---
title: "Gallic War — Book VIII"
author: "Aulus Hirtius"
translator: "W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn"
languages: [la, en]
shelf: "Classical Latin"
section: 50 of 56
url: https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-viii/50/
cite: "Aulus Hirtius, tr. W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn, Gallic War — Book VIII, section 50. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-viii/50/"
---

# Gallic War — Book VIII

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

## 50. Book VIII — Chapter 49 · Aulus Hirtius

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-viii/50/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/caesar-gallic-war-book-viii/50/#p-N

[¶0] Caesar, while in winter quarters in the country of the Belgae, made it his only business to keep the states in amity with him, and to give none either hopes of, or pretext for a revolt.

> Latin: Caesar in Belgio cum hiemaret, unum illud propositum habebat, continere in amicitia civitates, nulli spem aut causam dare armorum.

[¶1] For nothing was further from his wishes than to be under the necessity of engaging in another war at his departure; lest, when he was drawing his army out of the country, any war should be left unfinished, which the Gauls would cheerfully undertake, when there was no immediate danger.

> Latin: Nihil enim minus volebat quam sub decessu suo necessitatem sibi aliquam imponi belli gerendi, ne, cum exercitum deducturus esset, bellum aliquod relinqueretur quod omnis Gallia libenter sine praesenti periculo susciperet.

[¶2] Therefore, by treating the states with respect, making rich presents to the leading men, imposing no new burdens, and making the terms of their subjection lighter, he easily kept Gaul (already exhausted by so many unsuccessful battles) in obedience.

> Latin: Itaque honorifice civitates appellando, principes maximis praemiis adficiendo, nulla onera iniungendo defessam tot adversis proeliis Galliam condicione parendi meliore facile in pace continuit.