wide
gulf which they call the Gulf of Lyons, about eighteen miles from Arles.
This is enough to say of the situation of the province; I will now
proceed to describe the appearance and character of the inhabitants.

XII.

Sec. 1. Nearly all the Gauls are of a lofty stature, fair, and of ruddy
complexion; terrible from the sternness of their eyes, very quarrelsome,
and of great pride and insolence. A whole troop of foreigners would not
be able to withstand a single Gaul if he called his wife to his
assistance, who is usually very strong, and with blue eyes; especially
when, swelling her neck, gnashing her teeth, and brandishing her sallow
arms of enormous size, she begins to strike blows mingled with kicks, as
if they were so many missiles sent from the string of a catapult.

2. The voices of the generality are formidable and threatening, whether
they are in good humour or angry: they are all exceedingly careful of
cleanliness and neatness, nor in all the country, and most especially in
Aquitania, could any man or woman, however poor, be seen either dirty or
ragged.

3. The men of every age are equally inclined to war, and the old man and
the man in the prime of life answer with equal zeal the call to arms,
their bodies being hardened by their cold weather and by constant
exercise so that they are all inclined to despise dangers and terrors.
Nor has any one of this nation ever mutilated his thumb from fear of the
toils of war, as men have done in Italy, whom in their district are
called Murci.

4. The nation is fond of wine, and of several kinds of liquor which
resemble wine. And many individuals of the lower orders, whose senses
have become impaired by continual intoxication, which the apophthegm of
Cato defined to be a kind of voluntary madness, run about in all
directions at random; so that there appears to be some point in that
saying which is found in Cicero's oration in defence of Fonteius, "that
henceforth the Gauls will drink their wine less strong than formerly,"
because forsooth they thought there was poison in it.

5. These countries, and especially such parts of them as border on
Italy, fell gradually under the dominion of the Romans without much
trouble to their conquerors, having been first attacked by Fulvius,
afterwards weakened in many trifling combats by Sextius, and at last
entirely subdued by Fabius Maximus; who gained an additional surname
from the complete accomplishment of this task, after