He raised two fresh
legions in his own province. Pompey had formed a legion in the north of
Italy, within Caesar's boundaries, for service in Spain. Caesar requested
Pompey to lend him this legion for immediate purposes; and Pompey, who was
still on good terms with Caesar, recognized the importance of the
occasion, and consented without difficulty.
[Sidenote: B.C. 53.]
Thus amply reinforced, Caesar, before the grass had begun to grow, took
the field against the tribes which were openly disaffected. The first
business was to punish the Belgians, who had attacked Cicero. He fell
suddenly on the Nervii with four legions, seized their cattle, wasted
their country, and carried off thousands of them to be sold into slavery.
Returning to Amiens, he again called the chiefs about him, and, the Seine
tribes refusing to put in an appearance, he transferred the council to
Paris, and, advancing by rapid marches, he brought the Senones and
Carnutes to pray for pardon.[2] He then turned on the Treveri and their
allies, who, under Ambiorix, had destroyed Sabinus. Leaving Labienus with
the additional legions to check the Treveri, he went himself into
Flanders, where Ambiorix was hiding among the rivers and marshes. He threw
bridges over the dikes, burnt the villages, and carried off an enormous
spoil, of cattle and, alas! of men.
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