Agr. 24.1Quīntō expedītiōnum annō nāve prīmā trānsgressus ignōtās ad id tempus gentīs crēbrīs simul ac prosperīs proeliīs domuit;In the fifth year of campaigns, crossing over in the leading ship, he subdued peoples unknown until that time in frequent and successful battles; Agr. 24.1eamque partem Britanniae quae Hiberniam aspicit cōpiīs īnstrūxit, in spem magis quam ob formīdinem, sī quidem Hibernia mediō inter Britanniam atque Hispāniam sita et Gallicō quoque marī opportūna valentissimam imperiī partem magnīs in vicem ūsibus miscuerit.and he lined with troops that part of Britain which faces Hibernia, in hope rather than from fear, since Hibernia, lying midway between Britain and Spain and conveniently placed also for the Gallic sea, would join the strongest part of the empire together with great mutual advantages. Agr. 24.2Spatium eius, sī Britanniae comparētur, angustius nostrī maris īnsulās superat.Its extent, if compared with Britain, is smaller, but it surpasses the islands of our sea. Agr. 24.2Sōlum caelumque et ingenia cultūsque hominum haud multum ā Britanniā differunt;Its soil and climate, and the character and way of life of its people, do not differ much from Britain's; Agr. 24.2in melius aditūs portūsque per commercia et negōtiātōrēs cognitī.its approaches and harbours are better known, through trade and merchants.
Agr. 24.3Agricola expulsum sēditiōne domesticā ūnum ex rēgulīs gentis excēperat ac speciē amīcitiae in occāsiōnem retinēbat.Agricola had received one of the petty kings of the tribe, driven out by internal strife, and was keeping him, under the guise of friendship, against an opportunity. Agr. 24.3Saepe ex eō audīvī legiōne ūnā et modicīs auxiliīs dēbellārī obtinērīque Hiberniam posse;I often heard him say that Hibernia could be conquered and held with a single legion and a moderate force of auxiliaries; Agr. 24.3idque etiam adversus Britanniam prōfutūrum, sī Rōmāna ubīque arma et velut ē cōnspectū lībertās tollerētur.and that this would also be of advantage with regard to Britain, if Roman arms were everywhere and liberty were removed, as it were, from sight.