Narrative in Eighth Book of the " Gallic War" 41 



centia, he would naturally be expected to draw the four legions 

 from the camps nearest to Placentia, those m the territories of the 

 Aedui and the Lemovices.^^* In that case it is certain that a part 

 of the four legions would have to march 500 m. p. or more, from 

 the Lemovices to Placentia. But it is possible that the first and 

 thirteenth legions had been quartered in the two camps mentioned. 

 The camp among the Turoni therefore comes into the reckoning. 

 One or more of the four legions might then have as much as 600 

 m. p. to march. That the official class at Rome had sufficient 

 knowledge of Transalpine Gaul and of the location of Caesar's 

 camps to realize that the occupation of Placentia in the way an- 

 ticipated involved from thirty-five to forty days of marching, is a 

 not unreasonable assumption. The start of some of the four 

 legions would thus be made as early, it might be, as September 5. 

 This brings us to the period of time in which Caesar is very likely 

 to have been on the road to Nemetocenna, after his visit to Italy. 

 It may be regarded as certain that news of Caesar's triumphal 

 journey through Cisalpine Gaul and of the enthusiastic reception 

 accorded him drifted down to Rome while the journey was in 

 progress. If so, it could scarcely fail to awaken surmises. Caesar 

 started back across the Alps about September i. This return 

 journey also was probably reported in Rome. Under normal con- 

 ditions the proconsul's trips across the mountains would constitute 

 nothing extraordinary. But conditions were no longer normal. 

 It is not difficult to believe that Caesar's return to Transalpine 

 Gaul gave rise to a rumor that troops were to be brought into Italy 

 and that Caesar had recrossed the Alps for this purpose. Such a 

 rumor would be strengthened, if, as is credible, a report of the 

 intended march of the army to the review got abroad in Cisalpine 

 Gaul, for the destination could easily be distorted. The surpris- 

 ing thing in the rumor, however, is the definite date, October 15, 

 set for the occupation of Placentia. It is tempting to think that 

 this was the date by which, under Caesar's orders, the legions were 

 to assemble for the review. 



B. G., VIII, 46, 4- 



333 



