Lutetia is: and having surprised some fiftie
shippes and boats, and manned them with
souldiers, the townsmen being affrighted with
the noveltie of the matter, of whom a great part
were called out to that warre, he possest himself
of the town without any resistance. The bridge
being repaired which the enemie had cut down
a few dayes before, he transported over the ar∣mie,
and went down along the river towards
Lutetia. The enemy having notice thereof by
such us escaped from Melodunum, commanded
Lutetia to be burned, and the bridges of the town
to be broken: they themselves for saking the
bog, sate down upon the banks of Sequana, right
over against the camp of Labienus. By this time
Caesars departure from Gergovia was known
abroad, with the revolt of the Hedui: and ru∣mours
were brought of a secondrising and mo∣tion
in Gallia. It was certainly confirmed, that
the Galles were in consultation, that Caesar
was kept back both by the difficulties of the pas∣sage
and the river Loire, and for want of corn
was constrained to return into the Province.
The Bellovaci also understanding of the revolt
of the Hedui, whereas they were before treache∣rous
and disloyall of themselves, did now begin
to raise forces and prepare for open warre. La∣bienus
upon so great a change of things, under∣stood
that it was necessary for him to take ano∣ther
manner of course then was before intended.
For now he thought not of making any conquest,
or urging the enemy to battell, but to bring he
army back in safety to Agendicum. For on the
one side, the Bellovaci stood ready to charge
him, being a people that had the name for deeds
of arms of all the nations in Gallia; the other
side was kept by Camulogenus with an army
ready in the field: and last of all, the Legions
were kept from their garrison and their carri∣ages
with a great river that ran between them
and it.
OBSERVATIONS.
THe great alteration which the revolt of the
Hedui made in Gallia, caused Labienus to
let fall his former resolutions, and to shape such
a course as might best answer the extremitie of
the tempest. For he that will attain the end of
his desires, or make peace with the affections of
his mind, must not think at all times to carry
away contentment with the strength of his
means, or subdue resistance with force of arms,
but must be well pleased to be driven with the
stream, untill he meet with a tide of better oppor∣tunitie:
for oftentimes it falleth out, that the oppo∣sition
of resisting power is more available then
ten Legions commanded by Caesar, or what the
Roman Empire could adde besides, to so great
an army. For there is no quantitie so great, but
there may be found a greater; nor none so little,
but there may be a less: which may teach a man
neither to conceit himself in a matchless singu∣larity,
nor to despair of a weak condition. And
this is that which is so often recommended to the
consideration of discreet Governours, whether
they be Magistrates in peace, or Commanders
in warre, to put them in mind of the condition
of times, and to carry themselves answerable
thereunto: forasmuch as fortunate and happy
success, riseth for the most part from such means
as have respect to the occurrences of the time,
not running alwayes upon one biass, nor
failing at all times with a fore-wind; but
sometimes to press forward, and sometimes
to give back, according as the circumstances
of the time shall make way to good for∣tune.
Fabius the great Roman thought it no scorn
to be called coward, or to undergo the displea∣sure
of the people of Rome, while he gave place
to the fury of the Carthaginian, and refused to
receive a third overthrow. And thus he altered
the course of the Roman warfare according to
the time, and overthrew that enemy by shunning
to encounter him, which in a battell would
have hazarded the conquest of Rome. In like
manner Cn. Sulpitius the Dictator did imitate
this wisedome of Fabius against the Galles, by
lingring out the warre: Nolens se fortunae
committere adversus hostem (as Livy saith)
quem tempus deteriorem indies & locus alienus
fuceret; Not willing to put the triall to Fortune,
when as he dealt with an enemy, which time and
ignorance of the place rendred every day weaker
and weaker. And to conclude this point, Caesar
upon the loss which he received at Dyrrachium,
Omnem sibi commutandam belli rationem exi∣stimavit, thought
it his best way to alter the
whole course of the warre, as the Story saith:
which was nothing else but varying with the
time, and helping a bad Fortune with new di∣rections.