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carried off Tutor and Classicus。 Even on this occasion the Roman fleet
was not present at the engagement； though orders had been given to
that effect。 Fear kept them away； and their crews were dispersed about
other military duties。 Cerialis in fact allowed too little time for
executing his commands； he was hasty in his plans； though eminently
successful in their results。 Fortune helped him even where skill had
failed； and so both the general and his army became less careful about
discipline。 A few days after this he escaped the peril of actual
capture； but not without great disgrace。
He had gone to Novesium and Bonna； to inspect the camps which were
then in course of erection for the winter abode of the legions； and
was making his way back with the fleet； his escort being in
disorder； and his sentries negligent。 This was observed by the
Germans； and they planned a surprise。 They chose a dark and cloudy
night； and moving rapidly down the stream； entered the entrenchments
without opposition。 The carnage was at first helped on by a cunning
device。 They cut the ropes of the tents； and slaughtered the
soldiers as they lay buried beneath their own dwellings。 Another force
put the fleet into confusion； threw their grapling irons on the
vessels； and dragged them away by the sterns。 They sought at first
to elude notice by silence； but when the slaughter was begun； by way
of increasing the panic they raised on all sides a deafening shout。
The Romans； awakened by sounds； looked for their arms and rushed
through the passages of the camp； some few with their proper
accoutrements； but most with their garments wrapped round their
shoulders； and with drawn swords in their hands。 The general； who
was half asleep； and all but naked； was saved by the enemy's
mistake。 They carried off the praetorian vessel； which was
distinguished by a flag； believing that the general was on board。
Cerialis indeed had passed the night elsewhere； in the company； as
many believed； of an Ubian woman； Claudia Sacrata。 The sentinels
sought to excuse their own scandalous neglect by the disgraceful
conduct of the general； alleging that they had been ordered to be
silent； that they might not disturb his rest； and that； from
omitting the watchwords and the usual challenges； they had
themselves fallen asleep。 The enemy rowed back in broad daylight
with the captured vessels。 The praetorian trireme they towed up the
river Lupia as a present to Veleda。
Civilis was seized by a desire to make a naval demonstration。 He
manned all the triremes that he had； and such vessels as were
propelled by a single bank of oars。 To these he added a vast number of
boats。 He put in each three or four hundred men； the usual
complement of a Liburnian galley。 With these were the captured
vessels； in which； picturesquely enough； plaids of various colours
were used for sails。 The place selected was an expanse of water； not
unlike the sea； where the mouth of the Mosa serves to discharge the
Rhine into the ocean。 The motive for equipping this fleet was； to
say nothing of the natural vanity of this people； a desire to
intercept； by this alarming demonstration； the supplies that were
approaching from Gaul。 Cerialis； more in astonishment than alarm； drew
up his fleet in line； and； though inferior in numbers； it had the
advantage in the experience of the crews； the skill of the pilots； and
the size of the vessels。 The Romans had the stream with them； the
enemy's vessels were propelled by the wind。 Thus passing each other；
they separated after a brief discharge of light missiles。 Civilis
attempted nothing more； and retired to the other side of the Rhine。
Cerialis mercilessly ravaged the Island of the Batavi； but； with a
policy familiar to commanders； left untouched the estates and houses
of Civilis。 Meanwhile； however； the autumn was far advanced； and the
river； swollen by the continual rains of the season； overflowed the
island； marshy and low…lying as it is； till it resembled a lake。 There
were no ships； no provisions at hand； and the camp； which was situated
on low ground； was in process of being carried away by the force of
the stream。
That the legions might then have been crushed； and that the
Germans wished to crush them； but were turned from their purpose by
his own craft； was claimed as a merit by Civilis； nor is it unlike the
truth； since a capitulation followed in a few days。 Cerialis；
sending secret emissaries； had held out the prospect of peace to the
Batavi； and of pardon to Civilis； while he advised Veleda and her
relatives to change by a well…timed service to the Roman people the
fortune of war； which so many disasters had shewn to be adverse。 He
reminded them that the Treveri had been beaten； that the Ubii had
submitted； that the Batavi had had their country taken from them；
and that from the friendship of Civilis nothing else had been gained
but wounds； defeat； and mourning； an exile and a fugitive he could
only be a burden to those who entertained him； and they had already
trespassed enough in crossing the Rhine so often。 If they attempted
anything more； on their side would be the wrong and the guilt； with
the Romans the vengeance of heaven。
Thus promises were mingled with threats。 When the fidelity of the
Transrhenane tribes had been thus shaken； among the Batavi also
there arose debates。 〃We can no longer；〃 they said； 〃postpone our
ruin。 The servitude of the whole world cannot be averted by a single
nation。 What has been accomplished by destroying legions with fire and
sword； but that more legions and stronger have been brought up？ If
it was for Vespasian that we fought this war； then Vespasian rules the
world； if we meant to challenge to battle the Roman people； then
what a mere fraction of the human race are the Batavi！ Look at the
Rhaetians and Noricans； at the burdens borne by the other allies。 No
tribute； but valour and manhood are demanded of us。 This is the next
thing to liberty； and if we must choose between masters； then we may
more honourably bear with the Emperors of Rome； than with the women of
the Germans。〃 Such were the murmurs of the lower class； the nobles
spoke in fiercer language。 〃We have been driven into war；〃 they
said； 〃by the fury of Civilis。 He sought to counterbalance his private
wrongs by the destruction of his nation。 Then were the Gods angry with
the Batavi when the legions were besieged； when the legates were
slain； when the war； so necessary to that one man； so fatal to us； was
begun。 We are at the last extremity； unless we think of repenting； and
avow our repentance by punishing the guilty。〃
These dispositions did not escape the notice of Civilis。 He
determined to anticipate them； moved not only by weariness of his
sufferings； but also by tha