CHAP. XIIII.
The Sicambri send out two thousand horse against the Eburones, and by fortune they fall upon Cicero at Ʋatuca.
HEre you shall perceive the power that fortune hath,* 1.1 and what chan∣ces happen in the carriage of a war. There was (as I have already said) the enemy being scattered and terrified, no troup or band which might give the least cause of fear: the report came to the Germans on the other side of the Rhene, that the Eburones were to be sacked, and that all men had liberty to make spoil of them. The Sicambri dwelling next to the Rhene, who formerly received the Tenchtheri and Usipites in their flight, set out two thousandhorse, and sent them over the river some thirty miles be∣low that place where Caesar had left the half bridge with a garrison. These horse made directly towards the confines of the Eburones, took many prisoners and much cattel, neither bog nor wood hindered their passage, being bred and born in war and theft. They in∣quire of the prisoners in what part Caesar was, and found him to be gone far off, and that all the army was departed from thence. But one of the prisoners speaking to them, said, Why do yee seek after so poor and so slender a booty, when otherwise you may make your selves most fortunate? in three hours space you may go to Vatuca, where the Roman army hath left all their fortunes; the garrison in that place is no greater then can hardly fur∣nish the wals about, neither dare any man go out of the trenches, The Germans in this hope did hide the pillage which they had al∣ready taken, and went directly to Vatuca, ta∣king him for their guide that gave them first notice thereof.
OBSERVATIONS.
IT were as great a madnesse to believe that a man were able to give directions to meet with all chances, as to think no foresight can prevent any casualty. For as the soul of man is endued with a power of discourse. whereby it conclu∣deth either according to the certainty of reason, or the learning of experience, bringing these directions as faulty and inconvenient, and ap∣proving others as safe and to be followed: so we are to understand, that this power of discourse is limited to a certain measure or proportion of strength, and inscribed in a circle of lesser capa∣city then the compasse of possibility, or the large extension of what may happen; for otherwise the course of destiny were subject to our con∣trollment, and our knowledge were equal to u∣niversall entitie, whereas the infinite of acci∣dents do far exceed the reach of our shallow senses, and our greatest apprehension is a small an unperfect experience. And therefore as such as through the occasion of publick employ∣ment, are driven to forsake the shore of minute and particular courses, and to float in the Ocean of casualties and adventures, may doubtlesse receive strong directions, both from the load∣stone of reason, and tramontane of experience, to shape an easy and succesfull course: so not∣withstanding they shall find themselves subject to the contrariety of winds and extremity of tempests, besides many other lets and impedi∣ments beyond the compasse of their direction to interrupt their course and divert them from their haven, which made the Carthaginian that was