To favor and enrich the tribes that
submitted after a first defeat, to depopulate the determinately rebellious
by seizing and selling as slaves those who had forfeited a right to his
protection, was his uniform and, as the event proved, entirely successful
policy. The persuasions of the Treveri had failed with the nearer German
tribes; but some of the Suevi, who had never seen the Romans, were tempted
to adventure over and try their fortunes; and the Treveri were waiting for
them, to set on Labienus, in Caesar's absence. Labienus went in search of
the Treveri, tempted them into an engagement by a feigned flight, killed
many of them, and filled his camp with prisoners. Their German allies
retreated again across the river, and the patriot chiefs, who had gone
with Induciomarus, concealed themselves in the forests of Westphalia.
Caesar thought it desirable to renew the admonition which he had given the
Germans two years before, and again threw a bridge over the Rhine at the
same place where he had made the first, but a little higher up the stream.
Experience made the construction more easy. The bridge was begun and
finished in a few days, but this time the labor was thrown away. The
operation itself lost its impressiveness by repetition, and the barrenness
of practical results was more evident than before.
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