Gallic War (Julius Caesar)

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	Gallic War Author: Julius Caesar	Translator: W. A. McDevitte
127	Legati haec se ad suos relaturos dixerunt et re deliberata post diem tertium ad Caesarem reversuros : interea ne propius se castra moveret petierunt . Ne id quidem Caesar ab se impetrari posse dixit . Cognoverat enim magnam partem equitatus ab iis aliquot diebus ante praedandi frumentandi causa ad Ambivaritos trans Mosam missam : hos expectari equites atque eius rei causa moram interponi arbitrabatur .	The embassadors said that they would report these things to their country men; and, after having deliberated on the matter, would return to Caesar after the third day, they begged that he would not in the mean time advance his camp nearer to them. Caesar said that he could not grant them even that; for he had learned that they had sent a great part of their cavalry over the Meuse to the Ambivariti, some days before, for the purpose of plundering and procuring forage. He supposed that they were then waiting for these horse, and that the delay was caused on this account.
128	[ Mosa profluit ex monte Vosego , qui est in finibus Lingonum , et parte quadam ex Rheno recepta , quae appellatur Vacalus insulam efficit Batavorum , in Oceanum influit neque longius ab Oceano milibus passuum LXXX in Rhenum influit . Rhenus autem oritur ex Lepontiis , qui Alpes incolunt , et longo spatio per fines Nantuatium , Helvetiorum , Sequanorum , Mediomatricorum , Tribocorum , Treverorum citatus fertur et , ubi Oceano adpropinquavit , in plures diffluit partes multis ingentibus insulis effectis , quarum pars magna a feris barbaris nationibus incolitur , ex quibus sunt qui piscibus atque ovis avium vivere existimantur , multis capitibus in Oceanum influit . ]	The Meuse rises from mount Le Vosge, which is in the territories of the Lingones ; and, having received a branch of the Rhine , which is called the Waal , forms the island of the Batavi, and not more than eighty miles from it it falls into the ocean. But the Rhine takes its source among the Lepontii, who inhabit the Alps , and is carried with a rapid current for a long distance through the territories of the Sarunates, Helvetii, Sequani, Mediomatrici, Tribuci, and Treviri , and when it approaches the ocean, divides into several branches; and, having formed many and extensive islands, a great part of which are inhabited by savage and barbarous nations (of whom there are some who are supposed to live on fish and the eggs of sea-fowl), flows into the ocean by several mouths.
129	Caesar cum ab hoste non amplius passuum XII milibus abesset , ut erat constitutum , ad eum legati revertuntur ; qui in itinere congressi magnopere ne longius progrederetur orabant . Cum id non impetrassent , petebant uti ad eos [ equites ] qui agmen antecessissent praemitteret eos pugna prohiberet , sibique ut potestatem faceret in Ubios legatos mittendi ; quorum si principes ac senatus sibi iure iurando fidem fecisset , ea condicione quae a Caesare ferretur se usuros ostendebant : ad has res conficiendas sibi tridui spatium daret . Haec omnia Caesar eodem illo pertinere arbitrabatur ut tridui mora interposita equites eorum qui abessent reverterentur ; tamen sese non longius milibus passuum IIII aquationis causa processurum eo die dixit : huc postero die quam frequentissimi convenirent , ut de eorum postulatis cognosceret . Interim ad praefectos , qui cum omni equitatu antecesserant , mittit qui nuntiarent ne hostes proelio lacesserent , et si ipsi lacesserentur , sustinerent quoad ipse cum exercitu propius accessisset .	When Caesar was not more than twelve miles distant from the enemy, the embassadors return to him, as had been arranged; who meeting him on the march, earnestly entreated him not to advance any further. When they could not obtain this, they begged him to send on a dispatch to those who had marched in advance of the main army, and forbid them to engage; and grant them permission to send embassadors to the Ubii, and if the princes and senate of the latter would give them security by oath, they assured Caesar that they would accept such conditions as might be proposed by him; and requested that he would give them the space of three days for negociating these affairs. Caesar thought that these things tended to the self-same point [as their other proposal]; [namely] that, in consequence of a delay of three days intervening, their horse, which were at a distance, might return; however, he said, that he would not that day advance further than four miles for the purpose of procuring water; he ordered that they should assemble at that place in as large a number as possible, the following day, that he might inquire into their demands. In the mean time he sends messengers to the officers who had marched in advance with all the cavalry, to order them not to provoke the enemy to an engagement, and if they themselves were assailed, to sustain the attack until he came up with the army.
130	At hostes , ubi primum nostros equites conspexerunt , quorum erat V milium numerus , cum ipsi non amplius DCCC equites haberent , quod ii qui frumentandi causa ierant trans Mosam profecti nondum redierant , nihil timentibus nostris , quod legati eorum paulo ante a Caesare discesserant atque is dies indutiis erat ab his petitus , impetu facto celeriter nostros perturbaverunt ; rursus his resistentibus consuetudine sua ad pedes desiluerunt subfossis equis compluribus nostris deiectis reliquos in fugam coniecerunt atque ita perterritos egerunt ut non prius fuga desisterent quam in conspectum agminis nostri venissent . In eo proelio ex equitibus nostris interficiuntur IIII et LXX , in his vir fortissimus Piso Aquitanus , amplissimo genere natus , cuius avus in civitate sua regnum obtinuerat amicus a senatu nostro appellatus . Hic cum fratri intercluso ab hostibus auxilium ferret , illum ex periculo eripuit , ipse equo vulnerato deiectus , quoad potuit , fortissime restitit ; cum circumventus multis vulneribus acceptis cecidisset atque id frater , qui iam proelio excesserat , procul animadvertisset , incitato equo se hostibus obtulit atque interfectus est .	But the enemy, as soon as they saw our horse, the number of which was 5000, whereas they themselves had not more than 800 horse, because those which had gone over the Meuse for the purpose of foraging had not returned, while our men had no apprehensions, because their embassadors had gone away from Caesar a little before, and that day had been requested by them as a period of truce, made an onset on our men, and soon threw them into disorder. When our men, in their turn, made a stand, they, according to their practice, leaped from their horses to their feet, and stabbing our horses in the belly and overthrowing a great many of our men, put the rest to flight, and drove them forward so much alarmed that they did not desist from their retreat till they had come in sight of our army. In that encounter seventy-four of our horse were slain; among them, Piso, an Aquitanian, a most valiant man, and descended from a very illustrious family; whose grandfather had held the sovereignty of his state, and had been styled friend by our senate. He, while he was endeavoring to render assistance to his brother who was surrounded by the enemy, and whom he rescued from danger, was himself thrown from his horse, which was wounded under him, but still opposed [his antagonists] with the greatest intrepidity, as long as he was able to maintain the conflict. When at length he fell, surrounded on all sides and after receiving many wounds, and his brother, who had then retired from the fight, observed it from a distance, he spurred on his horse, threw himself upon the enemy, and was killed.
131	Hoc facto proelio Caesar neque iam sibi legatos audiendos neque condiciones accipiendas arbitrabatur ab iis qui per dolum atque insidias petita pace ultro bellum intulissent ; expectare vero dum hostium copiae augerentur equitatus reverteretur summae dementiae esse iudicabat , et cognita Gallorum infirmitate quantum iam apud eos hostes uno proelio auctoritatis essent consecuti sentiebat ; quibus ad consilia capienda nihil spatii dandum existimabat . His constitutis rebus et consilio cum legatis et quaestore communicato , ne quem diem pugnae praetermitteret , oportunissima res accidit , quod postridie eius diei mane eadem et perfidia et simulatione usi Germani frequentes , omnibus principibus maioribusque natu adhibitis , ad eum in castra venerunt , simul , ut dicebatur , sui purgandi causa , quod contra atque esset dictum et ipsi petissent , proelium pridie commisissent , simul ut , si quid possent , de indutiis fallendo impetrarent . Quos sibi Caesar oblatos gavisus illos retineri iussit ; ipse omnes copias castris eduxit equitatumque , quod recenti proelio perterritum esse existimabat , agmen subsequi iussit .	After this engagement, Caesar considered that neither ought embassadors to be received to audience, nor conditions be accepted by him from those who, after having sued for peace by way of stratagem and treachery, had made war without provocation. And to wait until the enemy's forces were augmented and their cavalry had returned, he concluded, would be the greatest madness; and knowing the fickleness of the Gauls, he felt how much influence the enemy had already acquired among them by this one skirmish. He [therefore] deemed that no time for concerting measures ought to be afforded them. After having resolved on those things and communicated his plans to his lieutenants and quaestor in order that he might not suffer any opportunity for engaging to escape him, a very seasonable event occurred, namely, that on the morning of the next day, a large body of Germans, consisting of their princes and old men, came to the camp to him to practice the same treachery and dissimulation; but, as they asserted, for the purpose of acquitting themselves for having engaged in a skirmish the day before, contrary to what had been agreed and to what indeed, they themselves had requested; and also if they could by any means obtain a truce by deceiving him. Caesar, rejoicing that they had fallen into his power, ordered them to be detained. He then drew all his forces out of the camp, and commanded the cavalry, because he thought they were intimidated by the late skirmish, to follow in the rear.
132	Acie triplici instituta et celeriter VIII milium itinere confecto , prius ad hostium castra pervenit quam quid ageretur Germani sentire possent . Qui omnibus rebus subito perterriti et celeritate adventus nostri et discessu suorum , neque consilii habendi neque arma capiendi spatio dato perturbantur , copiasne adversus hostem ducere an castra defendere an fuga salutem petere praestaret . Quorum timor cum fremitu et concursu significaretur , milites nostri pristini diei perfidia incitati in castra inruperunt . Quo loco qui celeriter arma capere potuerunt paulisper nostris restiterunt atque inter carros impedimenta proelium commiserunt ; at reliqua multitudo puerorum mulierumque ( nam cum omnibus suis domo excesserant Rhenum transierant ) passim fugere coepit , ad quos consectandos Caesar equitatum misit .	Having marshalled his army in three lines, and in a short time performed a march of eight miles, he arrived at the camp of the enemy before the Germans could perceive what was going on; who being suddenly alarmed by all the circumstances, both by the speediness of our arrival and the absence of their own officers, as time was afforded neither for concerting measures nor for seizing their arms, are perplexed as to whether it would be better to lead out their forces against the enemy, or to defend their camp, or seek their safety by flight. Their consternation being made apparent by their noise and tumult, our soldiers, excited by the treachery of the preceding day, rushed into the camp: such of them as could readily get their arms, for a short time withstood our men, and gave battle among their carts and baggage wagons; but the rest of the people, [consisting] of boys and women (for they had left their country and crossed the Rhine with all their families) began to fly in all directions; in pursuit of whom Caesar sent the cavalry.
133	Germani post tergum clamore audito , cum suos interfici viderent , armis abiectis signis militaribus relictis se ex castris eiecerunt , et cum ad confluentem Mosae et Rheni pervenissent , reliqua fuga desperata , magno numero interfecto , reliqui se in flumen praecipitaverunt atque ibi timore , lassitudine , vi fluminis oppressi perierunt . Nostri ad unum omnes incolumes , perpaucis vulneratis , ex tanti belli timore , cum hostium numerus capitum CCCCXXX milium fuisset , se in castra receperunt . Caesar iis quos in castris retinuerat discedendi potestatem fecit . Illi supplicia cruciatusque Gallorum veriti , quorum agros vexaverant , remanere se apud eum velle dixerunt . His Caesar libertatem concessit .	The Germans when, upon hearing a noise behind them, [they looked and] saw that their families were being slain, throwing away their arms and abandoning their standards, fled out of the camp, and when they had arrived at the confluence of the Meuse and the Rhine , the survivors despairing of further escape, as a great number of their countrymen had been killed, threw themselves into the river and there perished, overcome by fear, fatigue, and the violence of the stream. Our soldiers, after the alarm of so great a war, for the number of the enemy amounted to 430,000, returned to their camp, all safe to a man, very few being even wounded. Caesar granted those whom he had detained in the camp liberty of departing. They however, dreading revenge and torture from the Gauls, whose lands they had harassed, said that they desired to remain with him. Caesar granted them permission.
134	Germanico bello confecto multis de causis Caesar statuit sibi Rhenum esse transeundum ; quarum illa fuit iustissima quod , cum videret Germanos tam facile impelli ut in Galliam venirent , suis quoque rebus eos timere voluit , cum intellegerent et posse et audere populi Romani exercitum Rhenum transire . Accessit etiam quod illa pars equitatus Usipetum et Tencterorum , quam supra commemoravi praedandi frumentandique causa Mosam transisse neque proelio interfuisse , post fugam suorum se trans Rhenum in fines Sugambrorum receperat seque cum his coniunxerat . Ad quos cum Caesar nuntios misisset , qui postularent eos qui sibi Galliae bellum intulissent sibi dederent , responderunt : populi Romani imperium Rhenum finire ; si se invito Germanos in Galliam transire non aequum existimaret , cur sui quicquam esse imperii aut potestatis trans Rhenum postularet ? Ubii autem , qui uni ex Transrhenanis ad Caesarem legatos miserant , amicitiam fecerant , obsides dederant , magnopere orabant ut sibi auxilium ferret , quod graviter ab Suebis premerentur ; vel , si id facere occupationibus rei publicae prohiberetur , exercitum modo Rhenum transportaret : id sibi ad auxilium spemque reliqui temporis satis futurum . Tantum esse nomen atque opinionem eius exercitus Ariovisto pulso et hoc novissimo proelio facto etiam ad ultimas Germanorum nationes , uti opinione et amicitia populi Romani tuti esse possint . Navium magnam copiam ad transportandum exercitum pollicebantur .	The German war being finished, Caesar thought it expedient for him to cross the Rhine , for many reasons; of which this was the most weighty, that, since he saw the Germans were so easily urged to go into Gaul, he desired they should have their fears for their own territories, when they discovered that the army of the Roman people both could and dared pass the Rhine . There was added also, that portion of the cavalry of the Usipetes and the Tenchtheri, which I have above related to have crossed the Meuse for the purpose of plundering and procuring forage, and was not present at the engagement, had betaken themselves, after the retreat of their countrymen, across the Rhine into the territories of the Sigambri, and united themselves to them. When Caesar sent embassadors to them, to demand that they should give up to him those who had made war against him and against Gaul, they replied, "That the Rhine bounded the empire of the Roman people; if he did not think it just for the Germans to pass over into Gaul against his consent, why did he claim that any thing beyond the Rhine should be subject to his dominion or power?" The Ubii, also, who alone, out of all the nations lying beyond the Rhine , had sent embassadors to Caesar, and formed an alliance and given hostages, earnestly entreated "that he would bring them assistance, because they were grievously oppressed by the Suevi; or, if he was prevented from doing so by the business of the commonwealth, he would at least transport his army over the Rhine ; that that would be sufficient for their present assistance and their hope for the future; that so great was the name and the reputation of his army, even among the most remote nations of the Germans, arising from the defeat of Ariovistus and this last battle which was fought, that they might be safe under the fame and friendship of the Roman people." They promised a large number of ships for transporting the army.
135	Caesar his de causis quas commemoravi Rhenum transire decreverat ; sed navibus transire neque satis tutum esse arbitrabatur neque suae neque populi Romani dignitatis esse statuebat . Itaque , etsi summa difficultas faciendi pontis proponebatur propter latitudinem , rapiditatem altitudinemque fluminis , tamen id sibi contendendum aut aliter non traducendum exercitum existimabat . Rationem pontis hanc instituit . Tigna bina sesquipedalia paulum ab imo praeacuta dimensa ad altitudinem fluminis intervallo pedum duorum inter se iungebat . Haec cum machinationibus immissa in flumen defixerat fistucisque adegerat , non sublicae modo derecte ad perpendiculum , sed prone ac fastigate , ut secundum naturam fluminis procumberent , iis item contraria duo ad eundem modum iuncta intervallo pedum quadragenum ab inferiore parte contra vim atque impetu fluminis conversa statuebat . Haec utraque insuper bipedalibus trabibus immissis , quantum eorum tignorum iunctura distabat , binis utrimque fibulis ab extrema parte distinebantur ; quibus disclusis atque in contrariam partem revinctis , tanta erat operis firmitudo atque ea rerum natura ut , quo maior vis aquae se incitavisset , hoc artius inligata tenerentur . Haec derecta materia iniecta contexebantur ac longuriis cratibusque consternebantur ; ac nihilo setius sublicae et ad inferiorem partem fluminis oblique agebantur , quae pro ariete subiectae et cum omni opere coniunctae vim fluminis exciperent , et aliae item supra pontem mediocri spatio , ut , si arborum trunci sive naves deiciendi operis causa essent a barbaris missae , his defensoribus earum rerum vis minueretur neu ponti nocerent .	Caesar, for those reasons which I have mentioned, had resolved to cross the Rhine ; but to cross by ships he neither deemed to be sufficiently safe, nor considered consistent with his own dignity or that of the Roman people. Therefore, although the greatest difficulty in forming a bridge was presented to him, on account of the breadth, rapidity, and depth of the river, he nevertheless considered that it ought to be attempted by him, or that his army ought not otherwise to be led over. He devised this plan of a bridge. He joined together at the distance of two feet, two piles, each a foot and a half thick, sharpened a little at the lower end, and proportioned in length, to the depth of the river. After he had, by means of engines, sunk these into the river, and fixed them at the bottom, and then driven them in with rammers, not quite perpendicularly, like a stake, but bending forward and sloping, so as to incline in the direction of the current of the river; he also placed two [other piles] opposite to these, at the distance of forty feet lower down, fastened together in the same manner, but directed against the force and current of the river. Both these, moreover, were kept firmly apart by beams two feet thick (the space which the binding of the piles occupied), laid in at their extremities between two braces on each side, and in consequence of these being in different directions and fastened on sides the one opposite to the other, so great was the strength of the work, and such the arrangement of the materials, that in proportion as the greater body of water dashed against the bridge, so much the closer were its parts held fastened together. These beams were bound together by timber laid over them, in the direction of the length of the bridge, and were [then] covered over with laths and hurdles; and in addition to this, piles were driven into the water obliquely, at the lower side of the bridge, and these, serving as buttresses, and being connected with every portion of the work, sustained the force of the stream: and there were others also above the bridge, at a moderate distance; that if trunks of trees or vessels were floated down the river by the barbarians for the purpose of destroying the work, the violence of such things might be diminished by these defenses, and might not injure the bridge.
136	Diebus X , quibus materia coepta erat comportari , omni opere effecto exercitus traducitur . Caesar ad utramque partem pontis firmo praesidio relicto in fines Sugambrorum contendit . Interim a compluribus civitatibus ad eum legati veniunt ; quibus pacem atque amicitiam petentibus liberaliter respondet obsidesque ad se adduci iubet . At Sugambri , ex eo tempore quo pons institui coeptus est fuga comparata , hortantibus iis quos ex Tencteris atque Usipetibus apud se habebant , finibus suis excesserant suaque omnia exportaverant seque in solitudinem ac silvas abdiderant .	Within ten days after the timber began to be collected, the whole work was completed, and the whole army led over. Caesar, leaving a strong guard at each end of the bridge, hastens into the territories of the Sigambri. In the mean time, embassadors from several nations come to him, whom, on their suing for peace and alliance, he answers in a courteous manner, and orders hostages to be brought to him. But the Sigambri, at the very time the bridge was begun to be built, made preparations for a flight (by the advice of such of the Tenchtheri and Usipetes as they had among them), and quitted their territories, and conveyed away all their possessions, and concealed themselves in deserts and woods.
137	Caesar paucos dies in eorum finibus moratus , omnibus vicis aedificiisque incensis frumentisque succisis , se in fines Ubiorum recepit atque his auxilium suum pollicitus , si a Suebis premerentur , haec ab iis cognovit : Suebos , postea quam per exploratores pontem fieri comperissent , more suo concilio habito nuntios in omnes partes dimisisse , uti de oppidis demigrarent , liberos , uxores suaque omnia in silvis deponerent atque omnes qui arma ferre possent unum in locum convenirent . Hunc esse delectum medium fere regionum earum quas Suebi obtinerent ; hic Romanorum adventum expectare atque ibi decertare constituisse . Quod ubi Caesar comperit , omnibus iis rebus confectis , quarum rerum causa exercitum traducere constituerat , ut Germanis metum iniceret , ut Sugambros ulcisceretur , ut Ubios obsidione liberaret , diebus omnino XVIII trans Rhenum consumptis , satis et ad laudem et ad utilitatem profectum arbitratus se in Galliam recepit pontemque rescidit .	Caesar, having remained in their territories a few days, and burned all their villages and houses, and cut down their corn, proceeded into the territories of the Ubii; and having promised them his assistance, if they were ever harassed by the Suevi, he learned from them these particulars: that the Suevi, after they had by means of their scouts found that the bridge was being built, had called a council, according to their custom, and sent orders to all parts of their state to remove from the towns and convey their children, wives, and all their possessions into the woods, and that all who could bear arms should assemble in one place; that the place thus chosen was nearly the centre of those regions which the Suevi possessed; that in this spot they had resolved to await the arrival of the Romans, and give them battle there. When Caesar discovered this, having already accomplished all these things on account of which he had resolved to lead his army over, namely, to strike fear into the Germans, take vengeance on the Sigambri, and free the Ubii from the invasion of the Suevi, having spent altogether eighteen days beyond the Rhine , and thinking he had advanced far enough to serve both honor and interest, he returned into Gaul, and cut down the bridge.
138	Exigua parte aestatis reliqua Caesar , etsi in his locis , quod omnis Gallia ad septentriones vergit , maturae sunt hiemes , tamen in Britanniam proficisci contendit , quod omnibus fere Gallicis bellis hostibus nostris inde subministrata auxilia intellegebat , et si tempus anni ad bellum gerendum deficeret , tamen magno sibi usui fore arbitrabatur , si modo insulam adiisset , genus hominum perspexisset , loca , portus , aditus cognovisset ; quae omnia fere Gallis erant incognita . Neque enim temere praeter mercatores illo adit quisquam , neque his ipsis quicquam praeter oram maritimam atque eas regiones quae sunt contra Galliam notum est . Itaque vocatis ad se undique mercatoribus , neque quanta esset insulae magnitudo neque quae aut quantae nationes incolerent , neque quem usum belli haberent aut quibus institutis uterentur , neque qui essent ad maiorem navium multitudinem idonei portus reperire poterat .	During the short part of summer which remained, Caesar, although in these countries, as all Gaul lies toward the north, the winters are early, nevertheless resolved to proceed into Britain, because he discovered that in almost all the wars with the Gauls succors had been furnished to our enemy from that country; and even if the time of year should be insufficient for carrying on the war, yet he thought it would be of great service to him if he only entered the island, and saw into the character of the people, and got knowledge of their localities, harbors, and landing-places, all which were for the most part unknown to the Gauls. For neither does any one except merchants generally go thither, nor even to them was any portion of it known, except the sea-coast and those parts which are opposite to Gaul. Therefore, after having called up to him the merchants from all parts, he could learn neither what was the size of the island, nor what or how numerous were the nations which inhabited it, nor what system of war they followed, nor what customs they used, nor what harbors were convenient for a great number of large ships.
139	Ad haec cognoscenda , prius quam periculum faceret , idoneum esse arbitratus C . Volusenum cum navi longa praemittit . Huic mandat ut exploratis omnibus rebus ad se quam primum revertatur . Ipse cum omnibus copiis in Morinos proficiscitur , quod inde erat brevissimus in Britanniam traiectus . Huc naves undique ex finitimis regionibus et quam superiore aestate ad Veneticum bellum fecerat classem iubet convenire . Interim , consilio eius cognito et per mercatores perlato ad Britannos , a compluribus insulae civitatibus ad eum legati veniunt , qui polliceantur obsides dare atque imperio populi Romani obtemperare . Quibus auditis , liberaliter pollicitus hortatusque ut in ea sententia permanerent , eos domum remittit et cum iis una Commium , quem ipse Atrebatibus superatis regem ibi constituerat , cuius et virtutem et consilium probabat et quem sibi fidelem esse arbitrabatur cuiusque auctoritas in his regionibus magni habebatur , mittit . Huic imperat quas possit adeat civitates horteturque ut populi Romani fidem sequantur seque celeriter eo venturum nuntiet . Volusenus perspectis regionibus omnibus quantum ei facultatis dari potuit , qui navi egredi ac se barbaris committere non auderet , V die ad Caesarem revertitur quaeque ibi perspexisset renuntiat .	He sends before him Caius Volusenus with a ship of war, to acquire a knowledge of these particulars before he in person should make a descent into the island, as he was convinced that this was a judicious measure. He commissioned him to thoroughly examine into all matters, and then return to him as soon as possible. He himself proceeds to the Morini with all his forces. He orders ships from all parts of the neighboring countries, and the fleet which the preceding summer he had built for the war with the Veneti, to assemble in this place. In the mean time, his purpose having been discovered, and reported to the Britons by merchants, embassadors come to him from several states of the island, to promise that they will give hostages, and submit to the government of the Roman people. Having given them an audience, he after promising liberally, and exhorting them to continue in that purpose, sends them back to their own country, and [dispatches] with them Commius, whom, upon subduing the Atrebates, he had created king there, a man whose courage and conduct he esteemed, and who he thought would be faithful to him, and whose influence ranked highly in those countries. He orders him to visit as many states as he could, and persuade them to embrace the protection of the Roman people, and apprize them that he would shortly come thither. Volusenus, having viewed the localities as far as means could be afforded one who dared not leave his ship and trust himself to barbarians, returns to Caesar on the fifth day, and reports what he had there observed.
140	Dum in his locis Caesar navium parandarum causa moratur , ex magna parte Morinorum ad eum legati venerunt , qui se de superioris temporis consilio excusarent , quod homines barbari et nostrae consuetudinis imperiti bellum populo Romano fecissent , seque ea quae imperasset facturos pollicerentur . Hoc sibi Caesar satis oportune accidisse arbitratus , quod neque post tergum hostem relinquere volebat neque belli gerendi propter anni tempus facultatem habebat neque has tantularum rerum occupationes Britanniae anteponendas iudicabat , magnum iis numerum obsidum imperat . Quibus adductis eos in fidem recipit . Navibus circiter LXXX onerariis coactis contractisque , quot satis esse ad duas transportandas legiones existimabat , quod praeterea navium longarum habebat quaestori , legatis praefectisque distribuit . Huc accedebant XVIII onerariae naves , quae ex eo loco a milibus passuum VIII vento tenebantur quo minus in eundem portum venire possent : has equitibus tribuit . Reliquum exercitum Q . Titurio Sabino et L . Aurunculeio Cottae legatis in Menapios atque in eos pagos Morinorum a quibus ad eum legati non venerant ducendum dedit ; Sulpicium Rufum legatum cum eo praesidio quod satis esse arbitrabatur portum tenere iussit .	While Caesar remains in these parts for the purpose of procuring ships, embassadors come to him from a great portion of the Morini, to plead their excuse respecting their conduct on the late occasion; alleging that it was as men uncivilized, and as those who were unacquainted with our custom, that they had made war upon the Roman people, and promising to perform what he should command. Caesar, thinking that this had happened fortunately enough for him, because he neither wished to leave an enemy behind him, nor had an opportunity for carrying on a war, by reason of the time of year, nor considered that employment in such trifling matters was to be preferred to his enterprise on Britain, imposes a large number of hostages; and when these were brought, he received them to his protection. Having collected together, and provided about eighty transport ships, as many as he thought necessary for conveying over two legions, he assigned such [ships] of war as he had besides to the quaestor, his lieutenants, and officers of cavalry. There were in addition to these eighteen ships of burden which were prevented, eight miles from that place, by winds, from being able to reach the same port. These he distributed among the horse; the rest of the army, he delivered to Q. Titurius Sabinus and L. Aurunculeius Cotta, his lieutenants, to lead into the territories of the Menapii and those cantons of the Morini from which embassadors had not come to him. He ordered P. Sulpicius Rufus, his lieutenant, to hold possession of the harbor, with such a garrison as he thought sufficient.