26.
The Gauls having tried every expedient, as nothing had succeeded,
adopted the design of fleeing from the town the next day, by the advice and
order of Vercingetorix. They hoped that, by attempting it at the
dead of night, they would effect it without any great loss of men, because the
camp of Vercingetorix was not far distant from the town, and the
extensive marsh which intervened, was likely to retard the Romans in the pursuit. And they were now preparing to execute this
by night, when the matrons suddenly ran out-into the streets, and weeping cast
themselves at the feet of their husbands, and requested of them, with every
entreaty, that they should not abandon themselves and their common children to
the enemy for punishment, because the weakness of their nature and physical
powers prevented them from taking to flight. When they saw that they (as fear
does not generally admit of mercy in extreme danger) persisted in their
resolution, they began to shout aloud, and give intelligence of their flight to
the Romans. The Gauls being intimidated
by fear of this, lest the passes should be pre-occupied by the Roman cavalry, desisted from their design.
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