§8.38.1Caesar interim M. Antonium quaestorem cum cohortibus XV in Bellovacis relinquit, ne qua rursus novorum consiliorum capiendorum Belgis facultas daretur.
Meanwhile, Caesar leaves Marcus Antonius the quaestor with fifteen cohorts among the Bellovaci, so that no opportunity might be given to the Belgae of forming new plans again.
§8.38.2Ipse reliquas civitates adit, obsides plures imperat, timentes omnium animos consolatione sanat.
He himself visits the remaining states, demands more hostages, and heals the minds of all who were in fear by administering consolation.
§8.38.3Cum in Carnutes venisset, quorum in civitate superiore commentario Caesar exposuit initium belli esse ortum, quod praecipue eos propter conscientiam facti timere animadvertebat, quo celerius civitatem timore liberaret, principem sceleris illius et concitatorem belli, Gutruatum, ad supplicium depoposcit.
When he had come among the Carnutes, in whose state Caesar explained in the previous book that the beginning of the war had arisen, because he observed that they were particularly afraid due to the consciousness of their deed, in order to free the state from fear more quickly, he demanded for punishment Gutruatus, the leader of that crime and instigator of the war.
§8.38.4Qui etsi ne civibus quidem suis se committebat, tamen celeriter omnium cura quaesitus in castra perducitur.
Although he would not trust himself even to his own fellow citizens, yet being quickly sought out by the diligence of everyone, he is brought into the camp.
§8.38.5Cogitur in eius supplicium Caesar contra suam naturam concursu maximo militum, qui ei omnia pericula et detrimenta belli accepta referebant, adeo ut verberibus exanimatum corpus securi feriretur.
Caesar is compelled to consent to his execution, contrary to his own nature, by the massive rush of the soldiers, who attributed all the dangers and losses of the war to him, so much so that his body, deprived of life by scourging, was beheaded with an axe.