to their own land, especially since the Aeduans were reported to have invaded it.  Caesar perceived what was going on, but through ignorance of the country did not dare to pursue them immediately.  At daybreak, however, he took the cavalry, bade the infantry follow behind, and came up with the fugitives.  They proceeded to give battle, for he was thought to have come with his cavalry alone, and he delayed them until the infantry arrived.  In this way he surrounded them with his whole force, cut down the majority, and made terms with the survivors.  Later he brought into allegiance some of the peoples without fighting and some by war.

[-3-] The Nervii voluntarily retired before him from their plain country,—­for they were not a match for his forces,—­but betook themselves into the wooded parts of the mountains, and then, when they saw him settled in camp,[47] they came charging down unexpectedly.  Opposite Caesar himself they soon turned to flight, but got the better of the major part of his army, capturing the camp without striking a blow.  When Caesar became aware of this,—­he had advanced a little way in pursuit of those he had routed,—­he turned back and came upon them engaged in pillage within the fortification, where he ensnared and slaughtered them.  After accomplishing this he found no difficulty in subduing the rest of the Nervii.

[-4-] Meanwhile the Aduatuci, near neighbors of theirs, sprung from the Cimbri and possessing their spirit, started out as if to assist them but were overpowered before they effected anything, whereupon they withdrew, and leaving all their other sites established themselves in one fort, the strongest.  Caesar assaulted it but was for many days repulsed, until he turned to the making of engines.  Then for a time they gazed at the Romans cutting wood and constructing the machines and through their inexperience laughed at what was taking place.  But when the things were finished and heavy-armed soldiers upon them approached from all sides, they were panic-stricken because never before had they seen such an affair; so they sent the heralds for peace, supplied the soldiers with provisions, and threw some of their weapons from the wall.  When, however, they saw the machines stripped of men again, and noticed the latter, as after a victory, following their own hearts’ desires, they changed their minds and recovering courage made a sally by night to cut them down unawares.  But Caesar was carefully managing everything every moment, and when they fell on the outposts from every side they were beaten back.  Not one of the survivors could any longer obtain pardon, and they were all sold.

[-5-] When these had been subjugated and others, too, some by him and many by his lieutenants, winter set in and he retired to winter-quarters.  The Romans at home heard of this and were astonished that he had seized so many nations, whose names they had known but imperfectly before, and voted a sacrifice of fifteen days for his deeds,—­something that had never before occurred.