The Roman history of Lucius J. Florus made English beginning with the life and reign of Romulus, the first King of the Romans : and divided into four books.

CHAP. X.

A memorable Exploit of Caesars among the Gauls, and in Great Britain; He builds a Bridge over the Rhine; Vercingetorix sub∣mits to him.

ASia being subdu'd by the Forces of Pom∣pey, fortune transferr'd what remain'd to be done in Europe to Caesar. There were yet unreduced the most cruel of all Nations, the Gauls and Germans, and Brittany, though divided from all the world, yet met with one that conquered it. The first commotions of the Gauls began among the Swissers, who, seated between the Rhone and the Rhine, their Lands being too narrow for them, came to seek out other habitations, after they had fir'd the walls of their Cities, and taken an oath never to return. But time being required to consider of it, and Caesar, having in the inte∣rim, by breaking down the Bridge over the Rhone, deprived them of all means of flight, he drove back that most warlike Nation to their former aboads, as a Shepherd does his Flocks into the fold. The following fight with the Belgae was far more bloody, they be∣ing a people who fought for their liberty.

Though the Roman Soldiery did many great actions upon this occasion, yet this of Caesar himself their General was highly remarka∣ble, when, the Army being inclin'd to flight, he took a Buckler from one that was running away, and running to the very Front, reinfor∣ced the fight with his own hands. After∣wards there was an Engagement at Sea with the Veneti; but we had a harder task with the Sea, than with the Ships: for these were rough, unshap'd, and soon sunk as soon as they felt our Beak-heads. But the shallows hindred the fight, as if the Ocean withdrawing it self by its ordinary refluxes during the En∣gagement seem'd to intercede in the Quarrel. He had also to do with difficulties arising from the disposition of Nations and places. The Aquitani, a crafty people, retired into Caves under-ground; he commanded them to be pent up in them. The Morini wandred into the Woods; he ordered them to be burnt. Let not any one say the Gauls were bruitishly sim∣ple, they mannage their business with subtil∣ty. Induciomarus brought in the Treviri; Am∣biorix, the Eburones. Having entred into a conspiracy, in Caesars absence, they met with his Lieutenants. But the former was gallant∣ly defeated by T. Labienus, who brought away the Kings head. The latter having laid am∣bushes in the valley, overcome us by craft;

whereupon our Camp was plunder'd, and all the Gold carried away. We there lost Cotta, with the Lieutenant Titurius Rabinus. Nor could we ever after be revenged of that King who got over the Rhine, and could never be seen. Nor did the Rhine therefore escape, it being not just a place that entertain'd and protected our enemies should be free; but of the first Fight between Caesar and the Germans, there were just causes of his side. For the Bequani made complaints of their incursions. What an haughtiness was that of King Ario∣vistus, when the Ambassadors of Caesar said to him, Come to Caesar, reply'd, But who is Cae∣sar? And, If he will, let him come to me; And, What does it concern him what is done in our Germany? Do I meddle with the Romane af∣fairs? So that there was so great a terror of this new Nation in the Camp, that many made their Wills before they took up their Bucklers. But those vaste Bodies, the bigger they were, the more open did they lye to the Swords and Darts. What gallantry the Sol∣diery express'd in the fight, cannot be redu∣ced from any thing so much as from what they did, when the Barbarians having lifted their Bucklers over their heads, covering themselves as under a roof, the Romans leap'd up on the very Bucklers, and thence stooping down cut their throats. Afterwards, the Me∣napii,

making their complaints to Caesar ••∣gainst the Germanes, he thereupon cross'd the Mose••, nay the Rhine it self, upon a Bridge o•• Boats, and seeks out the enemy in the Hercy∣nian Forrests. But all were fled into the Woods and Marshes, so great confusion had the Romane Force brought along with it, to that side of the river: nor was the Rhine cros∣sed onely once, but several times, and that by Bridges. But there was a greater astonish∣ment; for perceiving their Rhine taken, and as it were yoaked with a Bridge, they again fled into the Woods and Marshes, and what most troubled Caesar was, that there were not any to be overcome. Being Master of all both at Sea and Land, he look'd upon the Ocean, and as if this world were not enough for the Romanes, he bethought him of another. Ha∣ving therefore got a Fleet together, he sails towards Brittain. He cross'd over with mar∣vellous speed; for weighing from the Port of Morinum at the third Watch, he got the next day before noon into the Island. The shores were full of hostile tumult, and the chariots, trembling at the sight of a strange thing, went disorderly up and down. Their fearfulness was look'd on as a presage of our victory. He receiv'd their arms and hostages from the ti∣merous, and he had made a further progress, had not the Ocean chastis'd his bold Fleet

with a wrack. Return'd thereupon into Gaul, and having reinforc'd his Fleet and Forces, he comes again into the same Ocean, and pur∣sues the same Brittains into the Calidonian Woods, and puts Cavelianus one of their Kings into chains. Content with these things, (for the design was not to get Provinces, but Glory) he return'd back with a greater booty than before, the Ocean it self being also more calm and favorable, as if acknowledging it self inferior to him. But the greatest and last conspiracy of all, was that of the Gauls, when that Prince so dreadful for stature, martial skill, and courage, and whose very name was made to strike a terror, Vercingetorix, brought together into one body, the Aruerni and Bitu∣rigae, as also the Carnutae and the Sequani. He, upon Festival days, and days of Assembly, when great numbers of them met in the woods, heightned them by his haughty expressions, to a recovery of their former liberty. Caesar was then absent, raising of new Forces at Ra∣venna; and the Alps had so risen in the win∣ter, that they thought his passage stop'd. But what a fortunate temerity did this Message force him upon? Over till then unpassable crags of Mountains, through unbeaten ways and snows, taking his march with a choice light-arm'd party, he comes into Gaul; he brought together his winter Garisons, though

at great distances, and was got into the midst of Gaul, ere it was fear'd he might be coming from the remotest part of it. Then assaulting the Cities that were the causes of the War, he destroy'd the Avaricum, though defended by forty thousand men; he fir'd Alexia, al∣though maintained by two hundred and fifty thousand young men. The whole stress of the War was about Gergovia. For that vaste City having fourscore thousand men to defend it, with the help of its Walls, a Castle, and its precipices, was by Caesar compassed with Works, Palizadoes, and a Trench, through which he drew the River, besides eighteen Bastions, and a kinde of huge Counterscarp, by which means he first reduc'd it to a famine; afterwards killed those, who attempted to make sallies, in the very Trenches with swords and palizadoes, and at last forced the besie∣ged to a surrender. Nay the King himself, the greatest Ornament of the Victory, com∣ing as a Suppliant to the Camp, cast his equi∣page and arms at Caesars feet, saying, Thou hast, O most valiant of men, a valiant man before thee, whom thou hast overcome.