48.
Caius Volusenus Quadratus was appointed commander of the horse under
Antonius, to winter with him: Antonius sent him in
pursuit of the enemy's cavalry; now Volusenus added to
that valor which was pre-eminent in him, a great aversion to
Comius, on which account he executed the more willingly the orders
which he received. Having, therefore, laid ambuscades, he had several encounters
with his cavalry and came off successful. At last, when a violent contest
ensued, and Volusenus, through eagerness to intercept
Comius, had obstinately pursued him with a small party; and
Comius had, by the rapidity of his flight, drawn Volusenus to a considerable distance from his troops, he,
on a sudden, appealed to the honor of all about him for assistance not to suffer
the wound, which he had perfidiously received, to go without vengeance; and,
wheeling his horse about, rode unguardedly before the rest up to the commander.
All his horse following his example, made a few of our men turn their backs and
pursued them. Comius, clapping spurs to his horse, rode up to Volusenus, and, pointing his lance, pierced him in the
thigh with great force. When their commander was wounded, our men no longer
hesitated to make resistance, and, facing about, beat back the enemy. When this
occurred, several of the enemy, repulsed by the great impetuosity of our men,
were wounded, and some were trampled to death in striving to escape, and some
were made prisoners. Their general escaped this misfortune by the swiftness of
his horse. Our commander, being severely wounded, so much so that he appeared to
run the risk of losing his life, was carried back to the camp. But
Comius, having either gratified his resentment, or, because he
had lost the greatest part of his followers, sent embassadors to
Antonius, and assured him that he would give hostages as a
security that he would go wherever Antonius should prescribe, and
would comply with his orders, and only entreated that this concession should be
made to his fears, that he should not be obliged to go into the presence of any
Roman. As Antonius judged that his
request originated in a just apprehension, he indulged him in it and accepted
his hostages. Caesar, I know, has made a separate
commentary of each year's transactions, which I have not thought it necessary
for me to do, because the following year, in which Lucius Paulus
and Caius Marcellus were consuls [50 B.
C.], produced no remarkable occurrences in Gaul. But that no person may be
left in ignorance of the place where Caesar and his
army were at that time, have thought proper to write a few words in addition to
this commentary.
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