I saw a documentary years ago that I only vaguely remember, I'm fairly certain it was about Caesar's conquest of Europe. At one point it talked about a surrendering chief or king (possibly from Gaul, but my memory is hazy) who said something along the lines of "I stand before you a great man, defeated by an even greater one" or words to that effect. Anyway, I've obviously misremembered something, as I can't seem to find any reference to it, I had thought it might be Vercingetorix but can seem to pin a line like that to him. Any help?
The closest figure I can relate to such a quote from Roman history would be that of the British chieftain Caratacus (or Caractacus, depending on your translation), after being captured by the invading Roman forces of the Emperor Claudius in the 40's A.D. After he was defeated, he was taken to Rome and was granted before his (almost certain) execution an audience with the Emperor and the Senate, where he made an impassioned speech to save his own life:
Had my moderation in prosperity been equal to my noble birth and fortune, I should have entered this city as your friend rather than as your captive; and you would not have disdained to receive, under a treaty of peace, a king descended from illustrious ancestors and ruling many nations, My present lot is as glorious to you as it is degrading to myself. I had men and horses, arms and wealth. What wonder if I parted with them reluctantly? If you Romans choose to lord it over the world, does it follow that the world is to accept your slavery? Were I to have been at once delivered up as a prisoner, neither my fall nor your triumph would have become famous. My punishment would be followed by oblivion, whereas, if you save my life, I shall be an everlasting memorial of your clemency
The speech worked and with his ego sufficiently stroked, Claudius let Caratacus live.
Source:
Cornelius Tacitus , The Annals, (New York: Random House, 1942), chap. 12.