1. At barbarī, cōnsiliō Rōmānōrum cognitō, praemissō equitātū et

ēssedariīs, quō plērumque genere in proeliīs ūtī consuērunt, reliquīs copiīs

subsecūtī nostrōs nāvibus ēgredī prohibēbant. 2. Erat ob hās causās summa

difficultās, quod navēs propter magnitūdinem nisi in altō cōnstituī nōn

poterant; mīlitibus autem, ignōtīs locīs, impedītīs manibus, magnō et gravī

onere armōrum oppressīs simul et dē nāvibus desiliendum et in fluctibus

consistendum et cum hostibus erat pugnandum, 3. cum illī aut ex āridō aut

paulum in aquam progressī omnibus membrīs expedītīs, nōtissimīs locīs,

audacter tēla coicerent et equōs insuēfactōs incitārent. 4. Quibus rēbus nostrī

perterritī atque huius omnīnō generis pugnae imperītī, nōn eādem alacritāte

ac studiō quō in pedestribus ūtī proeliīs consuerant utēbantur.

    1. Quod ubi Caesar animadvertit, nāvēs longās, quārum et speciēs erat

barbarīs inūsitātior et motus ad usum expedītior, paulum removērī ab

onerāriīs nāvibus et rēmīs incitārī et ad latus apertum hostium constituī atque

inde fundīs, sagittīs, tormentīs hostēs propellī ac submovērī iussit; quae rēs

magnō usuī nostrīs fuit. 2. Nam et nāvium figūrā et rēmōrum mōtū et

inusitātō genere tormentōrum permōtī barbarī constitērunt ac paulum modo

pedem rettulērunt.

  1. But the barbarians, with the plans of the Romans having been known, with their cavalry and chariots having been sent ahead, which kind they were accustomed to use frequently in battle, having followed with their remaining men they prevented our men from disembarking from the ships.

  2. There was the greatest difficulty on account of these reasons, because the ships on account of their size could not be stopped except in the deep; moreover the soldiers, in unfamiliar places, with impeded hands, having been pressed down by a great and heavy burden of arms, at the same time had to jump down from the ships and had to stand in the waves and had to fight with the enemies,