De Bello Gallico 4.22

4.22.1Dum in hīs locīs Caesar nāvium parandārum causā morātur, ex magnā parte Morinōrum ad eum lēgātī vēnērunt, quī sē dē superiōris temporis cōnsiliō excūsārent, quod hominēs barbarī et nostrae cōnsuētūdinis imperītī bellum populō Rōmānō fēcissent, sēque ea quae imperāsset factūrōs pollicērentur.

While Caesar was staying in these parts to get ships ready, envoys came to him from a large part of the Morini to excuse their conduct of the previous season, saying that as barbarians unfamiliar with our customs they had made war on the Roman people, and to promise that they would do what he ordered.

4.22.2Hoc sibi Caesar satis oportūnē accidisse arbitrātus, quod neque post tergum hostem relinquere volēbat neque bellī gerendī propter annī tempus facultātem habēbat neque hās tantulārum rērum occupātiōnēs Britanniae antepōnendās iūdicābat, magnum iīs numerum obsidum imperat.

Caesar thought this had happened quite conveniently for him, because he did not want to leave an enemy behind him, had no opportunity of waging war because of the time of year, and judged that taking care of such small matters should not come before Britain; so he ordered them to give a large number of hostages.

Note. Hoc … accidisse: indirect statement after arbitrātus. Britanniae antepōnendās: 'should be put before Britain' (dative with ante- compound).

4.22.3Quibus adductīs eōs in fidem recipit.

When these were brought, he took them under his protection.

4.22.3Nāvibus circiter LXXX onerāriīs coāctīs contrāctīsque, quot satis esse ad duās trānsportandās legiōnēs exīstimābat, quod praetereā nāvium longārum habēbat quaestōrī, lēgātīs praefectīsque distribuit.

About eighty transport ships were collected and brought together, enough, he thought, to carry two legions across; whatever warships he had besides, he distributed among the quaestor, the legates and the prefects.

4.22.4Hūc accēdēbant XVIII onerāriae nāvēs, quae ex eō locō ā mīlibus passuum VIII ventō tenēbantur quō minus in eundem portum venīre possent: hās equitibus tribuit.

In addition there were eighteen transport ships, which were being held by the wind eight miles from there, so that they could not reach the same harbor; these he assigned to the cavalry.

Note. quō minus … possent: after a verb of hindering (tenēbantur), 'so that they could not'.

4.22.5Reliquum exercitum Q. Titūriō Sabīnō et L. Aurunculeiō Cottae lēgātīs in Menapiōs atque in eōs pāgōs Morinōrum ā quibus ad eum lēgātī nōn vēnerant dūcendum dedit;

The rest of the army he gave to the legates Quintus Titurius Sabinus and Lucius Aurunculeius Cotta to lead against the Menapii and against those cantons of the Morini from which no envoys had come to him;

4.22.6Sulpicium Rūfum lēgātum cum eō praesidiō quod satis esse arbitrābātur portum tenēre iussit.

he ordered the legate Publius Sulpicius Rufus to hold the harbor with a garrison he thought large enough.