Quibus rebus cognitis, cum ad has suspicions certissimae res accederent, quod per fines Sequanorum Helvetios traduxisset, quod obsides inter eos dandos curasset, quod ea omnia non modo iniussu suo et civitatis, sed etiam inscientibus ipsis fecisset, quod a magistratu Aeduorum accusaretur, satis esse causae arbitrabatur, quare in eum aut ipse animadverteret, aut civitatum animadvertere iuberet.  His omnibus rebus unum repugnabat, quod Diviciaci fratris suumum in populum Romanum studium, summam, is se voluntatem, egregiam fidem, iustitiam, temperantiam cognoverat:  nam ne eius supplicio Diviciaci animum offenderet verebatur.  Itaque prius quam quicquam conaretur, Diviciacum ad se vocari iubet et cotidianis interpretibus remotis per C. Valerium Procillum, principem Galliae provinciae, familiarem suum, cui summam omnium rerum fidem habebat, cum eo colloquitur:  simul commonefacit quae ipso praesente in concilio Gallorum de Dumnorige sint dicta, et ostendit, quae seperatim quisque de eo apud se dixerit.  Petit atque hortatur, ut sine eius offensione animi vel ipse de eo causa cognita statuat, vel civitatem statuere iubeat.


All this Caesar learnt, and to confirm these suspicions he had indisputable facts.  Dumnorix had brought the Helvetii through the borders of the Sequani; he had caused hostages to be given between them; he had done all this not only without orders from his state or from Caesar, but even without the knowledge of either; he was now accused by the magistrate of the Aedui.  Caesar deemed all this be cause enough for him either to punish Dumnorix himself, or to command the state so to do.  To all such procedure there was one objection, the knowledge that Diviciacus, the brother of Dumnorix, showed the utmost zeal for the Roman people, the utmost goodwill towards himself, in loyalty, in justice, in prudence alike remarkable; for Caesar apprehended that the punishment of Dumnorix might offend the feelings of Diviciacus.  Therefore, before attempting anything in the matter, Caesar ordered Diviciacus to be summoned to his quarters, and having removed the regular interpreters, conversed with through the mouth of Gaius Valerius Procillus, a leading man in the Province of Gaul and his own intimate friend, in whom he had the utmost confidence upon all matters.  Caesar related the remarks which had been uttered in his presence as concerning Dumnorix at the assembly of the Gauls, and showed what each person had said severally to him upon the same subject.  He asked and urged that without offence to the feelings of Diviciacus he might either hear his case himself and pass judgement upon him, or order the state to do so.

Translation and notes by H.J. Edwards

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