[Sidenote:  Caesar’s address.]

When Caesar understood this state of things, he called an assembly of the troops, and made an address to them.  He told them that he was astonished to learn to what an extent an unworthy despondency and fear had taken possession of their minds, and how little confidence they reposed in him, their general.  And then, after some further remarks about the duty of a soldier to be ready to go wherever his commander leads him, and presenting also some considerations in respect to the German troops with which they were going to contend, in order to show them that they had no cause to fear, he ended by saying that he had not been fully decided as to the time of marching, but that now he had concluded to give orders for setting out the next morning at three o’clock, that he might learn, as soon as possible, who were too cowardly to follow him.  He would go himself, he said, if he was attended by the tenth legion alone He was sure that they would not shrink from any undertaking in which he led the way.

[Sidenote:  Effect of Caesar’s address.] [Sidenote:  Proposals for an interview.]

The soldiers, moved partly by shame, partly by the decisive and commanding tone which their general assumed, and partly reassured by the courage and confidence which he seemed to feel, laid aside their fears, and vied with each other henceforth in energy and ardor.  The armies approached each other.  Ariovistus sent to Caesar, saying that now, if he wished it, he was ready for an interview.  Caesar acceded to the suggestion, and the arrangements for a conference were made, each party, as usual in such cases, taking every precaution to guard against the treachery of the other.

Between the two camps there was a rising ground, in the middle of an open plain, where it was decided that the conference should be held.  Ariovistus proposed that neither party should bring any foot soldiers to the place of meeting, but cavalry alone; and that these bodies of cavalry, brought by the respective generals, should remain at the foot of the eminence on either side, while Caesar and Ariovistus themselves, attended each by only ten followers on horseback, should ascend it.  This plan was acceded to by Caesar, and a long conference was held in this way between the two generals, as they sat upon their horses, on the summit of the hill.

[Sidenote:  Conference between Caesar and Ariovistus.] [Sidenote:  Caesar’s messenger seized.]

The two generals, in their discussion, only repeated in substance what they had said in their embassages before, and made no progress toward coming to an understanding.  At length Caesar closed the conference and withdrew.  Some days afterward Ariovistus sent a request to Caesar, asking that he would appoint another interview, or else that he would depute one of his officers to proceed to Ariovistus’s camp and receive a communication which he wished to make to him.  Caesar concluded not to grant another interview, and he did not think it prudent to send any one of his principal officers as an embassador, for fear that he might be treacherously seized and held as a hostage.  He accordingly sent an ordinary messenger, accompanied by one or two men.  These men were all seized and put in irons as soon as they reached the camp of Ariovistus, and Caesar now prepared in earnest for giving his enemy battle.