§4.21.1Ad haec cognoscenda, prius quam periculum faceret, idoneum esse arbitratus C. Volusenum cum navi longa praemittit.
To learn these things, before making the attempt himself, thinking him a fit person, he sends Gaius Volusenus ahead with a warship.
§4.21.2Huic mandat ut exploratis omnibus rebus ad se quam primum revertatur.
He commands him to return to him as soon as possible after exploring all matters.
§4.21.3Ipse cum omnibus copiis in Morinos proficiscitur, quod inde erat brevissimus in Britanniam traiectus.
He himself sets out with all his forces for the territory of the Morini, because from there was the shortest passage to Britain.
§4.21.4Huc naves undique ex finitimis regionibus et quam superiore aestate ad Veneticum bellum fecerat classem iubet convenire.
Hither he orders ships to assemble from all quarters of the neighboring regions, and the fleet which he had built in the previous summer for the Venetic War.
§4.21.5Interim, 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.
Meanwhile, his design having been learned and carried by merchants to the Britons, envoys come to him from several states of the island, to promise to give hostages and to obey the authority of the Roman people.
§4.21.6Quibus auditis, liberaliter pollicitus hortatusque ut in ea sententia permanerent, §4.21.7eos 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.
Having heard them, making liberal promises and exhorting them to continue in that resolution, he sends them back home, and along with them Commius, whom he himself, having defeated the Atrebates, had appointed king there, whose courage and counsel he approved, and whom he thought to be faithful to him, and whose authority was highly valued in these regions.
§4.21.8Huic imperat quas possit adeat civitates horteturque ut populi Romani fidem sequantur seque celeriter eo venturum nuntiet.
He commands him to visit what states he can and exhort them to embrace the protection of the Roman people, and to announce that he himself will quickly come thither.
§4.21.9Volusenus 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.
Volusenus, having examined all the regions as far as opportunity could be afforded to him, since he did not dare to disembark from his ship and trust himself to the barbarians, returns to Caesar on the fifth day and reports what he had observed there.