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river above the passage； to catch and stop these as they floated down；
and thus fixing his bridle upon the stream； successfully finished
his bridge； which no one who saw could believe to be the work but of
ten days。
In the passage of his army over it he met with no opposition； the
Suevi themselves； who are the most warlike people of all Germany；
flying with their effects into the deepest and most densely wooded
valleys。 When he had burnt all the enemy's country； and encouraged
those who embraced the Roman interest； he went back into Gaul； after
eighteen days' stay in Germany。 But his expedition into Britain was
the most famous testimony of his courage。 For he was the first who
brought a navy into the western ocean； or who sailed into the Atlantic
with an army to make war； and by invading an island； the reported
extent of which had made its existence a matter of controversy among
historians； many of whom questioned whether it were not a mere name
and fiction； not a real place； he might be said to have carried the
Roman empire beyond the limits of the known world。 He passed thither
twice from that part of Gaul which lies over against it； and in
several battles which he fought did more hurt to the enemy than
service to himself； for the islanders were so miserably poor that they
had nothing worth being plundered of。 When he found himself unable
to put such an end to the war as he wished； he was content to take
hostages from the king； and to impose a tribute； and then quitted
the island。 At his arrival in Gaul； he found letters which lay ready
to be conveyed over the water to him from his friends at Rome；
announcing his daughter's death； who died in labour of a child by
Pompey。 Caesar and Pompey both were much afflicted with her death； nor
were their friends less disturbed； believing that the alliance was now
broken which had hitherto kept the sickly commonwealth in peace； for
the child also died within a few days after the mother。 The people
took the body of Julia； in spite of the opposition of the tribunes；
and carried it into the field of Mars； and there her funeral rites
were performed； and her remains are laid。
Caesar's army was now grown very numerous； so that he was forced
to disperse them into various camps for their winter quarters； and
he having gone himself to Italy as he used to do； in his absence a
general outbreak throughout the whole of Gaul commenced； and large
armies marched about the country； and attacked the Roman quarters； and
attempted to make themselves masters of the forts where they lay。
The greatest and strongest party of the rebels； under the command of
Abriorix； cut off Cotta and Titurius with all their men； while a force
sixty thousand strong besieged the legion under the command of Cicero；
and had almost taken it by storm； the Roman soldiers being all
wounded； and having quite spent themselves by a defence beyond their
natural strength。 But Caesar； who was at a great distance； having
received the news； quickly got together seven thousand men； and
hastened to relieve Cicero。 The besiegers were aware of it； and went
to meet him； with great confidence that they should easily overpower
such a handful of men。 Caesar； to increase their presumption； seemed
to avoid fighting； and still marched off； till he found a place
conveniently situated for a few to engage against many； where he
encamped。 He kept his soldiers from making any attack upon the
enemy； and commanded them to raise the ramparts higher and barricade
the gates； that by show of fear they might heighten the enemy's
contempt of them。 Till at last they came without any order in great
security to make an assault； when he issued forth and put them in
flight with the loss of many men。
This quieted the greater part of the commotions in these parts of
Gaul； and Caesar； in the course of the winter； visited every part of
the country； and with great vigilance took precautions against all
innovations。 For there were three legions now come to him to supply
the place of the men he had lost； of which Pompey furnished him with
two out of those under his command； the other was newly raised in
the part of Gaul by the Po。 But in a while the seeds of war； which had
long since been secretly sown and scattered by the most powerful men
in those warlike nations； broke forth into the greatest and most
dangerous war that was in those parts； both as regards the number of
men in the vigour of their youth who were gathered and armed from
all quarters； the vast funds of money collected to maintain it； the
strength of the towns； and the difficulty of the country where it
carried on。 It being winter； the rivers were frozen； the woods covered
with snow； and the level country flooded； so that in some places the
ways were lost through the depth of the snow； in others； the
overflowing of marshes and streams made every kind of passage
uncertain。 All which difficulties made it seem impracticable for
Caesar to make any attempt upon the insurgents。 Many tribes had
revolted together； the chief of them being the Arverni and
Carnutini； the general who had the supreme command in war was
Vergentorix； whose father the Gauls had put to death on suspicion of
his aiming at absolute government。
He having disposed his army in several bodies； and set officers over
them； drew over to him all the country round about as far as those
that lie upon the Arar； and having intelligence of the opposition
which Caesar now experienced at Rome； thought to engage all Gaul in
the war。 Which if he had done a little later； when Caesar was taken up
with the civil wars； Italy had been put into as great a terror as
before it was by the Cimbri。 But Caesar； who above all men was
gifted with the faculty of making the right use of everything in
war； and most especially of seizing the right moment； as soon as he
heard of the revolt； returned immediately the same way he went； and
showed the barbarians； by the quickness of his march in such a
severe season； that an army was advancing against them which was
invincible。 For in the time that one would have thought it scarce
credible that a courier or express should have come with a message
from him； he himself appeared with all his army； ravaging the country；
reducing their posts； subduing their towns； receiving into his
protection those who declared for him。 Till at last the Edui； who
hitherto had styled themselves brethren to the Romans； and had been
much honoured by them； declared against him； and joined the rebels； to
the great discouragement of his army。 Accordingly he removed thence；
and passed the country of the Ligones； desiring to reach the
territories of the Sequani； who were his friends； and who lay like a
bulwark in front of Italy against the other tribes of Ga