subsidies to the Batavian chief.

The details of the revolt have been carefully preserved by Tacitus, and
form one of his grandest and most elaborate pictures. The spectacle of a
brave nation, inspired by the soul of one great man and rising against an
overwhelming despotism, will always speak to the heart, from generation
to generation. The battles, the sieges, the defeats, the indomitable
spirit of Civilis, still flaming most brightly when the clouds were
darkest around him, have been described by the great historian in his
most powerful manner. The high-born Roman has thought the noble
barbarian's portrait a subject worthy his genius.

The struggle was an unsuccessful one. After many victories and many
overthrows, Civilis was left alone. The Gallic tribes fell off, and sued
for peace. Vespasian, victorious over Vitellius, proved too powerful for
his old comrade. Even the Batavians became weary of the hopeless
contest, while fortune, after much capricious hovering, settled at last
upon the Roman side. The imperial commander Cerialis seized the moment
when the cause of the Batavian hero was most desperate to send emissaries
among his tribe, and even to tamper with the mysterious woman whose
prophecies had so inflamed his imagination. These intrigues had their
effect. The fidelity of the people was sapped; the prophetess fell away
from her worshipper, and foretold ruin to his cause. The Batavians
murmured that their destruction was inevitable, that one nation could not
arrest the slavery which was destined for the whole world. How large a
part of the human race were the Batavians? What were they in a contest
with the whole Roman empire? Moreover, they were not oppressed with
tribute. They were only expected to furnish men and valor to their proud
allies. It was the next thing to liberty. If they were to have rulers,
it was better to serve a Roman emperor than a German witch.