histories-第75章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
fight for the defence of the Batavian capital; but carrying off
property that could be removed; and setting fire to the remainder;
he retreated into the island; aware that there were not vessels enough
for constructing a bridge; and that the Roman army could not cross the
river in any other way。 He also demolished the dyke; constructed by
Drusus Germanicus; and; by destroying this barrier; sent the river
flowing down a steep channel on the side of Gaul。 The river having
been thus; so to speak; diverted; the narrowness of the channel
between the island and Germany created an appearance of an
uninterrupted surface of dry ground。 Tutor; Classicus; and one hundred
and thirteen senators of the Treveri; also crossed the Rhine。 Among
them was Alpinius Montanus; of whose mission into Gaul by Antonius I
have already spoken。 He was accompanied by his brother Decimus
Alpinius。 His other adherents were now endeavouring to collect
auxiliaries among these danger…loving tribes by appeals to their
pity and their greed。
The war was so far from being at an end; that Civilis in one day
attacked on four points the positions of the auxiliary infantry and
cavalry and of the legions; assailing the tenth legion at Arenacum;
the second at Batavodurum; and the camp of the auxiliary infantry
and cavalry at Grinnes and Vada; and so dividing his forces; that he
himself; his sister's son Verax; Classicus; and Tutor; led each his
own division。 They were not confident of accomplishing all these
objects; but they hoped that; if they made many ventures; fortune
would favour them on some one point。 Besides; Cerialis was not
cautious; and might easily be intercepted; as the multiplicity of
tidings hurried him from place to place。 The force; which had to
attack the tenth legion; thinking it a hard matter to storm a
legionary encampment; surprised some troops; who had gone out; and
were busy felling timber; killed the prefect of the camp; five
centurions of the first rank; and a few soldiers; the rest found
shelter behind the fortifications。 At Batavodurum the German troops
tried to break down the bridge partly built。 Night terminated an
indecisive conflict。
There was greater danger at Grinnes and Vada。 Civilis attacked Vada;
Classicus Grinnes; and they could not be checked; for our bravest
men had fallen; among them Briganticus; who commanded a squadron of
cavalry; and of whose loyalty to the Roman cause and enmity to his
uncle Civilis I have already spoken。 But when Cerialis came up with
a picked body of cavalry; the fortune of the day changed; and the
Germans were driven headlong into the river。 Civilis; who was
recognised while seeking to stop his flying troops; became the mark of
many missiles; left his horse; and swam across the river。 Verax
escaped in the same way。 Some light vessels were brought up; and
carried off Tutor and Classicus。 Even on this occasion the Roman fleet
was not present at the engagement; though orders had been given to
that effect。 Fear kept them away; and their crews were dispersed about
other military duties。 Cerialis in fact allowed too little time for
executing his commands; he was hasty in his plans; though eminently
successful in their results。 Fortune helped him even where skill had
failed; and so both the general and his army became less careful about
discipline。 A few days after this he escaped the peril of actual
capture; but not without great disgrace。
He had gone to Novesium and Bonna; to inspect the camps which were
then in course of erection for the winter abode of the legions; and
was making his way back with the fleet; his escort being in
disorder; and his sentries negligent。 This was observed by the
Germans; and they planned a surprise。 They chose a dark and cloudy
night; and moving rapidly down the stream; entered the entrenchments
without opposition。 The carnage was at first helped on by a cunning
device。 They cut the ropes of the tents; and slaughtered the
soldiers as they lay buried beneath their own dwellings。 Another force
put the fleet into confusion; threw their grapling irons on the
vessels; and dragged them away by the sterns。 They sought at first
to elude notice by silence; but when the slaughter was begun; by way
of increasing the panic they raised on all sides a deafening shout。
The Romans; awakened by sounds; looked for their arms and rushed
through the passages of the camp; some few with their proper
accoutrements; but most with their garments wrapped round their
shoulders; and with drawn swords in their hands。 The general; who
was half asleep; and all but naked; was saved by the enemy's
mistake。 They carried off the praetorian vessel; which was
distinguished by a flag; believing that the general was on board。
Cerialis indeed had passed the night elsewhere; in the company; as
many believed; of an Ubian woman; Claudia Sacrata。 The sentinels
sought to excuse their own scandalous neglect by the disgraceful
conduct of the general; alleging that they had been ordered to be
silent; that they might not disturb his rest; and that; from
omitting the watchwords and the usual challenges; they had
themselves fallen asleep。 The enemy rowed back in broad daylight
with the captured vessels。 The praetorian trireme they towed up the
river Lupia as a present to Veleda。
Civilis was seized by a desire to make a naval demonstration。 He
manned all the triremes that he had; and such vessels as were
propelled by a single bank of oars。 To these he added a vast number of
boats。 He put in each three or four hundred men; the usual
complement of a Liburnian galley。 With these were the captured
vessels; in which; picturesquely enough; plaids of various colours
were used for sails。 The place selected was an expanse of water; not
unlike the sea; where the mouth of the Mosa serves to discharge the
Rhine into the ocean。 The motive for equipping this fleet was; to
say nothing of the natural vanity of this people; a desire to
intercept; by this alarming demonstration; the supplies that were
approaching from Gaul。 Cerialis; more in astonishment than alarm; drew
up his fleet in line; and; though inferior in numbers; it had the
advantage in the experience of the crews; the skill of the pilots; and
the size of the vessels。 The Romans had the stream with them; the
enemy's vessels were propelled by the wind。 Thus passing each other;
they separated after a brief discharge of light missiles。 Civilis
attempted nothing more; and retired to the other side of the Rhine。
Cerialis mercilessly ravaged the Island of the Batavi; but; with a
policy familiar to commanders; left untouched the estates and houses
of Civilis。 Meanwhile; however; the autumn was far advanced; and the
river; swollen by the continual rains of the season; overflowed the
island; marshy and low…lying as it is; till it resembled a lake。 There
were no ships; no provisions at hand; and the camp; which was situated
on low ground; was in process of being carried away by the force of
the stream。
That the legions might then have been crushed; and that the
Germans wished to crush them; but were turned from their purpose by
his own craft; was claimed as a merit by Civilis; nor is it unlike the
truth; since a capitulation followed in a few days。 Cerialis;
sending secret emissaries; had held out the prospect of peace to the
Batavi; and of pardon to Civilis; while he advised Veleda and her
relatives to change by a well…timed service to the Roman people the
fortune of war; which so many disasters had shewn to be adverse。 He
reminded them that the Treveri had been beaten; that the Ubii had
submitted; that the Batavi had had their country taken from them;
and that from the friendship of Civilis nothing else had been g