---
title: "Gallic War — Book I"
author: "Julius Caesar"
translator: "W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn"
languages: [la, en]
shelf: "Classical Latin"
section: 36 of 54
url: https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-i/36/
cite: "Julius Caesar, tr. W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn, Gallic War — Book I, section 36. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-i/36/"
---

# Gallic War — Book I

*Julius Caesar, tr. W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn*

## 36. Book I — Chapter 36

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-i/36/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-i/36/#p-N

[¶0] To this Ariovistus replied, that "the right of war was, that they who had conquered should govern those whom they had conquered, in what manner they pleased; that in that way the Roman people were wont to govern the nations which they had conquered, not according to the dictation of any other, but according to their own discretion.

> Latin: Ad haec Ariovistus respondit: ius esse belli ut qui vicissent iis quos vicissent quem ad modum vellent imperarent. Item populum Romanum victis non ad alterius praescriptum, sed ad suum arbitrium imperare consuesse.

[¶1] If he for his part did not dictate to the Roman people as to the manner in which they were to exercise their right, he ought not to be obstructed by the Roman people in his right;

> Latin: Si ipse populo Romano non praescriberet quem ad modum suo iure uteretur, non oportere se a populo Romano in suo iure impediri.

[¶2] that the Aedui, inasmuch as they had tried the fortune of war and had engaged in arms and been conquered, had become tributaries to him;

> Latin: Haeduos sibi, quoniam belli fortunam temptassent et armis congressi ac superati essent, stipendiarios esse factos.

[¶3] that Caesar was doing a great injustice, in that by his arrival he was making his revenues less valuable to him;

> Latin: Magnam Caesarem iniuriam facere, qui suo adventu vectigalia sibi deteriora faceret.

[¶4] that he should not restore their hostages to the Aedui, but should not make war wrongfully either upon them or their allies, if they abided by that which had been agreed on, and paid their tribute annually: if they did not continue to do that, the Roman people's name of 'brothers' would avail them naught.

> Latin: Haeduis se obsides redditurum non esse neque his neque eorum sociis iniuria bellum inlaturum, si in eo manerent quod convenisset stipendiumque quotannis penderent; si id non fecissent, longe iis fraternum nomen populi Romani afuturum.

[¶5] As to Caesar's threatening him, that he would not overlook the wrongs of the Aedui, [he said] that no one had ever entered into a contest with him [Ariovistus] without utter ruin to himself.

> Latin: Quod sibi Caesar denuntiaret se Haeduorum iniurias non neglecturum, neminem secum sine sua pernicie contendisse.

[¶6] That Caesar might enter the lists when he chose; he would feel what the invincible Germans, well-trained [as they were] beyond all others to arms, who for fourteen years had not been beneath a roof, could achieve by their valor."

> Latin: Cum vellet, congrederetur: intellecturum quid invicti Germani, exercitatissimi in armis, qui inter annos XIIII tectum non subissent, virtute possent.