The Commentaries of Caesar by Anthony Trollope (Illustrated) by Anthony Trollope

Author:Anthony Trollope [TROLLOPE, ANTHONY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Parts Edition 71 of 76 by Delphi Classics
Publisher: Delphi Classics (Parts Edition)
Published: 2017-07-21T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER VIII.

SEVENTH BOOR OF THE WAR IN GAUL. — THE REVOLT OF VERCINGETORIX. — B.C. 52.

Is opening his account of his seventh campaign Caesar makes almost the only reference to the affairs of Rome which we find in these memoirs. Clodius has been murdered. We know, too, that Crassus had been killed at the head of his army in the east, and that, at the death of Clodius, Pompey had been created Dictator in the city with the name of sole Consul. Caesar, however, only mentions the murder of Clodius, and then goes on to say that the Gauls, knowing how important to him must be the affairs of Rome at this moment, think that he cannot now attend to them, and that, in his absence, they may shake off the Roman yoke. The affairs of Rome must indeed have been important to Crew; if, as no doubt is true, he had already before his eyes a settled course of action by which to make himself supreme in the Republic. Clodius, the demagogue, was dead, whom he never could have loved, but whom it had not suited him to treat as an enemy. Crassus, too, was dead, whom, on account of his wealth, Caesar had admitted as a colleague. Pompey, the third triumvir, remained at Rome, and was now sole Consul; Pompey who, only twelve months since, had so fondly given up his legion for the sake of the Republic, — and for friendship. Caesar, no doubt, foresaw by this time that the struggle must be at last between himself and Pompey. The very forms of the old republican rule were being turned adrift, and Caesar must have known, as Pompey also knew, and Clodius had known, and even Crassus, that a new power would become paramount in the city. But the hands to wrest such power must be very strong. And the day had not yet quite come. Having spent six summers in subduing Gaul, Caesar would not lose the prestige, the power, the support, which such a territory, really subdued, would give him. Things, doubtless, were important at Rome, but it was still his most politic course to return over the Alps and complete his work. Before the winter was over he heard that the tribes were conspiring, because it was thought that at such an emergency Caesar could not leave Italy.

This last book of the Commentary, as written by Caesar, tells the story of the gallant Vercingetorix, one of the Arverni, — the modern Auvergne, — whose father, Celtillus, is said to have sought the chieftainship of all Gaul, and to have been killed on that account by his own state. Vercingetorix is certainly the hero of these wars on the Gaulish side, though we hear nothing of him till this seventh campaign. The conspiracy against Rome is afloat, the Carnutes, whose chief town is Gene- bum, — Orleans, — having commenced it. Vercingetorix excites his own countrymen to join, but is expelled from their town, Gergovia, for the attempt.

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