Lured on by the treacherous representations of the
Gauls, Vocula marched against the enemy. He was near the Old Camp, when
Classicus and Tutor, who had gone on in advance under the pretence of
reconnoitring, concluded an agreement with the German chiefs. They then for
the first time separated themselves from the legions, and formed a camp of
their own, with a separate line of entrenchment, while Vocula protested that
the power of
Rome was not so utterly shaken by civil
war as to have become contemptible even to Treveri and Lingones. "There are
still," he said, "faithful provinces, victorious armies, the fortune of the
Empire, and avenging Gods. Thus it was that Sacrovir and the Ædui in
former days, Vindex and the Gauls in more recent times, were crushed in a
single battle. The breakers of treaties may look for the vengeance of the
same Deities, and the same doom. Julius and Augustus understood far better
the character of the people. Galba's policy and the diminution of their
tribute have inspired them with hostile feelings. They are now enemies,
because their yoke is easy; when they have been plundered and stripped, they
will be friends." After uttering this defiance, finding that Classicus and
Tutor persisted in their treachery, he changed his line of march, and
retired to Novesium. The Gauls encamped at a
distance of two miles, and plied with bribes the centurions and soldiers who
visited them there, striving to make a Roman army commit the unheard-of
baseness of swearing allegiance to foreigners, and pledge itself to the
perpetration of this atrocious crime by murdering or imprisoning its
officers. Vocula, though many persons advised him to escape, thought it best
to be bold, and, summoning an assembly, spoke as follows.
