§6.13.1In omni Gallia eorum hominum, qui aliquo sunt numero atque honore, genera sunt duo.
Throughout all Gaul, of those men who are of some account and honor, there are two classes.
Nam plebes paene servorum habetur loco, quae nihil audet per se, nullo adhibetur consilio.
For the common people are regarded almost in the place of slaves, who dare undertake nothing by themselves, and are admitted to no council.
§6.13.2Plerique, cum aut aere alieno aut magnitudine tributorum aut iniuria potentiorum premuntur, sese in servitutem dicant nobilibus: in hos eadem omnia sunt iura, quae dominis in servos.
Most of them, when they are oppressed either by debt or by the magnitude of tributes or by the injustice of the more powerful, devote themselves in slavery to the nobles; over these people there are all the same rights as masters have over slaves.
§6.13.3Sed de his duobus generibus alterum est druidum, alterum equitum.
But of these two classes, one is that of the druids, the other of the knights.
§6.13.4Illi rebus divinis intersunt, sacrificia publica ac privata procurant, religiones interpretantur: ad hos magnus adulescentium numerus disciplinae causa concurrit, magnoque hi sunt apud eos honore.
The former attend to divine things, look after public and private sacrifices, and interpret religious matters; to these a great number of youths flock for the sake of instruction, and these are in great honor among them.
§6.13.5Nam fere de omnibus controversiis publicis privatisque constituunt, et, si quod est admissum facinus, si caedes facta, si de hereditate, de finibus controversia est, idem decernunt, praemia poenasque constituunt; §6.13.6si qui aut privatus aut populus eorum decreto non stetit, sacrificiis interdicunt.
For they decide concerning almost all controversies, both public and private, and if any crime has been committed, if murder has been done, if there is a dispute about inheritance or about boundaries, they themselves decide it, and decree rewards and punishments; if any individual or people has not abided by their decree, they interdict them from the sacrifices.
Haec poena apud eos est gravissima.
This punishment is the most severe among them.
§6.13.7Quibus ita est interdictum, hi numero impiorum ac sceleratorum habentur, his omnes decedunt, aditum sermonemque defugiunt, ne quid ex contagione incommodi accipiant, neque his petentibus ius redditur neque honos ullus communicatur.
Those who have been thus interdicted are regarded in the number of the impious and the wicked; everyone steps aside from them, shunning their approach and conversation, lest they receive some harm from contagion; nor is justice rendered to them when they seek it, nor is any honor shared with them.
§6.13.8His autem omnibus druidibus praeest unus, qui summam inter eos habet auctoritatem.
Now, over all these druids one presides, who has the supreme authority among them.
§6.13.9Hoc mortuo aut si qui ex reliquis excellit dignitate succedit, aut, si sunt plures pares, suffragio druidum, nonnumquam etiam armis de principatu contendunt.
Upon his death, if any one of the rest excels in dignity, he succeeds; or, if there are several equals, they contend for the leadership by a vote of the druids, sometimes even with arms.
§6.13.10hi certo anni tempore in finibus Carnutum, quae regio totius Galliae media habetur, considunt in loco consecrato.
These meet at a certain time of the year in the territory of the Carnutes, which region is considered the center of all Gaul, in a consecrated place.
Huc omnes undique, qui controversias habent, conveniunt eorumque decretis iudiciisque parent.
Hither all from all sides who have controversies assemble, and obey their decrees and judgments.
§6.13.11Disciplina in Britannia reperta atque inde in Galliam translata esse existimatur, §6.13.12et nunc, qui diligentius eam rem cognoscere volunt, plerumque illo discendi causa proficiscuntur.
This institution is thought to have been devised in Britain and from there introduced into Gaul, and now, those who wish to understand that system more diligently, for the most part journey thither for the sake of learning it.