§4.22.1Dum in his locis Caesar navium parandarum causa moratur, ex magna parte Morinorum ad eum legati venerunt, qui se de superioris temporis consilio excusarent, quod homines barbari et nostrae consuetudinis imperiti bellum populo Romano fecissent, seque ea quae imperasset facturos pollicerentur.
While Caesar was delaying in these parts for the purpose of preparing ships, envoys came to him from a large part of the Morini, to excuse themselves for their conduct of the previous time, on the ground that, being uncivilized men and ignorant of our customs, they had made war upon the Roman people, and to promise that they would do whatever he should command.
§4.22.2Hoc sibi Caesar satis oportune accidisse arbitratus, quod neque post tergum hostem relinquere volebat neque belli gerendi propter anni tempus facultatem habebat neque has tantularum rerum occupationes Britanniae anteponendas iudicabat, magnum iis numerum obsidum imperat.
Caesar, thinking that this had happened quite opportunely for him, because he neither wished to leave an enemy behind his back, nor had the opportunity of carrying on a war on account of the season of the year, nor did he judge that attention to such trifling matters should be preferred to Britain, demands of them a large number of hostages.
§4.22.3Quibus adductis eos in fidem recipit.
When these were brought, he receives them into his protection.
Navibus circiter LXXX onerariis coactis contractisque, quot satis esse ad duas transportandas legiones existimabat, quod praeterea navium longarum habebat quaestori, legatis praefectisque distribuit.
Having collected and brought together about eighty transport ships, which he thought were sufficient for transporting two legions, he distributed what war galleys he had besides to the quaestor, lieutenants, and officers.
§4.22.4Huc accedebant XVIII onerariae naves, quae ex eo loco a milibus passuum VIII vento tenebantur quo minus in eundem portum venire possent: has equitibus tribuit.
To this were added eighteen transport ships, which were detained by the wind eight miles from that place, so that they could not come into the same harbor; these he assigned to the cavalry.
§4.22.5Reliquum exercitum Q. Titurio Sabino et L. Aurunculeio Cottae legatis in Menapios atque in eos pagos Morinorum a quibus ad eum legati non venerant ducendum dedit; §4.22.6Sulpicium Rufum legatum cum eo praesidio quod satis esse arbitrabatur portum tenere iussit.
The remainder of the army he gave to the lieutenants Quintus Titurius Sabinus and Lucius Aurunculeius Cotta, to be led into the territory of the Menapii, and into those cantons of the Morini from which envoys had not come to him; he ordered Sulpicius Rufus, the lieutenant, to hold the harbor with such a garrison as he thought would be sufficient.