§1.40.1Haec cum animadvertisset, convocato consilio omniumque ordinum ad id consilium adhibitis centurionibus, vehementer eos incusavit: primum, quod aut quam in partem aut quo consilio ducerentur sibi quaerendum aut cogitandum putarent.
When he had observed these things, having called a council and having admitted to that council the centurions of all ranks, he severely reprimanded them: first, because they thought that they had to inquire or deliberate either in what direction or with what purpose they were being led.
§1.40.2Ariovistum se consule cupidissime populi Romani amicitiam adpetisse; cur hunc tam temere quisquam ab officio discessurum iudicaret?
Ariovistus, during his own consulship, had most eagerly sought the friendship of the Roman people; why should anyone judge that he would so rashly depart from his duty?
§1.40.3Sibi quidem persuaderi cognitis suis postulatis atque aequitate condicionum perspecta eum neque suam neque populi Romani gratiam repudiaturum.
For his part, he was indeed persuaded that, once his demands were known and the fairness of his conditions was thoroughly understood, he would reject neither his own favor nor that of the Roman people.
§1.40.4Quod si furore atque amentia impulsum bellum intulisset, quid tandem vererentur? Aut cur de sua virtute aut de ipsius diligentia desperarent?
But if, driven by madness and folly, he should bring war upon them, what, pray, did they fear? Or why should they despair of their own courage or of his own diligence?
§1.40.5Factum eius hostis periculum patrum nostrorum memoria Cimbris et Teutonis a C. Mario pulsis [cum non minorem laudem exercitus quam ipse imperator meritus videbatur]; factum etiam nuper in Italia servili tumultu, quos tamen aliquid usus ac disciplina, quam a nobis accepissent, sublevarint.
A trial of this enemy had been made within the memory of our fathers, when the Cimbri and Teutones were routed by Gaius Marius (at which time the army seemed to have deserved no less praise than the commander himself); it had been made also recently in Italy during the servile rebellion, whom, however, some experience and training, which they had received from us, assisted to some extent.
§1.40.6Ex quo iudicari posse quantum haberet in se boni constantia, propterea quod quos aliquam diu inermes sine causa timuissent hos postea armatos ac victores superassent.
From which it could be judged how much good resolution has in itself, because those whom they had for some time feared without cause when unarmed, they afterwards overcame when armed and victorious.
§1.40.7Denique hos esse eosdem Germanos quibuscum saepe numero Helvetii congressi non solum in suis sed etiam in illorum finibus plerumque superarint, qui tamen pares esse nostro exercitui non potuerint.
In short, these were the very same Germans with whom the Helvetii had frequently engaged, and had generally defeated, not only in their own territories but also in those of the Germans; who, however, could not be a match for our army.
§1.40.8Si quos adversum proelium et fuga Gallorum commoveret, hos, si quaererent, reperire posse diuturnitate belli defatigatis Gallis Ariovistum, cum multos menses castris se ac paludibus tenuisset neque sui potestatem fecisset, desperantes iam de pugna et dispersos subito adortum magis ratione et consilio quam virtute vicisse.
If the unsuccessful battle and flight of the Gauls moved any, they, if they made inquiry, could discover that, when the Gauls were worn out by the long duration of the war, Ariovistus, after he had kept himself for many months within his camp and marshes, and had not given an opportunity of fighting with him, suddenly attacked them when they were now despairing of a battle and dispersed, and conquered them rather by stratagem and plan than by valor.
§1.40.9Cui rationi contra homines barbaros atque imperitos locus fuisset, hac ne ipsum quidem sperare nostros exercitus capi posse.
For which stratagem there had been room against barbarian and inexperienced men, by this not even Ariovistus himself hoped that our armies could be caught.
§1.40.10Qui suum timorem in rei frumentariae simulationem angustiasque itineris conferrent, facere arroganter, cum aut de officio imperatoris desperare aut praescribere viderentur.
Those who ascribed their own fear to a pretext about the corn-supply and the narrowness of the roads acted arrogantly, since they seemed either to despair of the commander's duty or to dictate to him.
§1.40.11Haec sibi esse curae; frumentum Sequanos, Leucos, Lingones subministrare, iamque esse in agris frumenta matura; de itinere ipsos brevi tempore iudicaturos.
These things were his care; the Sequani, the Leuci, and the Lingones were supplying corn, and already the crops were ripe in the fields; about the route they themselves would judge in a short time.
§1.40.12Quod non fore dicto audientes neque signa laturi dicantur, nihil se ea re commoveri: scire enim, quibuscumque exercitus dicto audiens non fuerit, aut male re gesta fortunam defuisse aut aliquo facinore comperto avaritiam esse convictam.
As to its being said that they would not be obedient to the command nor carry the standards, he was not at all moved by that matter; for he knew that, in the case of whomever an army had not been obedient to command, either, from the business being badly managed, fortune had failed them, or, some crime having been discovered, avarice had been proved against them.
§1.40.13Suam innocentiam perpetua vita, felicitatem Helvetiorum bello esse perspectam.
His own integrity had been clearly seen throughout his whole life, and his good fortune in the war with the Helvetii.
§1.40.14Itaque se quod in longiorem diem conlaturus fuisset repraesentaturum et proxima nocte de quarta, vigilia castra moturum, ut quam primum intellegere posset utrum apud eos pudor atque officium an timor plus valeret.
Therefore, he would at once perform what he had intended to defer to a more distant day, and would move his camp the next night during the fourth watch, so that he might as soon as possible understand whether honor and duty, or fear, had more influence with them.
§1.40.15Quod si praeterea nemo sequatur, tamen se cum sola decima legione iturum, de qua non dubitet, sibique eam praetoriam cohortem futuram.
But if, besides, no one else should follow, yet he would go with the Tenth Legion alone, of which he had no doubt, and it would be a praetorian cohort to him.
Huic legioni Caesar et indulserat praecipue et propter virtutem confidebat maxime.
Caesar had both especially favored this legion, and relied chiefly on it on account of its valor.