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20 - Works of Tacitus by Thomas Gordon, Publius Cornelius Tacitus · Works of Tacitus

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Speaker 1: Section nineteen of the Complete Works of Tacitus, edited by
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Speaker 1: Thomas Gordon. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings
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Speaker 1: are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer,
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Speaker 1: please visit LibriVox dot org. Recorded by Nicholas James Bridgewater.
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Speaker 1: The Complete Works of Tacitus, to which are prefixed political
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Speaker 1: discourses upon that author, Edited and translated by Thomas Gordon,
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Speaker 1: with introductory essays by Thomas Gordon, Volume one The Annals,
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Speaker 1: Book two, Part one. Conflict in Armenia during the consulship
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Speaker 1: of Siicennas, Tatilius Taurus and Lucius Libo, the kingdoms and
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Speaker 1: Roman provinces of the East were involved in war begun
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Speaker 1: by the Parthians, who, having sought and accepted a king
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Speaker 1: from Rome, did afterwards, though he was of the race
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Speaker 1: of the Arsises, condemn him as a foreigner. This was Venones,
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Speaker 1: who had been given as a hostage to Augustus by Frahats.
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Speaker 1: For Frahats, though he had defeated the Roman captains and armies,
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Speaker 1: yet had courted Augustus with all the reverence of a
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Speaker 1: dependant and sent him to bind their friendship. Part of
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Speaker 1: his offering not so much to fear the Romans as
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Speaker 1: distrusting the ill faith of the Parthians. After the death
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Speaker 1: of Frahats and the succeeding kings, ambassadors from the chief
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Speaker 1: men of Parthia arrived at Rome to call home Venones,
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Speaker 1: his eldest son, in order to end their intestine slaughters.
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Speaker 1: Tiberius found his own grandeur and glory in this embassy,
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Speaker 1: and dismissed him with great pomp and presence. The barbarians, too,
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Speaker 1: received him with rapture and exultation, a spirit which commonly
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Speaker 1: animates the people when their governors are yet new and untried.
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Speaker 1: But shame soon succeeded shame for the degeneracy of the
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Speaker 1: Parthians to have thus sent to another world for a king,
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Speaker 1: one debauched with the manners and maxims of their enemies.
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Speaker 1: The imperial throne of the Arsisides, they said, was now
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Speaker 1: deemed and given as a Roman province. Where was the
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Speaker 1: glory of those brave Parthians who slew Crassus, of those
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Speaker 1: who exterminated marc Anthony, if they were reduced so low
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Speaker 1: as to receive from the Lord of Parthias, slave of Caesars,
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Speaker 1: injured so many years to foreign bondage. His own behavior
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Speaker 1: inflamed their disdain. He abandoned the customs of his ancestors,
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Speaker 1: was seldom in the chase, took small delight in horses,
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Speaker 1: traveled luxuriously through their towns in a litter, and despised
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Speaker 1: the Parthian's feasts. They ridiculed his Greek attendants and the
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Speaker 1: mean care of sealing up his domestic movables with his signet,
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Speaker 1: but his easiness of access, his flowing courtesy virtues unknown
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Speaker 1: to the Parthians, were to them so many new vices,
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Speaker 1: and every part of his manners, the laudable and the bad,
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Speaker 1: were subject to equal hatred, because foreign from their own.
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Speaker 1: They therefore sent for Artavanus, of the blood of the Arsucedes,
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Speaker 1: bred amongst the Dahans. In the first engagement, he was routed,
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Speaker 1: but repaired his forces and gained the kingdom. The vanquished
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Speaker 1: Venones found a retreat in Armenia, a vacant throne and
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Speaker 1: a people wavering between the neighboring powers of Parthia and Rome.
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Speaker 1: From us, they were alienated by the fraud and iniquity
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Speaker 1: of Marcantini, who, having by shows and professions of friendship,
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Speaker 1: ensnared into his power. Artevastis, king of the Armenians, loaded
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Speaker 1: him with chains, and at last put him to death.
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Speaker 1: Artaxius's son, for his father's sake, hating Us, defended himself
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Speaker 1: and his kingdom by the detection and forces of the Arsacedes.
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Speaker 1: Artaxius being slain by a conspiracy of his Kindred Tigranies,
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Speaker 1: was by Augustus set over the Armenians, and by Tiberius
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Speaker 1: Nero put in possession of the kingdom. But neither was
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Speaker 1: the reign of Tigrani's lasting nor that of his children, however,
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Speaker 1: associated together according to the mode and politics of the East,
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Speaker 1: by the double ties of marriage and government, Artevasties was
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Speaker 1: next established by the appointment of Augustus, and then expelled,
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Speaker 1: but a great expense of Roman blood. Caius Caesar was
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Speaker 1: then chosen to settle Armenia by him. Ariobarzanes, by dissent
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Speaker 1: a mede was for his graceful person and eminent endowments
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Speaker 1: placed over the Armenians with their own consent. Ariobarzanes being
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Speaker 1: killed by an accident. They would not bear the rule
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Speaker 1: of his children, but tried the government of a woman
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Speaker 1: her name Errato, and quickly expulsed her. After this, unsettled
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Speaker 1: and wavering, rather exempt from tyranny than possessed of liberty,
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Speaker 1: they received the fugitive Venones for their king. But Anon,
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Speaker 1: when he saw himself threatened by Artabanus, small reliance on
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Speaker 1: the Armenians and no protection from the Romans without a
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Speaker 1: war with the Parthians, he accepted the offer of Creticus Silanus,
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Speaker 1: governor of Syrina, who invited him thither, But when he
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Speaker 1: came set a guard upon him, leaving him still the
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Speaker 1: name and luxury of royalty. What attempts Venones made to
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Speaker 1: escape from this mock majesty, we will relate in its place.
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Speaker 1: The commotions in the east happened not ungratefully to Tiberius,
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Speaker 1: since thence he had a color for separating Germanicus from
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Speaker 1: his old and faithful legions, for setting him over strange
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Speaker 1: provinces and exposing him at once to casual perils and
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Speaker 1: the efforts of fraud. But he, the more ardent he
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Speaker 1: found the affections of the soldiers, and the greater the
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Speaker 1: hatred of his uncle, so much the more, intent upon
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Speaker 1: a decisive victory, weighed with himself all the methods of
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Speaker 1: that war, with all the disasters and successes which had
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Speaker 1: befallen him in it to this his third year, he
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Speaker 1: remembered that the Germans were ever routed in a fair
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Speaker 1: battle and upon equal ground, that woods and bogs, short summers,
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Speaker 1: and early winters were their chief resources. That his own
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Speaker 1: men suffered not so much from their wounds as from
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Speaker 1: tedious marches and the loss of their arms. The Gauls
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Speaker 1: were weary of furnishing horses long and cumbersome, with his
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Speaker 1: train of baggage easily surprised and with difficulty defended. But
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Speaker 1: if he entered the country by sea, the invasion would
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Speaker 1: be easy and the enemy unapprized. Besides, the war would
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Speaker 1: be earlier begun, the legions and provisions would be carried together,
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Speaker 1: and the cavalry brought with safety through the mouths and
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Speaker 1: channels of the rivers into the heart of Germany. On
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Speaker 1: that method therefore he fixed. Whilst Publius Vitelius and Publius
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Speaker 1: Cantius were sent to collect the tribute of the Gauls,
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Speaker 1: Silius and Taeus and Kaikina had the direction of building
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Speaker 1: the fleet. A thousand vessels were thought sufficient, and with
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Speaker 1: dispatch finished, some were short, sharp at both ends, and
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Speaker 1: wide in the middle, the easier to endure the agitations
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Speaker 1: of the waves. Some had flat bottoms that, without damage
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Speaker 1: they might bear to run aground. Several had helms at
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Speaker 1: each end, that by suddenly turning the oars only they
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Speaker 1: might work either way. Many were arched over for carrying
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Speaker 1: the engines of war. They were fitted for holding horses
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Speaker 1: and provisions to fly with sails, to run with oars,
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Speaker 1: and the spirit and alacrity of the souls heightened the
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Speaker 1: show and terror of the fleet. They were to meet
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Speaker 1: at the Isle of Batavia, which was chosen for its
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Speaker 1: easy landing, for its convenience to receive the forces and
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Speaker 1: thence to transport them to the war. For the Rhine,
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Speaker 1: flowing in one continual channel are only broken by small islands.
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Speaker 1: Is that the extremity of Batavia divided, as it were,
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Speaker 1: into two rivers, one running still through Germany and retaining
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Speaker 1: the same name and violent current till it mixes with
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Speaker 1: the ocean. The other, washing the Gallic shore with a
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Speaker 1: broader and more gentle stream, is by the inhabitants, called
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Speaker 1: by another name the Wahal, which it soon after changes
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Speaker 1: for that of the Meuse by whose immense mouth it
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Speaker 1: is discharged into the same ocean. While the fleet sailed,
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Speaker 1: Germanicus commanded Silius's lieutenant with a flying band to invade
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Speaker 1: the Katians, and he himself, upon hearing that the fort
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Speaker 1: upon the River a Luppia was besieged, led six legions thither.
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Speaker 1: But the sudden rains prevented Silius from doing more than
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Speaker 1: taking some small plunder with the wife and daughter of Arpus,
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Speaker 1: Prince of the Caatians. Nor did the besiegers stay to
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Speaker 1: fight Germanicus, but upon the report of his approach, stole
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Speaker 1: off and dispersed. As they had, however, thrown down the
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Speaker 1: common tomb lately raised over the Varian legions and the
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Speaker 1: old altar erected by Drusus. He restored the altar and
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Speaker 1: performed in person with the legions the funeral ceremony of
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Speaker 1: running courses to the honor of his father. To replace
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Speaker 1: the tomb was not thought fit, but all the space
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Speaker 1: between Fort Aliso and the Rhine he fortified with a
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Speaker 1: new barrier. The fleet was now arrived, the provisions were
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Speaker 1: sent forward, ships were assigned to the legions and the allies,
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Speaker 1: and he entered the canal cut by Drusus and called
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Speaker 1: by his name. Here he invoked his father to be
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Speaker 1: propitious to his son, attempting the same enterprises to inspire
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Speaker 1: him with the same councils and animate him by his example.
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Speaker 1: Hence he sailed successfully through the lakes and the ocean
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Speaker 1: to the river Amisia. At the town of Emsia. The
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Speaker 1: fleet was left upon the left shore, and it was
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Speaker 1: a fault that it sailed no higher, for he landed
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Speaker 1: the army on the right shore, so that in making
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Speaker 1: bridges many days were consumed. The horse and the legions
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Speaker 1: passed over without danger, as it was yet ebb but
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Speaker 1: the returning tide disordered the rear, especially the Batavians, while
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Speaker 1: they played with the waves and showed their dexterity in swimming,
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Speaker 1: and some were drowned. Whilst Germanicus was encamping, he was
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Speaker 1: told of the revolt of the Angrivarians behind him, and
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Speaker 1: thither he dispatched a body of horse and light foot
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Speaker 1: under Stertinius, who, with fire and slaughter, took vengeance on
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Speaker 1: the perfidious revolters. Between the Romans and the Keuscans flowed
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Speaker 1: the river of Issurgis, and on the banks of it
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Speaker 1: stood Arminius with the other chiefs. He inquired whether Germanicus
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Speaker 1: was come, and, being answered that he was there, he
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Speaker 1: prayed leave to speak with his brother. This brother of
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Speaker 1: his was in the army, his name Flavius, one remarkable
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Speaker 1: for his lasting faith towards the Romans, and for the
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Speaker 1: loss of an eye in the war under Tiberius. This
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Speaker 1: request was granted. Flavius stepped forward and was saluted by Arminius, who,
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Speaker 1: having removed his own attendants, desired that our archers ranged
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Speaker 1: upon the opposite banks, might retire when they were withdrawn.
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Speaker 1: How came you, says he to his brother, by that
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Speaker 1: deformity in your face. The brother, having informed him where
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Speaker 1: and in what fight was next, asked what reward he
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Speaker 1: had received. Flavius answered, increase of pay, the chain, the crown,
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Speaker 1: and other military gifts, all which Arminius treated with derision
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Speaker 1: as the vile wages of servitude. Here began a warm contest.
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Speaker 1: Flavius pleaded the grandeur of the Roman Empire, the power
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Speaker 1: of the Emperor, the Roman clemency to submitting nations, the
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Speaker 1: heavy yoke of the vanquished, and that neither the wife
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Speaker 1: nor son of Arminius was used like a captive. Arminius
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Speaker 1: to all this opposed the natural rights of their country,
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Speaker 1: their ancient liberty, the domestic gods of Germany. He urged
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Speaker 1: the prayers of their common mother, joined to his own,
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Speaker 1: that he would not prefer the character of a deserter
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Speaker 1: that of a betrayer of his family, his countrymen, and
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Speaker 1: kindred to the glory of being their commander. By degrees
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Speaker 1: they fell into reproaches, nor would the interposition of the
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Speaker 1: river have restrained them from blows. Had not Steadettinius hasted
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Speaker 1: to lay hold on Flavius, full of rage and calling
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Speaker 1: for his arms and his horse. On the opposite side
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Speaker 1: was seen Arminius swelling with ferocity and threats, and denouncing battle.
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Speaker 1: For of what he said much was said in Latin,
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Speaker 1: since as the general of his countrymen he had served
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Speaker 1: in the Roman armies. Next day the German army stood
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Speaker 1: in battle beyond the Vesorghis Germanicus, who thought it became
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Speaker 1: not a general to endanger the legions till for their
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Speaker 1: passage and security he had placed bridges and guards made
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Speaker 1: the horse fought over. They were led by Stertinius and
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Speaker 1: by Amilius lieutenant colonel of a legion, and these two
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Speaker 1: officers crossed the river in distant places to divide the foe. Carriovalda,
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Speaker 1: captain of the Batavians, passed it where most rapid, and
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Speaker 1: was by the Keireuscans, who feigned flight, drawn into a
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Speaker 1: plain surrounded with woods. Whence they rushed out upon him
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Speaker 1: and assaulted him on every side, overthrew those who resisted,
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Speaker 1: and pressed vehemently upon those who gave way. The distressed
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Speaker 1: Batavians formed themselves into a ring, but were again broken,
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Speaker 1: partly by a close assault, partly by distant showers of darts. Cariovalda,
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Speaker 1: having long sustained the fury of the enemy, exhorted his
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Speaker 1: men to draw up its platoons and break through the
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Speaker 1: prevailing host. He himself forced his way into their center
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Speaker 1: and fell with his horse under a shower of darts,
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Speaker 1: and many of the principal Batavians round him. The rest
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Speaker 1: were saved by their own bravery or rescued by the
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Speaker 1: cavalry under Stertinius and Amilius Germanicus. Having passed the Visurgis,
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Speaker 1: learnt from a deserter that Arminius had marked out the
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Speaker 1: place of battle, that more nations had also joined him,
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Speaker 1: that they rendezvoued in a woods sacred hercules, and would
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Speaker 1: attempt to storm our camp by night. The deserter was
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Speaker 1: believed the enemy's fires were discerned, and the scouts, having
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Speaker 1: advanced towards them, reported that they had heard the neighing
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Speaker 1: of horses and the hollow murmur of a mighty and
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Speaker 1: tumultuous host. In this important conjuncture, upon the approach of
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Speaker 1: a decisive battle, Germanicus thought it behooved him to learn
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Speaker 1: the inclinations and spirit of the soldiers, and deliberated with
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Speaker 1: himself how to be informed without fraud, For the reports
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Speaker 1: of the tribunes and centurions used to be oftener pleasing
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Speaker 1: than true. His freedmen still had slavish souls, incapable of
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Speaker 1: free speech. Friends were apt to flatter. There was the
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Speaker 1: same uncertainty in an assembly where the council proposed by
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Speaker 1: a few was wont to be echoed by all. The
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Speaker 1: minds of the soldiery were then best known when they
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Speaker 1: were least watched. When free and over their meals, they
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Speaker 1: frankly disclosed their hopes and fears. In the beginning of night,
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Speaker 1: he went out at the augural gate with a single attendant,
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Speaker 1: himself disguised with the skin of a wild beast hanging
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Speaker 1: over his shoulders, and choosing secret ways, he escaped the
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Speaker 1: notice of a watch, entered the lanes of the camp,
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Speaker 1: listened from tent to tent, and enjoyed the pleasing display
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Speaker 1: of his own popularity and fame. As one was magnifying
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Speaker 1: the imperial birth of his general, another as graceful person
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Speaker 1: all his patience, condescension, and the equality of his soul
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Speaker 1: in every temper pleasant or grave. They confessed the gratitude
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Speaker 1: due to so much merit, and that in battle they
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Speaker 1: ought to express it and to sacrifice at the time
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Speaker 1: to glory and revenge. These perfidious Germans, who forever violated
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Speaker 1: stipulations and peace. In the meantime, one of the enemy,
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Speaker 1: who understood Latin, rode up to the palisades, and with
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Speaker 1: a loud voice offered, in the name of Arminius to
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Speaker 1: every deserter a wife and land, and as long as
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Speaker 1: the war lasted, a hundred sisterces a day. This contumely
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Speaker 1: kindled the wrath of the legions. Let day come, they cried,
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Speaker 1: Let battle be given the soldiers would seize and not
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Speaker 1: accept the lands of the Germans take cannot receive German wives.
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Speaker 1: They however, received the offer as an omen of victory
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Speaker 1: and considered the money in women as their destined prey.
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Speaker 1: Near the third watch of the night, they approached and
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Speaker 1: insulted the camp, but without striking a blow. When they
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Speaker 1: found the ramparts covered thick with cohorts and no advantage given.
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Speaker 1: Germanicus had the same night a joyful dream. He thought
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Speaker 1: he sacrificed, and in place of his own robe besmeared
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Speaker 1: with the sacred blood, received one fairer from the hands
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Speaker 1: of his grandmother Augusta, So that, elevated by the omen
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Speaker 1: and by equal encouragement from the auspices, he called an
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Speaker 1: assembly where he opened his deliberations concerning the approaching with
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Speaker 1: all the advantages contributing to victory that to the Roman
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Speaker 1: soldiers not only plains and dales, but with due circumspection,
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Speaker 1: even woods and forests were commodious places for an engagement.
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Speaker 1: The huge targets, the enormous spears of the barbarians could
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Speaker 1: never be wielded amongst thickets and trunks of trees, like
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Speaker 1: Roman swords and javelins, and armour adjusted to the shape
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Speaker 1: and size of their bodies, so that with these tractable
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Speaker 1: arms they might thicken their blows and strike with certainty
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Speaker 1: at the naked faces of the enemy. Since the Germans
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Speaker 1: were neither furnished with head piece nor coat of mail,
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Speaker 1: nor were their bucklers bound with leather or fortified with iron,
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Speaker 1: but all bare basket work or painted boards. And though
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Speaker 1: their first ranks were armed with pikes, the rest had
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Speaker 1: only stakes burnt at the end, or short and contemptible
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Speaker 1: darts for their persons. As they were terrible to sight
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Speaker 1: and violent in the onset, so they were utterly impatient
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Speaker 1: of wounds, unaffected with their own disgrace, unconcerned for the
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Speaker 1: honor of their general, whom they ever deserted and fled in, distressed,
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Speaker 1: cowards in prosperity, despisers of all divine of all human laws.
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Speaker 1: To conclude, if the army, after their fatigues at sea
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Speaker 1: and their tedious marches by land, longed for an utter
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Speaker 1: end of their labor, by this battle, they might gain it.
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Speaker 1: The Elbe was now nearer than the Rhine, and if
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Speaker 1: they would make him a conqueror in those countries where
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Speaker 1: his father and his uncle had conquered. The war was concluded.
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Speaker 1: The ardor of the soldiers followed the speech of the general,
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Speaker 1: and the signal for the onset was given. Neither did
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Speaker 1: Arminius or the other chiefs neglect to declare to their
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Speaker 1: several bands that these Romans were the cowardly fugitives of
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Speaker 1: the Varian army, who, because they could not endure to fight,
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Speaker 1: had afterwards chosen to rebel. That some with backs to
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Speaker 1: form by wounds, some with limbs maimed by tempests, forsaken
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Speaker 1: of hope, and the gods against them, were once more
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Speaker 1: presenting their lives to their vengeful foes. Hitherto a fleet
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Speaker 1: and unfrequented seas had been the resources of their cowardice
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Speaker 1: against an assaulting or pursuing enemy, But now that they
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Speaker 1: were to engage hand to hand, vain would be their
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Speaker 1: relief from wind and oars. After a defeat, the Germans
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Speaker 1: needed only remember their rapine, cruelty and pride, and that
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Speaker 1: to themselves nothing remained but either to maintain their native
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Speaker 1: liberty or by death to prevent bondage. The enemy, thus
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Speaker 1: inflamed and calling for battle, were led into a plain
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Speaker 1: called Idistavisus. It lies between the Visurgis and the hills,
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Speaker 1: and winds unequally along as it is straightened by the
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Speaker 1: swellings of the mountains or enlarged by the circuits of
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Speaker 1: the river. Behind rose a forest of high trees, thick
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Speaker 1: of branches above but clear of bushes below. The army
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Speaker 1: of barbarians kept the place and the entrances of the forest.
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Speaker 1: Only the Keuscans sat down upon the mountain in order
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Speaker 1: to pour down from thence upon the Romans. As soon
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Speaker 1: as they became engaged in the fight. Our army marched thus,
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Speaker 1: the auxiliary Gauls and Germans in front, after them the
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Speaker 1: foot archers, next four legions, then Germanicus with two Pretorian cohorts,
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Speaker 1: and the choice of the cavalry. Then four legions more,
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Speaker 1: and the light foot with archers on horseback, and the
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Speaker 1: other troops of the allies. The men all careful to
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Speaker 1: march in order of battle, and ready to engage. As
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Speaker 1: they marched. As the impatient bands of Keyruscans were now
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Speaker 1: perceived descending fiercely from the hills, Germanicus commanded a body
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Speaker 1: of the best horse to charge them in the flank
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Speaker 1: and Stertinius with the rest to wheel round to attack
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Speaker 1: them in the rear, and promised to be ready to
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Speaker 1: assist them in person. During this a joyful omen appeared.
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Speaker 1: Eight eagles were seen to fly toward the wood and
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Speaker 1: to enter it, a presage of victory to the general advance,
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Speaker 1: he cried, followed the Roman birds, followed the tutula deity
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Speaker 1: of the legions. Instantly the foot charged the enemy's front,
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Speaker 1: and instantly the attached cavalry attacked their flank and rear.
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Speaker 1: This double assaulted a strange event. The two divisions of
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Speaker 1: their army fled opposite ways. That in the woods ran
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Speaker 1: to the plain, that in the plain rushed into the woods.
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Speaker 1: The Keuruscans between both were driven from the hills. Amongst
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Speaker 1: them Mareminius, remarkably brave, who with his hand, his voice
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Speaker 1: and distinguished wounds, were still sustaining the fight. He'd assaulted
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Speaker 1: the archers and would have broken through them, but the
22:29
Speaker 1: cohorts of the Rhetians, the Indelichians and the Gauls marched
22:33
Speaker 1: to their relief. However, by his own spirit and the
22:35
Speaker 1: vigor of his horse, he escaped, his face besmeared with
22:38
Speaker 1: his own blood, to avoid being known. Some of related
22:42
Speaker 1: that the Calcians, who were among the Roman auxiliaries, knew
22:46
Speaker 1: him and let him go. The same bravery or deceit
22:49
Speaker 1: procured Inguiomerus his escape. The rest were everywhere slain in
22:53
Speaker 1: great numbers. Attempting to swim the Visurgis were destroyed in it,
22:58
Speaker 1: either pursued with darts or swallow, whether current or overwhelmed
23:01
Speaker 1: with the weight of the crowd, or buried under the
23:04
Speaker 1: falling banks. Some seeking a base refuge in the tops
23:08
Speaker 1: of trees and concealment amongst the branches, were shot in
23:11
Speaker 1: sport by the archers, or squashed as the trees were felled.
23:15
Speaker 1: This was a mighty victory, and to us far from bloody.
23:20
Speaker 1: The slaughter of the foe, from the fifth hour of
23:22
Speaker 1: the day till night filled the country for ten miles
23:25
Speaker 1: with carcasses and arms. Amongst the spoils chains were found, which,
23:30
Speaker 1: sure of conquering they had brought to bind the Roman captives.
23:34
Speaker 1: The soldiers proclaimed Tiberius imperatore upon the field of battle,
23:38
Speaker 1: and raising a mount placed upon it. As trophies. The
23:41
Speaker 1: German arms, with the names of all the vanquished nations
23:44
Speaker 1: inscribe below This sight filled the Germans with more anguish
23:48
Speaker 1: and rage than all their wounds, past afflictions and slaughters.
23:53
Speaker 1: They who were just prepared to abandon their dwellings and
23:56
Speaker 1: flip beyond the elbe meditate war and grasp their arms. People, nobles,
24:01
Speaker 1: youth aged from all quarters, rushed suddenly upon the Roman
24:04
Speaker 1: army in its march and disorder it. They next chose
24:09
Speaker 1: their camp, a straight and moist plain, shut in between
24:12
Speaker 1: a river and a forest. The forest, too, surrounded with
24:15
Speaker 1: a deep marsh, except on one side, which was closed
24:18
Speaker 1: with a barrier raised by the Angrivarians between them and
24:22
Speaker 1: the Kirouskans. Here stood their foot Their horse were distributed
24:26
Speaker 1: and concealed amongst the neighboring groves, thence by surprise to
24:29
Speaker 1: beset the legions in the rear as soon as they
24:31
Speaker 1: had entered the wood. Nothing of all this was the
24:35
Speaker 1: secret to Germanicus. He knew their councils, their stations, what
24:38
Speaker 1: steps they pursued, what measures they concealed, and to the
24:42
Speaker 1: destruction of the enemy, turned their own subtlety and devices
24:45
Speaker 1: to Saius Tubureau, his lieutenant. He committed the horse in
24:48
Speaker 1: the field the infantry. He so disposed that park might
24:52
Speaker 1: pass the level approaches into the wood, and the rest
24:55
Speaker 1: forced the rampart. This was the most arduous task, and
24:58
Speaker 1: to himself he reserved it. The rest he left to
25:01
Speaker 1: his lieutenants. Those who had the even ground to traverse
25:05
Speaker 1: broke easily in, but those who were to assail the
25:08
Speaker 1: rampart were as grievously battered from above as if they
25:11
Speaker 1: had been storming a wall. The general perceived the inequality
25:15
Speaker 1: of this close attack, and drawing off the legions a
25:17
Speaker 1: small distance, ordered the slingers to throw and the engineers
25:21
Speaker 1: to play to beat off the enemy. Immediately showers of
25:25
Speaker 1: darts were poured from the engines and their defenders of
25:28
Speaker 1: the barrier. The more bold and exposed they were, with
25:31
Speaker 1: the more wounds they were beaten down. Germanicus, having taken
25:35
Speaker 1: the rampart, first forced his way at the head of
25:37
Speaker 1: the Ratorian cohorts into the woods, and there it was
25:40
Speaker 1: fought foot to foot. Behind the enemy was begirt with
25:43
Speaker 1: the morass, the Romans, with the mountains or the river.
25:46
Speaker 1: No room farther to retreat, No hope but in valor,
25:49
Speaker 1: no safety, but in victory. The Germans had not inferior courage,
25:55
Speaker 1: but they were exceeded in the fashion of arms and
25:57
Speaker 1: art of fighting. Their mighty multitude, hampered in narrow places,
26:01
Speaker 1: could not push nor recover their long spears, nor practice
26:05
Speaker 1: in a close combat their usual boundings and velocity of limbs.
26:09
Speaker 1: On the contrary, our soldiers, with handy swords and their
26:12
Speaker 1: breasts closely guarded with the buckler, delved the large bodies
26:16
Speaker 1: and naked faces of the barbarians and opened themselves away
26:20
Speaker 1: with the havoc of the enemy. Besides, the activity of
26:23
Speaker 1: Arminius now failed him, either spent through his continual efforts
26:26
Speaker 1: or slackened by a wound just received. Inguiomerus was everywhere
26:31
Speaker 1: upon the spur animating the battle, but fortune, rather than courage,
26:35
Speaker 1: deserted him. Germanicus, to be the easier known, pulled off
26:39
Speaker 1: his helmet and exalted his men to prosecute the slaughter.
26:43
Speaker 1: They wanted no captives, he said, only the cutting off
26:46
Speaker 1: that people, root and branch would put an end to
26:48
Speaker 1: the war. It was now late in the day, and
26:51
Speaker 1: he drew off a legion to make a camp. The
26:53
Speaker 1: rest glutted themselves till night with the blood of the foe.
26:56
Speaker 1: The horse fought with doubtful success. Nencus, in a speech
27:01
Speaker 1: from the tribunal, praised his victorious army and raised a
27:05
Speaker 1: monument of arms with a proud inscription that the army
27:08
Speaker 1: of Tiberius Kaisar, having vanquished entirely the nations between the
27:12
Speaker 1: Rhine and the Elbe, had consecrated that monument to Mars,
27:15
Speaker 1: to Jupiter, and to Augustus. Of himself. He made no mention,
27:20
Speaker 1: either fearful of provoking envy, or that he thought it
27:23
Speaker 1: sufficient praise to have deserved it. He had next commanded
27:27
Speaker 1: Stertinius to carry the war amongst the Angrivarians, but they
27:32
Speaker 1: instantly submitted, and these supplicants, by yielding without articles, obtained
27:38
Speaker 1: pardon without reserve. End of Section nineteen