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off for infamous purposes。 This caused indignation； and the
ringleaders of the concerted rebellion prevailed upon the people to
refuse the conscription。 Civilis collected at one of the sacred
groves； ostensibly for a banquet； the chiefs of the nation and the
boldest spirits of the lower class。 When he saw them warmed with the
festivities of the night； he began by speaking of the renown and glory
of their race； and then counted the wrongs and the oppressions which
they endured； and all the other evils of slavery。 〃There is；〃 he said；
〃no alliance； as once there was； we are treated as slaves。 When does
even a legate come among us； though he come only with a burdensome
retinue and in all the haughtiness of power？ We are handed over to
prefects and centurions； and when they are glutted with our spoils and
our blood； then they are changed； and new receptacles for plunder； new
terms for spoliation； are discovered。 Now the conscription is at hand；
tearing； we may say； for ever children from parents； and brothers from
brothers。 Never has the power of Rome been more depressed。 In the
winter quarters of the legions there is nothing but property to
plunder and a few old men。 Only dare to look up； and cease to
tremble at the empty names of legions。 For we have a vast force of
horse and foot； we have the Germans our kinsmen； we have Gaul bent
on the same objects。 Even to the Roman people this war will not be
displeasing； if defeated； we shall still reckon it a service to
Vespasian； and for success no account need be rendered。〃
Having been listened to with great approval； he bound the whole
assembly with barbarous rites and the national forms of oath。 Envoys
were sent to the Canninefates to urge a common policy。 This is a tribe
which inhabits part of the island； and closely resembles the Batavians
in their origin； their language； and their courageous character； but
is inferior in numbers。 After this he sent messengers to tamper with
the British auxiliaries and with the Batavian cohorts； who； as I
have before related； had been sent into Germany； and were then
stationed at Mogontiacum。 Among the Canninefates there was a certain
Brinno； a man of a certain stolid bravery and of distinguished
birth。 His father； after venturing on many acts of hostility； had
scorned with impunity the ridiculous expedition of Caligula。 His
very name； the name of a family of rebels； made him popular。 Raised
aloft on a shield after the national fashion； and balanced on the
shoulders of the bearers； he was chosen general。 Immediately summoning
to arms the Frisii； a tribe of the farther bank of the Rhine； he
assailed by sea the winter quarters of two cohorts； which was the
nearest point to attack。 The soldiers had not anticipated the
assault of the enemy； even had they done so； they had not strength
to repulse it。 Thus the camp was taken and plundered。 Then the enemy
fell upon the sutlers and Roman traders； who were wandering about in
every direction； as they would in a time of peace。 At the same time
they were on the point of destroying the forts； but the prefects of
the cohorts； seeing that they could not hold them； set them on fire。
The standards； the colours； and what soldiers there were； concentrated
themselves in the upper part of the island under the command of
Aquilius； a centurion of the first rank； an army in name rather than
in strength。 Vitellius in fact； after withdrawing the effective troops
from the cohorts； had loaded with arms a crowd of idlers from the
neighbouring villages of the Nervii and the Germans。
Civilis； thinking that he must proceed by craft； actually blamed the
prefects for having deserted the forts； saying that he would
himself； with the cohort under his command； quell the disturbance
among the Canninefates； and that they had better return to their
respective winter quarters。 It was evident； however； that there was
some treacherous design beneath this advice； that the cohorts would be
dispersed only to be more easily crushed； and that the guiding hand in
the war was not Brinno but Civilis； for indications of the truth；
which the Germans； a people who delight in war； could not long
conceal； were gradually coming to light。 When stratagem proved
ineffectual； he resorted to force； arranging in distinct columns the
Canninefates； the Batavians； and the Frisii。 The Roman army was
drawn up to meet them not far from the river Rhine； and the ships；
which； after burning the forts； they had stranded at that point；
were arranged so as to front the enemy。 Before the struggle had lasted
long； a cohort of Tungrians carried over their standards to Civilis。
The other troops； paralysed by the unexpected desertion； were cut down
alike by friends and foes。 In the fleet there was the same
treachery。 Some of the rowers were Batavians； and they hindered the
operations of the sailors and combatants by an apparent want of skill；
then they began to back water； and to run the sterns on to the hostile
shore。 At last they killed the pilots and centurions； unless these
were willing to join them。 The end was that the whole fleet of four
and twenty vessels either deserted or was taken。
For the moment this was a brilliant success； and it had its use
for the future。 They possessed themselves of some arms and some
vessels； both of which they wanted； while they became very famous
throughout Germany as the champions of liberty。 The tribes of
Germany immediately sent envoys with offers of troops。 The
co…operation of Gaul Civilis endeavoured to secure by politic
liberality； sending back to their respective states the captured
prefects of cohorts； and giving permission to their men to go or
stay as they preferred。 He offered to those who stayed service on
honourable terms； to those who departed the spoils of the Roman
army。 At the same time he reminded them in confidential
conversations of the wrongs which they had endured for so many
years； while they falsely gave to a wretched slavery the name of
peace。 〃The Batavians；〃 he said； 〃though free of tribute； have yet
taken up arms against our common masters。 In the first conflict the
soldiers of Rome have been routed and vanquished。 What will be the
result if Gaul throws off the yoke？ What strength is there yet left in
Italy？ It is by the blood of the provinces that the provinces are
conquered。 Think not of how it fared with the armies of Vindex。 It was
by Batavian cavalry that the Aedui and the Arverni were trampled down；
and among the auxiliaries of Verginius there were found Belgian
troops。 To those who will estimate the matter aright it is evident
that Gaul fell by her own strength。 But now all are on the same
side； and we have whatever remnant of military vigour still flourished
in the camps of Rome。 With us too are the veteran cohorts to which the
legions of Otho lately succumbed。 Let Syria； Asia Minor； and the East；
habituated as it is to despotism； submit to slavery； there are many
yet alive in Gaul who were born before the days of tribute。 It was
only lately indeed that Quintilius Varus was slain； and slavery driven
out of Germany。 And the Emperor who was challenged by that war was not
a Vitellius； but a Caesar Augustus。 Freedom is a gift bestowed by
nature even on the dumb animals。 Courage is the peculiar excellence of
man； and the Gods help the braver side。 Let us then； who are free to
act and vigorous； fall on a distracted and exhausted enemy。 While some
are supporting Vespasian； and others Vitellius； opportunities are
opening up for acting against both。〃
Civilis； bent on winning Gaul and Germany if his purposes should
prosper； was on the point of securing supremacy over the most powerful
and most wealthy of the states。 His first attempts Hordeonius
Flaccus had encouraged by affecting ignorance。 But when messengers
came hurrying in with intelligence that a camp had been stormed；
that cohorts had been cut to pieces； and that the Roman power had been
expelled from the island of the Batavians； the general ordered the
legate； Munius Lupercus； who was in command of the winter quarters
of two legions； to advance against the enemy。 Lupercus in great
haste threw across the Rhine such legionaries as were on the spot；
some Ubian troops who were close at hand； and some cavalry of the
Treveri； who were stationed at no great distance； these were
accompanied by some Batavian horse； who； though they had been long
disaffected； yet still simulated loyalty in order that by betraying
the Romans in the moment of actual conflict they might receive a
higher price for their desertion。 Civilis； surrounding himself with
the standards of the captured cohorts； to keep their recent honours
before the eyes of his o