---
title: "Gallic War — Book VIII"
author: "Aulus Hirtius"
translator: "W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn"
languages: [la, en]
shelf: "Classical Latin"
section: 14 of 56
url: https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-viii/14/
cite: "Aulus Hirtius, tr. W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn, Gallic War — Book VIII, section 14. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-viii/14/"
---

# Gallic War — Book VIII

*Aulus Hirtius, tr. W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn*

## 14. Book VIII — Chapter 13 · Aulus Hirtius

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-viii/14/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-viii/14/#p-N

[¶0] In the mean time daily skirmishes take place continually in view of both camps; these were fought at the ford and pass of the morass.

> Latin: Non intermittunt interim cotidiana proelia in conspectu utrorumque castrorum, quae ad vada transitusque fiebant paludis.

[¶1] In one of these contests the Germans, whom Caesar had brought over the Rhine, to fight, intermixed with the horse, having resolutely crossed the marsh, and slain the few who made resistance, and boldly pursued the rest, so terrified them, that not only those who were attacked hand to hand, or wounded at a distance, but even those who were stationed at a greater distance to support them, fled disgracefully;

> Latin: Qua contentione Germani, quos propterea Caesar traduxerat Rhenum ut equitibus interpositi proeliarentur, cum constantius universi paludem transissent paucisque resistentibus interfectis pertinacius reliquam multitudinem essent insecuti, perterriti non solum ei qui aut comminus opprimebantur aut eminus vulnerabantur, sed etiam qui longius subsidiari consuerant, turpiter refugerunt,

[¶2] and being often beaten from the rising grounds, did not stop till they had retired into their camp, or some, impelled by fear, had fled further.

> Latin: nec prius finem fugae fecerunt saepe amissis superioribus locis quam se aut in castra suorum reciperent, aut nonnulli pudore coacti longius profugerent.

[¶3] Their danger threw their whole army into such confusion, that it was difficult to judge whether they were more insolent after a slight advantage or more dejected by a trifling calamity.

> Latin: Quorum periculo sic omnes copiae sunt perturbatae ut vix iudicari posset, utrum secundis minimisque rebus insolentiores an adverso mediocri casu timidiores essent.