---
title: "Gallic War — Book VII"
author: "Julius Caesar"
translator: "W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn"
languages: [la, en]
shelf: "Classical Latin"
section: 4 of 90
url: https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-vii/4/
cite: "Julius Caesar, tr. W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn, Gallic War — Book VII, section 4. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-vii/4/"
---

# Gallic War — Book VII

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

## 4. Book VII — Chapter 4

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-vii/4/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-vii/4/#p-N

[¶0] There in like manner, Vercingetorix the son of Celtillus the Arvernian, a young man of the highest power (whose father had held the supremacy of entire Gaul, and had been put to death by his fellow-citizens, for this reason, because he aimed at sovereign power), summoned together his dependents, and easily excited them.

> Latin: Simili ratione ibi Vercingetorix, Celtilli filius, Arvernus, summae potentiae adulescens, cuius pater principatum Galliae totius obtinuerat et ob eam causam, quod regnum appetebat, ab civitate erat interfectus, convocatis suis clientibus facile incendit.

[¶1] On his design being made known, they rush to arms: he is expelled from the town of Gergovia, by his uncle Gobanitio and the rest of the nobles, who were of opinion, that such an enterprise ought not to be hazarded:

> Latin: Cognito eius consilio ad arma concurritur. Prohibetur ab Gobannitione, patruo suo, reliquisque principibus, qui hanc temptandam fortunam non existimabant; expellitur ex oppido Gergovia;

[¶2] he did not however desist, but held in the country a levy of the needy and desperate. Having collected such a body of troops, he brings over to his sentiments such of his fellow-citizens as he has access to:

> Latin: non destitit tamen atque in agris habet dilectum egentium ac perditorum. Hac coacta manu, quoscumque adit ex civitate ad suam sententiam perducit;

[¶3] he exhorts them to take up arms in behalf of the general freedom, and having assembled great forces he drives from the state his opponents, by whom he had been expelled a short time previously.

> Latin: hortatur ut communis libertatis causa arma capiant, magnisque coactis copiis adversarios suos a quibus paulo ante erat eiectus expellit ex civitate.

[¶4] He is saluted king by his partisans; he sends embassadors in every direction, he conjures them to adhere firmly to their promise.

> Latin: Rex ab suis appellatur. Dimittit quoque versus legationes; obtestatur ut in fide maneant.

[¶5] He quickly attaches to his interests the Senones, Parisii, Pictones, Cadurci, Turones, Aulerci, Lemovice, and all the others who border on the ocean; the supreme command is conferred on him by unanimous consent.

> Latin: Celeriter sibi Senones, Parisios, Pictones, Cadurcos, Turonos, Aulercos, Lemovices, Andos reliquosque omnes qui Oceanum attingunt adiungit: omnium consensu ad eum defertur imperium.

[¶6] On obtaining this authority, he demands hostages from all these states, he orders a fixed number of soldiers to be sent to him immediately;

> Latin: Qua oblata potestate omnibus his civitatibus obsides imperat, certum numerum militum ad se celeriter adduci iubet,

[¶7] he determines what quantity of arms each state shall prepare at home, and before what time; he pays particular attention to the cavalry.

> Latin: armorum quantum quaeque civitas domi quodque ante tempus efficiat constituit; in primis equitatui studet.

[¶8] To the utmost vigilance he adds the utmost rigor of authority; and by the severity of his punishments brings over the wavering:

> Latin: Summae diligentiae summam imperi severitatem addit; magnitudine supplici dubitantes cogit.

[¶9] for on the commission of a greater crime he puts the perpetrators to death by fire and every sort of tortures; for a slighter cause, he sends home the offenders with their ears cut off, or one of their eyes put out, that they may be an example to the rest, and frighten others by the severity of their punishment.

> Latin: nam maiore commisso delicto igni atque omnibus tormentis necat, leviore de causa auribus desectis aut singulis effossis oculis domum remittit, ut sint reliquis documento et magnitudine poenae perterreant alios.