When the war with the
Helvetii was concluded, embassadors from almost all parts of
Gaul, the chiefs of states, assembled to congratulate
Caesar, [saying] that they were well aware, that, although he had taken vengeance on the
Helvetii in war, for the old wrong done by them to the
Roman people, yet that circumstance had happened no less to the benefit of the land of
Gaul than of the
Roman people, because the
Helvetii, while their affairs were most flourishing, had quitted their country with the design of making war upon the whole of
Gaul, and seizing the government of it, and selecting, out of a great abundance, that spot for an abode, which they should judge to be the most convenient and most productive of all
Gaul, and hold the rest of the states as tributaries. They requested that they might be allowed to proclaim an assembly of the whole of
Gaul for a particular day, and to do that with
Caesar's permission, [stating] that they had some things which, with the general consent, they wished to ask of him. This request having been granted, they appointed a day for the assembly, and ordained by an oath with each other, that no one should disclose [their deliberations] except those to whom this [office] should be assigned by the general assembly.