We now come to treat of one of the most conspicuous cities the world
has ever seen. Upon opening such a subject, we feel strongly tempted
to dilate upon all that belongs to this great city; but our business
is with sieges, and we shall find enough of them to fill more than the
space allotted to us.
Julius Cæsar had made the conquest of a part of Gaul, and Labienus,
his lieutenant, keeping along the banks of the Seine, determined to
take possession of Lutetia, the capital of the Parisians. It was not
then the vast city which astonishes by its extent, its population,
its wealth, its luxury, and its pleasures. Confined to that which is
now called L’Ile du Palais, or Le Cité, it then presented nothing
to the eye but a collection of rustic cabins; but its situation, in
the middle of a river; its natural fortifications, which made the
approach to it difficult and dangerous, with the well-known valour of
its inhabitants, who preferred death to slavery, rendered it quite
worthy of the efforts of the Romans. At the report of their approach,
all the neighbouring peoples assembled in arms, under the orders of a
distinguished personage, named Camulogenes. Notwithstanding his extreme
old age, he knew and practised all the duties of a great captain. He
at first avoided a pitched battle, in order to give his troops, who
were much more courageous than disciplined, time to be formed. He took
every advantage of his knowledge of the ground to make himself master
of favourable opportunities. There was at that time upon the left bank
of the Seine, above Lutetia, a large marsh, whose waters flowed into
the river, of which he made a rampart. Labienus endeavoured to force
him, but was repulsed; he might, indeed, have lost all his legions
there, had he not made a speedy retreat. Irritated at this check, the
Roman general fell upon Melun, whose inhabitants were in the army of
Camulogenes, sacked that hamlet, crossed the Seine there, and following
the right bank of the river, presented himself again before Lutetia.
The Gaulish general, in order to prevent his taking the city and
fortifying himself in it, set fire to it, and destroyed the bridges.
Protected by the marsh, he remained in his camp opposite to the Romans,
from whom he was separated by the river. In the mean time the nations
who peopled the frontiers of the Parisii took up arms, for the purpose
of overwhelming the Romans at once. Labienus had brought fifty large
boats with him from Melun. At nightfall he despatched them, with orders
to descend the river as silently as possible till they came below
Lutetia, nearly at the spot where now stands the village of Anteuil,
and to wait there without making the least movement. His design was to
cross the Seine at that place. In order to deceive the Gauls, he sent
towards the confluence of the Seine and the Maine five cohorts, who had
charge of all the baggage, and were attended by some barks, filled with
sailors. These soldiers marched with as much noise as possible, and the
rowers struck the water with all their strength, in order to attract
the attention of the Gauls. This stratagem was successful, and the
Parisians had no idea of the movement of Labienus, until at daybreak
they perceived that general advancing towards them on their side of the
river. They were immediately in motion, and rushed forward to meet the
Romans. The battle was fought in the plain where now stand the villages
of Issi and Vangirard. It was warm and obstinate. The Gauls fought with
a courage worthy of greater success. Camulogenes set them the example;
though bent beneath the weight of years, this hero appeared, in the
midst of his warriors, to regain all the vigour of youth; he was ever
found at the post of danger, and threw himself fearlessly into the
thickest of the _mêlée_. This first defender of Parisian liberty met
with the death great men desire; he expired fighting for his country,
amidst a heap of dead which his arm had immolated. The victory of
the Romans was complete, and Labienus derived much glory from his
achievement.