§4.24.1At barbari, consilio Romanorum cognito praemisso equitatu et essedariis, quo plerumque genere in proeliis uti consuerunt, reliquis copiis subsecuti nostros navibus egredi prohibebant.
But the barbarians, having learned of the design of the Romans, sent forward their cavalry and charioteers—a class of warriors they were mostly accustomed to employ in battles—and following closely with the rest of their forces, tried to prevent our men from landing.
§4.24.2Erat ob has causas summa difficultas, quod naves propter magnitudinem nisi in alto constitui non poterant, militibus autem, ignotis locis, impeditis manibus, magno et gravi onere armorum oppressis simul et de navibus desiliendum et in fluctibus consistendum et cum hostibus erat pugnandum, §4.24.3cum illi aut ex arido aut paulum in aquam progressi omnibus membris expeditis, notissimis locis, audacter tela coicerent et equos insuefactos incitarent.
For these reasons there was the greatest difficulty, because the ships, on account of their size, could not be stationed except in deep water, while the soldiers, in places unknown to them, with their hands impeded, and oppressed by the large and heavy load of their armor, had at the same time to leap down from the ships, stand in the waves, and fight with the enemy, whereas they, either from dry land or having advanced only a little into the water, with all their limbs free, in places thoroughly known to them, boldly cast their weapons and spurred on their horses, which were trained to this.
§4.24.4Quibus rebus nostri perterriti atque huius omnino generis pugnae imperiti, non eadem alacritate ac studio quo in pedestribus uti proeliis consuerant utebantur.
Terrified by these circumstances and being altogether unacquainted with this style of fighting, our men did not exert the same alacrity and zeal which they had been accustomed to employ in battles on land.