282 C^SAR. Cossar's army was now grown very numerous, so that he was forced to disperse them into various camps for their winter-quarters, and he having gone himself to Italy as he used to do, in his absence a general outbreak throughout the whole of Gaul commenced, and large armies marched about the country, and attacked the Ro- man quarters, and attempted to make themselves masters of the forts where they lay. The greatest and strongest party of the rebels, under the command of Abriorix, cut off Cotta and Titurius with all their men, while a force sixty thousand strong besieged the legion under the com- mand of Cicero,* and had almost taken it by storm, the Roman soldiers being all wounded, and having quite spent themselves by a defence beyond their natural strength. But Caesar, who was at a great distance, hav- ing received the news, quickly got together seven thou- sand men, and hastened to relieve Cicero. The besiegers were aware of it, and went to meet him, with great con- fidence that they should easily overpower such an hand- ful of men. Caesar, to increase their presumption, seemed to avoid fighting, and still marched off, till he found a place conveniently situated for a few to engage against many, where he encamped. He kept his soldiers from making any attack upon the enemy, and commanded them to raise the ramparts higher, and barricade the gates, that by show of fear, they might heighten the ene- my's contempt of them. Till at last they came without any order in great security to make an assault, when he issued forth, and put them to flight with the loss of many men. This quieted the greater part of the commotions in these parts of Gaul, and Caesar, in the course of the win- ter, visited every part of the country, and with great vig-
- Quintus Cicero, the orator's brother. Abriorix is Ambiorix of the
Commentaries.
