46.
While these things are being transacted in the conference it was announced to
Caesar that the cavalry of Ariovistus
were approaching nearer the mound, and were riding up to our men, and casting
stones and weapons at them. Caesar made an end of his
speech and betook himself to his men; and commanded them that they should by no
means return a weapon upon the enemy. For though he saw that an engagement with
the cavalry would be without any danger to his chosen legion, yet he did not
think proper to engage, lest, after the enemy were routed, it might be said that
they had been insnared by him under the sanction of a conference. When it was
spread abroad among the common soldiery with what haughtiness
Ariovistus had behaved at the conference, and how he had
ordered the Romans to quit Gaul, and how his
cavalry had made an attack upon our men, and how this had broken off the
conference, a much greater alacrity and eagerness for battle was infused into
our army.
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