27.
C. Arpineius, a Roman knight,
the intimate friend of Q. Titurius, and with him, Q. Junius, a certain person from Spain, who already
on previous occasions, had been accustomed to go to Ambiorix, at
Caesar's mission, is sent to them for the purpose
of a conference: before them Ambiorix spoke to this effect: "That
he confessed, that for Caesar's kindness toward him, he
was very much indebted to him, inasmuch as by his aid he had been freed from a
tribute which he had been accustomed to pay to the Aduatuci, his
neighbors; and because his own son and the son of his brother had been sent back
to him, whom, when sent in the number of hostages, the Aduatuci had
detained among them in slavery and in chains; and that he had not done that
which he had done in regard to the attacking of the camp, either by his own
judgment or desire, but by the compulsion of his state; and that his government
was of that nature, that the people had as much authority over him as he over
the people. To the state moreover the occasion of the war was this-that it could
not withstand the sudden combination of the Gauls;
that he could easily prove this from his own weakness, since he was not so
little versed in affairs as to presume that with his forces he could conquer the
Roman people; but that it was the common
resolution of Gaul; that that day was
appointed for the storming of all Caesar's
winter-quarters, in order that no legion should be able to come to the relief of
another legion, that Gauls could not easily deny
Gauls, especially when a measure seemed entered
into for recovering their common freedom. Since he had performed his duty to
them on the score of patriotism [he said], he has now regard to gratitude for
the kindness of Caesar; that he warned, that he prayed
Titurius by the claims of hospitality, to consult
for his and his soldiers' safely; that a large force of the Germans had been hired and had passed the Rhine ; that it
would arrive in two days: that it was for them to consider whether they thought
fit, before the nearest people perceived it, to lead off their soldiers when
drawn out of winter-quarters, either to Cicero or to
Labienus; one of whom was about fifty miles distant
from them, the other rather more; that this he promised and confirmed by oath,
that he would give them a safe passage through his territories; and when he did
that, he was both consulting for his own state, because it would be relieved
from the winter-quarters, and also making a requital to Caesar for his obligations."
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