DBG VI 9/20

[2] Plerique, cum aut aere alieno aut magnitudine tributorum aut iniuria potentiorum premuntur, sese in servitutem dicant nobilibus

in hos eadem omnia sunt iura, quae dominis in servos

[4] Illi rebus divinis intersunt, sacrificia publica ac privata procurant, religiones interpretantur

ad hos magnus adulescentium numerus disciplinae causa concurrit, magnoque hi sunt apud eos honore

Id mihi duabus de causis instituisse videntur, quod neque in vulgum disciplinam efferri velint neque eos, qui discunt, litteris confisos minus memoriae studere

quod fere plerisque accidit, ut praesidio litterarum diligentiam in perdiscendo ac memoriam remittant

Huius sunt plurima simulacra

hunc omnium inventorem artium ferunt, hunc viarum atque itinerum ducem, hunc ad quaestus pecuniae mercaturasque habere vim maximam arbitrantur

There are many likenesses of this one

they say that this ones is the inventor of all arts, this one is the leader of roads and journeys and they think that this one has the greatest power to the profit of money and merchants

[2] De his eandem fere, quam reliquae gentes, habent opinionem

Apollinem morbos depellere, Minervam operum atque artificiorum initia tradere, Iovem imperium caelestium tenere, Martem bella regere

[3] Huic, cum proelio dimicare constituerunt, ea quae bello ceperint plerumque devovent

cum superaverunt, animalia capta immolant reliquasque res in unum locum conferunt

(13) [1] In omni Gallia eorum hominum, qui aliquo sunt numero atque honore, genera sunt duo. Nam plebes paene servorum habetur loco, quae nihil audet per se, nullo adhibetur consilio.

In all Gaul there are two kinds of all these peoples who are of some account and honor. For the plebes are considered nearly in the position of slaves who dare nothing by themselves are admitted no council.

[2] Plerique, cum aut aere alieno aut magnitudine tributorum aut iniuria potentiorum premuntur, sese in servitutem dicant nobilibus: in hos eadem omnia sunt iura, quae dominis in servos.

And the many, when they are pressed either by another’s money or by a magnitude of taxes or by the injustice of the more powerful, they say that they are in servitude to the nobility: all laws are the same over them, which masters have over slaves.

[3] Sed de his duobus generibus alterum est druidum, alterum equitum.

But about these two kinds, one is the Druids, the other the knights.

[4] Illi rebus divinis intersunt, sacrificia publica ac privata procurant, religiones interpretantur: ad hos magnus adulescentium numerus disciplinae causa concurrit, magnoque hi sunt apud eos honore.

Those men engaged in the divine things, they care for public and private sacrifices, they interpret religious matters: to these things a great number of youths clash for the sake of draining, and these are among them in great honor.

[5] Nam fere de omnibus controversiis publicis privatisque constituunt, et, si quod est admissum facinus, si caedes facta, si de hereditate, de finibus controversia est, idem decernunt, praemia poenasque constituent;

For nearly, they decide about all public and private controversies and if any crime is committed, if murder has been done, if about inheritance, or the controversy is about limits they decide the same, they decide rewards and punishments;

[6] si qui aut privatus aut populus eorum decreto non stetit, sacrificiis interdicunt. Haec poena apud eos est gravissima.

if anyone either public or private did not abide by the decision of them, they prohibit them from sacrifices. This punishment is very serious among them.

[7] Quibus ita est interdictum, hi numero impiorum ac sceleratorum habentur, his omnes decedunt, aditum sermonemque defugiunt, ne quid ex contagione incommodi accipiant, neque his petentibus ius redditur neque honos ullus communicator.

For whom it is so prohibited, these men are considered in the number of the impious and the wicked, all flee from them, they avoid approach and conversation, lest anything unsuitable receive out of contact, neither law is returned to those seeking it nor are any honors imparted.

[8] His autem omnibus druidibus praeest unus, qui summam inter eos habet auctoritatem.

However one man presides over all these Druids, who has the greatest authority among them.

[9] Hoc mortuo aut si qui ex reliquis excellit dignitate succedit, aut, si sunt plures pares, suffragio druidum, nonnumquam etiam armis de principatu contendunt.

With this one being dead either if anyone wh excells out of the remaining succeeds in dignity, or if there are many more, a vote of the Druids [happens] they contend sometimes also about the principate with weapons.

[10] hi certo anni tempore in finibus Carnutum, quae regio totius Galliae media habetur, considunt in loco consecrato. Huc omnes undique, qui controversias habent, conveniunt eorumque decretis iudiciisque parent.

those men in a certain amount of time they settle in a consecrated location in the boundaries of the Carnutes which middle the region of all Gaul is considered. All these who have controversies convene to this place from everywhere, and they obey the decrees and judgments of them.

[11] Disciplina in Britannia reperta atque inde in Galliam translata esse existimatur,

It is estimated that discipline in Britain was discovered and was carried across from there into Gall

[12] et nunc, qui diligentius eam rem cognoscere volunt, plerumque illo discendi causa proficiscuntur.

and now they who want to understand this matter more dilligently for the sake of speaking frequently they set out.

(14) [1] Druides a bello abesse consuerunt neque tributa una cum reliquis pendunt; militiae vacationem omniumque rerum habent immunitatem.

The Druids resign to be absent from war nor do they pay tribute together witht he remaining, they have an exemption of military service and immunity of all things.

[2] Tantis excitati praemiis et sua sponte multi in disciplinam conveniunt et a parentibus propinquisque mittuntur.

Having been excited by so great rewards the many both convene into the study on their own accord and are sent by their parents and relatives.

[3] Magnum ibi numerum versuum ediscere dicuntur. Itaque annos nonnulli vicenos in disciplina permanent.

They are said to learn a great number of verses there and so some remain in study for 20 years

[4] Neque fas esse existimant ea litteris mandare, cum in reliquis fere rebus, publicis privatisque rationibus Graecis litteris utantur. Id mihi duabus de causis instituisse videntur, quod neque in vulgum disciplinam efferri velint neque eos, qui discunt, litteris confisos minus memoriae studere: quod fere plerisque accidit, ut praesidio litterarum diligentiam in perdiscendo ac memoriam remittant.

Nor do they estimate that it is divinely right to command these things in literature when in nearly the remaining affairs public and private reasonings they use Greek letters. They seem to me to have instituted this for two causes because they neither want the study to be brought into the common people nor those who learn to study relying upon letters less than memory because it nearly happened to many men that with the assisstance of literature they relax their study in learning thoroughly in memory.

[5] In primis hoc volunt persuadere, non interire animas, sed ab aliis post mortem transire ad alios, atque hoc maxime ad virtutem excitari putant metu mortis neglect.

They want to persuade this in particular that souls do not perish but cross from some to others after death and they think this especially to be aroused towards virtue with the fear of death having been neglected.

[6] Multa praeterea de sideribus atque eorum motu, de mundi ac terrarum magnitudine, de rerum natura, de deorum immortalium vi ac potestate disputant et iuventuti tradunt.

Hereafter they dispute many things about the stars and the morions of them about the world and the size of the earth about the nature of things about the force and power of the immortal gods and they hand them down to the youth.

(15) [1] Alterum genus est equitum. Hi, cum est usus atque aliquod bellum incidit (quod fere ante Caesaris adventum quotannis accidere solebat, uti aut ipsi iniurias inferrent aut illatas propulsarent), omnes in bello versantur,

The other kind is of knights. These when there is a need and some war happens (which before the arrival of Caesar was accustomed to happen nearly every year, that either they themselves brought on injuries or pushed away those things being brought on), all these are engaged in war,

[2] atque eorum ut quisque est genere copiisque amplissimus, ita plurimos circum se ambactos clientesque habet. Hanc unam gratiam potentiamque noverunt.

and each one of them is very distinguished in birth and abundance, they have many vessels and clients around themselves. They acknowledge this one influence and power.

(16) [1] Natio est omnis Gallorum admodum dedita religionibus,

The nation of all of the Gauls is completely devoted to the religious matters,

[2] atque ob eam causam, qui sunt adfecti gravioribus morbis quique in proeliis periculisque versantur, aut pro victimis homines immolant aut se immolaturos vovent administrisque ad ea sacrificia druidibus utuntur, quod, pro vita hominis nisi hominis vita reddatur,

and for this reason, those who are engaged in battles and dangers, either they immolate men instead of sacrificial animals or they vow that they will sacrifice them and they use Druids as performers for the sacrifice because unless the life of a man is given back for the life of a man,

[3] non posse deorum immortalium numen placari arbitrantur, publiceque eiusdem generis habent instituta sacrificia. Alii immani magnitudine simulacra habent,

they think that the divine spirit of the immortal gods is not able to be appeased and publicly they have sacrifices of the same sort set. The others have likenesses with an immense size,

[4] quorum contexta viminibus membra vivis hominibus complent; quibus succensis circumventi flamma exanimantur homines.

whose limbs covered with twigs fill up with living men; with which having been kindled the men having been surrounded by flame are killed.

[5] Supplicia eorum qui in furto aut in latrocinio aut aliqua noxia sint comprehensi gratiora dis immortalibus esse arbitrantur; sed, cum eius generis copia defecit, etiam ad innocentium supplicia descendunt.

They think that the punishment of those who are seized in theft or in robbery or in some crime are more pleasing to the immortal gods; but, when a supply of this sort is given out even punishments descend to the innocent.

(16) [1] Deum maxime Mercurium colunt. Huius sunt plurima simulacra: hunc omnium inventorem artium ferunt, hunc viarum atque itinerum ducem, hunc ad quaestus pecuniae mercaturasque habere vim maximam arbitrantur. Post hunc Apollinem et Martem et Iovem et Minervam.

They especially worship the god Mercury. There are many likenesses of this one: they say that this ones is the inventor of all arts, this one is the leader of roads and journeys and they think that this one has the greatest power to the profit of money and merchants. After this one Apollo and Mars and Juppiter and Minerva.

[2] De his eandem fere, quam reliquae gentes, habent opinionem: Apollinem morbos depellere, Minervam operum atque artificiorum initia tradere, Iovem imperium caelestium tenere, Martem bella regere.

About these they have nearly the same opinion as the remaining people: (that) Apollo dispells diseases, that Minerva hands down the beginning of work and crafts, that Juppiter holds power of the Heavens, that Mars rules wars.

[3] Huic, cum proelio dimicare constituerunt, ea quae bello ceperint plerumque devovent: cum superaverunt, animalia capta immolant reliquasque res in unum locum conferunt.

To this one (Mars lol) when they resolve to contend in battle they vow these things which they began in war very much: when they overcome, they immolate the captured animals and they bring the remaining things into one place.

[4] Multis in civitatibus harum rerum exstructos tumulos locis consecratis conspicari licet;

In many states it is permitted to look at the built up tombs of these things in sacred places;

[5] neque saepe accidit, ut neglecta quispiam religione aut capta apud se occultare aut posita tollere auderet, gravissimumque ei rei supplicium cum cruciatu constitutum est.

nor does it happen often that anyone with neglected religious affairs dare to hide the things seized among themselves or to take away the things placed and the gravest punishment to this crime is set up with torture.