5.
This part of Gaul having been tranquilized,
he applies himself entirely both in mind and soul to the war with the Treviri and Ambiorix. He orders Cavarinus
to march with him with the cavalry of the Senones , lest any commotion should arise either out of his hot
temper, or out of the hatred of the state which he had incurred. After arranging
these things, as he considered it certain that Ambiorix would not
contend in battle, he watched his other plans attentively. The
Menapii bordered on the territories of the
Eburones, and were protected by one continued extent of
morasses and woods; and they alone out of Gaul had never sent embassadors
to Caesar on the subject of peace. Caesar knew that a tie of hospitality subsisted between them and
Ambiorix: he also discovered that the latter had entered into
an alliance with the Germans by means of the Treviri . Ho thought that these auxiliaries ought to be
detached from him before he provoked him to war; lest he, despairing of safety,
should either proceed to conceal himself in the territories of the
Menapii, or should be driven to coalesce with the Germans beyond the Rhine . Having entered upon
this resolution, he sends the baggage of the whole army to Labienus, in the territories of the Treviri and orders two legions to proceed to him: he himself
proceeds against the Menapii with five lightly-equipped legions.
They, having assembled no troops, as they relied on the defense of their
position, retreat into the woods and morasses, and convey thither all their
property.
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