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according to the representations of seditious men； I have resolved
to say a few words； which； as the war is at an end； it may be useful
for you to have heard rather than for me to have spoken。 Roman
generals and Emperors entered your territory； as they did the rest
of Gaul； with no ambitious purposes； but at the solicitation of your
ancestors； who were wearied to the last extremity by intestine strife；
while the Germans； whom they had summoned to their help； had imposed
their yoke alike on friend and foe。 How many battles we have fought
against the Cimbri and Teutones； at the cost of what hardships to
our armies； and with what result we have waged our German wars； is
perfectly well known。 It was not to defend Italy that we occupied
the borders of the Rhine； but to insure that no second Ariovistus
should seize the empire of Gaul。 Do you fancy yourselves to be
dearer in the eyes of Civilis and the Batavi and the Transrhenane
tribes； than your fathers and grandfathers were to their ancestors？
There have ever been the same causes at work to make the Germans cross
over into Gaul； lust； avarice； and the longing for a new home；
prompting them to leave their own marshes and deserts； and to
possess themselves of this most fertile soil and of you its
inhabitants。 Liberty； indeed； and the like specious names are their
pretexts； but never did any man seek to enslave his fellows and secure
dominion for himself； without using the very same words。
〃Gaul always had its petty kingdoms and intestine wars； till you
submitted to our authority。 We； though so often provoked； have used
the right of conquest to burden you only with the cost of
maintaining peace。 For the tranquillity of nations cannot be preserved
without armies； armies cannot exist without pay； pay cannot be
furnished without tribute； all else is common between us。 You often
command our legions。 You rule these and other provinces。 There is no
privilege； no exclusion。 From worthy Emperors you derive equal
advantage； though you dwell so far away； while cruel rulers are most
formidable to their neighbours。 Endure the passions and rapacity of
your masters； just as you bear barren seasons and excessive rains
and other natural evils。 There will be vices as long as there are men。
But they are not perpetual； and they are compensated by the occurrence
of better things。 Perhaps； however； you expect a milder rule under
Tutor and Classicus； and fancy that armies to repel the Germans and
the Britons will be furnished by less tribute than you now pay。 Should
the Romans be driven out （which God forbid） what can result but wars
between all these nations？ By the prosperity and order of eight
hundred years has this fabric of empire been consolidated； nor can
it be overthrown without destroying those who overthrow it。 Yours will
be the worst peril； for you have gold and wealth； and these are the
chief incentives to war。 Give therefore your love and respect to the
cause of peace； and to that capital in which we； conquerors and
conquered； claim an equal right。 Let the lessons of fortune in both
its forms teach you not to prefer rebellion and ruin to submission and
safety。〃 With words to this effect he quieted and encouraged his
audience； who feared harsher treatment。
The territory of the Treveri was occupied by the victorious army；
when Civilis and Classicus sent letters to Cerialis； the purport of
which was as follows： 〃Vespasian； though the news is suppressed； is
dead。 Rome and Italy are thoroughly wasted by intestine war。
Mucianus and Domitian are mere empty and powerless names。 If
Cerialis wishes for the empire of Gaul； we can be content with the
boundaries of our own States。 If he prefers to fight； we do not refuse
that alternative。〃 Cerialis sent no answer to Civilis and Classicus；
but despatched the bearer and the letter itself to Domitian。 The enemy
advanced from every quarter in several bodies。 Cerialis was
generally censured for allowing them to unite； when he might have
destroyed them in detail。 The Roman army surrounded their camp with
a fosse and rampart； for up to that time they had been rash enough
to occupy it without any defence。 Among the Germans there was a
conflict of opinions。
Civilis said： 〃We must await the arrival of the Transrhenane tribes；
the terror of whose name will break down the shattered strength of
Rome。 As for the Gauls； what are they but the prey of the conqueror？
And yet the chief strength of the nation； the Belgae； are with us；
either openly； or in heart。〃 Tutor maintained that the power of Rome
would only increase with delay； as her armies were assembling from all
quarters。 〃One legion；〃 he said； 〃has already been brought over from
Britain； others have been summoned from Spain； or are advancing from
Italy。 Nor are these troops newly raised levies； but they are
veteran soldiers； experienced in war。 But the Germans； whom we are
expecting； do not obey orders； and cannot be controlled； but always
act according to their own caprice。 The money too and other presents
by which alone they can be bribed are more plentiful among the Romans；
and no one can be so bent on fighting as not to prefer repose to
peril； when the profit is the same。 But if we at once meet the foe；
Cerialis has no legions but those that survive from the wreck of the
German army； and these are bound by treaties to the States of Gaul。
And the very fact of their having； contrary to their expectations；
lately routed the undisciplined force of Valentinus will confirm in
their rashness both them and their general。 They will venture again；
and will find themselves in the hands； not of an ignorant stripling；
whose thoughts were of speeches and harangues rather than of battle
and the sword； but in those of Civilis and Classicus； whom when they
once behold they will be reminded of panic； of flight； of famine；
and of the many times when as captives they had to beg for life。 Nor
are the Treveri and Lingones bound by any ties of affection； once
let their fear cease； and they will resume their arms。〃 Classicus
put an end to these differences of opinion by giving his approval to
the suggestions of Tutor； which were at once acted on。
The centre was the post assigned to the Ubii and Lingones。 On the
right were the Batavian cohorts； on the left the Bructeri and the
Tencteri。 One division marching over the hills； another passing
between the highroad and the river Mosella； made the attack with
such suddenness； that Cerialis； who had not slept in the camp； was
in his chamber and even in his bed； when he heard at the same moment
that the battle had begun； and that his men were being worsted。 He
rebuked the alarm of the messengers； till the whole extent of the
disaster became visible； and he saw that the camp of the legions had
been forced； that the cavalry were routed； that the bridge over the
Mosella； which connected the farther bank of the river with the
Colony； was held by the Germans。 Undismayed by the confusion； Cerialis
held back the fugitives with his own hand； and readily exposing
himself； with his person entirely unprotected； to the missiles of
the enemy； he succeeded by a daring and successful effort； with the
prompt aid of his bravest soldiers； in recovering the bridge and
holding it with a picked force。 Then returning to the camp； he saw the
broken companies of the legions； which had been captured at Bonna
and Novesium； with but few soldiers round the standards； and the
eagles all but surrounded by the foe。 Fired with indignation； he
exclaimed； 〃It is not Flaccus or Vocula； whom you are thus abandoning。
There is no treachery here； I have nothing to excuse but that I rashly
believed that you； forgetting your alliance with Gaul； had again
recollected your allegiance to Rome。 I shall be added to the number of
the Numisii and Herennii； so that all your commanders will have fallen
by the hands of their soldiers or of the enemy。 Go； tell Vespasian；
or； since they are nearer； Civilis and Classicus； that you have
deserted your general on the battlefield。 Legions will come who will
not leave me unavenged or you unpunished。〃
All this was true； and the tribunes and prefects heaped on their men
the same reproaches。 The troops formed themselves in cohorts and
companies； for they could not deploy into line； as the enemy were
scattered everywhere； while from the fact that the battle was raging
within the entrenchments； they were themselves hampered with their
tents and baggage。 Tutor； Classicus； and Civilis； each at his post；
animated the combatants； the Gauls they urged to fight for freedom；
the Batavi for glory； the Germans for plunder。 Everything seemed in
favour of the enemy； till the 21