24

24XXIV.

Now Caesar, being driven to divide his army (that was very great) in sundry garrisons for the winter-time, and returning again into Italy as he was wont, all Gaul rebelled again, and had raised great armies in every quarter to set upon the Romans, and to assay if they could distress their forts where they lay in garrison. The greatest number and most warlike men of these Gauls that entered into action of rebellion, were led by one Ambiorix: and first did set upon

the garrisons of Cotta and Titurius, whom they slew, and all the soldiers they had about them. Then they went with threescore thousand fighting men to besiege the garrisons which Quintus Cicero had in his charge, and had almost taken them by force, because all the soldiers were every man of them hurt: but they were so valiant and courageous, that they did more than men (as they say) in defending of themselves. These news being come to Caesar, who was far from thence at that time, he returned with all possible speed, and leaving seven thousand soldiers, made haste to help Cicero that was in such distress. The Gauls that did besiege Cicero, understanding of Caesar's coming, raised their siege incontinently, to go and meet him: making account that he was but a handful in their hands, they were so few. Caesar, to deceive them, still drew back, and made as though he fled from them, lodging in places meet for a captain that had but a few to fight with a great number of his enemies; and commanded his men in no wise to stir out to skirmish with them, but compelled them to raise up the rampiers of his camp, and to fortify the gates as men that were afraid, because the enemies should the less esteem of them: until at length he took opportunity by their disorderly coming to assail the trenches of his camp,

(they were grown to such a presumptuous boldness and bravery,) and then, sallying out upon them, he put them all to flight with slaughter of a great number of them.