Gallic War (Julius Caesar)

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	Gallic War Author: Julius Caesar	Translator: W. A. McDevitte
155	Quibus ex navibus cum essent expositi milites circiter CCC atque in castra contenderent , Morini , quos Caesar in Britanniam proficiscens pacatos reliquerat , spe praedae adducti primo non ita magno suorum numero circumsteterunt ac , si sese interfici nollent , arma ponere iusserunt . Cum illi orbe facto sese defenderent , celeriter ad clamorem hominum circiter milia VI convenerunt . Qua re nuntiata , Caesar omnem ex castris equitatum suis auxilio misit . Interim nostri milites impetum hostium sustinuerunt atque amplius horis IIII fortissime pugnaverunt et paucis vulneribus acceptis complures ex iis occiderunt . Postea vero quam equitatus noster in conspectum venit , hostes abiectis armis terga verterunt magnusque eorum numerus est occisus .	When our soldiers, about 300 in number, had been drawn out of these two ships, and were marching to the camp, the Morini, whom Caesar, when setting forth for Britain, had left in a state of peace, excited by the hope of spoil, at first surrounded them with a small number of men, and ordered them to lay down their arms, if they did not wish to be slain; afterward however, when they, forming a circle, stood on their defense, a shout was raised and about 6000 of the enemy soon assembled; which being reported, Caesar sent all the cavalry in the camp as a relief to his men. In the mean time our soldiers sustained the attack of the enemy, and fought most valiantly for more than four hours, and, receiving but few wounds themselves, slew several of them. But after our cavalry came in sight, the enemy, throwing away their arms, turned their backs, and a great number of them were killed.
156	Caesar postero die T . Labienum legatum cum iis legionibus quas ex Britannia reduxerat in Morinos qui rebellionem fecerant misit . Qui cum propter siccitates paludum quo se reciperent non haberent , quo perfugio superiore anno erant usi , omnes fere in potestatem Labieni venerunt . At Q . Titurius et L . Cotta legati , qui in Menapiorum fines legiones duxerant , omnibus eorum agris vastatis , frumentis succisis , aedificiis incensis , quod Menapii se omnes in densissimas silvas abdiderant , se ad Caesarem receperunt . Caesar in Belgis omnium legionum hiberna constituit . Eo duae omnino civitates ex Britannia obsides miserunt , reliquae neglexerunt . His rebus gestis ex litteris Caesaris dierum XX supplicatio a senatu decreta est .	The day following Caesar sent Labienus, his lieutenant, with those legions which he had brought back from Britain, against the Morini, who had revolted; who, as they had no place to which they might retreat, on account of the drying up of their marshes (which they had availed themselves of as a place of refuge the preceding year), almost all fell into the power of Labienus. In the mean time Caesar's lieutenants, Q. Titurius and L. Cotta, who had led the legions into the territories of the Menapii, having laid waste all their lands, cut down their corn and burned their houses, returned to Caesar because the Menapii had all concealed themselves in their thickest woods. Caesar fixed the winter quarters of all the legions among the Belgae. Thither only two British states sent hostages; the rest omitted to do so. For these successes, a thanksgiving of twenty days was decreed by the senate upon receiving Caesar's letter.
157	COMMENTARIUS QUINTUS L . Domitio Ap . Claudio consulibus , discedens ab hibernis Caesar in Italiam , ut quotannis facere consuerat , legatis imperat quos legionibus praefecerat uti quam plurimas possent hieme naves aedificandas veteresque reficiendas curarent . Earum modum formamque demonstrat . Ad celeritatem onerandi subductionesque paulo facit humiliores quam quibus in nostro mari uti consuevimus , atque id eo magis , quod propter crebras commutationes aestuum minus magnos ibi fluctus fieri cognoverat ; ad onera , ad multitudinem iumentorum transportandam paulo latiores quam quibus in reliquis utimur maribus . Has omnes actuarias imperat fieri , quam ad rem multum humilitas adiuvat . Ea quae sunt usui ad armandas naves ex Hispania apportari iubet . Ipse conventibus Galliae citerioris peractis in Illyricum proficiscitur , quod a Pirustis finitimam partem provinciae incursionibus vastari audiebat . Eo cum venisset , civitatibus milites imperat certumque in locum convenire iubet . Qua re nuntiata Pirustae legatos ad eum mittunt qui doceant nihil earum rerum publico factum consilio , seseque paratos esse demonstrant omnibus rationibus de iniuriis satisfacere . Accepta oratione eorum Caesar obsides imperat eosque ad certam diem adduci iubet ; nisi ita fecerint , sese bello civitatem persecuturum demonstrat . Eis ad diem adductis , ut imperaverat , arbitros inter civitates dat qui litem aestiment poenamque constituant .	Lucius Domitius and Appius Claudius being consuls [ 54 B.C.], Caesar, when departing from his winter quarters into Italy, as he had been accustomed to do yearly, commands the lieutenants whom he appointed over the legions to take care that during the winter as many ships as possible should be built, and the old repaired. He plans the size and shape of them. For dispatch of lading, and for drawing them on shore, he makes them a little lower than those which we have been accustomed to use in our sea; and that so much the more, because he knew that, on account of the frequent changes of the tide, less swells occurred there; for the purpose of transporting burdens and a great number of horses, [he makes them] a little broader than those which we use in other seas. All these he orders to be constructed for lightness and expedition, to which object their lowness contributes greatly. He orders those things which are necessary for equipping ships to be brought thither from Spain. He himself, on the assizes of Hither Gaul being concluded, proceeds into Illyricum , because he heard that the part of the province nearest them was being laid waste by the incursions of the Pirustae. When he had arrived there, he levies soldiers upon the states, and orders them to assemble at an appointed place. Which circumstance having been reported [to them], the Pirustae send embassadors to him to inform him that no part of those proceedings was done by public deliberation, and assert that they were ready to make compensation by all means for the injuries [inflicted]. Caesar, accepting their defense, demands hostages, and orders them to be brought to him on a specified day, and assures them that unless they did so he would visit their state with war. These being brought to him on the day which he had ordered, he appoints arbitrators between the states, who should estimate the damages and determine the reparation.
158	His confectis rebus conventibusque peractis , in citeriorem Galliam revertitur atque inde ad exercitum proficiscitur . Eo cum venisset , circumitis omnibus hibernis , singulari militum studio in summa omnium rerum inopia circiter sescentas eius generis cuius supra demonstravimus naves et longas XXVIII invenit instructas neque multum abesse ab eo quin paucis diebus deduci possint . Collaudatis militibus atque eis qui negotio praefuerant , quid fieri velit ostendit atque omnes ad portum Itium convenire iubet , quo ex portu commodissimum in Britanniam traiectum esse cognoverat , circiter milium passuum XXX transmissum a continenti : huic rei quod satis esse visum est militum reliquit ; ipse cum legionibus expeditis IIII et equitibus DCCC in fines Treverorum proficiscitur , quod hi neque ad concilia veniebant neque imperio parebant Germanosque Transrhenanos sollicitare dicebantur .	These things being finished, and the assizes being concluded, he returns into Hither Gaul, and proceeds thence to the army. When he had arrived there, having made a survey of the winter quarter, he finds that, by the extraordinary ardor of the soldiers, amid the utmost scarcity of all materials, about six hundred ships of that kind which we have described above and twenty-eight ships of war, had been built, and were not far from that state, that they might be launched in a few days. Having commended the soldiers and those who had presided over the work, he informs them what he wishes to be done, and orders all the ships to assemble at port Itius, from which port he had learned that the passage into Britain was shortest, [being only] about thirty miles from the continent. He left what seemed a sufficient number of soldiers for that design; he himself proceeds into the territories of the Treviri with four legions without baggage, and 800 horse, because they neither came to the general diets [of Gaul], nor obeyed his commands, and were moreover, said to be tampering with the Germans beyond the Rhine .
159	Haec civitas longe plurimum totius Galliae equitatu valet magnasque habet copias peditum Rhenumque , ut supra demonstravimus , tangit . In ea civitate duo de principatu inter se contendebant , Indutiomarus et Cingetorix ; e quibus alter , simul atque de Caesaris legionumque adventu cognitum est , ad eum venit , se suosque omnes in officio futuros neque ab amicitia populi Romani defecturos confirmavit quaeque in Treveris gererentur ostendit . At Indutiomarus equitatum peditatumque cogere , eisque qui per aetatem in armis esse non poterant in silvam Arduennam abditis , quae ingenti magnitudine per medios fines Treverorum a flumine Rheno ad initium Remorum pertinet , bellum parare instituit . Sed posteaquam nonnulli principes ex ea civitate et familiaritate Cingetorigis adducti et adventu nostri exercitus perterriti ad Caesarem venerunt et de suis privatim rebus ab eo petere coeperunt , quoniam civitati consulere non possent , veritus ne ab omnibus desereretur Indutiomarus legatos ad Caesarem mittit : sese idcirco ab suis discedere atque ad eum venire noluisse , quo facilius civitatem in officio contineret , ne omnis nobilitatis discessu plebs propter imprudentiam laberetur : itaque esse civitatem in sua potestate , seseque , si Caesar permitteret , ad eum in castra venturum , suas civitatisque fortunas eius fidei permissurum .	This state is by far the most powerful of all Gaul in cavalry, and has great forces of infantry, and as we have remarked above, borders on the Rhine . In that state, two persons, Indutiomarus and Cingetorix, were then contending with each other for the supreme power; one of whom, as soon as the arrival of Caesar and his legions was known, came to him; assures him that he and all his party would continue in their allegiance, and not revolt from the alliance of the Roman people, and informs him of the things which were going on among the Treviri . But Indutiomarus began to collect cavalry and infantry, and make preparations for war, having concealed those who by reason of their age could not be under arms, in the forest Arduenna, which is of immense size, [and] extends from the Rhine across the country of the Treviri to the frontiers of the Remi. But after that, some of the chief persons of the state, both influenced by their friendship for Cingetorix, and alarmed at the arrival of our army, came to Caesar and began to solicit him privately about their own interests, since they could not provide for the safety of the state; Indutiomarus, dreading lest he should be abandoned by all, sends embassadors to Caesar, to declare that he absented himself from his countrymen, and refrained from coming to him on this account, that he might the more easily keep the state in its allegiance, lest on the departure of all the nobility the commonalty should, in their indiscretion, revolt. And thus the whole state was at his control; and that he, if Caesar would permit, would come to the camp to him, and would commit his own fortunes and those of the state to his good faith.
160	Caesar , etsi intellegebat qua de causa ea dicerentur quaeque eum res ab instituto consilio deterreret , tamen , ne aestatem in Treveris consumere cogeretur omnibus ad Britannicum bellum rebus comparatis , Indutiomarum ad se cum CC obsidibus venire iussit . His adductis , in eis filio propinquisque eius omnibus , quos nominatim evocaverat , consolatus Indutiomarum hortatusque est uti in officio maneret ; nihilo tamen setius principibus Treverorum ad se convocatis hos singillatim Cingetorigi conciliavit , quod cum merito eius a se fieri intellegebat , tum magni interesse arbitrabatur eius auctoritatem inter suos quam plurimum valere , cuius tam egregiam in se voluntatem perspexisset . Id tulit factum graviter Indutiomarus , suam gratiam inter suos minui , et , qui iam ante inimico in nos animo fuisset , multo gravius hoc dolore exarsit .	Caesar, though he discerned from what motive these things were said, and what circumstances deterred him from his meditated plan, still, in order that he might not be compelled to waste the summer among the Treviri , while all things were prepared for the war with Britain, ordered Indutiomarus to come to him with 200 hostages. When they were brought, [and] among them his son and near relations, whom he had demanded by name, he consoled Indutiomarus, and enjoined him to continue in his allegiance; yet, nevertheless, summoning to him the chief men of the Treviri , he reconciled them individually to Cingetorix: this he both thought should be done by him in justice to the merits of the latter, and also judged that it was of great importance that the influence of one whose singular attachment toward him he had fully seen, should prevail as much as possible among his people. Indutiomarus was very much offended at this act, [seeing that] his influence was diminished among his countrymen; and he, who already before had borne a hostile mind toward us, was much more violently inflamed against us through resentment at this.
161	His rebus constitutis Caesar ad portum Itium cum legionibus pervenit . Ibi cognoscit LX naves , quae in Meldis factae erant , tempestate reiectas cursum tenere non potuisse atque eodem unde erant profectae revertisse ; reliquas paratas ad navigandum atque omnibus rebus instructas invenit . Eodem equitatus totius Galliae convenit , numero milium quattuor , principesque ex omnibus civitatibus . Ex quibus perpaucos , quorum in se fidem perspexerat , relinquere in Gallia , reliquos obsidum loco secum ducere decreverat , quod , cum ipse abesset , motum Galliae verebatur .	These matters being settled, Caesar went to port Itius with the legions. There he discovers that forty ships, which had been built in the country of the Meldi , having been driven back by a storm, had been unable to maintain their course, and had returned to the same port from which they had set out; he finds the rest ready for sailing, and furnished with every thing. In the same place, the cavalry of the whole of Gaul, in number 4,000, assembles, and [also] the chief persons of all the states; he had determined to leave in Gaul a very few of them, whose fidelity toward him he had clearly discerned, and take the rest with him as hostages; because he feared a commotion in Gaul when he should be absent.
162	Erat una cum ceteris Dumnorix Aeduus , de quo ante ab nobis dictum est . Hunc secum habere in primis constituerat , quod eum cupidum rerum novarum , cupidum imperi , magni animi , magnae inter Gallos auctoritatis cognoverat . Accedebat huc quod in concilio Aeduorum Dumnorix dixerat sibi a Caesare regnum civitatis deferri ; quod dictum Aedui graviter ferebant , neque recusandi aut deprecandi causa legatos ad Caesarem mittere audebant . Id factum ex suis hospitibus Caesar cognoverat . Ille omnibus primo precibus petere contendit ut in Gallia relinqueretur , partim quod insuetus navigandi mare timeret , partim quod religionibus impediri sese diceret . Posteaquam id obstinate sibi negari vidit , omni spe impetrandi adempta principes Galliae sollicitare , sevocare singulos hortarique coepit uti in continenti remanerent ; metu territare : non sine causa fieri , ut Gallia omni nobilitate spoliaretur ; id esse consilium Caesaris , ut quos in conspectu Galliae interficere vereretur , hos omnes in Britanniam traductos necaret ; fidem reliquis interponere , iusiurandum poscere , ut quod esse ex usu Galliae intellexissent communi consilio administrarent . Haec a compluribus ad Caesarem deferebantur .	There was together with the others, Dumnorix, the Aeduan, of whom we have made previous mention. Him, in particular, he had resolved to have with him, because he had discovered him to be fond of change, fond of power, possessing great resolution, and great influence among the Gauls. To this was added, that Dumnorix had before said in an assembly of Aeduans, that the sovereignty of the state had been made over to him by Caesar; which speech the Aedui bore with impatience and yet dared not send embassadors to Caesar for the purpose of either rejecting or deprecating [that appointment]. That fact Caesar had learned from his own personal friends. He at first strove to obtain by every entreaty that he should be left in Gaul; partly, because, being unaccustomed to sailing, he feared the sea; partly because he said he was prevented by divine admonitions. After he saw that this request was firmly refused him, all hope of success being lost, he began to tamper with the chief persons of the Gauls, to call them apart singly and exhort them to remain on the continent; to agitate them with the fear that it was not without reason that Gaul should be stripped of all her nobility; that it was Caesar's design, to bring over to Britain and put to death all those whom he feared to slay in the sight of Gaul, to pledge his honor to the rest, to ask for their oath that they would by common deliberation execute what they should perceive to be necessary for Gaul. These things were reported to Caesar by several persons.
163	Qua re cognita Caesar , quod tantum civitati Aeduae dignitatis tribuebat , coercendum atque deterrendum quibuscumque rebus posset Dumnorigem statuebat ; quod longius eius amentiam progredi videbat , prospiciendum , ne quid sibi ac rei publicae nocere posset . Itaque dies circiter XXV in eo loco commoratus , quod Carus ventus navigationem impediebat , qui magnam partem omnis temporis in his locis flare consuevit , dabat operam ut in officio Dumnorigem contineret , nihilo tamen setius omnia eius consilia cognosceret . Tandem idoneam nactus tempestatem milites equitesque conscendere in naves iubet . At omnium impeditis animis Dumnorix cum equitibus Aeduorum a castris insciente Caesare domum discedere coepit . Qua re nuntiata Caesar intermissa profectione atque omnibus rebus postpositis magnam partem equitatus ad eum insequendum mittit retrahique imperat ; si vim faciat neque pareat , interfici iubet , nihil hunc se absente pro sano facturum arbitratus , qui praesentis imperium neglexisset . Ille enim revocatus resistere ac se manu defendere suorumque fidem implorare coepit , saepe clamitans liberum se liberaeque esse civitatis . Illi , ut erat imperatum , circumsistunt hominem atque interficiunt : at equites Aedui ad Caesarem omnes revertuntur .	Having learned this fact, Caesar, because he had conferred so much honor upon the Aeduan state, determined that Dumnorix should be restrained and deterred by whatever means he could; and that, because he perceived his insane designs to be proceeding further and further, care should be taken lest he might be able to injure him and the commonwealth. Therefore, having stayed about twenty-five days in that place, because the north wind, which usually blows a great part of every season, prevented the voyage, he exerted himself to keep Dumnorix in his allegiance [and] nevertheless learn all his measures: having at length met with favorable weather, he orders the foot soldiers and the horse to embark in the ships. But, while the minds of all were occupied, Dumnorix began to take his departure from the camp homeward with the cavalry of the Aedui, Caesar being ignorant of it. Caesar, on this matter being reported to him, ceasing from his expedition and deferring all other affairs, sends a great part of the cavalry to pursue him, and commands that he be brought back; he orders that if he use violence and do not submit, that he be slain; considering that Dumnorix would do nothing as a rational man while he himself was absent, since he had disregarded his command even when present. He, however, when recalled, began to resist and defend himself with his hand, and implore the support of his people, often exclaiming that "he was free and the subject of a free state." They surround and kill the man as they had been commanded; but the Aeduan horsemen all return to Caesar.
164	His rebus gestis , Labieno in continente cum tribus legionibus et equitum milibus duobus relicto ut portus tueretur et rem frumentariam provideret quaeque in Gallia gererentur cognosceret consiliumque pro tempore et pro re caperet , ipse cum quinque legionibus et pari numero equitum , quem in continenti reliquerat , ad solis occasum naves solvit et leni Africo provectus media circiter nocte vento intermisso cursum non tenuit , et longius delatus aestu orta luce sub sinistra Britanniam relictam conspexit . Tum rursus aestus commutationem secutus remis contendit ut eam partem insulae caperet , qua optimum esse egressum superiore aestate cognoverat . Qua in re admodum fuit militum virtus laudanda , qui vectoriis gravibusque navigiis non intermisso remigandi labore longarum navium cursum adaequarunt . Accessum est ad Britanniam omnibus navibus meridiano fere tempore , neque in eo loco hostis est visus ; sed , ut postea Caesar ex captivis cognovit , cum magnae manus eo convenissent , multitudine navium perterritae , quae cum annotinis privatisque quas sui quisque commodi fecerat amplius octingentae uno erant visae tempore , a litore discesserant ac se in superiora loca abdiderant .	When these things were done [and] Labienus, left on the continent with three legions and 2,000 horse, to defend the harbors and provide corn, and discover what was going on in Gaul, and take measures according to the occasion and according to the circumstance; he himself, with five legions and a number of horse, equal to that which he was leaving on the continent, set sail at sun-set, and [though for a time] borne forward by a gentle south-west wind, he did not maintain his course, in consequence of the wind dying away about midnight, and being carried on too far by the tide, when the sun rose, espied Britain passed on his left. Then, again, following the change of tide, he urged on with the oars that he might make that part of the island in which he had discovered the preceding summer, that there was the best landing-place, and in this affair the spirit of our soldiers was very much to be extolled; for they with the transports and heavy ships, the labor of rowing not being [for a moment] discontinued, equaled the speed of the ships of war. All the ships reached Britain nearly at mid-day; nor was there seen a [single] enemy in that place, but, as Caesar afterward found from some prisoners, though large bodies of troops had assembled there, yet being alarmed by the great number of our ships, more than eight hundred of which, including the ships of the preceding year, and those private vessels which each had built for his own convenience, had appeared at one time, they had quitted the coast and concealed themselves among the higher points.
165	Caesar exposito exercitu et loco castris idoneo capto , ubi ex captivis cognovit quo in loco hostium copiae consedissent , cohortibus decem ad mare relictis et equitibus trecentis , qui praesidio navibus essent , de tertia vigilia ad hostes contendit , eo minus veritus navibus , quod in litore molli atque aperto deligatas ad ancoram relinquebat , et praesidio navibus Q . Atrium praefecit . Ipse noctu progressus milia passuum circiter XII hostium copias conspicatus est . Illi equitatu atque essedis ad flumen progressi ex loco superiore nostros prohibere et proelium committere coeperunt . Repulsi ab equitatu se in silvas abdiderunt , locum nacti egregie et natura et opere munitum , quem domestici belli , ut videbantur , causa iam ante praeparaverant ; nam crebris arboribus succisis omnes introitus erant praeclusi . Ipsi ex silvis rari propugnabant nostrosque intra munitiones ingredi prohibebant . At milites legionis septimae , testudine facta et aggere ad munitiones adiecto , locum ceperunt eosque ex silvis expulerunt paucis vulneribus acceptis . Sed eos fugientes longius Caesar prosequi vetuit , et quod loci naturam ignorabat , et quod magna parte diei consumpta munitioni castrorum tempus relinqui volebat .	Caesar, having disembarked his army and chosen a convenient place for the camp, when he discovered from the prisoners in what part the forces of the enemy had lodged themselves, having left ten cohorts and 300 horse at the sea, to be a guard to the ships, hastens to the enemy, at the third watch, fearing the less for the ships, for this reason because he was leaving them fastened at anchor upon an even and open shore; and he placed Q. Atrius over the guard of the ships. He himself, having advanced by night about twelve miles, espied the forces of the enemy. They, advancing to the river with their cavalry and chariots from the higher ground, began to annoy our men and give battle. Being repulsed by our cavalry, they concealed themselves in woods, as they had secured a place admirably fortified by nature and by art, which, as it seemed, they had before prepared on account of a civil war; for all entrances to it were shut up by a great number of felled trees. They themselves rushed out of the woods to fight here and there, and prevented our men from entering their fortifications. But the soldiers of the seventh legion, having formed a testudo and thrown up a rampart against the fortification, took the place and drove them out of the woods, receiving only a few wounds. But Caesar forbade his men to pursue them in their flight any great distance; both because he was ignorant of the nature of the ground, and because, as a great part of the day was spent, he wished time to be left for the fortification of the camp.
166	Postridie eius diei mane tripertito milites equitesque in expeditionem misit , ut eos qui fugerant persequerentur . His aliquantum itineris progressis , cum iam extremi essent in prospectu , equites a Quinto Atrio ad Caesarem venerunt , qui nuntiarent superiore nocte maxima coorta tempestate prope omnes naves adflictas atque in litore eiectas esse , quod neque ancorae funesque subsisterent , neque nautae gubernatoresque vim tempestatis pati possent ; itaque ex eo concursu navium magnum esse incommodum acceptum .	The next day, early in the morning, he sent both foot-soldiers and horse in three divisions on an expedition to pursue those who had fled. These having advanced a little way, when already the rear [of the enemy] was in sight, some horse came to Caesar from Quintus Atrius, to report that the preceding night, a very great storm having arisen, almost all the ships were dashed to pieces and cast upon the shore, because neither the anchors and cables could resist, nor could the sailors and pilots sustain the violence of the storm; and thus great damage was received by that collision of the ships.
167	His rebus cognitis Caesar legiones equitatumque revocari atque in itinere resistere iubet , ipse ad naves revertitur ; eadem fere quae ex nuntiis litterisque cognoverat coram perspicit , sic ut amissis circiter XL navibus reliquae tamen refici posse magno negotio viderentur . Itaque ex legionibus fabros deligit et ex continenti alios arcessi iubet ; Labieno scribit , ut quam plurimas posset eis legionibus , quae sunt apud eum , naves instituat . Ipse , etsi res erat multae operae ac laboris , tamen commodissimum esse statuit omnes naves subduci et cum castris una munitione coniungi . In his rebus circiter dies X consumit ne nocturnis quidem temporibus ad laborem militum intermissis . Subductis navibus castrisque egregie munitis easdem copias , quas ante , praesidio navibus reliquit : ipse eodem unde redierat proficiscitur . Eo cum venisset , maiores iam undique in eum locum copiae Britannorum convenerant summa imperi bellique administrandi communi consilio permissa Cassivellauno , cuius fines a maritimis civitatibus flumen dividit , quod appellatur Tamesis , a mari circiter milia passuum LXXX . Huic superiore tempore cum reliquis civitatibus continentia bella intercesserant ; sed nostro adventu permoti Britanni hunc toti bello imperioque praefecerant .	These things being known [to him], Caesar orders the legions and cavalry to be recalled and to cease from their march; he himself returns to the ships: he sees clearly before him almost the same things which he had heard of from the messengers and by letter, so that, about forty ships being lost, the remainder seemed capable of being repaired with much labor. Therefore he selects workmen from the legions, and orders others to be sent for from the continent; he writes to Labienus to build as many ships as he could with those legions which were with him. He himself, though the matter was one of great difficulty and labor, yet thought it to be most expedient for all the ships to be brought up on shore and joined with the camp by one fortification. In these matters he employed about ten days, the labor of the soldiers being unremitting even during the hours of night. The ships having been brought up on shore and the camp strongly fortified, he left the same forces as he did before as a guard for the ships; he sets out in person for the same place that he had returned from. When he had come thither, greater forces of the Britons had already assembled at that place, the chief command and management of the war having been intrusted to Cassivellaunus, whose territories a river, which is called the Thames, separates, from the maritime states at about eighty miles from the sea. At an earlier period perpetual wars had taken place between him and the other states; but, greatly alarmed by our arrival, the Britons had placed him over the whole war and the conduct of it.
168	Britanniae pars interior ab eis incolitur quos natos in insula ipsi memoria proditum dicunt , maritima pars ab eis , qui praedae ac belli inferendi causa ex Belgio transierunt ( qui omnes fere eis nominibus civitatum appellantur , quibus orti ex civitatibus eo pervenerunt ) et bello illato ibi permanserunt atque agros colere coeperunt . Hominum est infinita multitudo creberrimaque aedificia fere Gallicis consimilia , pecorum magnus numerus . Vtuntur aut aere aut nummo aureo aut taleis ferreis ad certum pondus examinatis pro nummo . Nascitur ibi plumbum album in mediterraneis regionibus , in maritimis ferrum , sed eius exigua est copia ; aere utuntur importato . Materia cuiusque generis ut in Gallia est , praeter fagum atque abietem . Leporem et gallinam et anserem gustare fas non putant ; haec tamen alunt animi voluptatisque causa . Loca sunt temperatiora quam in Gallia , remissioribus frigoribus .	The interior portion of Britain is inhabited by those of whom they say that it is handed down by tradition that they were born in the island itself: the maritime portion by those who had passed over from the country of the Belgae for the purpose of plunder and making war; almost all of whom are called by the names of those states from which being sprung they went thither, and having waged war, continued there and began to cultivate the lands. The number of the people is countless, and their buildings exceedingly numerous, for the most part very like those of the Gauls: the number of cattle is great. They use either brass or iron rings, determined at a certain weight, as their money. Tin is produced in the midland regions; in the maritime, iron; but the quantity of it is small: they employ brass, which is imported. There, as in Gaul, is timber of every description, except beech and fir. They do not regard it lawful to eat the hare, and the cock, and the goose; they, however, breed them for amusement and pleasure. The climate is more temperate than in Gaul, the colds being less severe.