DBG Book 1, Chapters 1-7
Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres, quarum unam incolunt Belgae, aliam Aquitani, tertiam qui ipsorum lingua Celtae, nostra Galli appellantur. Hi omnes lingua, institutis, legibus inter se differunt. Gallos ab Aquitanis Garumna flumen, a Belgis Matrona et Sequana dividit. Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae, propterea quod a cultu atque humanitate provinciae longissime absunt, minimeque ad eos mercatores saepe commeant atque ea quae ad effeminandos animos pertinent important, proximique sunt Germanis, qui trans Rhenum incolunt, quibuscum continenter bellum gerunt. Qua de causa Helvetii quoque reliquos Gallos virtute praecedunt, quod fere cotidianis proeliis cum Germanis contendunt, cum aut suis finibus eos prohibent aut ipsi in eorum finibus bellum gerunt. Eorum una pars, quam Gallos obtinere dictum est, initium capit a flumine Rhodano, continetur Garumna flumine, Oceano, finibus Belgarum, attingit etiam ab Sequanis et Helvetiis flumen Rhenum, vergit ad septentriones. Belgae ab extremis Galliae finibus oriuntur, pertinent ad inferiorem partem fluminis Rheni, spectant in septentrionem et orientem solem. Aquitania a Garumna flumine ad Pyrenaeos montes et eam partem Oceani quae est ad Hispaniam pertinet; spectat inter occasum solis et septentriones.
All Gaul is [h/b] divided into three parts, of which one the Belgians inhabit, another the Aquitani, the third [those] who by the language of themselves are called Celts, by our [language] the Gauls. All these differ among themselves in language, in customs, in laws. The river Garumna separates the Gauls from the Aquitani; Matrona and Sequana, from the Belgae. Of all these the Belgae are strongest because they are farthest away from the lifestyle and culture of the province, merchants go back and forth to them least often and they carry those which tend towards minds to be weakened, and they are nearest to the Germans, who inhabit across the Rhine, with whom they continually wage war. For which reason the Helvetii also surpass the remaining Gauls in bravery, because they fight by nearly daily battles with the Germans, when either they guard them from their own borders or they themselves wage war on the borders of them. Of them one part, which it has been said that the Gauls hold, makes an edge from the river Rhone, it is bounded by the river Garumna, the ocean, [and] the borders of the Belgae, it also touches river Rhine from the Sequani and Helvetii, it looks to the north. The Belgae arise from the farthest borders of Gaul, they extend to the lower part of the river Rhine, they face into the north and rising sun. Aquitania extends from the river Garuman to the Pyreneian mountains and that part of the ocean which is near Hispania; it faces between the setting of the sun and the north.
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Apud Helvetios longe nobilissimus fuit et ditissimus Orgetorix. Is Marco Messala, et Marco Pupio Pisone consulibus regni cupiditate inductus coniurationem nobilitatis fecit et civitati persuasit ut de finibus suis cum omnibus copiis exirent: perfacile esse, cum virtute omnibus praestarent, totius Galliae imperio potiri. Id hoc facilius iis persuasit, quod undique loci natura Helvetii continentur: una ex parte flumine Rheno latissimo atque altissimo, qui agrum Helvetium a Germanis dividit; altera ex parte monte Iura altissimo, qui est inter Sequanos et Helvetios; tertia lacu Lemanno et flumine Rhodano, qui provinciam nostram ab Helvetiis dividit. His rebus fiebat ut et minus late vagarentur et minus facile finitimis bellum inferre possent; qua ex parte homines bellandi cupidi magno dolore adficiebantur. Pro multitudine autem hominum et pro gloria belli atque fortitudinis angustos se fines habere arbitrabantur, qui in longitudinem milia passuum CCXL, in latitudinem CLXXX patebant.
Orgetorix was, by far, the most distinguished and wealthiest among the Helvetii. He, with Marcus Messala and Marcus Pupius Piso as consuls, h/b led by the desire of power, made a conspiracy of the nobility and persuaded the citizenship that they should leave from their borders with all resources: that it is very easy, since they were surpassing all in valor, to obtain command of all Gaul. He prevailed it upon them more easily by this, because the Helvetii are bound everywhere by the nature of the place: on one side, by the very wide and very deep river Rhine, which separates the territory of the Helvetii from the Germani; on the other side, by very high mountain Jura, which is between the Sequani and Helvetii; [on the] third [side] by lake Leman and by river Rhone, which divides our province from the Helvetii. By these things, it was made that they were wandering less widely, and that they were able to carry war less easily into neighboring [places]; from which part men, eager of warring, were being affected by great distress. Moreover, for the multitude of men and for the glory of war and of bravery, they were thinking that they themselves have narrow borders, which were extending 240 thousands of paces in length, 180 (miles) in width.
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His rebus adducti et auctoritate Orgetorigis permoti constituerunt ea quae ad proficiscendum pertinerent comparare, iumentorum et carrorum quam maximum numerum coemere, sementes quam maximas facere, ut in itinere copia frumenti suppeteret, cum proximis civitatibus pacem et amicitiam confirmare. Ad eas res conficiendas biennium sibi satis esse duxerunt; in tertium annum profectionem lege confirmant. Ad eas res conficiendas Orgetorix deligitur. Is sibi legationem ad civitates suscipit. In eo itinere persuadet Castico, Catamantaloedis filio, Sequano, cuius pater regnum in Sequanis multos annos obtinuerat et a senatu populi Romani amicus appellatus erat, ut regnum in civitate sua occuparet, quod pater ante habuerit; itemque Dumnorigi Haeduo, fratri Diviciaci, qui eo tempore principatum in civitate obtinebat ac maxime plebi acceptus erat, ut idem conaretur persuadet eique filiam suam in matrimonium dat. Perfacile factu esse illis probat conata perficere, propterea quod ipse suae civitatis imperium obtenturus esset: non esse dubium quin totius Galliae plurimum Helvetii possent; se suis copiis suoque exercitu illis regna conciliaturum confirmat. Hac oratione adducti inter se fidem et ius iurandum dant et regno occupato per tres potentissimos ac firmissimos populos totius Galliae sese potiri posse sperant.
H/b led by these things and h/b moved by the authority of Orgetorix, they decided to acquire those which were pertaining to setting out, to buy as largest a number of yokes and carts, to do as most sowings, so that plenty of grain might be in store on the road, [and] to establish peace and friendship with the nearest states. For these things to be finished, they considered that two years is enough for themselves; they establish by law departure for the third year. For these things to be finished, Orgetorix is chosen. He undertakes upon himself an embassy to the states. On this journey he persuades Casticus, son of Catamantaloedis, a Sequanian, whose father had held authority among the Sequani for many years and had been called a friend by the senate of the Roman people, so that he might seize authority in his own state, which [his] father had held before; also he persuades Dumnorix, an Aeduan, brother of Diviciacus, who at that time was holding leadership in the state and was especially accepted to the populace, so that he might try the same, and he gives his daughter to him into marriage. He proves to them that having tried to accomplish is very easy to do, because he himself was about to possess command of his own state: that it is not doubtful that the Helvetii were most able of all Gaul; he declares that he himself will gain kingdoms for them by his own resources and his own army. H/b influenced by this speech, they give a pledge and an oath among themselves and, with power h/b seized and through three very powerful and very strong peoples, they hope that they themselves are able to capture all Gaul.
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Ea res est Helvetiis per indicium enuntiata. Moribus suis Orgetoricem ex vinculis causam dicere coegerunt; damnatum poenam sequi oportebat, ut igni cremaretur. Die constituta causae dictionis Orgetorix ad iudicium omnem suam familiam, ad hominum milia decem, undique coegit, et omnes clientes obaeratosque suos, quorum magnum numerum habebat, eodem conduxit; per eos ne causam diceret se eripuit. Cum civitas ob eam rem incitata armis ius suum exequi conaretur multitudinemque hominum ex agris magistratus cogerent, Orgetorix mortuus est; neque abest suspicio, ut Helvetii arbitrantur, quin ipse sibi mortem consciverit.
This thing was reported to the Helvetii through information. By their own customs they compelled Orgetorix to please [his] case in chains; it was necessary that punishment follows [him] h/b condemned, so that he might burn by fire. On the day h/b appointed of the pleading of the case, Orgetorix assembled to the trial all his family, about ten thousands of men, everywhere, and he assembled all his clients and debtors, of whom he was having a large number, to the same place; he rescued himself through them so that he might not plead the cause. When the state, h/b incited on account of this thing, was trying to enforce its own law by arms, and magistrates were assembling a multitude of men from the fields, Orgetorix died; nor suspicion is absent, as the Helvetii think, but that he himself committed death to himself.
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Post eius mortem nihilo minus Helvetii id quod constituerant facere conantur, ut e finibus suis exeant. Ubi iam se ad eam rem paratos esse arbitrati sunt, oppida sua omnia, numero ad duodecim, vicos ad quadringentos, reliqua privata aedificia incendunt; frumentum omne, praeter quod secum portaturi erant, comburunt, ut domum reditionis spe sublata paratiores ad omnia pericula subeunda essent; trium mensum molita cibaria sibi quemque domo efferre iubent. Persuadent Rauracis et Tulingis et Latobrigis finitimis, uti eodem usi consilio oppidis suis vicisque exustis una cum iis proficiscantur, Boiosque, qui trans Rhenum incoluerant et in agrum Noricum transierant Noreiamque oppugnabant, receptos ad se socios sibi adsciscunt.
After his death the Helvetii nevertheless attempt to do that which they had decided, that they might leave from their borders. When already they thought that they themselves were prepared for this thing, they burn all their towns, in number about twelve, about four hundred villages, (and) the remaining private buildings; they burn up all grain, except what they were about to carry with themselves, so that, with the hope of returning home h/b destroyed, they might be more prepared for all dangers to be endured; they order that each one carries from home for himself flour for three months. They persuade the neighboring Rauraci and Tulingi and Latobrigi, that they, having used the same plan, with towns and their villages h/b burned, might depart together with them, and they receive the Boii, who had inhabited across the Rhine and had crossed into Norican territory and had attacked Noreia, h/b received among themselves, as allies to themselves.
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Erant omnino itinera duo, quibus itineribus domo exire possent: unum per Sequanos, angustum et difficile, inter montem Iuram et flumen Rhodanum, vix qua singuli carri ducerentur, mons autem altissimus impendebat, ut facile perpauci prohibere possent; alterum per provinciam nostram, multo facilius atque expeditius, propterea quod inter fines Helvetiorum et Allobrogum, qui nuper pacati erant, Rhodanus fluit isque non nullis locis vado transitur. Extremum oppidum Allobrogum est proximumque Helvetiorum finibus Genava. Ex eo oppido pons ad Helvetios pertinet. Allobrogibus sese vel persuasuros, quod nondum bono animo in populum Romanum viderentur, existimabant vel vi coacturos ut per suos fines eos ire paterentur. Omnibus rebus ad profectionem comparatis diem dicunt, qua die ad ripam Rhodani omnes conveniant. Is dies erat a. d. V. Kal. Apr. L. Pisone, A. Gabinio consulibus.
There were only two routes, by which routes they were able to leave from home: one through the Sequani, narrow and difficult, between mount Jura and river Rhone, where single carts were drawn with difficulty, moreover a very high mountain was overhanging, so that very few were able to prevent (passing) easily; the other through our province, much easier and more unimpeded, because the Rhome flows between the borders of the Helvetii and of the Allobroges, who recently were pacified, and it is crossed in several places by ford. Geneva is the farthest town of the Allobroges and nearest to the borders of the Helvetii. From this town a bridge extends to the Helvetii. They were thinking that either they themselves will persuade the Allobroges, because they seemed not yet with good mind towards the Roman populace, or that they will compel by force so that they might allow them to go through their borders. With all things h/b acquired for the departure, they appoint a day, on which day all should assemble at the shore of Rhone. It was the day on the fifth day before the April Kalends, with Lucius Piso and Aulus Gabinius as consuls.
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Caesari cum id nuntiatum esset, eos per provincia nostram iter facere conari, maturat ab urbe proficisci et quam maximis potest itineribus in Galliam ulteriorem contendit et ad Genavam pervenit. 2 Provinciae toti quam maximum potest militum numerum imperat (erat omnino in Gallia ulteriore legio una), pontem, qui erat ad Genavam, iubet rescindi. 3 Ubi de eius aventu Helvetii certiores facti sunt, legatos ad eum mittunt nobilissimos civitatis, cuius legationis Nammeius et Verucloetius principem locum obtinebant, qui dicerent sibi esse in animo sine ullo maleficio iter per provinciam facere, propterea quod aliud iter haberent nullum: rogare ut eius voluntate id sibi facere liceat. Caesar, quod memoria tenebat L. Cassium consulem occisum exercitumque eius ab Helvetiis pulsum et sub iugum missum, concedendum non putabat; 4 neque homines inimico animo, data facultate per provinciam itineris faciundi, temperaturos ab iniuria et maleficio existimabat. 5 Tamen, ut spatium intercedere posset dum milites quos imperaverat convenirent, legatis respondit diem se ad deliberandum sumpturum: si quid vellent, ad Id. April. reverterentur.
When it had been reported to Caesar, that they attempt to make a route through our province, he hastens to proceed from the city and, by routes as greatest (a number) as he is able, he marches into farther Gaul and arrives at Geneva. He orders soldiers, as greatest (a number) as he is able, from the whole province (there was only one legion in farther Gaul) [and] he orders that the bridge, which was near Geneva, is destroyed. When the Helvetii were made more certain about his arrival, they send the most noble envoys of the state to him, of which embassy Nammeius and Verucloetius were holding the chief place, so that they might say that it is without any harm to themselves in mind to make a journey through the province, because they were having no other route: that they ask that it is permitted for themselves to do it with his consent. Caesar, because he was holding by memory that the consul Lucius Cassius was killed and that his army was defeated by the Helvetii and sent under the yoke, was thinking that it should not be granted; nor he was thinking that men with hostile mind, with the opportunity h/b given of a journey to be made through the province, would refrain from damage and mischief. Nevertheless, so that a space might be able to intervene until the soldiers whom he had ordered might assemble, he replies to the envoys that he himself will take a day for deliberating: if they were wanting anything, that they should return on the April Ides.
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