39

The following is contained in the Thirty-ninth of Dio’s Rome.

How Caesar fought the Belgae (chapters 1-5).

How Cicero came back from exile (chapters 6-11).

How Ptolemy, expelled from Egypt, sought refuge in Rome (chapters 12-16).

How Cato settled matters in Cyprus (chapters 17-23).

How Pompey and Crassus were chosen consuls (chapters 24-37).

How Pompey’s Theatre was dedicated (chapters 38, 39).

How Decimus Brutus, Caesar’s lieutenant, conquered the Veneti in a sea-fight (chapters 40-43).

How Publius Crassus, Caesar’s lieutenant, fought the Aquitani (chapters 44-46).

How Caesar after fighting with some of the Celtae crossed the Rhine:  and about the Rhine (chapters 47-49).

How Caesar crossed over into Britain:  and about the island (chapters 50-54).

How Ptolemy was restored to Egypt by Gabinius, and how Gabinius was brought to trial for it (chapters 55-85).

Duration of time, four years, in which there were the following magistrates, here enumerated.

P. Cornelius P.F.  Lentulus Spinther, C. Caecilius C.F.  Metellus Nepos.  (B.C. 57 = a.u. 697.)

Cn.  Cornelius P.F.  Lentulus Marcellinus, L. Marcius L.F.  Philippus.  (B.C. 56 = a.u. 698.)

Cn.  Pompeius Cn.  F. Magnus (II), M. Licinius P.F.  Crassus (II). (B.C. 55 = a.u. 699.)

L. Domitius Cn.  F. Ahenobarbus, Appius Claudius Appi F. Pulcher. (B.C. 54 = a.u. 700.)

(BOOK 39, BOISSEVAIN.)

[B.C. 57 (a.u. 697)]

[-1-] Such was the end of these wars.  After this, when the winter had passed in which Cornelius Spinther and Metellus Nepos began their consulship, a third war burst upon them.  The Belgae, dwelling near the Rhine with many mingled tribes and extending to the ocean opposite Britain, had been during the previous epoch at peace with the Romans so far as concerned a part of their nation, while the rest paid no heed to them:  but now, noting Caesar’s prosperity and fearing that he might advance against them, they made a change of front and by common agreement (except on the part of the Remi) took counsel against the Romans and conspired, making Galba their head.

Caesar learned this from the Remi and was on his guard against them:  subsequently he encamped at the river Axona, collected his soldiers all together and exercised them.  He did not venture to come into close quarters with the enemy, though they were overrunning Roman territory, until they felt contempt for him, thinking him afraid, and undertook to destroy the bridge and put a stop to the conveyance of grain, which the allies brought across it.  He was made aware beforehand by deserters that this was to be done, and by night sent against the foe the light-armed troops and the cavalry. [-2-] So they, unexpectedly assaulting the barbarians, killed many of them, so that the following night they all withdrew thence