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which any conspiracy could be discovered。 After his death；
messengers passed to and fro between Civilis and Classicus；
commander of the cavalry of the Treveri。 Classicus was first among his
countrymen in rank and wealth； he was of a royal house； of a race
distinguished both in peace and war； and he himself claimed to be by
family tradition the foe rather than the ally of the Romans。 Julius
Tutor and Julius Sabinus joined him in his schemes。 One was a
Trever； the other a Lingon。 Tutor had been made by Vitellius
guardian of the banks of the Rhine。 Sabinus； over and above his
natural vanity； was inflamed with the pride of an imaginary descent；
for he asserted that his great…grandmother had； by her personal
charms； attracted the admiration of the divine Julius； when he was
campaigning in Gaul。 These two men held secret conferences to sound
the views of the rest of their countrymen； and when they had secured
as accomplices such as they thought suitable for their purpose； they
met together in a private house in the Colonia Agrippinensis； for
the State in its public policy was strongly opposed to all such
attempts。 Some； however； of the Ubii and Tungri were present but the
Treveri and Lingones had the greatest weight in the matter。 Nor
could they endure the delay of deliberation； they rivalled each
other in vehement assertions that the Romans were in a frenzy of
discord； that their legions had been cut to pieces； that Italy was
laid waste； that Rome itself was at that very moment undergoing
capture； while all her armies were occupied by wars of their own。 If
they were but to secure the passes of the Alps with bodies of
troops； Gaul； with her own freedom firmly established； might look
about her； and fix the limits of her dominion。
These views were no sooner stated than approved。 As to the survivors
of the Vitellianist army； they doubted what to do； many voted for
putting to death men so turbulent and faithless； stained too with
the blood of their generals。 Still the policy of mercy prevailed。 To
cut off all hope of quarter might provoke an obstinate resistance。
It would be better to draw them into friendly union。 If only the
legates of the legions were put to death； the remaining multitude；
moved by the consciousness of guilt and the hope of escape； would
readily join their cause。
Such was the outline of their original plan。 Emissaries were
likewise despatched throughout Gaul to stir up war； while they
themselves feigned submission； that they might be the better able to
crush the unsuspecting Vocula。 Persons； however； were found to
convey information to him； but he had not sufficient strength to
suppress the movement； as the legions were incomplete in numbers and
disloyal。 So； what with soldiers of doubtful fidelity and secret
enemies； he thought it best； under the circumstances； to make his
way by meeting deceit with deceit； and by using the same arts with
which he was himself assailed。 He therefore went down to the Colonia
Agrippinenses。 Thither Claudius Labeo； who； as I have related； had
been taken prisoner and sent out of the province into the country of
the Frisii； made his escape by bribing his gaolers。 This man
undertook； if a force were given him； to enter the Batavian
territory and bring back to the Roman alliance the more influential
part of that State； but； though he obtained a small force of
infantry and cavalry； he did not venture to attempt anything among the
Batavi； but only induced some of the Nervii and Betasii to take up
arms； and made continual attacks on the Canninefates and the Marsaci
more in the way of robbery than of war。
Lured on by the treacherous representations of the Gauls； Vocula
marched against the enemy。 He was near the Old Camp； when Classicus
and Tutor； who had gone on in advance under the pretence of
reconnoitring； concluded an agreement with the German chiefs。 They
then for the first time separated themselves from the legions； and
formed a camp of their own； with a separate line of entrenchment；
while Vocula protested that the power of Rome was not so utterly
shaken by civil war as to have become contemptible even to Treveri and
Lingones。 〃There are still；〃 he said； 〃faithful provinces；
victorious armies； the fortune of the Empire； and avenging Gods。
Thus it was that Sacrovir and the Aedui in former days； Vindex and the
Gauls in more recent times； were crushed in a single battle。 The
breakers of treaties may look for the vengeance of the same Deities；
and the same doom。 Julius and Augustus understood far better the
character of the people。 Galba's policy and the diminution of their
tribute have inspired them with hostile feelings。 They are now
enemies； because their yoke is easy； when they have been plundered and
stripped； they will be friends。〃 After uttering this defiance； finding
that Classicus and Tutor persisted in their treachery； he changed
his line of march； and retired to Novesium。 The Gauls encamped at a
distance of two miles； and plied with bribes the centurions and
soldiers who visited them there； striving to make a Roman army
commit the unheard of baseness of swearing allegiance to foreigners；
and pledge itself to the perpetration of this atrocious crime by
murdering or imprisoning its officers。 Vocula； though many persons
advised him to escape； thought it best to be bold； and； summoning an
assembly； spoke as follows：
〃Never； when I have addressed you； have I felt more anxious for your
welfare； never more indifferent about my own。 Of the destruction
that threatens me I can hear with cheerfulness； and amid so many evils
I look forward to death as the end of my sufferings。 For you I feel
shame and compassion。 Against you indeed no hostile ranks are
gathering。 That would be but the lawful course of war； and the right
which an enemy may claim。 But Classicus hopes to wage with your
strength his war against Rome； and proudly offers to your allegiance
an empire of Gaul。 Though our fortune and courage have for the
moment failed us； have we so utterly forgotten the old memories of
those many times when the legions of Rome resolved to perish but not
to be driven from their post？ Often have our allies endured to see
their cities destroyed； and with their wives and children to die in
the flames； with only this reward in their death； the glory of
untarnished loyalty。 At this very moment our legions at the Old Camp
are suffering the horrors of famine and of siege； and cannot be shaken
by threats or by promises。 We； besides our arms； our numbers； and
the singular strength of our fortifications； have corn and supplies
sufficient for a campaign however protracted。 We had lately money
enough even to furnish a donative； and； whether you choose to refer
the bounty to Vitellius or Vespasian； it was at any rate from a
Roman Emperor that you received it。 If you； who have been victorious
in so many campaigns； who have so often routed the enemy at Gelduba
and at the Old Camp； yet shrink from battle； this indeed is an
unworthy fear。 Still you have an entrenched camp； you have
fortifications and the means of prolonging the war； till succouring
armies pour in from the neighbouring provinces。 It may be that I do
not satisfy you； you may fall back on other legates or tribunes； on
some centurion； even on some common soldier。 Let not this monstrous
news go forth to the whole world； that with you in their train Civilis
and Classicus are about to invade Italy。 Should the Germans and the
Gauls lead you to the walls of the capital； will you lift up arms
against your Country？ My soul shudders at the imagination of so
horrible a crime。 Will you mount guard for Tutor； the Trever？ Shall
a Batavian give the signal for battle？ Will you serve as recruits in
the German battalions？ What will be the issue of your wickedness
when the Roman legions are marshalled against you？ Will you be a
second time deserters； a second time traitors； and brave the anger
of heaven while you waver between your old and your new allegiance？
I implore and entreat thee； O Jupiter； supremely good and great； to
whom through eight hundred and twenty years we have paid the honours
of so many triumphs； and thou； Quirinus； father of Rome； that； if it
be not your pleasure that this camp should be preserved pure and
inviolate under my command； you will at least not suffer it to be
polluted and defiled by a Tutor and a Classicus。 Grant that the
soldiers of Rome may either be innocent of crime； or at least
experience a repentance speedy and without remorse。〃
They received his speech with feelings that varied between hope；
fear； and shame。 Vocula then left them； and was preparing to put an
end to his life； when his f