This state is by far the most powerful of all
Gaul in cavalry, and has great forces of infantry, and as we have remarked above, borders on the
Rhine . In that state, two persons,
Indutiomarus and
Cingetorix, were then contending with each other for the supreme power; one of whom, as soon as the arrival of
Caesar and his legions was known, came to him; assures him that he and all his party would continue in their allegiance, and not revolt from the alliance of the
Roman people, and informs him of the things which were going on among the
Treviri . But
Indutiomarus began to collect cavalry and infantry, and make preparations for war, having concealed those who by reason of their age could not be under arms, in the forest
Arduenna, which is of immense size, [and] extends from the
Rhine across the country of the
Treviri to the frontiers of the
Remi. But after that, some of the chief persons of the state, both influenced by their friendship for
Cingetorix, and alarmed at the arrival of our army, came to
Caesar and began to solicit him privately about their own interests, since they could not provide for the safety of the state;
Indutiomarus, dreading lest he should be abandoned by all, sends embassadors to
Caesar, to declare that he absented himself from his countrymen, and refrained from coming to him on this account, that he might the more easily keep the state in its allegiance, lest on the departure of all the nobility the commonalty should, in their indiscretion, revolt. And thus the whole state was at his control; and that he, if
Caesar would permit, would come to the camp to him, and would commit his own fortunes and those of the state to his good faith.
