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the bounty to Vitellius or Vespasian; it was at any rate from a
Roman Emperor that you received it。 If you; who have been victorious
in so many campaigns; who have so often routed the enemy at Gelduba
and at the Old Camp; yet shrink from battle; this indeed is an
unworthy fear。 Still you have an entrenched camp; you have
fortifications and the means of prolonging the war; till succouring
armies pour in from the neighbouring provinces。 It may be that I do
not satisfy you; you may fall back on other legates or tribunes; on
some centurion; even on some common soldier。 Let not this monstrous
news go forth to the whole world; that with you in their train Civilis
and Classicus are about to invade Italy。 Should the Germans and the
Gauls lead you to the walls of the capital; will you lift up arms
against your Country? My soul shudders at the imagination of so
horrible a crime。 Will you mount guard for Tutor; the Trever? Shall
a Batavian give the signal for battle? Will you serve as recruits in
the German battalions? What will be the issue of your wickedness
when the Roman legions are marshalled against you? Will you be a
second time deserters; a second time traitors; and brave the anger
of heaven while you waver between your old and your new allegiance?
I implore and entreat thee; O Jupiter; supremely good and great; to
whom through eight hundred and twenty years we have paid the honours
of so many triumphs; and thou; Quirinus; father of Rome; that; if it
be not your pleasure that this camp should be preserved pure and
inviolate under my command; you will at least not suffer it to be
polluted and defiled by a Tutor and a Classicus。 Grant that the
soldiers of Rome may either be innocent of crime; or at least
experience a repentance speedy and without remorse。〃
They received his speech with feelings that varied between hope;
fear; and shame。 Vocula then left them; and was preparing to put an
end to his life; when his freedmen and slaves prevented him from
anticipating by his own act a most miserable death。 Classicus
despatched one Aemilius Longinus; a deserter from the first legion;
and speedily accomplished the murder。 With respect to the two legates;
Herennius and Numisius; it was thought enough to put them in chains。
Classicus then assumed the insignia of Roman Imperial power; and
entered the camp。 Hardened though he was to every sort of crime; he
could only find words enough to go through the form of oath。 All who
were present swore allegiance to the empire of Gaul。 He
distinguished the murderer of Vocula by high promotion; and the others
by rewards proportioned to their services in crime。
Tutor and Classicus then divided the management of the war between
them。 Tutor; investing the Colonia Agrippinensis with a strong
force; compelled the inhabitants and all the troops on the Upper Rhine
to take the same oath。 He did this after having first put to death the
tribunes at Mogontiacum; and driven away the prefect of the camp;
because they refused obedience。 Classicus picked out all the most
unprincipled men from the troops who had capitulated; and bade them go
to the besieged; and offer them quarter; if they would accept the
actual state of affairs; otherwise there was no hope for them; they
would have to endure famine; the sword; and the direst extremities。
The messengers whom he sent supported their representations by their
own example。
The ties of loyalty on the one hand; and the necessities of famine
on the other; kept the besieged wavering between the alternatives of
glory and infamy。 While they thus hesitated; all usual and even
unusual kinds of food failed them; for they had consumed their
horses and beasts of burden and all the other animals; which; though
unclean and disgusting; necessity compelled them to use。 At last
they tore up shrubs and roots and the grass that grew between the
stones; and thus shewed an example of patience under privations;
till at last they shamefully tarnished the lustre of their fame by
sending envoys to Civilis to beg for their lives。 Their prayers were
not heard; till they swore allegiance to the empire of Gaul。 Civilis
then stipulated for the plunder of the camp; and appointed guards
who were to secure the treasure; the camp…followers; and the
baggage; and accompany them as they departed; stripped of
everything。 About five miles from the spot the Germans rose upon them;
and attacked them as they marched without thought of danger。 The
bravest were cut down where they stood; the greater part; as they were
scattered in flight。 The rest made their escape to the camp; while
Civilis certainly complained of the proceeding; and upbraided the
Germans with breaking faith by this atrocious act。 Whether this was
mere hypocrisy; or whether he was unable to restrain their fury; is
not positively stated。 They plundered and then fired the camp; and all
who survived the battle the flames destroyed。
Then Civilis fulfilled a vow often made by barbarians; his hair;
which he had let grow long and coloured with a red dye from the day of
taking up arms against Rome; he now cut short; when the destruction of
the legions had been accomplished。 It was also said that he set up
some of the prisoners as marks for his little son to shoot at with a
child's arrows and javelins。 He neither took the oath of allegiance to
Gaul himself; nor obliged any Batavian to do so; for he relied on
the resources of Germany; and felt that; should it be necessary to
fight for empire with the Gauls; he should have on his side a great
name and superior strength。 Munius Lupercus; legate of one of the
legions; was sent along with other gifts to Veleda; a maiden of the
tribe of the Bructeri; who possessed extensive dominion; for by
ancient usage the Germans attributed to many of their women
prophetic powers and; as the superstition grew in strength; even
actual divinity。 The authority of Veleda was then at its height;
because she had foretold the success of the Germans and the
destruction of the legions。 Lupercus; however; was murdered on the
road。 A few of the centurions and tribunes; who were natives of
Gaul; were reserved as hostages for the maintenance of the alliance。
The winter encampments of the auxiliary infantry and cavalry and of
the legions; with the sole exception of those at Mogontiacum and
Vindonissa; were pulled down and burnt。
The 16th legion; with the auxiliary troops that capitulated at the
same time; received orders to march from Novesium to the Colony of the
Treveri; a day having been fixed by which they were to quit the
camp。 The whole of this interval they spent in many anxious
thoughts。 The cowards trembled to think of those who had been
massacred at the Old Camp; the better men blushed with shame at the
infamy of t