52.
Caesar appointed over each legion a lieutenant and a
questor, that every one might have them as witnesses of his valor. He himself
began the battle at the head of the right wing, because he had observed that
part of the enemy to be the least strong. Accordingly our men, upon the signal
being given, vigorously made an attack upon the enemy, and the enemy so suddenly
and rapidly rushed forward, that there was no time for casting the javelins at
them. Throwing aside [therefore] their javelins, they fought with swords hand to
hand. But the Germans, according to their custom,
rapidly forming a phalanx, sustained the attack of our swords. There were found
very many of our soldiers who leaped upon the phalanx, and with their hands tore
away the shields, and wounded the enemy from above. Although the army of the
enemy was routed on the left wing and put to flight, they [still] pressed
heavily on our men from the right wing, by the great number of their troops. On
observing which, P. Crassus, a young man, who commanded
the cavalry-as he was more disengaged than those who were employed in the
fight-sent the third line as a relief to our men who were in distress.
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