---
title: "Gallic War — Book II"
author: "Julius Caesar"
translator: "W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn"
languages: [la, en]
shelf: "Classical Latin"
section: 12 of 35
url: https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-ii/12/
cite: "Julius Caesar, tr. W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn, Gallic War — Book II, section 12. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-ii/12/"
---

# Gallic War — Book II

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

## 12. Book II — Chapter 12

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-ii/12/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-ii/12/#p-N

[¶0] On the day following, before the enemy could recover from their terror and flight, Caesar led his army into the territories of the Suessiones, which are next to the Remi, and having accomplished a long march, hastens to the town named Noviodunum.

> Latin: Postridie eius diei Caesar, prius quam se hostes ex terrore ac fuga reciperent, in fines Suessionum, qui proximi Remis erant, exercitum duxit et magno itinere [confecto] ad oppidum Noviodunum contendit.

[¶1] Having attempted to take it by storm on his march, because he heard that it was destitute of [sufficient] defenders, he was not able to carry it by assault, on account of the breadth of the ditch and the height of the wall, though few were defending it.

> Latin: Id ex itinere oppugnare conatus, quod vacuum ab defensoribus esse audiebat, propter latitudinem fossae murique altitudinem paucis defendentibus expugnare non potuit.

[¶2] Therefore, having fortified the camp, he began to bring up the vineae, and to provide whatever things were necessary for the storm.

> Latin: Castris munitis vineas agere quaeque ad oppugnandum usui erant comparare coepit.

[¶3] In the mean time the whole body of the Suessiones, after their flight, came the next night into the town.

> Latin: Interim omnis ex fuga Suessionum multitudo in oppidum proxima nocte convenit.

[¶4] The vineae having been quickly brought up against the town, a mound thrown up, and towers built, the Gauls, amazed by the greatness of the works, such as they had neither seen nor heard of before, and struck also by the dispatch of the Romans, send embassadors to Caesar respecting a surrender, and succeed in consequence of the Remi requesting that they [the Suessiones] might be spared.

> Latin: Celeriter vineis ad oppidum actis, aggere iacto turribusque constitutis, magnitudine operum, quae neque viderant ante Galli neque audierant, et celeritate Romanorum permoti legatos ad Caesarem de deditione mittunt et petentibus Remis ut conservarentur impetrant.