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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； and a few soldiers； the rest found
shelter behind the fortifications。 At Batavodurum the German troops
tried to break down the bridge partly built。 Night terminated an
indecisive conflict。
There was greater danger at Grinnes and Vada。 Civilis attacked Vada；
Classicus Grinnes； and they could not be checked； for our bravest
men had fallen； among them Briganticus； who commanded a squadron of
cavalry； and of whose loyalty to the Roman cause and enmity to his
uncle Civilis I have already spoken。 But when Cerialis came up with
a picked body of cavalry； the fortune of the day changed； and the
Germans were driven headlong into the river。 Civilis； who was
recognised while seeking to stop his flying troops； became the mark of
many missiles； left his horse； and swam across the river。 Verax
escaped in the same way。 Some light vessels were brought up； and
carried off Tutor and Classicus。 Even on this occasion the Roman fleet
was not present at the e