42.
While these things are going on at Gergovia , the Aedui, on receiving the first
announcements from Litavicus, leave themselves no time to ascertain
the truth of those statements. Some are stimulated by avarice, others by revenge
and credulity, which is an innate propensity in that race of men to such a
degree that they consider a slight rumor as an ascertained fact. They plunder
the property of the Roman citizens, and either
massacre them or drag them away to slavery. Convictolitanis
increases the evil state of affairs, and goads on the people to fury, that by
the commission of some outrage they may be ashamed to return to propriety. They
entice from the town of Cabillonus, by a promise of safety,
Marcus Aristius, a military tribune, who was on his march to
his legion; they compel those who had settled there for the purpose of trading
to do the same. By constantly attacking them on their march they strip them of
all their baggage; they besiege day and night those that resisted; when many
were slain on both sides, they excite a great number to arms.
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