§5.1.1L. Domitio Ap.
In the consulship of L.
Claudio consulibus, discedens ab hibernis Caesar in Italiam, ut quotannis facere consuerat, legatis imperat quos legionibus praefecerat uti quam plurimas possent hieme naves aedificandas veteresque reficiendas curarent.
Domitius and Ap. Claudius, Caesar, departing from his winter quarters into Italy, as he had been accustomed to do yearly, commands the lieutenants whom he had placed over the legions to take care that during the winter as many ships as possible should be built and the old ones repaired.
Earum modum formamque demonstrat.
He dictates the measure and form of them.
§5.1.2Ad celeritatem onerandi subductionesque paulo facit humiliores quam quibus in nostro mari uti consuevimus, atque id eo magis, quod propter crebras commutationes aestuum minus magnos ibi fluctus fieri cognoverat; ad onera, ad multitudinem iumentorum transportandam paulo latiores quam quibus in reliquis utimur maribus.
For the sake of rapidity of loading and drawing them on shore, he makes them a little lower than those which we are accustomed to use in our sea; and that so much the more, because he had learned that on account of the frequent changes of the tide, the waves there did not rise so high; for both cargo and transporting a great number of beasts of burden, he makes them a little broader than those which we use in other seas.
§5.1.3Has omnes actuarias imperat fieri, quam ad rem multum humilitas adiuvat.
He commands all these to be built fit for rowing, to which purpose their low-lying build contributes greatly.
§5.1.4Ea quae sunt usui ad armandas naves ex Hispania apportari iubet.
He orders those things which are of use for equipping ships to be brought from Spain.
§5.1.5Ipse conventibus Galliae citerioris peractis in Illyricum proficiscitur, quod a Pirustis finitimam partem provinciae incursionibus vastari audiebat.
He himself, having completed the assizes of Hither Gaul, sets out for Illyricum, because he heard that the neighboring part of the province was being laid waste by the incursions of the Pirustae.
§5.1.6Eo cum venisset, civitatibus milites imperat certumque in locum convenire iubet.
When he had arrived there, he demands soldiers from the states, and orders them to assemble at a specified place.
§5.1.7Qua re nuntiata Pirustae legatos ad eum mittunt qui doceant nihil earum rerum publico factum consilio, seseque paratos esse demonstrant omnibus rationibus de iniuriis satisfacere.
When this was announced, the Pirustae send ambassadors to him to explain that none of those things were done by public counsel, and they declare that they are ready to give satisfaction for the injuries by every means.
§5.1.8Accepta oratione eorum Caesar obsides imperat eosque ad certam diem adduci iubet; nisi ita fecerint, sese bello civitatem persecuturum demonstrat.
Having heard their defense, Caesar demands hostages, and orders them to be brought to a specified day; unless they should do so, he declares that he will prosecute their state with war.
§5.1.9Eis ad diem adductis, ut imperaverat, arbitros inter civitates dat qui litem aestiment poenamque constituant.
When these were brought to the day, as he had commanded, he appoints arbitrators between the states to estimate the damage and determine the penalty.