Prose

• 1

  there were in that legion exceedingly brave men, centurions, who were approaching the first ranks, Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus. These were having ongoing disagreements amongst themselves as to which should be preferred,and every year they used to fight about the highest positions with animosity.
• 2

  Of these Pullo, when fighting was going on most fiercely at the fortifications said "why do you hesitate Vorenus?" Or are you looking at a place for the praise of your valour? This day will judge our disputes"
• 3

  When he had said these things he advances outside the fortifications and rushes into that part of the enemy which seemed the most dense. Even Vorenus does not stay within the rampart but, fearing the judgement of all, he follows closely.
• 4

  Then with a moderate distance left, Pullo throws his javelin at the enemy and pierces one of the crowd of men running forward; with him struck and knocked unconscious, they protect this man with their shields
• 5

  They all hurl their weapons at the one enemy and give him no opportunity of retreating. Pullos shield is pierced, and a javelin is fixed firmly in his belt. This unfortunate event turns aside his scabbard and slows down his right hand as he's trying to draw out his sword and the enemy surround him, hindered.
• 6

  His rival Vorenus, runs up to his aid and helps him as he struggles. Immediately, the whole crowd turn from Pullo to this man; they thing that the other has been killed by the javelin.
• 7

  Vorenus renters the combat at close quarters with his sword and with one man killed, he drives the rest back a little; while he presses on eagerly, slipping into a lower place, he falls over. To this man, surrounded, Pullo brings help again and both, with several killed, retreat, unharmed, within the fortifications with the greatest praise
• 8

  Thus fortune wound each in rivalry and conflict that one rival was a help and a source of safety to the other and it could not be determined which seemed worthy of being preferred top the other by their courage:
• 9

  The more serious and violent the attack was by the day and that mostly because, with a great part of the soldiers exhausted by their wounds, the matter had come to a small number of defenders, the more frequent letters and messengers were sent to Caesar- a great part of these were seized and tortured to death in the sight of our soldiers
• 10


  There was within (our camp) a certain Nervian, called Verticus, born in a distinguished position, who from the start of the siege, had deserted to Cicero and had proved his loyalty to him. This man persuaded his slave with the hope of freedom and great rewards to take letters to Caeser.
• 11


  He carried these tied onto his javelin and being considered a Gaul amongst Gauls, he reached Caesar without any suspicion. From him they found out about the dangers of Cicero and the legion.
• 12


  He came by forced marches into the territory of Nervii. There he found out from prisoners what was happening at Ciceros camp and in what great danger the situation was. Then he persuaded a certain one of the Gaul cavalry with great rewards to take a letter to Cicero.
• 13


  He sent this letter written in Greek characters so that if the letter was intercepted our plans would not be found out by the enemy. He advised him that, if he could not get close, he should throw his spear with the letter tied to the thing within the fortification of the camp
• 14


  In the letter he wrote that he, having set out with the legions, would quickly be there; he urged him to maintain his former virtue. The Gaul, fearing the danger, threw his javelin as he had been ordered to. This, by chance, stuck to a tower and having not been noticed by our men for two days.
• 15


  It was on the third day, seen by a certain soldier, taken out and brought to Cicero. He, having read it through, read it out in an assembly of the soldiers and filled everyone with thew greatest joy.
• 16


  Then the smoke of fires was seen in the distance - an event which banished all doubt of the arrival of the legions.
• 17


  Boudica, riding in a chariot with her daughters before her, when she had approached each tribe was testifying that indeed it was usual for the Britons to be under the leadership of women in war but then she was not, as one descended from such great ancestors, avenging her kingdom and wealth,but truly as one of the common people she was avenging her lost freedom, a body work out by beatings, the outraged chastity of her daughters.
• 18


  The lusts of the romans had been carried so far that bodies,not even old age or virginity left unstained. However, the gods of the righteous revenge were present: a legion which had dared battle, had fallen, others were being concealed in the camp or looking around for flight.
• 19


  They would not bear even the noise and shouting of so many hundreds, much less their charge and force; if they considered the troops of armed men, if they considered the reasons for the war, they would either have to conquer or be killed in that battle line; that was the resolution of a woman; men could live and be slaves.
• 20


  Not even Suetonius was silent in such a crisis, although he trusted in courage, yet he convinced encouragements and prayers to remove the noise of the empty threats of the barbarians.

  He said "there more women than young men are seen; they, unwarlike, unarmed, will give way immediately when they, routed so many times, recognise these words and courage of the conquerors.
• 21


  Even in many legions it is few who overthrow battles; and it will enflame their glory that a small band attained the reputation of a whole army. In close order and with both your javelins having been thrown, then with your shields and swords, just continue the massacre and slaughter forgetful of booty.
• 22


  Having won victory, everything will be made to you yourselves' . Such enthusiasm followed the words of their leader, the veteran soldiers and with much experience of battles prepared to hurl their spears in such a way that Suetonius, certain of the outcome, gave the signal to fight.
• 23


  And at first the legion, unmoving in its position and preserving the narrowness of the place as a defence, after they had exhausted their weapons with sure aim at the enemy who had come up closer, they rushed out in like a wedge shaped formation.
• 24


  The attack of the auxiliaries was the same; and the Calvary, with their spears extended, broke through anything solid in their way. The others offered/turned their backs in a difficult flight since the surrounding Waggons had blocked the retreat.
• 25


  And the soldiers did not abstain even from killing women, and even the beasts of burden, pierced by weapons, increased the pile of bodies.
• 26


  On that day distinguished by glory and glory equal to ancient victories was won; indeed, there are those who report that a little less than 80,000 Britons died, with about 400 of our soldiers killed and not many more wounded. Boudicca ended her life with poison.
• 27


  Because you wrote to me about your sister, she will be a witness to you as to how much concern there has been on my part that my brother, Quintus' attitude towards her is what it should be. When I deemed him to be rather displeases, I sent a letter to him in which I both aimed to calm him down as my brother and advise him as my junior and scold him as one who is in the wrong
• 28


  Therefore, from these things which have later often been written by him to me, I trust that everything is both as it should be and as we would wish them to be
• 29


  On the next day we set out from Arpinum: we lunched in Arcanum (you know this farm) when we came here Quintus said very politely "Pomponia, you invite the women: I indeed will summon the men" Nothing, as indeed it seemed to me, could have been sweeter than his words then, even than his attitude and expression.
• 30


  But she, with us all listening said "I myself am a guest here"

  Just because, as I suppose, that Statius had gone ahead to see to lunch for us. Then Quintus said to me "There you are. I suffer this every day"
• 31


  You may say "What, I ask, is there in that?"- a great deal, and that affected me myself. She had replied in that way senselessly hand bitterly with words and look. I, pained, concealed it. We all reclined except for her, to whom Quintus yet sent something from the table. She rejected it. To cut a long story short:nothing seemed to me more gentle than my brother, nothing more bitter than your sister
• 32


  Then I sent from there to Aquinum. Quintus remained in Arcanum and came to me the next morning and told me that she did not want to sleep with him and when she was about to leave she had had the same way as I had seen yesterday.