按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Meanwhile Civilis； having recruited his army from Germany after
his defeat among the Treveri； took up his position at the Old Camp；
where his situation would protect him； and where the courage of his
barbarian troops would be raised by the recollection of successes
gained on the spot。 He was followed to this place by Cerialis； whose
forces had now been doubled by the arrival of the 2nd； 6th； and 14th
legions。 The auxiliary infantry and cavalry； summoned long before； had
hastened to join him after his victory。 Neither of the generals
loved delay。 But a wide extent of plain naturally saturated with water
kept them apart。 Civilis had also thrown a dam obliquely across the
Rhine； so that the stream； diverted by the obstacle； might overflow
the adjacent country。 Such was the character of the district； full
of hidden perils from the varying depth of the fords； and unfavourable
to our troops。 The Roman soldier is heavily armed and afraid to
swim； while the German； who is accustomed to rivers； is favoured by
the lightness of his equipment and the height of his stature。
The Batavi provoking a conflict； the struggle was at once begun by
all the boldest spirits among our troops； but a panic arose； when they
saw arms and horses swallowed up in the vast depths of the marshes。
The Germans leapt lightly through the well…known shallows； and
frequently； quitting the front； hung on the rear and flanks of our
army。 It was neither the close nor the distant fighting of a
land…battle； it was more like a naval contest。 Struggling among the
waters； or exerting every limb where they found any firm footing；
the wounded and the unhurt； those who could swim and those who could
not； were involved in one common destruction。 The loss however was
less than might have been expected from the confusion； for the
Germans； not venturing to leave the morass； returned to their camp。
The result of this battle roused both generals； though from
different motives； to hasten on the final struggle。 Civilis was
anxious to follow up his success； Cerialis to wipe out his disgrace。
The Germans were flushed with success； the Romans were thoroughly
roused by shame。 The barbarians spent the night in singing and
shouting； our men in rage and threats of vengeance。
Next morning Cerialis formed his front with the cavalry and
auxiliary infantry； in the second line were posted the legions； the
general reserving a picked force for unforeseen contingencies。 Civilis
confronted him with his troops ranged； not in line； but in columns。 On
the right were the Batavi and the Gugerni； the left； which was
nearer the river； was occupied by the Transrhenane tribes。 The
exhortations of the generals were not addressed as formal harangues to
the assembled armies； but to the divisions separately； as they rode
along the line。 Cerialis spoke of the old glory of the Roman name；
of former and of recent victories； he told them that in destroying for
ever their treacherous； cowardly； and beaten foe； they had to
execute a punishment； rather than to fight a battle。 They had lately
contended with a superior force； and yet the Germans； the strength
of the hostile army； had been routed； a few were left； who carried
terror in their hearts and scars upon their backs。 He addressed to the
several legions appropriate appeals。 The 14th were styled the
〃Conquerors of Britain〃； the powerful influence of the 6th had made
Galba Emperor； the men of the 2nd were in that battle first to
consecrate their new standards and new eagle。 Then riding up to the
army of Germany； he stretched forth his hand； and implored them to
recover their river bank and their camp by the slaughter of the foe。 A
joyful shout arose from the whole army； some of whom after long
peace lusted for battle； while others； weary of war； desired peace；
all were looking for rewards and for future repose。
Nor did Civilis marshal his army in silence。 He called the field
of battle to bear witness to their valour。 He told the Germans and
Batavians that they were standing on the monuments of their glory；
that they were treading under foot the ashes and bones of legions。
〃Wherever；〃 he said； 〃the Roman turns his eyes； captivity； disaster；
and everything that is terrible； confront him。 Do not be alarmed by
the adverse result of the battle among the Treveri。 There； their own
success proved hurtful to the Germans； for； throwing away their
arms； they hampered their hands with plunder。 Since then everything
has been favourable to us； and against the foe。 All precautions； which
the skill of a general should take； have been taken。 Here are these
flooded plains which we know so well； here the marshes so fatal to the
enemy。 The Rhine and the Gods of Germany are in your sight。 Under
their auspices give battle； remembering your wives； your parents；
and your father…land。 This day will either be the most glorious
among the deeds of the past； or will be infamous in the eyes of
posterity。〃 These words were hailed； according to their custom； with
the clash of arms and with wild antics； and then the battle was
commenced by a discharge of stones； leaden balls； and other
missiles； our soldiers not entering the morass； while the Germans
sought to provoke； and so draw them on。
When their store of missiles was spent； and the battle grew
hotter； a fiercer onslaught was made by the enemy。 Their tall
stature and very long spears enabled them； without closing； to wound
our men； who were wavering and unsteady。 At the same time a column
of the Bructeri swam across from the dam； which I have described as
carried out into the river。 Here there was some confusion。 The line of
the allied infantry was being driven back； when the legions took up
the contest。 The fury of the enemy was checked； and the battle again
became equal。 At the same time a Batavian deserter came up to
Cerialis； offering an opportunity of attacking the enemy's rear； if
some cavalry were sent along the edge of the morass。 The ground
there was firm； and the Gugerni； to whom the post had been allotted；
were careless。 Two squadrons were sent with the deserter； and
outflanked the unsuspecting enemy。 At the shout that announced this
success； the legions charged in front。 The Germans were routed； and
fled towards the Rhine。 The war would have been finished that day；
if the fleet had hastened to come up。 As it was； the cavalry did not
pursue； for a storm of rain suddenly fell； and night was at hand。
The next day the 14th legion was sent into the Upper Province to
join Gallus Annius。 The 10th； which had arrived from Spain； supplied
its place in the army of Cerialis。 Civilis was joined by some
auxiliaries from the Chauci。 Nevertheless he did not venture to
fight for the defence of the Batavian capital； but carrying off
property that could be removed； and setting fire to the remainder；
he retreated into the island； aware that there were not vessels enough
for constructing a bridge； and that the Roman army could not cross the
river in any other way。 He also demolished the dyke； constructed by
Drusus Germanicus； and； by destroying this barrier； sent the river
flowing down a steep channel on the side of Gaul。 The river having
been thus； so to speak； diverted； the narrowness of the channel
between the island and Germany created an appearance of an
uninterrupted surface of dry ground。 Tutor； Classicus； and one hundred
and thirteen senators of the Treveri； also crossed the Rhine。 Among
them was Alpinius Montanus； of whose mission into Gaul by Antonius I
have already spoken。 He was accompanied by his brother Decimus
Alpinius。 His other adherents were now endeavouring to collect
auxiliaries among these danger…loving tribes by appeals to their
pity and their greed。
The war was so far from being at an end； that Civilis in one day
attacked on four points the positions of the auxiliary infantry and
cavalry and of the legions； assailing the tenth legion at Arenacum；
the second at Batavodurum； and the camp of the auxiliary infantry
and cavalry at Grinnes and Vada； and so dividing his forces； that he
himself； his sister's son Verax； Classicus； and Tutor； led each his
own division。 They were not confident of accomplishing all these
objects； but they hoped that； if they made many ventures； fortune
would favour them on some one point。 Besides； Cerialis was not
cautious； and might easily be intercepted； as the multiplicity of
tidings hurried him from place to place。 The force； which had to
attack the tenth legion； thinking it a hard matter to storm a
legionary encampment； surprised some troops； who had gone out； and
were busy felling timber； killed the prefect of the camp； five
centurions of the first rank； an