessērunt.

[7.77.12-16] Critognatus finishes his speech. [16] Quod sī, ea quae in longinquīs nātiōnibus geruntur, ignōrātis, respicite

fīnitimam Galliam, quae, in prōvinciam redācta, iūre et lēgibus commūtātīs,

secūribus subiecta, perpetuā premitur servitūte.”

[7.77.12-16] Critognatus finishes his speech. [16] Quod sī ea, quae in longinquīs nātiōnibus geruntur, ignōrātis, respicite

fīnitimam Galliam, quae, in prōvinciam redācta, iūre et lēgibus commūtātīs,

secūribus subiecta, perpetuā premitur servitūte.”

[7.84] Vercingetorix and his men make an attack on the Roman defenses. [1] Vercingetorix, ex arce Alesiae suōs cōnspicātus, ex oppidō ēgreditur; crātēs,

longuriōs, mūsculōs, falcēs reliquaque, quae ēruptiōnis causā parāverat, prōfert.

[2] Pugnātur ūnō tempore omnibus locīs, atque omnia temptantur: quae minimē vīsa

pars firma est, hūc concurritur.

[3] Rōmānōrum manus tantīs mūnītiōnibus distinētur nec facile plūribus locīs

occurrit.

[4] Multum ad terrendōs nostrōs valet clāmor, quī post tergum pugnantibus exstitit,

quod suum perīculum in aliēnā vident salūte cōnstāre:

[5] omnia enim plērumque, quae absunt, vehementius hominum mentēs perturbant.

[7.84] Vercingetorix and his men make an attack on the Roman defenses. [1] Vercingetorix, ex arce Alesiae suōs cōnspicātus, ex oppidō ēgreditur; crātēs,

longuriōs, mūsculōs, falcēs reliquaque, quae ēruptiōnis causā parāverat, prōfert.

[2] Pugnātur ūnō tempore omnibus locīs, atque omnia temptantur: quae minimē vīsa

pars firma est, hūc concurritur.

[3] Rōmānōrum manus tantīs mūnītiōnibus distinētur nec facile plūribus locīs

occurrit.

[4] Multum ad terrendōs nostrōs valet clāmor, quī post tergum pugnantibus exstitit,

quod suum perīculum in aliēnā vident salūte cōnstāre:

[5] omnia enim plērumque, quae absunt, vehementius hominum mentēs perturbant.

[7.85] Caesar surveys the battlefield and sends reinforcements where necessary; Vercassivellaunus attacks the outer camp.

[1] Caesar, idōneum locum nactus, quid quāque ex parte gerātur cognōscit;

labōrantibus summittit.

[2] Utrīsque ad animum occurrit ūnum esse illud tempus, quō maximē contendī

conveniat:

[3] Gallī, nisi perfrēgerint mūnītiōnēs, dē omnī salūte dēspērant; Rōmānī, sī rem

obtinuerint, fīnem labōrum omnium exspectant.

[4] Maximē ad superiōrēs mūnītiōnēs labōrātur, quō Vercassivellaunum missum

dēmōnstrāvimus.

Inīquum locī ad dēclīvitātem fastīgium magnum habet mōmentum.

[5] Aliī tēla coniciunt, aliī testūdine factā subeunt; dēfatīgātis in vicem integrī

succēdunt.

[6] Agger, ab ūniversīs in mūnītiōnem coniectus, et ascēnsum dat Gallīs et ea, quae

in terrā occultāverant Rōmānī, contegit; nec iam arma nostrīs nec vīrēs suppetunt.

[7.85] Caesar surveys the battlefield and sends reinforcements where necessary; Vercassivellaunus attacks the outer camp.

[1] Caesar, idōneum locum nactus, quid quāque ex parte gerātur cognōscit;

labōrantibus summittit.

[2] Utrīsque ad animum occurrit ūnum esse illud tempus, quō maximē contendī

conveniat:

[3] Gallī, nisi perfrēgerint mūnītiōnēs, dē omnī salūte dēspērant; Rōmānī, sī rem

obtinuerint, fīnem labōrum omnium exspectant.

[4] Maximē ad superiōrēs mūnītiōnēs labōrātur, quō Vercassivellaunum missum

dēmōnstrāvimus.

Inīquum locī ad dēclīvitātem fastīgium magnum habet mōmentum.

[5] Aliī tēla coniciunt, aliī testūdine factā subeunt; dēfatīgātis in vicem integrī

succēdunt.

[6] Agger, ab ūniversīs in mūnītiōnem coniectus, et ascēnsum dat Gallīs et ea, quae

in terrā occultāverant Rōmānī, contegit; nec iam arma nostrīs nec vīrēs suppetunt.

[7.86] Caesar sends Labienus to help those in need and exhorts the rest of his men himself. [1] Hīs rēbus cognitīs, Caesar Labiēnum cum cohortibus sex subsidiō labōrantibus

mittit:

[2] imperat, sī sustinēre nōn posset, dēductīs cohortibus ēruptiōne pugnāret; id nisi

necessāriō nē faciat.

[3] Ipse adit reliquōs, cohortātur nē labōrī succumbant; omnium superiōrum

dīmicātiōnum frūctum in eō diē atque hōrā docet cōnsistere.

[4] Interiōrēs, dēspērātīs campestribus locīs propter magnitūdinem mūnītiōnum, loca

praerupta ex ascēnsū temptant: hūc ea, quae parāverant, cōnferunt.

[5-6] Multitūdine tēlōrum ex turribus prōpugnantēs dēturbant, aggere et crātibus

fossās explent, falcibus vallum ac lōrīcam rescindunt.

[7.86] Caesar sends Labienus to help those in need and exhorts the rest of his men himself. [1] Hīs rēbus cognitīs, Caesar Labiēnum cum cohortibus sex subsidiō labōrantibus

mittit:

[2] imperat, sī sustinēre nōn posset, dēductīs cohortibus ēruptiōne pugnāret; id nisi

necessāriō nē faciat.

[3] Ipse adit reliquōs, cohortātur nē labōrī succumbant; omnium superiōrum

dīmicātiōnum frūctum in eō diē atque hōrā docet cōnsistere.

[4] Interiōrēs, dēspērātīs campestribus locīs propter magnitūdinem mūnītiōnum, loca

praerupta ex ascēnsū temptant: hūc ea, quae parāverant, cōnferunt.

[5-6] Multitūdine tēlōrum ex turribus prōpugnantēs dēturbant, aggere et crātibus

fossās explent, falcibus vallum ac lōrīcam rescindunt.

[7.87] Caesar continues to send help where needed, and decides to join the battle himself. [1] Mittit prīmō Brūtum adulēscentem cum cohortibus Caesar, post cum aliīs Gāium

Fabium lēgātum; postrēmō ipse, cum vehementius pugnārētur, integrōs subsidiō

addūcit.

[2] Restitūtō proeliō ac repulsīs hostibus, eō, quō Labiēnum mīserat, contendit;

cohortēs quattuor ex proximō castellō dēdūcit, equitum partem sequī, partem

circumīre exteriōrēs mūnītiōnēs et ab tergō hostēs adorīrī iubet.

[3] Labiēnus, postquam neque aggerēs neque fossae vim hostium sustinēre poterant,

coāctīs †ūnā XI† cohortibus, quās ex proximīs praesidiīs dēductās fors obtulit,

Caesarem per nūntiōs facit certiōrem quid faciendum exīstimet.

Accelerat Caesar, ut proeliō intersit.

[7.87] Caesar continues to send help where needed, and decides to join the battle himself. [1] Mittit prīmō Brūtum adulēscentem cum cohortibus Caesar, post cum aliīs Gāium

Fabium lēgātum; postrēmō ipse, cum vehementius pugnārētur, integrōs subsidiō

addūcit.

[2] Restitūtō proeliō ac repulsīs hostibus, eō, quō Labiēnum mīserat, contendit;

cohortēs quattuor ex proximō castellō dēdūcit, equitum partem sequī, partem

circumīre exteriōrēs mūnītiōnēs et ab tergō hostēs adorīrī iubet.

[3] Labiēnus, postquam neque aggerēs neque fossae vim hostium sustinēre poterant,

coāctīs †ūnā XI† cohortibus, quās ex proximīs praesidiīs dēductās fors obtulit,

Caesarem per nūntiōs facit certiōrem quid faciendum exīstimet.

Accelerat Caesar, ut proeliō intersit.

[7.88] The final battle for Alesia. [1] Eius adventū ex colōre vestītūs cognitō, quō īnsignī in proeliīs ūtī cōnsuērat,

turmīsque equitum et cohortibus vīsīs quās sē sequī iusserat, ut dē locīs superiōribus

haec declivia et dēvexa cernēbantur, hostēs proelium committunt.

[2] Utrimque clāmōre sublātō excipit rūrsus ex vāllō atque omnibus mūnītiōnibus

clāmor.

Nostrī, omissīs pilīs, gladiīs rem gerunt.

[3] Repente post tergum equitātus cernitur; cohortēs aliae appropinquant.

Hostēs terga vertunt; fugientibus equitēs occurrunt. Fit magna caedēs.

[4] Sēdulius, dux et prīnceps Lemovīcum, occīditur; Vercassivellaunus Arvernus

vīvus in fugā comprehenditur; signa mīlitāria septuāgintā quattuor ad Caesarem

referuntur: paucī ex tantō numerō sē incolumēs in castra recipiunt.

[5] Cōnspicātī ex oppidō caedem et fugam suōrum, dēspērātā salūte, cōpiās ā

mūnītiōnibus redūcunt.

[7.88] The final battle for Alesia. [1] Eius adventū ex colōre vestītūs cognitō, quō īnsignī in proeliīs ūtī cōnsuērat,

turmīsque equitum et cohortibus vīsīs quās sē sequī iusserat, ut dē locīs superiōribus

haec declivia et dēvexa cernēbantur, hostēs proelium committunt.

[2] Utrimque clāmōre sublātō excipit rūrsus ex vāllō atque omnibus mūnītiōnibus

clāmor.

Nostrī, omissīs pilīs, gladiīs rem gerunt.

[3] Repente post tergum equitātus cernitur; cohortēs aliae appropinquant.

Hostēs terga vertunt; fugientibus equitēs occurrunt. Fit magna caedēs.

[4] Sēdulius, dux et prīnceps Lemovīcum, occīditur; Vercassivellaunus Arvernus

vīvus in fugā comprehenditur; signa mīlitāria septuāgintā quattuor ad Caesarem

referuntur: paucī ex tantō numerō sē incolumēs in castra recipiunt.

[5] Cōnspicātī ex oppidō caedem et fugam suōrum, dēspērātā salūte, cōpiās ā

mūnītiōnibus redūcunt.

[7.88] The final battle for Alesia. [6] Fit prōtinus, hāc rē audītā, ex castrīs Gallōrum fuga.

Quod nisi crēbrīs subsidiīs ac tōtīus diēī labōre mīlitēs essent dēfessī, omnēs hostium

cōpiae dēlērī potuissent.

[7] Dē mediā nocte missus equitātus novissimum agmen cōnsequitur: magnus

numerus capitur atque interficitur; reliquī ex fugā in cīvitātēs discēdunt.

[7.88] The final battle for Alesia. [6] Fit prōtinus, hāc rē audītā, ex castrīs Gallōrum fuga.

Quod nisi crēbrīs subsidiīs ac tōtīus diēī labōre mīlitēs essent dēfessī, omnēs hostium

cōpiae dēlērī potuissent.

[7] Dē mediā nocte missus, equitātus novissimum agmen cōnsequitur: magnus

numerus capitur atque interficitur; reliquī ex fugā in cīvitātēs discēdunt.

[7.89] Vercingetorix and those besieged at Alesia surrender. [1-2] Posterō diē Vercingetorix, conciliō convocātō, id bellum sē suscēpisse nōn

suārum necessitātium, sed commūnis lībertātis causā dēmōnstrat, et quoniam sit

fortūnae cēdendum, ad utramque rem sē illīs offerre, seu morte suā Rōmānīs

satisfacere seu vīvum trādere velint.

[3] Mittuntur dē hīs rēbus ad Caesarem lēgātī. Iubet arma trādī, prīncipēs prōdūcī.

[4] Ipse in mūnītiōne prō castrīs cōnsēdit: eō ducēs prōdūcuntur; Vercingetorix

dēditur, arma prōiciuntur.

[5] Reservātīs Aeduīs atque Arvernīs, sī per eōs cīvitātēs reciperāre posset, ex

reliquīs captīvīs tōtō exercituī capita singula praedae nōmine distribuit.

[7.89] Vercingetorix and those besieged at Alesia surrender. [1-2] Posterō diē Vercingetorix, conciliō convocātō, id bellum sē suscēpisse nōn

suārum necessitātium, sed commūnis lībertātis causā dēmōnstrat, et quoniam sit

fortūnae cēdendum, ad utramque rem sē illīs offerre, seu morte suā Rōmānīs

satisfacere seu vīvum trādere velint.

[3] Mittuntur dē hīs rēbus ad Caesarem lēgātī. Iubet arma trādī, prīncipēs prōdūcī.

[4] Ipse in mūnītiōne prō castrīs cōnsēdit: eō ducēs prōdūcuntur; Vercingetorix

dēditur, arma prōiciuntur.

[5] Reservātīs Aeduīs atque Arvernīs, sī per eōs cīvitātēs reciperāre posset, ex

reliquīs captīvīs tōtō exercituī capita singula praedae nōmine distribuit.