Re: Cymerians?

More...

C IULIUS CAESAR DE BELLO GALLICO

LIBER I

[Chapter 1]
Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres, quarum unam incolunt Belgae,
aliam Aquitani, tertiam qui ipsorum lingua Celtae, nostra Galli
appellantur. Hi omnes lingua, institutis, legibus inter se differunt.
Gallos ab Aquitanis Garumna flumen, a Belgis Matrona et Sequana
dividit. Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae, propterea quod a cultu
atque humanitate provinciae longissime absunt, minimeque ad eos
mercatores saepe commeant atque ea quae ad effeminandos animos
pertinent important, proximique sunt Germanis, qui trans Rhenum
incolunt, quibuscum continenter bellum gerunt.

Rendering
All Gallia is divided into three parts, in one dwell [the] Belgae,
[in] another [the] Aquitani, [and in] the third those [that] call
themselves Celtae, known to us as Galli. All these differ in
language, institution, and law. The Gallos are separated [from the]
Aquitani by the flowing Garumna, and Belgis by the Matrona and
Sequana [rivers]. Of all these the most powerful are the Belgae
because, for long they have been removed from civilized human
pursuits, least frequented by merchant imports that effeminate their
rational soul, and their proximity to the Germanis, residing across
the Rhenum, with whom they are perpetually locked in battle.

Traditional Rendering
All Gaul is divided into three parts, one of which the Belgae
inhabit, the Aquitani another, those who in their own language are
called Celts, in our Gauls, the third. All these differ from each
other in language, customs and laws. The river Garonne separates the
Gauls from the Aquitani; the Marne and the Seine separate them from
the Belgae. Of all these, the Belgae are the bravest, because they
are furthest from the civilization and refinement of [our] Province,
and merchants least frequently resort to them, and import those
things which tend to effeminate the mind; and they are the nearest to
the Germans, who dwell beyond the Rhine, with whom they are
continually waging war.

LIBER II

[Chapter 4]
Cum ab iis quaereret quae civitates quantaeque in armis essent et
quid in bello possent, sic reperiebat: plerosque Belgos esse ortos a
Germanis Rhenumque antiquitus traductos propter loci fertilitatem ibi
consedisse Gallosque qui ea loca incolerent expulisse, solosque esse
qui, patrum nostrorum memoria omni Gallia vexata, Teutonos Cimbrosque
intra suos fines ingredi prohibuerint; qua ex re fieri uti earum
rerum memoria magnam sibi auctoritatem Illagnosque spiritus in re
militari sumerent. De numero eorum omnia se habere explorata Remi
dicebant, propterea quod propinquitatibus adfinitatibus quo coniuncti
quantam quisque multitudinem in communi Belgarum concilio ad id
bellum pollicitus sit cognoverint. Plurimum inter eos Bellovacos et
virtute et auctoritate et hominum numero valere: hos posse conficere
armata milia centum, pollicitos ex eo numero electa milia LX
totiusque belli imperium sibi postulare. Suessiones suos esse
finitimos; fines latissimos teracissimosque agros possidere. Apud eos
fuisse regem nostra etiam memoria Diviciacum, totius Galliae
potentissimum, qui cum magnae partis harum regionum, tum etiam
Britanniae imperium obtinuerit; nunc esse regem Galbam: ad hunc
propter iustitiam prudentiamque summam totius belli omnium voluntate
deferri; oppida habere numero XII, polliceri milia armata L; totidem
Nervios, qui maxime feri inter ipsos habeantur longissimeque absint;
XV milia Atrebates, Ambianos X milia, Morinos XXV milia, Menapios VII
milia, Caletos X milia, Veliocasses et Viromanduos totidem, Atuatucos
XVIIII milia; Condrusos, Eburones, Caerosos, Paemanos, qui uno nomine
Germani appellantur, arbitrari ad XL milia.

Rendering
When seeking [information] about the community's arms, [fighting]
numbers, and potency in battle, it was discovered: for-the-most part
the Belgos arose from an ancient Rhenumque Germanis tradition that
because of the region's fertility settled there expelling the local
Gallosque. In our father's memory when all Gallia shook, only they
prevented the Teutonos and Cimbrosque from entering their territory,
thus by the joyous recollection of this event they originate a great
air of expertise and assume [responsibility] for military matters.
Under [further] examination, since joined by proximity and a united
neighborhood, the Remi preceded to relate the number, of each varying
member known in truth and promised for the common defense of [the]
Belgarum alliance.

Traditional Rendering
When Caesar inquired of them what states were in arms, how powerful
they were, and what they could do, in war, he received the following
information: that the greater part of the Belgae were sprung, from
the Germans, and that having crossed the Rhine at an early period,
they had settled there, on account of the fertility of the country,
and had driven out the Gauls who inhabited those regions; and that
they were the only people who, in the memory of our fathers, when all
Gaul was overrun, had prevented the Teutones and the Cimbri from
entering their territories; the effect of which was, that, from the
recollection of those events, they assumed to themselves great
authority and haughtiness in military matters. The Remi said, that
they had known accurately every thing respecting their number,
because being united to them by neighborhood and by alliances, they
had learned what number each state had in the general council of the
Belgae promised for that war. That the Bellovaci were the most
powerful among them in valor, influence, and the number of men; that
these could muster 100,000 armed men, [and had] promised 60,000
picked men out of that number, and demanded for themselves the
command of the whole war. That the Suessiones were their nearest
neighbors and possessed a very extensive and fertile country; that
among them, even in our own memory, Divitiacus, the most powerful man
of all Gaul, had been king; who had held the government of a great
part of these regions, as well as of Britain; that their king at
present was Galba; that the direction of the whole war was conferred
by the consent of all, upon him, on account of his integrity and
prudence; that they had twelve towns; that they had promised 50,000
armed men; and that the Nervii, who are reckoned the most warlike
among them, and are situated at a very great distance, [had promised]
as many; the Atrebates 15,000; the Ambiani, 10,000; the Morini,
25,000; the Menapii, 9,000; the Caleti, 10,000; the Velocasses and
the Veromandui as many; the Aduatuci 19,000; that the Condrusi, the
Eburones, the Caeraesi, the Paemani, who are called by the common
name of Germans [had promised], they thought, to the number of
40,000.

Joseph