[30] Ac primo adventu exercitus nostri crebras ex oppido excursiones faciebant parvulisque proeliis cum nostris contendebant; postea vallo pedum XII in circuitu quindecim milium crebrisque castellis circummuniti oppido sese continebant.
Eng: Initially, upon the arrival of our army, they would frequently launch sorties from the town and engage in minor skirmishes with our forces. Later, they confined themselves within the strongly fortified town, enclosed by a wall of twelve feet in height and surrounded by a series of frequent outposts and castles, forming a perimeter of fifteen miles.
华文: 一开始，我们的军队到达时，他们从城中频繁地出击，与我们进行小规模战斗；后来，在围绕周长十五英里并有许多高楼的城墙包围下，他们将自己限制在城内。
Commentary: "Excursiones faciebant" is derived from "excursio," meaning a "sally" or "raid," this Latin expression underscores the bold and audacious approach adopted by the Atuatuci. As they faced the Roman siege, the Atuatuci strategically employed frequent and daring forays from their well-fortified town. These excursions were carefully orchestrated attempts to disrupt the Roman army's operations and test their defenses.
Ubi vineis actis aggere extructo turrim procul constitui viderunt, primum inridere ex muro atque increpitare vocibus, quod tanta machinatio a tanto spatio institueretur: quibusnam manibus aut quibus viribus praesertim homines tantulae staturae (nam plerumque omnibus Gallis prae magnitudine corporum quorum brevitas nostra contemptui est) tanti oneris turrim in muro sese posse conlocare confiderent?
Eng: Upon observing the vineae being deployed and a tower being constructed from a distance, they initially mocked and derided us from the walls, taunting us with their voices. They wondered aloud who could possibly be the ones laboring on such an ambitious project from such a distance. Mockingly, they questioned whether these men of such small stature (for the Gauls, in general, have a tendency to scorn our diminutive size in comparison to their own massive frames) believed that they, with their limited strength, could position such a heavy tower on the wall.
华文: 当他们看到我们的推土机被拉过去，堆起土堡，远处竖立起攻城塔楼时，他们首先从城墙上嘲笑并用声音斥责，因为这么大规模的攻城工事从那么远的距离开始：用什么手或者用什么力量，特别是对于身材如此矮小的人（因为通常对于所有的高卢人来说，我们的矮小体型是受到他们轻视的），他们怎么能相信自己能够在城墙上放置起如此沉重的塔楼？
Commentary: "Homines tantulae staturae" translates to "men of such small stature." The Gauls, known for their larger physical build, questioned how Roman soldiers, who were generally smaller in size, could handle the immense task of placing the heavy siege tower against their walls.
[31] Ubi vero moveri et adpropinquare muris viderunt, nova atque inusitata specie commoti legatos ad Caesarem de pace miserunt, qui ad hunc modum locuti; non se existimare Romanos sine ope divina bellum gerere, qui tantae altitudinis machinationes tanta celeritate promovere possent; se suaque omnia eorum potestati permittere dixerunt.
Eng: When they saw, however, that the engines were set in motion and approaching their walls, they were astonished and taken aback by the novel and unfamiliar spectacle. Consequently, they sent envoys to Caesar to discuss peace, speaking in this manner: they did not believe that the Romans could wage war without divine assistance, evident from their ability to advance such towering machines with such remarkable speed. They declared their readiness to submit themselves and all their possessions to the Romans' authority.
华文: 这一刻他们看到我们的攻城器械开始移动并接近城墙，感到非常震惊和惊讶。于是，他们派遣使者向凯撒求和，表达了以下的意思：他们不认为罗马人能够在没有神的帮助下进行战争，因为罗马人竟然能够如此迅速地推进这么高的攻城工程。他们表示愿意把自己和所有一切交付给罗马人的权力。
Commentary: "Non se existimare Romanos sine ope divina bellum gerere" means "They do not consider that the Romans are waging war without divine assistance." The Gauls were convinced that the Romans' military prowess was beyond natural capabilities, as their engineering feats seemed almost supernatural.
Unum petere ac deprecari: si forte pro sua clementia ac mansuetudine, quam ipsi ab aliis audirent, statuisset Atuatucos esse conservandos, ne se armis despoliaret. Sibi omnes fere finitimos esse inimicos ac suae virtuti invidere; a quibus se defendere traditis armis non possent. Sibi praestare, si in eum casum deducerentur, quamvis fortunam a populo Romano pati quam ab his per cruciatum interfici inter quos dominari consuessent.
Eng: They humbly sought and implored one thing: that, if by any chance, Caesar, in his renowned clemency and benevolence which they had heard of from others, had decided to spare the Atuatuci, not to strip them of their arms. They claimed that almost all their neighbors were enemies and envied their valor, and if they were deprived of their weapons, they would be unable to defend themselves against them. They asserted that it would be better for them to endure any fate at the hands of the Roman people than to be tortured and killed by those among whom they were accustomed to rule.
华文: 阿图阿图奇人的使者恳求和请求，如果凯撒考虑到他的慈悲和温和，这也正是他们从其他人那里听到的，决定保护阿图阿图奇人，不要剥夺他们的武器。他们表示他们几乎所有的邻居都是敌人，他们嫉妒他们的勇气，而且在这些人手里交出武器后，他们无法自卫。他们宁愿接受来自罗马人的命运，而不愿被那些惯于控制他们的人用酷刑杀害。
Commentary: "Sibi praestare, si in eum casum deducerentur, quamvis fortunam a populo Romano pati quam ab his per cruciatum interfici inter quos dominari consuessent": This sentence conveys the Atuatuci's belief that they would rather endure whatever fate the Roman people imposed on them, even if it meant submitting to Roman rule, than be killed through torture by their envious adversaries, whom they used to dominate.
[32]Ad haec Caesar respondit: se magis consuetudine sua quam merito eorum civitatem conservaturum, si prius quam murum aries attigisset se dedidissent; sed deditionis nullam esse condicionem nisi armis traditis. Se id quod in Nerviis fecisset facturum finitimisque imperaturum ne quam dediticiis populi Romani iniuriam inferrent.
Eng: To this, Caesar replied that he would preserve their city more out of his customary leniency than for any merit they had shown. However, he made it clear that their surrender would only be accepted if they handed over their weapons before the battering ram touched the walls. He assured them that there would be no other terms for surrender than the complete surrender of their arms. Moreover, he stated that he would do the same for the Atuatuci as he did for the Nervii and would command their neighbors not to inflict any harm upon the subjects of the Roman people.
华文: 凯撒回应道：如果阿图阿图奇人人在攻城槌接触城墙之前投降，他会更多地按照自己的习惯而不是他们的功绩来保护这个部落。但是，唯一的投降条件是他们必须交出武器。他保证会像对待Nervii人一样对待他们，并命令他们的邻居不得对罗马人的附庸人施加任何伤害。
Commentary: The Atuatuci employ a combination of pathos and logos to make a compelling case for their surrender. They appeal to the emotions of fear and survival, emphasizing the potential dire consequences of not yielding to the Roman forces. By highlighting their enemy's aggression and their own preference for Roman rule over certain death, they aim to evoke sympathy and understanding from Caesar.
On the other hand, Caesar employs ethos and logos in his response to the Atuatuci's appeal. He emphasizes the principles of military discipline, positioning himself as a just and disciplined leader. By presenting himself as a fair ruler who has treated other tribes well, he seeks to establish credibility and build trust with the Atuatuci.
Re renuntiata ad suos illi se quae imperarentur facere dixerunt. Armorum magna multitudine de muro in fossam, quae erat ante oppidum, iacta, sic ut prope summam muri aggerisque altitudinem acervi armorum adaequarent, et tamen circiter parte tertia, ut postea perspectum est, celata atque in oppido retenta, portis patefactis eo die pace sunt usi.
Eng: Upon receiving this message, they declared that they would do as commanded. They threw a great multitude of weapons from the wall into the ditch in front of the town, stacking them in such a way that the heap of arms nearly reached the top of the wall and the height of the mound. However, it was later discovered that they had concealed about one-third of the weapons and kept them within the town. On that day, they opened the gates and accepted peace.
华文: 阿图阿图奇人人接受了凯撒的回应，并表示他们会履行凯撒所要求的条件。他们把大量的武器从城墙上投入城外的壕沟，这样形成了一个堆积物，几乎与城墙和壕沟的高度相等。然而，大约三分之一的武器后来被隐藏在城内，并且他们在当天放弃了战斗，接受了和平。
Commentary: The phrase "se quae imperarentur facere dixerunt" (they said that they would do what was commanded to them) reflects the soldiers' unequivocal willingness to follow orders. It showcases the Roman's deep-rooted culture of discipline, where soldiers were expected to carry out commands without hesitation, demonstrating their unyielding loyalty to their commanders and the military hierarchy.
Furthermore, the use of "portis patefactis" (with the gates opened) highlights the meticulous attention to detail and adherence to protocol in the Roman military. The gates were deliberately opened as per their commanders' instructions, symbolizing the controlled and orderly execution of military movements.
These stylistic elements not only emphasize the military's strict adherence to orders but also underscore the Romans' remarkable organizational skills and strategic planning.
[33] Sub vesperum Caesar portas claudi militesque ex oppido exire iussit, ne quam noctu oppidani a militibus iniuriam acciperent. Illi ante inito, ut intellectum est, consilio, quod deditione facta nostros praesidia deducturos aut denique indiligentius servaturos crediderant, partim cum iis quae retinuerant et celaverant armis, partim scutis ex cortice factis aut viminibus intextis, quae subito, ut temporis exiguitas postulabat, pellibus induxerant, tertia vigilia, qua minime arduus ad nostras munitiones accensus videbatur, omnibus copiis repente ex oppido eruptionem fecerunt.
Eng: Toward evening, Caesar ordered the gates to be closed and the soldiers to exit the town, so that the townspeople would not suffer any harm from the soldiers during the night. However, the townspeople, before the plan was revealed, had believed that once they surrendered, our troops would either withdraw their garrisons or perhaps be less vigilant in guarding them. Taking advantage of this opportunity, they had kept and concealed some of their weapons, and also crafted shields from bark or woven twigs, which they quickly covered with hides as the urgency of the situation demanded. At the third watch of the night, when it seemed least likely that they would attempt anything difficult against our fortifications, they suddenly launched an all-out attack from the town with all their forces.
华文: 凯撒在傍晚时分命令关闭城门，让士兵们不要离开城镇，以免晚上时被城内居民所侵害。然而，居民事先经过商议，因为他们认为我们在投降后会撤走驻军，或者不够细心地看守他们，所以部分居民带着他们保留和隐藏的武器，另一部分则用植物皮革制成的盾牌或编织的藤条，仓促地覆盖在兽皮上，以适应紧迫的时间，然后在第三更天（凌晨3点）时，当看似攻城难度最低的时候，突然带着所有的力量从城镇中爆发出来，冲出城来袭击我们的防线。
Commentary: In ancient Rome, the measurement of time diverged significantly from the precision of the modern hours and minutes system.
To monitor time during daylight hours, the Romans ingeniously employed sundials. These timekeeping devices were calibrated to provide approximate time readings based on the position of the sun's shadow. The sundials featured lines that corresponded to different times of the day, enabling individuals to gauge the hour by observing the shadow cast by the sun.
For nocturnal timekeeping, the Romans relied on water clocks, commonly known as clepsydrae. These were containers filled with water, featuring a small hole at the bottom. As water gradually trickled out through the hole, the remaining water level in the container served as an indicator of the elapsed time. Observing the water level provided an estimate of the passage of time during the night.
Additionally, the Romans employed a system of "watches" to delineate the night. Each watch spanned approximately four hours, and the night was segmented into four such watches. The third watch, known as "tertia vigilia" in Latin, encompassed the period from midnight to approximately 4 am.
Celeriter, ut ante Caesar imperaverat, ignibus significatione facta, ex proximis castellis eo concursum est, pugnatumque ab hostibus ita acriter est ut a viris fortibus in extrema spe salutis iniquo loco contra eos qui ex vallo turribusque tela iacerent pugnari debuit, cum in una virtute omnis spes consisteret. Occisis ad hominum milibus IIII reliqui in oppidum reiecti sunt. Postridie eius diei refractis portis, cum iam defenderet nemo, atque intromissis militibus nostris, sectionem eius oppidi universam Caesar vendidit. Ab iis qui emerant capitum numerus ad eum relatus est milium LIII.
Eng: Promptly, as Caesar had commanded earlier, the signal was given by fires, and troops from nearby fortifications rushed to the scene. The battle with the enemy was fought with such fierceness that brave men, facing dire circumstances, were compelled to engage in combat from an unfavorable position against those who were hurling projectiles from the walls and towers. Indeed, all hope rested on their valor alone. After about four thousand of the enemy were slain, the remaining survivors were driven back into the town. On the following day, with the gates broken down and no one left to defend, our soldiers were let in, and the entire town was taken. Caesar then put up the whole town for sale, and the tally of those who bought it was reported to be fifty-three thousand people.
华文: 凯撒按照之前的命令，迅速点燃了信号火，从附近的营地赶来支援，与敌人进行了激烈的战斗。敌人非常勇敢，处于绝望之中，在不利的地形上与从城墙和塔楼上投掷武器的我们战斗，因为他们所有的希望都寄托在坚定的勇气上。战斗后，有四千敌人丧生，剩下的人被赶回了城镇。第二天，城门被攻破，因为再也没有人进行抵抗，我们的士兵进入城内，整个城镇被卖掉。据购买者统计，有五万三千居民被卖为奴隶。
Commentary: In ancient warfare, the taking of captives was common, and captives were often sold into slavery or used for various purposes by the conquering side. The Roman Republic had a significant slave economy, and the capture of a large number of slaves would have been economically valuable to those who acquired them.
[34] Eodem tempore a P. Crasso, quem cum legione una miserat ad Venetos, Venellos, Osismos, Coriosolitas, Esuvios, Aulercos, Redones, quae sunt maritimae civitates Oceanumque attingunt, certior factus est omnes eas civitates in dicionem potestatemque populi Romani esse redactas.
Eng: At the same time, Caesar received news from Publius Crassus, whom he had sent with one legion to the Veneti, Venelli, Osismi, Coriosolites, Esuvii, Aulerci, and Redones – maritime tribes bordering the Ocean. He learned that all these tribes had been brought under the dominion and authority of the Roman people.
华文: 同时，从彼埃·克拉苏那里，凯撒得知他曾率领一支军团前往与温特、温洛、奥西斯、科里奥索利塔斯、艾苏维奥、奥勒尔科斯和雷多尼等位于海滨、临近大西洋的部落作战，所有这些城邦都已归于罗马人的统治和控制之下。
Commentary: The Latin phrase "in dicionem potestatemque populi Romani esse redactas" is an interesting expression. It indicates that the mentioned tribes had been "brought into the dominion and authority of the Roman people." The phrase "in dicionem" refers to being "brought under the rule or control," while "potestatemque" conveys the idea of "authority" or "power." The combination of these words emphasizes the complete submission of the tribes to Roman rule, indicating that they were now subject to Roman governance and laws. This reflects the process of Roman expansion and the assimilation of new territories into the Roman state.
[35] His rebus gestis omni Gallia pacata, tanta huius belli ad barbaros opinio perlata est uti ab iis nationibus quae trans Rhenum incolerent legationes ad Caesarem mitterentur, quae se obsides daturas, imperata facturas pollicerentur. Quas legationes Caesar, quod in Italiam Illyricumque properabat, inita proxima aestate ad se reverti iussit.
Eng: With all these events in Gaul concluded, the reputation of this war spread so greatly among the barbarian tribes beyond the Rhine that even those nations sent embassies to Caesar. They offered to provide hostages and promised to obey his commands. As Caesar was hastening to Italy and Illyricum, he instructed these delegations to return to him at the beginning of the next summer.
华文: 在这些事情发生后，整个高卢得到了平定，对于野蛮部族来说，这场战争的威名传遍了各地。那些居住在莱茵河以外的民族纷纷派遣使节前往见凯撒，承诺献出人质，履行他的要求。然而，由于凯撒当时急于回到意大利和伊利里亚，他命令这些使节在接下来的夏天再回到他那里。
Commentary: "omnia Gallia pacata" means "all of Gaul pacified." The word "pacifico" (pacified) indicates that Caesar had succeeded in bringing peace and order to the entire territory of Gaul through his military campaigns. The use of "omnia" emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the pacification, encompassing all the tribes and regions of Gaul.
Ipse in Carnutes, Andes, Turonos quaeque civitates propinquae iis locis erant ubi bellum gesserat, legionibus in hiberna deductis, in Italiam profectus est. Ob easque res ex litteris Caesaris dierum XV supplicatio decreta est, quod ante id tempus accidit nulli.
Eng: Caesar himself, after leading the legions into winter quarters among the Carnutes, Andes, and Turones, who were the neighboring tribes in the regions where he had waged war, set out for Italy. As a result of these achievements, a fifteen-day thanksgiving was decreed in his honor, a recognition that had never been granted to anyone before that time, as mentioned in Caesar's letters.
华文: 凯撒将军把军队驻扎在对应的领土，如卡努特人、安德人、图龙人等，这些地区与他进行战争。随后，他亲自前往意大利。这些战绩得到了他的传记，据此，在他的信函中，他获得了为期15天的公开祷告，这在此前从未发生过。
Commentary: After Caesar had subdued the Carnutes, Andes, and Turones, he led his legions into winter quarters in those regions. Following his departure to Italy, the Senate decreed a "supplicatio" (thanksgiving) of fifteen days in honor of his victories. This was a remarkable recognition of Caesar's achievements, as it was the first time in Roman history that such a prolonged period of thanksgiving was granted to a general for his military successes. The Senate's decision reflects the magnitude of Caesar's accomplishments and the significance of his campaigns in Gaul.