§7.20.1Vercingetorix, cum ad suos redisset, proditionis insimulatus, quod castra propius Romanos movisset, quod cum omni equitatu discessisset, quod sine imperio tantas copias reliquisset, quod eius discessu Romani tanta opportunitate et celeritate venissent: §7.20.2non haec omnia fortuito aut sine consilio accidere potuisse; regnum illum Galliae malle Caesaris concessu quam ipsorum habere beneficio—: §7.20.3tali modo accusatus ad haec respondit: Quod castra movisset, factum inopia pabuli etiam ipsis hortantibus; quod propius Romanos accessisset, persuasum loci opportunitate, qui se ipsum munitione defenderet: §7.20.4equitum vero operam neque in loco palustri desiderari debuisse et illic fuisse utilem, quo sint profecti. §7.20.5Summam imperi se consulto nulli discedentem tradidisse, ne is multitudinis studio ad dimicandum impelleretur; cui rei propter animi mollitiem studere omnes videret, quod diutius laborem ferre non possent. §7.20.6Romani si casu intervenerint, fortunae, si alicuius indicio vocati, huic habendam gratiam, quod et paucitatem eorum ex loco superiore cognoscere et virtutem despicere potuerint, qui dimicare non ausi turpiter se in castra receperint. §7.20.7Imperium se ab Caesare per proditionem nullum desiderare, quod habere victoria posset, quae iam esset sibi atque omnibus Gallis explorata: quin etiam ipsis remittere, si sibi magis honorem tribuere, quam ab se salutem accipere videantur. §7.20.8"Haec ut intellegatis," inquit, "a me sincere pronuntiari, audite Romanos milites. "Producit servos, §7.20.9quos in pabulatione paucis ante diebus exceperat et fame vinculisque excruciaverat.
Vercingetorix, when he had returned to his men, was accused of treason: because he had moved his camp nearer to the Romans; because he had departed with all the cavalry; because he had left so great forces without a command; because on his departure the Romans had come with such great opportuneness and speed; that all these things could not have happened by chance or without design; that he preferred to hold the kingship of Gaul by the concession of Caesar rather than by their favor —: accused in such a manner, he replied to these charges: as to his having moved the camp, that it had been done through scarcity of forage, even themselves encouraging it; as to his having approached nearer to the Romans, that he had been persuaded by the opportuneness of the position, which defended itself by its own fortification; that, however, the service of the cavalry ought not to have been required in a marshy place, and had been useful in that place to which they had gone; that he had on his departure purposely entrusted the chief command to no one, lest such a one should be urged by the eagerness of the multitude to a decisive battle, which thing he saw they all desired on account of their softness of mind, because they could no longer endure labor; that if the Romans had come upon them by chance, thanks should be given to fortune; if they had been invited by anyone's information, thanks should be given to that person, because they had been able to learn from the higher ground the smallness of their numbers and to despise the courage of those who, not daring to fight, had disgracefully retreated to their camp; that he did not desire any power from Caesar by treason, which he could have by victory, which was already assured to himself and to all the Gauls; nay, that he even gave back to them their command, if they seemed to be conferring honor on him rather than receiving safety from him; "That you may understand," he said, "that these things are declared by me with sincerity, listen to the Roman soldiers." He produces some slaves, whom he had captured while foraging a few days before, and had tortured with hunger and chains.
Hi iam ante edocti quae interrogati pronuntiarent, §7.20.10milites se esse legionarios dicunt; fame et inopia adductos clam ex castris exisse, si quid frumenti aut pecoris in agris reperire possent: §7.20.11simili omnem exercitum inopia premi, nec iam vires sufficere cuiusquam nec ferre operis laborem posse: itaque statuisse imperatorem, si nihil in oppugnatione oppidi profecissent, triduo exercitum deducere.
These, having been already instructed beforehand what they should declare when questioned, say that they are legionary soldiers; that, compelled by hunger and want, they had secretly gone out of the camp, to see if they could find any corn or cattle in the fields; that the whole army was suffering from a similar want, and that the strength of no one was now sufficient, nor could they bear the labor of the work; therefore, that the commander had decided, if they made no progress in the siege of the town, to withdraw the army in three days.
"Haec," inquit, "a me," Vercingetorix, "beneficia habetis, §7.20.12quem proditionis insimulatis; cuius opera sine vestro sanguine tantum exercitum victorem fame consumptum videtis; quem turpiter se ex fuga recipientem ne qua civitas suis finibus recipiat a me provisum est. "
"These benefits," said Vercingetorix, "you have from me, whom you accuse of treason; by whose effort, without your blood, you see so great a victorious army wasted by hunger; and against whom, when retreating disgracefully in flight, I have provided that no state shall receive them within its territories."