having fallen a prey to civil dissension, had given
up its independence to Rome. Even in southern
and western Gaul the populations of Agnitania were
rising, vexing the Roman province, and rendering necessary,
on both sides of the Pyrenees, the intervention of
Roman legions. Everywhere floods of barbaric
populations were pressing upon Gaul, were carrying
disgnietude even where they had not themselves yet
penetrated, and causing presentiments of a general
commotion. The danger burst before long upon
particular places and in connection with particular
names which have remained historical. In the
war with the confederation of the AEduans, that of
the Arvernians called to their aid the German Ariovistus,
chieftain of a confederation of tribes which, under
the name of Suevians, were roving over the right bank
of the Rhine, ready at any time to cross the river.
Ariovistus, with fifteen thousand warriors at his
back, was not slow in responding to the appeal.
The AEdaans were beaten; and Ariovistus settled amongst
the Gauls who had been thoughtless enough to appeal
to him. Numerous bands of Suevians came and rejoined
him; and in two or three years after his victory he
had about him, it was said, one hundred and twenty
thousand warriors. He had appropriated to them
a third of the territory of his Gallic allies, and
he imperiously demanded another third to satisfy other
twenty-five thousand of his old German comrades, who
asked to share his booty and his new country.
One of the foremost AEduans, Divitiacus by name,
went and invoked the succor of the Roman people, the
patrons of his confederation. He was admitted
to the presence of the Senate, and invited to be seated;
but he modestly declined, and standing, leaning upon
his shield, he set forth the sufferings and the claims
of his country. He received kindly promises,
which at first remained without fruit. He, however,
remained at Rome, persistent in his solicitations,
and carrying on intercourse with several Romans of
consideration, notably with Cicero, who says of him,
“I knew Divitiacus, the AEduan, who claimed
proficiency in that natural science which the Greeks
call physiology, and he predicted the future, either
by augury or his own conjecture.” The
Roman Senate, with the indecision and indolence of
all declining powers, hesitated to engage, for the
AEduans’ sake, in a war against the invaders
of a corner of Gallic territory. At the same
time that they gave a cordial welcome to Divitiacus,
they entered into negotiations with Ariovistus himself;
they gave him beautiful presents, the title of King,
and even of friend; the only demand they made was,
that he should live peaceably in his new settlement,
and not lend his support to the fresh invasions of
which there were symptoms in Gaul, and which were
becoming too serious for resolutions not to be taken
to repel them.
[Illustration: Divitiacus before the Roman Senate——63]