Gaul being tranquil,
Caesar, as he had determined, sets out for
Italy to hold the provincial assizes. There he receives intelligence of the death of
Clodius; and, being informed of the decree of the senate, [to the effect] that all the youth of
Italy should take the military oath, he determined to hold a levy throughout the entire province. Report of these events is rapidly borne into
Transalpine Gaul. The
Gauls themselves add to the report, and invent what the case seemed to require, [namely] that
Caesar was detained by commotions in the city, and could not, amid so violent dissensions, come to his army. Animated by this opportunity, they who already, previously to this occurrence, were indignant that they were reduced beneath the dominion of
Rome , begin to organize their plans for war more openly and daringly. The leading men of
Gaul, having convened councils among themselves in the woods, and retired places, complain of the death of
Acco: they point out that this fate may fall in turn on themselves: they bewail the unhappy fate of
Gaul; and by every sort of promises and rewards, they earnestly solicit some to begin the war, and assert the freedom of
Gaul at the hazard of their lives. They say that special care should be paid to this, that
Caesar should be cut off from his army before their secret plans should be divulged. That this was easy, because neither would the legions, in the absence of their general, dare to leave their winter quarters, nor could the general reach his army without a guard: finally, that it was better to be slain in battle, than not to recover their ancient glory in war, and that freedom which they had received from their forefathers.
