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fear； and shame。 Vocula then left them； and was preparing to put an
end to his life； when his freedmen and slaves prevented him from
anticipating by his own act a most miserable death。 Classicus
despatched one Aemilius Longinus； a deserter from the first legion；
and speedily accomplished the murder。 With respect to the two legates；
Herennius and Numisius； it was thought enough to put them in chains。
Classicus then assumed the insignia of Roman Imperial power； and
entered the camp。 Hardened though he was to every sort of crime； he
could only find words enough to go through the form of oath。 All who
were present swore allegiance to the empire of Gaul。 He
distinguished the murderer of Vocula by high promotion； and the others
by rewards proportioned to their services in crime。
Tutor and Classicus then divided the management of the war between
them。 Tutor； investing the Colonia Agrippinensis with a strong
force； compelled the inhabitants and all the troops on the Upper Rhine
to take the same oath。 He did this after having first put to death the
tribunes at Mogontiacum； and driven away the prefect of the camp；
because they refused obedience。 Classicus picked out all the most
unprincipled men from the troops who had capitulated； and bade them go
to the besieged； and offer them quarter； if they would accept the
actual state of affairs； otherwise there was no hope for them； they
would have to endure famine； the sword； and the direst extremities。
The messengers whom he sent supported their representations by their
own example。
The ties of loyalty on the one hand； and the necessities of famine
on the other； kept the besieged wavering between the alternatives of
glory and infamy。 While they thus hesitated； all usual and even
unusual kinds of food failed them； for they had consumed their
horses and beasts of burden and all the other animals； which； though
unclean and disgusting； necessity compelled them to use。 At last
they tore up shrubs and roots and the grass that grew between the
stones； and thus shewed an example of patience under privations；
till at last they shamefully tarnished the lustre of their fame by
sending envoys to Civilis to beg for their lives。 Their prayers were
not heard； till they swore allegiance to the empire of Gaul。 Civilis
then stipulated for the plunder of the camp； and appointed guards
who were to secure the treasure； the camp…followers； and the
baggage； and accompany them as they departed； stripped of
everything。 About five miles from the spot the Germans rose upon them；
and attacked them as they marched without thought of danger。 The
bravest were cut down where they stood； the greater part； as they were
scattered in flight。 The rest made their escape to the camp； while
Civilis certainly complained of the proceeding； and upbraided the
Germans with breaking faith by this atrocious act。 Whether this was
mere hypocrisy； or whether he was unable to restrain their fury； is
not positively stated。 They plundered and then fired the camp； and all
who survived the battle the flames destroyed。
Then Civilis fulfilled a vow often made by barbarians； his hair；
which he had let grow long and coloured with a red dye from the day of
taking up arms against Rome； he now cut short； when the destruction of
the legions had been accomplished。 It was also said that he set up
some of the prisoners as marks for his little son to shoot at with a
child's arrows and javelins。 He neither took the oath of allegiance to
Gaul himself； nor obliged any Batavian to do so； for he relied on
the resources of Germany； and felt that； should it be necessary to
fight for empire with the Gauls； he should have on his side a great
name and superior strength。 Munius Lupercus； legate of one of the
legions； was sent along with other gifts to Veleda； a maiden of the
tribe of the Bructeri； who possessed extensive dominion； for by
ancient usage the Germans attributed to many of their women
prophetic powers and； as the superstition grew in strength； even
actual divinity。 The authority of Veleda was then at its height；
because she had foretold the success of the Germans and the
destruction of the legions。 Lupercus； however； was murdered on the
road。 A few of the centurions and tribunes； who were natives of
Gaul； were reserved as hostages for the maintenance of the alliance。
The winter encampments of the auxiliary infantry and cavalry and of
the legions； with the sole exception of those at Mogontiacum and
Vindonissa； were pulled down and burnt。
The 16th legion； with the auxiliary troops that capitulated at the
same time； received orders to march from Novesium to the Colony of the
Treveri； a day having been fixed by which they were to quit the
camp。 The whole of this interval they spent in many anxious
thoughts。 The cowards trembled to think of those who had been
massacred at the Old Camp； the better men blushed with shame at the
infamy of their position。 〃What a march is this before us！〃 they
cried； 〃Who will lead us on our way？ Our all is at the disposal of
those whom we have made our masters for life or death。〃 Others；
without the least sense of their disgrace； stowed away about their
persons their money and what else they prized most highly； while
some got their arms in readiness； and girded on their weapons as if
for battle。 While they were thus occupied； the time for their
departure arrived； and proved even more dismal than their
anticipation。 For in their intrenchments their woeful appearance had
not been so noticeable； the open plain and the light of day revealed
their disgrace。 The images of the Emperors were torn down； the
standards were borne along without their usual honours； while the
banners of the Gauls glittered on every side。 The train moved on in
silence like a long funeral procession。 Their leader was Claudius
Sanctus； one of his eyes had been destroyed； he was repulsive in
countenance and even more feeble in intellect。 The guilt of the troops
seemed to be doubled； when the other legion； deserting the camp at
Bonna； joined their ranks。 When the report of the capture of the
legions became generally known； all who but a short time before
trembled at the name of Rome rushed forth from the fields and
houses； and spread themselves everywhere to enjoy with extravagant
delight the strange spectacle。 The Picentine Horse could not endure
the triumph of the insulting rabble； and； disregarding the promises
and threats of Sanctus； rode off to Mogontiacum。 Chancing to fall in
with Longinus； the murderer of Vocula； they overwhelmed him with a
shower of darts； and thus made a beginning towards a future
expiation of their guilt。 The legions did not change the direction
of their march； and encamped under the walls of the colony of the
Treveri。
Elated with their success； Civilis and Classicus doubted whether
they should not give up the Colonia Agrippinensis to be plundered by
their troops。 Their natural ferocity and lust for spoil prompted
them to destroy the city； but the necessities of war； and the
advantage of a character for clemency to men founding a new empire；
forbade them to do so。 Civilis was also influenced by recollections of
kindness received； for his son； who at the beginning of the war had
been arrested in the Colony； had been kept in honourable custody。
But the tribes beyond the Rhine disliked the place for its wealth
and increasing power； and held that the only possible way of putting
an end to war would be； either to make it an open city for all
Germans； or to destroy it and so disperse the Ubii。
Upon this the Tencteri； a tribe separated by the Rhine from the
Colony； sent envoys with orders to make known their instructions to
the Senate of the Agrippinenses。 These orders the boldest spirit among
the ambassadors thus expounded： 〃For your return into the unity of the
German nation and name we give thanks to the Gods whom we worship in
common and to Mars； the chief of our divinities； and we congratulate
you that at length you will live as free men among the free。 Up to
this day have the Romans closed river and land and； in a way； the very
air； that they may bar our converse and prevent our meetings； or； what
is a still worse insult to men born to arms； may force us to
assemble unarmed and all but stripped； watched by sentinels； and taxed
for the privilege。 But that our friendship and union may be
established for ever； we require of you to strip your city of its
walls； which are the bulwarks of slavery。 Even savage animals； if
you keep them in confinement； forget their natural courage。 We require
of you to massacre all Romans within your territory； liberty and a
dominant race cannot well exist together