Paulus Diaconus: HISTORIA ROMANA

1 Marco Aemilio Lepido Quinto Catulo consulibus, cum Sylla rem publicam conposuisset, bella noua exarserunt, unum in Hispania, alium in Pamphylia et Cilicia, tertium in Macedonia, quartum in Dalmatia. Nam Sertorius, qui partium Marianarum fuerat, timens fortunam coeterorum qui interempti erant, ad bellum commouit Hispanias. Missi sunt contra eum duces Quintius Caecilius Metellus, filius eius qui Iugurtam regem uicit, et Lucius Domitius praetor.

1 In the consulship of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus and Quintus Catulus, when Sulla had settled the republic, new wars blazed up: one in Hispania, another in Pamphylia and Cilicia, a third in Macedonia, a fourth in Dalmatia. For Sertorius, who had belonged to the Marian party, fearing the fortune of the others who had been killed, set the Spaniards in motion for war. Against him were sent commanders Quintus Caecilius Metellus, his son who had defeated King Jugurtha, and Lucius Domitius, praetor.

A Sertorii duce Hirtuleio Domitius occisus est. Metellus uario successu contra Sertorium dimicauit. Postea cum inpar pugnae solus Metellus putaretur, Gneus Pompeius ad Hispanias missus est.

By Sertorius’s commander Hirtuleius, Domitius was slain. Metellus fought against Sertorius with varying success. Afterwards, when Metellus alone was thought unequal to the fight, Gnaeus Pompeius was sent to Hispania.

Ita duobus ducibus aduersis Sertorius fortuna uaria saepe pugnauit. Octauo decimo anno per suos occisus est, et finis ei bello datus per Gneum Pompeium adulescentem et Quintum Metellum Pium atque omnes prope Hispaniae in dicionem populi Romani redactae.

Thus, with two opposing commanders, fortune often battled Sertorius with varied fortune. In the 18th year he was killed by his own men, and an end was brought to him by war through the young Gnaeus Pompeius and Quintus Metellus Pius, and almost all of Spain was reduced into the dominion of the Roman people.

2 Ad Macedoniam missus est Appius Claudius post consulatum. Leuia proelia habuit contra uarias gentes quae Rodopam prouinciam incolebant, atque ibi morbo mortuus est. Missus ei successor Gaius Scribonius Curio post consulatum.

2 Appius Claudius was sent to Macedonia after his consulship. He fought light skirmishes against various peoples who dwelt in the province Rodopa, and there he died of disease. Gaius Scribonius Curio was sent to him as successor after his consulship.

Is Dardanos uicit et usque ad Danuuium penetrauit triumphumque meruit et intra triennium bello finem dedit.

He conquered the Dardanians and penetrated as far as the Danube, and won a triumph, and within three years put an end to the war.

3 Ad Ciliciam et Pamphyliam missus est post Seruilius ex consule, uir strenuus. Is Ciliciam subegit, Lyciae urbes clarissimas oppugnauit et coepit, in his Faselidam, Olympum, Coracum Ciliciae. Isauros quoque adgressus ad deditionem redegit atque intra triennium bello finem dedit.

3 He was sent to Cilicia and Pamphylia after Servilius, the ex-consul, a valiant man. He subdued Cilicia, besieged and began to take the most famous cities of Lycia, among them Faselida, Olympus, and Coracum of Cilicia. Also attacking the Isauri he reduced them to surrender and within three years brought the war to an end.

Primus omnium Romanorum in Tauro iter fecit. Is reuertens triumphum accepit et nomen Isaurici meruit.

He was the first of all the Romans to make a campaign in the Taurus. Returning, he received a triumph and won the name Isauricus.

4 At in Illiricum missus est Gaius Cosconius pro consule. Is multam partem Dalmatiae subegit, Salonas coepit et conposito bello Romam post biennium rediit.

4 But into Illyricum was sent Gaius Cosconius as proconsul. He subdued much of Dalmatia, undertook Salonas, and, the war being settled, returned to Rome after two years.

5 Isdem temporibus consul Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, Catuli collega, ciuile bellum uoluit commouere, intra unam tamen aestatem motus eius obpressus est. Ita uno tempore multi simul triumphi fuerunt, Metelli ex Hispania, Pompei secundus ex Hispania, Curionis ex Macedonia, Seruilii ex Isauria.

5 In the same times the consul Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, colleague of Catulus, wished to stir up a civil war, yet his movement was crushed within one summer. Thus at one time many triumphs were celebrated together: the Metelli from Hispania, Pompeius the Second from Hispania, Curio's from Macedonia, the Servilii's from Isauria.

6 Anno Vrbis conditae sexcentesimo septuagesimo sexto Lucio Licinnio Lucullo et Marco Aurelio Cotta consulibus, mortuus est Nicomedes rex Bithyniae et testamento populum Romanum heredem fecit. Mitridates pace rupta Bithyniam et Asiam rursus uoluit inuadere. Aduersus eum ambo consules missi non unam habuere fortunam.

6 In the year 676 from the founding of the City, when Lucius Licinnius Lucullus and Marcus Aurelius Cotta were consuls, Nicomedes, king of Bithynia, died and by his testament made the Roman people his heir. Mithridates, the peace having been broken, again wished to invade Bithynia and Asia. The two consuls sent against him did not enjoy the same good fortune.

Cotta apud Calcedonem uictus ab eo acie, etiam intra oppidum coactus est et obsessus. Sed cum se inde Mitridates Cizicum transtulisset, ut Cizico capto totam Asiam inuaderet, Lucullus ei aller consul occurrit. Ac dum Mitridates in obsidione Cizici commoratur, ipse eum a tergo obsedit fameque consumpsit et multis proeliis uicit, postremo Bizantium, quae nunc Constantinopolis est, fugauit.

Cotta, defeated by him in battle at Calcedon, was even forced into the town and besieged. But when Mithridates had then withdrawn to Cizicus, in order that, with Cizicus taken, he might invade all Asia, Lucullus, the other consul, encountered him. And while Mithridates was detained in the siege of Cizicus, Lucullus hemmed him in from the rear, wasted him with famine and defeated him in many engagements, and at last put Byzantium, which is now Constantinople, to flight.

Nauali quoque proelio duces eius Lucullus oppressit. Ita una hieme et aestate a Lucullo ad centum fere milia regis exstincta sunt.

Naval also in battle Lucullus overwhelmed his leaders. Thus, in one winter and summer, by Lucullus nearly one hundred thousand of the king’s forces were destroyed.

7 Anno urbis Romae sexcentesimo septuagesimo octauo, Macedoniam prouinciam Marcus Licinnius Lucullus accepit, consobrinus eius qui contra Mitridatem bellum gerebat. Et in Italia nouum bellum subito commotum est. Septuaginta enim et quattuor gladiatores ducibus Partaco, Crixo et Oenomao effracto Capuae ludo fugerunt.

7 In the year of the city of Rome 678, Marcus Licinius Lucullus received the province of Macedonia, his consobrinus who was waging war against Mithridates. And in Italy a new war was suddenly stirred up. For seventy‑four gladiators, under the leaders Partaco, Crixo and Oenomao, having burst forth from the ludus at Capua, fled.

Vesubium montem occupauerunt; unde erumpentes Clodii praetoris, qui eos obsidione cinxerat, castra expugnauerunt ipsoque in fugam acto cuncta in praedam auerterunt. Inde per Consentiam et Metapontum circumducti ingentia breui agmina colligerunt; itaque cum caedibus, incendiis, rapinis stuprisque omnia miscerent multaeque se matronae ob dolorem pudoris uiolati necassent, paene non leuius bellum in ea quam Hannibal mouerunt. Nam multis ducibus et duobus simul Romanorum consulibus uictis, sexaginta fere milium armatorum exercitum congregauerunt, uictique sunt in Apulia a Marco Licinnio Crasso proconsule et post multas calamitates Italiae tertio anno bello huic finis impositus.

They seized Mount Vesuvius; whence, bursting forth, Clodius the praetor, who had hemmed them in with a siege, stormed the camp and, having put them to flight, carried everything off as booty. From there, led round by Consentia and Metapontum, they quickly gathered vast hosts; and so, as they mingled everything with slaughter, burnings, pillage and rape, and many matrons killed themselves because of the anguish of violated chastity, they raised a war there scarcely less grievous than that which Hannibal waged. For, with many leaders and two Roman consuls at once defeated, they assembled an army of about 60,000 armed men, and were routed in Apulia by Marcus Licinius Crassus, proconsul; and after many calamities for Italy, in the third year of the war this end was imposed upon them.

8 Sexcentesimo octogesimo primo anno Vrbis conditae Publio Cornelio tantum grauia bella in imperio Romano erant, Mitridaticum et Macedonicum. Haec duo Luculli agebant, Lucius Lucullus et Marcus Lucullus. Lucius ergo Lucullus post pugnam Cizicenam, qua uicerat Mitridatem, et naualem, qua duces eius oppresserat, persecutus est eum et recepta Paflagonia atque Bithynia etiam regnum eius inuasit, Sinopen et Amison ciuitates Ponti nobilissimas coepit.

8 In the 681st year of the City's founding there were under Publius Cornelius only two grave wars in the Roman imperium, the Mithridatic and the Macedonian. These two wars were carried on by the Luculli, Lucius Lucullus and Marcus Lucullus. Lucius therefore, after the battle of Cizicus, in which he had defeated Mithridates, and the naval engagement in which he had crushed his commanders, pursued him; and with Paphlagonia and Bithynia recovered he even invaded his kingdom, and began to assail Sinope and Amisus, the most noble cities of Pontus.

Secundo proelio apud Gaueran ciuitatem, quo ingentes copias ex omni regno adduxerat Mitridates, cum xxx milia lectissima regis a v milibus Romanorum uastata essent, Mitridates fugatus et castra eius direpta. Armenia quoque Minor, quam tenuerat, eidem sublata est. Susceptus tamen est Mitridates post fugam a Tigrane Armeniae rege, qui tum ingenti gloria imperabat, Persas saepe uicerat, Mesopotamiam occupauerat et Syriam et Fenices partem.

In the second battle near the city of Gaueran, to which Mithridates had drawn together enormous forces from the whole kingdom, when 30,000 of the king’s picked men had been routed by 5,000 Romans, Mithridates was put to flight and his camp plundered. Lesser Armenia also, which he had held, was likewise taken from him. Mithridates, however, was received after his flight by Tigranes, king of Armenia, who then reigned with great glory, had often defeated the Persians, had occupied Mesopotamia and parts of Syria and Phoenicia.

9 Ergo Lucullus repetens hostem fugatum etiam regnum Tigranis, qui Armeniis imperabat, ingressus est. Tigranocertam ciuitatem Arzianenae nobilissimam regni Armeni accepit, ipsum regem cum septem milibus quingentis glibanariis et centum milibus sagittariorum et armatorum uenientem decem et octo milia militum habens ita uicit, ut magnam partem Armeniorum deleuerit. Inde Nisibim profectus eam quoque ciuitatem cum regis fratre coepit.

9 Therefore Lucullus, pursuing the routed enemy, entered also the kingdom of Tigranes, who ruled the Armenians. He took Tigranocerta, the most noble city of the kingdom of Arzanene, and he defeated the king himself—who came with 7,500 clibanarii and 100,000 archers and armed men, having 18,000 soldiers—so that he wasted a great part of the Armenians. Thence setting out to Nisibis, he began operations against that city as well together with the king’s brother.

Sed hii, quos in Ponto Lucullus reliquerat cum exercitus parte, ut regiones uictas et iam Romanorum tuerentur, neglegenter se et auare agentes occasionem iterum Mitridati in Pontum inrumpendi dederunt, atque ita bellum renouatum est. Lucullo paranti, capta Nisibi, contra Persas expeditionem successor est missus.

But those whom Lucullus had left in Pontus with a portion of the army, that they might guard the conquered regions and those now of the Romans, acting negligently and avariciously, gave Mithridates again the opportunity to break into Pontus, and thus the war was renewed. While Lucullus was preparing — Nisibis having been captured — a successor was sent for the expedition against the Persians.

10 Alter autem Lucullus, qui Macedoniam administrabat, Bessis primus Romanorum intulit bellum atque eos ingenti proelio in Hemo monte superauit. Oppidum Vscudamam, quod Bessi habitabant, eodem die quo adgressus est uicit, Cabulem coepit, usque ad Danubium penetrauit. Expugnauit etiam gentes quae Rodopeis montibus circumfusae, inter coetera dictu audituque horrida quae in captiuos agebant, raptis, cum poculo opus esset, humanorum capitum ossibus cruentis capillatisque adhuc ac per interiores cauernas male effosso cerebro oblitis auide ac sine orrore tamquam ueris poculis utebantur.

10 But another Lucullus, who administered Macedonia, first brought war upon the Bessi for the Romans and overcame them in a huge battle on Mount Hemo. He took the town Uscudama, which the Bessi inhabited, on the very day he attacked, seized Cabyle, and penetrated as far as the Danube. He also stormed peoples scattered about the Rhodopean mountains, dreadfully foul to tell and to hear among other things; having carried off captives, whenever a cup was needed they greedily and without horror used the bloody bones of human heads, still with hair, and, the brain having been ill‑hollowed out through the inner cavities and neglected, as if they were genuine drinking‑vessels.

Inde multas supra Pontum positas ciuitates adgressus est. Illic Apolloniam euertit, Galatiam, Partenopolim, Tomos, Histrum, Burtiaonem coepit, belloque confecto Romam rediit. Ambo tamen triumphauerunt, Lucullus qui contra Mithridatem pugnauerat maiore gloria, cum tantorum regnorum uictor redisset.

From there he attacked many cities set above Pontus. There he overthrew Apollonia, took Galatia, Partenopolis, Tomi, Histria, and Burtiaonem, and when the war was finished he returned to Rome. Both, however, celebrated triumphs — Lucullus, who had fought against Mithridates, with the greater glory, since he had come back victor of so many kingdoms.

11 Confecto bello Macedonico, manente Mitridatico, quod recedente Lucullo rex collectis auxiliis reparauerat, bellum Creticum ortum est. Ad id missus Caecilius Metellus ingentibus proeliis intra triennium omnem prouinciam coepit appellatusque est Creticus atque ex insula triumphauit. Quo tempore Libia quoque Romano imperio per testamentum Appionis, qui rex eius fuerat, accessit, in qua inclytae urbes erant Berenice, Ptolomais, Cyrene.

11 With the Macedonian war finished and the Mithridatic war still ongoing — which, Lucullus having withdrawn, the king had renewed by gathering auxiliaries — the Cretan war broke out. To that conflict Caecilius Metellus was sent; by mighty battles within three years he subdued the whole province, was called Creticus, and triumphed from the island. At that time Libya also was added to the Roman empire by the testament of Appion, who had been its king, in which were the renowned cities Berenice, Ptolemais, Cyrene.

12 Dum haec aguntur, pyratae omnia maria infestabant ita ut Romanis toto orbe uictoribus sola nauigatio tuta non esset. Quare id bellum Gneo Pompeio decretum est. Quod intra paucos menses ingenti et felicitate et celeritate confecit.

12 While these things were happening, pirates were harrying all the seas so that for the Romans, victorious over the whole world, navigation alone was not safe. Therefore that war was decreed to Gnaeus Pompey. He completed it within a few months with great good fortune and celerity.

Mox ei delatum etiam bellum contra reges; Mitridaten in Armenia Minore nocturno proelio uicit, castra diripuit, quadraginta milia eius occidit, uiginti tantum de exercitu suo perdidit et duos centuriones. Mitridates cum uxore fugit et duobus comitibus. Neque multo post cum in suos saeuiret et complures amicos suos nec non Exipodram Magareque filios suos trucidasset, Farnaces alter filius eius exemplo fratrum territus exercitum ad persequendum se missum sibi conciliauit et mox aduersus patrem duxit.

Soon unto him there was reported also a war against the kings; in a nocturnal battle he conquered Mithridates in Lesser Armenia, plundered his camp, slew forty thousand of his men, lost only twenty of his own army and two centurions. Mithridates fled with his wife and two companions. Not long after, when he raged against his own and had slaughtered many of his friends and had also put to death his sons Exipodram and Magareque, Farnaces, another son, terrified by the example of his brothers, won over to himself the army sent to pursue him and soon led it against his father.

Mitridates diu ex altissimo muro filium frustra praecatus, ubi inexorabilem uidit, ita fertur exclamasse: «Quoniam Farnaces», inquit, «mori iubet, uos, si estis dii patrii, praecor, ut quandocumque hanc uocem ipse audiat a liberis suis», statimque descendens ad uxores, pelices ac filias suas uenenum omnibus dedit; quod cum ipse nouissimus hausisset nec tamen, propter remedia quibus se praemunierat, ueneno confici possit, Gallum quendam militem inuitauit eique iugulum praebuit. Hunc finem habuit Mitridates; periit autem apud Bosforum, uir ingentis industriae consiliique. Regnauit annis sexaginta, uixit septuaginta duobus, contra Romanos bellum habuit annis quadraginta.

Mithridates, having long in vain entreated his son from the highest wall, when he saw him inexorable, is said to have cried out thus: “Since Farnaces bids me to die, I pray you, if you are ancestral gods, that whenever he himself shall hear this voice from his children”; and immediately descending to his wives, concubines and daughters he gave poison to all; which when he himself last of all had drained and yet, because of the remedies with which he had fortified himself, could not be finished by the poison, he invited a certain Gallic soldier and presented his throat to him. Such end did Mithridates have; he perished at the Bosporus, a man of huge industry and counsel. He reigned 60 years, lived 72, and carried on war against the Romans for 40 years.

13 Tigrani deinde Pompeius bellum intulit. Ille se ei dedit et in castra Pompei xvi miliario ab Artaxata uenit ac diadema suum, cum procubuisset ad genua Pompei, in manibus ipsius collocauit. Quod ei Pompeius reposuit honorificeque eum habitum regni tamen parte multauit et grandi pecunia.

13 Then Pompey brought war against Tigranes. He surrendered himself to him and came into Pompey's camp sixteen miles from Artaxata and placed his diadem in Pompey's hands, having fallen prostrate at Pompey's knees. Pompey restored it to him and treated him honorably, yet deprived him of part of his kingdom and fined him a large sum of money.

Adempta est ei Syria, Foenice, Sofene, sex milia praeterea talentorum argenti, quae populo Romano daret, quia bellum sine causa Romanis commouisset.

Syria, Phoenice, Sophene were taken from him, and moreover six thousand talents of silver, which he was to give to the Roman people, because he had stirred up war against the Romans without cause.

14 Pompeius mox etiam Albanis bellum intulit et eorum regem Proden ter uicit, postremo per epistolas ac munera rogatus ueniam ei ac pacem dedit. Hiberiae quoque regem Artacen uicit acie et in deditionem accepit. Armeniam Minorem Deiotaro Galatiae regi donauit, quia socius belli Mitridatici fuerat.

14 Pompey soon moreover waged war on the Albani and thrice defeated their king Prodon; finally, entreated by letters and gifts, he granted him pardon and peace. He also defeated in battle Artaces, king of Iberia, and accepted his surrender. He bestowed Lesser Armenia on Deiotarus, king of Galatia, because he had been an ally in the Mithridatic war.

Attalo et Polemini Paflagoniam reddidit. Aristarchum Colchis regem inposuit. Mox Itureos et Arabas uicit.

He restored Paphlagonia to Attalus and Polemon. He set Aristarchus over Colchis as king. Soon he conquered the Itureans and the Arabs.

Et cum uenisset in Syriam, Seleuciam uicinam Antiochiae ciuitatem libertate donauit, quod regem Tigranem non recepisset. Antiocensibus obsides reddidit. Aliquantum agrorum Damascensibus dedit, quo lucus ibi spatiosior fieret, delectatus loci amoenitate et aquarum abundantia.

And when he came into Syria, he granted liberty to Seleucia, the city neighboring Antioch, because it had not received King Tigranes. He returned hostages to the Antiochenes. He gave a portion of lands to the Damascenes, that the grove there might become more spacious, being delighted by the charm of the place and the abundance of waters.

Inde ad Iudaeam transgressus est, Hierosolimam caput gentis obsedit non solum natura loci uerum etiam ingenti muro fossaque maxima munitam. Cum alias aliis legiones die nocteque succedere sine requie cogeret, uix tertio mense expugnauit. xiii milibus Iudaeorum occisis, coeteris in fidem acceptis, muros ciuitatis euerti aequarique solo imperauit, cuius circuitus quattuor milium passuum dicitur fuisse.

Thence he crossed into Judaea and besieged Jerusalem, the head of the nation, fortified not only by the nature of the place but also by a huge wall and a great ditch. When he forced other legions to relieve one another day and night without rest, he scarcely took it in the third month. With 13,000 Jews slain and the rest received into faith, he ordered the city walls to be torn down and levelled to the ground, whose circuit is said to have been 4,000 paces.

Cumque aliquantos principes Iudaeorum securi percussisset, Hyrcano sacerdotium restituit, Aristobolum captiuum Romam duxit. Hoc bellum Orientis cum uiginti et duobus regibus sese gessisse ipse Pompeius narrauit. His gestis in Asiam se recepit et finem antiquissimo bello dedit.

And when he had struck down several princes of the Jews with the axe, he restored the priesthood to Hyrcanus, and led Aristobulus captive to Rome. He himself declared that this war of the East had been waged with twenty-two kings. Having accomplished these deeds, he withdrew into Asia and put an end to that most ancient war.

15 Marco Tullio Cicerone oratore et Gneo Antonio consulibus anno Vrbis conditae sexcentesimo octogesimo nono Lucius Sergius Catilena, nobilissimi generis uir sed ingenii prauissimi, ad delendam patriam coniurauit cum quibusdam claris quidem sed audacibus uiris. A Cicerone Vrbe expulsus est. Socii eius deprehensi in carcere strangulati sunt.

15 In the consulships of Marcus Tullius Cicero the orator and Gnaeus Antonius, in the year of the founding of the City 689, Lucius Sergius Catilina, a man of the most noble birth but of most depraved genius, conspired to destroy the fatherland with certain men indeed illustrious but audacious. He was expelled from the City by Cicero. His accomplices, having been seized, were strangled in prison.

Ab Antonio altero consule Catilena ipse uictus proelio est et interfectus.

By Antonio, the other consul, Catilena himself was defeated in battle and killed.

16 Sexcentesimo nonagesimo anno Vrbis conditae Decimo Iunio Silano et Lucio Murena consulibus Metellus de Creta triumphauit, Pompeius de bello piratico et Mitridatico. Nulla umquam pompa triumphi similis fuit. Ducti sunt ante eius currum filii Mitridatis, filius Tigranis et Aristobolus rex Iudaeorum, praelata est ingens pecunia et auri atque argenti infinitum.

16 In the six hundred and ninetieth year of the city's founding, on the tenth of June, with Silanus and Lucius Murena as consuls, Metellus triumphed over Crete, Pompeius over the pirate war and the Mithridatic war. There was never a pomp of triumph like it. Before his chariot were led the sons of Mithridates, the son of Tigranes, and Aristobulus, king of the Judeans; a vast sum of money was borne forward, and an infinite store of gold and silver.

Hoc tempore nullum per orbem terrarum graue bellum erat.

At this time there was no grave war throughout the world.

17 Anno Vrbis conditae sexcentesimo nonagesimo tertio Gaius Iulius Caesar, qui postea imperauit, cum Lucio Bibulo consul est factus. Decreta est ei Gallia et Hylliricum cum legionibus denis. Primos uicit Heluetios qui nunc Sequani appellantur, deinde uincendo bella grauissima usque ad Oceanum Brittanicum processit.

17 In the year of the founding of the City 693 Gaius Iulius Caesar, who afterwards ruled, was made consul with Lucius Bibulus. Gaul and Illyricum were decreed to him with ten legions. First he conquered the Helvetii, who are now called the Sequani, then, by conquering very severe wars, he advanced as far as the British Ocean.

Expugnauit namque in ea Heluitios, Tulingos, Latobolos, Rauracos et Boios, ex quibus xlvii milia perempta sunt, coetera diffugerunt. Dein Ariouistum regem, cui auxiliabantur Arudes, Marcomones, Triboci, Wangiones, Nemetes, Eduses et Suebi, fugere conpulit duasque uxores eius totidemque filias coepit omnemque exercitum per quinquaginta milia passuum insatiabiliter cecidit. Post haec gentem Belgarum, cui adhaeserant Bellouagui cum sexaginta milibus armatorum, Suessones cum quinquaginta milibus, Neruii praeterea, quorum adeo indomita feritas erat ut numquam ad se mercatores accedere sinerent, hi nihilominus quinquaginta milia armatorum habentes, Atrepates etiam et Ambiani, Menappi, Caleti, Velocases, Velomandi, Atuatici, Condurses, Eburones, Cerosi, Cemani, qui uno nomine Germani uocantur, quorum omnium cum his, quos supra diximus, ducenta septuaginta duo milia fuisse referuntur.

For he stormed the Heluitii, Tulingi, Latoboli, Rauraci and Boii there, of whom 47,000 were slain, the rest fled. Then he forced King Ariovistus, who was aided by the Arudes, Marcomanni, Triboci, Wangiones, Nemetes, Aedui and Suebi, to flee; he began to put two of his wives and as many daughters to death and he unsparingly destroyed the whole army over a distance of 50,000 paces. After these things the nation of the Belgae, to whom the Bellovaci had joined with 60,000 armed men, the Suessones with 50,000, moreover the Nervii, whose ferocity was so untamed that they never allowed merchants to approach them, nevertheless these having 50,000 armed men, also the Atrebates and Ambiani, Menapii, Caleti, Velocasses, Velomandi, Atuatici, Condrusi, Eburones, Cerosi, Cemani, who are called by the single name Germani, with all these and those we mentioned above are said to have been 272,000 in number.

Hi cum repente e siluis erumpentes exercitum Caesaris perterritum in fugam uertissent, tandem hortatu Caesaris exercitus restitit eosque usque ad internitionem paene deleuit. Dehinc Titurius Albinus legatus Caesaris Aluercos Eburouices Lixouiosque incredibili caede deleuit. Publius Crassus alter legatus ex Aquitanis et Cantabris triginta et octo milia interfecit.

These, when suddenly bursting forth from the woods and had put Caesar’s army, terrified, to flight, at last by Caesar’s exhortation the army stood firm and almost destroyed them to annihilation. Thence Titurius Albinus, Caesar’s legate, wiped out the Aluercii, Eburouices and Lixouii with incredible slaughter. Publius Crassus, the other legate, killed 38,000 of the Aquitani and Cantabri.

Caesar rursus Germanos, qui Renum transierant et totas Gallias sibi subicere parabant, bello adhortus usque ad internicionem cecidit, quorum feruntur quadringenta quadraginta milia fuisse; deinde facto ponte Renum transgressus, Sueuos, maximam et ferocissimam gentem, quarum esse centum pagos multi prodidere, totamque Germaniam perterruit, mox in Galliam se recepit. Domuit autem annis nouem fere omnem Galliam quae inter Alpes, flumen Rodanum, Rhenum et Oceanum est et circuitu patet ad bis tricies centena milia passuum. Brittanis mox bellum intulit, quibus ante eum ne nomen quidem Romanorum cognitum erat.

Caesar again, having urged war against the Germans who had crossed the Rhine and were preparing to subject all the Gauls to themselves, fell upon them to the point of annihilation, of whom it is reported there were 440,000; then, after making a bridge and crossing the Rhine, he terrified the Suevi, the greatest and most ferocious people, of whom many report that there are 100 pagi, and put all Germania in alarm, and soon withdrew into Gaul. Moreover he subdued in about nine years nearly all Gaul which lies between the Alps, the river Rhone, the Rhine and the Ocean, and whose circuit extends to 6,000 miles. He soon waged war on the Britons, among whom before him not even the name of the Romans was known.

Eos quoque uictos obsidibus acceptis stipendiarios fecit. Galliae autem tributi nomine annuum imperauit sestertium quadringenties, Germanosque trans Renum adgressus inmanissimis proeliis uicit. Inter tot successus ter male pugnauit: apud Aruernos semel praesens et absens a Germania bis; nam legati eius duo Titurius et Aurunculeius per insidias caesi sunt.

He also made those conquered into tributaries by taking hostages. Of Gaul, however, in the name of tribute he exacted an annual levy of sestertii four hundredfold, and having crossed the Rhine he attacked the Germans and defeated them in very tremendous battles. Amid so many successes he fought badly three times: once among the Arverni, and twice in Germany while absent; for his two legates, Titurius and Aurunculeius, were cut down by ambush.

18 Circa eadem tempora anno Vrbis conditae sexcentesimo nonagesimo septimo, Marcus Licinnius Crassus collega Gnei Pompei Magni in consulatu secundo contra Parthos missus est, et cum circa Carras contra omen et auspicia dimicasset, a Surena Orodis regis duce uictus, ad postremum interfectus est cum filio clarissimo et praestantissimo iuuene. Reliquiae exercitus per Cassium quaestorem seruatae sunt, qui singulari animo perditas res tanta uirtute restituit, ut Persas rediens trans Eufraten crebris proeliis uinceret.

18 About the same time, in the year of the City’s founding 697, Marcus Licinius Crassus, colleague of Gnaeus Pompey the Great in his second consulship, was sent against the Parthians; and when he fought at Carrhae against omens and auspices, he was defeated by Surena, the commander of King Orodes, and at last was killed together with his very famous and outstanding young son. The remnants of the army were preserved by Cassius the quaestor, who with singular spirit restored the lost fortunes by such virtue that, returning, he defeated the Persians beyond the Euphrates in frequent battles.

19 Hinc iam bellum ciuile successit execrandum et lacrimabile, quo praeter calamitates, quae in proeliis acciderunt, etiam populi Romani fortuna mutata est. Caesar enim rediens ex Gallia uictor coepit poscere alterum consulatum atque ita ut sine dubietate aliqua ei deferretur. Contradictum est a Marcello consule, a Vibulo, a Pompeio, a Catone, iussusque dimissis exercitibus ad Vrbem redire et ex Marcelli consulis auctoritate ad legiones, quae apud Luceriam erant, Pompeius cum imperio missus est.

19 From this there now followed a civil war, accursed and tearful, by which, besides the calamities that occurred in the battles, even the fortune of the Roman people was changed. For Caesar, returning victorious from Gaul, began to demand a second consulship and that it be conferred on him without any doubt. It was opposed by Marcellus the consul, by Vibulo, by Pompeius, by Cato; and, the armies having been dismissed, Pompeius was sent with imperium to return to the City and, by the authority of the consul Marcellus, to the legions which were at Luceria.

Propter quam iniuriam ab Arimino, ubi milites congregatos habebat, aduersum patriam cum exercitu uenit. Consules cum Pompeio senatusque omnis atque uniuersa nobilitas ex Vrbe fugit et in Greciam transiit. Apud Epyrum, Macedoniam, Achaiam, Pompeio duce, senatus contra Caesarem bellum parauit.

Because of that injury he came from Ariminum, where he had his soldiers gathered, against the fatherland with an army. The consuls with Pompey, and the whole senate and entire nobility, fled from the City and crossed over into Greece. At Epirus, Macedonia, Achaea, under Pompey as leader, the senate prepared war against Caesar.

20 Caesar uacuam Vrbem ingressus dictatorem se fecit. Inde Hispanias petiit. Ibi Pompei exercitus ualidissimos et fortissimos cum tribus ducibus Lucio Afronio, Marco Petreio, Marco Barsone, superauit.

20 Caesar, having entered the vacant City, made himself dictator. Thence he sought Spain. There he defeated Pompey's armies, very powerful and very valiant, under three commanders, Lucius Afronius, Marcus Petreius, and Marcus Barso.

Inde regressus Greciam transiit, aduersum Pompeium dimicauit. Primo proelio uictus est et fugatus; euasit tamen, quia nocte interueniente Pompeius sequi noluit, dixitque Caesar nec Pompeium scire uincere et illa tantum die se potuisse superari. Deinde in Thesalia apud Paleofarsacum productis utrimque ingentibus copiis dimicauerunt.

Thence having returned he crossed into Greece and fought against Pompey. In the first battle he was defeated and put to flight; yet he escaped, because with night intervening Pompey did not wish to pursue, and Caesar said that Pompey himself did not know how to win and that on that one day only he had been able to be overcome. Afterwards they fought in Thessaly near Paleofarsalus, each side bringing forth great forces.

Pompei acies habuit xl milia peditum, equites in sinistro cornu sexcentos, in dextro quingentos, praeterea totius Orientis auxilia, totam nobilitatem, innumeros senatores, praetorios, consulares et qui magnorum iam bellorum uictores fuissent. Caesar in acie sua habuit peditum non integra xxx milia, equites mille.

Pompey's battle line held 40,000 infantry, cavalry on the left wing 600, on the right 500, moreover the auxiliaries of the whole East, the entire nobility, innumerable senators, ex-praetors, ex-consuls and those who had already been victors in great wars. Caesar in his line had not quite 30,000 infantry, and 1,000 cavalry.

21 Numquam adhuc Romanae copiae in unum neque maiores neque melioribus ducibus conuenerant, totum terrarum orbem facile subacturae si contra barbaros ducerentur. Pugnatum tamen est ingenti contentione, cumque diu utrimque dubia sorte cederentur atque ex alia parte Pompeius inter hortandum diceret: «Parce ciuibus», nec tamen faceret, ex alia uero Caesar hoc faceret quod urgeret, dicens: «Miles, faciem feri», tandem uniuersus Pompei fugit exercitus castraque eius direpta sunt. Ipse fugatus Alexandriam petiit, ut a rege Aegypti, cui tutor a senatu datus fuerat propter iuuenilem eius aetatem, acciperet auxilia.

21 Never yet had Roman forces met together in one place, neither greater nor under better leaders, ready easily to subdue the whole orb of lands if led against barbarians. Yet there was fighting with great struggle, and while for a long time on both sides they yielded by doubtful fortune and on the one hand Pompey, urging, said: «Spare the citizens», yet did not, on the other hand Caesar did that which pressed forward, saying: «Soldier, strike the face», at last Pompey’s entire army fled and his camps were plundered. He himself, having been routed, sought Alexandria, that he might receive auxiliaries from the king of Egypt, to whom a guardian had been given by the senate because of his youthful age.

Qui fortunam magis quam amicitiam secutus occidit Pompeium, caput eius et anulum Caesari misit. Quo conspecto Caesar etiam lacrimas fudisse dicitur tanti uiri intuens caput et generi quondam sui.

He who followed fortune rather than friendship killed Pompey, and sent his head and ring to Caesar. At the sight of these Caesar is said even to have poured forth tears, beholding the head of so great a man and once his son‑in‑law.

22 Mox Caesar Alexandriam uenit. Ipsi quoque Ptolomaeus insidias parauit. Caesar ui insistentium hostium pressus scafam ascendit, qua mox pondere subsequentium grauata ac mersa per ducentos passus ad nauem una manu eleuata, qua chartas tenebat, natando peruenit.

22 Soon Caesar came to Alexandria. Ptolemy himself too prepared ambushes. Caesar, pressed by the force of the closing enemies, boarded a skiff which, soon weighted by the burden of those following and swamped, he, with one hand raised — the hand by which he held his papers — reached the ship by swimming for two hundred paces.

Mox nauali certamine pulsatus magna facilitate classem regiam aut depressit aut coepit. Alexandrinis petentibus regem reddidit, monitum ut amicitiam magis Romanam quam arma experiri studeret; qui tamen, ilico ut liber fuit, bellum intulit, sed continuo cum toto exercitu suo et ipse deletus est; nam uiginti milia hominum in eo bello caesa referuntur; duodecim milia cum septuaginta longis nauibus dedita, quingenti ex uictoribus cecidisse dicuntur. Rex ipse adulescens scafa exceptus, ut fugeret, multis insilentibus mersus necatusque est, corpus eius ad litus deuolutum indicio loricae aureae cognitum fuit.

Soon, having been routed in a naval engagement, he with great facility either drove down or began to drive down the royal fleet. To the Alexandrians seeking him he surrendered the king, being warned to seek Roman friendship rather than arms; who, however, as soon as he was free, immediately brought on a war, but at once he himself was destroyed with his whole army; for 20,000 men are reported killed in that war; 12,070 long ships were surrendered, and 500 of the victors are said to have fallen. The young king himself, taken into a skiff to escape, with many leaping upon him was submerged and slain, and his body, washed up on the shore, was identified by the token of a golden cuirass.

Caesar Alexandria potitus regnum Cleopatrae dedit Ptolomaei sorori, cum qua consuetudinem stupri habuerat, quae postea regio comitatu Vrbem ingressa est. Rediens inde Caesar Farnacem Mitridatis Magni filium, qui Pompeio in auxilium apud Thessaliam fuerat, rebellantem in Ponto et multas populi Romani prouincias occupantem, uicit acie, postea ad mortem coegit.

Having gained possession of Alexandria, Caesar gave the kingdom to Cleopatra, sister of Ptolemy, with whom he had had a sexual liaison; she afterward entered the City with a royal retinue. Returning thence, Caesar defeated in battle Farnaces, son of Mithridates the Great—who had gone to Pompey for aid at Thessaly, was rebelling in Pontus and occupying many provinces of the Roman people—and afterwards compelled him to death.

23 Inde Romam regressus tertio se consulem fecit cum Marco Aemilio Lepido, qui ei magister equitum dictatori ante annum fuerat. Inde in Africam profectus est, ubi infinita nobilitas cum Iuua Mauritaniae rege bellum reparauerat. Duces autem Romani erant Publius Cornelius Scipio ex genere antiquissimo Scipionis Africani, hic etiam socer Marci Pompei fuerat, Marcus Petreiusque Varus, Marcus Portius Cato, Lucius Cornelius Faustus Sullae dictatoris filius.

23 Thence having returned to Rome he made himself consul for the third time with Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, who had been his magister equitum to the dictator the year before. Thence he proceeded into Africa, where a vast nobility, together with Juba, king of Mauretania, had rekindled the war. The Roman leaders, however, were Publius Cornelius Scipio of the most ancient stock of Scipio Africanus — this same had also been the father‑in‑law of Marcus Pompeius — Marcus Petreius Varus, Marcus Porcius Cato, Lucius Cornelius Faustus, son of the dictator Sulla.

Contra hos commisso proelio post multas dimicationes uictor fuit Caesar. Cato, Scipio, Petreius, Iuua ipsi se occiderunt. Faustus, Sullae quondam dictatoris filius, Pompei gener, a Caesare interfectus est.

Against these, the battle having been joined, after many engagements Caesar was victor. Cato, Scipio, Petreius, and Iuua killed themselves. Faustus, son of Sulla the one-time dictator, and son-in-law of Pompey, was slain by Caesar.

24 Post annum Caesar Romam cum quattuor triumphis ingressus quarto se consulem fecit et statim ad Hispanias est profectus, ubi Pompei filii Gneus Pompeius et Sextus Pompeius ingens bellum praeparauerant. Multa proelia fuerunt, ultimum apud Mundam ciuitatem, in quo adeo Caesar paene uictus est, ut fugientibus suis se uoluerit occidere, ne post tantam rei militaris gloriam in potestatem adulescentium natus annos sex et quinquaginta ueniret. Denique reparatis suis uicit.

24 After a year Caesar entered Rome with four triumphs; in the fourth he made himself consul and at once set out for the Hispanias, where Pompey’s sons, Gnaeus Pompeius and Sextus Pompeius, had prepared a great war. There were many battles, the last at the city of Munda, in which Caesar was so nearly defeated that, as his men fled, he resolved to kill himself rather than—being fifty-six years old—fall into the power of young men. Finally, his forces having been recovered, he prevailed.

Ex Pompei filiis maior occisus est, minor fugit.

Of Pompey's sons the elder was killed, the younger fled.

25 Inde Caesar bellis ciuilibus toto orbe conpositis Romam rediit, agere insolentius coepit et contra consuetudinem Romanae libertatis. Cum ergo et honores ex sua uoluntate praestaret, qui a populo antea referebantur, nec senatui ad se uenienti adsurgeret aliaque regia et paene tyrannica faceret, coniuratum est in eum a sexaginta uel amplius senatoribus equitibusque Romanis. Praecipue fuerunt inter coniuratos duo Bruti ex eo genere Bruti qui primus Romae consul fuerat et reges expulerat, et Gaius Cassius et Seruilius Casca.

25 Thence Caesar, the civil wars having been settled throughout the whole world, returned to Rome, began to act more insolently and contrary to the custom of Roman liberty. And so, since he bestowed honors at his own will which had previously been conferred by the people, and when the senate came to him he did not rise to meet them and did other kingly and almost tyrannical things, a plot was formed against him by sixty or more senators and Roman equites. Chief among the conspirators were two Bruti of that stock of Brutus who first was consul at Rome and expelled the kings, and Gaius Cassius and Servilius Casca.

Ergo Caesar, cum senatus die inter coeteros uenisset ad curiam, tribus et uiginti uulneribus confossus est. Vir, quo nullus umquam bellis magis enituit. Eius siquidem ductu undecies centum nonaginta et duo milia hostium caesa sunt, nam quantum bellis ciuilibus fuderit, noluit adnotare; signis conlatis quinquagies dimicauit, Marcum Marcellum solus supergressus, qui triginta nouem uicibus pari modo fuerat proeliatus.

Therefore Caesar, when the senate on that day had come with the others to the curia, was stabbed through with 23 wounds. A man, than whom none ever strove more in wars. Under his command, indeed, 192,000 times eleven enemies were slain; for how many he routed in the civil wars he would not record; with standards having been joined he fought fifty times, having alone overcome Marcus Marcellus, who had in like manner fought in battle 39 times.

Ad hoc nullus celerius scripsit, nemo uelocius legit, quaternas etiam epistolas simul dictauit. Tantae fuit bonitatis, ut quos armis subegerat, clementia magis uicerit. Eodem tempore Romae tres simul exorti soles paulatim in eandem urbem coierunt; inter coetera portenta quae toto orbe facta sunt, bos in suburbano Romae ad arantem locutus est frustra se urgeri, non enim frumenta sed homines breui defuturos.

To this no one wrote more swiftly, no one read more swiftly; he even dictated four letters at once. So great was his goodness that by clemency he rather conquered those whom he had subdued by arms. At the same time in Rome three suns having risen together gradually met in the same city; among the other portents that occurred throughout the whole world, an ox in the suburb of Rome spoke to a man ploughing, saying that he was being driven on in vain, for not grain but men would soon be lacking.

EXPLICIT LIBER SEXTVS

HERE ENDS BOOK 6