De Bello Gallico 5.12

5.12.1Britanniae pars interior ab eīs incolitur quōs nātōs in īnsulā ipsī memoriā prōditum dīcunt, maritima pars ab eīs, quī praedae ac bellī īnferendī causā ex Belgiō trānsiērunt (quī omnēs ferē eīs nōminibus cīvitātum appellantur, quibus ortī ex cīvitātibus eō pervēnērunt) et bellō illātō ibi permānsērunt atque agrōs colere coepērunt.

The inner part of Britain is inhabited by those who they themselves say, by tradition, were born in the island; the coastal part by those who crossed over from Belgium for the sake of plunder and making war (almost all of whom are called by the names of the states from which they came there), and after making war stayed there and began to till the fields.

Note. quōs nātōs in īnsulā ipsī memoriā prōditum dīcunt: 'who, they say, according to tradition were born in the island'; prōditum (esse) is impersonal. ex Belgiō: from the territory of the Belgae in northern Gaul.

5.12.3Hominum est īnfīnīta multitūdō crēberrimaque aedificia ferē Gallicīs cōnsimilia, pecorum magnus numerus.

There is a countless number of people, and very many buildings, much like those of the Gauls, and a great number of cattle.

5.12.4Ūtuntur aut aere aut nummō aureō aut tāleīs ferreīs ad certum pondus exāminātīs prō nummō.

They use either bronze or gold coins or iron bars weighed to a fixed weight in place of coins.

Note. aut aere aut nummō aureō: 'bronze or gold coin'. tāleīs ferreīs … ad certum pondus exāminātīs: 'weighed to a fixed weight'.

5.12.5Nāscitur ibi plumbum album in mediterrāneīs regiōnibus, in maritimīs ferrum, sed eius exigua est cōpia;

Tin is found there in the inland regions, iron in the coastal ones, but its supply is small;

5.12.5aere ūtuntur importātō.

they use imported bronze.

5.12.5Māteria cuiusque generis ut in Galliā est, praeter fāgum atque abietem.

There is timber of every kind, as in Gaul, except beech and fir.

5.12.6Leporem et gallīnam et ānserem gustāre fās nōn putant;

They think it wrong to eat the hare, the hen and the goose;

Note. fās nōn putant: 'they think it not right' (in a religious sense). haec … alunt animī voluptātisque causā: 'for amusement and pleasure'.

5.12.6haec tamen alunt animī voluptātisque causā.

they keep these, however, for amusement and pleasure.

5.12.6Loca sunt temperātiōra quam in Galliā, remissiōribus frīgoribus.

The climate is milder than in Gaul, the cold being less severe.