---
title: "Gallic War — Book I"
author: "Julius Caesar"
translator: "W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn"
languages: [la, en]
shelf: "Classical Latin"
section: 52 of 54
url: https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-i/52/
cite: "Julius Caesar, tr. W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn, Gallic War — Book I, section 52. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-i/52/"
---

# Gallic War — Book I

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

## 52. Book I — Chapter 52

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-i/52/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-i/52/#p-N

[¶0] Caesar appointed over each legion a lieutenant and a questor, that every one might have them as witnesses of his valor.

> Latin: Caesar singulis legionibus singulos legatos et quaestorem praefecit, uti eos testes suae quisque virtutis haberet;

[¶1] He himself began the battle at the head of the right wing, because he had observed that part of the enemy to be the least strong.

> Latin: ipse a dextro cornu, quod eam partem minime firmam hostium esse animadverterat, proelium commisit.

[¶2] Accordingly our men, upon the signal being given, vigorously made an attack upon the enemy, and the enemy so suddenly and rapidly rushed forward, that there was no time for casting the javelins at them.

> Latin: Ita nostri acriter in hostes signo dato impetum fecerunt itaque hostes repente celeriterque procurrerunt, ut spatium pila in hostes coiciendi non daretur.

[¶3] Throwing aside [therefore] their javelins, they fought with swords hand to hand. But the Germans, according to their custom, rapidly forming a phalanx, sustained the attack of our swords.

> Latin: Relictis pilis comminus gladiis pugnatum est. At Germani celeriter ex consuetudine sua phalange facta impetus gladiorum exceperunt.

[¶4] There were found very many of our soldiers who leaped upon the phalanx, and with their hands tore away the shields, and wounded the enemy from above.

> Latin: Reperti sunt complures nostri qui in phalanga insilirent et scuta manibus revellerent et desuper vulnerarent.

[¶5] Although the army of the enemy was routed on the left wing and put to flight, they [still] pressed heavily on our men from the right wing, by the great number of their troops.

> Latin: Cum hostium acies a sinistro cornu pulsa atque in fugam coniecta esset, a dextro cornu vehementer multitudine suorum nostram aciem premebant.

[¶6] On observing which, P. Crassus, a young man, who commanded the cavalry-as he was more disengaged than those who were employed in the fight-sent the third line as a relief to our men who were in distress.

> Latin: Id cum animadvertisset P. Crassus adulescens, qui equitatui praeerat, quod expeditior erat quam ii qui inter aciem versabantur, tertiam aciem laborantibus nostris subsidio misit.