The Germany and the Agricola of Tacitus
distracted between unjust masters and ill-obeying subjects. Here is
a general; here an army. There, tributes, mines, and all the train of
punishments inflicted on slaves; which whether to bear eternally, or
instantly to revenge, this field must determine. March then to battle,
and think of your ancestors and your posterity."
33. They received this harangue with alacrity, and testified their
applause after the barbarian manner, with songs, and yells, and
dissonant shouts. And now the several divisions were in motion, the
glittering of arms was beheld, while the most daring and impetuous
were hurrying to the front, and the line of battle was forming; when
Agricola, although his soldiers were in high spirits, and scarcely to
be kept within their intrenchments, kindled additional ardor by these
words:--
"It is now the eighth year, my fellow-soldiers, in which, under the high
auspices of the Roman empire, by your valor and perseverance you have
been conquering Britain. In so many expeditions, in so many battles,
whether you have been required to exert your courage against the enemy,
or your patient labors against the very nature of the country, neither
have I ever been dissatisfied with my soldiers, nor you with your
general. In this mutual confidence, we have proceeded beyond the limits
of former commanders and former armies; and are now become acquainted
with the extremity of the island, not by uncertain rumor, but by actual
possession with our arms and encampments. Britain is discovered and
subdued. How often on a march, when embarrassed with mountains, bogs
and rivers, have I heard the bravest among you exclaim, 'When shall
we descry the enemy? when shall we be led to the field of battle?' At
length they are unharbored from their retreats; your wishes and your
valor have now free scope; and every circumstance is equally propitious
to the victor, and ruinous to the vanquished. For, the greater our glory
in having marched over vast tracts of land, penetrated forests, and
crossed arms of the sea, while advancing towards the foe, the greater
will be our danger and difficulty if we should attempt a retreat. We are
inferior to our enemies in knowledge of the country, and less able to
command supplies of provision; but we have arms in our hands, and in
these we have everything. For myself, it has long been my principle,
that a retiring general or army is never safe. Hot only, then, are we to
reflect that death with honor is preferable to life with ignominy, but
to remember that security and glory are seated in the same place. Even
to fall in this extremest verge of earth and of nature cannot be thought
an inglorious fate.
34. "If unknown nations or untried troops were drawn up against you, I
would exhort you from the example of other armies. At present, recollect
your own honors, question your own eyes. These are they, who, the last
year, attacking by surprise a single legion in the obscurity of the
night, were put to flight by a shout: the greatest fugitives of all the
Britons, and therefore the longest survivors. As in penetrating woods
and thickets the fiercest animals boldly rush on the hunters, while the
weak and timorous fly at their very noise; so the bravest of the Britons
have long since fallen: the remaining number consists solely of the
cowardly and spiritless; whom you see at length within your reach, not
because they have stood their ground, but because they are overtaken.
Torpid with fear, their bodies are fixed and chained down in yonder
field, which to you will speedily be the scene of a glorious and
memorable victory. Here bring your toils and services to a conclusion;
close a struggle of fifty years [118] with one great day; and convince
your country-men, that to the army ought not to be imputed either the
protraction of war, or the causes of rebellion."
35. Whilst Agricola was yet speaking, the ardor of the soldiers declared
itself; and as soon as he had finished, they burst forth into cheerful
acclamations, and instantly flew to arms. Thus eager and impetuous, he
formed them so that the centre was occupied by the auxiliary infantry,
in number eight thousand, and three thousand horse were spread in the
wings. The legions were stationed in the rear, before the intrenchments;
a disposition which would render the victory signally glorious, if
it were obtained without the expense of Roman blood; and would ensure
support if the rest of the army were repulsed. The British troops, for
the greater display of their numbers, and more formidable appearance,
were ranged upon the rising grounds, so that the first line stood upon
the plain, the rest, as if linked together, rose above one another upon
the ascent. The charioteers [119] and horsemen filled the middle of the
field with their tumult and careering. Then Agricola, fearing from the
superior number of the enemy lest he should be obliged to fight as
well on his flanks as in front, extended his ranks; and although this
rendered his line of battle less firm, and several of his officers
advised him to bring up the legions, yet, filled with hope, and resolute
in danger, he dismissed his horse and took his station on foot before
the colors.
36. At first the action was carried on at a distance. The Britons, armed
with long swords and short targets, [120] with steadiness and dexterity
avoided or struck down our missile weapons, and at the same time poured
in a torrent of their own. Agricola then encouraged three Batavian and
two Tungrian [121] cohorts to fall in and come to close quarters; a
method of fighting familiar to these veteran soldiers, but embarrassing
to the enemy from the nature of their armor; for the enormous British
swords, blunt at the point, are unfit for close grappling, and engaging
in a confined space. When the Batavians; therefore, began to redouble
their blows, to strike with the bosses of their shields, and mangle the
faces of the enemy; and, bearing down all those who resisted them on
the plain, were advancing their lines up the ascent; the other cohorts,
fired with ardor and emulation, joined in the charge, and overthrew all
who came in their way: and so great was their impetuosity in the pursuit
of victory, that they left many of their foes half dead or unhurt behind
them. In the meantime the troops of cavalry took to flight, and the
armed chariots mingled in the engagement of the infantry; but although
their first shock occasioned some consternation, they were soon
entangled among the close ranks of the cohorts, and the inequalities
of the ground. Not the least appearance was left of an engagement of
cavalry; since the men, long keeping their ground with difficulty, were
forced along with the bodies of the horses; and frequently, straggling
chariots, and affrighted horses without their riders, flying variously
as terror impelled them, rushed obliquely athwart or directly through
the lines. [122]
37. Those of the Britons who, yet disengaged from the fight, sat on the
summits of the hills, and looked with careless contempt on the smallness
of our numbers, now began gradually to descend; and would have fallen on
the rear of the conquering troops, had not Agricola, apprehending this
very event, opposed four reserved squadron of horse to their attack,
which, the more furiously they had advanced, drove them back with the
greater celerity. Their project was thus turned against themselves; and
the squadrons were ordered to wheel from the front of the battle
and fall upon the enemy's rear. A striking and hideous spectacle
now appeared on the plain: some pursuing; some striking: some making
prisoners, whom they slaughtered as others came in their way. Now, as
their several dispositions prompted, crowds of armed Britons fled before
inferior numbers, or a few, even unarmed, rushed upon their foes,
and offered themselves to a voluntary death. Arms, and carcasses, and
mangled limbs, were promiscuously strewed, and the field was dyed in
blood. Even among the vanquished were seen instances of rage and valor.
When the fugitives approached the woods, they collected, and surrounded
the foremost of the pursuers, advancing incautiously, and unacquainted
with the country; and had not Agricola, who was everywhere present,
caused some strong and lightly-equipped cohorts to encompass the ground,
while part of the cavalry dismounted made way through the thickets,
and part on horseback scoured the open woods, some disaster would have
proceeded from the excess of confidence. But when the enemy saw their
pursuers again formed in compact order, they renewed their flight, not
in bodies as before, or waiting for their companions, but scattered
and mutually avoiding each other; and thus took their way to the most
distant and devious retreats. Night and satiety of slaughter put an end
to the pursuit. Of the enemy ten thousand were slain: on our part three
hundred and sixty fell; among whom was Aulus Atticus, the praefect of a
cohort, who, by his juvenile ardor, and the fire of his horse, was borne
into the midst of the enemy.
38. Success and plunder contributed to render the night joyful to the
victors; whilst the Britons, wandering and forlorn, amid the promiscuous
lamentations of men and women, were dragging along the wounded; calling
out to the unhurt; abandoning their habitations, and in the rage of
despair setting them on fire; choosing places of concealment, and then
deserting them; consulting together, and then separating. Sometimes, on
beholding the dear pledges of kindred and affection, they were melted
into tenderness, or more frequently roused into fury; insomuch that
several, according to authentic information, instigated by a savage
compassion, laid violent hands upon their own wives and children. On the
succeeding day, a vast silence all around, desolate hills, the distant
smoke of burning houses, and not a living soul descried by the scouts,
displayed more amply the face of victory. After parties had been
detached to all quarters without discovering any certain tracks of the
enemy's flight, or any bodies of them still in arms, as the lateness
of the season rendered it impracticable to spread the war through the
country, Agricola led his army to the confines of the Horesti. [123]
Having received hostages from this people, he ordered the commander
of the fleet to sail round the island; for which expedition he was
furnished with sufficient force, and preceded by the terror of the
Roman name. Pie himself then led back the cavalry and infantry, marching
slowly, that he might impress a deeper awe on the newly conquered
nations; and at length distributed his troops into their
winter-quarters. The fleet, about the same time, with prosperous gales
and renown, entered the Trutulensian [124] harbor, whence, coasting all
the hither shore of Britain, it returned entire to its former station.
[125]
39. The account of these transactions, although unadorned with the pomp
of words in the letters of Agricola, was received by Domitian, as was
customary with that prince, with outward expressions of joy, but inward
anxiety. He was conscious that his late mock-triumph over Germany, [126]
in which he had exhibited purchased slaves, whose habits and hair [127]
were contrived to give them the resemblance of captives, was a subject
of derision; whereas here, a real and important victory, in which so
many thousands of the enemy were slain, was celebrated with universal
applause. His greatest dread was that the name of a private man should
be exalted above that of the prince. In vain had he silenced the
eloquence of the forum, and cast a shade upon all civil honors,
if military glory were still in possession of another. Other
accomplishments might more easily be connived at, but the talents of a